Dark walks over to him. “We’d better get moving. It’s always best not to stay in one place for long. An extra nose would be really helpful.”
Trevor gets the hint and goes behind the leaves. When he reappears he’s a wolf. His fur is dirty blond like his hair, although the brown seems to be darker and more prominent than the blond, the exact opposite when he’s human. I crouch down in front of him.
“That is amazing.”
Trevor gives me a wolfish grin. “Thanks.”
I look at him surprised. “You can talk? I thought werewolves could only communicate to others in their head or something like that.”
“Am I talking to you in your head?”
Before I can answer Ryan asks, “What? He’s a werewolf? Why didn’t you tell me that? Is there anything else I should know?” Ryan sounds betrayed like we’d purposely kept Trevor’s secret from him. We hadn’t—at least I hadn’t, but I know how he feels.
“Did you know that we’re here to destroy an evil villain?” I’m joking but Ryan doesn’t take it that way.
“No. You only said her world was in trouble,” he answers, irritation briefly flashing in his eyes.
“Well that’s why we’re here.”
“That’s why you are here,” Dark corrects. “This way,” she says. She takes the lead, continually disappearing then reappearing; with Trevor in the back that leaves Ryan and me together. We keep looking at each other than looking away. Just as I’m going to say something he says, “I’m sorry I got upset. I just don’t like surprises. I find that they’re usually a bad thing,” he says, his voice turning grim.
“I didn’t mean to. I recently found out that Trevor could shift as well.”
He nods then, after a pause, smiles at me. “Up until a few minutes ago I thought Darklily was insane,” he whispers, his eyes sparkling.
“Well she proved us both wrong,” I say just as quietly.
We settle into silence until Dark drops back to walk by us.
“Do you know what kind of leaves these are? Or do you not have names for different types of plants?” I ask.
“If they have a name it's because—,” she falters, “these are Bingo leaves. They come in many ranges of colors. Not bright like a flower though, always deep and dreary. Some of the plants here have general names, but none are definite,” Dark tells me.
I frown, wondering what she was going to say, but don’t bring it up. “What about certain places?”
“Yeah, nowadays they do,” she says with slight disgust. “Ever since the war started certain places have been named so that there’s no confusion,” Dark pauses and breathes deeply. “If I remember correctly we’re in Shapen. But I’m not positive. The map I was shown wasn’t very detailed.”
“Why not?” That seems odd. If you were battling an enemy wouldn’t you want a very comprehensive map?
Darklily presses forward, her steps caught between uncertain and purposeful. “Have no idea,” she finally says.
“It smells like we’re heading toward something that’s burning,” Trevor says; appearing out of nowhere he looks at Dark uncertainly. I take a deep breath. I can’t smell anything. Darn.
“I can’t tell though—there are too many scents,” Trevor admits.
“It's not fire,” Dark reassures so we keep going forward. The smoky smell increasing with every step we travel.
I can see snippets of light through the thickly grown leaves. My next steps take me out of the leafy forest and I gasp. Spread before us are billowing columns of smoke that blast up into the sky out of numerous fissures in the earth. The steam endlessly rolls upward, creating a smoky blue sky.
“I guess I took the wrong way,” Dark says, sounding a little mortified.
“That’s okay,” I tell her.
“We’ll just go around,” Trevor says affirmatively then looks to Dark for agreement. Her whiskers twitch. I notice he has shifted back into human form.
“We could, but if we go the wrong way we’ll be even farther from where we’re trying to get to and we don’t have a ton of time.”
“Where are we going?” Ryan asks.
“The Vacant Stones,” Dark says simply as if we know where that is.
“What happens when we get there?” I ask.
Darklily swallows. “Uh . . . you’ll get trained . . . hopefully. Then you can go defeat Medusa and Xavier.”
“That’s it? You make it sound so easy. No danger or life-threatening situations? How boring.”
Ryan gives me a funny look. “I’m kidding,” I say.
Trevor says, “You’re welcome to put yourself in danger anytime because I’ll be there to save you.”
“Thanks but I can save myself.”
