What was happening was, instead of one shifter tearing us apart, an entire basket full was about to. The pen they dragged us to had shifters piled on top of one another. Some in shifted form, some human and fighting the call. Most maimed each other indiscriminately.
Don't panic.I said it as much for myself as for the wolf.We have a plan.
The wolf’s eyes widened as the cat women tossed us into the filthy holding area, slamming the bars shut. A thousand glowing eyes turned in our direction. Ward unwound me with his teeth from the wolf I was suddenly terrified to let go of, setting me behind him.
I can't bite them all!I yelled at him.
This time, he didn’t flinch at my volume.I will protect you.
I appreciated the sentiment, but his bear wouldn't last against all these shifters, and neither would his magic.
We have to get out of here.I really hoped it came out authoritative rather than panicked.
Ward glanced back at the bars behind us, tensing.I will break the door down.
Maybe he saw something I didn’t.Not to be a downer, but it looks pretty sturdy.
I will not let this stand! We are not animals to be kept in cages.Ward reached his limit.
Ward roared as a wild cat burst from the crowd. We all backed up a step. My teddy bear bristled for a fight. The cat tackled Noora to the ground but instead of bloodletting, it cuddled against her, butting its triangle head under her chin.
“Brightpaw!”
The mate bond works,Ward said, catching my eye.
We can argue about it later. We need to get out of here unless we're going to mate or bite all these shifters.I refused to start shaking.
Mate.He turned halfway, his broad side blocking my view.
That's what I said. Shifter mates seem to be more of a one-on-one thing.
No, mate. Look down.
The flagstones beneath my scales belonged outside the holding pen. Looking through the bars, I stuck my head in and went through easily. Guess they didn’t build the pen for snakes, even giant ones.
I’ll just take care of the relic real quick.I slithered back.
You're not going without me, Ward warned as he shifted to human and reached for me.
It looked like I was, because even in his human form, Ward was too big to fit through the bars. I left my lock picking skills at The Clamouring Clam.
I felt it back at the temple exit. Let me find it, destroy it,I told him.
A doggie yelp and a cat scream spurred me into action. Ward’s bear slammed his considerable bulk against the bars of the pen.
Fake it till you make it,I yelled as I slid as fast as my scales would take me, working my way back toward the temple. The guards raced down the stairs, and I flattened myself in the shadows as they ran past. I wasn’t so lucky with the next wave of cat women and had to shift.
The lead one stopped, taking in my kaftan. “What are you doing out of the throne room?”
“Just looking at the animals.” I waved them forward, flattered they thought I belonged there. “But I think the shifters are trying to escape.”
The guards growled and left me behind. I shifted back to snake and buried myself in the pile of junk they had sitting around at the top of the stairs, searching, feeling. The relic was close. I could taste the Goddess on the back of my tongue. A cacophony of animal fighting sounds would not deter me. Hunting through the various boxes and overwhelming number of mead cups, I finally slithered up to a full suit of armor that made my head pound.
Or that could have been Ward charging up the steps. His foot falls shook the ground as he skidded to a stop in front of me. The chaos behind him at least had the guards distracted, as all the shifters poured out of the hole Ward left in the pen.
This. It has to be this thing.I nudged the armor out of the heap with my head and Ward snatched it up like it had insulted his mother.
With Ward savaging the hapless piece of metal, it was safe enough to shift, panting in the pile of junk. Ward truly was magnificent in his fury. With teeth bared and claws doing damage, I knew we would have the Goddess’ call silenced soon. This wasn't too bad. No one got killed and Ward seemed to have no second thoughts about keeping me around.
