Shape Shifting Werewolves( A old folk tale from somalia)

Long ago, about one hundred fifty years ago there were these shape shifters. They could turn into these werewolves. Many people say they actually existed. I guess we will never know.

28th of march 1825

I run to the market each day to get food for my family. For breakfast, lunch and dinner. We don't have any fridges to keep all our food installed in. So we have no choice but to have fresh food.

I always get a bit nervous whenever I go to the market. As when I was younger, about 6 or 7 my mother used to tell me these tales of people called Gooris Mariss which means shape shifting werewolves. They live among us. They would only show you who they truly are at night as there was no electricity so it's pitch black. and you almost can't see a thing or when it's very quiet and there's not many people around. I shivered at the thought. Iv'e always hated creepy crawlies. Having someone creep up on you couldn't be any worse. Everyone knows that they exist even if they don't expose themselves all the time because they would attack us every so often leaving behind a paw print as if to show they were here. Although, the attacks are becoming more frequent now. Everyone in my village started to stop going out at night now due to the attacks that were happening more and more including me. My family was getting more concerned about me going to the market but we had no choice. As my family were farmers and I'm the eldest child the only who could go and know how to deal with everything.

I was on my way to the market one time, when I realised it was all of a sudden very hot, I noticed a patch of wetness in the middle of my dirac ( a traditional somali dress) my flowery one. I only wear it in summer as it's not warm enough for winter. I would freeze to death. It's dark blue with yellow very realistic looking daffodils all over.

My thirst has become great for mangoes that are always sold on the corner of the market by a lady. I was particularly excited to get the shopping done early so I could go and enjoy the mouth watering mangoes. My mouth actually waters at the thought.

When I entered the market, it wasn't that busy. Less busier than usual. How weird. The market is normally so busy that I have to push past people to get around which normally suffocates me. I guess today is my lucky day.

Out of the corner of my eye, I notice a group of men in a pack of twenty standing perfectly still by the meat stall. They didn't seem to be buying anything. They were just staring at the way the meat was being chopped. I realised the uncle who normally sells meat was looking particularly uncomfortable as he was chopping the meat. It looked like he was trying to work out why the men were staring at him chopping meat and not talking. I was staring for so long at what was happening, that I didn't realise a giant rock in front of me. I stumbled over it, landing at one of the feet of the men. I lift my head up slowly and a hand thin, bony, long fingers which looked like black sharp claws with hairy bits attached offered me help to get back up. I noticed that the flesh of the hand was the only part that looked human. As I was too frightened to decline the kind abnormal gesture, I touched it and it pulled me off the ground and back up onto my feet. I was too afraid to look at the individual in the eye so I quickly whispered "Thank you " and I turned on my heel and speed walk towards the mango lady. As I walking, I could feel the individual's eyes staring intently at me. Suddenly, I saw the mango lady reaching towards me. Her brown eyes meeting my blue eyes. I was speed walking, I could't stop in time. That or my feet were refusing to obey me. The mango lady grabbed a hold of my dirac and as I was being pulled towards her, I felt sharp claws being dug deep into my back as the mango lady pulled. the claws ripped down my back. I screamed as the pain felt like hot lava being poured down my back. The lady had grabbed me in one hand and in her other hand she had what looked like hot burning acid. She threw it and I saw it burning what looked like a bunch of giant wolves running towards us. The woman screamed and the other people on the market started to grab the same substances as my heart pounded.

When the wolves saw one of them burn, they all started to flee. I had been injured quite brutally. The mango lady and the other market vendors quickly took me home and paid for the village doctor to come see my wounds. " Your cut is very deep." The doctor said. "Four weeks should do it."

Four weeks, went by slower than I thought. I was better and made a full recovery.

It was agreed by the villagers that I would help identify the men who attacked me. At first, I wasn't sure. I was still afraid. Eventually, I went along with it.

One morning, I had decided today would be the day and I told the market people to do it today. They agreed I would wear a veil so I wouldn't be identified by the Gooris Mariss pack. There was fear that if they identified me they would come and finish me off.

I had been walking with my parents and we took our usual root as we were walking towards the edge of the market. I started to think that "perhaps they're not here today." I relaxed a little at this thought.

I said to my mum "Could we please buy some mangoes as I didn't get the chance to last time?" My mum seemed a little reluctant as she was generally afraid of our safety. My mum says with a slight tone of panick "Just on this occasion Hafsa as we are together." I nod and smile to myself. The mouth watering mangoes thought comes to my mind but all thoughts of mangoes go out of my head when I notice the Gooris Mariss pack out of the corner of my eye. Standing in front of a different butcher this time.

My heart races as my hands become clammy and wet with sweat. I was frightened they might see me. Could they? Do Gooris Mariss have good sight?

I squeeze my mum's hand as I look around for any vendors or police that we planned with. "What's wrong?" My mum asks. I look at my mum and then I look at the Gooris Mariss pack and then at Mum again. My mum knew instantly what was wrong. We both searched for vendors or police. A vendr had caught our eyes and we give them the hand signal that we agreed upon. 2 of the Gooris Mariss noticed this signal.

The vendors all start yelling a particular word that I can't make out. The police start shooting. The vendors too. The Gooris Mariss shape shifted into the wolf looking form and started to flee.

2 were killed and captured. The rest were never to be seen again in this time period.