Talon and Storm

"Moss, I know you can hear me."

"Fuck off out of my mind, bird boy."

"How can you expect me to do that when you've bought the most beautiful prey to school for show and tell?"

"Do you want me to transport you to a different dimension, Talon? Don't bloody test me."

Talon Greyson, the last eagle shifter in existence, smiled from his spot in the library. Having the powers of all eagle shifters who have ever lived made Talon one of the strongest prey-driven shifters at the Academy, but even he knew not to push Mossimus too far. The elven king was a real force on campus, and it was no surprise that he would be the guardian for Ruby Hunter, the one who was destined to save them all.

"Oh, great, can you tell Caleb and Wolfe to back the fuck off or Ruby will get suspicious? One's practically humping her leg, and the other one is looking all broody and shit. If she sees him in the air before she's ready, I don't know what she'll do."

"Oh no, can do, sorry, amigo. I am in the library across campus, doing as I'm told, by you earlier, don't tell me the dog and demon didn't listen to you, I am so surprised."

There was a loud whirring sound in Talon's ear, and a sudden wave of dizziness overcame him. He shut his eyes to balance himself until he felt blazing heat burning his feet. He opened his eyes to the horrifying sound of sinners screaming and flames as tall as the mountains blazing around him.

Talon was lost for words and impressed all at once. Moss had sent him into the bowels of Hell while being across the other side of the Academy, that wasn't easy magic to do, yet he'd done it without letting Ruby know something was going on, that was some feat.

"You win, Elf King. I'm on my way."

2.

I could see her, but she couldn't see me. In my natural form, high above the clouds, my eyes zero in on my Queen. I would know her scent anywhere, have smelt her exoticness through a hundred lifetimes, and each time she is reborn, my possessiveness grows. One beat of my wings and I could decimate the entire Academy; one strike of my talons could tear through a dozen men, but one look at my Queen and I am slain, completely at the mercy of the keeper of my heart.

From my vantage point, Ruby looked tiny, and if it were anyone other than Mossimus or the four shielding her with their magic, I would think nothing of sweeping down and picking her up, flying away to safety. 

But I have to bide my time, as Talon, Wolfe, and Caleb have; only the Elven King will know when Ruby will be ready to receive us. In the meantime, she will be put in a studio apartment attached to our quarters and guarded by the strongest magic the four factions combined can provide. Ruby has to be the one to seek each of us out, to befriend us, and place her trust in us all completely.

I have read the prophecy. I know her body is made to take us all, but looking down on her now, Ruby is a speck on the battleground called Earth, and we are the four swords she wields in battle. I only hope my Queen can master all five disciplines in time for the dark war ahead.

I fly a little lower, seeing others advancing on Ruby, and it's all I can do to stay in the skies and not swoop like I want to. I ease up slightly, recognizing Wolfe's heat signature, and Caleb is just below me but also watching from the sky, technically not breaking Mossimus's silly rules, but wanting to get a look in before Ruby becomes everyone else's for the day.

Once she's inside and the gates have closed, I know she's safe within the magic layers of the Elven Kingdom, aka the Academy, and I can breathe a little easier. I have just enough time to find a place to transform into my human form before the first class of the term starts.