Aoi had resisted it for as long as she could reading her latest book on seal's but not having slept in almost two days a long with her computer and book reading had made her pass out in her chair and not in the safety of her bed and the padlocked chains she used at night, just in case. Aoi had thrown herself even deeper into her school work and denied herself sleep to keep focused and keep her ability to multi task down. 

Aoi woke feeling bad just before seven am, her stomach felt like it was dropping and although she rushed to the bathroom, she did not throw up anything. Still her entire body felt like it was on fire and Aoi was even snapping at herself mentally and to those she brushed past in the early morning hours. It was in her mad dash to the medical room that she tripped over someones foot and went sprawling down the stairs. The kid laughed as she did, not out of malice but finding the situation funny and even offerd his hand to help her up.

Aoi was halfway down the stairs when she transformed, white fur racing across her body, more then doubling in height and putting on almost 800lbs. Aoi landed as a bear on the steps and heard them creek and splinter under the sudden weight of a landing heavy animal. The boy was still standing there when the Polar Bear made it up the stairs.

Aoi was inundated by the feeling of drowning in the Bears raw instict but now it's anger and rage were far far greater then she experienced before. it felt so oppressive and Aoi felt like she could barely move in her own mind.

Her paws struck the the boy in the shoulders and Aoi mentally laughed at the cracking of bone and wood as the boy and the door behind him fell to the floor with him landing on top. His shoulders broken he tried to scoot back with her feet, but Aoi was two fast her paw digging into flesh and dragging the boy closer before the brought his teeth down and ripped out the kids neck and began to feed.

Aoi screamed internally and would have cried had she been able to, she had to find a way to get control. Her focus to try and regain control was slowed as she was mentally forced to watch what the bear did and she could feel the joy and satisfaction of the bear but also continued rage. The bear turned preparing to drag the body to a safer location and sniffing the air to find more food.

The shifter’s attention was on his guitar as he strum a few chords as he walked down the hallway. Carrick didn’t know which one he was in at this point because he hadn’t been paying too close attention to anything going on around him. All he knew was he had an hour before his next class, which meant a number of possibilities in the mansion of strange mutants.

Someone bumped into him wing and he didn’t look up. Instead he strummed the guitar loudly. ”Throw some cash at yer shifter, oh hollows of wealthy, oh hollows of wealthy ohhhhhhh-ho!” his mismatched color eyes turned from the person who bumped into him and faced the hallway before him.

Something… made him feel uneasy… he strummed louder ignoring the hair standing on the back of his neck. ”Oh-ho! Throw some cash at yer shifter!” if he didn’t pay any attention to the feeling of uneasy then there wasn’t one. Carrick dealt with his feelings just like he dealt with his father.

There was a growl, almost a snarl. He heard the source before but often it felt like a dream that turned to a nightmare. Carrick played louder trying to drown out the sound for a moment till he rounded another corner. That was when he saw the girl on the floor. ”Ya alright, love?” he asked finally stopping his strumming. His heart started to speed up warning him of danger but other than the girl staring off into the distance he didn’t see anything. ”Hello?” he crouched and waved towards the young woman. ”Ya need someone? I can track down a teacher if ya need someone….”

Aoi looked up from the sea of raw emotion the Bear was drowning her with in shock and confusion. Someone was approaching her, the wings told her who it was better then any name tag could have done. What was he doing in her mind however she briefly wondered before realizing she was no longer looking through the Bear's eyes but her own.

She knew what the bear was seeing and doing but it was almost like a second screen and felt so distant despite the cocooning pressure upon her mind. Aoi had no idea Carrick was not seeing what she was at the moment but wondered of their was something about Gryphons she had missed in lore.

