Fledgling (27 page)

“
Should
help me?” Chance sneered, his shoulders tensed as his fists balled. “Why is it you’re so vague about such important things? So many questions I ask you, you just ignore. Don’t you trust me enough to tell me the truth…or don’t you know?”

“Chance!” Ana whispered disapprovingly.

Like being snapped with a rubber band, Chance jerked his eyes to Ana. He had forgotten she was there. Shame trickled down like icy fingers along his flesh and shook his head.

“I’m sorry, Grandfather. Forgive me. I don’t mean to be unkind or ungrateful.”

“I understand, Chance.” Niyol never flinched through his grandson’s tantrum; he simply waited for him to come around. “Now, I believe you have the eagle mapped already…am I right?”

Chance nodded shamefaced, unable to speak.

“I know you weren’t interested in it before because you didn’t favor flying. I believe you are more…familiar now? Getting more practice recently?” Niyol stared at Chance, waiting for the weight to fall from his slumping shoulders.

Ana and Chance exchanged grins and Chance broke down and chuckled.

“I’m pretty good now. I have the horned owl down pat.”

Chance sank back into the billowing grasses at Niyol’s feet and shook his head and closed his eyes.

Ana departed his side, settling on her perch.
He’s tenacious, to say the least
, she thought to herself. Far from being a quitter. Admirable. But a little reckless too.

Chapter 33.

The graduating class skated through the remaining week of school eager for their diplomas.

Melissa was so proud of her daughter; she hugged her every time they passed in the house.

While Ana filled out a handful of graduation cards her mother exclaimed, “We should send one to that doctor who said you wouldn’t live to eighteen. I’m so glad we switched. And now you’re graduating.” Melissa sniffed and turned away.

Ana beamed at her mother’s back and shook her head. Like her mom, she was very proud and a little relieved to graduate from her senior year.

Chance was clearly eager to finish school like Ana, but only so he would have more free time for training, to build his endurance and strength. He hadn’t lost the wild spark in his eye since his breakdown in the clearing. It turned into a challenge that he wouldn’t surrender.

Ana kept a watchful eye on him in silent observance. Her happiness surrounding graduation fueled her to find a new challenge to conquer. Rather than wallow in self-doubt about the uncertainty after high school, she was now ready to take on anything.

Daily, Ana went out to the mail box, looking for her awaited report card. She flipped through the mail as she sauntered back to the house. A large white envelope with her name on it shouted up at her.

Melissa heard Ana come into the kitchen, and paused while scrubbing the dishes. “Did it come?”

Ana sat at the table silently, her trembling hands holding the white rectangle. She took a deep breath, and tore it open.

Melissa turned off the faucet and watched her daughter.

Ana’s face grew still as she read her report card, and then broke into a grin, lifting her face to her mother’s.

“I skimmed a B in calculus and the rest are A’s. I guess I don’t need to worry about
that
any more.”

“Great job, Baby. I wouldn’t expect any less from you.” Melissa wiped her hands and squeezed her daughter tight.

“My photography teacher made a note. He thinks I have ‘great promise’ and to continue my bliss. You know-I might sort through some of my photos to make a proper portfolio. I have some portraits of Eva, and the landscape series I did in my junior year and the architectural final I got an A+ in. I could throw in a couple of the nature images and have a well rounded portfolio.”

“Good idea, Baby. Let me take a peek when you’re done. I might know some people that may need a photographer.” Melissa winked at her daughter.

“Thanks, Mom.”

“Any more thoughts about college?” Melissa asked while rubbing the counter with a bright yellow sponge, avoiding eye contact.

Ana grew silent.

She sighed, “Soon, Mom. I know it’s time…finally. I promise to give it some thought.”

It was time-time to face the music and live her life.

Melissa dropped the sponge in the sink and grinned. “Okay, Baby. I don’t want to pressure you. Oh, I believe we’re all set for the graduation party Friday night. I spoke to Aiyana and she’ll be expecting us around six. That’ll give us time to collect our things after the ceremony and head over to their house.”

“Great.”

Ana rose from the table and climbed the stairs feeling like a ninety year old woman. Now that she was excited to tackle life, she found it all the more confounding that her body held her back.

She settled at her desk and began sorting through thousands of digital images, creating her portfolio. As she worked diligently at her computer the sound of a squawking blue jay tore through the tall firs outside, drawing a slight smile from her lips.

Chance sat before Niyol in their grassy field.

Bright spots of color splashed through the long stalks. Wildflowers were rushing to bloom, seeking the warm sunlight.

Chance’s eyes were closed in meditation as Niyol guided him through an unfamiliar transformation.

“Listen carefully, Chance. You need to envision this in your mind. Your ancestors cultivated the power of a great bird with a body the size of a human being-its wingspan up to thirty feet. The wings were said to be the color of cinnamon with tips as if dipped in snow. Its large talons are used for ripping and tearing. Yellow eyes view the world so clearly, there is no match to its vision.

“Now Chance, imagine this great animal…feel yourself soaring through the skies. Feel the wind through your wings, lifting you, taking you where you wish to go.”

Chance felt his pulsing energy ready at his bidding. His body tingled imagining a great raptor, larger than him, cutting through the Earth’s atmosphere as though it were made solely for him, existing only for him.

His pores burned and prickled. He pushed past it, trying to hold onto his vision. A screeching cry erupted from his chest. The burning intensified, heating his lungs and organs, and then the acute pain ended as he finalized his form.

He immediately knew it had gone wrong when he zeroed in on his grandfather’s face. From his height, he knew he wasn’t as big as he should have been. He stretched himself out and looked from side to side, trying not to lose balance.

