Chapter 7
Death and Life
Claire Point of View
I was starving, again. I stopped the game and went to just sit down with my pack and the girls. Some of the pups were hungry too. They were in the adolescent years, or at least the equivalent. So they were eating more and they missed breakfast because they were sleeping later. I remembered those years all too well. Hell, I was still finishing those stages. I was seventeen, therefore the hormones continued to rage but at least now I understood them and could control them slightly. No matter, the teens were hungry and so was I.
I'm going to take Kevin, Mark, Ethan, Maria, and Lauren to get some food. We'll be back soon. Call if you need me. I thought to the pack and then said aloud.
"We're going to go hunting. Some of us skipped breakfast to get some more sleep." I eyed the cubs, who had no shame in being teenagers. "Be back soon." Seth joined me as we took off running into the forest. Once we were far in enough in, we split up to change. I quickly hid my clothes and ran to meet Seth in my panther form. His oddly attractive wolf form stood in front of me as we looked each other over never having seen each other while aware that the other was our soul mate. We ran to a different stream than the one we ate at that morning. I didn't want to damage the fish population in that stream. Unlike most people, my mind had a constant awareness of the world around me. I knew how many giant pandas were still alive in the world, their gender, physical condition, name, mental state, global position, etc. You name it, I know it. Every single time a creature dies, I know. I know how their death is caused, where it happens, and if there is anyone to blame for it. My mind was constantly turning, and ever since my change my mind has been able to process many more things at once. I had all of this room for thinking that I didn't have prior to the change. It had plenty of advantages but then it had endless burdens. My job was to protect. Not just one group of people or animals or plants in one area but I had to protect everyone. Every single bird, fish, bacteria, flower, tree⦠everything. Being aware of everything didn't make me a vegetarian or anything of the sort because that is the circle of life to eat and sustain my energy supply. When animals are tortured or hunted for trophies that hurt. I tried to push those thoughts from my mind and brought myself back to the moment, being with part of my pack and Seth.
We quickly ate and tried to get back to the house. But it was already getting late. It was five o'clock and I had some work to do tonight. Seth and I shifted back and found our clothes. We met up with everyone and they all seemed to be having a great time. Sadly, I had to go to work. I walked over to the group and found Violet. She looked at me with sadness, knowing what would happen next.
"I know you have to go, just hurry back, and stay safe." Violet requested. She always hated when I had to leave because it meant endangering my life. I nodded in reply and quickly hugged her. I said goodbye to everyone else, although only Gabby, Haley, Haden, Anthony, and Violet truly knew what was happening. I walked with a confused Seth off into the dark woods. I could barely see the sun of in the distance as it was creeping towards the horizon. Once we could no longer see or hear the others I turned to face Seth. The features on his face showed fear, worry, sadness, but none of this was for himself, it was all for me.
"I'm sorry, Seth. I have to go, but I'll come back. I have a job to do. I am the protector of this Earth and it is being destroyed day after day. I try what I can but it feels like I can't keep up. But I have to keep at it. I'll be back early Friday morning." I wished I could tell him I wouldn't be in any danger, but that was a lie. But there were some things I could tell him. "I'll miss you, and I'll think of you every second I'm away." I wished he would say something so I could stop feeling like a babbling idiot.
He wrapped both of his arms around me and titled my head so his eyes were pouring into mine. "I'll miss you every second you're away and thoughts of you will never leave my mind. Stay safe for me. Come back as soon as you can. I love you, Claire." He brought his lips to mine and kissed me as if I was the last woman on Earth and he was the last man on Earth. His lips were slow but strong on mine. I parted my lips and shot my tongue and we started doing the tango. One arm wrapped around my waist lifting me closer to him, as the other hand weaved through my vines of hair. Both of my hands grabbed on to his full head of hair and brought his head closer to mine. As our tongues continued to dance, I tasted salt. Salt that could only be from tears. Mine and his mixed together. He had said he loved me. The tears were tears of joy and love, for Seth and only Seth. A warmth ignited within me burning from the inside out. Starting at my heart until it reached my finger tips. I could feel it from my head to my toes. I snaked my tongue out of his mouth and smiled as I broke our kiss. I wiped away the tears on his cheeks having no idea whether they were his or mine and landed on his cheeks. He wiped away the tears from my cheeks. "Come back to me soon."
