Balancer's Soul

by Jr H. Lee Morgan

  “I love you.” He thought while wrapping his arm around her back. She moved her head from his arm to his ribs.

  A few minutes later a thick, dry branch went SNAP and some dead leaves were crunching. Something approached.

  Connor and Mark simultaneously jump up instantly, hearing the noise. Sarah felt the breeze left behind as Connor stood using his Balancers speed and Mark moved just as quickly somehow. Connor went into his battle stance holding Tool tightly in his right hand. Mark too was slightly bent forward and instead of his fists being closed his fingers were spread and hooked like the talons of a raptor. They stood shoulder to shoulder as they looked into the darkness.

  Kara became alert not long after and grabbed her silver longbow and had an arrow already notched. She stood quietly and had three fingers on the string and had her other hand holding the bow. Her arrow stayed pointed to the ground as Sarah stood up and walked silently around the fire to stand next to Kara. Even though she had a longbow Sarah knew out of the four of them she was the weakest.

  She said barely at a whisper “Brother. What is it?”

  “I don’t know, but I have a bad feeling in my gut.” His voice became slightly louder. “Sarah, keep Kara covered.”

  “I’m already on it!” She said and Kara jumped in shock to see just how close she already was. Sarah stood less than a foot away from her.

  “Sarah?” He said.

  “What is it?” She said hearing his worried tone.

  “My eyes are not adjusted to see in this darkness and I need to see. I was staring at the fire directly and for too long.”

  She pushed telepathically “Sonar?”

  “Yes. I need to do it!” He said in an even voice.

  She knew he wouldn’t do it in front of someone else unless there wasn’t any other choice. “I understand. We will deal with the consequences later.”

  Connor stood erect and Sarah felt the strange sense of him gathering energy. Suddenly she could feel the rapid pulses emanating from him. Mark remained still in his fighting stance, but he glanced at Connor; his eyes went wide and his jaw dropped, and just as quickly he looked away and went back to being on alert. Mark now looked like he was smelling the air.

  Connor turned his head from side to side in a sweeping pattern.

  Sarah heard Kara draw a loud and quick breath as she saw what Connor was capable of. Connor’s black shadowy figure was contrasted by his eyes glowing brightly in the night. She said speechlessly “Brother… You’re eyes…”

  “Kara. Be quiet.” She turned her head to look at Sarah as she spoke softly. “It will be alright. Trust your brother.” She turned her speechless eyes back to Connor.

  “What do you see, Buddy?” Mark asked evenly as he was still on alert. His calm demeanor looked twin to Connor’s

  A moment later Connor crouched back down in his fighting stance and Sarah continued to feel his sonar pulses. “Crap! Sarah, you and Kara back away slowly and get out of here.” He said in an even tone, but he was dead serious. And through the bond she felt his rage surfacing again.

  “What is it, Buddy?” Mark still didn’t budge as he asked again.

  “It’s the biggest Grizzly Bear I have ever seen.”

  SNAP and they heard the dry grass and sticks crunch under heavy feet again. Sarah instantly grabbed Kara’s arm. “Let’s leave this to them.”

  “But?” She was completely scared.

  “Kara. Listen to me. Connor can take care of a bear.” Sarah looked directly at her. “He is more powerful than you will ever know.”

  Sarah had to use her inhuman strength to pick Kara up and throw her over her shoulder. She dropped the bow as Sarah ran into the tree line and stopped. The two of them hid behind an oak tree to watch the coming battle.

  ***

  As Connor used his sonar to see everything around him he noticed that Sarah did as he asked and ran out of the way of danger. Connor dropped Tool on the ground knowing that all it would do is anger the bear even more.

  Mark, at his side said jokingly “Cool eyes. Do you shoot laser beams out of them too?”

  “Drop the act Mark, I know what you are.” Connor said staring directly at the bear that stood over one hundred feet away as it continued to slowly stalk toward them. Connor saw everything inside and outside the bear, even if this vision is shown in only black and white.

  “Well then what am I?” He asked playfully, staring at the same target too.

