<div style="text-align: center"><script class="js-extraPhrases" type="application/json">
			{
				"lightbox_close": "Close",
				"lightbox_next": "Next",
				"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
				"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
				"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
				"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
				"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
				"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
				"lightbox_download": "Download",
				"lightbox_share": "Share",
				"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
				"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
				"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
			}
			</script>
<div class="bbImageWrapper lazyload js-lbImage" data-lb-caption-extra-html="" data-lb-sidebar-href="" data-single-image="1" data-src="/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Ffotos.fotoflexer.com%2F414945286d0a5c7ff0cbc219d5901eec.jpg&amp;hash=e4b8c11988b529b01313d810266fa6bf" title="414945286d0a5c7ff0cbc219d5901eec.jpg">
<img alt="414945286d0a5c7ff0cbc219d5901eec.jpg" class="bbImage lazyload" data-src="/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Ffotos.fotoflexer.com%2F414945286d0a5c7ff0cbc219d5901eec.jpg&amp;hash=e4b8c11988b529b01313d810266fa6bf" data-url="http://fotos.fotoflexer.com/414945286d0a5c7ff0cbc219d5901eec.jpg" data-zoom-target="1" height="" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" style="" title="" width=""/>
<noscript><img alt="414945286d0a5c7ff0cbc219d5901eec.jpg" class="bbImage" data-url="http://fotos.fotoflexer.com/414945286d0a5c7ff0cbc219d5901eec.jpg" data-zoom-target="1" height="" src="/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Ffotos.fotoflexer.com%2F414945286d0a5c7ff0cbc219d5901eec.jpg&amp;hash=e4b8c11988b529b01313d810266fa6bf" style="" title="" width=""/></noscript>
</div></div><br/>Ordinarily the puma would have stood his ground in a challenge for dominance with the smaller canine, who wasn't as intimidating as she was trying to make herself appear. Kasabian was inclined to linger behind a little longer just to romp around in the frosty powder, or perhaps playfully bowl over the snarling mutt that had slipped past his barrier of scent markings. Instead, he had to backtrack for a mile in the approaching dawn that formed a palette of color that was quickly blending into an opaque gray morning sky.<br/><br/>Kasabian had offered her a dare before abandoning his prized territory, having discerned scent of the female coyote and his need for a sheltered spot in which he could shift back to human form. That was her saving grace from the big cat's hunting prowess. Somehow the puma knew the little hellion would make a beeline back to her den because she was aware of the dangers of cornering an angry cat. A healthy fear accompanied past experience. Kasabian spotted her grayish form at a distance as she bolted for safety.<br/><br/>The puma skimmed along the tree line and vanished within between the forested slope of the mountains, staying far away from the hiking trails that would bring him into contact with human beings until the familiar sign of the beginning of the hiking trail cut off abruptly where the parking lot and ranger station was located. His navy Dodge Ram was parked closer to the trees on the very edge of the lined spaces. His clothing was inside his truck, the door left unlocked due to his lack of opposing thumbs or pockets in his furry skin.<br/><br/>Glancing behind him one more time, the puma searched for any signs of life. When it seemed the coast was clear he slunk to the unlocked passenger door of his own vehicle. Shifting from cat to human was as easy as thinking about his handsome human form. It was as if an invisible hand unzipped the puma down the center of his spine and sloughed its furry carapace off on the ground. His golden fur, pricked ears, teeth and claws just melted away as Kasabian yielded to the magic that allowed his shift to occur.<br/><br/>He remained crouched on all fours, still retaining some of the feral wildness of the puma deep within the recesses of his grass-green eyes.<br/><br/>Kasabian jumped inside to avoid being spotted by the headlights of a Jeep Cherokee entering the parking lot. Lunging to the floorboards, his teeth were still chattering from the blast of cold against his bare skin. The naked young man waited until the park ranger parked his vehicle and entered the ranger station before turning his key in the ignition to start the truck and get the heat on. Sitting in the driver's seat, he pulled the clothes from his backpack and put them on so he could warm up enough to make the drive home to Mapleton Hill.<br/><br/>Lately, Kasabian found himself breaking free of the classroom at UC Boulder before his classes were over. He was a student majoring in fine arts, but needed to shift more and more to offset the spellcasting from the Blackmore clan. The witches in their family were powerful and just as influential in the Blue Star Grove of Witches, as they were in non-magical circles. For every generation of witches their family birthed, they required a familiar for their strongest offspring.<br/><br/>That witch happened to be Devlin Blackmore, the twenty-three year old son of two inner circle witches: his parents, Arnold and Norma Blackmore. They were considered old money traditionals, and there were plenty of places in the city of Boulder sporting the Blackmore name. Including the new technology center and multi-use library at the University of Colorado, Boulder campus that had recently opened for business. With such power and influence, Kasabian would have thought that at least someone in their family had a personality.<br/><br/>At least if they didn't, the Blackmore family could afford to purchase one.<br/><br/>The Merrick family served the Blackmore family, and had for many generations. Kasabian's parents worked at the Blackmore estate, and he had basically grown up with Devlin Blackmore while living there. Devlin was attractive, his body sculpted by a Grecian god. His magic was potent, and instead of targeting the growth of crops, or positive changes in people and nature, it was geared to play a much bigger, cataclysmic role. Like a snowball rolling downhill, Devlin's magic gathered more snow as it plummeted.<br/><br/>It grew bigger and more ominous as it rolled downward, and unfortunately his family was caught up in a brewing storm. Devlin's parents pressured his mother and father, which was the main reason that Kasabian had to change campuses in order to be closer to their son, and to heed his call. Ignoring the summoning would prove detrimental and have long-lasting effects on Kasabian and Devlin. They were meant to be together, there was supposed to be an irresistible attraction , but for Kasabian there was nothing.<br/><br/>Nothing but malice and cruelty.<br/><br/>No spark, no burst of revelatory aha moment that definitely said that he was supposed to serve Devlin for the rest of his life. Nine of them in fact, since the Merrick family took on the feline form. The spell that had been cast was being circumvented by a strong-willed Kasabian, and something else that the familiar could not quite figure out. Whatever it was, it made him want to seek it out. He'd tried to resist being pulled in that direction for so long, the other call so much more alluring and attractive when it came.<br/><br/>The buzz of magical incantation led him on a journey to another home in Boulder, Colorado.<br/><br/>The home of another family of coven witches, the Ardellan clan.<br/><br/>He knocked upon the door, and waited.<br/><br/>If his parents found out about this, he would be in deep shit, and if the Blackmore family found out--someone would die.<br/><br/>It wouldn't be Kasabian's life they'd take. He had another eight left.<br/><br/><a class="username" data-user-id="33" data-username="@Sterling" data-xf-init="member-tooltip" href="https://blackdahliaroleplaying.com/members/33/">@Sterling</a>