A sharp whistle pierced the air around the forest at the foot of the mountain, followed by the sound of hurried footsteps against the damp earth. Her labored breathing was matching up with the roaring in her ears and the pounding of her heart, and she whimpered when a thorny bush scratched her naked legs, leaving angry marks but she ignored the pain and pushed on. They must not find her. She had to get away and lead them far from her lair.
“Blasted human skin!” She muttered, grimacing as she started to tire and the cuts under her feet burned painfully. She could shift but that would be her last resort, as she was still too weak to do so. Also, it was too dangerous to change form before she crossed the river to lose her scent on the other side.
From a distance, she could hear the furious
