The Golden Acorn - Catherine Cooper [42]
By the time Nora and Jack entered the kitchen Elan had scrambled eggs, toast and a pot of tea ready.
‘That’s just what I need,’ said Nora gratefully. ‘Help yourself.’
‘Don’t mind if I do!’ croaked Camelin as he tucked into more than his fair share of breakfast.
Jack slumped into the chair and slept.
When he woke he ached all over. Nora was busy in the kitchen.
‘How long have I been asleep?’
‘Since we got back from The Raven’s Bowl. About a couple of hours. How do you feel?’
‘Like I’ve been squashed.’
‘It’ll wear off. I don’t think you’ll feel like this every time you transform, I’m sure it will get easier.’
Camelin swooped into the kitchen and landed gracefully on Nora’s shoulder.
‘OK,’ he croaked. ‘When you’ve eaten we might as well make a start on your flying lesson.’
‘So soon?’ groaned Jack.
‘No time like the present. I’ll see you upstairs when you’re done.’
Jack hadn’t realised he’d be transforming again so soon. So much had happened since he’d arrived at Grandad’s. He knew he’d never be the same again. Now he was a raven boy, just like Camelin, but would he feel differently about flying and have the instincts of a bird as Arrana had said? He was about to find out.
FLYING LESSONS
Jack couldn’t eat much breakfast and when he’d finished he went up to the attic. He stopped at the bottom of the ladder. His KEEP OUT sign was still there. He shouted to Camelin.
‘Can I come up?’
‘Are you alone?’
‘Yes.’
‘Then it’s OK. Come up.’
Jack wondered why Camelin was being so secretive but as soon as he put his head through the trap-door he understood. The contents of Camelin’s emergency ration basket were strewn over the floor. He’d begun sorting them into piles.
‘Just counting,’ he explained. ‘I’m good at counting.’
Jack watched as Camelin lovingly replaced his stash piece by piece into the basket.
‘Did you bring me anything for your flying lesson?’
Jack had some chocolate bars packed in his bag. He’d remembered to put a couple in his pocket when he returned the golden acorn to his bedroom.
‘Hope you like these!’
Camelin took the bars and tossed them into the basket. He looked very pleased.
‘That’s twenty-nine,’ he announced, ‘and milk chocolate is one of my favourites.’
Jack suspected anything to do with chocolate would be a favourite for Camelin. He checked to make sure there was nothing sticky around the trap-door before pulling himself into the loft.
‘Mind where you put your feet and try not to move things around or I’ll never find anything.’
Jack waited until Camelin made a space then quickly undressed.
‘Are you ready?’
Jack nodded and bent his head towards Camelin. They touched foreheads. The blinding flash hurt Jack’s eyes again even though they were tightly shut. When he opened them he’d transformed into a raven.
‘Wow!’ This is fantastic. What do I do?’ he croaked as he flapped his wings up and down in the small loft space.
‘Slow down! Slow down! Stop! You’ve got to learn to walk first before you can fly.’
Jack didn’t realise Camelin was being serious but when he stopped flapping and took a couple of steps he found walking wasn’t as easy as he’d thought it would be. It wasn’t what he was used to. His feet wanted to hop, skip and shuffle. Walking became more like dancing.
‘Not bad,’ encouraged Camelin, ‘but you look a mess. What’s wrong with your feathers?’
Jack inspected his wings and tried to look at his back.
‘No, on your head. Some of them are sticking up.’
Camelin tried to flatten the feathers but just when he thought he’d got them all straight one would spring out again.
‘I give up,’ he croaked, and raised both wings in the air.
‘I can never get my hair to stay flat either.’
‘I thought that’s because you hadn’t combed it. I don’t seem to be able to do much about your feathers; you’ll have to do. Come on. We’re wasting time. Let’s get outside; we’ll have more room