Fledgling (25 page)

They ate their meal as fast as they could and took their empty plates to the sink, rinsed and put them in the dishwasher. Chance disappeared upstairs searching for his grandfather and came back down a couple minutes later carrying a folded blanket.

“Won’t you get cold shifting in the storm?” Ana whispered, lifting her brows up.

“I don’t really experience the cold as much anymore. My body seems to regulate a warm temperature no matter what it’s like outside. Must have to do with adapting survival skills to my human form. I still don’t get it, but I certainly won’t complain-makes things easy. Anyways, I’ll be fine. This blanket’s for you to wrap around your jacket. Grandfather’s bringing another for me.”

She zipped up her jacket and flipped her hood up. He opened the blanket and enveloped her in its warm folds.

He pulled on a slicker in case it started raining as his parents came into the entryway.

“What should I say…have fun? And keep an eye on Ana-we don’t want her getting sick.” Aiyana said rubbing what was probably Ana’s shoulder under the lumpy blanket.

“No one has her interest more at heart than I do, Mom. Don’t worry.”

Niyol came downstairs with folded woven fabric in his arms.

“Goodbye, Father,” Aiyana said as he passed her, kissing his lined cheek. Niyol smiled and returned a kiss to her youthful face.

The three left the house and moved briskly once in the driveway. Ana took her familiar place on Chance’s back, rocking around as they sprinted through the wilderness. She felt snug and warm against him, imagining what it might feel like being a baby carried by her mother.

They arrived at the field as a resonant rumbling touched everything in the valley. Ana sat on her log, trying to settle in. She understood now the importance of staying out of the way so Chance wouldn’t get distracted. Sometimes he had a hard time controlling his form, taking a while to govern himself. It could be dangerous being near him while he occupied a shape that had the potential to hurt her.

Another thundering explosion reverberated through the landscape, causing her to hunch down under the blanket. She tucked her hands into the folds around her and peered out at the two forms in the meadow.

Chance looked over at her, making sure she wasn’t frightened. Seeing her stooped down in a lumpy pile on the log, he laughed.

Niyol spoke, interrupting Chance’s distraction, “Are you ready? It’s time to sit.” Niyol held up the blanket shield so his grandson could change out of his cumbersome clothing.

He listened to his grandfather, the smile falling from his face, and focused. He pulled off his shirt and pants, sat at his grandfather’s feet and closed his eyes. The blanket was draped across his lap and he began opening his mind to the natural world around him, sensing wildlife skittering behind the tree wall. The hairs on his arms lifted as he manipulated the electricity in the earth and in the crisp evening air. Movement stilled in the clearing and a quiet fell in the forest. Only Chance could see the small watchful eyes peering from the dark.

His grandfather’s voice entered his senses, “Now feel yourself pushing outward. Absorb what’s around you, focus on your core expanding, growing.”

He recognized the static within himself, collecting it in a smooth radius and pulled in the available current outside of his body. The energy in the air and earth coalesced with his power, mounting and enlarging within, while he maintained control.

“Now, remember the bear. Think of the time you observed it, mapping its imprint. See him in your mind… and welcome the form to your body.”

He reflected on the time he hiked through the mountains, discovering a grizzly wandering through the pines. He held the animal’s attention long enough to study its intricate mapping before it grew agitated, and he was forced to phase into eagle form and fly to safety.

His thoughts tangled with the wet black nose, the large bulky body and sharp intelligent eyes. Breathing in, he opened up his senses to meld with the bear and prickling rocked his body.

From Ana’s vantage point she saw Chance one minute, then in the next, fur erupted across his body as he grew into a towering beast reaching far above his grandfather. She drew in a sharp breath. This was her first time witnessing the moment of transformation. She sat in awe when the bear stumbled, trying to keep balance. Deep whining rumbled from the bear’s chest as it swayed in place.

Chance struggled to keep balance, grasping at his new form. He pulled at his blurred senses, first attempting to sharpen his foggy eyes. Like focusing his camera, he stared ahead at his grandfather’s face, his eyes honing in on Niyol’s nose. Disappointed his eyesight wasn’t better he hoped the other senses would compensate.

He sniffed the air around him, starting at his feet. He smelled Ana’s and Niyol’s familiar scents, and then thought he caught the smell of a buck that must have passed hours earlier. He lifted his long snout pulling in the thick smells of rotting pine needles, damp earth and a Fire Ant colony that layered around him, delicious like a custard filled trifle. He was excited by his new ability. This was the best sense of smell he had experienced yet.

A brilliant burst of lightning rocked him from his reverie seeking his grandfather’s face once again. He grumbled putting a tentative foot forward to test the range of movement in his new hulking form.

Niyol held his arm out toward the forest. “Go try it out, Chance. We’ll be waiting for you here.”

Ana watched the huge bear stumble along the murky field, slowly gaining its footing before disappearing into the forests architecture.

Niyol joined her on the log.

“He needs to get used to this new form. The extra power from the lightning storm helped him gain the bear. The first step is changing form, the next is keeping control.” Niyol’s face was turned toward the place his grandson had disappeared.

“So, I’ve been wondering…” Ana fidgeted with her hands for a moment before continuing, “I’m not sure I understand what Chance said about the Thunderbird. Was it a real animal, or what?” She wasn’t sure if Niyol was protective of these matters and hoped she wouldn’t make him mad asking.

Niyol took a slow breath, “Well, the form goes back. Far back. One of my ancestors created it. Powerful shifters can safely create shapes they can only imagine. It is dangerous experimenting.”

“So, it wasn’t a
real
animal then?”

“No. Only real to those who witnessed it.” Niyol looked down and became quiet.

