"I want her found!" Tocassa roared, shoving the hapless Valkyrie until she fell on her rear. "I don't care what it takes! If she kills anyone, it's on *your* head!"

"Y-Yes, M'lady!" the soldier stammered, scrambling to her feet and running down the hallway. Tocassa spat and looked back into the sleeping quarters of Soluk and her promised husband, brown eyes blazing in rage. "Mishrai, where is she? Did you not give her enough of the serum to transform her or not?" she muttered. "You said she came this way."

The Magi Polar Bear bowed, adverting her eyes. "It was enough to transform two beserkers, M'lady--" he started and Tocassa scoffed, making a fist.

"She's a Soft Paw, a Scholar, a Diplomat," she spat, grabbing his blue robes and shaking him. "Check the formula again! Once he sees what she actually is, Canowickate will have no choice but to marry me, 'less he wishes to be ousted by his own people. And I know his soft heart will not allow such things." Tocassa let go of Mishrai and took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. "Send patrols up to the spires, she might be trying to get away to 'not cause harm' or some such idea. Be discrete. I cannot afford this to come back to me."

Mishrai cleared his throat, ears flattening. "Neither of us can--the Bjornking would skin us alive," he said softly and Tocassa smiled, dripping with indignation.

"You, yes. But I am his daughter," she reminded him, spinning on her heel. "His only cub and heir to the Wekki. He will not harm a hair on my pelt. I look too much like my mother and he is a sentimental old fool. You have only yourself to worry about. Follow." Mishrai's face darkened but said nothing, casting one last glance around the room before closing the door behind him.

On the pillar in the corner of the room, Soluk sat in her Gene Defect form in the darkness, thankful for the vaulted ceilings of the cave-like room and her quick escape. Luckily, they hadn't discovered the recording device she had left behind the pillow on the couch nor had found her herself. Soluk's thoughts were simple, plain and finally her eye sockets glowed a frightful red--she had to stay hidden. Stay safe. Hurt no one. Not let Canowickate see her.

And she had to make Tocassa pay.