Secrets of a Hybrid

Whoooosh!

What is that?

Whoooosh!

My body turns to see a tornado headed straight for me. Damn, weather magic. I throw the human behind a tree as I zigzag toward the elf. The dark elf doesn't move from his new perch in a tall willow tree. The tornado follows my path, and I know this elf is up to something. My body turns back to the tornado, and if I could cry out in fear, I would.

Now, my body runs in the opposite direction of the funnel. I am picking up speed, and I know I have never gone this fast. What the hell is happening to me! I don’t understand. The tornado slows until it is gone completely, but my body doesn't rest. It heads for the elf, and what happens next terrifies me.

The elf had some barrier up to keep me away from him, but my body wasn't going to let that stop it. I dug a hole and a tunnel, popping up just behind the elf only to be shocked by a lightning bolt. Thankfully the bolt was grounded out by the dirt around me.

"You really are a mutt, aren’t you?" The dark elf taunted me without looking at me.

His next spell washed me back to my tunnel, filling it with water. I dug a new tunnel with a new exit to escape. I took deep breaths feeling my shifted body tire.

"I hate the wet mutt smell." The dark elf scoffed at my reappearance, blasting me with another blast of lightning.

The shock tingled my insides and burnt my wet fur dry. This blast hit my exposed stomach where the human attempted to stab me. My eyes briefly looked over my wounded body that had stopped bleeding. On my stomach, a black blast mark resided.

My body wobbled as I tried to move. The dark elf laughed at my clumsiness. He started whipping gust after gust to push me left to right like a stupid dance. The anger bubbled in my body again. This stupid elf is playing with me as I crash into trees on either side of me. I have no idea how I am still conscious at this point, but I am only observing this battle. My body is fighting on instincts and ragging emotions. I am numb to every injury because of it. Knowing I have lost a good amount of blood, it's a wonder I am still standing. What is wrong with me?

"Stupid little mutt, you're worthless, weak little trash. I thought hybrids like you were illegal because of their extreme power, but it must be how useless they are that makes them unwanted." The dark elf taunted as my body began to shake from the anger. "Worry not, little beast. I will dispose of you, quickly. Just like your parents should have."

My body tensed at this elf's words. He is wrong. He is so wrong! The anger burst through my body like fireworks. My speed accelerated instantly, and I stood next to this dark elf. My claws ripped into his arms, spraying his blood in my face. The elf winced for a moment before flooding me with water. The force of water pushed me to my knees, but my claws were buried in his arms. That's when I realized something was off about this elf. Why is he only using weather magic? If he has these tattoos then he knows a lot more than this…

My vision clouded red as I flung this menace to the ground. The elf just laughed at me until another bolt of lightning struck my back. I nearly collapsed on my prey. I looked down at the dark elf, Talan. "Goodbye, Talan." I smirked as my fangs sank into his neck, ripping his throat out.

The elf corpse dropped to the ground. Although I know that he is dead, I could still sense the dark elf's magic around us. I look around to find the source of the magic. Looking down at the corpse, it melts into the dirt. What the… Crap, it's a water golem. All that for nothing.

"Don't worry, little wolf. We will meet again." A creepy voice cackled into the air.

My body dropped to the ground and howled. All I could do was howl the painful anger away. I could tell my body was upset that it didn't finish what it started. I am beginning to think this form has a will of its own… God knows that last time I wasn't even conscious of that bloody mess I created.

"Rory!" Aunt Leah called, freeing me from my thoughts. I watch her cautiously approach me as if she is scared of what I will do. My body recognizes her and becomes still. "Rory?" My body did not answer. I tried to make myself speak, but I had no control. Aunt Leah came closer to put a hand on my cheek. "Rory, sweetie, can you revert back to another form? One you can communicate in?" She asked in a gentle, low voice. My head nodded, and she stepped back.

My body tingles with pain. I looked at my aunt as my back bones crunch together. I realize I am actually shrinking down to my normal height, but I didn't even know my shift had made me taller. The snout fades into my face. My claws shortened, and my fangs retracted some back into my mouth. My skin burned as the tufts of my fur pulled back into my body. I fell to my knees as my feet began to look more human. Bones popped and cracked and trickles of blood ran down my mouth, hands and feet. My tail and ears didn't change. I am returning to my base form. A pounding pressure built in my head like before. Closing my eyes, I could feel magic receding into me. Was that why I shifted into this form?

