Two Shores

On full-moon nights, Nessa delivered medicine to the forest village. She was the only courier who could cross the river after changing into a wolf. The bridge had burned during an old dispute, and neither shore would rebuild it. One evening a flood tore the medicine bag from her shoulders. Nessa reached the far bank empty-handed. A child waited beside the path, holding a lantern. Behind him, the village healer was coughing. For the first time, speed and strong teeth were not enough.