The moment I heard the shriek, I leapt out of the tree, landing in a full-on sprint. The adrenaline rush from before was lending itself to my speed as I tore through the trees, searching for the telltale glow of the fire and our friends. I ignored my feelings screaming at me to stop and turn around, to go back to Krel, and the real voices yelling things like WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?! in my head. I only had one destination in mind, and I needed to get there fast.

After searching the woods in a blind panic, a hand closed around mine. Krel. We didn't need to speak to convey our messages; he just tugged on my hand and I let him lead me through the maze of trees. The minute we emerged into the clearing, what we saw was complete and total mayhem.

A Ventil, a male, tall and lanky with little muscle, was attacking the group. Short, stubby ears melded to his scalp, which covered that and his entire body in short, sandy fur that reflected the light of the campfire with its glossiness. His hazel eyes were covered in natural dark eyeliner that made his eyes pop even more; had he not been attacking my friends, I would have found him very pleasing to look at.

Mary and Darcy were nowhere to be found; I sent a silent thank-you to whatever had let them get away unscathed, and hoped they were safe instead of inside the creature's stomach. Teenagers were screaming and running away from the campsite, tearing through the woods like frightened deer running from a lynx; how ironic, considering it was indeed a feline predator they fled from.

Toby, devoid of his hammer, was clinging to Aaarrrgghh!!!'s back, who acted as a stone barrier between him and the Ventil's claws, which were stretched to horrific lengths and sent sparks flying every time he and the troll connected. Douxie and Claire were firing spells which only seemed to bounce off his skin; Archie had started breathing fire, but after seeing it only fuel the Ventil's wild nature, he stopped and resorted to swooping down on him like a large, furry bird.

Steve was whimpering with a tree along with Seamus and a few other humans--apparently, Steve left his battleax at home, so he was defenseless; so, I decided to head over their way. "Archie," I yelled out. "Get the remaining people here to the edge of the woods!" Nodding, Archie broke his swooping pattern and landed on my shoulder.

"Climb out of the tree and follow Archie," I ordered.
"But that thing's gonna eat us," Seamus called back, and I heard agreeing whimpers from the others among the branches. "If you don't get out of this tree of your own free will, I will make you get out!" I yelled up. Not surprisingly, they didn't get out.

Then, an idea struck. "If you don't get out of the tree, that 'thing' is going to climb up there and help himself to the waiting meal you're giving him," I called up to the terrified teens. I had never seen a group of humans move so quickly.

Once the stragglers had been led out of the woods by Archie, I busied myself with the situation in front of us. With every passing second, the Ventil was growing braver and more feral with his attacks, and his features changed along with them. His sandy fur grew more coarse, coating his body thoroughly and the magical glimmer it held started to fade. His pupils narrowed from slits to almost nothing at all, his huge eyes replacing their spark of magic with something...wild.

His skull warped and elongated, new bone growth pressing against his skin and forming grotesque bulges in the shape of a feline skull. His canines grew in length, and from his new gaping maw an angry roar erupted. He dropped from two legs to all fours, feet becoming huge paws and his fingers shrinking and getting stubbier. Giant hooked claws bursting from the skin between them, staining the fur on his hands the crimson color of blood.

As we all watched, frozen in shock as the Ventil became a Proditorus right before our very eyes, the changed creature narrowed his eyes at me. Yowling a wild cry, he charged, tackling me to the ground and trying his best to deconstruct my face. Instinct immediately took over, and I hissed in his face and slashed wildly with my claws.

Everyone immediately leapt into action, trying to shoot the Proditorus with magic and serrator fire without hurting me. Toby had his hammer out and ready for battle; Jim, essentially weaponless, was waving a flaming stick at the cougar, trying to scare him off. Snarling when the heat singed his fur, he turned and struck Jim in the chest, sending him flying back with his jacket ripped across the ribcage. Taking advantage, I slipped my feet underneath his exposed ribs and kicked him off me.

Snarling as I retreated to take Claire's place by Douxie, who had run over to check on her boyfriend, I launched a clump of magenta fire at the Proditorus' face, who had just sat up from getting knocked onto his tail-end. As he howled and tried to scratch away the burns on his face, I ran into him at full speed and knocked him into the bonfire.

"Archie, now!" Douxie yelled, readying a spell. The dragon, who had just returned from evacuating the humans, swooped down and blew a column of flame in a circle around the cougar, trapping him and myself in a ring of fire. As Douxie chanted a spell in a strange language, I was stuck fending off our attacker, who was now going crazy with fear and anger, lunging at me with teeth bared.

