Chapter 36

New Eyes

I knew I was scaring Star and Nova, and that I was breaking my promise to Igg, but those thoughts were shoved back in my head as I caught Two's sent in the air.

I ran through the forest with surprising speed. I sensed that Nova was following me so I didn't turn to get him. I slowed as I neared Two, I didn't want him to notice I was there so I moved as stealthily as possible, that turned out to be another thing that now was easy for me.

I heard a twig snap behind me and I turned and growled at Nova, warning him to be quiet.

Two was in his human for, staring up at the cliffs. Every inch of his skin that I could see was bruised. His hands and feet were scraped up, so I guessed that he had already tried climbing the cliff, but I couldn't figure out where the bruises had come from.

'Shadow, come back or I'll tell Iggy.' Star thought stubbornly.

'Star, she is pass reasoning. She is acting on pure instinct now. You know that.' Nova responded.

I was listening, but not thinking. I was paying attention to Two. He had turned around and started to walk slowly along the cliff again. He stopped after about 20 feet and looked up again. A soft growl rose to my throat as I stalked him.

He turned around slowly, clearly sensing someone was there, but not knowing who it was. Slowly but surely, I made my way into his view. The instant he could see me he started trembling and turned into a giant wolf.

'I'm getting Iggy and the others, there's no way you guys can stand up to that thing alone.' Star thought franticly.

'Okay, fine. But it was all you not me.' Nova thought back to her.

I felt Star head to the others and started to get worried, 'He'll hurt Iggy.' was all I could thing before I turned around and started running the other way.

Nova had taken off, and I could run faster than Two despite the size difference. So I was soon far from him. I suddenly felt like something was ripping through my back and I looked back to see what it was. I yelped in surprise when I saw two wings identical to the ones I had as a human. Black with random neon blue feathers.

Acting on instinct again, I took off into the air and flew back to the cliff. Once I had landed I morphed back to my human form and collapsed to the ground immediately.

"Shadow! Shadow are you ok?" Gazzy screamed when he saw me land.

"Iggy! We found her!" Nudge yelled.

"I- I'm fine." I choked out, "I- it's not a- as bad as l- last time."

I tried to get up, but my limbs wouldn't function.

'Don't try to get up, I'll be there in a sec. Nova decided to follow Two in the air.' Star thought to me.

"Shadow! What happened?" Iggy asked as he ran over to me, pulling me into his arms.

"N- nothin' much. J- just morphed i-into a wo- wolf. It t- takes a lot o- out of me." I struggled to get out.

"Why did you turn into a wolf?" he asked, unconvinced.

"Just wanted to see if I could do it again." I lied.

"That's not the only reason."

"What makes you think that?"

"Star told me and Gazzy that you were following Two." Nudge interrupted.

Iggy turned and glared at me, "You promised."

He was trying to act mad, but I could see the hurt in his eyes. I started to tear up, not knowing what to do. I didb't know what I was doing when I followed him. I wished so desperately that he could read my mind instead of Nova.

I hadn't realized that I was crying until Iggy pulled my into his arms. "Why? why did you break your promise Shadow?"

I sobbed into his shirt, not knowing what to say. Star walked over right then. She put her hand on Iggy's shoulder. "Iggy, Shadow did not mean to break her promise. She was acting on instinct. If she had not seen Two and gone after him, we would not know that he was trying to find a way onto Galaxy Cliff."

"She was acting on instinct?" Iggy repeated.

"Yes, hasn't she been a wolf before?"

"N- no, this i- is a fi- first, well s- second." I stuttered.

"So, that was the first time you had ever turned into a wolf and you weren't even thinking about it that much? You were just cool with it?" Star asked.

"I- I was asleep mo- most of the t- time." I pointed out.

"I guess if you had done this before you wouldn't be so exhausted every time you did it… But still, you're just cool with the fact that you turn into a wolf?"

"We're kinda used to things like that Star, we were raised in labs." Gazzy explained.

"I- I was sup- surprised when my w- wolf form sp- sprouted w- wings. Th- thought, I guess I- I sh- shouldn't h- have bee- been." I said, struggling more as I went on.

