The Transformation
She remembered the first time The Fever come on. It developed earlier than expected. She was younger than she should’ve been. And like everything else embarrassing in life, especially for her, she passed out when it hit in the middle of class, surrounded by mates who either messed with her or simply ignored her. She much preferred the latter.
She woke up in her bed with her mother by her side holding her hand and stroking the hair from her sweaty face. “Mother what happened? How did I get here? Am I sick?” She attends to me like I am.
“You are grown now, my dear Thia. It would seem your time has come, early as it may be.” She’d heard similar said to others before her, but for them the occasion was celebrated much like a birthday, inviting the whole village. This however, felt more like what she might imagine her last days would be like.
The first transformation took place when she was much too young to remember, only a baby and cub. But as the stories prophesized time and time again, she knew this one would be very different. This time she would remember…she had to remember. How could a thing be so dangerous and frightening and yet so rejoiced? But something was different for her version of the horror-filled stories she’d feared until now.
She blinked around her plain bedroom in a feverish dreamy state and found herself very much alone with the only friend she’d ever had, her mother, and an old man in a tattered hooded cloak who smelled like earth and tea. When she had witnessed the rite of passage for the others before her, they were always surrounded by well-wishers and showered in encouraging words and congratulations. Still it didn’t surprise nor disappoint her…at least not until she noticed her fathers absence.
Another excruciating wave rushed on her, much like the first that attacked while amongst her peers only worse. She ground her teeth and grew ferociously anxious, consumed with a blazing fire inside. She squirmed and whimpered in sheer agony.
After a few moments, the fires receded and her mother quickly attempted to explain over Thia’s panting, “The urge will keep
coming, more frequently and stronger than the last, until you change, Thia. Can you hear me? Do you understand?”
The old man standing behind her mother stepped forward to provide instruction, “It will take will and much strength to perform
the transformation. You must be focused.”
Even at that early age she had experienced enough to raise the question, why does everything in life seem to require exhausting amounts of mental focus and effort?
Her mother gave her hand a gentle squeezed and gestured to the man, “This is Nomad. He is going to help you through it.”
He moved closer and continued, “I know it hurts, but in time it will not once you’ve learned to master it. But for right now the only way to get it to stop is to change. Your body has been in man form for too long and wants its other form. It needsits other form.”
She remembered the tale of the one who didn’t, the one who failed to transform in time. The kinder and shorter versions simply persisted he became twisted and mad. They had to send him away, “Is it true?”
“Yes”, his short blunt answer frightened her but only for a short time before the next one took over.
Again and again she failed only getting so far as to get her eyes to change, but they wouldn’t stay. I can’t take it. It keeps getting worse. How long before I miss my last chance and lose my mind?
Nomad shook his head in disapproval. He firmly grabbed her arm and loudly instructed through the pain, “Do not hold it in.
Give way to the Phelidae in you. Set it free.”
Short tempered with pain she snapped at him, “What does that even MEAN?!” She didn’t mean to shout at her mother’s friend, but it hurt so badly and she had no patients for riddles. “how?” she managed to whisper before the it was upon her again.
Just then she noticed she held her breath every time they came. Could that be what he means? So this time she let out a blood curdling scream. Instantly she knew. Again it came harder and more painful and again she screamed holding nothing back. Before she knew it the scream that rang in her ears had turn into an earth quaking roar. The pain was gone and she felt free, freer than she’d ever felt before.
She took a deep long breath and everything was fresh and new. Her senses reared with delight. Her skin tingled with goose bumps, but kept so comfortably warm like she was wrapped in a soft blanket fresh from the dryer. When she opened her new eyes everything was sharper and brighter.
With a big warm smile and eyes full of tears, her mother stroked soft black and white fur and kissed her new wet nose.
It was a strange and slow start and but not difficult walking on all four legs. She looked down at them and wondered how she even had the strength to lift such paws so large. In fact, everything was much smaller now.
In a low and calm tone Nomad called to Thia “come”, and led her through the house to the front door.
When she got there Thia worried she might not fit through the door but Nomad urged her on. She stepped outside, closed her eyes and drew in the cool air. It blew through her fur fresh, full of countless new smells. When she opened her eyes only then she realized a small crowd had gathered in front of their house, no doubt curious about the screams.
All gasped in wonder at the sight of the new her.
After her mother followed them out beaming with pride, Nomad rang out, “I present to you the Phelidae Thia, reborn.”
Forgetting how they treated her before, all clapped and cheered at their new and youngest tiger.
Thia’s ear turned to where she heard an old woman whisper to another, “A white tiger. And look at the size of her! Rare in deed.”
The other answered back, “Just you watch, the other two are next.”
Looking back she wished her time had held out a little longer so she could’ve met her brothers before then. They would’ve been there for her. Everyone else, save her parents, she could care less about. They would only find a way to be mean anyway. Dae and Shai’s
time came a couple days after Thia’s. This only added to the suspicion that they were somehow connected.
