Shift (The Pandorma Adventures Book 1) (32 page)

Medusa's eyes glint menacingly. I am crouched in a small dark space. “Fe, fi, fo, fum,” Medusa’s voice sneers. An enormous shadow passes by me and fear strangles my throat. A wicked grin spreads across the obscure figure’s face. Massive teeth stretch toward me; I scramble backward but I’m too late. The teeth close over my head . . .

I cry out and jolt up. Panting I feel my neck. Still there. I crumple back down and close my eyes for a few minutes to gather my wits. After a few calming breathes I open my eyes again and look around, the memory of the battle swamps me but I push it away. The feathers beneath me have been rigorously scattered everywhere. Delicately I place a hand across my stomach then bring it up to my face. There is no blood so I look down. I lift up my awful, tattered dirty shirt. Except for long red slivers stretching across my middle, I’m fine. Assuming all my organs are still inside and I hadn’t left any behind.
Yuck.
But I wouldn’t doubt that happening with the scrapes I bear now. My fingers slip over the red lines and I wonder if they are going to be scars. I gently touch my jaw then open and close my mouth. No pain.

Sleeping has rejuvenated me, but I don’t feel completely one hundred percent better. My stiff muscles remind me of ice being cracked so water can flow freely again. I walk in several small circles to get my muscles warmed up. Once I’m satisfied, I leave my alcove and head toward the gloriously shining sun. I stop at the sound of hushed voices.

“Are you positive?” Dark asks.

“Positive about what?” I ask.

Dark and the red panda turn around. Dark pads over to me and carefully rubs a velvety head against my leg.

“Glad you’re okay. Some of us weren’t sure you’d make it,” Dark says.

I don’t know who she is referring to, but I don’t care. I go over to a block of sunlight and sit in it, closing my eyes with pleasure.

“It turns out that all surprises haven’t been uncovered yet,” Dark says cautiously.

I don’t say anything; just nod my head.

“Someone else may share your talents,” she hints, as if I should try and guess what it is.

I crack open my eyes. “Dark just say it.”

“Ryan.”

“Ryan . . . can shift?” I ask uncertainly.

“Possibly,” the red panda says. “I observed him and a couple times he heard noises that were far off. Of course, I could be wrong but if I’m not, his senses will only get more powerful.”

My thoughts start turning. “So he’s a werewolf? Like Trevor?”

“For all we know he could be like you,” Dark says.

“If he is a shifter he’ll need to shift eventually,” the red panda warns.

“If Ryan is a shifter, why would he be showing signs of that now?” I ask, not really believing that it’s possible for him to be a shifter.

“There could be a number of reasons,” the red panda says slowly. “Being on Pandorma could be the cause—all the danger could be forcing his shifter side to the surface. But he’s also full grown, this makes it much harder for his body to adjust so it will take time.”

I think about this and I suppose it makes sense. “Have you told him?” I ask.

They both shake their head. “That’s something you’ll have to do,” Dark says.

“Where is Ryan?” I now realize that both he and Trevor are nowhere to be seen.

Dark answers, “He went to get Shiver.”

“Alone?”

“No, some creatures went with him,” Dark says.

“Oh. What about Trevor?”

Dark shrugs. Reluctantly I ask about the person foremost on my mind. “Medusa?”

“She’s disappeared.” Trevor comes over to us and sits next to me.

“Where?”

Trevor starts peeling bark off the stick in his hand; “We don’t—”

“Save it for later. Her system has had a terrible shock. She doesn’t need bad news added on top of it,” the red panda says.

“Amethyst, she’s fine. And she needs to know,” Dark says.

“Aren’t amethysts purple?” I ask guessing it’s the red panda’s name.

“Yes. My mother had me in a meadow of gems. The purple ones were her favorite—therefore my name.”

“Anyways,” Trevor says, “I think the war is basically over.”

“Did we win?” I ask hopefully.

