The Crone's crux by: Pent Ghelsburg
Disclaimer: The characters depicted in this work are purely fictional. Any resemblance to persons alive or dead is purely coincidental. They are the original and rightful intellectual property of their creators. I use them with permission and respect. This work involves underaged characters and transformative content. You have been warned.
A thunderous roar reverberates through the wind. Striking lightning flashes in the sky as a bright flash blinds all those who might look toward it. A moon, not yet full, casts its luminescent gaze over the land. A light blue glaze frosted over the flowing grass as it swayed in a light but ever-present wind. A sudden trickle of rain cascades from the dreary clouds.
A young boy stares out his window. Fear has overtaken his imagination, sending his ever-present concern rising. The occasional flash causes him to bundle up in his own legs, clutching a nearby lion plush that had been given to him as a young child. Now 11, he should have outgrown this fear, and yet it is at the very core of his being.
"Nait, are you awake again? Why don't you try putting in earplugs?" The boy's best friend had invited him over for a sleepover.
The child turns over, clutching the same plush to his stomach. "I'm afraid...I can't sleep."
"Just try to sleep. It's just lightning. It sounds like it's moving away anyway since it's not as loud as before." The older boy from across the room said before turning on a nearby lamp.
The scruffy-haired boy squinted and tried to adjust to the sudden change in illumination. Looking around, there were no monsters. His friend handed him a pair of earplugs that he'd gotten from the bathroom. Resting his eyes once again, the sound of rumbling from the outside seemed to settle into a gentle silence. Only rain continued to fall, a slow but continuous trickle as it occasionally hit the glass pane of the window. And so...he finally allowed fatigue to overtake his mind, drifting off into the sleep realm.
The other boy turned to sleep as well, and so they shared in that moment of solace. A careful silence remained in the room, as the remnants of the storm had passed. Even the rain eventually came to a stop, and the grey clouds soon carried away with the wind. His sleep that night was restful. No dreams had visited him that night; his mind was simply too tired for them to form. Instead, it was not til the morn that he awoke anew to the familiar sight of the glare of the morning sun.
A light knock sounded against his door as the soft voice of his friend beckoned to him.
"Time to get up, sleepy head. Don't you still wanna check out the crones?" The figure of the other boy was looming over his bed as if to make sure the deeper sleeper did not waver again.
Pent was a boy whom Nait had known for a few years now. One year his senior, the boy was a more academically astute child who took his studies all too seriously. Gravitating to Science and math, the older boy was quirky and mostly isolated from the school community at large. He was a more insular boy who thrived on books in solitude. Yet despite that, the two boys had found company in each other and were now closer.
Nait finally rose from the bed, the sheets sliding off with him as he had bundled up in them. Leaving the lion plush behind, he carried himself over to his bag and picked out a change of clothes for the day. A simple graphic t-shirt with a graffiti design on it and a pair of nylon swim trunks that cut off a bit higher than his knees. Sliding on a drab old pair of socks, not thinking much about the fact that none of them matched.
Stepping out of the room, he continued down the narrow hallway that led toward the living room. Nait was an only child, so it was a small abode with but 2 bedrooms, one for his parents and his own shared space. The younger boy tripped on a toy he had left in the hallway, motioning for the other boy who was following him to avoid it. But Pent was much more aware of the time of the morning and just shrugged it off.
The older boy was a hard-working boy who took advantage of his academic prowess and turned it into a small tutoring enterprise. But most of the money had gone toward making both he and his brother's lives better. Pent was the more responsible of the two, but often let his curiosity get the better of him. More often than not, he was very much by the rules, but sometimes his scientific interest invited more risky behavior.
Inside the kitchen, Nait and his friend found a small plate of baked goods prepared for them. Fresh blueberries, fruit scones, and a bowl of powdered grains. Next to it was a bowl with a spool so they could mix it if they wished. A large glass of squeezed orange sat idle with a singular bead of perspiration rolling down the side of it. The scruffy-haired boy took a single sip of it, turning his gaze toward the entrance of the kitchen, looking at it as if he expected his parents to walk through it at any moment.
"Look, your parents left you a note about today." The bigger boy said before handing his friend a piece of paper.
Nait looked at the finely written note. It was apparent his mother had written it. He could tell from the handwriting alone.
"Hey, Kiddo. Have fun at the old crone's house, but be careful about it, alright? Just make sure you are back around lunch time." The boy's parents were hardly strict about curfews, so it was a flexible deadline at best.
