Star Keepers: Rebirth

Chapter 2

"On earth, there are tales of a man that created the world in seven days. It's the same concept, only our version of God is Ursa." Pegasus says.

"As in Ursa Minor?" Cynthia asks.

"Ursa Major. Minor is her daughter." Pegasus said.

"Yeah, Cynthia. Keep up." Landon says like he knows exactly what's happening.

"I have a question." Cynthia says.

"Save your questions until the end. It's just easier that way." Corvus says.

Pegasus continues. "One day seventeen years ago, Ursa created two new Star Keepers, but before they could be fully fledged, Hydra came in to kill them. At the end of it all, Hydra and the two newborns were gone."

"Lupus and Cygnus were the newborns." Scorpius says.

Landon and Cynthia exchange glances, then Landon laughs. "This is ridiculous! Cynthia, you're not actually believing this, are you?"

"Well, Scorpius did turn into a scorpion earlier..." She said. "I don't understand what we have to do with all this."

Orion speaks next. "You two are the newborns. Landon, you're Lupus. Cynthia, you're Cygnus."

Landon rolls his eyes. "Sure. I'm a wolf. I guess that means you're a pegasus?" He scoffs.

Pegasus smiles, then transforms into a beautiful white horse with wings.

Cynthia gasps. "Landon, there's a pegasus in our living room."

"I'm seeing. Just not believing." Landon says.

"How did you know that lupus means wolf?" Cynthia asks her brother.

Landon shrugs. "It's not like I never pay attention in class."

"You two are them, I know you are." Corvus said.

"We need you to come back to the Star Realm." Pegasus said when she turned back to a human. "It's not safe down here."

"It's perfectly fine down here. It's San Francisco, all we get are earthquakes. You two have the wrong people." Landon says.

The four Star Keepers glance at one another, then sigh. "Fine. We didn't want to have to do this but," Corvus gestures to Orion with his head. Orion frowns.

"What?" He asks.

Corvus sighed in annoyance. "Your bow and arrow?"

"Oh!" Orion grabs his bow and aims one arrow at Landon. Scorpius turns into a scorpion and crawls over to Cynthia, stinger at the ready.

"We'll just have to take you by force." Corvus says. "By the way, this was Scorpius's idea. He just wanted to kidnap you without saying anything."

"Why am I not surprised?" Cynthia asks.

"Hey, I just thought it would be better to tell them everything while they were there. It's much easier to believe when they're looking at it." Scorpius said.

Pegasus and Corvus lead Cynthia and Landon out, Orion and Scorpius following them. Pegasus closes her eyes and waits, but nothing happens. "That's strange, nobody's responding."

"Huh, weird." Landon says. "It's probably because this place doesn't exist."

"Here, let me try." Corvus steps forward and does what Pegasus had done. Still nothing. He turns around quickly, fear in his eyes. "We can't be stuck here! We could die!"

"Oh, get a grip, Corvus!" Pegasus said. "We'll just try again later."

"I thought you said you were immortals?" Cynthia says.

"We are in the Star Realm." Pegasus answers. "Down on earth, we become mortals, just as you have."

Scorpius turns back into his human form. "What are we going to do in the meantime?"

Pegasus turns and smiles. "We can help these two transform into their constellation."

Cynthia frowns. "What am I, then?"

"You're a swan." Orion says.

"A swan? What? Landon gets to be a wolf, and I'm a swan?"

"Don't sweat it, sis. This isn't real." Landon said. "Yet I'm still cooler than you."

Cynthia rolls her eyes at Landon. "So how do you transform into your constellation?"

"Easy. You just relax and think about your constellation." Pegasus says.

Cynthia does exactly that, but nothing happens. "Try it again." Scorpius said.

She does it again, and this time, it works. Her usually brown hair turns into white feathers. "Check me out, Landon!"

Landon's mouth drops open. "Is that real enough for you?" Scorpius asks him.

"Cynthia?" Landon walks over and picks her up. "What did you do to my sister?!"

Corvus chuckles. "She did it. We're not making this up, Landon. Now you try."

He hesitates, puts Cynthia down, then closes his eyes. Within a minute, he transforms into a gray wolf. "Oh man! This is awesome!" He says, looking down at his paws. "Mm, Cynthia, you're looking pretty yummy right now." Landon says, licking his lips.

"Ha ha. How do you change back?" Cynthia asks.

"The same way." Pegasus said.

Cynthia changes first. "C'mon, Landon, you can't stay a wolf all day."

"I just transformed a second ago, let me have my fun." Landon said, sniffing the air.

"What do you smell?" Cynthia asks.

"Squirrel. And...Mom and Dad!"

"What?! It can't be 5:00 already!" Cynthia says. "You guys hide! Landon, change back!"

"I'm trying!" Landon says, straining. "Why isn't it working?!"

"It's because you're not relaxed." Scorpius said, the calmest of them all.

"Why do we have to hide?" Pegasus asked.

"Because...you'd be hard to explain." Cynthia said.

"And they said no friends could come over." Landon says, still in wolf form.

"Aw! You think of us as your friends?" Orion asks.

"Just...hide!" Cynthia says.

The five of them hide in the bushes, and Cynthia runs inside and sits on the couch. Their parents come inside and she greets them at the door.

"Hey, guys! What's up?" She tries to act casual.

"Nothing much." her mom says.

"Where's Landon?" Dad asks.

"He's over at Max's." Cynthia lies.

"Ok. Tell him he needs to be home by dinner tonight. We-"

Just then, Landon walks through the door, finally turned back to human form. "Oh. Hey everybody." He says.

"You're here. Never mind, Cynthia. We were just saying that I bought steaks, so I wanted to make sure you were here for your favorite dinner." Mom said.

Landon smiles. "Yes! I've been craving meat lately. I'm so hungry, like a wolf." He chuckles and winks at Cynthia who shakes her head.