Kira gasped as she heard hoof beats behind them as they ran through the forest, glancing over her shoulder at Jasa, his yellow eyes wild.
His whole front was covered in blood, but she realized by the unimpeded way he ran that none of it was his own. God, what had he done to those men in the basement?
She was quickly realizing what a drastic difference there was between Kyle and his leopard. Where Kyle was kind, compassionate and somewhat naïve, Jasa was rough, merciless and jaded. The leopard protected those he cared for with a terrifying ruthlessness.
But they were the same person- just two different sides. Her shifter, Kyle and Jasa. Even running for her life she felt the Pull of the mating bond, and knew she always would.
We can't outrun horses! Kyle shouted through their minds. We have to do something, not just keep running or they'll catch us again!
Kira knew what she had to do. The idea terrified her, but it could no long be avoided. She slowed to a halt, knowing the horses would shortly catch up to her. She didn't mind that though, she raised her hand and felt the earth answer to her call.
She heard Jasa let out a low cat-like noise of concern that she had stopped but felt the rock and stone buckle beneath them as it answered their call when the horsemen neared. The soil rose up like a wave of water, angrily splashing in front of her as she waved her hands to control it, her forehead beading with sweat at the great effort to control stone.
She let the wave loose toward their pursuers, the rock colliding with horse and man, sending them flying and burying some alive, while others were wounded by the sharp stones and sticks that were within the soil.
She started running again, grabbing Jasa's wrist when he stared at the men behind them in shock, not moving from his spot. They ran again, but she gritted her teeth in pain when she felt a black tendril of death seep into her magic, making her insides burn in pain.
She swore when another group of men burst out of the brush in front of them, the men dismounting to capture them as the others from behind that hadn't been buried started to advance again.
Jasa swore harshly beside her as he crouched low to the ground, getting ready to fight again. She held her hands up again, magic sparking among her fingertips as she glared at those who would kill not only her but Jasa for the sole purpose of being different. Who gave them the right to determine who lived and who died?
The men attacked quickly, not giving her a chance to put up much of a fight other than having roots grab at their feet and stones flying up out of the ground to cut and bruise them. One of the men grabbed her as Jasa fought off three men at once, claws and teeth ripping and tearing.
The man grabbing her had a strong grip- and despite her kicking and flailing he held her tight.
"Calm down, little witch." He growled in her ear. "Or we kill your mother. We have her captive- and if you don't come with us quietly, you'll never see her again."
Kira froze in shock, not knowing if the man was telling the truth or not. She knew her mother would never get captured without a fight, especially knowing she would be held against her daughter.
Jasa had finished off the men around him, some of them sporting broken bones and others had flesh hanging off them in great rivets of claw marks. He ran over to the man holding Kira and the human cried out in pain as Jasa slashed his back, letting Kira go as he staggered backwards in pain.
Jasa growled fiercely as he gave the man a square kick to the chest, sending him sprawling backwards on the ground.
"Come on, we have to get home. It will be safe there." Jasa growled, grabbing her wrist and dragging her into the forest again.
Kira looked back at the man who lay on the ground gasping in pain, wondering if they really did have her mother.
Jasa nearly roared with glee when the mansion came into view, running up to the door and all but pushing Kira inside before closing the door behind them.
"Tinder!" Jasa yelled, the salamander coming into view in a puff of fire. "There are men outside- they're after Kira because she is a witch."
"A witch?" The salamander looked at Kira curiously before glancing back to Jasa and nodding. "We'll defend the mansion, get Kira up to the second floor to the water elementals to heal your wounds."
Jasa nodded and ran up the stairs, leaving the elementals to take care of the hunters.
"Oak!" Tinder hissed in alarm. "We must defend the mansion- prepare for battle."
The gnome ran into the room, jumping up to the windowsill to see outside. "By Father Sky's long beard, there's a lot of them." He glanced back down to Tinder. "Think we can take them?"
"I can." Tinder growled, flames licking at his fangs as he smiled. "How about you, old man?"
The gnome just grinned, hitting his fist into his other palm. "This will be fun."
Kyle realized that the longer Jasa took control of his body, the more tired the leopard got. By the time they made it up to the top of the stairs, Jasa was exhausted. He refused to show it though, bringing Kira into the room and setting her on the bed as water elementals surrounded them in concern, their small bubbles floating slowly as they examined the cuts and bruises over them.
"I will give you back control, Kyle. If you have need of me, call to me. Otherwise I will… sleep." Jasa said, sounding a bit breathless as he spoke.
Kira glanced over to them in concern as Kyle regained control, shaking out his shoulders and rubbing his sore arms. Christ, whenever Jasa fought he hit like a bear. His arms were going to be feeling this for weeks.
Or… a week, depending on how things went.
They all jumped in surprise when a roar shook the house, the men outside all shouting in alarm as stomping shook the trees of the forest. Kyle jumped up and looked outside, despite the water elemental's small protests at his quick movements. His eyes widened as he saw a black and gold dragon spurting flames toward the horsemen, a giant beside him smashing into the ground and sending stones flying in their direction.
Wait…
That dragon looked a lot like Tinder… but huge.
"Can you guys do that? Grow huge like that?" He looked back at the water elementals as they floated through the air.
He nearly choked in shock as one of them grew to human size, sitting on the bed beside Kira, who stared at the mermaid with wide eyes.
"We are elementals- we have many forms." The woman said, covered in pale blue skin with long wavy white hair. She was inhuman looking- her scales shone in iridescent colors and her eyes were shining blue lights. "This form is easiest for us to use our true magic, when it is needed." She set a slender hand against Kira's skin, a blue light radiating from her palm.
"So… is that Tinder and Oak?"
"Yes, the fire elemental and the earth elemental are defending our home." The mermaid shrugged simply.
Kyle couldn't help but think of the way she had said 'our home.' The elementals were getting quite attached to this place. Maybe after he was able to actually last longer than a week the elementals would be willing to stay.