7
Late that afternoon, Shana stood at the edge of the woods. The sun was low in the sky, its rays angling through the trees, dappling the ground with its light. The early spring air held the earthy scents of new growth. She needed to run free and temporarily forget the vagaries of her human mind and emotions. On the heels of a deep breath, she shifted. Energy coursed through her, whipping from head to toe. Her fur rippled across her skin. She held still for a moment, her mountain lion’s eyes adjusting to the forest. She stretched into her form, sighing at the feeling of strength and power. Another breath and she dashed into the woods. The far end of her family’s property extended into the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. She started off at a run, but once she got deeper into the mo
