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The heat must be getting to me if I’m hearing shit.
‘Can you ask the bell staff to turn down the heat? It’s doing a number on my feathers,’ the pompous voice complains.
I stumble over my own feet and slam into the closet doors.
‘Cheer up, buttercup… Maybe this heat will sweat the sour out of your bones,’ a rough voice responds to the first with laughter.
‘Do me a favor and go dig a hole and bury yourself, will you?’ the sourpuss retorts.
I quickly open the closet doors to get the jump on the people talking without my presence being known and find it empty.
‘Give it a rest, featherbrain. I’m the one with a damn fur coat on, and you don’t see me complaining. Just think of it as a sauna or a day out in the sun!’ the bubbly voice says.
Running my fingers through my hair, I lean against the doorframe. Okay, Knox. There’s no way you’re losing your mind. Just think. You’ve swept the entire room and no one is here, so what does that leave?
It takes a minute before it hits me. Holy Shit! Are those… my animals?
‘Baron? Wolf?’ I ask hesitantly.
‘At your service,’ the pompous voice says. So that must be Baron.
‘It’s Fluffers, not Wolf,’ another voice growls. ‘Oh! Let’s go running!’
A snort leaves me as I feel the pull to go running from… Fluffers. Why do I picture him like Dug from the movie Up when he says ‘squirrel?’
The reality that I’m finally hearing Baron and Fluffers causes me to do a little shuffle in front of the closet. The constant rage that darkens my soul lifts for a moment, showing me what other Shifters feel. For once, I feel somewhat complete as my lips curl up in a slight smile.
For years, I thought there was something wrong with me. Depression added to my anxiety, and, of course, that only exacerbated my anger issues. I’ve listened to other Shifters talk about their animals, and I figured I was defective somehow. Maybe the reason I couldn’t talk to them was because I had more than the normal two shifts, and it was the Fates’ way of keeping me grounded. Hell if I know. I just knew I wasn’t normal, and it has always festered away inside of me like an infected sore that would never heal.
Shutting the closet doors again, I conjure up cooler clothes to change into. Even though I’m ecstatic that this has finally happened, I still don’t know what sparked it.
‘How is this possible? You’ve been dormant for my entire life, and now, of all times, I hear you? What’s changed?’
‘Don’t be so daft,’ Baron says, and I get the distinct feeling he’s sticking his beak up in the air while staring down at me.
‘It’s not like we got to choose him, Baron. Give him a break… beakbrain.’ He snickers. ‘He’s slow on two legs.’ Fluffers snorts out a laugh.
Grabbing my clothes, I head into the bathroom, where I set my stuff down and turn on the shower. I strip down and grab stuff out of the small closet before stepping under the stream. I’m slow in my movements as I contemplate this development, before realizing I am literally confirming their assessment of me and speed up my actions to a faster pace.
‘Slow? How do you figure?’ I fire back. Maybe being able to talk to them is not such a blessing after all. It’s a double-edged sword. I finally get to know what they think, but their condescension and mocking aren’t helpful at all. I start lathering up my body to wash away the sweat and grime from the cave system.
‘Well, my simpleton,’ Baron instructs. ‘You simply haven’t figured it out yet. That’s why we finally agree on something.’
‘That’s not true,’ Fluffers’ singsong voice sings out.
I purse my lips as I think about what he means, and it’s a quiet moment before Fluffers starts cackling in my head.
‘Look who’s a dog with a bone, now!? Oh, I’m loving this.’ Fluffers laughs in my head. A picture of the black wolf rolling around with his tongue lolling out of his mouth flashes in my mind.
Well, that’s definitely new.
Since when do vivid images of my animals come to me?
‘What’s wrong, Knox? Cat got your tongue? Are you a… birdbrain?’ Fluffers laughs so hard he coughs, and before long, he’s choking, which is so violent, I worry he may actually die.
Is that even possible? And where is my Stardust Kitten? Will I hear from him?
‘Amateur, really,’ Baron says, as I see a picture of him rolling his eyes. ‘What is it you see in that walking carpet? Anyway, think about it, Knox. What has changed recently?’
