Bloodrush (The Scarlet Star Trilogy Book 1)

by Ben Galley

  Magpie—Goldnose

  Bestows the ability to sniff out precious metals. Increased use can result in short-term memory loss and greed.

  Seagull/Cormorant/Puffin

  Gives the rusher a heightened passion for fish.

  Vulture—Mortscent

  Rushers are able to sniff out corpses or those near death. Can cause nosebleeds in minor cases, and/or cannibalistic tendencies with continued use.

  Eagle—The Hunter’s Gaze, or Goldeyes

  Enhances the sight of the rusher. Can cause cataracts or complete blindness in later life.

  Cardinal—Beacon

  Flushes skin to a near-fluorescent red colour.

  Overuse can result in permanency.

  Pelican

  The rusher is gifted the ability to drink great quantities of saltwater. Causes an incredible thirst once rushing is over.

  Turkey

  Rusher becomes desperately gluttonous. Often used as a poison.

  Roadrunner—Dustkicker

  Increased speed and reflexes. Can result in blisters or injury to ankles and knees.

  Peacock/Oriole/Bird of Paradise—Colourbuck

  Rusher’s skin takes on an iridescent quality. This may result in the shedding of skin after rushing.

  Mockingbird—Smartbeak

  Bestows the ability to mimic any noise or voice. This shade can cause laryngitis with extended use.

  Hummingbird—Windmiller

  Gives a rusher the ability to move appendages at great speed. May cause sprains and broken bones in extreme cases. Also causes a near-debilitating thirst for sugar after rushing.

  Finch—Twitcher

  Allows a rusher to adapt to extreme environments quicker than usual, such as the ability to withstand extreme cold or heat. This shade is highly addictive, hence its nickname. Rushers can develop cravings when not rushing, and start to twitch involuntarily.

  Duck

  Makes a rusher’s skin impervious to water.

  Is reported to cause massive dehydration.

  Ostrich—Kickback

  Allows the rusher to kick out with powerful speed and force. Weaker rushers may find their knees swiftly dislocated.

  Parrot

  This shade gifts the rusher with an incredibly strong bite.

  Flamingo

  Rushers have the ability to withstand strong acid and some poisons, whether ingested or touched. It can cause bright pink skin with overuse.

  Penguin—Feathercoat

  Rushers are able to withstand desperately cold temperatures, thanks to a thickening of the skin. Unfortunately it can cause weight gain.

  Kiwi

  Bestows an incredible sense of smell on the rusher.

  Woodpecker—Grubsnout

  Provides a very strong skull and the ability to move rapidly, particularly when head-butting. Drawbacks include a vicious hunger for tree-dwelling insects.

  —Fish—

  Known as ‘Gillers’

  Carp—Barbel

  Rushers gain an extra-sensory ability which enables them to feel the presence of other rushers.

  Piranha—Mumblers

  Gives a rusher a mouthful of sharp teeth. Side-effects can often include the severance of a tongue, difficulty speaking, and damage to the inside of the mouth.

  Electric Eel—Cracklers

  Rusher can electrify the skin and manipulate electricity. An untrustworthy shade, it can resurface at random even without rushing.

  Trout

  Brings a rainbow-like quality to the skin. Can last for weeks.

  Salmon

  Gives the rusher a dogged sense of determination Skin exudes a fishy odour.

  Anchovy

  Rushers can withstand increased pressures.

  Shark

  Bestows upon a rusher an increased awareness of and resistance to disease. Can last months, but can also make a rusher short-tempered and violent.

  Stingray

  Both a blessing and a curse, this shade gives rushers poison barbs along the spine.

  Squid—Blackmouth

  Gives a rusher the ability to spit ink. Can also cause a loss of bone density.

  Octopus

  Rushers have the ability to bend bones and warp skin to avoid getting damaged. However, prolonged use can permanently alter the hue of the skin.

  Archer fish—Sprat

  Rushers can spit water with incredible velocity and force. The drawbacks of this shade include loss of teeth and mouth control.

  Lungfish

  Provides the ability to withstand the heat of the sun for long periods, and an increased lung capacity.

  Jellyfish

  Gives a rusher rubber-like skin and muscle, and the ability to squeeze or fit into smaller spaces.

  Box jellyfish

  Gives the rusher poisonous barbs on the fingertips.

