chapter7

"There are many things you will have to learn," my grandfather said, adding a log to the fire and sitting back down.Will and I nodded, just coming to realize what we were getting into. The senior shot me a look that said, 'We'll talk later,' and I nodded slightly. Grandfather looked up and smiled at us. "I know you two can talk without words. It's a trait among your kind," he replied, leaning back. "You will begin your training tomorrow when you wake, eat, and dress. Understand?"

Will's face had a confused look. "Training for what?"

"For the biggest battle of all time, bigger than any war that man has fought. But do not trouble yourself over it tonight. I assume you want to be human again?"
"Yes," I replied, looking at the small wood mouse that scurried in the ceiling. "I don't think I can sleep hearing every noise in the house."

Smiling once again, Grandfather gave us the simplest instructions of the night: "Imagine what you look like as human beings. Now focus on it. Let it become a part of you, roll over you like a wave..."

Closing our eyes, we did as we were told and I felt the weird sensation of my wings melting into my back and my muzzle turning into a face. When I opened my eyes, I realized I was human again but with one small price to pay: I had no clothes to my name.

I blushed and grabbed the 'Spirit of Atlanta' jacket as Will and my grandfather laughed at my situation. "Oh, come on Tasha," Will said, lacking clothes as well. "You change in the band room all the time." I look down at the ground and shrug, trying to keep my eyes off my now naked section leader. "Yeah, well, I'm not NAKED in the band room; I have CLOTHES when I change!" I mutter. "Will this always happen?"

"When you gain better control of your powers, your clothing will become a part of you. Here," Grandfather said, tossing me a robe. I shrugged it on quickly and tied it before sitting down but Will, being Will, just stood there, unclothed at the day he was born. "Don't you want something to put on?" I ask, keeping my eyes trained to the ground. 'This isn't the time for you mind to be wandering, Tasha,' I thought.

'But it's nice to wander," the evil half of my brain thought.

'Ooh shaddup.'

"Why? Is it bad to be naked?" Will asked with a smile. He took the robe from my grandfather and put it on. "Well, where do we find some new clothes? I don't think there is a Wal Mart or Tommy Outlet somewhere around here."

Grandfather stretched and shook his head. "No, there is clothing in your room. The dresser on the right is Will's, the one on the left is Tasha's. I only have one bed so both of you will have to share if you don't have a problem with it," he replied. "I have none. What about you, Tasha?" Will asked.

I just shook my head. 'What else was I gonna say?'

"Good. I'm not old but I'm beginning to feel my age. Your room is the door on the right and the bathroom is the door on the left," Grandfather explained as he stood and picked up his staff. "My room is down this hall. Come wake me if you need anything, good night."

"Good night," Will and I said in unison. We looked at each other and laughed softly before walking into our room. It was well furnished like the rest of the house, simple but elegant, with wood furnishings and an ancient vibe. A large window and skylight were open to the night air and Will walked over to open the curtains.

I raised an eyebrow. "What in the world are you doing that for?" I asked. "It's hot in here and... it's pretty outside," was all he said. We changed quickly, all the while talking.

"Do you trust him?"

"Trust who?"

"Your grandfather, of course," Will asked. My back was to him so I couldn't see his reaction but I pulled the black t-shirt over my head. "Will, this is the man who practically raised me. If he told me that there was a T-Rex in my backyard, I'd believe him. He's never lied to me a day in my life. Sleeping Panther says the greatest evil you can do is to be untruthful. I know he's not lying, Will; I can feel it somehow. Otherwise, how do you explain what's happened to us?" I asked. The returning senior shook his head, ponytail shaking with him. "I don't know, Tasha. It's just hard realizing that I'll never go home again. Granted that it wasn't much of a home but still, it was home...I'm just lucky you're here with me, otherwise, I think I'd go crazy," he said, managing to flash a smirk.

"Yeah, it's not an easy job but someone has to do it," I reply. Reaching up, I undid the tie that held my hair up and let it fall. My hair reached the back of my knees and was the same color as Grandfather's, just longer. Mostly I kept my hair up because I mean, it's such a hassle but I'd never cut it. Trim, yes but cut, I don't think so.

"Well that's a new sight," Will said. I picked up a brush and began to brush it out. "What? Oh...well, yeah, maybe. It'd be nice to see yours down once and awhile."

"Your wish is my command." and the hair tie was gone letting lose a wave of strawberry blonde hair that reached just past his shoulders. I blinked and nodded in approval. "See, doesn't that feel better?" I managed. Actually, I was thinking about how great he looked like that but I did my best to push that out of my mind.

"Yeah, I guess it does. Do you need help in re-braiding your hair?"

Again, all I do is nod and Will runs a hand through my hair. Normally, I had my mom do this but it wasn't like I was going to object to him offering. "Just a single braid, like Duo from 'Gundam Wing'?" he asked with a smirk. I looked up at him as I sat down. "Why not?" He started braiding and sighed. "So I guess we're stuck here."

"For the time being I guess. We'll just have to make the most of it," I answer softly. I never realized how hard Will would take it if he had to leave his family. He seemed to hate going home so he joined everything he could, even winter guard.

Nodding, Will continued braiding. "When Sleeping Panther was talking about the previous WolfAngels he made it seem like they were all..." he trailed off and I looked at him in the mirror. "What is it Will?" I asked, confused.

"He made it sound like they were...together, you know. Like they were in love. I mean, 'when one dies that another one dies.' Doesn't that just sound so...Romeo and Juliet?"

"Well, I don't plan on stabbing myself anytime soon."

Will chuckled and patted my head. "I hope not, but I'm being serious. Do you think that could ever happen to us?"

Blinking, my mind raced. 'What was I supposed to say? Did I really like him like I thought or was it just a harmless crush thing? But Will was right, Grandfather did make it sound mighty suspicious when he was describing our heritage.' "Well, it could...there's no doubt in my mind that it could happen. I mean, it holds every possibility," I answer, using all caution. "What do you think?"

"Well, I think that it's a strong possibility myself."

I stopped breathing. What could I say to that? "You really think so?" I said softly. "Yeah, you know, it makes sense. Plus...I don't know, I guess we can talk about it tomorrow when our heads are straight, ok? All done."

Looking at the long braid, I nod and crawl into bed. Will puts the hair tie back in his hair and blew out the candle before sliding in next to me. "Good night," he whispered.

Staring at the quasars and galaxies through the skylight, my eyes began to feel heavy and whispered "Goodnight," before sleep claimed both of us.