I stood looking out over the water trying not to panic. I looked up at the giant moon and carefully began climbing the rocks. The stories suggested that the Shapeshifters come out when the moon is full but I think the stories are just to scare small children. I hope. I didn't want to meet one face to face if they are real; they say they are hideous. If they bite you, you would become one of them. I didn't want to find out if the rumors were true. I picked up my pace, slipped and my foot wedged into a crevice.
“How could I be so careless and stupid?” I tried to pull my foot out and bit back a scream. I was surely doomed now. If the Shapeshifters didn't get me I was going to die of exposure. I yanked on it again and this time couldn’t hold back a scream.
“Stop it before you hurt yourself further.“ My skin tingling from the adrenaline rush, I looked up at the woman standing straight and tall, with flowing black hair and a mark on her cheek. She bent down and I jerked back. The woman smiled.
“Do you want to stay here or do you want me to help you?” She asked me. I could see now the mark was a small crescent moon. “Are you going to make us stay out here all night?” She stood looking at me patiently waiting.
“No...” I whispered unable to make my voice work from the shock of her suddenly appearing. The stranger leaned down and gently pried off my shoe.
“My name is Niah, how have you come to be stuck in this place?” Niah asked.
“I slipped.” I said as Niah continued to work gently prying my foot out and stopped to look at me with a wry expression. My face burned red. “Oh you mean out here. I went to Warren to the festival. There was a musical challenge that I wanted to attend. They never bring the festival to our town of Curic and I well… I would have won but for the Chesup, they have an unfair advantage with their dual vocal chords." I took a deep breath as she manipulated my foot gently to remove it. "My parents wouldn't let me go because no one could take time off to come with me. I couldn't wait a whole year for the next one so I slipped away when nobody was paying attention." I realized my foot was free. “Thank you.” I tried to stand but the pain shot up through my leg and I nearly fell if it wasn’t for Niah.
“I don’t think you are going anywhere tonight. You will have to come back with me.” A slight frown creased her brow.
“To where, there aren’t any villages close by? Where did you come from, how did you happen to be here?” Niah just smiled. I heard something and saw two eyes peering out through the brush. “What…” A wolf came and stood in front of us and Niah’s brow furrowed.
“I told you to wait.” Niah hissed, suddenly the wolf stood before us in human form. It happened fast; I didn’t see the transformation. He too had the crescent moon on his cheek. I turned and looked at Niah and she smiled.
“So the stories are true…” My eyes grew wide, my heart raced.
“Well, we are Shapeshifters but the rest of it is ridiculous.” The young man said. “Well mostly.” And he grinned.
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This is from a writing prompt on
Chaotically Yours for her
Writing Romp Wednesday that must be posted before Midnight on Sundays. I only discovered this lovely site today and decided to go for it. The picture above was the prompt.
3/16/02 I have made some of the recommended changes as well as a few others. Would love to know what you think of it now. Thank you for your feedback.
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