A black bear emerged with a roar, silencing the forest creatures and it lifted onto its hind legs. White teeth glinted beneath its lips which curled back in an ominous reproach.
Chance was larger than the black bear that stood before him, but he guessed Markus had an ample power supply, still capable of many animal forms. He was in a fight with a boy who should be weaker and less experienced than he was.
He strained his attention and listened for Ana’s heartbeat. A soft rhythm sputtered from her direction. It sloshed recklessly, like a bucket filled too high. Time bore down on him. He had to stop this madness quickly to get her help.
A loud roar snapped him back to his current situation. He feared he was at a disadvantage, so he moved to the safety of the pines, leaving a tree trunk as a barrier. Markus moved forward and Chance wove from side to side, careful to keep the shield between them.
The odd dance continued until Markus swiped around the tree and hit Chance on the arm. Chance was bigger, but he was also slower. The cuts stung and he knew it left a mark. He needed to hurt Markus enough to force him to take another shape. He would have to attack relentlessly until Markus couldn’t phase anymore and end his life swiftly.
Chance dodged from behind the tree and struck out at the smaller bear, but his body moved sluggishly and missed. The black bear beat him to it and pain seared his chest. The bear’s paw impaled Chance’s sternum. The agony came from more than just the claws that sank into him—they radiated what felt like poison. A pea green glow stained his fur at the point of contact. His energy leached away like a bike tire deflating.
With a sudden explosion of power, Chance’s grizzly form retracted from Markus’s grasp and staggered back onto all fours. The shaky exhalation that sputtered from the grizzly’s lips brought a macabre smirk to the black bear’s maw.
A burst of tan fur rippled across Chance’s grizzly form. He sank down into a mountain lion, crouched on the forest floor.
The black bear stumbled backwards surprised and ducked down with its paws ready for a low attack.
Power built in Chance’s front and hind legs. His body was free of pain and ready to inflict it. His lean form shot forward, ears pulled back. Powerful jaws and claws reached for flesh. They found purchase on the bear’s arms, rupturing the onyx carpet of fur, staining it red.
Markus fell forward in an effort to tackle the large cat. Chance backed up as the bear crashed towards him. He jumped up, clung to a tree trunk and began to scale a pine. It began to sway as the bear shook the base, trying to rattle him free.
Markus stopped and took another approach and began to climb the neighboring pine. Chance ascended the trunk and stopped before it could arch from his weight. In amazement, he saw Markus’s stocky black form claw up the tree beside him. When the furry form paralleled his, Chance lashed out. His paw pummeled the bear. Claws met flesh again and Markus let out a roar in pain.
While they fought, their respective trees swayed fitfully. Markus knocked Chance’s head with a heavy blow and caused him to slip four feet down the trunk. Bark rained down, which joined the needles on the forest floor.
In a quick decision, Chance leapt up and across to cling from the black bear’s legs. His jaws and claws sank into the black fur and blood oozed down his muzzle.
Markus, unable to hold on any longer, dropped them both to the earth. Claws raked down the trunk and bits of tree bark tapped onto the ground.
The bear’s heavy body crushed Chance when they impacted. Then the bear rolled off and to the side. It lay there unmoving.
The background noise of Ana’s soft heartbeats stammered and changed as they became more feeble and weak. Chance grumbled, looked reproachfully over his shoulder and limped out of the forest. He neared Ana’s weakened body and nestled his bloody muzzle into her chest to check for a heartbeat.
“Chance.” A whisper broke from her lips and then a spasm of pain ripped through her and she went limp.
He lifted a paw to touch her chest and sensed movement. Spontaneously, he turned and leapt through the air, colliding with another cougar. They fell into the dirt and sprang to their feet, backing away like repelling magnets. Low rumbling growls twisted and tangled together. Their ears laid flat against their heads, their haunches dropped to the ground, ready to launch.
Markus sprang first, his claw sank into Chance’s neck. The force knocked him to the side and his head rang from the blow.
