Katlyn Farragher

“I mean, aye. Ye alright ol’ timer? We gotta figure out a way tae get ye safe,” Kat said, panting. “Didn’t know ye were a mage. Why didn’t ye protect yerself?”

The old man gave her a quizzical look. She didn’t get a good look at him before, but he really was ancient. A long white beard covered his face, compensating for the completely bald top of his head. The man was absolutely covered in wrinkles, and looked like his skin was slightly sagging on his bones.

“Katlyn,” the old man said, his deep voice quavering with age, “do you not realise what is happening?”

“Get the feelin’ ye’re gonna explain it tae me,” Kat shrugged, checking her back and grimacing at the hole in her shirt. “Last I remember I was in Rowena’s office, then I’m ‘ere. Shite felt so real fer a minute I kinda lost meself.”

“Well, you are still in that trance. More than a trance, this is your soul and a mental landscape I created to help explain a few things,” the man said, waving a wizened hand at their surroundings. “Katlyn. I know you’re smart. Stop playing dumb.”

“Fine,” Kat sighed. “So, what? Ye some representation o’ me soul? Somethin’ I conjured up tae work on some internal dilemmas while Rowena pokes around in me?”

“Not at all. Think about your situation, and your girlfriend’s situation,” the man prodded.

Ah Godsdamnit, Kat thought. Had a feckin’ feelin’, but didn’t wanna confront it.

“Hey Illdall,” Kat sighed. “Sorry, just didn’t wanna presume or some shite like that. Felt like it’d be blasphemy or sommat like tha’.”

The old man laughed, tapping his cane against the cobbles. “I take no offense, young one. You do me plenty of credit through your actions. I can forgive some slight blasphemy.”

“Good tae hear ye’re not as stuck up as yer priests seem tae feckin think,” Kat grumbled. “By the by, what’s wit’ the ol’ man getup? Shouldn’t ye be ten feet tall an’ built bigger than a Grrn?”

Illdall sighed, scratching at an overly bushy eyebrow. “That is a common misconception. It doesn’t harm my message, so I let it be. My forms are not of those doing the protecting, but the ones who most need protection. I can be the big warrior, but it feels unnatural after thousands of years.”

“Gotcha. Well, that’s me initial questions out o’ the way.” Only a thousand more tae ask. “Ye wanna stand ‘ere an’ talk o’er them?” Kat gestured to the still groaning mental thugs. “We can probably go somewhere else.’

“Ah, yes,” Illdall tapped his cane, the sound magnified and echoing.

The world around them blinked, and they were suddenly in a cafe, brightly lit with an awning above them. Birds chirped happily as hot tea appeared on their table.

“Much better,” Illdall chuckled, taking his cup. “Now, down to business, shall we? You have made a very interesting lover of Orenous’ chosen. From what she’s said, things are going well, yes?”

“More than,” Kat nodded, taking her own cup. “Girl’s like no one I’ve ever met. If I’m bein’ honest, makin’ me feel like no one else. Rosalyn’s gettin’ close, but don’t think I’m quite there wit’ ‘er yet.”

“Ah, Orenous would be delighted to hear that,” Illdall laughed. “Especially with Rosalyn. She has confided in me that she wasn’t sure if you would accept her. She wanted it to be so, but she respects free will.”

“Anythin’ else she’s been hopin’ fer?” Kat asked, taking a sip of her tea and eyeing the God over the rim of the cup.

“That is between you and her. I won’t say more,” Illdall winked. “Ask Annita. Orenous seems to be getting better at speaking with the girl more subtly. Subtlety has never been her forte.”

“Wit’ the times she’s shown up tae us, ye’re damn right about tha’,” Kat laughed. “So, what’s got ye interested in me, if ye don’t mind me askin’, holy one?”

“The respect is appreciated,” Illdall nodded. He placed his cup on the saucer with a shaking hand, then laced his fingers in front of his face. “It is about your lover, I’m afraid. Orenous has been monitoring her, keeping the Warp inside her from taking the normal mental toll it exerts on its victims. Her situation is unique, having slept in a Seed for thousands of years. What we did not anticipate is that as her absorption of the powers progressed, she would begin to leak. Not much, mind you, but enough that it influenced you.” ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ novelfire(.)net

“Gods, er, damnit,” Kat groaned. “So it was ‘er that gave me the scales?”

“Correct,” Illdall nodded behind his hands. “You have begun the process of becoming a Warped.”

