Gracie was now crouched down in front of me, staring in my face.
“Sophie? Sophie? Are you all right? Talk to me.” She was right there but her words sounded like they were coming from very far away. Hudson cried out in pain, and reality crashed back around me again in full focus. Hudson and Willa were next to us. She had a towel pressed against a long gash running down his torso. I waved Gracie off.
“Gracie I’m fine, I promise.” She didn’t seem convinced, but she helped me stand up anyway. I couldn’t remember when I’d sat down in the first place. Professor Atkins had reached us and was kneeling next to Gary. He saw me watching him.
“He’s ok. Just knocked out from the strength of your command, Sophie. Have you ever done that before? Forced someone to shift back into human form?”
I started to shake my head but stopped when it pounded as I tried. “No,” I said instead. “I’m not even sure how I did it. I just knew he needed to shift back before someone was seriously injured.”
“You did well. I see the dragon’s protective instincts are coming alive in you. It will be interesting to see if they manifest any differently than your father. Next time, though, try to focus it on just the one student. Not everyone.”
“Wait, I forced everyone out of the animal form?”
“You did,” Hudson said. He stood up slowly. “I felt the command in my bones. It was like I was getting pushed through a tube. Then bam, I was human again.”
“Sorry.”
“Don’t be,” he said, laying a hand on my shoulder. “Your quick thinking saved us. I didn’t even think to use magic, all I wanted to do was fight like a wolf.”
“And that, my friends,” Professor Atkins said, “is the conflict of an animage.” The rest of the students had gathered around us. A couple of them were helping, passing out water and towels. Most of them were still just standing around and staring in horror. Professor Atkins continued on like this had been a totally normal day in class. “When you share your body with an animal, you share their instincts too. And they can take over when we least expect it, especially in young animages like yourselves. That’s why meditation is so important. You cannot let your animal win. Today, though, I think rest might be more important. Everyone is dismissed. If you’re injured, let’s get you to the healing wing.”
Most of the students raced toward the gym as soon as the professor released them. Gary was still unconscious. Hudson was swaying on his feet and Terra couldn’t stand.
“Um, Professor, I can carry everyone over to the admin building. It’ll save time. If that’s okay?” Professor Atkins looked at the state of his students and nodded.
“You’re not too tired?” I shook my head. “Okay, go ahead, I’ll meet you there.” He stepped back and shifted into a large black stallion. It was the first time he’d shifted in class. The horse shook his head and then galloped off.
“Willa, Gracie, will you help Hudson get up on my back?” I asked.
“I’m fine, Sophie,” he said. But the towel wrapped around him was already soaked in blood and even as he talked, he grabbed ahold of my shoulder and swayed. Willa and Gracie moved in and put his arms around their shoulders. I stepped back and shifted again.
“Can you carry me too so I can help Hudson stay on?” Willa asked. I nodded. Even in dragon form moving my head made it throb. I lay down on the ground so she and Hudson could climb up easily. The extra weight on my back was weird but didn’t bother me. Once Willa and Hudson were settled on my back, I scooped Gary and Terra up in my front feet as gently as I could. Gracie pushed the remaining students back so I could take off without knocking them over.
Taking off with my front paws full and people on my back presented a challenge. I couldn’t put weight on my front feet, and I also couldn’t stand all the way up. I took a deep breath to steady myself and then pumped my wings twice as hard as I normally did. After all the excitement the cool wind of flight was welcome. I soared low over the tops of the Academy buildings, and in less than a minute we had arrived at the admin building. I landed on my back feet and laid Terra and Gary down as gently as I could. Then I pressed my whole body against the cool earth so Willa could help Hudson off. I contemplated just staying there and taking a nap in my dragon form. The ground felt terribly comfortable. I forced myself back off the ground and into human form.
As I was shifting back, Professor Atkins emerged from the building with Nurse Sunny and a couple other professors in tow. Gary, still unconscious, rose off the ground and floated through the doors directed by one of the professors. Professor Atkins and Nurse Sunny helped Terra and Hudson. I was just getting ready to follow with Willa when Mrs. Winnifred emerged from the building.
“Well, it’s certainly been an exciting morning. Sophie, I was just coming to find you. Will you please come with me? Headmistress Adiana would like to see you for a moment.” I knew what that was code for. What was he doing here? My adrenaline was wearing off. I rubbed my head for a moment, trying to stop myself from snapping at Mrs. Winnifred. She was just the messenger.
“Tell the headmistress not right now, I’m busy.” Willa’s eyes widened. Mrs. Winnifred’s polite smile didn’t waver at my
