As Jack stared at one of the hooded figures hands, he realized one of them had the next clue. He looked back at the map, it was blank. He realized the hooded figure had the next clue and that the map would not show them anything further unless he got the next piece. Suddenly, the hooded figures began to sprint away. Jack followed them, as he started to edge closer to the one with the clue, the other hooded figures began surrounding Jack. Ten hooded figures all moved in on Jack at the same time. Piling on top of him. As Jack slowly started to suffocate under the hooded figures, he knew he had only one choice. He had to change into his animal forms. Since the pyramid was filled with Tiger themes, he thought, “why not a tiger?”.

A low growl bellowed from deep under the pile of hooded figures. Jack in full tiger form erupted out from the pile of hooded figures sending them flying in the air. Jack roared triumphantly but his roar was cut off with a stabbing pain to his back. Jack turned around to find that one of the hooded figures had fired an arrow directly into his back.

“Poison…” said the hooded figure now holding his discharged bow.

Jack felt a surge of savage anger running through his body. Without knowing why, he turned to Lisa and all of his new anger became focused on her. Jack the tiger now filled with this poisoned rage, moved in closer and closer towards Lisa. Lisa could see that something was different in Jack. His eyes no longer seemed to recognize her as his friend.

“Easy, easy eaaaassy Jack.” she said. “You know it’s me, I know you do. Try and fight off this spell, Jack. Remember it’s me Lisa, your friend.”

Jack, deep, deep down, began to find this happiness washing his anger away. Lisa’s voice seemed to cut right through the poison that was delivered in the arrow. Cutting through and giving life to a new feeling. A feeling of extreme happiness. Jack felt his anger dwindle away and with it so did his tiger form. He was once again back in his human form.

Jack walked towards the pyramid. He knocked on the pyramid door and it immediately opened. Jack looked to his left and then to his right. He saw Tiger symbols all over the pyramid’s walls. Jack stepped inside and saw six steps leading upwards. He could hear a loud roaring sound coming from above. After ascending the steps, Jack arrived at a platform and saw a rushing stream, roaring next to him. Jack looked down at the stream, stone steps began to appear in the water. Jack carefully stepped onto the first stone step, the map gave a quick tug, urging him to keep moving forward.

Jack moved to the second step in the water, his confidence grew. He began to believe that he was heading towards an undiscovered destiny.

“Why don’t we run down the rest. I don’t think anything bad will happen” Jack told Lisa, who was only a few steps behind.

They both ran down the steps. When they reached the end of the stream, Jack descended from the last stone step and looked at the map again. The map now had new instructions. Jack saw that the next destination was a marsh surrounded by hooded figures.

Then, just as the stone had stopped glowing, it opened and revealed a map. Jack took the map from the stone and said “Looks like it leads to an ancient pyramid.”

He scanned the map closely for more instructions. Words suddenly began to appear. In thin, black letters, the map said: Find the place where the eagle stands. The words disappeared as suddenly as they had arrived on the map.

Jack pondered for a moment, then he said in a quiet voice so that no one else could hear the riddle. “Where could the place be where the eagle stands?”

Lisa said, “I don’t know, but we can try and find out. Let’s see where the map takes us.”

Jack looked down at the map again. There from the blank page, the map began to reveal another clue. Then he said “Looks like we have to go by the fountain that is at the center of town square.”

Jack and Lisa quickly left the tea shop to follow the map. Once they arrived at the fountain, Jack looked to his left and found a little boat with two seats parked beside the fountain. Red sparks were flying out of the boat’s motor.

“It looks like this boat might be magic” said Lisa.

“That’s impossible”, replied Jack. “A boat can’t be magic.”

“Let’s get in anyways” said Lisa. “The map wants us to follow it.”

The map was wiggling in Jack’s hand urging him to go towards the boat. “Alright”, said Jack, “let’s get in.”

Both of them climbed into the tiny boat, immediately the boat began to shake. The boat blasted off into the sky at a rocket like speed. There were no longer red sparks coming from the motor, instead they were leaving behind trails of silver dust in the sky.

“I told you boats could be magic,” said Lisa, as the boat soared higher and higher into the cloudy, gray sky.

Then a few minutes later, Jack and Lisa found themselves in a vast, hot desert.

“Where did this map take us?” asked Jack, “I’m sweating like crazy!”

The boat swooped down at an amazing speed. Lisa yelled “Watch out, I think we are headed for a crash landing!”

The boat slammed into the desert sand and broke. Jack got up, the crash had sent Jack buckling to his knees. He walked towards an immense pyramid.

“Come on, let’s go in. Maybe this is the pyramid the map wanted us to find” said Jack.

3 weeks later. Jack woke up on a sunny Saturday morning and decided something.
“I’m going to try and talk to Lisa a little better this time.”

