The Transformation by Press'ton 98 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It began several months ago. One night I fell asleep in my own bed, and the next morning, I awoke in a strange place. Everything looked peaceful here, the scenery didn't indicate anything that I should be wary of anyway. Then it happened, from nowhere I was hit in the back, whatever hit me was huge, but it didn't seem like the blow was aimed to hurt me. Before I blacked out, I felt a firm pressure on my body, and felt myself being lifted into the air. * * * * I awoke again much later. The air here seemed much thinner then before, so I knew I had been taken to a much higher elevation. As I opened my eyes, I was unprepared for the sight I beheld: An absolutely HUGE Peregrine Falcon stood over me. She must have been over thirty feet tall. I got to my feet and backed away a few steps. She spread her wings and my heart leapt, she was beautiful, but I couldn't dwell on her beauty, my eyes were drawn downward, to her sinewy legs, and the massively powerful taloned feet attached to them. From heel to toe, they were twelve feet long, and one was coming towards me!! I shrieked in horror as I saw the huge bird's foot raise, my vision focused on the cruelly hooked and razor sharp talons on each of her three toes. Her heel sported one large talon as well! I was frozen in fear, down she stepped, her sole coming down on my upraised head. I was forced down, to my knees, then down to all fours. Finally, I was pressed flat against the ground. My head was forced down under her heel, my eyes looked up to see her heel-claw digging into the ground, mere inches from my face.. It began to dawn on me that this bird was intelligent, she had trapped me under her deadliest of weapons, but I wasn't being hurt. Aside from the pressure of being pinned, I wasn't being overly hurt. She wanted me alive, but why? She stood on me for what seemed like an eternity, but the rational part of me knew I had only been under her for no more than two minutes. I didn't dare move, all I could think about now was saving my life. But the thought of the massive foot that rested on me now brought on something else. I was getting a hard on under this foot, and I believed she knew it. To accentuate her knowledge, she slid her foot backward, my entire body being rubbed by the raptor's sole. She then turned me over to lay on my back. This put me in the unenviable position of being completely covered. I could no longer see the falcon's face. The sole of her foot was all she would let me see. The ground I was lying on was very soft, so much so that I sank slightly beneath the little weight I was under. Now though, I felt her shift her weight to the foot on top of me. The talons on her heel and toes dug into the soft ground, and I was now pressed flat under her sole, whereas before I had a little room to move. (Not that I dared to.) At that moment, I felt utterly helpless, I was pinned under a beautiful raptor's clawed foot, and knew that I was only alive because she was allowing it. It was terribly hard to breathe, but I somehow managed, until it happened...... Her talons had sunk several inches into the dirt, I watched in abject horror as the sole of her foot creased, meaning only one thing: she was going to tighten her grip on me. Her talons cut through the dirt and came around me. Her heel and toes closed over me, caging my body in a prison of soft eartth, soft sole, and cruelly sharp talons. She lifted her foot, with me trapped in it, and shook it roughly, shaking the dirt away and leaving me bolstered by her sole. It was an awkward position to be in, trapped in the talons of a mighty bird of prey, awkward because falcons aren't known to torture their prey. Usually, they kill their prey instantly. She must have had some other motive, one which I was about to find out. She set her foot down again a short distance away, It was a humbling feeling being trapped under someone's feet. When she stepped down again on me, her sole flattened out a little bit, forcing me down again. My face now rested on one of her front toes, with the talon mere inches away. Her gait was measured and controlled, obviously she didn't make a habit of walking with a human trapped in her grasp. Another step allowed me to see her other foot sweep by me and settle on the ground ahead of me. Then she stepped forward again with me trapped underfoot. On it went for several hundred yards. I imagined she could easily carry me to her destination, but I also believed she was enjoying the terrified look on my face, either that, or she was measuring my reactions. By the third or fourth step, I was babbling incoherently, pleading for mercy. It was just too much for me to bear. At long last! She released me from my taloned prison, at that time, I was nearly hysterical with fear. She closed her foot to resemble a