Calico

by Annaliese Purrington

  It’s dawn when I wake Bella. I haven’t slept all night. My mind wouldn’t shut down. Wouldn’t allow sleep to enter.

  “Bella.” I say, trying to wake her.

  She opens her eyes and looks at me. “What time is it?” she stretches her arms out.

  “Around six in the morning, but we should move again.”

  Bella nods, then her eyes widen as if she realizes something. “You never woke me up. You were up all night?”

  “I couldn’t sleep. And there was no point to wake you when I would not sleep.” She eyes me suspiciously, then unwraps her knee a little.

  “It doesn’t look that bad,” she says.

  I shrug my shoulders. “At least it stopped bleeding.”

  She wraps her knee up again and tries to pull herself up as I wrap my hair back into its loose low bun. I help her up, then we head off in the direction we came from last night. It doesn’t take us long to come to the river again. But once we do, we head upstream.

  “Exciting few days, huh?” Bella says jokingly.

  “Yeah,” I give out a puff of breath, thinking of all our near-death experiences.

  “I wonder what made the mayor of the Southern City so angry at the Morphs. I mean, after that girl attacked, the mayor didn’t even ask questions. She just started to kill all the Morphs that same day practically.”

  “That girl didn’t attack. The city attacked her. She wasn’t wearing the city colors, so they arrested her. But she got mad and turned into a cougar.” I answer.

  “Really? I read an article saying something different.” Bella arranges her bag by her waist.

  “I watched it. It was during the day when I went to get food for my siblings.”

  “Huh. I guess the mayor wanted everyone to believe that Morphs are bad.”

  “I guess so.” I slow down for Bella, who is quickly limping alongside me. We walk in silence for a bit, then Bella quietly talks.

  “What do we do when we get to the city?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe just tell them who we are and ask them what to do. I want to fight the Morph Hunters, but I have no idea how to do that.”

  “Gather enough people and just go after them. That’s what I would do.” I want to say that’s a terrible idea. No plan, no weapons, no organized way to do it. But I want to be kind and nod to Bella, trying to look like it’s a great plan and that I might consider it. Even though I wouldn’t.

  “Look, Meadow Mushrooms.” Bella points by a group of trees and I see a few large white mushrooms.

  “Well, there’s our breakfast.” I lift my spear and walk over to the trees. I pick up all five mushrooms and when I come back, Bella has a handful of greens.

  “I found some dandelion leaves! And Red Currents.” I am relieved to have something to go with the mushrooms.

  “Should we make a fire and cook this stuff?” Bella asks. It would be a good idea, but that would take more time off of our journey.

  “If you want, but it would take longer,” I say. It would make our meal more appetizing, but I really don’t feel like making an entire fire just to cook mushrooms.

  “I guess we don’t have too. We can just have the dandelion leaves and Currents now.”

  “Yeah.”

  We split the dandelion leaves and berries. I put the mushrooms in Bella’s bag for later at night when we stop to rest and have a fire.

  Once we’re done eating, we walk again. Even though I wished I lived in a city, preferably the Western City, I’m glad I live in the forest or at least used to live in the forest. I’ve learned lots of things like what plants are edible and what berries and mushrooms we can eat. Things like that. I’m not a master at it like some people, but I know enough to keep me alive.

  We walk in silence. Although my mind isn’t quiet at all. As usual. But instead of thinking of my family, I’m thinking of when I first discovered I was a Morph.

  I was around seven, Aurelian two. My mother was working from home because of summer vacation, but my father was gone twenty-four seven. On a cold Wednesday, when I was out in the forest looking for blackberries for my mother, I came across a large oak tree covered with acorns and squirrels. Somehow, after not paying attention to how high I was going, I ended up high in the branches, but lost my balance as I reached for another nut. I fell, and something changed. I saw a blue light and blue sparkly smoke surround me and the next thing I know I was landing on the ground on four paws. It terrified me. I looked around, but everything was so big, and I was so small. I staggered in my steps and saw I had paws. Everything felt weird. My ears were bigger, my nose was longer, I had a tail. I shifted to the side and saw a mouse by the tree trunk. I started to walk towards it, but it darted away with frightened eyes. I didn’t know what to do. What do you do when you are in another form and don’t even know how you got into it?

