“Fenris,” I called as I began to creep away from the clearing. “We need to get out of here. There’s a tiger shifter on the prowl, and if he finds us –”
The wind shifted, and I stiffened as I caught the scent of a tiger male. The rustle of a bush was the only warning I got before he sprang out of the undergrowth, claws extended and mouth open in a ferocious snarl. I leapt to the side, and he sailed past me, landing a good ten feet away. Heart pounding, I took off running at full speed before he had a chance to turn around, making sure to head away from Annia and Fenris. There was no way I was going to stand and fight a shifter who was three times my weight, when I was three times faster at top speed.
Unfortunately, the forest terrain meant I couldn’t run at top speed, so I could hear Daresh crashing through the underbrush behind me. Sailing over a fallen tree log, I gave one last burst of speed, then took a flying leap into a tree. I scrambled up until I was out of the tiger’s reach, digging my claws into the bark for purchase, then clung to a thick branch and changed back into human form.
The tiger shifter came into view just as the white light faded from my eyes, and I watched as he skidded to a stop in front of the tree. His orange eyes glowed malevolently as he snarled, but before he could jump up into the tree after me, I shot out my hand and shouted a Word. Ice blasted from my palm, and the tiger yelped, jumping back out of the way before the stream of magic hit him. It hit the ground instead, and a sheet of ice crackled across the surface like the top of a frozen lake. Except this was summer, so the ice started melting immediately.
Okay, so maybe using ice wasn’t such a great idea. I would have preferred fire, but I didn’t want to risk catching the entire forest ablaze.
Growling, the tiger shifter stretched a tentative paw toward the ice. He yelped as his pads came into contact with the frigid ground, then snatched the paw back and growled at me again. I lifted my hand threateningly in the air again, magic glowing around my palm, and he froze.
Stalemate.
Fuck this, I thought as the ice on the ground rapidly melted into a puddle of water. Iannis had been training me to rely on Words to cast spells, but my Loranian repertoire was limited, and that shifter’s friends were going to be arriving soon. I could already hear them blundering through the woods, though still some way off. So instead I aimed my glowing hand at the shifter and willed him with all my might to freeze in place.
Magic shot out of my palm and blasted him straight in the chest. A blue-green glow rippled over the tiger as he froze in place, mouth still open in a soundless snarl. He stood stock-still, like a statue carved from orange, black, and white marble. If marble were fuzzy. And had really long fangs.
A ripple of fatigue washed over me, which was typical whenever I pulled magic directly from the well inside me instead of using Words. But I pushed it back, then used an illusion spell to make myself blend in with the tree. I watched the three humans charge into the clearing, weapons drawn as their eyes darted around anxiously.
“Fenris,” I called out mentally, scenting him and Annia nearby. “Hang back. I’ve got this.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. Stay back unless I call for you.”
“What the fuck is going on?” the red-haired man snarled as he caught sight of the tiger shifter. “Daresh, why the hell are you just standing there?”
“Whoa,” the blond said, crouching down in front of the tiger and waving a hand in front of his face. “He’s like a statue or something.”
“By the Ur-God.” The third man, a stocky guy with long brown hair pulled back into a tail, grabbed blondie by the belt and dragged him away. “Someone’s cast a spell on him! There must be a witch in this forest.”
“It must be one of those shamans!” the redhead howled. “Daresh must’ve run across the Coazi, and now look what’s happened!”
“Are they still somewhere around here?” Blondie swiveled his head around frantically.
“I dunno, but I’m not gonna wait to find out! I knew this was a bad idea, having them send us out without any kind of protection against these magic-wielding savages. You guys do whatever you want, I’m getting out of here before they come back and turn us all to stone!”
Red sprinted from the clearing as though his pants had caught fire, and his companions quickly followed, not even sparing a glance at their shifter comrade. I arched an eyebrow at the tiger shifter, who was still capable of glaring daggers at me – his eyes were practically shooting flames.
“Guess your buddies aren’t real big on loyalty, are they?”
Surprise radiated from the tiger – he’d been so shocked by my spell he hadn’t realized he could still use mindspeak. “Their loyalty is to the Resistance, not to me specifically,” he growled. “I don’t blame them for running from an abomination like you. What the fuck are you?”