SIXTEEN – GREGORY
Our ten-minute flight took closer to an hour. I showed Ash my shifting location, an alcove on the roof of my house, not too far from my window. Instead of landing, she just dropped off her bag, then flew off again. Following her was a challenge I was not likely to fail. Just when I thought the night could not get any better.
As magnificent as she is on land, that is nothing compared to her flying. Together we climbed high, then circled around each other as we dove towards the ground. We flew perfectly in tandem with each other. She was a sight, owning the wind and using it far more dexterously than I could ever hope to do. Where I visited the skies, she belonged there. It must have been agony for her, not thinking it was safe enough to fly.
The more time I spend with Ash, the more I realize how essential she is to my life. I don’t want to ever fly alone again. I want to see her racing around me, forever. I feel crazy for thinking this so strongly, after all, I’ve only known her for two days, but it feels right. The old people always say, when you meet the right one you just know. I always chalked them up as loony, or romantics, but I now see it as truth.
Without a doubt, Ash is my future. She just might not know it yet herself.
After a while, I land and shift back to human, wanting nothing more than to watch her. I feel such joy, watching her streak through the sky. It goes to show how much she loves flying, as it took her about fifteen minutes to discover that I had stopped. When she finally did, she flew towards me on the landing. As soon as her talons hit, she shifted back to human so effortlessly that she was able to walk towards me without stumbling.
“You are so graceful,” I found myself saying.
She blushes, “Thank you, I ought to be, after twelve years of practice.”
That doesn’t make sense, “Twelve years? How old are you?”
“I shifted for the first time at eleven.” Changing the subject she says, “Sorry, I know it was supposed to be a quick flight back, but once I was in the air, I didn’t want to stop. I haven’t been grounded this long since before my first shift.”
“I loved flying with you, I only stopped for my want to watch you.”
She smiled at me, and god it was stunning. Unabashed by my nakedness, she walks right up to me, “You know, it’s been a night of firsts for me. I have never flown with anyone else.”
That surprised me, “Really? Why didn’t you fly with your clan mates?”
“I would have,” she shrugged, “but none of them were fliers. The closest was Paul, he was a monkey.” She laughed and I loved the sound, “He didn’t quite fly, but he could really launch himself through the trees.”
“I am sure that was quite the sight.” I step closer to her, “I am jealous of that, you are the only shifter I have ever known. I have never flown with, let alone interacted with another one.”
Her eyes looked pained, “It’s understandable, you know how secretive shifters have to be. You have probably been around a few but would never know it.” She closed the distance and hugged me, crushing her head into my chest. “I am so sorry you have had to be alone. It’s not fair.”
Hugging her back, “No it’s not, but I would do it all again if it led me to you.”
She tried to back away, but I wouldn’t let her go, “No, Gregory. You can’t think about me that way. I know we just shared something wonderful, but I am dangerous to be around. I have people hunting me.”
“They don’t scare me.” I lied, the thought of them taking Ash from me, scared me to my core. She does not need to know that though.
“Then you are stupid,” she looks up at me. “They may have killed everyone from my clan. I haven’t heard any official word, but I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s what happened. I only got away because I can fly.”
“Oh, my sweet-eagle.”
“I still have hope, but I am not sure how far that will go. These are not people to mess with Gregory. Hell, I don’t even what they look like, but that is what makes them so dangerous.” She starts to shake, I can’t tell if it is from cold or fear. “They came out of nowhere, and there were so many of them.” To my amazement, a single tear falls from her eye and she says so quietly, I almost miss it, “I had to kill two of them to get away.”
She has been dealing with this guilt by herself. I remember what it was like after I killed my first man during a skirmish with some bandits. It was so traumatizing, it was what caused my first shift. I reach up to wipe her tear away, “It’s going to be okay, you had to kill them. I am glad you did, otherwise you would not be here today.”
She shakes her head, “I would have gotten away without killing them. They only reason they are dead is to protect my identity. They saw my human form”
“It’s okay. If they had your identity, you would never be safe. This is good news.” She is shaking more and I know it’s not from the chill in the air. “My love, they would not have hesitated to hurt you. Believe me, you did the best thing you could have.”
Ash stiffens in my arms, then changes the subject, “Can we go inside?”
Letting go of her, “Of course,” and I head towards the ledge, picking up her travel bag on the way. Turning back to look at her, “Follow my steps as best you can, it’s can be a tricky climb down.”
Smirking, she says, “I am sure I can handle it.” And she does, but not quite as graceful as she handled her landing.
When we are both safely inside, I shut the window and there is a sudden awkwardness in the room. Trying to break through it, I say, “Bet you didn’t think you would be back in here so soon?”
“No,” she chuckles, “I never thought I would be in here again.”
“Ouch,” giving her a wince, like her words hurt.
“Oh, don’t be so dramatic, you did run me out of town.”
Stalking up to her, “But then I chased you right back in.” One thing I love about her, she doesn’t shy away from me, despite me being twice her size. As I approached, she stood her ground. She flared a challenge in her eyes, “The real question is, can you keep me here?”
Accepting the challenge, I picked her up and walked her over to the bed. Laying her down gently, I ask, “I will give you plenty of reasons to stay. Do you think you’re up for round two? I don’t want to push you if you’re still sore from earlier.”
Repeating her line from a few minutes ago, “I am sure I can handle it.”