This is a story about a 15 year old male human dreaming of turning into animals and then one day it happens for real as he turns into an eagle. This is a story I've been wanting to write for a while. Been posting it over on Royal Road. Will be posting until I catch up with my new posts there minus 10 chapters. If you like the story check out what I have there, love any reviews, follows, comments and such there if possible.

Royal Road Link: https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/1.....shadow-without

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Ughhh this heat, I think. Then realize, wait, heat, where am I. I could have sworn I went to bed, at least I think I did. But this was definitely not my bedroom, it wasn’t normally this clean. I shake my head, slapping myself as if I could wake up, but nothing changes. Where am I, and how did I get here. I can barely see through the dim light coming down from above. My ears feel like they want to press against my skull from the noise all around me, every animal is talking and wants everyone else to know what.

While normally scary, the darkness and the jungle almost feel like home. I look around, spotting a game trail, this trail should lead to some old temple... wait, why would I think that. I ask myself. While I am contemplating that, I hear a chuffing. Something buried within me recognizes it as a large black shadow that looks cat-like in my head. But instead of fear, it gives me a sense of awe and curiosity.

I jump slightly as I feel a whisper of a voice calling to me, but not with words. What... okay, this is getting creepy. I look around and realize that the call is coming from further down the trail. There is something there, a familiarity that I cannot quite explain or understand.

Should I go. It's a jungle... it's dangerous, but at the same time... it feels welcoming. A voice calling me back home after a long journey. I hear the chuff of a cat again, and before I realize it I am already walking down the trail. My heart calls out, I’m coming.

My ears perk up at every single sound as I walk down the path. Hmmmm, I wonder if I’m the first person here in ages, it definitely does not look used by humans. All I can see are pawprints, nothing resembling human. As I near the source of the call, I start to notice stones that look more carved than natural. Some of these look like the only thing holding them together is the vines and hope.

Again... this place feels familiar, what is it about here. I think as I walk around, noticing some carvings in the stone, mostly random animals, but I also spot a particularly prominent carving of a jaguar. It is regal and has hints of gold. This feels so special, it makes my heart hurt in a weird way, like I had lost something.

What is this place. And why does somewhere I’ve never been feel so... WOAH. I am so lost in thought that I almost trip on stairs heading down into the ground. As I look down, I hear the voice again, but much stronger. A thought pops into my head, <Come be... whole.>

I stand staring into the darkness, feeling the pull down the stairs. This is it, whatever called to me is here. Am I ready for it. Or should I leave. No, I cannot, I must know the truth behind this. With a nervous, tentative step, I begin, step by step, to go down the stairs.

My feet feel heavier with each step, the jungle that had been so loud now feels deathly silent. It takes a few minutes, but finally I am on the landing. I look into the room at the bottom of the stairs, but it is too dark to see. “Hello.” I call out, hoping for a response.

Okay, you can do this. I finally step into the room, and before I have time to react I hear a grating sound behind me as the door shuts, leaving me in complete darkness. Okay, maybe this was not such a great idea, I wish I had a flashlight. Before I can finish that thought, I notice something in the ceiling start to glow like stars. Okay, this is a little better. Wait... this is almost too clear, I think as I look around, and the room feels like it is daylight.

More big cats, jaguars I think. They remind me of what was upstairs. I move over to run my finger along them, and there is surprisingly little dust on them. Looking around a little more, I notice that all through the room are various statues, and then in the middle is a massive one. Woah, I hope that is not a real jaguar... but hard to tell. Even as I get closer it remains hidden, as if the shadows themselves are hiding it. The only thing I can clearly see is its eyes glow. And then I stop staring, as near it is a polished brass. What is wrong with my eyes. Staring back at me is my face, but my eyes are glowing like a cat’s.

I look back at the statue. It did not invoke fear, why does it feel like I’m looking at a mirror of myself. I hear the voice again, this time clearer, and I just hear, <Us> and realize this is the source of the call that I have been hearing. The air seems to vibrate with its words, even if they are not audible, as if everything is creating the sound.

The voice is feminine and gentle, comforting in a way that feels impossibly familiar. Who is this... what is going on. The first clear words I hear are <Become.>

Woah. Every cell in my body is on fire as I become energized in a way I could not describe if I wanted to. I feel a push, not words, just knowledge, on how to become a jaguar. I know... what to do. It is weird, but I give in to the sensations and knowledge and feel my body start to shift and grow rubbery as I need to stretch my body. And I know what to stretch into the jaguar form.

I fall onto all fours, giving in to the flow. I cannot think, I cannot say anything, just the overwhelming desire and need. I push outwards, and with every part of my body my hands push into paws, my face pushes into a muzzle, and it is like a balloon expanding all at once. No pain, just a tingling sensation like one feels when they need to stretch. And in that moment the world stilled.

I am not turning into a jaguar. I am turning into myself.

What is this... power, this feeling. And then I am running through the jungle on all fours, every thought and feeling of being human disappearing and leaving only the joy, the power, and the truth that I now feel. It feels so right, the way the dirt and undergrowth squish under my paws. The way my tail lashes behind me in reaction to every single moment. This is joy, this is life, and it is right.

The jungle was my domain, my kingdom, my playground. I was its ruler and nothing could stop me as I raced through the trees, and then suddenly my foot snags on something rough and uncomfortable and I find myself running headfirst into a tree. What... where did that tree come from. Where jungle. I think, my thoughts still muddled until I realize I am back in my bedroom, and I must have slammed into the wall, but how did that happen.

Was it all a dream. It must have been... but it felt so real. I could still feel the grass between my paws as I look down, half expecting to see a scene out of a movie with wet grass still stuck. But there is nothing, just a red spot where I had tripped. I still feel a calm silence, but now there is something under the surface. The urge similar to the dream is there, but weaker... why does it feel content.

I walk over to the balcony to look out into the snow, trying to comprehend what had just happened. Am I going insane, or is there something bigger going on. It feels like I can sense something out there. Similar to the dream, but distant. Something is drawing closer to me, something big, and I am excited.