Myth (Book 1)

by Angela K. Crandall

  (Friday)

  The bright morning sun shone through the curtains. I rolled over, pulling the covers over my head. I’d just take a few more minutes to myself before Molly woke up. My bed was warm and comfy, so I closed my eyes to float back to paradise.

  Without warning, I discovered myself in a field surrounded by acres of wheat grass. The sun gleamed down on my strawberry blonde hair. A sense of serenity and peace overcame me. Then rushing out of nowhere a fox appeared. She skidded to a stop, staring at me. I lowered myself into a sitting position on the ground, beginning meditation. A warm, soft breeze blew my long hair behind me. Reflecting back to when I’d first met Star and Eva I tried to place the current fox in this dream. Who was she? Where did she come from? Feeling a soft object nuzzle my hands slowly, I opened my eyes.

  “You must find her. The pieces will fit if you follow the trail. Owl, will guide you. Listen to him; go to the cabin in the woods. There, you’ll find more clues. First, you must be at peace. You’ve always found a place in your heart for rebels, warriors and those defiant of the social norm. I have to go now. Take care, Starla,” she spoke.

  My eyes fluttered open, I couldn’t tell if it had been a lucid dream or vision. I’d used meditation in my sleep? My eyes strayed to the flip couch, empty. I heard Molly in the bathroom. The clock read 11:46. If I didn’t get up soon, the whole day would be wasted. Mom had probably already left for work. She’d be at the library stacking books and working on the computers by now. Surely Megan had left for school.

  I got up to take a quick peek at my calendar, Friday. I had math class this evening around seven. I raised my arms above my head, stretching a bit. Molly spun out of the bathroom.

  “Hey, so you finally woke up, sleepy head,” she said.

  “What do you want to do today? We could play detective, take a day off, or maybe even meet up with Jenson.”

  “Is your mom home?” she asked.

  “You’ll have to wait until tonight if you want to speak to her. She gets home around five. It was quiet when I woke up, so I assumed everyone had left,” I said, grabbing jeans and a T-shirt off a nearby chair. “I heard you in the bathroom earlier then attempted to go back to sleep. It was pretty peaceful until my lucid dream. I’m sure that’s what it was anyway, I’m going to take a shower. Last night it just didn’t happen.”

  Molly walked over to the flip couch, putting it back together, then sat down. “Sure, math homework, ugh,” she said, holding up her book she’d pulled from her backpack. “Then when you get done we’ll consider what to do next.”

  “Good, it will give me a bit of time to think things over.”

  Closing the bathroom door behind me, I leaned against it and sighed. Eyeing my extra clothes I’d set on a nearby shelf, I wondered what Owl was up to today. Did Rascal give us an address to that cabin he talked about last night? I remembered him, saying it was in a park, no maybe a reservation? I turned on the shower, waiting for it to heat up, listening to Molly fuss over equations, ew math. I was not looking forward to homework. I’d have to finish mine before class tonight. Molly and I had the same arithmetic class. She’d been tutoring me. Would I go, or skip out? There was something I had to do for my lit class? Reading in our book, that’s right. I’d almost forgotten about that. Thank goodness it wasn’t due til Thursday. It was an introduction class I was completing at my own pace. Ah, I’d get by. Lit was easy compared to math. I felt the water spraying out of the shower head, just right, and then stepped in.

  We’d decided to work on our studies given that it felt like ages since I’d cracked a book. I wasn’t that thrilled, but after many attempts to contact Jenson and Owl had failed, we figured it would be best.

  I saw that Molly had almost completed her art project. She’d been working on a few abstract drawings. I set my book aside for lit class. I’d just finished reading “The Telltale Heart” by Edgar Allen Poe. I’d forgotten how much I enjoyed a good spooky tale now and again. Math had been the worst of it, and Jones hadn’t given us much homework this week. The downstairs door creaked from below. I jumped up, then fell back down on the bed.

  “It must be Megan home from school. It’s after 3:30,” I said, placing my notebooks and school things next to me.

  “We didn’t even break for lunch,” observed Molly.

