Changing Rain

Marching

" What happened lad?" Telrin stood above Eric with folded arms, his face more worried then stern. Eric sat leaning against an old tree, back in his human form. Telrin could not see his face for it was tipped forward with his chin resting on his collar bone. Linsum sat next to him, casually leaning against the same tree with his arms pillowing his head, eyes closed as he feigned sleep.  

" I don't know, I just..." Eric let his voice fade out, not having a true answer for the shifter. Telrin sighed, and pinched the bridge on his nose, trying to keep his frustrated worry at bay. Greck stood a small ways back, Soren in his panther form at his side, raven on his shoulder. Telrin sent them a look, wishing that they would leave, but they stayed rooted to the spot, watching. The Raven flew off Grecks shoulder and landed just before Eric, hopping a bit closer to peer curiously up onto his face. Eric glanced up at the large bird shifter, his face miserable. With a loud and startled caw, the raven tried to run backwards, his form shimmered as he phased running backwards, then tripped over Linsum's suddenly extended foot. He landed flat on his back, staring horrified at Eric with large dark eyes.  

" It him! Its the guard, the human guard!" Telrin winced and glanced at the camp just over the small hill, but none were paying attention to the small group. Soren snarled, his throaty bubbling threat made Eric go pale.  

" Soren! That's enough!" Telrin ordered, the large black panther lowered his voice but did not cease. The Raven shifter phased again and tried to fly away, but Greck snagged his leg as he passed by through the air.  

" Quiet Palik." He spoke softly to The Raven, who viciously began pecking his hands. Soren started to snarl again, crouching down ready to pounce. Linsum was on his feat and phased in one swift leap, guarding Eric with hackles raised and lips pulled back. Palik phased so that his sudden weight pulled Greck down and roll out of his grasp. He came up on his feet sword drawn and looking menacingly around. Greck drew his sword as well, but didn't look convinced that he was doing the right thing in protecting Eric, looking to Telrin for guidance. Eric just sat with head hung, his face impossible to read.  

" Hey!" Telrin shouted, letting the Captain in him give his voice a ring of commanding authority. " Knock it off before I make you!" Everybody except Eric froze, looking towards Telrin with wide eyes. They all looked a little demented.  

" Everybody lower your weapon, that means claws and teeth too. " Slowly Soren came out of his crouch as the two recruits let their weapon drop. Palik threw his to the ground in disgust. Keeping the steel in his eye, Telrin motioned to the ground next to Eric.  

" Sit." Soren rumbled deep in his throat, but sat next to the forlorn Eric without delay. Palik open his mouth, ready to argue when Greck yanked him down next to him as he sat on Eric's other side. Linsum phased and came to stand alongside Telrin, mocking even in his partial obedience. Palik leaned forward to glare at Eric around Greck, who elbowed him sharply in the chest to lean him back again. 

" Palick, was it?" The dark haired youth stopped glaring at Eric to give Telrin a sharp look.  

" Palik, considering your circumstances your reaction in understandable, but not acceptable. Soren?" The Panther straightened his back and shoulders in a soldiers stance, then phased, his hands locked behind him in the stance.  

" Sir."  

" You have no excuse Soren." 

" My excuse is that there is an unexplained human in our camp, Sir. Action had to be taken. " Palik nodded fiercely.  

" Then it seems you've forgotten the entire reason you came over here. " Greck said hotly, he punched Eric in the shoulder with his hand shimmering with Netsanii magic. Eric phased unwillingly, then changed back as Linsum punched him in the other shoulder, hiding a smirk. Eric gave him a flat stare yet said nothing.