"Stay here," Finn ordered.
Kira snorted, already racing after him. Yeah, like she was going to do that.
He shot her a hard look but didn't pause to argue.
Together, they ghosted through the trees. For once, the forest didn't fight against her as she eased through it, branches teasing her hair as they bent to make way instead of blocking her path.
Not a single twig cracked underfoot, the barest rustle of leaves was inaudible, nothing to announce their passage to the foe ahead.
As if they'd done it a hundred times, Kira and Finn split from each other, the distance between them widening as they worked through the forest.
A wail of pain changed into a roar of rage that shook the trees.
Kira stopped. That wasn't ataladog.
No, this sound was one she recognized, though she'd never experienced it while in this form.
Finn came to a halt, using the trees as cover as he stopped to observe the scene. Kira did the same several feet away, peering at the dirt running path she usually used.
Right now, it was far from empty.
Twotaladogs circled their prey, their heads lowered as they fixed hungry gazes on their target. Thetaladogs were massive, their shoulders reaching Kira's chest. Armored plates protected their vital spots and tusks curled out from their mouth as furry ears pricked and rotated as they communicated with each other.
To the right, Kira caught sight of several bodies, red dotting them.
A primus stood between thetaladogs and the initiates, his lips parted as he showed his fangs. Larger than Kira's primus form by at least a foot, he was built for power.
Runes and swooping lines covered skin the color of ebony. Bright yellow eyes stared out of a face that no longer looked entirely Tuann, his change more drastic than Kira's. He had a blunt nose, his lower fangs more pronounced so it looked like he had an underbite. His hair was shaggy and long, almost a mane.
And he had a tail.
That was all Kira had time to observe as he burst into movement, grabbing one of the mammoth dogs and flinging it aside. A high-pitched yelp left the creature as it hit a tree and crashed to the ground.
Impressive.
Her primus might have been able to kill thetaladogs, but it wouldn't have been able to fling them around like they were children's toys.
The creature's mate attacked, leaping onto the primus's back. It used claws and tusks to try to maim the primus, who was having none of that. He reached around, grabbing the dog and slamming it into the ground.
Kira remained motionless, thinking it was over.
Muffled sobbing reached her. She stiffened as the primus went still, his head lifting, those yellow eyes with slit pupils focusing on something to her left.
Kira shifted, her stomach dropping as Joule's terrified face came into view. His arms quivered as he fought to hold akishield in place. Visible cracks ran through its surface, testament to the blows he'd already fended off.
Blake lay on the ground at Joule's feet, unconscious and with his right side covered in blood. Aeron and Rheya stood at Joule's back, their faces bloodless from the same fear that covered Joule's.
It wouldn't be long before Joule's strength failed him, and the shield collapsed, exposing those inside it to the primus.
"Jin, we have a slight problem," Kira whispered.
The primus took a step forward.
Determination settled on Joule's face, the shield growing brighter as he pumped morekiinto it.
She'd say this for the kid. He was brave. One day, when he grew up, his people would be lucky to have him as their shield. Until then, it was up to her to make sure he survived.
"What do you mean there's a problem? I thought you were supposed to be running." There was a pause, Jin's suspicion crackling through their link. "You did go running, right?"
