Changer's Blood (Balancer's Soul cycle) (15 page)

“At least we have someone human
also
watching our backs
incase an emergency arises
.”
The color
slowly
came back in her face.

“By the way… why did you pick
those
clothes?”
He
said with a
wry
smile.

“For some reason I favor this color now
. It is like how my mother likes red beca
use it is Father’s attribute…” S
he left
it hanging for
him to fill in.

S
he twirled
,
showing
off
her
exquisite
attributes
.

“It really works for you…”
His
thumping
pulse agreed with the sentiment.

As Sarah walked into the living room
of
their
home,
she greeted Mark and Kara
warmly
. When his
sister stood she asked “Are you ready yet
…
?
Wow Sarah you look Hot!
”

“Almost
and thank you for that compliment
,
Kara
.” Sarah
smiled and
walked over to a box
beside
the front door and opened it. Without looking behind
,
she grabbed and tossed Tool
over her shoulder
with an effortless flick of her wrist
and
Connor
caught it
in
midair
. It slid in
his
belt loop
,
on
his
right hip
,
in one fluid motion. She then pulled out her dagger
and after unclasping her belt
,
she slid the sheathed dagger into a secure position at her
left
hip. She shut the lid
of the box
saying “Now I’m ready.”

Mark stood and asked “So what’s the plan
for today,
Buddy?”

Connor
took an unneeded deep breath as
he
answered “
Judging from your leather pants, I’m guessing that you’re prepared to change
at a moment
’
s notice
.” Mark nod
ded as Sarah came to stand by her mate’s
side.
Connor
looked at
his
sister
and gave her an option.
“You’ll need to either be carried by Sarah, myself or Mark to get there with enough time…”

Mark announced
,
befor
e Connor
could finish “She’ll ride
me.”

Kara’s face went beet red as she took
the
statement the wrong way. “Mark… umm… can
’
t we discuss that without my brother and sister in the room?”

Connor
glanced at Sarah; she had a tight lipped smile on as
she
strain
ed
not to
outright
laugh
as the comment was harmless, but became an innuendo
.
Mark got
his
attention
next
as he scratched his head. “What are you talking about?
” A
moment later he understood how his words
had
affected her. “Oh…”
H
e cleared his throat as his
neck
became slightly flushed.
His silver eyes became glazed for some reason.
He wanted to, but couldn’t for some reason.

“Ok you two…” Sarah said
,
getting back their attention
to the here and now
. “We need to do this
immediately
or we l
ose this chance
and meet my parents immediately
.” Mark and Kara nodded.

Connor
was the last one out
of
the front
door and looking up at the sky he
noticed
the first streaks of sunlight started
brightening
in
the dark morning. Mark asked Kara to stand back as he walked a few steps ahead.

Mark’s
eyes started glowing as
everyone gathered
heard his bones breaking and reforming
at an amazing rate
. His black hair started growing all over hi
s body again and remained loose and looked reasonably soft
. His facial features altered into that of a muzzle along with
sharpened canines
instead of the dull human kind
. His fingernails became
menacing
claws and his chest broke a
nd barreled out again. Finally Connor
noticed what that small flap on his hind end was for because his long black tail
started
growing from it.

When he turned around Connor
had to ask “Mark
,
can I ask why your hair fuses together
sometimes
?”

In his deep rumbling
and animalistic voice he explained.
“I got the idea from a rhinoceros. Their horn is actually a modified hair and
not bone
,
like most people believe
.
If you cut it off it’ll grow back.
I took that idea and put my
own
spin on it to encase my body in a shell of modified hair.
I’m kind of like a beetle, only without an actual exoskelet
on.
” He turned his head and pointed to his long mane that grew down the back of his spine. “This mane of mine serves as a hand hold if I
ever
need
ed
to carry someone as well as protection for the back of my neck.
Like all humans the back of the neck cannot be seen and that is a blind
spot
which could get you killed
.
”

“Now I fully understand.”
Sarah said pushing into
Connor’s
mind as she stood beside
him
.

“We
’d
better go
soon.”
She looked up and nodded at
the
suggestion.

Not a moment later
,
Mark dropped down to all fours. He turned his head and staring
at Kara
said “Ready for the ride of your life, Sweetheart
?” He smiled
and
began
flashing his sharp
white
teeth
at her
.

She took a deep breath and sighed. She then adjusted her bow on her back and her belt of arrows
at her hip
. She took off at a swift run and leapt directly behind Mark
’
s shoulders. Her legs straddled across his ribs as she held onto his
rigid
mane
,
like
one would upon
the
reins of a horse
. His muzzle smiled
wider
as she found a comfortable position
and he didn’t even moan as he
took her full weight with ease.

She said
playfully
“I’m ready now.”

Sara
h
giggl
ed as she walked with
Connor
up to M
ark and
his
sister. The top of Mark
’
s shoulders came up to
Connor’s
hip. As he swung his head to look at
him Connor
asked “How fast can you run
with someone on your back?”

In his deep animalistic voice “Even if I pulled a
semi
I still haven’t met a Balancer who can keep up with my speed.”

“Good
to know
. Now follow us.” Connor looked over
at
his mounted
sister who
wore
an expression like that of a child getting
Christmas
presents. “Hold on tight. We ar
e going to be
moving
quick
ly through the forest
.” She
tighten
ed
her
grip
in his jet black mane.

Connor
took off running to
the
destination. Mark s
tarted
running with Kara on
his
left
side
. His
hazel
eyes were focused straight ahead as
they jumped the stream and
entered the forest. Sarah was keeping pace on
Connor’s
right.

He
wanted to see if what Mark said was true about
Balancer’s
being slower. When
the younger spouse
got a smile of approval from Sarah
he
slowly
began to
increase speed.
Mark wa
s quick on the uptake when
Connor
began
pulling
ahead
of the
entire
group
. Mark
barked a laugh and started running faster than
his friend
so
Connor
made
him
self run even faster
in turn
.
As some of fastest creatures in existence
,
a
ll
three
of
them
easily dodged every tree and branch
without even trying
.
Nothing natural could possibly slow them.
Sarah and Connor
ran softly through the forest, but
Mark ran
on all fours
with heavy yet firm footing.

They
were both neck and neck as
they each ran as quickly as they
could
pump their muscles
.
With an explosion of fresh leaves they
broke through the tree line of the rocky clearing
less than
five minutes later.

The rocky clearing
remained
calm and quiet
, until they
arrived
. Stones
and sand
littered the ground as did a few
hardy
weeds. The air
felt
cool, but it wouldn’t
stay
for too long
, Summer was beginning to come
. The clearing
alone is
surrou
nded by trees and thick shrubs
to disguise anything
.

The
morning
sunlight still hadn’t arrived
completely
.

At the same time
,
they
put on the brakes and slowly came to a stop. Sarah was also able to keep up with
the men
as well. Both M
ark and Connor
were breathing deeply, but not out of breath. Kara eased herself off his back and when she was off; Mark pushed himself back on his hind legs. “Buddy, that was
the best run I’ve had to date
. You actually kept up.
That’s a first
because not one Balancer has ever kept up
.
” He started a rumbling laugh.

Connor
smiled
in
satisf
action
as
he
proved
that
he and Sarah
could keep up
with
a Changer
.
A quick glance revealed that
Kara didn’t have a single scratch or speck of dirt after the run, but she looked
a little
off.

“Kara
,
are you alright?” Sarah asked
while
walking up to her and rubbing her back gently.
Sarah has always had a comforting si
de
.
It is one of her most charming aspects.