Seeking Shapeshifters

by Rebekah L. Purdy

  “It was probably some kid wanting to get a few bucks for it.” He frowned. “I thought about replacing it, but just our luck it’d come up missing too.”

  “Yeah, well we’ve still got the other ones in place.”

  My stomach clenched, maybe monitoring the wildlife wasn’t such a great idea. What if he caught Carsen on video? One thing was for sure, I’d have to go and clear the pictures myself if necessary, which might be problematic with the onset of subzero temps.

  Ring, ring. The phone blared from the coffee table.

  “Hello?” I said.

  “Ima, hey, it’s Brady.”

  “Oh my gosh, I haven’t talked to you in forever!”

  “Yeah, I know. I heard the unfortunate news about you having a boyfriend,” he said, chuckling. “You know that’ll totally screw up our summers, right?”

  “Yep, I landed myself a guy, who’d have thought?”

  “I knew you had it in you. So anyway I was just calling to say hi real quick and to tell you I can’t wait for Christmas. I’ve got so many places I want to take you,” he said.

  “I know I’m excited, too. Oh, did you get those snippets I sent you from our investigation at the Jesse Lee home?”

  “I did—and I think you need to keep an eye on Jefferson, the voices sounded adamant about him,” Brady said.

  We chatted a while longer about his soccer team making it to finals and his game winning goal. He made it a point to ask me how serious Carsen and I were. I told him it was new but seemed strong.

  When we hung up Dad raised an eyebrow. “So what’s going on with Brady?”

  “Not a whole lot, just checking in to make sure I’m okay,” I said.

  “With all the questions it sounded to me like he’s jealous,” Dad said.

  “He had sixteen years to make his move.”

  Looking uncomfortable, Dad changed the subject. “I thought we could go watch the Northern Lights tonight—the good old aurora borealis.”

  “Okay Dad, I got it.” My eyes rolled toward the ceiling. “We better wear our snowsuits then.”

  “Either that or you can wrap Keetah around your shoulders.” He grinned, then stood, heading toward the kitchen. “I think I’ll get dinner going now.”

  We had chicken noodle soup and breadsticks for supper, which warmed my body like an electric blanket. After I finished eating, I went down to my room to do homework then got my clothes ready for tonight.

  By the time Dad and I rode outside town it was after midnight. We parked the truck then Dad pulled out a thermos of hot cocoa.

  “We can’t be out here too long, but I thought it’d be fun to stay up and watch the lights. It’ll give us some bonding time,” Dad said. He patted my arm, his face tired.

  We slid from the truck then climbed on the hood to lie down for a few minutes. I gasped as I saw the spiraling colors, ranging from emerald green, to sea blue, and even some fiery red lights.

  The air was so cold, taking my breath away, and I wrapped my scarf tighter about my face.

  “It’s so pretty,” I said, examining the stars and strange arctic show.

  We sat in silence watching the lights coalesce. At first, everything seemed normal, quiet even. Then dizziness washed over me as I saw a raven in the bright beams, flying back and forth as if opening a door to another world.

  With my mittened hand, I rubbed my eyes. I’m just seeing things.

  Blinking several times, I attempted to clear my vision, but soon I watched a bear form in the illuminations, before taking on the shape of a human woman.

  The form gazed at me as if pleading with me, wanting me to understand her sorrow filled features.

  I shuddered against the winds, which picked up, blowing snow across the landscape.

  Save my people—he chooses you to fight.

  Images flooded my mind like a movie projection in fast forward. Snapshots of Inuit tribes of long ago flipped by, images of bears, and foxes and of a single raven. There were hunters, and bloodshed and darkness. Everything spun, intertwining as if each happening was connected to the other.

  “Ahh!” I cried out. Too fast, everything came too fast.

  “Ima,” Dad shouted beside me, his face went out of focus before I swam into unconsciousness, swallowed up by the voices.

  He chooses you.

  ****

  “Is she all right?” I heard Dad ask.

