Shifter

I walked down the dark hallway of the castle. My black cloak billowed behind me. I knocked on the heavy oak wood door. “Enter,” a voice said from behind it. I opened the door. The room was fancy clearly showing her majesties wealth. I walked past many people who had also been summoned by her majesty, Queen Jadius. “Come forward Crusade,” the Queen said, stating my last name. I walked to the desk that was sitting in the middle of the room. Sitting behind it, Queen Jadius sat covered in jewels. She rose and in a weary voice said, “Due to unpleasant faults our prisoner has escaped.” “What prisoner madam?” asked someone from the audience? “You know full well what prisoner I mean,” she snapped back at him. He fell silent. “I want her captured and brought back alive,” she said emphasizing the last word. “Crusade, Javan come forward,” the Queen said. I walked forward and stopped next to a boy of about 18. “You two have been elected to bring her back,” she said. “Yes Queen Jadius,” we said in unison. “You Crusade,” the Queen, said coming in front of me, “I trust it will be no problem, my young dragon.” I looked up at her and smiled weakly. “You two are dismissed, you leave in the morning.”

 I left the room. I looked at the boy. Daniel Javan and me had been friends for years. “So, see you in the morning Ciara,” he said when we had stopped in front of my door. “Bye, Daniel, goodnight,” I called after him.

            I stared at the ceiling of my small, cozy room. The early morning rays seeped in through the curtains, and into my room. Today was the day we left the safety of the castle and ventured out on our quest. Usually five to seven people embark on these quests, but I guess her majesty wants us to get people from the Nights of Dawn. Well it is about time those idiots proved their worth to the Castle of Night, and Queen Jadius. With a sigh I got out of bed. I pulled on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. I pulled a brush through my brown hair. Then I threw the brush in the bag sitting on my chair, already full of clothes. I pulled on a pair of sneakers and pulled my hair back in a ponytail. Shortly after, Daniel knocked on the door. “Ready Crusade, Queen Jadius wants to speak with us,” he said. “Coming,” I replied. I threw my cloak in the bag, and then grabbed my jacket. Pulling on my jacket I went to meet Daniel outside.

As we walked down the dark hallways of the castle, people hurried by, not wanting to meet my gaze. No matter how often they were told, they keep getting freaked out that I can shape-shift into a dragon. But they don’t get freaked out that Daniel’s a warlock (male witch)! Finally we stopped in front of the heavy oak wood door. I hesitated a moment then knocked. After a few dragging seconds the voice of Queen Jadius said, “Enter.” Daniel opened the door and we walked in. Sitting behind the desk sat the immense figure of the Queen. “Come forward,” she said in that intimidating voice of hers. We both walked forward. “Sit, sit,” the Queen said beckoning to, two high-backed chairs. We both sat, the back of the chairs keeping our backs straight. “Now,” said the Queen leaning forward in her chair, “You two have been selected because your gifts may come in handy.” She paused then continued, “No one will be able to withstand your combined powers, a shape-shifting dragon and a powerful warlock.” She leaned back and studied us, a powerful, evil gleam in her eyes. “Your highness, if I may ask, why only two of us,” Daniel said. “Ah Daniel, you two will enlist help from the Twilight Knights, I don’t care who, or where you get them from. Just make sure they prove there worth to the Castle of Night and to ME,” said the Queen, “Now go, get ready, you will ride a horse until you get to the car which is waiting by the South Road.” We stood up and bowed to the Queen then left.  

 

That morning we rode two strong stallions a good few miles. Until at last we saw the car. I smiled excitedly when I saw the Mercedes. I jumped of the horse, sent him back, and then ran to the door. I jumped into the drivers seat and

yelled at Daniel to hurry up. Grumbling he got in. “Why do you get to drive,” he whined, “Because I said so,” I replied hitting the gas. We zoomed down the highway. “So what’s the plan,” he asked. “Look in my backpack, front pocket,” I said. He leaned back and took my backpack. He opened the front pocket and took out two pieces of paper. He starred at the papers they read,

                                      

      Greetings, Twilight Knights,

We will be having a united meeting,

                                    At this address; 12 Blackwell Street, Kansas,

                          This invitation is your ticket in to the meeting,

                                          See you then! 

                                                                        -Captain

 

            “How did you get these, Ciara?” asked Daniel. “What you don’t know can’t hurt you,” I said smiling. Then I killed the lights and we went zooming down the highway. “How can you see,” He said, but then stopped. My eyes had changed from a hazel to a piercing blue; I was using my dragon eyes to see in the dark. We zoomed down the streets, and then, faster than usual, we reached Kansas. I slowed down and put back on the lights. “Okay, they’re not as strict now, just were your cloak and gloves,” I said pulling onto a private road. “What about masks?” Daniel asked, “They don’t use them any more,” I said. I pulled over by the road just outside the house. We looked out the window. The house was huge, an old fashioned house with ivy growing up the sides. “They’re fairy collectors,” I grumbled getting out the car. Daniel followed me to the back of the car. I pulled of my jacket and pulled my cloak on. “I’m a Knight so they should let us in,” I said. He nodded, pulling on his cloak. We both pulled on our gloves, I locked the car, and we walked to the house. I pulled up the hood of my cloak and made sure Daniel did the same, “Let me do the talking,” I said.

           

We walked to the front door. The person up front took our ‘invitations’ and we walked in. I signed us both in and we walked to the hall. “Ok, we’re looking for Peter, Coulter, Nico, Robert, and Casey,” I whispered to Daniel. He nodded he had met Peter, Coulter, and Robert before. I inclined my head to one side of the hall and Daniel walked of. I looked around and spotted Charles, a lieutenant. I walked towards him. He nodded as I approached, and I went to stand next to him. “Has Robert arrived yet,” I whispered to him, “No, but he will soon with the rest,” he said. I nodded, and walked away. I turned around as I saw the door open, Robert and the others walked in. The horn blew signaling that everyone had to report to his or her groups. I went and grabbed Daniel by the elbow and towed him towards Charles’ group. We went and sat down in the room. The good thing was all the people we needed were in this group. As Robert came in he looked shocked that I was here, but then groaned knowing why. Charles came in and said, “Because you’re here, Ciara this group only contains of us.” Peter stood up and said, “What happened this time.” “Shikira escaped, and you will help us find her and I’m sorry for not being there when you needed me, and don’t say why can’t a warlock and a shape-shifter take care of that. Queen Jadius can be hard to understand,” I said. It was quiet for a while then Nico broke the silence, “Uh, what.” Robert sighed, “Casey, Nico this is Ciara, and Daniel, I’ll explain the rest when we get back to Teardrop Valley.”

            “Those meetings are killer,” Daniel said as we walked away from the house with Peter, Coulter, Robert, Casey, and Nico. “I know, it’s over now,” I said smiling, Daniel sure did complain a lot. “So are you taking us back,” asked Robert? “We can take three people,” I said. “All right, Nico, Casey you come with me,” said Robert. Peter and Coulter walked of and Robert, Nico, and Casey followed us to our car. “Sweet car,” said Nico when we came in sight of the sleek, black Mercedes. I smiled and unlocked the car. Robert, Nico, and Casey squeezed in the back while me and Daniel got in front. After driving down the road a while we reached the highway. There weren’t that many cars about so I killed the lights and zoomed down the streets. We came, a few times, close to crashing, but my dragon night vision was flawless. Very soon we were zooming towards Colorado. “So do we have to introduce ourselves,” I asked Robert. He groaned, “I’ll let Bill do the honors.” I smiled, “Anyway I’m Ciara, and this is Daniel. “Hi,” said Daniel, “Casey and Nico right.” They both nodded.

            We had been driving for two hours before we saw the house. Bill and Mary Bausch were the caretakers of Teardrop Valley. They were also good friends of mine, and Casey, and Nico’s grandparents. They had both fallen asleep so Robert slowly shook them awake. I put back on the lights and returned to a normal car speed. We pulled onto the driveway and we drove towards the house. “We’re here,” Daniel said. I parked the car just as Dave came out. Dave was Robert’s younger brother and basically helped at Teardrop Valley. “Ah, Ciara and Daniel, now why am I not surprised to see you,” Dave said a smile playing on his lips. “Hi,” I said smiling. I popped open the trunk and we got our stuff out. Daniel and me always travel light so we only had a backpack and small duffel bag each. “Bill’s expecting you,” Dave said as he helped guide sleepy Casey and Nico into the house. Mary emerged from the kitchen. “Hello Ciara, Daniel,” she said brightly. “Now of to bed you two,” she said glaring at her grandchildren. “But we want to know why they’re here,” whined Nico. “Tomorrow,” said Mary shuffling the children out the room. “Bill’s in his office he will see you in a moment,” Mary said, “but come have something to eat or drink.”  I had only been to Teardrop Valley, the place where magic is alive, twice before but I felt like I knew the place. I felt at home. Back at the Castle of Night you couldn’t really call anyone family, some you couldn’t even call friends. Outside the window fairies fluttered about as butterflies and dragonflies. But once you open your eyes the magical world is open for you.  “Ah, Ciara I haven’t seen you in a while,” Bill said coming out of his office. “Hi Bill, you remember Daniel Javan the warlock,” I said. “How do you do Mr. Bausch?” Daniel said, “Please call me Bill now how about you guys tell me the story.” And so I started at the beginning and told him our story leading up to the quest.

