Nature's Sign

Chapter 3

When we reach the clearing, Mother Nature is outside in her vine chair, waiting for us. She turns her head when she hears us. The smile on her face turns to a frown when she sees us.

"What happened?" She asks.

"What do you mean?" I ask, confused.

She points at my knee and I understand. One of Giant's bullets must of grazed my knee because my jeans are ripped and there is blood. It isn't deep, but it sure is messy.

I'm surprised I didn't notice. Mother Nature sits me down and starts cleaning it up.

"How did this happen?" She asked. I told her what happened with Giant and the other poachers. She shook her head when I finished.

"How did you not notice that a bullet grazed you?"

I shrug. Flame sits in my lap, while Sky rests on my shoulder. Mother Nature makes a bandage out of lambs ear, a soft plant that makes a good bandage.

When she finishes wrapping my wound, she sits down across from me.

"I tell you to be careful for a reason," She says.

"I know," I say, "I was being careful, the bullet just grazed me."

"Still, you should be thankful that none of those bullets hit their mark. I don't want you to do any full shape shifts until that heals. It at least helps that you can heal faster than normal people."

We sit in silence for a minute.

"Alright, I want you to draw a hummingbird and give a description," Mother Nature says, standing up.

I go inside the Tree to get my bag and to change my jeans. When I get back out, Mother Nature is gone. It doesn't surprise me.

I get Sky and Flame then we head for the forest hill. When we get there, I sit down and get out my sketchbook. I make a Nature Hologram of a hummingbird and I start drawing. A few minutes later, I hear a rustle from deep within the forest and birds come flying out of the trees, screeching. I put my sketchbook and bag into my CSB then I run towards the source of the noise.

"Wait! Alexa! Should you really be running on your leg?" Sky yells after me as she tries to catch up to me, with Flame close behind.

"Mother Nature never said anything about not being allowed to run," I yell over my shoulder, "Besides, it's only a graze! In fact it's almost healed!"

I stop running when I reach the clearing where the birds first got startled. I see Giant with a giant bag and across from him is a grey wolf.

"What is a grey wolf doing in these parts?" I mumble to myself, "Wait, unless Giant chased her all the way here!"

I spring into action. I start growing vines around the clearing, so no other animals could get in, and potentially get hurt. Giant puts his hand out and says,

"Who's there? Who ever you are, stay back and you won't get hurt!"

I make a vine go towards him, but then fire comes out from his hand and burns the vine away. My mouth drops.

Why does he have powers? I wonder to myself.

I give myself wolf ears and tail, so the wolf knows I am no enemy. Then I part the vines and walk into the clearing. Giant stares at me with cold, hard eyes.

"I didn't think I would see you again so soon," I say.

Giant raises an eyebrow.

"Do I know you?" He asks.

"No, but I know you," I say folding my arms across my chest.

"How do you know me?" Giant asks.

"I just saw you earlier," I say, "You know, on the Savannah, when you were trying to poach the rhinoceros."

Giant narrows his eyes.

"How did you know about that?" He asks.

"Oh, I was just, flying by."

His eyes widen.

"Where you the bird?"

I smirk.

"Glad you figured that out. I was getting bored waiting for your brain to catch up," I say, walking over to stand by the wolf, "Now, what are you trying to do to this wolf?!"

"What else, poach it for my boss," Giant says, "Now, step away from the wolf before it hurts you."

"Why would you care if I get hurt?" I ask.

"Because I want to hurt you myself. Now step away from the wolf and do something about the vines!" Giant yells.

I move closer to the wolf.

"What are you doing?! The wolf will eat you, now come over here and let me kill you!" Giant yells.

I put my hand on the wolf's back. The wolf tenses up for a second or two but then it catches my scent and becomes friendly, just to me, not to Giant.

"Wait, why isn't he eating you?" Giant asks.

"First, it's a she not a he. Second, she knows my scent, she knows I am helping her," I say, with a fierce look in my eyes, "Third, why don't you tell me who your boss is?"

"Why don't you stop interfering?" Giant responds.

At that, I take a step forward.