by Natalie Erin
Vera laughed and walked over. She laid down in the flowers next to him. “Just because you can’t feel him near you doesn’t mean you won’t get one. Besides, this is your first time. I’ve already tried it once. All you do is travel around until you find your Accompany.”
“What if you don’t find them?” he asked. “Do they punish you?”
“That’s just a stupid story Lukas likes to tell you. Don’t listen to him. You just come back here and wait for next year.”
Ionan shook his fur and changed into a kitten. “I want to find an Accompany more than anything. I want to train for battle, so I can become strong and protect everyone.”
“I’m glad I didn’t get chosen. I’m happy I spent the entire year with you and my friends, instead of going to school with someone I’ve never met.”
“I hope we both find Accompanies,” he mewed. “Then we can go to school together.”
“I hope so too.” Vera changed into a baby sparrow and started to preen her feathers.
“Can’t you change into something without wings?” he asked, amused.
“I could, but I don’t like to. It’s uncomfortable for me.” She changed into a fluffy, very cute puppy but soon was shaking with the effort and turned back into a sparrow.
“I mean it, Vera,” he said, changing back into a dragon. “I really want to be chosen.”
“Some Changers don’t get an Accompany for years. Besides, you’re the smartest out of all of us. You’ll be chosen.” She pounced on him and he laughed, rising up into the air.
“Do you think my Accompany will be a boy or a girl?” he asked her as he avoided a sharp rock.
“I’m not sure,” she said. “But I think mine will be a boy.”
“But most Changers and Accompanies are the same gender!” he said, amazed. “You must be really special, to be able to tell like that.”
“I don’t think I’m special,” Vera said in a small voice. “I just...I don’t know. It’s like I feel as if I already know him.”
The sun was beginning to set. Ionan looked at the sky and said, “Come. Let’s head back home before it gets too dark. My father and mother will worry.”
“Mine too,” Vera said. The two hatchlings headed off towards a dot in the distance and Ionan sighed, wishing more than anything that he could go back to that moment.
Keota leaned against a tree trunk, exhausted. Allie and Kennu were relentless. A few days ago Allie had discovered she could change into a baby giraffe. She kept changing, almost on the hour, between fawn, lynx and giraffe form. Kennu was thrilled, and kept begging Allie to become a giraffe. His parents didn’t mind…until Kennu had decided to climb on her back. The two adults had finally sat down when Allie started to race around, Kennu squealing with delight. It had taken an hour to catch them. Although Kennu typically listened and did everything his parents said, Allie rebelled constantly and only went faster when Kia told her to slow down, using her favorite word: “No!” Kia was finally able to convince them to settle down and nap on the blanket they had used for their picnic, Kennu’s lunch still partially uneaten. Kennu needed food and sleep, unlike Allie. Keota knew it must be his fairy blood.
“I don’t think I’ve been this exhausted since boot camp in the army,” Keota moaned, gazing at his wife with a dull stare. “I never knew parenting could be this challenging.”
“I can’t imagine what Allie’s mother felt like during her pregnancy,” Kia shook her head. “Nine months with her in my belly would’ve been torture.”
“Changers don’t have nine month pregnancies,” Keota said wearily. “It’s nearly impossible for them to change if they’re pregnant, so gestation only lasts three days. Once they’re born, Changers can also begin talking and walking within a matter of days. It’s a defense mechanism, so they can be matched with Accompanies they can defend more quickly.”
“Making babies in three days. Is there anything Changers can’t do?” Kia sighed.
“They can’t disobey a direct command, but that’s about it,” Keota shrugged. “Which I feel like we all should be grateful for. If they weren’t under an Accompany’s control, they’d be running the place.”
“Changers would be wonderful rulers. They care about others far more than themselves,” Kia said.
“That’s true, but I know if Ionan was the boss that all his rules would’ve prevented me from marrying you,” he said, pushing her down playfully and tickling her sides.
She laughed, smacking his hands away and tackling him to the ground. “Well I suppose I have to be thankful for that,” she whispered, and she gave him another gentle kiss.
