Annalisa Story/PART 1: Sisters

It was a chilly autumn day, the trees were turning hues of flame and light in preparation to shed their leaves before a long winter sleep. Frosty though it was, there was still a fragrant scent to the clear Arkansas air and even the threat of coming rain did not deter the birds from singing. Two twelve-year-old-girls, identical in appearance, with waist-length blond hair and tall willowy frames stood at the end of an archery range. The range was barely discernible from the forest around them with its simple wooden artifices and woven straw targets, its most obvious feature simply being that the area was clear of trees and underbrush.

"Now hold it like this, just keep your hand open and rest the grip against the meaty part between your thumb and forefinger and slowly close your fingers around it," said Anastasia gently as she stood close to her twin and use her hips and feet to guide Annalisa into the right stances for archery, "Relax!"

"How can I relax, An!" responded Annalisa, "You're standing too close!"

"But it's cold and my little sister is sooooo WAAAAARM!" responded Anastasia as she suddenly embraced Annalisa from behind, momentarily aborting the archery practice with a fit of giggles.

Despite herself, the more reserved Annalisa couldn't help but to giggle happily, "Little! We're TWINS!"

"Sure, but I was first by a whole thirty minutes!" said Anastasia as she squeezed Annalisa and then started to guide her through drawing the bow again.

"That again," responded Annalisa, "Does that even COUNT?"

"Sure it does!" said Anastasia as she kissed Annalisa's cheek, "I was first, little sister. Now draw it all the way back to your cheek... don't let go. It's not a good idea to dry fire a bow."

"Mmmkay," responded Annalisa as she let her sister's body guide her own. She could feel the differences between herself and Anastasia, her hours painting and working with book bindings had not lent her the long lean muscle that her twin had. The bow was causing her arms to shake.

"It's okay, let it go slowly... we will try it with an arrow next so you can just release it," said Anastasia.

"Why did Daddy teach you this anyway, An?" asked Annalisa.

"Because of what the the Kin Fetch spirit divined when we were born, I bred true... I will first change any day now and become a Garou, Anna," said Anastasia, "Same reason he taught me to track, and to hunt and stuff. I like it actually. But... I want to teach it ALL to you too! You're my other half, I don't care about this 'breeding true' stuff."

Annalisa smiled, listening to her twin. There was a slightly lower octave to Anastasia's voice compared to her own. She was stronger. She truly did seem like a big sister; and Annalisa found herself simply liking it.

"Allright, big sister," said Annalisa.