Stranger Skies (The Borderlands Saga #1)

15. The Colors of the World

She ran back to the fortress in wolf form, forgetting her clothes and pack in the clearing. Joy suffused her. She had found herself back — she had become wolf again.

And what she saw, during her experience with the Ill'll? She didn't know, except that Broomgap was where the True Woods were. Somewhere in the north, but in this forest — the True Woods. Home.

Hadn't she always made the True Woods where ever she was? Now they existed separate from herself. Curious.

Laeanai! she howled, running back to the fortress. He came bounding out from around the corner, in the back, where the three packs had settled down.

Thalaea, we were worried... he started, but then stopped as he saw her trotting up on all fours. You're a wolf!

She laughed and jumped in the air, then landed in a wolfy bow, inviting him to play. I'm a wolf again! I'm no longer trapped!

Laeanai laughed and cheered, and chased her. They ran through the forest and tackled each other, tussling in the brush. Eventually they ended up back at the clearing where she had left her clothes and rucksack. She stopped and concentrated on changing back into human form. It was easier. She slipped into it like a familiar skin.

Laeanai looked disappointed. She pulled his ear affectionately. "I need to get my stuff back to the fortress. And I think being in human form may help with dealing with the Elves. They seem not to be able to understand you all when you're in wolf form."

He whimpered, and bowed, wagging his tail. Play with me some more.

Thalaea laughed and started to pull on her clothes. Later. I promise. Now that I can change into my true form again I won't be stuck in this one all the time. Not if I can help it.

Laeanai bowed so low his chin touched the ground. He whined and put one paw over his muzzle, rolling over onto his back. I wish I could change whenever I wanted to.

A thought occurred to Thalaea. "Try it."

Laeanai sat up again and looked at her as if she were crazy. She gestured with her arms. "Go on! I could do it, and I think it's because of these woods. Didn't the Steelmint wolves originally come from here? From Broomgap? Maybe you lost the ability to change at will when you left."

Laeanai cocked his head, considering. Then he closed his eyes.

A moment later a naked man sat where the wolf had been. Laeanai looked at his hands and feet and laughed. This was the first time Thalaea had seen Laeanai as a man. His hair was shoulder length and a dark-brown black, and his eyes remained the same green color. He was tall, and his skin was the same dark brown she'd seen on most Minae. It was smooth, as was his face. He was still a young adult — late teens, perhaps early twenties. Very close to her own physical age.

Thalaea grabbed his hand and pulled him to his feet. "I told you!" she said, and they hugged and laughed some more, dancing in the clearing.

Laeanai stayed in human form as they headed back to the fortress. When they approached the packs, he ran up to his mom, just like a puppy wanting to impress.

"Mother! We can change at any time. Try it!"

The Elves patrolling nearby looked over at the naked Minae man with odd looks on their faces, but they kept their distance — no doubt remembering what had happened the last time Laeanai had been Minae and naked.

Salia looked at her son as if he'd sprouted a second head and a moment later she, too, had changed.

Salia in human form was as tall as her son, with the same color hair. Her eyes remained green; her skin dark brown, again, but with a reddish tint to it, as Thalaea had noticed with some Minae in Heartpin. She'd also noticed a few purple tints, some blue, and some green — it seemed to be the only major variation in skin color among the Minae, though she couldn't say for sure — she'd never seen anyone outside of Heartpin, really.