The bright sunlight streamed through the tree branches, waking Kyran from her peaceful slumber beneath the great oak tree. Blinking the sleep from her eyes, she sat up and stretched, opening her wings to their full length and cracking her spine with a grunt.
Birds sang in the warm, misty air of the great meadow, providing a lovely tune as the pegacorn all slowly began to wake up. Foals pranced around close to the entrance of the clearing, giggling and flapping about like butterflies while their mothers watched from close by. Elders exited their sheltered dens of long grass, chatting quietly amongst themselves.
Kyran shook her head to clear the night's dreams from her mind and then walked over toward her friends, prodding each one with her claws.
"Hey. Wake up."
Midnight was the first to wake, opening his kind amber eyes and rising up from his sleeping position almost immediately. As he moved away from the roots of the oak, his large hoof came down upon Bryan's silver tail, as he had not seen the young Shapeshifter sleeping behind him. Bryan let out an angry and pained shriek.
Kyran rolled her eyes.
"Watch it!" Bryan snarled, snatching his tail away from Midnight as the stallion stepped back.
Midnight snorted. "Maybe you shouldn't sleep behind me! You know I back out of the nest!"
Bryan hissed. "Sleep on the outside, then. Kodiak and I like our spot, thanks."
Kyran scoffed and prodded Dakota with her claw, surprised when the white wolf opened one blue eye. "I'm awake." Dakota said in a whisper. "I'm just waiting until Midnight and Bryan stop fighting."
Rolling her eyes skeptically, the redhead backed out of the nest, ignoring the two arguing brothers, and turned toward the clearing. She relished the damp air on her pale skin, and the bright sun shining down on her white feathers. Phoenix joined her on her shoulder, staring out into the life-filled meadow they called home.
She saw Moonlight emerge from the cave he called his den, followed by his two aged guards. His dark eyes scanned the clearing, taking in the sight of his herd, before he dipped his head, his horn scraping the grass. "Come, Eagle Feather. The sun has risen, and day is here. It is time to start the morning." He trotted toward the center of the meadow, Gizmo and Temperance following more slowly, but still loyally. Kyran gave note - as always - to the fact that both horses were maimed in some fashion - Gizmo having lost a wing in battle years ago, and Temperance with only three of her once-strong legs.
The silver mare noted that Kyran was looking her way and tossed her head, leaving Moonlight's side to limp over to her.
"Your father wishes to speak to you."
The grin on the redhead's face quickly twisted to a frown as she followed Temperance toward where her father had just vanished back into his cave. As she approached, the voice of Gizmo reached her ears.
". . . young she may be. But she has courage and skill to match many creatures." The flightless pegacorn was saying in a hushed voice. "One day she might make a fine leader for Eagle Feather."
Moonlight stamped his hoof onto the stone floor, causing a scraping sound to resound around the den. "But first she must learn to obey the rules laid in front of her!"
"I must agree with my father on this, Gizmo." Micah spoke softly. "Kyran is a great warrior, but the rules she disregards are there to protect her!"
Kyran flinched inwardly and slipped into the cave, feeling the air cool down as the sunlight disappeared behind her.
As her eyes adjusted to the darkness, Kyran was unaware of Gizmo's approach. He brushed his wing against her face lightly, and the girl paused.
"Gizmo. It's Kyran." She informed him softly, careful not to let her voice echo.
The maimed stallion paused, his brown eyes glimmering with clarity before they hardened. "I know who you are." He suddenly growled, his voice deep. "You're the one who loves foolishly. Your heart is blind, Kyran. That is a lesson you will never learn."
Kyran recoiled at his tone, shocked at his hurtful words. He passed her and then vanished out of the cave, leaving her stunned as she watched him go. Then, she shook her head. "Crazy old stallion." But still, she reached out her mind to him and entered, reading his thoughts.
. . . Loves . . . perhaps we . . . foolish . . . leader . . .
Dazed, the young girl shook her head. Gizmo was old - to old to think straight. His thoughts gave her a headache.
She walked briskly the rest of the way into the cavern and swept her tail over the stone ground, the motion drawing attention from Moonlight and Micah.
"Why did you want me here?" She spoke impatiently to Moonlight. "I have a watch to lead."
Micah spoke instead. "To discuss with you the importance of following the rules." He snapped, tossing his golden head back to rid his mane of the dust. "They are there to protect you."
