Winter was right around the corner with the first sharp bite in the winds that blew across the city. It was too warm for flakes of snow, but Merrie knew it was only a matter of days before the first dusting struck the streets. She smiled as she remembered Scorch finding a new outfit for Nir, fussing over her as he insisted on the right type of fur for her coat. He surprised everyone by giving her a heating pendant that he made himself; no one knew that he could make magical items and more than a few people got dangerously close to asking why he joined the guild.
Merrie knew but she wouldn't tell anyone. Scorch used to be one of the people out on the far side of the meat packing district, setting fire to everything. But, he lost the taste of fighting off abominations and left the city fire brigade and became a whore. It was a simple change of position, but it also meant he lost his license to artifice or to use certain types of fire magic within the city. Only as the Guild's enforcer, could he use combat magic legally.
She peered over the edge roof of the Whore's Guild apartment. Down below in the alley, Scorch was just finishing up giving a heavy-set man a blow job. The cum steamed off his body as he leaned back and showed a mouth filled with seed. The customer moaned with appreciation but didn't ask for anything more. A few bills passed between them and they went their separate ways.
Merrie grinned and settled down on the roof. The slate tiles were icy against her skin and comforting. She sighed and ground her naked breasts on the stone, wiggling back and forth as the wind plucked at her wagging tail.
(You are in a good mood.) Tamin was next to her, resting on her side and using her to shield himself from the wind. It was a pointless effort, since Merrie was a tiny thing against his side, but it was the thought that kept them both cool.
She sniffed and caught a brief hint of perfume around her. She spent the morning at Lady Anasome's but, as usual, she didn't remember what happened inside. It bothered her that every time she entered the store, she lost hours. Something happened inside every time, but she couldn't figure out why or how. (Are you sure you don't remember?)
(No, Alpha, I've tried.) There was regret in his thoughts. He tried as hard as her to remember what happened in the store, but couldn't.
The only thing Merrie knew was that she was happy when she left. Happier than she was in her current life, as a high-priced prostitute with her own mansion in what was becoming an exclusive district for the up and coming rich.
Gillette's camp was gone as were the memorials. The city finished building new bridges only a few weeks before and the hourly patrols of the city guard were just beginning to relax.
She smiled. (No matter. I'll get the answers eventually.)
He just sent a wave of affection. Merrie leaned against him, remembering how he protected her from the cold winds so long ago. It felt like years since she entered the city, but they just passed into the fourth year since she came home with her master. A pang of despair rose up, but she pushed it down. She and Tamin gave him a memorial on the day he and Rimmy died. A quiet little moment of silence for the man she missed with all her heart.
Below her, Nir cried out from an orgasm. She was pinned between two university students who caught sight of her as she was walking home the night before. They came back with an offer she didn't want to refuse.
Merrie tensed her body as she basked in the warmth of the teenager's orgasm. Nir was pinned by two cocks, one in her ass and one in her pussy. Except for her arms around one of their necks, she was completely suspended above the floor. The rush of being pounded hard pushed her into a second orgasm and she cried out, her voice echoing in the apartment.
(Wish you were down there?)
Merrie thought about the night before, when she was in a similar position but it wasn't fucking the two men were doing. Instead, they were giving her increasingly humiliating orders and slapping her when she hesitated. She danced right on the edge of being seriously hurt but it was a rush when they pinned her down on the bed and “raped” her. She cried out as appropriate and came so many times that she couldn't count.
Her tail wagged faster.
(I like when they punish you, Alpha, but not when they beat you.)
Merrie rolled on her side to look at him. (Do you want to punish me?)
(No,) he said, (but I do want to knot you like a bitch.)
(Tonight.) Her pussy clenched with anticipation.
Below, she heard Nir's marks leaving the apartment. Shifting over slightly, she peered to the front of the building where the two students walked down the street. They were embarrassed by what they had done but they were turned on more than they would ever be comfortable showing. She grinned. They would be good repeat customers for Nir.