  “You’re a Changer.” Connor said flatly.

  “What gave me away?” He admitted in the same tone.

  “Mark, we can discuss it later. Right now I need to know if you can keep that Grizzly occupied for fifteen seconds.”

  “I don’t see why not, but can’t we get rid of it another way?” His tone became dangerous.

  “They are an endangered species in these parts so we don’t have the right to kill him. He won’t be able to kill us, but he cannot stay here. We need him to fear humans… We probably could lure him away if we had food, but the food is hanging and packed away. That’s not the worst part.” Connor said, trying to focus his mind.

  “It gets worse?” Mark grinned.

  “Yeah… It’s mating season and we are in his territory. I wouldn’t doubt it if he was the one who drove that wolf pack away.”

  “Well then we better show him that he’s not at the top of the food chain.” He crouched down even more.

  “Nicely said, Bud.”

  While using sonar to see the bear that was now within seventy feet Connor saw Mark show his ability as a Changer as he kicked his shoes off.

  Bones began snapping all over his body, making a sickening and audible sound. Using sonar Connor actually saw the small fractures happening inside his friend’s body and watched as his organs were rearranging inside his mass. For each fracture he created they healed and grew back instantaneously to alter his physiology. His rounded ears grew out slightly longer and came out to a point. The bones in his face fractured and began to change shape. His jaw and nose grew into the muzzle of a wolf and his canines began to elongate and sharpen. His canines looked like they were filed to a needlelike point like a fighting dog. His length of his fingers didn’t change much, but his fingernails grew, thickened and curved. They were sharpened to a point, becoming deadly claws. His toenails also grew and became claws themselves.

  All of the hair over his body began growing, thickening into fur and strangely began fusing together. Connor recognized that he made his hair became a thin and flexible armor. The short spiky hair on top of his head grew into a long mane which also became a shield for the back of his neck. The bones that fractured in his legs made his legs longer as they re-fused. The sternum of his ribcage cracked loudly and bowed out to a point; instead of having a flat chest he now had a barreled chest to allow more air to fill his lungs. The last shocker came when he even grew a long tail out from the back of his pants.

  Mark dropped the front of his body to the ground to now stand on all fours. He lowered his chest and head as low to the ground as possible. His tail was straight and level with his body. His rump stood higher than his head and the muscles under his furry armor bunched up and looked ready to explode.

  It was the stance of a charging predator before spooking its prey.

  Sonar showed every one of his details inside and out. A name for what Mark now looked like popped into Connor’s head ‘Werewolf.’ He assumed that the myth originated from Changers.

  In a deep rumbling voice Mark said from his stance “Fifteen seconds right?”

  “That will be all I’ll need. You will need to flee when it’s time!” The massive bear had stopped and looked at them from hearing the sounds created from Mark’s shift. This was the only chance they could get.

  “Well I’m putting my life in your hands.” His muscles bunched even more.

  “As is mine.” Connor said.

  Time to begin.

  The massive Grizzly bear roared loud enough to shake their core. It was a hungry
and angered sound. Connor watched its shoulder muscles tense as it prepared for its charge. But it wasn’t nearly quick enough for what came next.

  All of Mark’s muscles propelled him instantly at the oversized bear. Mark traveled so fast that when he shoulder tackled the massive bear he literally pushed the its massive body back a good twenty feet. Connor knew as a fact that Mark’s speed could only be seen by abilities as a Balancer and the impact itself that was just inflicted on the bear could easily have killed a normal human.

  At the same time Mark entered the fray Connor raised both of his hands and gathered a large quantity of energy from within. He stopped using sonar and focused on the campfire to his back and all of the heat that was saturating the surrounding area. As the blaze quickly accumulated above his palms, the fire’s light illuminated the battle scene.

  The Grizzly managed to get back on all of its legs. It was brown with high humped shoulders layered in muscle. Its muzzle was open, exposing its menacing teeth as it roared. Each of its claws was at least as long and as thick Conner’s fingers. He could tell that it was fully grown and if it stood would be well over twelve feet tall and judging from its bulk would be well over eight hundred pounds plus.

