In Another Skin by kickit

THE HUNT

I heard my stomach growl, the hunger tightening inside. It’s time to hunt. Slipping out of my clothes I let my instincts take over, allowing my other form to take place. Once changed, I slid opened the window and slipped through. Running towards the woods I could feel the many creatures around me freeze, paralyzed in fear. They can hear me coming, they can feel the danger. This excites me more then anything. As a hunter I know that these are my only means of survival, as a human I was disgusted. Once changed, it’s hard for me to grasp my human connections, my emotions. But maybe I should be thankful for that, it allows me to kill in cold blood without feeling sorry. I snapped my head to the right, a zebra was hiding. In our woods, you can find any animal. It’s the only place that humans refuse to enter, the only place we can change without the fear of being discovered. I was getting closer, I could hear its heartbeat, in turn mine quickened as well. My blood churned inside me, I was getting closer. I couldn’t wait to dig my thick claws in, rip the skin apart and let the blood ooze down its body. I licked my lips in anticipation and forced my wings to flap faster. This is so wrong, I cringed inside, but what can I do but give in? Let myself starve? I saw the poor animal, whipping its head frantically around him. Its fear drove me quicker, pouncing on it as it let out a scream of agony. I pierced my teeth into its skin, piercing its juggler and forever silencing it.

ENCOUNTER

I felt the air shift around us. What was going on? The air fizzled out and a cloudy mist enveloped us. I couldn’t see anything but him and the fog around us. How is it possible that he’s a time shifter as well? I had yet to find this part of the power and that made me even angrier. I struggled against him, trying to free myself. With his other arm he grabbed my neck. I whimpered, his nails dug into my skin. I was sure that blood was seeping out slowly. Perhaps I underestimated him as a Lord. He pulled my head up so his eyes bore into me once again. My heart was beating frantically. I was scared now, really scared. I had the desire to throw a fireball at him but I couldn’t. I also wanted to disappear and slip away. But I couldn’t do any of this for the risk of exposing everything that I can do.
"You and I, I believe we have many things to settle. But before that, it’s time for your brother Jeremiah to tell me what exactly you are."
He squeezed my throat harder; I started gasping for air, clawing at his face with my other hand. I was glad to see that I in turn had made him bleed. And then I felt incredibly sad that I had ruined his perfect face. Oh well, what a jerk. I squirmed trying to break free but he held even tighter. I had the sudden thought that he could kill me right here and now, his face was not inches from mine, with the blood from his cheek dripping onto mine. He hadn’t even flinched when I did that. Oh my God, Jeremiah is going to kill me. I had inflicted pain onto a Lord, I was going to die. I felt a tingle of electricity run through my veins. Oh God, it felt so good, and then not so much. Searing pain flowed through me. I screamed, barely, for my throat was still in his hand and my wrist was throbbing from his other hand.