            That night I lay awake in the guest bedroom. Some small thing kept nagging at the back of my mind. It drove me crazy not knowing, but what I did know was that I was missing some important detail. Finally I told myself to stop thinking and go to sleep, I would ask Daniel in the morning. I closed my eyes, listened to the commotion of magical beings outside, and fell asleep.

            I woke up to the light of the sun seeping in through the blinds. I just lay in bed staring at the ceiling. I heard Nico complaining outside that he wanted to see me shift. I heard Bill trying to explain to his grandson why a cranky shape-shifter is not a thing you want. I smiled at that thought, Bill must have already explained to Casey and Nico about my shape-shifting ability. I smiled, you shouldn’t have a cranky shifter but you also don’t want to keep a 12-year-old boy from something he really wants to see. I got out of bed, got dressed and went outside, ready for a full day of phasing to please Nico.

            “Ah, Ciara up already,” Bill, Nico, Casey, and Mary were waiting for me in the kitchen. I smiled and sat down next to Nico at the table. He just stared at me; I could almost see his brain trying to calculate how I shift. “The others still asleep?” I asked. “No, they got up and went straight into the forest,” Mary said getting up and making more hot chocolate. “So, I have to go and check on the dungeon, Casey, Nico entertain our guest for me will you,” Bill said getting up. “Sure grandpa,” Casey said, and Nico nodded. Bill chuckled and opened the door in the kitchen that lead down into the dungeon. He walked down the stairs muttering about who was going to be entertaining who. Nico stared at me I tried to ignore him but eventually it got irritating and uncomfortable. “You don’t have to stare at me just because I can phase,” I said. “Uh, oh I’m sorry it’s just because I haven’t met a shape-shifter before,” Nico answered slightly embarrassed.  I laughed, “Come on lets go outside and you can show me around.” And so I followed Nico and Casey outside.

            Outside the garden was blooming with thousands of colourful flowers. The fairies (who appeared to everyone else as butterflies and dragonflies) flew around the place. We stopped at the edge of the forest, “Grandpa forbids us to go in there,” Casey said. From the way she said it I could tell they had been in there before and longed to go again. “You may not be allowed to go in alone, but how about with a shape-shifter,” I said smiling. Nico and Casey looked at the woods and then at me, and they smiled to. “Come on,” I said beckoning my head to the woods, and I followed them into the dark dangerous forest. This was going to be a great exciting day.

            Now I know what you’re thinking, isn’t taking two children into a monster-infested forest like really irresponsible. Probably, but I’d been in worst situations, and besides we had so much fun. At the end when we walked out of the forest and back towards the house we decided it better not to tell Bill. But of course we got busted anyway.  

           

I sat at the table glaring at Daniel. Of course it would be Daniel to bust us and he looked very please with himself. “Now I know you did something wrong, and Daniel told us but please make up,” Mary said sitting down next to me. “There is one way to settle this.”

“Excellent.”

“No, dragons have an unfair advantage,” Daniel complained. The way to settle this is to have a dual dragon against warlock.

“Ah, is Daniel scarred,” I said laughing.

“No, but we do this so often, like a thousand times.”

“And how many times have I won.”

“Like… a thousand.”

“And how many times have you won.”

“Like… none.”

“Come on payback time,” Dave said.

“Dave,” Bill said cuffing him on the head.            

“All right a dual, but this time I’m winning,” Daniel said standing up.

I stood up and shook his hand; this was going to be fun, “At dusk.”

           

 

Me, and Daniel stood in the yard facing each other. Something we had done thousands of times before. Daniel had his cloak on, and his hands out ready to cast spells. Me, I stood at ease in jeans and a t-shirt, the wind whipping my hair around my face. It was a stormy dark night and that worked to my advantage. Pure dragon night-vision was far more effective than any mere spell a warlock could cast. “Ciara, Daniel are you ready,” Peter yelled above the noise of the storm. I smiled and nodded Daniel gulped and nodded. “Daniel no spells are allowed which allow mind control or any other type of control on your opponent.”

Daniel nodded; we had heard this rules before. “Ciara no severe injuries are to be inflicted on your opponent.” I nodded. Peter nodded, and with that sign I shifted.         

Daniel looked at the beast, which was his best friend. While in dragon form my eyes were a piercing blue, and my body covered with metallic scales of shades of blue and purple. My tail was a deadly spear of metallic scales. And when it whipped about it was just a blur. My long claws were strong enough to rip through even the toughest armor. Daniel gulped, why had he agreed to this? They had fought thousands of duals before and he had lost each one. “Then let the dual begin,” Peter yelled recovering from his shock of Ciara's appearance.  And so we repeated what we had done a thousand times before. I jumped into the air and soared away making yet another brilliant plan as to how to win this

dual. That was one of my advantages in battle I’m quick to make plans and follow through with them. I smiled; this was going to be too easy.    

            I had been circling the property for a while, dodging magical attacks and creating my own. It was fun to see Daniel dodging my attacks and trying to send his own, as well as to see the expressions on the faces of the onlookers. But I was getting tired of this game so I flew in low and dropped to the ground. I phased back to my human form and went searching for Daniel. I stood at the edge of the forest staring at Daniel, who stood in the middle of the yard. I could almost see Daniel’s brain running 100mph trying to think of the best possible way to attack me. He sent random bursts of energy into the air trying to find me. I smiled it was time I had a little fun of my own. And so feeling the rhythms of the ground, and using my powers over earth, I sent out an earthquake. I saw Daniel look around franticly for me. I laughed then clamped my hand over my mouth realizing I just gave myself away. Daniel looked immediately in my direction and I slowly backed farther into the forest.

I had been running along the rim of the yard hiding in the forest for a while, silently laughing to myself. Finally when I calmed down I stopped running and looked for Daniel. There, he was still in the yard looking for me. The earth was cracked up around him, result of my earthquake. He was reading an old spell book, but every few minuets he looked up making sure I wasn’t around. I looked towards the east and saw the sun beginning to rise. This must be one of the longest duals we ever had. And now the time had come to end it once and for all. Quickly and as quietly as possible I shifted. I leaped into the air and flew into the yard I landed opposite Daniel with a giant roar. The onlookers woke up suddenly and turned to watch the final stage of this dual. The book fell from Daniel’s hand and he looked up with dread.

 

I couldn’t stop laughing, the dual had ended hours ago, but I couldn’t stop

thinking about the way Daniel looked when I flew out of the forest. “It wasn’t that funny,” Daniel said, he sat opposite me and had his arms crossed. He didn’t look very happy with me, for winning the dual yet again. “You try fighting a dragon twice your size,” He said still complaining.

“I have, a lot of times actually, I’m not the biggest shifter or dragon out there.”

“When you’re not a dragon, shifter, or have powers even in your human form.”

“Not possible,” I replied smiling. Daniel fell quiet but kept on glaring at me. I smiled, this happened every time, oh well I guess I will just have to get used to it. “All right all this winning is making me tired I’m going to bed,” I said standing up and walking towards my room, on my way I cuffed Daniel on the head teasingly.

            I was exhausted, the sun was already rising farther up in the sky, but the dual had taken it all out of me. We had been fighting since dusk last night, all the way through dawn today. It must have been one of the longest duals we have ever had. I starred at the ceiling, after a while I closed my eyes and fell sleep.

            I woke to the smell of homemade pancakes. I realized that I had slept all day and through to the next morning. I smiled Nico would be annoyed that he hadn’t seen the dual, Daniel would be mad at me for winning (again), Bill would be annoyed because of the damage we cause to the reserve, and Mary would be trying to calm everyone down. I climbed out of bed and quickly got dressed. Walking down the stairs the smell of pancakes became overpowering and seemed to pull me towards the kitchen. “Good Morning Ciara,” Mary said setting another patch of pancakes on the table. Bill grunted, I could tell he was upset and mad about the damage. Oh well he should of known that a dual would only result in damage to the preserve. I sat down at the table and helped myself to a hearty plate of pancakes. I poured maple syrup on them and began eating.

            I was outside in the yard with Casey and Nico when my life totally fell apart. Just as Daniel walked out of the house running a hand through his scruffy hair, a dark cloud covered the sun making everything appear to be cloaked in darkness.

I had seen that happen only once before. When the rule of the Shifters came to an abrupt stop. I looked at Daniel; if the world was again cloaked in darkness then it meant that the Night Hunters were active again. “Casey, Nico you need to get inside,” I whispered. “Why?” asked Nico

“Don’t ask just go,”

“But…”

“Now.”

