Where lines cross and souls collide

My large paws held firm on the ground, my back legs locked and ready to spring. My ears flicked rapidly as my nose was filled with its stench…a wolf. What was a wolf doing on this side of the river, and why was it’s smell so alluring…Suddenly a subtle breeze lunged past my heels and I sprang, spinning around and jumping vertically off the ground and onto a tree branch. My tail skimmed it’s fur as it jumped directly where I was previously positioned. The wolf landed with a small thud, panting and looking around for me, it’s nose lifting high into the air in an attempt to catch the faint smell that naturally radiated off my coat. My white pelt gleamed in the moonlight, lavender overtones and blue undertones glistened as the ivory faded into silver near my paws, muzzle, and the tip of my tail. I am a member of the panefolk species…I’ll explain. In my world there are three different shifting classes…first we have the werewolves, they are the largest and most common group, they have the largest territory and are in charge of any manufacturing, shipping, and traveling within the world. The second species are the osprey, their shifted forms are bird-like creatures with wingspans of up to 20 feet and they stand roughly 5-6 feet tall. They have large sharp beaks and curved talons, they closely resemble eagles, but they all have unique colors and patterns based on their lineage. They’re in charge of producing and harvesting natural resources. Any agricultural farming is done by them, including animal harvesting and the collecting of/creation of power. The last of the species are the panefolk, we are the smallest group and tend to have small scattered territories. We are in charge of the black market if you will, we handle all of the dirty work. We prefer the shadows and are usually only found in very secluded areas, unlike the other two species that follow the ABDGO hierarchy (Alpha, beta, delta, gamma, and omega) our species is color based, the amount of power you have is depending on what color your shifted coat is. The ranking is as follows, (lavender, silver, black, tan/brown) lavender being the rarest and tan the most common. So that’s my world, and if you haven’t figured it out yet, I’m a lavender panther. Anyways back to the now… My paws tingled and my tail softly flicked, allowing me to balance on the unsteady branch. The wolf gazed at the Forest line, it’s small beady eyes soaking in every dark corner and sliver of shadows. Eventually the wolf trudged off, seeming almost satisfied? I released the breath I didn’t know I was holding back once it was out of sight. Hopping down with a small thud I started circling in the direction opposite of where the wolf went. I finally reached the stream, the trickling of water snuffing out my hearing. I crept to the edge, absolutely hating water, but I was parched after that encounter. I quietly lapped the ice-cold liquid down, the sudden freeze coming as a shock to my nerves and instantly calming me. * Unbeknownst to them; as soon as they jumped from the tree my nose caught their scent, the strange wolf I had just followed minutes before slipped towards the stream. The rough scratching sound of their paw steps drug me out of my trance, I couldn’t see them but I heard them clearly. I slipped out of the bushes silently before halting…it wasn’t a wolf…but a panther!! As they drank from the stream I observed them, the white pelt glinting in the moonlight, yet having an almost glow to it because of the cool toned fibers weaving throughout the pelt. The cat was mesmerizing…grief, what was I thinking, it was a panther and they’re the odd species, what was I even doing here anymore. It suddenly struck me, why couldn’t they hear or smell me? Weren’t panthers supposed to have senses and reflexes sharper than any other? I took my chance, they were on our territory…planting my feet I sprung once again, catching the terror in their eyes as I collapsed onto their back, we rolled around, crashing through the water and onto the other side of the bank. We came to a stop, I groaned and shook my coat off, water and mud flinging into the darkness. I got up quickly and padded over to the panther huffing at the sight. The panther's delicate legs were cramped below it and it’s back was to me, blood gushed out of its gnarled flank, four perfect claw marks shattered the radiant pelt. I circled around and studied it silently, watching as it shifted into a small and rather malnourished woman…girl…human? She had pale skin and mouse grey hair with black undertones, it was cut short enough to hover over her defined collar bones. I crouched and listened for breathing.