(MxM) Tales Of A Shifter (P1) - The Meeting

Chapter 42- Report

And so his fourth night of sleeplessness and now empty sheets passed him by.

Figuring that he wasn't doing anything worthwhile in the bed alone anyway Mantilo forced himself to his feet and made his way out of the bed room and into the dim hallways, colored by warm candle light.

He followed in his wife's wake only until they both reached the stair case. He watched her brown curls and slight frame disappear up the steps toward the room where the mortal would be resting. He could scent his son Lander up there as well. Mantilo quickly guessed that his son was keeping watch. He had probably been put there by Glen herself to keep tabs on the mortals continued well-being. Knowing that no harm would come to his wife as long as Lander was with her, Mantilo turned from the steps and walked a few feet to his left until he came to the heavy front door.

He found his way easily in the darkness the Leopard inside lending him its senses. And as he got closer he instantly caught the scents of his other sons. Articles of their clothing sat strewn about the door stop. Shirts socks and shoes. Most Shifters didn't have to remove clothing to Shift from flesh to beast, but Mantilo knew that it was often a faster change if the Shifter had less clothing to meld into their fur.

As he moved the items out of the door way as he and Mantilo realized that they had already returned from patrol. He could smell their inner Shifts and sense the pop of their energy they had left floating around but he would have sense them in the house. Just as he had sensed Lander upstairs.

This whole business must be making them restless. They are probably still running the Clan grounds
Mantilo told himself.

And suddenly he was itching to shed his own mortal skin and run in the moon light with them. He quickly began slipping off his shoes. He walked out the door letting it swing shut behind him as he inhaled the cool night air. It was tinged with scent that had become more familiar over the years.

A small light overhead just barely beat back the darkness of the coming night, but it was more than enough light for him to see by. He took a moment to let the beast inside come alive, he felt its spirit unfurl inside of him slowly, like a wooden log, bursting into flames. Warm and vicious but contained within. As Mantilo began to feel it scratching at his mind, shoving against his control. He let it stew as he monitored the land before him.

His home. His land. As Clan Head there was a deep significance to him for the earth that he stood on. A tittle ran in his veins and an invisible crown adorned his head. The smell of the pine forest's to the far left and right, the rotting mulch and pine needles settled deep in him. He knew the smell better than any other. The smell of sweet grass and cool water also came over him floating up from the cliffs behind their home.

A home that he and his sons had guarded and protected for decades and would continue to protect no matter what. As he exhaled Mantilo realized that he wasn't alone anymore.

Something was watching him.

Mantilo let the Shift take him without hesitation; energy unbound within him as he gave over his body to his inner beast. Flesh slid away and reformed tightening and loosening as bones cracked and moved.

Until a moment later there stood a very large male Leopard glaring out into the tall grass. Its heavy limbs and jaws were far larger than any one leopards should have been, as were its giant paws and long tail that lashed back and forth like a rapier. Its giant eyes were dilated and they glowed a bright warm yellow as the Leopard peering into the dark woods and surrounding grass searching for any hit of movement. Finally with a deep throated hiss the Leopard hunched down, its head snapped to the left and bunching thick leg muscles the Leopard sailed off into the darkness.