IF AND ONLY IF

I'd Rather Not Morph

Happy sounds from the town square found it's way into my room. It was a special occasion today, every family in town that had a new born brought them to the square.
Today was the Sacred Day of the pale moon(a day that only comes once in each leap year; a day when every newborn would be expected to take their first morph). It was indeed a big day for everyone.

Elena had already dressed up for the event before our little fight at the morphing room (a room in the house where everyone practiced their morphing skills). But at it stands, I doubt if she'll still be going, now that her dress's all messed up. I doubt if I would be going either.

Everyone knew me, the only girl in town that was born without a gift(something no one thought was even possible till now).
Most people believed that Elena had stollen my gifts from the womb, and it looked like it.
Two children born on the same day; one a polymorph and the other without a gift. Surely that seemed to be the only logical explanation.

* * *

There was a vibrant knock on the door, it was my mom."Elsa, Sophie's here to see you" she briefly informed and left almost immediately.
I swiftly jumped out of my bed, rushing out of the room and running out to the courtyard to meet her.
She didn't wait for an invite, she instantly swung on my body, squeezing me in as we both giggled and laughed.
"You're going right?"
"No o..."
"please, it's going to be fun I promise." she eagerly begged
"No Sophie, watching those newborns morph while I can't is a haunting experience" I sadly lamented.
"I know...
But you have me, don't you?
You'll be fine"
I sighed.

***
We finally went.
The entire square was flooded with people, everyone had anticipation engraved on their faces, Parents wondered what creature their newborns would morph into, some seemed scared others seemed worried. But in all, joyous sounds rose up and filled the air.

Soon enough, the crowd was settled, a circular arena was cleared for the newborns, everyone had their hopes high.
"wuuuuuuu" the crowd joyously shouted as the first newborn morphed into a ginger fox.
Other new borns shortly followed. soon, the whole arena was filled with different creatures, beast and pets in their numbers.

I turned to my side and noticed two new borns that were yet to morph. It didn't take long before the entire crowd noticed them too.
"Vuya vuya" the crowd cheered in attempts to quicken the process.

Suddenly, the loud cheers turned into mocking bursts of laughter.
One of the newborns had just morphed into a snail(the first of his kind).
"I'd rather not morph at all" a voice in the crowd shouted, causing another round of laughter.
Sophie looked at me with a swollen face, she was trying so hard to hold back her laughter.
I was annoyed.

The laughter soon completely died out like a quenched flame the minute everyone noticed that the last newborn was still yet morph. "Not again!" I muffled
It was soon obvious to entire town,the newborn had no gifts, he couldn't morph. Just like me.