"So, what I'm getting is you didn't mean to break your promise?" Iggy asked me.

"I- I d- didn't" I confirmed. "I- I'm so sorry" (yawn) "that I- I did th- though."

'Shadow, you should get some sleep.' Nova thought to me as he flew above Two.

'I'm not that tired.' I thought back stubbornly.

"I agree with Nova, Shadow. You really should get some shut eye." Star said out loud, probably so Igg and the others would hear it and help with her argument.

I knew Nudge was saying something about how sleep is important, but I wasn't listening. I had curled up closer to Iggy and was drifting into a dreamless sleep…

I could tell it was around 10:00 at night, though I didn't know how. I was still in Iggy's arms, but somehow we had gotten to the clearing. I slipped out of his arms, trying not to wake him, and stood up.

The whole flock was asleep, they looked like they would be out for awhile. I picked my way through they're body's, working my way to the lake. A few day's ago I probably would have ended up on my face with the flock awake trying to do this. But for some reason I was able to get through quickly and quietly without even stumbling.

I laid down on the beach and looked up at the sky. It would be a full moon tomorrow, I could feel it even though the moon wasn't visible where I layed.

There was a lot of new knowledge that had entered my head the moment I turned into a wolf. So many things had changed in that moment. Like how I was suddenly graceful and know what time it was and what phase the moon was in. Like how I knew where everyone in the flock was by just sniffing the air. Like how I could now hear the flock even though I was on the other side of the island. Like how I now wanted to hunt down Two with every ounce of my body. He was now my prey and I couldn't stop hunting him until he was caught.

I also had a strange and sudden craving for meat. The hamburgers the other day tasted of nothing except different types of meat. Even my soda tasted like meat. I had a strange desire to go hunting too. To catch my meals instead of finding them on the island. That was the part that scared me. I hated hurting anything. Even after I punch Nova, or take out an eraser I would feel bad about it afterwards. That's why I could never be the leader of the flock, I don't have enough guts to hurt anything. I also am known for forgiving to easily… I'm not even mad a Nova anymore, though I know I should be.

I began to feel restless as I woke up more and more. I began to remember what Star had said about being weak because it was one of my first times. I guessed that if I practiced enough it wouldn't be as hard on me and Igg and the others wouldn't have to worry as much.

I stood up slowly and walked over to the tree's. Giving a sigh I turned into a wolf and then turned back.

I was instantly more tired, but I could already tell I was improving. I kept doing that again and again until I felt like I would pass out if I tried again.

I hadn't realized how long I'd been doing that until I turned around and noticed the sun was rising. Shaking out my wings I took off into the air to get a better view.

It was absolutely stunning. The sky turned so many different colors. I was so hypnotized by it's beauty that I didn't notice when Nova flew up to me. I didn't even notice that he was awake.

'Wow.' he thought suddenly, looking at the sunrise, making me fall a few feet in surprise.

I looked over at him and realized that he wasn't looking at the sunrise, he was looking at me. Well my wings that is.

'Your wings look soo cool in this lighting, it's like they're sparkling.' he thought, stunned. Then he looked into my eyes and smiled, that he froze, even more stunned. 'Sh- Shadow, what were you looking at? Before I came?''

I hovered there for a moment, trying to figure out what he meant. Sensing my hesitation he grabbed my hand and brought my to the ground. 'Don't want you to fall and get yourself hurt once you get what I'm saying…' he explained, 'Shadow, you were looking at the sunrise right then, weren't you?'

"Yes, why?"

"Think, Shadow. I know you can get this, it's obvious." he fumed.

"I don't know what yo-" I said stopping abruptly, gasping. "I- I saw the sunrise, I saw it!" I choked in sudden realization.

'Took her long enough' Nova thought, but I wasn't paying attention. I was spinning around, staring at my surroundings in wide-eyed amazement.

"H- how?" I asked no one.

"Nova, Shadow! You over there?" Total called.

"Y- yes." I answered absently.

"What's wrong Shadow? You look like you've seen a ghost." he asked yawning.

