Page 29 of The Lamb and the Llama
“What are you talking about, Zagan? Last time I heard that acronym, it came from Pete when he was describing a mother he’d like to?—”
Zagan lifted a palm at Ash to quiet him. “That’s obviously not what I meant. Can we not talk about what Pete does in his spare time? Because I don’t need visuals in my head. MILF is the Milos Infantry Liaisons to Furry United Coalition. They are new and directed under Treasure. This plan is perfect! Everyone will think that I’m going after the dignitaries because we had always needed royal blood. But now that we’ve perfected your blood, we can experiment on anyone! The possibilities are endless.”
Ash beamed. When their plan to capture Gregor failed, he thought Zagan might kill him. But Pete had surprised them with an announcement that he didn’t need Gregor’s blood after all. He’d been able to combine all past samples and finally make the serum that Zagan desired.
That wasn’t enough to stop Zagan from wanting revenge, though. Something Ash knew as they both shifted in geckos to avoid BS detection. They scurried around the back of the stage that was set up for the opening ceremonies of SHIT.
Ash poked Zagan’s shoulder. “What if they catch us, boss? They locked you up for a while, which slowed progress. Don’t you think we should wait a bit? This place is crawling with FUC and BS agents. If we add the MILFs to the mix, that’s a whole lot of law enforcement for just the two of us to handle.”
“That’s why I don’t plan on sticking around after I get what I came here for. Now quiet! Treasure is coming!”
“Okay, Kalliopi, I’m going to station you here with two MILFs in training to flank you as you watch over the crowd.”
“Yes, ma’am! I will see to it that they don’t let you down, and of course, neither will I, since I’m the one training them. Like me, they will be an asset as stork shifters.”
“Remember, you will only have them under your wing for a few more days. Then they go to British Columbia, Canada to train with Stan at FUC Academy.”
Kalliopi let out a chuckle. “Was that a stork pun?”
Treasure smiled brightly. “I was hoping you’d laugh! You haven’t been the same since?—”
Kalliopi raised a palm to Treasure. “Let’s not talk about that whole mess with the one who shall remain nameless.”
“I know it’s been a year and you have sworn off men as a MILF command sergeant major. Training our infantry has been your goal since we were kids! But I miss that bright smile of yours, sister from another mister!”
Kalliopi clasped Treasure’s hands. “I know you do, and I’ll get there. Just not today. Besides, I’m older than you. I’m the one who should be giving advice! And might I advise you to keep Teo close? That man is perfect for you!”
“Thanks, Kallie,” Treasure said with another smile. “Well, I’ll leave you to it. Your cadets should report to you any minute. Stan just wanted to meet with them first.”
Kalliopi smiled at Treasure before Treasure walked off toward the ushers seating the dignitaries.
“Ash, grab that one before the other two get here. She’ll be perfect.”
Ash drank the potion meant for Kalliopi and quickly shifted into his crested gecko form, which was temporarily enhanced with a snake to administer the potion he drank to her. He slithered over to Kalliopi and nipped her ankle with his teeth. The manufactured venom in his teeth began to work instantly, and Kalliopi’s knees buckled. That was where his plan faltered. He couldn’t drag the woman back with him. He’d have to shift. But the moment he did so, Zagan hissed at him.
“You’ll be seen, you idiot…” Zagan’s eyes fixed on something behind Ash.
Ash turned to see what it was and knew immediately when his eyes locked on Stan.
“Zagan, now’s not the?—”
“No, Ash. Stan needs to suffer!” Zagan said as he pounded his fist into the speaker nearest to him.
Before Ash could stop him, Zagan was already out in the main aisle where the chairs were being set up for the meeting and headed straight for Stan. In an instant, he’d partially shifted into his bull-griffon and knocked Stan down with his hooved feet.
“I’m back! Miss me?” Said Zagan as he shoved Stan’s head into the ground. “It’s because of you I was in that hellhole for months. You’re going to pay for that, Stan!”
14
Stan shifted into his grizzly but not before Zagan grazed Stan’s torso and shoulder with his horns. Stan let out a few grunts before swiping at Zagan with his sharp claws. Zagan bobbed and weaved from each of Stan’s strikes.
They were all arriving at the location just in time to see it all going down. Richard readied himself to shift and help Stan, but Amira was ahead of him and charged in first.
“No!” cried Amira as she shifted into her fluffy snow owl and flew straight at Zagan. She began to claw and rip into Zagan, but Zagan grabbed a hold of Amira by her beak and flung her off of him. She landed on the stage, and a loud crack radiated through the air as her head hit the podium.
“Amira!” Richard shifted into his llama and ran to where Amira’s limp body was. He quickly shifted back into human form to check her vitals. She was breathing—thank God! But if Richard had his way, Zagan wouldn’t be.
Satisfied that she would be okay, Richard turned from her, turned back to his llama form, and galloped toward Zagan, who almost had gotten the better of Stan as one of Zagan’s horns made contact with Stan’s upper chest and shoulder. Stan let out a growl and clutched his injured shoulder with his paw before falling to the ground. Richard bucked with his legs, forcing Zagan to turn away from Stan and face him. The llama spat in Zagan’s eyes, momentarily blinding him, and Zagan stumbled to the ground. Richard had leaped up, readying himself to give Zagan a final blow, when he heard an angelic voice.
