Her chances were slim, but it was all she had. She cursed herself for being so stupid. Hadn't she been the one to get angry about splitting up and the consequences of that? And then she went and did it herself, like a self-fulfilling prophecy.
The creature that had her handed her to another, and that one took aim before sending her flipping end over end, this time to clatter against the wall and fall to the floor. She was going to be seriously bruised when she changed back.
Before she could be picked up again, an adult walked in and chittered at the kids in what Shelly thought was a disapproving, high-pitched tone. That, or her head was ringing from too many blows against the wall.
The adult watched as the kids left the tunnel, before bending over and picking Shelly up from the floor. Its clawed fingers caressed Shelly's blade, its other hand gripped her hilt hard enough to crush bone.
