Fledgling (23 page)

Melissa and Eva were sitting in the front. A large balloon in the shape of a fish floated against the ceiling. Melissa gave it an annoyed glance.

Eva held Ana’s large bouquet of flowers that Chance’s parents had brought. They billowed before her and she had to tilt to the side just to peer out the window. A small stuffed frog waited for Ana on the back seat. Melissa’s gift was part of a tradition her mother started long ago-a small stuffed animal for each hospital stay. Most were kept in a basket in her closet since her fondness for stuffed animals faded when she turned twelve, but she clung to the memories. Even if they were painful.

Ana had a hard time listening to her mother’s chit chat, feeling too excited to delve into the political situation at Melissa’s work. She was eager to get home to see Chance shape shift, if he was ready. While holding him hostage in her arms at the hospital, she made him promise to show her as soon as he was able.

After two days of observation Ana was happy to come back to her own bedroom, in the little blue house at the edge of the forest. Their home seemed cheerful despite the rain trickling down its gutters, the soft lights within exposing its dry warm interior.

Melissa parked beside Chance’s truck, and everyone hurried to the front stoop, trying to avoid getting soaked. They tumbled into the warm, ambient living room.

Across the fireplace a long stretch of papers were taped together into a banner with the words,
Welcome Home Ana
written across it. A shower of hand drawn hearts were scattered across the sign, with Eva’s signature along the bottom.

“Aww, thanks Eva. It’s great! I
love
it.” Ana drew her sister into a bear hug that Eva was happy to accept, after missing her sister’s attention the last couple of days.

“Eva started a pot roast in the crock pot before we left. It should be ready soon-right Eva?” Melissa asked.

“It should be ready in half an hour,” Eva beamed, after checking the wall clock.

“Great. So, that means I have time to show her my surprise.” Chance led Ana toward the stairs as her mother and sister shared secretive smiles.

“What surprise? You didn’t need to do anything for me.” Ana felt awkward accepting anything from Chance. Dragging her tired feet, she allowed herself to be ushered upstairs to her room. Her door was closed and Chance stopped in front of it saying, “Okay, shut your eyes.”

Ana obliged after giving him a suspicious grin. The door opened and she was guided into the center of her room. Chance left her side for a moment then she felt his strong hand grip hers, and squeezing it he said, “Okay-open up.”

Ana slid her lids apart, letting in shimmering light. Above her an array of twinkling lights shone from the ceiling, gleaming bright.

“Your own night sky and these are for you, too.” Chance handed her a large bunch of Heartleaf Arnica tied with a red ribbon.

“Chance, it’s wonderful.” Ana turned, leaping into his arms, her hands resting at the back of his neck. She dragged her fingers up to the base of his hairline and felt him shiver in her arms.

“Now, don’t go distracting me. I had something I wanted to ask you.”

She pulled away puzzled, unsure of what he could possibly want to ask.

“Well, I just wanted to lock it in. I don’t want any vampires or wizards cutting in line-Ana would you be my date for prom?”

Ana laughed at the unexpected invitation. She stopped short when she saw Chance’s frown, not wanting him to think she was laughing at him.

“Definitely. It’s what? Three weeks away?” Ana pulled back, squinting at a calendar pinned to her wall. The joy of the moment was almost too much. She always dreamt of going to the prom, although she never would have admitted it. But there was one thing she didn’t look forward to. “Hmmm…”

“What?”

“Oh, well…It’s nothing for you to worry about. It’s just going to be a pain… trying to find a dress that covers my scar.” She lifted her hand to her chest and dropped her head.

Her shoulders slumped and she looked so forlorn he wanted to console her, “Don’t worry about that. You’re beautiful.” He touched her chin. “I’ve seen you in a hospital gown and ratty sweats. You’re like a star, shining through it all-beautiful. Get one you like and don’t worry about your scar. It’s your badge of courage. Be proud.”

“I’m going to kiss that frown away,” Chance said and kissed her forehead. After the fifth kiss, she laughed and shook her head. “Fine. Okay.”

