Title:

Meerclar's Children

Author:

PrettyLittleNem

Genre:

Fantasy

Series:

Tailchaser's Song/Original Creation

Rating:

PG

Notes:

Chapter Three! A note on their powers. They aren't all-powerful. As far as their shapeshifting goes, they can only shift into animals that are associated with their element or into cats (which makes sense since they were granted these powers by a cat). So Larin (air) - can be any kind of bird, or flying bug. Sasha (water) - can be fish, or large underwater mammals. Etc, etc. This chapter has been heavily edited. It has some really stupid parts that didn't go anywhere. And this is also an uncompleted chapter...I'm not gonna type up the rest tonight.
Boring disclaimer schtuff: Meerclar is still copywrite Tad Williams...and the main charries are copywrite themselves.


[Meerclar's Children]



"The weekend," Sasha signed to her cat, "the only time I can sleep till noon." She looked down at Bandit, "You, get to everyday."
The name is Swiftpaw! I've told you once, I've told you a thousand times! It's Swiftpaw! Say it with me now. Swift--paw...
"Uhrm...sorry. Swift--paw.
Ha, ha. Very funny.
"I know. Well I'm going out to the park. Ta-ta."
Wait!
"What?"
I have an itch.
"Then scratch it."
Could you?
"Fine," Sasha walked over and scratched his ear, "Happy?"
He purred in approval.
"Okay, I'm leaving now."

Sasha arrived at the park. Mrikkin and Larin were waiting for her.
"You're late," muttered Mrikkin.
"I just woke up," Sasha growled back.
Let's just practice. Larin sent the two.
Okay Mrikkin told him, think of an animal, any animal. Then imagine yourself as that animal.
Okay...here goes.
Mrikkin and Sasha watched as Larin shifted into a hawk.
"Interesting," Sasha muttered, "he's gifted by a cat, and he shifts into a big 'fla'fa'az'."
Mrikkin chuckled.
A big what?
A woman walked by. "Oh wow," she muttered, "a hawk."
"He's ours." Sasha blurted out.
"He's magnificent. I'll buy him from you."
"Uhrm...he's not for sale." Mrikkin said.
"How much?" asked Sasha.
Mrikkin elbowed her.
"Well, a young haw like that, could easily go for...a couple thousand...or more."
Sasha looked wide0eyed at Mrikkin.
No, she told Sasha, We are not selling my boyfriend.
Sasha loked at Larin, and Larin looked back.
"What's his name?" the woman asked.
"Larin," the two said in unison.
"Larin...I like it. So, is he sold or not?"
"Not. I'm rather fond of him, I'm sorry." Mrikkin said.
The woman shrugged, "Ah well, if you change your mind," the woman reached in to her pocket, "Here's my card."
"Thanks," Sasha smiled.
The woman walked away.
Larin was sitting in a nearby tree during the whole conversation with the woman.
That was close, Larin said. Shifting his concentration to Sasha, and YOU would have sold me!
If only it were so easy. She told him. Sasha yawned, "Well, I want to shift into a white tiger...but this place is a tad public - and that lady would probably drag me to the zoo."
If the price is right Larin thought.
Ha, ha. We're even now." Sasha looked around thinking of something inconspicuous to shift into.
How about a bug? Larin suggested. So I can squash you!
"That's it! I can't take it anymore!" Sasha paused as she shifted into a black panther.
Uh, Sasha...
Not now. Sasha jumped into the tree where Larin was perched. She growled, I might give you a head start...if you're lucky.
You wouldn't...?
Try me...
Sasha! Really! Get down here! yelled Mrikkin. She held out her arm and Larin flew to her.
Sasha looked down at Mrikkin and shifted back into her human form.
Larin flew to the ground and shifted back to his human form as well.
"You were much more appetizing as a bird." muttered Sasha under her breath.
"What?" he asked.
"Oh nothing...just talking...to the tree..."
"Uh huh. Sure." Mrikking said sarcastically.
"Yeah, well. I should go." Sasha shifted into a smaller domestic cat and rain back to her house.

Sasha jumped through the window of her bedroom and Swiftpaw looked up. Who are you? You don't live here.
I know your mistress... Sasha shifted back into her human form.
Swiftpaw sat up, Toni! Erm...sorry! I thought you...were...but how?
"One of the many gifts of Allmother."
I still can't believe you met her. mumbled Swiftpaw.
"You want something to eat?"
Do we have any pizza left?
"Uhrm...I think Mom had the last slice."
Darn. Goldfish?"
"Nope."
Saltine crackers?
"Sure thing. Saltines coming up."
Sasha left her bedroom and the dorbell rang. She answered the door with Saltines in hand. It was Shymret.
"Hey. Come on in."
"What's with the crackers?"
Hey Moonsinger! Swiftpaw yelled to Sasha. Where are my crackers?
Shymret chuckled and morphed back into her normal state.
"Okay, that wasn't nice Mrikkin," Sasha scolded.
"I know, but would you have let me in otherwise?"
"Probably not."
"Why?"
"Why not?"
"Umm...I asked you first!"
"So you did." Sasha walked into room and threw the bag of crackers on the bed.
"So the crackers were for your cat?" Mrikkin raised a disapproving eyebrow.
The bag, Sasha! I can't open the bat! scolded Swiftpaw.
"Oh yeah? I bet I could," Mrikkin challenged. She morphed into a cream-and-auburn longhair and stalked over to the bag. Unsheathing a claw, and placing her other paw on the package, she ripped it open. Then she used her teeth to pull out the inner bag and ripped it open as well. Ha! She gloated.
Sasha snickered. "That saltine is yours."
I've only been a cat two minutes and I'm better than Swiftpaw! Mrikkin teased.
I could have done that, Swiftpaw muttered.
But you DIDN'T! You're just a fat, lazy cat! Mrikkin's laughter bounced into Swiftpaw's head.
"Hey now," Sasha stopped Mrikkin, "Be nice to him, he's only a year old."
Almost TWO, he corrected.
ANywhoos, I'm getting bored of being a cat, Mrikkin sighed. Besides, there's always something I've wanted to do." The cat that was Mrikkin stretched and expanded into something that looked like a human with cat fur and whiskers. "Meet Jiintaildancer, the anthropomorphic Jellicle!" she announced.
Sasha chuckled, "Hmmm...Mrikkin Jiintaildancer...I like it. Good thing my 'rents aren't home." Sasha looked at her messy room.
"You know, have you ever thought of putting our powers to good use? Like...cleaning our rooms with it?" Mrikkin asked.
"Yeah, I have. Except my room is an organized mess..." Sasha scanned her floor again. "Now where are my blasted...?"
"Blasted..." Mrikkin prompted.
Sasha looked up. "Extra Fred bandaides." She looked under her bed.
"Fun stuff and cool catmint," Mrikkin commented. "Having an attack?"
"Yeah."
"Look, I'm sorry for almost eating Larin."
"That's alright, thou art forgiven. I never actually feel like eating him, but sometimes it gets pretty close."