Shaelan took the free time Nona had given her to walk around the village. A lot had changed while she was away, but in some ways, it would never change, she knew that. She loved her home, and most of the people in it—there was just something she couldn’t put her finger on that made it feel out of sorts all the time. She couldn’t see herself anywhere else but didn’t always want to be here either.
There were many new buildings she’d have to familiarize herself with. Wouldn’t be good if the healer got lost when she was needed. She hadn’t asked Nona what the head count was now, but she was guessing their little village was large enough to warrant the title of small town. However, to be a town, it would have to have a name, which to her knowledge it didn’t. It was just ‘the village’.
Despite being secluded, there was a store with basic items you’d find in any other store, only more rustic, without things like slushy machines and other fancy automations. They had power, so it was possible, just too frivolous. Their power came from wind and water, which wasn’t always constant, so there were times of lights out early to let the storage systems recharge. The endless power she saw when she was away had been a marvel. So too was the shower, the water pressure was unlike anything she’d experienced, and if she could admit to missing one thing in that other place…that would be it.
Pausing, she glanced in the store window and watched a small boy giving his mother his best ‘please’ smile for some of the homemade candy. Almost every family here crafted items to contribute to the store, along with whatever was shipped onto the mountain.
Money for the collective fund for the village was also made by selling the wares to a broker on the other side of the mountain.
Shae had often wondered where the knowledge for all of this had come from, the power, water, even brokering items…If no one left the mountain, how did they know about wells and windmills…and everything else? They didn’t have telephones or televisions, and sadly there was no internet up here, so how? It was just one more question that made her feel this place had secrets. Question was, did she want the answers or was ignorance the better route? She’s pondered this frequently since being old enough to understand such things.
Stopping, she sat on a bench near the meeting hall, just to observe everyone. With her years of training, she’d been excluded from much, but was content with just watching people. It could be quite entertaining.
So many faces she recognized as she looked around. Since her return though, she had noticed so many that seemed…different, for lack of a better description. Many held wary expressions in their eyes, even with the fake smiles on their faces. She’d even seen fear and couldn’t imagine a reason for it. She was going to have to catch up to her two gossiping aunts and see what she had missed in the last few years. Maybe the fear was warranted, and she should be aware.
She paused to watch a teacher go by with a six or so rambunctious middle school children. Had she and Billie been that excited at that age? Probably, maybe even worse. In Shae’s mind the best age was around six or seven when everything was fresh and not serious.
Most of the children were like her, with dark complexions, and hair—actually for the most part the entire community was like that, the few with lighter hair and skin tone always stood out. She was sure there was a story there too.
During her pre-teen years, she’d had a crush on a boy with blue eyes and red hair…her father had put a stop to that, forbidding her to hang around with him. To this day, she still didn’t understand why. His family was respectable, he wasn’t a bad child, so why? Shae sighed, Billie may have been right in that her father was some sort of racist, or at the very least prejudiced against those that didn’t fit the ‘norm’. It wouldn’t surprise her if it were the truth. He didn’t even approve of his own daughter.
As if he’d somehow heard her thoughts, the door at the hall opened and out walked her father. With him was a man around Shae’s age, that her father seemed to never be without since she’d come back. They were together each time she’d seen her father outside of the home he and her mother lived in. Maybe he was an assistant of some sort her father was training. He was many things in her mind, but she still respected the fact he oversaw the entire community.
They were in deep discussion over something that looked quite serious. It dawned on her then, they looked so much alike, Brock could have been his son…her brother. She cringed at the thought. Just her over-active imagination again, as Nona liked to call it. Brock was no different than she was with her dark hair and dark eyes, although there was something about him that made her skin crawl. He never had any emotion in his eyes, they were always cold when she’d seen him.
Getting up, she decided to go before they noticed her. She didn’t get two feet before her father’s voice boomed behind her.
“Shae.”
Turning, she smiled as they walked to her. Hey, Dad, hug? Neither returned the smile. In fact, almost identical, cold expressions were on their faces.
“I heard someone fell out of a tree.”
I’m great, dad, how are you? Had he even asked her that since she’d come home? “Yes, a few of the boys were climbing and one of them fell. His wrist is fractured, but not badly. It should heal without any issues.” She tried not to react to the critical look he was giving her as he noted her wearing jeans and not a skirt like most of the women here.
“Good.”
She stood there with a plastic smile on her face, hands clasped in front of her. Looking up into his eyes. Shae wasn’t a short person at five foot eight, but her father still seemed to tower over her, adding to his menacing aura.
“I heard you were in the yards this morning. I don’t want you going there unless Nona is unable.”