fist and struck me in the head. The blow knocked me out instantly and nearly tore my head off. I thought that this was it, that she would now devour my pitiful form. Then she spoke into my mind: "Calm down. I would not have had to strike you if you had stayed calm. Your ordeal will soon be over ... One way or the other." * * * * When I woke up again, I noticed it was getting darker, the air was getting colder as well. I didn't see my captor anywhere. I began to take in my surroundings. I was lying in a clearing, the area was very rocky, and there were caves along one side of the clearing. The other dropped off in a sheer cliff. Whatever happened now, I would accept it stoically, it just might be the only chance I have to get out of this situation alive. I spotted my captor standing around one hundred feet away, by my best estimates. Even that far away, she was as imposing as always. She spoke to me telepathically again, "This is your final test. Despite your lack of control earlier, you did as well as one could expect given the circomstances." I was being tested, I thought? For what? "I believe you may be the one I seek." she replied to my unspoken thought, "I can read your thoughts, Young One, so you had better answer my questions honestly. Simply think of your answer, and I will hear it." There was no way I could lie, she would know right away. I thought of asking her to begin, then realized she heard my thoughts. She took a step forward, a huge stride that covered 20 feet. At that rate, 4 more steps and she would be on top of me. "Correct. Now, you are lying there, nothing is restraining you, why do you not try to escape?" She queried telepathically. Did she think I was a fool? Trying to escape from one of nature's greatest hunters? I didn't stand a chance, and if those talons came down on me in anger ...... She looked down at me and chirped at the compliment, then took another step forward. Again her voice came into my mind, "Let me ask you, what do you really want from life?" I was never asked that before, I guess I only wanted to be happy. But if I could have one thing, then I suppose my desire to fly would win out. How I envied birds. She didn't like that answer, did she? She took two steps forward, she now stood roughly twenty feet away, and I was beginning to panic once again. She raised her foot again, then I regained my composure and she set it back down. "If you were given the chance to obtain wings, would you take it?" She seemed a little less dominant this time, she asked the question with concern in her intonation, and not coldness as she had with the other two questions. Could it be that she was not so cruel after all? If the chance presented itself, then YES I would take it! I would have to be a fool to pass up my heart's wish. "That is what I knew you would say." She took a half step towards me "but are you willing to completely put yourself at my mercy? I do not give this gift to anyone. The one who is most deserving will trust me absolutely. No matter what it looks like I may do." Another half step and her foot was beside me, I was lying between her heel and her toes, but she wasn't yet on top of me. Could I trust her? What would she do to me? Could I survive? Those are questions that went through my mind in a split second. Then, I looked up at her, she had brought her other foot forward, I was now lying between her two giant feet, in this position, escape was impossible, but I also realized that if I didn't answer truthfully now, my life would be at its end.. I looked up, past the pillars that were her legs, to her eyes: My answer was there, in that moment, I knew that no matter what my doubts were, I had to trust in her. I saw strength, wisdom, a hunter's cruelty, and kindness all at once. She was in control right now, and I knew why I had been spared, she wanted to make my dream come true. Whatever it took, I would do it. It seemed, that I was her chosen..... She lowered her head and looked me over once more, then she firmly clamped her great beak over my body, lifting me high into the air. "Tonight you may rest, you may choose where you would like to lie. But in the morning, you must not cry out. Fear, pain, no matter what you are feeling, your cries will bring you no reprieve. This is your last chance, if you are not truelly sure, you should say it, and I will find an appropriate spot for you." No, I've never been more sure of anything in my life. Destiny had brought me here, and I was not one to argue with destiny.... But tonight..... She carried me to another area, this place looked like a nest site, except for the large stone statue on a raised dias. Stairs led up to the statue, it seemed like some kind of temple. I couldn't tell what the statue was at the time, only that it was as tall, if not taller than the great bird that held me in her powerful beak. She laid me down gently