Magus Bloodlines.

After they packed up Erza's SUV, Gavin and Erza headed north of the city. The campsite, she had told him, was only a few hours' drive away. Not a bad price to pay for safety and seclusion. 

So they chatted away mindlessly for a while, then Gavin dosed off until he felt the SUV leave the highway and started traveling on a gravel road. He swallowed and rubbed the sleep from his eyes and Erza drove them, tires crunching on the gravel. 

"Damn, how long was I out?" He asked her sleepily. 

Erza gave him a soft chuckle. "Long enough sleepy head." She replied. 

Gavin looked out the window and noticed the gravel road leading into a forest-like area. The trees were thick and green foliage filled the area. All the different colored flowers covered the ground. The light from the sun's rays broke through the forest canopy in sporadic sections, giving it the appearance of angelic rays choosing a man for God. 

The beauty of the scenery they passed almost took Gavin's breath away. They weren't even at the campsite yet, and he was already impressed with the beauty of the area. 

"Damn, this is so beautiful," Gavin said softly. 

Her soft, rich laughter filled the SUV as she agreed with him. "I love coming up here. I don't get to as much anymore, but it's my favorite spot to get away from everything for a weekend." She said as she continued making her way through the winding road and into the forest. 

Eventually, they came to a dead-end parking lot covered with gravel and dirt. Two other vehicles were already there. A dark blue, four-door sedan and a red four-door pick-up. 

"Looks like Aria and Lyla got here first," she commented as she parked the SUV next to the truck. Gavin noticed that Aria was carrying gear from the truck over to a wooden picnic table. The wood was old and weather-worn, definitely showing it's age from the weather exposure. 

Gavin got out of the SUV and looked around. It was a wide open clearing for camping. It contained several picnic tables scattered around, a few open fire pits, and a couple of spots for electrical hook-ups. 

The grass looked like it was freshly cut recently and low to the ground. Someone even went to the trouble of picking up the clippings. Over to one side was a small building that Gavin assumed housed the bathroom and showers. He could hear the sounds of running water and looked over to see a small river running along the edge of the camp site. The sound was peaceful and lulling to his ears. 

His heart immediately calmed and slowed as he inhaled the fresh crisp air of the forest. It seemed to melt all his worries, fear and stress. The place was that peaceful and comforting to him. All the anxieties, doubts and even fear seemed to be an issue of the past as Gavin stood there looking at the camp. 

Lyla walked over, her blonde hair down around her shoulders as she smiled at them. "About time you guys got here," she chastised them. 

"Hey, don't look at me. She was the driver," Gavin said, throwing Erza under the bus. 

Lyla laughed good natured. "Yeah she can be a slow poke sometimes," she said as she walked over to her car and grabbed a bundle of her sleeping gear. Gavin walked over and helped her pull the bedding and tent bag out of her trunk. "Thanks Gavin," she said as she led the way to the picnic table to set the stuff down. 

Gavin was surprised to see Tessa helping Aria set up a tent nearby as he said, "Hey Tessa, wasn't expecting you to be joining us." 

Tessa looked up, her long brown hair pulled back into a simple braid as she smiled at him. "Erza asked after we were talking about magic, if I wanted to try learning as well, and said why not. So here I am," she said with a laugh. She had never been camping before and was probably more excited about that than learning magic. 

Gavin looked over to see Erza digging in the back of her SUV, and pulled out a few totes and a cooler and sat them on the ground next to the SUV. "Hey come give me a hand," she called out to him.

"Coming," he responded as he went over and grabbed the heavy cooler to pull it over to the picnic table. The sound of ice sloshing back and forth over drinks and food filled his ears. 

"We can run into the nearby towns when we need more ice or food. But this should be enough to get us started," Erza said as she sat a black tote down on the ground. She popped the lid open to reveal the three-person camping tent she kept. 

"So, before we get all unpacked, I'm going to try teaching you shifting," she told Gavin as she took his hand. She guided him over to where a couple of tree stumps stood upright near the river and a short distance away from everyone else. 

"Alright, now what?" Gavin asked her softly as he sat down across from her. 

She smiled warmly at him. "First you need to close your eyes. Inhale, hold, then slowly exhale. Calm your mind and relax your body, baby," she instructed, and waited for him to do so. 

Gavin made sure he was comfortable on the large stump. Then he closed his eyes, put his hands in his lap and took a deep inhale. He held it for a few moments, then exhaled. He repeated this a few more times and felt his shoulders begin relaxing, the tension leaving his body. 

Erza nodded as she watched. "Good, feel the fresh air filling your lungs, filling your body. Feel the tension leave and your spirit lighten as a response," she commented as she followed the same exercise. 

Gavin nodded as he felt the breathing technique working and his body relaxing through the process. 

"Now with your eyes closed, focus your energy and thoughts inside. Feel your mana flowing through your body. Deep inside you is the spirit of a wolf. Large, powerful, feral and beautiful. Your manaflow is the connection to the animal within. It will guide your path to shifting," she said as she watched him closely. 

Gavin had his eyes closed. Through the breathing techniques, he felt his consciousness follow the flow of his mana inwardly. He felt a presence there. Something inside him. It was strong. Powerful. With an iron will that terrified him. The wolf had already claimed life before and it demanded more. The ferocity spread through Gavin's senses until it was all-consuming. 

Gavin wanted blood. He wanted violence. His body shook all over from the overpowering weight of the wolf's anger and rage. 

Erza let out a sharp gasp. The waves of power and ferocity that emanated from Gavin were terrifying. His mana was being forced outward as a visible aura. Even Aria and Lyla stopped what they were doing to watch on in concern. 

The amount of power and aura on display was beyond that normally seen. It sent their animal senses on full alert as they recognized the bloodlust coming from Gavin. From his wolf. 

Just how strong would he be fully shifted? Should they even teach him this power?