She didn’t know how it worked, but she knew that it did other things, too, like run refrigerators and televisions.
She had learned about those things in her recent studies, although she wasn’t sure she believed what the adepts had told her.
The light looked like it might come from the window of a house, although she couldn’t be sure. Still, she thought that heading toward it was her best option.
She kept her gaze focused firmly in the distance, which turned out to be a mistake. In the darkness, her foot caught on a root, shooting pain through her toe and almost sending her crashing to the ground.
Somehow she kept upright, then marched onward. Bursts of rain drummed down on her, making her shiver.
But at least the light was growing closer.
When she thought she saw the outline of a house through the gloom, she thanked the Great Mother. Probably, someone was home. Either that or they were rich enough to leave their lights on while they were out.
Trying not to slip again, she quickened her pace, heading for the dwelling.
Just as she broke into a clearing, another jagged spear split the sky, and thunder shook the ground.
When a huge tree came crashing toward her, she screamed and sprinted across the slippery leaves, trying to escape the toppling giant.
Though she ran as fast as she could, she felt branches clawing at her back. There was no way she could outrun the falling monster, but she instinctively used her telekinetic powers to keep the massive limbs from crushing her.
CHAPTER FIVE
CAUGHT BY THE sudden torrent, Talon stood inside the entrance of his storage garage, watching the rain pelt down and debating whether to wait out the storm or make a dash for the house.
In his human form he’d be soaked to the skin. As a wolf he’d get just as wet, but his thick fur would keep the water from penetrating to his skin.
Another bolt of energy speared the sky, lighting up the forest as the rain poured down with renewed force.
The power of the storm called to him, making the decision for him. Quickly, he began taking off his clothing. Naked, still standing inside the shed, he began to say the chant that turned him from man to wolf.
Once again, the familiar pain took hold as his body transmuted from one form to another.
In the middle of the change, he sensed another lightning bolt above him, followed quickly by a bone-jarring roll of thunder.
As he came down on all fours, he thought he heard two sounds over the wind and rain—a massive tree hitting the ground and a woman’s scream.
Silently cursing, he thought about changing back from wolf to man so he could shout out the questions, “Who’s there? Are you hurt?”
But that would only waste time. If someone was out there, he could find her more quickly as a wolf.
On all fours, he raced into the rain, stopping when he saw a great oak sprawled across the clearing at the edge of the woods, its branches still quivering from the fall.
As another sword of lightning split the sky above him, he sped toward the tangle of tree limbs.
THE tree was still rocking around Kenna, splashing water in her face and turning her hair into a dripping mass, but she had saved herself from getting flattened.
Cautiously, she moved her arms, relieved that they were not pinned down. They were sore, but the lack of serious pain told her that no bones were broken. Thank the Great Mother.
When she tried to shift her legs, the news wasn’t quite so good. Her right foot was stuck.
Grasping the branches beside her, she braced herself and gave a mighty yank on her leg, but all she accomplished was scraping her skin.
Closing her eyes for a moment, she considered her options. Perhaps she could use her telekinetic abilities again.
She’d never tackled such a daunting task, but what if she could just lift the branch an inch or two?
She was gathering the energy
She had learned about those things in her recent studies, although she wasn’t sure she believed what the adepts had told her.
The light looked like it might come from the window of a house, although she couldn’t be sure. Still, she thought that heading toward it was her best option.
She kept her gaze focused firmly in the distance, which turned out to be a mistake. In the darkness, her foot caught on a root, shooting pain through her toe and almost sending her crashing to the ground.
Somehow she kept upright, then marched onward. Bursts of rain drummed down on her, making her shiver.
But at least the light was growing closer.
When she thought she saw the outline of a house through the gloom, she thanked the Great Mother. Probably, someone was home. Either that or they were rich enough to leave their lights on while they were out.
Trying not to slip again, she quickened her pace, heading for the dwelling.
Just as she broke into a clearing, another jagged spear split the sky, and thunder shook the ground.
When a huge tree came crashing toward her, she screamed and sprinted across the slippery leaves, trying to escape the toppling giant.
Though she ran as fast as she could, she felt branches clawing at her back. There was no way she could outrun the falling monster, but she instinctively used her telekinetic powers to keep the massive limbs from crushing her.
CHAPTER FIVE
CAUGHT BY THE sudden torrent, Talon stood inside the entrance of his storage garage, watching the rain pelt down and debating whether to wait out the storm or make a dash for the house.
In his human form he’d be soaked to the skin. As a wolf he’d get just as wet, but his thick fur would keep the water from penetrating to his skin.
Another bolt of energy speared the sky, lighting up the forest as the rain poured down with renewed force.
The power of the storm called to him, making the decision for him. Quickly, he began taking off his clothing. Naked, still standing inside the shed, he began to say the chant that turned him from man to wolf.
Once again, the familiar pain took hold as his body transmuted from one form to another.
In the middle of the change, he sensed another lightning bolt above him, followed quickly by a bone-jarring roll of thunder.
As he came down on all fours, he thought he heard two sounds over the wind and rain—a massive tree hitting the ground and a woman’s scream.
Silently cursing, he thought about changing back from wolf to man so he could shout out the questions, “Who’s there? Are you hurt?”
But that would only waste time. If someone was out there, he could find her more quickly as a wolf.
On all fours, he raced into the rain, stopping when he saw a great oak sprawled across the clearing at the edge of the woods, its branches still quivering from the fall.
As another sword of lightning split the sky above him, he sped toward the tangle of tree limbs.
THE tree was still rocking around Kenna, splashing water in her face and turning her hair into a dripping mass, but she had saved herself from getting flattened.
Cautiously, she moved her arms, relieved that they were not pinned down. They were sore, but the lack of serious pain told her that no bones were broken. Thank the Great Mother.
When she tried to shift her legs, the news wasn’t quite so good. Her right foot was stuck.
Grasping the branches beside her, she braced herself and gave a mighty yank on her leg, but all she accomplished was scraping her skin.
Closing her eyes for a moment, she considered her options. Perhaps she could use her telekinetic abilities again.
She’d never tackled such a daunting task, but what if she could just lift the branch an inch or two?
She was gathering the energy
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