I stood there in the dark, stunned, as Luna worriedly called my name on the phone. The world seemed to spin all around me, and strange shapes formed in the darkness, seeming to move and hover menacingly. The phone slipped out of my grasp, and I barely felt it as it clattered to the wooden floor, its bright screen lighting up the room ever so slightly.

"Lyra? Lyra! What happened?! Hello-" And then the screen flickered and went dark. That startled me, and I strained to see in the darkness, feeling around on the ground for my phone with my numb hands. Suddenly, a hand grasped my shoulder.

"Lyra? What happened?" Aunt Silka's voice pierced the silence. I felt a tear roll down my already wet cheeks as I turned around to face her.

"Y-you can't be my aunt.." I breathed. " She died before I came here to Moonbay." She looked at me, startled, but then grinned menacingly. I felt a chill start to build up around me. The skin began to then peel off her face as if paper. I opened my mouth in silent terror as the face of my aunt disappeared before me. And what was left were two glowing green eyes, staring right at me. I felt my breath catch in my throat as I realized who it was. A voice said as if from far away:

"H-honey soap?!" I choked out, my voice barely audible as I struggled to breath. The girl laughed, and her voice echoed off the wooden walls. I started to step back, but my body was frozen in place.

"Lyra panter," She spat, putting so much venom into those two words. "You took everything from me...my family, my home," Honey started growling dangerously low, her eyes glowing the same startling green. "And most importantly....my brother." And then a black panther was in front of me, hissing and spitting. How ironic, I thought, my name is panter and I am going to get killed by one. Then the panther sprang.

Jace stood just at the edge of the forest, examining a plant, when suddenly a scream pierced the silence. He stopped, and his eyes widened. Lyra! He thought. He sprinted towards the house and kicked open the door off its hinges. He saw a panther holding an unconscious Lyra in its mouth. Something was just so familiar about it, so very familiar....

Before he could do or say anything, the panther turned and sped away out the window with Lyra. However, something shone on the ground. Jace bent down and examined it with the little light the moon provided. It was the book of Horas. It was open on a certain page, and the golden letters gleamed and sparkled. Jace began to read the small passage:

Shapeshifters are creatures that are often associated with trickery. They can never be trusted for who they are, because they can change into almost anyone or anything. They can never be who they say they are. However, there is a way to identify one. Shapeshifters often have a certain animal they can change into. They can only change into that animal and nothing else. They also can't change into people or creatures they haven't seen at least once. Therefore they should not be mistaken with figurashifters, whom can ONLY transform into animals. They only have one human form, unlike Shapeshifters.

The sound of footsteps made Jace whip around, only to see Max standing behind him, his eyes glowing brightly. He looked pained, his hands clenched into tight fists.

" A panther-"

"I know!" Max growled, startling Jace. "I know," A tear slid down his cheek as he hung his head. " Because that wasn't just any panther, Jace. That was Cathy."