Feral Heart by Duron Crejaro (distant reading .TXT) 📕

that I learned that the Palustri were a tribe of get this, Jaguars! I found it very exciting, they were just like normal folk from back home, eating, laughing, being a family, only they had the amazing ability to transform themselves. I learned that most of the Wylder that were shifters had some degree of control. Some were able to change single parts of their body, a clawed hand, or even a tail. Whatever the situation called for, while others were a bit more limited, being only able to fully change from one form to another.

 

After breakfast, I was corralled along with several others towards Bobby’s house. The time was nearing for us to intercept the convoy, and save Cami. Representatives from every tribe were there: Jora, of the Palustri, Tarin, of the Delacouri were the two I knew right away, Jaguars and Leopards. I felt a tingle of excitement run through me, and though the chill of early winter had set in overnight, I had a feverish feel of heat roaming across me. In short order I was introduced to members of the other tribes. Armin, of the Raineyii, second eldest son of the Cheetahs; Steve, leader and eldest of the Cabrerae, or Cougars. Nalena, youngest daughter of the Virgata, a Tigress, and Bartholamew, who was in my opinion, a giant, standing over seven feet tall, he was easily the largest person I had ever seen. I wasn’t surprised to learn that he belonged to house Krugeri, a line of Lions.

 

To be honest, after meeting some of the members of the six tribes of the great cats I was a nervous wreck. All my excitement had faded; I was left in awe and wonderment. What the hell was I doing here? What the hell did I, or Bobby expect I would accomplish here. A mere slip of a girl, a human among monsters, no, not monsters I thought. Majestic creatures. There had been some mistake. Then with a smile that showed he could not see my discomfort, Tarin drug me off to meet members of the three remaining tribes. These tribes, he explained as we weaved through the crowd that was growing by the minute, are not specific to a breed, but are a collection of some of the more uncommon Wylder. They ranged thru all kinds of species, some of which I was unfamiliar with. Before all was said and done, I had been introduced to a handful of other Wylder. A hulk of a woman named Binala, who was some kind of bear, or Ursus, she called herself. A short flabby middle-aged man, who seemed unimposing, he called himself Feldmond, and was proud when he told me he was a great horned turtle. Finally, I saw one more familiar face in the crowd, Gloria was there, and she looked hyped up, like she was itching for a fight. I smiled, she seemed happier here than I ever remembered seeing her at school, it’s almost as if she knew she belonged somewhere else. I was shocked to learn that she was a were-badger, a first in Springwell, and as of yet, an unnamed tribe.

 

It wasn’t long before Bobby appeared on his porch. Everyone grew quiet, turning their collective attention to him. I watched as well, expecting some epic speech to inspire everyone present. I was surprised by his elegant simplicity, “Watch each others back’s, and let’s go rescue some family.”

 

Everyone headed off with Bobby trailing the group; I fell into step with him. The early afternoon was already warming up as we traveled, Bobby informed me that the convoy would be taking an old interstate route, and though they were several hours away, on foot we had to leave early if we were going to intercept them. The pace for me was almost breakneck; I was used to strenuous activity, but was nowhere near on par with the physical prowess my new friends possessed. The road itself was dilapidated with disuse; large ruts and cracks were rampant, small spurts of plant life, now dieing or dead with the coming of winter sprouted in clumps, breaking the once pristinely smooth path.

 

Eventually, we came to an intersection of major roads, what lay ahead was much larger. Bobby told me before the apocalypse, it was called an Interstate, used to move long distances between cities. I marveled at it, as we moved to a center grove of tree’s diving the road to setup our ambush, and so the waiting began.

Chapter 14: Ambush

We waited, concealed in the brush like primal hunters, stealthy, watching for our prey. I was bored. I was never one to just sit around. Sure, it was all well and good for the Wylder, they were natural predators, waiting, stalking, it was their cup of tea. I fidgeted in the tree line, only to receive a hiss from Tarin at making myself visible. I couldn’t help it though.

 

I was about to vocally display my displeasure, when all hell broke loose. I stood, frozen at my perch behind a tree as gunfire exploded from seemingly everywhere. The sound mixed in the air with screams, and roars of outrage. The sudden realization hit me, and it felt like death. This was an ambush all right only we weren’t the perpetrators; we were the victims.

