Free Shadows in the Cave by Caleb Fox

clay, like a pot. Your parents gave you the raw material. You yourself made the shape of the pot you wanted. Will mattered. Making decisions mattered. Determination. The clay was just clay, and it would take any form.
    Now Shonan felt a sharp twist of pain in his loins, as though they were responsible for this unnatural creature who sat by the fire talking foolishness. He stifled a cry. What had he done wrong?
    “Practice once now,” the sea turtle man said. “It gets easier every time.”
    Aku made a murmur of protest, and then said, “All right.”
    Shonan sat up, rubbed his eyes, and watched. Feet to talons, trunk to feathers, arms to wings, face to that crazy orange face disc of the great dusky owl. Oghi reached out and tugged at a human ear. “Next time get rid of these. The winged panther has his own.”
    Aku felt his ears in embarrassment. He looked down to make sure he’d replaced his peeing equipment, his do-wa , with an owl’s.
    Aku looked across at Shonan. “I’m sorry, Father.” Gradually, he changed himself back into the shape his family was used to.
    Shonan stood up, getting his confidence back. “I suppose it can’t be helped.”
    “Grandmother Tsola told me it’s the way I am.”
    Shonan sighed. “Why don’t we all eat?”
    As Aku reached for meat, he felt a surge of bloodlust, the spirit of the killer. He remembered that the winged panther was a deadly hunter. It was one of the few creatures that hunted animals bigger than itself. Worse, it hunted, killed, and ate its own kind, other owls.
    “You’re uncomfortable with it, but it is part of what you are,” said Oghi. Shonan gave the sea turtle man a dirty look. Oghi went on, “Kind of fun when you get used to it, and handy.”
    For a moment they ate in silence. Then Shonan said, “Let’s get going.”
    Aku jumped up. “Yes.”
    Shonan asked Oghi, “We’ve lost our chance to get ahead of the bastards on the trail, right?”
    “Yes. You can still surprise them, but now only from behind.”
    “Whatever,” said Shonan. He got the hide with the map from Tagu’s load and unfurled it.
    “We’re here,” said Oghi, pointing, “at the mouth of Any Chance River. The next river is the one you want, Big River. You go along this side of the river to right here, where it intersects the trail. It’s no more than half a day’s walk.”
    He glanced at Aku.
    “I’ll be fine,” Oghi said, answering the question in both of their minds.
    “You’re not going on with us, are you?” said Shonan.
    “Fighting is not my medicine, and there’s no need. The way is wide and easy now. I prefer to swim home.”
    Aku said, “Grandfather, do you foresee success for us?”
    Oghi laughed out loud.
    Shonan was surprised by Aku’s question and shocked by Oghi’s laughter. “Grandfather” was a term of honor not customarily given to a person outside the tribe. It was an acknowledgement of kinship and respect. Regardless, it was more of the wicky-wacky stuff he despised.
    Oghi got serious. “Sometimes I can answer questions about the future, but I would have to gather materials and conduct the ceremony. You have no time for that.”
    “We don’t,” Shonan snapped out.
    The sea turtle man spoke directly to Aku. “You don’t need my help. Ask the owls. Ask the ones that cross your path in the ordinary world. Ask the ones you dream of. Ask the owl inside yourself. All will help you.”
    Aku gave a wry smile. Shonan frowned at the owl feathers tied into his son’s hair.
    Oghi stood up and grinned. Before their eyes he performed the metamorphosis again. Claws, carapace, beak—a sea creature on all fours.
    He waggled his head at them, did a little dance with his front feet, turned, and crawled into the ocean.
    “Let’s go,” said Shonan.
    Aku stood up shakily. He made sure of Tagu’s lashings, stalling. He looked up at Shonan. “Father, do you want me to fly ahead and find them?”
    “No,” said Shonan. It came out as a growl.
    That was fine