Partners

Shaking hands approached the window. The key slipped into the lock. Lilac closed her eyes, blowing her air out. Twisting the key she opened her window. Wind blew across her face, the scent of rain in the air. Tears pricked at Lilac's eyes and she tossed her hair, she wasn't out yet.

Lilac tied her rope to the bed legs, glad they were bolted to the ground, that could save her life. Thumping, footsteps, it was Captor, sensing her intentions like he always did. Lilac ran to the window and threw her leg over it, grabbing the rope and jumping. The captor blew into the room, racing to her window, but Lilac was already falling.

Wind surrounded her, whipping her hair up as she descended, the moon illuminating the town around her. She stared at the small buildings, each nestled with the next, smoke coming from their chimneys. The ground reached up towards her, the captor snatching where she had been seconds before.

Lilac's breath sped up as the ground sped towards her, she grabbed the rope, her feet scrambling on the tower wall to slow herself. Hissing filled the air, heat entering her hands and bare feet. Lilac grit her teeth, realizing the hissing came from her. She closed her eyes, pain coursing through her as she slowed.

Then the rope ran out.

Lilac's hands groped for nothing, air escaping her as she fell, wondering when she'd hit the ground. The sky filled her sight, a presence entering her head, tears ran down Lilac's face as her eyes glowed black. "I've missed you Gab" She welcomed her bondmate, she was no longer alone. She reached for the stallion that had ran into her head, the golden and brown horse that knew her best.

Gab huffed a greeting, then took over. Their body began to move, movements graceful as Gab filled in. Lilac watched as Gab twisted, hair brushing the ground before Gab landed in a squat, cradling Rachel's form. He smirked, straightening as he handed control to Lilac.

Gab reached out to Lilac, "Can we talk now?" Lilac searched, the Captor wasn't to them, she wanted nothing more than to talk with her bondmate, but that would mean their body was unmoving, they didn't have the time for that right now. They had to get away first.

"Soon. First escape." Lilac felt Gab understand, he snorted and took over once again. Their body stood up, Lilac waited for Gab to turn into their original form. Gab looked at their hands, they were bleeding, skin pulled away from the rope hanging above them. Gab shook his head, they couldn't transform like that, running on injured hooves wouldn't help them.

Lilac snorted and took over, legs beginning to run away. Running was something she could do, she had been running with Gab since birth, as a formless Ouna, then as a horse, then in their human form. This was the slowest form, but she pumped her legs, arms swinging hard. She could see everything, despite the low lighting, her eyes were back to their brown, horses could see well in the night, so could Lilac. She hissed as her feet landed on some leaves, their bits going into the cuts on her feet. It took everything she had to keep running.

White light flashed, searing Lilac's eyes, she stumbled, blinded. She closed her eyes, listening for where to punch. Rustling came from in front of her, Lilac swung, a grunt appearing as her fist hit something hard.

"Wait." A masculine voice said, Lilac's breathing sped up, she opened her eyes, still unable to see whether the person in front of her was Captor. She shook her head in panic, unsure what to do.

"Where's Rachel?"the voice asked, their English was perfect, Lilac relaxed, Captor had an accent, he hadn't talked much, but she knew that.

Lilac looked to where the voice sounded, "Here, she's hurt." She picked up Rachel, cradling her so the other could see Rachel.

Hands slipped under hers, gentle as they took Rachel from her, "Who did this?" The man's voice was low now, angry.

Lilac looked behind her, starting to see the shadows of trees, "The man who threw her in there. We have to go now." She looked at the man, she could see him now, he had a lean build, if he were an Ouna she'd guess a cougar or cheetah. He was cradling Rachel, then looked at Lilac's hands.

"You're hurt too." He walked to a bag on the ground.

Lilac snorted, they didn't have time for this, "Later, first we escape." Gab agreed with her, humans always seemed to take ages when they didn't have the time to.

The man paused, then grabbed the bag, slinging it over his shoulder, "Fine, we don't want to run into any shades." Lilac tensed at his words, that's exactly what she needed. She reached out, calling any Ouna around to her, she would need help to escape Captor, she had gotten out of the tower, but she was far from safe. The man started to run, "Our bikes are this way." He called, waving for her to follow him. Lilac started after him, wondering what he had meant by 'bikes.'

A hand grabbed Lilac's arm. Gab reacted immediately, pulling the person closer and lifting their knee, rocketing it into their attacker's privates. Her assailant grunted, letting go of her arm as they crumpled to the ground. Lilac thanked Gab, focusing on catching up to Rachel's partner. She looked back at the assailant, smiling as she recognized their blue eyes, she might actually get away.

Lilac stumbled, a presence appearing, a strong one. She looked around, searching for the source, a large Ouna rushed to her side, feelings of hope and desperation flooded into Lilac's head, with the arrival of the Ouna came the rushing of thoughts, Lilac felt her mind being torn apart by her people's voices. She tried to talk to them, to tell them to wait, that she wasn't ready to connect yet. They didn't hear her voice, more flooding into her head. She focused on Rachel's partner, he had stopped by some metal object, looking back at her in alarm.

"Run!" He yelled, "Shades are coming for you!"

Lilac gave him a grim smile, the Ouna were already in her head. Tearing through her memories of captivity, becoming angrier. Lilac reached the man, stumbling into the metal seat he stood by, she muttered an apology and black overtook her.