Even if it was just his imagination, the sound of Jihl's voice made the pain fade. Bao Bei slid the rest of the way down all at once.
His claws split apart with sharp cracks, shattering. He couldn't hold on any longer and dropped, landing hard on the ground with a thud.
There was no time to groan from the pain.
Bao Bei pushed himself up and ran into the woods beside the tower. His legs were short, but as a dog on four feet, he was faster than he'd be in human form.
His front and back claws were broken and torn off. The blood kept pouring from the wounds, but he didn't stop. He had to get away from that tower—he ran, driven by instinct.
If night fell, the darkness might help him escape for good. That small bit of hope gave him strength to endure the agony in his limbs.
Woof, woof.
Bao Bei's ears picked up the sound of dogs barking nearby. His heart leapt.
Still running, he listened carefully. The barking was getting closer. They were coming for him.
