A Dream of Hope and Sorrow by Jonathan Crocker

Author:Jonathan Crocker
Language: eng
Format: epub

Kelly

Flying high above the forest, Kelly was afforded a rather unique view of the battlefield. The bears were encamped on one side of a small valley, the serpents on the other. It was difficult to determine numbers through the trees, but Kelly felt certain that there must be at least three thousand bears behind the battlements – and, unfortunately, that number, and more, serpents were entrenched across the valley.

There were large gaps in the forest, on both sides, where trees were being felled to fuel fires or to construct shelters or to build spears and pikes. The bear edge of the valley was lined with long pikes dug into the ground and stuck out diagonally towards the slope. It was a rudimentary defense, and Kelly imagined that the bear ferocity was more of a deterrent to attack than a bunch of pointy sticks.

Kelly loved the feel of the wind currents rushing beneath her feathered wings, her small, delicate body streaking through the sky at reckless speeds. It was a level of freedom that a human body simply couldn’t grant. In her eagle form, she was larger than the average eagle, with sleek brown feathers coating her body. Her beak and claws were sharp, and she was more than capable of doing battle – though perhaps not as capable as Desmond or Brandt.

She was inclined to soar over the serpent encampment, to scout their preparations. But she knew better – while her eagle form was convenient and allowed certain advantages, she was also incapable of casting spells. And if she were spotted through the limbs and boughs, a well-aimed arrow could drop her from the sky. She had heard the stories of more than a few totems who met their demise while shapeshifted. So instead she circled back and put her keen eyesight to work looking for Brandt’s tent.

Bears didn’t put much stock in the privileges that might come with higher ranks – a bear lieutenant slept in the same size tent and was provided the same rations and supplies as a common soldier. While the commanders of other clans’ armies might have elaborate and lavish accommodations, even in a war zone, Brandt just had the same simple deerskin tent as every other soldier – though with a little more room for one his size. And that made Kelly’s search to find him from the air much more difficult.

She found a sizeable opening in the canopy and swooped down through it. Her wings fully extended, she glided right down towards the ground. With a flash of golden light, she morphed back into her own, human form, her feet touching down perfectly on the forest floor. Her little entrance caught the eye of many of the bears that were milling about, most of them giving her some form of greeting, be it a wave or a shout.

It didn’t take long for Kelly to locate Brandt’s tent, however – the nearby soldiers seemed more than happy to point her in the right direction.

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