Faline, A Mountian Lion Shifter (4)

I ended up writing this by candlelight because the power went out. Haha. Only thing I really had to do! Comment please. :]
*~*~*~*
Talyn
*~*~*~*
I can hardly sit still I'm so excited! I've never seen any cat person before! Well, maybe one or two... But that doesn't count! Besides, this one is another girl, just like me!

Tired of fidgeting in my chair, I stand and start pacing in front of the chain link fence separating me from freedom. As if I want it anyway. I look up at the clock that's inside my cage. Malka should be here by now! I stop my pacing abruptly as a sudden thought hits me. What if Malka sold me?

My dark brown wings twitch on my back. She would never sell me! She loves me right?

Sighing, I sit on the floor. I have to do this carefully, as to not crush my tail or wing feathers. After resting my arms on my knees out of habit, I press my nose into the soft and fluffy feathers at my wrist.

"Malka would never get rid of me." I mumble into the light speckled feathers. "Besides, nobody would take me."

I smirk, I always do my best to be the worst behaved one here. Nobody in general wants a teenage falcon. Especially one like me. Teenage falcons are usually already hard enough to keep under control without them actually trying to be difficult.

Although, it's hard to tolerate that boy Malka is always with. I try not to hurt him but he's so annoying! I almost laugh when I remember the struggle I had with him earlier today. It was hardly a struggle for me. It sure was a struggle for him though. Some scary man came to look at me and Nuri put chains on the base of my wings. Nuri obviously hadn't figured out that I can still quite easily act like a brat. Although my wings are still sore from dragging him back to my cage.

"Daydreaming about Lenny again?"

I jump to my feet and turn to face Malka. She's smirking, making it obvious that she's not serious. "No!" I answer with a grin.

"Sure you weren't." She fish a key out of her bulging backpack, "Can't wait to get home. How about you?"

As I push the cage door open, Malka almost gets smacked in the face with it. Thankfully, she jumps back just in time to avoid the heavy metal. "My, someone is excited." She gently turns me around by my shoulders so that my back is facing her. She starts to fix some feathers that got pushed out of place on my right wing. The longer feathers towards the tips of my wings are forever getting messed up from my nonstop energy.

I turn back around before she's finished fixing my feathers, "Where is she? Can I see her?" I'm talking so quickly, my brain isn't even keeping up.

"She?" Malka looks down at me innocently, "Who's she?"

I despise the fact that Malka is taller than me. It's six inches, which is way too much for my liking. If only I was a different species. But me being a bird, I'm forever doomed to be short. Four feet eight inches is as tall as I'm getting. "You know who I'm talking about! Where is she?" My wing and tail feathers are shivering from my excitement.

Malka's soft laugh makes me grin, "Why is she so important? You've seen cats before." She turns and starts to walk towards the parking lot, her backpack slung over her shoulder.

I rush to catch up with her, my wings loose and rustling on my back. "I only saw two! They were both boys though, so they don't count!"

"Oh yes, I apologize for putting you through such torture! I mean, they were only the best looking cats you've ever seen."

I ignore her words as if she said nothing, "So where is she?"

Her laugh is almost inaudible, "Why do you think I was going to show you?"

I pause. That's true. I mean, she didn't really tell me that she was going to show me the new cat yet.

"You go to the car, I'll be there in a little while. Take my backpack too."

I take her pack with a sigh, "Yes ma'am."

"Don't get smart." she says, tapping my nose and smirking before walking off towards the first aid station. I wonder why she's going there? I'm torn between following her and sitting in the car as I was told. I don't' want to make her angry with me. Although, when has she ever been mad at me? Oh! I just remembered! Her birthday is soon! Maybe I can make her a cake? I ponder the possibilities of a party as I walk towards the parking lot.

"Hey babe! What do you say you let me out and we can escape this place together?"

I ignore the obnoxious male hawk in the cage I'm passing by. Why do they put all the males in the same cage, I briefly wonder.

"Yeah! Only don't help that guy! What about me? It's obvious I'm better. I mean, look at these feathers!" Again, I ignore the newest addition to the Flock of Stupidity(my new name for the males that are kept in the cage together). Thankfully, Malka makes sure that the females are kept on the other side of the property. I could never take their constant stupidity. Plus, I'm the only one allowed to walk around freely without any human following me around. It's nice I don't have a collector that owns me and keeps me penned up all day to show off to his friends. That's the only thing people really use us for. Well, except maybe horse shifters. And other ones that can be used for work. Some of the predators are used to guard houses and buildings.

