You can't allow the humans to capture you, but the last thing you want is to get drawn into a battle to the death with gun-toting soldiers. You dash through the sensors, sure that being identified will be less of a concern than getting into a fight.
Lapu looks back toward the sound of incoming soldiers, a whine caught in his throat before he throws himself through the checkpoint, his arms over his face as though he could somehow fool the machine's ability to read his serial ID. Tiva follows right behind him, leaving only Dena on the other side, shivering with fear.
"They'll know!" Dena says, placing padded palms just beyond the reach of the sensor.
"It can't be any worse than actually confronting an entire patrol of soldiers!" Lapu calls back, eager to be on his way across the bridge.
Dena, always the academic and seldom the adventurer, stands back, shaking as though trying to wake up from a bad dream.
Anger wars with guilt in your mind. Dena's going to get you all caught at this rate. You need to make a decision quickly.
The patrol rounds the bend, emerging from the side street on their way to the bridge. Your eyes flick from soldier to soldier.
Three older males, two females, likely veterans, each wielding the same standard semiautomatic that the other soldier had been carrying. It could be a tough battle, but you're confident that you can take them with your superior speed and the element of surprise on your side. Then again, there's a high margin for error. Perhaps it would be prudent to fall back and hope the patrol doesn't stick around, blocking your only escape route.
Time is running out! You have only seconds to decide!
You burst forth with a feral roar, drawing the soldiers' attention as Lapu and Tiva close in from behind. You reach the men first, slashing at their weapons, intent on disarming them as quickly as possible and forcing them to flee.
Before Lapu and Tiva can close in, the soldier nearest you manages to fire off several rounds in your direction. You throw yourself to the side in a desperate attempt to dodge the incoming fire, but as fast as your lupine form makes you, you're no match for the speed of a bullet.
You hit the ground hard, a sharp burning pain lancing its way through your shoulder as you roar in pain and anger, your eyes glazing over, bloodshot and feral red. You roll to your feet and launch yourself at the offending soldier in a single graceful motion, striking at his chest with your claws, barely remembering to pull back at the last moment.
Focus. You meant to frighten these men, not kill them.
Divested of their firearms, the soldiers back away as you advance menacingly, clacking your lethal claws together loudly. The man nearest you reaches a trembling hand to his belt sheath, pulling out a serrated combat knife that seems almost ludicrously inadequate to the task at hand. The soldier's companion pulls him back and shakes his head before they all break into a run back to their headquarters, proverbial tails between their legs.
Tiva's body shakes, and at first you worry that she may be crying until her face splits with uproarious laughter. "Did you see them?" she howls, slapping her thighs as tears stream from her eyes. "You have no idea how long I've wanted to do something like that!"
Dena emerges from hiding alongside the road and examines your wound. You wince at the prodding as Tiva and Lapu walk back to the bridge.
"You're lucky," Dena says quietly, lips quirked up in a wry smile. "The bullet passed right through, and since you were in lupine form, it will heal in a few minutes. I thought for a moment that you were going to kill those men. I'm glad it didn't come to that."
Tiva calls out from the bridge. "We're in luck! One of the bullets damaged the scanners. The field is down! We should cross while we still can!"
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