The Shifters: Katrina

The shifters who appeared in my home wasted no time in running to my aid. As Wally laid eyes on the seven adult shifters, his panic was obvious and he began to charge at me. I danced away, the hunter desperately trying to finish the job before rescue could come. Wally's knife nearly caught my stomach until a large polar bear charged at him. The human hunter was no match for a powerful opponent like a polar bear, especially one that was a shifter size, which was how I thought about the multiplied sizes of the shifters' animal forms. Not only that, but as the bear attacked, water droplets froze around it to create projectiles. Wally was defenseless as he tried holding back a bear and saving his head and neck from being run through with icy bullets.

The lone hunter didn't last long. I stood frozen in my place as he slumped against the road, the bear backing off. I glanced over my shoulder in the direction of the van, only to see the other five familiar animals with the addition of a fox, standing above the height of a normal wolf.

Aaron must be the fox. It makes sense for the driver of their getaway vehicle to not be inside my home.

Snuffling came from in front of me, and I whirled around to see the bear nuzzling my hands. Dumbfounded, I began to pet its head, and listened to it grumble in happiness.

So...

It's definitely human, otherwise I would've been mauled by now.

What was once watery weapons became a splash of water to my face, causing me to laugh despite the situation. The bear tried to laugh, though it came out as a mostly deep choppy snort. I failed to notice the other animals clearing away the dead hunter's body as the bear distracted me, getting me to laugh and carry on. Eventually the others finished up, and the bear transformed before my eyes -- which I covered in fear of seeing someone naked.

A femine laugh brought my hands off my eyes, and I looked back at Molly, fully clothed. It seemed as if she'd worn a tight bodysuit underneath her clothes that shifted and morphed alongside her, avoiding being torn or destroyed. The blonde woman smiled, her teeth perfectly white as she gently grabbed my arm and led me toward the van. This time, I was given space on the bench to sit comfortably as we piled in, Kami going to sit in the passenger seat beside Aaron. I didn't even hesitate to climb in, and was still smiling when the van began to drive.

In the opposite direction of home.

The thought hit me when the van went over a bump and my thoughts were jostled along with my body. I shot up, diving for the door, but was instead held back by Molly who'd sat beside me.

"Katrina, please don't fight us. Hunters are already after you, going home would endanger your family that you hold so precious!" Molly shouted at me, her grip tight on my shoulders. My eyes widened, imagining a weak, artsy Felix cowering in a corner while some crazed hunter hunted his own kind -- humankind. Shifter or not, I was still human, wasn't I?

Molly gently sat me back down, her arm wrapping around my shoulders. My body shook as I kept imagining my siblings being attacked, hurt because of me.

But I did nothing to him! I thought angrily, clenching my fists in my lap. I don't understand why this is happening! I am not even a shifter, I have no form!

"They need to know I'm alive..," I said weakly, "and that I didn't run away from them because I was upset. Just... I need that much."

I'd admit it. Wally scared me, and I was confused, but these people protected me, and I saw the logic behind their reasoning. Maybe I did need to find a place alongside them, they were already a large help.

Molly gently patted my hand, and turned toward the front. There was a barrier to separate the front two seats from the back benches, but she ignored it as if it wasn't there and began talking into it.

"Kami! I need you to send a letter to Katrina's parents. It's the only way she'll come with us quietly. You can drop it off at their door by wind," Molly continued before relaying what I wanted to tell them. My cheeks were already red from the desperate words, and her saying them aloud caused my embarrassment to increase. Kami didn't question it, however, and we could even hear the strong blast of wind that carried some sort of message to my home.

I slumped back against the wall of the van, upset about the current situation. I wasn't surprised though, trouble followed me like my shadow. For most of my life, I found it entertaining to be in constant trouble. Now, it was worse, and I was panicked over being separated from my adopted family.

I turned my face away from the others as my eyes watered. Being an orphan from birth meant that I originally had no clue that I was abandoned by my real parents, until I'd learned about it as a child. All four of the Roberts kids grew up knowing who we were, but it didn't mean that it hurt any less.

Now, separated from that family that had been perfect replacements...

The sadness I once felt over having no family was back, and worse considering I had been the one to leave them, and by a simple choice that I didn't hesitate on.

What is wrong with me?

Is it because I think I'm one of them? That I'll belong in a compound filled with magical people that I'm assuming are like me?

What if I'm not one of them?

After all, I have no form. No animal side. No element, either.

Wiping away the water in my eyes, I glanced back up at the shifters in the van. All of them dangerous, pretty people who were clever and talented.

Fighting for some troublesome teenager.

I sighed, tilting my head back against the cold van and shutting my eyes against my thoughts.