Kyran raised a brow as she stared at her mentor and foster brother. They had always been close, but Micah's calm attitude and her own rebellious one made it harder to train efficiently. She felt as though he kept a tight leash on her - keeping her in check and from unleashing her full potential. "I don't need protecting. I can take care of myself."
Her mentor shook his head sadly and glanced toward the white stallion next to him. "Explain it to her, Father. I knew she wouldn't listen."
Kyran scowled. "It's not that I'm not listening. It's just hard to take in stupid rules."
Moonlight let out a deep, troubled, sigh as he took a single step forward in the cool Cavern he had once shared with Shine. "I broke the rules of my Tribe once so that I could protect their future." His voice was hushed. "I left the camp in the night in order to save some foals from getting killed on Night Watch." He turned slightly to reveal the underside of his left wing, where a nasty scar barely grazed the skin. "I didn't see the cougar. Neither did they. I nearly lost my wing that night, and guess what? The foals died." He tucked his with back to his side and stared intently at the redhead. "There comes a time where we must obey the rules."
"But I'm a Shifter. I follow a different set of rules than a pegacorn." Kyran protested. "I can defend myself."
Moonlight stamped his hoof on the ground, sending a loud click through the cave. "No, Kyran, you can't!" He snapped. "Shine paid with her life defending you!"
Kyran flinched back at his words, which seemed to cut her heart like a blade. "I was four year old!" She croaked, tears welling up in her eyes. "I was too young to do anything then!"
Moonlight snorted.
"Are . . . you blaming her for Shine's death?" Phoenix asked, his voice cracking.
The stallion widened his eyes once he realized what he said and stepped forward. "No, I didn't say -"
Kyran snarled at him and Micah. "I was just a kid! You said it wasn't my fault!" She turned and bolted from the cave, tears falling freely from her eyes and leaving a trail of FireFlowers in her wake. Their voices called out behind her, but she ignored them and tore at the ground with her claws, increasing speed with each bound until she felt her body shift. The all-fours impression came much more naturally as her body became that of a giant black wildcat, sprinting through the woods as fast as a car. Phoenix leaped from her shoulder as she did so, flying right beside her as she ran at top speed.
She wasn't sure how long she ran, but only when her legs grew tired did she slow down. They had entered another - much smaller - clearing, surrounded by towering oak trees. Without shifting back, Kyran stalked toward the base of the largest tree, curled up among the roots, and buried her nose into her black paws. Phoenix landed beside her and leaned into her black fur, sighing and providing some warmth from his naturally hot feathers.
"They don't understand." Kyran growled, raking her claws across the loose soil. "They weren't there. They don't know how it happened!" She whimpered. "They don't know it was too late."
Phoenix gave a deep sigh. "They'll come to their senses soon. Just give them time to calm down."
"I don't think they'll ever understand." Kyran looked around as rain began to patter on her black fur, soaking it in a matter of seconds.
Phoenix stared at her with his dark blue eyes, before turning his gaze toward the sky as it rumbled with the weight of the storm.
Hoofsteps. Lighter than a stallion, but slower than most of her tribemates. Kyran lifted her head.
The mare that entered the clearing was very thin - thinner than any Eagle Feather pegacorn. Her hoofsteps were light, but shaking with age.
Kyran brightened. "Angel!"
Pure white with only golden wing tips, the elderly mare let a small, horse grin appear on her face and trotted slowly up to the shifter child in her current panther form. "Nice weather . . . if you're a fish." The old mare commented as she came to a halt in front of Kyran. She tilted her head down at the child. "My. You look miserable."
"I am." Kyran responded as she watched mud start to coat her front paws. She glanced up as she caught a flash of silver, and found herself looking at her brother.
Angel snorted, her old body still firm against the rain. "No granddaughter of mine would look such a way. Stand up, shift back."
Kyran gave a huff, but did as she was told, standing up and letting her body shift back to her normal shifter form.
"Now," Angel continued. "Why, exactly are you sulking? Last I checked, fearless warriors such as yourself do not sulk."
The girl scoffed and turned her eyes to the ground, her eyes hot with tears. "I guess some kids are just born with tragedy in their blood." More FireFlowers sprouted.
"Kyran . . ." The old mare took another step forward, crushing one.
"Don't tell dad."
The mare chuckled. "I'm his mother, I don't have to tell him anything." She paused, before lightly stepping forward once again. "Bryan, Albatross, and I were worried when you ran off like that."
The redhead turned her gaze into her twin, who stood still a few paces away, his blue eyes locked into her soaking wet form. She scowled. "Please, I want to be alone."
