Change of Chaos

by Jacinta Jade

  The efforts of the morning had made them all hungry, even though usually they would rarely eat during the middle of the day, given their training demands.

  Siray thought it was quite pleasant to sit there like that, talking with the others in the early-afternoon sun.

  Honvil soon wrapped up the break by coming back over to the trainees, although he motioned for them all to stay seated as they were.

  ‘Now that you all appear to have the process of Changing down, I want to break you up into smaller groups so that you can practice drills in your second forms for some focused training.’

  The trainees grinned at each other. This was the part of the training they had most been looking forwards to.

  Siray didn’t dare look at Deson as she exchanged looks with the others, but she felt her stomach tighten just a little. Maybe having that food hadn’t been such a good idea after all.

  ‘I’m now going to organise you into your groups,’ Honvil said. ‘While the sergeant will be absent for the afternoon session, Trainer Gesad and Trainer Dirl have kindly agreed to assist with this phase of your training. Each of us will take a group to a different location so you can train intensively without distraction. You will remain in these groups for the remainder of your afternoon sessions with me. Now, the first group …’

  Honvil held out a palm seemingly at random to the trainees that were sitting closet to each other on the left side of the group.

  ‘Rowp and Kovi. You’ll work with Trainer Gesad.’

  Rowp and Kovi stood and moved off with Gesad, and Honvil looked back at the group.

  A motion in the corner of Siray’s eye drew her notice. Was it her imagination, or was Tamot leaning a little in her direction?

  ‘Loce, Jorgi, and Tamot—with Trainer Dirl.’

  Siray watched as the three of them stood up in response to the instruction, following Dirl as he led the way.

  There slight crease on Tamot’s forehead, the only hint that he was annoyed about something.

  Honvil turned back to Siray and Deson. ‘And you two will work with me. This way.’

  Siray schooled her features into a nervous expression as she stood up with Deson to follow Honvil, and she kept her expression carefully controlled until they were some distance away from the other groups of trainees.

  Honvil waited until they had passed beneath the first trees of the edges of the glade before he spoke. ‘Such as simple thing, but it was critical it went right.’

  Siray and Deson didn’t say anything in response but continued following as Honvil altered their course slightly, leading them along a faintly worn trail through the forest. After a short time, they emerged into a small clearing that ran flat for a number of paces before sloping down to meet the edge of a stream. Siray was sure that it was the same one that continued on to run through a section of their camp. As this section was upstream, Siray reflected that it would be unlikely that anyone would disturb them here.

  Honvil walked to the centre of the clearing and gestured to her and Deson to join him. ‘You will also undergo the same training as the others in learning the strengths and weaknesses of your chosen second form, but first I’m going to teach you how to learn a third form. Once you have learned this, I will put you through your paces in both of your new forms.’

  Siray frowned, even though Deson nodded in acceptance.

  Honvil’s quick eyes saw this, and he smiled. ‘You have some doubts, I see.’

  Siray felt her face flush a little. ‘Master, you said yesterday that the ability to take on multiple forms was rare, but now you speak as if you already know we can do it.’

  Honvil smiled. ‘Well spotted, Siray. My confidence lies in the fact that I know that you both already take on a rare form. Hence, I have reasoned that it is highly likely that you also have the other rare talent that some of your generation display.’

  On her left, Deson seemed relaxed, and Siray thought that he must have accepted Honvil’s answer. Yet there was something about the master’s attitude that made Siray believe he had other reasons for thinking that they would be able to take on a third form.

  ‘Be warned’—and here Honvil waggled a finger back and forth between the two of them—‘you’ll need to work hard each afternoon in order to progress rapidly, and in order to keep up with the others, who only have one form to focus on. Ask what questions you need to, but don’t doubt my instructions as I give them to you.’

  Siray nodded with Deson, ready to work.

  The master smiled. ‘Well, I think if my instructions have been followed, then we should soon see—ah, yes, there they are.’

  At the same time as Honvil made this statement, Siray heard the clomp of heavy hooves and the squeak of turning wheels. She twisted her head to peer in the direction of the sound and started in surprise at what she saw.

  Across the stream, Falir was emerging from the forest. In his hands, he held the rope of a haltered red yeibon, which snorted and stomped the ground as if it would trample Falir at any moment, but was refrained from doing so by the cart it was being made to pull.

  As Falir directed the steed across the stream and up the hill towards them, Siray got a better look at the creature within the cart. In a moderately sized cage, its hooded eyes peering out with uncanny awareness at them all, was the unmistakable head of an udun.

  Siray couldn’t speak as she watched Falir lead the animals closer, and then she moved back slightly as Falir lead the yeibon right up to them.

  He grinned at her and Deson. ‘Why, hello there. Surprised?’ He chuckled.

  Siray whirled to Honvil, but he answered her question before she could even speak.

  ‘Falir came to me last night after your little history chat,’ he explained.

  Siray shifted back to Falir, and now her frown was for him.

  Falir held up his hands in mock defence. ‘Now, now. I was very flattered when you both came to me asking your “history” questions. But I quickly put together why you were asking and went to see my old master here.’

