There was nothing remotely endearing about this transformation. I heaved, with gasping breath drew myself up and over the lip of yet another hoop made from the bodies of shimmering fireflies. They swayed gently in the wake of my crossing; now a timid breath that was certainly pitiful compared to the mighty typhoon that my wings had once set loose. Limbs untucked their tightly lodged position, for whatever reason I dared not glance down at the strange fins anymore and instead kept eyes locked tightly upon the sky ahead and a distant ring.

Fina chuckled, a throaty laugh that made my skin crawl with unease. “The gods make good jest.” Flattened jaws slipped apart, the mind remembering how to curl back my lips but seemingly unable to physically do so. Instead, I settled for another spewing grunt that was soft and very nearly soundless, “Tis not very funny.” It wasn’t just the strangeness of my new flippers or even the expressionless flat object that was to stand in place of a muzzle; those feathered limbs, or what I assumed to be wings – (Fina helped verify my concerns by sending forth a visual image of the stumpy things that held this overweight bulk aloft.) They flopped, it wasn’t a thrust…nay they simply dangled uselessly up and down.

Seemingly by the grace of Earth I remained airborn.

Other contestants either adjusted to their new forms or simply fell away. There were fewer and fewer bodies ahead now, (or I’d fallen behind entirely and the front was leagues away.) Where was Cera? Ever the reliable, Fina assured me that my prodigy was still alive and well – as was Africa and Satanic Silk.

Patched limbs tucked through another ring; the unrelenting sun and a lack of strong wind made for a warm body. Heat was radiating from my flesh; the sweat pooled from beneath fur, it darkened this frame around pits and recesses. With each ring I dared a glimmer of hope that my body would be restored; yet, it seemed our lessons weren’t meant to end so abruptly.

Something solid hit my rear, I startled. Both ears violently slide back and unknowingly I’d already raised muzz-bill with the tip opened slightly to unleash vengeance upon what had dared…a frog. It wasn’t just any toad, nay, one dipped in the color of a fading sunset, a brilliant shade of violet. Its red eyes regarded me stupidly, signaling no sign of intelligence aside from base animalistic instinct. Fina came soaring overhead, and lunged at the croaker, “Nay child, they are colored strangely. Don’t dine on these.” I shouted.

There was one rule in the natural world that most base creatures followed, if it was brightly stained – it must not be preyed. It was now the firechild who snarled and curled with displeasure back into the sky. She didn’t like to have meals foiled by wisdom. After a moment the strangely decorated polliwog took a leap of faith.

Its suicidal jump was followed by yet another thump across my rear, then spine, nape, thrice, nay more. I felt their sticky little fingers seeking to latch, head shook violently – sending lockets of dual colored hair flying in all direction. Little toads fell, spinning below. I turned to look ahead, a wave of them were falling from the sky. Like rain or snow they fell from the clouds. All painted in astonishing bright colors. Fina was swaying side to side, circling, doing everything in her power to avoid the distasteful creatures that were now pelting our bodies. I grimaced with each little thump, their presence was becoming more than a distraction but a total discomfort.

I summoned magic from the pit of my soul, the first earth element to have been schooled into this body; and perhaps the easiest of my talents to control. Golden sand rose from the ground in small strings; one heartbeat later Fina had given up the fight and glided across my spine. Taking shelter beneath one stump appendage and very nearly spitting hatefully at the food she wouldn’t be sampling today. The sand rose all the same. Taking a large portion of concentration, it soared under my influence until I’d gathered enough to form a sort of crude umbrella above us. The sides were bent sharp, hopefully it would prevent a gathering of bullfrogs on top.

Another flash of gold approaches. I could still feel the ones who had successfully clambered up, their weight was on me and gummy little fingers pawing...