in the soft straw of her nest and laid down beside me. She put her great wing over me, enveloping me in warmth. "Sleep well Little One. Old Sara won't let anything happen to you tonight." Minutes later, I was sleeping peacefully, a great and powerful bird of prey protecting me for the first, and most likely last time. * * * * I awoke the next morning when the cool mountain breeze swept over me. I got up and started taking in the details I had missed the night before. The dias was several hundred yards away, yet it looked huge. I began to realize that the statue on the dias must be much taller than I had thought. In the light of the morning sun, I could now see that the statue was of another great falcon. There was something odd about the statue's feet though. "Good morning Little One." Sara intoned mentally. I nearly jumped out of my skin. Good morning. I'm afraid I don't know what to expect today.. "Understandable. I will explain. You see the Great Statue over on the dias a few hundred yards away?" I nodded.. "That is Sylphia's Stone. Sylphia is the spirit of the wind, and Mother to all birds. Today, Sylphia will come to you. Many humans have sought the gift of flight, but all who have tried have died at her feet." I don't like those odds, but there's a first time for everything, is there not? "Good attitude Son! You see her left foot? See how it seems misshapen from here?" Again I nodded. "I'll explain what you see as we approach. Would you like me to carry you? Nevermind, I will, you need all of your strength today." She lowered her head and gripped my body in her beak, she lifted me off the ground, and began to walk slowly towards Sylphia's Stone. From my new height, I saw that Sylphia's foot was not misshapen, rather, she had something pinned under her great foot. We got closed still, and I saw the gruesome sight in detail, pinned beneath her foot were four humans, they had become part of the statue. Three were lying face down with a sharp talon impaling each of them, the fourth was lying on his back, a look of sheer terror on his face, with the great bird's heel-claw through his body. "W-w-w-what happened to them?" I stammered, the first time I had spoken since I met her. "These were truly evil people. They had come seeking her power, they claimed it to be for the betterment of all, but after the power was granted, they turned on her, they began to kill everything and everyone in their path, being particularly cruel to anything with wings." "S-s-s-so she hunted them down and crushed the life out of them?" My voice was failing me today.. "No," she intoned mentally, "I was ordered to capture them, after I brought them to her, she gave them a chance to save their lives, but they would not agree to it. They attacked her, and she defended herself. It took her only seconds to defeat them, one powerful stomp sent them sprawling on the ground as you see them now. She then made sure they could not escape by casting a paralasys spell on them, then slowly ground them underfoot. For all the pain they caused others, she inflicted the like amount. She then left the stone, and left them as part of it. And that is what you see." What if she decides to simply kill me? "Sylphia defends the weak, she does not kill in cold blood. You will be given your chance to speak. Remember though, sometimes first impressions are more important than anything you may say or do. When she embodies the stone, your positioning might make all the difference." We reached the stairs and she began the ascent to the top of the stage. I could not have possibly climbed those steps, at least not without a grappling hook, they were twice as tall as I was. It was obvious that the steps were designed to be walked on by much larger feet than my own. When we reached the top, Sara gently set me down. I got a close up view of the decimated criminals, and I also saw her right foot. Planted firmly, her heel and two of her toes were flat against the polished stone floor, the other was slightly raised, and there was a slight opening, just large enough..... "It is time. To recieve the ultimate gift, you must have ultimate trust. Sylphia will come very soon, get ready." I went for it, I slid myself into the small nook under her huge foot. it was the perfect size, my body went in until it could no longer slide any further, I laid back, realizing that I had just placed myself completely at her mercy. The tip of her talon was resting at my throat. The statue began to lose its stoney color, and began to take the color of a real living bird. The foot that rested on me went from Grey to Yellow. Her featheres took on the White Black and Grey of a mature Peregrine Falcon. Sylphia was here, in all her glory. She immediately saw me lying beneath her, lying in the spot she had left for the true Chosen One. Her weight shifted slightly, and she moved her talon a