Focus…focus…FOCUS! Well, that wasn’t working. I wasn't able to concentrate long enough on finding the wolf. It felt like it was somewhere inside of me, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t shift. I glanced at Shiners and sighed. You sure that’s what he said? He shapeshifted by thinking about the animal?

Shiners nodded his head from where he was relaxing nearby. Yes, he said that he would focus inwards and feel the animal he wanted to turn into and then become it. I only knew the one shapeshifter, so you might be different. But it can’t hurt to try, can it?

I guess it can’t, and I sorta know what the wolf felt like in the dream. I just have to try to figure out how to find it. I sighed as I took a moment to ground myself in ‘reality’. If what reality now existed could be called that. Here I was on a small island on a lake miles from town, trying to meditate. It was a place that Shiners promised me he seldom saw humans.

I took a few more moments to focus my mind again before closing my eyes. I looked inwards with my eyes closed and concentrated on the wolf from my dream.

As I started to concentrate again, I started to feel the fear I’d been holding back ever since I turned into an eagle. What will I do now? I’m an eagle that might be able to turn into other animals. But being human is a distant goal rather than a short term handicap. All I could think of the past few days was becoming an animal. I couldn’t deny that's I had wanted. And STILL wanted. But what if my parents rejected me? What if I got injured, they couldn’t take me to a hospital. Would a vet even know what to do?

Maybe I should wait until I had seen my parents before I tried to shapeshift again. It wasn’t working at the moment. Or at least later on tonight.

Finally opening my eyes, I glanced towards Shiners. Sorry, I just can’t concentrate right now. I keep thinking about what may or may not happen with my parents.

I can understand that. Maybe we should work on practicing being an eagle, or would you like to try to write more? Shiners gave me a concerned look.

I nodded. Sure, even if I make progress it may take me a few days. But not writing right now. Maybe I should try to hunt? Give Charlie a bit of a surprise. Do you think I can catch any sheep? I half-joked; I wasn’t sure what I could hunt. I knew some eagles hunted mountain goats, but I had no idea where they might be found.

Shiners chuckled. Maybe, I don’t know. The eagles I see around here go after fish and some birds, but you could try to hunt for rabbits and such. Don’t know what kind of things your species eat.

Well, maybe Charlie and my family can find out what species I am and see what we eat. It should help me have a better idea of what I can hunt. For now, let's just fly around and see what we find. We have a while until Charlie is out of school. I spread my wings out a bit preparing to fly again.

Shiners shrugged his wings. Sounds like a good place to start. He took to the air himself.

I followed after him and flew higher into the air until I could see the surrounding area. I can see far off in the distance the mill near my town that marked the way back home. After a few circles. I flew over an open field where logging had recently happened. It looked as good a spot as any. How about over there at the logged area? Might be a good place to find some rabbits. or other animals worth a try at hunting.

Not a bad suggestion. Shiners banked to the side to fly in that direction.

I followed in that direction and soon glided over the field, trying to see any animals. I spotted Shiners landing in a tree at the edge of it.

I will watch from over here. Shiner settled in.

Works for me. If I catch anything, you get some. I just hoped I could be as successful as I thought. I knew nothing about hunting and hoped that my body would figure it out as I went.

As I glided over the field, I soon spotted a few things of interest. There were a couple of squirrels, a mouse, and, yes, a rabbit. My beak muscles twitched in anticipation of the coming hunt as my talons opened and closed. I was ready for the hunt and was excited for it.

I tried to find the instincts. I knew what my body wanted to do when it caught the rabbit, but how I got from circling to catching I wasn’t too sure. Finally, I decided to just take the plunge and go for it.

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A high-pitched chattering sound broke my concentration as one of the squirrels spotted me. The rabbit looked saw me and made a run for it. I beat my wings a few extra times to gain speed as my body angled my wings to catch a bit of speed. Just another moment and I would have my first kill.

But, as I was so focused upon the rabbit and not what was in front of me, when I looked up briefly before catching it, I only just had time to pull back and stop myself from slamming full flight into a blackberry bush. Instead, I only hit it with my belly. I winced. My feathers protected me from most of the hit, but I still got a small scratch and a couple of thorns got pulled off as I landed heavily on the ground. I grunted in pain.

Ow, I thought it was bad enough when a blackberry bush catches your pants. I tried to rub away the blackberry thorns from my belly, but my wings didn’t quite work that way.

Thankfully, Shiners flew over to land next to me, and he gave the best wince a bird could give. Here, let me help you there. You need to be careful and look where you're going, not just at your dinner. He carefully reached out and grabbed the thorns and pulled them out, only having to remove one of the feathers. He then looked at where I was cut. It didn’t look too bad, more like a light scratch.

I gave a small skree as the feather got pulled out, but I was glad it wasn’t any worse than that. Yeah, I should know about that. I hear about birds hitting cars because they were so focused on something across the road they don’t see the fast-moving car.

We should have you practice coming in some more. And balancing focus on your prey and what is in front of you. Would you want to practice with me? Obviously don’t try to catch me, but see if I can spot your arrival.

