you hear distant shouting, and dearg slams into the tree next to you. "hi! it appears we have been spotted" she grimaces, rising to her feet. then you see it, a large creature, similar in shape to a lioness. its hairless, with many boils and angry looking rashes. it screams angrily in the way only wildcats can, bearing its massive teeth and charging towards you.

from the shadows a figure leaps, with great joy you realize it's shadow! he intercepts the creature, slamming into it and rolling away in a ball of fur and fury. "we have to do something!" dearg cries, looking distressed. "what would annamet do?" she mumbles pacing. suddenly she stops, eyes wide. "i have an idea!" she exclaims. "climb to the top of the tree, you'll find a wonky sort of circle shape, put the stone in that. i'm going to stop that thing" she says, handing you a orange stone. as she does so you realize she's changing, purple climbing up her arms and towards her face.

I nod my head and starts climbing the tree. I spot what dearg said was the place for the stone and I attempt to place the stone in quickly.

annamet is launched into you, knocking you both to the ground again. you look back to see dearg desperately holding the animals jaws apart as it tries to bite down on her.

"dearg!" annamet shouts tearfully, lunging forward and jamming her arm between the animals jaws, saving her sister from being bitten. from the wound purple springs, racing up her skin and covering her whole body, like her sister. dearg takes the opportunity to escape, grabbing the flaming stick and jamming it at the creature. it screams, dashing off into the forest just as you reach the spot again.

I again attempted to put the stone back in the tree.

it works, and the tree bursts to life, a billion flower petals floating down to the ground. "you have saved me" the voice from the beginning speaks once more. "i thank you" she says. your memory begins flooding back, and you know who you are once more. "i will send you home for your efforts" she says "should you wish to go. i am aware of how fond you are of this place, if you would want, i could make you one of them" you turn your head, looking to where dearg and annamet stand, shadow between them.

"not to mention, despite what you choose, you will be rewarded handsomely"

what do you want?

I begin to think for a minute and I looked up, "I choose to stay here I feel like this is only the beginning for me and my friends," I said.

"very well" the woman says, and you begin to transform, your ears lengthen, your hair turns white, your skin turns blue. splotches of different colors decorate your skin, a large patch of red over your eye, yellow on your shoulder, green across your shoulder blades, wrapping around towards your stomach.

"sadly, shadow is not able to stay with you forever, though he can visit" the panther lowers his head in agreement, whining softly "but i will gift you someone to keep you company"

from the brush emerges a wolf like creature, with fur red as wine, and a mane green like a pine tree.

https://www.sylestia.com/view/pets/?petid=6072163

"Thank you," I said to her.

"no. thank you, without your bravery and kindness this wouldn't have been possible" the woman says. "i'm afraid this is where i leave you, for good this time. i bid you fair well, and good luck." and just as in the beginning, she is gone, with little fanfare.

I looked at dearg and annamet and smiled.