Page 127 of Shifter King

Naatos roared back. The humanity hadn't left his eyes. But those eyes were desperate and raging, close to snapping entirely. A stone croc reared up next to him, lunging for his side. Naatos snapped back, somehow moving fast enough to seize it by the throat and shake it violently.

Somehow he was still going. They were nowhere close to the end.

QueQoa finished off another silt squid and then ripped up one of the Vawtrians from the sand. He grabbed another on his way back to firmer ground.

They had to get him back in that bunker for his own safety, but they were running out of time. AaQar flew them to the edge and let the rescued Vawtrians down.

Phobos lunged up at the edge of the pit, helping a limping youth up as well. "This is incredible!" he shouted. "Are we going to save everyone today?"

That wasn't exactly the plan. More of an incidental benefit.

The blue crab hoisted up another Vawtrian, speaking with a woman's voice. "We're going to get everyone!"

AaQar looked out over the sand pit, squinting in the bright sunlight. A row of mantises lined the walkway out to the tower, and Naatos was charging them. He leaped up onto the stone walkway.

Sparks and flares of energy erupted from each of the mantises as they collapsed like brittle cards. An alarm blared out.

AaQar hissed through his teeth.

How was Naatos still going? He hadn't slowed hardly at all. Was it possible he and Amelia were cycling the energy back and forth between them? Had they formed some kind of neverending loop? Or was he just that desperate to get back to her? If this man ever became a true skinchanger—

Phobos gave him a playful tap on the shoulder and then backflipped into the sand pit. "Come on! Just a few more." The crab had already scuttled down.

AaQar gestured with his chin toward the remaining Vawtrians. "Help them, QueQoa. I'll see to Naatos. He's moving on now."

"Alone?" QueQoa rumbled.

"Help the Golden Foxes. Then join me."

AaQar spread his wings, then leaped into the air again. He soared through the air as Naatos lunged up onto the tower. More sparks flew as circuits shorted. Smoke poured out as Naatos climbed higher and higher. More sparks, more flares. The alarm died.

"Naatos," he shouted. "Naatos, come back now!"

Naatos peeled back the steel shutters and then shattered the glass. He leaped inside. Crashes, pops, screeches, and explosions filled the air. More smoke poured out. Fire blazed along the right side of the tower.

AaQar glanced up at the sky. They were running out of time. This had to stop soon. "Naatos," he bellowed as he landed on the top of the tower.

The purple-scaled raiku form shot out of the third-level window. Blue light flared off his spinal plates and energy reservoirs.

AaQar shot down, trying to keep pace. He was a dragon after all! How was this raiku form doing so well?

Naatos swiftly gained distance, tearing over the sand and then back up the rough rock wall. He had to stop soon. And the lower his reserves got, the more damage he would take. If he kept this up, any bite of poison would be too much.

AaQar intensified his voice. "Naatos, we will take you to Amelia. It's almost time. Come back now!"

Naatos didn't even turn his head. He just kept running. It was as if he heard nothing.

QueQoa roared from behind. He was joining the chase once more.

* * *

She wasn't here.Why wasn't she here!

A dull voice echoed around Naatos. The blood thundered too loud within his ears to hear anything beyond its relentless pounding.

He had to find her. Had to make the madness stop. It was crushing her, tearing her apart. If he could find her, he could make it stop.

He channeled even more energy into his muscles, quickening his speed. He had to find her. He would find her.