How Free Energy Came to Talbot's Peak

Pic from ~ animals.desktopnexus.com ~

Tuesday howls and yowls, shapeshifter lovers.

Given I'm on the edge of letting my eyelids slip shut, without further adieu, here's my first flash scene for the windy, already tornadic month of March. Special blessings to everyone affected by these horror storms.
~~~~~~

How Free Energy Came to Talbot's Peak

It was her business, her only business -- breaking the innocent out of prison, then finding them a safe place to live.

Khyffa stood on the mountain ledge high above the enormous prison compound. Storm winds whipped around her slight frame staving off some of the unpleasant smells now assaulting her nostrils. Lasering her gaze through the darkness of night, she searched for the exact location of the man she was about to rescue.

An inventor of a free energy device, Destoiyov had been forced into his current circumstances on the usual trumped up charges. He'd refused to be bought off, only wanting to share his invention with those who most needed it.

Having thoroughly studied Destoiyov's file ether-sent to her crystalline tablet from her contact at COSMOZ -- a dragon shapeshifter who headed up their league of 'mythical and legendary' beasts -- Khyffa knew the young inventor had been directly threatened by thug-minions of the ruthless Controllers.

He'd been told if he didn't shut up permanently his mother and sister would be taking a permanent dive off the balcony of their sixth floor apartment in Miami, Florida. Given they were dolphin shapeshifters, their ancestors from the time of Poseidon, the dive might not have been a problem. However, the injected toxin paralyzing their lungs would guarantee they'd be sleeping with the fishies.

Khyffa sniffed the winds as she released her wings, immense, black feathered affairs that could bear the weight of her equine body. She allowed her shift to be painstakingly slow. Khyffa knew she would require every last ounce of her flying speed and strength this night.

Spreading her wings to catch the lift of the strong swirling winds, she judged the power of the incoming storm first, then launched off the ledge. Once again, the glorious feeling of flight spun through her, ephemeral, and yet so beautifully fierce.

Khyffa soared on a down draft, the back and forth sweep of her wings guiding her toward one of the center cell blocks. Usually her appearance so stunned the guards, they didn't fire their weapons -- instead engaging in an internal debate about the state of their sanity. Regardless, her kind owned a natural field that would deflect the bullets.

Closing in on the prison roof, Khyffa tightened her wings like a swooping predator. Moments later, she flicked her tail to slightly alter her trajectory, then streaked toward the cell that imprisoned Destoiyov.

****

Crossing his arms, Destoiyov locked them across his chest. With depression his only companion, he slumped against one corner of the disgusting prison cell. It was a damn good thing... maybe... that he'd inherited a strong human side as a dolphin shapeshifter, or the lack of ocean water would have likely meant his untimely death.

Something kept him awake. Tonight it wasn't the ugly cacophony of snores echoing through the prison or his restless need to swim, to soar through the water's silkiness, wild, free, with an endless beauty before him.

A sudden blast of white fiery light caused Desz to instinctively shield his eyes with one arm. But the rush of wind against the entire length of his body made him to open them fast. After moments of blindness, he blinked not believing the vision before him.

A Pegasus? Here? Oh, he knew, or he'd been told they still existed... but living in the modern western world... well, he'd never seen one before... and... Desz slowly lowered his arm with the thought that he was actually asleep and dreaming.

But why was the majestic gorgeous creature staring at him, then tossing it's muzzle toward it's back like an invitation. Even the amazing, huge black wings were lowered so he could simply leap astride.

Well damn if this was a dream, why not? As if he'd suddenly sprouted wings instead of fins, Desz ran several steps, grabbed a hank of the Pegasus' silver-white mane, and mounted.

So you're not a fool, he heard in his mind, even as the creature backed up swiftly, spun on its hind hooves, and sprang through the large hole in the outer wall. Within an instant, they sailed into the night sky.

Hang onto the collar handles. With his stomach threatening to lodge in his throat, Desz seized the stiff leather loops.

Good boy. We have a long flight ahead. On either side of Desz, the Pegasus powerfully flapped its moon-glistening wings. In the back of his mind, he realized the storm that had been forecast for the early morning hours hadn't arrived. Yet he could smell the ozone and the winds buffeted him.

Looking downward, Desz gulped repeatedly. He heard faint shouts, then the spotlights blazed, followed by the alarm system. The sound wailed around him like a group of giant cats who screeched because their tails had been stepped on by Goliath.

Don't look down. The Pegasus' definitely feminine voice sarcastically filled his head.

Right, he answered. Won't look down.

They soared higher above the prison, and the Pegasus' long arcing path took them away from the mountainside, and toward a long stretch of farmland. Desz only knew about the lay of the land because of the bus ride to the prison.

What if they send drones after us? He thought to ask, having witnessed a recent demonstration at the prison. Afterward, he'd been coerced into agreeing to work on a free energy cell small enough to power the drone. Now... maybe, that nightmare was over.

Such machines mean nothing to me. We are safe for now.

For now?

Do you know about Talbot's Peak, Montana?

A shapeshifter haven, Desz tentatively answered, having only encountered a couple of rumors while swimming as dolphin, and speaking with the members of other pods.

Yes. You will be free to make your free energy devices there.

Desz could hardly believe his... his inner mental ears. Really?

Promise me you will distribute them to everyone who wants them, and I will make certain the components and materials are available.

Thrown for a loop, and not the kind of loop he playfully performed on the sunny surface of the ocean, Desz hesitated. But what did he have to lose? He was astride a female Pegasus who looked like the most beautiful dream. Plus, she was offering to make his dream come true.

I promise.

