The Shifters: Katrina

The three of us gaped, watching Rowan as he tried to steady himself. He kept wobbling, eventually tripping himself and hitting the ground.

"You transformed!" Luke shouted, the first one to break out of his trance. He rushed forward, trying to help Rowan balance. The shifter struggled with suddenly having four feet, awkwardly moving one at a time. I began to laugh, unable to keep a straight face. Quintin had cooled off as well, his anger replaced by an amused smirk.

I don't like this! Rowan's whine echoed in my head. Someone get Coraline, I can't do this.

"That's how I felt too," I snorted, walking over. Rowan accidentally smashed his head against my leg, the cheetah letting out a groan.

Then, all of a sudden, he tensed.

"Rowan?"

Something's wrong.

The three of us who were in human form shared concerned stares. I felt my senses sharpen as I pulled on the animal side of me, my sense of smell becoming impeccable. Once I was adjusted, I inhaled deeply.

Blood, I thought. The smell that disturbed Rowan was the smell of blood.

"Someone's hurt," I said, inhaling once again.

Luke exhaled heavily, having held his breath for as long as possible. "Not just one person. Something's really wrong."

I clenched my hands into fists, finally pinpointing the direction of the scent. "I'm going to check it out. Get to Coraline, and hurry."

I turned to run, only for Quintin to latch onto my wrist.

"What?"

The three boys, even the one who was a cheetah, all shared a similar expression of worry. They looked like I'd just told them I planned on fighting an entire compound alone.

"What if it's another invasion?"

My throat went dry, and I felt fear flash through my heart. I bit on my lip, forcing my nerves to calm.

"I survived one," I said confidently. "I won't take on anyone alone, okay?"

"Last time you did," Luke said quietly. "Sonya and thirteen hunters. Alone."

"But--"

Quintin cut me off, staring at Luke. "Follow her. I'll ride Rowan to Coraline's."

Since we shifters were bigger versions of regular animals, Rowan was in fact big enough to carry Quintin. He was also fast, and could get a message to our leader as soon as possible. Going in pairs was also safer for ourselves.

But what if I get Luke hurt? Do I protect him no matter what? Is that what a Guardian does? Shouldn't I be telling him to--

My thoughts vanished as Luke grabbed me by my cheeks, practically smacking me.

"Don't doubt yourself."

I exhaled softly, feeling my thoughts quiet down. Luke's eyes searched my face, checking to see if I was stable.

"I'm good," I assured him, looking back at the others. "See you soon, guys."

Quintin flashed me a smile, Rowan huffing playfully. The water shifter settled onto the wildcat's back, the two disappearing in a flash of golden fur.

A second later, Luke and I shot into the forest. We sped through the trees, running faster than any human could've. I felt the power of a dragon at the edge of my awareness, a grin lighting up my face. We followed the scent back to the earth entrance, the smell of blood heavy just on the other side.

I glanced back at Luke.

"Good thing you're here," I joked, motioning to the green bands on his wrists. He rolled his eyes, a glow dotting his fingers. The tunnel opened upward, allowing us to clamber out and into the thick forest that surrounded Iluita. Our compound had two boundaries; a circle of hills followed by the forest Luke and I found ourselves in. My nerves kicked in again as we glanced around, my eyes landing on a spot of red within the sea of green.

I whacked Luke's arm, pointing. He gulped, both of us breaking into a run. Our footsteps were silent, our breath coming out in puffs as we went from spot to spot, following a rickety trail of blood. My stomach rolled as the smell got stronger, my eyes watering. It was a tang in the air, unavoidable. Luke grimaced, trailing behind me as I ran.

In hindsight, I would've preferred to keep running while surrounded by the horrible scent than find where it came from.

One of the dirt roads that ran through the forest was stained with blood as a group of people surrounded two figures. One was a komodo dragon, while the other was stag. Other animals were on the ground, serving as the source of the smell of blood. They were suffering from several wounds, whimpering.

They were shapeshifters, ambushed by hunters. The humans around them had matching green and white bandanas over their faces, obscuring them as Luke and I gagged at the sight. Most of them held knives or spears, jabbing at the two standing shifters.

"Those are the guards in training," Luke murmured to me softly. Guards in training were members of the compound who went to extra schooling, essentially college, and became the 'army' of the compound. The elites, as in Koren, Kami and friends, were above them in rank, and usually did more than just the military schooling. "They must've been patrolling outside."

"We have to help them," I hissed.

"How?" Luke blurted, pointing at the hunters. "There's twenty. We can't do this!"

Fire danced along my fingertips before he had even finished his words.

"We have to try."

"Katrina," Luke snapped, grabbing me by my shoulders. We were still hidden from sight, slightly behind a tree. The earth shifter held me close, making me stare up at him. "You're not supposed to do this type of thing alone. We need help."

I glared in defiance, ignoring the way he smelled pretty darn nice and how his determined expression was quite attractive.

"They don't have time."

"You said you wouldn't take on anyone alone."

"I have you," I said softly.

Luke's expression wavered.

"One of us could get killed, Katrina."

"So? You could die in so many ways. This is just another one."

He frowned.

"Please, Luke?"

His face softened, and rocks began to levitate around us.

"Do you have a plan?"

"I have a few ideas."

"Fine."

I grinned. "Hit them with whatever earth tricks you have. I'm going to light them up with some flames. Our priority is getting those shifters out of the fray."

Luke grabbed my hand before I could start with the plan. "I'll mess with the dirt beneath them. You should shift."

"What, why?"

He pointed at the five figures on the ground. "You have four feet and a mouth," he told me, "carry one in each and get the other two to hop on as humans. Fly them back."

"But Luke, this could really be a second invasion," I countered, "and you said it yourself--"

"--don't fight alone," he finished, his expression grim.

I floundered, unsure of what to tell him to make him rethink the plan.

He gently tapped my nose, smiling.

"Like you said, this is just another one of those things that could kill me. Come on, Katrina, just follow through and come back to save me, okay?"

I smiled through my worry, rushing to wrap my arms around him. He chuckled, hugging me back before there was a cry of pain. The stag had a slice on its flank, bile rising in my throat as I watched it bleed.

"Ready?"

"I have no choice but to be."

"Amen. See you on the other side."

"Don't die, dumbass."

"Love you too."

"Shut up."

"Yeah, yeah... Alright, go!"