  When I shook, the same blue smoke and light appeared, and I was a girl again. The girl with the bright red hair and perfect pale face. I looked around thinking I was going insane, then realized no squirrels were around anymore. I ran back to my home as fast as I could. I didn’t care about the nuts or berries anymore. I wanted to get home. When I slammed the front door behind me, my mother called my name from the kitchen. I ignored her worried tone and just said I had seen a bear. I didn’t know what to say about transforming into a cat. Well, a small kitten really. A calico kitten if I saw the colors and markings right. From then on, I’ve kept my secret. For nine years, I’ve had to live with knowing I could turn into a cat.

  Chapter 13

  A bright light takes me out of my flashback and makes me comprehend where I am. The sun. It has broken through a small gap in the clouds and reflects off the river.

  “How many more days until we get there, you think?” Bella asks.

  “Maybe two or three. At the most. We were far from it when we met. If we were at my house, we would have been there yesterday or the day before.” Bella moans and keep walking.

  “How’s your knee?” I ask.

  “Better, I think. It doesn’t hurt as bad anymore.”

  “That’s good.” Seriously, I must be the most awkward person to be in a conversation.

  Snap! I whip my head to our left and see a figure running our way. They’re far away, but I can tell it’s a human. A frightened human. A Morph maybe? I squint my eyes it’s a boy. I watch him then see him raise his arms as blue smoke surrounds him. He is a Morph! A giant grey wolf. He whimpers. Then a group of Morph Hunters runs his way. I grab Bella and run. We find a wide-branched tree and climb up it as fast as we can. I pull her up once I’m on one of the higher branches and wait in the thick camouflage of leaves. We can’t outrun them if they find us. Bella’s knee will get her killed no doubt; and a kitty cat can’t do much to stop them. Hiding in the thick branches and leaves is our only hope. But Bella could transform, but I think it’ll be better if we’re silent right now. Not cause any more uproar with the blue smoke.

  I peer through the branches and watch as the wolf passes the tree a few yards away. He runs with extreme speed then tumbles down from an arrow shot at his shoulder. I gasp. He transforms into a boy again as the Hunters approach.

  “Well, look at this handsome wolf,” a Hunter says, his voice echoing through the forest. “Kill him. Mayor Zara’s orders.” The Hunter waves his hand casually as two more Hunters electrify their weapons. Then, Bang! The sound of electricity shocking metal shoots through the trees. I gasp as tears flood my face. The boy is instantly gone from the weapons. Gone into thin air. Into nothingness. Bella was and still is looking away, covering her ears. I shake from anger. Something must have happened to Mayor Zara to make her hate Morphs so much. I clutch a branch and am about to jump out of the tree when Bella grabs my arms to hold me back.

  “I-” I say, but she covers my mouth with her hand.

  “Cali no!” she whispers. Her nickname for me sends a shooting pain down my body. Cali is what Aurelian used to call me. More tears from pain and anger fall down my cheeks. I feel the
blood rush to my face as it burns from hatred.

  “They have to be stopped.” I whisper through my breaking voice.

  “I know, but doing it now is not a good idea. Let’s wait until we can get to the Western City, okay?” I sit back again and nod. I have had enough of watching Morphs die. I’ve only seen two get killed, but even one is too many. Even listening to the scream of death scars me for life.

  “Sixty down, who knows how many to go.” The same Hunter says as the group of seven walks off into the forest.

  “Sixty?!” I say, shaking even harder. My voice cracks and sounds like I’m being strangled. I don’t even sound mad. I sound horrified.

  “It’s okay, we can stop them.” Bella tries to reassure me, but her voice sounds just as frightened and infuriated as mine.

  Once the Hunters are completely out of sight, we jump down from the tree. I look over to where the boy was, but nothing remains. I look away and follow Bella back to the river. I don’t speak for at least an hour. It’s around nine in the morning when I say something.

