You were close before. All you have to do is stop your forward movement when you grab onto the branch, Shiners said. He took to the air and flew over to a tree a few feet away. He slowed his movement by flapping a few times before leaning back and gently perching himself on the branch. He turned back to me and nodded. Like that, Remember to start with a run. I know it may be hard in the snow, but you can do it.

Giving a sigh, I looked up at the branch. It looked so far and high off the ground. But I knew those were just my human instincts. I clawed at the snow with my talons and found walking wasn’t too hard, it just took some practice. Taking a deep breath, I spread my wings and skip-ran with flaps of my wings. It was a bizarre sensation, as the way an eagle runs was so different from the human way.

I was soon in the air and flying in the direction of the tree. Nearing the branch, I realized that my aim was a little off and I would overshoot it. I panicked about my ability to turn to fix my aim. So I aborted the landing in the tree and glided back to the ground, with a couple of backflaps I slowed my flight enough to land safely. I reached out with my talons to touch the ground, only to realize I pulled back too soon and fall the last few inches to the ground with a slight grunt. Thankfully, the snow cushioned me from being injured.

Turning back around, I glared at the tree I'd hoped to land in. I grumbled, This was so much easier when I thought it was a dream. Now all I can think of is how it could go wrong.

Shiners gave a kaw while he tilted his head at me. Don’t think about it too hard, you’re an eagle now, you should know by instinct how to do it. It’s your old human self that's confused. Once you're in the tree we can talk and figure out what to do next.

I took a deep breath and my heart rate slowed enough for me to think straight. I narrowed my eyes and focused on the branch above me. It was like my vision zoomed in for a second.

Running forward while flapping my wings, I managed to take to the air again. This time I tried to let my instincts guide me while adjusting only as needed. I flew straight over to the branch and managed to slow my momentum with a few flaps, carefully landing upon the branch. My talons gripped it, and I folded my wings along my back.

Gripping the branch felt odd. I was using my foot in a way that wasn't possible as a human and it made me feel slightly off balance. After a few moments, the sensations started to go away as I got used to the feel of the bark under my feet and realized how well it kept me balanced.

I turned at the sound of wings beating against the air, Shiners landed next to me.

See, so much better, isn’t it? You will learn within a short time I bet, and it'll become as natural as breathing.

I nodded as I tried to smile, but it didn't work so well with a beak. I sure hope so. It felt nice to fly there, though I haven’t had a chance to truly experience it without something else on my mind.

I took a moment to collect my thoughts. I’ve been feeling for a while that there was someone nearby calling to me, trying to get my attention, that it would change my destiny. Was that you?

He laughed. Most likely it was. I sensed that you were different. I kept nearby and then over the last few days you changed. You started to feel more animal. I even watched you play hide and seek the other day. He stopped and took a deep breath. I finally got the courage to speak to you down at the beach. Although I kinda panicked at the last minute after talking. How would you react to me, would it freak you out?

Thinking back to the other night, I nodded. Yeah, it was an odd event meeting you, but I likely wouldn’t have been ready for a talking raven then. I also assume that was you last night pretending to be a squirrel?

He gave what I would have described as a smirk even with the beak. Sorry about that, but I was a bit worried you might try to eat or kill it. You're hardly equipped to do so and might have gotten hurt.

The thought of that hurt my head. I could imagine what would have happened. I would probably have gotten indigestion, or a face full of claws. There was no way it would have turned out well, at best I would have felt embarrassed. I gave him a quick nod. Well, that's in the past…and hopefully someday in the future. Though, now the idea of a squirrel sounds rather appealing to me. I guess I’m going to have to figure out what to eat. I left a sandwich back at the fort…though I don’t know if it has any meat. Heck, not even sure what an eagle should avoid.

You’re a short way from the fort. You flew for a few minutes before you did your 'graceful' landing. He teased; But I know where it is, If you feel up for it, I could help you fly there.

That didn't sound like a bad idea. We're still going to have to figure out how to handle my parents. I hope they'll understand. I frowned. I had been trying to not think about my situation. But covered in snow as I was, with the wind blowing past me, it reminded me that I wasn’t going to be spending a nice warm evening at home tonight. And depending on my luck, it might be a while before I got the chance again.

I looked back at Shiners. Anything else I should know about flying before we leave? The last thing I want is to have something go wrong mid-flight.

My best tip is to remember you can glide. If you start to have any problems try to land in a tree or on the ground. Your wings are your best asset. Shiners spread his wings as if to emphasize the point, Never forget that you're now an eagle.

I spread my wings again and relaxed. I was getting tired, but I also felt hungry and I wasn’t sure how well I would sleep without eating. I nodded to him. Sure, lead on.

We took to the air. The flight was still nerve-wracking, but more stable. The air billowed through my feathers causing a sensation of elation. It felt so natural to me. It was everything I had ever dreamed that It'd be, and far more. Would it be so bad if I was stuck this way forever? Sure I would rather be able to turn human from time to time, but I loved the freedom.

One thing that was on my mind now that I had time to think about it was where was the desire to change? When I really thought hard about it, I could sense it. But it was like it had become sated. That whatever had pushed me to turn into a panther was content. Maybe it was the fact that I finally shapeshifted. Though that brought up the issue of whether I could shapeshift without that drive pushing me. I would have to figure that out after I ate and slept.

I glanced over towards Shiners. How should we break this to my parents and sister? I'm not sure they would understand. Yes you can speak for me...but I'm unsure if they will accept.

You could tell someone else, what about one of your friends? Charlie seems a nice guy. I could speak for him and talk to him about you.

I nodded back to Shiners. I guess, just worried I guess. I stopped talking and just focused on what was below me.

I watched the trees below me as we passed by, seeing the occasional rabbit and a deer. My instincts told me to try to catch the rabbit. I felt my talons tighten at the thought of swooping down and grabbing it, pulling on its neck with my beak and eating. But before I could act on it, it was already out of sight. I soon focused my vision forward to where the sun was disappearing behind the mountains. This was a view of the sunset that I had only ever seen from a plane. But being there under my own power was so much more exciting and wonderful. I wished that I could share this with my friends or even my family, let them view what I could now see.

But soon our flight ended as the fort came into view off in the distance. Shiners descended and I did my best to follow. I had to make a few more flaps to slow my descent and flying than he did. I soon realized the hardest part was coming. How do I fly through a small window. The thoughts of smacking into the wall went through my mind.

You can do this. Just relax and calm down. As you land fold your wings along your side to avoid risking injury, like this. As he said that he flew down and landed upon the window without any trouble.

Fighting the trepidation I felt in my heart. I swooped down towards the window and pulled back. I grasped it with my talons before folding my wings along my back just in time. I felt the lightest of brush against my feathers as they were pressed against the window frame.

With a sigh of relief, I dropped the short distance to the ground of the fort and started to walk where Shiners was standing, though it ended up a bit more hopping then walking.

Well well, look at this, Shiners said as he pointed to something he partly blocked from my view.

Moving past him, I found what had caught his attention, and it shocked and confused me. It took me a moment to realize what I saw was real. I was staring at a plate where I had left my backpack the night before. On it was what looked like ground beef with the words, “Don’t worry about your parents. I told them you were staying with me. I thought you might be hungry so left this.” written on a note next to it. The note was signed Charlie.