Young Writers Society

"I'm Leo!" he repeated, his voice just as much of a squeak as it was the first time. He tried to squirm out of Kazimir's grip, but Kaz still held on tightly despite being noticeably shocked by what he said. Explaining things and saying who he was wasn't getting him anywhere. He had to come up with something, and he had to come up with it fast-

Oh Altera.

He was an idiot.

His guise shifted from the guard's to Leonardo Cartwright - yellow prison uniform and all - in the blink of an eye. There was no flash of light, and there was no gradual change. He just appeared one way one moment and a different way the next.

"I'm really, really sorry!" he apologized. "I did want to tell you! But I came up with it when the guards were right in front of us, so I had to keep it to myself! That way they weren't expecting an escape attempt, and no one would be wondering why I had suddenly disappeared from the ship! P-Please don't be too mad at me?"

Kazimir's face fell from one of rage to one of utter, relieved, confusion. In one swift movement he released Leo from his grasp and pulled him close in a tight hug.

"God, you stupid idiot, ya shoulda just told me you were a shifter or whatever you are," he muttered, voice already growing hoarse.

Apophis stared at him with wide eyes. "Why the Hell didn't you inform us about the fact you could do that?!"

"I, uh, did," he quietly protested, now getting squeezed to death via hug instead of choking. "It was right before the guards showed up and before I died, so I guess it must have slipped your mind? It would have probably slipped my mind too."

She frowned. That...shouldn't have happened. What was going on with her? "I suppose so," she answered with a slight shrug. "It's irrelevant now. How about we...what do you say? Get this show on the road, is the idiom, I believe."

Kazimir finally let Leo go abruptly, pulling away with a gruff clearing of his throat.

"You have a plan, yeah?"

He nodded, hesitantly letting his guise return to the one of the guard. "I do," he confirmed, nervously running his fingers through his hair - just like Odris had done around him all of those years ago. "Since I can play the part of a guard and you two are prisoners, I thought I could lead you to the stargate. And I have some other kinds of magic at my disposal, too, if we end up being discovered before we can finish escaping."

Kazimir looked over to Auryon with a sly smile, and then looked back over Maahes. "Well, look at you! You're just full of surprises. I'm ready soon as ya wanna head outta here. We should probably get movin' before we cause suspicion or somethin'."