  “Why is she doing this?” I stare ahead like I am hypnotized by something ahead.

  “I don’t know. Maybe something happened when she was little?” I shrug my shoulders. It’s possible. But the question remains in my mind.

  The sun goes away almost immediately from clouds. It takes its warmth with it. My mind is whirling again, but this time I’m determined to ignore it. No more painful memories, no more frightening scenes of Morphs dying. No more of my life.

  “You said the river goes right by the Western City?”

  “Yeah.” I say, coming out of my trance and looking around. The forest has gotten thicker with trees, and the river has gotten wider again with fewer rocks peeking up from the water. It’s calmer, too.

  “It shouldn’t be much farther ahead. We should be there by tomorrow night or the morning of the next day. I’m recognizing some things.” Bella says, looking around.

  “Have you gone this way before?” I ask, thinking of how the people in the Southern City never leave.

  “Yes. I used to live in the Western City. Until I was eight. We moved because my mom had gotten a job offer at the Southern City for double the money than what she got at the Western City. She accepted, and we left. We drove our cars but there’s really no road, so we came this way. I recognize some trees. See, like that one.” Bella points to a crooked tree off in the distance. I nod and look at a flock of birds that just took flight.

  “Do you want to take a break for some water?” I ask, looking down at the shimmering water.

  “Sure.” Bella stops and goes to the river. I follow and transform into a cat. One, I want to, and two, it’s easier to drink as a cat to me. I crouch down and lick up the water. It’s cold and seems to put more energy into me. More strength. Once I’ve had my fill, I transform back into a girl and walk over to a mint leaf plant. I grab a handful of mint leaves and put a few in my mouth. It’s cooling. I’ve always loved mint leaves. My mother would sometimes bring some home to us when we were all younger. We would put the leaves in our teas, water, or just eat them like I’m doing now. I see a raspberry bush too and pick off as many as I can while still leaving a few for the animals.

  Chapter 14

  “Here.” I say, handing Bella a few leaves and berries.

  “Thanks,” she replies, and we head off again with our snack.

  “I wish I could go home,” Bella mumbles. “I hate living in the Southern City, but I miss my brother,” she looks down. “Do you have any siblings? You might have told me, but I forget easily.”

  “I have two younger brothers and a younger sister.”

  Bella nods. “Do you miss them?”

  “Every second of these horrible days.” I can’t think of them now. It’s too painful. I know they’re safe, but what if they’re not? It’s torture not knowing. It’s torture every day.

  “You’ll get back to them. Once we get to the city, we can figure out what to do.” I nod then think of something. What if the Western City won’t let us in? Or won’t help us? I mean, we’re just guessing they will, but with all of this happening now, what if they don’t trust us? I don’t want to tell Bella. How would she react when I tell her I’m doubting our plan now? I look at her from the corner of my eyes. She ran away too. At least I’m not the one dragging her into the forest. I can’t help but feel a little guilt though, telling her to go to the Western City when we’re so close to reaching it, telling her they might not even let us in. I keep it to myself as we walk, but it slows me down a little and makes me feel like I’m carrying something heavy in my chest.

  “Look.” Bella points ahead and I see a clearing. A clearing with tall golden grass. A clearing where a bit of the sun shines into. We get to the opening and I see that it’s a field of some sort. Far, far off in the distance to our left I see something but pay little attention to it as I focus all my attention on a giant red barn in front of us on the other side of the field. The field isn’t as wide as it is narrow. It goes for what seems like miles on both of our sides, but only goes about two-hundred feet in front of us where the big barn stands.

  “We can stay there for tonight.” Bella suggests as we both stop walking. We just look at the barn. “Looks like there’s no one using it. That house looks like it’s broken in half down there.”

  I look down at the shape to my left and realize it’s a house. An old house that has the roof collapsed on top of it and a wall crumbled down. The barn doesn’t look much better. The red paint is chipping and there’s a huge gap in the roof. But it’s better than out here.