The scruffy-haired child nodded back at Pent. "Yep. They just want me back around lunch."
They made quick work of the food. It was a quick meal, and the upcoming excursion with the crones sat at the back of their minds. The reminder made them even more excited about it than they already were. The plan had been worked out for weeks. Head to the old crones and play on the tire swing over the Shiftston River. It was to be a day of fun and relaxation for both of them.
Nait and Pent finished their meal, and the smaller cleaned up after himself, making sure to wipe off the dishes and dry them. He knew if he didn't, he would hear about it from his father, who was stricter than his mother was. Making sure to stash it on the drying rack along with the other dishes and cutlery that had been put there. Finishing by wiping whatever water had collected across the counter twice over. The other boy, meanwhile, stepped back to the room to change into his casual wear.
Pent didn't take long before he returned to the kitchen to help Nait. The younger boy looked briefly outside the window in front of him. It was clear out with but a few powdery white clouds in the sky. The sun was shining, and he squinted as he caught the reflection of it against the window before him. Turning his gaze away, he finally drifted out of the kitchen. Both his parents were relaxing on the sofa, watching a baseball game of a team that the family favored.
"We're headed to the crone's. I'll be back this afternoon." The scruffy-haired boy wrote on a piece of paper before sliding into the same spot the other one was.
Nait slid on whatever pair of sneakers by the door, grabbing the towel his parents had left for him there. Finally heading outside, he was immediately hit by the dry humidity of that spring day. A light gust carried in front of him, causing the door to jangle a bit as he swung it ajar. Pent wasn't far behind him in exiting from the home. Shutting the door behind them, he vacated the home and headed toward the shared bike rack his family kept out front.
Nait's bike was a candy red "Leon" model that was just about a year old. Purchased for his most recent birthday with a chirping bell on the handlebars. He ran it once over before unchaining it from the rack. Springing it off from the holding cell and taking it a few steps back. Nait raised his right leg over it, straddling the seat and taking his seat as its driver. He waited for his friend to grab his own bike, a slightly older, solid green model.
Pedalling off into the distance, the two boys began their short trek to the crone's house. The house in question was a beat-up old ramshackle that had been fixed up by the community for the benefit of the widow. Yet, even despite that, its resident was a foul old wench who was known far more for her bark than her bite. To the kids in the community, she was a witch, but to everyone else, she was just a lonely old woman who had lost her way since her husband had passed.
The boys made their way to the home in good time. Using all the back paths they were familiar with. They had been there a few times in the past. Despite her wretched ways, the old wretch had a soft spot for kids so long as they behaved themselves. Even going as far as to let them use an old tree fort, swing, and playset that had been built in her back yard for the child who had long since grown old and moved out from that home.
Nait and Pent arrived at the home, finding the old woman's dog waiting out front for her return. An old schnauzer whom she knew as "Terry", the pup was well into his twilight years. Wrapped up in a tattered old blanket with a chewed-up bone near his snout. No one feared the animal, as the thing barely moved except for its owner or for the benefit of food. The dog gently craned its neck as if to look at the new arrivals before quickly returning to its resting state.
"Come on, Pent. Let's go." The smaller boy pulled up his bike closer to the house where his friend had stopped.
Pent shook his head at him. "Hang tight. What if we explored the old crone's house first?"
"Wait, why would you want to do that? You know, we were not allowed to go inside. " The scruffy-haired boy couldn't help but be curious about the decision.
The bigger boy cocked a smirk across his face. "She's not home. Her car is missing. Why not take advantage and look around the place?"
"Uh...are you sure that's a good idea? What if she catches us? You know she doesn't like intruders, even when the town tried to help her, she was foul about it."
The spikey-haired boy shrugged. "Eh, she won't ever find out. Besides, I heard she has quite the collection of artifacts. Aren't you curious to see what she has?"
"Not really. I didn't think you would be either, so what's gotten into you?" Nait figured that
his friend must have heard something he hadn't.
Pent's smile grew a bit wider. "Rumor has it she has an old alchemist text that carries the true tale of the stone. We should find it. Who knows what it would be capable of?"
"The scryer's stone? That's an old wives' tale, and you know it. This is a fool's errand, and we're going to get in trouble. I just know it." The shorter boy folded his arms defensively.
The spikey-haired boy touched the other's shoulder to reassure him. "But what if it isn't? What if the stories are true and that it can transmute anything?"
