Post by creamwolfgurl on May 1, 2007 3:07:27 GMT -5
I ran through the undergrowth of the forest and felt, not with some surprise, a laugh bubble out of me. The joy of the woods surrounded me, the old oaks, the newer saplings; all sprang forth into the filtered sunlight of the day. I looked about me, wondering where the way to home was. Just ‘cause I liked a guy, didn’t mean I was going to stay here.
A puff of smoke beside me made me grin, as opposed to scream, as I would’ve a few days ago.
Instead, I knelt beside it, breathing the sweet-smelling smoke. It smelt like flowers and honey and cinnamon. A warm smell that somehow reminded me of my dream. Thinking of that dream made a curious heat prickled over me.
I turned away and watched a doe and her fawn peer curiously through the foliage. I wondered what it would be like to be a fawn.
Suddenly, I knew. I was one.
I leapt into the air in fear, accidentally making a frightened bleating squeal. I’d tried to cry “Help!!”
The doe ran towards me, probably to help but I was so unnerved I just ran away, leaping wildly through the forest.
*****
Jak and Sairon continued on their way. After about ten minutes, they heard a loud squeal and stopped, wondering what it was. Seconds later, a terrified fawn shot past.
Jak eyed it, wondering whether or not to make it dinner, but decided against it.
A minute later it ran past again, spotted them and swerved in its course, crashing into Jak. Sairon watched in amazement and laughed, realizing what had happened.
The fawn looked at Jak sprawled on the ground and looked apologetic until he got up, unhurt. Then it stamped its foot and barked at them.
Jak looked confused while Sairon fell about laughing. “What?” Jak demanded, annoyed.
Sairon got control of himself. She came back. he said, before hooting with laughter again.
“What?” Jak said once more. “That’s not Swift.”
I think you’ll find it is. Calm her down and ask her.
*****
Jak knelt down in front of me. “Are you Swift?” He said slowly.
I tried to tell him yes, but all I did was bark yet again.
Jak, I don’t think she knows how to talk.
“Oops. Swift, you think your answer. Think loud.” He told me.
I concentrated. Idiot, of course it’s me. You think every fawn in the forest is gonna come running to you?
“Yep, it’s her.” Jak told Sairon.
OI!!!! Tell me how to be normal again!
“Um… you concentrate on being yourself. That’s all.”
I focused, remembering being myself, my eyes tight closed.
And became myself once more.
Oh the relief that swept though me! I could have wept. I didn’t, not in front of two guys. Especially not one I was starting to like.
He stood, watching me intensely. When he stepped closer, eyes narrowed, it forced me to tip my head up to see him properly. “What?” I said rudely. “Why do you keep staring?”
He angled his head, looked at me quizzically. “You have fire in your eyes.” He talked in a fluid accent. One, I realised, of the woods.
“Fire, what fire?” I asked, if only to continue talking. I didn’t know about fire in my eyes but there was warmth around my heart.
Jak’s gaze was relentless. I felt like he could see into my head, into my thoughts and my feelings. With that notion in my mind, I suddenly had an idea. I concentrated on a fox, imagined being one. I just added a few things to the fox. It was a fiery red, with sharp green eyes and a sleek pelt. Also it had wings that seemed to be on fire. I knew I’d changed when Jak’s expression changed, into one of surprise and wonder. Also, he was suddenly a hell of a lot taller than me and I had to look up even more.
“How’d you do that?” he asked, simple shock on his face.
I concentrated. Can’t you change?
“Of course I can.” He said, frowning. “But only into one animal.”
Really? Why can I change into whatever? I considered for a moment. But it doesn’t feel quite right, like a shirt that doesn’t fit well.
Jak thought as well. “I think it’s because it’s not your ‘true’ form. I mean, your true shifted form.”
Well, what is my ‘true’ shifted form then?
“I don’t know. You’ll find it.”
I changed back. “I’m not normal, am I?”
“No but who wants to be? Although, I think you’re just one-of-a-kind in this case. No-one I know can shift into whatever form they want.” Jak nodded once. “We’ll have to think later. Sun’s starting to sink and we need to get to the Plains before nightfall.”