  Five seconds later Connor spotted Mark’s black wolf-like form circling around the bear slowly, snarling back. And since he wasn’t using sonar he saw that his friend’s pupils were glowing a bright white. When Sarah used her sonar the entirety of her eyes glowed, but it was only Mark’s pupils that glowed on him.

  As the Grizzly roared again, following the lights created from Mark’s eyes, it dropped its front legs and it charged at him. At the last moment of the bear’s charge, Mark jumped up and spun in the air. He landed on the bear’s back like a trained acrobat. Mark viciously dug his deadly clawed fingers into the shoulder muscles of the bear. Mark opened his massive jaws and sunk his teeth into the back of the bear’s neck as it roared out in excruciating pain and rage.

  Above Connor’s hands now blazed a six foot tall sphere of fire that illuminated every inch of the clearing. Mark bought the time he needed. He yelled at the top of his lungs. “MARK! RUN!!!!” As Connor roared he threw the hulking fireball.

  Connor saw simultaneously that Mark launched himself off the back of the flailing bear with lightning swiftness into the darkness of the trees while the confused bear saw what is heading directly at it.

  It froze in fear.

  Connor focused more of his power to change the form and shape of the fire into a crescent shield as it landed into a roaring inferno cage. He changed the shape of the fire to scare the bear away and it worked. When the bear unfroze it had only one way to go; backwards.

  Mark ran towards his friend, swiftly and on all fours, coming to a spinning stop right next to his side. As his breathing slowed he pushed himself with his arms into a standing position. He now stood as tall as Connor. He looked at him with his glowing eyes and Connor noticed that even his pupils had changed. Normally pupils are circular, but right now his are slit like that of a feline. In his deep animalistic voice he said “Make sure it isn’t coming back!”

  He used his pulsating sonar and surveyed the entire area in a two hundred meter radius and spotted the Grizzly fleeing for its life. “It’s running away as quickly as it can.” He announced, stopping the sonar.

  He let out a deep steaming breath from between his teeth. He turned those glowing silver eyes to Connor. “How long have you known I was a Changer, Buddy?

  Connor balled up his fist and held it out like old times. Mark’s muzzle pulled back, exposing a line of razor sharp teeth, that were coated with the bear’s blood, and knew he was smiling. He balled up his claws into a fist and punched them gently together. They were brothers in arms.

  He had no choice but to laugh, now that the tension was easing. Mark joined in, laughing as well, but it was more of a deep rumbling bark. When he did laugh Connor saw that his muzzle and teeth were stained redder than the first glance. Looking down he saw that the clawed hands were also covered in blood. He also noticed that the silver shirt was shredded in pieces and Mark’s pants were relatively unscathed except from where his tail ripped through the backside.

  Connor took off his shirt and handed it over to him. “You need to clean off the blood from your muzzle and claws. Unless you want Kara to think you’re injured. That is the last thing we need to listen to.”

  Mark lifted his claws and saw the blood soaked hand. He sniffed his hands and his nose wrinkled. “Thanks, Buddy.” He took the shirt gratefully and meticulously cleaned his muzzle and hands.

  “Connor, are the two of you safe?” Sarah pushed into his mind, sounding and feeling frantic. “I can only see two dark figures in front of the fire.”

  He looked in their direction and then back to his furry friend. “The girls are worried about us. Sarah wants to know if it is safe for the two of them to come over here.”

  “In this form my hearing is five hundred times more acute than any human’s or Balancer’s and I didn’t hear anyone say anything.” His ears twitched back and forth listening for something.

  “She just mentally contacted me.” Connor said in his defense.

  “If Sarah’s your mate, I know that you can’t hear her thoughts.” He tossed the bloody shirt down behind him.

  “Listen we are something new and different from any Balancer you have ever encountered before, but I guarantee that Sarah just telepathically contacted me.” Mark looked at him with a puzzled expression. Connor had to think quickly. “Mark, do you want the girls to see you like this?”

