[Beep]
[Beep]
[Defence transformation complete]
[Porcupine mode activated]
Oh, you have got to be fucking kidding me.
Quills pushed through my skin like a thousand tiny needles, sharp and bristling. My body shrank, hunching low as spines rattled across my back and arms. The thin pajamas shredded instantly, leaving me as a walking pincushion in the middle of a dirty alley. My vision cleared a little—not great, but better than the rhino blur. At least I could see the man's face properly now: wide eyes, jaw slack, that mix of shock and something softer I didn't want to name.
"What the hell?" His voice cracked. He took one step forward, then stopped when my quills flared up automatically. "What the hell happened to you? Your skin—"