Merrie stepped through into the Shadow. Then she got up and got ready to crawl downstairs, but as she began to move, something stopped her. Frowning, she looked around. Something felt different to her and she held her breath as she inspected her surroundings.
The shadows were calm that night, moving in a stately grace as they swirled around the building and herself. Darkness pooled in the gaps of the light, bringing the world between reality and Shadows.
(Alpha?) Tamin's concern rippled through the connection. (Is it the watcher? Or something else?)
Merrie shook her head. It didn't feel like someone was watching her. Instead, something just felt different to her, but she couldn't figure it out. It was maddening.
(Should I look around?)
For a moment, she thought shew as being paranoid. Then, she remembered the attack on the mansion. (Yes, I'll go this way.)
She turned on the side and jumped over to the next building. Her shadow-fueled magic carried her over to the alley. She hit the ground and stalked forward, watching every shift of darkness looking for whatever was bothering her.
Two minutes later, the discomfort was still there but she could find nothing. Frustrated, she sat on top of the building with the Guild apartment and waited for Tamin.
(Nothing, Alpha.)
(But, it doesn't feels right, to me.)
He sat next to her. Concern filled them as they peered around. (I can't find anything.)
Merrie pushed her senses back into reality, but the discomfort wasn't there. It was in the Shadows, but she only had a vague feeling that something was different. She returned her senses and sent out a wave to scan her surroundings. It rippled out in all directions, a barely perceptible ripple through the shifting darkness. It bounced off little creatures of darkness, but nothing larger than the small abomination or a dog.
(Alpha?)
She sent out another pulse looking for intruders. (I'm just being paranoid. It's probably that watcher still.)
(Are you sure?)
Merrie was torn. She felt uncomfortable but there was nothing. She let out a groan. (Yes, but I want to keep an eye on the Shadows here.)
Tamin nodded.
Reluctantly, she pushed herself down through the roof of the apartment and landed on the bed. The Shadows slid away from her and she sat down on it.
Nir had her back to Merrie as she dressed. Her body was beautiful naked and Merrie was still glad that the healers had erased all the signs of the girl's time as a beggar. Nir hummed softly to herself as she pulled her skirt up, rocking her tight ass back and forth as she squeezed it over her buttocks.
The bed shifted quietly as Tamin crawled next to Merrie. (I would very much like to mount that bitch.)
Merrie caught sight of Nir's breasts from the side and admired them. (I'm sure you would. But, she doesn't want to fuck an animal.)
(She fucks you.)
Merrie hesitated for a moment. She didn't feel human anymore, but she didn't feel like an animal either. She was neither and both at the same time. Her skill in switching between animal and human as becoming almost second nature to her, along with stepping into the Shadows. Gail saw her as an alien force, barely kept in the shape of a hound, but with a mind incomprehensible to her. There was another creature like that, the Lord of Shadows.
(Alpha, do you think you're a Lord?) Tamin wasn't afraid, just curious. (Maybe that is why the Shadows are different. Maybe you are seeing them like it does?)
Merrie shook her head and watched as Nir bend over, innocently exposing her sex as she worked her panties on. The smell of cum and excitement filled the air and she drank in the smell just to relish it. (No, I'm not. But, I don't know what I am. I feel… beyond everyone here except maybe Kirin and Monk.) She worried her lip. (But I love being in the guild. I love fucking, I love letting the guild decide where I work and giving me a schedule.)
(Though, your new assistant doesn't like me.)
(You did try to shove your nose up her cunt.)
Tamin chuckled silently, a wave of amusement coloring both of their thoughts yellow. (She was wet.)
(That's called peeing in fear, silly.) Merrie rolled toward him and bit his ear. (You did jump her and lick her face.)
Tamin flicked his ear away. (Still smelled good.)
Nir turned around. She caught sight of Merrie and her eyes grew wide. And then she screamed shrilly, “Damn it, Ears!”