I watched them hurry into the house and Daniel came to my side. “Time to repeat history,” he said. I gulped and nodded. There was a rustle in the forest, and Stanton stepped out. I felt like I had just died right then. Daniel stepped in front of me quickly trying to protect me from the leader of one group of the Shifters enemies, the Night Hunters. Bill walked outside from the house and squinted through the darkness to where Stanton, Daniel, and me were glaring at each other.

 “What is going on out here,” asked Bill

“Bill what are these two doing here,” asked Stanton

“They are guest here at Teardrop Valley, Why do you know them?”

“To well,”

“Well Bill it was a pleasure staying with you, and we are sorry for the damage we caused but if he is a guest here we must leave,” said Daniel, I barely heard him all I saw was my sworn enemy, and one of its leaders was right there within pouncing distance.

“But, I thought you needed help recapturing Shikira?” Bill asked, a confused look on his face. Stanton opened his mouth to speak but I glared at him until he closed it. “Come on Ciara,” said Daniel. I nodded, Shifted and carried Daniel away.

            We circled Teardrop Valley a few times before landing just outside. I sat Daniel down just outside the outer rim of the forest before shifting back to my human form. “What’s he doing here?” asked Daniel as we walked away from the preserve and towards the car provided by Queen Jadius. I shrugged, I didn’t want to know, and didn’t exactly care. “All I know is that we need to find my parents.” We got in the car and sped of down the road heading for the place where the Shifters would be and knowing that we might not make it back.

            Night had just fallen outside and we drove along the quiet roads, making use of the little traffic to catch up on lost time spent at Teardrop Valley. Daniel and I had switched spots half way through and now I navigated our way to Mist Island. I fingered my golden locket that hung around my neck. In the center of the locket was a Blue Topaz in the shape of a diamond. My mother had given it to me at birth and now I never took it of. “We will be there soon and this will be all over,” Daniel said to try and reassure me. I smiled what I wouldn’t give for everything to be back to normal I don’t know. I pulled my hair up in a ponytail, exposing the scar that was in the shape of a moon extinguishing my importance and rank in Shifter society. I stared sadly out the window as we made towards the ocean. The silver moonlight lit up the night sky, and seemed not right considering how much danger we were in. “I can’t believe Stanton was right there but I just let him go,” I said, mad with myself for letting my enemy walk away. Daniel smiled sadly, his father had been advisor to the Shifters king and he knew how much the Night Hunters had tormented them. His own father had been badly injured by the Hunters and had a small chance to survive. He is still alive but not in his full health, he was relived from his duty shortly after the accident, and now lived peacefully and comfortably at expense of the royal treasury, well at least he did. The Javan family had forever been loyal to the Shifter Royalty and following that act the family was locked away with the rest of the Shifters. I suspect that Daniel and me are the only ones who escaped that confinement. But now thanks to Stanton the Hunters know we are still living and breathing.

                I woke suddenly. The moon was setting and Daniel slowly shook me awake. It was only then that I realized that I had dosed off. “Uh, Oh, I’m sorry Daniel,” I said rubbing the sleep from my eyes.

“That’s ok, but, uh,”

“What, what’s wrong,”

“Nothing just, um, does, does that haystack look like it’s moving,”

I looked out the window and realize we were on a farm. About 300 yards from here lay a huge haystack. But Daniel was right it seemed to be inching closer. Suddenly I remember something my tutor, Alexander Conair, told me. “Remember Ciara these demons disguise themselves as many things, but the most powerful are disguised as haystacks.”  “We need to get out of here now,” I said almost yelling. Daniel looks confused, “Why?” “Because,” I say, “that’s a… uh,” What was that thing. I thought of Alexander’s lesson (most which I fell asleep in) and the name came to me: “The Kuans are not deadly, but they never leave their prey unharmed, whenever you see one leave immediately, in the opposite direction, of course.”  “It’s a Kuan, go now,” I yell. Daniel’s eyes widen in alarm, as he remembers his fathers lesson on such beasts. We quickly reversed out of the farm and zoom down the street. “Go, go,” I chanted as we drove way, way past the speed limit away from the Kuan. But despite their appearances Kuans are quite fast. “Go, go,” I yell again. “I’m going as fast as I can,” Daniel yelled.

 “Well go faster, kill the lights,”

“I can’t see,”

“Well let me drive,”

“How we’re going … I don’t know really fast,”

“Trust me,”

I grab his hand and picture a vine hanging down and grabbing Daniel and me and switching us. And just like that I’m driving. “What … how,” Daniel looks at me bewildered. I smile and laugh. I switch to my dragons eyes and kill the lights. The lights of the houses outside fade to a blur, as I drive down the streets heading to who knows where. “Um, Ciara where are we going?” asked Daniel. “I’m not quite sure,” I answer, “away from the Kuan.”

“Which we lost at that last traffic light, could that be the one,”

“Um… maybe,”

“Put the lights back on and lets find out where we are,”

“No need, its dawn and we’re in New Mexico,”

“What?!!”

I stopped the car outside of a sign saying:

Welcome to New Mexico, The Land of Enchantment!

To top that of the sun was rising in the east. We slowly drove into town looking for a place to eat.

            “I have a question,” Daniel asked once we had got ourselves something to eat.

“What?”
“How did we get from Colorado to New Mexico in one night?”
I laughed, “Crazy things happen when I’m around.”

“For that we can agree.”

After we ate a hearty meal of chicken sandwiches, 2 bags of chips and 2 sodas, we walked around the town. “Don’t you miss the good old days when The Shifters had their kingdom, and people respected us as their guardians?” I asked Daniel. “Yeah,” he replied, “When everyone thought of us as their guardian angel, we had amazing writers, and poets to. Oh how I miss Dominic van Guarid’s work.” I smiled this was the hidden, soft, and sensitive side of Daniel that was hard to see. “The moon shines bright making a hole in the night a beacon of light. But wait the light is bright and the night is the light,” I said in a singsong voice quoting one of my favorite pieces of Dominic van Guarid’s work, “Gone is the dancing spirit who walks across the sky. Gone is the night rainbow spilling color into the dark. Gone is the beacon that guided the traveler across the sky. The sky stays black, dark and haunting. A phantom of the night. And I know now that no love shall be found tonight.”

            That night driving down the dark and abandoned roads several things came to mind. First, the Kuan were gentle beasts, deadly, but gentle. For them to attack us, someone must have provoked them. Which meant that Stanton had alerted the Night Hunters, and we were now running. Second, if this group of Night Hunters had been separated from those keeping the Shifters hostage, this meant that we could, in our hunt for Mist Island, be leading them straight to the rest of the Shifters. In order to protect what little remained of our kingdom we would have to eliminate this group of Night Hunters. Third, Daniel snores loudly. I thought also about how I had endangered Teardrop Valley by being caught there as a guest. I knew now that the Night Hunters would be after them as well as Daniel and me. Now came the hard decision: Go back and try to protect Teardrop Valley, or use the divided attention to my advantage and continue.

            “Are you sure this is the right decision, Ciara,” Daniel asked, after waking from his less that quiet nap.

“Sure it is,”

“I’m not so sure, I mean shouldn’t we be looking for Mist Island and the rest of the Shifters,”

I glared at him, “sure we should, but we should also help a friend,”

“Fine,” He grumbled. And so I spun the car around and headed back to Colorado.  

 

            The drive back was peaceful with little interruption. It was now midday and the sun was high up in the sky. The streets were busy, so I decided against breaking the limit and risking a police chase.

“I’m hungry,” Daniel complained after a few more minuets of driving.

“You complain as much as a 4 year old,” I replied stopping to let an old women and her dog hobble by.

 “Sorry…” He mumbled,

“That’s ok, what do you want to eat,”

“Umm… I don’t know,”

“Fine, we’ll just eat at this coffee shop,” I said pulling into a parking space.

           

We walked out of the coffee shop, casually sipping our drinks. Daniel took a bite out of his brownie and I laughed as his shirt got splattered with crumbs. He glared at me before attempting to remove them. Suddenly, we heard shouts of surprise from down the street. I looked at Daniel and together we raced down the road.

The car lay on its side in the street. People were screaming, running and cowering in all the corners and alleyways of the road. I starred as a group of people got out of the devastated Honda. “Come on,” Daniel said and I found myself being led away towards the run down car. The sound of an explosion echoed around, as a sleek black minivan came to a halt a few feet away from where the car lay. “Hurry,” Daniel whispered in my ear, as we pushed through the final crowd and approached the group of people. Upon reaching them we hid, our backs pressed against the roof of the car.

“Are you all right,” I said in a hoarse whisper,

“Yeah, I guess,” came the reply from Robert,

“Good, who is chasing you?”

“Stanton and a group of his friends,” Coulter replied,

“Yeah,” inputted Peter, “and a bunch of these weird haystack things.”

I groaned, why did the people close to me always get placed with my burden. Oh well I guess we will just have to fight then. I looked at Daniel and he nodded.