“Ha. Let's see you face off against a creature ten times more powerful. And when he’s got you overpowered and is about to claw your throat out, who will you be crying for?” Trevor mocks. I shove him as hard as I can and he jumps sideways in order not to fall.
“Certainly not you,” Ryan mutters. Trevor’s eyes narrow.
Dark flicks an ear. “I think Lissa will end up saving you, Trevor.”
“I was only joking. Lighten up, jeez.” He turns away, watching another column blow into the sky.
Dark flicks her tail then turns away. A breeze springs up, brushing my hair across my face along with a blend of smells.
“Perfect,” Dark says. “Strawberries. If we could just ask another animal for directions, then we won't have to go in circles.” Trotting, she sets off in the direction the breeze had blown.
I take breath after breath but I can’t smell anything. How unfair. Animals have everything. Trevor wanders in and out of sight, once again a wolf. Darklily’s rapid pace puts her far ahead, but I glimpse her every now and then.
After several minutes of walking in silence I say, “You know . . . Dark says I’m the one who can help because I can turn into animals.”
Ryan frowns. Twice he starts to say something but changes his mind.
“Medusa and Xavier are the ones destroying Pandorma. Dark says they can shift into any animal on this planet and that I’m like them.”
“Do you believe her? I mean . . . how is it even possible? To be able to turn into animals, I mean.”
I shrug. “Trevor says his uncle can shift and he thinks his father could shift too but didn’t live long enough to tell him. His dad died when he was young.”
“That’s sad,” Ryan says. He actually sounds sad when he says this and I remember that he lost his mother.
After a pause I say, “I’m not sure if I believe her. If I can shift or not,” I add when he looks slightly confused. “If she’s right then that means someone in my family was a shifter right?”
“That would make sense.”
“Well, I know my parents weren’t shifters though.”
“Maybe they just didn’t tell you? I’m sure it can’t be easy to tell someone you can turn into an animal.”
I shake my head. “I’m positive my mom wasn’t a shifter and if my dad was, he would’ve told me.”
“Maybe your grandparents or some other relative could.”
“That’s possible,” I say.
“You’ll figure it out,” he assures and I smile gratefully.
* * * *
We finally reach the grove of strawberries. I stare at one in amazement as I pluck it off the bush. It has to be roughly the size of an apple. I take a bite. The flavor is rich and makes my taste buds hum and beg for more. I quickly grab another when I’m done with the first.
“These are huge.”
“Biggest strawberry I’ve ever seen.” Ryan says, just as amazed as I am. Trevor acts like Trevor; feigning like he sees strawberries this big every day.
“I think everything here is going to be bigger,” Trevor states after our exclamations. “There must be more oxygen.”
I shake my head and walk over to Dark, who is scanning the surrounding trees and bushes. Right, other animals. I begin scanning our surroundings
too. There are plenty of birds singing in the trees, which are larger than normal as well. Something flits at the edge of my vision, but I turn to slowly to see anything.
“Be right back,” Dark chirps. There’s a bounce in her step as she trots off. A few bushes are scattered about at the edges of the field, but otherwise the ground is entirely engulfed with strawberry plants. Ryan and I continue eating the berries; Trevor a few feet away, leaning against a thin tree, his eyes lazily closed and head tipping to the side once in a while.
I glance at the sky. If I’m right it should be a few hours past lunchtime, then again time might not be the same here. I don’t like feeling so out of place. It makes me feel helpless and insecure. And the obscure things I can hear and smell aren’t helping. Not a minute passes that there isn’t a scent drifting by, the richness starting to give me a heady feeling. Every so often there’s a strange bellow and it’s starting to put me on edge.
“Okay. We go this way,” Dark says.
Trevor shakes the sleep from his eyes and sits up straighter. “Keep going straight?” Trevor asks all trace of weariness gone. Dark nods.
“Put a bunch in your shirt or something so we can keep moving,” Trevor tells us.
“Why do we have to hurry?”
“If you’re not a top predator you should always keep moving,” Dark says grimly.