Sairon had stayed silent through most of this. Maybe that is what the Chosen One means.
I’d started to walk ahead but now I stopped and stared. “Chosen One?”
Jak nudged me to move again. “We’ll explain tonight.
The Plains were huge plantations of grass and small bushes. They were what I imagined deserts to be like: hot and endless. They were even hot when we arrived, just on moonrise. As soon as the rough circle of rocks were settled and the rug was on the ground- it was too hot to sleep in the tent, so we slept on it instead- I demanded to know about the Chosen One and why I was here.
When I asked, Sairon said simply It’s the Prophecy. As if that was enough for anyone.
Jak elaborated. “ I can’t remember the actual prophecy but it speaks of the girl that shifts in the dark times, until one brings her and she finds her form. That’s all I remember but there’re other things too, about signs and such things. I don’t know.”
Cautiously, I spoke “Is the one who brings her special?”
Jak smirked. “Talks about true love.” Then he sort of got my meaning and we both sank into silence. Sairon fell asleep and the fire burned low.
I couldn’t see Jak any longer, he was just an outline of shadows in darkness but as I was starting to drift, he spoke. “I don’t want to be told what to do, Swift.” He obviously thought I was asleep and I didn’t answer. “But, Swift? I really like you.”
I felt my heart leap frantically and I heard him sigh deeply. Soon, heavy breathing was all I could hear of him. He’d fallen asleep.
I whispered into the darkness. “I like you too, Jak.” It was a long time before I slept that night but at last I slumbered, drifting in and out of dreams, deep in the pool of sleep.
For once I woke in the bright light of day, not snuggled to Jak, but still lying down and the ground was moving. Weakly, I raised my head and looked around. Oh right, I thought, I’m on Jak’s back and he’s a cheetah. Huh?
I yawned widely, heard someone say. “Cripes, long enough sleep yet?”
I shrugged without looking ‘round. “Meh.” I mumbled, still groggy.
“Oh come on, Swift. Wake up.” Jak arched his back and the cheetah’s spine rippled against mine, almost like an electric shock. I bolted upright, wide-awake. “I’m up. I’m up.” I complained loudly. “Jeez, I’m only sleeping. It ain’t a crime, or wasn’t last I checked.”
Jak laughed. “You’re still half asleep and your witty repartee suffers from it.”
“Does not.” I countered.
“Does too and you just proved that for me. Now get off, you’re making me tired.”
I twisted around and slid off his back. “Change back then, it makes me feel weird talking to a giant cat.”
“I’ll have you know I’m not just a cat. I’m a cheetah.”
I laughed and pushed him. “Duh. C’mon, change back.”
“Nag, nag, nag.” He muttered, looking at me from under his lashes. “That’s the thanks I get.”
“For what?” I pushed him again. “For waking me up?”
“Yup.” Was his reply as he shifted. Jak stood before me, an unexpected gentleness in his eyes as he looked at me.
“Aww.” I said, and made him blush. “Got a soft spot for me?”
Now he looked serious. But he spoke quickly, too fast. “No.” Not looking me in the eye.
I ducked my head in embarrassment. “Me neither.” My voice had a tone in it that I silently cursed. I sounded false, which only made him go redder. I felt a flush burning my cheeks too.
Uh, can we get a move on? came Sairon’s voice. I realised, looking Sairon in the eye, that he’d woken and heard us speak. Oh dear.
Jak and I both grinned sheepishly and started walking again. Now I could see the horizon, it looked like mountains.
Somehow Jak figured what I was thinking. “It’s the Forest. Where I live and where we’re going.”
“Blimey.” All there was to say really. The trees must be ginormous.
It took another three days to reach the edge of the Forest, with the dreams of flames continuing, and as we got closer the trees took on more defined shapes. I was right. They were MASSIVE. But as we got closer, I noticed Sairon watching me very closely and not just ‘keeping an eye on me’ but straight guarding.
I even heard him reporting to Jak one night. And Jak got edgy and nervous as we drew near the woods. Some level of trust, I thought bitterly when I heard them. Sairon and I became almost-friends too. He was a nice guy, for a horse.