"You have a brother. You're never going to be alone." Bryan said softly. "Other than when I'm not around, but even then, I'll be there in spirit."
"And you?" The girl turned her dark eyes on the silver stallion. "Why are you here?"
Albatross shrugged his wings. "I am your royal guard. It's my duty to keep you alive." He stepped next to Angel, towering over her by at least eight inches. "What's wrong?"
Kyran sniffed. "They blame me." She whimpered miserably. "They blame me for Shine's death, and they said it to my face!"
"But we all know that you didn't." Angel whispered, reaching forward with her soft wing to touch the girl gently. "Perhaps they were angry at your disobedience to the law?"
"I was protecting the Tribe! There was a human in the woods!" Kyran raised her voice as she became more desperate, willing the old mare understand. "He was so close to the camp, and I had to do something!" She turned her head toward the underbrush. "I am the next in line for the leadership of Eagle Feather," Her voice lowered a fraction. "My duty is to the Tribe. How can I lead them if I don't defend them?"
Bryan came up on her right side, embracing her with his smoke-colored wings. "You're going to win their hearts, and minds." He assured her in a soft tone. "Creatures like you, they respect you. They know how you stepped up during the invasion on their home. They trust you and your judgement - even if they don't show it." Her twin smiled.
"They can't keep carrying on the way they always have." Angel cut in, her amber eyes glowing with a fiery determination that Kyran hadn't seen in a very long time. "Somebody has to bridge the divide between humans and animals. They need you to help show them a better way. The best way to fight hatred is with kindness. Be their example."
Phoenix glanced toward the elder. "Change their ways?" He said, disbelief clear in his deep ocean eyes. "That's absurd. Eagle Feather's laws are as solid as diamonds, they wouldn't change for anything."
Angel snorted. "They will have to when Kyran is leader."
"They don't have to do anything!" Phoenix protested.
"Are you daft, chicken?" Albatross demanded, his eyes ablaze. "The horses of Eagle Feather are sworn to their leader - no matter who it is. When Kyran ascends the throne, her word is law."
Kyran shifted her weight uncomfortably, the hairs on her neck starting to stand up.
Phoenix noticed this.
"Kyran? What's wrong?"
"There's something strange going on to the south of here." The redhead said suddenly, as multiple visions flashed before her. "It's been messing with my powers for the last few days." She clutched her head as Phoenix gave a grunt of pain, also seeing the visions as that was a link between them.
Angel tilted her head. "Messing? How so?"
"I'm a gifted seer - able to see before me the past, present, and possible futures." Kyran murmured.
Phoenix squinted his eyes to ease the headache that was forming in Kyran. "But here recently, we can't control our visions. They come randomly and blind us while we're doing something. It's annoying, dangerous, and distracting."
Angel and Bryan glanced at one another worriedly. Albatross snorted.
Phoenix narrowed his eyes. "Danger approaches from the south!"
Kyran put one hand on her head. "The trees whisper a warning of approaching forces." Came her almost inaudible whisper.
Angel tensed at those words.
Kyran spun around and shifted into a black Fury dragon she had seen in movies on phones she stole. Giving a mighty roar that resembled a battle cry, she leaped into the air and flew quickly in the direction that the visions pointed. Phoenix - ever the loyal bird - never left her side.
Bryan joined her a moment later in a similar dragon form, just white rather than black. Angel - with some difficulty - also flew up to join her grandchildren high in the sky. Albatross at last brought up the rear, his fifteen-foot wingspan stretched out.
"Where are we going?"
Kyran glanced over at the silver pegacorn. "Someone who is not quite human has entered the woods." She spoke somberly, her voice a low rumble in her dragon-like throat. "They head for the camp."
"Let's go then!" Bryan growled, his white scales shimmering in the rising sunlight. He flicked his tail and tucked his wings, spiraling into a dive-bomb.
Phoenix whistled, gaining the young redhead Shapeshifter's attention. He turned his head toward Bryan and cawed.
Kyran looked down and glimpsed a flash of metal, right before a screech split the morning air.
Bryan's screech.
"Let him go!" Kyran cried, diving straight down to take out the attacker.
She found herself staring into the eyes of a creature that seemed to be almost human. It's bright green eyes had flecks of gold, and Kyran tried to figure out why that seemed so familiar.
With a grunt, it kicked her off and rose to its feet. While Kyran scrambled to open her wings and take flight again, the creature launched another attack on Bryan, swinging his blade toward the white dragon's head.
"Take me to your camp!"
