The Breeze Trials

Chapter 9

It didn't seem like I was out long, the sun seemed only to have moved an inch or so. The moment I regained consciousness, a sharp headache pierced the right side of my skull, something that had never occurred before when I was a cat.

That's right, somehow I changed back. Somehow the blackness had turned me back into what I really was. As I moved carefully to lie on my stomach, a sudden rage filled me. I yowled angrily and clawed the ground. This was all wrong! I wasn't ready for this yet!

 The boys were above me, Aaron sitting on the grass, wide-eyed, most likely surprised by my quick outburst. "Holy... Breezy, I didn't think you could actually become a cat again." Aaron muttered. He ran a hand through his hair, unintentionally mirroring Jace. "That girl had something... Dark." Jace said, standing and looking to where that portal of sorts had just disappeared. "I'd ask you what you saw, little kitty, but now probably isn't the best time, Huh?" He smiled lightly. I growled deep in my throat, making it clear that I wasn't in the mood.

What did Jay have to do with any of this? What did Karina? Had I known following my gut would lead to this, I never would've gone looking for him. I wanted to yowl again from all the frustration. "Whoa, kitty seems a bit mad." Aaron noticed my tail thrashing about. I was about to show him what 'mad' really meant and jump on him when I realized it would be pointless. I sat in defeat. Was this part of that Quest I wanted? What could I do as a cat?

Jace stepped forward with a sigh. "Don't give up Breeze, there's a way to fix this. I can fix this."

"How are you going to fix this?" Aaron's voice was laced with something... it almost seemed like caution. Jace looked up at he boy and smiled. "With magic, of course." My ears perked up and I let out a meow of confusion.

After the three of us more or less silently deciding to ditch school, not that I had a choice, I couldn't exactly park my furry paws at a desk, we found ourselves at the park gazebo. Aaron claimed he had to come because, "There's no way I'm going to miss seeing my girlfriend transform. I mean, come on, that's cool."

I had to admit though, running with the wind in my fur and my pads hitting the grass again was amazing. Human hair was fine, but the wind always tangled it. As a cat, it was more like a gentle greeting. Feeling my muscles as they used to be and being my own, familiar body was the best thing I'd experienced in a while. But, no matter what, I was no use to anyone while I had four paws. I had to tell Jace that they had the stone. Even though it was a scary thing to do, I felt that he could fix everything, just like he said he would.

And so, we all ended up sitting in a triangle on the floorboards of the dark mahogany gazebo. Jace had removed my necklace and his own. The moment it left my neck, I felt cold and vulnerable. Aaron, however, had stiffened at this interaction. Maybe the necklace held some sort of significance from our time together for him. If I could blush, I think I would be then and there from those memories.

"Breeze." Jace's voice brought me back to reality. He sounded slightly irritated. "I still don't see why they picked you, but I'm sure there was a reason." He looked me over. I didn't know if I should be curious or offended.

Jace muttered an incantation and held out the stones to me, I moved a paw forward only to stop, remembering how painful the first time had been. It had taken me three days to work my body. What if that happened again? I stepped back, my fur rising. "What's the problem?" I just shook my head. I wasn't ready for that either, even if I was useless like this. Please, no.

Aaron spoke up. "Wait, wouldn't be like in the werewolf movies, you know, all painful and stuff? I'm sure changing that much matter and the whole body systems would hurt a lot. Right, Breeze?" My fur flatten ever so slightly and I nodded. "Christ, I didn't think of that. Don't worry, Kitty," My eye twitched at the nickname, and I could feel Aaron tense once more as well. "I promise you that I'm better at this than who ever changed you the first time. I won't let you feel too much." The amber- eyed boy said before he changed the incantation and held them out again. Could I actually trust him? As it was, however, I didn't think I had much of a choice. I looked up at Jace, who had momentarily paused his chant. I had to change.