Family of the Fox, #1

by F. M. Isaacs

  “Yes, a bird tried to eat me.” This came out of my mouth so quickly I hadn't really considered its shock value too well.

  “Oh, no, Corinne!” Mom gasped. “You could have died!”

  “That's why bathtubs or fish tanks are better for that kind of thing,” my grandfather quickly explained, with another glance at my mother.

  “Then Allen...Aldous made me a bird so I couldn't take him back in time. He threatened me and turned me into a statue. It was pretty awful.”

  Grandpa Brian tapped my shoulder comfortingly. “I would think that would be very scary if you couldn't change yourself back. But now that you know you can, you'll find yourself becoming all kinds of things.”

  “Why?”

  “Just for the sheer fun of it.”

  “It’s fun not to be able to move?”

  Sighing, Grandpa Brian turned to face my mother. “She sounds just like you when you started out, Patricia.”

  “You'll learn to love it eventually, Corinne,” Mom stated. “We'll help you out if you want. You'll need to work on it.”

  “Start now!” Grandpa Brian demanded, jumping up. “Be something for me!”

  “Brian, we don't have time for this,” Dad reminded him. “We need to find Daniel.”

  “Well, he's a tree, so let's be birds, and we'll fly off and find him. You first, Corinne.”

  The idea of becoming a bird again was not so appealing after what I'd experienced, but I wouldn't let Allen ruin it for me. “Okay, so, what do I do?”

  “Feel it,” my mother encouraged. “Like Lisette said.”

  “She saw Lisette?” Grandpa Brian exclaimed. “How?” For the first time he seemed genuinely startled. He flipped around toward my father. “You, Julian? Or Patricia?”

  “By herself,” Mom reassured him. “She must have had Lisette on her mind, and when she was sleeping, she traveled back to the 1920s.”

  Grandpa Brian took a relieved breath. “Impressive, considering she's never met or even laid eyes on the woman.” He turned back to me. “But the traveling in your sleep is pretty normal for a new traveler. Even your mother did that, Corinne.” He sat back down and placed his hands on his lap. “Now, enough with the silly time traveling. Let's get you trans-forming!”

  My father frowned at this slight, but he wisely remained silent.

  “Go ahead, Corinne. Just...be a bird,” Mom coaxed.

  “As a changer, you're closer to nature than any other being is. Join it.”

  I’d heard those words before.

  “That’s what Lisette said! And Allen...Aldous kept repeating it, and he was surprised that I could hear him when he was changed...”

  “Well, of course–”

  “He knew,” I whispered, cutting my grandfather off.

  “He knew what?”

  “He knew I was a changer. He kept saying I'm nature, and he had to teach me... He knew, and he wouldn't tell me!”

  “Could be. Maybe he didn't want you to figure it out in case he needed to have some kind of hold over you.”

  “He figured we’d try to take him back,” my mother pointed out. “We kept telling Daniel...”

  “But in the beginning he was trying to help me. I swear it,” I replied. “He was changing me and showing me the ropes without actually telling me.”

  I wasn’t sure of Allen’s original intentions. But whatever was going on in his head didn't matter. He was dangerous, and he didn't belong here.

  I cracked my knuckles, unwavering resolve flooding through me. “We have to stop him. I don't care who he is.”

  SINCE I WAS STILL HESITANT about transforming, Mom changed herself into a bird first so Grandpa Brian could explain her progress to me. He commented on each step of her metamorphosis, including how to direct my own change and the sensations I'd experience while going through it. Mom became a crow just like Grandpa Brian usually did, and now it was my turn to become one too.

  My grandfather stood beside me, wringing his hands. “Listen, Corinne, one of the most important things in transforming is to keep your mind present. I know that sounds silly, but there are really two ways to change. Your mom is still your mom, but she's in a bird body, and her aura is bright. However – and Patricia, I hope you'll allow me to demonstrate–”

  The crow nodded.

  “If I change her completely, her aura diminishes, and she's truly a bird with a bird's mind. Watch.”

  The crow glowed momentarily, then shrieked and took wing, batter-ing itself against the window glass while trying to escape.