bit, tapping my throat very lightly. "So you are here seeking the gift of flight." Her telepathic voice was much more imposing than Sara's, but somehow, I wasn't really worried. "It does not come without a price. You shall pay that price today, but first, let us be rid of these fiends." I looked over to her other foot, only now did I realize what I had done. Sara's feet were twelve feet long, Sylphia's were over twenty-four feet in length. She shook the stone corpses from her talons, and stomped on them, grinding and crushing them into dust. A gust of wind blew the now crushed stone away, leaving the stage clean. I was terrified, but I would not let my fear get the better of me. My determination must have been what she was looking for, because she took a little bit of weight off of me. Not much, just a slight change meant as a sign. "Trust me." Is all she said before my nightmare began. She stepped off of me, and moved me into position at the center of the stage. She guided me with her feet, making slight adjustments to my position. When she was done, I was lying face down on an image on the stone floor. The image was of a falcon with its wings spread in flight. She took one leg into her beak, and violently stripped the flesh from it. I was in mortal agony, my face contorted in pain, but I would not let myself cry out. My other leg was stripped as well, bringing on more waves of agony. It didn't occur to me then that she had swallowed my rent flesh. A shadow moved over me, and her heel drove through my back, just under the shoulders, completely destroying my spine. I nearly rent the air with a primal scream of agony, but I COULD NOT ALLOW IT! I lost conciousness then, which was the best thing I could have done. For after she drilled my back, she snapped my face off with a quick bite. I must have been a sorry sight, torn, wounded and brutally mutilated at the bird's feet. * * * * I came around with the biggest headache I had ever had. I put a hand to my forehead and discovered I had soft fuzz instead of hair. Indeed, My head was now more like that of a bird's than a human's. I reached back to feel where there was a dull throbbing pain, and discovered not a gaping wound, but wing muscles!! I sat up, and immediately saw my legs, they had become the legs of a bird, ending in three-toed talon tipped feet. The heels of my feet had a sharp talon on them as well, very much like Sara and Sylphia's only on a smaller scale. I was overwhelmed, this could not be real! I swooned. * * * * Again I awoke, looked myself over and still could not believe my eyes! I was a Kenku! A race who were born to fly, posessing the better qualities of both humans and hawks. I was honored to have this chance! A great wind swirled around me, the sky blue robe I now wore whipped in the wind. This was an un-natural wind, caused by a huge bird during a landing where she would backwing to slow herslef down. Except there were two birds here, one who could easily squash me under her thirty foot tall body and twelve foot long feet, the other who could simply kill me with a thought, or powerful magic spell, or a step of her twenty-four foot long feet. Her sixty foot tall form landed behind me, casting her shadow over me. It was unbelievable, I had been under that one's foot! Now I stood there, both of them coming towards me, Sara's talons clicking on the stone stage, Sylphia's doing likewise with a much more profound tone. They were now standing over me, I turned sideways trying to look at both of them at once, but I couldn't, there was way too much to take in. "Well Met, Child." Sylphia intoned. "Indeed, you've done well! You didn't make the mistake that killed all of the others before you. You didn't lose control." Sara confirmed. Clicks and Chirps went up as they began to speak amongst themselves, I found myself catching a word here and there. I would have to get used to a new language, but I am sure I heard "feet, wing, beak" and the partial phrase "... when I had trodden ..." While I was trying to make out their conversation, I never noticed that they were positioning themselves for something, They were now standing toe to toe, with their heels touching one another, forming a rough diamond, with me in the center of it. "Ah! So you have a fondness for feet. Well, you will have to wait until later for that, now, we will teach you to fly!" She chortled slowly, giving me a chance to get every word. The next several hours went by very quickly. I was brought up to speed on the finer points of flight. By the time they had finished, I was exhausted, but I also felt great! I had learned to fly! "Not bad for a first flight. You'll find it gets easier with time, it will begin to feel more natural as you go." Her words were those of a proud mother, who had just seen her first hatchling take his first flight. This was truly me. No more would I have to dream, no