“Ok, Daniel take them away to the car,” I said,

“Umm… we all won’t fit,” Daniel commented,

“Ugh… just grab any other random car as well, I will hold them off for now then come back and get me,”

“But…”

“No buts’,”

“The Kuan’s are too strong for you,”
“That’s my problem, just go.”

And with that Daniel herded them away, and I was left alone to fight.

 

            “Come on out Princess, or are you too scared,” teased Stanton. My teeth set on edge as I sneaked around the perimeter of the car. I looked up at the rooftops. If my plan was to work then I needed to get up there. There, I saw a ladder that would have to do. I looked over to where Stanton was talking to one of his hunters. I had to use this divided attention. So knowing that it was now or never I ran toward the ladder. I scrambled up the ladder, ignoring the shouts of surprise from the bystanders. “Where is she?” “What do we do?” These remarks floated up and I realized they were in the blind area, they did not know where I was. Blind Area. The idea hit me like a storm. My attack would work better, and accomplish more if they could not see me. With that I raced across the rooftops. It was almost sunset, and the sun hung low on the horizon, I reached a spot parallel with the Night Hunters, and right in front of the sun. Knowing that even if they did look my way the sun would blind them, I readied myself for battle. I was going to attempt something that my tutor, Alexander Conair, had explained to me. He said that nobody in a very long time had accomplished this feat, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. So feeling the rhythms of the earth, the power of the ocean, the heat of destructive fire, and the speed and devastation of wind, I unleashed all four elements upon the Night Hunters. The explosion devastated the town. My vision became blurry and my head started to ache. Through blurred vision I made out Stanton and the Night Hunters lying dead in the road. Finally my legs gave way and I collapsed to the ground.   

 

“Come on Ciara wake up.” “She killed all of them.” “How?” “Is she all right?” “Why did you try something Alexander told you not to do?” These voices echoed around in my head. My memory was fuzzy and I only remembered bits of what had just happened. Only in reality it happened yesterday. The voices started to become familiar and memories started fitting into place. I twitched and my leg started throbbing. I groaned and my eyes fluttered open.

“And she’s alive!” Daniel exclaimed,

“And sore,” I muttered sitting up and rubbing my temple,

“Here, drink this,” Casey said handing me a bottle of water,

“Thanks,” I said in a hoarse whisper,

“Come on and let her rest,” Mary said ushering the boys out of the room, “she has just made one of the biggest feats in her life.” 

She looked back at me and smiled, I returned the smile graciously. “Get some rest,” she said backing out of the room. “Thanks,” I murmured after her. Slumping back into the makeshift bed, positioned at the back of the tent.

 

            It was nighttime by the time I exited the tent. We were camped in an open field. The cars were parked a short distance away blocking the only entrance into the deserted meadow. The tents had been pitched in a small circle surrounding the remains of a camp fire. Nobody was around so I guess they must be sleeping. My head still pounded but I tried to ignore the pain as I explored this new area.

            The field was boarded on two sides by mountains, and the furthest side was a sheer cliff dropping into the sea. I walked towards one of the mountains and found a trail leading to a flat area over looking the sea. I followed the trail, trying not to trip and fall. I sat on the ground crossed-legged staring out at the calm, tranquil, pure blue sea. The moon was full and the moonlight reflected of the water, almost creating a pathway across the sea. Carelessly I thought back to my many lessens with Alexander Conair, about the Mist Island: This island was thought to be a myth. Alexander’s words echoed in my head. But People have begun to question this fact. It’s said that only the Queen knows if Mist Island is fact or fiction. It is also said that to find this island you must follow the path of moonlight, and go to the mist gathering.

            I found myself becoming frustrated with Alexander. Why did he always have to talk in riddles? Why couldn’t he have just told me how to find Mist Island? I mean how was I to go to the mist gathering, following a path of moonlight. I was about to turn around and head back to the camp when the blue topaz on my locket started to glow. I looked at it but the light was blinding. The light seemed to reflect of some mists that settled beyond the horizon. Suddenly a blinding purple light appeared out of the bank of mist. The blue light of my topaz seemed to reach out towards the mystery light. Only that light wasn’t a mystery. At the back of my mind I found myself remembering that my mother had a matching locket expect hers had an amethyst. I vaguely remember that when my mother had given me my locket she had said: Dearest child, whenever you are alone in the world, follow your heart. But when your heart serves you not well, look to your locket and it will always lead you to me. My heart started pounding in my chest. The light from my locket died away, and the purple light seemed to fade away back to the collection of mist. And I knew now that that was the gathering of mist. Only accessible during a full moon due to the path of moonlight across the ocean. My heart pounded, and my head buzzed, as I turned and raced down towards the camp. I found everyone gathered around staring up at the mountainside.

“Ciara, what happened?” asked Daniel, “we saw an unnatural light and you had gone.”

My eyes sparkled as I starred into his, “I found it,”

“Really,”

“Really,”

“Then what are we waiting for lets go!”

I ran back to the tent and gathered my few possessions into my backpack. Coming back outside Peter stopped me and asked what it was I had found. My eyes gleamed as I told them what had happened.

 

            The boat rocked from side to side. We had climbed down the cliff and found on the shore a troll. He had only allowed five people passage to Mist Island. So Mary, Casey, Nico, and Bill had stayed behind. I sat on the edge of the bench my knees shaking. I tried to control myself as I steered the boat towards the blanket of mist. On the shore we had decided that I should steer considering that I had the best night-vision.

“We’re getting closer,” Coulter said peering into the fog.

“You boy,” said Robert, “best you cast a protection spell.”

Daniel nodded and fumbled with his spell book trying to find the right spell. He mumbled some incomprehensible words, and the air around the boat sizzled and we were encased in a glowing orange bubble. As we neared the outskirts of the mist a cold gale whipped around us. This unnatural wind carried on until a moment before we entered the fog.

            We were left in momentary blindness, before the scene around us finally took shape. The island wasn’t that big but it was lush, a resemblance of some kind of paradise. What looked like the ruins of an ancient castle dominated the center. We docked our boat before carefully picking our way inward.

“Which way?” I asked puzzled,

“I say our best bet is to try that castle,” Robert answered,

Daniel nodded, “Come on.”

            The only visible path to the castle was windy and rough. I managed to trip more than once. Finally we reached the castle. The door was huge and made of solid stone. An inscription in an ancient language lined the doorframe. Below four ornate stone bowls sat alone and undisturbed.

“Can you read it?” I asked Daniel.

 “I’ll try,” he said flipping through some pages in his dusty spell book.

 “Those who wish to gain passage,” he said, “must bring forth those who shape our world, both this and the next. But beware for all tyrant games will cease here to be forgot, but for the one whose intention is clear access will be bestowed. But only after the elements fill these bowls.”

“Is that it?” I asked,

“Umm… yeah,”
“Ok then lets bring forth the elements,”

“You’re still recovering,”

“Come on I can handle filing such small bowls, plus we need to get to my parents.”

I took a deep breath before extending my hands and bringing forth the elements, one for each bowl.  Crystal blue waters filled the first, a purplish mist filled the second, moist brown earth filled the third, and flaming fire, the last. There was a deep grinding noise as the stone door slid inward and a dark passage opened up to us. I looked first at Daniel then Robert, Coulter, and Peter, before walking into the gloom.

            We walked in silence, and darkness for a while before the soft light found us. My hand remained firm on the wall not trusting the deteriorating wood banister that lined the wall. I walked in the lead with Daniel close behind me, and Robert in the rear. The light grew brighter as we neared the great chamber. Suddenly the narrow passage opened up and we were greeted with a giant chamber lined with torches on the walls, and stuffed with Shifters. Many retained their human shape but a few were dragons. When they saw me many could not believe it, but when Daniel appeared by my side they all broke out in great smiles. As I approached them they parted way creating a pathway for me leading to where my brother, Alexander, stood protectively over my mother who sat besides my father, the King. “Shikira is that you,” my father said attempting to stand up. He didn’t get a chance to as I flung myself at him and hugged him tight. “Yes Father it is me,” I said as I began to cry.

“I don’t understand,” Robert, Coulter, and Peter said in unison,

 “The Shikira you were looking for was in fact helping you find her,” Daniel explained, “Ciara is pronounced Kira, short for Shikira.”

They stared back at Daniel with blank expression. “Ciara is actually, Shikira Sophia Crystal Crusade, crown princess of the Shifters.”

They looked at Daniel finally realizing who Ciara Crusade was.

            Pulling away from my father I looked at my mother. In her arms was a beautiful baby girl that resembled my mother and me. My brother came and put his arm around me. My father patted my head, “Well done Ciara.” My mother came forward and placed the child in my arms, “My dear this is your sister, Amy.” And at that moment everything was right. I felt whole again.

