Fledgling

by Natasha Brown

  He clicked on the link and read the first paragraph.

  The Navajo yee naaldlooshii (“with it, he goes on all fours”) use their powers to travel in animal form. When a priest, or shaman, has achieved the highest level of power and commits the act of killing an immediate member of the family, they thus gain the evil powers associated with skinwalkers. They have the ability to assume the form of any animal they choose, depending on what they need. Also utilizing the power to hurt victims by simple touch, they become the culmination of every bad character imaginable—put together. Many attempts have reportedly been made to shoot or kill one but are usually not successful. Native People do not speak of them, for fear they will be attacked in retribution.

  Chance rubbed his eyes and whistled. Although he was sure the information couldn’t be totally accurate, it revealed a lot. Especially the murder of family members. That fell into line with what Grandfather told him. What little he had said.

  Frustrated, he pounded his fist onto his desk and then glanced to his door. He had only heard positive stories and legends from his family. It would fall to reason that there would be shifters who sought power at the highest cost—human life. But what power did they seek? Were they just evil, getting gratification from hurting others?

  What did he need to know to kill or stop another shapeshifter? From his research, he gathered Native Americans thought shapeshifters were near impossible to kill. He remembered the countless times he had injured himself. Chance had healed himself on numerous occasions after shifting back to human form. A shapeshifter would have to be severely incapacitated if they were unable to heal themselves with phasing. There was no way to know for sure. Not without getting into a fight with another like himself. Or asking his grandfather. And both were out of the question.

  The gravity of the situation weighed on him. There was nothing he wanted more than to keep Ana safe. If he could protect her. If only he was stronger—if he had thunderbird. He snapped his laptop shut and glared out the window.

  Patience was not his strong suit.

  Chapter 30

  “So hey, want to go out tonight? Dinner and a movie?” Chance’s asked over the phone line.

  “That depends, is it a comedy, a chic flick, horror or action movie? Let’s see how well you know me.” Ana curled her hair around her finger and smiled coyly.

  “Hmmm, guess horror is out. I don’t think you’d go for action. And a chick flick would make you laugh more than cry, so our time would be better spent watching a real comedy. How ‘bout it? You want to go laugh with me?” Chance paused and added, “What do you want to eat? Burgers or pizza? I’m going to go with hamburgers. Well, judge—how’d I do?”

  “Eh, I’ll let you slip by with a B. Yes, to the movie, but I’m in the mood for burritos, feeling kinda nostalgic today.” Her thoughts tumbled over their first kiss when Chance rowed them to picnic on the island.

  His voice growled. “Of course, your wish is my command.”

  “Okay, I command you to stay out of trouble,” she said with a laugh and then turned serious. “So, what did you do last night?” She waited to see if he would try to lie.

  “Oh, just did some reading and then went to bed.”

  Although he kept his tone casual, she knew he wasn’t being forthright. “Ummm-hmmm, good one. Well, as long as you’re staying out of danger. Okay, when are we going?”

  “How ‘bout I swing by around five?”

  “Sure. You going to hang out with your grandfather ‘til then?” Ana suggested not so subtly.

  “Uhh, you trying to get a babysitter for me?” He laughed into the phone, but she could tell he was agitated.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about. All right, I’m gonna hang with Eva for a bit and I’ll see you later.”

  ***

  After the call, Chance leapt up the stairs four at a time and reached the top landing in just two and a half strides. He grinned. It never got old. He loved his powers.

  He ducked into his room and closed the door without a sound. His blinds were open. His mother must have come in earlier to let in the light. Chance craved a cave-like space right now. It would serve him better.

  Darkness encompassed the room as he moved from one window to the next and twisted the blinds shut. His shirt dropped to the floor. Soon his pants followed. He poised himself at the edge of his bed and closed his eyes. The radiant energy held within his body fluxed at his attention. The static blue power listened eagerly, waiting for his next impulse.

  Had his grandfather been in the room he would have seen Chance flash from fox, to squirrel and back again. In an energy conserving exercise, he tried to move from form to form to build up endurance. Every shapeshift depleted his reserve.

