Different Ch.2

Chapter 2

Translations:

Ay Dios mio- Oh my God

Que extrano- how strange.

Ok mental recap on my birthday so far...I am an apparent nature lover, I'm and early riser, I'm a loner now, and just to top it all off I'm the last known shapeshifter of the ancient line of Navajo female shapeshifters in the universe.

I sat up quickly, taking in my surroundings. Low and behold the clock read 4:00 am. I was still apparently in my grandmother's house. I could see Yuiza's painting hanging up on the wall. Loiza Aldea is actually the name of the area where the famous Taino Cacique (chief) Yuiza ruled. Yuiza was such a strong and brave woman. My puertorican blood traces back to her and the Taino indians. My abuela always loved her husband's hispanic culture, almost as much as her native Navajo.

Well might as well stick with my new habit and have a look at abuela's garden out back.

"She should really just call it a forest, I mean you have to travel through all those trees before reaching her garden." I mumbled to myself. Carlitos was snoring away on the air matress at my feet. I tried my best not to wake him and snatched some jeans and a t-shirt from my suitcase. After changing in the bathroom I looked at myself in the mirror. I suddenly realized...There is one thing I don't have to worry about in the mornings, thanks to my internal alarm clock I can spend 3 or 4 hrs. in this stinkin' bathroom before anyone wakes up. I quietly tiptoed down the hall, slipped on some shoes and snuck out the back door.

I sighed as I felt the cool breeze of morning hit my face. This does always feel refreshing. Still I can not get over it. Not only do my parents know about this but they believe it means I am part animal? Thanks guys, way to show me love. I strolled to the trees and followed the path while the sky began to brighten. When I reached a clearing I marveled at abuela's garden. It was as if this spot in the 'forest' was made just for abuela's garden. Trees surrounded a clearing with flowers of every color blossming in the sunlight.

How DO I explain my sudden infactuation with nature? What if they are right? Can I be something so unheard of...well disregarding movies. The looks in their eyes last night were so serious. Maybe this is all a misunderstanding, I going to have another chat with them the minute they wake up, yeah, I'll put my mind at ease. Maybe it was a birthday joke. Hahahaha. *cough cough*. I hope. I really hope.

I turned to head back down the path when I heard a rustle in the trees to my right. What was that? I looked in that direction but only saw the trees. I turned away but once again was stoped by movement in the trees. I looked over and held my breath. Who knew one could stand so still when encountering a dangerous animal. I was not sure if it was shock, fear, or stupidity. All I could do was stare strait into the eyes of the largest dog...no wolf...I have ever seen. Oh my word. Ay Dios mio...what do I do now? Do I run, or stay unmoveable like now. He did not move, just stared at me like if he had seen me before. I slowly took a long breath than took one step back. He followed. "Nnn..nice do..wolfy? Ppp..lease be nice...stay," I could barely get the words out of my trembling lips. He kept coming closer and closer, faster and faster, so finally I did the logical thing and screamed than proceeded to faint.

My God this is becoming another habit. This is the first thought that came to mind when I awoke. I shook my head and looked around only to find that the wolf had sat right next to me and looked into my eyes with a confused expression. Don't faint, do not faint. I closed my eyes and steadied my breathing. When I looked back at the wolf he was smiling. Yes...smiling. His tounge was hanging out and his tail wagging back and forth. Well I guess the HUMONGOUS wolf is not going to eat me. I weakly smiled back and then jumped when I heard my name called.

"Onida...Nena, where are you?! It's time for breakfast, you have been out here for hours! Let's go, come on before it gets cold!"

I looked in the direction of her voice and shouted, "Coming mama!" By the time I looked around the wolf was gone. Well now you decide to leave me. When I am no longer afraid. But when I am screaming my head off do you leave me alone? NO.

When I entered the house I could smell omlettes (hmm yum). Everyone was patiently waiting at the table already when I sat down. My father led the prayer and we dug in.

"So did you have a nice walk this morning?" I was starting to think that my abuela was psychic. "Umm yeah, I must of fallen asleep, the garden is soo peaceful, so um you..do you have any pets or friendly woodland creatures that visit you there abuela?"

I said the last part of that sentence quickly while staring intently into my orange juice. To my surprise she laughed. "Why yes nena, we are animal lovers due to our heritage...as you recall from our conversation yesterday. Now did you meet Gabriel?"

"Depends, is he a bi..large dog..of some sort? Maybe?" "Oh no he is a wolf, playful thing if I might add, he did not scare you did he?" She said with complete certainty and calm like if it were normal.

"Ha ha Ha *cough*, no, not at all. He was justa surprise to me this morning thats all."

Now my brother being the crazy adolescent he is had so much to say on the subject. Tearing his face away from the food he had found so important up till now he yelled, "Cool, I want to see him, a real wolf, for real!" He turned and looked at me,"Onida you are soo lying, I bet you peed your pants, you do not even like to be around rottweilers let alone WOLVES." "Shut up Carlitos. I did not pee my pants in fact I was entirely rational throughout the whole encounter." The picture of myself on the floor 'asleep' after yelling my head off made me wince despite my protest at my brother's words. With that my brother left the table to play his game boy, while not to discretly whispering, "Liar," as he passed by me.

"Well no need to ever be afraid of him nena, he is going to be one of your good friends. He has been waiting for this day as much as I have. Which reminds me today is your first day of training. The wolf is one of the easier animals to shift into. Though because you are still in denial it is going to take some time to get it to work..."

I cut her off, "Abuela you..you are really serious about last night? You are going to teach me to shapeshift? This is..is..muy extraño." "Nena there is nothing to be weired out about. Do not worry, you just need to except this for what it is your destiny. Now your parents have agreed to let you live with me for a while for you training. Since you will graduate in two months you will start your training then."

"Okay abuela, for your sake I'm going to accept all of this. I'll believe it when I see it. "Bueno nena, I am glad you are willing to try."

We said our goodbyes that afternoon and began to head home. I decided to wear the ring and simple necklace abuela gave me as gifts. They seemed comforting, though the large necklace I left in my purse, if was different. Responsibility and honor seemed to radiate from it and it made me nervous. I sighed and stared out the window as we drove away. "...willing to try."Goodness how was I supposed to respond to that. Those words stuck with me, echoing in my mind as if abuela tatooed them on my brain. As we reached a stop sign at the end of road I looked toward the trees. Gabriel stood in the shadows gazing at me. It was like he was trying to tell me 'see you soon'. My God now she has me believing I can read animals thoughts. I looked away for a moment and when I looked back he had disappeared. Well this was surely going to be the start of something crazy. I never thought to be anxious over the end of High School. But now I have a legitiment reason. Part of me was curious to see if abuela is right and the other is afraid to find out it is the truth.

I guess I will find out in two months. Either all of the things I have thought my life would turn out to be is unattainable and offbase. Or my abuela and parents are nuts and slowly affecting the next generation. Well...two months...two months...