“Yes we won this battle. You kept Medusa busy—which means our warriors were better able to attack because she wasn’t picking them off. Xavier has never been one to do much fighting so he disappeared minutes after the battle began,” Dark says.

“So Medusa and Xavier are still alive,” I say, swallowing slightly.

“Yes but I think they’re having second thoughts about continuing the war. Now that the creatures know there is a shifter like Medusa and Xavier on their side, they’re backing you. Medusa has almost lost her entire army,” Trevor says.

I look away. I don’t think anyone would be supporting me if they had seen Medusa take me down. It had been child’s play to her.

“Medusa, Xavier, and a few of their loyal followers have disappeared. No one has seen any of them. Packs are out trying to track them down now, but it’s like they vanished. I don’t think they’re finished though,” Trevor adds forebodingly.

“They obviously found a portal and skipped,” Dark retorts.

“Why would they go to Earth?” I ask, struggling to keep fear out of my voice. If Medusa is on Earth I’ll be looking over my shoulder every minute.

Trevor shrugs. “They could still be here.”

“They’re not here,” Dark mutters.

I stretch my senses to their limit, trying to pick up any sign Medusa might be around. I try not to let my uneasiness show, but Darklily picks up on it.

“Don’t worry, in a week or more you’ll be home safe,” she purrs.

I purse my lips. I don’t think ‘safe’ and ‘home’ belong in the same sentence. In fact, I’m not sure I even want to go home anymore. “You’re sending me home?” I ask, confused. “Don’t you need me?”
Please say you need me.

“Of course we do. But Xavier and Medusa aren’t around so there’s not much you—or any of us—can do. If you want to stay you can, I just thought you wanted to go home,” Dark says.

That was before I found out Medusa could be on Earth,
I retort inwardly. I glance at Trevor. He’s watching me carefully, his eyes are saying I should stay. And I want to . . . but—
Dad
. I suddenly remember what Medusa told me. I should find out whether or not she’s telling the truth, even if I really don’t want to. “I haven’t made up my mind yet.”

“Well if you do decide to leave and Medusa and Xavier come back I know where to find you,” Dark says.

“A portal will open up not far from here in about five days,” Amethyst explains. “You’ll have to make up your mind before then.”

“I thought portals were unpredictable.”

“They are,” Trevor says, “but apparently Amethyst was able to work out when one would open up.”

“How?”

“It’s complicated,” Amethyst says. I begin to tell her to explain anyway, but Dark cuts me off.

“Trust me, when she says complicated she’s serious.”

“No offense, but how were you able to work it out?” I ask.

“On Pandorma there are four animals that are super smart,” Amethyst says.

“In other words these animals are like super computers,” Trevor explains.

Suddenly a piece clicks in my mind. Iru. He’s a super animal. No wonder Medusa had him trying to create a liquid that would turn people into werewolves. That also means he’s able pinpoint portals as well. So Xavier and Medusa could have easily found a portal to Earth.

“Why are there only four smart animals?” I ask.

“Only four were picked,” Amethyst responds. “There is a bush that produces fruit every fifteen years. It only yields four to eight fruit. When it does, the fruit is harvested then distributed.”

“Interesting,” I say.

“Yes. I must sleep now and check on my cubs,” she tells us then lumbers off.

“How long was I asleep?” I ask.

“Four days,” Dark says with a playful eye roll. Deafening thunder crackles overhead. Dark says something about needing to get some exercise and food then races off. Having a flashback of the last thunderstorm I was in, I instantly head to the cave entrance. I’m reluctant to go in farther, back to the smothering dirt tunnels and enclosing solid walls. So I sit at the mouth of the cave and watch the mighty thunderstorm dole out its buckets of rain and earth-shattering rumbles. I’m far enough in so that I’m not drenched, but sprinkles still mist onto my face.

