Chapter 15

Chapter

Fifteen

Morgan"s gaze meets mine,and a flicker of determination ignites within him, mirroring the mix of fear and resolve swirling within me. "Ready to give it a try?" he asks, his voice a gentle nudge against my apprehensions.

The thought alone has my heart doing somersaults. "I, uh, I guess?" I manage to squeak out, feeling about as confident as a kitten in a dog park.

He gives me this nod, like he"s seen into my soul and decided there"s something there worth betting on. "Let"s start simple, then. How about we both shift?" he suggests.

"Alright," I concede, my voice imbued with a hesitancy that belies the growing flicker of curiosity within me.

In the next moment, Morgan transforms. The shift is seamless, a fluid motion that sees man merge into bird with a grace that leaves me in awe. He stands one moment as a man, and in the blink of an eye, he"s a hawk, his form exuding a quiet strength and a freedom that"s both enviable and intimidating.

I, on the other hand, am a bundle of nerves and concentration. I close my eyes, focusing intently on the essence of my being, on the small, feathered part of my soul that I"ve always kept tightly guarded. My brow furrows in concentration, and I can only imagine the comical expression that must be painted across my face.

With a mental nudge, I feel the shift take hold, my body condensing, reshaping into the small form of a parrotlet. I tentatively open my eyes, taking in my new, albeit familiar, form. My feathers, a vibrant shade of blue, flutter lightly in the gentle breeze, a splash of color against the natural backdrop of the clearing.

From where Morgan perches, regal and imposing in his hawk form, I must appear ridiculously small. A tiny, fragile creature amidst the grandeur of the wilderness around us. Yet, there"s no judgment in his gaze, only a silent encouragement that speaks volumes.

As we communicate, our thoughts intertwine effortlessly, "How about we climb that tree? Just to the lowest branch," he proposes, and I"m thinking, easy for you to say, Mr. I-Swoop-For-Fun.

The mere thought of putting even the slightest distance between myself and the solid earth below sets my heart racing.

But there"s something about Morgan. His steadiness makes me think, maybe, just maybe, I can do this. "I'm ready," I say, channeling every brave bone in my tiny bird body.

Together, we approach a massive oak tree. Okay, it's not massive, but it feels that way, especially when I'm this small. The bark is rough under my claws, a far cry from the cozy kitchen of the inn where I'd rather be right then.

The ascent feels like a journey unto itself, each branch a new chapter in a story I"m not sure I want to be part of. But Morgan is right there, a constant murmur of encouragement that somehow pierces the fog of my apprehension. "You"re doing great," he says, and part of me wants to believe him more than anything.

The higher we climb, the more the ground seems like a distant memory, a safer time that"s slipping further and further away.

"Keep going," he urges, and I do, drawn by the promise in his voice. From this new vantage, the world is both terrifying and exhilarating.

Until the vertigo hits.

The world tilts, a dizzying, disorienting sensation that grips me without warning. My heart hammers against my ribs, a frantic rhythm that drowns out Morgan"s words. The leaves, the sky, the very air itself seems to spin, and I"m caught in the eye of a storm I never saw coming.

Panic claws at me, a visceral, consuming terror that obliterates all reason. In my fear, I lose my grip, my tiny body surrendering to gravity"s unforgiving pull.

Time slows, the fall stretching into an eternity. The ground, once a distant concept, now looms large and unforgiving. I'm a goner. I know it. All I can do is close my eyes and brace for impact.

But Morgan, ever the guardian, is there in an instant. His talons, strong and sure, wrap around me, halting my descent with a jarring suddenness that knocks the breath from my lungs. The relief is immediate, overwhelming, crashing over me in waves that leave me gasping.

For a moment, we"re suspended, caught between earth and sky in a bubble of disbelief. His hold is both a cage and a sanctuary, and I"m acutely aware of him, of the warmth of his body against mine, the steady beat of his heart. In the chaos of the fall, in the terror of the near miss, there"s a strange sort of peace.

As he sets me gently on solid ground, the reality of what"s happened settles in. I"m shaking, a mess of adrenaline and shock, but I"m alive. I look up at him, words failing me, and I see it—the flicker of something deep and indefinable in his eyes.