Fledgling (26 page)

A light knock sounded from Ana’s door.

Small twinkling lights lit her room overhead in soft ambient light. Ana saw her reflection in the window; a ghostlike apparition overlaid the dark shadows of trees outside. Green satin shimmered on the contours of her body. Her dark hair was swept up on her head with a pretty hair clip Melissa lent her and a few stray strands curled their way down her exposed back. She put mascara on to lengthen her long eyelashes and colored lip gloss shined on her lips. Not wanting to add anything more, she was uncertain what to do.

“Come in,” she mumbled, too anxious to face the door.

She watched the door open through the reflection.

“Close your eyes.”

Her feet settled into the floor and she breathed out unhurriedly, letting her lids slide shut.

A moment later she felt something cold drape around her neck. The surprise left her chest frozen. She breathed in a stilted breath as she opened her eyes and laid her hand on her chest, dropping her head to inspect her new sparkling necklace.

“I had Dad make it for you. Rainbow Moonstones-I thought they’d be perfect for you. I hope you like it. It’s not the
traditional
corsage…but…”

Strands of pale stones entwined her neck in a decorative bramble. The small faceted tear shapes encircled her long neck, shining iridescently.

“It’s perfect. Thank you Chance.” Ana turned around and faced her Prince Charming.

Formal in black, he
was
a prince and her eyes stung looking at him.
Just breathe, Ana
. Her heart grew in her chest, leaving little room for her deflating lungs.

Chance’s eyes widened as she stood before him, speechless. Only able to lift his eyebrow in response, he shook his head.

“Speaking of perfect you’re…amazing, Ana.”

She blushed and turned her eyes down to the wood floor. “Thanks and you look perfectly handsome.”

“Well, there’s a camera attached to really excited mother downstairs. She’s waiting for us, we should go. Anyways, if we don’t leave now I may have second thoughts about taking you out looking
so beautiful
. I may need to take bear form to fight off all the guys who’ll be staring at you,” he said while appraising her.

He offered her his elbow and she reached out, happy to anchor herself to him. They took a collective deep breath before heading downstairs.

“Oh, Baby! You two look
wonderful
. Okay, stand together so I can get a picture!” Melissa struggled with Ana’s camera and seemed confused. Ana set it on automatic and instructed her to just hit the button, but in her excitement she had forgotten her daughter’s simple instructions.

“Oh, right.” Melissa held the camera up to her eye and a blinding flash burst through the room.

After a series of photos, Ana and Chance escaped from the little blue house out into the awaiting night.

As though in a dream, she was whisked away by her dark mysterious companion.

They drove to Clark Bend High School and Chance escorted Ana to the gym. Milling students dressed to impress, lined up waiting to enter. The sound of music and laughter filled the air as they drew closer to the party.

The prom photographer was set up at the door taking photos of couples as they entered. A tall white trellis stood with fake roses entwining its base, and a backdrop of the ocean hung from behind.

Ana stared at the scene, trying to piece together what the theme was supposed to be. Like most photographers, when it was their turn in front of the camera, she held a nervous smile, her eyes wide.

“That’ll be one for the mantle,” Ana snorted as they entered the gym.

Chance laughed at her and pulled her close, kissing the top of her head. “You want me to go maul the camera? I’ll leave
no
trace.”

Laughing, Ana responded, “Oh, my hero!”

Through the night they danced and rested until Ana’s burdensome heart left her wilted. Chance swept her off to rest, while he went to retrieve her coat and his parked truck.

Just past midnight, she peeked through the living room window to confirm her mother wasn’t waiting up. She stood on her toes then Chance lifted her and their eyes locked. As was ritual now, he lingered, anticipating the awaited kiss. It started slowly, but when their lips began moving more fervently they paused in their embrace, both sensing Ana’s pounding heart.

Ana groaned, “I hope someday I can kiss you,
without
worrying about my heart stopping.” She gave an uncomfortable giggle, leaning her head against his chest, listening to his strong heartbeat.

Chance remained silent. He held her until she pulled away. And still as a guardian, he watched her enter the darkened blue house. He stood, staring into the sky until a shooting star streaked across the vaulted expanse.

A moment later his figure was gone.

Finals week was over in a flurry.

Ana and Chance studied every day after school. There was no time for lessons with his grandfather; it had to wait for the following week. He was annoyed and agitated to delay his training.

Ana was totally depleted of energy. The stress of finals left her empty. When they were over she laid on the couch all afternoon, unable to move. While she rested, her mind wandered around the possibilities of her life following high school.

Her future was something she avoided thinking about, with no plans for college she didn’t know what she wanted to do. At the doorstep of the final milestone she had set for herself, she began wondering what was through the door.

Niyol had opened her up, opened her eyes. She was ready to live life. She was unsure what Chance had been planning, because they never spoke about the subject. She clammed up whenever anything was mentioned involving turning the page on the calendar.

Ana knew she was good at photography and enjoyed it, but wasn’t sure what else interested her. If finals went well, her high grade point average would stand, allowing her to attend college. She hadn’t applied to any, so it would be community college for now. If she wanted.

What she really wanted to do was travel, to see people and things that she had only seen in travel magazines.

Once Melissa got home that evening, changed out of her work clothes and slipped on her favorite worn slippers, Ana poked her head into her room to talk.

“So, Mom-I was thinking about what I wanted to do, after I graduate and all.”

Melissa sat down on her bed and waved Ana over to sit beside her.

“Really?”

