Concerned, people gathered around Jal. “What’s happening?”

Sage Elvan tried to rouse Jal. “He said something, but what was it?” Kir asked.

“He said, ‘Felines,’” Sage Elvan responded.

Kir knelt at Jal’s side. “Jal! Jal! What about the felines? Jal! Wake up! Jal! Tell us about the felines.”

Jal’s words were slurred. “What did it say, Kir?”

“I think he said ‘they’re not what they look like.”

“What does that mean?” The two men looked at one another.

“Get your weapons out and shields up!” Kir hissed to the people around him. “Pay attention to those animals! Pass the word on!”

Within minutes a circle was formed around Jal and Kir. More felines crept across the open area, and the hikers found themselves surrounded.

“What should we do?”

“I suggest we stay like we are,” Cirus said. “They appear to be mammals. They’re looking us over. Be prepared to defend yourself, but let’s not antagonize them. Perhaps they’ll decide to go on their way.”

Golsho turned slowly in a circle and counted. “Right now, I see eighteen of them.”

“Normally, felines don’t hunt in groups like this,” Cirus said.

“If they’re not what they look like, what are they?” Kir said to Sage Elvan.

“I have no idea.” Jal opened its eyes and struggled to get up. “Take it easy, Jal,” Sage Elvan said.

“The felines? Where are they?” Jal demanded.

“We’ve been surrounded by them.”

“They’re not really felines,” Jal said. “They’re some sort of creature that has the ability to change form. In my vision, I first saw them attack as cats that walk like humans and use spears and swords. Then they grew wings and came at us with great claws and big teeth. The hardest fight will be when they become tall, like giants.”

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“How tall?” Elodi asked over her shoulder. She continued to watch the animals as they paced back and forth.

Jal looked around. “They will be at least three times taller than Sage Elvan and myself.”

“Oh, boy,” Mink muttered. “How are we going to beat someone that big?”

“We can increase our size,” Wizard Kir responded. “If they are going to come at us, the first thing I’ll do is identify their weaknesses.” He motioned to Wizard Lallo. She stepped out of her place in the circle and the others repositioned themselves. “I want you to use your energy for healing, not fighting. There’s a special rejuvenation elixir here if you need it.”

“I have several,” she responded. “I need to know who doesn’t use magic.”

“Zamani and Mink,” Dr. Gyasi had come to the center of the circle.

“Magic?” Mink looked back and forth at them.

“We’re not talking about this right now, Mink,” Dr. Gyasi stopped him. “We’ve got to plan how we’re going to handle this.”

“Here they come!” Pari said and raised her shield. As the felines ran toward the fighters, they grew with each step.

“Dek!” “Beviel.” “Behed.” Everyone but Zamani and Mink activated a protection charm.

“Put your hand out,” Dr. Gyasi said to them. “Besh! This will give you some protection for a short time if you stay near me.”

“Erken zak! The left side of the neck and about a third of the way down their stomachs!” Wizard Kir shouted.

“Hou op!” Golsho yelled. Two of the cats smashed into an invisible force. He and Mila swung their weapons. Mila slashed one in the neck right away. The other creature stepped from side to side trying to avoid Golsho’s sword. Golsho swung and missed, then spun and slashed the feline across the stomach.

It howled in pain and stepped back, holding its stomach. As the feline’s eyes turned yellow, it shuffled backward and crouched. A moment later, Golsho pulled his sword out of the animal’s gut.

Golsho took a swing at the one Mila was fighting, and it went down onto all four paws. Mila’s broadsword widened the gash that blood was already gushing out of. They stepped away from one another in order to help the people next to them.

On the other side of the circle, two long, thin swords clanged against one another as they fell to the ground. Elodi and Zamani had managed to slice the paws off two different creatures. They turned and ran, transforming back into smaller felines.

Swords clanged and wands flicked fire arrows at the enemy. Some fell, and others raced away.

“Verplet!” Luke yelled, and the force of his magic lifted his opponent up and slammed it to the ground. After several of these hits, the feline lay motionless.

Expedition members were now fighting in twos and threes against the enemy. The felines howled and hissed at them. After one’s weapon was knocked to the ground, it transformed into a four-footed creature with wings and leaped at Jal. With claws spread wide, the animal stretched and caught Jal’s arm.

The claw skidded off Jal’s protective equipment and Jal slammed its shield into the feline’s face. It sailed through the air and landed on the weapon it had dropped, impaling itself.

“Vernate!” One feline was slammed backward, and it landed with its head twisted at an odd angle.

The other felines looked at one another and howled. The remainder retreated several meters, then turned and ran.