My heart trips before picking itself back up again.
Pinned between my innocent little car and the unforgiving mountain face is... a black panther. Or at least, something that looks like one. Its sleek obsidian fur absorbs the light, creating a void in the shape of a massive feline.
The metal of my car has bent around its form, cradling the creature in a macabre embrace. Blood, nearly black in the harsh light, mats its fur and trickles onto the asphalt.
A long tongue lies limp out the side of its mouth, its eyes closed.
I take an involuntary step back, my mind reeling. Panthers aren't native to these mountains. Hell, they're not native to this continent. They're also—I think—not as large as a freaking cow. And even if they were, no normal big cat could survive an impact like this. (Can they?)
Which means...
"Shifter," I breathe, the realization hitting me like another blow.
The panther's chest rises and falls in shallow, labored breaths. It's alive. Barely.
