The Shifters: Katrina

I had been a week since I started school. Finding myself settling into classes, I had started adjusting to my surroundings. Something inside had come to terms with where I was, even if my secret internal goal would eventually take me away from the shifters once I could escape. I had found a place with Tyree, and ended up also finding loyal companions with the other water kids. It also didn't hurt that some of the other shifters were playfully competitive, and I could respect them for that. The guards had all passed by to see me at one point, though I noticed most of them were accompanied by Molly. She and I were comfortable around each other, and she tended to help break the awkward tension. Coraline hadn't scolded me for a while, but on this very day after school, I found myself itching to cause trouble. The need to fight had been coming on and off. Gym class was successful in staving it off usually, but the need was still there.

I brushed it off as best as I could, but couldn't give up my opportunity to have some fun. My night was free for me to use, with no one hanging around. The bands around my wrists were constantly tingly, especially during my practices. I was still struggling with conjuring water, but I had managed to decently get a hold on defending myself after another one of Willa's torture sessions.

The thought made me smile, slipping on my sneakers. I shoved a key to my room under my toes, where it was safe. I didn't have any secure pockets, so it was my best bet. Once I was at the staircase, I slid down the banister, gathering more speed than usual. Laughter escaped as I zoomed past other shifters, most of them accustomed to me doing this several times a day.

It was still light out as I strolled through town, unsure of what to do for entertainment. People were bustling about, preparing for something I was still unaware of. It's not like I had bothered to ask.

Curiosity almost got the better of me before I spotted a familiar head of dark hair.

"Koren!" I shouted, getting the wolf's attention. He'd been moving some boxes for an older shifter, but his head whipped around in my direction when I called his name. Upon recognizing me, he grinned.

I jogged over. "Nice to see you still surviving," Koren said, motioning with his head to the boxes on the ground. "Care to lend a hand?"

I nodded, heaving a few of them up into the air. The more time I spent in the compound, the more I saw myself getting stronger. More agile, faster. It was like a whole new part of me was coming out to play.

"What are you doing out here?" Koren asked after a while, leading me inside one of the stores to where the boxes were being left. I was guessing that they were filled with fabric, considering that each available space inside was covered with clothing. An older woman paced back and forth, occasionally sorting through a pile.

"Wandering," I shrugged, gently dropping my boxes to the floor. "I haven't got much to do."

He nodded. "Makes sense."

Silence, one that was comfortable, fell between us as we continued to bring boxes inside. When there were none left, I turned to Koren. On his arm was a red band.

"Hey..," I began, his eyes flicking to me, "what's it like to control fire? How did you start out?"

Please don't be suspicious...

"It's like trying to force a giant ball through a tiny hole in a stretchy piece of fabric," Koren began, waving at the silks around us. "You can't fit all your power through at once. You have to learn how to let little pieces of that raw force through, and eventually you can turn those pieces into fire."

As he spoke, a small flame lit up above his head. We lounged by the counter, awaiting instructions from the older lady. "It's hard at first. Fire tends to respond to a shifter's anger or frustrations, so when we're training, it's easy for us to lose control."

He wiggled his fingers, and the fire above him dropped down toward me. It twisted around my arms and waist, never touching but getting close so that I could feel the heat.

"If we get mad because something in training is too hard, we tend to overdo it. So most fire shifters learn to be calm and steady, but firm. You have to control it, above anything else."

I nodded along, memorizing his words.

"I think I'm gonna head back to my dorm," I said eventually, throwing him a small smile. Koren watched me, ever so carefully as I began to walk off.

"Hey, Katrina."

"Hm?"

We met gazes, and I felt him frown, even if he didn't.

"You should keep up your training. We should spar one day," he offered, and I knew immediately that that was not what he planned on saying.

However, I still grinned.

"Sounds good."

Escaping his prying eyes, I ran out of town, into the forest. I kept going until I found the hill where one of the entrances to Iluita was, not that I could find the tunnel on my own. Either way, it felt calming to sit on the hill and watch the compound.

Calm. Steady. Firm.

I wasn't focused on anything except for the pressure inside me. Not the water, not the animal. The second element, the warm, red gemstone that awoke at my touch.

Where are you?

My breath took on a slow pace, my heartbeat calmer as I reached for warmth. Called on it, did my best to find the control somewhere within me.

My eyes, which had fluttered shut, flew open as I felt something warm gather in my palms.

"I did--"

My excited words drifted away as I stared at the liquid in my hands. Boiled water was all I could conjure up.

With a dejected sigh, I fell back onto the blades of grass, and stared up at the sky. After passing so much time with Koren, it had gotten dark. Stars greeted the compound.

Was I wrong? Is it just a mistake that the fire stone lit up as well?

I wanted to believe that I had both. Wanted to know if I actually had enough power to feel safe in this world.

What if I'm average? Or too weak?

I lifted my hand, staring at the smooth skin. I tried once more, focusing on warmth.

Nothing.

Did I really get it wrong?