 

~At the Shifter castle~

 

I walked with my brother to the balcony on the terrace. Daniel joined us there. I felt Amy stir in my arms as we gazed out at our restored kingdom. I lifted Amy up so she could see the view, “There you are sis, this will be your kingdom too.” I kissed her forehead and whispered, “Now Amy, now we are home.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Text Box:]

 

 

 

 

 

Shifter

I walked down the dark hallway of the castle. My black cloak billowed behind me. I knocked on the heavy oak wood door. “Enter,” a voice said from behind it. I opened the door. The room was fancy clearly showing her majesties wealth. I walked past many people who had also been summoned by her majesty, Queen Jadius. “Come forward Crusade,” the Queen said, stating my last name. I walked to the desk that was sitting in the middle of the room. Sitting behind it, Queen Jadius sat covered in jewels. She rose and in a weary voice said, “Due to unpleasant faults our prisoner has escaped.” “What prisoner madam?” asked someone from the audience? “You know full well what prisoner I mean,” she snapped back at him. He fell silent. “I want her captured and brought back alive,” she said emphasizing the last word. “Crusade, Javan come forward,” the Queen said. I walked forward and stopped next to a boy of about 18. “You two have been elected to bring her back,” she said. “Yes Queen Jadius,” we said in unison. “You Crusade,” the Queen, said coming in front of me, “I trust it will be no problem, my young dragon.” I looked up at her and smiled weakly. “You two are dismissed, you leave in the morning.”

 I left the room. I looked at the boy. Daniel Javan and me had been friends for years. “So, see you in the morning Ciara,” he said when we had stopped in front of my door. “Bye, Daniel, goodnight,” I called after him.

            I stared at the ceiling of my small, cozy room. The early morning rays seeped in through the curtains, and into my room. Today was the day we left the safety of the castle and ventured out on our quest. Usually five to seven people embark on these quests, but I guess her majesty wants us to get people from the Nights of Dawn. Well it is about time those idiots proved their worth to the Castle of Night, and Queen Jadius. With a sigh I got out of bed. I pulled on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. I pulled a brush through my brown hair. Then I threw the brush in the bag sitting on my chair, already full of clothes. I pulled on a pair of sneakers and pulled my hair back in a ponytail. Shortly after, Daniel knocked on the door. “Ready Crusade, Queen Jadius wants to speak with us,” he said. “Coming,” I replied. I threw my cloak in the bag, and then grabbed my jacket. Pulling on my jacket I went to meet Daniel outside.

As we walked down the dark hallways of the castle, people hurried by, not wanting to meet my gaze. No matter how often they were told, they keep getting freaked out that I can shape-shift into a dragon. But they don’t get freaked out that Daniel’s a warlock (male witch)! Finally we stopped in front of the heavy oak wood door. I hesitated a moment then knocked. After a few dragging seconds the voice of Queen Jadius said, “Enter.” Daniel opened the door and we walked in. Sitting behind the desk sat the immense figure of the Queen. “Come forward,” she said in that intimidating voice of hers. We both walked forward. “Sit, sit,” the Queen said beckoning to, two high-backed chairs. We both sat, the back of the chairs keeping our backs straight. “Now,” said the Queen leaning forward in her chair, “You two have been selected because your gifts may come in handy.” She paused then continued, “No one will be able to withstand your combined powers, a shape-shifting dragon and a powerful warlock.” She leaned back and studied us, a powerful, evil gleam in her eyes. “Your highness, if I may ask, why only two of us,” Daniel said. “Ah Daniel, you two will enlist help from the Twilight Knights, I don’t care who, or where you get them from. Just make sure they prove there worth to the Castle of Night and to ME,” said the Queen, “Now go, get ready, you will ride a horse until you get to the car which is waiting by the South Road.” We stood up and bowed to the Queen then left.  

 

That morning we rode two strong stallions a good few miles. Until at last we saw the car. I smiled excitedly when I saw the Mercedes. I jumped of the horse, sent him back, and then ran to the door. I jumped into the drivers seat and

yelled at Daniel to hurry up. Grumbling he got in. “Why do you get to drive,” he whined, “Because I said so,” I replied hitting the gas. We zoomed down the highway. “So what’s the plan,” he asked. “Look in my backpack, front pocket,” I said. He leaned back and took my backpack. He opened the front pocket and took out two pieces of paper. He starred at the papers they read,

                                      

      Greetings, Twilight Knights,

We will be having a united meeting,

                                    At this address; 12 Blackwell Street, Kansas,

                          This invitation is your ticket in to the meeting,

                                          See you then! 

                                                                        -Captain

 

            “How did you get these, Ciara?” asked Daniel. “What you don’t know can’t hurt you,” I said smiling. Then I killed the lights and we went zooming down the highway. “How can you see,” He said, but then stopped. My eyes had changed from a hazel to a piercing blue; I was using my dragon eyes to see in the dark. We zoomed down the streets, and then, faster than usual, we reached Kansas. I slowed down and put back on the lights. “Okay, they’re not as strict now, just were your cloak and gloves,” I said pulling onto a private road. “What about masks?” Daniel asked, “They don’t use them any more,” I said. I pulled over by the road just outside the house. We looked out the window. The house was huge, an old fashioned house with ivy growing up the sides. “They’re fairy collectors,” I grumbled getting out the car. Daniel followed me to the back of the car. I pulled of my jacket and pulled my cloak on. “I’m a Knight so they should let us in,” I said. He nodded, pulling on his cloak. We both pulled on our gloves, I locked the car, and we walked to the house. I pulled up the hood of my cloak and made sure Daniel did the same, “Let me do the talking,” I said.

           

We walked to the front door. The person up front took our ‘invitations’ and we walked in. I signed us both in and we walked to the hall. “Ok, we’re looking for Peter, Coulter, Nico, Robert, and Casey,” I whispered to Daniel. He nodded he had met Peter, Coulter, and Robert before. I inclined my head to one side of the hall and Daniel walked of. I looked around and spotted Charles, a lieutenant. I walked towards him. He nodded as I approached, and I went to stand next to him. “Has Robert arrived yet,” I whispered to him, “No, but he will soon with the rest,” he said. I nodded, and walked away. I turned around as I saw the door open, Robert and the others walked in. The horn blew signaling that everyone had to report to his or her groups. I went and grabbed Daniel by the elbow and towed him towards Charles’ group. We went and sat down in the room. The good thing was all the people we needed were in this group. As Robert came in he looked shocked that I was here, but then groaned knowing why. Charles came in and said, “Because you’re here, Ciara this group only contains of us.” Peter stood up and said, “What happened this time.” “Shikira escaped, and you will help us find her and I’m sorry for not being there when you needed me, and don’t say why can’t a warlock and a shape-shifter take care of that. Queen Jadius can be hard to understand,” I said. It was quiet for a while then Nico broke the silence, “Uh, what.” Robert sighed, “Casey, Nico this is Ciara, and Daniel, I’ll explain the rest when we get back to Teardrop Valley.”

            “Those meetings are killer,” Daniel said as we walked away from the house with Peter, Coulter, Robert, Casey, and Nico. “I know, it’s over now,” I said smiling, Daniel sure did complain a lot. “So are you taking us back,” asked Robert? “We can take three people,” I said. “All right, Nico, Casey you come with me,” said Robert. Peter and Coulter walked of and Robert, Nico, and Casey followed us to our car. “Sweet car,” said Nico when we came in sight of the sleek, black Mercedes. I smiled and unlocked the car. Robert, Nico, and Casey squeezed in the back while me and Daniel got in front. After driving down the road a while we reached the highway. There weren’t that many cars about so I killed the lights and zoomed down the streets. We came, a few times, close to crashing, but my dragon night vision was flawless. Very soon we were zooming towards Colorado. “So do we have to introduce ourselves,” I asked Robert. He groaned, “I’ll let Bill do the honors.” I smiled, “Anyway I’m Ciara, and this is Daniel. “Hi,” said Daniel, “Casey and Nico right.” They both nodded.

            We had been driving for two hours before we saw the house. Bill and Mary Bausch were the caretakers of Teardrop Valley. They were also good friends of mine, and Casey, and Nico’s grandparents. They had both fallen asleep so Robert slowly shook them awake. I put back on the lights and returned to a normal car speed. We pulled onto the driveway and we drove towards the house. “We’re here,” Daniel said. I parked the car just as Dave came out. Dave was Robert’s younger brother and basically helped at Teardrop Valley. “Ah, Ciara and Daniel, now why am I not surprised to see you,” Dave said a smile playing on his lips. “Hi,” I said smiling. I popped open the trunk and we got our stuff out. Daniel and me always travel light so we only had a backpack and small duffel bag each. “Bill’s expecting you,” Dave said as he helped guide sleepy Casey and Nico into the house. Mary emerged from the kitchen. “Hello Ciara, Daniel,” she said brightly. “Now of to bed you two,” she said glaring at her grandchildren. “But we want to know why they’re here,” whined Nico. “Tomorrow,” said Mary shuffling the children out the room. “Bill’s in his office he will see you in a moment,” Mary said, “but come have something to eat or drink.”  I had only been to Teardrop Valley, the place where magic is alive, twice before but I felt like I knew the place. I felt at home. Back at the Castle of Night you couldn’t really call anyone family, some you couldn’t even call friends. Outside the window fairies fluttered about as butterflies and dragonflies. But once you open your eyes the magical world is open for you.  “Ah, Ciara I haven’t seen you in a while,” Bill said coming out of his office. “Hi Bill, you remember Daniel Javan the warlock,” I said. “How do you do Mr. Bausch?” Daniel said, “Please call me Bill now how about you guys tell me the story.” And so I started at the beginning and told him our story leading up to the quest.