"Hey! Come back! Come on! Let's see those nice feathers of yours!"

My wings tense on my back, pressing more tightly together. I just need to ignore them for a few more minutes and then I'll be far enough away that I can relax.

Finally, my sandals touch the hot pavement of the parking lot. Now, where did she park this time? It shouldn't be too hard to find, considering it's a rusted old neon with patches of white. I've tried to convince her to get something cooler, but she refuses. It certainly isn't a money issue. After a few moments of scanning the parking lot, I spot the old car in the far back corner. After reaching the car and unlocking the doors, I pause. I have to lose my wings and tail feathers before I can get into the car.

I resent hiding my feathers just so I can fit into this piece of junk. It's both humiliating and costly energy-wise. Maybe I can tuck my wings in tightly enough that- oh, never mind. My tail feathers wouldn't fit. Plus, Malka has a strict 'no feathers, fur, or scales in the car' rule. I sigh, I guess I have no choice. Turning my thoughts inward, I gently ask the soaring prairie falcon in my mind to temporarily land and withdraw her wings. She lands willingly, trusting me with every ounce of her being. She has no reason to not trust me. I've treated her exactly as I would want to be treated, perhaps even better.

My wings and tail feathers retreat into my spine first. After those are gone, the feathers on my wrist and lower arm flutter down onto the pavement beneath my feet. Pale, smooth skin is left behind. I pick up a long and dark feather that fell off my wing as it withdrew. I tuck the feather into my hair while sliding into the passenger side of the car. I toss the backpack in my hand onto the driver's seat. It's too hot to be keeping it on my lap. I already have the window down and I'm not sure if it's making it hotter or cooler. Why can't Malka get the air conditioner fixed? It's ninety four degrees. I really am wondering why I listened to her and came to the car.

Luckily, I'm only sitting in the heat for five minutes when I spot Malka and someone slightly shorter than her. The person next to her has light brown hair that is short and spiky. A tail is swinging behind the person, tapping on her ankles occasionally as they walk. It almost looks like they hacked it off with a knife. My eyes wonder down their baggy sweatshirt and I notice that her wrists are bound with metal. I wonder why? I fidget in the cheap leather seat. Are they dangerous? Are they going to try to eat me?

I panic a second as Malka pushes the person into the seat behind me. I relax when I look at their face in the side mirror. She has an oval face and a dark tan. I wonder how she has a tan when most cat people have light skin because they spend so much time in their form. Her thin lips are pressed tightly together, as if she's trying hard not to say something. I freeze when she looks at me in the mirror. Her eyes are all cat, and are terribly frightening. The bright gold holds a savage and hungry light, making me want to get as far away from her as possible.

My attention snaps to Malka when the backpack lands on my lap, "Why do you always put stuff on my seat?"

"Well, it is your backpack." I remind her. "Why are you so grumpy all of a sudden?"

She starts the car and pulls out of the parking space, "I'm not grumpy."

"Are too."

"Am not." her voice softens just the tiniest bit.

I grin, "Too!"

"Not."

I giggle, she's trying so hard to restrain hers mile. "Come on! We're going home! Why aren't you being happy? Isn't that the best part of your day?"

"I am happy," she aims me a fake smile, "see?"

I pull the chocolate brown feather out of my hair and start to twirl it between my fingers absently. I glance at the mirror again to find the girl in the back seat glaring at me with her hungry golden eyes. If she didn't look so scary, I'd say that her eyes were pretty. To distract myself, I lean across the space between the front seats and kiss Malka's cheek. After slipping my feather behind her ear, I blow onto her neck playfully, "What's for dinner? What will we play today? Oh! Can I stay up late?!" I stop for a breath but am stopped by a rough voice from the back.

"You are pathetic." I look back at the cat in surprise. Before I can ask, she continues to talk "You don't even realize that you are property. It's sick, really. You actually think she wants you. That she loves you."

I frown, "And you're sick to think that Malka is like that." even as I say it, the small doubt settles into my mind. But it doesn't settle long before my falcon clicks her beak in annoyance. Fifteen minutes is too long for her to remain grounded. She hates keeping her wings still that long. That's the only way she can keep them from traveling to my human form. If she moves her wings, she has a tendency of forgetting that it affects me. "How long until we get home?"

Malka breathes a nervous laugh, "You ride home with me every day. Don't you know?"

