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“I need back up—help!” the tracker spat.
Is he on the phone?
I tried to clear my eyes, but a new wave of pain made my stomach swirl, and I settled for digging my claws into the turf.
“IknowI wasn’t assigned to go after her, but shadows are a liability even if our leaders refuse to realize it! She jumped me, and now I don’t know where she ran off! Send someone—with potions!”
His voice grew quieter and quieter as he fled, until I couldn’t hear his voice at all.
I stayed under the shrub, squinting as I could finally start to see again. I moved an inch, and pain jolted through my body, knocking me flat again.
This is bad. I have to change. I have to call Pat, or Joy. Someone!
I tried to reach for my magic to change, not caring that I was going to pop into my human form while sprawled on the ground, half under a bush. But the pain was so bad it made spots dance in my eyes, and it felt like the world tilted around me. My body tingled unpleasantly, and I fought to stay conscious.
No, no!
Minutes passed, and I panted—so sick and hurt I couldn’t tell directions anymore.
“Oh, my. Is that a cat?” The voice was fuzzy and distorted thanks to the ringing in my ears.
“I think it’s injured—its eyes aren’t focusing.”
Something brushed at my neck.
No, no. I weakly meowed, trying to protest, but even that tiny movement made my stomach flop unpleasantly in my gut.
“No collar…do you think it’s a stray?”
“Must be. Here—run back to the car. I have a sweater in the back seat. Grab it, we can wrap it up and take it to a rescue.”
Call, Pat. Joy…
It was getting harder and harder to remain conscious. I needed to stay awake and change back—no one knew I was out. Pat and Joy wouldn’t realize I was missing for hours.
Help, I thought, feeling tiny and helpless as the world turned black again.Noctus, help.
* * *
The next timeI woke up, I was in a metal cage, sitting on a cat bed covered by a piece of red flannel decorated with yellow birds.
What…?
I had just enough time to pick my head off the flannel before the waves of pain and nausea hit me.
Ugh, just how badly did the tracker hit me? I must have a concussion…
My thoughts felt thick and slow. It was a struggle to think, and when I moved the smallest bit—even just to flex my paws—it made pain swim through my body.
Where am I? What time is it? Did the tracker come back and find me?
I heard a door open. “We’re thrilled you chose us. At Paw-Pals rescue, we love matching up furry friends with their forever homes, and I can tell you’ll be a wonderful family,” a woman said.
A rescue? That’s right—someone found me under the bush. They must have brought me in.It was too hard to keep my head up, so I rested my chin on my bed again.
A woman wearing blue jeans and a fleece pullover walked past my cage. “This way to the cat room. We’ve picked out a few potential friends for you. You can interact with them in here.”
She said this place is called Paw-Pals Rescue…that means it’s not the humane society. It’s probably going to take Pat and Joy longer to find me.