  He sat in his room while his family was unaware of his activities for over an hour. Tired after he expended all of his strength, he went downstairs to make a snack. His body required constant sustenance and with the effort he put out, he was ravenous.

  Once he ransacked the fridge, he went to take a nap on the couch and slept for a couple hours, exhausted after his secret training.

  He woke from his slumber when a light beam from a nearby window crept across his face. Chance rubbed his eyes, disoriented.

  Ben walked through the room and chuckled. “Enjoying your school-free day?”

  Chance frowned and said, “No, actually. I’m bored.”

  “You could always go by Kenny’s,” Ben said. “I worked at a gas station when I was in school. Wasn’t the best money, but it was something to do. Kept me out of trouble. Well, for the most part.” Ben’s eyes glazed over, and an impish grin broke across his face.

  “That’s great, Dad.” Chance yawned and stretched. “I think I’m gonna enjoy a couple more days of boredom before heading back in. Kenny told me to take some free time—his graduation gift to me.”

  Ben nodded and said, “Enjoy. Okay, well, I’m off to the shop. I need to deliver a custom order. Mom should be off her shift late tonight. I’ll be back later.”

  After Ben wandered out of the room carrying a leather briefcase, Chance sat up and stared out the window. The trees swayed in the breeze and rumbled like a distant freight train. Cotton white clouds slid across the sky like pads of butter on a griddle. Summer always took a little longer to arrive in northern Idaho, but it was close.

  He headed back to his room and shut the door. Most of his energy had returned, but it was like sap—sticky and resistant. He sat again on his bed and reached for the claw his grandfather had given him. It sat innocently on his side table. He held it at each end and stared intently at it. What animal could it belong to? It seemed too long to be a claw. What if it were a thunderbird talon? Was that even possible? There was no way of knowing.

  Electricity surged within him, charged and hot. It coalesced and grew in intensity. A tentative pulse of power reached down his arms and pooled in his hands. Surprised, his eyes flared open as he stared at the gigantic claw. Blue threads wove across its surface and met in the center. He had never seen anything mapped that wasn’t part of a living animal before. His heart pounded in his chest.

  A light knock came from his closed door. His head jerked to the side and his eyes flashed in shock. So absorbed with his new exploration, it took a moment for him to remember his surroundings.

  The sound of his grandfather’s voice met his ears. “Chance, I was going to sit on the porch. Do you want to join me?”

  “Yeah. Let me get my shoes on,” he answered as he moved to open his door. Chance sat on his bed and laced his sneakers with shaky fingers.

  Niyol peered into the room and Chance noticed his eyes sweep over every corner.

  “Did you take a nap?” Niyol asked and squinted at Chance.

  “Uh, yeah. Why?”

  “Your blinds are shut. Well, let’s wake you up before your date with Ana.”

  “Sounds like a plan.”

  The two generations of men sat out on the porch together. Niyol
filled the quiet with stories of his childhood. His deep voice painted pictures of another time while Chance closed his eyes and imagined his grandfather as a youth.

  Niyol’s melodic tone was soft and low, it diffused as it rose to the evergreens. On a high branch, a large black crow sat and cocked its head.

 

  Chapter 31

  Chance pulled up to Kenny’s Auto Shop and sauntered over to the side of the building. Kenny was stacking some loose tires against the back of the brick wall.

  “Hey, Kenny. I was wondering if that heater hose came in yet?” Chance asked and leaned against the edge of the lime green wall while he listened to cars zoom down the road. His eyes combed past some finches scavenging near a grassy meadow. They scurried onto the oily gravel and darted back and forth in a hungry relay race. He looked back at Kenny who had stopped to stare at him.

  “Something on your mind?” Kenny asked, looking amused.

  Chance shook his head and said, “Naw, it’s nothing.”

  “Sorry, man. I just got a call from Arney and he said the shipment was delayed—maybe a couple more days.”

  “Right, well I’m gotta take off. When did you want me back?”