I faintly sigh. The rain feels good. It smells good. The dirt is probably running in streaks down my face, but it feels like the rain is also cleaning the evil from the planet, from me. I had to kill animals to get this far and now guilt is starting to eat at me. I try to convince myself that they were only animals; evil animals and evil must pay. But it turns out that they may have had no choice, may have been forced into killing. I’m sure some of them were doing it of their own accord, but not all, and it doesn't make me feel right.

The shuffle of another person sitting beside me brings me out of my reflection. I turn to see Trevor’s rigid jaw, his eyes staring at the sky raging with untamed light. I look at the sky as well. For a few minutes we sit there not saying a word until he finally breaks the silence.

“You’re with him aren’t you?” Trevor asks in a forced neutral voice. He rubs his hands on his knees. “An ordinary boy—”

“Yes,” I interrupt, feeling somewhat uncomfortable.

“Lissa. Ordinary Boy is ordinary—do you really want to be with him?”

“I don’t see why not.”

Trevor takes my shoulders and turns me toward him. “He. Can’t. Shift. He doesn’t know the rush of joy and power we get when we shift. He’ll never race you on four legs; find you by scent alone. You’ll always have to protect him. You need a man who can protect himself.”

“I don’t have to protect Ryan.”

After several minutes of silence he says, “You almost died.”

“I know.” I hug my arms against my belly, the scratches stinging with memory.

Trevor chokes and I turn to see him close to tears. I just barely keep my jaw from dropping. “Please don’t cry,” I beg. “If you cry then I’ll cry.”

Whatever Trevor is going to say is cut off by Darklily rushing into the tunnel and blasting us with droplets of water.

“Dark! You mongrel, why don’t you—”

“Oh save it.” Dark flicks her tail and the tip brushes Trevor's nose.

I bite back a smile at Trevor's stormy expression.

“Where did you go?” Trevor asks, changing the subject.

Dark comes around and sits on my other side where she begins grooming. “Eat. Get some exercise. Being cramped in this small place for four days fretting over your attention-sucking friend really—”

“Hey!” I shove my shoulder up against hers.

Dark purrs. “Kidding. Although I’m not joking about being stuck in here. It can really drive a cat crazy. Especially if an irritable male—”

Trevor sighs loudly with exasperation. “Do you
ever
stop being such a pain?”

“You guys are terrible,” I laugh then stand. “I’m going to stretch my legs. Alone,” I say the minute Trevor makes a move like he is going to come with me. His eyes instantly turn serious.

“You shouldn’t go out alone. It's not—”

“Safe?” I finish, raising my eyebrows.

Before Trevor can respond Dark cuts him off. “Leave her be.”

“Thank you.”

“Be careful,” Trevor grunts, back to his usual impassive ways.

The rainstorm has passed and now glorious clean sunshine spreads onto the ground as if it too is so happy it can’t contain itself. Unable to contain the energy zapping through me, I run a ways and jump into the air,
eagle,
and rocket upward. I cut through low hanging clouds and rays of sunlight as I swerve and swoop around, feeling free and weightless. I drop low over grassland where horses are energetically running, as if their freedom has finally been restored.
Horse.
The horses greet me with inviting neighs and part along the middle, welcoming me to take the lead. Muscles bursting with energy, I surge ahead, persuading them to go even faster.

The grassland drops off.
Golden eagle.
I go with the stomach-dropping plunge. I hug my wings close, falling even faster. A giant mass of flowers spreads out below me. I parachute my wings and swoop inches above the flower heads, pollen and petals in my wake.
Snake.
I drop into the flowers, not slackening my pace. I weave through the bendy stems with lightning speed.

I know the forest is ahead of me even before it appears in front of me.
Tiger.
My four legs pump furiously to keep up the driving pace. A humongous fallen tree leers up in front of me; I pounce over it without a doubt that I can’t clear it. Minutes after I touch down I race up a tree, bark scraping away beneath my claws. High up, I leap away from the trunk into nothing.
Lissa.
I shift seconds before I hit the ground. Breathing heavily I come up from my crouched position.