First Flight

  A Prequel to the Hawk Ascending Series

  Edward Whitehawk the artist always knew he was a bit different from the other teens. A school field trip sends him down the most shock path, to an incredible new life he could never have imagined.

  This is a prequel to the Hawk Ascending Series of paranormal romances, in which Edward finally finds his fated mate, and his destiny as a shapeshifter.

  About the Author

  Kelsey Carter is a paranormal romance writer, and the author of the Reconnected series, the Alpha Ascending series, the Hawk Ascending series, the Bear Ascending series, the Prince Ascending series, the Justice Ascending series, the Darkest Kisses series, and the Polar Pleasures series. In her spare time, she works with a range of charities, including animal rescue. Visit her author page for all of her latest titles.

  First Flight

  A Prequel to the Hawk Ascending Series

  Kelsey Carter

  HerStory Books

  COPYRIGHT 2024 by the author.

  All rights reserved.

  Published by HerStory Books

  New York, NY 10011

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  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  CHAPTER 1

  CHAPTER 2

  CHAPTER 1

  I recall it like it was yesterday. My first flight as a shape-shifting hawk.

  I doubt it's something anyone would EVER forget, but the circumstances leading up to it were even more memorable in some ways.

  My nickname at school had been "Eagle Eye," because I noticed things that others didn't. I could also see incredibly long distances, almost like I had binoculars, as one of my teachers had commented on a field trip.

  Mr. Haynes had brought us to a sweeping meadow and told us to look for certain healing plants printed on a sheet, in order to learn how to identify them. To spot them fast, in case of an emergency out in the wild. We weren't supposed to come back until we had them all. The first student who brought them all back would win a prize. No doubt food, the best prize for hungry teens like us.

  I scanned the page, then the horizon. Plants one to ten, coming right up. I put them neatly in the sample bags and brought my leather satchel back to Mr. Haynes to show hm my work, and get my grade.

  His jaw dropped. "My Lord, Edward, how is this possible?"

  I shrugged modestly. "I know all of our medicine woman's daughters. We've often gone out to gather supplies for her."

  "Ah, well, that is a bit of an advantage, but still. You're so neat and meticulous."

  "Crushed or moldy samples are no use for medicine, or artistic inspiration," I said wisely. "Jaci and Serena turn them into pills, powders and potions. Me and Helena sketch them. It's really a wonderful land we live in, is it not?"

  "Oh, um, yes, though a lot of people would disagree. The reservation is quite poor, with limited opportunities compared to a city. As you'll discover soon enough, lad. Your artwork is first-class. ANY college in the world would be thrilled to have you as a student."

  "Well, thanks, but I doubt I'll leave. My gramps and dad love having my help in their metalworking shop, and all of my inspiration comes from here."

  "You don’t want to be away from Moonbear sister number two, I'll bet," he said with an indulgent smile.

  I felt my cheeks heat. I enjoyed spending time with ALL four girls, but there was just something about Diana....

  Something I could naturally never do anything about, for fear of destroying my friendships with each one of them. But if Diana made a first move, now....

  Mr. Haynes handed me a second sheet. "You've won the prize. This can be for extra credit. Mrs. Moonbear and the rest of the tribe thank you."

  "Oh, yeah, sure thing. Every little bit helps."

  I headed off for my next set of ten, and noted with a sigh that some of my fellow student STILL hadn't found a single one. We were going to be here all day at this rate.

  But they needed to learn, so as much as I was tempted to cheat and help out a few of them, I simply completed my task and returned to Mr. Haynes.

  "Right, you've earned a rest, Edward. You have permission to sketch."

  That was music to my ears. I got out my notebook and some pencils, and began to draw the plants for practice. Then I started to sketch the rolling hills and copse of trees nearby.

  "You see, SO talented," Mr. Haynes said, looking over my shoulder. "You mark my words, you'll be flying away from the res before you know it."

  "Maybe," I replied, "but I'm Cheyenne. THIS is my home. No matter where else I might go to live. I'll always come back."

  I tried not to think of Diana as I said this. Or of the entire Moonbear clan. I was aware I was resorting to them as a feminine influence in my life, to balance out the all-male one in my household ever since my mother had died several years before.

  I was also aware of a growing interest in relation to girls. Me for them, and most certainly them for me.

  I was trying to keep myself chaste for Diana, foolish though that might sound to some. She was not just the ideal, but the real. The most perfect girl I'd ever met, I felt sure, with all of the romantic zeal of a teen with his first crush.

  Some of the girls appeared to think I was the perfect boy. Some of them crowded around me to see what I was drawing, and ask for help with the assignment.

  "Ladies, no. Much as you'd love to have him do all the work for you, Edward has earned his time off. Go on, now. Do it yourself, and hurry up."

  "I'd love to search for a worm in the tall grass with Edward," one of them whispered loudly to another as they as they walked away giggling.

  "A huge snake, more like. He's built, and handsomer than any movie star," another tittered as the three moved off.

  If my sight was sharp, my hearing was even more acute. It was sometimes painful to be around other people, because I kept picking up things I did NOT want to know.

