anarchist_queen | The Never Never, Saturday evening

The pain ceased as Eli finally broke through the Border, only to erupt again almost immediately. But this time it was more localized. He brought a hand to his forehead and it came away wet with blood. His blood. He stared in wonder for a moment then looked into the distance. He could see a faint glow on the horizon, the lights of the city.

He did not have much time before the Master's hounds would arrive in the wood to lead the way to him. He shook himself out of his stupor and concentrated. He would make the distance much better on four legs than two. But instead of the complete transformation he'd been going for, he found himself only a horse from the waist down. The desired four legs were there, but he'd become some kind of hybrid creature. No matter, he was that anyway.

When he got closer to the city however he seemed to pass through another border. The guide book had warned of this, pockets where magic simply didn't work. He tumbled in the dirt of the road as his horse half vanished, replaced by his own two legs.

The pain in his forehead flared to new life, but before he could dwell on that, he heard the baying of his Master's hounds. He rolled from his back to crouch on all fours, praying to whoever that he was no longer in the pocket of no-magic. He concentrated on another form, small, swift and agile.

Now in place of a young man was a snow white fox with a blood red streak on it's brow. He smelled a scent he has never smelled before, but he recognized it none the less. It was similar to his own, human. He streaked through the brush and saw a woman cutting wood.

When the sound of the baying hounds reached her ears, the woman swore, and abandoned her task. She leaped for her motorcycle and started the engine. Eli wasted no time, and just as the bike pulled out, he jumped into one of the saddle-bags. Surely the Master would not be able to find him in the city.

[Preemptive apology for spamming friend list today. Lots happening in short space of time. Posted early due to family obligation this evening.]