Creature Changers

Sorry for the very late update... I was planning to get this chapter up a week ago, but I went away for torture camp, you see...

And of course, from that camp, I bring lots of juicy new ideas home! Expect a lot more content!

Disclaimer: YES YES YES! A LOT MORE REVIEWS THIS TIME! Thank you so much everyone! Please continue to review! Yayyyyy! (dances)

(and forgets the disclaimer again)

000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

Chapter 20: The Last Half of the Chapter

000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

Felix gasped for breath as his heavy opponent crushed him to the ground, knocking the wind out of him. Sharp gleaming fangs glistened in front of him before they went for his throat. Felix felt the tiger's hot breath on his neck, and squeezed his eyes shut, pushing hard with his weak arms in a futile attempt to get the mammal off himself.

Is this the end! Why had he allowed himself to get caught without changing? Felix cursed himself for making the biggest mistake of his life. His heart stopped as the weight disappeared.

So. He was dead. Now he couldn't feel anything.

"Felix! Get your stupid hide up and help!"

So this is what the afterlife was like. With Garet yelling at you.

Stunned, Felix opened his eyes. Though his body was sore from being pushed down, he felt fine. Pushing himself up, he turned to look at Garet. He was in sphinx form, struggling with the tiger. They matched each other claw for claw, paw for paw, as they tumbled over each other in attempts to reach vital points in the opponent's body. They rolled over and splashed into a hidden swamp.

Felix reached for his birthmark and changed at once, climbing onto four hooves. Mia was binding an unconscious man to a tree with stems from a strangling fern, and Felix guessed that he was the fallen giraffe. Jenna was struggling to stay airborne between the twigs and branches of the trees, and evade the horns and headbutts of her goatly rival at the same time.

And the dragon was on the ground, bloodied and unconscious.

"Jenna! You see to Isaac! Try to heal him!" Felix cried, galloping forward towards the goat. Before the astonished changer could react, Felix had grabbed the animal around the middle and tackled it to the ground. Jenna landed and drew in her wings, running swiftly towards Isaac.

The goat kicked out with its own hooves and sprang up on all fours. Lowering its head, it aimed its head at Felix and charged. The centaur was knocked backwards by the headbutt, and landed in a bush of very prickly leaves. Cursing, he struggled to his feet, trying to ignore the sore feeling in his front. Definitely bruised. The goat tossed its head proudly and stared at Felix with glittering eyes.

"Felix! I can't heal Isaac! I don't know how!"

Distracted, Felix turned. Jenna was kneeling in front of Isaac in her own form, running her hands over certain joints, checking for any major injuries. Her face was pale, and Felix feared the worst. Mia was done with the giraffe, and she ran towards Jenna and Isaac.

Then he was butted in the side by the goat. Kraden's voice came back to him.

Rule number 05: Never turn your back on an enemy.

He was truly careless today. It must be the MaxC-potion. Grunting, Felix struggled to regain his footing on the muddy patch of ground he had fallen into as the goat rained bruising blows on him with its hooves. Felix reached and clutched two thin legs, and summoned his strength to throw the goat in front of him. He clambered up and raced towards the goat, drawing back his arm in a punch.

Suddenly, the goat thrust up its head, pointing its horns backwards. Felix couldn't stop, and the momentum sent him rushing forward, impaling him on the sharp horns...

Felix gasped as the horns pierced his skin. One failing trait of a centaur was the very vunerable skin. Pain stung at him repeatedly, and he felt his head start swimming. The goat bellowed a cry of victory, and its hind legs kicked up, striking Felix hard in the abdomen. Forcing himself to focus, he gripped the horns of the goat tightly in both hands, and pulled with all his might. The horns torn away from the goats head with a sickening rip, and the cry of the goat this time was of pain. Felix stared in horror as blood spilled from the goat's head. It collapsed and lay still.

Not trusting himself to look at the wound on the goat, Felix concentrated instead on his own wound, which was bleeding profusely. Gripping the horns still embedded in him, Felix pulled again, this time in the opposite direction. His own skin tore out, and sharp, intolerable pain seared through him. Dropping the blood covered horns, Felix staggered over to Isaac, Jenna and Mia.