Merrie giggled and got on her knees.
There was a thumping up the stairs. A heartbeat later, there was a pounding on the door. “You okay?” asked Scorch from outside.
Nir gave Merrie a mock glare and stomped over to the door. She yanked it open and pointed at Merrie and Tamin. “It's okay. The two perverts surprised me.”
Scorch sighed. “Damn it, Bitch, don't get me worked up like that.”
Nir smiled and kissed Scorch on the cheek. “Thank you, though. My hero.”
He chuckled and kissed her back on the lips. He turned to look at Merrie. “Does this mean you want to go out to breakfast with us?”
Merrie begged. Her bark rang out in the room.
“Since you gave us the heart attack, you're paying.”
Merrie squirmed at the order. She barked again. With a jump, she landed on the floor and pranced out of the room. Tamin followed, with high steps in perfect unison with Merrie's movements.
Giggling, Nir hooked her arm around Scorch's and they followed. “Like a little procession.”
“Yeah, but I'm trying to figure out which one wears the bow. I think the dog should have it. Something big and fluffy.”
Tamin glared at him as Merrie giggled.
At the landing on the stairs, Merrie pointed to Tamin who let out a deep woof. She continued down the stairs. Her cloak flowed tight against her body but she still moved in a pool of darkness. At the bottom, she headed out the door and into the street. With a grin, she turned around to beg but froze as she realized something.
The street was empty.
The beggar that always sat on the corner of the street was gone. There was no one walking down either side and all the lights were out in the streets. She glanced through the large glass window of the cafe, but it was also empty. It was never empty.
Responding to her thoughts, Tamin stepped to the side. His heavy body moved with supernatural silence.
“Ears, what's—”
Merrie started to cast protection spells on herself. Her cloak flared with the magic and she felt the energies stretching out into Tamin, protecting him at the same time.
“Quiet,” hissed Scorch.
“Scorch?” whimpered Nir, “What's going on.”
“Something bad. Go back into the apartment.” There was a curl of fire magic rising up, the smell of burning paper and a wave of heat washed against Merrie's back.
“Scorch?”
“Now!”
Four men stepped out at the end of the street. They wore no uniforms but they moved with military precision. They glowed from dozens of different protection and combat spells. The colors were harsh against her senses, blinding her to anything. They were coming for her, she knew it deep in her gut.
Tamin projected in a tense thought, (Four more on the other end of the street. Similarly protected.)
Merrie reached out for the Shadows, but something stopped her. It felt dangerous now, as if the Reaper was waiting to attack. She didn't know what was going on but she couldn't concentrate. Not with armed men approaching.
Tamin's growl shook the air.
The door to the cafe clicked shut and Merrie heard Nir sprinting upstairs.
“Bitch,” Scorch sounded worried, “I see a lot of protection magic. They are pretty well defended against fire, shadow, and a lot of other things I can't figure out. Someone knew that you and me are going to be here. And Pristine and Elf are a lot better at hand-to-hand if we are going to get into a brawl.”
Merrie's mind spun through the transformation spell. With a surge of power, she wrapped herself in the form of a Bel Dark hound. Her growl added to Tamin's rumble as she stared at the four warriors at the end of the street.
“I,” gasped Scorch, “think I just shit myself. When the fuck could you transform?”
(For quite a while,) projected Merrie but she didn't take her eyes away from the four men stalking closer. She knew she could reach Scorch, he was submissive enough for her power despite being dominate most of the time.
Scorch shuddered and a whimper rose in his throat. “B-Bitch? Is that you?”
(Yes.) Merrie barked once and surged forward, her body blurring from the enhancement magics.
Tamin charged in the opposite direction, his form wavering like shadows.
“Fuck!” snapped Scorch. There was a pulse of fire magic and three fireballs screamed past Merrie to strike one man. He flinched as the fire exploded against his face, but as the flames curled away, he was untouched.