What was with that place? Seriously. “It’s part of my job.” She tried to sound nonchalant and keep the snarky tone out of her voice. She’d learned the hard way years before that tone only got her back-handed, although she doubted he’d do it in front of someone. He continued to glare at her, and she felt colder from his expression. “Nona wanted me to know my way around in there. Just in case.” It was a reference to Nona’s age. Actually, she and Nona had been using it for years to shut people up about Shae helping on calls. There was nothing physically wrong with Nona, thank the stars for that, but making people believe she could leave this world unannounced at any moment always distracted others long enough for Nona and Shae to get away with little things.
He gave her an abrupt nod. “Just don’t go in there unescorted.”
Why he thought she’d want to go hang out at the jail for any reason other than to administer medical attention, she couldn’t even fathom. “Of course.” She gave him her best I’m-a-dumb-obedient-girl smile hoping he’d dismiss her so she could go anywhere but here.
“Your mother and aunt are going up the hill to visit with Nona tonight, you need to be there.” Without waiting for an acknowledgment, he turned and the two walked away.
Sure thing, Dad! I love you too. Heaving out a breath, she spun around to go back in the direction of Nona’s. One thing was for sure, she never regretted the day she moved up on the ridge with Nona-Eve. She loved and missed her mother, but the cold aura that surrounded Shae whenever her father was near, she did not miss.
Shae closed the book and watched Nona-Eve fuss with a tray of cookies. She’d changed her mind three times so far about what to put out when her mother and aunt came to visit. Not used to seeing Nona be anything but calm and settled, she got up and went over. Taking the tray from her hands, she looked down at her. “You know Aunt Marilyn will eat anything you put in front of her. I’m sure this is fine.”
Nona heaved out an uneven breath.
“Are you feeling okay?”
Nona groaned in a loud dramatic way. “Yes, just ghosts of the past chasing me tonight.”
Shae had no idea what that meant, but the tender look her mentor gave her assured her she was all right. “Okay.” She set the tray down. “I’m going to go unpack the boxes of supplies I brought back. They’ve been sitting there unopened for two weeks.”
Nona waved a hand around. “They’re fine where they are. Don’t need to go mixing them up with everything else until I have a chance to go through my inventory. The print on those bottles is so damn small I almost need a magnifying glass to see them…”
Sighing, Shae leaned back against the counter edge. “If you need glasses, we can…”
“I don’t want no damned things pinching my nose and making me look like a granny.”
Shae curbed the urge to grin. “Nona-Eve, if you need me to sort through things and check expiration dates, I’d be happy to.” She shrugged. “I noticed you were almost out of a few items on your shelves, so I’ll do that and put the newer ones to the back.”
Nona waved a hand, “Fine, fine.” She walked over to the window. “Where are they?”
Shae walked over and looked out the window. “I’m sure they’ll be here soon.” She hadn’t realized Nona looked so forward to social visits. “There’s Aunt Marilyn going toward mom’s now.” There was no mistaking her aunt from this distance. She dyed her brush-cut hair odd colors and wore the most nauseating patterned clothes ever created. Tonight, her hair was pink and her outfit…well there was nothing pale about it. From this distance, it looked like fire engine red and bright orange was this evening’s choice.
“Good. Good. I’ll go put the kettle on.” Nona moved into the kitchen.
Shae watched her, there was definitely something bothering her. Whatever ghosts were chasing her, she hoped it wasn’t serious.
Aunt Marilyn was one of those people that talked endlessly, asked hundreds of questions, and never waited for answers. It was always amusing to visit with her. She was probably the most outlandish character in the village and the complete opposite of her sister, Louisa. Aunt Louisa was quiet, dressed conservatively and spoke in a soft voice.
She took a fresh tea into her mother and sat back down beside her. Shae loved her mother; she was the most caring soul in her life. Smiling at whatever Aunt Marilyn was boisterously laughing about, she hadn’t been paying attention, she studied her mother. Her light brown hair was pulled back into a tight braid, making her mother’s youthful face look even younger. Everything about her mom seemed young, until you looked into her amber eyes. All you could see when you looked into them was the kind of sadness that put a lump in your throat. Shae didn’t know what could put such a forlorn look in her eyes, but it wouldn’t surprise her if her father was somehow responsible. He didn’t openly show her mother any affection, so Shae could only hope he at least did in private. Someone as kind and loving as her mother deserved to be cherished.
“You’re not listening to a word I’m saying, Shaelan Kelani.”
Shae cringed at the use of her middle name and looked over to her aunt. “I’m sorry, my mind just wandered.”
“Heh, when mine does that I call it senility,” her aunt quipped.
Laughing, she glanced at Nona, she was very quiet. “Are you all right, Nona?”
