The Guardian Shape-shifter

A strange figure trudged onwards through the rain, either uncaring or not noticing if it got wet. The figure paused suddenly, staring at a sign above it. Shrugging, it turned and entered the building. The figure found itself in a library, it paused and a pair of hands came up to remove the wet hood from its head, revealing the figure to be a human male.

He was a thin but well built man of around twenty, his mocha colored skin shone softly in the light, damp from the rain. The man brushed a hand over his copper colored hair. He peered around the library, his silver cat-pupil eyes taking everything in.

Noticing him, the librarian called out. “Can I help you?”

The figure shook his head, walking to inspect a nearby bookcase.

“Call if you need anything.” The librarian said to the retreating figure.

The man sighed through his nose, fingering a bone-white scar along his neck, wishing he could call out to others.

*flashback*

“Sir? Are you sure we're ding the right thing?”

“Soldier? Are you loyal to your country?”

“Of course sir!”

“Would you protect her with all your might, even if it means doing some unsavory things?”

“Yes sir!”

“Then do as I ordered soldier!”

“SIR YES SIR!”

The general watched as the soldier entered the room with a small six-year old boy in it. The general sighed, he didn't like what had to happen, but it was for the greater good.

The soldier stood before the child, taking in the young one's details. Mocha skin, raven-black hair, and sapphire eyes. The soldier gently took the child's arm, pulling forth a needle. “I'm sorry.” he said to the child.

“What for?” The child replied.

The soldier didn't reply, instead he stuck the needle into the child's arm and depressed the plunger.

The child yawned and his eyes closed as the soporific medicine took effect.

The soldier lifted the sleeping child in his arms and placed him on the table, strapping down the youngling's arms and legs.

Within a few moments, doctors entered the room, carrying tools of surgery.

“Begin the procedure.”

“Sir, are you sure we have to remove his vocal chords?”

“Yes.”

*End flashback*

The man sighed again, clenching his fists. He raised one, watching as the flesh shifted and changed into something else; a claw.

He knew that this ability of his was because of what those soldier did to him nearly fourteen years ago. After he had woken, he had discovered is lack of speech, and the surprise had caused him to change into something else. From then on the general forced him to train, ordering him to read books of strategy and animals. The general wanted him to use this ability of his for the good of America.

The boy complied for twelve years, until one day the general pleased with this project had unknowingly left the speaker system on when he ordered armed soldier to destroy him. The young man knew he had to escape he didn't want to die, so he used his knowledge of animals and his rather vivid imagination to become something terrible, an amalgamation of various strengths of the biggest, toughest animals he had read about or could imagine.

The man smiled, remembering the freedom he had felt when he first felt the rays of the sun on his skin, the whisper of wind in his hair. He shook his head, freeing himself from the web of memories. His mercurial-silver eyes glanced along the shelves of the library until he noticed something strange, something that set his slightly heightened sense on edge. It was a book, a plain green colored book, but something about this book was making him uneasy, yet curious.

His hand reached up and brought to book before him. The book looked fairly new, its cover unsullied by dust or other hands. On the cover was a strange figure, an equine shaped being with wings and horn. Curious the human opened the book and was surprised to find a strange language within.

He almost dropped the book when a voice entered his mind.

“Curious, you have seen my vessel. Do you know how long it has been since another has seen this book? Nearly a thousand years.” The voice sighed, sounding both sad and happy at once. “You humans, you are so curious. You are a living hypocrisy, both peaceful and warlike. Kind, and brutal. I am dying human, and the one thing I regret is not being able to see my home before I pass. I can see the memories within your mind. Such terrible things to happen to such a kind human, yet you do not wish revenge nor do you feel obligated to commit evil for the slights done to you. I can make you an offer human, if you wish I can give you a second life, a way to live out your life in peace without those of your military chasing you. If you accept my offer I will use the last of my strength to open a portal to my home, make no mistake, if you choose this there is no going back.”

The human thought for a moment, considering his options. He truly wanted a chance to live in peace, but he also wanted to keep his power, just in case.

“I see you have decided. I thank you human, with your help I can return home after so long. I would have done this to myself, but the spell requires a conduit, and this vessel could never have worked.”

The books pages rustled and swirled as if in an invisible breeze. The pages froze as they came upon an image of an intricate runic circle, emblazoned with symbols the human couldn't understand.

“Prepare, human. We go now.”

With an eerie howling and sourceless wind a shimmering rip slowly began to form before him. Behind him, the human heard a scream, knowing he was spotted, he leaped into the portal, taking the book with him.

The human forced his eyes shut, feeling nauseas at the plethora of swirling colors before him, several of which he had no name for. Then another rip formed before him and he felt himself move through it.

He fell to the ground feeling rough grass and soil beneath him.

“Thank you, human. You have no idea how glad I am to see my home again. I am glad to have passed away in my homeland. Farewell human.”

The human opened his eyes in time to see the strange book aging more than a thousand years in a few second. Pages yellowed, the cover cracked, and finally the book decayed into dust. As the dust blew off him in a gentle breeze he could have sworn he heard the voice one last time. “Good luck, human.”

The human stood up, dusting himself off. He looked around seeing a large, dark forest surrounding him. His thoughts swirled in his mind, centering on one thing, “I'm free.” He smiled, leaping into the air and pumping his fists.  He had  new life, one where he could live and be free. He decided he needed a new name, his last would not suit in his new home. He thought of everything he knew, and decided that here, he was somewhat of an unknown. Zero, that would be his name, it would remind him of the things done to him in the past, and to never let anything like that happen to himself again, and if he made any friends here, he would protect them too.

With that mindset, he shifted into an eagle and flew off into the sky.