Panthera Spelaea
Isola di San Pietro

The superyacht Elements came to a stop off the southern coast of the Sardinian island of Isola di San Pietro. One of the ship’s tenders, a small rigid-inflatable boat, was lifted out of the stern garage and into the water. The moon was an hour from setting, and it was just past three in the morning when I climbed on board. With me were Anna and Svetlana, all three of us dressed as tourists with backpacks and clothing. Our cover story was that we were avid birdwatchers on holiday for the fall migrations.

The bosun drove off as soon as we were ready, heading to the landing spot we had picked out. We’d pored over charts for hours, trying to decide the most likely place for the eagle to stop to rest. Although the island was small, it was well-developed, with farms and homes and roads all over. Expanses of open land didn’t exist on an island whose high point was just over two hundred meters above sea level. The landing area we picked might have been the first land Todd’s Eagle encountered. We were hoping it was a resting place for a tired bird after a long flight.

There weren’t any boats anchored offshore. We were lucky it was the offseason for tourists, plus the southern coast’s exposure to the big waves off the open Mediterranean. The populated area of the island was on the protected east coast, facing the big island, not here. I took over the driving as we approached the dangerous surf, with rocks breaking the surface or hidden just underneath everywhere. The small beach in Grotte della Mezzaluna was well-hidden along the sheer cliffs that rose thirty meters above the crashing surf. The bosun hopped out, and we helped the girls climb onshore before I followed them. “Can you find your way out?”

“I think so,” he said. “Good luck. Call us when you need a pickup.”

We waited until he was safely past the surf and heading back to the yacht. We could only risk my switching when in a place hidden from human view but exposed from the air, and the bottom of cliffs wasn’t it. Besides, Todd would be sleeping now. I carried the heavier backpack up the trail to the top of the cliffs, and then we headed southeast to the rocky point.

“Do you think this will work,” Anna asked?

“I have no idea,” I replied honestly. “We’re assuming the Eagle landed as soon as he reached land. If we’re wrong, he could be on the main island by now. By tomorrow, he could be anywhere in Italy. Our best chance is at sunrise. That’s IF he’s here.”

“And if not?”

“Then we rent a car and drive around the island all day looking for him,” I answered honestly. “It’s the same thing the other teams are doing, except Duncan and I are the only ones who will switch. I’m hoping if he sees our animals, he’ll recognize them.”

“Won’t his eagle recognize us,” Svetlana asked? “We all met her Eagle in Moscow.”

“I have no idea. Once Todd’s airborne, our only chance is if his eagle recognizes us and investigates. We DON’T know how fast Todd’s experiences and memories will push over to the eagle and affect its decisions. It’s just as likely that he sees us as threats and flies the other way.”

On my first switch, I was only in Lion form for a short time. Still, it took over a week for me to regain consciousness. The other Switchers guessed it was because it was too weak after thirteen millennia. As I slept, the Lion was absorbing my thoughts and experiences. Ekatarina’s first switch lasted three days and ended hundreds of kilometers from where she started.

We made it to the edge of the seaside cliff as the moon set, casting us into darkness. Anna got out her cellphone and checked in with Art, letting him know we were in place. My cat told me no one was around, but we spent some time looking for a place that would give me cover to the sides and back. The winds were a little chilly coming off the water, and Lana shivered a little. “I need my big, fuzzy hot water bottle,” she begged sweetly.

“Fine,” I replied. I stripped off my clothes, packing them into Anna’s backpack. “You can nap while I keep watch, and I’ll wake you at twilight. I want you above and behind me, watching for people and scanning the air for Todd. Keep the pistols and binoculars close at hand. We may only get one chance at this.” I switched into my cat, stretching out before settling down on the gravel and rock where I could look out over the ocean. The girls sat down, leaning against me as I moved a foreleg to cover their thighs. I let out a low growl as Svetlana leaned her head onto my shoulder and started to scratch my shoulder and neck.

Sleep was a weapon, as the military said. We’d had little sleep since the second attack, and the girls dropped off quickly as they tucked into my warm fur. I stayed alert, as this was a vulnerable time for me. With the wind off the ocean, my sense of smell wouldn’t identify anyone sneaking up. I had to depend on my eyes and ears to keep us safe.