"H-How are you here?" she asked unsure if she could warn him or not or even if he was in danger. Just behind her the large White polar Bear ripped into something that looked human shape before looking up and seemly over Aoi's shoulder, it's maw dropping with blood and strings on sinew and muscle. The bear was a bit see threw, it's size changing slightly with Aois fear and wonder at what was going on. Upon close inspection Aoi and the bear were joined together by distorted parts of their bodies. Aoi's connection to the bear looked a rough black and purple color as if bruised. "Teacher! yes" she said processing what he said a few seconds later.

Behind Aoi the Air looked thick almost like water. The mental construct she saw every time she changed was visible behind her. A vast ocean of fear and instinct. "Behind you? she yelled part confused and part in fear. The Bear simply let out a roar that seemed to echo through the corridor but seemed to attract no other attention which never even dawned on her. Aoi only realized how close Carrick was then and that the body the bear had consumed was gone, but she was looking past Carrick at somthing behind him.

The question threw him off. ”Bit of a vague question… why are any of us here?” he asked knowing he didn’t help with her question. ”Is this… somewhere I’m not supposed to be?” he asked curiously slowly standing back up.

His hair stood on end and he suddenly got the feeling that this wasn’t a place he should be. His tail flicked and behind the girl was something. He couldn’t see it fully but when he moved or it moved he managed to see a small outline. A bear? Was that what he was afraid of? ”Right… I’ll go get help…” he took a step back his eyes were behind her looking at the mirage of a bear.

”Behind me?” he froze and then tilted his head towards her, ”Not a bear is it?” he turned and saw the thing that haunted his nightmares. His pupils turned to slits instantly and he jumped back when he saw something he had been avoiding about himself for years. ”It’s me?” he asked as his partial shifted form let out a low growl bearing his teeth at Carrick and the girl and the bear.

”Fer **** sakes… why do I still live here!” he said as he realized he was stuck between the woman/bear and his beast form who he had no affection for. He pinched himself and nothing changed. ”is this yer doing?!? ‘cause you should stop…”

"Not me. Has to be some mutant though right?" she asked nervously, feeling the raw pressure building behind her she put all she had into stopping the bear's mind, forcing it back. The bear grew no clearer behind her and she felt the strange feeling within her stabilize. "Honestly i wanted to ask you that" she said distracted.

The separate growl attracted her attention to the the creature behind Carrick and with her attention came the bear's. She could feel the bear's instincts consider weather this new creature was prey or a rival preditor and yet still food. Aoi felt like competing with the bear was like trying to stop a semi, with her hands. The bear grew clearer behind her as it stood on it's back legs its front paw touching what seemed an invisible barrior behind aoi. Aoi could it touch the spot as phychic force directly on her brain, telling her to change, to tear and devour.

"can this be real? It feels real but" she asked even as she forced the bear once more back though not as easily as she would have admitted. The realty was she was trying to distract herself. Aoi was unaware of her own distraction. She knew carrick and a bit on his power from school and he was clearly as discomforted as her.

She assumed a fellow student was behind this but if they were it was very much not funny. She was unsure what would happen if she let the bear win. Would she meet the bear eye to eye? Or would she forever drown in the bears instincts. Aoi let out a scream as the bear brought it's paws down behind her, it's claws starting to look scarily solid.

”I ****ing hope so!” Carrick said as he took another step backwards towards the girl his guitar nervously twanging as he tried to play a few soft cords. ”Music calms the savage beast right?” his voice cracked his fingers fumbled for a second and then found the note and ran with it. His shifted form let out a growl then a loud roar ‘Fight!’ boomed the voice in his head.

The sound was too loud for the shifter to enjoy. Normally he loved hearing any aspect of his voice but this time it was almost deafening be it between his enhanced hearing or the fact that he was in such close proximity. Carrick’s knees shook as he quickly stopped playing.

”Fine!” he shouted in response. He flipped the guitar and caught it by the neck and swung it at himself like a bat. The loud thud from the acoustic weapon gave out a loud thump followed by a few twangs as the instrument broke. His half shifted form wasn’t that big and he was focused more on the bear at the moment. At least he was distracted. A low growl was produced, ‘fight!’ it was quitter good.

