Free Talons by Karolyn Cairns

anger.
    “ You really need to calm
down,” Ty pointed out and grinned. “It’s amazing how the change
intensifies one’s personality. Were you always this
punchy?”
    Vivvie glared at him. “I had OCD until
your friend bit me.”
    She was outraged at his raucous
laughter. He chuckled until he got tears in his eyes.
    “ I don’t find it funny at
all,” she said with a glower.
    Ty got himself under control and met
her furious look. “No wonder Ryken couldn’t resist. That combined
with your new power should be interesting.”
    “ It’s a nervous disorder,”
Vivvie pointed out. “I’ve struggled with it all my life. I don’t
see it as an asset at all.”
    “ Combined with your new
nature, it’s an asset,” Ty said. “Cats are quite basic, even us.
They tend to have short attention spans; easily distracted. Your
condition makes you quite a catch. Ryken no doubt saw this when he
made you. When you make the change, you will see what I
mean.”
    “ You said it was painful,
this change?” Vivvie said quietly, fear in her gaze once more.
“Does it hurt?”
    “ I won’t lie to you. We
haven’t ever made any humans,” Ty disclosed with a compassionate
look. “Our ancestors did. I can only tell you we’ll do what we can
to ease any of your discomfort.”
    “ This power; what is it
like?”
    “ Illness is a thing of the
past. You will feel very healthy, strong, and your reflexes are
incredible. Your sight will get acute, as well as your smell and
hearing, and some even have extra senses. You must wait to see what
the change gifts you with. It’s different with each of
us.”
    “ What is your gift?” she
asked and he didn’t answer her right away. She folded her arms
across her chest. “You told me everything else; what is
it?”
    “ I can see future events,”
Ty said tensely and his expression was bleak. “Knowing never makes
it less painful; I have found.”
    “ What do you see for
me?”
    “ I don’t,” he replied
softly. She tensed immediately. “I don’t see you at all,
Vivian.”
    “ What does that mean?”
Vivvie demanded and her fear grew at his pained look.
    “ I don’t know what it
means.”
    Vivian wearied of talking and looked
out at the dark interstate, avoiding the obvious in his words until
she could stand it no more.
    “ I’m going to die before I
make this change,” she said stiffly. “Isn’t that what it
means?”
    “ I could never read Eli. He
has a very powerful gift as our Chief,” Ty said softly and reached
over and squeezed her hand clenched in her lap. “Eli has been the
only one so far, but it’s possible.”
    “ How many are in this
group?” Vivvie asked curiously.
    “ Over two hundred and we
started with five,” he disclosed. “That is why we monitor our
numbers. To avoid discovery from the humans we must limit
procreation. Only our Elders and Chief have free reign to breed.
Offspring with our gifts are an asset to the group.”
    Vivvie struggled with what she knew of
cats, even the big ones. Thoughts of their hunting habits made her
eyes widen.
    “ You mean we hunt like the
big cats on National Geographic?”
    “ The very same,” he
concluded and saw her shiver of horror. “You won’t ever go back to
Burger King again. You won’t miss it; trust me.”
    “ That’s just gross!” Vivvie
said in horror, eyes filled with revulsion.
    “ You won’t be able to
resist, Vivian,” he explained. “It’s instinctual. Our life can seem
brutal to an outsider, but it’s necessary for survival.”
    “ I can’t even see myself
eating a deer,” she lamented with a sad expression.
    “ I can and their delicious,”
he countered cheerfully. “Speaking of which; you must be hungry by
now?”
    “ I suddenly lost my
appetite.”
    “ We stop to eat, gas up, and
we keep going,” he informed her tersely. “You need to eat. I know
all I’ve told you is much to take in. I know you think about your
family; your friends.”
    “ I may as well enjoy my