Fledgling

by Natasha Brown

  “Close your eyes,” Chance’s said from behind.

  She breathed out unhurriedly, letting her lids slide shut. A moment later, something cold was draped around her neck. The surprise left her chest frozen and she breathed in a stilted breath. Ana opened her eyes, laid her hand on her chest and dropped her head to inspect a new sparkling necklace.

  “I had Dad make it for you. Rainbow Moonstones. I thought they’d be perfect for you. I hope you like it. It’s not the traditional corsage, but. . .”

  Strands of pale stones entwined her neck in a decorative bramble. The small, faceted tear shapes encircled her neck and shone iridescently.

  “It’s perfect. Thank you, Chance.” Ana turned around and faced her Prince Charming.

  Formal in black, he was a prince and her eyes stung as Chance’s eyes widened. He lifted his eyebrow in response and shook his head. Just breathe, Ana. Her heart grew in her chest, which left little room for her deflated lungs.

  “Speaking of perfect. You’re amazing, Ana.”

  Her cheeks flushed and she turned her eyes down to the floor. “Thanks, and you look perfectly handsome.”

  “Well, there’s a camera attached to a really excited mother downstairs. She’s waiting for us—we should go. Anyway, if we don’t leave now I may have second thoughts about taking you out looking so beautiful. I may need to take bear form to fight off all the guys who’ll be staring at you,” he said with a chuckle.

  Chance offered her his elbow and she reached out, happy to anchor herself to him. She took a deep breath before they started downstairs.

  “Oh, baby! You two look wonderful. Okay, stand together so I can get a picture!” Melissa struggled with Ana’s camera and seemed confused. Ana set it on automatic and instructed her to just hit the button, but in her excitement she must have forgotten Ana’s simple instructions.

  “Oh, right.” Melissa held the camera up to her eye and a blinding flash burst through the room.

  After a series of photos, Ana and Chance finally escaped the little blue house and walked out into the night. They drove to Clark Bend High School and Chance escorted Ana to the gym. Students dressed to impress lined up and waited to enter. The sound of music and laughter filled the air as they drew closer to the party.

  The prom photographer was set up at the door and took photos of couples as they entered. A tall, white trellis with fake roses entwined its base and an ocean backdrop hung from behind.

  Ana stared at the scene and tried to piece together what the theme was supposed to be. When it was their turn in front of the camera, she forced a nervous smile.

  “That’ll be one for the mantle,” Ana said as they entered the gym.

  Chance laughed at her, pulled her close and kissed the top of her head. “You want me to go maul the camera? I’ll leave no trace.”

  “Oh, my hero!” Ana laughed.

  Through the night they danced and rested until Ana’s burdensome heart left her wilted. Chance pulled her to a bench to rest while he went to retrieve her coat and his parked truck.

  They arrived back home just past midnight. Ana peered through the living room window to confirm her mother wasn’t up waiting. She stood on her toes, then Chance lifted her and their eyes locked. As was ritual now, he lingered in anticipation of the awaited kiss. It started slowly, but when their lips moved more fervently they paused in their embrace, both clearly sensing Ana’s pounding heart.

  Ana groaned and said, “I hope someday I can kiss you without worrying about my heart stopping.” She gave an uncomfortable giggle, leaned her head against his chest to listen to his strong heartbeat.

  Chance remained silent. He held her until she pulled away. And still as a guardian, he watched her enter the darkened blue house. Ana peeked out the window. Chance stared into the sky until a shooting star streaked across the vaulted expanse.

  A moment later, his figure was gone.

  Chapter 27

  Finals week was over in a flurry.

  Ana and Chance studied every day after school. There was no time for lessons with his grandfather. It had to wait for the following week. Chance was annoyed and agitated about the delay to his training, but he supposed it was a good thing to keep an eye on Ana, who was totally depleted of energy.

  He took her to her routine doctor’s visit. He was disappointed to learn her condition had continued to deteriorate since the heart procedure. Chance didn’t expect a miracle, but it still stung.