  I struggled to peel my eyelids open, the sound of distant murmurs fell upon my ears. The musky scent of incense clung to the air, and I sat upright holding my head. At last an unfamiliar room came into focus.

  Panic washed over me as my eyes darted back and forth. I was on someone’s couch, covered by a large, brown animal fur. The walls held several hand carved masks, while the shelves had whalebone carvings of animals and people I didn’t recognize.

  Everything was swathed in deep burgundies and browns, reminding me of autumnal leaves and Halloween. At last, my gaze took in the small crowd standing around me and I recognized my dad, Carsen’s grandma, and Ferren.

  “Wh—what happened?” I said.

  “We were hoping you could tell us,” a woman with bright blue eyes and red hair said.

  Somehow, I felt I should know who she was, but her name slipped my mind, and I stared at Dad, hoping he’d fill in the blanks.

  “Ima, talk to Mrs. Shinew, she’s a nurse,” Dad said.

  Mrs. Shinew? The eyes were familiar.

  “You’re Carsen’s mom,” I said with a smile.

  “Guilty as charged—” She laughed. “It’s good to meet you at last, Ima. I’ve heard so much about you, yet my son didn’t even have the courtesy to bring you by to meet me.”

  “That’s because you would’ve embarrassed him,” Ferren said, avoiding my gaze.

  But at least she was here, which meant deep down she must kind of like me.

  “He’s my only son, so it’s my duty,” Mrs. Shinew said.

  She took out a penlight and checked my eyes. She frowned and asked me several questions regarding headaches, the food I’d eaten that night, etc.

  “It’d help if you tried to remember what happened tonight,” Mrs. Shinew said. She handed me a glass of cold water.

  My eyes went wide as I contemplated how much to say to them. I doubted they’d understand seeing images in the sky, or hearing whispers calling out to me. She’d diagnose me all right, right into the loony bin! I chewed my bottom lip, raising my gaze to find Carsen’s grandma staring at me.

  “It’s okay, Ima, you can talk about anything around here.” She lifted a wrinkled hand to touch my arm.

  A strange sensation shot across my skin, like I’d been zapped by static electricity. Taking a deep breath, I leaned back against the arm of the couch. Might as well tell them and get it over with.

  “Dad and I were watching the northern lights,” I said, squirming beneath the furs. “This is going to sound crazy, but I thought I saw a raven and a bear floating in the lights. Then there were all kinds of voices.”

  My mind reeled with the memory, the impossibility of wintry ghosts trying to communicate with me.

  Carsen’s grandma peered at me with wide eyes as she touched my forehead. She backed away from me, before rushing over to a cabinet and pulling out a long black feather. She proceeded to rub it over my forehead and my cheeks, chanting words in a language I didn’t understand.

  “She’s been touched,” Carsen’s grandma said.

  “She’s what?” Dad shrieked. His face grew red, his eyes looked about ready to pop out of their sockets.

  “No, not physically, spiritually.”

  Dad and Mrs. Shinew glanced at one another, like both Carsen’s grandma and I had lost our minds.

  “You believe me?” I whispered.

  The elder smiled. “Yes, child.”

  A few minutes later, Carsen barged into the room, his face blanketed in worry. “Ima, are you okay?”

  I nodded my head as he shoved past everyone to sit next to me. He touched
my face, stroking it with tenderness.

  “I’m fine,” I said, leaning my head against his.

  My lips parted and I inhaled his familiar scent, his very presence made me feel protected.

  “Eh-hem.” Dad cleared his throat. “If there are no problems, I think I ought to get Ima home. She has school in the morning.”

  “She should be okay, just have her take it easy for the next day or two,” Mrs. Shinew said.

  Carsen ignored everyone else in the room as he bent over, scooping me up into his arms. He walked past my dad and his family, carrying me toward the front door.

  “I can take her from here,” Dad said.

  “I’ve got her Mr. Berry.”

  Dad hesitated then opened the door for us, but before making it outside, I heard Ferren talking to their grandma.

  “What was that about Grandma?”

  “She’s marked. He’s gone against every rule and marked her.”

