Kullervo's Revenge

Chapter 4

When Connie reached the refinery, the boys were already waiting for her. As soon as she reached them, they began marching towards the Malins Forest.
The sun was hidden behind grey rain clouds and a chilly air was blowing against them. The leaves were dancing around them, making the scenery magnificent.
They walked a few meters and stopped near the Devil's Tooth to meet their companions. Simon was nowhere to be found, but he soon turned up riding Rex.
"So, where is the finish line?" Simon asked patting Rex's head.
"How about Tingagel Castle?" Connie couldn't hide her impatience or her worry.
"That's fine by me" Col replied.
"Whateve" Rat said.
"Great! Let's start" Connie tied her shoelaces.
"Where is Argard?" Col asked looking around for the shiny golden dragon to show up.
"We'll catch up." Connie said calmly trying not to show the guilt she was hiding.
"Okey losers, see you at the finishing line." Rat shouted and started riding on Windloaf's back.
"I'm gonna murder him." whispered Col angrily and he and Simon followed Rat into the woods.
Once she was alone, Connie closed her eyes and thought of the mythical creature she wanted to transform into. After a few seconds, she started feeling her arms and legs longer, her head bigger, her back wider and then, out of nowhere, a pair of snow-white wings started to grow from her back. Connie couldn't feel any pain, though.
As soon as the transformation was over, Connie stretched her back and lifted herself up to the morning sky.
She loved flying. She and Col had some wonderful memories of night flies all around Hescomb, with Col holding her hand and trying to comfort her that Kullervo would never hurt her. Connie loved him, but she thought that if he learned her secret, he would never love her again. Yet here she was, determined to let Col see the truth.
A moment later, she could see her friends hurrying for the finishing line, with Col in the first place and Rat and Simon following. She went faster and now she was ahead of her brother and Rat. Col was still winning.
"It's time." Connie thought and reached out for his mind.
The connection was instant. She was inside Col's mind. She was in a humid cave, crystals shining around her like a million stars. A small pond was in the center of the cave. Connie could see her reflection clearly.
On the other side of the lake, Col was standing alone checking his reflection as well. Connie came closer to him and touched his shoulder gently.
"Connie?" Col asked surprised to see her."What's going on? Where are you?"
"I'm right behind you." Connie replied and broke the connection.
She opened her eyes and found Col staring her with disbelief. Only then did Col realize what had happened last summer, when Connie defeated the notorious shapeshifter.
The next thing Connie saw was her friend falling unconscious from the sky.