~~~~~~

~ Have a Magickal Shapeshifting Month of March ~

Savanna

Savanna Kougar ~ Run on the Wild Side of Romance ~
~~~

Nessie to the Rescue

Full Moon in Scorpio howls and yowls, shapeshifter lovers. What strange times we live in. If someone had written a novel just ten years ago about ALL the events taking place now... well, I doubt it would have sold because the manuscript would have been considered too laughably, outrageously ridiculous.

On the author front, I just finished filling out the cover art questionnaire for KANDY APPLE AND HER HELLHOUNDS. The marvelous and amazing Amanda Kelsey of Razzle Dazzle Design will be the cover artist, and I’m already atingle with anticipation.
~~~

My flash is a continuation of Serena Shay's post on Friday, May 13, 2011, titled:

Friday the Thirteenth Strikes Again - Those Dang Tunnels

~~~~~~

Nessie to the Rescue

The instant Sivakka sensed the little dolphin's interest in her Nessie kind, she realized the brainy creature wasn't using her 'sea street' smarts. Nearly dropping the tankard of ale she was about to serve, Sivakka plunked her tray on the table.

Whirling around, she ran pell-mell for the backdoor entrance to the underground tavern. Her boot heels clicked fast and loud as she elbowed her way through the arriving shifter crowd.

"Emergency!" she shouted to Alexos, Dante's alpha manager. In moments Sivakka raced toward the tunnel that led to her lake.

When she'd first explored the enormous lake, mostly hidden by cliffs that formed a natural archway, Sivakka had discovered the underwater cave. Unbearably intrigued by a large crack in the cave’s floor, she’d managed to wind her long sleek body through, far enough, to taste sea water.

Seeing where the rock ledge ended, Sivakka had angled her head enough to get a glimpse of the ocean currents. At that point, she’d checked her impulse, wanting to find out more before diving into unfamiliar waters.

Rapidly shedding her serving wench’s outfit, Sivakka waded into the shallow water as she initiated her transformation. Her body responded to the silky cold feel of the water, and with a minimum of pain she elongated, her flesh becoming elastic. Fully shifted, she sped through the lake on the driving strength of her four flippers.

Entering the cave, Sivakka squirmed through the opening, and dropped into the ocean channel. Heedless of the other behemoths that could be lurking, she beamed her eyes.

Pulling great drafts of the wet salty air into her lungs, she honed in on the trapped dolphin. Sivakka streamlined her body, and with her flippers nearly spinning, she skimmed over the ocean’s surface, more buoyant than the Atlantic.

Hold on...hold on, she chanted. I’m coming...I’m coming, little one. Sivakka’s internal radar surrounded her, and so far, there were no warning pings.

Schools of fish in brilliant neon colors parted before her, and she caught the faint scent of other Prehistorics, as they were called by her Nessie shifter community. With the close-to-drowning dolphin now on her radar, Sivakka shot toward her, and realized she was also a shapeshifter.

Knowing she would likely terrify the dolphin woman, Sivakka snapped open her mouth. With no other choice, she lunged as if she was about to make a snack out of the hapless shifter. Instead, she sliced through the fine nylon net, using her front teeth like one-sided razor blades.

As the dolphin woman began to sink because of her exhaustion, and her lack of oxygen, Sivakka dived her head, lifting the beautiful creature above the water. In the next instant, she heard a ping that sent shivers of dread racing through her.

The super submarine belonged to a cabal of humanoids who knew about her Loch Ness kind. They wouldn’t hesitate to hunt her down, then enslave her to do their vile bidding. With jolts of fear slithering along the length of her tail, Sivakka remembered her grandfather’s instructions.

Not hesitating, she tossed the dolphin into the air, then caught her. Sivakka wrapped her tongue around the listless dolphin woman to keep her safe from her rows of sharp teeth. Lights out, she reminded herself, and un-beamed her eyes.

Slipping beneath the black ocean, lit only by luminous sea creatures, Sivakka glided away from the sub’s approach. With only her head above the water, she silently propelled herself in the direction she’d come.

Even though the going was slow, and she had to painstakingly skirt the super-tech sub while making her tail act like an eel, Sivakka finally sighted the rock drop-off into the underground ocean. Uncurling her tongue, she freed the dolphin woman, then nudged her into the opening.

As Sivakka began to writhe through the crack in the cave floor, spikes of pain stuck her haunches. The laser strikes were meant to stun her into helplessness. Instead, adrenalin streaked through her, and Sivakka surged inside the cave.

Relieved at her escape, she whipped around to watch for a tracker probe. Nothing emerged through the opening, and Sivakka nosed several boulders toward it. That is, until she decided it might be crucial to other species.

Rolling her entire body, she came face to face with the little dolphin, who gazed at her curiously with one bright eye. For long moments they simply studied one another. Slightly moving her head, Sivakka indicated they should surface.

Hoping the dolphin woman would follow her lead, Sivakka swam toward the cave’s entrance. Once outside, the two of them cruised upward and broke the lake’s surface. The last rays from the sun glinted on the dark rippling water.

Finley Fairaday, Sivakka mind-heard. My name. You’re a real Loch Ness monster.

I am real. My name is Sivakka. Are you well?

I need to shift, then I will heal. You’re bleeding, Sivakka.

We can shift soon, Finley. Once we reach shore. I live with other shapeshifters. We will be safe.

Suddenly, unexpectedly, drained of her energy, Sivakka struggled to make it to her tunnel. When her flippers touched bottom, she desperately morphed to human. Crawling onto land, she collapsed.

The last thing she knew cool hands stroked her hip, and she heard a low musical humming.

~~~~~~

Happy Full Moon Shapeshifting

Savanna

Savanna Kougar ~ Run on the Wild Side of Romance ~