Ana became more comfortable talking with him and settled onto the bumpy log. She pointed toward the forest where she last saw the hulking bear form. “It’s amazing to watch him shift-I wish I could do something like that.” Ana’s focus matched Niyol’s, scanning the dense forest line.

He faced her in the darkness, waiting for her gaze to meet his. When their eyes locked, she was held by the light within. Although it was dark, she could see his face enough to know he was searching for something.

“You let yourself be guided by fear. So you can never reach your full potential.”

The words hit her with force. In stunned silence, she first felt defensive and then resigned herself to the truth of his words.

“You are no different from any other, and different in every way. Everyone dies-in this, you are no different. What you do while you’re alive
IS
the difference.” Niyol reached out and held his hand over her chest, never making contact. He held her gaze as he continued, “
This
is what makes you different, and
that
is the blessing. You have a deep strength you haven’t used. You have the power in you to become unique.”

Time stood still as each word pounded into her chest, as though the words themselves cracked it open. Pain flooded from a gaping hole inside and she realized her face was wet with tears.

He placed his soft weathered hand on her lap, sitting still beside her as he stared intently into the ebony woodland.

When she couldn’t cry anymore and the last of the pain trickled out of her, a cool electric breath filled her lungs, radiating out to her body.

This was the moment. The moment she chose to leave all the angst she had clung to, not wanting to die in fear. Niyol was right, everyone would die. She needed to live while she could. An entirely different attitude began to surface. Choices appeared that had been invisible, but were now so clear. Her life was waiting.

“Thank you,” Ana whispered to Niyol, and he patted her leg.

“I’ve led a good life. I met my love and lived happily for a long time. But I’ve learned, that if you have a power-you’re obligated to use it.
Everyone
has a power, Ana.”

Loud rustling at the forests edge drew their attention. Chance’s immense body came crashing through the shrubbery. He tucked into a roll and flopped onto the ground in the field.

Ana began giggling as Niyol joined in, amused by Chance’s attention grabbing performance.

The bear’s form lifted up and began loping toward the two figures on the log. He stopped before them and gave a soft growl, his lips extending in articulation.

“Did you enjoy scaring Thumper and Bambi?”

Chapter 32.

“Now, that one’s pretty. It brings out your cans,” Aunt Tera’s voice rose over Ana’s shoulder.

She flinched, trying to block out her aunt’s voice, unsure how she finessed her way into the shopping trip. It may have had to do with Tera’s boasting to Melissa about knowing all the best dress shops around the lake, so Melissa invited her along for the ride.

A long wall of mirrors stretched out before Ana as she pivoted in place, measuring up the flashy turquoise dress. Her scar was screaming for her attention, peeking out from the lacey bodice. She let her eyes blur, allowing its sharp line to fade. Her new attitude was telling her to pick the prettiest dress and to proudly display the line running down her chest, which boldly challenged her natural instincts to cover herself up.

Melissa walked up with two more dresses. “I think you’re going to LOVE this one. Don’t think-just put it on.” She pointed at a dark green dress that was obscured by a black one; trying to cover the fact it had a drop neck.

Ana’s eyebrows rose, but she held her hand out anyway grabbing the dresses and sailed into her dressing room.

While Ana was changing, Eva came and sat down on a comfy chair, awaiting her sister, ready to give her opinion.

Melissa stood with a smile that could have cracked her jaw. She leaned over and whispered to her sister, “I never dreamed I’d see Ana going to prom. She’s living a Cinderella story. Bless her heart.”

Tera nodded her head in agreement.

The changing room door opened and Ana peeked around the edge.

“What are you waiting for?”

“Come on out here and show us how beautiful you are,” the women chorused.

There was a loud sigh, then Ana straightened as though someone was pulling her strings and glided out in front of the mirrors, walking tall.

“Ooooh, I
like
that one. You look like a movie star!” Eva exclaimed, jumping forward in her seat.

“Oh, Ana. You look…well…beautiful.” Melissa dabbed at her tears with the edge of her shirt.

“Lovely. Truly, Sweetie,” Aunt Tera commented, at a loss, as though all of her embarrassing comments had been used up.

Ana appraised herself. The green satin dress clung to her youthful figure, dropping in a swirl of fabric at her feet, in a way most women would envy. The neckline plummeted down, exposing her pale skin. The thin white scar was screaming,
Look at me
, as it plunged beneath the silken fabric. She shook her head, forcing the voice away. A tall proud girl reflected back at her.

“You look so grown up. A real adult.” Melissa raised an eyebrow. “That dress could stop traffic. I’m not sure I should let you go out looking so pretty…”

Ana inspected her mother’s proud grin through the mirror.

“I bet we could find a drape or scarf for you to cover yourself with,” Melissa offered trying to be helpful.

“But that would cover my scar…” Ana pulled her shoulders back gazing at her badge of honor. She challenged herself to shy away from her reflection, standing tall.

Her mother’s brows knitted together. “That doesn’t sound like you. You aren’t trying to cover your scar anymore?”

Ana lifted her chin. “No. I’ve decided its time to move forward. I don’t care who knows. I won’t let it affect me from living my life.”

Aunt Tera and Eva exchanged surprised glances, both raising their eyebrows and shrugging.

“I’m proud of you, Baby,” Melissa whispered. “That makes me happy to hear. So… does that mean you want the dress?” She grabbed for her purse, slung over her shoulder.

Ana turned in the mirror assessing her glamorous reflection. She thought about going to the prom with Chance in a black tux. How handsome he would be. The inner vault labeled ‘wishful thinking’ had been thrown open. She was living the daydream she had kept locked away from herself.

She blinked, her throat tightened, having a hard time swallowing.

“This is the one.” She smiled up at her mother’s emotional face.