Merrie took advantage of his distraction to leap on him. She felt his protection magic burning against her skin as she clamp down his throat. He was protected against mental and shadow magic, but his physical protections were far weaker. She bore down using magically-enhanced strength and her teeth punched deep into the soft flesh of his neck. With a growl, she yanked back and ripped his head free with a pop of a snapped spine and a shower of blood.
The dead man's body collapsed to the ground. Merrie rode it down before snapping her head around to throw the severed head toward the next attacker.
The second man jerked away from the head, his eyes wide with fear. A burst of fire exploded in his face, doing no damage but he stumbled back reflexively.
Merrie jumped off the corpse and leaped for him. He wore a helm to protect his face, but his chain vest left his arms unprotected.
(Scorch, go with Tamin,) she commanded as she grabbed the man by his elbow and twisted violently. Her teeth broke skin as he fell to his knees with a scream. Merrie tasted blood in her jaws, but she wasn't done. With a growl, she used her magical strength and her cloak to flip her body over, twisting the arm caught in her maw. The guard couldn't move fast enough and there was a wet popping noise as she dislocated his shoulder. With a surge of power, she planted her paws on his chest and pulled.
The man screamed out in agony as his arm was torn off in a shower of blood. He fumbled with his sword with his remaining hand until Merrie smacked him with his own arm twice and knocked him to the ground.
(Alpha, there are flying mages coming. And one ground attacker is down over here. We can only hold them off, they are too well protected. I need more strength and speed.)
A sword came down. It scraped her side before landing into the injured man's chest with a dull thunk and scrape of metal rings.
Merrie rolled back and looked at the remaining two warriors. They were both armored in plate armor and she couldn't see any vulnerable area for her to bite. She wouldn't be able to drop either of them as quickly or easily as the first two.
The man who attacked yanked his sword up and swung at her, aiming for her throat. She dodged back and the point of the blade narrowly missed her jugular.
The second remaining attacker's blade cut a line down her back, slicing flesh. She flowed out of the way but she could feel the cuts burning on her skin and matting her fur with blood.
(Alpha!)
(Stop those men!) she ordered. (I'll take these two.)
(You're hurt!)
(Protect Scorch!) She raced through a strength spell and sent it through the connection. On the far side, she felt as Tamin lunged forward and caught an armored man's knee between his teeth. Powerful jaws, fueled by magic, crunched down on the metal and it crumbled along with the man's bones.
Next to Merrie, her two attackers spread out. They held their weapons in firm hands as the heavy scrape of their boots echoed against the walls.
Merrie focused on one of them, using glimpses from Tamin as he fought to track the other man circling her. Heart pounding in her chest, she wished that Haviston had taught her combat spells. She had strength and speed spells, but she relied on her domination more than anything else. She tried a quick domination, but it sloughed off their protections.
The two warriors attacked with fast stabs and slashes.
She dodged out of the way of the first, but the second blade came down on her thigh, opening up a deep cut from her hip to her knee. Pain exploded along her leg and she slumped at the agony. A dull throb filled her body, heat and excitement and anger.
Tamin wanted to come to her but she threw him back. (Defend Scorch! He can't take on all of them by himself.)
(But, you're hurt and you can't get through their armor.)
Merrie shook her head, pushing past the haze of pain and trying not to think of the blood pouring down her legs and side. (No, I can get through the armor, but it will leave me vulnerable to the other. Maybe I can use my cloak to blind….)
An idea came to her. Her cloak had repeatedly formed into a snake when she was threatened. As she considered it, she felt it responding. With a grin, she guided the cloak to one of her attackers while she focused on the other.
She felt a surge of excitement and charged forward. Her cloak fluttered behind her, and then pulled away from her body. It hit the ground silently and shot forward, rippling along the ground as its head reared up.
