Using the beast
The man cried out as a blow impacted with his hand, causing the syringe to go flying out of his grip and land on the ground; cracking open and spilling it's contents. "Hey, that was expen" Even as he objected, a large hand closed around his windpipe and his voice trailed of to a squeak. Sounds of crashing reached their ears from outside as Cane and Pan fought off the guards.
Onca was immediately at Shalimar's side, lifting her eyelids to reveal feral eyes.
"She's been re-infected." Onca sighed, beginning to undo her restraints.
"I thought we got here in time, there was still stuff in the syringe." Dus exclaimed as the man went flying into a nearby wall to slump to the ground unconscious.
"Well, some of it's in her. She might only be partially infected. I don't think it can be contagious this time, though."
"How'd you figure?" Fel asked from where she was watching the door.
"You see my eyes? I can't tell from where I'm standing, but I'm pretty sure they're still human. You know how quickly it spread last time. Besides, it makes sense he wouldn't want us re-infected if he wanted to sell us off."
Nodding, Dus leant to lift Shalimar out of the medical chair, frowning as she started to twitch. "Onca, what's going on?"
"There's probably some anti-virus still in her bloodstream, from when she was cured the first time. Hopefully it will neutralise some of the virus."
"OK, well, we need to get back to the watchtower to meet up with her friends, preferably before she wakes up." Onca left the room carefully, stepping over the guard's bodies to lay a hand on Cane's back where he was sat in the corner, looking upon the destruction he had caused.
"Come. Let us go home." She murmured softly. "There has been enough destruction today." Cane nodded slowly and stood, following Onca out.
She was groggy at first, only partially away of the arms that encircled her, and the smell of water and plants. Birds trilled quietly, unaware of the not-quite-animals who moved though their midst. Pollen tickled her nose. She opened her eyes to investigate her surroundings more closely and found the face of a man. She knew this man, knew his face. She tried to drop to the floor, and strong arms restrained her, holding her tight. A warning rumble began in her throat, building to a growl.
"Hush, Umbrae Vulpus. You are safe with us." The voice did not belong to the restraining arms. Rolling her head back she found another face. Bright green irises disappeared behind yellow feline ones. Looking up at the soft brown eyes of the one who carried her they also disappeared behind a yellow shield. She was safe.
Dus frowned as the approached the clearing beneath the watchtower where he had left his friends. Gesturing for the others to stop he laid a hand on Shalimar's arm to stop her. She pulled up short, looking down at his hand on her arm as if it had appeared from nowhere. Dus turned back to the other four, ignoring her.
"There's something wrong, I can't hear the others and the whole area smells of steam and fuel."
"A trap?" Pan asked. "Or has Mutant X left without us?"
"I don't know, but"
"Dus!" Fel interrupted him. "She's gone!"
"What!?!" He turned to find Shalimar half way out of the cover of the trees and running, as if headed to the other side of the clearing. She stopped, short and sudden, about half way across and Dus gasped, thinking she'd been shot. Then, as if it were the most normal thing in the world she reached out one hand and knocked the air like a mime artist.
Not one of the three ferals could believe their eyes as a hatch dropped down and a door opened with a man silhouetted against a bright artificial light.
"Hey, Shal, have you been waiting long? We've shipped a few groups of ferals out to the city, the last lot told us to wait for you. Adam said to tell you your friend is going to be fine." A tall dark haired man stepped out of the Helix. "Do you know how hard it is to fit 10 ferals at a time into the Helix? I didn't think it would" Stepping into the light Brennan noticed Shalimar's eyes. "Oh, Shal."
She awoke, having slept the day through. Things weren't simple anymore. She was learning that every day. There were words and thoughts. Things that had no place in a beast's mind. They leaked in as though from a dripping tap, drop by drop.
Things slotted into place and the human in her knew, and smiled.
"The beast does not control me, For I am the beast."