Kat felt her stomach drop. That was it. She was on a timer and, at the end, she’d be a raving beast bent on killing anything that got close to her. “How long do I ‘ave?”

“That, actually, is why I’m here. You’re aware of the blessings our priests provide to those who enter the Seeds? You’ve had one on you for some time now. Those protect you from the ambient energies the Seeds produce. However, with such close and frequent contact with Annita, it exceeded the strength of the protection. You, Katlyn, required more direct intervention.”

“Shite,” Kat groaned. “So, what am I lookin’ at?”

“More… changes are expected in the coming months and years,” Illdall said gravely. “The scales are the beginning. As long as you and Annita are close, the Warping will continue to manifest within your body. I am here to protect you as much as possible. Annita’s quest is vital to our influence and presence on this planet, and she needs strong companions like yourself to achieve this goal.”

“So, I’m gonna stop bein’ Alfhindur after a while?” Kat asked. She felt a panic within her. She liked being who she was. All her life, she’d been the big burly princess. She didn’t want to be something else. Tears started forming in her eyes as fear set in.

“That, I cannot say,” Illdall said, his voice soft. “Annita has explained that this power is a blind spot to us Gods. I am truly sorry, child.”

“Feckin, damnit!” Kat yelled, standing up and pacing, then kicking a chair.

Panic. She needed to move, needed to do something. There was too much going on inside her and she couldn’t just stay there. Something to focus on. She needed to fight, to work these feelings out with her fists. Where the feck was Ann? She’d understand or, at the very least, help. Right, she was still in the real world, holding her hand. Damnit, why couldn’t she be here for her?

“Katlyn,” Illdall started.

“Shut it. I don’t wanna hear it right now!” Kat growled.

She was changing. Changing forever. If the others were right, she was gonna be a feckin’ dragon and nothing could be done about it besides leaving Ann. Would leaving her even help, or would it just stop there? Would I always be a little Warped? What if it got worse? Fecking feck feck feck feck.

Kat took off, running. She didn’t care where. She just needed to move. Her body needed to work, to exhaust itself. Nothing she could think would do her any good like this.

Streets blurred as she sprinted as hard as she possibly could. Cobblestones lost their definition, buildings turning into smudges as the mental landscape struggled to keep up with her.

Kat dug harder and pushed herself further. Muscles screamed, but she ignored them. Her breath was ragged, and she was drenched in sweat, but she forced herself to keep going. She couldn’t outrun reality, but she could exhaust herself to the point she’d be more willing to think about it.

A loose stone caught Kat’s foot, and she went tumbling face first into the road. Her face hit first, and blood smeared as her nose broke, then skin scraped off her cheek as she slid, then rolled. She came to a stop in a bloody, broken pile.

She laid there, panting, groaning in pain. She tried to get back up, but couldn’t. Her body just wouldn’t listen to her.

A shadow loomed over her, long clawed fingers covered in blue scales clicking on the stones.

“You cannot run from ussss,” the voice hissed. “We are part of you now.”

“Feck off, you’re not me,” Kat growled, pushing herself up on one arm.

“Oh, but we will be,” the hissing voice chuckled. “All thankssss to that lovely wolf you keep so closssse. She’s doing such good thingssss for you.”

“Don’t ye feckin’ DARE blame Ann fer this,” Kat shouted, turning to face the creature.

It was tall, gangly, and emaciated for what a dragon should be, yet it still held the regal form. It was impossibly long, with a tail that snaked off around the corner of a building. Massive wings furled at its sides as it walked on all four spindly legs. Atop its head, at the end of a long neck, stood a proud head. Bright blue eyes fixed her own as she took in the scaled ridges of its eyebrows and magnificent horns.

“We dare, becausssse it is truth,” the dragon hissed back, forked tongue snaking through its foot long teeth. “Truth you deny. Already we begin to join. There issss no sssstopping now. Accept ussss.”

“Feck ye an’ the bones ye flew in on,” Kat screamed back, forcing herself to her feet.

“You dare!”

“I FECKIN’ DARE!” Kat roared back. “YOU WANT ME? I’LL FUCKING DIE BEFORE I HURT ANYONE I LOVE!”

The dragon laughed, the breath hissing between its teeth. It sounded like paper being shredded, more than anything resembling mirth. A claw reached out and tapped against Kat’s chest. “You couldn’t ressssist if you tried, little thing. We are majessssty. We are your inevitability. We are your Change.”

