Shapeshifters

Wings

DUST LOOKED AROUND and didn't recognize anything. He thought that maybe he was dead. Dust paced up and down no more than five paces. He opened his mouth, to see if there was a familiar scent. There wasn't.

He got in a pattern of pacing for a few moments, then scented the air. After doing this a few times, Dust caught a semi-familiar scent. It was an aspen like scent and he sniffed once more. 

That's definitely aspen. Dust told himself. 

A familiar fox stepped forward, out of the surrounding mist. He was black and had some white patches, kind of like Thorn. It was Shapetail.

But I haven't seen or heard from him since that night, Dust explained to himself. Some father he's been.

"Dust," He started. "What's happened? Explain to me why you're here."

"Shapetail," Dust began. "This is me breaking the first part of the curse. The whole name change thing."

"Right," Shapetail didn't sound totally convinced. "Anyway, why now? What are you trying to prove? You have nothing to prove to anyone—"

"Yes I do," Dust sternly told him. "I have to prove to Black that he can't beat us. I have to show you that I can live up to your expectations. And I have to convince myself that I can be the person/animal I need to be to survive."

Shapetail and Dust stood there, staring at each other for a few moments before he stated, "That's a lot of justifying your doing. How does a name change help you?"

"It helps me by allowing me to break the curse to save the packs. I know Black is behind it all, he taunted Lighteye with her new name and I almost lashed out at him because of it." Dust teared up. "I thought that he had killed her."

"You knew he didn't though. You had an idea and acted upon it, but you didn't tell Lighteye before. Now if she finds out, son, she will not like you very much after that."

"I'm careful," Dust assured him. "I can watch my words and what I say. Why haven't you tried to contact me since that night?"

Shapetail looked at his paws in embarrassment. "Shapeclaw and I both tried to, but neither one of us were successful until last moon and this moon. Believe me Dust, we did try."

Dust nodded, showing him that he believed him. "I should get back to Lighteye," He turned to go when Shapetail tapped Dust's shoulder with his tail.

"Dust," He said. "You need to beware. Things aren't going to go up from here on out. You and Lighteye need to be careful, your feelings may shift the balance of things in the future. Promise me."

"Promise you what?" Dust didn't mean to sound so terse, but he couldn't help it.

"Promise me that you'll look after the packs, when the time comes." He met my eyes with his own, pleading.

Dust rolled his eyes. "I promise."

He nodded and turned to leave. Dust padded away to find a safe place to wake up when he saw a glimpse of an unfamiliar pelt. 

"Who's there?" Dust called out.

"No one of importance," a voice called out. He took a step towards the voice. "No! Stay back, I need to tell you something." Dust took a step back then indicated with his head for them to continue. "When you get back home, check the top drawer of the wood by the big thing."

After these words, the figure vanished and Dust was left alone. He thought about what the voice said, and about calling after Shapetail and getting his input, but went against it.

The weird wood thing, Dust thought. Would be the nightstand 'cause the big thing would be the bed. What's in the drawer? He wondered.

Dust sat down and thought for a moment. Knowing that Lighteye would worry if he didn't get back soon, he spent just a moment thinking. When Dust decided that he was going to need her help, he poked himself and woke up to see Lighteye, lying next to him.