The Change

by Lori Aisling

  Bristol took a quick look around the old house, knowing she would never see it again. Her life had changed so much in the past couple of days and this morning was proof that they would be on the run, or fighting until she figured out her roll in this new world.

  As they rushed to the barn, Bror was tacking the horses. All four of them waited patiently, Ristan’s big black stallion tossing his head and stomping his feet as he looked to the east. Ristan grabbed his saddle and tossed it onto the big horses back and began securing the packs behind it. Sly and Max were already ready to go and Bror was finishing cinching up the saddle on Sleip. Bristol grabbed two packs and began securing them behind Max.

  “Boz, you ride Max,” she said. “Jayson, take Sly.” Securing the last pack, she stripped out of her clothes and shoved them in a saddlebag, handing her boots to Boz to load in another pack. “I have no intention of losing any of you,” she stated. “So ride hard, don’t take chances and stick together.” Walking up to Bror, she grabbed his face in her hands and looked in his eyes. Suddenly nervous, she chewed on her lip. “I trust you, Bror. Help me understand. Help me save my friends.”

  “We will, baby. We will.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead and swung up into the saddle.

  “Shift, Bristol!” Ristan yelled, looking over her shoulder. Spinning around to see what had caught his eye, Bristol could see the black horde coming over the crest of the hill behind them. Swirling, twisting black shapes headed towards them and she could hear the high pitched screams through the wind. Magic soaked the air around them and she shifted. Seeing the tigress at her side, the group headed west in a dead run, with the horde and dawn both at their backs.

  Bristol

  They ran until white lather dripped off Bristol’s sides. Stopping at a creek for everyone to rest for a moment while drinking their fill, they continued on at a steady pace, heading west. Once it appeared they were out of immediate danger, Boz and Jayson had lapsed into a conversation, riding close while Jessie flanked Jayson’s left side. Bristol felt Ristan in her head before she heard him.

  “You did good back there,” he said.

  “What do you mean?”

  “At the house. You took action and reacted without panicking. You are a natural leader, Bristol. Would you like to talk a little bit about your role?”

  “Yes. I need to understand more. I am still not wrapping my head around this whole ‘balance the world thing’. I mean, create balance. Like what? Have a worldwide hippy Woodstock-fest and tell everyone to chill?” She heard Bror snort and she saw Ristan smile. “It’s not like we can fight chaos. It’s a state of mind, a phenomenon, not a thing.”

  “I don’t know this Woodstock you speak of, but I get the gist of what you are sayin’,” Bror said. “But you are wrong when you say we can’t fight chaos. That is exactly what we are going ta do.”

  “Every time you think of cause and effect, or your role, you need to think of the opposite of that,” Ristan stated. “You are balance. You, Bristol. You are the god’s embodiment of balance. So, what would be the opposite of that?”

  “Oh God. Gods. Whatever. Are you telling me there is another person out there that is the opposite of me? There is an actual Chaos? Like a person-chaos?”

  “Now the pieces are falling into place for ya,” Bror said. “There is an opposite to everything in all life.”

  “No good without bad. No life without death,” Bristol muttered. “I used to say that to my mom all the time when I was young. It helped me make sense of everything.”

  “As the Gods war amongst themselves and play their games in the realms, the balance begins to tilt,” Ristan explained. “Sometimes it is strife amongst the residents. Or environmental imbalances. Religious wars. The list is endless. As the world starts to struggle and suffer due to the effects of being out of balance, chaos begins to grow. The emotion behind it is very real. These intense emotions; rage, sadness, fear, and desperation. They all feed chaos. When the balance finally swings too far, The Change happens. The gods only leave the players needed to continue their game. They decide who those players will be before they are ever born. That is why suddenly people change. You see, they don’t really change, they just manifest into what the gods had already planned for them. Chaos was already chosen. She will have awakened and be manifesting her destiny, just as you will. It’s a war, Bristol. War for the continued survival of the realm and everyone left in it.”