“Well, you know how much I’ve wanted to travel the world.” Melissa looked apprehensive and Ana pushed on, “Obviously I can’t do it until the doctor gives me the ‘all clear’ but somehow I want to make it happen-it’s important to me. And, maybe I can take some photography classes at community college. I thought I could start taking portraits or something for money to build my portfolio.”

“That sounds like a starting point. I’m happy to hear you’ve been thinking about your future. And I’d love to see you do what makes you happy.” Melissa touched Ana’s delicate hand.

That night out at Ana’s rock, Chance visited her and she told him what was on her mind.

“Sounds great. Are you asking what
I
was planning on? Didn’t think you liked talking about the future so I never brought it up before. I wanted to keep working on my abilities-see where they take me. The
most
important thing though, is to be with you.”

Ana snuggled into his chest, and inhaled the brisk night air mingled with his distinctive scent. “That’s assumed, of course.”

“You have a follow-up appointment with your doctor on Monday?”

“Yeah, it should be a quick one. But I’ll be gone from school.”

“You want some company?”

“Would you even let me go alone?” Ana asked, challenging him.

“Eh, probably not. Just thought I’d ask though…so you felt like you had a choice.” Chance squeezed her.

“Well then, I guess I’ll see you first thing Monday morning.”

Ana’s routine check up with her doctor went quickly. Her condition was continuing to deteriorate since the heart procedure.

After scheduling another check up four weeks away, they left, eager to escape the white walled fortress for the fresh air outside.

They drove back home to Clark Bend early enough in the afternoon to allow time for Chance to train. At his house they found his grandfather sitting and reading in a wooden chair on the porch, waiting for them.

Chance sauntered up, “Hello, grandfather. Feel like going out?”

In response he stood and nodded. After retrieving a blanket, they set out to their private training ground.

The sun shone, warming the swaying grass in the meadow. A raven cawed at them as they entered the valley. Perched on Ana’s log, it flicked its tail in agitation. As they approached, it flew away, perturbed to loose its sun spot, scolding them as it arched through the sky.

Ana walked to her regular station, and sat resting on the log.

“Do you want to do the bear again today?” Niyol asked as he opened the blanket to screen Chance from Ana.

“Sure, it’s getting easier for me to take its shape.”

Chance settled at his grandfather’s feet after stripping his clothing off and set them in a pile. He covered himself with the blanket so Ana could watch the transformation. He closed his eyes in silent meditation. Suddenly a large familiar hulking bear rose from the ground. The gigantic beast stood high on its rear feet towering over Niyol, stretching its immense arms out.

Chance enjoyed taking bear shape, he felt stronger than in any other form and his sense of smell was immeasurably effective. It was quickly becoming his favorite embodiment.

Spending time parading around the meadow, testing his senses, he returned to his grandfather who held out the blanket. The bear shrank behind it as he returned to his human form. Wrapping the blanket around his waist, he sat down at Niyol’s feet.

“Grandfather, I can take bear form now. My power has grown, and I wanted to know if I could start working with healing now.” He glanced up to Niyol’s softened eyes.

“I know why you’re working so hard, son. I understand the pressure you have put on yourself. But it is still unsafe for you to practice. Testing on yourself will not give you the benefit you seek-it will only offer a false sense of security. Unfortunately you can’t practice on me or Ana either. I am an old man and Ana has structural…imperfections. We would pull every last spark of your essence from you. My knowledge on the subject is vague, but I do know it is something deadly to try. Only the masters would bother with it, because there was no risk of dying.”

“So, is there a master shapeshifter I can ask? Are there others around like me?”

Niyol sighed, “Now is not the time for that talk.”

Chance dropped his head into his hands and bellowed loudly. The sound reverberated through the open meadow.

“Look at me.”

Chance returned his face to his grandfather’s; deep creases lined his eyes, pain erupting from his every pore.

“You need to listen closely to me. This is very important. Healing takes more than
twice
as much power than transformation. You are taking your energy and changing something outside of yourself. It is
very
different from changing your own cells. When you extend your own power to heal someone, a vacuum is created between yourself and the patient. Your energy gets drawn into the subject. And depending on the sickness or injury-it can be a gentle pull or a forceful vacuum. If you commit to a healing beyond your power, it can kill you if you can’t break the connection. Remember this, Chance. Frustrating, I know. But anything worth learning, takes time. Some individuals take what isn’t theirs, but they never really
own
it, because
they
didn’t
earn
it. Do you understand?”

Chance nodded his head vaguely.

“I know you want to help Ana. I care about her fate as well-but is it worth your life?”

Chance sat in silence.

Ana, clearly concerned and not knowing what was happening between the two men, rose and walked cautiously toward them. She stopped beside Chance and studied his face. The agony was obvious.

“What’s wrong?” Ana watched his eyes narrowing.

“For now, let’s work on cultivating your power. You still haven’t achieved Thunderbird. It’s a true challenge, taking a unique form that you can
only
envision in your mind.” Niyol tried diverting his grandson’s attentions from healing back to shape shifting, a more comfortable subject matter for him.

Chance nodded. The dark veil that possessed his features made him look frightening, scary. He shrugged his shoulders and lifted himself off the ground without any effort.

“Fine. Thunderbird. Let’s do it.”

Niyol seemed to be appraising his grandson’s new facade. He saw recklessness seeping in, partnering with a desperation that deadened Chance’s eyes.

“It would be best to work with the Bald Eagle first. It’s a large bird and it should help you take Thunderbird form.”