Bryan ducked under the scythe and used his tail to trip the ugly thing. "Why would you want to go there? We have some bad-tempered rogues among us."
It opened its eyes and kicked Bryan away. "I'll show you bad-tempered!" It snarled, lunging for the stunned Shapeshifter. Kyran opened her wings and roared angrily, jumping on top of it and rolling across the grass.
She ended up in top of the creature and roared in its face. It's pale green, ugly face.
"If my brother tells you we have bad-tempered rogues in the forest, you'd better believe it!"
It swiped at her with the blade it carried and Kyran simply lifted her large head to avoid the strike. She flapped her wings and lifted up into the air with the newcomer clutched in her claws. A second later, she tossed him a few feet away and landed again, shifting to normal form and standing upright.
She brandished a gun with a silver bullet loaded. "Put down the spear or I swear I will shoot you in the knee!"
The creature spat at her and lifted his arm, revealing that the blade was part of his body. This surprised Kyran, as it seemed this thing was made almost half of metal. She braced herself for another strike, but Angel stepped between them and glared harshly at the man/robot. "Stop it right now. I did not bring her all this way to watch you attack her."
Kyran rose up to her full height and stalked forward, her feathered wings opened to their full span of twenty-four feet. Albatross stood behind her protectively. "Who is mighty enough to raise the Obsidian Phoenix? Who is brave enough to call me from my forest home?" She demanded, her eyes narrowed to slits.
The thing stood to its full height, the weapon on its arm stretched to the side.
Kyran took another step closer, curious. "What are you?" She asked, looking into its eyes as she tried to recall where she had seen them before. Then, it clicked.
She saw those eyes whenever she looked into the river at her own reflection.
"You do not look Shifter, but those eyes . . . I would recognize the gaze of a hybrid anywhere." She breathed, twitching her tail.
The thing stood up. "I am Eric Williams - Agent Grim Reaper."
"Am I supposed to know who you are?" Kyran asked boredly.
'Eric' opened his mouth to speak, but Phoenix landed on Kyran shoulder to silence his with a simple look.
"You came." The great Firebird spoke softly. "I dreamed that you would. I have been waiting for days."
Kyran grunted. "Who is he?"
Phoenix made no response, as he was staring at the . . . cyborg with a look of interest.
Eric stepped forward, his green eyes narrowed. "Who are you?" He shot back at her.
"If you could even begin to comprehend where I've come from, you would be terrified of me." Kyran responded.
"Care to give a name?" The man mocked.
Kyran shrugged. "I live in the shadows. No one sees me. I don't need a name."
"Alright then, Shadow." He said casually, as though he had done this before. "Can I speak to your leader or his heir?"
The girl shoved off the tree she had leaned against and walked closer to him. "The heir is right in front of you, moron." She mocked.
His eyes widened slightly.
Kyran nodded. "I'm the heir - you can just call me Shadow, as you did." She nodded to her companions. "That's my twin brother and my grandmother."
Eric coughed toward the silver stallion. "And you?"
"I'm a friend of Shadow's." Albatross said simply.
Kyran glared at him. "We're stretching the definition of 'friend' a bit thin here, don't you think?"
He shrugged.
Eric stepped closer to them, chuckling. "Well, it seems I don't have to look far, then."
"What do you want?" Kyran asked, curious.
"I have a proposition for you, little Shapeshifter."
"And that is?"
Eric looked right into her eyes. "You are the last of your species besides your brother, as I've seen. My leader has made it apparent that he wants you both in his army."
Alarm sparked in Kyran's gut. "And army? For what?"
"That will be left unsaid." The hybrid responded. "But we need your answer soon."
Bryan stalked to stand beside his sister. "You're nuts, man. You think we will just uproot our entire lives just to follow you? We don't even know you!"
"Maybe not." Eric said. "But it will give you a glimpse of life outside of this forest."
That was everything Kyran wanted, but she couldn't leave. "I have family here - a team of my own."
Eric grinned. "Then bring them. The more, the merrier."
"How do I know we can trust you?" Kyran demanded.
"You can't. It's called trust."
The girl bared her teeth. "The last human I trusted shot me in the head."
"Think on it then." Eric chuckled. "I will wait for your final response tomorrow at this time, this place."
Kyran twitched her wings. "Fine."
The man stepped back. "See you then, Shadow."
"Likewise, Reaper."
Kyran opened her wings fully and took to the sky without another word, heading toward camp. Her companions followed swiftly.
She was not bone, feather, and fur, but a perfect idea of freedom and flight, limited by nothing at all.