The headache disappeared. I open my eyes to see a concerned Aunt Leah watching me. The sky turned dark, and I knew my headache had lasted longer than it seemed. I took a breath as a dull pain from my injuries filled me. I am getting tired of feeling pain today.

"Rory." Aunt Leah started toward me. I pushed myself to stand. Aunt Leah grabbed my hand, helping me up. She helped me to our cave where a fire was going, and Emalynn stood cooking food. Now, I know I was out for a while. I stopped to question Aunt Leah about Emalynn seeing my base form. She just pulled me with her toward the fire. Guess, she thinks it is okay.

I sat next to a sleeping brown wolf that I know to be Elias. Aunt Leah shoves a water pouch at me. "Drink," she bids. I nod. I sip the water and watch the fire. Aunt Leah sits next to me with a medical salve she made, a rag and a bowl of water. "Let me see your wounds." She stated. I nod again. The cave is quiet except for the snaps of the fire eating the wood.

I lay on my back exposing the blast mark and sword stab to Aunt Leah. I look at her, and I can see a tear on her cheek.

"Aunt Leah," I said, softly. "There's no need to cry. Wounds heal as long as I am alive. I am here, alive. Please don't cry."

"What happened today, Rory? What was that form I saw?" Aunt Leah asked.

"That… I am not sure what it is. All I know is I can't control it. I am surprised it even spoke." I looked down. I didn't want to see any judgment from her. "It happened after I saw Elias unconscious and heard you scream. Those two men foolishly laughing pushed me to become...that. I killed almost every bandit left because of it."

"Almost?" Emalynn asked.

"Yes, the dark elf was only a water clone or golem of the original." I utter, defeated.

"So, the dark elf knows we have powerful magical items and that a wolf creature exists." Aunt Leah said. "He's out there right now watching us… Shit."

Emalynn pouted, watching Aunt Leah and I process our situation. "How do we fix this?" She asked. She is now a part of secret existence because if anyone connects her to us then she is dead.

"We can't fix what we can't find." Aunt Leah said, solemnly. "We can't undo this day, so we have to live with it. Unfortunately, Rory, by saving us today, you have forfeited your freedom. The Gleaca Council and my Council of Elders will learn that you exist. They will not leave you alone."

"So, what happens to Rory now? And us?" Emalynn paused. "We can't go home, can we?"

"No, you can't. I know you didn't ask for this, but there's no way to change what has been done. Your guild and academy life is over girls." Aunt Leah held Emalynn's hand. "My dear, you don’t have to stay with us. You run to a new village and start over."

"She is right, Ema. You don't have to live on the run." I encourage her. "You could make a wonderful life somewhere."

"Without you? Without my family?" Emalynn gasped. "Never. I need you, and you need me. I don't want a boring life in a village. I am a guild member, an adventurer and your best friend. You can't go on without me."

I beamed at Emalynn. "I can't tell you what that means to me. Thank you for not letting me go alone." I hug her and instantly regret it as my injuries flare up at the movement.

"OK, girls. Celebrate later. First, we need to escape our dark elf problem." Aunt Leah cautioned. "That elf will notice when we leave the cave."

"Then we don't leave the cave. We go deeper." I suggest. "Maybe, dig deeper."

"You mean to tunnel our way out?" Emalynn squeaks. She never was a fan of cave exploring or dark places.

"Exactly. If we head towards the mountains, we can escape. The elf's observation magic won't work right underground. The mountains will give us choices of where to go and get supplies." I said proudly. "We just have to avoid the Savage Valley."

"Sounds doable. You must have been paying attention all these years to come up with that plan." Aunt Leah smiled at me. "We leave in two hours. Eat, pack and rest. It will take both of our wolves to dig tunnels toward the mountains."

"Yes, Aunt Leah." I hummed. Emalynn hands me charred meat and an assortment of berries and nuts. I drink my water pouch and eat my dinner without fuss. I lay down for a short rest before we begin our escape.