The Tenth Life of Vicki Torres: A Court of Annwyn short story by Shona Husk

Author:Shona Husk [Husk, Shona]
Language: eng
Format: epub

Camo-boy was so sweet. She stretched out on his bed, enjoying the warmth from his body, which would’ve been totally more awkward as a girl. After seeing him naked, though, she wouldn’t mind pressing up against him.

Maybe when he let her out to pee she could duck behind a tree and change. No cat-shifter conversation required. Yeah, that sounded like a plan. In the morning. Right now she was full and warm and this was the best night she’d had since taking off as a cat.

* * *

The morning was overcast and Camo-boy was hopeful for some rain because water supplies were getting low. Apparently there was a river half a day away. His father hadn’t wanted to be too close to it, as it would have made this cabin easy to find.

In fact, he’d told her lots of things he wouldn’t have told a person. It was like he needed to talk, but he didn’t need answers.

Changing back into Vicki would spoil that. But she wanted to talk to him. He needed a human friend. Not a cat.

Once he let her outside, she got distracted by a butterfly before remembering she needed to change. After making sure he was busy and out of sight, she braced herself for the ouch and willed herself to be human.

Nothing happened.

She tried again.

Nothing. Had she spent too long as a cat?

A squeak of alarm came out of her mouth. What was wrong with her? She shook her head and tried again and again with the same result.

“Hey, Lucky what’s wrong?” He scooped her up. “Have you been stung?”

He checked her paws and face. “Please don’t get bit by a snake and die on me. I don’t think I could handle it.” He kissed the top of her head as she cried without tears or sound.

I’m a person. I’m stuck. Help me.

“Geez, I sound needy. We’ve been together less than a day and I’m begging you not to leave.”

She rested limply against his body as he carried her back to the cabin.

I can’t leave. I can’t shift.

And she couldn’t bring herself to eat either.

After two days he was starting to get really worried. Fear and concern were etched on his face. “You need a vet. Are any vets alive?”

He frowned. “It’s not safe to leave. Shit. Please don’t die. I thought you were sick the way you kept throwing up the raw meat.”

Vicki opened her eyes and looked at him. He thought she was a cat, and he was considering getting her help and risking his life. She couldn’t let that happen. She didn’t need a vet. She needed a miracle.

With a sigh she moved a little and forced a little cooked meat down.

He needed her to live. If she lived, he’d look after her until she found a way to change. That would have to be enough. But the idea of being stuck like this forever made her want to curl up and sleep until she died.

But she didn’t because he needed her and no one had ever needed her before.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.