Te'Ka...........Alone...............................kronk

Te'Ka walked slowly away from the quiet pool, up the gradual slope and out of Panthera's valley into the foothills of the great mountain range.

She would miss her "red animal," as she had affectionately thought of the tigeress. But, such was the way of things, and she could do little to prolong life past it's normal expectancy. Te'Ka usually chose apex predators as hosts because she was not compelled to interfere much in the animals day to day existence. Such beasts had little to fear from others creatures. Oh, sometimes she guided them away from concealed dangers or led them towards dependable sources of food. Most of the time, however, she lay quite; studying, feeling, being.

Clear of the tree-choked valley, Te'Ka focused on the snow-topped mountains. Gradually increasing her pace, she covered the land quickly, negotiating the near invisible game trails that twisted and turned through the highland forest.

Only ferral eyes were witness to her passing. The beasts of the land recognized her presence and were unconcerned, for they sensed she was benign. Had there been human eyes to see, they might have noticed what appeared to be a fast moving mist or smoke. Man was unheard of in these times, at least, in this region beneath the peaks of the Himalayas.

As she ran, Te'Ka's body began to change. A soft down covered all but her feet. Limbs elongated and long white feathers sprouted. Brown hair became white plumes and her face took on the fierce expression of a great bird of prey.

By the time Te'Ka was fully transformed, the world fell away 1000 feet beneath her taloned feet as she reached the edge of the escarpment. Her wings snapped open and mighty breast muscles propelled her up and up through the clouds until the foothills were lost and she was on an even plane with the peaks of the high mountains.

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