  The door shut behind us keeping me from hearing anything else. But my curiosity didn’t waiver. I wanted to know who’d marked me and why. I glanced at Carsen as if to question him.

  “Try and get some sleep tonight,” he whispered as he opened the truck door to slide me in.

  “I wish you could come with me,” I said. “I feel safer when you’re around.”

  His fingers caressed my cheek, as he bent down. But Dad clamored into the truck before he could kiss me goodnight.

  “I think you ought to go back in now, Carsen. Ima will see you tomorrow.”

  My teeth clenched, and I reluctantly watched him go.

  He mouthed the words I love you but didn’t go back into the house until we pulled out.

  Dad peered at me, his forehead wrinkled in concern. “I think you and the Shinew boy are getting kind of serious.”

  I laid my head against the cold window, shrugging in an attempt to make it seem like it was no big deal.

  “Maybe,” I said to him.

  “Do you really think it’s a great idea? You’re sixteen, not to mention we move around a lot.”

  “For once, will you let me have friends?” I glared at him. “I actually want to enjoy my teenage years.”

  He looked hurt, but it wasn’t fair for him to expect me not to get involved with someone, not with him gone so much. Besides, he’d uprooted me enough over the years. I felt I deserved to have some fun. It wasn’t like Carsen and I were having sex, because we weren’t!

  “Has it really been that bad?”

  I sighed. “No, I love doing the shows Dad, but sometimes I want to hang out with kids my own age.”

  With a loud exhale, Dad patted my knee. “Be careful Ima Blue, hearts are hard to mend.”

  Silence enveloped us for the remainder of the ride home. Keetah greeted as at the door, prancing around like he had to go out. He sniffed my hands and shoes then stared at the sky before bolting into the night.

  “Don’t worry, I’ll let him back in before I fall asleep.” Dad urged me toward my room.

  “Okay, night.” I gave him a quick hug.

  “You are feeling better aren’t you?” Dad said brushing my hair out of my face.

  “I’m fine, no more dizzy spells or hallucinations, scout’s honor.”

  Dad pinched his nose, like he had a bad headache. “You were never a scout.”

  “Er, how about daughter’s honor then,” I said, smirking.

  “Glad to see you’re back to normal.”

  I chuckled down the hall, flipping on my light when I got to my room. Once I stripped out of my layers of clothing, I tossed them on the floor, then rummaged through my dresser until I found a pair of flannel pajama pants and a Berry S.I. t-shirt to wear.

  My eyes watered as I tugged the blankets back on my bed. I gasped. There, lying on my pillow was a black feather, but not just any feather. It was a raven’s feather.

  Oh God, I’d lost my mind. With trembling hands, I picked it up and a flood of warmth consumed me. It was like a hot shower, relaxing, and comforting. How did it get into my room? I checked the windows, which were locked. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw my dress hanging in the closet.

  It’d been from someone called the raven, now this.

  Unease set in, something was going on, and I had no idea what.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Basketball Game

  Slamming my locker door, I hurried to the lunchroom. I was running late, thanks to Mr. Cavanaugh who caught me in the hall to talk about the report I did for class. I checked my watch. There was fifteen minutes left to eat.

  The smell of chicken nuggets, and corn hit me full force as I pushed my way through the throngs of people. I spotted Carsen deep in conversation with Ferren and Talon at the table so I winded my way along the wall not wanting to disturb them.

  “This isn’t a good idea,” Ferren said.

  “If she’s going to be with me then she needs to be acclimated to me,” Carsen said, pounding his fist down on the table.

  Talon glared at his friend. “No.”

  “Hey, what’s going on?” I plopped down next to Carsen.

  The tension in the air vibrated like a jackhammer, and I squirmed in my seat. It seemed like I was the cause of most of their problems as of late.

  “Nothing much,” Carsen said, leaning over to kiss my forehead.

  I forced a smile but knew he lied. My focus shifted to my turkey sandwich, which I toyed with. My appetite vanished, while Talon and Ferren whispered back and forth. What was with everyone? Even Carsen was distant today.

