A Shifting Land

Chapter 33

She heaved a sigh, her feet tearing up the already well worn path. "Bladen, this doesn't seem like a good idea. I don't know if I can do this."

"Swift. It's a chance for knowledge. Look what you learned with Lana. From that short time in that library. How many thousands died. Why fear it?"  Bladen ran his tongue across her head.

"We can learn the fundamentals of ships. Of all those swords. Salvador's weird wings. We don't have to be social, we can just hide away in the library."

How stupid do you think Firestorm is? Do you think she wont be able to see who I am? Especially in close proximity. My scent can't be that different. Loki's isn't that different from mine." 

Illandria snickers. "Can't believe he prefers Loki over Galaxy or Star." 

"Yeah. Says the bastard who spun the story of Loki the storyteller. Prince."

He is technically a prince. He would be your heir, and you are Firestorm's heir."  

She stopped, looking back over her lands. Her pack, barely 500 strong but sane. Sane and red eyed in many cases, but sane. Plenty had changed in the 7 months from her last dealings with the alphas on the mainland. She smirked, her abilities rippling under her skin. Jaunts between lands hardly phased her. Her claws were sharp. Mind fast, faster even with the practice Illandria insisted on every day. 

She watched as Kiri lunged for Loki, catching him across the shoulders with a sharp kick. 

Loki spun, not hesitating to throw himself into the dirt, his hind legs launching Kiri into the sky. 

She held back her giggle. "I am going to miss harassing them every day."

"Don't worry, you'll be home before you know it."  Bladen reassured. 

Swift leapt up, shifting on the fly. Wings flicked out from her spine, feathers bending with effort as she winged across the skies. 

The sun bowed to her, blinding her attempts to fly with every beat into the light.

"What do you think her reaction will be?" Swift whispered. Pale blues switched to soft greens as she swung over land. Life stirred around them, birds and monkeys squealing at the predator shooting between their homes. She landed gently, wings vanishing in a heartbeat as she studied the ground. Hundreds of feet in the sky, she clung there for just a second.

"Swift,"

She winked at Bladen, her claws slipping free of the trunk. Wind battered her face, taking her breath away as she twisted between the branches.

Bladen surged forward, shifting them on a dime as they vanish into a thin mist. He flips them, focusing on the bird of prey staring down at them with a look of disgust. That's a Dukari, from Firestorm's pack." 

"Guess it's time to introduce myself." Swift shivered.

She pulled herself up onto the branch next to the bird, her shift taking her fast as she dropped back into her feline form. She tilted her head, examining the bird. "Good day. Please notify your alpha I am here. I wish to join her pack."

The bird squawked, it's feathers standing on end. It stared at her, eyes wide.

"Well? Do I need to make the announcement myself? I do not enjoy using your pack links when I'm not part of your pack. It's rude."

Branches trembled, nearly jolting her off her branch, "Of course you don't, little one. Zoran contacted me the second he saw you." 

Swift dug her claws in deep as the branch bobbed merrily under the feline, her nerves getting her as her ears go flat against her head. She released, letting herself fall the last few feet to the floor. "My apologies, Alpha. I really wasn't sure how best to get in contact with you."