RETH
Reth raced back to the cave, leaving the messenger in his dirt, his heart slamming against his ribs even in his beast as he ran home, terrified and raging. He shifted back into human form as he raced past the guards in the meadow and entered the cave, almost running smack into Jayah rushing out.
She caught him as he apologized and stepped to go around her, but she called him back, "No! Reth! Stop! Listen! I have to warn you."
He stopped dead, the urgency in the wolf's voice making his heart stutter again.
He turned, panting. "What? What is it?"
Jayah swallowed, but met his gaze evenly. "She can't shift."
He blinked. "But—is she—"
"No, no, She isn't dying, no, I meant because she took the tonic this morning. She hasn't been able to shift since the labor started. For a while the baby was human, but it has shifted recently and it's causing her a lot of pain."
"So, what can we do?!"