Nait's mind began to stir with thoughts. Every kid had heard the tale of the old stone. A stone that had alchemical powers of transmutation. The ability to shift reality into something else entirely. To alter existence and to bend the very laws of physics that shape the world. It was a children's tale for certain, but one that had never been shown to be untrue.
"So what do you say? Are you in, or do you want to do the same old thing we always do when we come here?" Pent knew he was getting inside the other boy's head since Nait hadn't answered just yet.
The smaller boy looked into his friend's eyes. He knew when Pent was serious, and there was no question that he was a somewhat stubborn child.
"Fine, but after we're going tire swinging again." The scruffy-haired boy let out a deep sigh.
The bigger boy motioned for him to follow, and with that singular motion, Nait got off his bike and followed. The two boys made their way to the rear of the home. The sides of the house were thick with brush and overgrowth. Weeds grew up all along the walls of the structure. Carrying their way up along the entirety of it, thick enough almost to be a vine.
Pent took hold of the vine using all of his boyish might to pull himself up the length of it. Hand after hand, treating it like the rope climb activity he had done a few times in gym class. He was slow but steady, using the occasional window sill as a hold point for his foot holds until he was at the top. When he finally reached it, he waved for Nait to do the same.
His friend repeated the process, though he had a bit more difficulty. Managing to bring himself up to the top after a minor struggle. When they were on the roof, Pent looked around for an entryway. Sure enough, there was an open window that had been left ajar for some time. Flapping back and forth against the wind, the rickety wood hit against the side of the home. The bigger boy helped his friend up, and they were on their way again.
Stepping through the window, they found themselves in a dank old room that was thick with moths and debris. Both boys looked around once inside, finding a small loft with a large wooden table at its center. The table was covered in dust with several tarnished pieces of silverware strewn about. A singular plate lay without food and on its side, a perfectly placed dinette set as if it had been prepared for a meal some ages ago.
Pent motioned for his friend to follow him. The room was dark, but there was light enough from outside for them to find their way out of it. Nait took the lead just beyond the room, stepping through a hall that filtered the outdoor light through some stained glass windows. Various colors fused on the dirt-ridden floors that, despite years of neglect, still looked ornate as ever.
Along the wall, there were statues of the various lords and ladies of the manor. Nait peered at them, noticing that one of them was more beastial. A large lion of a fellow with thick, broad shoulders and a wide chest. His head flowing with a luxurious mane and a pronounced snout with clear fangs protruding. Its eyes seemed to follow them, the boy playing it off as an optical illusion, perhaps reflected from the light outdoors.
Eventually, they found their way into a galley. Nait peered around at the larger room that was unlike anything he'd ever seen before. A chandelier hung from the ceiling, with one of the crystals shattered from damage. Another statue of that same lion fellow sat atop a fireplace, except it was but a bust. Gems where its eyes should be glistened against the ever-shining light from outside. Their steps echoed as they neared it ever closer.
Nait looked at that statue, almost mesmerized by the crimson glow of the rubies at the core of its pupils. Shiny and transparent, but it was still dark enough that he couldn't see through it. Yet the longer he stared at it, the more transfixed he was by its appearance. Eventually, he couldn't help but touch it, as an unfamiliar warmth began to emanate through him.
"Is something wrong?" Pent asked, noticing his friend's blank stare.
Yet his friend did not answer. Nait was completely lost in the moment. His mind was completely absorbed in the very foundation of that ruby. It made him feel a strange sense of warmth, a familiar sense of welcoming, almost as if he belonged to the very statue itself. Soon, that warmth began to resonate through his body, becoming ever stronger with each passing second, and even still, his focus remained steady.
And so a vision soon came to him. His mind refocused on the grassy plains of the fields. Flowing stalks of bristly grass, both tall and untamed. Several animals gallop in the distance, all in the same fluid motion, bounding up and down. The sound of various birds, the sound of which Nait had never heard before, resounded in his ears. The blazing sun above peered down upon him.
Nait looked around as if he were completely lost. No longer was he in the old crone's home. Strangely, he felt the urge to scratch himself. Bringing his right hand over his left shoulder, he itched it several times over. Yet each time he did that, his desire grew until it was an insatiable one. That same feeling continued to spread throughout his body the more he tried to sate it.
