Read Online A Tale of the Other Kind: A Therian Novel by Leandi Cameron - Free Book Online

shift into places that made no sense. His eyes grew wide as his torso shifted, changing his ribcage, his legs transformed into a new leaner shape. Claws protruded from his fingers, digging deep into the soil that was his only refuge from the pain he felt. His body felt like it was on fire and his skin was glowing – almost like someone had set him alight from the inside. Fear overwhelmed him as black spotted hairs grew from his skin, making him shudder on the inside. But then, calmness set in over his body although he wasn’t able to move. A sudden peacefulness overcame him, even though he could see the girl he cared for more than anything in the world, becoming the prey of the lion stirring ever so slightly in the bushes, readying itself to pounce. It startled Sienna and she stumbled backwards, falling to the ground. All Kai could do was watch the horrific scene that was unfolding in front of him. The powerful lion leapt out from behind a large rock, furiously charging towards Sienna. Instinctively she jumped to her feet and grabbed her backpack, swinging it at the charging lion, but that only seemed to startle it. 
    ‘Oh shit,’ she said aloud as the angry lion turned around, flashing its sharp, dangerous teeth at her, exposing its gums. She started running, but Kai knew she couldn’t outrun a lion. Flashes of anger, fear and frustration blazed through his mind as he looked at her defencelessly trying to escape the roaring lion, but it pounced on top of her, smashing her into the ground, face first. 
    She covered her face as she came down hard on the ground, winding her and leaving her breathless. Before she could even try to get back up, a sharp claw slashed over her back, causing her to scream out in pain. She fumbled around and found a large rock, smashing it into the side of the lion’s skull, hardly making any impact, but slightly disorientating it, giving her a chance to get up from its grip. Kai got to his feet and looked at his body. He wasn’t human anymore, but a large, black, powerful leopard. 
    Without a second thought, he leaped out towards Sienna to push her out of harms way. Sienna screamed and started crawling towards the bushes. Watching the fight between the lion and leopard unfolding in front of her. Kai slammed into the side of the lion. A loud roar escaped the now furious creature as a fiery fight developed between the two beasts. Sienna was shaking with shock and disbelief at what was happening in front of her, and between all the confusion, she tried to get up and run, but found herself too close to the embroiling fight between the two beasts. 
    Kai roared loudly and, for a split second, he looked at Sienna, seeing the fear in her eyes. Without loosing track, he bit into the side of the lion, which again released a thunderous roar. The lion fought back and slashed at Kai, leaving deep wounds across his chest. The lion broke free and turned its attention back to Sienna. Her whole body was shaking as she struggled to get up, and in her attempt to escape, her foot got stuck and she tumbled over a rock. Tears of fear smeared her now dirty face. The overwhelming pain from her deep wounds was now all too evident with fresh warm blood flowing from her back. She let out a final terrifying scream, and slipped into blackness.

CHAPTER 8
    Kai woke up between pine needles and scatters of leaves. His clothes were torn and ripped at the seams. Looking at himself, he could barely comprehend how he ended up looking like this. He tried to rub off some of the dried mud that covered his body. 
    A deep breath ignited a splitting headache, causing him to grab his head. His fingers moved over his chest where scratch marks were already beginning to heal. His mind was fuzzy, and all he could remember was pieces of a puzzle that now seemed to evade him – like a dream that escaped him once he woke up. He knew something was amiss; realising that the last thing he could remember was being with Sienna at the