Chance of Survival

Cages and Even More Cages

AN: posting another chapter because last chapter was a bit short.

We were moved from Fireflare's much bigger plane to one that was a lot smaller, medium sized. Once we were on it they took off "have two of them tail us but make sure the rest stay with the plane so it doesn't follow us. Let them shoot it down if they want to." Gunman told the person who was waiting on the plane. He lead us to a solid metal room that had six cages made of thick strange looking metal. Three of them had animals in them but those were no ordinary animals two of then were Bailey and Miko. However the third cage that had something in it was unlike the others, it was made of the same metal and barred but it had a think foggy glass in between the bars that made it hard to see into it. But the holes that were letting in air allowed me to hear what sounded like an angry alligator fighting with a bunch of snakes. Before being shoved into cages we were fitted with heavy metal bands on our legs and necks. They appeared to be made of a similar metal to the cages and were attracted to the cages like magnets. I had a thin but strong rope of woven material wrapped around my side to bind my wings. Before they started putting muzzles on small pills were shoved down our throats. I didn't get a muzzle as they couldn't fit it because of the beak but I was still shoved into a cage like everyone else. I wasn't sure how long we had been on the other plane but this one was going fast a lot faster, I could tell by the roar of powerful engines straining to go faster. It didn't take me long to figure out what the pill did, I couldn't shift back or even talk to the others over the mind link. I sat in silence, well I was silent the thing in the cage next to me only got louder as time when on. However the plane ride didn't take as long as I thought it would because after what felt like maybe fifteen minutes the plane landed. The cages were quickly taken off the plane and pushed into a building my cage was shoved into somewhere dark before the door opened reviling the harsh artificial light of fluorescent bulbs. I walked out of the cage into a cold metal room brightly lit that had a second opening. As I stared at it a sleek graceful creature walked out. It has to be at least nine feet tall making my 5 foot secondary form seem tiny. It only took me a second to realize what it was as I started at it in wonder. I was staring at a glossy dragon who was watching me curiously. She was lean and lanky built like a cheetah, made for speed and cutting through the air. Her scales were mostly the color of oil, black but reflecting light to make it shimmer with a rainbow of colors. A pattern of silver diamond shaped scales ran from her muzzle down her spine to the end of her tail. Her chest and belly scales looked like jewels, crystals, and pretty stones. The iridescent scales weren't smooth like the others but were slightly pointed out making them look jagged. She wasn't as big as I first though her tail making up most of her body length but it was narrow and got skinner the closer it was to the end. Her wings were easily the biggest part of her. Long and narrow for quick flight the smooth leathery part reminded me of stained glass as it was a rainbow of vibrant colors all different shades forming unique patterns and odd shapes but it was almost see through as you could see the blood pulsing through the veins. The spikes on her back were diffidently see through, completely clear they got closer together the further they were down her back. When she stepped forwards towards me I got a look at her claws the front paw's claws looked like crystals and the back like precious metals. Before I could step back she was right in front of me blocking me from moving forwards as her lips curled back showing off gleaming white teeth that were all slightly pointed backwards at the tip. When I glanced up as I slid back trying to escape the room I saw that she had to different colored eyes. One was bright silvery cyan and the other was dark rich emerald color but both had slit white pupils. My eyes went from her eyes to the top of her head where long horse like ears were tucked against horns that looked like polished ivory veined with dark gold , they were almost straight but like her teeth the tops were point but they were pointed forwards. She snarled lowly before she spoke 'Who are you? I've never seen you on the Isles or the Guard.'
'Guard? Isles? What are you taking about? And why would you know me? I've never meet you before.'  She moved back looking confused as I realized that the pill must have worn off because she shifted into a rather large odd reptilian creature that reminded me of an alligator and then to a human. I had though her dragon form was intimidating but her human form was more so. She had glossy black hair that had the same effect of her scale, it reflected the light in a way that made it seem colorful but instead of a rainbow it was blues and purples of varying shades. She was tanned so much more than me and made the black hair work but it really made the long white bangs on the right side of her face stand out. Her eyes were what made her seem scary but her height helped as she was taller than Zoey. "You really don't know anything about us do you?" She asked as I shifted to my German Shepherd form then human "Us?" I asked as I could think of nothing else to say "Wow you really need a history lesson." She says smiling which ruined the whole scariness. "You could say that I've had a rough day first I woke up as a dog, ran around found others who had turned into animals. Came home only to discover that my aunt can shape shift too and that mythical creature exist and I am one of them then got kidnapped and then kidnapped from my kidnappers only to be locked in the fourth cage of the day with a dragon who I thought was going to kill me only to tell me I need a history lesson!" I say but end up almost screaming the last part. She frowned before suddenly pulling me into a hug "Well I will end your confusion. We are shape shifters or as we call ourselves Crystalline Shifters, I will talk about that later. We live on the Isles of Sparks its hidden from humans and not on any maps. There is one major island that is the entrance to the city. That city is Rockhollow it's underground. Most live in the city but the Guard and few others live on the main island. There are four other smaller island that are around the major one. The Guard is the group of shapeshifters that protect the Isles. If you are a shape shifter with two forms you are part of the Guard. Once you shift into your second form the mark starts to show and you get trained to be a full member of the Guard. Sometimes hybrids, true hybrids and shifters that have forms of extinct animals, join the Guard and other times they don't. Of course hybrids are a bit different from normal shifters they often have powers over the element but other than that they are the same. We, that is shifters with two forms, are different because of the two forms. We turn into magical creatures and most of the time domestic animals, which is not common in single form shifters, have the ability to be more powerful than any other shifters, and instead of animal instincts that might take over its like our magical form talks to us. However because of that on every full moon that creature takes over which is why our pupils are a different color to show who's in control. While we are protectors we are peaceful and only patrol the islands to make sure humans haven't found it." It was a lot to take in yet all I could say was "Okay wow I have a lot to learn but could you at least tell me your name."
"Jordan Ashton Queen and you are?"
"Ace Heather King." I reply and get a shocked look that I assumed was from the last name thing. "Let's get on with the learning." Jordan says not commenting " The main island is covered in crystals and some gems. The crystals make up the ceiling of Rockhollow during the day they light the city by reflecting sunlight into it and at night they glow. Half of the city is protected from the ocean by rock and the other half by a wall of glass like crystal. The water helps bring some light into the city but a cool thing all kinds of shifters can do is glow. Everyone has different line like patterns of fur or scales that glow. Some are just one color and others change colors but everyone has it unlike the Guard marking which is a certain color for each rank." As she said that she shifted back to her dragon form and lied down on the floor showing me her right front leg. On it was a mark of a tree, it softly glowed pale white. Most of the branches lacked leaves but some had them and the roots went down her leg a bit before wrapping all around it and ending. She yawn which would have been initiating if she hadn't said 'I'm sleepy we can talk more tomorrow.'  Then curled up in a ball like a cat. I then shifted and lied down on the cold floor knowing that I would not be able to sleep due to every thing I had just learned. So instead I decide to talk to the others with the mind link but only Zoe was awake.