Summer 71, 517 AV
Fear was worse than the pain. Especially since she did not want to admit to her own anxieties regarding the situation. No one would storm her house. No one would storm Clyde Sullins’s house… would they? With two good arms, she could still be a fearsome opponent, even if they were both her lefts. But every night she slept with at least a couple daggers at her hip and one or two more under her pillow. If they came at her one at a time, she’d easily outmatch them. But if they used the ploy of surprise and numbers… She deigned not to think about it.
Her second, and more immediate obstacle was the boredom that awaited her daily. Shiress had advised her to get lots of rest, but one could only sleep so many bells in a day, right? She didn’t dare go outside just yet. Not in her current condition. So all that remained was… The Eypharian let out a long sigh feeling at a loss. Especially since she had sent out Shiress for some errands. But in the next tick, she sat suddenly as if struck by flash of insight from some god. The movement caused an equally startling pain in her injured wrist and she winced before curling her lips into a smile. She had work to do. Work that involved getting better at morphing.
For the past few days, not only was her body broken but her spirit was too. With Clyde not around, she felt it even more profoundly. Yet now she found the remedy for one, and possibly the other. In the back of her mind, she didn’t want to lay too many hopes as if it would work. Could morphing heal? Regardless, if she could learn how to change her shape, she might be able to completely and seamlessly pass as a human.
Part of her was revolted in her desire to truly appear as a human in both shape and form, whereas a louder and more insistent part of her wished to truly fit in and cease the glares and daily harassment.
The Eypharian made herself more comfortable in her seated position on the bed. This time she was more careful to keep from bumping or straining her injuries. It had been a long time since she had last tried morphing. Two seasons ago? At the time she had seen its uses and thought she would become proficient with it. Yet she hadn’t practiced once since the time of her initiation.
Taking in a deep breath, she closed her eyes to calm her mind. Last time she had needed days of fasting. She had bloody well not need that this time. Otherwise she’d be bedridden for the rest of the season. If nothing else, Sayana distinctly remembered Riyanna’s cautionary words. Don’t change into something silly, or you might stay that way for the rest of your life. Or something along those lines.
Sayana now stopped to look critically at her body. Or at least what was within eyesight and easy reach. She needed something she could safely morph that wasn’t too hard and wouldn’t be a huge detriment if something went wrong. She was certainly not confident in her abilities, not at the moment, but only practice could help her with that. Or a teacher she did not have.
Breathing in deep, this time to calm her nerves, she held up her two left hands of her uninjured arms. The irony of messing up her only two good arms was almost too great, but she convinced herself that if the change was small enough the risk would also be low enough. Her nails. It was simple, small, and they grew naturally. She inspected those of her left mid, and cleared out the dirt from under some of them. Generally she looked after them, but they could be smoother and longer.
The Eypharian rubbed her fingers over the tips of her nails and focused on feeling and understanding the material. Riyanna had said anything naturally occurring in plants or animals could be used. She identified the natural curve of the finger nail as it went over her thumb, and also the curve at its tip. She’d have to be sure that both were maintained as she lengthened the nail.
Sayana concentrated on bringing her djed to the localized area of her fingertips. First she would do her thumb, as it was larger and likely easier to manipulate. Using her fingers on her low left, she rubbed them over her thumb again and again as if drawing the nail out. At the same time, she tried to isolate her mind from body. In this detached state, she willed her body to change, to become elastic, and to morph from the administrations she was applying.
She could feel the tingling of djed on her thumb and ever so slowly her nail became malleable. Like some sort of dough or dense clay, it softened and she could start pushing and pulling at it. Drawing out her nail slowly, and pulling gently with her fingers, she concentrated on her djed and gathered it in the near vicinity. Pinching tenderly, she made sure that the natural curve was maintained, although it was slightly lopsided with her efforts. Then patting the tip, she formed the other curve.
One fingernail done, four more to go.
Fear was worse than the pain. Especially since she did not want to admit to her own anxieties regarding the situation. No one would storm her house. No one would storm Clyde Sullins’s house… would they? With two good arms, she could still be a fearsome opponent, even if they were both her lefts. But every night she slept with at least a couple daggers at her hip and one or two more under her pillow. If they came at her one at a time, she’d easily outmatch them. But if they used the ploy of surprise and numbers… She deigned not to think about it.
Her second, and more immediate obstacle was the boredom that awaited her daily. Shiress had advised her to get lots of rest, but one could only sleep so many bells in a day, right? She didn’t dare go outside just yet. Not in her current condition. So all that remained was… The Eypharian let out a long sigh feeling at a loss. Especially since she had sent out Shiress for some errands. But in the next tick, she sat suddenly as if struck by flash of insight from some god. The movement caused an equally startling pain in her injured wrist and she winced before curling her lips into a smile. She had work to do. Work that involved getting better at morphing.
For the past few days, not only was her body broken but her spirit was too. With Clyde not around, she felt it even more profoundly. Yet now she found the remedy for one, and possibly the other. In the back of her mind, she didn’t want to lay too many hopes as if it would work. Could morphing heal? Regardless, if she could learn how to change her shape, she might be able to completely and seamlessly pass as a human.
Part of her was revolted in her desire to truly appear as a human in both shape and form, whereas a louder and more insistent part of her wished to truly fit in and cease the glares and daily harassment.
The Eypharian made herself more comfortable in her seated position on the bed. This time she was more careful to keep from bumping or straining her injuries. It had been a long time since she had last tried morphing. Two seasons ago? At the time she had seen its uses and thought she would become proficient with it. Yet she hadn’t practiced once since the time of her initiation.
Taking in a deep breath, she closed her eyes to calm her mind. Last time she had needed days of fasting. She had bloody well not need that this time. Otherwise she’d be bedridden for the rest of the season. If nothing else, Sayana distinctly remembered Riyanna’s cautionary words. Don’t change into something silly, or you might stay that way for the rest of your life. Or something along those lines.
Sayana now stopped to look critically at her body. Or at least what was within eyesight and easy reach. She needed something she could safely morph that wasn’t too hard and wouldn’t be a huge detriment if something went wrong. She was certainly not confident in her abilities, not at the moment, but only practice could help her with that. Or a teacher she did not have.
Breathing in deep, this time to calm her nerves, she held up her two left hands of her uninjured arms. The irony of messing up her only two good arms was almost too great, but she convinced herself that if the change was small enough the risk would also be low enough. Her nails. It was simple, small, and they grew naturally. She inspected those of her left mid, and cleared out the dirt from under some of them. Generally she looked after them, but they could be smoother and longer.
The Eypharian rubbed her fingers over the tips of her nails and focused on feeling and understanding the material. Riyanna had said anything naturally occurring in plants or animals could be used. She identified the natural curve of the finger nail as it went over her thumb, and also the curve at its tip. She’d have to be sure that both were maintained as she lengthened the nail.
Sayana concentrated on bringing her djed to the localized area of her fingertips. First she would do her thumb, as it was larger and likely easier to manipulate. Using her fingers on her low left, she rubbed them over her thumb again and again as if drawing the nail out. At the same time, she tried to isolate her mind from body. In this detached state, she willed her body to change, to become elastic, and to morph from the administrations she was applying.
She could feel the tingling of djed on her thumb and ever so slowly her nail became malleable. Like some sort of dough or dense clay, it softened and she could start pushing and pulling at it. Drawing out her nail slowly, and pulling gently with her fingers, she concentrated on her djed and gathered it in the near vicinity. Pinching tenderly, she made sure that the natural curve was maintained, although it was slightly lopsided with her efforts. Then patting the tip, she formed the other curve.
One fingernail done, four more to go.
Credit: Shimoje
