Seeking Shapeshifters

by Rebekah L. Purdy

  “Earth to Ima.” Ferren waved a hand in front of my face.

  “Sorry, what did you say?” I asked.

  “Do you want something to eat?”

  “Oh, no I’m fine thanks.” My cheeks grew hot.

  “You didn’t offer to get me anything,” Carsen said.

  Ferren snorted. “That’s because you’re a pig, and I’d be over there all day loading up a plate for you!”

  I stifled a giggle. “So what do you guys want to do?” I asked at last.

  “First, I think we better introduce you to our grandma before she throws something at us.” Ferren nodded toward a wintry looking woman near the food table. She had long, white hair tied back in a ponytail; her chocolate colored eyes were warm yet curious. The woman wore a long skirt, with a layer of shirts, and a pair of fur lined boots.

  With Carsen still holding my hand, we made our way over to the elder. As I approached, her eyes roamed over me like I’d stepped under a high-powered microscope. She frowned as if she saw right through me. But when her glance met mine a smile formed on her lips.

  “Grandma this is Ima Berry, the girl we told you about,” Ferren said.

  “Hello Ima.” The woman reached out to touch my free hand. “I’ve heard so much about you.”

  “It’s nice to meet you,” I said. My stomach rolled as her fingers clutched mine. A low buzzing tickled my ears, while the shadows in the room seemed to thicken like pea soup.

  Contact with her made me dizzy. For a mere moment, I heard the sound of ancient drums much like that day on the beach. I blinked my eyes as my vision became fuzzy. All I saw was a woman standing on the beach, shouting at the sky—a man lying at her feet. She chanted and blue light flashed into the heavens.

  I jerked back trying to regain my balance but my mind swam with too many images, and words I didn’t understand.

  “Ima, are you okay?” I heard Carsen say beside me. Strong hands gripped my arms, steadying me.

  “Yeah, sorry. Just a little dizzy. Must be the excitement of the day catching up with me.”

  Carsen wrapped his arm around me, letting me rest my head against his heavy sweatshirt. I inhaled deeply, catching the faint scent of cologne mixed with something wild, like autumnal bonfires and heavy spice.

  “Maybe you should sit,” Carsen’s grandma said.

  “I’ll be okay.” Her eyes were intense. What was with everyone tonight?

  The curiousness in her gaze grew tenfold as she watched me. “Kivalina,” she said, turning to another woman. “Come meet Ima. She’s a friend of the family.”

  At the mention of my name, the one called Kivalina peered at me, a wide smile stretched across her wrinkled, weathered face. Like Carsen’s grandma, she sized me up in a quick glance.

  Her skirts swished as she came closer, smelling of cinnamon “So you’re the one causing the stir.”

  I wanted to ask what stir, but stood motionless instead, until she was done with her evaluation of me.

  “Yes,” Carsen said with a laugh. “She’s the one.”

  “Not what I expected,” Kivalina said. “What do you think, Alice?” She turned back to Carsen’s grandma.

  “Only time will tell,” she answered.

  Their odd behavior caught me off guard, and I shot my friends a bewildered glance. But they looked as confused as me.

  “Well, I think we’re going to find a table and play some cards now,” Ferren interrupted.

  “Sure, you kids have fun,” Alice said.

  “Sorry about that. Our grandma’s kind of strange sometimes,” Carsen said.

  “No, they were both nice.”

  Ferren laughed. “Yeah, well let’s just say I’m surprised Talon’s grandma liked you so well. She usually hates anyone who upsets Talon.”

  “I upset him?” And yet it made me wonder why he’d mention me at all. My pulse quickened and I cursed myself.

  “Definitely. He goes home and complains about you to his grandma all the time,” Carsen said.

  “He lives with his grandma?”

  “Yeah.” Ferren squirmed in her chair, and traced the grain in the table.

  “Where are his parents?” I said, sitting down.

  Carsen sat next to me. “His mom died in a hunting accident when he was ten.”

  “What about his dad?”

  “My dad’s not around—he’s a piece of crap,” Talon said behind me.