"Lunalis, get out of there!" Krel shouted, though it was quite pointless. I was literally trapped in a ring of fire that was growing steadily taller every secunde, without my wings, and I certainly wasn't looking forward to becoming a charbroiled Ventil.

Now THIS is untamed fire, Insanity purred, and I could feel the thrum of excitement in my bones from her. Insanity, not now, I pleaded desperately, dodging the Proditorus' attempts to tackle me to the ground as I felt her stirring inside me. You could not have come in at a worse time.
I feel it, she whispered, and I felt a spark of heat brewing at the forefront of my mind. It calls to me, tempts me, even when trapped inside you.

Insanity, NOT NOW, I yelled back, hissing in pain as a claw struck me in the face.
You will not survive this battle if you cannot combat the fire, Insanity said, voice suddenly very clear and sharp; more pronounced than I had ever heard before. It was as if she was closer to me somehow. Let me help.

I opened my mouth to protest, but instead, a spoken string of strange words came out. Fera animalia igne, vagentur et tu super terram.

Instantly, the spark in my brain became a roaring fire, and I screamed as it clawed its way from my mind to my throat, where it burned my esophagus as it clambered out. Steam poured from my mouth in huge clouds, bringing pinpricks of tears to my eyes and preventing me from seeing. But, I could hear shrieks of terror and high-pitched screams of anger.

When the smoke cleared, I gaped in disbelief at what I saw. Insanity, flesh and blood made real, stood before me, hissing at the cougar in front of us. He whimpered, ears flicked back and tail between his legs, and tried to run. Faster than I could register, Insanity pounced, claws digging into his skin and teeth latching onto his neck. I had to look away as she drained the life and energy from his wriggling body.

When his carcass was no longer moving, she turned to me, lips smudged with red. With a flick of her wrist, the flames surrounding us dissipated, and I could once again see my friends, who were frozen in shock. "It's the crazy bat lady!" Toby whisper-shouted. Insanity snarled at him, and he retreated behind Aaarrrgghh!!! with a yelp.

"Aaarrrgghh!!! protect wingman," he growled, runes glowing green on his skin. Insanity responded by letting her skeletal wings catch fire. I started to panic; last time they had met her, Insanity had been held back because I remembered myself. This time, there was no barrier to stop her from ripping everyone apart. I had to shut this down quickly, but I had no idea how. My troll friend might be tame to some extent, but Insanity was as wild and unpredictable as the fire she controlled. Unless...

Letting Zephyr slip in to control my body, I opened my eyes in an entirely new perspective. Insanity, I called, voice as light and airy as the clouds. Turning with a start, my friend's eyes widened at the sight of me. Insanity, why are you bothering these humans? I asked, offering out a hand. Slowly, she slunk over to me and rose onto her hind legs. A small hum vibrated through her when our hands brushed against each other.

When she wasn't crouching or slumped over, Insanity was incredibly tall; almost seven feet in height, towering over my small stature; though her skeletal frame made her look somewhat like a string bean. Her crimson eyes softened, and she bent down to nuzzle her face against my frizzy, silver hair. I knew that underneath that tough exterior, far past the claws and teeth and wild temperament, rested a gentle, tame creature.

I chuckled as she hummed against my scalp, nails delicately ghosting across it as not to hurt me. I missed this; our strange way of embracing, the little bits of contact we both relished, how gentle Insanity really was. But, something in the back of my mind tugged at me; ah, yes. I was borrowing this body, and it was time to return it.

I have to go now, I smiled softly. I laughed as Insanity whined, burrowing her claws into my hair like a small child. I won't be gone long, I promised, moving my friend's face to look me in the eyes. In the meantime, will you promise to be nice to Lunalis and her friends? Insanity growled at the mention of the humans, teeth peeling back to reveal sharp fangs still stained crimson.

I know you don't trust them, I soothed, running a thumb over her cheekbone and trying to ignore the bloody blotches covering her face. I know it's hard to trust anyone anymore. But you trust me, right?
Of course, she mumbled quickly, leaning into my hand.
So, will you trust that I think this is the right thing to do?

Slowly, Insanity nodded. Alright. I'm going to let Lunalis come back now. I want you to listen to her until we can find a way to free everyone. Okay?
Do I have to? she grumbled, and I laughed at her childish display.
Yes, you do, I chided playfully, feeling my influence fade.
I already miss you, I heard her sigh before Lunalis came back.