Just Another Day

They sat across from each other, holding each other's hands up before them. A soft glow began at their fingers and slowly spread across their bodies. Eru's orange glow quickly encompassed him and covered him down to his smallest feather. Shanku's deep blue aura took a bit longer, but in time also completely covered her.

The sun had long set and their auras glinted off the grass in shades of orange and blue. Eru strengthened his focus as their energies combined and worked together, and Shanku began to try as well. Slowly, their wings, tails, and ears began to change. Their tails and wings melted into their bodies, and their ears and claws slowly reshaped into human features.

Eru let go of Shanku's hands and sat up straight. Shanku propped herself back on one hand and looked intently at the other.

"This feels really weird..." Shanku muttered, noting a sharp decrease in her senses.

"I kinda like it on you," Eru grinned.

"Scratch that, you're really weird!" Shanku shuddered. She stood slowly, trying to learn her new balance.

Eru got up with ease and considerably less stumbling. He offered his arm to her. Embarrassed, Shanku looped her arm with his to steady her stride and they began their way back home.

"I wonder where the cubs are?" Dai mused.

"Supper grows cold," Zihna said flatly as she fed another spoonful to her young son. The little cast iron pot was suspended above a campfire and was in no danger of losing heat, but it made her feel better to say it was. Anoki's son Kadin quickly downed what was left in his bowl.

"They're too young for real mischief," Anoki laughed. "I'm not worried."

"Anoki, Anoki!" Eru called out to his brother as he and Shanku came to their campfire. "Look! We can go with Zihna this year!"

Anoki was quite started to find a boyish Eru come up to him, with Shanku just as girlish right behind him.

"Craaaaaaap..." Anoki dropped his head into his hands and rubbed his temples.

"Woohoo!" Kadin whooped. "Goin' ta town!"

"You two managed it on your first day?" Zihna asked suspiciously.

"Teamwork accomplishes much!" Eru nodded proudly with his arms akimbo. Shanku just grinned mischievously from behind him.

"Cheaters," Anoki grumbled.

"You're one to speak, brother," Zihna smiled coyly, making Anoki uncomfortable.

"Well, Kadin can't shift yet, so we'll be going to the forest," Anoki said quickly.

Kadin hrmphed and crossed his arms over his chest grumpily.

"Too bad," Eru said, clearly disappointed. He sat down near the fire beside his nephew.

"Soup?" Shanku asked cheerfully and plopped down beside Eru. Not much could dampen her appetite!