That sounded like it might be a good idea I really needed the practice. Plus it would help make me be a bit more comfortable with trying to land and catch food. Sure, maybe we should head back to that island. It gives me plenty of room to come in on and fewer things that I might accidentally fly into. Hunt having failed, I looked around and noticed quite a few things I could have hit if I wasn’t careful, like a stump or rotted log.

We both took to the air and flew back towards the island. Okay, I will remain here. Come towards me when you're ready, and let's see how well you can keep me from noticing you. Shiners gave a little wave of his wing.

Circling above for a few more minutes, I watched him before flying off over the trees to try to get out of his view. I landed in a tall tree. There was a small moment of concern as it bent a little under my weight but it managed to hold strong. My gaze focused upon Shiners in the distance as I called out to him. Can you see me? I was sure that I was hidden, but knowing that my vision was better than a human's made me wonder if the raven might notice me where my human self wouldn’t have.

After a few moments of him looking around, he shook his head. I don’t see you, so whenever you're ready.

I turned away from him, and dropped out of the tree, and was soon skimming over the treetops flying upwards. This time though I felt myself being boosted from below, like the wind was lifting me into the sky. It must have been one of those thermals that I had heard about. High above everything. The island that he was on was just a small dot in the distance, though as I focused on it I could zoom in a little bit, seeing it more clearly.

I circled one last time until I was behind Shiners and then began my dive, deciding to try coming in at a slightly steeper angle. My wings tucked in next to me and my feet pulled behind me. I was coming in fast. It started to panic me. That I might not be able to pull up. So as I got closer I spread my wings a little bit to slow my descent.

This turned out to be the wrong idea. Found you. I look down and sure enough, Shiners was staring right at me. It’s not a bad idea, but next time maybe try to use the sun. Most animals can’t see well looking at the sun and it can hide your approach.

I grumbled and slowed my descent more until I landed next to him. I was slowly starting to get the hang of flying, but I still had those moments of fear. I will keep that in mind. This is much trickier than I thought. On the ground, you just have to run straight at it; with flying you have to think about your speed, whether you can pull up, the right angle to bank, when to extend your legs, and all the small little movements.

Well, at least you have Charlie, and if your lucky, you're parents to help you with food. I wonder if there are other options that you can use. I have seen the rare human hunting with birds; maybe you could get one of them to teach you.

That gave me pause, and I suddenly imagined myself in a school with a bunch of other raptors all being taught how to hunt by a human. We could ask Charlie about it. I’m not sure how well it would work, but it would certainly give me something to try out.

Well, if you're up for it, give it another shot. And then we can head back to the fort to get some food. Charlie said he would try to go there at lunch.

I spreaded my wings out and took to the air. I improved at diving down, but I never got too close before he spotted me. It was good practice. Over time the instincts started to become second nature. Though there was still a fight between the animal instincts and human knowledge.

I had worked up an appetite by the time we flew in the direction of the fort. We arrived just in time to see Charlie making his way up the trail towards us. I skreed out a hello.

He waved over to me as I glided down and landed in the fort. How was school today? I guess John and Frank are asking where I was.

Shiners landed next to me and repeated it to Charlie. Charlie responded, “Yeah. They were worried, So I told them you had the flu.”

I nodded and sighed. So what are we going to do about my parents. We should talk to them today, but not sure if I’m ready. Also, where should we talk? Part of me thinks here, but you can’t drive that close and it’s a bit of a walk. Plus if things don’t go well, them knowing where I am may not be a good idea. Any ideas of where to meet them?

Charlie seemed to consider it as he scrunched his face in concentration, “Well, there is the campground near my house that no one goes to this time of year. You could go there, and I would let your parents know to meet you there.”

I look to Shiners and he shrugged, “This is up to you Mike. Do you want to wait, or do this tonight?”

If I’m truthful…neither. I kinda just want to go back to sleep and wake up human, or leave and never return. But I know neither ais very realistic. So… let's try it tonight; you both will be there, and hopefully, this will work. Maybe I can spend a bit more time trying to turn into a wolf before they show up. My heart raced in my chest at the thought, but I knew that it had to be done. Let’s meet there tonight. Me and Shiners can fly there now. I think I know where it Is, though I've never tried from the air.

Shiners laughed and looked at Charlie. “Can you describe it? I probably know the area and can bring our feather-brained friend here to it.”

“It’s about a mile up the coast, north of town. There are two large islands nearby and a big willow tree out back. If you follow the coast you should be able to find it,” he said.

Shiners said, “I think I know the area. The campsite was good for food at times, in the summer. There is a large cabin near the water that we can meet you at.”

I nodded. It sounds like we have a plan. Let's head there now and I can try to meditate and shapeshift until they arrive.

Charlie smiled. “That sounds good. Here, I got you a hamburger from the lunchroom. I should head back or John and Frank will wonder where I’ve run off too.” He stood to leave.

Shortly after Charlie's departure. Shiners took to the air to fly in the direction of the campgrounds hopefully finding good news with my parents.