A band of hunters, seeking fossil remains, were traveling through a montane forest that spread out below the northern mountains. They had come upon a large granite outcrop that barred their way when they heard an animal crashing through the underbrush. A native white-tailed deer raced right past them, followed closely by a native brown bear. In seconds, the bear decided that easier prey was at hand and attacked the closest hunter. 

Suddenly an airborne mammal appeared. It streaked through the canopy, diving toward the scene. A juvenile great gray dragon shot past the hunters, snatched the bear in its jaws, and flew out through the canopy. After the young dragon flew away with his prize, the hunters were relieved. They thought to take a moment and catch their breath—until the juvenile’s sire reared up from behind the outcrop and looked directly at them.

Illustrations by Epic Made

It was a beautiful day to go for a walk. The tundra was in full bloom with bright yellow and red poppies, blue arctic lupine, white Labrador tea, violet parraya, and lavender pasque flowers. 

As Claren [an enemy spy] slipped outside, she gave a soft laugh and shook her head slightly. How lax their security is [referring to Gregor]. They must truly think their location makes them impregnable. Even their power source is unguarded, she thought mockingly. 

She did not see the snowy owl, in its summer plumage, perched in a nearby copse of Norway spruce; nor did she notice the arctic fox, in its summer coat, hidden among the burst of flowers. She did see a magnificent caribou stag grazing not too far away. Unbeknownst to Claren, all three—owl, fox, and deer—were scouts, watching her and marking where she went.

Illustrations by Epic Made

Genotype [one’s genetic code] limited the individual’s options to assume the phenotype [visible characteristics] of another species. This was clearly evident in the number of alternate species Ruth could assume compared to those available to Edvar. Both had the complete genotype for a species of fox and for the gray wolf. Ruth, however, also had the complete genotypes for additional species.

Occasionally, Edvar and Ruth would go to a local freshwater pond fed by a stream. There, Ruth would indulge herself and transform into a river otter. She would frolic in the water while Edvar stood guard as a gray wolf. A native wolf would not hesitate to prey on an otter. So, on occasion, Ruth would tease Edvar with an otter’s rendition of a come hither look and then dare him to try to catch her (illus. 5).

Although wolves were fairly good swimmers, Edvar knew full well there was no chance he could catch Ruth in the water. Swimming underwater, a river otter could reach speeds of nearly seven miles per hour. Nevertheless, Edvar would accept the challenge and jump in to chase after her. Once they emerged on land, however, the tables were turned. Edvar would pounce on Ruth.

Edvar often wished he could become an otter and race through the water alongside Ruth. Alas, his genotype did not permit it. Still, both of them had the genotypes for a wolf and a fox, so both could transform into a wolf or a fox to travel together.

There were both human and animal hybrids in the village. These hybrids were not corruptions. They were genetically engineered by Rafe to serve as laborers and guards. The latter were imbued with characteristics that would make them aggressive fighters. The majority of them were animal-animal hybrids in which the genes of one species were mixed with those of one or more other species. The crocutalupoid (cro-cu-ta-lup-oid) was one such a hybrid (illus.). It was created when the genes of a hyena and wolf were spliced into the genome of an H. tranformans. It was engineered to hunt large prey and fight an enemy.
One night, a crocutalupoid crept stealthily toward the shelter as if he were stalking prey. He was. This was how he viewed the two slight humans living together without any protection. As he crept closer, he heard no sound and saw no movement from the shelter. He paused as he approached the entrance. His prey seemed unaware of any danger. When he lunged to go inside, he was met with a violent attack from a ferocious animal with huge, curved claws on its forepaws and powerful jaws that could crush bones.
Part hyena, the crocutalupoid had a bite force of nearly 1,100 pounds per square inch, one of the most powerful of any mammal. He was unable to leverage it. His head and neck fit into the opening to the shelter; however, he couldn’t get his shoulders through the doorway. Meanwhile, his head, eyes, and snout were being ravaged by a badger* defending its den.

_{*Badger – a female H. transformans who can transform into a gray fox, a badger, a lynx, and a great horned owl.}