”Love don’t think we got time to be contemplating whose to blame. As this guy likes to say some times… flight!” he reached down and grabbed the girls hand trying his best not to look at the next threat. His wings opened and he pulled through the air with all his might dragging the girl with him moving backwards past his shifted form. If the bear wanted to fight his shifted form was usually happy to oblige.

She had questions if music really would sooth the beast as Carrick said. She hoped it would however for them both. The boy's shifted form was not helping herself keep calm and focused, in a way she felt like a snack between two predators. Having delt with the bear so long she was able to keep some of her calm, enough, not to start screaming and not stop anyway. It seemed Bird not bear had a heart for music at least from what she could tell, which was quite the shame, she really would have like a nice peaceful and gentle way of getting around this and if a song could do it she would of even tried to sing.

"Fight? That's a terrible ideaaaa" she began before being pulled and it did not take much to follow the Griffen boy's hand. She was flying, or in the air. He was flying. Still she was quite grateful for his getting him out of there. She glanced back to try and see what the Bear would do. The bear considered the griffon as it grew ever more solid. She could feel the bears conflict between prey and not knowing what the strange animal before her was. What amazed her as well is the bear did not come with her as she ahd assumed it would.

The Bear moved on the shifted griffen. Sure of it's raw power and size it roared and charged. Once it was close it would raise it's claws and try and shred the griffin form on it's claws much like it would a seal. It's swing slowed however, as Aoi mentally screamed no. "This, mutant stuff is sucha nightmare" she said more to herself then carrick. "So um I have a bear you have a griffin, what happens if one manages to kill the other? she asked as fear entered her voice at the thought.

”Rather stay?” the shifter asked knowing the answer. His wings flapped twice before landing on the other side of the shifters beast form. ”I mean, you can walk back there yerself love. Got no business going back there!”

Carrick heard the roar and then his head echoed with a string of growls and ‘fight!’ The bear took a swipe at his shifted form and missed. The ground shook from the bear lowering its massive paw. One thing he knew, Carrick was staying away from her form she was big.

”Keep wondering why I even stay here.” he said in response his current reason was his ankle bracelet making sure he stuck to the mansion grounds. The last thing anyone needed was shifted beast form getting loose.

”Dunno, want to stick around and find out? I got beasty boi in the fight anyways. He’s kinda a ****” Carrick said as he tugged the girls hand and pulled urging them to keep going. ”Worst case I have one less mouth that needs feeding. Not even my final form.” Carrick said as the shifted form crouched ran up to a wall snapped it’s wings open and landed on the bears back and started clawing into the large white bear.

”See, he’s fine. Can’t leave ya here. Don’t know what’s happening but I know we need to not be here.” the next sound he heard wasn’t a growl or a roar but a screech. ”Fer **** sakes…”

" No, no im quite happy without the bear. Heck maybe it will get itself killed" she said a bit of hope in her voice. A large psrt of her hoped the bears death if the griffin could manage it, would rid her of her powers all together. The blissful thought was broken by something crunching from back the way they came. "Im just hoping them dieing does not equal our own deaths as they are part of us" she said wondering if things would not have been safer back home.

"I stay becuse i don't want to accidentally kill and or eat people. This place is way more chaos then i think even my sister could manage" she said letting carrick guide her and doing her best to keep up. She heard the bear roar in anger, she could feel the Bear's frustration and rage and a part of her thought it deserved it.

The bear tried to role though their was barely any room in the corridor to do so. it's plan was simple, try to catch the shifted thing under it and use it's weight. It's claws on hands and feet flailed as it did, and rended a number of deep gouges in the walls and completely crushed a small table with a lamp on it meant to guide students at night.

She heard the screech and it seemed to be coming from the direction they were heading." Could it be another shifter?" she asked as she grabbed hole of a somewhat sturdy looking lamp as they passed it. It was a poor weapon but it made her feel like she could try and defend herself. "At least no one here turns into a dragon, i have checked. I was hoping ur first real conversation would be less running for our lifes and i sunno more tea" she said as they came into view of whatever had done the screech.

