Chapter Four: Midnight Journey

Riley was about to do something daring, she was going to sneak away for the night. She needed a break, and also she wanted to explore the woods. She leaped from the attic window to the nearby tree branches hanging in front of her window, she just barely caught it with one hand. As she struggled to hold on a light from downstairs turned on, Riley began to panic. She looked down and estimated that if she landed like they had taught her in tumbling a few years back that she could make it without hurting herself. Swinging around and twisting her arms she executed a sharp turn and twisting her body around so that she hit the ground at just the right angle. It hurt, but it was worth it.

Riley stood up and dusted herself off, then looking around she transformed into her animal. The chill of the air went away as fur enveloped her skin. Riley trotted to the road, and then she began to run. The wind blew into her face and it felt good, she felt like she was running away from her problems, life and her troubles. She felt, free. Free from her mother, siblings and free from the things that held her back. She smiled a foxish smile. This was perfect, she wished she could always be as happy as she was now.

Looking towards the woods she pressed on till she reached them. The woods looked nice in the dim moonlight as she walked in. That feeling that someone was watching her returned but she ignored it. After awhile she came to a pond with crystal clear water, little fish swam and bright colored shells lay there as if placed. She found a rock and lay there listening to the sounds of the night woods. She didn’t want to go home, ever. She wanted everything to be as it was now forever. She saw a hawk perch itself near her and she watched as it transformed into the boy from earlier. Riley had a strange feeling she should transform into her human form as well.

In doing so the boy looked stunned, but then he smiled, “Well, I didn’t know there were more of my kind,” he said, then he stuck out his right hand. “Josh” he said, Riley smiled and shook his hand.

“My name is Riley,” she replied.

He looked to the woods and gave a low whistle, other animals emerged from the forest. A wolf, and an eagle flying next to the wolf. They got to Josh and then they looked at Riley. “It’s okay guys she is one of us,” he said assuringly.

One by one, the wolf and the eagle turned into humans. The wolf was a short, brown haired girl with hazel eyes. The eagle was a boy.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

“This is Maddie and Mark,” Josh said.

Maddie turned to Riley and squealed. “Finally another girl!”

Mark looked almost frightened as he said, “Yeah, another girl...”

Maddie cocked her head to the side and looked Riley up and down. The weirdest expression coming over her face, like when you give a toddler a present. Riley looked at Mark who seemed to be hiding behind Josh.

“He is scared of girls,” Maddie said then laughed.

Riley smiled and whispered back, “Good reason to be scared”.

Maddie chuckled and then turned to Josh. “How do you keep finding people, it blows my mind,” she said looking at him intently.

“Easy, I pay attention to my surroundings while flying,” he said in reply.

“But I fly too, and I haven’t found anyone.” Mark retorted.

Josh slapped the back of Mark’s head playfully, “That’s because you don’t pay attention to things, you have flown into many a tree,” Josh laughed.

Mark pouted and crossed his arms. Riley burst out laughing, followed by Maddie then they said in unison, “Boys, we will never understand them.”

They looked at each other and started laughing again. Josh was smiling, but Mark looked confused and nervous.

He whispered into Josh’s ear, “What’s wrong with them? Are they okay? Do they need help?”

Josh laughed at this, and the girls who overheard laughed even harder until tears of mirth filled their eyes and their sides hurt from laughing so much. Maddie and Riley started talking about schoolwork and the boys looked on in amazement, until the girls noticed.

“What?” they said in unison yet again.

“How do you talk so fast?” Mark wondered.

“How do you breathe?” Josh asked.

The girls shook their heads and laughed. They didn’t know the answers. The group chatted with each other until the blue birds began to sing. Riley frowned, it was time for her to depart from her newfound friends.

“Will I see you again tomorrow?” She asked hopefully.

“I have a basketball game,” Mark said.

Josh looked regretful as he said he had a party the next night. Maddie smiled and said she could come over during the day. Riley gave Maddie her address and they departed. Each one to their own lives, some happy and others such as Riley’s depressing.