I frown slightly and say, “I find it hard to believe you’re not one, Dark.” I pick as many berries as I can hold.
“There are things much bigger than me,” she says, flattening her ears.
I think of T. Rex and I inwardly shudder. Before that had seemed impossible, now it seems like a frightening possibility.
The grove of strawberries ends and is replaced by savannah. Dry brown grass mingled with green, wave in the wind. Narrow, tall trees and sparse or grouped bushes spot the land. Far off there are some elephants and a small cluster of zebras. To my left I can faintly perceive mountains.
“We should give the zebras a wide berth. Just in case there are lions hunting them,” Dark warns.
“Well that’s reassuring.” I sweep my eyes over the savannah to see if I can spot any lions melting into the grass like chameleons. Dark starts off, walking more slowly.
“Don’t worry, I’ll protect you,” Trevor mocks.
I punch his shoulder.
“Ow,” he says though he doesn’t sound hurt.
Ryan rolls his eyes and heads after Darklily, Trevor shifts and we fall in behind them.
* * * *
I really should’ve packed water bottles. My mouth is parched, my legs wobbly with tiredness and sweat plasters my hair to my neck. The heat is scorching and the slight breeze that had been blowing before has long since stopped. We’ve only rested twice and although I tried hard not to complain, I couldn’t help it when one slipped out. Trevor offered me a ride but I refused. We are all hot and having me on his back would only make him hotter. Sweat has soaked Ryan’s t-shirt and mine, while Trevor and Darklily are panting heavily.
“We should go toward the other animals. I’m sure they’re near water—”
Darklily cuts me off saying, “This way!”
She takes off and we have no choice but to follow. Dark skids to a halt after sprinting what feels like halfway across the savannah. My stomach clenches at the sight and smell in front of us.
A mass of dead animals lay strewn about. Vultures, crocodiles, lions, bears, hyenas, and other predators feast on the rotting carcasses. But that isn’t what shocks me most. Like roses in a patch of daisies, dinosaur bodies stand out from the rest. I get closer to one so I can see it better. It’s an Edmontosaurus, and a few feet away a type of duckbill. But it isn’t just herbivores that are dead. There are predators to: Albertosaurus, Utahraptor, Allosaurus, bears, wolves, tigers, and several others. The animals that aren’t being torn apart by the feasting predators have horrific injuries everywhere on their bodies, their guts unabashedly falling out. I cover my mouth and fight to hold in the strawberries.
I glance at Ryan. He’s standing over an animal, his face frozen so I walk over to him.
“Look,” he says, fear edging his voice, “velociraptor.” Ryan bends closer to the disfigured deinonychus.
“Actually, velociraptor is about the size of a chicken. This is a deinonychus,” I correct, not really wanting to believe the animal lying in front of me is real.
“They’re supposed to be extinct.” He blows out a breath and runs a hand through his hair. Ryan looks both amazed and terrified, which is just how I feel. I’ve watched a bunch of videos and T.V. programs on dinosaurs and have collected many books—but that’s nothing compared to seeing the real thing. I walk over to Dark.
“What happened?”
“I told you we were in a battle.”
I hadn’t thought that it would be like this—I hadn’t thought about it at all. I want to apologize for not taking her more seriously, but a terrible screech fills the air.
“Run!” Darklily suddenly shrieks and races away. We run after her without question—into taller grass beneath a tree and crouch down. Predators feasting scatter as a giant Pterodactyl folds its wings then leans down and swallows a deer whole.
Fear chills me when it looks up and catches sight of me. Its eyes are coal black and icy. The giant bird’s penetrating gaze seems to shrivel the grass and put me on display. Run, run, run! my brain screams at me, but I’m frozen.
“Dark we need to go,” Ryan hisses. The bird’s eyes are locked onto me and it feels like my death is already sealed. The split second the pterodactyl’s wings open to take off, Ryan has pulled me up by the elbow and is tugging me in the other direction.
Darklily cries, “No!”
But Ryan grabs my hand and keeps running.
