A Shifting Land

Chapter 30

Kiri swallowed nervously, each step dragging as looked to the bipeds he'd trusted in that single moment. Many sat, some rocked with quiet cries of distress. Fish sat next to Swift, her hand resting on her head. Her tears welled as Kiri approached. "Why? Why did you bring that creature to hurt us?"

Kiri's hands trembled, his own eyes clouding. "I didn't know where else to go... This is my home too." He ran a hand through his hair, wincing as fresh lines of blood raced down his arm. "I.... I didn't know he'd hurt you. Hurt your family."

Brother reached out slowly, his fingers moving with just the slightest hesitation. "Can you help us?"

Kiri's legs gave out, dropping him to the floor as he tried to catch his breath. Tears ran down his face, his sobs shaking his form as he shifts back.

He pressed his muzzle against the kit so still on the ground. Her fur a rich dark red, so short it could hardly be called peach fuzz. "Little one...." His mind reached out, hoping to find a spark, a sign.

Her mind faded, faint mental tracks disappearing on the winds of the mental ether.

D'vala pulled him back, "Kiri! No. She's too far gone. There is no choice left for her. She already made it."

Kiri pulled back, his mind scanning. Illandria's voice soothed, pulling him along.

Swift lay against Bladen, his tongue rasping over her head with every shaky breath."Deep breath. In and out. It's almost done."

She pressed her head back into Bladen's chest. "Is he still listening?"

Bladen glanced over, the tiny little silver cougar curled into a perfect loaf. His tail fluttered, flickering in and out of this reality. "He is."

Her back arched, internal organs spilling out across the ground as she screamed. Every muscle twitched, coiling against one another.

The kit flinched, "I.... The story is great... But I don't think I can stay...." He glanced to his feet, his little claws slowly being pulled free. "I'm scared."

Illandria chirred, "Come on little prince, it's not that much longer. Curl up here, right beside me."

He raised a foot cautiously, focusing hard on bringing it back down. Winds whipped through his mind, ripping him from his perch.

Kiri went silent, his abilities tearing through time and space, weaving a desperate pattern beneath the realms.

Swift reached out, her claws sinking into herself, tearing, forcing the kit to land on soiled grasses. Her body revolted, shutting down around her mind.

She ducked aside, forcing herself to run. To leap to the next mind, no matter how they yelled at her to stop. A vortex caught her, pulling her steadily free from the tiny body.

She grinned, placing one foot in front of the other, soft hands drying the kit when she couldn't. She forced it to breathe, hacking coughs wracking it's body. She cooed softly, the storm disappating around them.

Kiri nosed Fish's hands aside, his tongue stroking the little boy's head. "Come back little one. You can. You fought to stay before. Fight again."

Sharp fangs broke skin, claws and teeth sinking into Swift's tail. The little cat glared up at her, half lost to the other side.

She spun, pulling her tail, and him, free back to this realm. "You came back." She pressed her head to his, ignoring his squeak of horror. "I'm sorry. I...." She wrapped herself around him, her chirr rattling her body