  Kenny scratched his head and smiled. “You that eager to get back to work? Like I said—enjoy some time off and I’ll see you in a week, say.”

  Chance shrugged and turned. “Kay, see ya.”

  He jogged back to his truck and as he fired up the engine, a black form flew overhead and landed on Kenny’s sign.

  He shook his head. Now that he was on the lookout, every animal was suspicious. This was going to be a challenge.

  The shiny black truck crawled onto the highway and sped to Ana’s house. Blurred wilderness fell behind until he drove onto her driveway. A cloud of dust lifted around his windows and he waited for it to settle before he opened his door.

  He jogged up the walk and counted five squirrels that clamored around a grove of firs. Some kind of small, furry mammal lay hidden in the nearby field. His senses were on fire; everything threw an alarm.

  Before he realized it, Ana was by his side, looking curiously at him.

  “So, what did you do today?” she asked as they walked up to his truck.

  “Not much. I was totally bored, so I caught a good two hour nap on the couch. How ’bout you?”

  “Oh, Eva and I played a couple card games. Then I finished my portfolio. Mom wants to take it to work. I guess she knows some people who may need a photographer. We’ll see.”

  He answered in distraction, “That’d be cool. Hungry? Ready for some burritos?”

  “Yeah, I didn’t eat lunch, so I’m starved.”

  They drove to a Mexican restaurant in Sandpoint and were seated at a corner booth. Soft Mariachi music filled the air. A waitress approached. She wore a red shirt and her hair was slicked back into a bun.

  Before she could say anything, Chance said, “Hi, can we have two iced teas to start? Thanks.”

  Chance peered at Ana over the top of his menu while the waitress walked away. He asked, “So, was it hard not stargazing last night?”

  “No way. When I thought about some guy out there watching me, I was more than happy staying indoors. I’ll be relieved when your grandfather thinks he’s gone, or that it’s safe again,” she said. “I’m a little freaked out. Your grandfather’s own brother killed their father and probably his brother too. Who knows what kind of nut job is out there looking for you.”

  Goosebumps rose on her arms and she appeared to try to smooth them down with her hands. She lowered her menu and said, “I hope you’re taking his advice seriously, Chance. You aren’t using your powers anymore, right?”

  He reached his hand out to hers and warmed her cool fingers. “Don’t worry, Ana. I don’t want you hurting yourself from the stress. Try not to think about it.”

  “Yeah, right. That’s easy to say. And that isn’t an answer. Are you keeping your mind off of it?” she asked and her shoulders lifted.

  The waitress walked up, placed their drinks on the table and waited to take their order.

  “I’ll have the smothered chicken burrito.” Ana snapped her menu shut.

  “And the beef taco dinner platter—thanks.” Chance handed their menus to the waitress and waited for her to walk away before he addressed Ana.

  “Look—I understand. You’re worried. I think everything’ll be fine. Let’s just try not to think about it tonight. Let’s just enjoy our time out together.” He reached his hands across the table and cradled hers delicately. “Hey, you know you look really pretty tonight. It’ll be hard sitting next to you in the dark theater. I’m not sure which I’ll be watching more.”

  He lifted her hand and kissed each finger. Small goose pimples rose on her skin again and she brushed her hair behind her shoulder.

  She rolled her eyes and said, “Smooth talker. I can’t resist you.”

  Their dinner date helped to fill a few hours of time without further discussion about shapeshifting or dangerous stalkers. Ana walked out of the restaurant with a yawn. While Chance walked her to the truck, she leaned her head against his shoulder.

  “Now, what movie were we seeing again? I forgot.”

  “You know, that one about the self-taught rocket scientist. With that guy you like. . .”

  “Riiiight. I hope I can keep my eyes open—that food made me sleepy.”

  “You’re normal tired?”

  “For the most part. There was a really noisy bird outside my window early this morning. It wasn’t you, was it?” Ana asked and cocked her head.

  “Innocent.” He lifted his hands up.

  Caw, caw.

  They walked down the gray street to the parking lot. A couple of ravens pecked at a pile of crumbs beside the street corner. Perched on the bed of Chance’s truck was a solitary crow.