Both of the armored attackers stepped back and held their weapons to parry. The one Merrie charged after swung his sword, but her body flowed away from the attack and she came up underneath his sword. Using the bony part of her skull, she snapped her head up and knocked his hand aside. With a growl, she chomped down on the man's hip. Magical strength and supernatural teeth punched through steel and she bit down hard on his hip, cracking the bone and rending flesh.
Next to her, the cloak reared up in front of it's attacker. He swung at it and it dodged as two black eyes appeared near the top. It snapped forward, the needle-like tip slammed against his chest plate.
“Nice try,” chuckled the man.
The cloak fell down from his chest and billowed around his arm. With a twist of her mind, Merrie wrapped the cloak around his wrist and yanked down. The sword clattered to the ground as the cloak swung down between the man's legs. With a surge of power, it shot back up between his legs, but instead of aiming directly for his crotch, it punched into the joint between the plates of armor. With a wet fluttering, it poured into the armor and disappeared in a heartbeat.
There was a sudden pause and a flash of fear as the man realize that Merrie's cloak was inside his armor.
Merrie picked up her own victim by his hip and shook him violently. With her enhanced strength, it wasn't long before his body was rattling around in his armor and she heard the muted crack of bones snapping from her shaking his body like a whip.
The cloak swirled around in the sweaty space between it victim's armor and his body. It spread out until it found a vulnerable spot it could attack: his asshole.
The attacker's chuckled died and he began to claw at his armor. His gauntleted fingers clutched at the metal, scraping loudly as he began to scream. “Get it out! Get it out!”
The cloak punched deep into the man. It used the needle-like tip to pierce his organs and formed claws inside his guts as it dragged its way into his guts. It ground his belly against the inside of his armor as it tore through intestines and his stomach.
The man screamed loudly, a noise that sounded more inhuman than mortal. He clawed at his belly, trying to tear off his plate armor off. Sheets of blood poured down between his legs, leaking from the joints of his armor. A moment later, he dropped to his knees with a wet splat. His hands clawed up to his chest, matching the position of the cloak as it ripped its way into his throat.
He managed to yanked off his helmet. Blood poured from his mouth and nose as the screamed died down into a muffled gurgle. Just as she felt the cloak ripping up into his throat, his eyes rolled into the back of his head.
The cloak exploded from his mouth. His jaw was snapped open from the force of it pouring out. It spread itself out in a shower of blood and gore. Hot rain poured down and splattered down around her. She lifted her head as she stared at the supernatural cloak that had just killed someone for her.
A green blast of power caught the cloak, punching a hole through it. Merrie screamed out as she felt a sharp pain as the edges of the hole burned with an emerald flame.
Gasping, she looked up to see two mages flying above the street. One of them, a woman, had her hand held out and green flames licked her skin. The two mages circled around her.
Merrie scanned over them but she was despaired to see they were also protected against her psychic and shadow powers.
The other flying mage raised his hand and bright blue arrows spread out from his fingers to rain down on Merrie.
Merrie dodged between the energy blasts. She jumped up for them, but her snapping teeth only bit down on air. Panting, she looked around for some way to reach them. Spotting the planter she used present herself to find customers, she ran toward it in a wide arc to bring herself close to the fluttering cloak. As she passed, it caught her leg and flowed along her body, wrapping around her neck and then around her body like armor.
She reached the planter. With a grunt, she jumped on it and used it to leap across the sidewalk to the building near the planter. She hit the bricks a few meters off the ground. Flipping over, she used her momentum to launch herself across the air toward the flying mages.
The male mage let out a shriek of fear as she slammed into him. Her furry body pawed at him as she fell down, but she snapped out and caught his foot. Her jawed crunched bone and pierced flesh. With a sicken surge, she swung underneath him until she managed to snake her cloak out to wrap around the mage's neck. Tightening her grip, she used his body to claw up to his shoulders.
The other mage was about ten meters away. Using magic to enhance her movement, Merrie jumped across for her. Her cloak separated itself from her and wrapped tighter around the first mage's throat. It shoved itself down into his mouth to tear his throat from the inside.
