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They don’t shift back to their normal forms, though, which is strange.
I close the door behind us and move to the fireplace. I throw a few more logs on to start warming it up. Then I look over at the bears.
I can’t tell how old these cubs are. I’d guess they’re three, maybe four years old in their human forms, but why are they bears?
Usually, shifters can’t change into their animal forms until well after puberty hits. It’s one of those strange animal things. Were born in our human skin and then we have to sort of discover our animal skin. It’s always there, clawing at the back of our minds, but it’s not usually until puberty that the gate between human and animal finally unlocks.
During puberty, there seems to be a time when it’s possible to start walking between those two worlds.
I’ll never forget when I first shifted. I had been in school all day, and I was tired. I was at the lake after a particularly hard exam, and I was feeling down. Stressed. I felt anxious and worn out, but then I closed my eyes, and something happened.
The gate that kept my inner-bear locked away suddenly seemed...open.
I kept my eyes closed and I walked toward that gate. Reaching my hand out, I seemed to be able to walk over, past my human self, and tap into the animal part of me.
And it was thrilling.
In a whirlwind of emotion and chaos, I was transformed into my bear form. I remember feeling and hearing my clothing tearing. My body changed. My skin was replaced with thick, dark fur, and my size seemed to double.
I truly became a bear.
It was really the most incredible feeling, but then I didn’t know what to do. I mean, what do you do first when you change into a giant creature? Personally, I decided to go fishing. I jumped into the lake and swam around for a long time, careful not to drown. Swimming as a giant bear was a lot different from swimming as a gangly boy. Then I tried catching fish, which I couldn’t do because I was big and clumsy.
Eventually, though, I managed to lie back down on the banks of the lake, and I closed my eyes.
After an afternoon in my bear form, I was ready to try again.
I was ready to be a boy again.
But I had to find my way back through that gate.
The first shift was the hardest. Ever since then, I’ve shifted almost every day. Now I don’t even need to envision the shifter-gate anymore. Now I can easily adjust my body simply by wishing it.
Things weren’t always so easy.
I look over at the little bears.
Is that what happened to these guys?
Did they discover their gates a little too early?
Did they try to enter the world of shifters without being properly prepared?
Are they stuck there, now?
“What’s going on, little ones?” I ask.
Spot barks softly, and I know he’s wondering the same thing I am.
What the hell am I going to do?
Chapter Two
Theresa
Shit.
Shit.
