The Changlings (The New Earth Chronicles Book 2)

by J. J. Thompson

  Sarah and Bobby exchanged a look and he gestured for her to answer first.

  “It's hard to describe,” she replied slowly. “I guess I would describe it as feeling...free. Yes, free. My coverings helped to define me over the years, turned me into a nameless, faceless member of our group of outcasts.”

  She shook her head and smiled fondly at Bobby.

  “But we aren't outcasts anymore, are we? And we haven't been for ten years. All of our tormentors are long dead. We've survived. And yet, we hid our faces for all of those years. For nothing,” she added softly. “For absolutely nothing. My God, we were so stupid.”

  “Not stupid, Sarah,” Bobby objected. “Frightened. We were just kids when the government scooped us up and stuck us underground. It reinforced our own beliefs that we weren't wanted, that we were different. Freaks. And when you're a kid and you believe such a thing, what can you do except retreat into yourself, or in our case, into our shapeless wrappings.”

  Magnus looked at each of them and laughed lightly.

  “You two. Do you realize just how insightful you both are? I'm continually amazed by you and the other Changlings. Quietly, over time, you've grown into so much more than who you were before the dragons came. It's more than maturity; it's wisdom. Very impressive.”

  Sarah and Bobby were both taken by surprise by the man's comments.

  “You think we're wise?” Sarah asked shyly. “Really?”

  “Oh yes. Very much so. And I'm not just saying that, believe me. You probably don't know this, but I've watched you all closely over the years, and your growth has been steady and ongoing. For a group that was treated more as experimental lab rats than actual people, all of you have come through the experience, plus the trauma of losing everyone and everything you once knew, amazingly well.”

  Bobby was nodding thoughtfully at Magnus' words.

  “When you put it that way, I see what you mean,” he said as he sipped his coffee. “It's actually a wonder that more of us didn't disconnect from reality completely.”

  “Actually, you did,” Magnus told him with a smile. “All of you. What do you think those wrappings were? They were your way of pushing away the world that you had once known, as well as a kind of security blanket.”

  The Changlings drank the rest of their coffee silently, lost in thought, and then the shaman cleared up the remains of their meal and walked off to wash the dishes.

  “He's very wise,” Bobby said quietly. “Isn't he?”

  “You're just noticing that now?” Sarah teased him. “Yes, he is very wise. And I hope that the others accept that wisdom when they begin talking about the prospect of leaving the city.”

  They stared into the flames as they waited for Magnus to return, feeling comfortable and safe after their meal. Sarah thought about the man's words and had to agree with them. They had all grown, not just physically, but emotionally as well. And, with some very few exceptions like Yvonne, they were all much more mature too. She hoped that that maturity would kick in and allow the others to accept the need to get out of Ottawa sooner rather than later. Even if they didn't, she was going to leave anyway. At eighteen, her life had just begun and she had no intention of throwing it away by stupidly staying in the city to face a foe that they could not defeat.

  “You're thinking hard.”

  She glanced at Bobby, his skin shimmering in the reflected light of the fire, and nodded wearily.

  “I guess so. I'm worried, Bobby. Worried that Sandra and Miesha and some of the others will stubbornly hang on to the idea that they will be able to survive in the city, even if the goblins move into the area permanently. That's crazy, you know. We've reached a crossroads here and their future, and the future of their followers, hangs in the balance.”

  “Yeah, I know. But what can we do? They know the facts as well as we do. So now the decision to stay or go is in their hands.”

  He stretched slowly, leaning back in his chair and groaning as his muscles loosened up one by one. He was stiff from all of the walking over the last two days.

  Sarah blankly watched him for a moment, her mind elsewhere. She was already thinking about getting ready for a long journey and putting Ottawa far behind her.

  A backpack, she thought as she made a mental list. Not too big, but large enough to carry food, a water bottle and several changes of clothes.

  She glanced down at her feet at her new sneakers.

  These will be good for hiking, once they're broken in. I'll have to remember to pack soap, toothpaste, all of that stuff. Hmm, what else will I need?

