Shangri-la
Chapter 5
Even though Lotus had been somewhat prepared for it, she still found it unsettling to see her own animal form staring back at her.She had expected Iris tobe a wolf, but she had not anticipated that they would have identical rust-colored coats. Shangri-la had not lied to her; they were exactly the same.
“To go back to your human form, just let go and separate from your guide the same way you embraced it,” Lotus quickly instructed, standing up to place her glass on the kitchen counter, making sure that she was facing away from the girl as she looked around at the cupboards.
“Wow, that was . . .” Iris’s voice came then trailed off.
“Amazing or weird?” Lotus laughed, turning around.
“Both! I never dreamed that I would be able to do something like that.” Iris was grinning widely, looking down at her hands with awe.
“I have to warn you,” Lotus became stern, “don’t ever transform where someone can see you or walk in on you, for the sake of your own safety.”
“I suppose that people would freak out to see a wolf running around the city,” Iris mused to herself, causing Lotus to chuckle slightly.
“Is there anything you would like to eat?” she asked.
“Meat?” Iris replied, and they both laughed.
“I’m afraid that you’re going to have to order something else, because I don’t eat much meat.” Pausing, Lotus added, “How’s that for ironic?”
“Really?” Iris asked. “What’s your animal?”
“Same as yours.”
“Really!”
“Yep. What do you say to making bean burritos?” Lotus pulled out the can of refried beans and began opening it.
“My parents might get upset if I stay out too long,” Iris replied.
A subtle hint. Lotus would have some time that night to herself after all, and she enjoyed the thought that she would be able to dwell on the previous night for a bit longer. “Ah yes,” she said, tearing herself away from her thoughts, “the agony of being less than eighteen. I struggled for that portion of my life, and left on my birthday.”
“Were your parents that bad?” Iris leaned forward with obvious curiosity.
“Not really, but they definitely thought I was crazy.” It struck Lotus that the moment was perfect to explain everything to Iris. So, with slow and deliberate words, she said, “I left to find Shangri-la.”
“Shangri-la?” Iris frowned, a small crease forming in the center of her puckered skin on her forehead. For some reason, Lotus liked the way it looked. “Oh, that’s the place of perfection, isn’t it?”
“You’ve heard of it? Good!” A smile crept across Lotus’s lips, taking hold of her expression. She wanted to burst out with loving words about her Shangri-la, but she restrained herself for the sake of dignity.
“I thought it was fictional though.” The tone of Iris’s voice hinted at belief, despite her words. After all, the girl had shed her human form that day for the first time, and she was probably open to believing anything at this point.
“It’s real. So very, very real.” Emotion trickled out when Lotus spoke, and she felt mildly embarrassed that her desperate longing had been hinted at. She hoped that Iris wasn’t perceptive enough to pick up on it.
“How do you know?”
It didn’t seem like Iris noticed . . .
“I’ve communicated with Shangri-la,” Lotus replied, “and I’ve been outside of the entrance to it. But I couldn’t get in because Shangri-la has been sealed away.”
“Really? That’s true?”
“I promise you it’s true, because Shangri-la is what sent me searching for you. I don’t randomly go around helping people get in touch with their spirit guides.”
“Me?” Iris was surprised. “What do you mean?”
“You’re the key to unlock Shangri-la.” Lotus had to be careful. She didn’t want to frighten Iris by making her feel overwhelmed. “Both of us are needed to get into Shangri-la.”
Iris thought silently for a moment, then slowly said, “I’ll help you. Mom and dad probably won’t like it, but this seems to be much more important.”
“Are you . . .” Lotus didn’t know how to soften it, so she said the words right out, “willing to leave them?”
“. . . Yes.”
“Then tomorrow, I’ll meet you at your house and we’ll travel to Shangri-la.” Scooping the beans into a container, Lotus put them into the microwave.
And once we get there, you and I will be united forever, Shangri-la.
Standing up and walking into the kitchen to watch Lotus, Iris exclaimed, “I look forward to it!”
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