Sarah and Ian, who had the excellent sense of smell common to dogs, followed Thomas's trail with little difficulty, particularly as Thomas was slowed down by the necessity of carrying the amulet in his mouth. Thomas fell asleep while waiting for the time to expire, and was awakened by Ian's teeth on his throat. Sarah had dragged the bundle of clothes with the amulet away.
Thomas the Akita cringed, in the style of a dog facing a dominant dog. Ian growled. Sarah carefully carried first the amulet and then the clothes to Ian, who brought himself into contact with both without taking his teeth from Thomas's throat.
The form Thomas had chosen was a stocky middle-aged black man whose pants he had bought at a yard sale. Now that form was Ian's.
"Bad dog." Ian said. "Bad, bad dog." He put the amulet in his pocket and walked away, Sarah at his heels.