Page 40 of Polar Destiny
I kick him out of my thoughts. Let's not bring up those old tales. I'm Alis now, not Callisto. Alis, Isla's bear.Simple.
My stomach growls. Strange how I forgot how it feels to behungry.
Shall wehunt?
Four thoughts of approval reach me and together, we run off through the snow. I am free, finally free. My body responds to my will and with every step, I feel morealive.
I can feel Isla sitting in the backseat, staring wide eyed as I catch a fish and eat it whole. I don't need picnic baskets delivered, I can provide for myself. Humans are so weak. I don't understand how their species has made it thisfar.
When I'm sated, I lie down in the snow, slowly becoming tired. Isla is getting stronger and is close to breaking through. She's no longer fighting me consciously, but it's just natural that her mind wants to be back in possession of her body. Not this body, though. She wouldn't know what to do as a polar bear. It would be incredibly painful forher.
I roll from one side to the other, washing my fur in the snow. I can feel the guys' amusement shine through our bond. I'll showthem.
I jump up and run towards Torben who just about manages to step out of my way. I go on my hind legs and stretch, presenting my large body to him. I am bigger than him and he better realiseit.
I let myself fall back on my front paws and prowl towards him, showing him my sharp teeth. A growl rumbles through my throat. Our eyes lock and I can feel his resistance through our bond. He still believes he's the more dominant bear. He'll bedisappointed.
I press my mind into the bond, tearing through his defences. We're not animals, we don't need to fight with our bodies. Our minds are enough to establish ourstrength.
He's determined, I give him that. He's built some thick walls around his mind but I know all the tricks. I have learned from the best and have had centuries of practice. This pup will soon know hisplace.
With one last push, I'm in his mind. I resist the urge to look around. I'm not that kind of person; I know he has a right to privacy. All I need to do is show him what I'm capableof.
I retreat, but I can't help getting a whiff of his feelings. I smile when I realise how big his love for Isla really is. Even if they weren't mates, he'd be pursuing her. He's totally enamoured with her, so much that I'm almostjealous.
But I have my own mate, even if he isn't here with me. I let go and snap back into my body. Torben looks confused and shakes his head several times, blinking until he's back in reality. Looks like I was the first to battle him mentally. Should I apologise? No, not my kind ofthing.
Now that our ranks are established, I run back towards the house. Isla is almost through the wall separating our minds. A bit more and she'll be thrown into my body. And from past experience I know that it will hurt. At the same time, I don't want her to end up naked in the middle of the island. I care for her enough that I don't want her to have to ride on one of her bears without clothes. Although I'm sure they wouldn't mind, in contrary. Isla isn't aware of how they all adore her. I don't know if she realises they all want more than friendship. I should have a chat with her about bear relationships. Us females are lucky, we choose our partners, unless they're our mates. Some of us take several, some of us switch lovers constantly. The males just have to deal withthat.
I come to a halt in front of the cottage, breathing heavily. I'm making a mental note of getting some daily exercise in my bear form. I'd be rubbish in a fight right now. And somehow, I assume that there will be fighting at some point. They wouldn't have sent me hereotherwise.
I trained with Artemis, I'm one of thebest.
I cough. Okay, Iusedto be one of the best. But with a bit of training, I'll quickly be back to my oldstandards.
I knock at the door with my front paw. Arnold opens and looks at me insurprise.
Then he smiles. "I'll get you some clothes and leave them by the door. Don't worry, I'll tell Bertie to stay in the living room with me until you'redecent."
I decide that I like him. He's clever and has respect for females. Hopefully I'll get to meet his bear soon. He smellsinteresting.
Isla, get ready, I'm about toshift.
That's all the warning she gets. Goodbye body, see yousoon.
Fourteen
It'slike waking up from a shallow, unsatisfying sleep. The kind where you remember tossing around in your bed, trying to fall asleep, only to realise again and again that you're still awake. The difference is that usually, I don't wake up naked, cold and surrounded bybears.
I have a vague memory of being one of them. A polar bear like Torben, but I don't know exactly what I looked like. I need to ask Alis to seek out a mirror next time we shift. I'm not vain, but I want to know how big polar bear me is. And if I'm pretty. Okay, maybe I amvain.
I get up on all fours - what? Silly Isla. You're human, you don't have paws. And you walk on your legs. On two of them. Hands are not supposed to be on theground.
Behind me, the bears are growling with laughter and I have to hide a smile myself. I must look hilarious, standing on all fours in the snow. Naked. Why do I always end up like that? But I guess it must be the same for all shifters. I wish shifting with clothes was possible. So much lessembarrassing.
I get up and walk into the house - like a human - closing the door behind me. Like promised, a pile of clothes is waiting for me and I gratefully put them on. Such a good feeling to have something covering my bare skin. The guys don't seem to get that. Maybe it's because they grew up asshifters.
I open the front door and close it again immediately. They didn't wait with their shifting. And I'm not sure I wanted to see as much as I just did. I've seen Torben naked before, of course (and in all his glory), but theothers...
