Cliff's crate was set at the edge of the meadow. The hawks were now specks on the horizon. The wolf inside paced anxiously. Not that Swiftshadow blamed him. She'd probably hate being cooped up inter for any amount of time. Much less a couple of hours.
She assured him he'd be free soon. That left her with task of convincing her brother if she could go running with the wolves. Considering the last time she went off into the woods the became an alien robots guinea pig, It might prove tricky. But she had to go see Sky. At least for a couple of hours.
"Hey Todd? After this I was hoping I would be able to spread my wings," She fluttered her hands for emphasis.
Todd looked up from his camera. "I don't think you should be going anywhere,"
"Why not?" This was not the response she was hoping for. But it didn't surprise her either. "It'll only be for an hour or so,"
"Didn't you want to go home earlier?"
"I just want to check something,"
"And what would that be? It better not involve any UFOs."
"I've well learned my lesson concerning stranger dangers. And it is nothing out of this world."
"The answer is still no,"
"But Todd…" Swiftshadow pleaded.
"I just got you back, and now it feels like your running out on me agin," Those words cut like a cat beasts claws across her muzzle.
"What if you went with us Todd?" Wilson poked his head out of the back pack. Taking her brother out into the middle of a wolf pack? She wasn't quite sure that was a good idea. Would they even tolerate his presence? Strong-paw only accepted her after she guided the pack out of an inferno. She didn't want to be forced to chose between her brother and sky.
Cliff's golden eye studied the situation keenly. "Tonights the full moon. Sky will likely be at the spirit pool preparing for tonights ritual. If we are fortunate you can take you're brother with you for short visit with Sky without causing much chaos within the pack."
"You're sure?" She whispered back.
"Positive,"
Swiftshadow breathed in. "What if you went with me?"
"Went with?" Todd pondered for a minute, "I do have to take down your missing posters,"
"And I can show you what I'm capable of."
"Alright people step away. It time to release this beast." The old park ranger instructed.
"I'll let you know when I've found Sky and if it's clear," Cliff assured. Swiftshadow nodded.
Joining the others at the cars. Standing behind the crate, Izzy pulled a rope sliding up the door. Without hesitation Cliff sprang from his prison. Bounding across the meadow as fast as his legs could carry him. The urge to run with him swelled within swiftshadow. The wilderness called to her like a sirens song. 'Soon,' She told herself.
A long low howling echoed throughout the valley. To any other human it would be a simple howl, but to her it was a call. But it was not addressed to Swiftshadow. Her heart swelled when she heard Sky's reply.
When Todd accepted this arrangement he wasn't quite sure what he was getting into. Now he was have some serious second thoughts. He was happy to have her back, sure, but it was beyond strange to see her in dragon form. He couldn't quite put the experience into words.
Black metallic scales coated her form. Golden claws raked the dirt as a long tail swayed. Great wings splayed out waiting to be airborne. Long sabre teeth poked out of smiling lips. Multicoloured horns crowned her head. She was almost completely unrecognizable.
The only thing he recognized were her eyes. Bright blue and fiery. The same eyes he looked into the day his mother swaddled her in his arms soon after her birth. He remembered his heart swelled with pride when he looked into their depths. That was the day he promised that he protect her from all that would hurt.
A sense of failure crept into his gut.
"Come on Todd, why the sudden cold feet?" Kelsey mimicked a dogs play bow.
"I question the safety of this,"
"I have yet to drop any of my passengers," She proclaimed proudly. "Or crash,"
"What about Dulsbury, Amity Park, or Megamind's lair?" Wilson jeered.
"I was in battle. Those don't count." She turned her nose up.
Failure settled deeper in. Just what dangers has she faced? Dangers that he couldn't protect her from. He could help but count the scars on her body. Each one a failure. "That doesn't make me feel any better,"
"Come ooon, it'll be fun. And I don't remember you being afraid of heights."
Todd regarded his sister for a moment. "Alright, just don't drop me,"
"Oh ye of little faith," She smirked.
Swiftshadow soared high above the trees scanning the land below. She had yet to see any wolves. Fresh mountain air filled her nostrils. Pine, fir and aspen blurred together. Large fluffy clouds rolled above. The bright sun warmed her wings. This what flying was supposed to be.
Freeing.
"Could you slow down a bit?" Todd gripped her shoulders tightly. Wilson was tucked away in his saddle compartment. They had already taken down a couple of missing posters. It is a sobering thing to see your own missing poster. To know that someone cared enough to look for her. Loved her enough. And that someone was her brother.
"Dude, If we slowed down anymore we'd be falling out of the sky," She beat the wind with her wings. "I would've thought you'd enjoy this. You loved going on every rollercoaster you could find,"
"Those have a ton of safety features,"
"Are you saying that I'm not safe?" She snorted.
"Take my advice Todd," Said Wilson, "Just sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride,"
Todd groaned as he sank into her back. Just little while longer she told herself. She kept a keen ear open for Cliffs signal. So far only birdsong and the distant rumble of engines filled them. She banked gently as Todd directed her to another sign post.