"Somethin' like that." I muttered, not paying much attention.

"Well, Star says she has breakfast ready… I don't know why she sent me instead of just using the mind thingy though, do you?"

"I - I wasn't paying attention to her thoughts, sorry."

"S'okay, you sure you're alright, you look like you might pass out at any second…"

"Total, I- you know what, I better not jinx it… tell you later." I said, starting to head back in the direction of camp.

'You alright Shadow, you haven't been thinking for awhile.' Nova asked as he took my hand to steady me.

'Just a little stunned, that's all… I've been able to see since the first moment I turned into a wolf and didn't notice.'' I thought in disbelief.

'In your defence you've been asleep most of the time, and you have the fact that you can turn into a wolf to deal with.' Nova thought defensively.

'What, you can see.' Star thought in surprise.

'Yes, I think.' I replied, 'Don't tell the others though, I wanna do it.'

'You wanna admit your stupidity?' Star asked.

'No, I wanna tell them… Oh whatever.'

We arrived at camp right as Star handed Iggy his bowl of cereal and my heart sunk. 'What is Igg goin' to feel about this. It might hurt his feelings…' I thought franticly.

'Who cares what Iggy thinks? If it hurts his feelings and he ends up hating Shadow, I get her.' Nova thought angrily. Once again forgetting that I could hear him.

I turned and punched him in the gut, and, much to my surprise and displeasure, he shot back a good 20 feet at the impact.

"Nova!" I screamed, running to him. "Are you alright?"

"Yea, I think. Man Shadow, you sure pack a punch." he groaned, rubbing his stomach

"Sorry." I apologized as the others ran up. I wondered why they took so long to get here, they were closer to him.

"How'd ya do that?" Gazzy asked excitedly, "You sent him flying and I bet you weren't even trying! Hey, I'm a poet and didn't even know it!"

"I- I don't know. Sorry again Nova." I replied.

"How'd you go so fast?" Nudge asked me enviously, "You where just a blur as you ran over here."

"I was?"

"You did not notice?" Star asked.

"Nope, guess not."

"Well, she probable wouldn't have gotten me so far if I hadn't let her." Nova lied, trying despratly to keep his pride up.

"Sure newborn." I laughed, "Actually, thats not the only thing new…"

"Are you talking about your freakish gracfullness?" Total asked.

"Umm, no, but thanks for that. I was talking about the fact that I can now…" I started, looking at Iggy nervously.

"You can now what?" he said slowly.

"I can't believe how I didn't notice it until Nova pointed it out. It was incredibly stupid of me."

"Nova pointed what out?" he cautioned.

"Shadow can see." Star blurted, not able to contain herself. "She was coming over here to tell you, until she got distracted of course."

I looked at Iggy to see if he was hurt at all. Much to my surprise he was grinning from ear to ear. "Is that true?"

"Y- yes. Apparently I've been able to see since I first turned into a wolf, but haven't noticed… Oops." I flushed.

"Shadow thats great!" he exclaimed, pulling me into a bear hug.

I pushed him back and looked into his eyes, "You're not upset?"

"Of course not! Why would I be upset?"

"No reason, I guess." I said deciding not to push my luck.

"I think this is a cause for celebration." Nova said, walking over to his pack and pulling out a candy bar for each of us.

"You had more chocolate?" Nudge screeched running over and grabbing hers.

"Of course, I have some hidden all over the place. I would have kept them in my bag, but I don't trust you." Nova laughed. He stopped laughing with a start and winced, "Shadow, I think you have permanently messed up my insides." he complained.

"Sorry." I muttered.

"You'll live." Star said.

For the next few hours we played games and ate food. Me doing most of the eating. Gazzy timed how long it to me to run around the island and how long it took him to do it. It took him 30 minutes and 48 seconds and me 59 seconds.

We also tried to see how strong I'd become. Gazzy kept finding random things for me to lift. He was trying to find something that I couldn't lift, but I lifted everything he threw at me with ease.

We were all having the time of our lives until Iggy noticed something.

Nova was gone.

(end of chapter 36)