Markus sauntered toward Ana. Chance snapped out of his daze and clawed his opponent’s rear. Markus feigned to the side, avoided injury and swiped Chance across the face, deadening his left eye.
Chance stood tall and swayed for a moment as vertigo hit. With only one eye, he tilted his head to the side to see. The mountain lion watched him wobble and pulled his lips back into a sneer. Chance knew he had to make this count. His energy was waning, and he wouldn’t have more than one or two shifts left. A fox wouldn’t be able to incapacitate a cougar. This was his last powerful form. He crouched and waited to see what Markus would do next.
The rival cat tilted its head back to look at Ana. Chance followed his gaze. Without hesitation, Markus leapt onto Chance and sank his teeth into his neck. Chance used the last of his strength to pull his claws back and dig them into Markus’s face. The teeth released their hold on Chance as his body was dropped to the ground.
Chance’s blood seeped from his body. The electric blue energy within him wanted to find a more powerful shape. To save energy, he utilized the static power from the air to phase form yet again.
He jumped to his feet, defeated. A red fox now sat at the foot of the mountain lion. Chance’s attention was drawn behind the cougar and his eyes widened. Markus, clearly thinking it was a ruse identical to the one he had just pulled, kept his eyes on the red furry body in front of him.
An elderly man stood at the edge of the forest. His familiar face brought Chance relief, but then fear sank in. He didn’t want his grandfather injured trying to save him.
While Chance frantically thought about what to do next, he watched in wide-eyed wonder as Niyol’s clothing dropped to the ground.
There, among the fabric, a large wolverine emerged.
Like a rocket, it dove under the unsuspecting cougar, clawing and tearing at its stomach. A wet ripping sound alerted Markus as he jumped straight up. The wolverine clung fast as it was lifted through the air and was dropped again.
Chance’s body jumped to action and he bit at the cougar, although he remained stunned. He didn’t understand. How could his grandfather change form?
Niyol’s dark body came out from underneath the cougar and clawed the cougar’s eyes. The mountain lion tried to back into the forest, but Chance positioned himself around his backside. The cat gave one last cry before it shifted into something smaller.
A fawn bobcat with pointed ears crouched between Niyol and Chance. No one moved.
The bobcat mewed. Then, the wolverine pelted the cat with successive blows, rendering it blind. The fox and his partner continued their relentless attack until it shivered and shrank into a prairie dog.
Movement drew Chance’s attention to Ana. A raspy breath caught in her throat and released with a slow hiss. Then silence. She lay still.
Chance listened closely, unable to detect a heartbeat.
No.
Chance glanced over and saw his grandfather with the prairie dog in his mouth. He immediately came back to his human form and dove to Ana’s side.
The clouds condensed and a loud clap shook the earth with a bright flash, striking in unison. The air thickened and mist descended the mountains. The forest grew quiet and still.
“No! Ana! Stay with me! Don’t die. You can’t die!” Chance gripped at her shirt and pulled her up in desperation. Her body hung lifeless in his hands.
He set her on the ground, closed his eyes and reached out his hands to her chest. His power was now minimal. To pull his sluggish energy back to center was like a tug of war. Static in the air raise
d the hairs on his arms and it melted into his skin. He absorbed as much as possible. He flexed the growing sphere of power within. Frustration built as he tried to manipulate his sticky life force. It dragged down his arms and into his hands.
One more glance at his grandfather told him Niyol had the situation under control with Markus. The wolverine batted the prairie dog with his claws, but then seemed to notice Chance wasn’t with him any longer. Niyol pressed his foot into the small animal, which gave a shudder and disappeared.
The wolverine paused with its foot in the air as it gazed at Chance and Ana. In a smooth transition, the wild animal turned into an elderly man.
At that precise moment, Chance initiated the connection between himself and Ana. Energy pulled through his hands and into her with such force his head dropped back, his life ebbing. Like water pulled down a swirling maelstrom, he was sucked in, unable to brace against the force.
“No! Chance, wait!” Niyol ran to his grandson with his arms outstretched.