"I guess..." I drag out the word, making it sound more like 'guuuesss'.

Propping my sandaled feet on the dashboard, I twirl a lock of auburn hair around my fingers. "Get your feet down onto the floor."

I exaggerate my sigh, "Whyyyy?"

"Because that's what the floor is for."

"Oh! You rhymed!" My giggle fades into a mumble when I see that Malka is far from amused, "Okay. Not funny."

Malka's face remains straight and I struggle to think of how to make her laugh. Oh! I know! I pull my cell out and start clicking away. After a few moments, I press send and slip it back into my pocket. I'm glad Malka got me a phone for my last birthday. She gets worried now that more males are walking by my cage every day.

A low beep sounds from her backpack. I wait for her to pick it up, but she makes no move to grab it.

"You going to get that?"

Malka sighs and reaches into the front pocket. After glancing at the screen, a small smile tugs at her lips.

"Let's watch a movie after dinner!" I suggest hopefully.

"I can't." she glances at the cat through the rearview mirror.

I pout, "Why?"

"Faline back there needs special attention."

"Faline?" I turn in the seat and smirk at her, "That's a weird name. It's too close to feline."

She only glares at me in response. I eye up her ears for a moment. Before I can talk myself out of it, I slip into the confined back seat that sits vacant beside her. Faline's eyes widen in surprise for a moment, but again lights back up into the hungry glint she's had since she entered the car.

"Typically, the prey does not go towards the predator."

I ignore her words and the shivers its ends up my spine. Instead, I reach for her ears. A loud hiss scrapes out of her throat and she bares her human teeth. I almost laugh. It's far from intimidating. My fingertips brush across the soft black tips but I yank my hand back. Hey! Wait a minute!

"Why can she have her animal half? You never let me do that!" I whine.

"You are sitting on my tail." Faline's growl startles me into moving closer to the door. She retrieves her tail and sticks the black furry tip between her lips and starts to nibble on it like a human does to their hair.

"Eww! You don't know where that's been!"

Faline's eyes stare into mine, "I'd say I do considering it's my tail." She smirks, "You know, I haven't eaten in two days. Some fowl is looking pretty good right now."

"You haven't eaten in two days?" I glare at the front seat. It isn't like Malka to do something like that. "Why didn't you feed her?"

She shrugs, "I think she was more interested in ripping my head off."

I snatch Faline's tail away from her mouth. She started gnawing on it again and it's driving me crazy. "Well don't eat your tail! Sheesh!"

Her ears are flat on her head, almost completely hidden in her hair. Only the black tips are visible. Actually, her hair is exactly the same shade as the light brown on her ears. I glance down at her baggy black sweatshirt and sweat pants. They have small tears on the collar and in random spots of the material. They look kind of like Malka's old outfit for when she came in contact with my falcon. "Malka? Are those your clothes? Why is she wearing that collar thing? I thought only really really bad people got that?"

A sigh drifts back from the front seat, "Talyn, get back up here."

"But-" I stop when I see her expression in the rearview mirror. With a defeated sigh, I crawl back into the front seat. After I'm settled, I mumble a complaint under my breath.

"What was that?"

I glare at Faline through my side mirror, "It's not fair. Cats shed fur and it's harder to get out. At least my feathers are big enough to pick up by hand."

"Life isn't fair."

Faline snorts but says nothing. My curiosity gets the best of me, "What was that for?"

"Oh, I just find it ironic that she would say that. Considering my situation right now."

I look at Malka pleadingly, "Please! Can we just toss her out of the car? We don't even have to stop!" The cat is getting annoying.

Malka breathes a laugh in response, making me forget my annoyance. I smile absently, at least I got that small laugh out of her The falcon in my head begins to beat her wings impatiently. Luckily, the familiar forest surrounds the car. Just a few more minutes and we'll be home.

I tap my foot against the floor in a steady rhythm. My shoulders are cramping a little, making me even more impatient. The longer I sustain a full human appearance, the more cramped up I become. Once I stay that way for too long, I lose control of it and am forced into my form anyway.

The next few minutes seem to pass by excruciatingly slow. But finally, gravel crunches under the car tires as Malka pulls into the shadowed driveway. It curves around a long chain link fence that has a metal bar ceiling. The bars are only have two inches of space between each bar. I wince, Malka puts me in there when my falcon takes over once a month. There's nothing really bad about the cage, it's really big and there's lots of prey, just like if it was a natural forest. I just hate being away from Malka for a week. But if she can get my falcon to behave, she'll let me inside of the house.