            That night I lay awake in the guest bedroom. Some small thing kept nagging at the back of my mind. It drove me crazy not knowing, but what I did know was that I was missing some important detail. Finally I told myself to stop thinking and go to sleep, I would ask Daniel in the morning. I closed my eyes, listened to the commotion of magical beings outside, and fell asleep.

            I woke up to the light of the sun seeping in through the blinds. I just lay in bed staring at the ceiling. I heard Nico complaining outside that he wanted to see me shift. I heard Bill trying to explain to his grandson why a cranky shape-shifter is not a thing you want. I smiled at that thought, Bill must have already explained to Casey and Nico about my shape-shifting ability. I smiled, you shouldn’t have a cranky shifter but you also don’t want to keep a 12-year-old boy from something he really wants to see. I got out of bed, got dressed and went outside, ready for a full day of phasing to please Nico.

            “Ah, Ciara up already,” Bill, Nico, Casey, and Mary were waiting for me in the kitchen. I smiled and sat down next to Nico at the table. He just stared at me; I could almost see his brain trying to calculate how I shift. “The others still asleep?” I asked. “No, they got up and went straight into the forest,” Mary said getting up and making more hot chocolate. “So, I have to go and check on the dungeon, Casey, Nico entertain our guest for me will you,” Bill said getting up. “Sure grandpa,” Casey said, and Nico nodded. Bill chuckled and opened the door in the kitchen that lead down into the dungeon. He walked down the stairs muttering about who was going to be entertaining who. Nico stared at me I tried to ignore him but eventually it got irritating and uncomfortable. “You don’t have to stare at me just because I can phase,” I said. “Uh, oh I’m sorry it’s just because I haven’t met a shape-shifter before,” Nico answered slightly embarrassed.  I laughed, “Come on lets go outside and you can show me around.” And so I followed Nico and Casey outside.

            Outside the garden was blooming with thousands of colourful flowers. The fairies (who appeared to everyone else as butterflies and dragonflies) flew around the place. We stopped at the edge of the forest, “Grandpa forbids us to go in there,” Casey said. From the way she said it I could tell they had been in there before and longed to go again. “You may not be allowed to go in alone, but how about with a shape-shifter,” I said smiling. Nico and Casey looked at the woods and then at me, and they smiled to. “Come on,” I said beckoning my head to the woods, and I followed them into the dark dangerous forest. This was going to be a great exciting day.

            Now I know what you’re thinking, isn’t taking two children into a monster-infested forest like really irresponsible. Probably, but I’d been in worst situations, and besides we had so much fun. At the end when we walked out of the forest and back towards the house we decided it better not to tell Bill. But of course we got busted anyway.  

           

I sat at the table glaring at Daniel. Of course it would be Daniel to bust us and he looked very please with himself. “Now I know you did something wrong, and Daniel told us but please make up,” Mary said sitting down next to me. “There is one way to settle this.”

“Excellent.”

“No, dragons have an unfair advantage,” Daniel complained. The way to settle this is to have a dual dragon against warlock.

“Ah, is Daniel scarred,” I said laughing.

“No, but we do this so often, like a thousand times.”

“And how many times have I won.”

“Like… a thousand.”

“And how many times have you won.”

“Like… none.”

“Come on payback time,” Dave said.

“Dave,” Bill said cuffing him on the head.            

“All right a dual, but this time I’m winning,” Daniel said standing up.

I stood up and shook his hand; this was going to be fun, “At dusk.”

           

 

Me, and Daniel stood in the yard facing each other. Something we had done thousands of times before. Daniel had his cloak on, and his hands out ready to cast spells. Me, I stood at ease in jeans and a t-shirt, the wind whipping my hair around my face. It was a stormy dark night and that worked to my advantage. Pure dragon night-vision was far more effective than any mere spell a warlock could cast. “Ciara, Daniel are you ready,” Peter yelled above the noise of the storm. I smiled and nodded Daniel gulped and nodded. “Daniel no spells are allowed which allow mind control or any other type of control on your opponent.”

Daniel nodded; we had heard this rules before. “Ciara no severe injuries are to be inflicted on your opponent.” I nodded. Peter nodded, and with that sign I shifted.         

Daniel looked at the beast, which was his best friend. While in dragon form my eyes were a piercing blue, and my body covered with metallic scales of shades of blue and purple. My tail was a deadly spear of metallic scales. And when it whipped about it was just a blur. My long claws were strong enough to rip through even the toughest armor. Daniel gulped, why had he agreed to this? They had fought thousands of duals before and he had lost each one. “Then let the dual begin,” Peter yelled recovering from his shock of Ciara's appearance.  And so we repeated what we had done a thousand times before. I jumped into the air and soared away making yet another brilliant plan as to how to win this

dual. That was one of my advantages in battle I’m quick to make plans and follow through with them. I smiled; this was going to be too easy.    

            I had been circling the property for a while, dodging magical attacks and creating my own. It was fun to see Daniel dodging my attacks and trying to send his own, as well as to see the expressions on the faces of the onlookers. But I was getting tired of this game so I flew in low and dropped to the ground. I phased back to my human form and went searching for Daniel. I stood at the edge of the forest staring at Daniel, who stood in the middle of the yard. I could almost see Daniel’s brain running 100mph trying to think of the best possible way to attack me. He sent random bursts of energy into the air trying to find me. I smiled it was time I had a little fun of my own. And so feeling the rhythms of the ground, and using my powers over earth, I sent out an earthquake. I saw Daniel look around franticly for me. I laughed then clamped my hand over my mouth realizing I just gave myself away. Daniel looked immediately in my direction and I slowly backed farther into the forest.

I had been running along the rim of the yard hiding in the forest for a while, silently laughing to myself. Finally when I calmed down I stopped running and looked for Daniel. There, he was still in the yard looking for me. The earth was cracked up around him, result of my earthquake. He was reading an old spell book, but every few minuets he looked up making sure I wasn’t around. I looked towards the east and saw the sun beginning to rise. This must be one of the longest duals we ever had. And now the time had come to end it once and for all. Quickly and as quietly as possible I shifted. I leaped into the air and flew into the yard I landed opposite Daniel with a giant roar. The onlookers woke up suddenly and turned to watch the final stage of this dual. The book fell from Daniel’s hand and he looked up with dread.

 

I couldn’t stop laughing, the dual had ended hours ago, but I couldn’t stop

thinking about the way Daniel looked when I flew out of the forest. “It wasn’t that funny,” Daniel said, he sat opposite me and had his arms crossed. He didn’t look very happy with me, for winning the dual yet again. “You try fighting a dragon twice your size,” He said still complaining.

“I have, a lot of times actually, I’m not the biggest shifter or dragon out there.”

“When you’re not a dragon, shifter, or have powers even in your human form.”

“Not possible,” I replied smiling. Daniel fell quiet but kept on glaring at me. I smiled, this happened every time, oh well I guess I will just have to get used to it. “All right all this winning is making me tired I’m going to bed,” I said standing up and walking towards my room, on my way I cuffed Daniel on the head teasingly.

            I was exhausted, the sun was already rising farther up in the sky, but the dual had taken it all out of me. We had been fighting since dusk last night, all the way through dawn today. It must have been one of the longest duals we have ever had. I starred at the ceiling, after a while I closed my eyes and fell sleep.

            I woke to the smell of homemade pancakes. I realized that I had slept all day and through to the next morning. I smiled Nico would be annoyed that he hadn’t seen the dual, Daniel would be mad at me for winning (again), Bill would be annoyed because of the damage we cause to the reserve, and Mary would be trying to calm everyone down. I climbed out of bed and quickly got dressed. Walking down the stairs the smell of pancakes became overpowering and seemed to pull me towards the kitchen. “Good Morning Ciara,” Mary said setting another patch of pancakes on the table. Bill grunted, I could tell he was upset and mad about the damage. Oh well he should of known that a dual would only result in damage to the preserve. I sat down at the table and helped myself to a hearty plate of pancakes. I poured maple syrup on them and began eating.

            I was outside in the yard with Casey and Nico when my life totally fell apart. Just as Daniel walked out of the house running a hand through his scruffy hair, a dark cloud covered the sun making everything appear to be cloaked in darkness.

I had seen that happen only once before. When the rule of the Shifters came to an abrupt stop. I looked at Daniel; if the world was again cloaked in darkness then it meant that the Night Hunters were active again. “Casey, Nico you need to get inside,” I whispered. “Why?” asked Nico

“Don’t ask just go,”

“But…”

“Now.”

