A Shifting Land

Chapter 22

Swift stretched gingerly looking down at her paws. She flexed the right one, watching as the muscles bunched and curled under the skin with nothing to guide it further.

The alpha stepped in, she'd found out that he was called Alpha Jeremy after that first day, Liz by his side.

She tapped the table, inviting her to jump up. "Come on little cat, hop up. We are hoping you are healed enough to go to Alpha Jeremy's pack house today."

She sneered at them, "Illandria, do I have to? They keep treating me like a baby. I'm not a baby. I want to go home."

"Then tell them yourself. Oh wait. You can't speak their language." Illandria teases. "You wanted to see how a pack works in this realm, you need to deal with them treating you like your age."

"I guess I lied. I don't want to learn anymore." She pouts. Her tail flicks as she sits herself right on the floor with a tilt of her chin, challenging them to make her.

Liz chuckled, trying to hide her smile. "Well if you don't hop up here then you don't get to leave here."

Illandria raised a brow and pulled her abilities back completely.

Swift hisses at her and concentrates. "Did they just say I would have to stay here if I didn't jump?"

"You tell me kit. You tell me."  Illandria took a few steps back just to watch.

Swift studied the Alpha and Liz. She tilted her head to the right then left before finally pulling herself onto her hind legs. She shifted back slowly, her eyes drifting closed as she focuses on her bipedal form. She taps her chest once, her English halting. "Not. A. Child." She frowned, thinking hard before tapping her head. "Little..." She growled slightly under her breath.

"Mind." Illandria supplies. "And the correct word is young, not little."

"Thanks, how do I say how I've grown?"

"Hm, try big experiences."  Illandria suggests, "It's not adequate but it should work for your speaking levels."

She rolls her eyes, "Young mind. Big experiences. Not child now." 

Liz and the Alpha share a look and a smile. "And what exactly do we call you? You aren't the one that's been talking to us." 

She raised her chin and glared, her arms crossed over her chest. "Why?"

"Perhaps we just want to know what to call you?" Alpha Jeremy suggests, "I doubt the little cat is an appropriate name, is it?" 

She gives a sharp nod. "Yes." 

"He's calling you little cat."

"I am small. I am feline. It will do. I don't plan to remain any longer then Bladen waking up." 

"Just use the short form of my name kit. Use Dria." 

She rolls her eyes and tosses her head. "Fine. Mind says Dria. Not little cat." 

"Alright then Dria, please hop onto the table so we can see if you are healing well."

"Would you like me to switch places with you?" Illandria offers as Swift sways on her feet. 

"Maybe. I'm tired already." She stepped back, going over to Bladen. "Illandria, is he stuck to our mind now?"

She took a few steps over, examining the way the thin tendrils wrapped around Bladen, holding him tight to the mind. "No, well. Kinda. Your mind is putting direct lines into healing his soul  and in return its using any energy that isn't going into his healing to heal the body. It's partly  because of how fast your body is trying to heal. It's not natural, not for this planet."