I woke before sunset. Gunnar was still quite literally dead to the world. He looked so sweet and innocent. I decided to get up and look round my new surroundings to explore my new world. The TV was still on the blue channel so I could easily see my way. I just had to get untangled from Gunnar. I don't know why, I knew that I couldn't wake him up, but I still feared my movements will disturb him. He looked so young and relaxed like this. His body temperature was slightly warmer than before and now he had more color to his complexion. He was beautiful before, but now he was absolutely gorgeous.
I wiggled out from underneath him and crawled down the high bed we were on. I looked around and noticed the room we were in wasn't square, but was odd shaped: there were no windows and there were only two doors both made of rusted steel. Our room wasn't decorated and had a nasty old smell to it. Red brick walls and cold cement floors, our bed, and the TV was all I could see.
I decided to check out the door closest to where I was standing, since it was ajar. I grabbed a hold of the door handle and nothing happened. The door seemed to be stuck and wouldn't budge. So I grabbed on to the door itself and put as much muscle into opening it as I could. The door whined and groaned loudly. I cautiously looked over to where Gunnar was as I was worried about waking him. I knew subconsciously that until the sun went down he wasn't going to move, but the act itself was involuntary.
The door opened finally but I saw nothing until my eyes finally adjusted to the lack of a light source. I hesitantly walked into the room not knowing what to expect when I stepped on something hard. This was different than the cement I had been walking on. It gave way slightly and low level lights came on lighting the back of the room. There really wasn't much to see – it was a skinny room with no decorations, no windows, it was made of red brick and cement, and a shower head at the very back of the room with a drain under it. I was kind of disappointed, but I was sure there was more to explore elsewhere.
I walked out of that room and went through the other door I had seen. Again I was cautious not knowing what to expect. This door opened much easier than the first. Come to think of it, I am pretty sure this was the door Gunnar had come through last night after spending time with some two-bit, give it up to some guy she just met....ok those thoughts were very un-angelic, but in my defense, I have never ever felt jealousy before and I did not like the way it was making me feel at that moment.
I couldn't blame her; he was gorgeous, and I couldn't blame him as he had starved himself. I tried to center myself. I tried to calm myself. He crawled in bed with me, I am his future mate. He did what he did so he could be with me. There was no reason to be jealous. Right? Why was this eating at me?
The room I walked into was small, but square with nothing in it, but another door directly across from the one I just came through, so I walked out of it. Anticipation for what I could possibly find was immense. I don't know what I was expecting. I found a small hallway. The floor was littered with broken cement, bricks, and dirt. I could see natural light so I ran towards it.
There were passageways but all opened to the outside. It looked to be Rome maybe, but there were no red bricks in Rome as far as I remembered. We seemed to be in ruins of some kind though. I walked to the sun and found brush and more ruins. I could smell salt water, rust, some decay, and I could hear waves hitting a hard surface. I walked around a little thankful that I had put on my boots and in the distance I could just barely make out skyscrapers. We were definitely not in Rome. I was at a loss.
I got several scrapes from the brush and debris covering the ground and I could hear birds calling. I looked towards where the loudest of the bird noises were coming from when one of the many sea gulls started to fly at me. I wasn't afraid I figured it would turn before it reached me. Instead it started shifting into a man. I froze as fear shot through me and all I could think about was Gunnar and how I was going to miss him.
{Everything I did was for you and because of these feelings I have and have always had for you. Protective, hungry, needy, they are deeper than any love I have ever felt, but I don't know what else to call it. You have been on my mind and in my heart for a thousand years and no matter what happens know that.} I projected my thoughts to him hoping that he would receive it even in his sleep and waited my fate.
"Do not fear me. I am Teale, Commander of the sentries here. We're shifters. We patrol here to protect the island." Teale was maybe 5'9, slender, broad in the chest, his facial features sharp. He had light grey hair that looked so soft it made you want to reach out and touch it. I noticed another sea gull flying at me and shift into a woman. Her smile was soft and warm, but her facial features were also sharp and her hair was white.
"My name is Chava, I am Teale's mate." Her white hair blew softly in the breeze. I noticed that both had amazing yellow eyes. I smiled at the couple.
"My name is -"
"We know who you are." Teale interrupted me looking around almost nervously. It got me starting to do it too making me paranoid.
"Sentries are never off duty and being in bird form makes us a little more....cautious." Chava said smiling wrapping her arms around her mate.
"Are all these bird shifters?" I asked astonished. There were birds everywhere from pigeons and sea gulls to turkey vultures.
"No, some are regular birds." Chava answered laughing lightly at my question.
"Can you shift into other things?" I asked curious. I knew of many shifters some could turn into many things and some were more specific.
"Yes any animal we come into contact with we can shift into." Teale said as he dropped his gaze down to his mate. "I must get back to my duty. Know that you are safe and being watched after." With that being said he shifted back into a sea gull and flew away.
"Thank you." I called out. "I miss flying. I loved to fly. I loved the feeling of the wind in my hair."
"I could not imagine giving up flying." Chava said sadly.
"Where are we?" I asked still in the soft embrace.
"I'm not sure. I followed my mate here without question. I know we are on an island, but we are close to a city. The island is nothing but brush and ruins and seems to be man made. You and your companions are the only beings here other than birds and us shifters."
"Is it possible that there are other shifters here besides your clan?" I asked
"Yes, but we are keeping watch as my husband said you are safe here. We will protect you."
"This place is borrrring!" I heard Loki yell stumbling over some debris. I couldn't help but to laugh. Loki never could stand to be still for too long he was dressed like he was ready to go out to a club in his tight red skinny jeans, white pirate shirt, and a pair of plaid converse shoes. "And it stinks, there's bird crap everywhere. Did you see the pile of bones over there? What did I do to deserve this? Why would your old man bring us here?" Loki complained.
"Loki this is Chava she is one of the sentry shifters here." I introduced them. Chava looked apprehensive, but offered her hand in greeting. Loki smiled graciously and shook her hand.
"Please tell me where there is some fun close by." Loki begged. Chava just shook her head not knowing what to say. It was a small island and there really was nothing except for exploring to do.
"We could explore." I offered.
"Oh what fresh hell is this? I have a better idea girl, let's go shopping, there is a city right over there, where there are tall buildings there is usually some sort of shopping near. Chava you are more than welcomed to join us, but you're going to have to get dressed. Humans don't really allow nakedness." Loki said in his sing song kind of way.
"I don't think Gunnar would like us to leave the island without his knowledge." I said.
