Panther's Teeth

They must have noticed, because they went after me.  I picked up my pace, but they caught up quick.  Damon grabbed hold of my arm, reaching me slightly sooner than Nathan.  I whirled on him.  My eyes had changed into a pure golden color of a panther.  My claws extended from my fingertips, slashing at his arms.  He let go in surprise, and I took off again, before either of them could stop me again.  I pumped my legs as hard as I could being in human form, but football player still beat me. 

They caught up, and each of them grabbed, my arm this time.  It seemed like a tug-of-war match, and I was the rope stuck in the middle.  Don’t you hate being in the middle of anything.  I wasn’t able to break free with their grip on me.  I got to start taping some power now, just no big, noticeable transforming.  I changed my eyes to a panther, looking for every week spot, and I extended the claws from my fingertips.  The boys didn’t notice, that I became lighter changing my bones to make them hallow like those of birds. 

Then did I make my move.  I kicked them, and as soon as they let go, I took off.  It is extremely hard to run with light bones, but I could take long, faster steps.  I made it to the first tree before climbing it.  Safely hidden in the branches, I changed into an eagle and flew behind the two boys, before changing into a panther.  Damon turned as soon as I hit the ground.  When Nathan saw me, he grew very pale, but neither of them ran.  Damon knew who, and what I was, so he really didn’t have anything to fear, so I thought I could so a little change up. 

I kept my head low, as I circled around them.  I went up to Damon first, glaring at him, before turning to Nathan.  He had the right to be scared, but no right to be harmed.  I walked up slowly, nudging my nose in his hand, like any household cat.  He stood still, pertrified with fear.  I turned to Damon, growling low, I pushed him down with my front paws on his chest.  I couldn’t help but let my claws out a bit, gently putting my sharp claws against his shirt so he could feel them.  More as a warning to be careful.

He pushed me down like a bad dog, sticking crossing his arms.  I roared, looking over my shoulder at Nathan.  He still hadn’t moved.  I was debating in showing him what I was, might give him a second thought on liking me so much.  I was instantly grabbed by the scruff of my neck and dragged to the edge of the forest.  I changed back, so fast I was able to run back into the open space.  I couldn’t help laughing at the sight of Nathan, but it was cut short when I bumped into a vampire named Damon, that appeared instantly in front of me

I was partly done for then!  I slowly looked up into his face and gave a week smile, only to be looked back as, “how could you” and “you know better”.  I also got the most boring and longest lecture from my friends, and Damon, each pitching in their long part.  “I know, I’m not supposed to sneak off, and not go into the forest at all, but I’m part animal.  You can only cage a wild animal for so long, and being caged is the worse feeling of all.  Trust me!”

“Amber, you know better, we all care about you, and this plan won’t work without you.  We are in this together, so we all have to keep an eye out for each other, even if that means, cutting yourself off from the wild for a while.” Damon, said coolly, as if to keep the demanding tone out of his sound.

“Damon’s right Amber, you can’t keep running off like that, who knows what might happen to you or anybody else when you’re gone.  Quit ditching us, and help stick together more, will you.”  Sophia add with a seconds pause.

“I know you’re all right, but my wildness, draws me to the wild.  I hate being cooped up all the time. What do you think I do all day, when I’m not at home doing my homework?  I’m out roaming the forest.  And why do I always call private meetings with you two in one of the secret fields? (Sigh)  So nobody will disturb, listen, or know the secrets I tell you.  My life doesn’t belong in the city with order, I belong in the wild, with the trees and all the creatures there.  I’m just not one to leave my friends nor my family behind.”  I sucked in a big breath when I was don’t, because I said almost the whole thing, without breathing.

“Don’t take it too personal, Amber, but you have the faith of the town in your hands, and it isn’t like some speck of dirt that you can just brush away.  No this is a big deal!  Amber, you must except it, you can’t keeping running from part of yourself, because you’ll get no farther away.”  Molly said softly, as if I could be startled away if she spoke to loud.  Molly seems to make sure she goes over what she’s going to say before saying it, so it sounds like she had to only open a book and read the answer to most of everything right out.

“I know I’m over reacting, but all my life I had the freedom I wanted, my parents would let me roam the forest when I was 10 alone, when I proved to them that nothing was going to happen.  Not the Panther or Eagle kind of proving either.  I don’t like being on the end of a string, and having everything I do checked over.  I’m not just a three year old, causing trouble, and being a fragile little doll.  I’m quite strong, and I don’t have a problem of showing it off!  So could you lay off for just a little, nothing bad is going to happen, the evil meter hasn’t gone up as far as I can tell.”  Just as I finished the sentence, I changed into the biggest Black Panther I could manage, and leaped into the forest, that we happen to be walking by.  Goodie on my part a bit, I do regret a bit, but freedom is soo much better.