  After Ana scheduled another checkup they left, eager to escape the hospital walls for the fresh air outside.

  They drove back home to Clark Bend early enough in the afternoon to allow time for Chance to train. At his house, they found Niyol in a wooden chair on the porch.

  Chance walked up and said, “Hello, grandfather. Feel like going out?”

  In response, Niyol stood and nodded. After retrieving a blanket, they set out to their private training ground. The sun shone, warming the swaying grass in the meadow. A raven cawed at them as they entered the valley. Perched on Ana’s log, it flicked its tail in agitation. When they approached it flew away, clearly perturbed to lose its sun spot, squawking and scolding as it arched through the sky.

  Ana walked to her regular station and sat on the log.

  “Do you want to do the bear again today?” Niyol asked, as he opened the blanket to screen Chance from Ana.

  “Sure. It’s getting easier for me to take its shape.”

  Chance settled at his grandfather’s feet after he stripped his clothing off and set them in a pile. He covered himself with the blanket so Ana could watch the transformation. He closed his eyes in silent meditation. His skin prickled and his body arched. The tingle from his fur in the breeze gave him chills. Chance stared down at his immense shadow and rose high on his rear feet. He towered above Niyol and stretched out his club-like arms.

  Chance enjoyed bear shape. His strength surpassed any other form and his sense of smell was immeasurably effective. It was quickly becoming his favorite embodiment.

  He paraded around the meadow to test his senses and then returned to his grandfather, who held out the blanket. Chance shrank behind it as he returned to his human form, wrapped the blanket around his waist and sat down at Niyol’s feet.

  “Grandfather, I can take bear form. My power has grown. I want to know if I can start working with healing now.” He glanced up at Niyol’s softened eyes.

  “I know why you’re working so hard, son. I understand the pressure you have put on yourself. But it is still unsafe for you to practice. Testing on yourself will not give you the benefit you seek. It will only offer a false sense of security. Unfortunately, you can’t practice on Ana or myself. I am an old man and Ana has structural—imperfections. We would pull every last spark of your essence from you. My knowledge on the subject is vague, but I do know it is something deadly to try. Only the masters would bother with it, because there was little risk of dying.”

  “So, is there a master shapeshifter I can ask? Are there others around like me?”

  Niyol sighed and said, “Now is not the time for that talk.”

  Chance dropped his head into his hands and bellowed loudly. The sound reverberated through the open meadow.

  “Look at me,” his grandfather said.

  Chance returned his gaze to his grandfather’s.

  “You need to listen closely to me. This is very important. Healing takes more than twice as much power than transformation. You are taking your energy and changing something outside of yourself. It is very different from changing your own cells. When you extend your own power to heal someone, a vacuum is created between yourself and the patient. Your energy gets drawn into the subject. And depending on the sickness or injury, it can be a gentle pull or a forceful vacuum. If you commit to a healing beyond your power, it can kill you if you can’t break the connection. Remember this, Chance. Frustrating, I know. But anything worth learning takes time. Some individuals take what isn’t theirs, but they never real
ly own it, because they didn’t earn it. Do you understand?”

  Chance nodded his head vaguely.

  “I know you want to help Ana. I care about her fate as well, but is it worth your life?”

  Chance sat in silence. Ana rose and walked cautiously toward them. She stopped beside Chance and studied his face.

  “What’s wrong?” Ana’s eyes narrowed.

  Niyol patted Chance’s arm and said, “For now, let’s work on cultivating your power. You still haven’t achieved thunderbird. It’s a true challenge, taking a unique form that you can only envision in your mind.”

  Chance nodded. The torment and anger that roiled inside his belly radiated throughout his body. He shrugged his shoulders and lifted himself off the ground without any effort.

  “Fine. Thunderbird. Let’s do it.”

  Niyol seemed to appraise his grandson’s new façade. Chance’s recklessness seeped in and partnered with a desperation that deadened him.

  “It would be best to work with the bald eagle first. It’s a large bird and it should help you take thunderbird form.”