  When I was out in the wilds like this, I could SWEAR I heard the rustle of rabbits and mice, even under the ground.

  I didn't dare mention it to anyone, though, not even my dad, despite the fact that we were very close. My art seemed to him like some form of madness, with me sketching and painting for hours at a time, not stopping to even eat. Telling him something like that might have made him think I was even more unbalanced, so I kept silent.

  Dad had taken to interrupting me to force me to eat and drink. Then he’d praise my work, though all the while he kept giving me long, careful assessing looks.

  Sometime Gramps came in too. They glanced at each other, then departed. Their whole demeanor suggested they had a really thorny problem they were trying to solve, but didn't wish to confide in me as to what it could be.

  Maybe Mr. Haynes was right--they were planning to ship me off to college so I could make the most of my God-given talent?

  Except I was only fourteen. It might be fun to enjoy a few more carefree days of childhood and the glorious reservation before I had to leave to make a name for myself.

  As I sat soaking up the sunshine and drawing, I reflected that a lot of famous artists had never gone to art college, been trained. They just had a natural gift, as had I. Did I REALLY have to leave?

  Yet Mr. Haynes's image of my flying away, being set free, haunted me long after I'd won my prize, a fascinating history book about the Cheyenne.

  There was also a big bag of delicious chocolates, those lovely little minis in the colored wrappers. I was happy to share them out with the class, who were thrilled.

  I counted what was in the bag in an instant with my eagle eyes, divided the total by the number of we students, then included my teacher, dad and gramps and the four Moonbears and their mom in the mix. It worked out at four mini-bars each. What luxury. The one with the peanuts in it was my favorite.

  I handed out each pile, then sorted the others into bags for each recipient using the small plastic ones I carried with me everywhere to collect samples as I went out to draw. Rocks, snails, whatever.

  I put two of the ones with the rice cereal in them for Diana, knowing they were her favorite, then let the chips fall where they would.

  "That was a really kind thing to do, Edward," my teacher remarked as he graciously accepted his own share. "You could have taken the whole thing home with you, honestly. No one would have minded."

  I was sure that was a reference to how poor we were, but we were WAY better off than a lot of other families, I knew. "I couldn't have done that, sir. Share and share alike is the best way to live here on the res. And besides, I got the book. What could be better than that?"

  He patted me on the shoulder. "What, indeed," he said with a smile. "Good lad. Enjoy it. And if you're going to the Moonbears anyway, can you bring all the collected samples to them?"

  "Sure thing," I said, and took the stuffed shopping bag he offered.

  The bell for the end of the day rang. I went inside long enough to packed up my desk, and hurried out.

  Yes, I was eager to see Diana, but I was really keen to read the book too. Something had caught my eye on the cover of the book. The feathers.

  Between the image of flying Mr. Haynes had put in my head, and the nobility of the braves in the image with their feathers signifying honor and respect, I longed to do something special with my life.

  I started to get a hint at my destiny when my father looked at the book when I got home.

  "Well done, Son," he said with a proud smile. "Yes, you come from a long line of unique people. Connected to earth, and sky, and to the Great Spirit, for the eagle belongs to him. Is his messenger."

  "Thank you, Father. It was easy, though. I just sort of hovered over the field in my mind's eye to find all of the plants for Mrs. Moonbear."

  My grandfather patted me on the shoulder. "Good lad. Are you still having trouble with your ears?"

  I blushed. I hated the very idea of lying to my family. "Um, they're better."

  "Then it's about time you took the cotton out of them, eh? Learn how to, um, accept all your gifts. Embrace all your senses."

  My father shot him a wry look. "Within reason, Son. You know what the Church says about the pleasures of the flesh."

  "Yes, of course, Dad. Ah, yes. Pleasure, taste. Chocolate for you both," I said, taking two little baggies out now and handing them to them.

  "Also part of my prize. I gave the rest to the class and my teacher. I saved some for the Moonbears too. I need to deliver all the herbs we collected. I'll just be a short while."

  "Any homework?"

  I shook my head. "We're winding down before summer vacation. I wish we DID have proper lessons. It's dull these days, unless they let me sketch."

  "Very well, off you go."

  "Smell."

  They both stared at me.

  "Touch, which you warned me about. The pleasures of the flesh. The last is smell."

  "Oh, yes." Gramps nodded.

  "I hear tell there's this thing called aromatherapy. Using smell to heal. Using plants, seeds, and so on. You reckon there's anything to it?"

  Dad grinned. "Just think of how you feel when the coffee gets made in the morning, or you cook bacon."

  I laughed then. "For sure. I understand now.”

  "It's why people wear perfume, or cologne too, to a certain extent."

  "Ah, true. And why women love roses and such."

  Gramps nodded. "Exactly. Smell can have significant power. Don't be giving any flowers to young women at this point in your life, though, eh? You have your future to think about. We wouldn't want you to get distracted. Not live up to your full potential."

  "Which is what, Gramps?" I asked curiously.