  A lump lodged in my throat, and I spun in my chair to find Talon standing with his hands shoved in his pockets, his face twisted in anger. His glance met mine, and I fought to breathe. Pain clung to him like a heavy coat, and I wanted to go to him and tell him everything would be okay. It tore my heart out to see the anguish he was in, but it definitely explained Talon’s bad attitude.

  “Sorry,” I said.

  “Don’t be, I don’t need your sympathy, outsider.” Talon sneered, and his dark eyes blazed.

  “Maybe he’ll come back, your dad I mean,” I whispered.

  The three of them gave me startled looks, as if I’d spewed fire from my lips.

  “He can’t, he was kicked out of the tribe,” Ferren said.

  I didn’t know what to say. What had the man done? But no one offered an explanation, so I let it drop. Yet, my mind ran through several scenarios, all of which gave me the chills.

  Silence settled over our group until Carsen grabbed a deck of cards and dealt a hand of poker, which I’m very good at. I blame it on long nights on Berry S.I. sets.

  We played several hands before Dad came to retrieve me.

  “I think we ought to get home now, Ima,” Dad said, eyeing my friends.

  “Okay, I just need to get my coat.”

  Sliding my chair back, I made my way to the rack, followed closely by Carsen. He took my coat from the hanger and helped me put it on, showing more courtesy than any guy I’d ever known. Most guys didn’t even hold the door open, let alone help girl get her coat on.

  “So,” he whispered when I faced him. “I’ll see you Monday.”

  “Yeah,” I said, oblivious to everyone else around us.

  He brushed a strand of hair from my face. The contact of his thumb against my cheek sent rivulets of electricity coursing through my body. Breathe, I reminded myself as an unsteady hiss escaped my lips.

  At that moment, I wished we weren’t surrounded by half the town of Point Hope. He smiled as if he heard my thoughts, and it was all I could do to keep my knees from knocking together.

  “I’ll be thinking about you,” Carsen said, stepping back from me.

  My face flushed. “Monday,” I said softly, “is a long ways away.”

  “Day after tomorrow.” He gave me a lopsided grin.

  “Ima,” Dad called again.

  I snapped out of my dream-like state and followed my dad. What have you done to me Carsen Shinew? I thought.

  Dad’s worried eyes were trained on me, but he kept quiet. He must’ve sensed he’d get nothing but arguments from me if he insisted I not get attached. Besides, it was too late to turn back now. Even after the warnings about Carsen’s reputation, I couldn’t help myself.

  In other words, I was in big trouble.

  Chapter Six

  Whispers and Goodbyes

  Two weeks later

  Keetah sat across from me with his tongue hanging out of his mouth as I strummed my guitar. I flipped the page on my songbook, trying to get the rest of the chords down when Keetah leapt off the couch and started barking. He pranced around in a circle then looked back at me.

  “What is it boy? Are Daddy and Matt home?”

  Dad was the first to come through the door and Keetah rushed forward for attention.

  “I’ve got a surprise for you,” Dad said.

  “What is it?” I sat my guitar back in its case

  He dropped a set of car keys in my hand, and I dashed onto the front stoop. There, parked next to the truck was a Jeep Cherokee.

  “Oh my gosh! Thank you!” I threw myself at him with a sq
ueal.

  Dad stumbled back under the impact. “Glenn gave me a good deal on it.”

  “This is so cool!” After pulling on my boots, I rushed through the snow.

  I whipped open the door and sat behind the wheel then turned on the Jeep. I cranked up the radio in my car. My car. I finally had a vehicle. I’d only been bugging Dad all summer for one.

  “Come back inside before you catch a cold. You don’t even have a coat on.” Dad came up alongside the open door.

  “Can I take it for a spin?”

  “In a little bit.”

  I went back inside, but not before taking another quick peek at my new wheels. The guys took off their coats and Matt slid into a chair, his face somber.

  “What’s wrong?” I asked when Dad left the room.

  “I might have to leave soon.”

  My chest tightened at the thought of being alone, and I gave him a blank look. “Why?”

  “My mom’s not feeling well and with my dad on the road she’ll need some extra help.” Matt stood then came to sit next to me.