The birds greeted the new day with song, and I nudged the girls awake when it was light enough to see. The girls found a spot to go to the bathroom, then washed up and ate a protein bar before heading up the rock formations on each side. My lion sprayed over their scent, kicking rocks and dirt around to spread his scent, behaving as if another cave lion might appear in the Italian islands.

The three of us stayed quiet after that as the reds and oranges of the sunrise filled the sky. It was beautiful, but I didn’t have time to enjoy the view. The sun barely cleared the horizon when Anna cried out to us. “There! Nine o’clock high!”

I turned my head to the left, following her arm as she pointed. I could barely make out the shape of the eagle above us, maybe a half-mile to the southeast over the southern tip of the island. From what I remembered of the map, that was the Spiaggia La Bagga beach area. The eagle was flying our way, several thousand feet up.

Svetlana called the ship to report the sighting. I couldn’t conclusively say the eagle saw us, but he did circle above us two times before heading inland. Once he was out of sight, I switched back and got dressed. “We need to follow him,” I said.

“Art’s looking into helicopter charters, and he’ll bring his people in as soon as they can,” Svetlana said after she scrambled down the rock and hugged me. “The resort to our north has a room in the Karpen Industries name reserved. They can supply a vehicle for our ‘birdwatching’ adventure.”

“Let’s go,” I said before Anna jumped down into my arms. We headed inland until we reached the trail along the cliffs, then turned left. The Hotel Mezzaluna-Hotel Carloforte was less than a mile away, and we needed to hurry. We picked up the pace to a jog, watching our footing as the trail wound along the cliffs.

We’d made it halfway around the Gulf of Mezzaluna when I jumped to clear some rocks. Something hit me in the right shoulder, knocking me to the ground. Pain exploded in my mind as the sound of a rifle shot reached us. “GET DOWN,” I told the girls as I rolled off the trail.

I ended up in a depression behind a small rock, unable to look at the threat without attracting more fire. Anna and Svetlana had broken to the other side of the trail and had their pistols out. Svetlana was closer to me, and she snuck a look. “One shooter, hunting rifle, tan pants and black shirt, two hundred meters away at eleven o’clock. White sedan, one driver.”

“I’m calling it in,” Anna said. “Are you hit?”

“Through and through on the back of my right shoulder,” I said. “Too fucking close. The shooter has us pinned down.”

“Art says twenty minutes for his men to arrive,” Anna relayed. “How the fuck did they know we were here?”

Another fucking mole? Were his phones tapped? Was someone tracking the phone Anna got before we left the yacht? Art’s foundations were crumbling. “Make sure they warn Duncan he might be in danger. Leave the phone there in case they are tapping the GPS.”

Anna dropped it on the ground. “What’s the plan?”

“I’m vulnerable here in the open. On the count of three, I want both of you to fire four shots at the car to give me cover. I’m going to switch and head for the cliffs. At least in the rocks, I can find cover. Once I’m out of sight, you two alternate between safe spots back down the trail. Find a place to hide and stay there until the cavalry arrives.”

“I don’t want to leave you,” Svetlana said.

“I’m the target; you’re the loose end. Those two won’t come after you until I’m dead, so hide well! I don’t want you hurt.”

Anna nodded, but I could see in her eyes she wasn’t going to go quietly. I didn’t give them a chance to think about other plans. “Three, two, one.” I switched into my lion as they opened fire.

I bounded away from my hiding place, attracting a shot that missed thanks to the girls shooting back. I ignored the pain in my shoulder as I ran hard for the cliff edge, turning just short to find a way down. I saw a ledge just ahead, a drop of at least six feet, and had an idea. Another shot rang out close enough to feel the breeze from it. I pretended it was a hit, dropping to my side and sliding along the rocks until I rolled over the cliff edge.

Anna screamed in horror, firing six shots in rapid succession before Svetlana got her to move again. I heard them running down the trail as I assessed my options.

All of them sucked.

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