The next chapter...
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For a raptor, Maria was sleeping deeply. For a human though, she was sleeping extremely lightly. She twitched at the slightest sound, and was constantly on the alert. What for, her body didn't know, but it had to be ready. So, when something gave a loud 'thump', she sat bolt upright, and looked around. A girl looked up from the floor sheepishly. "I sleep walk." She smiled nervously. Maria yawned. She looked at the clock on the wall. It was nearly 8. She could get up now. A few of the other girls weren't so forgiving, though. "Careful where you walk next time, clumsy." Grumbled a blond girl of about 17. "Don't worry. She's a teenager." Grinned another. Laughed. She looked down at herself, and saw that she now had sort of wing things instead of arms, and claws instead of feet. An idea struck her. Concentrating on the animal spirit inside her, she felt herself begin to melt... flow... change... in a few seconds a marsh harrier stood where Maria once was. She bunched up her new legs and sprang into the air, beating her wings. Cries of "Well done!" and "Awesome" reached her ears, but she barely noticed. There was such a feeling of elation when she flew. She felt truly free in this form, and the feel of the air through her feathers, the sight of the floor way blow her... drove all other thoughts from her mind. She called out in joy, and was not at all startled to hear a hawk's cry instead of a human voice. A few other raptors joined her as she circled the lampshade. She was truly alive...
Deada opened the door to the Raptor girl's rooms. After a quick chat with her aunt and uncle, she was now positive that she was, of course, a born Phase, and her parents had died in battle. She was positive and lively, and couldn't wait to start teaching the new Phases. She pushed open the door just as Maria took off. She watched for a bit, admiring the skills used by the girls, but after picking up several flaws (including one where an unfortunate buzzard ended up crashing into the clock) she decided it was time to start the teaching process. She put her fingers to her mouth and gave a shrill whistle. The girls jumped and began to land haphazardly on their beds. Deada smiled. She'd been like that when she was young. "Right, girls." She said "Though most of you are fairly advanced, you still have a lot of training to do. But even before that, you all need to become officially a Phase. And that includes names. You must give up your old life, along with your old name, and only then can you be one of us." Deada looked around the room. Many girls looked slightly tearful, but most looked proud and exited. Deada led them through (yet another) passage and a door, into a room that consisted mostly of mirrors. The girls spread out to look at their reflections. "Your name will probably be based on your appearance." She called "So it has to suit you!" Deada scanned the room. Most of the girls were getting on well enough. She took the opportunity to go over to Maria. "How are you doing?" She asked "I saw it was you circling the lamp."
"Yeah, I just woke up with feathers, so I thought I'd have a go at flying. It was fun."
Deada grinned "'Course it was fun. You were flying! So, how are you getting on with names?"
"I was thinking of something to do with my eyes." Deada looked at Maria's eyes. They were a brighter green than they'd been before. Emerald, in fact, and shining with a strange inner light. Not to mention the fact that they were a hawk's eyes. "Yes." Said Deada "The eyes. Emerald Eyes? A bit long. How about--"
"Emmareye!" Exclaimed Maria. "That's it! Emmareye, like Emma and eye. But spelt E-m-a-r-i-a. Emarai."
"Yes..." Said Deada slowly. "It suits you. Emarai." Deada looked at Emarai. Where once Maria had stood, a Phase was there instead. Emarai looked more like a bird now too. Her shoulder length black hair was flat against her back, like feathers on a bird. Her mouth curved in a new way which made it look somehow like a beak. Her eyes, though they remained green, were hawk's eyes, and took in everything. Even the way she held her arms was new. This was a whole new person.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ta da! Please note that all those who vote my stories as 'ok' or 'bad' will be sat on. No hard feelings.
No comments:
Post a Comment