  “Shh, shh,” Grandpa Brian said, inching toward her. She flew to the edge of the ceiling in fear. “See? That's not your mother. That's a wild crow that has no idea of its past human state.” He made the crow glow again, and it visibly relaxed and flew onto his shoulder.

  “How'd I do, guys?” it said out loud.

  “Talking crows?” I yelped.

  “Well, that's for Julian's benefit. He's not a changer, so, unless he's transformed, he can't hear into our minds.”

  “But changers can.”

  “Yes, and usually only changers can see auras. Usually. There are some others who can, especially if they work on it, like your father.”

  Suddenly my mother's voice reverberated through my head. Can you hear me, Corinne?

  I don't know why, but it was more disconcerting to hear a familiar voice there than a stranger’s. Perhaps I was so used to her words echoing through the house instead?

  Yes, I hear you, Mom. You can hear me too?

  “Yup,” she said out loud.

  “I don't like talking animals,” I shuddered.

  “I don't either,” Dad added from the corner.

  “Now go ahead, Corinne,” my grandfather prompted me. “You've been a bird before. Think of how it felt, and push your body back into that form.”

  First there was nothing. I thought of the glow, and the warmth, and then it was spreading through me very slowly.

  Hurry up! We have to save Daniel! I told myself. As nervous as I was, the idea of Daniel alone and vulnerable in the forest was the extra shove I needed. Forcing the changes as hard as possible, I glowed brighter and brighter, and then I snapped to the floor.

  I was a crow!

  “Bravo!” everyone yelled and clapped at once – even Dad.

  “Your first real change!” cried Grandpa Brian.

  My parents embraced me as well as they could. Mom put her wings around me. Dad kind of hugged me with his hands. “Now change me,” he demanded, directing this at Mom.

  “Julian, you can't come!” she gasped.

  “Why not?”

  Flapping in irritation, she replied, “He'll go after you!”

  “So then you'll change me back. The more time travelers we have, the better. We should get Jonas, save Daniel, and then stop Aldous. Five travelers should be able to handle one changer!”

  Grandpa Brian scoffed at his words. “Depends on who the changer is.”

  “Jonas knows what's going on?” I had to be certain.

  “Jonas probably knows more than the rest of us combined,” Grandpa Brian said, pressing a button to dial his uncle's phone number.

  “ABSOLUTELY FASCINATING!” Uncle Jonas burst out, patting me on my feathery head. “Three generations of changers. Truly a rare occurrence! Funny to see her as a crow, Brian,” he remarked with a wistful nod to my grandfather.

  My mother quickly outlined how Uncle Jonas had helped Grandpa Brian when he found out he was a changer. Grandpa Brian had been in college, and he had witnessed his father's death. The trauma of the experience apparently set off his ability, and he changed into a crow. But my grandfather had no idea what was happening to him.

  That must have been terrifying. At least Allen had prepared me.

  Mom and Grandpa Brian transformed Dad and Jonas, and Grandpa Brian changed last. I was amused that we were truly a “gathering” of crows, and I started to laugh, or cackle, or whatever you call the raucous sound I was making through my beak.
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  In a rush of wings and feathers, my parents, grandfather, and uncle took to the sky. They were impressive animals, and I felt humbled as I did my best to catch up with them. They knew how to fly, how to glide, and how to land. Through our whole flight, they spoke to each other as though they did this every day.

  I was so flustered about Allen that I was having trouble locating Daniel. I scanned the forest, trying to find him, but I wasn't sure I was in the right spot.

  Are we near? Jonas asked gently.

  “I'm not sure,” I said out loud in frustration. “I figured I'd find him right away.”

  Patricia, Brian, can you help her? Dad requested.

  I’m purposely not. Give her a chance first, Julian, Mom responded. Corinne, how are you looking for him?

  I realized what she meant, and I knew I was going about this the wrong way. “I need to feel for him, right?”

  Right.

  You're a changer. Use everything that you are, Grandpa Brian advised.

  What he said sounded cryptic or even vaguely mystical, but I understood his meaning. I searched for that pull I'd felt, and, almost immediately, there Daniel was, calling me to him.

