Night Touched

Gifts

Lyra

I'm not even sure how long I was lying among the grass before I could gather my wits again. All I do know is, I don't think I had ever experienced this kind of serenity before in my life. The blades of grass tickled my bare flesh, as I rolled over onto my back, looking up at the false sky above. Moments of bliss like this offered a brief respite for the troubles that lay ahead.

I was keenly aware that on either side of me, were a naked man and a naked God. We had just ritually bonded ourselves together, in what I considered to be a feat of both magic, and also, delightfully, of pleasure. We sat there in silence for a moment and much to my surprise it didn't see like an uncomfortable one.

I spoke first, "Okay, gentlemen. Where do we go from here?" I sat half way up, propping up on elbows. I surprised myself with how comfortable I was beginning to feel within my own skin.

I'm pretty sure I've spent the better part of the past few days nude, in some fashion. There was something liberating about not caring about it. Now I understood how it must be, for those who grew up within a Pack. I wondered for a moment what how different my life might have been if my real Mother had never had to make her sacrifice, and shook the though away quickly. There was nothing I could change about that anyhow.

I stretched my limbs out, languidly, noting I felt stronger than before. I wasn't sure if that was just due to the confidence welling up within me or was a side effect of the ritual itself.

Kade rolled onto his side, in the grass, to face my direction,"Now I suppose to both of you could practice using your new gifts. You're going to need them to stop Dmitri from achieving his goals. And I'm not sure they will be of much use to you, without mastering them first." He said thoughtfully.

Asher stood up, stretching his arms upwards. I couldn't help but look over his muscular body, admiring how chiseled he was. Clearly he worked out. I looked down at my own soft flesh, thinking maybe it was time to start a formal exercise regimen of some sort, considering I was going to need to defend myself.

Asher's cool voice, interrupted my thoughts when he asked, "How am I supposed to focus on a form in order to shift if I'm not even sure what the gift was?"

Kade laughed, "Blame my cousin for her cryptic ways, not me. I could tell you, but what's in it for me?" he asked. Playfully, shooting me a wink.

"Isn't helping us your job?" Asher asked, his tone biting.

"To be technical, I've already done my part by sealing the ritual. Would you prefer if I went for a second round just to be sure? You could watch if you'd like. I've always enjoyed performing." Kade teased, "Or is it that you want a taste Wolf?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

I couldn't help myself but chuckle at Kade's words and the look on Asher's face. His expression looked as though someone had put soothing foul smelling in front of him, his nose all scrunched up in disgust.

"Relax, Asher," I said, "we can all figure this out together. I'm feeling stronger somehow, do you feel any different?"

He visibly relaxed a bit, and I could see he was thinking about my words, by his expression. I watched him flex his fingers, and stretch his limbs as if he was testing my theory.

"I guess, I feel a bit stronger. Almost like a hardness in my skin that wasn't there before. There's also this strange itching sensation between my shoulders. Kind of how I feel when I shift into my hawk form. I wonder if it's a form that flies."

This was fascinating, I was so curious about what being a shapeshifter was really like and I hadn't really asked if there were differences between forms other than the obvious visual ones. The idea of flying seemed wonderful to me. Maybe one day I could fly too.

Kade spoke then, "That makes sense. Selene has always preferred that form for her Guardians. She must really think you're something special, Asher." He said, sounding amused.

"Oh now you call me by my name. For a minute there I thought you had forgotten it. Maybe, you'd feel so kind as to elucidate on what you're talking about... cause really I have no clue." Asher retorted, the hard edge of his tone receding a bit.