  “True, but we did get a lot done. Do you want to go downstairs, get a bite to eat? We could catch up on Ellen if you want,” I said.

  “Your mom lets you watch that with all her rules?”

  “It is, public-television we’re talking about, and she loves PBS so if you’re up for Sesame Street, Arthur, or maybe even Martha Speaks,” I teased.

  “Well, I did catch you and Jenson, watching Curious George that one day,” she said, standing up from her spot on the floor. Molly gathered up her books, placing them, inside her backpack along with her overnight stuff.

  “Yes, in January when I moved in after we’d set up the TV. I love my cartoons,” I said optimistically as I put on my shoes and pulled on a sweatshirt. We made our way downstairs into the kitchen. My sister already had out the fixings for sandwiches.

  I poked Megan on the shoulder from behind.”What are you doing? Mom’s not going to be happy if we ruin our dinner.”

  My sister points to a note on the fridge.

  “Mom won’t be home tonight. She has some sort, of meeting at the library discussing what new books should be brought in. You know how she is always fighting for non-censorship. What have you two been up to all day?”

  “Homework, we woke up at about noon,” I replied.

  “Must be nice,” Megan complained.

  “It is, but there are other responsibilities that come along with it. I can make us the sandwiches if you want.”

  “Nope, I can do it. What kind do you guys want? I have cheese, ham, turkey, tomatoes, mustard, and mayo.”

  “Ham and cheese sounds good,” said Molly.

  “Yeah, same here,” I replied, getting cans of soda out of the fridge.

  “We should take our sandwiches into the living room since mom isn’t home. She hardly ever lets us watch TV while we eat dinner,” said Megan. She reached up on top of the fridge for the paper plates.

  I laughed and picked up the bag of baked potato chips.

  “Yeah, that does sound like a plan. Do you guys want to watch cartoons on PBS or Ellen on ABC?” I asked.

  Molly looked at Megan, waiting for her to decide.

  “Let’s do Ellen today. Martha Speaks kind of, freaks me out,” she admitted

  “Who’s freaked out by Martha? I think she’s adorable,” Molly interjected.

  “I just have a weird sister,” I replied, putting chips on all of our plates.

  We picked them up, then headed out of the kitchen into the entrance hall, and then straight down a few feet to the right was our living room. I really didn’t live, in it like most people. My mom expected me to do homework, sometimes housework and work at Denny’s.

  “So what do you think of Ellen?” asked Megan.

  “I think she’s got a good sense of humor, great guests and is more entertaining than Doctor Phil,” Molly answered.

  Megan chuckled, “Yeah, I like that she has some real life heroes on her show besides the usual celebrities. I used to watch Oprah.”

  Leaning over the coffee table, Megan turned on the TV. Once she sat down I placed our plates on it.

  “Has mom, had her library guests over lately?” I pondered.

  “Not that I know of, hmm, dad did come over last night, though. You were out. They seem to be getting really chummy,” she said, nudging me.

  “Well, I’m not jumping to any conclusions yet sis, oh commercial break is over,” I said munching on my sandwiches.

  We leaned back to give the talk show host, 45 minutes of our attention while in the 15 minutes, of commercials we’d be told what products to buy that would make our lives better. Man, my mom living in my head, weird.

  It was seven o’clock. Molly had l
eft for math class an hour ago. I should have gone. She didn’t heckle me as she normally would. Instead, I’d done the dishes, picked up the living room, and cleaned my bathroom. What mom didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her. Now I wasn’t at all sure what to do with myself. I considered calling my dad. It had been a while since we’d spoken. Mom would be home soon, then Megan would have to shut off the TV. She’d been glued to it all evening.

  I got up from the kitchen table, prepared to head upstairs to either do some reading or call my dad. I went to take my cell phone out of my pocket, and it rang.

  “Hello, this is Starla.”

  “Hey, it’s Owl. I got your number from Jenson. I’d been cleaning up my room this evening, no biggie right?”

  “I guess. Did you find something?”

