A Measure of Disorder (7 page)

Brandon shook his head. “Wait, the world
thinks?
”

Mogritas’s expression turned serious. “Yes. And it can be quite devious at times. Let me be your guide. Come to me when you are ready, and bring any of your friends that would like to come along. Tell them what you have learned from me tonight.”

“I’ll have to think about it.”

Smiling again, Mogritas said, “I would expect nothing less.”

“I’d like to wake up now.”

“Farewell, Brandon. And thank you for considering my offer …”

The dream images faded and Brandon opened his eyes to a midmorning sky. He lay in blood spattered grass with small bones and fur scattered around. His memories of the hunt came back and filled him with pleasure.

Embrace the change,
he thought.
Embrace the change.

Tori was angry.

She’d spent most of her life trying to blend in, to go unnoticed. This, however, was going a little too far.

She was shrinking.

It had been subtle at first, but now her clothes didn’t fit right and her shoes were a couple of sizes too big. They made blisters on her feet and were difficult to keep on as well. She had always been the smallest one in her family. Being even smaller was the last thing she wanted.

Two nights before, after Brandon had hurt Sara and stomped off, they had all sat down and talked about the changes that were happening to them. Few seemed happy about them, so at least she wasn’t alone in that. Many were having similar problems in fact. Still, it didn’t make her feel any better.

Crank had talked about the world molding them to fit or something. It hadn’t made much sense to Tori.
Why would we all be changing so differently? We’re all human so why not change us all into the same thing?
She was confused. And frightened.

Brandon hadn’t come back by morning. After some discussion, they had decided to press on without him. He knew the direction they were headed and the group wouldn’t be hard to find if he decided to come back. Crank didn’t believe there was anything dangerous nearby, and there was an ample supply of
Tolenton’naie
and water available.

They moved away from the river because the rocky ground and some recent mud slides had made the footing treacherous. The fast flowing water could still be heard off to their right as they continued southeast on their journey.

A sound from up above caught Tori’s attention as she trudged along with the rest, trying not to slip out of her shoes. She looked up and saw a hawk, or falcon, lazily pacing them in the slight breeze. Sara and Jenni, marching along side her, saw it too.

“Oh, cool,” Sara said. “I wonder if one of those little guys is riding it — what did you call them, Crank?”

Crank was riding on Jenni’s shoulders as he often did. “
Faerstrastenai
,” he said, looking in the sky. “Difficult to see from here.” He reached down and covered Jenni’s ears, then whistled loudly.

The bird took no notice and kept riding the air currents. Crank shrugged and removed his hands from Jenni’s ears.

Tori thought about the sound she had heard from the bird before. After a few more steps, she looked up again and made a high pitched “kee-yah” sound.

The response was immediate. The bird swooped down toward her. Surprised at first, she recovered and held her arm out like she had seen Crank do previously.

As it came closer, she could see details. Its belly and underwings were speckled white and brown, while its back and head were a silvery gray. It soared in on wings about two feet across, and landed lightly on Tori’s outstretched arm, talons not quite piercing her skin.

She almost jumped in fear and pain when the bird landed, but managed to keep control. It let out a short screech and looked at Tori with dark eyes. She answered with a quick “kee” before she had time to think. He — Tori knew somehow it was male — had the sharp, curved beak of a predatory bird and appeared completely unconcerned about all the people around.

Tori and her friends stood in amazement, then the bird hopped up Tori’s arm to her shoulder and settled down for a ride.

The bird didn’t weigh more than a pound or two and felt comfortable on her shoulder.
Okay, so maybe this stuff isn’t
all
bad,
she thought and smiled.

That evening, when they stopped for the day, Tori sat down with Jenni and Sara to eat and rest. The bird, who had not left her shoulder, hopped to the ground next to her. They ate quietly, resting and stretching after their long march.

Marco crept over to her and sat down. “May I look at the bird?” he asked Tori.

“Sure,” Tori said, blushing lightly. She wasn’t used to people asking her permission for anything.

Marco leaned in slowly and examined the small bird of prey. Tori noticed Marco was being examined just as thoroughly.

“He’s amazing,” Marco breathed. “He looks like a species of falcon called a Merlin we have in the U.S. — but here? Who knows?” Marco laughed.

“Thank you,” Tori replied.

“Have you named him?”

Tori hadn’t given thought to a name. She looked at the falcon, who cocked his head to gaze up at her. “What kind did you say … Merlin?” Tori asked.

