The portal opened into another cavern. This one was different. Smooth walls were carved from rough ore. Several floating orbs spaced evenly along the walls provided gentle bluish lights.  A touch of moisture floated in the cool air.

Several members of the coven helped lift Jacard on to a table. The table was oblong and carved into a flat rock.   A tiny cloud of dust puffed up when Jacard was laid down.  This room was used for examination and medical purposes. It was not used very often.

Alara removed the rest of Jacard’s inhibiting clothing. “Can someone please get Neferita?”

The other members of the coven backed away, and one went in search of Neferita, an elder and gifted healer.

Raias was the only other one that stayed close. She still held her short sword at her side. She scowled at Jacard.

Several minutes passed as Alara did what she could to comfort her patient.

Jacard’s body lifted is a jerking motion. He let out another psychic scream as his arms flailed, and the left arm started to boil. The skin and muscle tissue rolled constantly changing. His arm swelled,  doubled in size, transformed into scales. The scales changed in color to a bright gold before the arm collapsed. His arm shifted back to normal size, but still had a gnarled appearance. His forehead wrinkled, and his face distorted in pain. He started to sweat. His eyes bled.

Raias approached. “His blood. It’s black. Is that blood?”

Neferita entered the room. She was an elderly woman with white hair. Red wisps could be seen peeking out of the otherwise whiteness. Her face appeared young for her age. Few wrinkles, except around the eyes. Each one of those lines conveyed wisdom. Her bright green eyes shined with intelligence. She walked in with the aura of authority. This was a woman whose word was law.

Neferita’s eyes grew large in surprise. She approached Alara, “This creature, do we know what it is? This can’t be its natural state.”

The entire body convulsed as each body part changed into something else. Jacard’s face had taken on an elongated snout.

Neferita started drawing in mid-air complex symbols, “Alara, Raias, help me .”

Alara rushed to stand beside Rita and mimicked her.

Raias did not move.

“Raias, either help us or get out,” Neferita commanded.

Raias snapped back to the present, lifted her sword, and strode out of the room.

For hours they labored to help Jacard. Neferita sat down. Beads of sweat flowed from her brow, stinging her eyes.

Alara was not any better. “I could not handle much more of that. I think I would have passed out.”

Neferita pulled forth a cloth and wiped away the excess moisture from her face. “You did good, Alara.” She raised her voice. “Yes! Everyone did great. Thank you all for your assistance.”

Jacard’s eyes fluttered open. Panic flooded through his body. He attempted to sit up and find out what happened. His voice rasped, “Why can I not move?” Sandpaper rubbing his throat would have felt better.

Neferita approached. “Young man. I am Neferita. I am one of the elders here at our coven. We have worked hard to save you. You cannot move because your body is in a state of suspension. You are caught between two forms. We could help push you one direction or the other. Understand, we have no way of knowing what that would do to you. You rest, you can decide later.”

“Decide what?”

“If you wish to stay human or become…”

“Become?”

“… become something else,” Neferita left.

Alara retrieved a glass of water from the basin. “Here drink this. It’s water.”

He thought about declining but realized if they had meant him any harm, he would not still be breathing. He lifted his head and saw the most beautiful eyes he had ever seen. Her eyes cascaded from a golden hue to dark mahogany. They sparkled with life as she smiled at him. Her dark, ruddy brown hair reminded him of his mother’s. His heart raced as she drew closer and lifted his head.

“Are you ok? You’re getting hot.”

“Yes, I’m fine.”

She drew up a chair and sat next to him. “I am Alara.”

“My name is Jacard.”

“Jacard, you have been through quite an ordeal. You have changed so much that we are not quite sure what you are.” She realized that could be taken wrong. “Please. Please do not take offense. We have never seen someone like you. We have known spirit walkers before. We have known vamperes also, though we are not friendly with any of them. Are all your people like you?”

Jacard laid his head back down. Looking at the ceiling, he noticed filed down stalactites. He sighed. “There is no one else like me. I don’t have people. I have friends who are spirit walkers, the wolf packs, but there are a few others. But I am different. I had hoped to join the pack, but I see now it will not happen. I will be lucky just to survive this.”

Alara’s eyes softened. Her smile grew larger. “No. Don’t worry. Nothing like that will happen. Worst case, we can push you back to your original form. I will take care of you.”
The tension in Jacard’s face relaxed. “You know it is strange, but I can almost feel warmth from you. I have had little of that in my life. Your coven must be amazing to make a total stranger feel safe and to save my life too.”

Alara blushed. “Oh, actually, that warm fuzzy feeling is coming from me.” She turned her head away for a second and finished her statement. “I feel a strong connection to you too.” Alara turned back and leaned in. She rested her head on his chest. “You will be fine. You have to be.” With that said, she fell asleep from exhaustion.