BURNED OUT CONFUSION :: open, healing + new power

More than enough time had passed for his tiny, dwarfish little legs to finally heal. Toxicwaste had hurt Bentley, but he didn't hurt him enough. He bore both physical and mental scars, but he would understand that life would go on. He would live and he would thrive. Though he was small and seemingly vulnerable, he was one bold corgi.

The golden-and-white canine was no longer immobilized and could walk freely, but he had made a discovery the previous night. The body of a massive feline—a distinct hybrid between a female tiger and a male lion—was "washed up" on StormClan's scent boundaries, and the historian found himself able to jump into that body. When he moved himself into a different form, the other collapsed and lay there motionless as if it were dead—and without anything occupying and controlling it, he assumed that it really was dead. This "body jumping" was known as possession, he had come to realize, and it was useful to have prior a battle. Shapeshifting would have been more practical in the heat of a fight, allowing one to change into their desired form in an instant, but possession was useful if you had a bit of time and a corpse to occupy. This liger body was just what the doctor prescribed. Finally, Bentley could defend himself from unknown dangers while not totally abandoning his beloved Pembroke Welsh Corgi form. It was...cool.

The sight, though, was rather peculiar, to say the least. He was practicing his newly-found ability, the two bodies close to one another. When he moved into one body, the other collapsed. It was as if there was some kind of spiritual entity roaming the camp rather than a curious and eager Clanmate. Eventually he came to a pause in his corgi form, panting and taking deep breaths. It took a toll on one's energy, and it didn't help that he wasn't in his best condition not too long ago.

His head snapped up at the sound of a distinct feminine tone addressing him. It was Etherealpaw, a newcomer to the Clan. And she believed he had slain this liger. That was far from true—and one could tell. "No, no, dear, I'm not a killer," the Brit insisted with the addition of soft and even nervous laughter. He couldn't bring himself to kill something of that size. Physically and emotionally. He had already seen enough death and suffering in the past few days. "It just seemed to...wash up here. It's called a liger: half lion, half tiger. And look!" It was time to show his Clanmates what he could do. Channeling his spiritual energy towards the much larger feline form, the corgi took a deep breath and attempted to metaphorically leap into his secondary body, clamping his eyelids shut.

At the sound of a light thump, his eyes fluttered open to find himself towering over the apprentice, and his canine form lay limp on the ground like a doll. "Ta-da!" the now-liger exclaimed with a smile.

He laughed heartily at the apprentice's reaction. He didn't find this power all that interesting, but it seemed as if others had a different opinion on the matter. "Yeah, nothing can quite replace the ol' Pemmy," he agreed with a gaze towards the limp corgi. Big and strong and fearsome as he was now, nothing could ever be as iconic as the small canine body. Bentley nodded at her remark of "you're gonna kick butt" and the like. "Hopefully that won't be needed here," he added with a soft laugh. "I'll be using this form outside of the territory. Keep me safe and all." It was no lie that he was an easy opponent in his dog form, but now he could be more of a challenge.

It was funny to see Project in such a different way—he seemed almost vulnerable now, but Bentley knew that the hybrid wolf was a cunning fighter. "At least you're still tall," he commented with a reassuring purr. "My corgi form can barely reach your joints!" But now he loomed over the canine and adopted a rather menacing appearance. Fit for battle and self-defense.