Then, on the fourth day when the moon was high, we were at the border of the forest, looking into the trees. And somehow, I only knew one name that would fit these trees. The Forbidden Forest.
A puff of smoke beside me made me grin, as opposed to scream, as I would’ve a few days ago.
Instead, I knelt beside it, breathing the sweet-smelling smoke. It smelt like flowers and honey and cinnamon. A warm smell that somehow reminded me of my dream. Thinking of that dream made a curious heat prickled over me.
I turned away and watched a doe and her fawn peer curiously through the foliage. I wondered what it would be like to be a fawn.
Suddenly, I knew. I was one.
I leapt into the air in fear, accidentally making a frightened bleating squeal. I’d tried to cry “Help!!”
The doe ran towards me, probably to help but I was so unnerved I just ran away, leaping wildly through the forest.
*****
Jak and Sairon continued on their way. After about ten minutes, they heard a loud squeal and stopped, wondering what it was. Seconds later, a terrified fawn shot past.
Jak eyed it, wondering whether or not to make it dinner, but decided against it.
A minute later it ran past again, spotted them and swerved in its course, crashing into Jak. Sairon watched in amazement and laughed, realizing what had happened.
The fawn looked at Jak sprawled on the ground and looked apologetic until he got up, unhurt. Then it stamped its foot and barked at them.
Jak looked confused while Sairon fell about laughing. “What?” Jak demanded, annoyed.
Sairon got control of himself. She came back. he said, before hooting with laughter again.
“What?” Jak said once more. “That’s not Swift.”
I think you’ll find it is. Calm her down and ask her.
*****
Jak knelt down in front of me. “Are you Swift?” He said slowly.
I tried to tell him yes, but all I did was bark yet again.
Jak, I don’t think she knows how to talk.
“Oops. Swift, you think your answer. Think loud.” He told me.
I concentrated. Idiot, of course it’s me. You think every fawn in the forest is gonna come running to you?
“Yep, it’s her.” Jak told Sairon.
OI!!!! Tell me how to be normal again!
“Um… you concentrate on being yourself. That’s all.”
I focused, remembering being myself, my eyes tight closed.
And became myself once more.
Oh the relief that swept though me! I could have wept. I didn’t, not in front of two guys. Especially not one I was starting to like.
He stood, watching me intensely. When he stepped closer, eyes narrowed, it forced me to tip my head up to see him properly. “What?” I said rudely. “Why do you keep staring?”
He angled his head, looked at me quizzically. “You have fire in your eyes.” He talked in a fluid accent. One, I realised, of the woods.
“Fire, what fire?” I asked, if only to continue talking. I didn’t know about fire in my eyes but there was warmth around my heart.
Jak’s gaze was relentless. I felt like he could see into my head, into my thoughts and my feelings. With that notion in my mind, I suddenly had an idea. I concentrated on a fox, imagined being one. I just added a few things to the fox. It was a fiery red, with sharp green eyes and a sleek pelt. Also it had wings that seemed to be on fire. I knew I’d changed when Jak’s expression changed, into one of surprise and wonder. Also, he was suddenly a hell of a lot taller than me and I had to look up even more.
“How’d you do that?” he asked, simple shock on his face.
I concentrated. Can’t you change?
“Of course I can.” He said, frowning. “But only into one animal.”
Really? Why can I change into whatever? I considered for a moment. But it doesn’t feel quite right, like a shirt that doesn’t fit well.
Jak thought as well. “I think it’s because it’s not your ‘true’ form. I mean, your true shifted form.”
Well, what is my ‘true’ shifted form then?
“I don’t know. You’ll find it.”
I changed back. “I’m not normal, am I?”
“No but who wants to be? Although, I think you’re just one-of-a-kind in this case. No-one I know can shift into whatever form they want.” Jak nodded once. “We’ll have to think later. Sun’s starting to sink and we need to get to the Plains before nightfall.”
Sairon had stayed silent through most of this. Maybe that is what the Chosen One means.
I’d started to walk ahead but now I stopped and stared. “Chosen One?”
