A/N: I'm back. Sorry about the delay. Both of my computers crashed at the same time and we just got one back. Enjoy this chapter.
The castle stood on the cliff edge, half-constructed walls sprawling out over the ground. Magifigures were scrambling around the castle, lifting huge stone blocks with pulleys in an effort to complete the castle before the mage could unleash his wrath on them. They may have had the intelligence of three-year-olds, but they knew pain well, and would do all they could to avoid it.
None of the creatures took any notice of the two small birds of prey that hovered above them, riding the thermals with ease. The larger roc banked and moved closer to the castle, keen blue eyes searching the windows. The bird landed on one of the windowsills, hopping into the room.
A shrill cry pierced the air and the second roc folded its wings, plummeting down towards the window. With a quick flutter of its wings it tightened its spiral inside the room and landed softly on the floor next to its companion. Blue eyes shown with reproach and the smaller bird shrugged.
The two shifters rapidly changed back and Tala frowned. "Do you want Kai to kill me? Keep pulling those stunts and I'll be explaining why he's forced to scrape you off of the wall." Rei's eyes flared with anger, pupils slightly slit. "You're not my mother. I'll do what I please!"
Tala brushed his bang back, anger slowly melting away. Rei was just worried about Kai. He knew that he wasn't doing the younger shifter any favors. "I'm sorry. I just don't want anything to happen to you. Kai would never forgive me and would go back to being a heartless bastard."
Rei smiled, golden eyes slowly returning to normal. "As much as I appreciate the mushiness, let's get going. I want to find Kai and get the hell out of here. This place is creepy." Tala nodded, totally agreeing with his friend's mate. The castle was made entirely out of black stone and the only lights on the inside were mage lights that flickered constantly.
Rei quickly shifted, body lengthening, black and white fur rapidly covering his body. Tala was only seconds behind, a tail sprouting. Footsteps echoed on the floor, coming straight towards the hiding area. They quickly glanced at each other, knowing that being caught half shifted would be the death of them.
Tala scrabbled for the area behind the dresser as fast as he could with legs that were half wolf half-human. Rei glanced up, barely able to see the rafters in the darkness. He tensed and grabbed the wood, hauling himself up to crouch on the rafter, finishing his shift once he was balanced.
A small green skinned creature with bat-like ears came into the room, carrying a spear. It glanced around the room once, before leaving again, the door slightly ajar. Rei dropped from his perch and shook himself, fur falling into place.
Tala slipped out from behind the dresser, tongue lolling out in happy wolfish grin. He jerked his head towards the door. Rei nodded and the two shifters slipped out of the room, intent on finding Kai.
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Rei sneezed as they came into an ill-lit corridor. The smell of blood hung thickly in the air and both shifters could barely make out Kai's smell. The corridor stretched out for what seemed forever, doors lining both sides. Tala moved to the first door and sniffed around the edges. With a sigh he moved to the next door, wishing there was a quicker way to find the slate haired shifter.
The tiger followed after the wolf, sniffing at the doors. He was exhausted. The three shifts had drained him and he was feeling exceptionally light headed. He didn't think he had enough strength to search the entire hallway. And the stench of blood wasn't helping any.
He stopped in his tracks, the blood reminding him of something Dranzer had told him. "You will be forced to follow the blood bond." Rei had forgotten the blood bond. The distance between them had caused his connection with Kai to be so tenuous that it seemed almost nonexistent. But when he was conceivably only three feet from his mate, the bond should be strong enough that he could find Kai in seconds.
Rei sat and curled his tail around his paws, ignoring the strange look Tala gave him. Right now he needed to be absolutely focused. He closed his eyes, searching for the spot in his mind where the bond tingled, a silent sign of Kai's life. Had his mate been killed he would have known.
The tingling intensified and in his mind he could see a rough outline of the hallway, one door outlined with a faint red glow. He shook his head, the picture disappearing. Tala was staring at him, blue eyes silently questioning.
Rei shifted back and smiled, golden eyes glowing with happiness. "I know where he is!" He ran to the door, soft-shoes silent on the stone floor. "Kai?" The sound of something scraping on the floor reached his ears. "Rei?" His mate's soothing, deep voice was slightly harsh from disuse.
The raven-haired shifter yanked the door open and threw himself into Kai's arms. Kai didn't smell like roses but at the moment he didn't care. He was just glad to know that Kai was in one piece. "I missed you." Kai pulled Rei closer, running his hands up and down the smaller teen's back. "I missed you too."
There was a slight scuff and Kai looked up to find Tala, still in wolf form at the door, tongue lolling out in a grin. "Good to see you to." Rei pulled back from his mate. "Let's go. This place is creepy." He quickly shifted back to tiger, feeling more comfortable.
