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“What a shame,” said the man. “I had hoped to find you under better circumstances.”
Izrah remembered him as the one she’d seen right before she died. He’d asked her if she wanted to live.
“Since you’re not afraid, I assume you know who I am,” Markus thought.
“Of course, since you send me your thoughts. I was ready to die. Why didn’t you listen to me when I said no?” Izrah thought, assuming he could read their minds.
Markus burst out laughing and thought, “I understood why you said no, and since then you've been having a great time, haven't you?"
“Yes, until now. I needed my hands and medicine.”
“You could have it all someday, trust me.”
“Trust you? How, when you've been hiding from us?” Tala thought with sarcasm.
“Listen, little one, I wasn't hiding. I'm a very busy shifter.” Markus tilted his head, staring at Anti’s body. “What happened to the old one?”
“The old one was my life-bond. It was heart failure,” Izrah thought.
Markus circled Anti’s remains. His face filled with amazement as he poked at the lifeless body with his foot. “Hmm. He’s not even stiff yet. This is extraordinary. He knew you were a wolf and yet stayed with you?”
“I would’ve done the same for him,” Izrah thought.
“He was a rare man indeed,” Markus agreed.
“What’s going on?” Tala asked. “Why aren’t Wayna and Jolan with you?”
Markus motioned to the woods. “You can come out now.”
Wayna and Jolan came out and stood at Markus’ side.
“So you were there all along while your grandfather was dying!” Izrah thought forcefully.
“Does it look like we could do anything about it?” Wayna thought and stepped up to Anti’s body.
Markus winked at Izrah. “I’m the only one who could, if properly motivated.”
Izrah's eyes winded. She looked at Anti and couldn’t help imagining him coming back to life.
“If I did, he would be a shifter, like us,” Markus explained, standing over the body.
Tala turned toward her. “You’re not seriously considering this, are you?”
“Hmm...maybe.”
“But you don’t know if Anti even wants to be like us.” She nudged her head at Markus.
Izrah tried to resist the temptation, but going on for years and years without Anti would be torture.
“All I ask is that you come with me." Markus asked. "You’re supposed to be in my clan. Why turn that down?” Markus looked from side to side and spread his arms out. “Would you rather roam aimlessly out here for an indefinite, like Leotie?”
“Leotie? You’ve spoke to her?” Izrah asked.
“Yes, but she refuses to come with me. This despite the fact that she caught Keme having sex with another woman.” Markus threw up his hands. “She’s quite upset about it.”
Izrah and Tala’s mouth’s dropped open.
Wayna flopped down and broke out in a barking sort of laugh, pounding his paws on the ground.
Jolan poked him with his paw. “It’s not funny.”
“Keme’s always been needy, but that’s low, even for him,” Izrah thought.
Markus paced about and motioned toward Anti. “So what are you going to do? Just let this faithful man remain dead in the dirt?”
Izrah struggled to decide. Anti’s last words had been for her to help Keme, his son, even though Keme was a horrible person to actually be with another woman already.
“We were supposed to help Keme and those who followed him. They’re in danger from one man known as Chapa,” Izrah explained.
“I know about Chapa,” Markus said. “Keme’s tribe has moved so far away he’s well out of reach, and Chapa is going in the wrong direction. He’ll give up soon and have no choice but to head north back to the rest of the Mahasi.”
“How is it possible for you to do all this spying in so many different places?” Tala asked.
“I have a method of travel that is beyond your understanding. It’s much faster than any sort of creature, even those in the air. Trust me, Chapa is going in the wrong direction.”
It sounded too good to be true, but she was willing to take her chances. What was so wrong about being in Markus’ clan if it meant having Anti back? Something so incredible as bringing someone back to life wasn’t going to be for free.
“I’ll join your clan,” Izrah thought, trying to project a casual tone.
“Excellent,” Markus knelt down by Anti. “From now on you will call me Lord Markus, and keep in mind if you break your agreement with me, my wrath will be swift and painful.”
“I understand,” Izrah thought.
Markus looked at Tala. She glanced away from him. He grimaced and knelt by Anti. He put his hands on him and his entire body began to glow. Markus grew brighter and brighter. Izrah stepped back with the others and swallowed hard at the realization Markus was a powerful being. She watched in awe, but also in fear of what he could do. The light surrounding Markus spread until it covered Anti as well.
Heat radiated from them. Everyone backed up even more. Then Anti’s body became translucent. She could see the ground beneath him. His form twisted and turned, shrinking, his limbs retracting and growing hair. A muzzle formed, and hard nails grew from his paws. A rush of warm wind flew past them as Markus pushed another burst of light into Anti. Then everything faded. Markus sat back on the ground with slumped shoulders, his eyes half shut.
Anti lifted his head. “Izrah?” He looked down at his paws. “What has happened?”
She stepped next to him. “Anti, Markus is here. You’re a shifter now.”
“I can hear your thoughts.” Anti looked up at Markus, and his mouth dropped open.
“Thank you, Lord Markus, for saving him,” Izrah thought.
“Finally I get some gratitude.” Markus stood up and brushed himself off. “Wayna and Jolan, I want you to take Izrah and Anti to my cabin.”
“What about you Tala?” Jolan asked.
Tala looked between them and the trail leading south. “Oh alright, Lord Markus,” she thought in an exasperated tone. “I’m coming, but isn’t Leotie going to wonder where we are?”
“No need to worry about that,” Markus said. “I'll let her know and meet up with you later. Hopefully, when she hears you're all coming, she will finally do the sensible thing.”
Anti continued to look between Izrah and Markus. Izrah couldn’t tell if he approved of his new form or not.
“But how did I get here?” Anti asked. “I last remember eating with you?”
“Do you remember finding Chapa?” Tala asked.
“No? I only remember trying to find our tribe with you two.”
“Don’t worry,” Tala thought. “I had the same problem at first, but the memories will come back.”
Anti stepped over to Markus. “Are you the one who changed us into skin walkers?”
“Of course, and please don’t use that dreadful word.” Markus’ voice echoed as he began to glow again. “We’re shifters.”
His form lightened to a point where Izrah could see the trees on the other side. What remained of him swirled into a streak of light and sped off into the sky. As everyone stared, Izrah had a bad feeling. Markus was too powerful. Yet, her mind spun with the things Markus could accomplish. She hoped Leotie would come to her senses and cooperate.