Chance was oblivious of his surroundings and couldn’t hear his grandfather’s call. His thoughts were only for Ana—to protect her, heal her. He couldn’t lose her and didn’t want to live in a world without her. If necessary, he would settle for her living without him.
The last essence of life was leaving his body. He smiled as he sensed her heart stir below his hands. A sapphire glow emanated from her chest and radiated from his hands.
With his last breath he whispered, “For always. . .my love.”
His body slumped over Ana’s with a victorious grin across his lips.
Chapter 35
Among billowy clouds, Ana soared above an expansive landscape. Sun tipped grasses waved as air currents massaged their stalks. Tall evergreens stretched to reach her heights but looked like plastic toys from her altitude. A breeze rippled her hair and caressed her cheeks, then it turned more violent. Something struck her. Nothing would slow the unpleasant poking. She flinched as wet beads slapped her cool face and wrenched her from her dream.
Ana’s mind was fuzzy as her eyes flickered. Woken from a deep hibernation, she struggled with her comatose body. Steady rhythmic chanting filled her ears as Chance came into focus beside her. When she saw him, joy filled her heart.
It dissolved into horror when she saw Niyol ‘s hands resting on his chest. Chance was lifeless.
Her were eyes wide with terror as the chanting slowed and ended in a whisper. Blue light radiated and pulsed from Niyol’s hands and burst into Chance’s body. It blasted with such force, the air moved around it and rustled the ground cover along with Chance’s hair. The light faded into Chance’s chest. Niyol swayed and tipped to the ground. Chance’s skin glowed like starlight for a moment before it faded and dissipated into an afterglow.
Ana gasped and sat upright. “Niyol?!”
Chance sputtered. Light droplets tapped on his almond skin and his hands reached up in a defensive posture. His eyes flashed open as he sucked in a sharp breath. He rolled his head and met her gaze. Chance’s eyes brightened and he reached across to touch her cheek.
“Ana. . . Ana, it worked,” he said as he stroked her face with the tips of his fingers and stared at her in adoration.
Ana’s stared past him to the still form lying in the dirt. Confused, Chance followed her gaze and shouted, “Grandfather!” He turned to Ana and said with a shout, “What happened?!”
Her raspy voice said, “I don’t know. When I woke up he was chanting beside you with his hands over your chest—and then blue light went from his hands into you, and he just…fell over.”
Ana’s eyes combed down Chance’s body, noticed his lack of clothing under the woven cloth and turned to give him privacy as he jumped up to wrap the blanket around his waist.
Chance squatted down over Niyol’s body, grasped his shoulders and stared intently at his face.
“Is he breathing?”
“No,” Chance said hoarsely.
***
Chance knew he couldn’t save his grandfather. His energy was too low. To try it again would be a death sentence. He knew that now.
He straightened up and scanned the forest line as he remembered Markus. Then he recalled his grandfather ended that pathetic life and shook his head in relief.
Chance looked down at his grandfather’s peaceful face and his body grew rigid as a flash of images passed through his mind.
They were like memories, but they weren’t his.
Like viewing the scene through the bottom of a glass, the focal point was clear, but it faded into an unfocused haze around the periphery. It was very different from his own memories.
A forest entered his vision as a cloudy panorama came into view. A fox cowered before a cougar. The observer turned to see a girl lying on the stony ground.
“No, way!” Chance gasped.
Ana tilted her head in confusion and frowned at Chance. She was about to speak when he held his hand up to signal her to wait.
The peculiar memories continued and he heard a voice, a familiar voice. Grandfather! It was Niyol’s memory. But how was that possible?
You can do it. . .you have to. Niyol’s deep tone echoed in his head, and he felt his grandfather struggle with the power inside of himself. A tiny static ball at his core ignited into blue fire as Niyol watched Chance back away from the cougar. I must save him! NOW!
His skin prickled as the perspective changed to that of a shorter creature. It’s been sooo long. I never thought I could ever again. . .I thought the light had gone out.
