"Why The Fuss" by Chris Yellow
When the earth trembles,
I picture eruptions and death.
The sound of sirens wakes me
in my repetitive drowsing!
And yet I am still here!
though surprising it may seem,
daring as it should sound
unprovable foretold premonition!
Would this be different?
Would now be indeed?
Could I tell the difference?
Or is this yet another dear
paranoia dance, that I shall
not engage, nor challenge!
-``So? Have you received it too?'' - His eyes screamed with anxiety.
-``Easy boy! Akita, my dear. What are you talking about?''
-``The letter! You haven't received the letter yet?'' - My heart skipped a bit and my stomach tightened.
-``What letter?''
-``Something about an assembly. It seems to be something quite unusual!''
-``What kind of assembly?''
-``They want to gather all students and two hours after have a meeting with our parents and other trainers.''
My eyes watered and I looked for my Dark Knight, who hadn't come to the extra classes before and showed no signs of coming anytime soon. It wasn't like him to miss the classes to remove doubts that would help us with the exams.
-``I don't like this! I don't like this one little bit! I have a feeling about this I can't explain. Have you seen Dark Knight?''
-``No! Why? Is he the reason you are feeling sick?'' - His pocking enquiry was covered in innocent mocking accusation. When I didn't reply ``Mind your business!'' or ``Who do you think I am? I have better taste than that!'' or ``Why? Would you care?'' he started to worry.
-``Oh, god! You are seriously nervous about this. I am sure it's nothing. There shouldn't be any major problem. Probably they want to create a referendum about something.''
-``I don't know! I think I know where he is. I will see you!''
-``You're leaving class? Now you got me worried.''
-``Don't be. I am just naïve and paranoid remember?'' - I smiled at him to reinforce my statement, but I knew that his laughter was still worried and not about the letter, which should be his concern right now. ``You're a nice friend, you know?''
-``That's all? I have been making pretty eyes to you all semester and I am a NICE friend?'' - He was laughing and I joined him before I left hurrying through the corridors.
I sprang to the floor as soon as I reached the forest, leaving my sneakers and backpack behind a tree. With my hands on the floor I pushed myself as fast as I could. I couldn't feel his presence until I started sensing the meadow. I relaxed my trot still running and started to absorb all else. The forest was dry and flowers spiced the air with pollen. The meadow was filled with wild cut grass and dirt, which freed an intense marshy smell. There was tension in the air, all the elite squad seemed to be here and the trainers too.
As soon as I could hear them I felt my Dark Knight mood change. He said something in his deepest voice and started walking towards my run. I came to a halt, considering this as a sign that he could already sense me somehow. He continued walking and I started walking to meet him. I sat on a tree root that fought its way out of the land only to engage in it again few centimeters apart. He joined me with a hurried worried smile.
-``What do you think you are doing here?''
-``What is that supposed to mean? Weren't you supposed to be else where?''
-``No! I was supposed to be exactly where I am! I am a wizard! '' - He was exhausted, but he smiled back at me.
-``I don't understand, you smelled anxious and nervous and now you just smell! There is something missing in the batman deodorant.''
He laughed and let his back relax against a tree trunk near me. - ``And you should never catch rain!''
-``Ya! 'cause I'm a dog. That's new!!!Refreshing even!''
-``You are such a frogette! Why are you here? If I could sense your smell three trees ago, I am sure your trainer will sense it too, when he has the time that is.''
-``I am pretty sure that is not what you call a female frog. Don't worry! He is still discussing with your trainer. They don't like each other very much, do they?''
-``It's a chick thing.''
-``What?''
-``Never mind. You haven't told me what you were doing here.''
-``Akita told me he received a letter and ever since I heard this meeting under the tomb stone I have been having these nightmares and then you didn't show up for classes and it all just stinks! Even more than you do right now and I just wanted to check that everything was ok with you'' - I was rambling focusing my eyes on my moving hands.
Then I faced him. His brows rose, his forehead craved and wrinkled. His exhaustion was pushed by a certain fear and distress. ``What the hell are you talking about?'' - I might have spoken faster than I thought, and on second though I shouldn't have talked of much of it at all. It is a good thing his Y-cromossome disables him to follow my speech speed.
-``Your face! That is why I am here!''
-``What!'' - he relaxed his face and forced his thick lips to a curve, but I still sensed his repressed stress.
-``You can't fool a dog with a smile. You stink of distress! You were edgy during the dance and now I am sure something is wrong, without all those perfumes striking my nose.'' - My tongue fell down my lower lip in disgust and I realized it was reaching almost the end of my chin. I caressed the grass under my bare toes and it made sense. I was phased since the moment I entered the forest and ashamed I transformed back as fast as I could, but being this angry and nervous did not help. I first thanked heaven for the super stretchy cloths that I was introduced to in the beginning of the gym semester, but now I don't feel suppression from the fabric and I don't notice so well when I transform.
-``You can't help. You can do some damage though. If I am caught cutting some slack to talk to a mutt, my trainer will tighten my leash.''
-``Nice.''
-``You know what I mean, you frogette! I am not missing classes I am having extra training. And I received the same letter you did, and I don't like it one bit.''
-``What is this all about?'' - I looked beyond the trees that kept me hidden from the meadow and controlled my breathing so I could try again to phase back.
-``It's none of your business! Why don't you stop sticking your nose around the squad? You can really get into trouble if you start a fuss''
My hands started shaking. - ``You're not helping! Let me breath!'' - I closed my eyes and breathed deep. When my eyes opened I could see his dark face beaten by sorrow, the anxiety was still there. In a way I now knew he couldn't tell nor could I help and also that he wanted to help me too. That ought to be enough for now.
-``Please take it easy with these guys. Something bad is going to happen and I don't think anybody who is involved will have an easy job.''
He laughed loudly. - ``you already know more than I do, don't you? How can you tell my mood so well?''
-``It's my mutt instinct. I know you pretty well, so I can tell everything from your body functions regularity to your hormones and your feelings. Transformed I am starting to distinguish you half way from the beginning of the forest, and I can hear and sense everyone in the meadow. It's growing into me. I wouldn't mind it if it weren't for all the hair.''
-``I like it! You look soft and furry! Luxurious blond, what shampoo do you use?'' - He used a female voice and battered his long lashes, his deep brown eyes shining.
-``I'll tell you the furry! If you had all this hair coming out of you you would freak out too. Besides I wasn't going for the pet look.''
-``Shouldn't have been a dog!'' - We both laughed and now the relaxation and easiness was legitimate.
-``I'll go before I cause you any trouble, but you have to tell me if something is wrong with you! I can help, I know I can. At least I can hear and give constructive and didactic criticism!''
-``Get out of here you frogette!'' - He laughed hard and relaxed his muscles."
- ``Now seriously, I can at least make you smile."
As I moved back I closed my eyes to try to guide myself through the forest without light without transforming back to a oversized wolf. It worked wonders. I could smell everything more or less precisely and I could hear all the noises of the forest.
-``You kidding me? You can't do this!'' - my trainer's voice echoed hysterical through the threes.
-``Do what? Are you accusing me of something?'' - The bat trainer followed smoothly and harder to hear.
-``I don't care if you are going around the minister, to get what you want! But to organize a mutiny is too far!!! you're going too far! I will get your job for this!''
-``You can't prove any of your conspiracy theories! Let me train my men and leave me alone!''