longer did I have to set low cielings for myself, now, I could fly! I was ecstatic, just imagining the good I could do. "The good you could do. Indeed, you can do a lot of good in this world. But remember, some humans do not take very kindly to Kenku. If you are looking for a place to settle, then I suggest the city of Silverymoon. You won't be persecuted there." she said switching back to telepathy. Telepathy seemed to be becoming easier for me. At least I wouldn't have communication problems along the way. "And now Little One, I shall indulge your love of feet. Your body will feel the press of our soles, and we shall feel the tiny body of a 'victim' writhing beneath our talons. Fear not, we have just given you life, we will not take it away so soon." Sylphia chuckled. I was dropped to the ground, the hard stone of the stage didn't yield. I heard Sylphia chant a word of command, and the entire area was bathed in a soft blue light, enough for me to see the feet falling on me. First Sylphia stepped on me. Her massive right foot covering my body completely. I was amazed at just how precise their steps were, they trod on me without care, but I was never pressed under crushing weight. Sylphia twisted her foot as if to grind me into paste, but rather than my body twisting , it slid on the slick stone. Sara stepped down on me now, her toes splaying out on the stone, my head between them. Sara seemed to enjoy putting me between those beautiful talons... If this kept up, I would definately make a point of finding myself under them again. Now Sylphia and her counterpart Sara looked down at me simultaniously. What was going on? "Let us make this more interesting, shall we? Get up, and we will try to tread on you. Elude us as best you can." I got up and dove forward as the first foot fell, missing me by inches, I ran, they gave chase, Sylphia stomped the ground, sending me sailing, right into Sara's waiting claw. My body was gripped firmly, her talons cutting slight lines in my side. That was the first time I had ever been torn by either of their clawed feet, and Sara looked horrified. Sara threw me forward I hit the ground and slid on the slick stone, I came to a stop in the center of the stage, Sylphia lowered her great foot onto me. Then the pressure began, she shited her weight onto my body, I heard and felt bones crunch, felt my wings being pressed through my back. "NO!" I screamed and something unexpected happened. She took her foot off of me, and kicked me back to Sara. Sara stood over me, unsure of what to do. "Go ahead my daughter, tread on the Little One." Sylphia said to her, making sure I heard it as well. Sara's eyes looked down at me writing in pain at her feet, she raised her foot as if to step down on me again, but she could not bring herself to tread on my wounded body. "Mother, I cannot. You nearly crushed him, I cannot hurt him." She protested. "Ah my Child." she said, walking to where I lay, "You have a kind heart. I'm sorry Little One. Do not hold it against me, but I had to test her." She then lowered her foot onto me, completely covering me under her sole. I lay there, letting the warmth of her great sole comfort me. And as I lay there, I felt the broken bones and cut flesh mend. In a flash of blue light, I found myself lying in a soft nest. I was protected, I doubt anyone would dare attack two giant falcons. "Have you thought about a name for yourself, Child?" Sylphia asked softly. I think CouldReaver is nice..... "Indeed it is. CloudReaver .... A strong name, for a strong lad. Get some rest, tomorrow, you may find that you have the desire to explore the country from the air. You will need your strength." Sylphia chirped softly. I will. But I wish to be trodden beneath your great feet again sometime. The thought slipped out on its own.... Sara looked down and said softly, "Mother's powerful feet may not be here forever, but I will be here." "She is right, but fear not, I will leave room for you under my feet, despite the fact it will be of hard stone. But you never know, you may be lying under my statue one night, and discover it is no longer a statue. I promise I will visit you again Son." Sylphia comforted. I had it all, wings, great eyesight, and parents who understood me strange desires, and didn't mind putting their feet on me to quench those desires. I closed my eyes and .... Intense pressure!!!! GrandMother was on me once more! Her foot cruelly squashed me deep into the soft nest. I sank deeper into the straw and soft earth beneath it. Still she pressed, and my body could not take it! I was mashed under my Great Mother's sole, sent into the realm of dreams by her crushing tread. I woke up the next morning in the impression left by Sylphia's great foot when she ground me into the nest. I began to appreciate the sheer power of these birds, I was truly the luckiest Kenku in The Realms.