Games [The Electro Cosmos Book 2]

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Mila awoke to the soft rustle of leaves in the breeze. She didn't need to open her eyes to know something changed while she slumbered. The soft sounds of life around her, the chirping of birds and creaking of trees swaying in the wind gusts were much louder, as if she left her television blasting surround sound in darkness of her bedroom. Her head pounded with the sudden screech of a crow, as loud as a child shrieking bloody murder right next to her ear. She opened her eyes into the bright orange, yellow and green woods. The bright light burned her eyes for a moment before they adjusted. She could see dust swimming in the rays of sun.

She moaned and yawned, blinking away the bright light as she stretched her aching body. Her head throbbed for a moment before she groaned and opened her eyes fully. She saw her companions around her, all sleeping in a bundle of fur. After a moment, her memory finally came back. Her heart dropped and raced as she remembered the witch throwing something at her. She looked down at her hands and finally realized what the witch actually did to her. She was no longer human. A long, furry snout protruded out from her face. Her hands were gone, replaced by paws covered in the same color fur. It sprouted all over her, warming her to comfort in the chilly autumn morning air. She sniffed the air, the smell of her own blood flooding her nose. She grumbled as Kobo shifted beside her. She looked at him, surprised to find he didn't look as large as he did earlier on. He dozed off again, his heavy breath loud in Mila's ears.

"Good morning," Leroy stated. He watched her contently with his big yellow eyes as she cringed at the intensity of his voice. In a quick thought, she realized they let the witch escape. "I hope last night wasn't too rough."

"Did you guys find her," Mila asked him. "After she disappeared. Were you able to track her down?" Her words sounded like a dog yowling. She took a moment to get her bearings before standing and stretching again. Her muscles felt weak, but she managed to push through the stiffness and walk out of the circle of fur and teeth protecting her. Azil opened his eyes as she moved over him. He lifted his head and looked up at her in awe. When he stood, Mila looked eye level at his eyes.

"Of course not," Mykai stated, lifting her head in a watchful, worried manner. The tone of her voice did not match, almost annoyed. "She went poof. Disappeared into thin air!"

"She's a witch miss Mila," Azil stated, his voice still high pitched. Mila looked at him, bewildered she understood him. He looked at her with a puppy smile, his tail wagging happily. She looked down at him, still dazed with her head pounding.

"You understood him," Leroy sat up, looking between Mila and Azil. Mila nodded a reply, her head pounding with the movement. She cringed, feeling nauseous. "How is that possible?"

"Do you think she can understand Agni too?" Kobo yawned and stretched momentarily. He blinked, looking at Mila for an answer. She didn't know if she could. He grumbled before walking off into the trees. He stopped a few feet away, sniffing the air. He looked back at Mila for a moment, dumbly staring at her. She snapped out of her reverie and called for Agni.

Agni swooped over their heads, looking for a place to land. She swooped back around and closed in her wings, falling to the ground with a thud on all four feet. The ground shook with her weight. Mila watched her, waiting as she settled down, curling her wings tightly to her.

"So it is true, you are no longer a human being," Agni stated as she settled with them. She didn't seem as threatening now that Mila wasn't a tiny human being. She was glad there was less of a tension now, and Mila felt even more connected to all of them. "And from what I heard, you no longer speak the language but you speak our own."