  When Magnus returned, he found both of the Changlings quietly watching the low flames in the fire pit. He stood in the doorway and contemplated both of them, stroking the feathers in his hair. He finally moved forward silently, picked up a small log from a pile of wood stacked against the wall and laid it carefully on top of the fire.

  Both Sarah and Bobby jumped in their seats. They had been lost in their individual thoughts and hadn't seen the shaman return.

  “Sorry if I startled you,” Magnus said as he sat down in his chair again.

  “No, it's fine,” Sarah told him. “I was just thinking about what I'll need to take along with me for a long journey.”

  “What we would need, you mean,” Bobby said pointedly.

  She smiled at him.

  “Yes, what we would need. Magnus, do you have any suggestions? Neither Bobby or I have ever really traveled very far.”

  The man pushed a log into place with one booted foot as he gave the question some thought.

  “Besides the basics like food, water and clothing, you mean? Let me see now. I would definitely suggest taking a detailed map of the province. Yes, the countryside has changed over the years, thanks to the influence of magic, but the basic topography is still more or less the same. You can find one in any gas station. A compass is essential. Find a sporting goods store for one of those. Matches, of course. A decent jacket for cold nights. And sleeping bags. Now, as it is just coming into summer, do not make the mistake of taking along a winter sleeping bag. They are too heavy and bulky for a long trip, and unnecessary at this time of year anyway.”

  He looked both of them up and down and then nodded at Sarah's footwear.

  “I see that you have new shoes, and I can understand the attraction of sneakers, but they are a bad idea for a long walk through the wilderness.”

  “They are?” Bobby asked, sounding disappointed.

  “I'm afraid so. When you visit that sports store for your compass, dig up a couple of pairs of sturdy, well-fitting hiking boots, with thick soles. Make sure that they are water-proof as well. And decent socks. Your feet must be cared for on long trips. One blister can slow you down tremendously and, if it becomes infected, things could get very bad.”

  “Good advice,” Sarah told the shaman as she looked at Bobby. “Shopping day tomorrow,” she added with a grin.

  He laughed eagerly.

  “Cool. And I know just where to go, too.”

  “Excellent,” Magnus said. “Remember also that no matter how well prepared you are, you will probably forget something. Even the most experienced hikers do, occasionally. But if you make sure that you have the essentials, whatever you do overlook will not be too hard to replace later on.”

  He looked into the fire thoughtfully for a moment.

  “Oh and take a first aid kit. You mustn't go anywhere in the wilds without one. I doubt that any ointment you find will still be effective after ten years, but bandages, gauze, that sort of thing, will always be useful, so take a kit with you. You will find one at the sports store as well, I am sure.”

  “Got it,” Sarah told him with an emphatic nod. “We're going to have to get used to carrying a lot of weight on our backs.”

  Bobby looked tired just thinking about it and Magnus laughed lightly.

  “My people were nomadic, once upon a time. And when they traveled, they did not have the advantage of modern boots or sleeping bags. Yet they journeyed tho
usands of miles across this great country. You two can certainly do the same, if you are clever and careful. And speaking of being careful, I also recommend that you both arm yourselves before setting out.”

  The Changlings looked across the fire at him, wide-eyed.

  “Arm ourselves?” Sarah said nervously. “With what? Guns don't work anymore.”

  “Bah. Guns,” Magnus snorted. “Guns make noise and draw attention. Even if the technology still functioned, I would not necessarily suggest that you use them. No, both of you get a decent bow. Take both practice and hunting arrows with you and train with the bows every day. Get a quiver to carry the arrows in. And each of you take a sturdy hunting knife along, with a whetstone to hone it when it becomes dull, which it will.”

  Bobby looked as concerned as Sarah at the man's words.

  “Magnus, we aren't going to war,” he objected. “We are going to try to find a new home.”

