Just Another Day

Much later that night, when the moon was high, Shanku and Katari met out away from the village.

"If we get caught, we are so dead," Katari said.

"Don't think about getting caught, and you won't," Shanku said.

"And how'd that work out for you how many times now?" Katari teased.

"Many more times than it didn't!" Shanku laughed.

"So, how does this work?" Katari asked.

Shanku sat down and held her hands out above her knees. Katari sat across from her and placed his hands on hers. She held their hands up, laced their fingers, and closed her eyes. Katari followed suit and tried to concentrate on the tingling that started in his hands. Shanku had changed forms so many times that she was having trouble remembering the basics. Katari yipped and pulled back his hands.

"What's wrong?" Shanku asked.

"It started to burn and prick," Katari said as he rubbed his palms. "Was that supposed to happen?"

"Nope. Sorry about that," Shanku said sheepishly. "I'm just going to raise my awareness and not try to shift. You lead."

Gingerly, Katari locked his hands with hers and they tried again. He felt the warmth in his hands and the pit of his stomach again. After a moment, he sneaked a peak and saw that he was surrounded by a silver aura, and Shanku in a blue one. Fascinated, he tried to push it a bit farther, and slowly he began to feel a change. His claws and ears shortened and changed shape. His wings and tail seemed to melt away into nothingness. His senses became dulled and muffled. Katari broke free from Shanku and stumbled back.

"And they can't smell worth a flip either!" Katari exclaimed.

"I missed scent the most too," Shanku laughed. "Eru seemed to think I looked good as a human. Personally, I think all of us look just plain weird."

"I feel so much lighter... and weaker," Katari murmured as he tried to stand and nearly lost his balance. Shanku sprang to her feet and caught him by the arms.

"Your bones are a bit weaker, and you'll learn in time how to compensate without the extra weight on your back," she said as she held him steady. "If you think this is strange, wait until you go feral the first time! It's a trip."

"I'll worry about that another day. Let's get back to bed. I'm sure we'll have plenty of chores tomorrow," Katari said.

"Don't ya know it!" Shanku sighed as they made their way back to Makehe and Vikeso's home.

Makehe had them all up early in the morning to continue their lessons with Onami and booted them out the door before the sun had fully broken over the horizon.

"I'm going to assume that's her way of being supportive," Ina remarked as they made their way to Onami.

Each of the students had reverted back to their common forms, but Onami lavished praises on them for having achieved a full shift on their first day. He helped them return to their human forms and gave them instructions on how to maintain it before releasing them to chores for the day. Their task was to stay human for as long as possible as they carried out their work. In an attempt to keep it fair, Shanku chose to stay as a human as she kept company with Ina. Katari sought out Vikeso to assist him, Shanku and Ina went looking for Rajé, and Hilael was assigned to be Bara's helper.

"You're back!" Rajé said excitedly as the Sylvans came into view. "Who's your friend?"

"Rajé, this is Ina, one of the highborn of our clan who has decided to tag along with us on our Foterutu," Shanku said as she introduced them.

"It seems Scissortails are always looking for an excuse to be rid of their cubs," Rajé chuckled. "I assume you conduct yourself a little better than our scruffy friend?"

"Indeed," Ina replied with a curtsy. "I was raised to be a lady."

"I think we can grow to be good friends," Rajé nodded and invited them to help gather some grasses she needed for future baskets. "There's plenty of weaving to be done during the winter, and if you're going to be here all summer, I'd appreciate the help collecting what I need."

"Fun in the sun, let's go," Shanku nodded. After Rajé had gathered some bags for them to store the grass in, they went out onto the prairie, passing by Bara and Hilael as they gathered their own plants.