Saphira sat perched on the fence and watched Uldermond as he drove the horse forward to plow the final two rows of the field. He was barely thirteen, and the plow seemed so big next to the boy as he worked to steer the equipment in a straight line. He had long ago shed his shirt, and Saphira admired his golden skin and the taut muscles of his torso. She loved watching him when he couldn’t berate her for staring.
He turned the horse and plow to make the last run and rolled his eyes at her when he realized she was watching him. He ordered the horse forward just as the door to the house burst open to slam against the post that used to support a beautiful red rose bush. The horse spooked, and Uldermond had to fight to hold the frightened animal in place.
A man stumbled from the house, curses and slurred insults flying from his mouth. He saw Uldermond in the field calming the horse and made his way to the fence, “What’re ya doin’, boy? I don need no good fer nuttin hedge-born tearin up my field!”
Uldermond dropped the reigns and scowled, as the drunken man spat more insults and curses at him. He shook all over, his hands balled into tight fists, and his jaw set tight as he ground his teeth at the man. His chest heaved, and Saphira slid from the fence to grab his arm as he stepped forward to confront the drunk.
“Come on, let us go.” Uldermond pulled at her grip but she held tight as she pleaded, “Uldermond, please!”
He snapped his head around to glare at her as he opened his mouth to turn his anger loose. Her fearful expression made him falter, and he let her pull him away from the field and into the woods. They had run for quite awhile before the boy couldn’t take it anymore and pulled his arm from her grip.
“I hate him! I wish he would just die!”
She turned to face him, “No, you do not, Uldermond.”
“Yes, I do! You do not know what it is like, Saphira.”
“I do, Uldermond. I get it. I have seen the bruises-”
“No! You and your perfect little life… Ugh! Just leave me alone!”
She flinched as he screamed at her and watched horrified as the rage boiled over in him. She took a few steps back to give him some space. She had never seen him so worked up.
His back arched and an agonizing scream tore from his throat as he fell to his knees. Saphira ran to his side, “Uldermond, what is wrong?!” Another scream and the sound of bones popping and sliding under the skin answered her. Saphira felt her heart stop and a voice screamed in her head, Get away from him, hurry! She scrambled backward and stumbled to get to her feet as she watched his golden skin begin to darken to ebony, hair growing to cover his shifting body. His pants fell to the ground as his hips twisted and knees popped forward. His screams changed pitch, then transformed into feral roars as his face shifted and reformed into that of a cat. Saphira stood slowly, staring at the beautiful, yet terrifying leopard as it trained its golden eyes on her tiny form. “U-Uldermond, I-I-It is m-me,” she stammered quietly.
His lips trembled as they curled back to show off his large fangs, and Saphira let out an involuntary squeak as he chortled and stepped toward her. “Uldermond, p-p-please!” She couldn’t stop the sob that tumbled from her, and the beast leapt forward, swiping at her with his enormous paw.
She screamed as she felt the flesh of her side rip in four long lines, and she tumbled to the ground. Blood, hot and wet, poured from the wound, quickly soaking her abdomen. She fought to get her feet under her but her heavy, clumsy legs couldn’t maneuver around her dress. Hot breath blew on the back of her neck, and she froze, knowing she was about to die.
Her body lurched, and she gasped as a shock wave of power exploded from her. It felt as if her chest had cracked open, and she fought to breathe through the pain. Warmth flooded her, and the strength the blood loss had threatened to sap from her returned tenfold. She remembered Uldermond poised to snap her neck. She spun around to look for him. Pain tore through her side, and she cried out, grabbing for the burning wound. Blood seeped through her hand as she managed to scramble to her knees. She spotted the black leopard a few feet away, staggering and shaking his head before glaring angrily at her.
The cat moved toward her, his snarl full of menace, and she put her hand up to fend him off. Heat swirled in her chest and crawled down her arm to her hand where it settled and grew. It felt strange to her but she couldn’t focus on it with the cat inching toward her.
“Uldermond, stop, please,” she huffed through the pain and fear. Saphira felt the heat leave her hand, and the cat stopped to stare at her in confusion. He tilted his head and sniffed the air between them, unsure of what had happened. Saphira didn’t fully understand what was going on, but she had felt the power leave her hand. Did I just…
“You do not want to hurt me. I am your friend.” She felt the surge again, and Uldermond’s taut muscles relaxed. Saphira let out a nervous giggle, then continued, “You must be so tired after all of that excitement.” The leopard’s great maw opened wide into a yawn in response, and Saphira fell back on her backside in shock and relief. She let the tension in her muscles ebb away with a sigh, and said confidently, “Come lie down. I will look after you while you sleep.” The cat sauntered over and dropped his large body next to her, placing his head in her lap. He closed his eyes and his breathing became methodical and even. Bones popped and slid beneath his lightening skin as hair began to fall from his now naked body. Saphira ran her hand through the black hair of his head, and he stirred at her touch.
Uldermond’s eyes fluttered open, and he scrambled away, trying to cover himself as he realized he no longer had on clothes. “Wha- what happened?” He swallowed a lump that tore at his throat as he saw the blood soaking through her dress and slowly pooling around her.
“You shifted,” she answered weakly. A slight blush filled her pale cheeks, as she eyed him. “You should probably get dressed.” He scrambled for his pants and pulled them on quickly. He fought to remember what happened, and his hand twitched as the memory of swatting Saphira burned through his mind. He rushed back to her side, and choked out, “I did this?”
“It is okay. I stopped you.” He watched the sweat bead up on her clammy skin as she continued, “You did not mean it.”
“I am so sorry, Saphira,” tears began to flow down his cheeks, “We need to get you home.” He lifted her carefully into his arms and stood, hurrying back toward the village. “I will never let anything bad happen to you ever again, I swear it.”
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