Merrie landed on the woman's chest. There was a brief struggle which ended when Merrie's teeth clamped down on the woman's throat. She tore it out with a jerk of her body and then rode the corpse as it plummeted to the ground. The body hit the ground and Merrie rolled into it. She came to a halt a few meters away just as her cloak returned, attaching itself as if it never left.
The other mage hit the ground with a wet thud. His eyes were blank and his tongue stuck out of his mouth. Blood began to pool underneath him and traced along the cobblestones he cracked with the impact.
Down the street, Scorch and Tamin were down to one fighter and a flying mage.
Merrie dug her claws into the bricks and raced down the street to join them. As she sprinted past the front of the cafe, she saw a flash from the building. She came to a screeching halt and raced back to look inside.
Nir was struggling with a man. There were tables and chairs on their side, tossed aside during her struggle. A blue haze hung in the air. She was screaming, but no noise escaped the windows. Nir caught sight of Merrie and called out to her. She ducked underneath the man's arm and sprinted for the door.
The attacker spun around and Merrie's heart stopped. It was Rakin. She could never forget the man responsible for the destruction at the fair. Something deep inside her still craved him, a remnant of the spell triggered by him removing her collar, but anger also rose up inside her. Rakin was responsible for her master's death. The anger brought power with it and the world darkened around her as she glared at the man she was going to kill.
In the years since she last saw him, Rakin had changed drastically. He was still broad-chested with scars from prior battles. She had seen him in Jacir's memories and in her nightmares. But, the years were also hard on him. His hair was close-cropped and almost entirely gray. There were more lines on his face and a perpetual scowl had been etched into the lines. The anger, though, was still there. It burned in his eyes and she could feel the rage even through the glass window of the cafe.
Nir's eyes caught Merrie. She held out her hand for Merrie and her mouth opened up, mouthing the word “Ears” but no noise came out. She scrambled on the floor, trying to get purchase. She had lost one shoe in the struggle and she limped as she raced for the cafe window.
Rakin grabbed her hair and yanked her back.
She struggled to remain on her feet as she tugged frantically at her hair.
He dropped his other hand on her shoulder. It was encased in the metal gauntlet and the runes glowed brightly. There was a sharp flash and electricity exploded from the gauntlet. Arcs of lighting ran along Nir's body, reaching out for the metal in the room.
Nir's eyes rolled back as she screamed. Her body shook violently and she collapsed to the ground. Even though no noise carried through the glass, Merrie felt sick as she saw the girl clutching herself, her body jerking as the electricity ran through her delicate frame.
Digging her claws into the ground, Merrie charged the window. Her cloak shot out and shattered the window before she leaped into the cafe. The shards of glass rained down around her, breaking into clouds.
Nir's scream, muted by the glass, ripped out past her.
“No!” screamed Scorch. His fear and protectiveness spiked, burning brightly against Merrie's senses.
(Alpha! He's leaving and I need help!)
Merrie forced a domination spell to turn Scorch around. (Defend my pack! I'll get your bitch!) As she projected, she stood up and growled loudly.
Rakin chuckled. “And now we have the third little player for this game. Took you long enough, Merrie.”
Merrie continued to growl, the rumble in her chest filling the room. She stalked forward as she prepared for an attack.
“You didn't think I was going to give up on you, did you? Though, I would have never expected you to survive your old master's death.”
She snarled at him.
Rakin smiled and flexed his fingers. The gauntlet crackled with power and the energy beat against her skin. “It doesn't matter how long you hide or where you flee, I'm going to have you. One way or the other.”
Merrie charged, leaping over Nir's spasming body.
Rakin caught her with a backhand. The metal rang out and there was a burst of electricity.
Merrie hit the ground with a gasp. Her body jerked violently as she struggled to regain control of herself. She heard Rakin's footsteps as he got closer and her heart pounded with fear. She needed to move but she couldn't. With a whine, she forced herself to push through the pain and let the transformation spell slip away.
