The moon fey was a pillar of calm in the noisy, clamorous chaos of the arena. There were fighters a-plenty milling around, some of them seeming oblivious to the true dangers, still intent on whatever faux-battle was on today's itinerary. Rilana's gaze followed the unnatural creature, watching the way it moved, the way it drooled grotesquely. It was like a mockery of living beasts cobbled together in a necromancers fantasy. It was [i]wrong[/i]. And though her curiosity would have liked the chance to study this thing, the druid could see that it would kill more people before it was stopped. Like the time she took the shape of a wolf and hunted down a lynx with the froth, Rilana knew she had to act.

Once decided, her only hesitation was choosing which shape to assume. There were many at her disposal. A sabre-toothed cat came to her mind first, but even the smilodon was only half the size of dark terror before her. No, she wanted muscle. This was an unknown foe, and in her uncertainty she wanted power and a fury that would make up for her doubts.

The moon fey dropped her pack and started into the arena. A fleeing squire made to pass her but paused, turning to stop her, [b]"Miss...it's not safe!"[/b] But Rilana side-stepped him, her slow steps turning into a jog. Eyes on the creature, her shape became a pale blur as she ran towards it. Larger, shoulders widening and arms growing longer until she stooped forwards on all fours.

Her swift, elegant gait became a rolling gallop, tiny feet become paws thundering across the arena floor. Her clothing disappeared, replaced by a thick coat of snow white fur that rippled over thick skin and bunching muscle. Short stout black talons struck the ground, each impact causing a beastly grunt from her narrow snout. If given the space she could have run as fast as a horse, but the distance closed in a matter of moments. Underneath the wild guise Rilana was still herself, but her new shape brought a single-minded determination. In front of her was an Enemy.

Rilana reared up on her short hind-legs, a white wall crashing towards the chimera like a tidal wave of rage. Her black lips split wide to show three-inch canine teeth as she bellowed a hoarse roar of challenge, and behind them was ten feet and two thousand pounds of angry polar bear.

In the back of her mind, she felt Khona's presence, stronger than usual, looking out through her eyes and ready to help guide her the way she had once guided him.