>>>> "Im just hoping them dieing does not equal our own deaths as they are part of us"

Carrick stopped running and looked to the girl next to him. ”Ya, that’s a good reason. Free room and board for me.” he rolled his eyes and watched her grab onto a lamp as his other form. His preferred form rounded the corner in all of his glory. A beam of light from a nearby window illuminated the Gryphon’s bronzed wings. Suddenly the shifter was jealous.

”Not a dragon… other me. The one I like.” he placed his hand on his running mates weapon and lowered it. ”Bit more easy to understand.” they wouldn’t need a weapon at least he hoped. It wasn’t the first time Carrick saw his preferred form in person. This was how he met Zek for the first time.

The Gryphon’s tail flicked in their direction as he glanced their way. Carrick backed up to a wall and made a bowing gesture. Unlike when he bowed for the princess this one was a sincere ‘don’t eat me’ bow. How many times had he been apart of a take down larger than himself in that form? The massive talons and claws tore into the carpet as it approached them wondering if they were on the menu.

”play along.” Carrick quickly said as he spoke loudly and clear so his other form could understand him. ”Once again, an honor to be graced with yer magnificent presence!” the Gryphon form stuck out it’s chest and looked upwards. It was Gryphon for, ‘Yes, admire my greatness’ there were a few chirps involved but Carrick didn’t pick up on them all.

”Such a glorious day out, why would one such as yerself be doing indoors? Wouldn’t you rather be flying?” Carrick asked hoping that his preffered form would take the hint and be more interested in finding a way out. ”Any interest in some shinies?” he asked digging into his pocket and pulling a Ruby from his pocket. Compliments of the princess.

Another painful roar was heard from behind them. It wasn’t the bear this time.

She let him lower her improvised weapon as he mentioned the other him he liked. She had thought having the bear was rough but having two forms roaming around in the old head seemed way bigger of a nightmare. Still it took all she had not to shriek when she saw the griffin. She knew what it was from lore right away but even so, that beak and those talons were less them comforting. She had an odd thought that now she knew how a potential victim might feel. The next thought in her mind was she had not transformed and she wondered if she even could at the moment. "That's a good reason as well"she said but her voice told she did not exactly approve of that being a core reason to stay.

She nodded and looked upon the Griffin, he really was an amazing looking creature. Aoi stayed quite as Carrick spoke to the Griffin side of himself, both to obey his request and two because she did not trust herself not to shriek if she did. She watched as he bowed and complimented his other form. The pride of the other form was easy to see, unlike her own beast this one had pride that could be appealed to rather then simple raw hunger.

As she heard the pained roar from upstairs she looked behind them quickly, knowing she would not be able t see what happened but out of instinct and also dropped her improvised weapon on the ground. She looked back to see Carrick offering the ruby to his other form and finally gathered up some courage to try playing along. She was unsure if Carrick wanted her to actually talk to it but she would try. She bowed as well. "Your a beautiful Griffin, the best looking i have seen"Aoi said truthfully. Of course she had only even seen this griffin.

She heard what sounded very much like the splintering of wood above them, as the ceiling shook, as something heavy or two something hit the ground hard. She was pretty sure the mansion could take it but she felt bad about all the damage that was sure to be piling up.

”Yer a natural.” Carrick chimed in behind her when she complimented his final form. Carrick was just glad she didn’t call him a pretty bird. Carrick didn’t like that comment and he knew it wouldn’t be flattering to his preferred from.

The sound of wood splintering caused the Gryphon form to look up and let out a loud ear-piercing screech with Carrick’s heighted hearing he was particularly affected. The shifted let out a small roar in response as he clasped his ears both of them feeling slightly now. When the screeching stopped he pulled his hands away and spotted blood. Great. ”Fer **** sakes!” he yelled no longer able to hear anything but ringing.