As we go around the cage, the house comes into view. It's a small white farmhouse. There's two floors and Malka has a door with bars that separates the upstairs from down .She can lock it so that if she keeps a person that can shape change up there, she won't have to worry much about them. Although she's never closed it when I was upstairs. Entire upper floor is mine. I have a feeling that she'll close and lock it for Faline though. She'll probably lock the windows too.

Malka pulls the car in front of the garage that is beside the house. I sneak a glance at Faline. She's staring longingly at the wall of trees that is beside the garage. I jump out of the car once it stops. Without missing a beat, my wings and tail feathers push back out through the ragged holes I've torn into my clothes so that they don't damage anything. Sighing in relief, I stretch my arms above my head. I'm drowsy from the energy cost of keeping a human appearance for twenty minutes, but not enough to need a nap.

Skipping around the back of the car, I breathe in the scent of dirt and leaves. My sense of smell is strangely no better than a humans. My eyesight is ten times as good though. I wait impatiently for Malka to leave the car. She's slower than usual today. I decide to help her along by opening the door and snatching her backpack from her hands while she tries to search through it. I take off into the house with it. This almost never fails. She hates it when I get my hands on her backpack.

I'm surprised when she only shrugs and steps out of the car. I toss the backpack onto the table and let out a huff of frustration. She isn't being fun today. I bet it's because of Faline. I take a seat on a chair near the window. I have to sit on it backwards because again, my wings and tail feathers get in the way. After resting my chin on the feathers of my wrist, I glare at Faline through the window. Malka is leading her towards the house. I hope the stupid cat isn't here long, I don't want Malka watching her all day. Why doesn't she just put Faline in the cage? It sure would save her a lot of trouble.

They finally reach the house and Faline enters first. Her wrists are still bound together by metal. "Malka? You ever going to take those off?" It doesn't matter how much I don't like her, I still don't like to see someone suffer.

In response, Malka fish a key out of her pocket, after slipping it into the keyhole, she glances at me, "better?" the metal falls onto the floor with a clank and I nod.

"Okay, let me check those bandages. Can you lift your arms?" Malka asks Faline in a business-like tone.

Bandages?

Faline presses her lips together but doesn't answer. Malka shrugs and in one smooth movement, rips the sweatshirt Faline is wearing down the middle.

My protest dies in my throat when I see the bandages around Faline's middle. One side is white, and the other is dripping with crimson. Malka slides the sweatshirt off the cat's shoulders, revealing another bandage, not as bloody as the one around her middle. Malka sighs, "Come on, let's change these."

Well, I guess that answers a lot of questions.

Instead of following them, I go towards the kitchen. Not before kicking off my sandals though. As I walk, my sharp black toenails, similar to talons, click against the tile. I have no desire to see why Faline is bleeding. I get queasy just thinking about it. I have to keep my wings held tightly against my back in here or I may knock things down. The last thing I want to do right now is clean up a mess in the kitchen.

I grab a glass from the cupboard and fill it with tap water. After taking a sip, I wince. I can taste the metal tang from it traveling through the pipes. I dump the remaining water in the glass down the drain and put the glass into the dishwasher. After that's done, I stroll into the livingroom. I lay onto my stomach on the soft couch. I can't lay in any other position because of my wings. They are extremely fragile still and I have to be really careful with them. Plus, this gives me more room to stretch them. I let my one wing lay over the back of the couch, and the other is drooped down so it's touching the floor.

My cheek is resting on my fluffy wrist, making it almost as comfortable as a pillow. My eyes are closed and the bird in my mind is soaring lazily. I smile when the bird realizes I want to talk to her. She soars closer to the rich green grass that occupies the base of my mind. I'm so glad that I have enough time to nurture this place.

Faline's mind is probably full of dead trees and withered grass. I don't know why someone wouldn't take the time to make it pretty. Especially if you don the regular monthly change. If I'm going to be trapped somewhere, I'd rather it be comfortable.

The bird lands on a large tree stump and stares at me with her amber eyes. 'What do you think about Faline?' I ask her.

She clicks her beak and shakes her head, making me giggle. That's always her gesture that means no.

'I can't agree more.' I'm about to ask her about Malka, but something lands on my back between my wings, crushing me to the couch. My eyes snap open, but before I can scream, long delicate fingers cover my mouth and something sharp is digging into my throat.