A Shifting Land

Chapter 20

Swift landed hard, something hot and sour smacking into her chest. She yelped in pain, trying to scramble to her feet.

A flash of brilliant light caught her with shock, shooting by her slow enough to let her see the short fleshy creatures within pointing at her.

Something slams into her, sending her flying. She skids along the ground, skin ripping free from her shoulder and side. The roaring beast attacked blasting over her, scorching her sides.

She squeaked, yanking her feet in close, "Bladen! Bladen! Help please!"

Bladen came to his feet in a flash, staggering slightly. He forced them to still. Waiting. Calculating their injuries.

A low growl picked up from down the road, quickly increasing to a roar. Swift cringed, hiding in Bladen's corner.

Bladen swore, trying to force a sluggish body to its feet. The car didn't even slow, slamming into their body once again.

He fought, trying to keep them awake. He reaches out for D'vala, but only finding empty space. "D'vala, help. Please."

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"Swift!" Kiri cries, moving to jump after her.

D'vala hauls on the brakes, Kiri's leap faltering into a tiny bunny hop instead. "Stop! Freeze. Shift into another form. I'll guide you. Do not leap into the hole that your best friend just vanished into. We need to evaluate it first. It'll do her no good if she is hurt from that and we end up in the same mess by following her in."

Kiri fights for control, reefing it from D'vala. "Show me then. We are not waiting here a second longer."

"Imagine a bird. How it looks and feels. How thin the bones are. How soft the feathers can be.

Kiri scoffs. He pictures himself in the form of one of the nastiest birds he's had the misfortune of seeing. It's head a pristine white with evil beady yellow eyes that had way too much intelligence for a prey item.

His bones snap, becoming lighter. Fur shrinks, tufts wisping, no fluffier then down on a newborn chick. A crest of feathers sprout along his front limbs as he moves into a more bipedal form.

D'vala holds the form, Kiri completely forgetting to. She spreads it's wings, lifting them from the ground with a single flap.

Kiri takes over partially, causing them to fall. D'vala shoves him back, righting them easily. She flies them close to the cave, pausing when the air hums with energy. "It's a portal. To somewhere. I have no idea where."

"Can we walk through it?"

"Sure. Is it going to kill us as soon as we do? I have no idea. Come on. We are going to go find a vine and a creature to throw through." D'vala deadpans.

"Isn't that cruel?" Kiri asks, shooting the portal a longing look.

"Much better then us dying because we don't risk something else." D'vala points out. She flies off into the woods, circling high.

Something catches her eye, small and bipedal. She dives, her wings folding in close. Kiri forces them off course. "You know Swift would be devastated if you used a biped like that." He scolds. "Get a cavy."

She glares at him. Her feathers ruffled as she veers aside. A cavy presented itself right nearby.

Kiri sighs in relief. "Thank you."

D'vala grumbles under her breath as she plucks the squealing rodent from the ground. She flutters to a nearby tree branch, ripping vines free with ease. She ties them tight, causing the beast to squeak even louder.