Shapeshifters

21

I WAITED PATIENTLY for Tawny's signal. It was a few days after the meeting with her that I saw it. It was weird not to have Petunia around. The day after Dust and I met with Tawny, Petunia told us she had to leave for a few weeks. 

As we waited, Dust and I played many games, we even went laser tagging one day. Trying to fill the time. Dust was off making dumb mistakes in games. He even let me win at laser tagging, which was so not like him and his competitive side.

The day I saw Tawny's signal, I decided to approach Dust.

What's wrong? I projected my thoughts to him.

"Nothing," He said aloud.

"It's doesn't seem like nothing," I told him, aloud.

It's nothing. He thought to me. Forget about it.

I'll try. But no promises. I informed him.

"Why?" He asked.

"Because promises is what started this," I replied.

"How?"

"I promised both Moon and Shapeclaw I wouldn't tell anyone," I explained. "That included you. We fought over it, and I ran. Got cursed and you got cursed because no one would look for me..."

"And I wanted to know the truth," He finished.

I nodded. That was another good thing about him, he knew what I was thinking, even before the telepathic discovery, he could read my mind. 

He stood up from the current game we were playing and stated that it was almost 8 and we should get going. I agreed and we left. As we walked down towards the place we usually meet Tawny at, I stopped in my tracks.

What is it? Dust asked.

I scent Shadowpack here.

Impossible.

Let's be cautious. I warned. Keep an eye out.

Dust nodded to show that he heard me and we kept walking. As if we weren't suspicious of anything. We got there and shifted. We sat down and waited for Tawny to show up.

We heard a rustle in the bushes, and stood. But it wasn't Tawny. It was Black, from Shadowpack. We had never met him, but had heard enough that our hackles raised.

"Calm down," He said. "Dead in-trainings." 

"What are you talked about?" I demanded to know. 

"You were announced dead," He explained. "Yet, they made you in-trainings anyway."

Dust shook his head. "Yes we were declared dead," He told Black. "But we weren't made in-trainings. I guarantee you that."

Black laughed. "Well then, this is an interesting change of events. Considering that Stormsky wasn't even creative with your new names."

"Explain," I sternly ordered.

"Well, Lighteye," He spoke with disgust. "They just added -eye to your original name. So creative am I right?"

You must willingly change your name. First, to prove. Then, to save. I heard Shapeclaw's voice in my head.

"You know what Black?" I said confidently. "I accept the name of Lighteye. If that's what Stormsky picked, then I accept. Taunt me all you want, I could care less."

Once those words left my mouth, I was lifted in the air by a powerful force. More powerful than anything I'd ever felt. It lifted me high in the air and surrounded me with a light so bright I had to close my eyes. I vaguely felt myself lay back on the ground when I fell asleep.Uncertainly hearing Black chuckle and walk away. Hazily hearing Dust call my name. The everything went black, and I couldn't hear anything.

*****

"Congratulations," Shapeclaw said when I arrived. "You have done well so far."

"Shapeclaw!" I exclaimed. "Now I can talk to you. Why didn't you reach out to me when I was an up-walker?"

"I couldn't," He corrected. "You were cursed, and part of that was no contact to the world you knew."

"History is about to repeat itself," I whispered to myself. "Dust and I are repeating something similar to what you and Shapetail went through, right?"

Shapeclaw nodded. "I wish it wasn't so, but it has to happen for what's to come."

"Dust and I are the two pups that will change the packs forever," I observed, half to myself. "Aren't we?"

"Yes," Shapeclaw started. "But that means more danger. Once again, like before, you won't wake up the same as before. And this time is no curse, but part of a cure."

"You knew what was coming?" I asked him. "You gave me the cure so I would know when the time was right. Didn't you?"

"You're smarter than Shapetail and me," Shapeclaw laughed. "That's for sure." I beamed. 

I nuzzled his shoulder and confessed, "I should get back,"

"Good luck, Lighteye," He said, with my new name. "You're making me so proud."

With that I woke without poking myself.

*****

"Light!" Dust exclaimed. "You're awake. Well, good because we need to go now. It's almost sunrise."

I pulled myself awkwardly up. "Let's go," I said and we both shifted back and walked to my apartment.

When we got there, Dust closed the front door and made me sit down. I sat down and couldn't figure out why I didn't feel rested, considering that I had just talked to Shapeclaw for almost the whole night.

"You've changed now," Dust mentioned when he sat next to me. "You are different."

Explain please. I asked him. Too tired to speak aloud.

"You woke up with..." He faded out. He thought for a moments, as if trying to tell me something fragile. "You woke up with wings." He finally said.

No way. I told myself. No flipping way.

I looked at Dust and saw that he was serious. I couldn't believe it was true. My wolf form had wings. 

Shapeclaw did tell me I would be different. I thought. Maybe this is what he meant. 

"Well," I said. "I did one thing right." I waited a second. "I broke the first part of the curse."

"What?" Dust asked astonished. "How?"

"By accepting my new name," I told him. "Lighteye."

"If I choose to," Dust started. "My new name could be Dustfly." He hesitated. "But I don't think it was us Stormsky made in-trainings."

"What do you mean?" I inquired.

"What if he made Rose and Thorn in-trainings?" He replied. "In memory of us?"

I thought about it. It made sense. But before I could respond. I fell asleep on Dust's shoulder. Too tired to comprehend the idea of that right then.