The coroner’s report had said that she’d had a heart attack. With everything that had been going on, Arnold had initially questioned whether something more sinister had happened. However, he was relieved to find out that she had died of natural causes, and he wondered if he was becoming too paranoid.

  But she had been the only shaman in town, the only person they could think of to go to for answers about Otto, and now she was gone. They were all back to square one.

  The coffin was lowered into the ground slowly, and George leant into her dad as her crying intensified. Her other dad hugged the two of them together to comfort them. They were such a close family, and it was hard for Arnold to see the pain they were all going through. After George and her parents stepped forwards to throw soil onto the coffin, they headed back to the cars together, George's head tucked firmly into her dad's side.

  "I hope she is okay," Arnold said to the others.

  "She will be. She appreciates us all being here, I know it," Everett answered. "I’ll call round in the morning to see her. We best head back to school."

  George’s family had chosen to have the wake at the house with only immediate family. The school had allowed Arnold, Everett, Otto, and Marrok to attend the funeral, but had requested that if they felt okay to, for them to go back to school in the afternoon.

  Arnold watched sadly as George and her dads headed to their car to leave. That was when he noticed what looked like the mayor's car. He used his eagle vision to zoom in on it, and was surprised to see Mayor Redburn sitting in the back of the car looking out at them, with Mr. Whittaker beside him.

  "Why would your dad be here, Otto?"

  "Huh?"

  "He's down there in his car with Mr. Whittaker."

  "I don't know.” Otto frowned. “Strange, that. My dad hates Mr. Whittaker for throwing me out of the Spirit Wardens."

  Everyone else had left the funeral and were getting into their cars to leave, so the four of them headed across the field towards the school. They were partway across the field when Otto suddenly stopped and bent over, holding his stomach.

  "You okay?" Arnold asked.

  Otto didn't respond. He had his eyes closed and began to breathe heavily. "It – it's happening!" He dropped to his knees in agony.

  "What's happening?" Marrok asked.

  "You all need to leave, now!"

  Arnold realised what was happening. "We can help you."

  "I don't want to hurt anyone. I can't control this. You all need to get away from me!"

  Otto was gasping for breath, clearly in agony. His body started to contort violently which he had no control over. "Go!" he growled at them. "Why are you stiiillll heeeeere?!" He was struggling to talk through the horrific pain.

  "We want to help you!" Arnold yelled. He hated seeing Otto in all this pain.

  Otto's bones began to make cracking noises like large tree branches snapping. His bones were breaking, and Otto began to scream. When he looked up, his eyes appeared different, as if the Otto they knew was disappearing before their very eyes. His face had started to change shape, and the jaguar markings began to take form on his skin.

  He reached forwards and grabbed hold of the ground in front of him. They could all see his hands changing shape as large claws began to protrude from his fingertips.

  Otto then stood taller than all of them. His body had completely changed. He had become his spirit beast.

  He had become Night-Sun, the were-jaguar.

  He let out a ferocious roar towards the group, but none of them moved.

  "It's okay, we’re here,” Arnold said, putting his hands up to be as unthreatening as he could be. He stepped towards Otto slowly.

  Otto let out another roar. His breathing was heavy and produced a growling noise in itself. Arnold continued to walk towards him slowly to show he wasn't frightened and that he wanted to help him. It seemed to be working, but suddenly Otto backhanded him with full force, knocking him to the ground. Everett and Marrok quickly helped him up, and the three shuffled backwards, away from Otto.

  "Arnold, what do we do?" Marrok asked. "Someone is going to get hurt!"

  "We need to stop him," Everett said, acting fast. She stepped forwards and began to emit a soft purple glow, and soon her boar appeared before her. It had grown in size and now had larger tusks protruding from its mouth, its large body showing that it had increased in power.

  Arnold concentrated, and his light blue auro engulfed his body as his eagle spirit beast flew out from within him. It landed on the ground, its large wingspan spread out in a show of power.

