Nyx Valentine POV

I don't know how much longer my legs can go without giving out. I need to eat. I need water. Running for 2 days straight takes a toll on you. I can't go much longer. With these stupid hunters chasing me I can't even stop for a second. I may know the forest better than them but I am on my feet while they drive all kinds of vehicles.

If I can make it to the nearest human city they can't do anything. Well that's what the rumors say. I hope they are right. If I could get to the kingdom this would be so much easier but then they would know where we live and that could ruin everything. If they just knew that I was so important to the Magi that if they kill me they are starting a war between us. The humans wouldn't survive a war with us. If they kill me the entire supernatural world would have a problem with them. Sure it's only because they want more creatures like me on their side and the only way for that to happen is if I have children but they need me nonetheless. A prophecy was told a long time ago but let's not get into that just yet. I am a very powerful creature, a hybrid of sorts.

I would need to stop and rest if I wanted to shift. I can't shift like this. If I had even a second to stop then I could shift to wolf form. God why did I have to be so stupid!? I just had to follow that annoying rabbit. Stupid wolf side! You see I am only a small part wolf so it is slightly harder to shift and I need 5 whole seconds to shift. If I could just get that I would be winning in this chase. Maybe I can shift to a different form?

What seems the most useful during a chase?

Dragon?

No, that would out us to the humans. Plus it would just make me an easier target with my large size.

Vampire?

No, I haven't fed her in in a while. I wouldn't want to accidentally kill an innocent. If I even smell a drop of blood I'll go berserk. Trust me when I say my blood hunt state is much too dangerous for the human realm.

There aren't many good choices. Fairy takes too long, angel is too flashy, demon is too violent... I guess.... Panther?

It's been a while since I took that form.

I haven't used it since-

Don't think about it!

I can do this!

But I forgot how to control that form...

It's... probably fine?

It can't be that different from my wolf form... Right?

Well it's not like I have much choice right now.

"Midnight." I mutter as I leap into the air.

It only takes a moment but it feels like a lifetime as my body morphs into that of a black panther.

I'm small for a feline shifter. I was born much earlier than I should have been.

A child with Elven blood stays with their mother for an average of 3 years. I was born a year early and it affected my other forms in one way or another. For my panther form it's stunted growth. I'm hardly bigger than a large cat, but I can't deny that this form is incredibly useful. Fast, strong, flexible, enhanced senses. I get a lot from this bloodline.

As I make my way through the trees I can hear the vehicles getting farther behind. I'm losing them. It's a little hard to control this body. I'm used to using much larger forms. It's strange to suddenly be so small. I don't hate it. It's just different.

After running for a while I suddenly spot the edge of the forest. There's a large field of tall grass that could easily hide my small frame.

At that moment I let my guard down. I suddenly feel an excruciating pain in my stomach.

The attacker narrowly missed me. So close that I was grazed by the bullet.

I would normally be fine with such a small wound but right now. When my body is tiny I'll die if I don't get treated soon. But I can't shift like this.

Although the wound burns I don't stop running. When I enter the field I don't continue straight forward. I take a turn to the left as I walk forward.

When I feel like I'm a safe distance I turn to run in the opposite direction of the forest.

It doesn't take long for me to spot a row of houses.

At this point I'm struggling to walk due to severe bloodloss so taking a gamble I rush as fast as I can towards one of the houses. However I don't make it there before I faint.

The last thing I remember is someone lifting me up and trying to put pressure on my wound.

I can only hope this person, whoever they are, isn't an enemy.

-

Ashton Forger POV

On my way home from a family dinner party I never expected to run into an injured cat.

When I first spotted her I thought she was dead but then I saw her move her paw weakly and I was sure she was still alive. Looking closely I could see her breathing even if it was weak.

I didn't hesitate to bring her to a vet.

I was told that they didn't know what caused the wound but she had lost a lot of blood and if I had been any later she would have died.

They couldn't tell me what breed she is as they had never seen a cat like her. Beautiful black fur with flaming red on the tip of her tail and a bit of purple on her ears.

They said she was probably the only cat like her.

She didn't have a chip or a collar and she wasn't reported lost.

She came from the forest and although her coat looks well maintained she didn't seem like a house pet. She doesn't have any vaccines so she's most likely a stray.

Since that's the case I decided to bring her home and let her decide what to do once she's healed.

She was given blood and stitches and I was instructed not to let the wound get wet.

I was told what to pay attention to and to bring her back if she had any problems before I drove back home with her.

Coming from a rich family I have a pretty large house and I can easily afford to take care of her so I ask my personal assistant -Liam- to buy things from the pet store for her. A bed, a climbing tower, some food, toys, treats. Anything she might need.

I on the other hand carefully bring her into the house and lay her down on a blanket on the floor. I would have put her on the bed or couch but I'm afraid she might fall in her sleep or if she gets startled when she wakes up.

After Liam delivers the items I carefully arrange the new stuff and I lay out the toys around the tower after moving her to the new pet bed.

A while later I make myself dinner and I carefully apply medicine to the cat's wound before replacing the bandage.

I make sure to carefully feed her something before I go to bed.

...

Just like that 3 days pass.

When I walk into the living room I'm surprised to see her slowly sitting up and looking around the room warrily.

When she tries to take a step she almost collapses.

"Careful!" I say as I hurridly catch her. I had to dive to the floor but at least she didn't open her wound.

"You shouldn't be moving around yet. You're still hurt." I say gently as I carefully lay her back down on the bed.