Long feathers draped his arms, where he should have had wings. He lifted his hands to his face. A beak extended where his nose once was, his skin was layered with soft downy feathers, although his eyes felt the same.

He was frightened. It had been a long time since a transformation went so wrong, thankful he couldn’t see himself. His grandfather’s reaction was enough.

Niyol cleared his throat, his eyes wide and asked, “Does it hurt?”

Chance shook his head, although it didn’t feel
good
either. He would have to describe the pins and needles of discomfort later. It was probably the feathers tugging at his flesh.

“Okay, that didn’t go well. It can take some trial and error. Don’t get discouraged Chance, this is the hardest form to take, especially if you don’t have an example to study. Times have changed. My father learned the form from his father. The generations would pass it down.” Niyol seemed sad as he continued, “I’m sorry I can’t personally teach you the shape. It’s my place as your teacher. But there
is
something I may be able to give you to help…” His eyes drifted to the skies as though he could see the great Thunderbird flying overhead.

Chance tried to stand still to center his energy enough to change back into his human form. Were his legs different lengths, he wondered, from the wobbling he couldn’t control. Finally able to focus enough, he returned to his normal shape.

He cleared his throat. “Was it as bad as I think?” Chance asked halfheartedly, not entirely sure he wanted to hear the answer.

“Don’t worry Chance, it’s only a matter of time.” Although Niyol didn’t seem convinced.

“Can we try again later?”

“Maybe tomorrow. You should take some forms that are familiar before attempting it again. What do you feel like right now?”

Chance grinned, “Bear. It’s my favorite.”

“Very well, let’s work on expanding your energy. You can start with bear and work your way down the chain. Let’s see how many transformations you can do before you run out of power. Remember, leave enough strength to change back or we’ll be stuck out here a while. I don’t think your mother would take it well if you went home for dinner in squirrel form.”

On Friday afternoon Ana stood in her room shrouded in yellow polyester grasping a blue graduation cap. She was glowing. Her reflection in a small star shaped mirror revealed her light rose cheeks, which outshone even her blinding robes.

She floated out of the room, meeting her sister in the hallway.

“I forgot my sweater.” Eva blew by like a hummingbird and entered her cactus flower pink room.

Ana was halfway down the stairs before Eva buzzed by her again.

“Oh, don’t you two look pretty. Stand together and let me get a picture.”

Melissa was waiting for them in the living room holding Ana’s large black camera. This time she remembered what to do, and held her finger on the button as she waited for the girls to hug.

After Melissa swapped places with Eva for a photo with Ana, they gathered their belongings and headed to Clark Bend High School.

When they arrived, Ana left her mother and sister to meet up with the senior class in the auditorium. As she approached the room of excited graduates, she suddenly felt arms wrap around her waist and warm breath on her neck. She spun too quickly to place her hands on Chance’s face, he held her steady as her head rush passed.

“Hello, beautiful. Ready to graduate?”

“More than ready. How ‘bout you?”

“I’m ready to spend my free time with you.” He leaned forward kissing her gently on the lips, making Ana’s mind go blank while she forgot her surroundings.

The sound of a throat clearing made them pause. Ana opened her eyes. Laura stood grinning at the two of them, slightly embarrassed.

“Hey guys-just wanted to say congrats!” she smiled brightly.

Ana stepped forward, giving Laura a hug, “Thanks, Laura! I owe my B+ in calc to you!”

The three of them joined the rest of their group, and listened to the principal, who came to talk before the ceremony. They tried to pay attention to the boring instructions that followed, relieved when he left to begin the proceedings.

Clark Bend High School had seventy nine graduating students; the event took under an hour.

When Ana walked across the stage to accept her diploma a loud shout, which only could have originated from Uncle Jace, rang through the auditorium. As she turned to smile and wave, a blinding flash left her staggering off the stage. “Mom,” she muttered to herself, chuckling.

After the last graduate crossed the platform, the principal thanked the audience and the air filled with spinning blue caps and loud shouts.

Chance and Ana met up among the tangle of folding chairs. Then the customary sound of familial embarrassment caught up to her.

“Ana, I thought you were going to fall on your face up there. Your mother sure has timing. I saw the picture though, it turned out nicely. You’d never have known you were about to fall over on the stairs!”

Aunt Tera rushed to give her a tight squeeze, her curls tickling Ana’s nose. She pulled away just in time to get swept up in Uncle Jace’s arms.

“That was great, Ana. It felt like the time I caught a thirty inch steelhead.”

“You can just say you’re proud. Really Jace, I don’t know why you don’t just say it.” Aunt Tera seemed embarrassed by her husband.

Ana patted his arm. “It’s okay, Uncle Jace. I know you’re proud.”

More voices joined their group as Chance’s parents approached them with smiling faces. Aiyana’s arms opened and entwined her son. “Congratulations, Honey. You too, Ana-you guys looked great up there.”

Melissa and Ben hugged warmly in greeting. When the group began chatting, Aunt Tera slapped Uncle Jace’s belly with the back of her hand. “Go on. Give it to her.”

Uncle Jace widened his eyes and tucked his hand into his back pocket pulling out a wrinkled blue envelope.

“I see I should have put it in my purse.” Tera winked at Ana.

He handed the card to Ana, who felt too familiar with the humiliation of Aunt Tera’s scorching spotlight. “It’s okay, Uncle Jace. It’s the thought that counts.”

She accepted it and unsealed the envelope. As she opened the card something slipped free, fluttering to the ground. Before reaching the floor Chance snagged it and delivered it to Ana.

“Thanks.”

Ana glanced at what Chance handed to her and faced her aunt and uncle.

“Thank you
sooo
much. That’s
very
generous of you.” She clung to them both as she held the check they had gifted her.