  His answer sent a chill down my spine, for it was no less than what Mr. Haynes had said. "You're destined to soar, lad."

  "Thank you, Namshim. I will try. For now, I'd better do my errands. Let me have the shopping list and I'll take care of the groceries as well on my way back.”

  "What a devoted child, you are, Naeha," my dad said. He ruffled my thick, dark hair, then went to get the list and money.

  ~

  That evening, after I got home, there was a party-like atmosphere in the house. Father had made all my favorite, Three Sisters Stew, fry bread, and Lime Jell-O, for the 'conquering hero', as they called me.

  We shared the book, taking turns to read from it, and pass it around to look at the pictures.

  We each had one of the small chocolate bars each. It was a rare treat, so I let it melt on my tongue rather than chomp through it. What an evening we had. The best dinner ever for me, and chocolate too. Life didn't get much better than that.

  Plus the new book, of course.

  We were having a really nice time until I pointed to one of the war bonnets and said, "How can I earn my feathers, Dad?"

  The room went so silent and still, I could have heard a pin drop. I looked from one to the other in confusion. What HAD I said that had made them so, so shocked?

  At length, my grandfather answered, "Through being brave. Do you think you're man enough to try?"

  "Well, yes, if you teach me what to do," I said firmly, more eager than ever now to win a feather or two.

  "You need to trust us. To know that we want what's best for you, always, Edward," my father said.

  I stared at him. He wasn't an emotional man, except for his warm words of praise for me, but I could swear I saw tears welling in his eyes.

  "Yes, of course. Both of you," I said without an ounce of hesitation. "You've only ever wanted what's best for me. I would trust you with my life, and I hope you could both say the same about me."

  "Good lad." Dad suddenly changed the subject. "So, what did Mrs. Moonbear say about the herbs?"

  "She was really grateful. It's hard for her being a mom and medicine woman, even with the girls out rooting around."

  "Some can only be got at higher altitudes than the meadow you were gathering in. Why not earn your first feathers going on an expedition to see what she needs, up in the hills? The three of us could all go. Bring a picnic."

  I was thrilled at the idea. "Yes. If an eagle feather would ever fall to the ground and bring us good fortune, it would probably be up high. When can we go?"

  "Saturday. I'll load the backpacks with all we'll need. If we leave here around ten, we should have a wonderful hike and a tasty picnic," Dad said.

  "Thanks, Nehoe! It will be GREAT."

  CHAPTER 2

  Our family trip up the mountain wasn't just great. It changed my life forever. I also ended up with more feathers than I ever could have imagined....

  It started out normally enough. I had already seen Mrs. Moonbear, and she'd given me a list of her most urgent needs. She'd shown me her books, and let me sketch the flowers. Helena was a huge help coloring them in.

  Jaci and Serena looked over our shoulders approvingly every so often, though I had to admit, I could barely concentrate with Diana sitting across from me. I longed to sketch and paint HER more than anything.

  I had to endure her gossiping about the handsome quarterback on the high school team with a clear feminine interest that I prayed wouldn't get her into trouble. He was a senior, I was a freshman, and she hadn't even started high school.

  I had been raised to respect women. That they knew their own minds, and you should them live the way they wished to without trying to get them to do what you wanted all the time. I sure hoped that raging hormones wouldn't lead Diana into making a huge mistake she could never get over.

  Her admiring chatter also made me realize my own shortcomings like never before. My dad and gramps were telling me I had a destiny. But I was built like a twig compared to the guys on the football team.

  The growth spurts of puberty seemed to have passed me by. I was tall, sure, like all my male kin, even most of the women, but as for muscle, well, I'd seen better on a chicken drumstick.

  I dared to make this observation to my companions as we began to hike up the footpath that would lead us to an impressive overlook on a high cliff, the destination for our picnic, apparently.

  "Your muscles will develop soon enough. All your hunting, fishing, jogging, will count. You never seem to sit still," Gramps said. "I know the school has some weights in the gym. Why not try them for your arm strength?"

  I smiled, pleased at the suggestion. "Super, thanks."

  The two men were chuckling as if they'd heard the most amusing thing ever.

  "Er, what's the joke?" I said, looking from one to the other in confusion.

  "Not a joke. All will be revealed soon enough."

  My fifteenth birthday would be coming up at the end of the summer. I guessed they might have decided they'd discovered the perfect gift for me, a couple of dumbbells? They were always really thoughtful that way. I wasn't spoiled, but I always felt cherished.

  At least from that side of the family. My mother's, well, alcohol was their god, which they were all too eager to worship.

  I hated having to stay away from the kin who had grown up with her. Could tell me so much about her, and our Cheyenne stories and traditions.

  But the demon drink made people do all sorts of foolish things. It was best just to steer clear.

  'Fire water' was a curse for many indigenous individuals. I swore it would NEVER be me, with all of the arrogance of a teen who'd just taken a temperance pledge without a clue about what he was promising he would never do.

  I let them snicker as I continued to climb, on the lookout for feathers with every step, while also imagining myself soaring above the pines once we were so high up that I was looking down at them.

 

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