  “I’m sorry.” I leaned over to hug him.

  “Promise me you’ll be careful,” he said in a hushed voice.

  “I will.”

  “I shouldn’t be gone too long.”

  “Really, I’ll be fine.” My voice cracked, so much for trying to sound convincing.

  My head rested on his chest, absorbing his warmth. I didn’t want him to go. I mean, I’d gotten used to his lectures and protectiveness. And what would I do without his stupid jokes?

  It was a comfort thing. I liked having him here at night when the darkness settled in, or when I needed to talk about school and friends.

  “I want you to call me everyday after school,” he said, interrupting my thoughts.

  I laughed. “All right, but if you only want to chastise me about boys then I won’t do it.”

  He chuckled too. “I’d never do that, but just in case, I’m having a talk with Keetah before I leave.” Matt released me, and I teared up.

  “So when do you fly out?”

  “Tomorrow.”

  Tomorrow? Tomorrow was too soon. Yet, I knew his mom needed him, and I felt guilty for not wanting him to go.

  For the rest of the night unease settled in like a bear in hibernation. I couldn’t explain how vulnerable I felt, knowing I’d be alone. Maybe I was being stupid? But the contentment I’d gotten used to having Matt and my dad watch over me vanished. Because now they wouldn’t be here.

  ****

  My phone blared from my bedside stand, and I glanced at the clock to see it was only 9:30 in the morning.

  “Hello?” I yawned.

  “I didn’t wake you up did I?” Ferren’s too perky voice sounded in my ear.

  “No. I always answer the phone like this.”

  Ferren giggled on the other end. “Hey, Carsen wanted me to call and see if you wanted to go with us to Old Town?”

  “Sure, what time?”

  “I can pick you up in about ten minutes,” she said.

  “All right.” I hung up and crawled from bed. Keetah stretched out next to me and put his wet nose on my cheek.

  “Morning.” I patted his head.

  Dad and Matt were already up and going over papers when I entered the dining room.

  “Who was on the phone?” Dad said.

  “Ferren, she wants me to go to Old Town with her. She’s picking me up shortly.”

  Old Town was one of the old settlements in Point Hope. It was deserted now, but people still visited.

  “Okay, don’t be gone too long, Matt flies out this evening.”

  “I won’t be.”

  After using the bathroom, I went back to my room where I threw on some jeans and a black sweater then grabbed my parka and mittens. I got my boots on then heard a horn blare from the driveway.

  “Bye,” I called, rushing out the door.

  I smiled when I saw Ferren waving from an ATV where she sat behind Talon.

  “You can sit with Carsen.” She gestured to her cousin.

  He grinned and scooted forward on his seat, while I slid on behind him. “Hold on tight,” he said.

  I laughed. “I hope you’re not trying to take advantage of the situation.”

  “I’m hurt,” he said with a pretend frown.

  With a roll of my eyes, I clung tight to his waist, resting my head against his back. His heat radiated through his coat like a furnace blast. But I wasn’t complaining. I welcomed the warmth against the frigid October air.

  We headed toward the airstrip, pulling off when we reached the long, deserted village. I hopped down from the four-wheeler, shivering, but not because of the temperatures. Something resonated here, something energetic. I let out a staggered breath but made myself move forward.

  The nearer I got to the houses the more jittery I became. Thump-dum-bum-dum came the faint sound of drums. My eyes flickered over the landscape. Gravel, gray skies, and nothing but whiteness for miles. Maybe I was being foolish.

  I peered around in nervous anticipation half expecting to see people marching or dancing about. But nothing was there. I stared at Talon and Ferren to see if they noticed the noise but neither of them reacted.

  Carsen reached for my hand, tugging me along. He guided me behind one of the old houses that looked like it belonged in a museum. When we stopped, he wrapped his arms around me.

  “I was kind of thinking we could make this official,” he said in a serious tone.

  “Make what official?”

  “Us.”

  He leaned down until our foreheads touched. “I want you to me mine, Ima.”

  My heart throbbed in my ears as our eyes met like two dancers spinning out of control.