  He's here! I declared. Follow me!

  Interesting that we couldn't find him before, Patricia, Grandpa Brian commented to my mother. I sense him now.

  My mother shrugged her bird-shoulders. I guess Aldous isn't blocking his signature anymore.

  “Over here!” I called out.

  The sapling seemed to welcome me. I alighted on a top branch and the rest of my family joined me.

  I brought the whole clan for a visit, Daniel. It’s a happy family get-together! I sounded more and more like my father every day.

  Hey, you guys are making my branch sag. Can you spread out the weight a bit?

  “Daniel!” Mom tapped her beak gently against his trunk. “My God, are you alright?”

  Hi Mom. I'm fine.

  “Good. Good.” Her tone softened in relief. “We were so worried about you! We couldn't find you. I'm so glad you're okay.” She drew one of her bird claws lovingly against a leaf. “Although he did make you into a beautiful tree, I have to say. Are you enjoying it?”

  Totally. I don't want to change back, if you really must know.

  His words made me lose all patience with him. Staying a tree forever was absolutely absurd! This whole panorama of talking birds and trees was ridiculous!

  I cut off their little reunion scene. “Well, I'm a changer like Mom and Grandpa Brian. And we're changing you back and stopping Allen.”

  Daniel grew quiet. One of his leaves floated to the ground.

  “He's losing his leaves,” Grandpa Brian said. “Daniel, you're doing that purposely?”

  Yes.

  My grandfather lowered his voice, clearly doing his best to sound convincing. “I know it's nice to be a tree. If you want, we'll let you do it again. But this time it'll be in your own backyard, and you'll do it when you want. Right now you're coming with us. We're going to fix the mess you made. Brace yourself. I'm making you into a crow, too.”

  Grandpa Brian set to work. Seeing a whole sapling explode into light and shrink into avian form was like viewing an art project being created from start to finish. The new bird shook itself out, pumped its wings several times, and looked up at us. “Good to go,” he proclaimed.

  “You've been a bird before?” My dad asked suspiciously.

  “Aldous. He made me whatever I wanted.”

  My mother sighed, and Dad looked away. “He's got to go back. Our existences might depend on it.”

  “Yours too, Julian?” Daniel queried.

  I was about to explain, but Jonas jumped in. “We're all from the same area in Europe. Greenes married Foxes several times. It's very possible Julian's family is related to Aldous as well. I'm pretty sure our abilities stem from a common ancestor.”

  “How far back?” Daniel raised his eyebrows.

  “Oh, Daniel, it's not like we married our sisters,” said Grandpa Brian. “He means many, many centuries ago. Maybe even a millennium or so.”

  “Allen once showed me what he really looks like. He's older, shorter, and he has Dad's green eyes,” I said.

  Everyone was quiet for a moment. I guess I'd just proven Jonas' point.

  Dad gulped. “Well, there you go, then.”

  “Green eyes don’t mean he's definitely related to the Greenes,” Grandpa Brian inserted. He didn't sound very confident, though.

  “I know he has to go back,” Daniel uttered, subdued. “Mom and Julian convinced me, and I tried to bring Aldous home. That's how I ended up planted.” Longingly, he nodded at the hole in the ground where his roots had once been.

  “Daniel, you miss it?” I couldn’t help asking. “Being a tree forever, it's beyond dumb. Look at all the schooling you went through, just to be...wood?”

  My brother stretched his wings. “Don't knock it 'till you've tried it.”

  “That's so stupid–”

  “Guys, that's enough,” Grandpa Brian scolded. “We've got bigger issues here! First of all, we've got to get Aldous unawares. One of us should divert his attention so a traveler can get him back to the 1300s.”

  “What if said traveler then gets transformed in the 1300s?” Dad's question ruffled some feathers – literally.

  “Well,” Jonas replied, “we need to send a changer back too.”

  “Yes, and that changer has to be capable of taking down that sadistic lunatic,” Dad spat out.

  “We’ll handle him,” Mom said. “But remember, he’s definitely not a lunatic.”