  Lobster

  Gives a rusher an increased sense of loyalty and armoured skin along the shoulders, neck and back.

  Lion-fish

  Speckled skin, and sharp barbs protrude from the shoulders. Gives skin a speckled or striped quality for camouflage, and spiked barbs protrude from shoulders.

  Swordfish/Tuna

  This shade increases a rusher’s speed and reactions.

  Cuttlefish

  Skin can adapt to its surroundings, altering colour and texture to camouflage the rusher. Overuse can result in loss of muscle control and bony growths on the arms.

  Moray Eel—Snapper

  This shade sharpens the teeth and gives a strong bite to the rusher.

  Mantis shrimp—Hammer

  Bestows upon the rusher an incredible punch. Its drawback is strangely colourful skin.

  Anglerfish

  Rushers are given glowing eyes and increased night-vision.

  Stonefish

  Skin can adapt to surrounding textures, though this shade can cause barbs to grow on the face and skin to become a dark grey colour.

  —Mammals—

  Bison/Ox/Buffalo/Mule

  Provides increased stamina and an oddly strong herding instinct.

  Wolf

  Increases a rusher’s ferocity and overall body hair.

  Does result is a strange fascination with the moon, and permanence.

  Bear—Hulker

  Rusher grows in both size and gains enhanced strength.

  Extended use can cause ailments of the joints, a short temper, and the inability to discern between friend and foe.

  Coyote—Scavenger

  This shade enables a rusher to survive off a fraction of the food intake they normally would.

  Horse

  Increases stamina and top running speed.

  Unfortunately, some rushers can develop hard, hoof-like growths on the soles of the feet.

  Fox

  Gives rushers improved night-vision, however this shade only lasts for a matter of minutes.

  Ram/Rhino—Ironhead

  Rushers have a thicker cranium for short periods. Resulting activities, such as head-butting, can result in extensive brain damage.

  Beaver—Axetooth

  Makes a rusher’s teeth incredibly strong. This shade can turn permanent, if pushed.

  Porcupine

  Gives a rusher black spines on arms and legs.

  Skunk—Stench

  Yet another shade which is as much blessing as curse. It makes the rusher able to emit a putrid stench from their pores. The drawback is the actual power itself.

  Wildcat/Cougar/Lynx

  Rushers experience unstoppable savagery, as well as an increased sensitivity to noise.

  Lion—Loner

  An incredibly strong hunting instinct. With overuse, this shade can cause antisocial and violent tendencies.

  Armadillo—Clinker

  A very hard shade to stomach. Results in armoured skin in most cases, however it can result in thick and unsightly calluses.

  Deer

  Increased awareness of nearby creatures. It can make a rusher skittish and ne
rvous even when not rushing.

  Elephant

  Rushers using this shade can carry huge loads with no trouble. Skin can become greyer with use.

  Bat

  Hearing becomes incredibly sensitive. For weaker rushers, this can cause temporary deafness or tinnitus.

  Dog—Snuffler

  Sense of smell is increased to outstanding levels.

  Cat

  Sense of balance and agility is heightened. Rushers have been reported to experience furballs.

  Meerkat

  Heightened reactions and sense of danger, verging on the precognitive.

  Panda

  Increased strength and the gift of very strong jaws. Unfortunately, use of this shade can result in a complete loss of libido.

  Monkey

  Enhanced climbing skills and reactions. This shade will cause excessive body hair with overuse.

  Tiger

  Gives a rusher faintly striped skin and therefore a camouflage ability. Savage tendencies have also been recorded.

  Rat

  Rushers using this shade are able to withstand poisoning, and consume almost anything without harm. However, this shade can wear off unpredictably, causing trouble if digestion is not quite complete.

  Squirrel/Chipmunk/Mouse—Bucktooth

  This shade heightens the reactions of a rusher. With prolonged use it can cause the two front teeth to grow larger and protrude from the mouth, hence the nickname.

  Ferret/Weasel/Mongoose—Flitter

  Heightened agility and reactions.

  Sloth

  Gives the rusher sharp claws instead of fingernails. Can cause narcolepsy or extreme tiredness.

  Mole—Milkeyes

  Another shade that produces sharp claws in rushers, as well as better night-vision. However, claws can instead manifest in the feet instead of hands, and cataracts from repeated use have also been recorded.