  “I came across a few pictures from pow-wows I’ve attended over the years. Nuria must not have known she was being photographed. During them, we have elders take pictures of our tribe members for the newspaper. Once in a while Martin would tag along with Rascal. There is clearly, a woman with him in this picture, and it’s not Martin’s mom,” Owl blurted.

  “This is good. Then we’ll be able to identify her.”

  “Yes, have you come up with any clues, ideas, anything since we last spoke?” he questioned.

  “Um, yes in a very unconventional way.”

  “OK, well go ahead, tell me,” he urged.

  “I had a lucid dream this morning. In it a spirit animal connected to me. I believe she is part of my clan, possibly a member of it or may even represent a part of me. The cabin Rascal was sharing, so little about, we have to go there! This fox told me we’ll find clues there, to lead us to Nuria’s whereabouts. The only problem is I can’t remember the name of the park. If Du-vance does have a half sibling, then possibly he was searching for her and not Nuria.”

  “Let’s all meet on Monday at the cafe before class. How does that sound,” asked Owl.

  “Good, it seems to be our official meeting spot. I’ll call Jenson to see if he can join us there,” I answered.

  “What about Molly?”

  “She and I usually meet up, before class. It should work,” I reassured him.

  “Anyway, how was your day?”

  “OK,” I answered, making my way to my room. “Molly and I finished some homework. I tried to get ahold of you, but got no answer, Jenson, too.”

  “He and I hung out and also caught up on some academics. We both realized we’d forgotten our phones once we got to the library. It was early yet, ten a.m.,” he groaned.

  “No way was I up that early. I didn’t even wake up til around eleven, and then I tried to take a siesta, but was startled by that vision.”

  “Hmm, so nothing fun today?”

  “Did Jenson ask you to give me the third degree,” I answered him.

  “No, but...”

  “OK then, if it’s necessary you can tell him that I look forward to seeing him later.”

  “Yep, well...”

  “Owl, what is it?”

  “Jenson... Maybe you guys should go to the dance coming up.”

  I smiled, “Yes, we almost certainly will. I’ll talk to you both Monday.”

  I hit the end button on my phone, placing it on my nightstand as I heard my bedroom door open.

  “Hey,” said my mom peering in.

  “Hi, how was work?”

  She came over and sat on the edge of my bed.

  She shrugged her shoulders, smiled, and said, “Eh it was OK. Did you get your homework done?”

  “Yes, and Megan made us dinner. Ham and cheese sandwiches, then we watched Ellen, little sister treating big sister.”

  “Dad’s coming over for dinner tomorrow night. Both you and your sister are required to be here. OK?”

  “Yeah, sure, Mom.”

  She proceeded to give me a hug. I embraced her back.

  Pulling away, I asked, “Is dad still taking me to get my moped license?”

  “You’ll have to ask him. Now get some sleep. I’m sure we’ll get it dealt with soon,” she said, closing the door behind her.

  I began to ready myself for bed. My mind raced. I wouldn’t be gathering with everyone til Monday. Why weren’t we working on the case this weekend? I only worked on Sunday. Dad would be here for dinner. How were we supposed to discuss the case with Megan there? Me, being a fox would have to come out sooner or later. How long will they keep things hidden from her, like they did me? What about Lang Orion? Nothing had been mentioned about him. I found it rather bizarre unless he wasn’t connected, to any of the others. I don’t think Cal knew him. Eva and Star never even mentioned him when I was there.

  Putting my clothes in the hamper, I realized I’d forgotten about the diary and pictures mom had given me. I rummaged around my top clothing drawer, fishing out the envelope along with the diary where I’d stashed them. I’d look through some of the pictures tonight, but the diary would have to wait until tomorrow. I was already having, a hard time keeping my eyes open. I put the diary in my drawer of the night stand, not sure why I feared someone taking it.

  The manila envelope appeared old and worn. How long had my mother had it? I turned it over in my hands and then picked at the scotch tape holding it closed. Once the plastic was removed, I pulled out several photos of various sizes.