Only a few seconds had passed, and already it resonated through his entire form. His skin was now feeling rougher than it had only moments ago. Dragging his nail across it, the tip of it caught over several hair follicles. Now that same sensation was accompanied by a balmy warmth billowing within his body. Steadily rising within his very core until it seemed like it had always been part of him,
Looking down at his arm, the boy couldn't help but notice small hairs growing in. Quickly, the space where skin could normally be seen was replaced by ever longer strands of hair. Dragging his finger once more across his arm, he noticed that his nails seemed longer than before. Bringing it closer to his eyes, they even seemed of a darker hue, almost as if they were black.
A sound soon resounded, thumping within his memory. An echoing roar echoed through the valley, clear enough that it was unmistakably that of a lion. His heart pounded, not quite racing from fear but instead from anticipation. Pulsing ever so suddenly into a throb, soon the entirety of his head hurt from a headache. Even his jaw started to seem sore.
Several moments passed, and his face began to protrude forward ever so slightly. His mouth extended outward further and further until it was long enough to resemble that of a feline's snout. Several of his teeth sharpened with his canines now growing long enough to show even when his mouth was shut. He touched his mouth and nose, feeling a wet tip along the bottom of his hands.
Yet, having them there, they did not seem unfamiliar to him. Pink paw pads and sharp claw-like nails were now all too prominent where his hand should be. The flip side of which was covered by a sandy coat of fur mixed with the occasional black patch here and there. Those strands of hair now very much resembled a coat of thick fur, and even still, it did not cause him any concern.
Pent shook him twice over; his friend had completely been lost in the moment. Now roused from the scene that had unfolded before him. When he came to, Nait found himself on the ground. No longer standing in front of that lion statue, he had been fixated just moments ago. Now looking back up at it, he noticed the ruby-crested gems no longer glowed as they did before.
"Are you alright? What happened to you?" The other boy looked at his friend with a confused gaze.
The smaller boy shook his head, still seeming out of it a bit. "What do you mean?"
"Well...perhaps you should look in a mirror. You almost look like you're a lion." Pent's tone seemed serious and without any signs of jest.
It took a moment for Nait to gather enough strength to get up. His body wobbled as he did, and even as he stood, the boy had to reach out for support. Fortunately, nearby there was a full-length mirror. Fragmented and broken, but complete enough to see the reflection from. The boy peered into it, and what looked back to him did not seem undesirable to him.
A young lion cub with green eyes gazed back towards him. Lean but lithe, where his leg muscles were. Just below him, through his legs, he could see a thin tail swaying back and forth. His entire body was now covered in that same sandy colored fur that had the very same occasional black spot from his vision. No longer was he just a boy, and yet, even still, he seemed unconcerned.
"Neat look, Pent, I'm a lion now. Roar." The sound was entirely juvenile but much more convincing than any mere human could make.
The other boy wasn't entirely sure how to respond. Seeing a bipedal animal in front of him was jarring to be sure, even though it was his own friend. Pent gazed up and down at him, still in awe of what had just transpired in front of him while his friend was passed out. Still, it was easy for him to tell that the whole ordeal hadn't caused Nait any pain.
"Yeah...you are. How does it feel?" Pent couldn't help but ask, as curiosity had piqued his interest.
Nait brushed the fur on his arm once over. "Feels kind of warm like my whole body is wrapped in a blanket burrito. It's nice."
"Interesting. I suppose that could have its own advantages and disadvantages." The bigger boy reached out to touch him, but hesitated before doing so.
The lion softly nodded. "You can touch if you want."
The older boy gently stroked him once over. Nait's fur was soft and short, untempered by environmental wear and tear. Pent didn't keep his touch long there, as he didn't want to make it weird. No words were exchanged between them for a few moments as an awkward silence filled the room. It wasn't until the small cub spoke that the ambiance was broken.
"So uh...do you still want to look for the Scyer's stone?" The smaller boy asked with a curious glint in his eyes.
Pent nodded, just wanting to have fun and no longer letting concern cloud his mind. He helped his friend off the floor. Nait looked over towards the statue again, but its dimmed stone showed no further radiance than it had before. It was as if the life energy had been sucked out of it. Turning his gaze, the lion followed behind his friend, and they began to explore anew.
Soon finding themselves among a grand staircase. Marbled floors were dusty from neglect, leading up to the stairs themselves. On both sides of it were oak rails that had long ago lost their luster. The dull laquer barely shone at all, even against the ever-peering daylight from the window pane. At the top of it, a singular statue stood a bust of the woman who was the house's mistress.
The sculpture was made some time ago, with its color still being present since it was the most recent addition to the room. Suddenly, a shatter pierced an echoing shriek through the hall. Pent looked behind him and noticed that his friend had knocked down an old vase. The old piece of pottery now lay shattered on the floor in hundreds of pieces.