  He made a deep rumbling sigh. He scratched his head with his claws as he looked at the ground. “Well if she takes this form as well as you did, I can’t see why not?” He looked up with sad eyes. “But if sh…”

  Using his advanced speed, and his right hand, Connor clamped Mark’s furry mouth shut. His silver eyes went wide with surprise. Connor stepped closer and looked him directly in the eyes. “Listen to me.” Both of his ears turned to the front, aimed in his direction. “You let me break her in before she sees you. Knowing my sister the only thing that might freak her out would be if you keep your eyes glowing. Turn off those night lights. Ok, Bud.” He released Mark’s muzzle.

  He rubbed it with his clawed fingers. “That really hurt.” He turned off the lights in his eyes as requested.

  “Sorry about that. I’m still learning about this new world of mine.”

  He patted Connor’s back and felt the dangerously sharp claws on his unprotected shoulder. “I understand what It’s like somewhat.” He looked to the left and pointed with his clawed thumb. “I think you had better take care of that before we have a forest fire on our hands.”

  “I forgot. Thanks.” Connor called the fire element and pulled every ember of the fire away and made a massive fireball again above his head.

  “Show off.” Mark said under his breath as Connor restarted the campfire again. Connor dispersed the rest of the blaze into a harmless heat, until everything dissipated safely.

  “I think you should stand behind me, in my shadow ok.” His large head nodded. Connor yelled loud enough for the girls to hear. “It’s safe you can both come back, the bear is gone! But come slowly!”

  Mark’s hot breath on the back of his neck felt unsettling. Lucky it was dark and his fur color is black as well or this wouldn’t be able to work.

  The girls slowly walked into the light of the campfire while both having a look of disbelief and fear on their faces. Sarah tried to run up to him to see if he was ok, but Connor held a hand up for her to stay where she is. She stopped, but with great reluctance.

  Kara fired her first barrage of questions. “Brother, are you and Mark ok?”

  “We didn’t even get scratched.” Mark’s breathing sped up.

  “Why did your eyes glow? How did you do that with the fire?” Her chocolate brown eyes were intense.

  “Short answer: I’m a Balancer. I will tell you more, bu…” He couldn’t finish the sentence befor
e she fired another question.

  “Where’s Mark? I don’t see him anywhere?” Her dark eyes were fixed on him. When she gets that look in her eyes she bounces from one subject to the next.

  “Kara, will you Shut Up!” Connor sternly yelled and it worked. Kara put her hands on her hips and tapped her foot impatiently. He glanced at Sarah who shifted her weight uncomfortably. This time he spoke softer and clearer “Listen to me. Mark wants to show you a secret of his that he has hidden for a very long time. I just recently discovered it myself not too long ago. He is dangerous I will admit it, but he fought the bear off ok.”

  “Oh no…” Her face went white and her hands came up to her mouth to muffle a cry. Mark held his breath.

  “I told you he is fine. What he is about to show you will probably scare you, but he doesn’t want to hide his secret from you any longer.”

  Kara took a few slow deep breaths. “Ok I’m ready. Where is he?”

  “Right here.” Mark said quietly in his deep rumbling voice that didn’t sound the same in his human one. “Thanks Buddy. I will take it from here.” Connor felt him put a hand on his bare shoulder. Both Sarah and Kara’s eyes zeroed in on his black clawed hand.

  Connor moved to the side and Mark stepped into the firelight, slowly. His large head was held high as he faced the girl he loved and he showed her what he really is. The flames danced off his soft, glistening fur and his eyes looked directly at her. So he can fuse and soften his fur?

  Sarah looked over at him with wide eyes and then turned to her mate. “He’s a Changer.”

  “Thank you Mrs. Obvious.” Mark looked at her and then back down to Kara as he was now as tall as her brother.

  Sarah walked over to Connor walking past Mark, without another glance. She wrapped her arm around his and together they watched what would happen. “Was this what you were hiding from me?”

  “Yes.” And she squeezed his arm tightly.

  Kara stood motionless, but her eyes rapidly categorized everything about the creature that stood before her. Two minutes later after they stared at each other, Kara did something unexpected. She slowly walked right up to him.