The Captain and His Lady (A Fantasy Short Story) √

In the light of the moon.

Michael grinned as he came out to his yard. Today he was officially ten years old. A double-digit age. His parents had promised him a party for his birthday. The yard was decorated with balloons, colored paper-streamers. A table cloth with dragons lay across the picnic table, and a large cake was on display in the center. Michael could hardly wait for his friends to arrive.

"Michael, sweetheart?"

Michael turned at the sound of his mother's voice. She held a brush and small container of hair gel. He grimaced, but did not argue. Michael knew that his parents had hired a photographer to take pictures of the event. His mother styled his hair and brushed his bangs out of his eyes. When she had finished, Michael shrugged her away and went to answer the doorbell. He fled through the house, and when he reached the door, he straightened his shirt.

Upon opening the door, Michael grinned. His first guest had arrived, and he was glad no one else had shown up yet.

"Hi Michael," Emma said in a shy voice, holding a gift bag in front of her chest. "Thank you for inviting me."

Emma wore a light blue dress with black leggings. She wore sneakers, which Michael knew Emma despised sandals. She was not very girly, but Michael didn't care. He liked that she was not afraid to get dirty during their games.

"Did you think I wouldn't?" Michael asked, grinning as he grabbed her wrist and tugged her inside. "You're the first person I thought to invite."

He pulled her through the house, towards the back door. Michael took the gift bag from Emma and dropped it on a table that had been set up to hold all he presents he received. Emma laughed softly as Michael tugged her towards the snacks. He instructed her to make herself a plate, and she complied.

"How's your mum?" Michael asked, lowering his voice so his own mum would not hear. "Has she heard from your dad?"

"No," Emma replied, shaking her head. "Since he disappeared, there's been no word . . . But I don't want to talk about that. This is your special day. What games do you have planned?"

Michael hesitated, knowing that Emma had been close to her dad and he worried that she might be covering up how deeply hurt she was. He wouldn't let her be sad. He couldn't.

"The Red Fox is being repaired from our last voyage," Michael explained, letting the subject drop for the time being. "But we've got a problem because there is a certain magic that has changed my blood."

"Oh dear!" Emma gasped, covering her mouth in shock. "What does it mean?"

"It means I will become a fox when the moon is full . . . There are ways to turn the magic around, but . . . I can't do it without your help."

"Lead the way, Captain."

Emma left her plate on the table as Michael grabbed her wrist and pulled her towards his tree-house.

***

"The moon shines at it's highest peek!" Lady Emma cried, pointing to the midnight sky. "And it's full! What will you do, Captain?!"

Captain Michael grimaced up at the moon as his vision began to blur. The Red Fox was nowhere near ready to set sail, nor did he have time to send his first mate to safety. He fell to his knees, eyes still skyward, holding his head. The pain had begun.

"Captain!" Lady Emma shouted, taking several steps in his direction.

"Don't come any closer!" he cried, unable to look away from the moon. "If you are near when I transform, you will be hurt."

Lady Emma froze at first, but she could bear to see her captain in pain. She advanced, kneeling in front of Captain Michael, placing both her hands on his cheeks. She forced his gaze away from the moon and stared into his cat-like eyes.

"You're going to get through this!" Lady Emma told him with affirmation. "You will always be my captain!"

Captain Michael stared back at her. However, it was as if he was not looking at her, but passed her. His expression changed. No longer did Captain Michael wear a grimace of pain and agony. No. He wore a scowl. But not for long.

"I told you to stay away," he hissed with a wicked grin. "Now you will pay."

Lady Emma froze in fear, shock paralyzing her body. She could do nothing to move away as she watched in horror. Captain Michael rose to his full height, his hands wounds in fists. His clothes began to shred. His hair thickened and began to spread across the rest of his body. A long tail appeared from behind him. And before he could do anything to stop himself, Captain Michael lashed out and scratched Lady Emma's cheek. She cried out and held her face in her palm. However, that left her without time to fend off the coming terror. Captain Michael's face warped and changed. He grew a snout. Fangs sprung out, bared as he growled.

Lady Emma began to scramble to her feet. But she was not fast enough to escape. The fox pounced at her. It pinned her to the ground. Lady Emma's fear reflected in the fox's eyes as he stared back at her. And for a moment, she thought she could still see her captain in those green eyes. But it was not for long. The fox bared its teeth yet again. It snapped at Lady Emma. And bit her shoulder.

***

"Ouch!" Emma shouted, shoving Michael away. "You bit me, you coot!"

Michael laughed and rolled over, holding his belly. Emma laughed as well, but their laughter was not for long. Michael's mother appears above them, hands on her hips.

"Michael Andrew Scott!" she scolded, utterly appalled at her son's behavior. "When have your father and I ever said it was alright to bite girls? And your friend, Emma, no less?"

"We were just playing!" Emma cried, standing quickly. "Please do not be angry with Michael. The game got carried away. Isn't that right, Michael?"

"Yes," he quickly replied, scrambling to his feet as well. "It was a full moon and my inner fox-"

"Oh, don't even talk to me about your inner fox personality," his mother said with a sigh. "Fine, you're not in trouble. But you should really consider the fact that you are now ten years old. It's time to forget children's play and grow up."

Michael frowned as his mother turned on her heel and walked away to greet the parents of another guest. He hung his head, feeling somewhat ashamed that his mother had scolded him this way in front of Emma. Something touched his shoulder and Michael looked up to find Emma smiling gently at him.

"You're still the greatest fox there ever was," she whispered, hugging his arm. "Who cares about what she said. I think your mum was just jealous that we have yet time to play our games whilst she has to be a grown up."

Michael smiled, "I didn't mean to bite you like that," he whispered back.

"Of course not! I know that! And I was playing along. You didn't really hurt me . . . You looked so scary when you growled like that! You're really good at being a fox."

Emma hugged Michael and he clung to her. Mum called from across the yard, causing them to break apart. Michael sighed and glanced at Emma. She shrugged, still smiling as he took her by the hand. They ran to where the new guests were arriving.