Rebirth

6. Discovering

Breaking the news to Isis and Angel wasn't nearly as tough as I thought it would be. Then again, they knew we couldn't help it. All of this just kinda happened. Leave it to them to remain cool under pressure.

The real test came the next day when I was allowed to return to class. When I approached my Sociology class, the fledglings parted like the Red Sea to avoid touching me. I heard them whispering (sometimes not whispering, but outright gossip) as I walked into the classroom. Everyone tried to get as far away from me as was possible. Our professor noticed this as she walked into the room and immediately called the noisy class to order.

"Everyone, settle down now!" Professor Harmon exclaimed. No one wanted to argue, so they shut up. Though some of them were still trying to sit two-a-desk to avoid coming near me. I groaned and rolled my eyes as Professor Harmon began. "Now, I know you are all afraid to get to close to Miss MacKiernan. You think whatever changed her might be contagious. Let me assure you that it is not. She has won the approval of our Goddess Nyx and our High Priestess Eliante, though we do not know why she was chosen. Her new mark is a sign of favor from Nyx, so I expect you to treat her with respect. Understood?"

A chorus of "yes, Professor"s rang through the air. I smiled to myself and said a silent prayer to Nyx for staving off a crisis.

I said many prayers of that kind during the course of the day. The same incident repeated itself in every class I took. By lunch, I wanted to crawl in a corner or hole and die.

That night, the moon rose high above campus in its almost full state. Most of the evening, I'd felt the urge to eat lots of meat (not much of which is served in the Dining Hall) and run around campus for the fun of it. Which is odd, because sports really aren't my thing and I usually don't like to eat meat, especially beef. It all culminated in outright overwhelming as I entered the dining hall and smelled the food of the day—sushi and egg noodles with other oriental veggies. I loaded my plate down with raw fish and very little greenery and began to scarf it down like there was no tomorrow.

"Amy, are you okay?" Isis asked. I looked at her.

"I'm fine." I said. "I just felt like sushi tonight."

"You're tearing into it like an animal." Angel observed. "I wonder what this has to do with the fight?"

I stared at her with slight confusion before realizing something. This probably did have something to do with my new change. I just had no clue what that might be.

"I think you're onto something." I replied as an alluring smell hit my nostrils. The sweet, spicy odor of fresh blood. But since no one was coughing, I deduced that someone accidentally cut themselves with a butter knife. Or their own claw-like fingernails. Seriously, it happens.

At the same time my brain worked out the reason for the blood, my body began to shake. I seriously couldn't control my own muscles anymore. I heard my friends' worried voices, but couldn't give them a response. Instead, I tried to stand up and remove myself from the situation. I barely made it away from the table before my entire body seemed to explode, and I was crouched on the floor. And colorblind. What the crap?

Wait a minute. I wasn't crouched on my knees; I actually stood erect on four legs. Four pale legs.

Holy crap, did I just turn into a dog?

Screams sounded around me. Gee, whatever could have caused that? All I did was change into some kind of dog. I tried to tell them it was me, but all that could be heard was a whining bark. Diego caught on; my friends were a little slower.

"Amy?" Angel asked timidly. I nodded my doggie head and whined. "Do you know us?"

Duh. Why wouldn't I?

"Why don't you use your telepathy, Angel?" Isis asked. Angel looked shocked, like she hadn't considered the notion before. In all the excitement, she probably hadn't. Anyway, she concentrated on me and I soon heard her faint voice in my head.

"Can you hear me?" She asked.

"Yes." I replied menatlly. "Took you long enough to figure it all out."

"Sorry." She groaned. "But seriously, you're making everyone nervous. Can't you change back or something?"

"I don't know." I answered. "I'll have to wait until I get out of here to try it. Just take me outside. Please?"

She nodded and grabbed the scruff of my neck. Goddess, this feels so weird.

We made it outside with little uproar. No one was in the courtyard, which meant that I could practice without hurting anyone. Coolness.

The snow on the ground felt strange under my paws. Strange, yet completely right. Like I was meant to travel through the snow like this. I wonder…

"Amy!" Isis and Angel screeched as snow whirled around them. I made the closest sound to "sorry" I could manage, and disconnected my control over the white stuff.

"Well, at least we know it's really you now." Isis said in her exotic voice. "Now, change back."

Easier said than done. I tried everything from "Change back" to "Abra Kadabra" to "Open Sesame", all with no response. I sighed and looked up at my friends sadly.

"I don't think she can, Ice." Angel said. "Oh, Nyx, what do we do?" She asked the sky. I was expecting a soft whisper or maybe a sudden enlightenment. I certainly didn't think Nyx would show up in front of us. But she did.

"I have heard you, child." She said sweetly to Angel. "Do not fret. Amy is still Amy, aren't you, dear?" She asked me. I whimpered a 'yes' in response.

"But how can she change back?" Isis asked. Nyx smiled warmly.

"It will take time, but she will accomplish it." The Goddess replied. "Amy, dear, try to come back to us."

I wanted to. I wanted to be my normal nearly-changed self more than anything else at the moment. But I still couldn't change.

You are asking the wrong questions. Nyx's voice echoed in my head. Gee, if that was the wrong question, what was the right one?

What caused me to change in the first place?

The smells. No, wait, the smell. The blood of that fledgling. That's what started this mess. And if the blood started it, maybe blood could finish it?

Without thinking, I ran to the kitchen, scaring the chefs in the process. They weren't expecting two dogs to come barreling through after the stampede. I made my way to the refrigerator that held the blood used for Nyx's offerings and the adults' meals. Unfortunately, I couldn't open it. I wasn't adept enough at my new form to maneuver the door handle. Lucky for me, Angel ran in, Isis hot on her tail.

"You want something in there?" she asked. I nodded. "Okay. Hang on." She opened the door and gasped at the fridge full of blood bags. I seized the opportunity and snatched a bag, ripping its contents open and lapping them up off the floor.

"Eww. That's gross." Angel made a face. I looked up at her, licking the blood from my furry lips. It was sweet and spicy. Complete perfection. And it calmed a thirst I didn't know I had.

"You're not exactly a clean eater." I said.

Holy crap, I spoke! Does that mean…

"Amy! You're back!" Angel launched her petite frame at me and wrapped me in a bear hug. I laughed lightly.

"I never left." I said. "I think this whole thing is triggered by bloodlust. Sort of."

"This time." Isis frowned. "Next time, you might take out the whole flock of fledglings before satisfying your thirst for blood!"

"I didn't this time." I said. "I doubt I'll do it at all. Unlike those things that attacked us, I can keep my head on straight."

"Because you're a sixth former and almost completely changed." Isis said. "What about Miko and Shannon?"

Oh shoot. "We have to get to the medical wing. Fast." I said, grabbing a bag of blood and running out of the kitchen. If my instincts were right, we could be in big trouble.