River of possibilities

John felt his strength waning, and his hope dwindled even more when suddenly, the familiar echo rang in his head. "You're back!" he exclaimed to his lynx, relief coursing through him. "I was never really gone, John. I would never do that to you. We are one," his lynx comforted him.

"I had to go and refocus my energy so that we can still shift!" the lynx explained. "These fools don't even realize we don't smell like them," the lynx chuckled in John's mind. Amusement colored his voice as John questioned the connection between his ability to shift and the oblivious wolves.

His lynx sighed mentally, "I wish I had time to explain it all, but let's focus on this for now."

"Those wolves tried to knock you down with wolfsbane, but it's a dud on me; nightshade is the real troublemaker," his lynx spilled the beans. John, interest piqued, couldn't wrap his mind around wolfbane and nightshade. Were those actual herbs? Plants? Flowers? Or was his lynx just making up names? His lynx huffed in frust