Chapter 9 Crossroads

Lost in thought, I didn't notice exactly when I passed under the dragon, but after a moment, I heard a surprised snort from the air behind me. I tilted my head, never slowing down, and glimpsed the beast fast disappearing behind me. It's seen me. If I stop now, it will surely come down. I don't want to attract it's attention just yet.

I but on a burst of speed, whizzing around cars as if they were fence posts. Soon, I could no longer see the dragon behind me, and I slowed down, then ran off the road, and into a patch of woodland, where I stood perfectly still, and waited for the dragon to pass me. As soon as it did, I shot out of the bushes, and followed, regulating my pace so as not to pass it again.

I followed it for miles, making sure to stay far enough behind that it wouldn't notice me. Suddenly, it turned, and I almost ran right past the exit, leaping over the guardrail just in time.

The dragon glided through the air, long neck weaving back and fourth lazily. I cantered along, ignoring the startled looks from passing cars. Soon the town, which I learned was called 'Ripon' from a nearby sign, dwindled into farmland and forest, and the street became a winding country road. Eventually, the dragon turned, following a small dirt track behind a rusted gate that read; 'State property, no trespassing, no hunting!' I leaped nimbly over it, and slowed to a walk as I went up the drive. Suddenly, I heard voices. Walking slowly, I crept up to a bend in the drive until I could peek around the corner, my body hidden by the thick brambles. What I saw shocked me into complete stillness.

A flickering, swirling column of light wavered in the center of a large clearing, it's light reflecting off a rather large, gray barn. Several figures stood in the doorway, but it was the light that held my attention. I recognized it immediately. My transformation!

This cocoon, besides being several times larger than mine, seemed thicker, more light-like and opaque, whereas mine was more watery, and nearly transparent. Mine sort of shimmered, but the dragon's glowed, as if it were made of light itself.

Suddenly, it began to fade, and a human outline began to take shape, becoming more clear as the light seeped away into the ground. The form of a girl took shape, tall and slim with long, brown hair. A pair of sparkling, brilliant green eyes surveyed the clearing, and I ducked as they swept by my hiding place. Nervously, I poked my head back around just in time to see the girl disappear with her friends into the barn, chattering about what they would have for supper.

Cautiously, I crept around the side of the clearing, tail swishing nervously. I reached the side of the barn, and sidled up to the door, just as it began to slide open. I stood, frozen, trying out of stillness not to be seen. The black-haired girl that had been standing in the doorway earlier stepped out, a pan full of refuse in her hands. She walked quickly across the yard towards the brambles which I had been hiding in minutes ago. I held my breath, my eyes following her as she tossed the contents of the pan into the bushes. She turned around, and stopped, stock-still. We stared at each other for a moment, then I took a step forward. And another, and another. Then she seemed to come out of her trance, and began edging to the side of me, toward their barn door. I began to walk faster, and so did she, until she reached the center of the clearing. Then, I broke into a trot. She stopped again, and watched, with wide eyes, as I trotted a circle around her. Her eyes flicked toward the barn, and she called out; "Fiona! Guys! Come out here, quick! There's a horse out here! It just came out of nowhere!"

As she was speaking, the two boys I had seen earlier came running around the house. Both stopped and stared, mouths gaping. Then, the window above the barn door burst open, and in a flurry of wings, a much smaller version of the white dragon burst out, catching the air with it's wings at the last moment. As soon as it touched the ground, a dazzle of white light shot up around it, swirling into a vortex, then just as quickly melted away, revealing the same girl I saw earlier.

I stopped moving, on the opposite side of the clearing. Everyone's eyes were on me, waiting for something to happen. My eyes darted around the clearing, and came to rest on the dragon-girl. It's now or never.

Slowly, I closed my eyes, and bowed my head. The watery light splashed up around me, shielding me from view. When it dropped, I opened my eyes, and tried to gauge the reactions on the faces of the people standing around the clearing. The black-haired girl looked stupefied. The boys were wearing completely different expressions, which surprised me, since my first impression gave me the sense that they were similar. One, a tall, lanky brunette, was nodding, as if his suspicions had been confirmed. The other had a shocked expression on his face, as if he couldn't believe what he was seeing.

The dragon girl was standing impassively, her flickering eyes the only thing reflecting her surprise. She seemed amused, and happy, and at the same time, a little apprehensive. She blinked a few times, then stepped forward and held out her hand. "Hi, my name's Fiona. I take it you're another Changeling."

I walked forward and shook her hand. "Kerata. And yeah, I guess I am." I stepped back, feeling self-conscious under all the stares directed my way. "I really don't know. I've been in an orphanage all my life."

She reached out and put a hand on my shoulder. "It's okay. I didn't know anything either when I first changed."

I shifted my gaze around the clearing, to the barn and the stacks of hay visible inside the door. "Is this where you live?"

Fiona nodded, a slight flush coloring her cheeks. "Yeah, at least for now."

I tried a small smile, and asked nervously, "Well, I - I was hoping, if it wasn't too much trouble, I could, I guess you could say, 'join up'. I don't really have any other place to go, and I thought maybe you guys could use some help." I glanced around at all the faces again. "I...see you don't need help after all."

She shook her head, a large grin splitting her face, and making her emerald eyes sparkle. "Are you kidding? I need all the help I can get!"

I couldn't help grinning back. "Thank you so much!"

She winked, and said grandly,' Welcome to the changelings, Kerata."

If possible, I grinned even wider. "Call me Kera."