  Marrok nodded and followed suit. An orange glow began to generate through his auro, and seconds later, a white wolf ran from inside him and stood on all fours next to the eagle and the boar. It had a thick mane of hair with red eyes that contrasted against the beast’s ice-white colour. It let out a shrill howl as it fixed its gaze upon Otto and bared its teeth.

  "A wolf, that's awesome,” Arnold said, impressed. “Trust, is that right?"

  "Yeah," Marrok confirmed without shifting his eyes.

  Otto jerked and growled in his spirit form, but he seemed scattered and unfocused. Saliva dripped from his open mouth where his razor-sharp teeth were on full display, his stare switching between the three spirit beasts that stood before him.

  "What do we do now?" Marrok asked, seeking direction from Arnold.

  "We can't let him get away, no matter what!" Arnold commanded.

  Otto charged at them, but the boar and the wolf ran to meet him with equal speed. Arnold's eagle took flight and flew in the same direction as the others. The boar reached Otto first, but Otto hurdled over it, dragging his claws down the boar’s back in the process. Everett winced as the boar made a shrieking noise.

  Using his momentum, Otto vaulted the boar and hurled itself head-on into the wolf. The two of them grappled with each other on the floor, but Otto was much stronger. He bit down on the wolf's neck which let out a pained yelp.

  Arnold's eagle swooped in, but Otto was quick to its pattern of movement and jumped out of the way. The boar came charging from the side and crashed into the beast, breaking its firm bite on the wolf and knocking it back. The were-jaguar let out a growl and launched itself at the boar, grabbing it with both of his hands and embedding his claws into its sides as he rolled over the top. Using his momentum, Otto lifted the boar into the air and slammed it down to the ground.

  Everett dropped to her knees, feeling her boar’s pain in her own body. "He's too strong!" she cried as she crumpled into the ground.

  The eagle swooped down at Otto again and grabbed at his shoulders with its dagger-like talons to lift him in the air and drop him to the floor. Otto reached up and grabbed hold of the eagle, slamming it straight into the ground below him. Arnold held his side, but his pain threshold was higher than the others’.

  Otto continued his run towards the group. Arnold stepped in front of Everett and Marrok and braced himself for the impact from the were-jaguar, but moment later, he realised that the impact hadn't happened as expected. Otto had run past them and was charging across the field.

  "What’s going on?" Everett shouted.

  "We can't let him run through town in that form!” Marrok yelled. “Someone will get hurt, and he’s going to be captured." He set off running after the out-of-control spirit beast. "Come on!"

  Arnold immediately followed even though they didn't have a plan for what to do once they caught up with him. Otto was faster than the three of them, but they were still quick and they both covered ground quickly, managing to keep Otto in their sights.

  Otto had almost reached the main street that led into town where Arnold was sure disaster awaited. His eagle flew overhead, following Otto into town. It swooped down and clattered into Otto’s back, knocking him over. Arnold and Marrok made up some ground whilst Marrok's white wolf overtook them and volleyed itself into Otto’s side, delaying him from climbing back to his feet. Everett remained in the distance, her spirit beast slower and less powerful than Arnold and Marrok’s.

  They managed to catch up, and a few moments later, they were level with him.

  "Otto!" Arnold called, trying to get his attention. "You need to stop!"

  Otto continued to grapple with the eagle and wolf, not responding to Arnold's pleas.

  "Listen to me, listen to my voice," Arnold continued to try and get through to him.

  Otto began to rain down blows on Marrok's spirit beast, his wildness taking over him.

  "Otto, stop!" Arnold cried. “You're going to kill him!”

  Marrok had fallen to the floor, unable to cope with the pain he was sharing with his spirit beast. His connection was strong, but he didn't appear experienced with it.

  Arnold grabbed hold of Otto from behind and tried pulling him away, but a flailing elbow to the ribs was his reward. "Come on, listen to me!"

