shift at a young age
1004 Words
Chapter 62
Court POV
I couldn’t believe it. After the forest, after the rogues, after Mom nearly tore the world apart to save me, I was trapped. Locked in a small, guarded room inside the house.Her rules. Her walls. Her protection, or prison.I slammed my fists against the door. “This isn’t fair! You can’t just lock me up!”
The echo of my own anger mocked me. From the other side, I heard her voice, calm but sharp: “You could’ve died out there. And I will not let that happen. Not again.” I paced. I couldn’t stay still. I had to get answers. I had to see the castle, had to find the truth about my father. I examined the door and the window. Bars. Locks. Magic wards. She’d made sure I couldn’t just walk out. But she didn’t count on my dragon side. Slowly, painfully, I shifted. My body burned and stretched and reshaped, wings sprouting, scales forming. In the dim light of the room, I towered like a nightmare come to life. I tested the wards with a claw. Sparks. Magic crackled. Not enough to break completely, but enough to push against, enough to see the weaknesses. A plan started forming. Escape was possible. Risky. Dangerous. But necessary. Meanwhile, at the castle… Down in the courtyard, guards noticed something strange: scorched marks on the edge of the forest, claw marks gouged into trees, remnants of battle.
“Rogues,” one whispered. “They were here. Recently.” The king’s advisor frowned.
“Keep patrols tight. Something tells me they weren’t just scouting.”
And unbeknownst to them, someone..Court…was right in the middle of it all. Back in the house…Mom shifted into dragon form the next morning, searching every corner, every shadow. Her wings spread across the room as if the walls themselves couldn’t contain her fury.
“You won’t leave me no matter what,” she muttered, pacing. “You can’t just go out there and risk everything. You’re mine, and I’ll protect you, even if you hate me for it.”
I crouched in my corner, tail flicking, eyes narrowed. “You don’t own me,” I growled. “I need the truth.”
She froze, claws digging into the floor. For a heartbeat, the room was still. Then, softly:
“The truth isn’t safe, Court. If you leave… it will kill you before you even learn it.”
I looked at her, my dragon form gleaming in the faint light, chest heaving. “Then I’ll risk it. Because not knowing… is worse than dying.” Her eyes flared. Wings beat furiously.
“You’ll regret that,” she hissed.
I smirked. Maybe I would. Maybe not. But I couldn’t stay caged any longer. The castle patrols tightened. Scouts reported unusual activity near the forest edge. Something big had happened… something violent. Somewhere, my father’s past was starting to bleed into the present. And I, whether she liked it or not—was about to be part of it. Because walls, dragons, and warnings weren’t going to stop me from uncovering the truth.
I crouched in the corner, tail flicking, claws digging into the floor. Every second in this cage felt like it was burning me alive. I could hear her outside, shifting, wings scraping the ceiling, it wasn’t just a warning. It was a countdown. I shifted fully, my dragon form roaring silently in the small room, heat radiating off my scales. The wards on the door sparked against my claws. Not strong enough to hold me if I pushed carefully, strategically. I braced myself. One, two, three strikes..and the lock shattered. Sparks flew. The door swung open. Freedom.
Ruby POV
I heard it first, a low growl echoing down the hall. My heart stopped. My son. My little boy, or my dragon-strong, stubborn monster, depending on the form. I raced down the stairs, shifting mid-step. Wings tore from my back as claws scraped the floor.
“Court!” I screamed.
I wasn’t going to catch him in time. He burst out the door, wings spread, roaring. He was faster than I expected. My blood boiled. I had to catch him before he reached the castle.I took off after him, wings cutting through the air, claws slicing into the ground for speed. Every beat of my wings screamed anger, fear, and panic.
Court POV
I flew low, zig-zagging through the trees. The castle was in sight. If I reached it, I’d finally get answers, finally see the people who killed my father, and finally understand why Mom had spent so long hiding everything .Then came the shadow. Massive, terrifying, familiar. Mom. “Stop, Court!” she shouted. Her wings beat the air so hard it knocked leaves and dust around me.,I swerved. “You can’t stop me!”
“You’re going to die if you go!” she roared.I smirked, heart pounding. “Then I’ll risk it!”
Ruby POV
I closed the distance, claws out, flames licking the tips. I didn’t want to hurt him, but if he touched the castle, if anyone saw him… he would die.,“Court!” I bellowed. “Stop! You’re mine, and I won’t lose you!” He turned briefly, defiant, eyes blazing. And then he ducked under my claws, wings slicing through mine, forcing me back. The castle loomed ahead. My son was about to get there, and I had to stop him.
Castle POV
Guards shouted. Scouts ran into the courtyard, breathless.
“Something’s coming!” one yelled. “Up in the sky! Dragons!”
The king and his advisors peered up, shielding their eyes. Sparks of flame lit the air. A massive, blue-scaled dragon fought with another, smaller but just as fierce. “Identify them!” the king shouted.
The scouts froze. One pointed. “Your majesty… it’s not just one dragon. There’s a smaller one, maybe a child?”
The king’s eyes narrowed. “That boy… he shouldn’t even be here. Contain them, both of them!”
- Writer