  Chance was gone from Ana’s side in a flash as he used inhuman speed to dart through the lot. With a triumphant smile, he stood beside his truck and held the surprised crow in his hands. It began to peck at his fingers and caw in surprise.

  “Chance?! What are you doing?!”

  “It could be him. . .the guy!”

  The bird stared wide-eyed and turned its head around, clearly unsure about what was happening. It continued to caw and Chance pinched its beak shut, silencing it.

  Ana glanced from the bird to Chance and said, “Um, it looks just like a frightened bird to me. . .”

  “You said this morning a bird was cawing outside your window and I’ve noticed crows wherever I go,” Chance said.

  “Um, I may not be as knowledgeable as you about animals, but I do know that crows are like the most common bird, riiight?”

  Heat radiated from his cheeks as the wind let out of his sails. He examined the frightened bird in his clenched hands, then Ana’s bewildered look.

  He threw the bird into the air and it flew into the darkening sky. Chance rubbed his temple and stared at the ground.

  “That was embarrassing. Okay, so maybe it’s been bothering me more than I’ve let on. It can’t hurt to be observant and cautious.”

  Ana hugged him and said, “Don’t be embarrassed. I agree. It can’t hurt that you’re trying to look out for us. At least you didn’t hurt the bird.”

  “I guess I ate crow tonight.”

  Their laughter rose through the dim parking lot, as a nearby light flickered and went out. The dark flying form had since disappeared, but its noisy protest could still be heard.

  Chapter 32

  “Come over.” Chance’s voice pleaded through the phone.

  Ana stretched on the couch, comfortable in the ratty shirt and flannel pants she had slept in. Cartoons were on and Eva was eating dry cereal from the box.

  “But I’m not even dressed.”

  “Perfect.”

  “Ugh. Well, I could drive over after a shower. Give me an hour or so.”

  “I love you even when you’re dirty. Okay, okay, I’ll wait and try
to be patient.”

  “Me, too. See you soon,” Ana laughed and shut the phone.

  It took another ten minutes to get enough motivation to pull herself off the couch. She slunk through the house like she was a member of the Adam’s Family.

  Later, her figure reemerged from the bathroom with wet hair and a rejuvenated step. She tugged through her empty drawers and realized it was time to do laundry. After she found a fresh pair of jeans and a plain white tee, she brushed out her tangled chestnut locks and lumbered down the stairs, shoes in hand.

  Melissa greeted her in the kitchen. “Decided to scrape yourself off the couch? You look freshened up. Guess the shower did the trick. What are you up to today?”

  “I’m headed to Chance’s now. I get the feeling we’re just going to wind up bored together. But that’s better than being bored alone.”

  Ana sat on the edge of her seat and leaned over to slip on her shoes. Halfway through, she had to sit up when too much blood rushed to her head, making her dizzy.

  “Well, I hope you have a nice time together being bored. If you’re looking for something to do, you could always help me organize my closet.” Melissa half joked.

  “Have fun with that,” Ana said and rose to her feet. “Oh, I think I need to stop for gas. Can I please have some gas money?” Ana batted her eyes.

  “Oh, and you’re ready to leave me high and dry when it comes to my closet? Thanks.” Melissa said as she grabbed her purse off a kitchen chair and pulled out her wallet. She handed Ana some folded bills and said before she let go, “I have a couple photography job prospects lining up for you. I’m getting to know lots of people from working at the bank. Anyway, soon you’ll be covering your own gas bills.”

  Melissa smirked and released the money.

  “I guess that’s fair,” Ana said .

  “Well, you know I’d do anything for you.” Melissa pecked her cheek while Ana searched for her keys and wallet.

  After she found her things, she began the drive to Chance’s house. A mile or two past the city limits, she pulled off into a gas station that backed up to the base of a pine forest.

  Ana leaned against the side of her van while she pumped gas. Across the highway, a wide grassy stretch extended up to a cluster of birch trees that shielded the dark windy river.