She just stares at me gaurdedly before seemingly deciding I'm not a threat and slowly closing her eyes to sleep.

I smile slightly before going to the kitchen to make breakfast for the both of us.

-

Nyx Valentine POV

This human is strange. I don't understand how he can worry about someone he doesn't even know.

Does he not know I'm a panther?

I guess I do just look like a large cat. I shouldn't be surprised.

I've been awake for about a week now. I can finally walk but not too far. I'm still a little weak. My injury is healing quickly thanks to my natural healing ability and the care of this strange human.

I heard the other man that came call him Young Master. I read about things like this. That means he must be a rich or powerful person's son.

I still don't know his name. So far that other man is the only person who's come to visit and the rich guy hasn't left the house.

He talked to his mom and Grandpa with the strange human device. I think it's called a phone?

It seems useless. Why carry something around to talk to people when it's so much easier to mind-link them? Of course that only works if you're mates, pack members, or blood reletives, but it seems humans can't use mind-link. Not unless they mate with a magi.

Mates aren't what people think they are. We aren't fated from birth and tied together by the gods. In my opinion it's much more cruel.

A Magi can only love one person their entire life. The moment we fall in love a connection is formed. The person you love will be your forever mate. A Magi can't live without their mate. That's why we're so careful. If you're mates doesn't love you back you'll slowly lose you're mind and eventually become nothing more than a beast that acts on instinct. If your mate falls for someone else who loves them back you will lose control and attack your mates partner with the goal being to take back what you're heart believes is yours. It doesn't matter if you know in your mind that the other person doesn't belong to you, you're body will be taken by your beast side and instinctively try to kill the person it believes took what belongs to you.

I think it's a curse rather than a blessing, although the rulers would disagree. It is seen as a gift from the gods to the magi, but because of it we are slowly becoming extinct.

My mother was the last remaining elf and the princess of the elven kingdom that eventually disappeared along with it's occupants. She was a pure-blood high elf. No one expected her to mate with a mixed blood vampire. My dad had the blood of countless species and he wasn't accepted by the vampires who value bloodline above all else. He was seen as useless because he was never able to awaken his powers. His bloodlines lay dormant in his body like his ancestors before him. No one expected me to be born with all active bloodlines.

But that's a story for another time.

Where was I?

Right, the rich guy.

So far I've learned a lot from him.

This is the Blue Continent in the city of Kailand.

Actually the news told me that. Rich Guy just turned it on.

He doesn't seem to know about magi. Either that or he just doesn't think I am one. I'm glad he doesn't know what I am. Most people who know about us hate the magi. More accurately they're afraid of us. So they hunt us. They see us as monsters.

I never minded much but Rich Guy is kind. I don't want him to ever hate me.

It'll take another 2 weeks for me to be able to shift and until then at least, I want him to keep being nice to me.

...

5 days later.

"Kitty, it's time to eat!" My master says from the kitchen.

I still don't know his name but for now I've accepted him as my owner. At least until I can shift.

"Master!" I say happily as I run towards the table. All he can hear is meowing but I still enjoy talking to him.

My wound is pretty much healed and I can move around normally now.

It's nice to be back on my.... Feet? Paws?

Anyway, when I finally move to stand next to my master he gently picks me up to put me in a spot next to his.

"You seem to be almost healed." He says looking at me gently.

"Yes, master! Almost as good at new! I do wish you could understand me though." I tell him and he just laughs at my constant meowing.

"You're really adorable." He says petting my head lovingly.

I feel an urge to pull away. Letting someone touch my head goes against how I was raised. Magi don't bow to anyone. Patting our heads is considered insulting as it implies you believe you're stronger than the other party.

I know in my head that he doesn't mean anything by it but it still feels like I'm being looked down on.

At first I didn't let him touch me at all but now I occasionally let him stroke my fur.

I can't bare the thought of leaving here. I've grown attached to my Master.

...

2 days later.

One more week. I can shift in one more week. Well around that time. I can't be completely sure as I'm not that familiar with this body.

I don't dare try to shift until I'm completely sure.

It normally wouldn't take so long but the bullet was made of Magicite which is basically poison to us magi. That combined with the regular cat blood my body is struggling to recover even with my powerful self-healing ability.

If I try to shift when I'm so weak I might become a cripple. That's to say I could lose my powers. My magi bloodlines will be killed by the poison and I'll become a weak human. Even weaker than a regular human.

If that happens the magi won't acknowledge me anymore and the humans will never accept me. I'll be killed just for existing.

I know that better than most. I watched my father lose his power and get banished because of magicite poisoning after saving me from hunters as a child. I secretly went to see him once only to watch the hunters kill him for being a magi even without his power. It was horrible.

...

3 days later.

I have 4 days left.

"Kitty it's time for bed." My master calls from his bedroom. I've been sleeping in his bed for the past few days.

"Coming!" I meow back as I make my way up the stairs and into his room.

Once there I jump into his bed and comfortably lay down next to him.

My Master gently strokes my fur and I find myself drifting off to sleep.

I never imagined I could be this happy before. I never had anyone close to me when I was in the kingdom. I like our closeness even if it's temporary. I don't know why but when I'm with him my heart warms and I feel happy even if we aren't doing anything. Just being around him makes my heart race with excitement. When his face is close to mine I feel shy and self-conscious. He makes me feel safe and happy. I don't want to leave him. If I could live this way forever I would.

Even if I have to be a cat.