"My tail did it." Nait said with a plucky smile.
The older boy huffed. "Be more careful."
Another sound soon echoed through the room. "Tap-tap-Tap-tap" one after the other, almost resembling the sound of footsteps.
"Oh man, I think the crone is home, and she might have heard us." Pent said with a look of concern on his face.
The lion boy nodded. "Let's skiddaddle before she finds us, and we get in trouble."
Both boys turned around and went the way they came. "Tip-tap-Tip-tap." The sound grew louder even still. Stiletto heels popped into the grand staircase. The woman's gaze refocused until it was on the broken vase. A shallow sigh escaped her lips as she went to pick it up. Paying it naught but to the wind, she crept back and turned around whence the way she came.
Nait and Pent returned to the outdoors. The peering sun had broken out of its shielding clouds and seemingly burned brighter than before. Hitting the lion boy's coat of fur brought a new, ever-bearing warmth to his body. Yet his body absorbed as if it had already adjusted to his new reality. The two of them caught their breath but remained alongside the building so that they wouldn't be seen.
A few moments passed, and a light gust picked up. They were just about to leave when a familiar voice was heard.
"What are you two doing here? Children are not allowed on my property." The crone's hoarse tone was unmistakable.
Both boys looked behind them and noticed the older woman peering at them from the wall's edge.
"Uh...we lost our ball, and we came looking for it." Nait said the first white lie that came to his mind.
The old woman stared at them before he eyes settled on the lion cub. "You're lying. You came to find the stone. Didn't you?"
Pent's eyes grew wide, surprised that the woman had figured it out so quickly. "How did you...?"
"Your friends form here speaks louder words than ever could." She shook her head at them as her eyes glinted a bit, reflecting the sun.
The younger boy looked at her, confused. "What do you mean?"
"The stone is a relic left by the original master of this manor, Lord Fursington II. Fursington was an alchemist who fused his very essence with that of the stone. You touched it, didn't you? The stone in the statue?" The tall, lanky woman folded her arms defensively.
The lion cub softly nodded. "Yeah, I did."
"The energy has transferred to you. The stone is useless now. Instead, it is a part of you. Fursington is part of your very being." The crone had spent some time researching the stone and understood it well.
Pent looked just as dumbfounded as his friend did. "So what does that mean, exactly? Is he going to change more? Does he have powers or something like that now?"
"Typical children always believe magic is at work. Nay, the boy will stay as he is. No longer a human but not quite an animal either. Such is the crux of Fursington." The woman turned her back, seeming no longer interested in talking with the boys.
Nait tried to stop her before blurting out. "Wait, where are you going? I don't know what any of this means."
"I need not explain to you. It's not like you would listen, let alone understand. In time, both of you will understand. Both of you reek of malfeasance and don't think you are clean even if you did not touch the stone." She turned around briefly to say this and point at the older boy, but did not step from the door.
Neither boy knew what she was talking about. Nait and Pent looked at each other in confusion, still expecting some clarification. She continued after a brief pause of silence.
"Fursington's crux or not, do not come back to this place, or I will have your hides. Off with you now." The old woman made her exit.
The smaller boy scratched his head and motioned for Pent to follow him. They had done what Pent wanted to do, and now it was his turn. Nodding, the bigger boy followed in tow. Both of them continued trekking to the rear of the house. Turning soon to the simpler task of enjoying the tire swing and the refreshing swim that came after it.
Nait and Pent would enjoy the remainder of the morning and part of the afternoon at the river. The clouds had cleared up, and it was a nice and breezy day. Soon, they forgot all about their endeavor at the old crones' mansion. The warning and experience having slipped their minds. It wouldn't be until later that afternoon that the lion boy would have to confront the issue again.
At home, the lion cub was greeted by his mother. Seeing the unfamiliar animalistic youth appear in her yard on the very same bike her son had left on that morning made her curious. Entering the home, Nait greeted his mother. His voice sounded no different than it had this morning; it was just his appearance that had changed.
Yet the woman questioned him all the same. After all, she had grown accustomed to what her son had already grown into, not what he had become. It was only a matter of a few questions before her questions were satisfied. Even still, her curiosity raged, and she made him go into detail about everything that happened. Nait did not risk lying this time since it had already backfired on him earlier that day.
