Nature calls

10 - Kira/Shawn

I'm out in the forest, trying to ground myself when I suddenly feel something in my stomach. Something horrible. Getting up, I sprint home and burst through the door to my house because something's wrong. Something's very, very wrong and I just know that I've changed. I just know that my hair and eyes are green

Shawn is at my side in no time, cupping my face. "Baby, are you alright? What's going on?" Sharon and Hillary come over to us. "What's wrong," Hillary asks, looking concerned.

I shake my head and say, "I don't know, I just feel it. Something is vibrating inside me. It was like the trees whispered to me." They all look at each other with raised eyebrows, so I continue, "I think someone's coming."

Shawn stiffens and gets a serious look on his face "Shit. Let's go outside." Before I know it, they have all shifted into their panthers, so we run outside where I stop and listen. That's when I hear a voice calling out from the trees. "KIRA." The voice sounds familiar, and it doesn't take long before I recognize it. "AKITA?"

Sprinting between the trees, I let my body and instinct take over and the panthers follow me. Then I see them. The whole council is lying on the ground, bleeding with big slashes on their bodies. I hurry over to Akita's side and crouch down, my hands hovering over her body.

"What happened?" I ask with a panicked voice. She groans in pain and coughs up a few droplets of blood. "William. He's insane. He..." Before she can finish her sentence, she passes out.

"No, no, no, Akita, stay with me." My body starts to humm with energy, and I get an idea. I can feel the power of the nature running through me, so I should be able to do this.

Putting one hand on her forehead, I dig the other one into the ground. "Goddess. Help me save these women. Help me save your nymphs. We need them. Nature, I need you now. I need you to help me heal them."

The ground starts to vibrate as it pulses a bright green. Roots slowly grows through the forest floor and wrap themselves around all the women. A collective sigh comes from them like their pain has gone away and they all fall into a deep sleep.

Looking over my shoulder, I see that Shawn, Sharon, and Hillary have shifted back and that they are very naked, but they don't seem to care at all. I turn my head away and blush hard. Get yourself together! Now is not the time to be shy!

"Okay. Hillary, call Kate. Tell her to come here now," I say. "Shawn, stay with them. Sharon, come with me." I'm about to run back to my house when Shawn grabs my arm. "Wait, where are you going?"

I give him one quick, firm kiss before I say, "I need to gather some herbs. I'll be right back." I turn to run back to the house when the words just fly out of my mouth. "I love you."

Sharon and Hillary follow me, and Hillary runs inside to call Kate. Then I look at Sharon and say, "Sharon, please gather all the moss you can. I'll be right back." I run inside the house to the shelves with oils and dried herbs and gather some different things. I know the earth will heal them, but I want to do everything I can to help.

When I'm done, I run outside to Sharon who has her arms full of moss. "Is this enough?" I nod. "Yes, that's good. Come on." We sprint back to nymph council, and I can see that Hillary is already there because there's two panthers lying on the ground, watching over them.

I crouch down next to Akita and start to smear a mixture of oils and soil over the roots before I look at Hillary and ask, "Kate?" Her panther nods, telling me she's called her.

I take the moss and cover the roots with it. I continue to do the same with the others before I sit down and let out a big breath. Tears sting in my eyes, and I can't hold them back, so I let them flow freely. A pair of strong warm arms wraps around my shoulders from behind, and I know Shawn has shifted back again. I lean against his naked chest and sob.