  Otto looked up, and suddenly his eyes looked different. His wild gaze had softened, and there was sadness in them. The sorrow evident in his eyes only solidified what Arnold already knew: his best friend was not in control of what he was doing.

  "Come on, Otto. I know you are in there!" he yelled desperately.

  Otto stopped and stood there calmly, his violent, scatty movements slowing as an air of control came over him. He moved away from the wolf which lay injured on the floor and walked slowly towards Arnold.

  Arnold's eagle moved next to the wolf and wrapped its wings around him, creating a half-dome shield around it while using its energy to help it recover from its wounds.

  Otto continued his steady walk to Arnold.

  "Can you hear me?" Arnold asked, standing his ground.

  The beast nodded.

  "Can you understand me?"

  The beast nodded again.

  Arnold couldn't believe it; Otto had regained control of himself.

  But then Otto began to stagger and shake his head, his movements becoming erratic once more. He started to grunt and growl, then turned away from Arnold and set off running, dropping onto all fours as his speed increased dramatically. Otto collided with the eagle head-on, which was still wrapped around the wolf. Both the eagle and wolf lay injured on the floor as Otto continued his run beyond them.

  They had failed. Otto was about to hit the main street where everyone would be able to see him.

  "Stay with your wolf!" Arnold shouted.

  He set off running after Otto, desperate to stop him, but he had no idea where Otto was going or what he was doing.

  He kept Otto in sight using his enhanced vision, but unless Otto stopped, it would be impossible for Arnold to catch up with him. Otto was too fast.

  Otto finally hit the street and straight away, Arnold heard the screams begin to ring out as Otto barrelled into the busy crowd of shoppers. His heart raced as he sprinted after the were-jaguar. His dad had told him that the Spirit Wardens planned to kill the beast if they caught it – but they didn’t know the truth. Arnold had to stop him before it was too late.

  When Arnold hit the street, Otto was way ahead of him, running down the main road. Crowds of people screamed and ran as he hurdled over car after car. A loud, metallic scratching noise pierced the air from where his claws sliced the rooftops of the vehicles as confused drivers honked and swerved.

  Arnold knew it was only a matter of time before the Doyens arrived, and he could feel his stomach churning with what might happen when they turned up. Head pounding from the adrenaline coursing through him, Arnold kept running, knowing that Otto’s life and the lives of innocent bystanders were at stake.

  Otto suddenly stopped in the middle of the road and began staring directly at one of the shops, as if he recognised it.

  It was Rushton Remedies, George’s granny’s shop.

  After a short moment, he smashed through the window, the glass shattering as he climbed inside the building.

  Seizing his opportunity, Arnold put every ounce of his energy into catching up, and he was outside the store before he knew it. Whilst running, his eagle dissipated back into his body as he saw a crowd of people were running away from the vicinity, and Arnold could see people on their phones, most likely making hurried calls to the Spirit Wardens. Arnold ran and hurdled through the broken window, the glass crunching below his feet as he ground it into the floor when he landed. He could hear Otto in the back of the store crashing around and grunting.

  Why would Otto be in this store, of all places? He had seemed to specifically target this shop as if he were looking for something in particular, which made Arnold think that he was at least somewhat lucid. This gave him hope that he might be able to get through to him.

  "Otto!" Arnold called.

  The grunts stopped, and Arnold could hear a growl start to call back to him from the backroom aggressively.

  "I just want to help!"

  "You need, get away, no control!"

  It took Arnold a moment to realise that the deep, husky voice had come from Otto.

  "What are you doing?" Arnold asked, slowly creeping towards the back of the shop.

  "I . . . feel the pull . . . like magnet. No control," came Otto's staggered speech in the same, nearly unrecognisable voice.

  Arnold heard the back door open to the rear of the building and was sure there were more than one pair of footsteps, along with a murmured voice. Confused as to who Otto was talking to, Arnold had stepped towards the back of the shop to see what was happening when he heard the call from behind him.

  "Whoever is in there, you need to come out!" the voice bellowed. "This is the Spirit Wardens!"