"It's not helping," Jenna moaned as Mia sang, refusing to stop. Streams of water were flowing into Isaac, but none of his wounds were healing and he was still unconscious. Blood covered his entire body, and certain joints were twisted at impossible angles, suggesting breaks in bone. Felix winced. Inwardly, he wondered if Isaac was still alive... Jenna looked up as Felix collapsed onto the ground, and gasped at the open wound in his stomach. Mia looked up as well, and aimed one hand at Felix. Her voice continued to ring out, and Felix felt the cooling water soothe his wounds.

"There's nothing wrong with your abilities," Felix assured Mia, still groaning slightly. "I'm recovering. Slowly, but it works."

"Then how come Isaac..." Jenna stared at the unconscious dragon in dismay. She reached for her birthmark and changed, covering Isaac with one wing. But he just began smoking slightly, and Felix quickly brushed the wing away.

"These flames aren't the healing ones. They're hot, Jenna. You'd be doing damage," he said. Darn it, Isaac... Wake up!

Jenna changed back. "Mia, why isn't it working!"

Mia didn't dare to speak. She continued singing.

"Wait, your mermaid is immortal, isn't she?" Jenna suddenly said. "I remember reading somewhere that the immortal spirit of a mermaid can save lives!"

Mia froze, and she turned to glance at Jenna sharply.

"Immortal spirit? Can it be given away?" Felix asked. After Mia stopped singing, his body began to feel sore again.

"The book I read said so! It would make a person immortal, and heal all his wounds! Mia, do try!" Jenna pleaded.

"I... I can't..." Mia lowered her face. Felix stared. What was that expression...? Pain? Despair?

"Why not! You have to save Isaac!"

"But... I can't! I don't even know if it's possible!" Mia protested.

"Well, you could try!" Jenna insisted. "You're the only one who can save Isaac now!"

Mia turned to stare at Isaac. The tears in her eyes fell.

"I... won't. I can't. Please don't ask me to give Isaac my immortality..." she faltered.

"Why not?" Jenna felt a wave of anger surge through her. Isaac still lay there, probably dying, and Mia didn't want to help. "You just want to keep your long life to yourself, don't you! You're so selfish!"

"Jenna!" Felix warned. But his sister's hot temper and tongue was lashing out.

"You're just thinking of yourself, aren't you! Can't you spare a thought of Isaac? Can't you see that he's dying!" Tears rolled down Jenna's own cheeks. She could not imagine Isaac dying. It was only some time ago since he last spoke to her. Her heart convulsed painfully, and she grabbed Mia's shoulders and shook her hard.

"Don't! I have my reasons!" Mia argued. "You just don't understand!"

"Break it up!" Felix yelled, separating both girls. He ignored the pain of his still unhealed injuries. "The more you argue, the more time you waste!"

His heart is still beating... there's still a chance... Felix thought. Come on, Isaac. You can't just end here!

Mia said no more. She began her song again, concentrating her energy on the fallen dragon. Jenna sat down and fumed, staring worriedly at Isaac. All three changers watched the dragon desperately, each hoping that his wounds would close, that he would heal. But it failed to happen. A sense of dread settled in their hearts, and they watched in despair as Isaac's heartbeat began to slow.

Just then, a loud roar reminded them that Garet was still engaged in battle. Felix got up to help, but stumbled down again.

"I'll go help him," Jenna said, her voice cracking. Throwing another anxious look at Isaac, she changed and raced between the trees towards the swamp.

Mia turned to Isaac, her voice faltering slightly.

"Don't worry about me. I'll still survive," Felix said, guessing that she felt guilty about not healing him. "Concentrate on Isaac for now."

Felix felt more worried than he showed. In the short period of time since they met, he had gotten to know and like Isaac. Felix felt warning bells ring in his ears. He did not want to lose this friend...

If only I could heal as well... I can't even go over to help Garet and Jenna...

000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

The tiger writhed in pain, though the heat was not immense enough to burn it. Both Garet and Jenna stuck out flaming claws and stabbed them into the skin of the tiger. It let lose one last shriek, then fell, splashing both Garet and Jenna with swampy water. Breathing hard, they pulled out their claws.

"How's Isaac?" Garet breathed, changing back. His clothes still retained the mud and water from the swamp. Jenna changed back as well, her face pale.

"No good... He..."

A loud bellow cut through the night. Startled, both Garet and Jenna turned and ran. They made their way back through the trees to the other changers, and froze at the sight of the still injured giraffe and a still injured Felix engaged in combat.

"It must have changed and busted the tree!" Garet cried. Rushing forward, he changed again and slammed hard into the giraffe's side, pushing it off Felix. "Felix, go get Mia to heal you!"