  “Chaos is female? Why does that surprise me? If it’s my opposite, I would assume it would be male?”

  “Chaos has always been female in the past. That does not mean that a male could not manifest as Chaos, we have just never seen that,” Bror added. “Chaos has Other’s, just like you, and there have been realms that one or two of them have been female. I don’t think gender really comes into play with the god’s decisions. You see, unlike you, Chaos and her Others are created by the realm and the emotions. Chaos and her Others never actually die, as they are manifestations of the emotions of man. However, the vessels they occupy can be destroyed. So although they are different in every realm, they are as old as time. Once her power is depleted and she fails to reign, she is banished, only ta rear her ugly head on another realm when the balance begins to slip and create the plethora of emotions she needs to return in another vessel. Chaos has always existed. That is why Adrestia fought so hard to create you. It was impossible to create balance without ya, as it’s in nature for chaos ta manifest and rule. Chaos and her Others always look different, as their vessels will change, however they are the same. Just like you, in that aspect. Regardless of appearance, you are The Balance.”

  “As your Other’s will help you with the balance of the realm, Chaos’s Others will create havoc for her. Fear, Rage, Desperation, and Sadness are the physical manifestations that will assist her in her fight. They harness their power by feeding off the emotions that created them. Enslaving, torturing, and killing humans then siphoning those exact emotions are their sole purpose. The more they harvest the stronger Chaos will become,” Ristan explained.

  As they traveled, Ristan and Bror continued to explain the role the gods had designed her for, and everything started to make sense to Bristol. She could understand the base and she could build on that. But defeating Chaos? It seemed like such a huge undertaking for a girl from Nebraska that knew more about corn and beans than war. They explained her Others and how they helped with her balance. The four of them had also been designed by the gods, some of them offering tools to help the warriors on their quest. She learned that Sleip, Bror’s cream-colored stallion, was a gift from Odin. The steed was a descendant of the eight-legged Sleipnir, the offspring of the world’s strongest stallion and Loki, a god himself. Sleip was loyal to Bror and connected to him with magic. It was the same for Ristan’s mount. The huge black beast was named ‘Phase’ and was created for Ristan from Hade’s own personal stock. His sire was Orphnaeus, described as ‘savage and fleet’ and one of the immortal stallions used to pull Hades chariot. Bane and Caspian, her two Others that she had yet to meet, also had steeds that were created and gifted from the gods. With their mounts being as paramount to their battle as they were, this was why they were so surprised and awed when Bristol had shifted into a horse. According to them, she had never had the ability to shift in any other realm and for her alternate form to be a horse made them feel that the gods had a different plan for this realm.

  The day turned into afternoon, then dusk began to color the world with the pink, orange, and blue of the sun making its descent. Jessie trotted to the head of the party, her tail twitching, her eyes focused on the trees ahead of them. She growled suddenly, and then took off into a dead sprint, heading into the trees. Jayson called after her but stopped his pursuit when Ristan called for him to stop.

  “We can’t chase the cat not knowing what she saw,” Ristan said. “It could be a trap set by the chayn, but I doubt it. She has enough control of her beast to not run off half-cocked. Just give her a minute.”

/>   The group stood around, waiting on Jessie to reappear. Jayson was pissed and fuming, while the others were unsure how to proceed. Movement in the thick timber caught their attention and they watched the tiger as she walked back into the clearing, a young doe in her massive jaws. Dropping her prey to the ground, she shifted into her human form. Putting her hands in the air in a sign of defeat she smirked. “I am done for the day, boys. I am starving and I bought dinner. There’s a small pond over here for the horses to drink and level ground for sleep. So someone start a fire and let’s take a break.”

  Boz chuckled and hopped off of Max, patting the horse on the neck. “I agree, lass. I’m on it.” The rest of the group dismounted and led the horses to the pond she pointed out, staking them for the night. Ristan and Bror began removing the tack and getting them rubbed down. Jayson tossed Jessie her clothes and grabbed the doe she had hunted for them and began cleaning it to prepare their meal.

