Mark? Mark?! This panther—this guy—this shapeshifter knew my dad?!
My dad shifted back into human form before the other man. "Hello, Geoff."
The man looked at my dad for a long time—as if wondering whether he was really standing in front of him or if he was simply a mirage. "We thought you were dead."
We? Who was we? The numerous shapeshifters standing behind this Geoff? How did my dad know this Geoff? And why did he think my dad was dead?
"And I would like it to remain that way," my dad said, clearly trying to threaten Geoff.
"Why did you leave?"
"I couldn't stay there."
Couldn't stay where?
The hawk swooped down off the nearest tree branch and flew to where Geoff stood. It shifted into a woman who looked to be about my mom's age. She had short, blonde hair and piercing blue eyes. Even though she wasn't looking at me, I felt like she knew all my secrets—well she had followed me around for awhile. I could only hope she hadn't seen me shift from dolphin to human. My dad had always been very clear about two things: never reveal yourself as a shapeshifter and never tell anyone you can also shift into a dolphin.
"You could have petitioned to leave the tribe," the woman said to my dad.
She knew him too? And what was this tribe?
"You know my request would have been denied, Rebekka," my dad said.
Rebekka? How did my dad know these people? From their conversation, it sounded like my dad had once been in this tribe with them—wherever and whatever it was. But why hadn't my dad ever mentioned it before? Were his parents even dead like he told us? Was it possible that all four of my grandparents were still alive?
Rebekka nodded but didn't say anything. I noticed that she break eye contact with my dad. How well had they known each other?
"We are on an expedition," Geoff said, "which means part of our responsibilities to the tribe is to report any stray shapeshifters we come across."
"I know what it means," my dad practically growled, "but, as far as you know, the animals that stand behind me are just that—animals."
Geoff raised one of his eyebrows. "You can't actually expect me to believe they aren't shapeshifters."
My dad looked at Geoff firmly. "I do," he said, "I am asking you to look the other way. I am asking you out of our former friendship, and everyone travelling with you, to forget that you ever found us."
Geoff's expression didn't look like he was going to budge. I wondered what was so bad about this tribe that my dad didn't want it knowing we existed—that my dad wasn't dead.
"I can't promise you anything right now, Mark," Geoff said finally, "We will be staying in the area for a little while. I suggest that if you want us to conveniently forget your existence then you should allow us all to get to know each other. Only friends can ask each other to lie in the way you are asking us to lie."
My dad didn't say anything. He simply glared at Geoff. Even though I didn't know Geoff, I felt an inexplicable amount of anger towards the man at that time.
Geoff ignored my dad and gestured to the deer and the fox standing behind him. I quickly recognized them as the same animals Jet and I had seen in the field a week ago. I glanced at Jet to see if he recognized them as well—he did.
"This is our eldest son, Henry," Geoff said as the huge deer shifted into a boy with brown hair. He looked to be a little older than Cole. "And this is our younger son…" Geoff said as the fox stepped forward. For a fleeting second I thought of Brad. "…Tanner." The fox shifted into a boy who looked exactly like a younger version of his brother.
Geoff gestured to the rest of the shapeshifters standing behind him. I scanned the line—a cat, a rabbit, a bear, a peacock and a snake. The fox hadn't been Brad, but there was a strong possibility that he could be any of these other shapeshifters. Jet and I both knew Geoff, Rebekka, and the rest of the shapeshifters with them have been in the area about a week and Brad was new—it fit perfectly.
Each of the shapeshifters stepped forward and shifted back into human form as he said their names. "Valerie and her daughter, Kelsey," the cat shifted into a woman who looked to be in her thirties and the rabbit into a young girl who looked to be no more than nine years old, "Brett and Bryn," the bear and the peacock shifted into a man and woman who seemed to be in their late twenties, "and then Brett's brother, Stephen," the snake shifted into a man who looked to be between 23 and 25, "that is our clan," Geoff said.
