Guards closed in on the pair, the threatening whir of their trucks growing as they approached. Dust clouded her sight, leaving Eris blindly feeling her way through the sand dunes for her backpack. “Donovan!” She choked, desperately searching. An early warning blast from the speeding guards was all she needed to know this would be far more dangerous than she had anticipated. They should never have tried to travel here. Why did things always have to go so badly?

Eris still felt dizzy, but she didn’t think she was badly hurt, if at all. Regardless of injuries, she had more important things to consider. How would they escape? Eris had an idea, but she wished she didn’t. She could do it. Could she? Donovan would be terrified of her. But it would save him. That was worth it, even if she never saw him again. Gripping onto the bag at last, Eris let out a sigh of relief and crawled towards Donovan, following the heavy breathing.

“Take the bag!” She shouted above the noise of the helicopter swooping down on them, like a hawk spotting its defenceless prey. She tossed the bag at him and ducked as a stray bullet lodged itself in the corpse of a tree beside her. Dying wouldn’t do anyone much good. “Keep yourself and Meeka safe! I have a plan!” She didn’t, not really. But false assurance was probably best in this instance.

Blood stained her face, loved ones looking at her warily as she stared back at them menacingly.

"This is who I am, and there is no need to be afraid." she said, stepping forward. She knew it wasn’t true, but why would it matter? They would be dead soon enough anyway. Donovan’s face almost made her stop, but she knew what she needed to do.

Taking deep breaths that she knew wouldn’t help, Eris let it take over. The monster. Only it could save them. It was a risk to Donovan, but she hoped her emotions would bleed through into its heart - if it even had one - and spare him. What other choice did they have?

Searing pain ebbed through her, each vain in her body popping, every artery bursting. She could feel her bones snap under its control, her blond hair shrink into golden brown tufts. Passing out wasn’t an option, but she wished it was. Anything, anything to stop the pain. But she knew it was too late for that now. Eris could only watch in helplessness as her body changed, as the guards chasing them went pale. They must have heard rumours, seen headlines. Known victims. They knew. Everyone knew. Did Donovan?

Finally she felt the change finish. In exchange for the pain of before, she now felt stronger and more energetic than she had in the past week. The adrenaline rushing through her, the wind pounding in her ears… She hated it, every bit, but there was a small something about it she liked. It reminded her of the first time she and Vashti had run together. Vashti had been terrified to start, but she quickly saw a good side to it. Even Eris hadn’t seen that.

Bounding past Donovan, she didn’t dare look back. She couldn’t bear to see his face. Instead, she galloped through the barricade and towards the guards. They fled instantly, but Eris was faster. The feeling of wind rushing through her hair put her in a sort of trance, putting the monster in control. She couldn’t stop it and, for a terrible moment, she wasn’t sure she wanted to. The red stained the bare ground, but Eris was careful not to let it touch her fur. Blood took forever to wash out.

Before she knew it, a line of bodies was behind her. The deep remorse in the pit of her stomach was overruled by the monster, its thirst for blood so strong she could taste the vengeance on the lips. Of all the guards, the helicopter was the only vehicle left. It hovered a little above the ground, the people inside probably arguing about if they should get out and fight or not. There wasn’t much of a fight to be had. Jumping up, Eris grabbed the helicopter with her front paw and pulled it to the ground like a toddler taking their favourite toy. The propellers smashed as they hit the ground, sparks flying in all directions. She paused for a second before diving her paw through the space into the helicopter. Jumping in, she growled at the men inside. One by one, they fired their bullets and one by one she killed them. It was so simple to her, a dance in which she would always come out first.

Only one was left. The helicopter pilot, dressed head to toe in black with a gun gripped firmly in their hands. Eris bared her teeth, but they didn’t fire. Instead, they dropped their gun. Eris paused. What? This wasn’t part of the routine. The person slowly put out their hand, shaking. Eris didn’t move. “Hey. It’s okay.” They whispered and leaned in to pet her fur. She growled as he soothingly mumbled, “It’s okay.”

Then Eris understood. In their left hand was a tiny needle, glinting in the sunlight. Horror flooded her. Did they really think she was that stupid? Crunch! She snapped at them and watched their body crash to the ground. Their upper chest was drenched in red from the bite. Eris could have cried at seeing the sight, but it wouldn’t let her.

“Eris! Eris. Calm down. It’s over. They’re gone. It’s over.” Donovan cried, running towards her as she leapt from the now spiralling helicopter. Eris wanted to run, to make him un-see it all and still care about her. She wanted her friend back.

But he didn’t seem to waver, hiding the fear from his voice as he soothed her. “I’m here. We’re safe. You stopped them.” He began to pet her fur as he spoke. She looked at him. He was okay. There was no blood on him, not a scratch. They hadn’t hit him. Donovan didn’t look as afraid as he must have felt, an act she appreciated him holding for her. He wasn’t smiling, but it was something close to that. “Calm. You’re safe. We all are.” She stared at him, wide eyed in confusion. He had every reason to run and none to stay. Why was he still here?

Her coat of fur was protecting her from the inevitable conversation, but now the adrenaline had gone it felt more of a cage than a protector. They needed to talk. The transition back wasn’t as painful as before, but it still hurt. She tried to hide the pain, to play it off, but Donovan could see right through her act. “Is there anything I can do?” He asked, standing helplessly as twirled his ring. She shook her head, each turn of it immensely painful. That was the price to be paid for turning into the perfect murder weapon. A weapon that killed and left only traces of the attack of a wild animal. She could do the job without it, but when there were that many people she had no other option.

“Just be here. That's all I need.”