Page 5 of Her Rabid Beasts

“Guys, this is literally a dragon’s secret cave!” my tigress calls. “I reckon the old dragon family who used to own this place kept their horde of gold and jewels down here.”

The animas and hatchlings make pleased sounds as we assess the cavern. There is a very faint scent of dragon and many old and useless objects scattered around.

Well, it belongs to the dragons no more. I stalk to the corner and proceed to mark this territory as mine.

“Is she— Did she…?” my leopard-sister is loud in my ears.

“She really just pissed on the wall, yeah,” my dark-lioness says.

“Oh, Wild Goddess, she’s gone rabid.” My tigress is not happy and I do not know why.

The hatchlings zip around the space as my sisters burst into chatter and I set about my task, building my nest.

There are sticks from long-dead plants, and dusty cloth that makes me sneeze, but I drag select pieces to the centre of the cavern where I will have a good view of everything. I push with my muzzle and pull with my teeth until I have arranged a nest of soft but sturdy materials. The hatchlings squeak with approval, immediately adding their own additions to the nest before settling down and looking at me expectantly. Carefully, I settle myself down and rest my head between my paws. My own turquoise hatchling inserts himself between my golden paws, chirping low in question. A contented purr emerges from my throat and the hatchling closes his eyes.

My human sisters inspect our surroundings, making funny squawks and warbles as they find new and interesting objects. I watch them toddle about with half-lowered lids.

We must rest. We must conserve our energy because those dangerous fingers lurk ever closer. Ever waiting for weakness. For entry.

Keep them all safe.

But my peace is not to be. Within minutes, there comes a faint smell of sweet burning. My head jerks upward in raw awareness. That is no mortal, ordinary fire.

And yet it is not like dragon fire either.

I let out a little warning growl and my pack all jerk to attention.

“What is it?” my tigress squeaks.

My gaze remains fixed on the watery tunnel and they all watch where I do.

Water glistens, that mythical scent of flame infiltrates my nose, and the sound of gentle lapping fills the cavern.

It is not long before she appears.

Standing on another boat, surveying my territory, is an anima I met once, many years ago, almost in another life. Her hair is a fiery red, long and curling down to her breasts. Her human body is covered in a white suit and her eyes gleam like golden molten coals.

Though I do not recall her name, I know she is safe. She knows things others do not. She showed kindness to me once, and now, on her lips, is a knowing smile.

Lady Phoenix.

Her boat bumps against the slope of the cavern floor and she steps off it with otherworldly feminine grace.

“Aurelia.” A deep voice like magma over old rock sends shivers down my spine.

The human inside of me bangs uselessly against her cage. I only blink in reply.

“We think she is rabid, my Lady Headmistress,” my tigress says.

The other animas shift as if surprised, but the phoenix nods and the sounds that come out of her mouth are slow. “Aurelia, if you can understand me, I have placed an injunction upon your sentence. Your execution has been halted.”

The silence in the cavern is sweet music to me.

“Will you animas keep watch over her for the moment?” Lady Phoenix asks.

There are blubbers of assent.

“You are good friends to Aurelia. However, I still expect you to attend your classes and keep to your progress plans. You cannot stay here in beast form or you’ll turn just the same.”

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