Rigor Mortis

A Reason For Take-Off

Two months had passed since Rigor took the form of Icarus for the first time. And just like his fur, his feathers had changed. At eight months, the vague drawing of a wolf's skeleton started to show. The white represented the bones. It was just as bright white as the day Corax found the little pup. The drawing wasn't very clear yet, but it was visible and not entirely finished.

The feathers of Icarus remained white, except for the head. Here were dark feathers that formed a black drawing of an eagle's skull, in contrast to the white bones on a black fur.

The transformations came more frequent and Rigor teached himself how to take control of the transformations. He could decide for himself when he felt like becoming an eagle. He did a lot in those two months. He was ready for a first real take-off.

"Come along." Corax said and Rigor walked behind him, his four legs running to keep up with the speed of the raven. Suddenly Rigor stopped.

"Wait!" he said. Corax landed on the ground looking confused at the wolf.

"This is the end of our land. I haven't been outside, not even for practising a call out!" It was almost adorable to see him doubt what to do. He just stood there on his long legs, head down, doubting what to do.

"Well, you have to leave someday. We will come back. When you will get your own call out you have to leave our land too." Corax told him. The call outs for now where always inside the territory where no one could disturb the learning process.

Rigor sighed and stepped outside. He refilled himself with new confidence and decided to go with the flow for now. Corax flew away and Rigor runned after him again.

Corax flew low to show how Rigor had to climb up a mountain. After a while the two stopped at a ravine. A soft wind blew trough his fur. Rigor closed his eyes for a second and the next moment the wind blew trough his feathers.

"Just watch closely, you've seen me do this dozens of times." Corax said and spread his wings. He quickly took off, but the eagle still doubted his own wings. All the feathers were there, he had spent two months training his wings, and now the moment was there.

Corax looked at him briefly, easily gliding through the air, then Icarus spread his wings. He felt a little force pushing up his wings. His flight feathers vibrated a little in the wind. It felt strange, so new. He started beating his wings softly, carefully. The feeling of the lifting force became bigger, making him hesitate for a moment, folding his wings back to his body. Corax landed next to him.

"Flying isn't something that can be explained. You have to do it to understand it. Just take your time and build up a bond with the air. When you trust each other enough, you'll feel confident to leave the ground." And Corax took off again after these words. For Rigor Icarus it was a little bit more clear what to do.

"Trust me, it's how every bird learns to fly!" Corax said.

Icarus breathed in and out. Concentrating on the wind. He spread his wings, again feeling the lift. It felt a little better now. But he didn't have a bond with the air.

First get to know each other. He said to himself without using words. It would take him a little more time since he wasn't born a bird.

He flapped his wings again softly, again feeling the lifting force grow stronger. He decided to keep his wings spread, but stopped the flapping. When he actually started to enjoy the feeling of the wind in his feathers and the weak lifting force it caused, he started flapping again. He got used to the greater feel of lift trying to take him off the ground, but to weak to actually do it. Icarus started to get a better bond with the air. He developed a little eagle consiousness and that helped him building more confidence. He started to trust the air and the air started to trust him. When they got used to each other, Icarus started to give more power to his wings. The lifting force became even greater, almost taking him off the ground.

"You're doing great! Just gain a little more trust." Corax said excited. He was proud at him, very proud. Excited that he would take off soon.

Can I take off now? he asked the air in silence. An extra breeze of air told him he could. The air had let him know that he trusted him, as long as Icarus trusted the air. He was a little shocked when he no longer felt the ground under his feet. And the wind dropped him immediatly.

Shit. he thought. Now he had to start all over again. He spread his wings, but learned he could immediatly start to beat his wings. He didn't blame the air for dropping him. It was his own fault. Just a matter of giving it one more try.

In the distance Corax had landed on a rock above the ravine, watching in tension and hoping this time Icarus would fly.

Again he felt his feet lose grip. They no longer touched the ground. It was a frightening feel at first, but now his eagle consiousness took over more and he just brought his feet to under his tail and beated his wings a little more powerfull. And the air helped him at its best. Now Corax joined him.

"Follow me, than you'll get the hang of it all." Corax was amused. He had a great time, while Icarus was still getting used to the feeling of flying. Corax gained speed and Icarus followed his lead. They flew back to their land and out again. Back to the ravine. Icarus landed there at the point from which he started. Before he would do any tricks, he had to be more skillful in this flying.

When landed with great care and a lot of struggle, he transformed back to his wolf form. He rather walked back than having to make a maneuver between the trees. He had to learn much untill he felt ready for that. For today he had done enough. He started making his way back home. At four legs. He liked that better anyway. Corax took lead again and showed him the way back home.