  “Yes,” I said.

  His hand cupped my chin, tilting my head and his warm lips brushed mine. Everything around me exploded as I laced my arms about his neck, losing myself in the beauty of a first kiss. The scent of his cologne tickled my nose, the taste of mint lingering on his lips. His embrace tightened, pulling me closer, as if to meld us into one being.

  There was no awkwardness, only the sweet, tender touch of his mouth on mine. Carsen shifted back, his eyes intense on my face.

  “I’ve wanted to kiss you since I first saw you,” he whispered.

  “What took you so long?” Man, he made me breathless. I sucked in a lungful of air, trying to control my breathing, which didn’t help.

  “I had to make sure you were worth the risk.”

  “Risk?”

  “I’m not going to give my heart to just any outsider.” He chuckled.

  He pulled his hands away from me and reached up to unhook his necklace. He dangled it in front of my face, and I took in the leather strips, which had a carved ivory polar bear attached to it.

  I lifted my hand to touch it, feeling a jolt of power spiral down my arm. Whoa. I almost dropped it. Okay, that wasn’t normal. Maybe I should give it back. But the beautiful ivory piece seemed to call to me.

  “It’s beautiful,” I said.

  “Now everyone will know you’re mine.” Carsen moved to stand behind me.

  He lowered the hood of my parka, fastening his gift around my neck. I gasped. It seemed to come alive. The earth pulsated beneath my feet—like I was connected to everyone and everything.

  “Carsen,” I said in a hushed voice, turning to embrace him. “Thank you.”

  He kissed me again and the winds picked up, witnessing our joining.

  “I’ll never let you go. I meant it when I said you’re mine.”

  Ferren caught us entwined and rolled her eyes. “If you guys are about finished, I thought we could take a quick ride out to the cliffs so Ima can see them.”

  My cheeks burned. “Yeah, I’d like that.”

  I tore myself away from my boyfriend. Ha! I have a boyfriend—my first boyfriend. Would it have been dorky if I twirled around and sang and shouted? Okay, so my friends would think I’d gone insane. Instead, I smiled, following Cars
en back to the ATV. We drove away from Old Town, the drums echoed behind me.

  With a happiness I couldn’t begin to describe, I closed my eyes. For once, I belonged somewhere—to someone. The ATV slowed, and we stopped once more. I edged away from the others, peering at the cliffs, their beauty even more dangerous beneath a blanket of snow. I glanced back to find Ferren dragging Carsen aside.

  They were deep in conversation and even though I never heard what they said, the intensity was obvious. Ferren wasn’t happy about something. Instead of sticking around to see what they argued about I decided to do some exploring.

  Ima. A voice sounded in the air.

  My head turned in the direction of my friends but they hadn’t called me.

  Drums beat a rhythm, urging my feet forward.

  Come to us, Ima.

  I squeezed my eyes shut, my legs trembled beneath me. I wanted to follow the musical voices. They embraced me, and I had no choice but to let them lead me.

  Ima, we’ve missed you.

  The giggles sprinkled the air like tiny bells, and I stepped one foot in front of the other, immersed in the ghostly words.

  Raising my hand I reached forward, extending my fingers. Then I was tumbling to the ground in a tangle of limbs.

  “Ima! What are you doing?” Talon yelled.

  I shook my head in confusion. “What?”

  “You almost walked off the cliff.”

  My eyes widened and I realized how close to the edge we were.

  “Oh,” I said.

  What just happened? I quaked against Talon’s marble like chest. I must be mad. Why else would I hear voices? Maybe it was time to talk to my dad about institutionalization.

  Talon shifted beneath me as we heard Carsen and Ferren shouting our names. His closeness brought about the familiar humming in the air.

  Yes.

  The silvery webs were back, entwining and flowing between Talon and me. They shimmered brilliantly, like Fourth of July sparklers. His gaze ensnared me, taking my breath away. Why was I so enthralled with him? I mean the guy hated me. Maybe he’d hypnotized me or used the Force. At least, that’s what I tried to convince myself of, but as we inched closer together, I knew it had nothing to do with it.