As Aria walked towards Dax.
He screamed.
The sound was not human.
It was raw, agonizing, like metal grinding against bone, like the forest itself weeping.
Aria froze.
His body convulsed, his muscles tightening as if pulled by invisible strings. His knees slammed to the ground, hands clawing at the earth like he was trying to hold on to something, anything; to stop what was happening.
Silver light spilt from the moon above, slashing through the canopy in thin, glowing blades. It hit Dax squarely in the chest.
His skin shimmered, then cracked.
Like porcelain breaking.
His veins lit up, first white, then blue, then a fierce silver flame that danced under his skin. His eyes rolled back, mouth opening in a silent howl as his bones shifted with sickening cracks. Not like a normal shift. Not like a wolf.
This was something else.
Something ancient.
