Chapter 11 #3
Krys ambled around the bed and stood behind Tak. “If you remember your shift, people think you have a level of control over your animal. Nature wants us to separate, so that’s why most of us can’t remember anything.”
She rubbed her eye. “Is your animal awake now? Does he sleep when you’re in control?”
“Sometimes but not always.”
“So Mother Nature wants you to sleep but not them,” she pointed out. “Is that because people don’t know how to give up control?”
We looked at each other, as that wasn’t a question we’d given much thought to.
“You ask smart questions,” Tak finally said.
“Nature knows how dangerous man’s thoughts can be.
Animals navigate the world with their senses, whereas we doubt ourselves.
We’re driven by motives they don’t understand, like jealousy and revenge.
Maybe in the beginning, all Shifters remembered their time in animal form but waged an internal battle for control.
Natural selection would’ve reduced their numbers in favor of those who blacked out.
Men who can’t find harmony with their spirit animal go mad. ”
Cleo sat bolt upright. “I’m scared.”
I crawled across the bed and sat behind her. “I bet you’re a giant, beautiful elephant. Do you think you’ll fit in this room? You can stick your trunk out the window, and I’ll feed you peanuts from outside.”
She chuckled but with less exuberance than usual. Likely she was drained from the fever.
“Or maybe you’re a baboon,” I said, trying to lift her spirits with a light joke. “The ones that have those colorful noses.”
She looked across her shoulder at me. “That would be cool. But I hope I’m a wolf. I wanna be part of the pack.”
Tak put his hand on her head. “You are pack. Your Aunt Cecilia’s a horse, and Eden’s a tiger. Everyone here is family. Maybe you’re a raven. They’re smart, and you’re always asking questions.”
A smile graced her lips, and she quivered again. “Something’s happening.”
I flew off the bed. Getting too close could be dangerous. The alpha was there to calm and guide her, but I’d seen new wolves tear up a house out of fear.
We also didn’t know if she was a wolf or an anaconda.
Either way, I couldn’t wait.
I stood quietly by the door, afraid if I uttered one sound, Tak would throw me out, and I really wanted to be here. Krys leaned against the windowsill and flicked a worried gaze at me. This was an exciting moment for any Shifter.
Cleo fell back, trembled violently, and an explosion of fur made Tak jump back. I stared at a long, fluffy white tail with black markings.
Is she a lemur?
Krys covered his mouth and stared in disbelief.
Tak leaned in closer. “Cleo?”
I stared at the rounded ears before realizing the rest of her hadn’t changed. Something was off.
Cleo slowly sat up. Large grey ears poked out from her black hair. “What’s wrong?” When her long tail swished above her head, she jerked back. Then she touched her face, but I couldn’t see from my angle.
Cleo sprang to her feet, and when she faced me, the full gravity of the situation came into focus.
She had shifted only partially, and from her markings and color, the only animal that sprang to mind was a snow leopard.
Her tail was mostly white on the underside with black-and-grey leopard markings.
The ears on top of her head were rounded, tiny speckled hairs covering her broad nose.
Even her eyes had changed. Shifters usually kept their human eye colors in animal form, but hers were pale grey and filled in the entire eye like a wild cat.
The dark pupils widened as she studied our expressions.
Though disappointed she didn’t have whiskers or furry feet, I wanted to wrap my arms around that adorable girl.
“What’s happening?” She jumped at the sight of her tail. “What’s wrong with me?”
Cleo searched in vain for a mirror before leaping across the bed and flying out of the room. A moment later, a shriek sounded from one of the bathrooms.
I stepped into the hallway. The pack trickled up from the stairs at the opposite end.
When she finally emerged from the back bathroom, tears spilled down her cheeks. “What’s wrong with me? Why is this happening?”
Someone gasped.
“Nothing’s wrong with you, sugarplum,” I said. “It’s probably a hiccup.”
Tak nudged me aside and stepped into the hallway. “Do you feel different?”
“Do I feel different? Look at me!”
“I mean, is your spirit animal out too? Do you feel her guiding you?”
She dashed back into the bedroom in a panic.
Standing in the doorway, I surveyed everyone’s startled expressions.
Lucian stalked toward us, his nostrils flaring. “She’s terrified. Someone calm her.”
Cleo’s tail knocked over the floor lamp while she frantically paced the room.
Krys held out his arms as he tried to placate her. “It’s cool. Just settle down and we’ll figure this out.”
“Figure what out?” she snarled. “I’m a monster!” Fangs punched out as she threw a book against the wall. “I’m a freak!”
In a flash, Cleo leaped onto the windowsill. Tears glittering in her eyes, she gave us one last look before disappearing into the night.