Geoff, Rebekka, Henry, Tanner, Valerie, Kelsey, Brett, Bryn, and Stephen—no Brad—and I didn't know how I felt about it. On one hand, I was disappointed to not have a reason why Brad practically stalked me, and, on the other hand, I was happy to not have another thing I had to share with Brad.
Geoff gazed at each of us and then looked expectantly at my dad, waiting for him to introduce his "clan".
For a second, I thought my dad was going to refuse, but then he gestured to all four of us and said, "These are my children. Cole, Skye, Marina and John." The fact that my dad had included Jet in the list of his children didn't go unnoticed by any of us, but we knew not to question it. After only a moment's hesitation, the four of us shifted back into our human forms as well.
"And your wife?" Geoff asked.
"Is human," my dad answered firmly.
Geoff nodded and then glancing between each of us said, "It's nice to meet all of you. I'm sure we will get together soon." Every person in the clan shifted back into their respective animal forms and turned to leave.
Turning to us, my dad said, "Go home."
I wanted to argue but didn't. Instead, I shifted into my wolf form along with Jet and then the two of us followed my siblings back the way we came. I glanced back at my dad, still standing in the middle of the clearing, before disappearing into the trees. But then I heard my dad speak to someone still in the clearing.
"I didn't know you married Geoff," he whispered.
Was that Rebekka? I followed Cole for a couple more strides before nudging Jet and sneaking off in the other direction. We came back around to the side of the clearing and crouched low at the edge of the trees. My dad stood in the middle of the clearing stood with Rebekka.
"How could you?" she asked, "When you told me you were leaving the tribe, you didn't exactly give me anyway to contact you."
"I asked you to come with me." Had my dad and Rebekka dated when they were young?
"And I told you no—that the tribe was my home."
"Is it still?" my dad asked, curious.
"Yes," Rebekka answered firmly.
My dad nodded but didn't say anything. A silence passed between them.
"Your daughter…Marina…" Rebekka started.
My dad raised an eyebrow. "What about her?"
"She's a very special girl."
"I know," my dad said, "She told me you were watching her."
"I wasn't at first," Rebekka admitted, "but when I saw her shift into a dolphin, I followed her."
"So you do know then," my dad said, sounding slightly downtrodden.
"That your daughter can shift into a dolphin and a wolf?" Rebekka asked, "Yes. I know." She paused and stared at my dad for awhile. "You realize what this means? Who she is?"
"Of course I do," my dad said, straightening up, "But it's been over a thousand years since the prophecy was made. We don't even know if what it said will come true."
"Before sure, but have you heard of any shapeshifters today who can turn into more than one animal?"
"Of course not. That ability has been lost to us since before the prophecy was made."
"Then you can't tell me you don't think she's the one," Rebekka pointed out.
"I don't care if she is," my dad said in a very threatening voice, "She is my daughter and I don't want her to getting involved in any of this."
"She may not have a choice."
"Promise me. Promise me you won't tell Geoff, or anyone else for that matter, about Marina."
Rebekka looked unsure.
"Please," my dad begged, "what if it was one of your sons? What would you do?"
Rebekka sighed. "I'd protect them no matter what," she said, "Okay, I promise I won't tell anyone."
"Thank you, Rebekka," my dad said, "I'd better go. I have a lot to talk about with my kids."
She nodded and then the two turned to leave. I watched as they both shifted into their respective animals and took off. Jet nudged me with his snout. I knew that we should get going—that it wouldn't be good if my dad got back and we weren't there—but I was couldn't move. I was frozen in shock. What prophecy? And how was I involved in it? I always knew that being able to turn into two animals made me special, but I didn't know it made me special enough to be the person some prophecy talked about.
"Marina?" Jet had shifted back into human form, "Marina, are you okay?"
Very slowly, I nodded.
"We have to go." Jet shifted into his black wolf again, and gently taking my fur in his teeth, pulled me away from the clearing. Reluctantly, I followed him.
I had to find that prophecy. I had to know what it said about me.
