Shapeshifters

5

DUST NUDGED ME awake. I stretched and yawned, ready to attack the new sun. I knew the truth about my father. I had a reason to lie, but only if I had to. 

I looked at Dust and he gave the little head turn to the left. I followed him back there and said, "What? You called this without me saying anything."

"What did Moon want?" He asked. So that's what this was about. 

"I'm not ready to say yet," I told him. "I'm still trying to wrap my head around everything."

"Can you at least give me a little bit?" Dust was getting more curious. I was now treading on dangerous ground. Watch your step, I directed myself.

I shook my head. "Moon made me promise not to tell anyone." I felt bad about saying it. But it wasn't a lie. "All I can say is that we talked about Star, and him not being my father."

Dust didn't understand and he never would. Maybe I can't tell him what Moon and I talked about, but I could tell him what Shapeclaw told me. I thought. No, he told me that for my purpose.

"I...erm...," Dust started. "I wanted to talk to you about something else as well." I nodded. "It's about something Moon told Suntail that I overheard. She said something about you not being here, after you fell."

I tried to hide my surprise, but it didn't work because of the face Dust gave me. I sighed. Maybe lying will be harder than I thought. I explained to myself. "I don't want to talk about it," I said to Dust.

He nodded and suppressed a sigh. We walked out and Moon was standing in front of her den, watching me similar to the way a hawk would watch their prey. I delivered a quick goodbye to Dust and went to Moon.

"I hope you didn't betray my trust and tell your friend," Moon expressed with such disgust when I got there. I shook my head vigorously. "On a different note, Pillpool said he wants to talk with us and Suntail when we get a chance. I was thinking we could when Suntail gets back from the first sun hunt?" I nodded in acknowledgement.

"Yeah, sure. I'll meet you at the medicine cave." I padded away from Moon and towards the pup cave.

*****

When I saw Suntail get back, I explained to Dust that I had to go and went to the medicine cave. Moon and Suntail were already waiting with Pillpool when I arrived.

"Okay, Pillpool," Moon said. "We are all here, what do you want?" Moon sounded annoyed at something, or someone.

Pillpool took his own time to set up. "I saw something last moon. It involves the young pup." He couldn't have been there last moon. I kept my calm, but inside I was freaking out and maybe even panicking a little bit.

"You can tell us about it," Suntail mentioned. "Please hurry though. You know Moon and I can't be gone too long."

"Yes, I know all about yours and Moon's duties to the pack," Pillpool responded curtly. "Anyway, back on path, last moon Pinesky came to me."

"The old leader?" Moon asked astonished. "Yes, he told me that times were going to change. Pinesky said that two pups would change all the packs, mind you. ALL the packs."

I thought about what Pinesky said, and how it was closely related to what Shapeclaw told me, not long ago. "How can two pups change all the packs?" I asked innocently.

"I don't know, young pup," Pillpool answered. "But he did mention a prophecy."

"A prophecy!" Moon exclaimed. "How did it go?"

"'One pup of light and one pup of dark, will join together and change the packs,' " Pillpool told us. "That's what Pinesky told me. I was thinking that you guys would understand it."

Moon was the first to respond and said, "I think we have some smart pups, we'll figure it out for you."

I know who one of the pups are, I told myself, as I padded away from the medicine den. I'm the pup of the light. Who's the pup of the dark?