  In the first set of pictures I scanned, it was difficult to tell who was who. I’d never seen mother in her fox form. Why hadn’t she shown me? The picture was taken, in a field at Hunters Park. It looked like a moonlight meeting. I saw a few wolves in the photo. Turning it around on the back side, it said: “Meeting to admit Dan into the Clan officially.” Other small snapshots I shuffled through contained several of a bride and groom. In them, my mother was in her human form. My father as far as I knew was human. The two larger prints were group pictures. One a mixture of many clans, wolves, foxes, wolf-hybrids, and a few humans were also standing beside them. Was that a park ranger? I wonder if it was the one that Rascal had spoken of.

  Hmm, to me they were just photos. Nothing evident jumped out at me. Mother could probably tell me additional details. I should ask in the daytime. The diary I kind of wanted to go through myself. Was I born a fox or human? What did I, look like? Why didn’t I ever see pictures of myself as a fox, only a human? Thoughts scrambled my brain. Recently my concentration was on Du-Vance’s death. I set the photographs on my nightstand before turning out the light.

  Anticipation of what was to come clouded my brain. I reflected on Owl’s kind heart in spite of our first meeting. Then Jenson’s arms engulfed me as I lay deep in fantasy. I almost fell asleep until I jolted awake, concerned about Molly’s dilemma. Finally, when I thought sleep had arrived, I tossed and turned some more until I eased myself into peace, letting it go, giving it to the wind to sweep away my unsettled insecurities, into the night.

  Chapter 17

  My stomach rumbled at me as I got up to face the day. I slipped on an old pair of jeans and a purple sweatshirt, then went downstairs. The kitchen was empty. Mom and Megan weren’t up yet. I lifted my face towards the sun. Its rays poured through our window overlooking the sink. A chill remained in the air from the freshly fallen snow. Shielding my eyes from the light, I reached up to the top cupboard. I pulled out the box of Honey Toasted Oats pouring them into my bowl. Then set them down on the counter briefly to grab the soy milk out of the fridge. What? An animal was outside our kitchen window, was that a fox? It was! Could it be one of my clan members? I opened the pane to get a better look, then called out, “Star, Eva, is that you?”

  She or he didn’t answer. I hoped it wasn’t a shapeshifter trying to trick me. The fox began twitching, transforming before my eyes, into the form of my mother. Quickly a paw reached out, pulling her stashed clothes from the side of the shed. Shivering, I backed away from the glass. Was that truly mom? I was about to go upstairs when Megan hopped into the room.

  “Hey, mom went on her morning run. She said she’d be back for breakfast. Did you think
I was sleeping? I had a book to read, for English. Remember Great Expectations?”

  Before I could reply my mother opened the back door, letting herself into our kitchen.

  “Hey girls, that was quite a run. I didn’t mean to startle you,” she said to me, shutting the door.

  My sister picked up the Honey Oats I’d left on the counter and grabbed soy milk out of the fridge.

  “Want some sis, unless you’re eating your cereal dry today.”

  I took the milk, pouring it onto my cereal and watched as my mom got her own bowl. She came to sit between Megan and me, setting her bowl down beside ours. Without a word she pulled us both into a huge bear hug. Then let go. She grinned, and then began preparing her breakfast.

  “So sis, what did you think of Great Expectations?” asked Megan again.

  “I really liked it, one of the characters spontaneously combusts!” I exclaimed.

  My sister almost blew milk out of her nose. My mom laughed at us both. Studying her, I observed her take in a deep breath, then slowly exhale it out. I touched her arm, pulling up her sleeve tracing my hands over what appeared to be the same fox tattoo I had. I’m not sure what made me do it. The need to feel close to her, or was it instinct? How come I hadn’t seen it before? Did she cover it with make-up? What about all the times we’d gone swimming in the ocean in L.A.?

  My tattoo had not glowed in a while. Eva hadn’t given me a lot of data on how it worked. She’d said it could sense things. What things did it sense besides my clan, as Molly had suggested? Mom took my hand gently pushing back down her short sleeve shirt.

  “Yeah, I have one too. It’s been really difficult to keep it hidden,” she said.

  Megan spoke up, “Mom, I don’t have a tattoo. Did you and Starla go get them before I was born?”