A faint howl echoed from the mountain. Long and slow and full of spirit. Come here it sang. A soft purr vibrated gently inside her chest. "Wilson," She whispered through her visor.
"On it," He replied. After a few seconds an arrow popped up on the screen. It pointed in the opposite direction Todd had pointed in. 'Sorry Todd,' She thought as veered sharply to follow the arrow.
"Kelsey what are you doing?" Shouted Todd, "You're going the wrong way,"
"Just going to visit a friend," She said simply.
"What friend are you taking me to? Is it Shanon? You haven't been that close since grade five,"
"This friend is far more special than that,"
"Start descending in five hundred meters." Wilson said.
Swiftshadow scanned the mountainside. A waterfall roared down a cliffside before shifting into mist. A small stream flowed from its base slipping into the woods. A small creek broke off winding its way between a couple of boulders and into a pool. A perfectly circular pool of still waters that shone like a mirror.
At is bank were both Sky and Cliff frolicking with each other. Cliff play bowed before darting around the pool. Sky chased after him head and tail held high. They yipped and tussled on the moss covered earth.
Folding in her wings Swiftshadow stooped down to join them. A thunderous roar left her lips as she fell past the canopy. Sky's eyes widened as Swiftshadow's wings caught the air like sails.
"Swiftshadow! You're flying!" She yipped joyfully.
"I can do a lot more than that." Swiftshadow's talons hit the earth.
"Uhhh Kelsey? Why are you talking to a wolf?" Todd shined uncomfortably on her back.
"Cause she can," Popping out of the saddle, Wilson clambered up her neck and settled on her horns. Swiftshadow felt his sickle claws hook around them.
"Sky, meet Wilson and my brother, Todd. Wilson, Todd, meet my best friend, Sky,"
"I thought I was your best friend?" Wilson challenged.
"Can't a girl have two best friends?" Swiftshadow tossed her head slightly. Wilson jostled but remained firmly in place.
Todd tumbled off her back. Sky had trotted beside her attempting to sniff Todd. Swiftshadow found herself between her prone brother and a curious Sky. Hoisting her paws on her back Sky chirped, "Your brother's a bit flighty isn't he?"
"Oh, give him a break. There are a good half dozen things going on that I haven't gotten around to explaining to him," She said in wolf speak.
"Like you being able to speak wolf?" Sky chided.
"Among other things," Swiftshadow shrugged.
A mouse like squeak escaped Todd's lips as Cliff approached. He pressed himself into her side As the two wolves sniffed Inquisitively. "Relax Todd, they aren't going to hurt you. I'd thought volunteering at the wildlife rehab centre would've made you less afraid of big scary wild animals,"
"Most of the time, the critter is either sedated or subdued. And those teeth aren't for show,"
"Those puny things? Those ain't nothing compared to these choppers," Swiftshadow pressed her head into Todd's shoulder, baring her dual sabre teeth for emphasis. The longer pair extended slightly below her chin while the shorter rear pair was only half as long.
"That's not helping," Todd shoved her face away.
"What is going on here?" A deep gruff voice boomed. Up on the ridge stood Strong-paw. Deep battle scars visible beneath thick brown fur. His eyes met hers. "You've returned." He stated plainly and flatly.
"It took a bit of globe trotting, but I made it,"
"Hopefully danger hasn't followed you here," The large wolf snorted.
"Just Wilson, My brother Todd, and me,"
"We'll see about that,"
Julien stepped out of the dark portal onto a desolate dirt road. He grimaces as the grit soiled his shoes treads. Lush green forest pressed around him on all sides. The rattling of wind blown leaves grated on his nerves. Somewhere a woodpecker rapped its beak on a tree irked him to no end. A narrow eyed raven spied on him from an old pine.
He could not fathom as to why the gem would be in this filthy forest. He'd rather go rob another museum than go hiking in the bug infested woods. He shudders at the amount of dirt he'd have to wash off himself.
'Interesting,' Malic Korvoth muttered, 'While I can no longer feel my talismans power, I sense the presence of an old rival of mine,'
Malic's power vibrated around him like a narcotic. The six gems glimmered and radiated with a dark twisting energy. It made Julien want to soak it all in and destroy all that stood in his way. Focusing himself on his mission Julien asked, "Would this rival be able to lead us to the final talisman?"
Malic remained silent for a moment. 'Perhaps,'
Julien pondered his options. Windblown leaves fluttered around his feet. He had to use whatever got him results. "Could you guide me to there?"
'Simply craft a portal and I'll take care of the rest,' The shadows slithered across Julien's shoulders. Coiling around his neck and chest.
Breathing in a sigh Julien focused the immense power pulsing inside his veins. An ocean of darkness leapt from the earth. Julien grabbed hold of the threads and began weaving them together. A dark shadowy portal opened before him.
'Excellent,' He thought as stepped through. It was like being squeezed through a straw. He forced himself through the abyss, fighting the massive pressure. It took only a couple steps to break through to the other side but it felt like an eternity.
Light greeted him as did the sound of a roaring waterfall. A pack of wolves stared him down their hackles raised. A man in his late twenties dropped his jaw at his appearance. And in the middle of it all was her.
The dragon girl.