A Shifting Land

Chapter 4

Faint glimmers of sunshine reached past spindly branches, dawn light setting the morning mist ablaze with colours. Far too many little birds screamed and called, driving the little cat from her slumber too early once again.

Swift stretched, slowly flexing each leg separately. She studied her paws, the midnight black fur dingy with mud. She shivered, remembering how the winds tore through her hastily made nest the night before. Ten days had passed since her arrival on this wretched land, ten days of fear and hunger. And Kiri. "Thank the gods for a friend," she muttered, her smile flickering to her face.

She set to work, slipping down to the lake Kiri had shown her. Fish flitted beneath the surface, drawing her deeper into the crystal clear waters. She sunk in deep, her ears flattening against her head as they sealed shut against a watery intrusion. Shadows shimmered across her oil slick fur, it's waterproof coat reflecting to a blur as she sunk deeper.

Mottled blue eyes blinked open within the murk, her tail flattening to a paddle like dynamic. Her legs folded neatly against her sides as she shot forward, body twisting and turning as she zig zagged through the water like a bullet. Her fangs snapped closed around a fish as she broke the surface of the water.

A fox startled, baring his teeth at her with a ferocious snarl. The Dukari glared down at her, nearly 6' at the shoulder compared to her measly 4'. His tail twitched, his fur relaxing as much as it dared. "Demon."

Swift lowered her head, her eyes fading back into her natural emerald green before taking a single step back towards the water. She set her fish down carefully, sinking her claws into it before daring to speak. "Hello. Please just ignore me and I will do the same. I mean no harm."

The fox scoffed, his tail curling over his feet as he forced himself to sit. "Yeah, right. Demons just show up every day swearing no harm. Sureee."

Swift bristled, "Isn't that a bit rude," She examined him, eyes tracing over his form.

Ebony fur framed his face, silver ringlets highlighting a blistering amber gaze before fading to a deep cherry red. Silver and black sliced into the reds, like shadows cast over the sun's rays. She couldn't help but compare this young male to Kiri and Kiri's calm energy. It was like this male's coat couldn't help but reflect his fiery temper in places, no matter how hard he tried to hide it.

He snarled, his lips pulling back with a sneer. He shot towards her, slamming her back into the water as he snagged her fish away. "I don't need to be scolded by a demon like you. Why don't you go wither and die like your kind is meant to?"

Grasses slid back as a shadow blurred across the field. Kiri slammed into his brother, taking him from his feet with a low snarl. "You do not touch what's mine, Shylo. Alpha gave me permission to practice with her. Not you. You are not the leader here."

The fox, Shylo, flipped Kiri and gave him a hard shake. He sneered, his claws sinking into his brother's tiny frame. "Kiri." He scoffs. "Father is a fool to trust you with our lives."

Kiri struggled, growling softly. "Get off! Shylo! She isn't the danger we need to watch for." He leaned forward, something shifting in his gums as he tried to sink teeth into his brother's leg.

Shylo jumped back, cuffing Kiri across the head repeatedly. "I will tell father you... You attacked me over your pet demon!"

Kiri lays stunned for a long moment before he pulls himself back to his feet. He blinked once, twice, his eyes darkening to a burgundy. He pulled his lips back, a second pair of fangs pairing with his. "No, Shylo." His voice was a cool purr. "You won't. You're going to forget that it was over the demon."

Bladen whistles, "Man, look at that power! Gods he needs proper training, but can you imagine him as alpha? Standing at your side, both of you respective leaders of your own packs? Man." He glances over her, noting the glazed gaze he received back, "No?"