Sal's brows drew together tightly. "We have to break away—now. We need to shake off the mutated beast horde."
He shifted instantly into his beast form. Nina climbed onto his back without hesitation.
"Hold on tight," he warned.
"I am."
Clutching Yinny and Didi securely against her chest, Nina lowered her body and tapped Sal's side. He surged forward at once, accelerating into a blur. Wind howled past them, tearing at her hair and clothes as she gripped him firmly.
Yanai and the others also transformed, flanking them in a tight protective formation as they sprinted through the forest.
They were fast—terrifyingly fast—but the mutated beasts were no slower. The flying variants had an obvious advantage. Gradually, they began closing the distance.
Before long, the first flying mutated beast caught up and dove, talons flashing. Sal twisted sharply to evade, maintaining speed. Then came a second. A third.
More and more poured in behind them.
"Intercept them!" Sal roared.