I watched them hurry into the house and Daniel came to my side. “Time to repeat history,” he said. I gulped and nodded. There was a rustle in the forest, and Stanton stepped out. I felt like I had just died right then. Daniel stepped in front of me quickly trying to protect me from the leader of one group of the Shifters enemies, the Night Hunters. Bill walked outside from the house and squinted through the darkness to where Stanton, Daniel, and me were glaring at each other.

 “What is going on out here,” asked Bill

“Bill what are these two doing here,” asked Stanton

“They are guest here at Teardrop Valley, Why do you know them?”

“To well,”

“Well Bill it was a pleasure staying with you, and we are sorry for the damage we caused but if he is a guest here we must leave,” said Daniel, I barely heard him all I saw was my sworn enemy, and one of its leaders was right there within pouncing distance.

“But, I thought you needed help recapturing Shikira?” Bill asked, a confused look on his face. Stanton opened his mouth to speak but I glared at him until he closed it. “Come on Ciara,” said Daniel. I nodded, Shifted and carried Daniel away.

            We circled Teardrop Valley a few times before landing just outside. I sat Daniel down just outside the outer rim of the forest before shifting back to my human form. “What’s he doing here?” asked Daniel as we walked away from the preserve and towards the car provided by Queen Jadius. I shrugged, I didn’t want to know, and didn’t exactly care. “All I know is that we need to find my parents.” We got in the car and sped of down the road heading for the place where the Shifters would be and knowing that we might not make it back.

            Night had just fallen outside and we drove along the quiet roads, making use of the little traffic to catch up on lost time spent at Teardrop Valley. Daniel and I had switched spots half way through and now I navigated our way to Mist Island. I fingered my golden locket that hung around my neck. In the center of the locket was a Blue Topaz in the shape of a diamond. My mother had given it to me at birth and now I never took it of. “We will be there soon and this will be all over,” Daniel said to try and reassure me. I smiled what I wouldn’t give for everything to be back to normal I don’t know. I pulled my hair up in a ponytail, exposing the scar that was in the shape of a moon extinguishing my importance and rank in Shifter society. I stared sadly out the window as we made towards the ocean. The silver moonlight lit up the night sky, and seemed not right considering how much danger we were in. “I can’t believe Stanton was right there but I just let him go,” I said, mad with myself for letting my enemy walk away. Daniel smiled sadly, his father had been advisor to the Shifters king and he knew how much the Night Hunters had tormented them. His own father had been badly injured by the Hunters and had a small chance to survive. He is still alive but not in his full health, he was relived from his duty shortly after the accident, and now lived peacefully and comfortably at expense of the royal treasury, well at least he did. The Javan family had forever been loyal to the Shifter Royalty and following that act the family was locked away with the rest of the Shifters. I suspect that Daniel and me are the only ones who escaped that confinement. But now thanks to Stanton the Hunters know we are still living and breathing.

                I woke suddenly. The moon was setting and Daniel slowly shook me awake. It was only then that I realized that I had dosed off. “Uh, Oh, I’m sorry Daniel,” I said rubbing the sleep from my eyes.

“That’s ok, but, uh,”

“What, what’s wrong,”

“Nothing just, um, does, does that haystack look like it’s moving,”

I looked out the window and realize we were on a farm. About 300 yards from here lay a huge haystack. But Daniel was right it seemed to be inching closer. Suddenly I remember something my tutor, Alexander Conair, told me. “Remember Ciara these demons disguise themselves as many things, but the most powerful are disguised as haystacks.”  “We need to get out of here now,” I said almost yelling. Daniel looks confused, “Why?” “Because,” I say, “that’s a… uh,” What was that thing. I thought of Alexander’s lesson (most which I fell asleep in) and the name came to me: “The Kuans are not deadly, but they never leave their prey unharmed, whenever you see one leave immediately, in the opposite direction, of course.”  “It’s a Kuan, go now,” I yell. Daniel’s eyes widen in alarm, as he remembers his fathers lesson on such beasts. We quickly reversed out of the farm and zoom down the street. “Go, go,” I chanted as we drove way, way past the speed limit away from the Kuan. But despite their appearances Kuans are quite fast. “Go, go,” I yell again. “I’m going as fast as I can,” Daniel yelled.

 “Well go faster, kill the lights,”

“I can’t see,”

“Well let me drive,”

“How we’re going … I don’t know really fast,”

“Trust me,”

I grab his hand and picture a vine hanging down and grabbing Daniel and me and switching us. And just like that I’m driving. “What … how,” Daniel looks at me bewildered. I smile and laugh. I switch to my dragons eyes and kill the lights. The lights of the houses outside fade to a blur, as I drive down the streets heading to who knows where. “Um, Ciara where are we going?” asked Daniel. “I’m not quite sure,” I answer, “away from the Kuan.”

“Which we lost at that last traffic light, could that be the one,”

“Um… maybe,”

“Put the lights back on and lets find out where we are,”

“No need, its dawn and we’re in New Mexico,”

“What?!!”

I stopped the car outside of a sign saying:

Welcome to New Mexico, The Land of Enchantment!

To top that of the sun was rising in the east. We slowly drove into town looking for a place to eat.

            “I have a question,” Daniel asked once we had got ourselves something to eat.

“What?”
“How did we get from Colorado to New Mexico in one night?”
I laughed, “Crazy things happen when I’m around.”

“For that we can agree.”

After we ate a hearty meal of chicken sandwiches, 2 bags of chips and 2 sodas, we walked around the town. “Don’t you miss the good old days when The Shifters had their kingdom, and people respected us as their guardians?” I asked Daniel. “Yeah,” he replied, “When everyone thought of us as their guardian angel, we had amazing writers, and poets to. Oh how I miss Dominic van Guarid’s work.” I smiled this was the hidden, soft, and sensitive side of Daniel that was hard to see. “The moon shines bright making a hole in the night a beacon of light. But wait the light is bright and the night is the light,” I said in a singsong voice quoting one of my favorite pieces of Dominic van Guarid’s work, “Gone is the dancing spirit who walks across the sky. Gone is the night rainbow spilling color into the dark. Gone is the beacon that guided the traveler across the sky. The sky stays black, dark and haunting. A phantom of the night. And I know now that no love shall be found tonight.”

            That night driving down the dark and abandoned roads several things came to mind. First, the Kuan were gentle beasts, deadly, but gentle. For them to attack us, someone must have provoked them. Which meant that Stanton had alerted the Night Hunters, and we were now running. Second, if this group of Night Hunters had been separated from those keeping the Shifters hostage, this meant that we could, in our hunt for Mist Island, be leading them straight to the rest of the Shifters. In order to protect what little remained of our kingdom we would have to eliminate this group of Night Hunters. Third, Daniel snores loudly. I thought also about how I had endangered Teardrop Valley by being caught there as a guest. I knew now that the Night Hunters would be after them as well as Daniel and me. Now came the hard decision: Go back and try to protect Teardrop Valley, or use the divided attention to my advantage and continue.

            “Are you sure this is the right decision, Ciara,” Daniel asked, after waking from his less that quiet nap.

“Sure it is,”

“I’m not so sure, I mean shouldn’t we be looking for Mist Island and the rest of the Shifters,”

I glared at him, “sure we should, but we should also help a friend,”

“Fine,” He grumbled. And so I spun the car around and headed back to Colorado.  

 

            The drive back was peaceful with little interruption. It was now midday and the sun was high up in the sky. The streets were busy, so I decided against breaking the limit and risking a police chase.

“I’m hungry,” Daniel complained after a few more minuets of driving.

“You complain as much as a 4 year old,” I replied stopping to let an old women and her dog hobble by.

 “Sorry…” He mumbled,

“That’s ok, what do you want to eat,”

“Umm… I don’t know,”

“Fine, we’ll just eat at this coffee shop,” I said pulling into a parking space.

           

We walked out of the coffee shop, casually sipping our drinks. Daniel took a bite out of his brownie and I laughed as his shirt got splattered with crumbs. He glared at me before attempting to remove them. Suddenly, we heard shouts of surprise from down the street. I looked at Daniel and together we raced down the road.

The car lay on its side in the street. People were screaming, running and cowering in all the corners and alleyways of the road. I starred as a group of people got out of the devastated Honda. “Come on,” Daniel said and I found myself being led away towards the run down car. The sound of an explosion echoed around, as a sleek black minivan came to a halt a few feet away from where the car lay. “Hurry,” Daniel whispered in my ear, as we pushed through the final crowd and approached the group of people. Upon reaching them we hid, our backs pressed against the roof of the car.

“Are you all right,” I said in a hoarse whisper,

“Yeah, I guess,” came the reply from Robert,

“Good, who is chasing you?”

“Stanton and a group of his friends,” Coulter replied,

“Yeah,” inputted Peter, “and a bunch of these weird haystack things.”

I groaned, why did the people close to me always get placed with my burden. Oh well I guess we will just have to fight then. I looked at Daniel and he nodded.