  “No,” I added sadly. “It might have been easier if he was.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  We flew through the air, tense and uneasy. We were aiming for Allen's house, and as it came into view, my father said, “I thought that was an old shack. When did they build a mansion here?”

  Well, it definitely was larger than before, but it was hardly a mansion...

  “Allen...Aldous changed it,” I replied.

  Using Allen's real name was hard for me. I had always seen Aldous as a villain in a child's fairy tale. Now he was a real person, multifaceted and deep, and the emotions I felt toward him ranged from hatred to affection. The names split him neatly into two people in my mind. Allen was the good one. When he turned on me, he became Aldous.

  But I still couldn’t call him that.

  “I'm surprised he didn't make a castle for himself,” Dad scoffed. “Aldous wouldn't have anything but the best.”

  “But he changed the shack into a house without lifting a hammer. You have to admit that's pretty impressive,” Daniel pointed out.

  “Boy, Patricia. You and I could have made palaces for our families to live in,” Grandpa Brian grumbled, moving alongside my mother.

  When we reached the edge of the woods, Mom suddenly said, “Wait a minute.”

  I perched on a branch, and my mother descended to the ground near the log Allen and I had sat and talked on. She stared at it with the unblinking eyes of a bird. “Dad, am I crazy, or...”

  Grandpa Brian landed on top of the log, studying it in the sunlight. “Yes. You're right. Slight aura...listen...”

  Dad, Daniel, and Uncle Jonas dropped down beside my mom. “Oh, no! It's a person?” Jonas asked in horror.

  “Fully changed,” said Grandpa Brian.

  “It's Owen,” added Daniel. “It has to be.”

  I let out a squeak, then found my voice. “That's why no one's seen him! Allen turned him into a log!”

  Daniel chuckled. “Well, that's almost funny. I mean, you have to admit it's creative. Transforming a jerk into a log. It's good. I like it.”

  Mom gave him a stern glance. “Daniel, he's essentially dead if someone doesn't change him back. His mind isn't there. He's truly a piece of wood...that's beginning to rot.”

  “Poor man,” murmured Jonas, looking away. “Although it's better he's not aware, especially if he's going to decompose.”

 
As awful as it was, I didn't feel too bad. Owen was a pretty nasty person. He did, however, make an imposing chunk of wood. I really couldn't deny that.

  “You might not like him, but we're not murderers. Now let's first take human form so we don't scare him any more than necessary,” Mom dictated.

  Before I could change myself back, I found her doing it for me. And she was so fast, I almost toppled over.

  “I could’ve done it on my own, Mom,” I protested.

  “Save your strength,” she snapped. “Everyone good?”

  Once again human, we all nodded, humbled by Mom's power. Well, everyone seemed that way except Grandpa Brian. He had a huge, proud smile on his face.

  Mom positioned herself in front of the log, bracing her feet in the leaves. “Stand back,” she ordered us, and focused her energies on the object before her.

  Again, the transformation was so rapid, it was staggering. The log flashed, and then Owen stood in its place, squinting and trying to figure out what was happening.

  “Hey!” he gasped, tottering on his legs. “Julian and Patricia Greene? Why are you here?” He glared at us while working hard to keep his balance. “And where is he? That man? What the hell did he do to me?”

  “Owen, listen,” Dad stepped forward.

  Owen stumbled backwards, holding up his hands as if to ward Dad off. “That man was threatening me! That place is mine, and he was squatting there!” He turned to view the shack, and his jaw dropped. “What–”

  “Well, you can see that he did make some improvements,” Dad indicated with amusement. “And I doubt he'll ask you for money toward them.”

  Immediately my mother crept up to Owen. I had never seen her like this before. The way she swept across the grass, almost floating, gave her the air of a mighty enchantress. Her eyes were intense and hypnotic as she focused them on the agitated man.

  “What is she...”

  “Cor, quiet!” Dad hissed.

  “Forget,” my mother intoned in a quiet yet commanding voice.

  She waited a moment, then repeated it again. “Forget.”

  The man's eyes glazed over, and he walked off as if we weren't there.