Egyptan2

"Have you ever considered going back there again?" Chris said as the two of you sat at your house one early afternoon. You had just eaten lunch, so your bellies were full and you were feeling lazy, so Chris had suggested to stay in and watch TV. A commercial had come on, and out of the blue, he asked about that trip into the forest. It was getting close to a year that you'd seen Jennifer and her Egyptis cub Browen...and while you had considered returning on several occasions, life would throw you a curveball and prevent the trip. "Of course I have..." you said, touching the feather that hung around your neck.

It was Browen's...a proof of visitation, you had started to call it. No one believed you the first time you went...but after getting home the last time and showing the Egyptis feather to everyone, they stopped laughing and started believing. Then everyone wanted to hear the story, and you found yourself repeating it 4 or 5 times a day. "Make that into a necklace," your mother had said. "That way it'll always be with you as proof when you tell the story." It sounded like a good idea, so taking a peice of leather string, some glue and a pebble (for weight), you had turned the dark purple feather into a 2 1/2" pendant.

"You should go back," Chris said again, stting up to grab the remote from your hand. You glared at him, wondering why you chose to hang out with the guy, then sat back and sighed. Yeah...I guess I should.

It was the next day you finally had a chance to do just that. You ate a quick lunch and told you mom where you were heading. "Oh, youre going back today?" she asked. "Do you have to go? I could really..." but you didn't hear her. You were out the door and down the street by the time she realized you were gone.

The walk didn't take as long as you'd thought. But than again...this was the third time, and the forest was becoming more familiar to you. You didn't have to spend all afternoon getting lost, either. It was strange, you journied through the woods, almost as if by instinct, until you came to a tree that was twisted and knotted. The roots arched like the toes of a ballerina, and one made a perfect seat for you. "Eesh...my feet are actually sore..." you muttered through a yawn. You rested your back against the strong trunk of the tree, looking around the area. Trees...for miles, that was all there was. Your last thought before you fell asleep was that squirrel was looking at you weird...

A beam of sunlight leaked through the trees, right on your face. The annoying light caused you to shift...and fall right off the root you had made your bed. "What the? Wait...on hold, where am I?" you muttered, shaking the sleep from your eyes. The forest, duh. came a voice inside your head. That quickly brought you onto your feet, looking around with fear slowly creeping up your spine. "Who's out there?" you called, hands groping around for something to use as a weapon. All you found was a stick...a very thin stick. It didn't even had a sharp point at it's end...

There was a slight movement to your left...something russling in a bush you hadn't seen before. You spun to face...whatever it was...holding the stick up defesively. Oh, what ya gonna do? Poke me to death? came the sarcastic voice again, and slowly, a body emerged from the brush.

                                                                            "Browen!" you exclaimed, immediately recognizing the
                                                                            Egyptis. But, dear gods, he had grown! He was the size
                                                                            of a teenaged wolf now, and had lost those almost downy
                                                                            feathers he had sported as a cub. You also saw the crest
                                                                            of dark feathers on his head had grown longer, more
                                                                            noticable, as they laid cooly against his skull. Though, the
                                                                            young Egyptis had an almost snobby air about him now,
                                                                            and you didn't like his attitude.

                                                                            A grin curled the teen's muzzle and he started chuckling.
                                                                            "What's so funny?" you asked indignantly. You... came the
                                                                            obvious reply, his head dipping in an almost lazy manner. A brow raised over your eye as you realized his attitude had been just an act. Humans in general. You've got such strange thoughts...he smirked.

"Browen!" came a call from the woods. That sounded like Jennifer's voice. "Browen, where are you?" came the call again. The Egyptis glanced over his shoulder, then look back to you, smiling. Jennifer's coming. Don't move, I'll bring her here...and with that, he disappeared into the bushes again. When he reappeared, Jennifer was right behind him, a big smile on her face.

"Well hello again!" she called, stepping over the bush and heading your way. "Long time no see." Of course, by now you had sat back down on the root again, and she sat across from you, Browen resting on his haunches at her feet. "How've you been?" she asked, scratching behind the Egyptis' eyes. The companion cooed, closing the bright orbs as his tails flicked happily against the ground. A grin curled your lips as you watched...remembering your last visit. "Ok...life's been really hectic in town." you explained, sighing as you tried not to let the fact you've been gone so long bring you down.

"I can't believe how much Browen's grown!" you said with a smile. "Yeah...he sprouted up like this a couple months ago. It was just like a human teenager's growth spurt!" the brown haired girl giggled. You weren't laughing when I grew too big for my basket... Browen smirked, opening one eye to look at his owner. That just brought another string of giggles and laughter from you and Jennifer as the Egyptis closed his eye, but kept that smirk on his muzzle.

Both you and Jennifer continued to talk for the rest of the afternoon. Once again, by the time you realized what time it was, the sun was setting and fire flies began to blink between the dark in the trees. Looks like you'll be spending the night again... Brown commented as he climbed to his feet and stretched, spreading every limb, tail, and wing in an impressive display. Jennifer gently tapped the Egyptis' nose. "And I'm sure our friend is so upset about that," she said with a laugh, standing. You did the same, muttering with your own laugh. "Oh yes...so upset," as Browen lead your and Jennifer through the trees.

It was completely dark by the time you bushed through the last bush, then stumbled up the walk and into the lamp lighted house. Jennifer cooked up a wonderful stew that the three of you split before you plopped down onto the bed she always had ready of guests. Jennifer soon joined plopped down her own, with Browen curling up in the floor space between the two beds.

You have interesting dreams...Browen said to you as you prepared to leave the next day. "Do you need more proof of your visits?" Jennifer smirked. You shook your laugh with a grin, tapping at the necklace around your throat. "All right...do come back soon," your hostess said as you walked down the path, and headed home.