Chance closed his eyes to concentrate on the real life movie playing itself out in his head. The scene continued in a flurry. From Niyol’s perspective, Chance saw himself rip and claw at the cougar. Go for the stomach—it’s vulnerable. Niyol’s voice echoed in his head. He heard his grandfather’s thoughts as if they were his own. He had an intense need to destroy the cougar, to end the creature’s life so it could never hurt or kill again. His muzzle was wet with blood, ready to finish the fight. The wolverine was voracious, intense.
Chance gazed at his grandfather lying on the pine needles and continued to reflect on this new, unfamiliar memory. Maybe it would reveal something he had missed.
He pummeled the bobcat with repetitive blows to the face and the cat tipped to its side in blindness. The cat shrank into a defenseless prairie dog.
The prairie dog turned to escape, but Chance heard his grandfather’s thoughts echo through his mind, Go ahead and run—I’m faster than you. The small animal scurried a couple feet before his body dove into it and smashed it into the ground.
His powerful jaws picked the limp animal up and shook it fiercely. He dropped it to the dirt, leapt into the air and dropped down again on the small creature. It trembled and disappeared. His instincts triggered and his attention shifted. Where’s Chance? His view moved upward and searched the landscape. He saw himself through his grandfather’s eyes, leaning over Ana.
He felt Ana stare at him. She seemed disturbed. But now wasn’t the time to explain whatever was happening.
He entered the point of the timeline that was missing for him. He saw his body give a subtle jolt as his hands hovered over Ana’s lifeless form and heard his grandfather’s voice call out. “No! Chance, wait!” His grandfather had returned to his human body and was running toward Chance. “Wait!”
Chance’s eyes glazed over. He experienced his grandfather’s anxiety. He’s going to kill himself. He doesn’t have enough power to heal her and live. He won’t be able to pull away in time!
Thoughts sped through his mind. He saw a slow smile creep across his own face as his body slumped over Ana’s.
“No! What have you done, Chance?” The words flew out of his mouth and Ana appeared deeply rattled.
“Chance? What’s going on? You’re freaking me out!” Ana said, her eyes opened wide.
Chance couldn’t believe what was happening, but continued to observe the scene in his head. Niyol heard Ana’s heartbeat fr
om a distance and knew there was no sign of life within Chance. Niyol moved to his pile of clothes and pulled them on, ending with his shoes. He withdrew a blanket from a backpack near the clothing. It chilled Chance to see his own lifeless body and was relieved when his grandfather covered him with a blanket and looked away from his hollow eyes.
The vision continued as Niyol lowered himself beside Chance and stretched out his hands. Chance. It is a responsibility to use your gifts for good. I know you will do the right thing. It will soon make sense, I hope. I chose to turn away from my power and grow old, to live a simple life with your grandmother. I loved her, like you love Ana and it pained me not to grow old with her. I’m sorry I wasn’t able to stay with you longer. There was so much more to teach and tell you. I will always be with you—joined in spirit and power. There is one you can trust for guidance, family. You will find him. He was always meant to be your true teacher.
Niyol’s rhythmic chanting filled his senses. Soon, the deep voice faded and a blue light generated from his grandfather’s fingertips shot into his lifeless body. Niyol’s thoughts faded into a soft whisper until there was silence.
The memory slipped from his mind and he was left with his own stricken thoughts.
Why didn’t his grandfather ever tell him any of this? Too many questions were left unanswered. He was alone in a foreign world. His grandfather was the only link to this secret life. Now he was without a guide. Alone.
Or was he?
Wet drops continued to fall from the sky, like tears, saying goodbye to Niyol’s peaceful spirit.
A bright burst of lightning shot down into the carpeted forest with a deafening rumble. Chance and Ana arched their faces to the sky as a flock of birds lifted from the strike point. They scattered and swooped back down within the trees for shelter from the rain.
“Chance, what did I miss? What happened?!” Ana said, clearly desperate for information.
Chance stood, entirely caught in his own thoughts. Ana touched his shoulder. With blinding speed, he wrapped her in his arms, picked her off the ground and grasped at her like a life line.
Her body was alive and real against him. While he caressed her hair, his raspy breath breezed past her ear. “He saved me. He gave his life for mine.”