  “Looks like a good place to stay. Just for tonight though.” I walk towards it. The sun comes out again and is warm against my side. The dry grass prickles my legs, and the ground is firm and dry beneath my feet. Dragonflies skyrocket around our heads. It’s a good day. Except for the fact that I’m away from home and being hunted. I look around at the field and admire how quiet and calm it is. The grass sways to the side a little from the slight breeze. When I look to my right, I see a doe delicately walking in the tall grass. Her narrowed head pokes around in the air then turns to me. A little shadow moves by her and I see it’s a little fawn. I stop walking. Just looking at them.

  “Calico?” Bella stops a few feet in front of me and looks at the pair of deer, too. “Awe!” she whispers. Her voice is carried to me in the breeze.

  The doe twitches her nose and walks off with her little fawn following on wobbly legs. I smile as they leave. I always love these kinds of encounters. When animals and I just look at each other in wonder.

  “That was sweet.” Bella says, walking towards the barn again. I follow, but don’t take my eyes off the deer until they disappear into the trees. I look away and stop in front of the barn. Well, in the back of it. The front is on the other side, facing the forest. weird design, but okay. Bella has disappeared. I look around, then I hear her voice.

  “Uh… it’s a little… messy.” I walk to the front and look in the barn. The giant double doors are rotting on either side of the doorway. Fully opened. I look in the barn and see damp hay everywhere. Dark and wet from all the rain. There’s a loft on the left wall, and a few stalls under it with more on the right wall. A pile of wood and shingles lie in the back where the gap in the roof had collapsed. It’s not much to look at, but it’s a great place to rest for tonight. The last night until we get to the Western City.

  “So, now what?” Bella asks. I shrug my shoulders and sit down on a wooden bench.

  “It’s around ten. We just had some food. There’s nothing else we can do but rest. Or we could keep walking until nightfall.” I lean back in the bench and look up to the top of the barn.

  “We could keep walking, but I’m just so exhausted.” Bella sinks onto a hay bale.

  “Same. We should just rest today. The city isn’t that far, away right. We can make it there tomorrow.”

  “Yes. We should at least get there tomorrow. Unless the Hunters come after us again.”


  “I hope not!” My eyes twitch from exhaustion. Before I know it, I’m in a dream. A dream where I’m back in the berry meadow with my siblings. They run and play and laugh. I’m sitting on the rusted gate watching them. Smiling and laughing myself. It all seems so real and I want to tell myself it is. Suddenly the sun goes away instantly, and blackness fills the area. Hunters surround us. Hundreds of them. They take my siblings in their grasp and scan me. A shock snaps me awake. I jerk my head up and look around the barn. My neck aches from leaning it back for so long. The barn is lit by a tiny fire, but outside is dark. The sky is an indigo blue. Dark clouds loom about.

  I get up from the uncomfortable bench and stretch. Bella is fast asleep by the hay bales next to the fire. A feeling of vulnerability washes over me. The fire could be seen from a distance, maybe. The glow I mean. If the Hunters looked hard enough. I want to put it out, so we won’t be seen, but I don’t want to be rude. Bella had made it and is sleeping by it. I’m torn. I look around for a blanket or something for Bella. But it’s a barn. Why would a barn have a blanket? I’ve decided I’ll put it out for our safety. I reach for a bucket filled with rainwater, but then I hear something. A low rumbling noise. As if someone was breathing very hard. I walk out of the barn and hear it again. This time louder. My heart races again. I grab my spear and stand by the door. I see a shadow approaching us. It’s a form I’ve seen before. The size is huge and a little terrifying. Then I realize what it is. A bear.

  Chapter 15

  My heart skips a few beats. It’s nothing to worry about, but I should wake Bella. I speed back into the barn and shake Bella. She just moans and turns around. The shadow of the bear is getting closer.

  “Bella, I think you should wake up.”

  Bella sits up then gasps, still half asleep. “Are the Hunters here?!”

  “No, but look.” I point towards the bear, who is now approaching the doorway. Bella screams, but I cuff my hand over her mouth. She shakes and breathes fast. Hasn’t she ever seen a bear before?