Shapeshifters

Finalizing

DUSTFLY WOKE THE next morning and couldn't wait to get on with his day. He had gotten a call the night before from Lighteye saying that Tawny had left the signal. They both knew that it was earlier than Tawny usually put it out, but they had to assume it was the only time she could get it there, without being caught.

It had been a few days since the obstacle courses and Dustfly was still feeling the after effects. He was still sore in places that he didn't know had muscles. He couldn't wait to get home.

I can't wait to see all the changes that have happened. He told himself as he got ready for the day.

As soon as he was ready, Dustfly bolted out the door. He was surprised not to see Petunia's car in her driveway, as it usually was. She had told him and Lighteye that she was going hiking next week.

Must have wanted to get an early start. Dustfly thought. And away from Lighteye and me earlier.

He arrived at Lighteye's apartment about 10 minutes later, boxes in his backseat and trunk. Together, the two of them unloaded Dustfly into the apartment. They spent an hour unloading and another two-three hours unpacking and organizing.

"Wow!" Lighteye exclaimed. "I had no idea you had over half this stuff!"

"One of the perks of living near Petunia," He laughed. "Always the need to go shopping."

Lighteye giggled. Before she had been cursed, Dustfly had never really heard her laugh. It hadn't been until about a year before, that he heard her laugh for the first time. And really mean it.

"Are you excited to be getting back tonight?" Lighteye inquired.

"Yeah, I can't wait to see the pups."

"They won't be pups anymore." Lighteye chuckled lightly, then sighed. 

Dustfly could tell it was going to be hard for her to go back, she had been missing for three moons, and a lot could change in that time. That was the only one difference Dustfly and Lighteye could decipher. One human year was equivalent to one pack moon.

As they finished unpacking, they talked up their excitement to get home. Once they had finished, it was almost three in the afternoon.

Lighteye groaned as she realized that they still had four and a half hours to kill before they could leave. Dustfly offered up some games, even said that they could go laser tagging. Yet, to his amazement, Lighteye said no, to everything.

"What's wrong?" Dustfly asked. 

"Do you think I'm alive because I can fight?" Lighteye requested of him with innocence.

"No," He comforted her. "Not at all. You are alive because of what you did to save yourself."

She smiled that smile that Dustfly loved. That smile held so many secrets. Endured so much sorrow. And went through fire to be where it is today. To Dustfly, it would always light up his world brighter than any sun ever could.

"Let's decide on one return plan," He offered to help distract her.

Lighteye nodded. She turned to go look at the different plans. Dustfly came behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, resting his chin on her shoulder.

"I like this one," She pointed to his personal favorite. "It's the best one in my opinion."

He kissed her cheek. "Mine too,"

He pecked her lips then left to go mentally prepare. Leaving Lighteye on her own to assemble her thoughts as well. He knew she was missing Sunny and Petunia. Wishing she could say goodbye to her human friends who helped her through her difficult journey to learn how to be an up-walker. As he was heading down the hallway, he heard her call his name.

"What?" Dustfly turned around to see her standing in the hallway.

"Let's end like we began." Lighteye smiled mischievously.

"And how was that?" He teased, knowing exactly how that was.

"Like this." 

She walked up to him and kissed him. He kissed her back. They stood like this, wrapped in each others embrace, neither one wanting it to end.

When he broke off the kiss, she was smiling. "That's how you end a life."

"We aren't dying tonight," Dustfly reminded her.

"I know," Lighteye looked at the ground. "But it feels like it."

She went to her own room to ready her mind, as Dustfly sat on the hard ground in the hallway. He thought about the plan for their return.

Having a great idea, he went to the plan she picked and altered it. Not caring if she liked it. He knew she would once he explained why. Dustfly did this and walked away, knowing that if he kept looking at it, he would modify it completely.