"Shit ton of bricks," Mark soared down lower and scanned the village. He dived down and shrieked loudly. He paused in the air and pointed a talon towards the castle. As the villagers quickly fled upon following where he pointed, Mark dove around the invaders and caught their attention.

"Red Hawk!" One spat.

"I'm a peregrine falcon now, actually," Mark pointed out. They scowled and began to draw their weapons.

Mark spiraled in the air and dodged arrows and poorly thrown swords and axes. "This is a little easy. Any challenge?"

"A challenge?" He glanced over and stiffened as he saw a familiar figure crouched in the shadow of a building.

"Err, n-nevermind!" Mark called nervously. As the man stepped out, Mark turned and bolted away at an angle. 'Go, go, go, go, go, go,' He began to heave breaths as he urged himself to go faster. Once his instinct told him he was at the right altitude, he tucked his wings to his side and plummeted down.

When he neared the ground, he flared his wings and swooped up. He was sure he was far away- -and as much as he hated retreating, and leaving the village vulnerable, he knew what would happen if he'd stayed.

"Surprise," A voice whispered above him. Something grabbed the back of his talisman and jerked it up. Mark was jolted back and he flapped desperately, twisting around to try and wrench free. The falcon above him countered his movements and slipped off the necklace.

Mark extended an arm to try and grab it again as there was a flash and he was human again. He fell facing the sky and turned around, landing heavily. He gasped in pain at the impact and breathed heavily as he laid on the ground.

"So," He flinched a bit as there was a flash and a pair of feet landed in front of him. "Three pendants. Lucky me."

'Wait, three? That's not right...'

"I can sense you're confused," Mark felt a pang of agitation as he imagined his smug expression. "I have yours, mine, and Black Swordfish's."

"Wait- -how did you get- -?"

"That's my own business," The man interrupted before turning to an eagle in a flash of light and flying away. Mark pushed his upper half up and winced in pain. He rolled onto his back and sat up. He took a few long breaths and rubbed a shoulder.

He stumbled up and looked towards the sky. "C'mon... Where are you, you son of a bitch?"

"You enjoying your pretty necklace?" Jack asked as he skidded along the hallways at a sprint.

"Yes, actually," Felix replied as he fiddled with it.

"Good. Cause you're gonna use it today and now," He replied without breaking stride.

"Wait, what?" Felix was slowing down to stop, but Matthias urged him forward from behind. Felix hurried up a long flight of spiraling stone steps and emerged at a smaller tower of the castle. Jack turned into a sleek green cheetah almost immediately.

"Uh, why the running animal?" Felix inquired.

"They can see far and the black markings under their eyes cut off glare, so I can see out better." Jack replied briskly. He studied the sky before muttering a curse under his breath.

"Damn. Matthias, we got company," Jack turned back human and glanced over one shoulder.

"Shit. Am I correct to assume the worse?"

"You are," Jack nodded. His figure was suddenly gone as he molded into an osprey and shot off.

"Well, Felix, looks like you need to use your pendant," Matthias placed a hand on his shoulder. Felix briefly glanced over at him.

"But how?"

"You'll learn like the rest of us- -" He suddenly slipped behind the blond and shoved him off the tower.

"WHAT THE FUCK!? I'M GONNA DIE!" Felix yelled as he plummeted.

"We all reacted the same way. Trust me, you won't die." Matthias called to reassure him.

Adrenaline raced through him as Felix tensed in panic. The air rushed past him, and he shut his eyes tight as he braced for impact. He gasped as something swoopd up from below him, and he was suddenly on the back of a hazel colored dragon. It arched around and landed on the tower where Matthias had shoved him off.

"Apparently you don't shift well," He commented lamely as Felix shakily slid off.

"T-That almost killed m-me!" Felix snapped.

"No kidding," Matthias responded with a nod to the dragon. The animal huffed, looking displeased. "Anyways, we can't help, in this case. Just stay here, and don't die, Kay?"

Matthias' form changed to a kite (the bird, obviously) and he nodded briskly at Felix before soaring up. He sent a departing message as he went; "Just stay there, and it'll be okay."

Somehow, Felix highly doubted that.

After thousands of years...

I AM RESSURECTED!

I'm back and writing chapters! Whoop whoop! :3