The claw pierced her chest, pulling downward. Cloth and flesh tore with ease, and Kat looked down in horror as, instead of blood, the skin pulled away, revealing glimmering blue scales.

“You will be beautiful,” the dragon hissed. “Mighty. You will take what we want, when we want it. All things will be yourssss, and no one will ssssteal them from ussss.”

Kat screamed, trying to cover her chest, backing away. No no no, this can’t be feckin’ happenin’. No. I’m me. I’m Kat. Protector. Princess o’ Korvas. I’m me. I’m me. Bren’s best friend. Ann’s girlfriend. I help people.

“You will learn to enjoy thisss,” the voice purred, those eyes still affixed to her. The nose at the end of the snout widened as the dragon snorted with amusement. “You deny your nature. You covet thosssse around you. Already, you fight the wolf for the ssssheep.”

“An’ I feckin’ regret tha’,” Kat growled, still holding her flesh together. “I’m more than me feckin’ urges. I’m me thoughts, an’ me feelin’s fer everyone else. Me convictions an’ oaths. Ye don’t get tae feckin’ change that.

“Change comes for all thingssss,” the dragon hissed, rearing its long neck back. “Even the Godssss change. Assss we said, we will have you.”

A loud thump echoed through the landscape. Leaning on his cane, Illdall appeared. “Quite enough of that, I believe.”

“God,” the dragon spat, eyes narrowing. “Your influence issss limited here.”

“This child has shown my tenets devotion throughout her life. I will not lose her to something like you,” the God said calmly.

“We will have her. We only grow sssstronger.”

Illdall’s stern features split into a cheeky grin. “I wouldn’t be so sure about that,” he laughed. “If there is anything young Katlyn is excellent in, it’s her stubbornness. I think you’ll find her more than capable of handling a snake like you.”

“SNAKE?” the dragon bellowed, spittle raining over Illdall and Kat. “I will end you, pathetic God. You will see.”

“Until then, farewell,” Illdall said, raising a hand. The landscape shifted again, and they were back in the cafe, tea exactly where they’d left it.

Kat sat in silence for a while. She was too overwhelmed to think, so she just sat there. Her tea was cold by the time she found the strength to speak.

“So that’s what’s in me now?”

“Unfortunately, yes. It seems to have found a nest within your insecurities and regrets,” Illdall said, looking up at the mental projection of the sky. “I’ve put up protections. Barriers and everything I can think of to keep it suppressed. I fear that will not stop the physical changes you experience, but it should help with the mental influences.”

“I don’t want to hurt you,” Kat said, her voice sounding weak in her ears. “Never wanted tae hurt anyone. Fightin’s just what I’m good at.”

Illdall stood and pulled his chair over next to hers, then laid a hand on her thigh. “I know, child. I know all too well. Did you know I’ve been watching you? Since you were young. It started around when you held your first sword. That sense of adventure, excitement, and joy drew me like a moth to a flame. You shone so brightly in that moment, I knew you were destined for something grand. I am proud of the woman you’ve become. You have some work to do, the part about being overprotective, but we all struggle with our flaws.”

“Ye were watchin’ fer that long?” Kat asked, sniffling.

“I was. As much as I could. Being a God is busy work, you know? But whenever I had time, I would check in on you. I say this because I want you to know that you are not alone. You never have been and never will be.”

“Aye. I’ve got me wolf an’ lamb tae keep me company,” Kat said, choking out a laugh. “Plus Bren. Not sure of Lucia yet, but she’s dependable at the least. Oh, an’ Orenous. What’s another God in the gang?”

“Katlyn,” Illdall said, his voice soothing. “You can’t fool me with false acts of bravado. Give yourself time to process. Lean on your friends. All of them. You must protect yourself to protect them.”

“Aye. I’m just freakin’ out,” Kat said, voice shaking. “Not what I thought my life’d be. Even after meetin’ Ann. Feck it all,” Kat sobbed, as she slammed a fist into the table. “So feckin’ complicated. I just wanted tae ‘ave fun an’ ‘ave some adventures. Maybe die in ‘er arms after takin’ down some big ol’ beastie.”

Illdall sat there in silence while she spoke.

“Send me back.”

“Are you sure?”

“Aye. No offence or nothin’, but I wanna be wit’ them fer a bit. Need tae figure meself out.”

“Very well. I cannot promise that I will be here at all times, but call for me if you need. I will try my best to reach you.”

The city around Kat faded, seeping back into the black of unconsciousness.