“Yeah, that’s what he looks like to me anyway.”

“Well, I think that’s a perfect name: Merlin,” she declared, still watching the bird. “What do you think, Merlin?”

The newly named falcon let out a peep that sounded approving. Tori giggled. “Okay, Merlin it is!”

Ms. Pap came over then and sat by Sara. Merlin chose that moment to chirp again at Tori and take off, flying to the northeast.

“Oh, I hope I didn’t scare him,” Ms. Pap said. “I just came to check on Sara’s dressing.”

“It’s okay,” Tori answered. “He’s just going off to hunt.”

They looked at her and Jenni asked, “How do you know?”

Tori thought about it and said, “I don’t know, I just do. He’ll be back after he’s had something to eat.” It seemed as natural as breathing. “I sort of got a picture in my head when he left — I don’t know.”

Marco smiled. “That’s fantastic, Tori!”

Tori grinned back. “Yes, it is, isn’t it?” They shared a laugh.

Marco looked into the distance where Merlin had flown. “I hope whatever I’m becoming can communicate with animals like that. That would be a dream come true!”

Tori looked at Marco and saw some of the changes in him. His weren’t as dramatic as many of them, but his ears were definitely coming to a point at the top and his eyes were larger and brighter than before. He was about the same size but leaner, and his facial features were sharper.
Though, that could be from all the exercise we’ve had the past week as much as anything,
Tori thought. They had all “beefed up” from their exertions and were certainly more fit than when they arrived.

Ms. Pap sat back after checking Sara’s shoulder. “It’s healing incredibly fast,” she pronounced. “I expect we can take the bandages off tomorrow or the next day. Unbelievable.”

Sara pulled her sleeve down and smiled. “Thanks, Ms. Pap.”

Sara was larger and more muscular, but not bulky like a body builder. She was graceful. Her skin had developed a sheen to it as well — metallic almost, like copper. Sara carried her tree branch across her back, held by the straps of her backpack. She looked dangerous and pretty at the same time.
It fits her well,
Tori thought, even though it was so much different from the girl with glasses and braces she knew before.

Ms. Pap got up slowly. “All right, I’d best see to the others,” she said. Marco helped her up, then left to go find his mother.

“What do you think Ms. Pap’s turning into?” Sara asked after their teacher had gone.

“I don’t know,” Jenni said, “but I’m worried about her. She looks older — so wrinkly — and she’s having a hard time moving around.”

“Yeah,” Sara agreed, “but her skin is really tough, hard almost, not like an old person’s.” She stood up and stretched. “I’m going to go find a place to limber up; my shoulder is really stiff. Anyone want to come?”

“Sure,” Jenni said.

“I’m good,” Tori replied. “Think I’ll just rest and wait for Merlin to get back.”

“Okay, we won’t be long,” Sara said and the two girls walked toward the river.

A little while after sundown, and Sara and Jenni had returned, Merlin landed next to where Tori lay under her jacket, head resting on her pack. He seemed quite satisfied and Tori saw blood and bits of fur on his beak.

“Ugh,” she said, disgusted. “Go wash yourself off.”

Merlin gave her a clipped chirp and took off toward the river. He flew back a couple of minutes later, landed and shook his feathers free of a lot of water.

The three girls shrieked at their surprise shower, then laughed and giggled.

“Oh, thanks a lot!” Tori said to Merlin with laughter. “Think you’re a comedian, huh?”

Merlin turned his head so she could see his clean beak and gave her a “kee-yah” for good measure.

Tori giggled again and lay back down to go to sleep.

She dreamed of flying.

Tori rode astride Merlin’s back with her knees hooked at his shoulder joints and arms wrapped around his neck. She felt his joy riding thermals and drifting, wings outstretched, with the breezes. She felt the thrill of diving headlong to the ground in pursuit of a meal.

He showed her all these things and more.

The life she could have, would have, once she completed her transformation.

Tori had never felt more alive.

Marco walked along side his mother the next morning, deep in thought.

“Peso for your thoughts,” she said.

Marco glanced at his mother. “It’s a penny, Mom, not a peso.”

“I know, but a peso is worth a little more,” she said with a wink. “What’s on your mind, Marco?”

Marco sighed. “What do you suppose Dad is doing right now?”

It was his mother’s turn to sigh. “Probably reading the paper and complaining about how much money the Yankees are spending on players this season.” She chuckled a moment, then stopped. “I miss them too.”

