The Shapeshifters

Chapter 4: The Dreams

Blizzard tossed and turned in her sleep. She was dreaming that she was being chased by red-pelted, bloodthirsty lions.

She ducked into a cave, and heard the lions pass by outside. It was only a matter of time before they found her.

Might as well see if this place has an exit. She tiptoed deeper into the cave. Small, glowing crystals in an assortment of bright colors dimly lit the passage. Not a single creature was in sight, not even a scuttling bug. Her hair was plastered to her forehead with sweat. Every time a bead of it dropped onto the cave floor, she expected the giant lions to hear it. There was a gleam of light at the end of the cave. A way out, perhaps?

She picked up her pace, still stepping lightly. Her jeans caught a bump in the cave floor, and she faceplanted onto the ground. She gathered herself up. Just a few scratches. She began to dead sprint towards the exit, but it was only a giant, clear yellow crystal. There were words etched on the wall behind it.

“May the light guide you on your path, to settle the hunters' evil wrath.” she read aloud. There was the sound of pawsteps behind her. Blizzard whipped around to see one of the lions. Only one. She morphed into a wolf and bared her teeth menacingly.

The lion uttered a laugh. A cold, scary laugh. It echoed eerily through the cave. He raised one of his great paws.

“Silence, child! I am only here to tell you something.” the lion said, in the same cold voice. He sat down on the rock-strewn floor.

“What do you wish to tell me, lion?” Blizzard challenged. She didn't like this lion; there was an air of suffering about him.

“That you are in for a bumpy life, Blizzard.” he chuckled again, this time with warmth. Does he like others' suffering? Blizzard asked herself this.

“What do you mean, cat? Are you going to make me suffer?” she flattened her ears. Her fur raised slightly.

“No need to be hostile. Answering your question, you will make yourself suffer.” uttered the lion confidently.

“I won't suffer. My life is perfectly okay.” she barked angrily.

“Look beyond the vines, dear. Look beyond them.” he smiled and faded away.

Blizzard awoke, startled. What did that awful lion mean? What were the vines? She morphed into a wolf and stepped outside. It was the dead of night, only a few bugs and owls were up at this time. She raised her head and looked upward. There were dark clouds coming from the west, most likely a rainstorm. She turned around and walked back into the den. It was about ten feet down, so she didn't worry about tornadoes. Even if it was tornado season.

Mike was sleeping peacefully, a lock of his mousey brown hair strewn on his face. Blizzard morphed back into a human and brushed it off. She turned into a wolf and curled up, falling asleep before her head was on the ground.

Blackness. Blizzard had no form, she was just, nowhere. There was a glimmer of shining light, but she couldn't feel any part of her body. She began to feel the warmth of the light. It must be a star.

Feeling returned to her arms and legs. She looked around, her blue eyes taking in every deformity of this place. The light was coming toward her. She had a sudden, rapid thought. I am not ready to die. The odd light stopped, and backed up. Blizzard realized that it was the lion from before. He was a great array of stars. The constellation Leo.

“Hello, small one. Now do you understand?” he asked, his voice warm and gentle.

“I understand, Leo. I need to look beyond the vines.” her eyes flashed with immense confidence.

“Yes, yes you do, child.” he seemed to float up, putting the constellation in the blackness. Soon, other stars joined him. The blackness was full of beautiful, shimmering stars. Blizzard's eyes began to tear up. She fell to her knees, mystified by the glittery sky.

“Leo, Leo...” she moaned in her sleep. Mike cocked his head.

“Mike should wake up Blizzard.” he pounced onto the wolf.

“Gaah...Mike!” Blizzard shifted into a human and shoved the boy off of her. “Why did you wake me up?”

“It's late morning. And its raining. And Lucy came to visit you and Mike.” he smiled. “She said to go to the lake when you woke up. And now you're awake!” he smiled mischeviously.

“Lucy? Oh, right, Lucy! Ugh. Go get her, Mike.” Blizzard stood up and stretched.

“Mike will find Lucy!” exclaimed the boy.

“Yeah. Mike will find Lucy.” muttered Blizzard.