The Shifter

Chapter Two: Freedom

One good thing about my ability, was that I took on the qualities of whatever animal I was.

For instance, since I was an owl right now, I wasn't the least bit tired, considering owls were nocturnal.

Because of this, I had yet another advantage over my pursuers. I could stay on the run for the rest of my life without catching a wink of sleep, as long as I continued to shift into different animals.

All I had to do, was be a diurnal creature during the day, and a nocturnal creature at night, and I could keep a good distance from them.

My only problem was that I wasn't sure where I was going.

So, I glided onto a nearby tree to take a rest, and looked with my huge, owl eyes at the full moon above me.

What if there's no point in all of this? What if I'm just destined to be some science freak's pawn? I hooed to myself. A tear managed to glide down my furry cheek.

No. I wouldn't let these people get to me. I was smarter than they were. I would do this for Mama.

Thinking of Mama made me feel a little better, and allowed me to focus on my surroundings, as I shook all of my negative thoughts away.

I suddenly noticed how hungry I was, and I could feel my owl instincts rise within me.

I needed to hunt.

I used my eyes and ears to look and listen out for any easy prey. Something that wasn't too difficult to catch, but that would satisfy me until morning.

I heard the pitter patter of tiny feet on the ground, and waited until I felt the moment was right, before opening my big wings and swooping down, grabbing two, tiny creatures in my talons.

Mice.

I quickly ate the two pests, and opened my wings again to fly and gain some more ground.

As I flew, I couldn't help but bask in the pure freedom I felt. Sure, I was still being tracked by power-hungry scientists, but at this current moment, I was free. Free to fly wherever I wanted; free to shift into any animal and run, climb, hop, and slither any place I wanted to.

I could only hope that this freedom wasn't taken away from me anytime soon, and that I could put enough distance between me and the others.

This thought made me flap my wings a few more times to gain speed, as I continued to soar through the air.

I looked up at the star-filled sky again, and thought, What would you do, Mama?

My mother had been a normal woman, believe it or not. From the time my life began, nay, since the time I first knew about my gift, people had been after me. But first, they went after my mother.

Seeing that she was of no use to them since she was normal, they immediately disposed of her, and I was left all alone.

Better to get rid of the mother so the kid didn't feel any motivation to go on, right?

That was where they had made their first mistake.

Had they kept my mother alive and threatened to save her life if I went with them, they might have gotten the result they wanted. But by killing her, they had only increased the burning hatred I held for them.

And with these thoughts in mind, I knew I had made my choice.

I knew where I was going to go.