  Bristol shifted and dressed, feeling grateful to be back in her human form. Although she loved the wild and free feeling she experienced while shifted, she felt most like herself when she was human. She stretched her sore muscles and started helping Boz set up camp.

  “I know we have a lot more pressing issues at hand, but you wanna tell me what’s up with Jayson and Jess?” She asked him.

  “Seems like perhaps their relationship has, shall we say, evolved,” Boz said, smiling. “We talked about it a little today, I am sure Jess will fill you in. But, it’s a good thing. I think it’s great for both of them. She can control his overbearing asshole behavior and he needs someone like her to help keep him in touch with his human side. Plus, she needs a strong personality to balance her. She’s a dominant female and that is tough for a lot of men. In this shit world, a little happiness isn’t too much to ask for.”

  “I’ll be damned. I never pictured those two together. And, of course, you have to talk about balance with the whole shit sandwich I got fed!” She joked.

  “I know you guys were talking today with that telepathy-thing you have now.” When she glanced at him he explained, “Ristan told me a lot of it last night while you and Bror were...umm...bonding. You have a lot of shit on your plate, Bri. This is bigger than anything I ever imagined for any of us.”

  “Yes, it is. And I learned so much more today. I guess there was a reason I stumbled into that little ho-dink town and met you three. I am beginning to realize that very few things are actually just coincidence.”

  “I am glad we have each other. I have faith in you, Bri. I always knew you were so much more. There is just something about you, ya know?”

  “No. I don’t actually know. But now that I have learned that Chaos is nothing more than some mean bitch with an army of anger, I have every intention of kicking her damned ass,” Bristol said with a grin.

  With a cheery fire blazing, Bristol placed the thin slices of fresh meat Jayson had provided on wooden skewers and soon the smell of it cooking drew everyone to them like moths to a flame. All the supplies were secure, horses were staked and the camp was set. The group fell into easy conversation over their meal and jokes were made about how much easier life was before The Change. Then Ristan and Bror educated them on some of the different realms and regaled the group with stories of their time with Bristol in other realms. Soon, Bristol and Jessie were both yawning.

  “Let’s go pee and go to bed,” Jessie said to her.

  “I second that.”

  The two girls headed off to the trees and once they were away from the group, Bristol poked her friend in the ribs, smirking. “You and Jayson, eh? I didn’t see that coming, but damn, girl. Good for you! He is all protective and sweet and shit!”

  Jessie blushed. “It wasn’t planned, you know. I never thought I had any feelings for him other than a friend. But after all the shit that went down, I just felt something different towards him. Then, when Ristan said we would make it to a town in the next couple of days so he could feed, and I about lost it. The thought of him with some girl, even just for sustenance, just pissed me off. I decided there was no way I was letting that shit happen.”

  “So he fed from you?” Bristol stared at her friend, wide-eyed.

  “Yeah. And let me tell you, girl. That shit is hot! Like holy hell, it’s all sexy and tingly and then I just wanted him. Bad. But it wasn’t like I thought. I didn’t feel used or like a ‘blood bag’ like I used to joke around with him about the other girls. He was so damn sweet and concerned. He really isn’t the hard-ass he makes out to be.”

  “Yes, Jessie. He is. He’s a total hard-ass, he just has it for you as bad as you have it for him! And that’s good. Boz and I talked a little and we both agree. You two are very good for each other and I am glad to see you with him. I hope it works! You deserve some joy and so does he.”

  “I love you, Bri. There is seriously no other group of people I would rather be on this turd tour with then you guys. Even Ristan and Bror. Granted, Ristan is kind of broody and bitchy, but you can tell it’s because he really cares. And Bror! Oh my God, Bri! Swoon! He is amazing. And since we are spillin’ here, it seems like I wasn’t the only one doing a little late-night lovin’ last night!”

  “He is amazing. And I can’t believe I just met him. I feel like I have known him much longer. I feel a connection to them both, Jess. And I don’t know how much you have heard or gathered from the guys or our talks, but there is more to this than just them being my Others for the war to balance our world; as if that isn’t enough. I mean, they are mine. Like, all four of them.”