Keota sighed happily. “If Ionan had his way we’d be back in Nesting’s Haven. And I already know I never want to go back.”
“Don’t you miss your family?” Kia asked.
He shrugged. “I guess. But I’m happier with you around than I ever was with them. I was always thought of as the dumb one in the family.”
“Imagine that,” Kia mumbled, and then she sighed. “I’d do anything to bring my family back to the Verinian, but it’s too painful, even for mother and my siblings. I’ve written to them since Malaki died, but they’ve insisted on staying where they are.”
“All of them?” Keota raised an eyebrow. “Even...Nineva?”
Kia stilled at the mention of her witch sister, obsessed with the dark arts. “No. I don’t know where she is. I just wish that...” Her voice dropped into a whisper, and Keota could tell she was about to cry. Keota laid a hand on her shoulder, bringing the fairy into a tight hug. “I promise you one day that we’ll find her, Kia. She’ll come back to this forest. She can’t run from you forever.”
Kia embraced him tightly. “I know she can’t. And that’s what I love about you. You’re my steady, stable rock. You always believe things will turn out right, no matter what.”
“And that’s what I like about you,” he said, fiddling with her braid. “You’re fiery and loyal. I know you’ll be devoted no matter what. You won’t even turn your back on the sister who left you.”
“I never will, not even if she does use black magic,” Kia said. “And someday, like you said, I’m going to meet her again and bring her home.”
Keota’s eyes were drooping. Kia noticed and asked, “Do you need to rest? With fall coming, it’s been rather cloudy lately. There isn’t as much sun out as there usually is. You have no energy.”
“I don’t want to leave you to handle them while I lay down,” Keota protested. “It’s not fair to you.”
“Allie won’t get up until Kennu wakes,” Kia said softly. “You know if something happens, I can take care of things.”
“Alright,” Keota sighed. “But are you sure?”
“Positive. I need the quiet anyway. I’ve had a headache since we got here.” She rubbed her temples slowly.
Keota nodded. He sat down and leaned his head against the tree. I wonder what Ionan is doing? he pondered. He thought of his Changer and saw him resting upon the ground back at the cottage. He searched his feelings and an image of young Changers and a starting line came into place. Our finding ceremony. Why is he thinking about that? Curious, Keota closed his eyes and began to search his own mind.
He saw his younger self standing anxiously with another group of child Accompanies at the edge of Nesting’s Haven, the tall city looming in the background. He was about eleven years old and had a determined look on his face.
“Come on Keota, cheer up,” a boy with light red hair said happily. “Just because you didn’t get a Changer last time doesn’t mean you’ll be passed up again.”
Young Keota looked about ready to burst with worry. “But Galien, I’ve already been through three finding ceremonies! Nobody has ever had three finding ceremonies! Ever! What if it happens again?”
The future Keota scowled. He didn’t like being reminded. If Kia found out, he would never hear the end of it.
“You’ll find one,” said a girl that looked like Galien. “It’s simple statistics.
If it doesn’t happen this time, you’re a lost cause.”
“That makes me feel better!” Keota yelped.
“How do you know, Gail? You’re just my little sister. Ten years old and she thinks she knows everything!” Galien rolled his eyes.
Gail and Galien fell into a heated argument, and Keota tried to ignore them. On his other side a small girl with white hair and pink eyes smiled at him. “Don’t worry. I know what it’s like to be picked on,” she whispered. “Your Changer will come when he’s ready.”
“You think so?” Keota whispered back. He had heard of her. She was the albino girl that nobody talked to. He couldn’t understand why...she was very nice.
“Of course. Believe in yourself, because you know nobody else here will,” she said. “I’m Luciana, but you can call me Luce.”
“Keota,” he said, shaking her hand. “And I know you’ll find a Changer, too.”
“If there’s a Changer on this earth that chooses you, Keota, he’s just as stupid as you are.”
Keota turned. A boy stood behind them, with deep brown hair and cold brown eyes. A couple of older girls nearby swooned at his pale, handsome face and strong build. Keota knew he was thirteen, but he seemed older than that. He was tall, with a face that seemed frozen in a smirk, and carried a demeanor that suggested you get out of his way, because he was entitled to all he saw.