By the time his father came home, his mother already understood everything. There was no longer a question that the lion boy was her son. She had to re-explain everything to her husband, who was all too aloof about what had happened. Nothing made sense to them, but it was a new reality they would need to adjust to. Regardless, they were the boys' parents, and they accepted him all the same.
The remainder of that night would be much the same as usual. Nait went through his regular hygiene routine before changing into his usual loose pajamas. A quiet night ensued, one where he was not visited by the torrent of another stormy horizon. Instead, he got a restful sleep filled with the dreams of things young boys typically thought of. It would be a restful night, one that remained uninterrupted until his morning alarm went off the following morning.
Nait awoke again, rubbing his eyes with the same fuzzy paw. The feeling of the leathery paw pads and slight jab of the dulled claws were somewhat jarring at first. But he didn't think about it much before there was a slight rapping on his bedroom door. His mother reminded him that it was again a school day and he needed to get ready. As usual, he would be expected to take care of himself as she had work to prepare for later that morning.
Arising from the bed, the young lion rubbed his eyes once more to rid himself of the crust that had embedded itself there. Looking at the clock quickly, several minutes had already passed while he had dilly-dallied. Another knock at his bedroom door, but no words followed. Nait knew his parents were getting impatient and that he needed to hurry. Sighing, he began straightening up his bed and stripping himself of his pajamas.
Changing into his school clothes was simple enough. There was no choice in the matter as it was a private school that strictly enforced a uniform code. The uniform in question for boys at his grade level was but a simple pair of khaki slacks and a light blue button-up polo shirt. On the right breast of the shirt, the school logo was emblazoned. The black falcon betwixt with a scroll of parchment representing the founding paperwork that established the school itself.
Once he was ready for school, Nait finally left his room. The hallway was just as quiet as it normally was, and only outdoor lighting illuminated it. Making his way to the kitchen, he found his mother shuffling through the home, collecting her things. Already she was in her pantsuit, so he knew she was about to go to work. Nait was expected to take the bus, and today was no different, as both his parents were working full-time.
His mother gave the cub a quick kiss on the forehead and hugged him rather shortly. As usual, she was rushed with her morning routine. Nait kissed and hugged her back before focusing on making himself breakfast. Finding a bag of oatmeal already put on the counter for him, next to a bowl. He filled it with water and mixed
the stuff before stashing it in the microwave. It wasn't long before it was ready, and the oven made its usual high-pitched beep.
Nait collected the thing after waiting a few moments for it to cool down. Sitting down at the table, he made quick work of his meal. Snacking on an apple, the first bite of which caused his protracted fang to snap down on his lip. It was not painful, but the feeling of the edge of the tooth was unfamiliar to him, and he couldn't help but brush his finger against it to touch it gently. It was longer than he was used to, but a quick rumble from his stomach reminded him that he was hungry.
Occasionally, the lion boy glanced outside the glass door that showed the backyard to his house. Just outside, some birds were pecking at the ground, seemingly searching for worms or other sources of food. It seemed to be a nice day with not many clouds in the sky. However, the tree in the backyard was swaying back and forth, so it seemed that it was windy outside. Finally, he managed to focus himself and hastened to finish his meal.
Collecting himself, the cub picked up the now-empty bowl and brought it to the sink to clean out. Taking one last sip of the juice from a carton in the fridge since he'd forgotten to pour himself some. Looking at a clock nested in the oven interface, the boy knew he was running out of time. Rushing, he hurried to collect his bag. As usual, it had been pre-packed for him as he tended to be forgetful, and his parents were always worried about it.
The lion headed outside, his tail swishing behind him as the windy day hit him. The sudden swipe of it caught him off guard, forcing him to look at it. The small bundle of fur at the end of it. His body reactively swished it back before he looked forward once again. Surely, it would take some getting used to, he thought to himself. Grabbing his bag, he slung it over his back and began making his way toward the usual bus stop.
A short distance away was the edge of the street. A bypass where several other streets merged into a roundabout. At the farthest part of it was the shelter that both the school and public transit used for bus transportation. It was the only part of it that had a third lane. Nait waited a bit as he looked down the road for the signs of the familiar yellow cheese wagon. It wasn't much longer before the antiquated vehicle showed itself on the horizon.
He boarded the bus, and the usual driver eyed him with a disdainful stare. The old man was a sour fellow who was suspected of not liking children despite having the gig for almost a decade. The elderly fellow gazed at him, his glossed-over eyes blurred from age. Yet, his stare remained gazing rather intently through the furry child now heading up the entrance to the bus itself. Nait avoided his gaze, but no matter what he did, he could not avoid it.
