That internal battle intensified as the ones closest to her began pulling at her arms and legs and clothing. She struggled against them, trying to push them away, but her efforts were futile against so many. In a matter of seconds, she was on her knees. Kneeling put her at much the same height as the creatures surrounding her, and she could no longer see over their heads. Her panic now flavored with the added zing of claustrophobia, she gasped for breath as the creatures moved inward.It took a few minutes for her to realize that they had stopped tugging at her limbs and clothing once her knees were touching the floor. Now, they were stroking her with clawed appendages that were somewhere between human hands and paws. When one of them placed gentle fingertips on her cheek, she responded in like manner. After an initial jerk of surprise, the creature accepted her touch. Their dark fur, Lucky discovered, was as soft as it looked.Sliding its hand from Lucky’s cheek to her neck, the creature slipped a claw under the gold chain she wore and tugged the amulet from beneath her shirt, so it lay exposed against her chest.