She was human again, naked and vulnerable, but she had control over her senses again.
Rakin hesitated, confusion washing over her.
She transformed back into a hound and jumped to her feet. Her cloak snapped out and grabbed his gauntleted wrist. Shoving it to the side, she chomped down on his arm and bit down with all her might. Her teeth scraped on an invisible field and her jaw snapped shut painfully on itself, biting her tongue.
“Nice try, but—”
Merrie spun around and kicked out with all her might, using magic to enhance her strength. Her feet caught him in the hip and the force threw Rakin across the room and into the bar at the back of the cafe. The wood shattered and hundreds of bottles and cans poured down over him.
Turning around, she raced over to Nir and sniffed. The girl was alive but sobbing in a pool of her own urine. The electricity no longer tore through her, but Merrie could see burns and cuts all over her body. Her mind was also cracked from her brief brush with violence and terror.
“No, no,” cried the young girl.
Merrie started to ease Nir's mind with a spell, when Rakin's voice interrupted her.
“You don't get it, Merrie.” Rakin stood up and brushed the splintered wood from his shoulders. It stuck to his body but he didn't look bothered. “I've been planning this for months. Natalie,” he pointed to Nir as he said her given name, “is also part of those plans.”
She snarled at him, her hackles rising along her neck.
Rakin stepped out from the bar. The dust and haze highlighted the protective magics around him, creating a shimmering field that surrounded his body. He stepped out from the ruined remains of the bar and chuckled.
Merrie stepped over Nir. She would never let Rakin take the girl away.
Rakin chuckled and brushed the dust from his shirt. “Ready to go? I have the perfect place for us. Quiet and shielded. There is no way any of your guardians from the guild will find us.”
Merrie jerked at his words. She glanced around as she spread out her senses. She felt nearly hidden magic surrounding her. Her eyes focused on tiny runes inscribed on the floor. With a start, she began to see more of them. They covered the ceilings and walls.
Fear burned her senses. She had seen the runes before, back before she was a bitch or an alpha. They were on the fronts of the stores and on the streets, seconds before she was kidnapped and thrown into her new life. Teleportation magic glowed in the runes.
“Go on,” Rakin said, “try to move to the Shadows. You'll find a surprise there.”
Merrie wasn't intending to flee, but his words sent a prickle of fear. (Tamin, I think Rakin trapped the Shadows.)
(That would explain why it felt strange.)
(Be careful and don't step through.)
(Yes, Alpha.)
Rakin bellowed, “Trigger!”
The runes exploded into light. It spread out across the floor with blinding speed. The magic burned across her skin as she felt the teleportation spell gripping her. Even knowing the Shadows were trapped, she knew she could escape. But, she could never leave Nir behind; Rakin would just use her against Merrie.
Frantically, Merrie sent her cloak to Nir. The black fabric flowed down over the girl and wrapped around her, covering her from head to toe. It bunched up over Nir's leg, the closest part to Merrie.
As soon as it was in place, Merrie bit down on the nearest part. The taste of her cloak and fresh blood flooded her mouth. Fearful that she would hurt Nir, she braced herself and snapped her body around, throwing Nir through the window and out from the range of the teleportation magic.
Nir's wrapped body flew across the air and Merrie cringed, terrified to hear the body hitting the cobblestones.
Pain exploded across her senses. At first, she thought Rakin attacked her, but it came from Tamin. The hound was in the Shadows and he was burning. White flames seared at his skin as he sprinted down the street.
(Tamin!)
He didn't respond with anything besides determination as he punched back into the world and landed right underneath Nir as she sailed over him. With a surge of speed, he jumped and caught her by her arm. He felt a crunch which sent a shudder through Merrie, but he twisted in air to cradle Nir's body as they both crashed through the opposite side of the street.
(Is she—) Merrie's frantic projection was cut off as the teleportation spell swallowed her up and everything turned white.