  Jessie stared at her, jaw gaping. “Holy shit. Like you are going to have a damn harem of hot guys? And they don’t care? What about the two that aren’t here? What if you don’t like one of them? What if one of them is a total toad?” She burst out laughing at her own admission, slapping Bristol on the shoulder. “Sweet, innocent Bri. The good girl. With four dudes destined to save the world in between making you their sex goddess!” She snorted, pleased with herself and the roll she was on.

  Bristol shrugged and giggled. “I don’t know. I don’t think I have to be with all four. I guess I just always have before? I am really into Bror, but I have similar feelings for Ristan too, just in a different way, I guess. He’s more intense but sexy.”

  “You mean Bror is into you, right? Ha! Get it?” Jessie was still giggling, obviously enjoying Bristol’s discomfort.

  “What are you? 12? This is some serious shit!” Then, unable to hold back, she too started giggling. “I love you, Jess. Thank you for being the bad-ass tigress bitch that catches our dinner and doesn’t try and eat me when we’re shifted,” she said between bouts of laughter.

  The girls tittered and teased each other more as they relieved themselves and headed back to the camp. The guys had all the bedding laid out and Bristol collapsed in the middle. “I am shot! I haven’t used that much energy in forever,” she groaned.

  “Me either,” Jessie admitted. “I am really excited about this thin blanket and the hard ground. It looks like heaven and I’m not even kidding.”

  “Since the girls ran all day, how about the four of us take two-hour shifts and just let them sleep through the night?” Ristan suggested. “I’ll take first shift.”

  The other three guys nodded their agreement and Ristan walked off to check the horses while the group settled on the bedding. Jessie immediately flopped down next to Jayson and he pulled her onto his chest and tucked the blanket up under her chin. Boz stretched out next to them, his arms behind his head. When Bror eased down next to Bristol, she gladly snuggled up next to him, sighing her contentment with his body heat as she formed herself to him. In the blink of an eye, she was sound asleep.

  Bristol

  Feeling a tickle against her ear, Bristol smiled. Her internal alarm clock told her it was time to wake, but she sighed and pushed into the warm body curled around her. The sensation against her ear increased and warm lips traveled to her neck. A sharp nip followed and she moaned, “Bror. God, you know how to wake
a girl up.” Immediately she heard a deep growl and felt his chest rumble, followed by a sharper bite on her neck.

  “Don’t do that again, woman,” Ristan’s voice startled her. “We obviously haven’t spent enough time together for you to know who you are waking up next to.” Twisting his fingers into her long hair, he tugged her head back until she was staring into his intense, amber eyes. Leaning down, his tongue traced the shape of her lips before darting into her mouth. She groaned and pressed her body tighter against his, running her hand up his back to pull him closer to her. His fingertips danced down her curves, stopping at the apex of her legs and cupping her sex in his hand. “Soon, Bristol. Soon you will be mine,” he murmured against her lips. “After that, you will never mistake me for another.” Placing a chaste kiss against her lips, he released her and sat up, running his hands through his hair. “I’ll get a fire going and some coffee started. We will need to head out soon.”

  Bristol rolled onto her back and stared at the sky. Dawn was just starting to break, but she could still see the stars. Her mind pondered how she could be equally attracted to both of these men, and yet she still couldn’t understand their acceptance of it. Her upbringing told her she should be embarrassed, or wanton. But none of those feelings existed. Bristol realized she was quickly becoming very attached to both of them, and the thought of choosing one over the other wasn't going to be an option for her. Rising, she slipped into her boots and headed to the fire that Ristan had started. The coffee had begun to percolate and she would have traveled all the realms for the opportunity to feel the hot, bitter brew against her tongue. Rummaging through a pack, she pulled out a bag of dried fruit to serve with the leftover venison from the doe Jessie had killed the previous evening. Knowing it would be another day with both her and her friend in their shifted forms, they would need the energy of a big breakfast.