“Ryan she said no,” I yell but it’s no use, he has a steel grip on my hand. I don’t feel like stopping myself because panic has taken over and the urge to run is driving me forward.
I hear the Pterodactyl give another earth-splitting screech then a powerful gust of air blows down on me. On instinct I dive for the ground, sending us tripping and rolling. The hairs rise on the back of my neck as the bird’s claws gouge the ground where we had just been. In a panic I try to get back up, the word run being drilled mercilessly through my skull. The pterodactyl whacks Ryan away with its wing then shoves me back onto the ground with a push of its other wing.
The ground trembles when the pterodactyl slams its foot down on me and I scream. I’m trapped beneath its giant talon, which is about the size of my upper body. It leans down, the tip of its beak just above my neck. The bird glares at me.
“Go home and you’ll live. Consider this your only warning.” The bird’s voice is deep and scratchy. With one flap it takes off, the tip of its wing slapping across my cheek. The encounter leaves me breathless and terrified so I stay lying down. I close my eyes and touch my slapped cheek, my body going limp. Hot, panting breaths blow across my face. I open my eyes to see Trevor looking down at me. For once I can read his face. Fury, concern.
“Are you okay?” Trevor starts snuffling up and down me.
“Yes. I’m okay,” I say shakily and sit up.
Trevor turns to Ryan and snarls, “What were you thinking? You could’ve gotten her killed!”
Ryan stands. I can vaguely see him shaking. Ryan doesn’t say a thing for a few minutes then with false calmness responds, “He was going to come after her.”
“Idiot,” Trevor snarls. His muscles are tightly bunched as if he is going to attack Ryan. Dark quickly steps between them.
“He reacted on instinct that’s all,” she says, but Trevor is not so easily put off.
“That’s no excuse. You told him to stay and he kept going,” he growls. “If Lissa had gotten killed . . .” Trevor trails off, but there’s no need for him to finish, his threat crystal clear.
My voice is still a bit shaky as I say, “It wasn’t his fault,” but I go unheard.
“What would you, Trevor, have done? Si
t there and let that thing kill her?” Ryan shouts angrily.
Trevor responds with a snarl and crouches down. “At least I didn’t do something stupid that could’ve gotten her killed.”
Trevor leaps, but Dark crashes into him right before he can tackle Ryan. They roll over and over, growling and hissing. I want to yell at them to stop, but my voice refuses to emerge. Just as quickly as the fight began, it ends with Dark on top. Trevor struggles defiantly. I can see Dark’s muscles slightly straining to hold him down.
“Are you really going to start an unfair fight? Who’s being stupid now?” Dark reprimands breathlessly. When Trevor calms, she pushes off him and sits down.
“I didn’t—” Trevor starts.
Dark cuts him off with a harsh command, “I don’t want to hear it. Let’s rest here for a minute and cool off. Then we’ll start again.”
Dark and I move under the shade of a tree. She gives them both a cutting look then sits next to me.
“You’ll have to teach me how to do that,” I weakly joke. My voice is somewhat scratchy, both from lack of water and fear.
Dark watches Trevor walk one way and Ryan the other.
“What did the bird say to you?”
“He told me to go home and consider it my only warning.”
Dark lets out a faint hiss and lashes her tail. “That means Xavier and Medusa will soon know you’re here. Which is bad news for all of us. We’d better move. Now.” Her tone turns urgent at the end. “Let’s go!” she calls to the boys then jogs away. It takes all the mental willpower in me to stand and follow. When Trevor and Ryan catch up she says, “We’re not safe here. I’m sure that bird went to warn Medusa and the last thing we want is for her to find us.”
Ryan’s anger immediately dissipates, Trevor on the other hand, doesn’t lose his scowl. Trevor resolutely sticks by my side, as if he’s appointed himself as my personal guard from Ryan.
After fifteen minutes of near running, I have to stop. It feels like my heart will burst if I don’t.
“Wait,” I say faintly then put my hands on my knees. I can’t take another step. When Dark sees that I’m not following, she skids to a halt and lets out a frustrated hiss.
Shift (The Pandorma Adventures Book 1) Page 10