The Gryphon in front of them looked to Carrick puffed out its chest then accepted the ruby picking it up in it’s beak then walked into a corner near the window away from the ceiling that was starting to give. Carrick only noticed it because a bears paw fell through causing some ceiling to fall near him. ”I think we should move!” he yelled. It looked like the mansion wasn’t bear or Carrick proof.

Hopefully they were almost out of this, she hoped anyway, just past one more bird, griffin. She yelped herself as she heard the griffin screech and the sound pf splintering wood upstairs was not good at all. It meant the two were likely doing some serious damage. Floors were not really built for two thousand pounds of Animal fury, locked in combat.

It took Aoi a second to move, she had missed the griffin taking the ruby. When she saw the Bear's paw come thrue the wood, she agreed very quickly with Carricks idea. Making sure to move as quickly as she could. She had no idea what a drop like that might do to either Animal but she hoped it would stop any further chaos from going on.

"It's so wierd, i feel connected to the bear yet like it's not in me" she said sounding slightly concerned even as she kept following Carrick. She wondered if the Bear died, maybe she would be free of her power. She had no idea if Carrick wanted his freedom but she more then wnated her if it happened. but getting eaten was not the way, not was getting crushed.

”That is weird.” he stated as he kept moving away from the paw with giant claws. ”About as weird of having these two in yer head.” he said trying not to think how both he and her were connected to the animals who were trying to eat them. That’s what they were doing right? Trying to eat them. Everyone of them except for Gryphon. He was great.

The shifter eyed his preferred form near the window. He tapped once on it and then looked back to Carrick and the shifter sighed. ”Yeah, sure. I’ll open it. Just don’t hurt anyone? I’m already in trouble from the other guy.” he nodded his head upwards and at the scuffle. The bears paw retreated from the floor leaving a decent size whole. Another roar could be heard, it was his other form. Both he and the Gryphon narrowed eyes upwards. Before Carrick patted himself on the back (Gryphon form) and then opened the window.

The Gryphon form started to climb out the window but stopped when there was another rumble between the two from above and his beast form was stomped through the floor. There was a howl of pain and Carrick and his Gryphon both responded by looking to see the red headed stepchild of their mind drop in front of them. Beast form’s eyes filled with fury looked at the nearest target Aoi.

”Run!” he hated being the hero, but something large pushed him forward. His Gryphon form. Both it and Carrick jumped at the swiping beast form pinning him to the ground. ”Get some help!” he roared himself as he tried to keep himself pinned by himself and himself? He needed a drink this was all confusing.

She suppose weirdness had actually gone out the window at this point. In fact this was well she had lost words to describe what this all was. At least the Gryphin as it went seemed nice in it's own way though the way Carrick spoke of him, she figured the Gyrphin could be every bit as dangerous as whatever the creature was upstairs. Her Bear and the other form she was sure would much rather just devour them whole.

She watched impressed as Carrick's other form tapped on the window as if to ask if it could be opened which Carrick confirmed. She wished the Bear could be that nice, even part of the time. However their was no point in hoping for now, with the situation as it was. Their would be time for that after all this happoned, she hoped anyway.

She prepared to continue moving as the window was opened and the Gryphin started to exit. Then it all went wrong. Carricks other formed dropped down near her and the others. She had no chance to wonder what had happoned to her old form. When Gryphin and Carrick jumped to hold the other form, She then heard a loud roar upstairs.

Still she needed no real prompt to run and find help, she was more then willing to do so, it was not like she could be of much help as she was. Her mind jumped back into motion and she made a choice for a destination, she ran torward the staff bedrooms, yelling for somone to aide them, regardless of who it actually was. She did feel pretty guilty leaving Carrick and his other form behind but what could she really do about it, other then follow his direction.

Still she was curious that she could still fell the Bear in her, though not. She tried mentally calling to it and well it was not much she did feel it's attention, but she also felt it's wound and pain and oh how she was happy she did not share the current wound sof the bear.