Work Text:
SEABIRD
Richard had not wanted to go to the Gaspe Peninsula for a short vacation. He had started to whine when his mother suggested it.
“But, Mommy! I don’t wanna go to the seashore! I wanna stay on the tundra!”
But Narya was adamant.
“Richard, you were born to serve this land. In order to do so, you must visit each part of it. You will thus learn the particular needs of the area, and then, decide which animal form is best suited to help the people therein.”
Richard was forced to give in. And now, on this bright sunny day on Quebec’s sea coast, he took the form of a bird in order to fly over the shoreline to survey it.
His parents watched on the beach as their son flew in a curve above their heads. The small seagull flew out to Perce Rock, before flying back towards them again.
“He begins well,” Narya confided to Douglas. “If only….”
Suddenly, they were aware of a commotion farther down. A little girl had been swept into deep water. Before they could react, the sea gull plunged towards the ocean, changing in midair to a polar bear cub. He dived in, disappeared beneath the waves, and reappeared with the child safely clinging to his back. When they reached the shore, he restored the girl to her grateful parents, before turning into his human form and greeting his own parents.
“That was good! I guess I don’t mind the shore, after all.”
Narya and Doug beamed. Richard was indeed learning how to use his powers in a different place.