  Arnold froze, recognising his dad’s voice instantly. He could no longer hear Otto, which made him think he must have already exited the building. Arnold decided to exit out of the rear of the building to try and trail Otto again.

  "I'm coming in," Bernard announced.

  Arnold made it into the back room of the shop just as his dad entered through the front. He could hear Bernard’s footsteps slowly crunching the glass on the floor.

  Arnold moved to the back door.

  "Don't move!" Bernard bellowed once more as he caught up with him. “Arnold?” he asked, a look of shock and surprise on his face.

  “Dad, I can explain.”

  Movement outside caught Arnold’s eye: Otto vaulted the wall at the back of the yard before escaping down the alleyway.

  “What is that?” Bernard said while channelling his auro. “Arnold, get behind me!” Bernard gave chase after the were-jaguar, oblivious to the fact that the beast was Otto. Arnold knew he needed to protect Otto from the Spirit Wardens, from his dad. He was running as fast as he could to reach the bottom of the alley, navigating down the uneven cobbled floor beneath him.

  "Stop!" Bernard yelled.

  Arnold knew he wasn't going to outrun his dad, but he needed to keep him distracted so that Otto could getaway.

  He could hear fierce growling ahead, and Otto stepped out from the bottom of the alley in front of him. His height and frame were physically imposing. His clothes were heavily ripped, displaying the intricate pattern of a jaguar hide that was now all over his fur-covered body. He was baring his teeth, and saliva poured from his face as he began to growl wildly.

  Otto vaulted past him and headed towards Bernard at pace on all fours once more. Arnold whirled around just in time to hear the roar from Bernard’s bear as he summoned it.

  The bear charged towards the were-jaguar, and the two slammed into each other. Razor-sharp, jagged teeth and claws began gnawing at each other in a flurry of motion. The powerful grizzly knocked Otto into the wall with such force that the siding cracked from the impact.

  "Dad, no!" Arnold yelled, running towards them.

  "Arnold?" Bernard looked puzzled, "What are you –"

  The grizzly bear snapped its jaws around Otto's side, and Otto let out a roar in anger as he began to pummel the grizzly bear from above, repeatedly slashing it with his claws. The grizzly tightened its grip and flung Otto sideways who went skimming off the floor before crashing into the wall on the opposite side of the alley.

  The grizzly stood up on its hind legs, its intimidating size standing at around seven feet tall. It let out a roar that shook Arnold to the core.

  Arnold threw himself forwards in between Otto and the bear.

  "Stop!" he yelled again, his arms outstretched as he tried to make himself as big as possible.

  "Get out of the way, Arnold, what are you doing?"

  Arnold stared at his father with no intention of moving. He didn't want either of them to get hurt. "You need to trust me, Dad. He doesn't know what he’s doing."

  Otto jumped up from the floor and let out an equally deafening roar, splattering Arnold with slimy drool. Arnold could feel the heat from the were-jaguar’s breath on his cheeks as he stood there, shaking with fear.

  He slammed his hands against Otto's chest and put all his weight into pushing him back against the wall.

  "You need to stop!" he cried. "Look at me!"

  Otto cast his gaze downwards. He was so much taller than he usually was, and his eyes still looked wild. He began to push against Arnold's hands, and Arnold slid backwards from the force.

  "Please, Otto."

  Otto shook his head, and his eyes became recognisable once more.

  "Focus on my voice," Arnold tried once more.

  Otto stood still for a moment, more human-like than before, his breathing laboured as he seemed to try and collect himself. The grizzly bear dropped back to all fours, a slow grumble emitting from under its closed mouth.

  Otto looked at Arnold with great sadness once more, and his bones slowly began to crack back into shape. The jaguar markings all over his body changed back to normal skin as Otto dropped to his knees and slumped back to the wall.

  "Otto?" Bernard called as his spirit beast began to dissipate back inside him. He raced to Otto’s side, looking stunned.

 

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