Chapter 3

Ryeleigh

A loud voice coming from the screen quiets the room and asks us to stand. Amory Cruz in his ceremonial robe, looking regal and a true Alpha example of the perfect shifter. We are not raised thinking of the Amory like a god; however, in this situation, it feels as if he is. With equal parts fear and amazement, the crowd quiets to a soft purr.

“Welcome family, friends, clans, and alphas, to the beginning of these adult shifters’ lives. Today, you will pledge to help guide and nurture these shifters in a world that can be magical and scary. We will hold you to this pledge by shifter laws. As we go forth, please support these adults as they meet their animal.” As the crowd repeats the pledge, a rise in power fills the room.

“We begin with the Story of Ragnarök. Ragnarök was the war between the Light and Dark shifters. Two groups that came from the original shifters, including the first Arcas, the son of Skuld and Myrkalfr, creators of the shifter race. Arcas was not just the first shifter but the first hybrid elf, giving him incredible powers to control both the Light and Dark Elves and shifters. Shifters of all types populated the 9 Realms. As time went on, as is accustomed, people turn on each other for power and greed. The Dark Shifter Rebellion spread through all Nine Realms, infecting all species with hate and prejudice. The Norns, trying to mediate and stay neutral between the two sides, came down to Earth to establish a Treaty of Shifters.”

“Meeting with Arcas, the leader of the Light Berserkers, Loki, the leader of the Dark Berserkers, refused to agree with the treaty choosing to attack the Bifrost, hoping to strand the Norns and Berserkers on Earth. Two of the three Norns could escape, leaving Skuld to defend herself and fight Loki. The dark army advanced on Skuld in one ultimate act to protect her son Arcas. She used all her power to freeze the battle on Earth, knowing the drain would kill her. During the frozen time, she went to Arcas with a plan to save the shifters.”

“Shifters needed to have an anchor, a reason to preserve their humanity and keep them from submitting to animal instinct. Otherwise, this slip into the savage animal side of dominance for power would trigger another Ragnarök. Arcas met Hel, Loki’s daughter, knowing her to be his perfect match to keep the savage instinct at bay. He asked the Norns to create that bond in all shifters.”

“Once time resumed on Earth, Skuld was dead. The Norns created mates in return, they required Arcas to take his mother’s place as the future Norn. To guarantee that Ragnarök does not curse our people, we must unite as one, not letting Skuld’s sacrifice go to waste. If we as a race divide, however, the curse will unlock Loki and cause the end of shifters in the Nine Realms. We divide our power between the four factions of shifters, sharing power and responsibility equally. Arcas’s last duty was to pick a representative to communicate with him. He chose the Amory Jormungandr. I am honored to be your Amory; you see me as a leader. I am only as strong as our four factions. Without you all as one, I am nobody.”

“After Ragnarök, the Norns divided the shifters into four factions using a root from the tree of life, Yggdrasil for each faction: Artos, Kat Syth, Chulainn, and Damh. Artos, the bear faction, is known for its battle rage, giant size, and strength. Accompanied by their protective style, they were created to be bodyguards and warriors. Kat Syth, the feline faction, is cunning and sly. Their purpose was to navigate business for the shifters and expert spies. Chulainn, the wolf faction, brings loyalty and communication. They are our teachers, tradesperson, and media. Damh, the stag or deer faction, is compassionate and graceful, being our healers and scientists. The jobs are more fluid now, but the factions are still strong and work together as one.”

Continuing, he explains the process before the Shifter Paean. “Those ascending will repeat after me with the group, and your sponsor will escort you on stage in order. Your sponsor will hand you your ritual knife. Leaving your sponsor, you will walk to the fire, take your knife, and prick your finger. Hand your knife to your sponsor, and they will exit the stage. As a sacrifice to the Norns, drop your blood in the Elders’ Fire all at once. This will call your animal spirit to the fire, bonding you together. A bright light from the fire will cover the room as the shifting happens. The Elders will then step in and explain the shift back. I will close the ceremony with a last psalm to the Norns, and you may file out.” The Amory takes a breath and stares into the camera. Before I know it, the Shifter Paean begins with the Ode to War by John Whitehouse, explaining the last battle.

‘There, where the Battle loudest roars,

Where wide the empurpled deluge pours,

And ghastly Death, his thousands slain.

Whirls his swift chariot over the plain

Whose nodding crest is stain’d with gore,

Whom to some giant-son of Earth,

Strife in strong pangs of childbed bore;

Oh, war! Fierce monster homicide,

Who marchest on with hideous stride,

Shaking thy spear, distilling blood;

Stern God! wolf-hearted and accursed,

Foster’d by Power, by Rapine nursed,

Oppression ever in thy train,

Tumult, and Rage, and Fury fell,

And Cruelty, the imp of Hel,

Her heart of adamant! An arm’d her hand.

There, where the Battle loudest roars,

Where wide the empurpled deluge pours,

And ghastly Death, his thousands slain.

And smooth thy wrinkled front to meet the smiles of Peace.’

“Today, we sacrifice a drop of blood to symbolize Skuld’s sacrifice during Ragnarök.” The Amory abruptly stops and looks around like there was something wrong. The Elders whisper when the Amory’s attention is back on the screen.

“All participants and sponsors walk to the front and pull out your family’s relic. This has been passed from generation to generation and has touched all shifters in your family, including a descendant of the last battle. If you do not have a family relic, a clan will let you borrow one that was used in the final war.” Walking up, I see the video on the screen shaking and not sure if this is normal.

My mom hands me our family knife, and we follow the directions. I then hand the knife back to my mom. The camera shakes and, at first, I think it is an earthquake when the loud booms begin. The Amory yells through the directions and has us walk up to the fire. In Latin, he sends a chant to the Norns, asking for a smooth shift and a long life for all. I then reach to the fire when I hear the scariest and loudest scream come from the screen. At that moment, the fire rises and encompasses the group of us. It blinds me as I fall into darkness. I see more than one figure in the fire and it is so hazy, nothing makes sense. I should see the animal form of my mate. It all faded before I could see anything clearly.

I slowly come out of the fog and look at the other shifters, who are all in animal form. The Elders scramble to us, screaming at us to shift back. I am so confused because it all happened so fast. That is when I look for Raven and see a regal white tiger, then looking towards Marshall, I see a beautiful elk. I’m looking for Cormac, but I just see animals and cannot remember where he was. I have a red wolf and cannot be more shocked. As we all shift back, the screaming and pandemonium gets my attention. As an animal, I did not notice the crying from the crowd and the Elders. I look at the screen to see my Amory lying dead.