“Wyntier,” mumbled Galien with apparent dislike. “What are you doing here? Are you going to be in the ceremony too?”
“Obviously.” Wyntier said coldly. “I sure as hell didn’t show up here to support you.”
“You had better stay away from us,” Gail said in a low voice.
“Yeah, we’ll tell the professors you’re being a bully!” Galien added in an attempt to scare him off. Wyntier looked at them, and then shook his head and laughed softly. He strode away at that, leaving the air somehow less chilling in his absence.
Gail turned to her brother. “We’ll tell the professors you’re being a bully?” she copied, looking at him with disgust. “What are we, four? Oh don’t bully us Wyntier, or we’ll tell and you’ll get a time out! I just don’t understand how we can be related…”
“For crying out loud Gail...” Galien started, but the group fell silent as a trumpet blew a majestic tune.
“There’s the announcement!” cried the white haired girl. “We’d better hurry!”
The four rushed along to a clear path with a white starting line. Accompanies of all ages pushed and shoved each other around. There was laughter and a lot of playing as they waited to take their places. Most were around Keota’s age. He noticed, with a pit in his stomach, that Wyntier had taken his place next to him.
“You’d better stay out of my way,” Wyntier said. “If you try to steal a Changer from me, I’ll make sure you’ll regret it.”
“Do you feel threatened by me?” Keota said between clenched teeth, knowing that would get under Wyntier’s skin.
“I can’t feel threatened by a three, soon to be four-time loser. If you do find a Changer, I hope it’s a weak, useless thing like you. Just leave all the good ones to me.”
Keota wrestled with his desire to punch Wyntier and searched out for Luciana. He should’ve stayed with her. Just as he had jostled his way through a large crowd of chattering girls, the trumpet sounded again. A very old man climbed up on top of a huge rock, his tortoise Changer following slowly behind. “Children!” he shouted.
There was instant silence. The line quickly changed from wavy to straight, and all eyes turned to look at the man, rising up on tip-toe for a better view. He waited for the commotion to settle down before speaking.
“The rules for the ceremony are simple. When I give the word, you race off into the jungle to find your Changer. If you need help or get into trouble, just shout and someone nearby will help you. Is that clear?”
There was a collection of voices saying, “Yes, Professor Corrock.”
“The ceremony lasts all day. Don’t come back to the city until you find your Changer. The ceremony ends when the sun sets. If it is sunset and you still haven’t found your Changer, then an experienced Accompany will escort you back.”
Keota winced at the embarrassing memories of adult Accompanies and Changers looking at him sympathetically as they took him back to the city. He sure hoped it wouldn’t happen again this year.
“Alright. When I give the signal.” the old man raised his hand and said slowly “Three, two, one…go!”
All at once everybody was running. Wyntier pushed Keota forward, trying to slam him into the dirt. Keota caught his balance at just the right moment and left the city behind to travel towards the ocean. The noise died, leaving only the sounds of birds in nearby palm trees to comfort him. I have to believe in myself, he thought, reminding himself of Luciana’s words. Today is the day I find my Changer!
“When you are ready,” called a panther Changer from the cliff side. “Ready…get set…go!”
Ionan spread his wings, leaping into the sky. Vera was already up in the air, soaring through the sky towards the ocean. Squawks, roars and barks were everywhere. He was glad to be flying so he wouldn’t be stepped on by all the Changers transforming constantly in a tumult of joy.
Ionan controlled his excitement and flew higher. He glanced over at Vera, surprised as he noticed she was totally calm and serious for once in her life. Ionan called out to her.
“Do you think we should stay together?” he asked.
“No,” Vera said at once. “This is something we must do alone. It is sacred.”
“Oh. Well then, I’ll see you soon.” Not wanting to be the one abandoned, Ionan flew off first.