If only they knew then, what they know now.
Copyright © 2012 by Shelia Weiss
She woke up in her bed with her mother by her side holding her hand and stroking the hair from her sweaty face. “Mother what happened? How did I get here? Am I sick?” She attends to me like I am.
“You are grown now, my dear Thia. It would seem your time has come, early as it may be.” She’d heard similar said to others before her, but for them the occasion was celebrated much like a birthday, inviting the whole village. This however, felt more like what she might imagine her last days would be like.
The first transformation took place when she was much too young to remember, only a baby and cub. But as the stories prophesized time and time again, she knew this one would be very different. This time she would remember…she had to remember. How could a thing be so dangerous and frightening and yet so rejoiced? But something was different for her version of the horror-filled stories she’d feared until now.
She blinked around her plain bedroom in a feverish dreamy state and found herself very much alone with the only friend she’d ever had, her mother, and an old man in a tattered hooded cloak who smelled like earth and tea. When she had witnessed the rite of passage for the others before her, they were always surrounded by well-wishers and showered in encouraging words and congratulations. Still it didn’t surprise nor disappoint her…at least not until she noticed her fathers absence.
Another excruciating wave rushed on her, much like the first that attacked while amongst her peers only worse. She ground her teeth and grew ferociously anxious, consumed with a blazing fire inside. She squirmed and whimpered in sheer agony.
After a few moments, the fires receded and her mother quickly attempted to explain over Thia’s panting, “The urge will keep
coming, more frequently and stronger than the last, until you change, Thia. Can you hear me? Do you understand?”
The old man standing behind her mother stepped forward to provide instruction, “It will take will and much strength to perform
the transformation. You must be focused.”
Even at that early age she had experienced enough to raise the question, why does everything in life seem to require exhausting amounts of mental focus and effort?
Her mother gave her hand a gentle squeezed and gestured to the man, “This is Nomad. He is going to help you through it.”
He moved closer and continued, “I know it hurts, but in time it will not once you’ve learned to master it. But for right now the only way to get it to stop is to change. Your body has been in man form for too long and wants its other form. It needsits other form.”
She remembered the tale of the one who didn’t, the one who failed to transform in time. The kinder and shorter versions simply persisted he became twisted and mad. They had to send him away, “Is it true?”
“Yes”, his short blunt answer frightened her but only for a short time before the next one took over.
Again and again she failed only getting so far as to get her eyes to change, but they wouldn’t stay. I can’t take it. It keeps getting worse. How long before I miss my last chance and lose my mind?
Nomad shook his head in disapproval. He firmly grabbed her arm and loudly instructed through the pain, “Do not hold it in.
Give way to the Phelidae in you. Set it free.”
Short tempered with pain she snapped at him, “What does that even MEAN?!” She didn’t mean to shout at her mother’s friend, but it hurt so badly and she had no patients for riddles. “how?” she managed to whisper before the it was upon her again.
Just then she noticed she held her breath every time they came. Could that be what he means? So this time she let out a blood curdling scream. Instantly she knew. Again it came harder and more painful and again she screamed holding nothing back. Before she knew it the scream that rang in her ears had turn into an earth quaking roar. The pain was gone and she felt free, freer than she’d ever felt before.
She took a deep long breath and everything was fresh and new. Her senses reared with delight. Her skin tingled with goose bumps, but kept so comfortably warm like she was wrapped in a soft blanket fresh from the dryer. When she opened her new eyes everything was sharper and brighter.
With a big warm smile and eyes full of tears, her mother stroked soft black and white fur and kissed her new wet nose.
It was a strange and slow start and but not difficult walking on all four legs. She looked down at them and wondered how she even had the strength to lift such paws so large. In fact, everything was much smaller now.
In a low and calm tone Nomad called to Thia “come”, and led her through the house to the front door.
When she got there Thia worried she might not fit through the door but Nomad urged her on. She stepped outside, closed her eyes and drew in the cool air. It blew through her fur fresh, full of countless new smells. When she opened her eyes only then she realized a small crowd had gathered in front of their house, no doubt curious about the screams.
All gasped in wonder at the sight of the new her.
After her mother followed them out beaming with pride, Nomad rang out, “I present to you the Phelidae Thia, reborn.”
Forgetting how they treated her before, all clapped and cheered at their new and youngest tiger.
Thia’s ear turned to where she heard an old woman whisper to another, “A white tiger. And look at the size of her! Rare in deed.”
The other answered back, “Just you watch, the other two are next.”
Looking back she wished her time had held out a little longer so she could’ve met her brothers before then. They would’ve been there for her. Everyone else, save her parents, she could care less about. They would only find a way to be mean anyway. Dae and Shai’s
time came a couple days after Thia’s. This only added to the suspicion that they were somehow connected.
If only they knew then, what they know now.
Copyright © 2012 by Shelia Weiss