  Siray’s surprise rose to a new level that outweighed her initial annoyance. ‘You were trained by Master Honvil?’

  Falir nodded. ‘That’s right. Honvil trained me up as a youth before I graduated, and he was the reason I came and joined the Resistance.’ Falir’s chest puffed up. ‘I was his best student.’

  Honvil chuckled. ‘Indeed you were.’ He turned to Siray. ‘Once Falir informed me of your conversation, I decided to come speak to you both about it this morning. Instead, this morning you both wisely decided to come see me on your own, and I took that as a cue to do what was needed.’

  Deson crossed his arms. ‘Wait a moment, how could you know that?’

  Honvil gave Deson another one of his small smiles and, an instant later, had disappeared.

  Siray stared in disbelief at the space where Honvil had just been, while Deson almost jumped backwards in surprise.

  Falir just chuckled.

  When Siray felt something crawling on her foot, she looked down and flinched. A small rodent was trying to climb up her boot. Siray immediately lifted her foot to shake it off, then paused as she realised. She lowered her foot gently back to the ground.

  ‘I imagine that is a very useful form, master,’ she said to the rodent.

  Quick as thought, the rodent jumped off her boot, scampered a little away from her, and then Honvil stood before them once more.

  ‘Very useful for getting around when I don’t wish to be seen,’ the master said smoothly.

  Siray glanced at Deson. ‘I actually saw a field rodent run past us this morning when we were on our way to the meal tent.’

  Deson had relaxed. ‘So, this is your third form, master?’

  Honvil had shown all the trainees his chosen second form that morning, which was a rilander.

  Honvil nodded. ‘Yes. And as very few people know about it, I know you’ll appreciate my request when I ask you to keep it that way.’

  ‘Of course,’ Siray and Deson said
in unison.

  ‘Good. Now, I know you are both wondering how it is that I have the ability to take on an additional animal form when almost no one else outside of your generation can.’

  Siray shrugged as Honvil looked at her and Deson, but inwardly she was very curious.

  ‘It’s simple actually,’ the master said. ‘It has taken me many cycles to learn this other form, and then only because I know the workings behind Changing so well.’

  Honvil’s face became very serious. ‘I would warn anyone else against it who doesn’t have the natural ability, as the mind—unless specifically talented enough—can only take on so much of a burden.’

  The master nodded towards Falir and, stepping to the other side of the yeibon, gestured for Siray and Deson to come closer.

  Siray did so tentatively, watching the restless animal carefully.

  ‘This, as I’m sure you know, is a red yeibon. Like its cousin, the black yeibon, it is unmatched for speed over any moderate distance, although some of our felines could catch it in a sprint. The differences between the two breeds arise from their lifestyle. While the black yeibon makes its home on the plains, the red yeibon prefers to roam, and is fierier than its cousin due to the different predators it encounters, and which it must sometimes fight off in its wanderings.’

  Holding its head, Falir was almost patting the yeibon’s reddish-brown coat in admiration while Honvil gave the lesson.

  Siray noted, ‘Its horns are different.’

  As she had observed countless times this morning when Tamot Changed back and forth, the black yeibon had two large horns that rose up and curled backwards above its head.

  The red yeibon, meanwhile, had four horns, all of which curled upwards and outwards in a splayed fashion, giving Siray the impression of a skeletal mane.

  Falir nodded. ‘As Master Honvil said, the reds are especially fiery creatures. When they fight, they don’t just charge—they whip their heads from side to side to cause maximum damage to their foe.’

  Siray raised her eyebrows, impressed, as she imagined the damage those horns could do.

  Honvil turned to her. ‘This is the third form I recommend for you, Siray.’

  Was that a thrill of excitement, or a chill that had just run through her? Unsure, Siray took a deep breath as her eyes widened. ‘Alright.’

  Honvil smiled knowingly before turning to Deson. ‘And I think the udun would be perfect for your third form.’

  Siray followed Deson and Honvil as they moved past Falir and the snorting yeibon to get a better look at the creature within the cage.

  The large, predatory bird hunched there silently, its dark eyes following them carefully. Its long feathers were purple underneath and almost black on top, making it a difficult enemy to spot when it soared high above its prey. It sharp beak, wickedly curved at the end, only added to its intimidating look.

  Deson’s reply was as short as Siray’s had been. ‘Sure.’

  Honvil considered them both. ‘You have today and tomorrow to study these creatures and fix their pattern in your mind. Unlike your second form, your third form is not automatically imprinted upon you. Thus, you must learn the form through simple study and interaction.’

  Honvil paused, and it seemed that he was giving them a moment to digest his words.

  ‘But, master, you said it took you cycles to learn your third form,’ said Deson.

  Honvil nodded. ‘But I don’t have the natural talents that I suspect lie within your minds.’

  Siray looked at Deson, who was eyeing the udun doubtfully.

  Honvil must have seen both their looks, as he said, ‘I’m sure you’ll both prove me right. Siray, Falir will work with you, and, Deson, you’ll be with me.’

  Siray nodded and went to stand near Falir, who was untying the red yeibon from the cart.

  ‘Let’s go over this way a bit and give the others some room,’ said the cook.

