I took two backward. The creature advanced once again. I retreated until I smacked into something behind me. The obstacle had me nearly falling over before two hands set atop my shoulders to steady me. “He won’t hurt you,” a deep male voice said. I recognized it as their leader. The assurance meant little when faced with a wild animal. The panther lowered its haunches to the ground and stared at me. Its broad black nose shimmered with moisture in the light and several long whiskers stretched out on either side of his mouth. That mouth opened, revealing two large white canines and a wide pink tongue. The creature blinked its steel blue eyes while making a grunting noise. His father laughed. “What did you expect her to do?” “Is that—” “Yes, that is Alex,” he assured me as he released my shoulders. “What is he?” “We are shapeshifters.” I visibly shivered but said nothing. “You had better shift back.” The leader’s firm voice soothed little. The black panther stood on all fours once again.