He thought about where to meet her next. His finger tapping on his forehead, he thought with all his might. As Jack paced in his room back and forth, he finally thought of the perfect place.

“Sorry mom got to go!” He opened the door to his room and ran through the front door as fast as he could. He went looking all over town, back and forth until he finally found it.

“The perfect place to meet!” Jack said in an energetic voice. He ran forward as fast as he could and knocked on the door to a small tea shop.

“Excuse me, can I come in?” he asked. The door opened and Jack stepped in. He didn’t talk to anyone because he didn’t know anyone from around here. He sat down on a table to his right, a table with two seats. Then Jack thought of the perfect idea on how to invite Lisa. He quickly grabbed a napkin and began to write on it. Without anyone seeing him, he transformed into an owl.

He grabbed the napkin with his talons, and flew out a nearby open window. As Jack flew over town, he saw the orphanage, swooping down he slipped the napkin into the mail slot. A few minutes later Jack returned to the tea shop as his human self. He sat down back at the table and waited for Lisa.

The minutes ticked by slower and slower as Jack waited. Then as he was just about to give up on his attempt, the door creaked. He jumped up in excitement as Lisa stepped in. Finding his table she sat down on the chair next to him.

Jack said in a quivery voice, but one that was more steady than the last time, “I bet you’re wondering why I wanted you here. I wanted to start this whole meeting thing over, since, well…it kind of went a bit weird last time. So no shape shifting, but I will show you something that I have found.”

Jack held out a small green stone.

“My mom gave me this stone, it was my Dads. It was said that the person who held this stone would be the one to find a special treasure. Even though, we have just met, I have a feeling that you and I are connected to this stone. 3 weeks ago when I first saw you, this stone started glowing. It had never done that before and it hasn’t done it since.”

Lisa reached out to hold the stone, just then the stone began to glow even brighter than it did the first time.

There was a boy named Jack who was often teased for being different, because he could transform into animals, like a shapeshifter. Jack and his mother lived alone. Jack’s favorite meal was his mom’s famous chili soup, which he could eat all day. Jack’s father passed away before he was born. Jack didn’t know anything about his father. Jack had no idea where his shape shifting abilities came from. Every time he would shape shift his mother would say, “Do you have to, dear?”

Jack replied, “Mom I know we are in a different town but I like to shape shift”. He transformed into a black Labrador with a red spot on his head.

“Hey there,” narrator here, “I just wanted to add this quick little part explaining how you can tell Jack from a real animal. Whenever he transforms into animals, he is something you don’t see every day. Like a snowy owl, with red spots on it’s wings instead of black. Actually, anything Jack transforms into will have his signature red spot. Now back to Jack”

Jack went outside to go play ball with the other boys. He asked “Can I join in?” when he got a hold of the ball.

Then, all he got for a reply was “GET THAT LITTLE WIMP!” Jack ran off as fast as he could and went down an alley way on his right. When Jack entered the alleyway the other boys surrounded him. A boy named Jason, with blonde hair said,

“Alright, you little wimp. You can play ball, after I BEAT YOU UP!”

He slammed Jack into a nearby fence in the alley way, and punched him hard in the stomach with all his fury. Jack experienced terrible pain, but then transformed into a panther. The panther attacked Jason with three mighty swipes of his paws.

“Get this thing away from me!” Yelled Jason, as he held his hand up in fright. His hands quivered as he said “Nice kitty, nice kitty”. His voice trembling.

Jack growled as he advanced three more steps towards Jason. He jumped and swiped his paw at Jason again. All the boys yelled “LET’S GET OUT OF HERE!” as they grabbed the ball and ran off.

The panther transformed back into an angry boy. “I don’t even get to play ball”, said Jack angrily.

Just then he heard a door creak. Jack turned around sharply and got ready to transform once again if he had to. It was just the door to an orphanage on his left. Jack saw a brown haired girl step out of it. It was his first day in town, so he didn’t know too many people.

“Hey” Jack said in a trembling voice, as he stepped toward the girl. “What’s your name” he asked.

“My name is Lisa.” replied the girl.

“Jack.”

“Nice to meet you.” She said.

“Look,” said Jack, “I know we just met, but can I show you something cool?”

Lisa said “Sure.”

Jack got ready. He transformed into a leopard. Light tan with brown spots outlined in black. His signature red spot on his left front paw.

Lisa gasped as she saw him transform. She whispered “It….it’s….you” in a shaky voice.

Jack didn’t understand what she meant, usually people run away screaming whenever he would shape shift. Lisa stayed, staring.

“Lisa! There you are my dear! We’ve been looking all over for you!” The caretaker of the orphanage appeared in the doorway, grabbing ahold of Lisa, pulling her in and shutting the door behind them.