“Ok, Daniel take them away to the car,” I said,

“Umm… we all won’t fit,” Daniel commented,

“Ugh… just grab any other random car as well, I will hold them off for now then come back and get me,”

“But…”

“No buts’,”

“The Kuan’s are too strong for you,”
“That’s my problem, just go.”

And with that Daniel herded them away, and I was left alone to fight.

 

            “Come on out Princess, or are you too scared,” teased Stanton. My teeth set on edge as I sneaked around the perimeter of the car. I looked up at the rooftops. If my plan was to work then I needed to get up there. There, I saw a ladder that would have to do. I looked over to where Stanton was talking to one of his hunters. I had to use this divided attention. So knowing that it was now or never I ran toward the ladder. I scrambled up the ladder, ignoring the shouts of surprise from the bystanders. “Where is she?” “What do we do?” These remarks floated up and I realized they were in the blind area, they did not know where I was. Blind Area. The idea hit me like a storm. My attack would work better, and accomplish more if they could not see me. With that I raced across the rooftops. It was almost sunset, and the sun hung low on the horizon, I reached a spot parallel with the Night Hunters, and right in front of the sun. Knowing that even if they did look my way the sun would blind them, I readied myself for battle. I was going to attempt something that my tutor, Alexander Conair, had explained to me. He said that nobody in a very long time had accomplished this feat, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. So feeling the rhythms of the earth, the power of the ocean, the heat of destructive fire, and the speed and devastation of wind, I unleashed all four elements upon the Night Hunters. The explosion devastated the town. My vision became blurry and my head started to ache. Through blurred vision I made out Stanton and the Night Hunters lying dead in the road. Finally my legs gave way and I collapsed to the ground.   

 

“Come on Ciara wake up.” “She killed all of them.” “How?” “Is she all right?” “Why did you try something Alexander told you not to do?” These voices echoed around in my head. My memory was fuzzy and I only remembered bits of what had just happened. Only in reality it happened yesterday. The voices started to become familiar and memories started fitting into place. I twitched and my leg started throbbing. I groaned and my eyes fluttered open.

“And she’s alive!” Daniel exclaimed,

“And sore,” I muttered sitting up and rubbing my temple,

“Here, drink this,” Casey said handing me a bottle of water,

“Thanks,” I said in a hoarse whisper,

“Come on and let her rest,” Mary said ushering the boys out of the room, “she has just made one of the biggest feats in her life.” 

She looked back at me and smiled, I returned the smile graciously. “Get some rest,” she said backing out of the room. “Thanks,” I murmured after her. Slumping back into the makeshift bed, positioned at the back of the tent.

 

            It was nighttime by the time I exited the tent. We were camped in an open field. The cars were parked a short distance away blocking the only entrance into the deserted meadow. The tents had been pitched in a small circle surrounding the remains of a camp fire. Nobody was around so I guess they must be sleeping. My head still pounded but I tried to ignore the pain as I explored this new area.

            The field was boarded on two sides by mountains, and the furthest side was a sheer cliff dropping into the sea. I walked towards one of the mountains and found a trail leading to a flat area over looking the sea. I followed the trail, trying not to trip and fall. I sat on the ground crossed-legged staring out at the calm, tranquil, pure blue sea. The moon was full and the moonlight reflected of the water, almost creating a pathway across the sea. Carelessly I thought back to my many lessens with Alexander Conair, about the Mist Island: This island was thought to be a myth. Alexander’s words echoed in my head. But People have begun to question this fact. It’s said that only the Queen knows if Mist Island is fact or fiction. It is also said that to find this island you must follow the path of moonlight, and go to the mist gathering.

            I found myself becoming frustrated with Alexander. Why did he always have to talk in riddles? Why couldn’t he have just told me how to find Mist Island? I mean how was I to go to the mist gathering, following a path of moonlight. I was about to turn around and head back to the camp when the blue topaz on my locket started to glow. I looked at it but the light was blinding. The light seemed to reflect of some mists that settled beyond the horizon. Suddenly a blinding purple light appeared out of the bank of mist. The blue light of my topaz seemed to reach out towards the mystery light. Only that light wasn’t a mystery. At the back of my mind I found myself remembering that my mother had a matching locket expect hers had an amethyst. I vaguely remember that when my mother had given me my locket she had said: Dearest child, whenever you are alone in the world, follow your heart. But when your heart serves you not well, look to your locket and it will always lead you to me. My heart started pounding in my chest. The light from my locket died away, and the purple light seemed to fade away back to the collection of mist. And I knew now that that was the gathering of mist. Only accessible during a full moon due to the path of moonlight across the ocean. My heart pounded, and my head buzzed, as I turned and raced down towards the camp. I found everyone gathered around staring up at the mountainside.

“Ciara, what happened?” asked Daniel, “we saw an unnatural light and you had gone.”

My eyes sparkled as I starred into his, “I found it,”

“Really,”

“Really,”

“Then what are we waiting for lets go!”

I ran back to the tent and gathered my few possessions into my backpack. Coming back outside Peter stopped me and asked what it was I had found. My eyes gleamed as I told them what had happened.

 

            The boat rocked from side to side. We had climbed down the cliff and found on the shore a troll. He had only allowed five people passage to Mist Island. So Mary, Casey, Nico, and Bill had stayed behind. I sat on the edge of the bench my knees shaking. I tried to control myself as I steered the boat towards the blanket of mist. On the shore we had decided that I should steer considering that I had the best night-vision.

“We’re getting closer,” Coulter said peering into the fog.

“You boy,” said Robert, “best you cast a protection spell.”

Daniel nodded and fumbled with his spell book trying to find the right spell. He mumbled some incomprehensible words, and the air around the boat sizzled and we were encased in a glowing orange bubble. As we neared the outskirts of the mist a cold gale whipped around us. This unnatural wind carried on until a moment before we entered the fog.

            We were left in momentary blindness, before the scene around us finally took shape. The island wasn’t that big but it was lush, a resemblance of some kind of paradise. What looked like the ruins of an ancient castle dominated the center. We docked our boat before carefully picking our way inward.

“Which way?” I asked puzzled,

“I say our best bet is to try that castle,” Robert answered,

Daniel nodded, “Come on.”

            The only visible path to the castle was windy and rough. I managed to trip more than once. Finally we reached the castle. The door was huge and made of solid stone. An inscription in an ancient language lined the doorframe. Below four ornate stone bowls sat alone and undisturbed.

“Can you read it?” I asked Daniel.

 “I’ll try,” he said flipping through some pages in his dusty spell book.

 “Those who wish to gain passage,” he said, “must bring forth those who shape our world, both this and the next. But beware for all tyrant games will cease here to be forgot, but for the one whose intention is clear access will be bestowed. But only after the elements fill these bowls.”

“Is that it?” I asked,

“Umm… yeah,”
“Ok then lets bring forth the elements,”

“You’re still recovering,”

“Come on I can handle filing such small bowls, plus we need to get to my parents.”

I took a deep breath before extending my hands and bringing forth the elements, one for each bowl.  Crystal blue waters filled the first, a purplish mist filled the second, moist brown earth filled the third, and flaming fire, the last. There was a deep grinding noise as the stone door slid inward and a dark passage opened up to us. I looked first at Daniel then Robert, Coulter, and Peter, before walking into the gloom.

            We walked in silence, and darkness for a while before the soft light found us. My hand remained firm on the wall not trusting the deteriorating wood banister that lined the wall. I walked in the lead with Daniel close behind me, and Robert in the rear. The light grew brighter as we neared the great chamber. Suddenly the narrow passage opened up and we were greeted with a giant chamber lined with torches on the walls, and stuffed with Shifters. Many retained their human shape but a few were dragons. When they saw me many could not believe it, but when Daniel appeared by my side they all broke out in great smiles. As I approached them they parted way creating a pathway for me leading to where my brother, Alexander, stood protectively over my mother who sat besides my father, the King. “Shikira is that you,” my father said attempting to stand up. He didn’t get a chance to as I flung myself at him and hugged him tight. “Yes Father it is me,” I said as I began to cry.

“I don’t understand,” Robert, Coulter, and Peter said in unison,

 “The Shikira you were looking for was in fact helping you find her,” Daniel explained, “Ciara is pronounced Kira, short for Shikira.”

They stared back at Daniel with blank expression. “Ciara is actually, Shikira Sophia Crystal Crusade, crown princess of the Shifters.”

They looked at Daniel finally realizing who Ciara Crusade was.

            Pulling away from my father I looked at my mother. In her arms was a beautiful baby girl that resembled my mother and me. My brother came and put his arm around me. My father patted my head, “Well done Ciara.” My mother came forward and placed the child in my arms, “My dear this is your sister, Amy.” And at that moment everything was right. I felt whole again.

 

~At the Shifter castle~

 

I walked with my brother to the balcony on the terrace. Daniel joined us there. I felt Amy stir in my arms as we gazed out at our restored kingdom. I lifted Amy up so she could see the view, “There you are sis, this will be your kingdom too.” I kissed her forehead and whispered, “Now Amy, now we are home.”