Shifters of Night and Day

Kalysta POV:

Carrying the eagle in her arms she made way to her home. Her mother knew a lot about tending injured animals mainly because she had been acting as the local vet in their community for many years. Kalysta didn't know why but her heart felt warm while carrying this bird. She wanted so deeply to see it healthy and she couldn't figure out why this animal's health meant so much to her. She trusted no one else but her mother when it came to the golden eagle.

Stepping through the threshold she frantically called for her mother, "Moooooom, I need you. Where are you?"

"What's wrong Kalysta?" Her mother had walked into the room and immediately looked Kalysta up and down for potential injuries. She always worried over her daughter when Kalysta was out hunting. Her eyes then looked down at the feathery bundle in her daughter's arms.

"I found this poor thing. It's wing is injured. Is it broken?"

Her mother inspected the eagle. She stretched the wing out and in again. It caused the bird to sqwauk in pain but the her mother said, "Not broken, but there is swelling. It looks like this guy was attacked by a bigger bird and managed to get away. His is dragging his wing probably because it's in pain. Where did you find it?"

"Near the small creek next to my hunting grounds. I heard it's cries and went to see what was going on. For some reason he was unable to fly and I saw his wing and thought it was dislocated. I felt compelled to help the little thing."

Kalysta ran her hand over the birds head and ruffled the feathers behind it's neck. The bird made a sound as if it were purring. "Like that? I'll keep doing it while mom fixes you up "

As her mother prepared a salve to reduce the swelling and fight off infection in the small cuts with a bandage Kalysta continued to preen the bird's neck feathers and talk to it to keep it comfortable. Once the task was done the eagle nestled down in her lap to sleep.

She held onto the field and realized how much she loved the feel of its feathers. They were so soft and her hand glided effortlessly over them like they were made of silk. Each time she ran her hand across its body she felt warmth radiate through her body from her fingertips, up her arm, and then the warmth spread all over her body in a tingling sensation. It felt relaxing to her. She was so comfortable while holding the birdthat she eventually nodded off too.

Slowly she entered a deep enough sleep state to dream, and in her dreams she was flying next to the eagle but she was a bird as well. The sky was blue with big fluffy white clouds. The sun was shining golden and bright. The warmth of it soaking into her feathers. This is Heaven she thought.

"It's not Heaven it is a dream. Also, I am not a 'he' I am female."

Kalysta snapped her head towards the other bird with shock, "You just talked!"

The eagle laughed, "Yes human I talked. Nature whispered into my ear to link my spirit to you. I was wanting to any way since you helped me so she didn't have to twist my wing to do it. Nature has big plans for you."

"Nature as in Mother Nature? That's a old tale. She doesn't exist." Kalysta could barely believe her ears. Flapping her wings she tried to consider if she really thought this was a myth or not. I mean, spirit links are kind of fantastical but they are real.

"You can believe in the magic of spirit links but not in the being who made them possible? That is very silly. By the way, what is your name human? I want to know the name of who I am linked to." The eagle looked at her curiously.

"Kalysta," she quickly said and the asked, What is your name?"

"I have no name."

"Oh, well can I give you one?" Noticing the eagle nod yes to accep8a name Kalysta began to ramble off random ideas.

"Paula?"

The eagle looked disgusted with this suggestion.

"Ashley?"

Again she looked unhappy with the suggestion.

"Okay fine birdie, I will be serious and try to think of a good name." A few minutes later Kalysta asked, "Do you like Fenix?"

"Yes, I accept this name. I know the lore of the Phoenix. This is similar to how Nature has made changes in my own body. You will be surprised when you awaken."

The two eagles continued to fly until Kalysta could no longer feel her great wings flapping. Her head felt fuzzy. She felt like she had forgotten what she was even doing. Fenix wasn't with her anymore, she was alone. The clouds grew close together and began to lift her up in the air slowly.

Her winged body sparkled with golden light as she morphed from a bird to her human form. She watched the earth fade away below her as she continued to rise over the blanket of clouds that cover it and the blue sky grew to a dark navy blue, and then on to the blackest black she has ever known. Suddenly a chorus of many voices came out of the black. "I am pleased to meet you."

Bright light broke though the darkness and radiated off of a woman in a white gown accentuated by a vine of pink flowers and thick green leaves around her midsection. Her skin was bronzed. She had dark brown hair with sparkling blue eyes. On top of her head she wore a crown of gold with many precious stones embedded it. Her eyes swirled as she looked at Kalysta, and Kalysta could have sworn she saw the ocean in those eyes. It looked as if her eyes were made from Earth's many oceans. The hue changed as waves flowed across her pupils. "Treat Fenix well and you will know my love. I have very specific plans for you two."

Kalysta was enamoured with the sound of her voice. It was like the voices of 10,000 singers spoke in perfect unison. It was not one voice but many beautiful voices all in one. Hearing it put Kalysta's senses into overdrive and she felt like she was floating. Nature's words made the girl feel she had won a difficult championship.

Bliss had her engulfed until she was dropping. Falling way too fast. Her screams silenced by the roar of wind rushing past her as she rapidly decented. Through the clouds she fell. Back into the light blue sky she fell. Closer and closer to the ground she fell. Seeing her life flash before her eyes she wrapped her arms around herself as she braced for impact.

***Thump!!!

Her right leg and shoulder ached from landing in the hard wood floor. She got up and brushed her fingers through her hair. That was a fucked up dream.

Getting up she brushed the dirt off of her side and her bottom. Scanning the dark room her eyes caught an unfamiliar sight. Next to the daybed she fell from was her little eagle, but it wasn't little anymore.

Fenix stood up tall and opened her wings to show off her new physique. Even in the dark they gave off light. The feathers on her body now a champagne gold and brown that caught the light and refracted it back. The bird's eyes were now the brightest emerald green. Fenix was not only beautiful but she had grown to her full adult size plus some. She was huge.

Fenix almost as tall as Kalysta. As the shy girl walked up to the giant eagle she felt so honored to have this moment and be linked to Fenix.

Kalysta wrapped her arms around the giant birds neck. Fenix put her wings around her in return. In this embrace warm tingling sensations flooded Kalysta's body.

She closed her eyes and when she opened them again her vision was sharper than ever before. Looking up at Fenix she heard the bird's voice in her head.

"The link is now complete."