 

I saw Tarin out of the corner of my eye race off in a blur of muscle and fur, followed by the blood-curdling scream of a man somewhere close. I saw Binala charge from the trees in a mad rush towards the woods opposite our position, straight into the armed men emerging from the wood line. A few humvee’s emerged now, men sitting abreast their turrets with larger weapons. One of them broke line with the others, pushing towards us. A lumbering hulk pressed forward, it was Feldmond, I only recognized him because he now looked like a giant bipedal turtle. He was nearly ten feet tall now, and bore a huge armored shell with a single great horn protruding from his face. Feldmond and the Humvee collided with a sickening sound of bone meeting metal, and I thought he was road kill. Then I saw the huge dent in the front of the vehicle, and watched in stark amazement as he gripped it with his huge arms, and threw the entire thing, screaming passengers and all into a large nearby tree as bullets ricocheted off his shell.

 

A bullet lodging in the tree, close to my head snapped me back to reality as I began to creep forward from my hiding spot. After several yards, my fear drained into sadness as I tripped over something, only to realize it was the half-shifted body of Jora. He was unmoving, lifeless, his body riddled with bullet holes like a red mess of Swiss cheese. His eyes were open and blank, staring to the sky with a lost expression.

 

I kept moving, unsure now why I had come. I passed more bodies, some were Wylder that I didn’t recognize, a great deal more were human, viciously mutilated by the Wylder they so feared. I didn’t matter though, the sounds of combat were already slowing, and I knew we were losing. Despite their amazing abilities, sheer numbers would win the field. I started to cry out for Tarin, or Bobby, anyone that would or could sound a retreat. The yell stuck in my throat as I began to weep, all this had been my fault. My stupid relentless desire to save my best friend had led to all this death. I felt a sharp pain in my head and knew no more.

Chapter 15: Aftermath

I blinked my eyes open, or at least I think I did. Searing pain shot through my head as attempted to move. A sharp throbbing rolled through me as I slid my hand across the back of my head. A large sticky knot is what I felt. What had happened, I couldn’t quite remember. It was all blurry. Why is it so dark I wondered, wasn’t it just daytime a bit ago. Where’s Tarin. A million thoughts came unbidden as my mind struggled to wrap itself around the things that happened to bring me here. Here. Where is here. I blinked some more; a dull yellow light, pale and unwelcoming made my eyes tear up in pain. I squinted, willing my eyes to adjust so I could take in my surroundings.

 

I was in a small room. No that’s not right. I’m in a cell, small, more like a large closet than a room. A single toilet and sink, with an all-metal bed were the only furnishings. At that moment, everything came flooding back to me, Cami, the ambush, the dead and dieing, all because I had wanted to save her from the enforcers. Now, I was alone, hurt and locked in a strange room. I had no clue where anyone else was or even if they were still alive, and no Cami either. Everything had gone absolutely wrong and I had been powerless to stop it. I cried, wondering what had happened to the others, and for myself, unsure of what would become of me.

 

Soon, I heard a click, as the door unbolted. An Enforcer entered with a tray of food and water, set it on the floor and left without so much as a word. I stared at him with contempt the entire time, even long after he left. With a heavy sigh, I devoured the food, I wouldn’t be good for anything if I starved myself I thought, not that I was much use now. Afterwards, I contemplated my fate a bit more, before falling into a fitful slumber.

 

I awoke sharply to the sound of the door opening again. A dour faced older man, his head mostly bald except for wild unkempt white patches and overly thick spectacles stared down at me. “Let’s go.” The enforcer behind him made it clear that this was not open to negotiation.

 

I forced myself to my feet and followed the two, they weren’t much worried about any chance of escape, and they didn’t bother to restrain me. “Where are you taking me?” I inquired afraid, thoughts of torture coming unbidden to my mind.

 

Silence was the only reply I got, as we stopped before a large, sturdy looking metal door. I creaked as it slid open, the doctor gestured for me to enter, and so I did with much trepidation. Who was I kidding, it’s not like I had a choice anyway. I