Istas fixed her eyes, unmoving, upon the faceless shadow before her. If need be she would transform, defend herself with tooth and claw, but she had no false assumptions about how successful she would be. No - if this predator decided to attack, she would die.

Which made his 'request' all the more ludicrous. There could be nothing freely given, not to a demand backed up by threat of force. No, only the illusion of freedom was possible here.

But a calm stillness washed over her. She was afraid - of yes, she was certainly afraid - but now there were only two possibilities. She would live, or she would die. With that fact accepted, all that was left to do was whatever action would best increase her chances of survival.

So she would allow Kuk this illusion of choice, of freely given. In return, she may - she hoped - keep her life.

"I am Istas."