"I will. I love you." And with that I changed into a hummingbird and let my clothes fall to the floor, knowing Seth would take them for me. I whistled a beautiful melody and then flew towards the ocean.
After I left Seth's sight I changed into a vulture and flew as fast as I could. Once I was over the water, I shifted into the form of a seagull and dove into the water. The ocean was cool and refreshing. As soon as I broke the surface, I shifted again, this time into the fastest sea creature imaginable, a mermaid. People often thought they had beauty and grace, which they did, but none of the folklore told about their agility. I shot through the ocean heading south towards the Panama Canal. I was there in two hours. I traveled alongside a boat that was going through. This was the slowest part of the trip. This alone took about two hours. My mission for tonight, get to the east side of South America. As I was traveling along the coast I came upon an oil spill. I despised these mishaps the most. There was no way known to man to carefully clean this up. I concentrated on the oil alone, molding it to one spot and removing any creature of its remains. I thought about it disappearing and returning to its original location just as Violet's spell worked. And with in a blink of an eye the oil disappeared and all of the creatures that had the oil on their feathers and fur were now spot less. Another power, control of the elements.
I soared through the water until I came upon a deserted spot of land. I shifted to my human form and quickly made makeshift clothing from the leaves and vines that were on the trees around me. It was hot and humid and I quickly adapted to the environment around me. A rainforest was my current habitat. I crept through the forest, traveling through the trees with vines, healing animals that had been injured and aiding those in giving birth as I went. My favorite of that night was a mother panther that gave birth to three beautiful daughters and two strong sons. She thanked me mentally and I moved on. I then came upon my destination.
The smoke still rose from the ground and charred bits of leaves and tree trunks could be smelt all around me. As I walked ashes stirred around my feet. Death hung in the air and a chill ran up my spine and goose bumps popped up on my arms even though the heat continued to cause my body to sweat buckets. The fire had been caused by some careless adventurers. They forgot to put out the fire they used to cook their food and the flames caught on to the vines around them starting a deadly fire. It would have spread further but it had started to rain, making my job easier. The adventures had made it out alive even though many other living organisms did not.
I pulled my hair back using a piece of vine from my clothing. I whipped the droplets of sweat from my forehead. I sat down in the center of the clearing in a cross legged position. I closed my eyes and took a few deep calming breaths. I started my mental chanting and the restoration of this forest.
Trees go to sleep
Animals have your peace
For tonight you will be reborn.
Seedlings buried deep within the ground
Sprout and grow
Letting your roots sink deep and your branches climb high once again.
Animals burned and injured nearby
Come forth and let me heal you
Making you strong and healthy as you once were.
I repeated this chant over and over again, until I felt the trunks grow around me, until I heard the animal life return, until I smelt the smoke diminish and the greenery fill my nose. Animals slowly came up to me one by one throughout Thursday to be healed. He scars were gruesome and healing them drained my own energy, but I felt a personal satisfaction watching their pain disappear and the joy return in their faces. Even if a predator came forth with an injury they would not hunt the other sick animals knowing that within this area it was a safe haven. Occasionally an animal would bring forth food or some form of gratification. A monkey brought a banana and I ate it thankfully. An anteater gave me a mango and I devoured it gratefully. But the most surprising gift of all was a wreath of flowers five birds placed on my head. How it was weaved, I had no idea, but the animals all looked at me with joy in their eyes that I was there. And I could feel the plant life rejoicing at the sun and the new life I had caused.
By the end of the day I had to leave. I made a makeshift sack out of leaves and vines, wanting to take back some of the fruits and other gifts home. The animals all joined me as I said goodbye and changed into a gorilla to slip on the pack and then a panther to travel. Having just been in the form of a mermaid I could travel fast in my panther form. I zipped through the trees and towns in the darkness letting my jet black coat blend into the surroundings. After what seemed like endless hours of running I made it to the thick, wet, cold, green forest I called home. I ran much slower than when I had started, tiered from the previous day's work, lack of sleep, and traveling I had done that night. By the very end it was nothing more than a jog at humans pace. I came upon the cave and passed out from exhaustion, succumbing to the darkness.
