The new voice startled Reed, so she quickly drew out her short sword and aimed it at the one who had spoken. Through the stifling  smoke she could smell dog. Not quite as strong as it had been earlier, but it was there, lurking beneath the surface. If she hadn't been so keyed up from her nightmare, then maybe she wouldn't have Changed.<br/>Pieces of her skin felt like it had been torn from her body and replaced with fur; her teeth with fangs. Anger and panic controlled her now, so much so that a guttural bark-growl emitted from her throat.  She could no longer handle her sword and her boots no longer fit.<br/><span style="font-style: italic">NO!</span>she cried out mentally,<span style="font-style: italic">no, no, no! Get a grip on yourself, Reed! Now!</span><br/><br/>*          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *<br/>The wolf in front of Delancey shifted until it became a human. His orangey-brown eyes widened considerably.<br/><span style="font-style: italic">Even in Orials, the most magically trained kingdom around, had no such thing... What kind of spell could bring that kind of outcome?</span><br/>Even if Delancey had no formal training in magic, he had friends who were in his schooling days. Wistful thinking overtook his throughly boggled mind just long enough for him to notice the wolf/ human had left. Where did it go...<br/>A conversation between two-no, three people now- was happening just ahead of him. Maybe they knew where the wolf/ human went. Conversation was clearly not the right word for the activity surrounding the three.<br/>One was smoking what appeared to be a burning piece of paper, one looked suspiciously like the wolf/ human, and the last one.... well, looked like a mutant.<br/>Its skin alternated between a deep tan, red brown fur, and shaggy brown hair. It also looked like it was in pain. He knew he had to do something, but what? Talking seemed out of the question, and he hated to attack a being without any sort of weapon. Then it decided to strike at him.