The Shapeshifters

Chapter 3: Battle Plans

Taking the lead, Melissa flew overhead towards a giant oak tree. She took a sudden dive down a hole next to the tree. Blizzard ran down after her. They entered into a giant room where hundreds of birds perched on the thick roots of the tree. A monstrous Andean Condor was perched in the back. Melissa landed next to him.

“Hello again, Slash.” Blizzard looked up at the condor in the shadows. “I see you still wish for no one to see your identity.”

The condor nodded. “Indeed.” He morphed into a human, still in the shadows enough that he couldn't be seen, besides a stray lock of black hair that was sticking forward as he bent his head down.

“Me and my friend need your help. You see, Slash, I was thinking about fighting back against the-”

“What?! Are you insane, my friend? Fight back? Me and my brothers and sisters here are not battle ready!” Slash said, quite loudly that it got the zebra finches chattering excessively. He sighed.

“I don't mean to be rash, Blizzard, but it is not the best idea.” he said calmly.

“What are you talking about, Slash? You have an army! Eagles, hawks, falcons, and you are a ten-foot wingspan war machine!” Blizzard barked, her ears flattened against her head in anger.

“Fine. Come back with some who can do ground attacks. You can only do so much in the air.” Slash said unsurely.

“I already have Mike, the bunny!” Blizzard wished she could take that back. What on earth could a rabbit do? She instantly remembered something.

“He's really smart. He is really good at playing tricks.” she said confindently. Instantly, she could visualize a thousand possibilities for him.

“Find at least three more and I'll consider your idea.” he morphed back into a condor and stepped out of the shadows. He was black, with a pink head and a scar over one eye. It was glazed over and kind of creepy looking. He smiled, as well as he could with a beak.

“You have been waiting long to see how I appear in the light. You are the first non-bird shifter I have revealed myself to.” Blizzard smiled. He looked magnificent, yet almost frightening.

“Thank you, Slash. I promise I'll find more ground shapeshifters.” Blizzard flashed a smile and began to run off. She turned around.

“Hey, Mel-” Melissa had vanished. Blizzard rolled her eyes and continued running, out the hole and back home. Mike was inside the fox den, taking a nap. Blizzard smiled and patted his head.

Blizzard needed water. She went outside to go to the lake, and slipped on another thing. It was an abandoned canteen, probably dropped by a hunter. She picked it up, dumped out the liquor, and went up to the lake. Rinsing it out, Blizzard didn't notice the gator coming closer. It roared, and she morped into a wolf. She barked and snapped and made the biggest fuss a wolf could make. The gator lunged forward, as another alligator seemed to scream.

“Toby, stop! She's a shapeshifter, you pile of stupid!” Toby whimpered and crawled back into the water shamefully. The female gator pulled herself out of the water and morped into a pretty girl, probably around 18 years old.

“I'm Lucy, and I'm 19 years old. Name and age? It's rough out here.” Blizzard swallowed.

“I'm Blizzard. 17.” she stuttered. The girl in front of her still surprised her. She was blonde, with bright green eyes and a green dress on.

“Welcome to the forest, Blizz. Sorry about Toby, he's...” she shrugged and picked up Blizzard's canteen, filling it with water.

“Here you go.” she said happily.

“Listen, Lucy...” Blizzard wasn't sure how to word it. “I'm thinking about rebelling against the hunters. Slash and the birds want to help me, if I find a few ground soldiers.” Lucy smiled.

“I'll help you, and search down the river a ways, I'll see if there are any shifters around.” Lucy pondered for a moment. Who could be a shifter?

“Let me show you the meeting place.” Her and Lucy walked to the den. “Just come here with whoever will help you, Lucy.” They shook hands, and Lucy was gone in a flash. She went into the den, where Mike was just waking up.

“You thirsty?” she took a gulp from the canteen and passed it to Mike. He took a bunnylike sip and gave it back hesitantly.

“What were you up to, Blizzard?” he asked, eyes wide.

“I'm thinking about rebelling against the hunters. I was thinking that you and my friend Melissa could infiltrate the Hunter Central of the town. You are great at tricks, and she is sneaky. Then, once you gather info, we attack. Sound like a plan, Mike?”

Mike thought for a moment. “Mike likes this idea! When is happening?”

Blizzard shrugged. “Only God knows, Mike."

Mike looked confused. “What's God?” Blizzard sighed.

“Never mind.” said Mike.