As I huddled in the coat with Fai, cold from under me seeped from my feet, now wet from snow, up into my legs, then arms and face. I started to shiver, despite the warmth around me. Suddenly a smell hit my nose, and I started coughing and gagging.
"Are you okay?!" asked Fai worridly.
"It smells like... *cough* blood..." I managed to say.
"Hmm... If you go on like this, you will get sick." He gave me a look, and placed a hand on my forehead. "You already have a mild fever." I shook my head furtiously.
"N-no!" I chattered. "The smell..." He gave me a more serious look. It was strange on him, since he always seemed to smile. I sighed. "F-fine..." I stepped out of the coat, and focussed on changing.
In the moment of change, I experienced a short flash back.
~~~
"M-mommy?!" the young me cried. "Daddy?!" The bodies on the ground were mangled and beaten beyond recognition. Blood was everywhere. Reaching out, my small hand touched my mothers head, and was covered in sticky red blood. I screamed, trying to get it off. Sitting down, I put my hands over my face, but moved my little fingers, unable to look away...
~~~
As the change completed, I sat as the panther, looking down at the white snow. The smell of blood was overwhelming now. Fai came up and put his hand on my large head. "Flash back?" he asked. I looked away. I heard him give a small sigh. "It looks like the kids are having a good time." I looked over where he was pointing. Two of the younger travelers with us were making snowmen.
The snow was starting to come down harder, the wind picking up a little. I knew the storm was going to turn worse. I didn't need the snow owl next to me to tell me that.
"We need to find shelter. It may be fine now, but it's bound to get worse." Fai looked around. I couldn't see any shelter in sight. What would we do?
By now, the smell of blood was really getting to me. I turned away from the smell, and sat down again, but it hardly helped...
~Hana and Fai