  “Should help me?” Chance sneered, his shoulders tensed and his fists balled. “Why is it you’re so vague about such important things? So many questions I ask you, you just ignore. Don’t you trust me enough to tell me the truth? Or don’t you know?”

  “Chance!” Ana said with distain.

  As if he’d been snapped with a rubber band, Chance jerked his eyes to Ana. He had forgotten she was there. Shame trickled down like icy fingers along his flesh and he shook his head.

  “I’m sorry, Grandfather. Forgive me. I don’t mean to be unkind or ungrateful.”

  “I understand, Chance.” Niyol never flinched through his grandson’s tantrum. “Now, I believe you have the eagle mapped already, am I right?”

  Chance nodded shamefaced, unable to speak.

  “I know you weren’t interested in it before because you didn’t favor flying. I believe you are more familiar now? Getting more practice recently?” Niyol stared at Chance.

  Ana and Chance exchanged grins. Chance broke down and chuckled.

  “I’m pretty good now. I have the horned owl down, all right.”

  Chance sank back into the billowing grass at Niyol’s feet, shook his head and closed his eyes.

  ***

  The next day and without Ana, Chance sat before Niyol in their grassy field. Bright spots of color splashed through the long stalks. Wildflowers were rushing to bloom, seeking the warm sunlight.

  Chance’s eyes were closed in meditation as Niyol guided him through an unfamiliar transformation.

  “Listen carefully, Chance. You need to envision this in your mind. Your ancestors cultivated the power of a great bird with a body the size of a human being—its wingspan up to thirty feet. The wings were said to be the color of cinnamon with tips as if dipped in snow. Its large talons are used for ripping and tearing. Yellow eyes view the world so clearly that there is no match to its vision.

  “Now Chance, imagine this great animal—feel yourself soaring through the skies. Feel the wind through your wings, lifting you, taking you where you wish to go.”

  Chance’s energy pulsed, ready at his bidding. His body tingled as he imagined a great raptor so large it could cut through the Earth’s atmosphere as though it were made solely for him, existing only for him.

  His pores burned and prickled. He pushed past it and clung to the creature in his imagination. A screeching cry erupted from his chest. His lungs and organs burned and the acute pain ended as he finalized the form.

  Chance immediately knew it had gone wrong when he zeroed in on his grandfather’s face. From his height, he knew he wasn’t as big as he should have been. He stretched himself out and looked from side to side, trying not to lose balance.

  Long feathers draped his arms where he should have had wings. He lifted his hands to his face. A beak extended where his nose once was. His skin was layered with soft downy feathers, although his eyes seemed unaltered.

  He was frightened. It had been a long time since a transformation had gone so wrong and he was thankful he couldn’t see himself. His grandfather’s reaction was enough.

  Niyol cleared his throat. With his eyes wide, he asked, “Does it hurt?”

  Chance shook his head. It didn’t feel good either. He would have to describe the pins and needles of discomfort later. It was probably the feathers that tugged at his flesh.

  “That didn’t go well. It can take some trial and error. Don’t get discouraged Chance, this is the hardest form to take, especially if you don’t have an example to study and map. Times have changed. My father learned the form from his father. The generations would pass it down.” Niyol seemed sad as he continued and said, “I’m sorry I can’t personally teach you the shape. It’s my place as your teacher. But there is something I may be able to give you to help.”

  Chance tried to stand still to center his energy enough to change back into his human form. Were his legs different lengths? He wobbled and teetered uncontrollably. Finally able to focus enough, he returned to his normal shape.

  Chance cleared his throat and asked halfheartedly, not entirely sure he wanted to hear the answer, “Was it as bad as I think?”

  Niyol’s frown accentuated the lines on his face. “I shouldn’t have encouraged you to try it—that was dangerous.”

  “Can we try again later?”

  “Not sure. You should take some forms that are familiar before attempting it again. What do you feel like right now?”

  Chance grinned and said, “Bear. It’s my favorite.”

