Shapeshifters

10

EVERY NIGHT, I dreamed. Not of Shapeclaw, like the first few times, but of Dust. That he was there in the human world. I woke from the dream many times and never fell back to sleep. Every night it was the same dream. 

 I had no idea what it meant. I couldn't wait for summer to be over and get into a different routine with Sunny. I'd been with Sunny now about two and a half moons. Shapeclaw hadn't come and visited during that at all. I was worried that something about the human world was stopping the connection.

I was kind of excited to start school. Sunny and I would be in the same grade. We would both be Seniors, from what Sunny had told me about them is that they are in their last year of school. She made it sound all fun and parties all school year.

I was also kind of worried. About Dust. How he was getting along without me these past few moons. He was probably almost ready to be an in-training. Good for him. I thought. He'll have the life I can't. 

"We are getting supplies today," Sunny said, interrupting my thoughts. "For school, then going to get you registered. Of course, it will be a lot of lying for you."

"Yeah," I told her. "I seem to do a lot of that." Sunny looked at me for an explanation. One I couldn't think of. Then without thinking I blurted, "I am not human. I never was. So why are you expecting me to act like one?"

I could tell I took her by surprise. She stared at me in complete shock. It took her a few minutes before responding. "If you don't, they will have you taken away to be tested, Rose, and I can't let that happen. Not after me."

"Sorry I asked," I retorted. After a minute I asked, "What happened to you? If you don't mind me asking."

"I'd rather not talk about it." I walked over to her and patted her back. Sunny had tears in her eyes. She sniffed and wiped her snot on her shirt sleeve. "Let's just get ready for the day and get going on our big to-do list. Okay Rose?"

I nodded. She got up and left to go change while I cleaned up breakfast. When I finished putting the dishes away, I paused and stared out the window for some time. Right when I started to turn away I saw something, no, someone, I recognized. A brown and black she-fox.

I ran to the side door and opened it. When I walked slowly to the edge of the yard. I stood a few feet from the wood line, I slowly got to my knees. I was staring the fox in the eyes, a few feet from her.

"Tawny," I said quietly. Just loud enough for the fox to hear. "If that's you Tawny, I need you to tell Dust of Sunpack that I'm okay. Can you do that for me?" The she-fox nodded her head and went into the woods.

I turned back and went inside to get ready for the day. 

*****

"Rose," Sunny said. "What about this bag?" She was holding up a light blue backpack for school.

"It's not me you know? Maybe try something green?" I asked, not really into the shopping.

"Rose, you can't have the forest with you." She responded. "What happened? Are you okay? You've been quiet ever since we left the house."

I nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just tired." 

 She nodded and slightly moved her eyes to the left, so I knew she wasn't buying it. I'd been with her long enough to get simple motions and what they meant. Eyes to the left meant she wasn't buying it, while eyes to right right meant I should buy what she said.

"Okay then," Sunny said, breaking my train of thought, "We'll keep looking for a green bag."

 While Sunny kept looking for a bag for me, I was thinking about Tawny that morning. What was she doing here? I thought. Tonight, I'm going to try something crazy. 

Sunny held up a medium green bag. I nodded. "That's the one," I told her. "Let's get it and get out of here."

Sunny laughed and went to go pay. While she was paying, I was devising my crazy plan for that night.