Page 47 of If I Were Wind

Limping, Commander Allen walked towards the crowd of beasts. His hand was clamped over a hastily bandaged wound in his thigh. Blood seeped through his fingers, and a slash cut across his cheek. His eyes widened with panic. He didn’t have to ask for silence. Everyone fell silent and stood to attention as he straightened, despite the pain scrunching up his face.

“Merge with your partners,” he ordered, his voice strong and firm. “Search the perimeter for intruders or for anyone trying to leave the estate. Don’t let anyone out.”

People sprang up to action. Everyone scattered around, partners merging with each other. Soft pops resounded every time a full beast was produced. Black, brown, and golden furs appeared from every corner. Soon, the roars of dozens of beasts echoed in the yard. I searched around. Where was Nathan?

“You all right, Kristin?” Michael put a hand on my shoulder.

I rose on my tiptoes. “I can’t see Nathan.”

Bruce hesitated a moment, chewing his bottom lip. “Sorry, we have to go.”

“Of course. Go.” I waved them off.

There was a cracking noise before Bruce merged with Michael and their tiger sprinted towards the park.

Soon, I was the only one standing in the middle of the yard. Even Commander Allen had staggered inside the manor, barking orders to the other members of the staff. Perhaps I should stay here and wait for Nathan. Scoffing, I paced in front of the marble stairs leading to the entrance.

“Kristin.”

Heart in my throat, I turned at the male voice, but it wasn’t Roy or Nathan. It was Sam, Peggy’s partner. “Sam, what are you doing here?”

“I can’t find Peggy,” he said, dragging a hand through his dark hair. “Have you seen her?”

I threw a hand up. “No, and I can’t find my partner either.”

“What a bloody mess.” He blew out a breath. “The entire manor is in complete chaos, and I can’t do anything to help.”

We stared at the fire and the trucks and ambulances driving along the side road that led to the mill. Between the smoke and the distance, it wasn’t clear what was going on at the mill, but the flame still raged unchallenged.

“Shall we patrol the grounds together?” Sam asked. “In human form, I mean. We might find our partners.”

“Yes.” We’d be slower than in beast form, but it was better than loitering here, doing nothing.

Massive beasts ran in and out of the woods surrounding the parks. There were some huge creatures that looked like cats, lions, and lynxes. Others were similar to bears and wolves. I searched the wood for the eight-foot-tall black panther. It was easy to spot. It’d tower over the other beasts and was too massive to not be noticed. But nothing. My beast didn’t stir, which meant that neither Nathan nor Roy was close.

In the midst of the smoke, the sirens, and the trucks, the black-uniformed guards of the mill patrolled the path that led to the broken fence. Pale and scared faces, they held their weapons with a nervous twitch that wasn’t reassuring. My lungs burned from the thick, acrid smell and the fear gripping my chest.

“Where do you think Peggy is?” I asked, clamping a hand over my mouth as we crossed a cloud of smoke.

He shrugged. “Last time I saw her, she was in the library, surrounded by chemistry books. I was in the training hall when the explosion started.”

“What is she up to?”

“You should ask her.”

Right. Loyalty between partners was taken seriously.

The cloud of smoke was casting a premature dusk over Raven Park, and shadows flickered through the woods, hiding the beasts.

“Let’s take the side path.” I pointed at a narrow trail going uphill. “This smoke is burning my throat.”

We walked until the air cleared and the manor was a doll house in the distance. I took a deep breath, cleansing my throat and lungs from the smoke.

“I don’t think we’ll catch anyone,” Sam said as we kept hiking. “No one is going to leave. Whoever did that wouldn’t be that stupid. Unless he or she has already left. But in my opinion, it was an inside job.”

“I was thinking the same. No stranger could have entered Raven Park, and the mill at that, without being spotted.” I slowed down my pace when loud voices came from the trees.

“So you don’t want to do anything?” That was Kenneth.

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