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PROLOGUE Grace was an unusual animal in quite a few ways. For one thing, her only friends were a fox named Skye and a falcon named Leo. She also happened to be a shapeshifter. The three friends were a source of great amusement, especially to a certain Great Gray owl named Tex. He would tease Grace, Leo, and Skye relentlessly, saying that “if you three liked each other any more, you’d practically explode!” But Grace tried her hardest to ignore annoying old Tex. Although, she might have had a little bit of a crush on Skye. She never told anyone, in fear that they would think she was weird. In Askari, the Land of Animals, shapeshifters were so rare that the odds were about 1 in 250 to have a shapeshifting child. Grace was one of the lucky ones, the animals that got picked by nature to have the honor of being able to turn into anything they wanted. The only thing that bothered her was how respectfully everyone treated her, even her tribe leader Elana. Elana was a very loyal and kind eagle, but she always moved aside when Grace walked by, no matter how many times Grace protested. “I'm not powerful or anything,” Grace would try to convince her. “I'm just Grace.” But Elana wouldn't listen, she just said “But you are powerful, Grace!” and Grace would sigh and shake her head. But apart from Tex and Elana, she enjoyed being a shapeshifter. On cold nights, she turned into a fluffy cat, on warm nights, a lizard. It was on an oddly chilly summer night that her power mark appeared. Every animal got a power mark when they came of age. A power mark symbolized the element that you could affect and manipulate. The mark could be a triangle for Ice, a wavy line for Water, or anything else. But the rarest mark was by far the Spiral. It was the symbol of Everything. Only one animal in the whole of Askari had had that mark. Her name had been Belle the Wise. She had passed into the mist decades ago. But every animal in Askari remembered and spoke of her name. When an animal’s power mark started coming in, it came in fast. An animal could be just sitting under a tree, minding their own business, when all of a sudden they shone with golden light and got lifted into the air. It was quite surprising, especially for the younger ones. In Askari, every animal strove to create peace and respect. Well, most of them anyway. CHAPTER ONE Grace crept quietly through the forest, her tiger paws soft and silent as a robin's feathers on the forest floor. The prey she was stalking was a slow, fat, and sleepy pig, so Grace figured it would be easy to take down. Just as she was getting ready to pounce, a loud yell split the silent forest. Grace bolted upright. She knew that voice! It was Skye! She immediately shifted into a Barn Owl so she might hear him better. As usual, she felt the familiar tingling sensation that meant she was changing shape. As soon as the transformation was complete, she listened intently, and soon she heard Skye's voice clearer. “My power mark! I'm getting my power mark!” he yelped, his voice as excited as a dragon on its first flight. Grace gasped. Skye is getting his power mark??! It was early, far earlier than most. For a moment, she envied him for his luck, then immediately chastised herself for being so selfish. She soared up above the trees and turned her feathered head from side to side, pinpointing Skye’s location. From what her ears told her, he was in a clearing just a couple of dragonlengths away from the Kitavi River, where many animals gathered in the dry season. She immediately flapped towards Skye, and before you could say ‘owl’ she had dived into the clearing and alighted softly on the grass. Skye was not visible, however. “Skye?” she called softly, confused. “It's me, Grace. Where are you?” “I'm right here, Grace,” Skye's voice came from a spot in the middle of the clearing. “Skye,” said Grace, fighting to keep her voice calm, “I can't see you.” “What are you talking about? I'm right here!!” Skye's voice had taken on a panicked edge. Grace began to feel a sneaking suspicion forming in the shadowy depths of her mind. “Skye, what power mark did you get?” Silence followed. For a moment, Grace thought Skye had left. She turned around to leave, but then she heard her friend speak. “Um, I'm pretty sure I got a little star,” Skye said. Grace's suspicion was confirmed. Excited, she changed into a cat and chased her tail. “Skye, you got Light!” Light was fairly uncommon, especially for foxes. Usually, a fox got Shadow or Wind, but Skye wasn't really a normal fox. He started walking at only two weeks old, while most foxes started walking at around four. And he started talking at only five days of age.

INTO JAPANESE

プロローググレースは、かなりの点で珍しい動物でした。一つには、彼女の唯一の友人はスカイという名前のキツネとレオという名前のハヤブサでした。彼女はたまたまシェイプシフターでもありました。 3人の友人は、特にテックスという名のある偉大な灰色のフクロウにとって、大きな娯楽の源でした。

BACK INTO ENGLISH

Prologue Grace was a very rare animal. For one thing, her only friends were a fox named Sky and a falcon named Leo. She happened to be a shape shifter as well. Three friends, especially a great gray named Tex

INTO JAPANESE

プロローググレースは非常に珍しい動物でした。ひとつには、彼女の唯一の友人はスカイという名前のキツネとレオという名前の鷹だった。彼女はたまたまシェイプシフターでもありました。 3人の友人、特にTexという名前の素晴らしいグレー

BACK INTO ENGLISH

Prologue Grace was a very rare animal. For one thing, her only friends were a fox named Sky and a hawk named Leo. She happened to be a shape shifter as well. Three friends, especially a wonderful gray named Tex

INTO JAPANESE

プロローググレースは非常に珍しい動物でした。一つには、彼女の唯一の友達はスカイという名前のキツネとレオという名前の鷹だった。彼女はたまたまシェイプシフターでもありました。 3人の友人、特にTexという名前の素晴らしいグレー

BACK INTO ENGLISH

Prologue Grace was a very rare animal. For one thing, her only friends were a fox named Sky and a hawk named Leo. She happened to be a shape shifter as well. Three friends, especially a wonderful gray named Tex