Nona nodded slowly. “I’m fine, child. Nerves are just singing me songs.”
She had no idea what that meant, but then realized both her mother and aunt were silent and watching her. Looking from one to the other, she exhaled slowly and carefully spoke, “What’s going on?”
“A big pile of crap if you ask me,” her aunt spat out. “Your father should be here telling you. It’s his fault.”
Shae sat up straight and stared at her aunt.
“Most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard, hiding a body’s own heritage until it’s almost too late to tell them…”
Raising a hand to quiet her aunt, she looked at Nona, then to her mother, both had looks of dread on their faces. “What are you talking about?” She looked back to Nona, who had always been straightforward with her. “Nona?”
Heaving out a long sigh, Nona shook her head. “Marilyn is right, it is one of the most ludicrous things ever done here.” She glanced at Shae’s mother then back to her. “Okay, there are worse things, but they’re on a whole different level of stupid.” Nodding to herself, she continued, “It’s been the practice now for close to thirty years, so you weren’t even born when it started.” She shook her head, “Why it was, I never understood…”
“Because men took over the running of things is why. They don’t have a whole brain between the lot of them,” Aunt Marilyn snapped.
“Please, Marilyn, let’s just get through this,” her mother’s soft tone pleaded.
Shae turned so she was facing her mother more. “Mom? Just tell me what is going on.” Every muscle in her body was tense. Whatever it was, if it took three of them to tell her, it couldn’t be good.
“Think, Shaelan. You know. Think of times when things didn’t add up right,” Marilyn said in a firm tone.
Shae’s mother took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, like she was trying to find the words. “What your aunt means, sweetheart, is we, the inhabitants of this village, aren’t like other people.”
Nodding in slow motion, Shae watched her mother’s face. “We live differently, yes…”
“No dear. It’s more than that.” She paused and looked at Nona, a questioning look on her face, then back to Shae. Reaching out she gently, grasped her hand. “We are different, not just in the way we live.”
Looking into her mother’s eyes for a moment, she still didn’t understand. Glancing at Nona, she hoped she’d jump in and rip the bandage off as was her way, because if they continued like this, she was never going to know what they were trying to tell her. “I don’t…” She shook her head.
“Oh, bee’s ass,” her aunt hissed. “Baby child, look at your sassy aunt for a second.”
Shae turned her head slowly and looked at her aunt’s expression. She’d never seen it so serious before.
“You’re a woman now. Past twenty-two years, if my math is right, and soon your body’s going to…” Her aunt looked to her mother.
Oh god, was this the talk? Shae’s eyebrows went up. She was long past the sex talk, for crying out loud.
“Your body is going to change,” Nona blurted out. “And I don’t mean you’ll get boobs, although—” She smirked and waved a hand at Shae’s full bust. “—we’d be late on that one if it were.” She snorted, then sobered just as fast. “You…we, are not the normal human species.”
Shae literally jumped where she sat, moving back several inches. “What?”
“Who could have thought this would suck this bad? Now I know why parents avoid this like it’s the last thing on their to-do list in life,” Marilyn muttered.
Trying to piece together what they could possibly be talking about, Shae shook her head. They had about a minute more before she demanded they stop messing around and just get to it.
Aunt Marilyn got up, her shell bracelets clicking together as she moved. Kneeling in front of her, she took a hold of both Shae’s hands and leaned forward until she was only six inches from her face.
“Just watch my eyes, baby Shae, and don’t go hitting me or squealing like a stuck pig.”
Swallowing, Shae did as she was asked, not even wanting to guess what her aunt was up to this time. Her aunt’s brown eyes started to change. Which was impossible, yet it was happening right in front of her face. Not the expression in her eyes, but the shape.
Her. Eyes. Changed. Shape.
Shae inhaled sharply when she found herself looking at dark cat eyes.
On. Her. Aunt’s. Face.
Blinking, Aunt Marilyn turned to her mother. “Did they go back? Been a long damn time since I did that, was scared I was going to pop an eye out or something.”
Shae jerked her hands out of her aunt’s and jumped up, practically climbing over the edge of the arm on the chair so she wouldn’t knock her aunt over.
“Oh, she’s getting it now!”
Her aunt said excitedly from behind her as Shae paced to the window and back in a nervous way. Inhaling through her nose, and huffing it out of her mouth, Shae stopped and stood there looking at the floor. Inhale…exhale…inhale…logical explanation for what just happened…exhale…She stood like that for a few more seconds, gathering her thoughts before she spoke out loud. Ignoring the shaking of her arms, she turned around to see her mother and Nona standing, worried expressions on their faces while Aunt Marilyn was grinning like she’d just won first prize. “Okay,” she enunciated slowly. “What was that?”
