Shift (The Pandorma Adventures Book 1) Read Online Free

makes me turn back around. An animal is crouching at the lip of the stream a few feet down. Shock floods through me and I feel my jaw go slack. It’s a large jet-black panther with white spots scattered over its front and back paws, stopping at the joints.
    A scream burns my throat but doesn’t escape. The panther freezes in its crouched position; only its tongue moves to lick water crystals dripping from its snout and whiskers. Its eyes, a striking emerald green, pin me like prey. But it looks observant, curious. Unable to look away I watch as it turns and pads into the undergrowth, leaving me speechless.
    * * * *
    When I get back home the sun is just a flake on the horizon. Dad is sitting at the dinner table pouring orange juice into a glass.
    “See any Bigfoots?” Dad asks. His voice is steady; his gray-blue eyes clear and I breathe an inaudible sigh of relief.
    Bigfoots are a joke between us. One day when I was twelve I asked Dad if I could go explore the woods. He said yes, but warned me not to wander far. Dad handed me orange ribbons and told me to mark the trail so I could find my way back home. I quickly agreed then raced into the woods that were chanting of adventure. After roaming for some time I had spotted an interesting rock beside the root of a large tree and bent down to get a better look.
    There was a loud crack of a branch breaking. I jumped up at the sound, my head snapping around to find the source of the sound. The silhouette of a large creature stood next to a massive pine, its nostrils flaring, eyes gleaming, and the sun glaring off long claws. Having watched an episode on Bigfoots just last night I instantly thought that’s what the creature was. I screamed and raced home, my heart pounding the whole way.
    Dad was relaxing on the porch swing but stood when I came racing out of the forest. He caught me as I jumped into his arms. I cried hysterically into his shoulder, explaining with great sobbing breaths about how a Bigfoot had tried to eat me when I was only minding my own business.
    Dad soothingly told me that it was okay over and over again. When I finally calmed down a little, he asked me what this creature looked like and if it had really attacked me, since the only scratches I displayed were those made by thorns and branches. I felt my cheeks flush and said that it didn’t attack me exactly, but had scared the life out of me. Dad was silent for a minute and I studied his face. He was trying to suppress laughter. I glared at him, but that only seemed to make it worse.
    Dad gently told me, “Now Licorice, I told you that there’s no such thing as Bigfoots. I think half a cookie is the perfect cure for a fright, don’t you think?”
    “A whole cookie?” I pleaded, doe eyes included.
    Dad chuckled. “Two candy canes.”
    Sugar being my ultimate weakness I quickly agreed.
    I smile at him now and respond, “No.” I think of the panther. Hesitating I ask, “Dad there are panthers here right?”
    “Mountain lions? Yes,” he says after finishing off his orange juice.
    I want to ask if a black one—if that’s even possible—has ever been spotted in the area but Dad is already getting that far away look in his eye that means he’s no longer here.
    * * * *
    The front door slams shut; signaling Mom has come home. I’m sitting on my bed, finishing homework.
    “Lissa, I need you to come down here!” Mom barks.
    I reluctantly get off my bed and go to the top of the stairs. Mom stares up at me, an impatient look on her face.
    “Yes?”
    “We're having guests for dinner so I need you to come set the table.”
    My mind instantly thinks of the new boy’s family, but I quickly squash the thought—and my beating heart. That would be a good thing and with Mom, I’ve learned never to expect that.
    “Who?”
    Irritation flares in her eyes as she snaps, “Lissa just come do it for goodness sake! Sometimes you are just so spoiled! Would it kill you to do one simple thing for me without back