Free Spark (Legends of the Shifters) by J.B. North Page B

little less than a week ago.
    “ I
never got to give you your birthday present,” said Ayon,
filling the silence.
    “ Oh?”
I said, grinning at him. “Do you have it with you?”
    He
lifted a finger and walked into the horse stall that he’d
turned into his bedroom. He came back holding a velvet cloth,
something we never saw at the orphanage for its expense.
    “ Velvet?!”
I exclaimed. “Where did you get that?”
    “ I
had to save up for it, that’s all,” he said. “But
there’s more.” He folded back part of the fabric,
exposing a simple, but beautiful ring.
    I
stepped closer to study it. There was a small, red gem, twinkling in
the streams of light that shone through the cracks in the walls.
    “ Ayon,
you don’t mean it,” I said, disbelieving. “That’s
too much.”
    He
shook his head. “No, its not. I wish I had something better,
something worthy of you.”
    My
smile began to fade as I realized what was happening.
    He
barreled on before his nerves betrayed him. “I want you to have
it because...I love you.” He took two long strides forward and
grabbed my hand. “Will you accept my gift? Will you marry me?”
    I
looked down at my feet and slipped my hand out of his. I had known
Ayon for a long time. We used to meet in the yard every day to play
with each other. To me, Ayon is like a brother. A friend. He’s
someone that I’ve never thought of romantically. Plus, after
everything that's happened, there was no way that I could think about
something like that.
    “ Ayon…”
I started.
    His
eyes darkened.
    “ I
don’t know how to say this, but…things have happened
since I left. Things are not the same, and because my life has gone a
new direction, I'm afraid that I can't... I can't marry you.” I
felt my face turn bright red at the prospect.
    He
turned away.
    “ I’m
sorry,” I whispered.
    “ It’s
fine,” he said, perhaps a little too aggressively.
    My
heart sank as I realized that things would never be the same. I would
always feel awkward around him now.
    I
took a step back, my eyes watering. My best friend, now just an
awkward acquaintance.
    He
glanced at me just before I turned to go. “You can’t feel
anything at all? I could love you and make sure you're safe. Always.”
    I
shook my head. “I just don’t feel that way,” I
said.
    He
looked away again.
    I
sighed heavily. “I'm afraid I don't have time to go see Elna.
Please tell her that I said hello and that I miss her.”
    After
a while of silence, I said, “And I'll miss you too, Ayon.”
    When
he didn't reply, I turned and hurried out of the stable. Out of all
the things to expect out of today, this was not one of them. I got
back into the air as quickly as I could, and circled my old home,
memorizing the way it looked before I had to leave. Down below, I saw
Ayon watching me. I was almost angry at him for ruining our perfect
friendship, but it turned to sadness as quickly as it had come.
    I
sang a somber farewell, and then started toward the conservatory. My
mind was somewhere else as I made my way back. When I was only
halfway there, I was starting to feel faint from over-exercise. I
needed a rest, and fast, before I fell to the ground. I soared low,
searching the rough terrain for a good landing spot. Up on a hill,
there was a lone tree surrounded with the wiry yellow grass of
winter.
    I
landed clumsily and stumbled. The insensitive weeds snagged my
feathers. I sunk down into them, uncaring, and tried to steady my
breathing. Before long, the weeds seemed much more comfortable and
warm compared to flying. I told myself to get up, but my body argued
stubbornly with my brain. I was soon asleep.

    *****

    I
woke up to the sound of sniffing. The sound of an animal.
    I was
instantly awake, and before I did anything else, I changed back into
first form.
    I,
like everyone else in my kingdom and the surrounding kingdoms, had
heard many tales about the unfortunate people who had been killed in
their second form. That’s why