[PART 2]
Right. The orange thing was this way? With the edge of the forest in my sights, I run at top speed.
The forest closes in around me as I dart between brushes and small patches of flowers and moss. I gotta try catch the scent of whatever that orange creature was. Keeping low to the ground, I scan the area. Smells of flowers, small rodents, even a few other elves or some faeries – that’s all I’m getting! I need something different, something unfamiliar. I follow the edge of the forest, bordering the town. More smells - some squirrels, an odd bird – the orange thing was much bigger than a bird.
Oh!
Something feline… was that orange creature feline-like?
Not just a smell, but paw prints! They’re massive! I place my little fox paw in the middle – barely the size of one paw pad! Befriending this thing won’t be easy, but I have to try!
The scent leads me much deeper into the forest. It was midday before, but it looks like the dead of night right now. So many tall trees with thick trunks! The leafy branches cover the whole sky, creating a big green dome over my head.
More paw prints! I must be getting closer to-
“Rrrrrrrrow…” A deep animal growl shakes me to my core. I drop to my belly and raise my ears high, trying to locate the source. Big footsteps, just past a tree with bulbous roots sticking out of the ground – it’s approaching me! Does it know I’m here?
An orange and black striped beast appears from the side of that blobby tree. It moves with thick, powerful leg muscles. The face is like mine, but the nose is squished up, and it has much bigger whiskers. The eyes are big yellow spheres, staring intensely at the surrounding area. That thing looks fierce!
All my bravado from earlier seems to drain away. Can I really approach that thing!? I’ll get torn apart! If it’s aggressive-
I freeze in place – the beast has noticed me. The yellow orbs are watching my every move. My legs won’t budge. The beast’s stance remains tall, taking careful steps forward. That’s a good sign! It isn’t getting ready to pounce. I think?
It seems almost curious about me. Do I risk it? Do I properly reveal myself to this huge creature? Well, I came out all this way…
I take a few cautious steps out from beneath the brush. The beast is still watching me, but it seems relaxed. I approach it, my head held low and tail flittering about, curiously. How do I make myself seem friendly to something five times my own size?
We’re getting closer now. I can see the complexity of her stripe patterns. The orange shade is really bright! Even in this dim forest. She must have a hard time stalking prey, being so colourful. These woods are always just green on green. Is she even from around here?
Uhh… She’s crouched, forelegs stretched, hind legs coiled. I better wait to see her next move.
The creature takes a few hurried steps forward and assumes the same crouched pose. We’re almost touching noses. I’m frozen in fear, trying my best not to show it.
Pleasedonteatme pleasedonteatme pleasedonteatme.
The fluffy front paw swings out and… boops me on my nose. She does this a few more times. The long tail waves about in odd patterns. Does she… want to play with me?
She does! I stretch back, wriggling my tail around in the same way. She scuttles back a few steps, then crouches towards me. Does she want me to chase her? She does!
We run after each other through the bushes and along fallen logs. Sprinting between the tall tree trunks, through leafy foliage and leaping over families of mushrooms.
Other animals of the forest run away, clearing space for me and my new friend to bound through the undergrowth. We roll around in soft mossy patches, and collect assorted natural trinkets, like odd twigs or colourful plants.
As we happily strut along beside each other, I turn to her. Does she look a little smaller than before? Eh, doesn’t matter. I never thought I could have so much fun like this…
During our playing, I notice some natural light poking out between the canopies above. As I approach, I hear some voices. The trees part, revealing my lakeside village and the great tree. Have we made a full circle? I turn around and notice my new friend returning to the forest. I make a little noise at her – I’m still not sure how to control my animal form noises properly, so I don’t know what I actually said to her, but she returns a similar noise, then bounds off between the trees, disappearing from sight.
Still looks like lunchtime… I might be able to make it back before Yiracil notices that I’ve gone! I break into a sprint, leaping from logs and up walls, bounding from rooftop to rooftop. Hmm, all this seems smaller too…
I hop back into the room. Voices echo from behind the door, from the stairs leading up here. The improved hearing while in fox form is certainly handy! But, I better change back before-
My paws are huge, with black and orange stripes. Did I… I morphed! How?! W-when?! Whew! I guess that explains how I came to be such good friends with that creature.
Footsteps echo from behind the entry door. Oh no… I can’t let Yiracil see me in this form! There’s no way I can explain this! No story I could spin that’d-
Hold on, I feel a little funny… Like I…
I’m gasping for air. Everything is suddenly itchy. My butt hurts really bad…
Suddenly I flop down onto my stomach. All my limbs are struggling as I roll onto my back. I hold up my elf hand, covered in dirt. Seems I’ve changed back already. Probably for the best…
The wooden door creaks open, and Professor Yiracil strides in, a smug expression hanging at the edge of her mouth, “So, Hanrah. How’d we go?” Before I can answer she holds up a finger, “Actually, I’ll ask Kricks.” Her smugness remains as she walks over to Kricks’ cage. I roll my eyes. Dumb Kricket still hasn’t moved from when I left.
She pops the locks and lifts the lid – Kricks instantly hops up onto her outstretched hand. He stands to his full height and places his forelegs on his hips, “well, Miss Yiracil, do I have a story for you!”
…what?
* * *
Since when could Kricks actually talk…
Stupid little cricket. How did he even know what I did in the forest? Did he follow me?
Professor Yiracil leans casually on her work desk, “I’m not even surprised, by any of it.” Her mood is oddly pleasant. I don’t get it – is she mad at me? Proud? “And I’m frankly quite impressed. You made your own interpretation of my request – just like with the restoration spell – and ended up excelling beyond my expectations!”
Huh?
“Seriously. While you failed to show proper patience by waiting in my office, you demonstrated something much more valuable; patience and levelheadedness in the face of danger. That tiger could well have devoured you whole, but because you were calm and patient with it you ended up befriending it and borrowing its form. It’s a lesser form of shapeshifting that only lasts a set period of time. Hence why you changed back before I entered the room!”
I’m actually paying attention to her. Every word is sinking in. This is exactly what I want to be learning about. Sure, things might have gotten a little dangerous again today, but everything was fine in the end, right?
My face is screwed up in a dumb smile.
After shuffling a few papers around on her desk Professor Yiracil sits down with a pleased huff, “While you had some fun and mixed successes today, I cannot let you go off on your own like that anymore. I will personally tutor you, with a focus on shapeshifting, but I want you to show me the patience you showed that tiger.”
I’m so excited I could burst.
And I do. Back into my fox form.
The Professor smiles weakly and shakes her head at me.
Am I shrugging right now? Can fox-druids shrug?
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