  “You are incorrect, young man,” the shaman told him sharply. “You are going to war, with the world outside of this familiar city. Neither of you has any idea of what awaits you out there, but trust me, it will be dangerous. The world has changed in ways that you wouldn't believe. And if you are going to survive, you will have to adapt and change right along with it.”

  He gave them an understanding look.

  “I know that this sounds overwhelming, but you are both clever and resourceful, and I believe that you will learn quickly. It will be safer if some of the others go with you, but even if they don't, I think that you should leave sooner rather than later.”

  He's not kidding, Sarah thought nervously.

  The idea of leaving had suddenly become very real, and a lot scarier.

  “Do you still have a feeling that something dangerous is coming our way?” she asked Magnus as she watched his face intently.

  “I do. There is a heaviness in the atmosphere over the city, a sense of impending doom. I don't wish to sound too melodramatic about it, but that is what I am sensing.”

  “What about you, Magnus?” Bobby asked, sounding concerned. “What are you going to do?”

  “Yes, Magnus,” Sarah added. “What happens to you after we leave Ottawa?”

  “Me? You mean if the goblins move in or something even worse appears?”

  Both of the Changlings nodded in unison.

  The man appeared startled by the question.

  “Do not worry about me, my young friends. My people, the Algonquin tribe, were one with nature. And I still am, even if all of them are gone now. When the time is right, I shall return to the wilds and live as my ancestors did. Perhaps I have settled in one place for too long as it is. Lately I have had a desire to see new lands, to discover new things, to, perhaps, shake off the dust of a decade and move along to find out how the country had itself Changed. It's a rather exciting prospect, to be honest.”

  Magnus stood up and crossed the room to a large cupboard. He opened it and took out a rolled-up sleeping bag.

  “And who knows?” he said as he returned to the fire and handed the sleeping bag to Bobby. “Maybe I will see you both out there, somewhere. We'll meet again and regale each other with tales of our adventures, eh?”

  Both Sarah and Bobby laughed at the shaman's roguish comment.

  “But for now, I think you both should get some sleep. The last time that you visited, Bobby got to sleep in the cot. I think it's only fair that Sarah have a turn this time, hmm?”

  Bobby grinned as he accepted the sleeping bag.

  “Since I'm not sick anymore, I'm happy to sleep anywhere.”

  “Good. Sleep well, both of you. I have to take care of a few things, so I'll see you in the morning.”

  Sarah fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow, enjoying the rare experience of sleeping in a real bed for a change. Her last thoughts were of the days ahead, and the adventures that awaited her and Bobby.

  She was awakened abruptly by someone roughly shaking her shoulder and she opened her eyes and looked up in the dim light from the fire pit.

  Bobby was sitting on the edge of the cot, his skin shining ghost-like in the firelight.

  “Bobby? What's going on?” Sarah mumbled. “How long was I asleep?”

  “I dunno,” he replied in a hushed voice, his eyes wide. “A couple of hours maybe.”

  She sat up slowly and stared at Bobby in confusion.

  “Really? Ugh. So what's wrong?”

  Bobby put a finger to his lips and then pointed toward the doorway.

  “Listen,” he urged fearfully.

  Sarah narrowed her eyes and peered down the hall, listening intently.

  “What am I supposed to...”

  Her question was cut off by the sound of a dull bang echoing down the hallway. The floor actually vibrated a little at the same time and Sarah gasped at how violent the blow must have been to shake the entire cave system.

  “What on Earth is causing that?” she asked urgently.

  “No idea, but it was the shaking of the floor that woke me up. It sounds...”

  Bobby looked even more frightened as he spoke.

  “It sounds like something is trying to get in,” he finished.

  “Through the main door? Not a chance,” Sarah scoffed. “It's about six inches thick and made of solid steel.

  Another loud thud cut her off and she swung her legs around and stood up.

  “Then again, I could be wrong. My God, what can be doing that? Have you seen Magnus?”

  Before Bobby could reply, the shaman appeared in the doorway as if summoned by the mention of his name.