  “Very well. Let’s work on expanding your energy. You can start with bear and work your way down the chain. Let’s see how many transformations you can do before you run out of power. Remember, leave enough strength to change back or we’ll be stuck out here a while. I don’t think your mother would take it well if you went home for dinner in squirrel form.”

  “No, but she may not complain about her grocery bills anymore,” Chance responded. And for a moment, their joking eased the weight of his disappointment.

  Chapter 28

  On Friday afternoon, Ana stood in her room shrouded in yellow polyester grasping a blue graduation cap. Her reflection in a small star shaped mirror revealed her light rose cheeks, which outshone even her robes.

  She walked into the hallway and bumped into her sister.

  “I forgot my sweater.” Eva blew by like a hummingbird and entered her pink room.

  Ana was halfway down the stairs before Eva brushed by her again.

  “Oh, don’t you two look pretty. Stand together and let me get a picture.” Melissa waited for them in the living room with Ana’s large black camera around her neck. This time she remembered what to do and held her finger on the button as she waited for the girls to hug.

  After Melissa swapped places with Eva for a photo with Ana, they gathered their belongings and headed to Clark Bend High School.

  When they arrived, Ana left her mother and sister to meet up with the senior class in the auditorium. As she approached the room of excited graduates, arms wrapped around her waist and warm breath tickled her neck. She spun too quickly to place her hands on Chance’s face and he held her steady until her head rush passed.

  “Hello, beautiful. Ready to graduate?”

  “More than ready. How ‘bout you?”

  “I’m ready to spend all my free time with you.” He leaned forward and placed a gentle kiss on her lips. Ana’s mind went blank while she forgot her surroundings.

  A throat cleared and they paused. Ana opened her eyes. Laura stood grinning at the two of them, slightly embarrassed.

  “Hey guys—just wanted to say congrats!” she smiled brightly.

  Ana gave Laura a hug. “Thanks, Laura! You too!”

  The three of them joined the rest of their group and listened to the principal, who came to talk before the ceremony. They tried to pay attention to the endless instruct
ions that followed and were relieved when he left to begin the proceedings.

  Clark Bend High School had seventy nine graduating students; the event took under an hour. When Ana walked across the stage to accept her diploma a loud shout, which only could have originated from Uncle Jace, rang through the auditorium. She turned to smile and wave and a blinding flash left her staggering off the stage.

  “Mom,” she said to herself and chuckled.

  After the last graduate crossed the platform, the principal thanked the audience and the air filled with spinning blue caps and loud shouts. Chance and Ana met up among the tangle of folding chairs. Then, the customary sound of familial embarrassment caught up to her.

  “Ana, I thought you were going to fall on your face up there. Your mother sure has timing. I saw the picture though, it turned out nice. You never would have known you were about to fall over on the stairs!” Aunt Tera said in her rush to give Ana a tight squeeze.

  Ana pulled away just in time to get swept up in Uncle Jace’s arms. “That was great, Ana. It felt like the time I caught a thirty inch steelhead.”

  “You can just say you’re proud. Really Jace, I don’t know why you don’t just say it.” Aunt Tera seemed embarrassed by her husband.

  Ana patted his arm. “It’s okay, Uncle Jace. I know you’re proud.”

  More voices joined their group as Chance’s parents approached them with smiling faces. Aiyana’s arms opened and entwined her son. “Congratulations, honey. You too, Ana. You guys looked great up there.”

  Melissa and Ben gave each other a warm hug. While the group chatted, Aunt Tera slapped Uncle Jace’s belly with the back of her hand and said, “Go on. Give it to her.”

  Uncle Jace widened his eyes and tucked his hand into his back pocket and pulled out a wrinkled blue envelope.

  “I see I should have put it in my purse.” Tera winked at Ana.

  He handed the card to Ana, who was only too familiar with the humiliation of Aunt Tera’s scorching spotlight. “It’s okay, Uncle Jace. It’s the thought that counts.”

  She accepted it and unsealed the envelope. As she opened the card, something slipped free and fluttered to the ground. Before she could reach the floor, Chance snagged it and delivered it to Ana.