Rain drops tapping on the roof sounded like small stones being dropped from above. As they sat down to eat dinner the rain began letting up. The faint percussion faded into the background, allowing their conversation to flow undisturbed.

“Well Ana, you still have to go back to school tomorrow,” Melissa sighed as she began removing dishes from the table.

“Right.” School was something she had purposefully forgotten about.

Chance stood up stretching, and then helped remove the remaining items off the table. “Well, I guess I should get going.”

Ana whipped her head around to glare at him.

He put his finger to his lips and waved her toward the door. She followed him to the entry as they both grabbed their jackets, slipping them on.

Melissa popped her head around the corner and said, “Bye Chance, thanks for everything. You’ve been a big help. And thank your parents again for me.”

The sound of the faucet running joined the sound of wet needles dropping onto the roof, as though the evergreens were waging war with the forest floor below and using thin delicate missiles.

Eva jumped up and gave Chance a giant hug, “Bye Chance-see you later.”

Ana followed Chance to his truck, and whispered an accusation, “You said you’d show me-why are you leaving?!”

Chance stopped and opened his door, pulling something from the cab. He held it out to her with a grin.

“What’s this?” Ana asked, grabbing the green duffle bag from his hands. She unzipped the bag peering inside with a scowl. Folded denim and a sweatshirt poked out while a slow grin crept across her face.

“Where do you want me to hide it?” she squeaked.

Chance hesitated and shook his head, “Ana, I don’t think tonight’s a good night…you just got home from the hospital.” He touched the bags under her eyes and her familiar plum colored lips.

“No way! I’ve been looking forward to it. I’m sitting outside tonight if you come or not…and I suggest you come.” Ana huffed and pulled the duffle from his hands. Her agitation roiled below the surface, like a serpent rising up from the murky depths.

Chance sighed in defeat, “Okay-but I don’t think you should stay up late tonight.” He grinned, shaking his head, “Go ahead and stash the bag behind a tree, next to your rock. Looks like the rain’s stopped for the night-so give me twenty to get home and check in with the folks and ten to fly back.” He kissed her forehead then added, “See you soon.”

Ana decided to place the bag out at the trees near her gazing rock before returning to the house, not wanting to answer any questions about where the duffle came from. Completing her task, she looped around to enter the front door.

Eva stared at her sister in annoyance while they sat watching TV together. Ana tapped her foot against the floor, shaking everything in a close radius. Groaning, Eva slid off the couch to the carpet below, as Melissa walked into the living room. “Hey Eva, it’s time to go brush teeth. And Ana, were you going to bed early tonight?”

“Um…no. I think I’m gonna’ head out to the rock since its stopped raining.” She noticed her mother’s distress and added, “I’ll take the waterproof picnic blanket-I’ll be fine. Eva’s pot roast gave me a burst of energy.” She grinned and straightened up, forcing an energetic appearance.

Melissa stood still, her face clouding over like the sky outside. “Ana-if you get yourself sick I won’t be happy. Remember your promise.” She watched Ana’s face turn glum and felt herself cave in. “Okay, but not too long. It’s still pretty cold out. Wear your jacket-the thick one.”

Ana went to the hall closet searching for their waterproof blanket in a box. When Melissa had given up with unpacking, it had been stuffed, along with other boxes into the dark recesses of the closet.

She emerged with a red and black checkerboard blanket and threw on her jacket as she sauntered out the back door. She settled into the snug folds of the fleece lining, letting her chin and lips drop down to collect some needed warmth.

Within moments she stepped into her sanctuary and tentatively called out, “Chance?”

Only hearing sporadic drips slapping the damp forest floor, she laid the blanket out on the rock and sat down cross-legged, searching the darkened sky.

Although she knew it was futile, she still tried sharpening her weak human senses to peer through the evening gloom.

Ana gave up trying to see anything and closed her eyes, listening to the wet forest. Tap, tap, thud. She familiarized herself with the aqueous noises, until she heard soft flapping.

