Hybrid

~Training~

                               Marcella's Point Of View

I had talked it over with mom and dad. They both agreed to let me train Holly. Anything I can do for my younger sisters, I'll do it. As I was thinking about how the talk went I heard the brush rustle slightly off to my right and I focused on that spot. A brown and grey tabby cat with the most beautiful yellow eyes I had ever seen appeared from the bush. I slowly crouched down until I was sitting a few feet away from the cat. Then I closed my eyes and started to concentrate. One thing about learning to shape shift is that you have to learn from the animal. You have to form a bit of a bond with that animal and have it teach you before you can change into it.

I think I was the only child who's "coming of age" was actually planned. When I turned 16 my dad took me on a trip to the woods. I was suppose to try and connect with an animal. The first one I had met was a deer. I reached my mind out to the deer, but it told me it wasn't the one I would connect with. Next was a rabbit, and this rabbit told me the same thing. I tried with many many animals and it was starting to get dark. Dad had told me that it was ok if I didn't find my animal on the first try.

The first animal you connect with is the most special. You create a bond that can last for years. Sometimes your whole life. To some people this can be known as your spirit animal. You are the strongest with that transformation. You can make other transformations stronger than your first, but it depends on how much time and effort you take into perfecting them. Most Shifters have their first as their strongest.

As the sun was getting closer to the horizon I was getting more and more mentally drained from all of my attempts. Just before dad was about to call it a night a wolf walked in front of us. It stopped and turned to look at me. I was frozen in awe of this creature. I snapped out of it when I felt dad tap on my back.

"Marcy one last try for the night." He had whispered to me. He made a gesture for me to try with this wolf. I was a little cautious at first. I didn't want to anger the wolf, and after all my failed attempts today I didn't have very high hopes. I stretched my mind to communicate with this wolf. He welcomed my mind and we made a link. Seeing everything through this wolf's eyes was amazing. For days after I meditated spending all that time inside this wolf's mind. On about the third day I opened my eyes and everything was different.

I had shifted and become a wolf. I was still linked with the wolf that had taught me and I ran at full speed to meet him. The speed and agility of the wolf along with the feeling of freedom I got from this animal was amazing. It was something I had never felt before. I spent the whole next day with this wolf in my shifted form.

We were running through the forest when we came to a river. I happened to look at my reflection in the water. My fur was pure white. I then glanced over at the wolf that had taught me and saw that his eyes were the purest blue. Then I turned and looked back into the water, I had one blue eye and one green eye. I am told that you always get something from your first link that stays with you through all your other links. It must be this blue eye.. When I returned to my dad he helped guide me into the change back to human. He told me that the color of my fur will probably stay with me through all of my shifts. Currently I have yet to get another link to shift into. So..I wonder if I will always be pure white..

I had reached my mind out to this cat while I was thinking about my first link. The cat accepted my link and for a couple hours me and the cat were sharing and learning from each other. This shift took considerably less time as I felt myself get into the cats mindset. When I opened my eyes Everything was taller. The cat I was linked with seemed shocked. She said it was her first link and seeing me shift like that had surprised her. 

I asked her to look at me and show me what I look like in our minds. So I closed my eyes and sure enough the picture I got was a pure white cat with one blue eye and one green eye. Dad was right. I will always be white. After a little exploring the back yard with this cat I thanked her for her time and acceptance of the link. She swished her tail at me in gratitude for giving her this experience as well and then she was off.