Marilyn’s shoulders sagged, “Aw, honey, I thought you had it.” She sighed dramatically. “I know you’re smart enough to recognize cat eyes when you see them.” She pointed to the window. “Don’t tell me you’ve never wondered how come our mountains has a lot of large cats on it.” Lowering her arm, she sat down where Shae had been sitting. “You’re breaking my heart here.”
“Marilyn, shush and eat some cookies,” Nona told her as she moved past Marilyn to stand in front of Shaelan. “I’m so sorry for…” She looked over her shoulder at her aunt. “…that. We are a shifter clan, child.”
Shae knew what all the words meant, but it just took a few moments to assemble them inside her head so she completely understood what Nona was saying. “The people in the village can shift into cats?” she whispered it more to herself than Nona. It sounded completely insane saying it aloud.
Nona nodded. “Well, some don’t fully shift.” She jerked her head in Marilyn’s direction. “Like Aunt talks-a-lot over there…and I don’t shift no more, I’m old and slow no matter what form I’m in, but yes, the entire village in one way or another are of the shifter species.”
Looking from one face to the other of the three women here with her, Shae kept her mouth closed. Lifting her hands slowly, she backed up a few feet. “Just…” She huffed out a breath. “Don’t speak for a moment.” She looked at the floor. “Please.”
It was completely impossible, what they were saying, and yet she’d seen it. An entire species she had never heard of. Then again where would she hear about it? The local news on the televisions and cable they didn’t have? Was that why they secluded themselves up here? From what she’d seen of the world below…this was the only safe way for people that turned into cats to live. It made sense. That part at least.
She turned and went over to the window and looked down at the village. How had she lived here for twenty years and not noticed something like this? She’d always had her face in a book or plant…but still this was a pretty substantial thing to miss. Why was it a secret? From the outside world, she got that, but from each other? I mean you would think if your kids were going to turn into cats…Her brain stopped right there. Turn into cats. I’m going to turn into a cat? Like the jaguars she’d seen when she was out gathering herbs? Herbs…oh my god it all made sense! Why she had to learn medicine for animals and not just the people. The looks on faces at times…the constant hushed tones or stopping sentences midway when she was around. She inhaled sharply.
“Now she’s got it.”
Shae jumped at her aunt’s loud statement. She had forgotten about the others behind her. Turning around she looked at the concern on their faces. Her mother had tears in her eyes. “So…I’m going to turn into a jaguar?”
“Just cat, works too,” her aunt supplied.
“There’s a chance you will, sweetheart. I can’t, they’re not sure why, as I’m from a true blood line, but yes, you probably will,” her mother offered, her voice shaking. “I’m sorry, I wanted to tell you a long time ago…but the rules…”
“Are a big pile of crap,” her aunt finished.
Shae shook her head. “I’ll get all the details on that later. What I want to know right now is how? Is this a mutation, when did it start? How did it start? Is there any documentation, or…or data on this somewhere? If there is, can I see it? I mean, I assume I’m going to be treating injuries or whatever…I need to know the physiology…” She remembered the man she’d stitched up in the jail. Now she understood how he’d gotten cut. Claws. Oh my god I’m going to have fur and claws.
Nona started laughing. “Slow down.” She motioned to the chair. “Sit. I know what you’re like when you’re on a knowledge-seeking quest. We’ll answer your questions until one of us fall asleep.”
“Don’t forget to explain to her about the heat cycle…” Aunt Marilyn mumbled around a mouth full of cookie.
Shae went over and sat down. “You mean like a cat in heat?” She looked at her mother, then to Nona. “That really happens to us?” She held up her hand before Nona could answer. “Wait, am I going to have to go through menstrual cycles and this heat as well?” It was probably not the most important thing she could ask, but seriously, females had enough to worry about.
Her mother grinned. “No, you won’t. After your first heat or change, you’ll only have to worry about that.”
Shae sighed. “Oh good.” Shaking her head, she took a deep breath. “I don’t know where to start…”
“We can answer your questions.” Her mother smiled at her.
Some of the sadness was gone from her eyes, and even in her present state of shock, that made Shaelan feel better about being lied to her entire life. Well, maybe not lied to, but letting her grow up without knowledge of what she really was, that seemed close enough to lying.
Nona nodded. “I can fill in the medical ones for you. Speed of healing, best herbs…”
“Then we’ll tell you the next part of this crap,” Aunt Marilyn added bluntly.
“The next part?” Shae was afraid she may not cope well with any more information. How much more could there be? It couldn’t be worse than finding out you were going to turn into a large cat.