Possessing Andley Part 1

Leadanah

     I've been working like crazy on edits. I added this new chapter to give Leadanah mir life and work on plot/ world building.

     While Andley faded into sleep I lay awake gaining full consciousness slowly, creeping into the body that Andley and I shared, inch by inch as it slowly morphed into my own form. Andley's fingers stretched into the clawed talons of my own hands. The silver white flesh of my wings thickened. A slow burning sensation laced its way along the back of my wings rolling down back and shoulders as strong midnight-blue feathers layered over me, meeting the fur encompassing my hips.

        I flexed the sharp finger like claws at my wingtips as they unfurled beneath me, stretching to their full span as I rolled over onto my stomach. As the feathers spread they became short and soft, shifting from the deep blue along my back to a paler shade over my shoulders and arms, eventually fading to white as they covered my breasts and torso. Andely's legs lengthened, widening with my own powerful muscles, soft white fur covered me from my hips to my feet which became something between wolf paws and the talons of a predatory bird.

        The soft length of Andely's hair became ridged from the root downward. The strands pulled themselves together as though they were living ropes, forming into locks of sharp colourless quills covering my head. They created a stiff nearly translucent curtain down my back. I rose from the bed, lowering my wings to wrap them comfortably around my waist like a skirt. I strode to the mirror and admired myself, appreciating the way my catlike nose twitched, and the black pools of my eyes caught the blue light emanating from the glow worms working their way through the roots of the den Andley and I shared. I smoothed the short fur along my face and smiled at myself, exposing a row of sharp teeth.

           A scene from Andley's troubled dream floated into my own consciousness momentarily. Rathon passed her to a hulking, faceless man, his claws outstretched, clutching at her breast. I shut the image out and closed the wall between her mind and my own. We could still flee I mused, it wasn't too late. I sniffed. I had suggested this on several occasions, she refused each time. What good could this idiotic treaty do them? All that would result is Andley and I would be slaves to Prince Marston. Sandro would never come to Rathon's aid. Give their troops over? Ridiculous. Surely, they wouldn't fight for any kingdom but their own. Why any soldier even does that is beyond my understanding. Even if Sandor kept its word, Andley would be nothing more than a pawn to take power in the forest and overthrow Rathon. He's not a stupid man, so why did he think this would work? Why not simply send his wolves into Brath and kill their king. Wouldn't that end their war of attrition?

     I slipped though the curtained doorway into the long corridor. The only light within was that of the moon entering through gaps in the branches overhead and the shimmer of lightning bugs blinking in and out like spirit orbs. There were no torches in this section of the castle. The walls grew too closely together to allow for open flames. As I passed from the maze of corridors leading into the dens of the Castle nobles, I hid myself in the shadows swaying within the wall of trees until I reached the archway to the main hall. There was a sound of rustling leaves as the scent of fresh cut leaves and branches wafted onto my path. One of the keepers, they were always nocturnal types. I considered taking the servants corridor out, but I did not feel like going backwards and all the way around just to avoid one servant. I pressed forward into the hall cutting a path along the tree line.

     "Lady Andley?"

       I froze.

      "My lady, can you not sleep?"

      I recognized the wisp like figure crouched down on the far side of the hall with her back to me. While she waited for me to respond, Dalya continued her steadfast work weaving she shoots of new growth in the trees together, tightening the wall closing gaps inch by inch.