Kat blinked her eyes open. She was still in Rowena’s office, still in the chair, and holding Ann’s hand. She squeezed it tightly and looked at her girlfriend. “Hey. I’m back.”

“Back?” Ann asked, confusion in those beautiful green eyes. “You just closed your eyes. Rowena, what happened?”

“Nothing?” the priestess said, equally confused. “I used the spell. I felt the connection, and then nothing happened. It was almost like something got in the way. I am sorry, holiness, I have failed you.”

“Nae, nae. Not yer fault,” Kat said, raising a hand before Rowena could get more worked up. “We’ve got a lot tae talk about.”

“Kat? What happened? You just went kinda limp and then a second later you were back awake,” Rosalyn said, moving around to the front of the chair and shouldering Rowena to the side. “Like, no time passed at all. Did something happen? You’re ok, right? Bren, she’s ok, right?”

“Physically, yes. She’s in perfect health,” Bren nodded. “What happened? You are scaring me, Kat.”

“So, I blacked out, yeah? Then I heard a voice.”

She spent the next twenty minutes going over the experience in as much detail as she could. Neither Ann nor Rosalyn took their hands off her for the entire explanation. If anything, both drew closer to her as she spoke. Love these romantics, Kat thought, wrapping her arms around them.

She saw the fear, the worry in Ann’s expression as she talked about the dragon, what it’d said to her. Gods, she hated that look, but there wasn’t anything she could do about it.

“Lady above,” Rowena gasped after she’d finished. “Illdall is here. I need to speak with a few people. Worry not, lover of our most holy. I will make sure this is kept quiet. Only the high priest of Illdall’s temple will learn of these happenings. I must go. Feel free to use my quarters as you see fit.”

With that, the priestess ran from the room.

“Shite, if that’s all that we needed tae get ‘er tae run, shoulda told a story like this before,” Kat laughed.

“Kat, you’re sure you’re alright?” Rosalyn asked. Those hazel eyes were so wide, so large and full of fear.

“Nae,” Kat said, pulling the Druid close. “I don’t think I am. Just didn’t want tae show Rowena tha’.”

“Can leave,” Lucia said from her perch.

“Nae, ye stay. Don’t know ye as well as I want, but ye’re stuck tae Bren, so ye’re getting the fast track tae me trust. Honest tae the Gods, I’m feckin’ terrified. I can’t control any o’ this an’ now I’ve got this monster livin’ in me soul? Somethin’ that’s only gonna get stronger if I keep lovin’ Ann? I’m shakin’.”

“Kat, I… if you don’t want to…” Ann looked close to tears, holding her hand tight. “I’d get it,” she whispered.

“I dinnae, love. I don’t feel like I wanna leave. Feck, we’ve ‘ad this talk before. No. I’m not feckin’ leavin’ ye or anyone. Not a bluster, not a feckin’ act. This thing that wants tae look like a feckin’ dragon can fight me. I just gotta get strong enough tae kick it’s arse by the time it gets past Illdall’s wards.”

She looked at Bren, then Ann and Rosalyn, giving them a firm nod. I’m not gonna make them worry. No feckin’ way. “Don’t mean I won’t need help, mind. Ye up fer bein’ a spiritual guide on top o’ me girlfriend?” Kat asked, tapping Ann’s paw with her foot.

“You know I am.”

“How ‘bout ye, lamb?” Kat asked Rosalyn.

“Well, not sure how helpful I can be with that. Can probably help more with the monster bits and your skin and bones freaking out. That’ll be so cool to watch. Oooh, can I just like, study you?”

“I’m sure that’ll be fine,” Kat laughed, rubbing one of Rosalyn’s horns affectionately. “Dinnae what I’ll need tae depend on ye an’ Lucia fer yet, Bren.”

“How about just emotional support? We will figure out the rest as we progress,” Bren shrugged. “Same as always.”

Kat nodded. “Same as always. Alright, think we might be able tae skip yer expert, Lucia. Preatty damn sure it’s a dragon in me that wants out.”

“No,” Lucia said flatly. “Now we know. Need to learn more. He has knowledge we need. Not skipping.”

Kat could see the value in that. “Alright, fine. Let’s go see how bad I’m gonna be.”

As they gathered their things and made their way out of Rowena’s office, Kat couldn’t help but scratch at the back of her neck, where the new rashes were spreading. Worry crept into her heart and she had to quickly shove aside thoughts of that hissing voice.

You will be ours, she remembered.

Never. I’m not ever lettin’ ye have me, she growled to herself.

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