Her bright green eyes flashed open. A cracking branch alerted her. She turned; spotting a large owl perched on a low lying pine bough. Ana rose, her eyes glued to the regal feathered creature. Cautious in her approach, she stretched out her hand to touch it. The bird remained still, closing its eyes as her hand slid down its feathered back.

The animal turned its head, with eyes wide open. Ana pointed in the direction she had hidden Chance’s bag and stepped back as the large wings extended in preparation for flight. The owl swooped down into the forest and disappeared from sight.

Ana couldn’t move. In suspense, her heart fluttered like the owls wings and her breath caught as she stared into the empty space where the bird had vanished. Waiting and listening in complete attention.

The sound of a zipper and ground cover rustling came from the spinney covert. As though in a dream, a form emerged.

Chance pulled his sweatshirt over his head as he walked forward, and Ana noticed his muscular chest before it was covered with black cotton. He stopped before her, looking down to the ground, unable to meet her eyes.

“Wow,” she breathed out in awe.

His shoulders started rocking in silent laughter, tilting his head up, his white teeth gleaming in the dark. He drew her in to him, holding her in a tight embrace.

“So, you haven’t changed your mind then?” Chance smiled into her face, seeing the answer reflected within her eyes.

“Tch, right. So, umm, does your grandfather know that I know?”

“Yeah. He kinda figured after the whole cougar catastrophe you
may
have had some questions. He’s cool with it-we both trust you.”

Ana’s eye glittered, “And so, do I get to watch you train?”

He laughed, “Well, how ‘bout the day after tomorrow?” He felt her falter in his arms and added, “I’ll carry you there-since it’s too far for you to hike. I don’t want you hospitalized again.”

“Really?! That would be fantastic!” Ana said elated and glanced down the path toward the house, remembering she wasn’t supposed to be talking to anyone outside.

“I’ve always wanted to ride a horse… can you phase into a mustang again?” Ana’s voice rose in excitement.

Chance cleared his throat and gave a shy smile. “Well, I haven’t tried taking horse form since the other day, but I can try-for you.”

“I guess I won’t need to worry about getting bucked off.” She grasped his hand and led him to the blanket, sitting down.

“Now I’m not your new
pet
you know! I’m more than just another cute furry face!” He pushed her down onto the blanket as she giggled in response.

“I’ve always wanted a puppy. Do you like bows?”

The sound of muffled laughter danced around the fir trees and brambles as clouds ambled across the sky.

Chance gazed up then grew serious. “So-there’s something I’ve been talking to Grandfather about. Shapeshifting isn’t the
only
ability my ancestors discovered. Not many have been interested in trying it because it’s so risky. There have been some very powerful shifters who were able to, well…heal. It’s dangerous to try and Grandfather’s told me I’m not ready yet but it’s something I’m working toward.”

Ana was confused at first. Then understanding dawned on her, “Chance, you don’t need to…”

Chance touched his finger to her lips silencing her. “It requires the kind of power I don’t have-yet. To heal, I would link my energy to another’s. I guess it would kinda get sucked out of me. It’s dangerous to test-because it takes twice as much energy to change something outside of myself than it does to change my
own
body. If there was some condition I wasn’t aware of it could get bad. Like if I set out to heal a cut, but the injured person had cancer, then I’ve overcommitted myself.

“Grandfather explained it this way-imagine a big jug of water, flipped upside down over a basin. If the jug is filled, representing a powerful shifter-and the basin below only requires a small amount of water-then the shifter isn’t in danger. If the situation is flipped and the shifter has less energy than needed to fill the patient, then disconnecting before you’re totally drained is near impossible. Which could mean the shifter would…die.”

His jaw clenched and he rushed to finish, seeing Ana begin to shake her head vigorously, “I
want
to help you-I’ve been training hard to increase my power-that’s what we were doing when you found us on the mountain. But grandfather hasn’t exactly volunteered more information about it.” Chance frowned, frustrated.