  —Reptiles—

  Known as ‘Scalebleeders’ or Coldbloods’

  Rattlesnake—Whisperskin

  Gifts a rusher with the ability to rattle skin to intimidate enemies. Also makes a rusher’s bite poisonous. The drawback, as with many of the reptile shades, is permanent scales.

  Tortoise/Turtle

  Gives a rusher leathery armour along their back and shoulders.

  Whiptail lizard

  This shade gifts a rusher with increased speed. Overuse can cause muscle strains, atrophy, and even permanent damage.

  Horned lizard

  Rushers have the ability to siphon water out of the air in desert climates. Scales are once again a drawback.

  Horny devil

  This shade produces multiple, jagged spikes on a rusher’s shoulders, arms and back.

  Gecko

  Rushers using this shade have enhanced climbing abilities thanks to sticky fingers.

  Komodo dragon—Dribblekill

  The Komodo shade gifts a rusher with mildly poisonous saliva which, over a period of time, can debilitate an enemy. Extreme tooth decay has been recorded as a side-effect.

  Asp/Sea snake

  These shades give rushers poisonous fangs, but can cause damage to gums and lips.

  Boa—Wraparound

  Enhanced strength, and slightly longer arms for reaching around enemies. Arthritis is a common side-effect of this shade.

  Bearded dragon

  Rushers grow tough scales instead of skin. Dermatitis has been recorded.

  Cayman/Alligator/Crocodile—Sneakfang

  Rushers become incredibly stealthy. Teeth also become sharper and more numerous. This can cause gum disease as well as scales in lesser rushers.

  Chameleon—Trickskin

  Skin becomes reactive to colour and light, changing to adapt to surroundings. Very difficult shade to master.

  Cobra—Borer

  Rusher’s eyes take on a very intimidating quality which is only increased by staring.

  Snapping Turtle/Terrapin

  This shade gives rushers thick leathery skin and stronger teeth than normal.

  Salamander—Char

  Increased resistance to fire and flame. Permanent blackening of the skin can occur.

  Dart frog—Sickskin

  Skin becomes poisonous to the touch. Rushers can develop halitosis with prolonged use.

  Monitor lizard—Raker

  Rusher can grow sharp and long claws. Side-effects can include blisters, ingrown nails, and arthritis.

  Gila monster

  Gives rushers the ability to spit acid for short periods of time.

  Coqui frog—Screech

  Rushers can screech at a piercing volume. Laryngitis is a very common condition associated with this shade.

  Horned toad

  This particular shade bestows the ability to swallow great volumes, and stretch mouth to incredible proportions. Can clause slack jaw.

  Bullfrog

  Increases aggression.

  Toad

  This shade thickens the skin, turning it into leather.

  —Insects—

  Known as ‘Blackeyes’ or ‘Greenbloods’

  Butterfly—Flutter

  Increases a rusher’s overall physical attractiveness. It is recorded that this shade may shorten lifespans.

  Waterboatman—Placid

  Rushers of this shade can run across water if they are fast enough.

  Honey bee

  Provides an enhanced sense of smell. Overuse can cause depression if the rusher is left alone too long.

  Wasp—Shiv

  Gives the rusher a sharp, slightly poisonous sting that protrudes from the base of the palm. Rushers of this shade can develop a nervous disposition.

  Dung Beetle/Ant/Stag beetle—Charger

  Enhanced strength, yet can cause blackening of the eyes, like many other shades in this vein.

  Mantis—Snapper

  Gives a rusher the ability to snap hands together at supersonic speeds, crushing enemies. In extreme cases, rushers also develop jagged fingers. The drawbacks include broken limbs.

  Moth

  A rusher of this shade can shed a fine, choking dust from the skin.

  Glow worm

  This shade makes skin glow a bright yellow or green. Bleaching of the skin to a pure white or pale yellow can occur with overuse.

  Cicada—Siren

  Sirens can screech at a piercing pitch and volume, momentarily stunning enemies or breaking glass. Snapped vocal chords may occur in lesser rushers.

  Firefly

  This shade causes the skin to glow or flash brightly for a limited time.

  Funnel-web spiders—Silkfingers/Strangler

  Hands produce a sticky, tough silk, which can also provide enhanced climbing abilities. One common drawback is an increased hunger for flies and other insects.