Image Rights to quizilla

“Our kind has been involved in too much bloodshed I can only ask you to help me right the wrong that was done,” pleaded Olin.

“There is no other way, but to destroy them,” replied Genu. “Even if I’d lose my life to do it.” His eyes were full of rage as he plotted to fight with teeth, claws, and fangs.

“The Alexandrite is the key,” Olin said. “A drop of the nectar of the blue hyacinth neutralizes its enchantment. The people of the forbidden forest shall awaken from the curse of the high priest.”

“But it could only be found in the land of the prophets,” Genu said. “A week’s journey to get there and back.”

“I’ll go with no one else but you – brother,” Olin replied.

Olin shifted into a Pegasus and Genu a Manticore then they flew.

Image rights to munecaoriginal

One early morning, Dr. Robert Cruz was about to make rounds, when he saw his childhood friend in the elevator.

“Here, keep this,” Alyssa said as she handed over a pocket sized Bible to the doctor. “It already helped me through a lot.”

The doctor politely thanked his friend then went on his rounds when the elevator door opened. He received an SMS from Alyssa.

“I also spent sleepless nights watching my friend deteriorate at room 407. I know you can recover from the pain.”

He saw the reflection of his dark set eyelids from a hallway mirror. He opened the Bible and read the inscription inside:

“Alyssa,

Robert gave me this to remind me about faith and moving on.

Always,

Tina Cruz.”

Tears fell in front of the empty room where Tina’s name used to be seen by Robert.

Image rights to sfPhotocraft

The sun was already low in the horizon when he reached the familiar white residence.

Brian waited in anticipation to meet his former classmate, Mae. This would be their first meeting in six years after graduation. He wanted to surprise her; his memory of her home served him well. He traveled hundreds of miles, just to see her again.

With orange tulips and chocolates in his hands, a black coupe parked on the street and he saw her familiar figure. Mae didn’t change; everything about her was the same.

Her face lighted up when she saw him. “Brian!” she exclaimed, not entirely knowing what to say.

The passenger door opened, a small boy came out and looked at them. Brian’s heart felt light at the presence of the child who bore the same eyes and shape of his handsome face.

Image rights to outdoorlife.com

Like a burst of energy, Genu shifted into a monstrous black bear and with one strike, the cage was destroyed. He broke his brother’s chain like it was ceramic. Olin shifted into a lion and they both rampaged out of the palace.

As soon as they were in a clearing, Genu shifted into a falcon and Olin into a hawk. They flew into the heart of the forest where the thick canopies of oak and acacia sheltered them from their bewildered pursuers.

“What has happened to me?” asked Genu in his human form.

“It is the witchcraft of the high priest, brother,” Olin said. “I took the Alexandrite because I know that was the only way to drive you out of the palace. Its mysterious powers enhanced the spell on you,” he continued.

“We have to seek vengeance,” Genu said.

Image rights to momlogic.com

Gem’s left foot leaned outward and forward, while her right foot was planted on the floor, she held on to a railing with her left hand as her right hand balanced a tray of cookies for a fund raising activity in school.

“Bravo!” shouted a voice in the crowd. Gem righted herself up from skidding on the slippery floor of the hallway.

“Whew!” she said to herself, avoiding an embarrassing fall. “Thank you Suriel,” she prayed to her guardian angel.

On her way home, a masked man cornered her in an alley, pointed a knife to her throat, and rummaged her schoolbag for money. For no apparent reason, she slipped in the same position earlier; her attacker fell on the ground driving his own knife to his chest.

“Suriel, thank you,” she whispered. The money raised that day was untouched.

Image rights to fanpop.com

“Dragon!” cried the men as they hurried to arm their heavy artillery. The arrows didn’t harm Genu’s heavy-duty skin.

He secured the unconscious intruder in his claws as he leaped into the air, leaving the useless pursuit of the men below. At last the Alexandrite was recovered, the pride of his people.

He landed in their city and returned the stone to the chief. The intruder was placed in a cage and was chained with an alloy of rare earth metals, majority of which were the Lanthanoids, the only material known to suppress shifting.

“You are lucky, the chief let you live this time,” Genu said.

“Genu?” pleaded the intruder. “Don’t you recognize your own brother, it is I, Olin?”

The words struck Genu like a dagger and a lightning of memories flooded him. He was taken aback with disbelief.

Image Rights to Crispin Swan

As soon as Genu soared the sky, his eagle eyes saw a silver arrow at the base of a pronghorn’s nape. It ran like a madman through the prairie. Every time it raised its legs, the wind gushed thoughtlessly through its form. Genu matched its speed with every flap of his wings.

It was headed for the Forbidden tribe at top speed. The heart of heaven was in its mouth – an Alexandrite, the sacred gemstone that Genu guarded.

As the chosen guardian, he was bound to return the precious stone at all cost.

With just a few meters to the gate of the Forbidden tribe, the natives of the village noticed his descent then started shooting arrows at him Genu folded his wings and swooped down to the pronghorn. His mighty claws grabbed the pronghorn, but the arrows suddenly came.

—

Part one of the story HERE

Image rights to Bakerella

Following a conversation @twitter:

“@royrebel Why are you running away?”

“@lostboy99 I’m sick and tired of my parents dragging me to their stupid family trips.

“@royrebel I ran away too. I resent my decision then. Don’t want you to suffer my fate.”

“@lostboy99 What happened to you?”

“@royrebel I was confused. I was miserable. Trust me it’s not worth it. Don’t leave.”

“@lostboy99 That’s easier said than done.”

“@royrebel True, but I will be here for you bro every step of the way.”

“@lostboy99 Hmmm… Okay. I’ll give it a try.”

Roy signed out of twitter then went to his parents’ room.

“Goodnight dad,” he said. “Okay, I decided to join you and mom to our trip to the province tomorrow.”

“We’ll have a good time son,” Roy’s dad said and signed out of his iPhone twitter account as @lostboy99.

JLplusAL: http://www.flickr.com/photos/justinlindsay/ / CC BY 2.0)

The intruder ran along the river while Genu, the guardian of the forest, swiftly engaged in pursuit. As soon as Genu was seen, the intruder took the shape of a crocodile and dove in the wild water. Genu was astonished! He was confronted with another shifter like himself. So he changed into his favorite form and dove paws first, attempting to claw that tricky intruder. But, the crocodile obviously had the advantage in the water and escaped him.

There was no choice, but to resurface. His pride was hurt, yet he knew that he had to track and capture the intruder once again. He prepared himself then jumped in the empty air; transforming into an eagle. He took to the skies and searched with his mighty eyes. A shifter, after all, had a silver arrow shaped mark on their neck.

—

A writing exercise from The Ivory Pen, this story, hopefully, would have more than one entry.

For Part 2, please read it HERE