Jak nudged me to move again. “We’ll explain tonight.
The Plains were huge plantations of grass and small bushes. They were what I imagined deserts to be like: hot and endless. They were even hot when we arrived, just on moonrise. As soon as the rough circle of rocks were settled and the rug was on the ground- it was too hot to sleep in the tent, so we slept on it instead- I demanded to know about the Chosen One and why I was here.
When I asked, Sairon said simply It’s the Prophecy. As if that was enough for anyone.
Jak elaborated. “ I can’t remember the actual prophecy but it speaks of the girl that shifts in the dark times, until one brings her and she finds her form. That’s all I remember but there’re other things too, about signs and such things. I don’t know.”
Cautiously, I spoke “Is the one who brings her special?”
Jak smirked. “Talks about true love.” Then he sort of got my meaning and we both sank into silence. Sairon fell asleep and the fire burned low.
I couldn’t see Jak any longer, he was just an outline of shadows in darkness but as I was starting to drift, he spoke. “I don’t want to be told what to do, Swift.” He obviously thought I was asleep and I didn’t answer. “But, Swift? I really like you.”
I felt my heart leap frantically and I heard him sigh deeply. Soon, heavy breathing was all I could hear of him. He’d fallen asleep.
I whispered into the darkness. “I like you too, Jak.” It was a long time before I slept that night but at last I slumbered, drifting in and out of dreams, deep in the pool of sleep.
For once I woke in the bright light of day, not snuggled to Jak, but still lying down and the ground was moving. Weakly, I raised my head and looked around. Oh right, I thought, I’m on Jak’s back and he’s a cheetah. Huh?
I yawned widely, heard someone say. “Cripes, long enough sleep yet?”
I shrugged without looking ‘round. “Meh.” I mumbled, still groggy.
“Oh come on, Swift. Wake up.” Jak arched his back and the cheetah’s spine rippled against mine, almost like an electric shock. I bolted upright, wide-awake. “I’m up. I’m up.” I complained loudly. “Jeez, I’m only sleeping. It ain’t a crime, or wasn’t last I checked.”
Jak laughed. “You’re still half asleep and your witty repartee suffers from it.”
“Does not.” I countered.
“Does too and you just proved that for me. Now get off, you’re making me tired.”
I twisted around and slid off his back. “Change back then, it makes me feel weird talking to a giant cat.”
“I’ll have you know I’m not just a cat. I’m a cheetah.”
I laughed and pushed him. “Duh. C’mon, change back.”
“Nag, nag, nag.” He muttered, looking at me from under his lashes. “That’s the thanks I get.”
“For what?” I pushed him again. “For waking me up?”
“Yup.” Was his reply as he shifted. Jak stood before me, an unexpected gentleness in his eyes as he looked at me.
“Aww.” I said, and made him blush. “Got a soft spot for me?”
Now he looked serious. But he spoke quickly, too fast. “No.” Not looking me in the eye.
I ducked my head in embarrassment. “Me neither.” My voice had a tone in it that I silently cursed. I sounded false, which only made him go redder. I felt a flush burning my cheeks too.
Uh, can we get a move on? came Sairon’s voice. I realised, looking Sairon in the eye, that he’d woken and heard us speak. Oh dear.
Jak and I both grinned sheepishly and started walking again. Now I could see the horizon, it looked like mountains.
Somehow Jak figured what I was thinking. “It’s the Forest. Where I live and where we’re going.”
“Blimey.” All there was to say really. The trees must be ginormous.
It took another three days to reach the edge of the Forest, with the dreams of flames continuing, and as we got closer the trees took on more defined shapes. I was right. They were MASSIVE. But as we got closer, I noticed Sairon watching me very closely and not just ‘keeping an eye on me’ but straight guarding.
I even heard him reporting to Jak one night. And Jak got edgy and nervous as we drew near the woods. Some level of trust, I thought bitterly when I heard them. Sairon and I became almost-friends too. He was a nice guy, for a horse.
Then, on the fourth day when the moon was high, we were at the border of the forest, looking into the trees. And somehow, I only knew one name that would fit these trees. The Forbidden Forest.