  Siray thought that was a very good idea and followed Falir as he led her and the feisty yeibon to a spot closer to the stream, the cook holding the yeibon’s head and soothing it from time to time when it tried to move in a different direction.

  He told Siray of the yeibon’s habits, its nature, how it tended to react in different circumstances, and its strengths and weaknesses.

  Siray listened hard, trying to absorb as much as possible in the hope that the knowledge would help her feel more familiar with the creature.

  After Falir’s lesson, she was finally allowed to interact with the yeibon, and she spent time patting the animal’s coat, running her hands over its horns, listening to its breaths and heartbeat, twining her fingers through its long mane, and taking in its scent—a musky but not unpleasant smell.

  Its scent, as Falir explained, was one of the most important aspects of learning a form. ‘Every animal contains their unique signature in the form of a scent. In our first forms, we can barely smell anything, but in our animal forms, we could read the world almost by scent alone, if we were practised enough. This is also how you can easily distinguish someone using an animal form from an actual animal.’

  The rest of the afternoon’s session was passed thus, observing their respective animals and interacting with them as much as possible.

  For Siray, this meant she could actually touch the yeibon and, silly as it felt, even talk to it, observing its reactions.

  Meanwhile, Deson could only merely observe the udun as he observed it from different angles, as putting his hands anywhere within the cage might mean losing one or both to the creature.

  When Siray looked over occasionally to see how he was doing, it seemed to her as if the udun was studying him right back and just as intently.

  At the end of their session, while Falir was tying the yeibon up to one of the nearby trees, a question popped into Siray’s mind.

  ‘Master, why is it that when we Change from our first form to our second form and back again, that our clothes are still in place?’

  Falir heard this and laughed. ‘What, you’d rather they weren’t?’

  Siray blushed at the cook’s joke. ‘No, I meant it purely as a technical question. Clothes are not part of the natural body, so how come they return with our first form?’

  Honvil smiled. ‘Let me answer you with another question. If you were to Change here, right now, then Change back, what mental image of yourself would you be using?’

  Siray paused. ‘I guess I’d use my most recent memory of myself before I Changed.’ She grinned quickly at Falir, before adding, ‘And I’d be clothed.’

  Honvil nodded. ‘That’s right. Thus, your first form, as your mind has mapped it, contains the clothes you were wearing.’

  Siray thought on this for a moment, then asked another question. ‘But what if I then chose to use a different image of myself to Change back to?’

  ‘Ah, now we get into a more dangerous area.’ Honvil folded his arms together, but instead of seeming concerned, appeared glad that the question had been asked.

  Deson had stepped away from the udun’s cage and was also listening.

  ‘Hypothetically,’ said the master, ‘say I try to Change back into a younger version of myself. And who wouldn’t want to shed a few cycles at my age? To do so, I would have to use an image of my younger self to Change back to. Most likely nothing would happen, as there would never be enough detail in my memory to map back to that exact version of myself. It is also likely, however, that attempting something like that would result in my mind becoming confused between my two selves, and I would risk becoming a Lost One.’

  Siray felt the hairs on the back of neck prickle.

  Honvil continued. ‘While something simpler, say, trying to Change back into your first form while wearing a different outfit can be done, it still raises many risks. For example, if I wanted to Change back and be wearing a cloak, would I be able to accurately detail the weight of the cloak? Its colour? The way it sits and flows around my body without being a part of it?’

  Honvil shoo
k his head.

  ‘While Changing into an animal form does strain your mind, it doesn’t require you to do something that your mind knows is against the natural order, like trying to cheat age would, or create something that wasn’t on your person previously. The clothes you’re wearing now, including their weight, feel, and colour, have been subconsciously mapped by your mind already.’

  Honvil gestured at the two animals Siray and Deson had been studying.

  ‘You can then begin to understand why I won’t let you attempt to Change into your third forms today, due to the extra mental effort it will take. Best to let your subconscious minds process what you have learned and let the memories of your study today become part of your longer-term memory so they can be more easily drawn upon.’

  Siray nodded her understanding.

  After another question from Deson about uduns specifically, Honvil wrapped up their session, thanking the cook for his assistance before the master led Siray and Deson back to the glade where the other two groups were returning as well.

  Following the format of the previous day, the trainees ran back from the glade to the camp, chatting about the day as they ran.

  Upon returning to their cabin, Siray went straight to her bed, slipped into a more worn set of clothes, and returned outside to meet Wexner for her afternoon training session.

  True to her word, she queried Wexner that evening about Genlie’s movements, storing the information in the back of her mind until she could talk to Kovi later that evening.

  After the gruelling session, she showered quickly, dressed in the clothes she had been wearing earlier, then joined the others as they all walked over to the stream that ran through the main section of the camp and then took a seat.

  There, in the final span before sunset, Siray watched with the rest of the camp as a new group of trainees was inducted, each of the new candidates appearing exhausted and unsettled after a long search through the forest for a tree with an orange tag that didn’t exist.

  As she watched Sergeant Bulmer give his short welcoming speech, Siray could hardly believe that she had only been at the camp for four months. It felt like she had been living here much longer.