A Shifting Land

Chapter 5

Flare settled by her side, her tail flicking up over Swift's side. She leans against the kit, her sightless gaze managing to focus on each of the snarling creatures. "Of course we can."

Alpha steps up, his smile forced. "Flare, why did you bring that creature into my home?"

"Well considering that you, darling, decided to leave our heir in charge of what you call a demon, as well as allow your pack to antagonize it. How exactly do your expect him to keep control if you can't keep control of your own?"

Kiri stepped up, running his muzzle against his mother's fur. "She is not demon. She is Dukari. Same as us. We don't call other outlanders demons. They are outlanders. Why can't she be an outlander?"

Shylo stalked forward, "She warps his mind with unnatural powers. Just... Let me kill her father. Then the issues will be resolved."

Flare smacked out, her claws ripping into Shylo's cheek. She took a step forward, her claws tapping the ground as she stared down at him. "This is not your fight, child. You disappoint me. Leave us."

Shylo whines, creeping his way back beneath his father's feet.

Bladen chuckled, "Look. Kiri is actually manipulating her to fight on his behalf. Don't get me wrong, she'd fight for you, but she wouldn't risk fighting her entire family."

Swift leaned over and gave Kiri a nip on the ear, her words a mental nudge. "Stop. Don't destroy your family for me."

Kiri flicked his ear away from her, tearing the edge. "They don't care. Not for me. Not for what I enjoy. I want a friend. I want to be selfish."

Alpha tilted his head, crafty intelligence glaring back at his partner. His gaze flicked downward, eyeing the kit who caused him so much aggravation over the years. The one he wanted to bow to each time he spoke up.

Kiri met his eyes, challenged his gaze. Violet veins slid through a burgundy iris, his mind expanding to envelope his father. "Enough, alpha. She is my pack. If I reside here, so will she. You broke the agreement you and I had, you lost control of your members, and now this is the retribution I require."

Alpha shot forward, sinking claws and teeth into Swift with a brutal shake. He tore, talons beating her skin into weeping submission while her mewls carried on the air.

"Stop." Kiri ordered, his second holding control. Their power froze every creature in the clearing. "Leave her be."

Bladen slid forward, shoving Swift back out of sight of the mind's eye. "Thank you." He turned a disappointed gaze on the pack cowering around them, "But haven't you destroyed years of hiding?"

Kiri chuckled, his voice slipping to have a slight lilt to it, "No. They won't remember what he did with his abilities." She gave him a wicked smile, "Though I do wish this child would let me get rid of the bad ones. They are difficult to manipulate the more you do it. Quite aggravating."

Bladen laughed, his form shifting slightly. "So I've seen. I would've much rathered not bleed. Too bad." He flicked a paw, splattering blood around the clearing. He stepped up to the alpha and stared him down. "You." He tsked, "You really shouldn't mess with an alpha of a species you hardly understand." He glanced back at Kiri's form. "You sure you can wipe his memories?"

The creature nodded, "No doubts. Kiri is screaming insults at me though."

Bladen yawned, letting the signature fangs of a true Dukari drop, venom glittering on the tips. "Next time you come after me, I will sink these fangs in deep. You will bleed out in minutes, screaming in agony. Do you understand me? Remember this fear."