No words were exchanged between them. Only that intent yet brief stare before the bus began anew. Most of the kids on board were too occupied with their phones to notice him. But a familiar voice soon beckoned to him.
"Nait, come quick before anyone else sees you." The sound of Pent's tone was unmistakable.
The cub slipped quickly and looked around, seeing no signs of Pent, who had seemingly hidden himself behind one of the seats. A furry white palm with some black paw pads on it soon waved him over. Nait didn't recognize it at first, but since there was no other movement, he scooted toward it. Once he could see into it, a boy covered in white fur looked back at him. The familiar gaze of those river blue eyes gazed back at him.
"Just get in here and stop staring at me." The fox said again in that same familiar voice.
The lion wasn't about to protest what he perceived to be his friend. Finally, he slipped into the seat, the hard surface of which was still ever rigid against his behind. The cushion offered him no solace as his tail bunched up against his backside. Nait stared at him intently. Gazing back at him was an unfamiliar sight. An arctic fox boy covered in snow white fur, much thicker than his own, gazed at him across a more pronounced snout.
"I know. I am just as surprised as you are." Pent said with his usual certainty in his speech.
The smaller cub finally stopped staring. "Did you turn too? But how? You didn't touch the stone."
"No, I didn't, but do you remember what the old crone said?" The older boy remembered the warning all too well.
The lion scratched his head briefly. "Not really. I haven't thought about it much."
"From what I remember, she said that in time, both of us would understand. That even if I had not touched the stone, I was not clean. Maybe this is what she was talking about?" Pent had thought about it for a while after discovering what had happened.
The smaller boy's eyes grew wide. "Wait? Really? So you were affected by Fursington's whatever, too?"
"I guess so. From what I gather, I appear to be a fox. I did some research, and apparently, his wife was a fox, and the two had two children. One girl who was a lion and one boy who was a fox." The white-furred boy shrugged as he had already accepted reality.
Nait hesitated a minute before responding. "I guess that makes sense. Maybe that's why she didn't explain it to us.
"I think she was more upset that we were in her house more than anything. She is quite the loner after all." The bigger cub leaned back in the bus seat.
The lion put his bag on the seat next to him. "So what do we do now?"
"There is nothing we can do. We just have to live life like this. My brother thought it was funny. What did your parents think?"
The younger boy shrugged. "They didn't seem to care much once they figured out it was me."
"So we just have to hope everything else is the same as well." Pent wasn't worried much about it since he was much less social than his friend was.
Nait understood and nodded. Their conversation soon veered to other topics. Simpler things like typical school responsibilities. The latest test for the young lion was quickly approaching, and that was the most immediate concern in his mind. Pent helped him study a bit as they waited for the school bus to go through its usual rounds. Its typical route wasn't very long, but it had a number of stops to get through before it arrived at the school.
Before long, they pulled into the parking lot of the academy. A combined school that was broken up into two buildings, one with the lower grades and the other with the upper grades. Both boys went to the same school but had different classes. As the two got up from the chair, they elicited some stares from the other kids in the vehicle. A few even gasped at them as such things had never been seen in the small town before.
Neither boy paid much attention to it. None of the kids on board were their friends, so they weren't much concerned with what they thought. Eventually, they filed out of the seat and into the median path that separated them. Waiting their turn until they were fed out into the front of the school. As usual, students were all crowding around the various areas of the academy. Some hung out under trees, but others hung out at the sides of the buildings.
A few members of the school administration monitored the area. Their usual navy blue blazers or blouses made it apparent they were among the staff. All of them were given full authority to issue disciplinary measures if necessary, but it seldom was. Nait and Pent walked together for a bit before they separated near the entrance of the building. The fox promised he'd see his friend later, as he wanted to stop by the science lab before classes.
Nait chuckled before waving him off, making off to see his other friends. Looking around to see if he recognized anyone. Eventually, he saw a girl whom he knew. Jingul, as she was known, was his closest female friend and one he'd known almost as long as Pent. The girl was just as much of a game as he was, and the two were often on or talking about the various games they played. The lion waved over to her, and it didn't take long for her to notice him.
Jianglu was an immigrant student who had come over with her parents from China when she was very young. The girl was stout and stubborn, her hair jet black and fine. A pair of thin glasses sat on her face as she straightened them. Looking at the boy approaching her, she couldn't help but squint. Yet no concern crossed her face, and instead a calm smile spread. Her hands folded across her lap as Nait came near her.