Ionan flew around aimlessly, feeling bored. He skimmed the tree tops until he realized that the Accompanies would be on the ground. He dropped and trailed along the top of the grass for a few minutes, but saw nothing. Tired of this already, he flipped and did a loop-de-loop, then rolled to the ground and sat up in a fighting stance. He bared his fangs and let out a puff of smoke. He waited, smashing his tail down on the ground, creating a hole where his spike had been. He wondered where Vera had gone to.
He flapped his wings. Finding ceremonies weren’t nearly as fun as playing with his friends. He rose up and glided around some more. He decided he was done with looking at trees and went to look for some day lilies instead. At the edge of the trees grew his prize, and a river flowed nearby. He picked up a pink lily in his mouth, inhaling the scent. He knew Vera would love it.
Without warning, his heart began beating rapidly. He dropped the lily in sudden disinterest and looked around. Terrified but weirdly exalted, he ducked behind the lilies and peered out.
A small boy of about eleven came to the river. He was tall and tan, with black hair and golden eyes. He looked about as bored as Ionan felt. Ionan watched him, interested. Unexpectedly and not of his own accord, a sudden word rose up inside of him. “Keota,” he said curiously.
“Keota,” he marveled, wondering where it had come from. Then it hit him. “Keota!” he cried and he rose up out of the day lilies. I have found my Accompany!
The young Keota looked up. The hatchling hovered above him, his head tilted to one side like a curious dog.
“Oh, hello there,” said Keota, looking up at the young dragon. The dragon twirled up and around in the air and soared down, tugging with his teeth at his shirt. “I don’t have time to play today,” Keota laughed. “I have to find my Changer.”
The hatchling touched down and grabbed young Keota’s pant leg with his teeth, letting the boy drag him along the ground. The dragon dug in with his claws and wouldn’t let go.
“Now come on! Really, I have to go find my Changer. Go play with someone else,” Keota said in irritation.
The dragon shook the child’s pant leg like a puppy in tug-of-war. “Hey!” Keota cried. “Go away! Leave me alone!”
The older Keota blushed at his previous actions, even though there was no one to see. Meanwhile, in Ionan’s mind,
the Changer watched as his younger self became confused.
Why doesn’t he like me? Ionan questioned in his mind. What’s wrong with him? Doesn’t he know I’m his Changer? The baby dragon let go of the fabric and soared around, sitting on the Accompany’s shoulder. There. Now he should know. All small Changers sit on their Accompanies shoulders. It’s a common pose! Surely he knows it.
“What’s wrong with you?” Keota asked and Ionan slunk down, confounded. “This is serious!”
My, he must be dense! young Ionan marveled. Good thing I’m his Changer. Now, what can I do to let him know? Ionan flew off of his shoulder and hovered in front of him.
Keota sighed. “Alright, I give up. What do you want?”
Ionan cocked his head.“Keota,” he said. “Key-o-ta. Keota and Ionan. Accompany and Changer.”
Keota’s eyes widened. “You are my Changer?” he questioned. Ionan flipped in the air, glad he had finally got through to him. Keota laughed and Ionan tackled him, clinging happily to his chest. “Yes! Finally!” Keota punched the air and hugged Ionan joyfully. “What’s your name again? Ionan isn’t it? Come on, let’s go back to the city. I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time.”
He put Ionan on his shoulder and walked back to the town, Ionan’s tail swishing back and forth as they went.
There were only a few people not back yet, as the sun was already beginning to set. Everyone saw Keota and rushed over to congratulate him. Ionan spouted a few bits of flame, to make the other Accompanies and Changers ooh and awe, and Keota felt pride welling up in his chest.
Eventually the crowd died down. Keota walked over to a rock where he found Gail sitting stroking a pelican, and Galien with a mantis on his shoulder. Keota looked around for the white haired girl, but she was nowhere to be seen.
“Hey! You got one!” cried Galien excitedly, the mantis jumping into his hands. “Good job!”
“Actually, he found me, but thanks anyway,” Keota added.
Ionan looked around. Every Changer he knew had gotten an Accompany. This made him feel happy. At least none of his friends would be left behind. A flash of purple zoomed by his eye and he opened his wings in welcome. “Vera!” he proclaimed. “Were you successful?”