Running with Shifters (completed)

Chapter 13 Isadora

Chapter 13

Isadora

We land in the clearing and Meg slowly peels herself away from my back and I grab her elbow to keep her from wobbling. Even though I complained a lot (getting your ear screamed into hurts like crazy), she's taken all of this surprisingly well. Once she's stable I let go and zip up my Converses before turning towards the others. They're all staring at us like we're unicorns or something and I can only guess they're wondering where we were.

"We went for a run. She wanted to see how fast I could go." That's about the simplest explanation I can give and see her nodding out of the corner of my eye. I could tell them about my experiment to see how long I can go on just blood, but I don't think they'd like it.

They'd probably either think I was insane to risk my health (I have a feeling Lin would most likely be of this opinion), or be entirely grossed out by the idea. Not that I could entirely blame them, animal blood is positively disgusting and it's a miracle I can somehow still like eating cooked meat (mostly beef and chicken, decidedly not deer).

Eli steps forward to stand next to Meg, giving her a concerned look, "we were about to head into town when we realized you two weren't here."

She nods, "how long have we been gone?"

He shrugs and looks to Lin, who looks to his watch before telling us it's only been five minutes. Meg shows the surprise I feel and I shrug it off quickly. I thought it'd been much longer than that, but to be honest I wasn't paying attention in the slightest.

"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go." With this everyone nods and stands up, looking to Romulus to lead the way. He points to the forest across the stream and we set off. Just as I pass Em she squeals randomly before scurrying up my back and sitting on my shoulders. She Shifts and settles more comfortably around my shoulders.

Meg stops right in front of me and I watch as she runs back to the tent and retrieves both daggers, handing them to me and then moving to catch up with Eli. I shrug, figuring it's better to have them than not, and tuck them into my shoes so that the blades rest coolly against my calves.

"Hey, Aunty Izzy, why do you smell different? It's faint, but..."

My new title startles me into momentary silence. Aunty? I have no idea where that came from, but strangely, I don't mind. Just like when she accidentally called me mom at the beach, I'm filled with a vague warm and protective feeling towards her, almost... maternally?

I give her tiny head a scratch before answering. "I'm not sure. I just caught a rabbit, do you think that might be it?"

"Oh, yeah. Maybe. Poor bunny."

"Yeah. It was cute, too. Grey and nice and fluffy." I have no idea why I'm describing the rabbit that I sucked the life out of (that's not right, I killed it before I drank it), but her appreciative coo tells me I made the right choice. "Em?"

"Yeah?"

"Why did you call me that... Aunty Izzy?"

"Simple. I don't have a mommy anymore and you remind me of her. You two could be sisters." She sounds sad as she mentions her mother, completely understandable, but then cheers up when thinking the last part.

Somehow I highly doubt I resemble her mother and, remembering something from right after I met Em, call Meg over. She comes over to walk next to us. "What do you need?"

"Remember when you were first introduced to Em? How she flipped because of..." luckily I don't have to finish that sentence, her flinch shows she knows what I mean. "Do I resemble her mother?" Luckily Em still can't understand English so I don't have to worry she'll start crying because of what we're talking about.

"You know, I thought about that when she started getting attached to you and I still can't think of anything you had in common besides fangs. I'm guessing that's what you wanted to know."

Hm. "Thanks, it was. Hold on a sec." She nods and I go back to Em, "how exactly do I remind you of your mother?"

"Well... you both have fangs and you have her smile and sense of humor. Isn't that enough?"

I relay what she told me to Meg and she just shrugs, reaching over to pat Em's head. "Of course, sweetie." I take her from my shoulders and hug her to my chest, smiling as I feel her snuggle closer. "You know, you won't be able to Shift back while we're in town. You left your clothes."

"Will you carry me?"

"I already am, aren't I?"

"In that case I'll be fine." I smile again and kiss the top of her head, chuckling when she gives a happy little chittering squeal.