  After a couple of minutes, Carsen spun to face me, his face serious. “Listen, I wondered if you’d come with me Sunday.”

  “Where to?”

  “I want to become acclimated with you. If I’m going to shift, I need to get used to you in my other form.” His eyes searched my face.

  “Wh—what will I have to do?”

  “Nothing, just be around me when I shift.”

  Ferren sighed. “If you insist on doing this, I better be there.”

  “This is insane don’t you care about the risks?” Talon slammed his chair back. “If something goes wrong…” He stormed from the cafeteria, not finishing his thought.

  “Carsen?”

  “One of us has to be there in case he can’t control himself when he shifts,” Ferren said, her cherry colored lips turning down in a frown.

  “Everything will be fine,” he assured me.

  “Yeah, well I hope you’re right or we’ll all pay.” Ferren leapt to her feet and left.

  “Well, I certainly know how to clear a room,” I said, shaking my head.

  “Don’t worry about them. They’ll come around.”

  “So this acclimation thing…”

  “I promise I won’t hurt you,” Carsen said softly.

  Sucking in a lungful of air, I closed my eyes. I trusted him with my life and if it was important to him then I’d do it.

  “I know.”

  “So, you still planning on coming to my game tonight?” he asked as we left the cafeteria.

  “Yeah, someone’s got to cheer for you.”

  “Funny,” he said with a smirk.

  We stopped at his locker to grab his books but instead he dug into his bag, pulling out a jersey.

  “Here, I want you to wear this.”

  “Really?”

  He tugged it down over my head then brushed his lips over mine, like a whisper with a thousand secrets to tell.

  “Now you’re an official Harpooner,” he teased.

  “Hmmm, it smells like you.”

  Carsen quirked an eyebrow. “I sure hope that’s a compliment.”

  “Maybe.”

  Catching his hand in mine, we made our way to class. I couldn’t get over how lucky I was to have him. That someone like him, was interested in someone like me. It sure beat ghosts, hairy beasts, and investigating UFOs. Although, I suppose he might fall under the hairy beasts category.

  ****

  After school, I went home to chec
k on Keetah and let him out. While there, I played the messages on the answering machine. One was from Dad telling me to have fun at the game tonight, and to come home right after.

  I laughed out loud when he said that I better not have any boys in the house.

  “Guess you’ve got to leave, Keetah,” I said petting his head. “He said no boys.”

  Keetah whimpered, pouncing up on the couch when he grabbed my book bag, dragging it all over the living room until its contents, were spread across the floor.

  “Hey! Quit it. I don’t have time to clean up a bunch of messes.”

  I swatted at him before skipping ahead to the next message. This one was nothing but static and the occasional sound of wings flapping. I hit delete and jumped away from the phone like it was alive.

  “What was that?” My heart clamored against my ribs, like a bird trying to escape a cage.

  I was certain it wasn’t Batman calling. My thoughts drifted to “the raven”. Okay, so maybe I was delusional.

  Ambling into the kitchen, I fixed an egg sandwich then got Keetah some food too.

  “Okay boy, you’re on your own until I get back from the game. You stay away from my bras,” I said then grabbed my coat.

  Keetah trotted behind me as if to make sure I got to the door safely, and I tousled his fur before heading to the school.

  The gym was packed when I got there, a sea of black and gold decorating the stands. I found a seat half-way up, peering down to see Carsen and his teammates at the basket warming up.

  As if sensing my watchful gaze, he turned to look at me, grinning as he sprinted up the bleachers toward me. Carsen’s sculpted biceps flexed beneath his sleeveless jersey.

  “I might need a kiss for good luck,” he said, touching my arm.

  “Shinew, get down here and warm up!” the coach yelled.

  The kids in the student section started laughing and cat calling.

  “Yeah, Shinew, get your game on down on the floor, not in the stands.”

  My cheeks grew warm, but Carsen only laughed, bending down to kiss me.

  “I suppose I ought to give you some incentive to stay by making you wait for a kiss,” he said, stopping mere inches from my face.