"Hello, Nait." Her demeanor had not changed, despite the alternate form before her.
The lion cub cocked an eyebrow at her. "Hey, Jianglu. You recognize me?"
"But of course. Why wouldn't I recognize you?" It was almost as if she had seen it before.
"The story of Ne Zha tells of a Cheetah who could turn into a human. It is an old folk legend that my mother told me when I was younger. The tale of Shen Xiaobao, as he was known." The girl recited what she remembered from memory.
The girl had always been somewhat formal, even from a young age. Her parents had taught her the more polite tongue, and it had rubbed off even on her casual conversation. Compared to her agemates, she was much more mature and composed in her speech.
Nait's eyes grew wide. "Really? That sounds really cool."
"So your form doesn't bother me. Such worries are not of my concern. Did you want to talk about something?" She asked as she straightened the bag on her back.
The bigger boy shook his head. "Nah, just wanted to see if you wanted to play games or something after school."
"Perhaps this weekend. I have school studies to attend to." Jianglu bowed to him before excusing herself.
The cub waved to her as she went her own way. Nait looked at a clock on the side of the building, noticing it was getting closer to class time. He decided to go ahead and head inside as he didn't want to be late. Turning
around, he made his way toward the building. As he walked towards the rear entrance of the academy, he noticed a few of the other students throwing casual glances at him. A few of their gazes stared at him, but the moment he noticed, they turned their attention away.
Inside the building, the casual chatter of various conversations that could not be discerned carried on. Nait walked through the usual hallways that led toward his first class, History, which was his least favorite. As he did, the continuous focus of eyes fixed upon him. Each seemed longer than the last. One of the kids even was brave enough to pull his tail and call out "Freak!". The moment this happened, a teacher got involved.
"There will be no such badgering from you, Mr. Pavis." A middle-aged male separated the two and removed the boy's hand from Nait's tail.
Nait smiled at him as the teacher gave him a soft grin back. It was his Science teacher, the very same man who he had helped code the school's website. The teacher gave a soft glance toward the young lion.
"Come with me, won't you?" The teacher asked with the same calm demeanor.
The cub seemed confused as he looked at the man with an awkward look on his face. "But I'll be late."
"No worries. I will issue you a pass. Now come." He opened the door to his classroom.
The lion boy hesitated before stepping through the entrance. Inside, he was surprised to find Pent. The teacher followed just behind Nait before softly shutting the door. Stepping closer to them before taking a seat cross-legged across his desk.
"I suppose you boys didn't go to the crones...Did you?" The older male seemed certain in his reasoning.
The white-furred boy seemed shocked at the assumption. "How did you?..."
"It is simple. The woman is not a witch as you Children claim she is. She is but an Alchemist. A masterful one at that." The teacher tapped the desk with his left index finger.
Nait refocused his attention on the man in front of him. "She told us we were victims of Fursington's something."
"Fursington's crux. It's an old Alchemical transmutation practice. You two were transmogrified as a result." The man was all too familiar with it from texts he had read in his own schooling.
The fox cub sighed. "So what now?"
"Nothing. You live with the decision you made. I'm surprised by you, Mr. Ghelsburg. This isn't like you." The teacher shook his head at him.
Pent hesitated before responding. "I just wanted to see if the Scyrer's stone was real or not."
"Curiosity should not always be indulged. True that may be, you shouldn't be snooping around like that." The teacher poked the fox on the nose.
The lion cub rolled his eyes at him. "Not like there is anything we can do about it now."
"That is true. Your little friends will have to get used to you now. No doubt they have been reacting poorly to your state. I suppose you will have to make do. Best of luck with that. " The older male chuckled before getting up and handing them a hallway pass.
The older male left the room before long, leaving the two cubs alone. Nait looked at Pent, who looked back at him. What the man had said was true. No one was to blame except themselves. This was their lives now, and there was nothing they could do about it. All they could do was hope things would work out for the best. The older boy reached out to gently touch him on the shoulder, trying to snap him out of his thoughts.
"Come on, Nait. I don't wanna be late for class even if we do have a pass." Pent reminded his friend of the responsibility at hand.
It would be some time before things would return to normal for young Nait. His life would not change much. Of course, he would have to explain things to his friends, and some would be more understanding than others. There would be those who scorned him for his differences, but his parents would help him navigate that. But in the end, it would become a new reality for both of them, one that each would embrace differently, and life would continue unrelenting.