Felix knew that getting himself unconscious would help no one. Leaving the giraffe to Garet and Jenna, he limped back to where Isaac lay.

Was it just his imagination, or had Isaac's twisted leg moved?

Mia was also concentrating hard on Isaac. Staring intently at the foot, she heard a soft crunch as the joint creaked and the foot twisted itself back into position. The bone was healing.

Mia felt a deep feeling of relief wash over her. He's healing! He's recovering! He's going to be all right! She concentrated harder, singing out, hoping that more of his wounds would heal.

"Thank heaven..." Felix muttered thankfully. He took Isaac's dislocated arm and pushed it lightly back into place. The bones moved visibly under his skin, and attached themselves in the correct places.

Mia's eyes brimmed over with tears again. She continued singing, afraid of what might happen if she stopped. The clear streams of water flowed faster as she sang, and her throat felt dry as she forced herself to sing on. Isaac was definitely healing. The blood stains on him made him look dead, but Mia knew better.

Then a cry rang out.

"Nobody move!"

Felix looked around sharply. Garet and Jenna had both stopped, and were staring around in confusion. The giraffe charged at them on its half broken legs, and a gunshot pierced the air as it moved. The giraffe collapsed and moved no more.

"Run!" Garet gasped. If there was one thing Kraden had never taught them, it was how to defend against bullets. Jenna raced towards Isaac, ignoring her tired and bruised legs. Felix summoned his last bit of strength to carry Isaac onto her back, supporting half the weight with his own arms. Garet picked up the still singing Mia, and they fled.

Footsteps seemed to follow them, and Felix motioned for them to keep to the shadows. His body felt numb, and he had no idea how long he could hold out.

"If I fall, you guys must continue without me," he muttered. "Don't object. Keep silent."

They moved as swiftly and as quietly as possible, and soon reached a relatively large cave in the ground. Felix brushed aside the ivy hiding the entrance, and uncovered a frightened family of hares.

"We'll hide in here for now. Don't..." Another shot was heard. Felix collapsed onto the ground. Jenna dropped Isaac and nudged her brother with her muzzle. But the centaur did not move.

"No... not Felix..." Garet whispered in dismay. Jenna laid her head on Felix's, crying silently.

Light from strong torches blinked brightly at them, and soon Jenna had fallen into a heap as well.

"Jenna!" Garet cried. "DAMMIT! YOU MURDERERS!" His voice did nothing but reveal their location. The next to fall was him.

Everyone! Mia looked up wildly. Her heart went cold. Everyone had been shot... Despair began to grab at her. Isaac was still alive! She had to save him! Gripping him tightly, she thrust her tail into the cave heavily, and tumbled in. Isaac landed with a thump beside her as the hares scattered.

The footsteps and torchlights were getting nearer every second.

She sang softly, hoping that the assaulters would not find her.

Save Isaac. Mia's mind was still blank about what had happened to the others. There was only one thought left in her numb head. Save Isaac.

Voices were heard, and she gripped Isaac tightly. Then a torch shone down on her and the dragon. A shout of surprise was heard.

"Some more here! A freaking dragon and a mermaid!"

A large black gun was pushed into the cave.

Mia sang on, before a sharp pain pierced her shoulder, and she felt nothing else...

000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

Where am I...?

Am I... dead...?

Is this heaven...?

It was all white. The surroundings were pure white, with nothing else.

It's the end... I died...

Death is so painful...

He still felt sore and bruised all over. His mind was swimming with darkness and pain, and his body ached. Looking at so much white hurt his eyes, and he closed them.

What's going to happen now...

Am I going to stay in heaven...?

Will it hurt forever?

It hurt to think. A major headache started to develop, and he groaned inwardly.

Then he felt a soft touch on his hand. It was warm, comforting and caring. He turned his palm over and held the other hand in his own.

Isaac opened his eyes.

000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

See how long it would've been if I just kept it in one chapter?

Sheba: You split the chapter into three, so you can't call it half. Three halfs do not make one.

Gimme a break. I'm writing this with a fever, you know.

Sheba: No excuse. Dancers perform on stage even when their fathers are dying.

That's a different thing. My head feels woozy...

Sheba: I have no sympathy for you. You could have written more, but for the sake of a cliffhanger you stopped. I'm right, aren't I?

How come this time the writer isn't the all powerful one, and is instead threatened by her own characters...?

Daidairo

Obviously, this isn't lighthearted. Not at all.

Until I feel better.