Summer

It’s a building in the very back. It may have been a pet rescue once. We crouch in the trees near the building. I sit on my knees closing my eyes. AJ shifts wolf. The only bad thing about sending off is you can’t shift. I focus on the possibilities. I had already gotten a glimpse of how this may end. I go though options. The front door. The back door. The window. There’s three empty rooms, a bathroom, and a hall. Two rooms don’t have windows. One does. The room she’s in is windowless. The room close to the back door has one. Her room is right next to that room. They will expect us to come in though the back door more than any other. I relay this, and the layout of the building to the best of my ability to AJ. She huffs in her wolf form as a response. I tell her our best chance. The best plan to rescue Lyra. I move around the side of the building in bunny form. Harder to spot. I go over the basic hand-to-hand fighting I know. Try as I might. I was never good at it. I shift human, and take a breath. I watch. I wait. I see AJ turn around the corner. She kicks down the front door. If there is one thing that girl can do, she can make an entrance. And a distraction. I shift bunny hopping forward quick as a whip. When I jump towards the window I shift human. Taking AJ‘s lead and kicking in the window mid jump. If there’s one thing I have it’s strong legs. Now the guy knows that AJ is not alone. I only have so much time before he gets to Lyra first. I open the door. From the hall I see AJ fight him in tiger form. They circle. Growling, and snarling. One leaps at the other. I try the handle. Locked. I kicked the door, and break the lock. I rush forward keeping part of my mind’s eye on the fight, using my physic power. My nails sharpen ever so slightly. The closest a bunny shifter has to claws. I claw at ropes. It takes a few try’s, but I manage. Lyra takes off her gag.

“AJ-“ She knows her sister well enough to know she came along for the ride.

“Fighting.” I say interrupting her. “Losing.” I say. I add. “Go out the window to the left. Say hidden in the trees. Wait for us. If something goes wrong run.” I hand her my phone, just in case. She doesn’t have ability’s to defend herself. She looks at me. I get of vision of the question.

“She’ll be fine.” I pull out what I bought at the store. Her eyes widen. “I’ll make sure that is the future that comes to pass.” When she banks left I run forward. AJ is tossed aside into a wall. She whimpers. The tiger turns to face me. I shift bunny running forward. I see smugness in his eyes. At the last second I send my human self forward, and kick out. He doesn’t expect it, and I’ll knock him back a little. Not enough. My bunny self looks to AJ, then merges with me again. I hope I have enough time. I pull out the gun, and fire. He’s dead. I help AJ up. Letting her lean on me.

“I have a gun license.” I say. She whistles. “Those are hard to get.” She says. I know it takes months sometimes even years to get one. There hard to get, and hard to keep. Swords and daggers are much easier to get, but not as effective. But I’m better with a gun than a bow. So for now I’ll keep it close. We get back to her sister. Lyra rushes forward hugging AJ.

“Carful you may not have super strength, but that still hurts.” We smile at each other. I take a step back giving them space.

“Sorry. I’m so glad you came for me.” She’s crying now. She wipes them away. She’s one strong cookie.

“Of course I did.” AJ says. Lyra turns to me taking my hands.

“And thank you. You saved my life.” We start walking back to the camper.

“Come on. The camper has books.” AJ says.

“Really!” You can see her face light up. I can’t help, but laugh. After about a minute of walking AJ stops. She’s talking in a hushed voice to someone I catch is a woman. I quickly try not to pry. Which is hard with super hearing. Lyra looks confused.

“She’s talking to a ghost.” I whisper. She nods. Probably used to this. I catch part of the conversation. Lyra isn’t the first victim of this man. Now though she’s the last. The woman’s at peace. I hand Lyra the dagger. “Here take it.” I have my own form of protection. AJ sits in the drivers seat. I sit up front with her. Lyra lounges in the back, and opens a bird watching book. As I close my eyes to the soothing hum of the vehicle I sense AJ buckle my seat belt. More images come. Me and AJ becoming alphas. Kind, strong, and brave. Both alphas. Always a pair. Always together.