Marco’s family had always been close. He had an older sister in high school, and a younger brother in fifth grade. Weekday mornings were always a rush to get everyone ready for the day. Saturdays were the best. They would all get up and help make breakfast: sausage and eggs with diced peppers, and homemade sopapillas with butter and honey. Marco’s mouth watered at the thought. His mom made the best sopapillas.

“Do you think we’ll ever get back?” Marco asked her.

“I don’t know,” she said with a catch in her throat. Marco saw a tear run down her cheek.

“I’m sorry, Mom. I didn’t mean to make you upset.”

She wiped away the tear, only to have more fall. “It’s all right. We’re all scared and worried.” She sniffed and took a long breath. “I just hope whoever we’re going to see in this
Seren
-place can help us.”

They walked on in silence. The sun shone brightly in a cloudless sky.

Marco thought about the changes happening in him and everyone else. Crank had said Marco was becoming
Elvorstrastenai
. Marco felt deep down Crank was right, but what it actually meant, Marco had no idea. Whatever he was, he just hoped he’d be able to work with animals. He’d wanted to be a veterinarian for as long as he could remember.

He smiled as he recalled watching the small falcon swoop down from the sky to Tori’s arm the day before.
What a rush that must have been!
Tori was getting smaller all the time. Marco assumed she’d eventually be small enough to ride Merlin like the little fellow Crank had talked to their first day out.

Marco studied his mother while they walked. Her hair had certainly become lighter — it was almost red — much changed from the jet black of before. Her skin was lighter as well; she almost glowed with her own light. Her eyes had an extra shine to them too. Crank couldn’t guess what she was becoming.

Others had Marco worried. Todd, Kim, and Will were becoming more, well, beastly, each day. Kim was huge and threatened to burst out of her clothes at any moment. Luckily, several others were shrinking at the same time so some garment swapping had taken place. Todd’s arms and legs were longer and his facial features were all more pronounced. Will was obviously becoming one of the
Gobinstratstorai
that had attacked them before. Attitudes were becoming equally beastly. Marco wondered how long they’d be able to travel together without fights breaking out.

Alisha and her pals didn’t talk to anyone but themselves. Zoe had joined their ranks to make it a quartet. Maggie was likely turning into one of the
Faerstrastenai
, like Tori. Lori and Zoe were more difficult to figure. Though, now that he thought about it, Marco noticed similarities between Zoe and his mother. Alisha was certainly changing, but it only seemed to make her more of what she was before: beautiful, stuck up, and manipulative. Marco didn’t know what to make of it and just tried to stay away from them.

Denny was becoming one of Crank’s people, which made sense to Marco considering Denny’s love of machines. The twins, Nate and Ethan, were shrinking rapidly, along with Vic, Rachael, and Faith, likely all turning into
Faerstrastenai
. And Carrie looked to be
Elvorstrastenai
like Marco himself.

Charles, Bonnie, and Matt had stayed the same size, but were having coloration changes that had stumped Crank. Mr. Kain had some
Elvorstrastenai
features, like the pointed ears, but Marco felt he was something slightly different.

No one knew what had become of Brandon, but Marco was glad he had chosen to stay away. Marco shuddered remembering the sound Brandon’s spike had made when it had pierced Sara’s shoulder.

Fortunately, Sara had recovered quickly. Amazingly so. Marco thought of her as some sort of Amazon woman. Crank didn’t know what she was and hadn’t understood the term ‘Amazon’ when Marco had mentioned it a couple of days before. It certainly fit, in Marco’s mind, considering her physique and the fighting ability she had displayed.

Saddest of all to Marco, was watching Ms. Pap wither before their eyes. She was in good spirits, but her skin was getting more wrinkled and her arms and legs were gnarled and difficult for her to use. She was determined to soldier on, wanting to reach help, and hopefully answers, but it was becoming harder for her with each passing day.

Possibly the strangest of all of them, however, was Jenni. She had shown no changes whatsoever. None. Marco could tell she was getting self-conscious about it, and he noticed jealousy rising in some of his classmates.

Marco wiped sweat off his brow with the sleeve of his shirt. He checked his mother, still striding beside him. She was focused on their path, such as it was, and not bothered by the heat in the least. He smiled and asked, “Hot enough for you?”

She turned to him and frowned slightly. “What?” She noticed the sweat on his face. “Are you okay?” She stopped abruptly and felt his forehead. “Do you have a fever?”

Marco laughed and moved her hand away. “No, Mom, I’m fine. It’s just hot out here.”

“Really? I hadn’t noticed.”