Yawning, I finally land and settle into the shed, finding a dark corner and close my eyes to take a small nap. It isn’t a big one, but about an hour later, my parents arrive along with Shiners as they knock on the door and I hear my mom call out, "You awake, hon?"
I give a nod and do my best to smile as I move more into the light to wake up. <Yeah, I'm awake now, needed a little nap, thanks.> I say, soon the door opens, Charlie, my mom, dad, and Shiners walk in.
I can tell the excitement in the eyes of Charlie, "So how was your trip? Did you get lost? I know you can get lost in big cities," he says. As I fluff up my feathers in indignation and snort at this, hey, that was only one time. Seeing my reaction, he retorts, "You know it's true, don't deny it."
I shake my head, giving an annoyed skree before finally speaking, <It was a lot of fun, and dad great movie choice, it was just the movie I think will help me finally shift into wolf. Since we're nearing the Christmas trip, hopefully I can do it today or tomorrow.>
Charlie grins at this, "So you want me to take you for a walkie? Go to the park and play fetch?" he asks, making me shake my head as again I try to roll my eyes again. Though part of me wonders how I would react to such things, though tentatively I just groan as he makes a silly pouty face before cracking a smile.
My dad smiles, "It feels like it's really you, I mean, outside of the feathers. I'm glad your trip went well, but now we need to discuss what to do. We talked about it, and I think we will have sent you on the trip to Hawaii already. Your sister will be upset she didn't get to say goodbye, but not much we can do about that." Yeah, I wasn't sure how best to explain that. Maybe I can eventually tell her that her brother wears a fur coat now. Though, does he want wolf hearing with her shrieks of excitement?
Ruffling my feathers up, I think, <You could take her to the airport while a plane is leaving and say that I'm in it. She at the least see me go off, maybe saying I'm waving.> I take a breath, <Now for the wolf part. I assume we go somewhere to shift, and then take me home once I'm a wolf and say I'm the new family dog? Maybe say I got it for Sarah since I wouldn't be around?>
My dad gives me a nod as my mom looks thoughtful, "That might work, though we would need to get you checked by a vet, and vaccinated, and we all know...how well that went last time, and now you got teeth," he says. Ughhh....that was embarrassing, hiding under a table because I didn't want to get my shots.
My mom laughs, "Well, if we want you to be official, we should do it, maybe give you an examination, find out if you're healthy. We can't exactly take you as an eagle, but as a wolf, we can do that. Of course, we need you to turn into a wolf, or nothing will really matter," she says.
I give a nod of my head, thinking, <It's probably close to noon, should I try to shift today, or wait till tomorrow?> I ask. Part of me wants to do it today, but the other part of me is nervous. I’m just getting used to being an eagle. Would it hurt? Would it be scary? Would I hurt someone?
Shiners, seeing my reactions, speaks up, "Mike, calm down, you will be fine, just relax, and we can get through this. You have your family and me this time, it won't be quiet, so going in blind."
I glance towards Charlie as he then adds, "And unlike eagle we can take you to obedience training, maybe get you to behave for once," he jokes as I suddenly wish I had teeth to bite him with, well, gently, ...okay, not TOO hard.
My mom and dad look at each other and then say something that makes me suddenly a little nervous as my dad speaks up. "Actually...that's not a bad idea, Mike. You will be a wolf that could be dangerous by accident. Maybe we should do some kind of training, see how you react under pressure. Not a formal obedience school, but at the least taking you up to parks and places people will be around. If you can't handle a park, how will you handle Christmas dinner?" I glare at my parents, but can't deny the possibility. Being an eagle is kinda Chill, but what happens when I have teeth, claws, and an easier ability to use them to hurt others?
Charlie chimes in, "Well, there is the Santa Claus parade we could take you to as a final test, see how you handle all the kids. It will be tough, but I know you will get through it and be very important." He says.
I wince at this, giving a pleading look, <DUDE...I don't even like parades at the best of times, without all the heightened senses of a wolf.> I give a small wince at the thought. It is nice for the kids, but too much going on.
My mom nods, "Honey, I get that, but we will have to figure something else out over Christmas if you can't handle it. We could just quit the trip and handle the blowback, but it be better if you can handle it, you're a brave boy," she says, "Braver than I probably be in your position."
Shiners nods, "I don't know much about human interactions, but it will be for the best. If you want, I can be with you during the time. I can stay with the car until you reach your grandparents and then hang outside especially if you go out."
I frown a bit, <You sure? It's a ways away, and you really suck at endurance.> I tease, moving over and giving him a playful nudge. <Though we could stop from time to time to give you a break.>
My dad looks thoughtful, "There is a restaurant near the exit we could eat at, Mike stays in the car and listens for you." He says with a small smile, "Man, this is weird...talking to my son with feather problems, about a trip where he will be the family dog...I wonder just how much weirder this will all get."
Fluffing my feathers out, I nod, <So how should we handle the wolf? We still have time today to try for it. We can go somewhere remote and try. I'm fairly confident...well as confident as I can be that by tomorrow I can turn into wolf, it feels so close, though currently it's quiet, but feels like I could push for it easily.>
Glancing over to my mom, my dad says, "We can try today, worst comes to worst, we have to try tomorrow. I can drive you to one of the remote parks out of town, and you can do your thing, then we have you as a wolf," he says.
Thinking on if I nod, that actually works well, though one thing comes to mind, <Only thing I might suggest, is having plenty of meat for me, I'm probably going to get hungry....or maybe fine I've eaten by an eagle amount, I don't know how much food I will need as a wolf or how soon, but maybe an idea.>
Charlie nods at this, "Can I come along? I have got to see you as a dog, okay wolf, want to see how it looks?" he says with a small smile as I groan, part of me wants to say no, but other part would like him there.
I give a small nod, not wanting to give more acknowledgement, <If my father is fine with it, sure, I'm not... completely against it.> I say.
My dad nods, "I think it's a good idea, having a friend there," he says as I give a soft nod, stretching my wings out. Okay, this is it...hopefully, soon I will be trading my feather coat for a fur coat.
My mom gives a soft smile, "I will head to the butcher's shop to see if I can get you some good meat, and then we can meet you at the old abandoned campsite north of town. Shouldn't be anyone there, and you and your dad and Charlie can get set up along with Shiners, and I will have the meat ready by the time you shift."
Taking a big deep breath, <Well.. let's get this over with.> I say as I hop over to the doggy door and look back, <I will wait in the big tree for you guys to start heading there, might need help.> I say with a small laugh, <One thing I've learned is how different everything is from above.>
My dad and mom nod, smiling to me, "Okay, see you when we reach the campsite," he says as he opens the door and leaves, while I take to the air with Shiners shortly following after me, and soon we are landing in the tree overlooking the house, ready to leave.