Tala and Rei watched with expectant eyes, waiting for Kai to shift. Mahogany eyes slid shut as he pictured his favorite shift next to the phoenix. Thick muscles layered over his own, adding bulk. His body lengthened a tiger like tail appearing. Red and black fur sprouted, making him look like a shaggy tiger with a wolf's muzzle. Retractable claws slid free, clinking softly on the stone floor.
He took a deep breath of the stale dungeon air. His sensitive nose sorted through the conflicting smells with ease. The mage, the mage's creatures, Rei and Tala's shifted scent, and the fast fading scent of Rei as a human. There was something about Rei's scent that smelled slightly familiar, but strange. It made him want to curl up around his mate and never let anyone near him.
Kai moved next to Rei, nuzzling his face into the black and white fur, tongue smoothing down the fur in an effort to convey his feelings. Rei, slightly confused by his mate's actions just stood there, head resting on Kai's shoulder. They stayed like that for several minutes, leaning against each other, basking in each others presence.
Tala made a sound that sounded like a cross between a sneeze and a growl. One mahogany eye opened and Tala nodded towards the fall end of the hall where the shadows of several of the magnifigured were visible. With a final lick, Kai drew back from Rei, and the three shifters moved back into the cell. Keen eyes watching as the creatures passed the hallway.
They slipped out of the cell and down the hallway, treading silently. They where near the end of the corridor when Tala, who was at the back stopped. He looked at the closest door, head cocked to the side. The wolf shifted back, resting a hand on the door.
Kai also shifted back closely followed by Rei. "Tala, we don't have time for you to screw around." The redhead didn't answer, blue eyes thoughtful. Kai glanced at his mate, mahogany eyes slightly dilated with stress. Rei smiled, running a gentle hand through Kai's hair.
Tala broke the silence, voice low. "It's a shifter." He pushed the door open. The shifter was sitting against the far wall, eyes focused on Tala. He looked to be the same age as Kai and Tala. His eyes were a pale, almost white silver and his hair was lavender. A bruise decorated his left cheek.
The redheaded shifter stepped into the cell, Kai a step behind. "Bryan!" the lavender haired teen smiled slightly. "Kai. If you're here, I have no doubt my tribe has ceased to exist." Rei and Tala glanced at Kai, both of them utterly confused. The slate haired shifter noticed their confusion.
"Bryan Kuznetsov, heir to the Teruam Tribe. We've known each other for a number of years." Kai glanced at Tala, a slight smirk curling his lips. "Poor Tala feeling betrayed?" The redhead shrugged, eyes still focused on Bryan. "No. Can we get going?" Without an answer he started shifting.
Kai glanced over at Rei, bewildered by Tala's behavior. His mate smiled, golden eyes shining with happiness. "You know exactly why he's acting that way. Think!" the older teen shook his head and shifted. He wanted to do nothing but sleep for the next three days.
Bryan was the last to shift. His body elongated and small silver scales covered all exposed skin. Wings sprouted from his back, quickly followed by a long, cat-like tail. He stretched, wingtips brushing against the walls. The lavender haired shifter folded his wings with a smug look at Kai.
The slate haired shifter ignored him. Bryan had a flare for using shifts that were functional and tended to lean towards flamboyant. His choice of a dracat proved it. Dracats were a cross between a firedrake and a mountain cat of some kind. Their colors covered both ends of the spectrum and were rumored to be incredibly intelligent.
Kai started down the hallway, searching for an exit. The feeling that they were being watched seemed to increase with each step they took. He came to a sudden stop, his fangs glistening in the low light as a much hated scent reached his nose. It was a mixture of blood, magic and iron, a scent that he would never forget.
A light nip at his tail brought him back to the real world and he turned to find Rei watching him with concerned eyes. He could barely see Tala over his mate's shoulder and he could see that Tala was also worried about his behavior. A half open door was sticking out into the hallway. Kai cautiously peered in, ready to attack if something was in the room.
His keen senses told him that the room was empty. He pushed the door the rest of the way open and shifted. Rei joined him, golden eyes quizzical. "Kai, what's wrong?" The slate haired shifter shrugged. "I feel like we're being watched." Tala joined them, blue eyes slightly narrowed. "I agree."
He glanced at Bryan who was standing by the door, silver eyes scanning the hallway. "There's nothing following us." Kai and Tala exchanged a quick look over Rei's head. The redhead nodded and went to talk to Bryan. Kai pulled his mate closer, resting his hands on his shoulders. "Rei, I want you to leave."
Rei's golden eyes widened in shock, his mouth starting to open in protest.