Page 48 of Monster

“Get ready,” Drake roared. He reminded himself this wasn’t real… it was all in Luca’s mind.

No logic here.

No logic here.

Drake felt the shift take over. His dragon roared to life, smoke pouring from his mouth and nose. Scales emerged over his thickening flesh. Wings popped from his back as he grew ten… twenty feet above the earth. A thick mist filled in around them. Leaning down, he grabbed Luca with one clawed hand and shot into the ever-sunset sky above.

Below was chaos.The animals fought with themselves in search of Luca.

A smile played over his lips… Now, time to go home.

He flew to the edge of the clearing, praying Luca would come through with him. Drake landed on the spot… and felt the sinking sensation.

And this time… there was pain.

A tormented scream raced up his chest, the bones of his body feeling as if they were being shattered. His limbs twisted in agony… he struggled to breathe.

Lost to the pain, he was sure he was dying…

And then it was gone.

He opened one eye and saw he lay on the concrete floor of Luca’s sanctuary. Lifting his head, he realized he wasn’t the same…

Drake brought a hand up and saw a scale-covered set of claws. Looking down, he realized he was in dragon form. His head whipped to the other dragons before he lifted his maw to release a roar.

His dragon was free!

And then he saw the limp form in the cage—and he immediately shifted back to his human self. His clothes had torn to shreds upon his shift, leaving him naked. Drake looked at the creature in the cage, praying to the dragon gods he hadn’t made a mistake.

Long minutes passed…

And slowly…

Luca shifted into his human form.

* * * *

Found, yet lost…

Bull raced closer to the cage, watching the shift take over the creature. His heart pounded in his chest, waiting to see if the dragon had succeeded.

One of Luca’s eyes opened, and then the other.He languidly sat up and stared around him.

“Luca,” Drake murmured.“Luca… you made it out. You made it through.”

Luca frowned and glanced at them all before his gaze returned to Drake. “I made it through what?”

Drake sat back on his heels, looking despondent. “You don’t remember?”

“Remember what? Who are you people?” Luca looked around.“Why am I in this cage?”

Bull watched the smoke dragon. Drake rested his forehead on the bars, a whispered “no” crossing his lips.

“Do you remember your name?” Bull asked before holding his breath.

Luca’s eyes moved back and forth, as if he searched for the answer. Finally he lifted his gaze to Bull’s with eyes that looked so very familiar. “I don’t.”

“The panther said this could wipe out all he was,” Drake said.

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