The Shifters: Katrina

Both of us held our breaths as the blood welled up, slowly dripping down my hand. I scolded myself and tilted my finger so that it ran right off the tip, a drop heading for the ground. Nathan tensed as it made contact, and I felt adrenaline pump through my veins.

Especially as the ground began to shake.

Nathan gasped, tackling me as whatever my energy had grown burst from the ground. He used himself to protect me as the shaking slowly stopped, and the sound of wood creaking met our ears. We were both panting, our hearts pounding as we listened for more trouble. The pink haired boy immediately got up, offering me a hand as we both turned to stare at what my blood had made.

It was a willow tree.

A giant ass, full-grown weeping willow. It was the largest thing around, with its unique leaves falling down around us.

"Amazing," Nathan breathed, walking toward the trunk. He ran his hands over it, and I followed suit, gently brushing my hand against it.

This blows his bush out of the water, I thought smugly. At the same time, however, my nerves had multipled. Does this mean I'm going to be ultra powerful or something?

My own personal willow tree, formed by the magic in my DNA. Any doubt I'd had about being a shifter melted away, and suddenly I was left with the longing to find out the answers. I wanted to master my element and find my form -- to become a skilled shifter and help others like me.

I could belong. This confirmed it; I fit in with these people.

As I ran my hands over the bark, tears of joy beginning to seep down my cheeks. The green and white leaves fell to the ground around us, some of them catching strands of my hair as Nathan and I marvelled at the new tree. My heart was leaping with joy, adrenaline pumping through my veins at the thought of beginning the last test to confirm my element.

"Okay, let's do the last one," I said, excitement dripping from my voice. Nathan was still staring at the tree, but now he was frowning.

"Nathan?"

He shook himself, smiling at me sheepishly. "Sorry, Katrina. Let's do it quick, then you can hang out here. I'll go grab Coraline, since she should probably see this. Here you go."

The lizard shifter dug into his pocket and handed me an entire cloth bag, thin enough that I could see the outline of the four gemstones. I plopped down on the ground and leaned against my tree, dumping the three stones out onto the ground.

He made comments about me being similar to water and fire shifters.

I should try air and earth first just to be certain.

I held my breath, Nathan sitting down on my right as I reached for the thinnest yet longest of the four. It was more crystal shaped, and when I touched it, nothing happened.

"Not air then," Nathan shrugged. "Try my element."

I smiled, hearing a slight enthusiastic tone of voice as he urged me to grab the round gem that would glow green if I was meant to use earth.

It was smooth and cold in my hands.

Dark. No change.

"Dang. Having the Katrina Willow Tree on earth's side would've been cool," Nathan pouted, however it was with a smile. I lightly hit his arm, laughing, and stared down at the last two gems. One was jagged and sharp while the other had small craters. I reached for the one with the divets, and gasped as it glowed a soft blue before I could even touch it. When my skin came in contact, the softness turned into a pure bright light, and my eyes widened.

"Water?" I squeaked, checking with Nathan for confirmation. He nodded with a grin on his face.

"Alright," he said, standing up, "I'll get Coraline. Hold onto those for a second, okay?"

He turned away before I could even answer, shifting into his lizard form. I watched him scamper off, still awed by his speed. My mood was considerably better as I put the gemstones back into their bag, dropping in the water stone first. Then the earth and air, with their lights remaining hidden from me.

Yet, something made me flinched as my fingers neared the surface of the last stone. The one with jagged edges and a dark-looking exterior. There was a crackling noise in the air before it glowed bright red, reacting to whatever shifter power I had.

What?

Why is the fire stone lighting up?

I heard a branch crack and realized thst Nathan and Coraline were insanely fast and could be back already. Without much thought, I picked up the fire gemstone and threw it in with the rest, tying up the top of the bag as the light went out. Questions piled up in the back of my head, but I pulled on many years of lying experience and schooled my expression into one of boredom, leaving the gemstones in the bag beside me as I leaned back into the bark of my willow tree.

"Katrina, are you really that bored already?"

I rolled my eyes, twisting around to see Coraline and Nathan smirking. Careful to keep my hands away from the gemstones, I lifted up the bag and threw it to the lizard shifter, warily staring at it before brushing off my nerves.

"Not my fault," I stuck my tongue out at him, "I like the tree and all, but all there is around here is trees."

He sighed in amusement, leaving Coraline to look from me to the tree I was standing beside. She reached up to touch the leaves of the willow, brushing her fingers against the healthy bark.

"Incredible, especially for someone without a form," she commented, giving me a sideways look, "is your element abnormal as well?"

I didn't miss a beat, the lie coming out naturally. "Nope. Just water."

Coraline paused, frowning at the large tree in front of her and myself. Then, she shrugged, and turned away from us.

"Nathan, get your sister. Make sure Katrina is set up to start school and extra training. This doesn't seem detrimental now, but it may need special attention later."

Nathan did a ridiculous salute since her back was turned. "Of course, Coraline."

I watched the cheetah shifter go before glancing down at my hands.

Why did both go off?