  “Magnus!” Sarah exclaimed. “What's going on?”

  “We are under attack,” the man told them in a remarkably calm voice. “The evil that I sensed approaching has come, even sooner than I expected.”

  “Evil?”

  Sarah began to dress quickly, any sense of embarrassment lost in the urgency of the moment.

  “What kind of evil,” Bobby asked. “What is attacking us?”

  “A dragon,” Magnus said gravely. “A black dragon, specifically. The nightmare that I never expected to have to worry about again has returned. As much as I don't believe in such things, perhaps the human race is cursed after all.”

  Bobby's mouth dropped open and Sarah froze, one leg inside of her jeans and one leg out.

  “Dragons? But...but there are no more dragons,” she said in confusion, catching herself before she fell over. “Simon the wizard destroyed them all. Didn't he?”

  In the back of her mind, the figure of Esmiralla burned brightly for a moment and she remembered the woman saying something about dragons returning. Had that actually happened?

  “So I thought,” the shaman replied as turned to look down the hallway. “But there is a dragon trying to bash through my front door at this very moment, so obviously I was mistaken.”

  Sarah finished dressing and started to put on her sneakers. Bobby was already dressed by that time and she looked at him in surprise as she tied her laces.

  “Wow, you're fast.”

  “When I have to be,” he joked weakly.

  “Sarah,” Magnus said. “I need you to contact your friends around the city, right now. Warn them about the attack. I do not know how many of these monsters are in the area, but it is possible that the one attacking us is not alone.”

  “Right. Good idea.”

  She stayed sitting on the edge of the bed and pulled her magic stone out of her pocket. It glowed blue in her hands as she cupped it in her palms and stared deeply into it.

  “Everybody!” she said loudly. “Everybody, it's me, Sarah. We have an emergency. Please wake up and tell me that you can hear me.”

  Bobby shoved his hands deep into his pockets and watched her, bouncing up and down nervously. Magnus stayed at the doorway and kept glancing over his shoulder in the direction of the main entrance.

  “What? Sarah? What's going on?”

  “Hey, this thing actually works. Cool.”

  “I'm alr
eady awake. What's the emergency?”

  Sarah waited until she had been answered by all seven leaders, immensely relieved that the stones operated properly and that everyone had kept theirs with them.

  “Hi everyone. Since you're all speaking to me at once, you will be able to hear each other through my stone as well. Now, please listen carefully. Magnus asked me to call you. We are under attack at his place.” She hesitated a moment. “By a dragon,” she told them.

  There was a long silence and then all seven of the Changlings spoke up at once.

  “Wait, wait,” she said loudly. “I can't understand you. One at a time, please! Rachel?”

  The others quieted and waited. Everyone respected Rachel enough to allow her to speak first.

  “Thank you,” the woman said, her even tone immediately soothing Sarah's nerves.

  “Is Magnus sure that it's a dragon?” Rachel continued. “We all heard that the dragons had been destroyed.”

  “Yes, I did too,” Sarah replied. “But he is sure about it. And he says that it's a black dragon. I know that you all understand what that means.”

  Someone cursed and she recognized Eric's voice.

  “Lightning,” he said angrily. “Frigging lightning. Crap. The blacks have the most powerful ranged attack of all of the dragons. I remember the early years when the primal black lived to the north of the city, across the river, and regularly hunted us for sport.”

  “We all do, Eric,” Rachel assured him. “They are probably the most dangerous of all of their accursed kind.”

  “Exactly. Now, I don't think we have a lot of time,” Sarah said with a frightened glance at Magnus. “I'm guessing that if the dragon wants in here badly enough, it'll get through the door eventually. But we wanted to contact you all and warn you. Magnus says that if there's one dragon, there might be more. We don't know.”

  There was a sudden shattering crash that echoed through the entire facility.

  Sarah gasped in surprise and looked at Bobby, whose frightened expression mirrored her own.

  “That's it,” Magnus told her as he stepped into the room. “It's through the door. Come on, you two; we have to go.”