The moment I touched my heart and connected with the core of the panther, crimson mist surged from my chest and rushed out of my body.
But this time, it didn't billow upward like smoke. It slithered, coiling low across the ground like a stalking predator, brushing over stone and soil, silent as breath.
The world around me dimmed. The wind stilled to welcome the new member of my group.
The mist pooled at my feet, then began to rise forming a crouched shape.
There was no shriek this time. No grand entrance. Just… a pulse. Like a second heartbeat echoing beneath mine.
And then—
From inside the mist, something began to form.
A large shape, low to the ground, strong and wide.
A curved horn slowly came into view. It was black now, smooth and sharp, twisting in a spiral.
Then came the shoulders, bigger than before. The body was longer, stronger, more solid. Its claws touched the ground next. Long, sharp, and dark like knives.
