The Shifters: Katrina

The ground began to rumble as I momentarily blanked mentally, coming to once I was standing on four feet instead of two. I shook myself out, trying to adjust to being surrounded by trees when I would've preferred open space. Luke's hands glowed green as the dirt road cracked, the hunters falling to the ground. I leapt upward, zipping toward our fellow shifters. The stag stumbled, staring in shock as my much larger form appeared. I hovered above them, wings stretching and casting shadows across the group. The last two shifters collapsed, kneeling in the dirt as humans.

Get on, I told them mentally, then I'll grab your friends.

They panted, the komodo dragon shifter helping the stag limp toward me. She had black hair that was dyed green, her limping friend a boy with golden hair. I dropped a shoulder, the komodo girl pushing her friend onto my back. As she was climbing on after him, the hunters regained their composure and began to attack. Luke did what he could to send them to their asses, and I swung my spiked tail left to right, smacking hunters away. An arrow flew overhead, a second one flying for my leg. Frost exploded over my scales, protecting them as the arrowhead bounced off the thick shell. The stag shifter passed out on my back, the komodo dragon girl steadying him. I leapt into the air, carefully maneuvering myself toward the fallen shifters. I dropped my back feet, scooping up a shifter in either front foot. Then, I rocked forward, awkwardly reaching with my back feet. The next two shifters were easy to pick up, and once I had one shapeshifter in each clawed foot, I gently lifted the last by their clothes, tilting my head back so that I could hold them in my mouth.

I turned my attention to Luke, who was sweating as the dirt began to swallow hunters whole.

I've got them, I told him, you should run. I'll come get you soon. Don't keep fighting.

He didn't answer, but I knew he heard me. His green glow slithered up his arm just as a stream of mud destroyed the bow of the archer who kept firing at me.

Luke! Just start running!

He spared me a glance before he ducked away from a hunter. "Yeah, just go!"

Not until you start running.

Luke paused, his eyes flicking to meet mine.

"I can handle myself," he growled, flicking mud at me, "just hurry up."

I swear if you--

"Just get going, Katrina," Luke snapped, anger seeping into his tone. "Those shifters are going to lose a hell of a lot of blood if you don't trust me enough to protect myself."

I just don't want to get you killed, I thought, keeping it to myself. I feel responsible for your life.

The earth shifter met my eyes, his expression filled with ferocity.

"You need to trust me."

I forced myself to nod, wings beating the air as I lifted myself and the seven shifters upward. We were out of danger now, but I was in the process of leaving a friend in the lion's den.

And just as I turned to speed toward the compound, I saw it.

The white wolf with the brown patch over their eye, jumping into the circle of hunters as Luke fought back as well.

It's not just a wolf. That's a shifter.

But I don't have time.

So please, mystery person, please protect my friend.

And with that, I began to soar over the trees. My heart raced as I cleared the hills around the compound, gliding through the air toward Coraline's. There were people gathered out front, and I spotted a cheetah and a familiar teenage boy speaking to the crowd. Our leader was at the edge, listening intently. She was the first to look up as I descended, disrupting their little meeting.

"Katrina!" Quintin exclaimed. "Where's Luke?"

I'm going back for him.

"What's going on?" Coraline demanded. She and a few others came forward, catching the wounded shifters that I dropped from my feet. Once the four of them were out of the way, I was able to land. I placed the fifth shifter on the ground, freeing them from my jaws. Last but not least, the komodo dragon girl and the stag slid off my back.

Let them tell you, I told her. I'll be back.

"Katrina, wait!"

I glared at Quintin, my eyes narrowing. I was much bigger than him, and immensely more powerful.

What?

"Should we put out a warning for everyone to get inside their homes or not?" He asked me. "Is this an invasion?"

It's an ambush, I clarified, do what you will.

Coraline pursed her lips, looking slightly horrified as I leapt back into the air. The wind whistled past my ears as I flew, shooting over the hills and forest. I followed the smell of blood and of Luke, easily returning to the spot of the ambush.

Luke, duck.

The shifter complied easily, crouching and covering himself with mud and dirt. He grabbed the wolf, pulling it under with him, just before I let fire rain down on the hunters. I scorched them, not to the point of death however, and watched as they collapsed. Afterward, I let water douse the fires left behind.

Once it was clear, I landed, transforming back to my usual self. I panted, my hair elastic gone, my waves falling all over the place. I was thankful for my outfit, since it kept me covered.

"It's safe," I panted, hands on my knees. I was tired, exhausted from the shifting, my classes and the elemental use.

The mud shell over Luke and the wolf dissolved, my friend looking around the burnt yet flooded dirt road. The wolf stretched, sitting as it eyed me.

"Who are you?" I demanded, holding its stare. "Why did you come here?"

Both of us tensed as the wolf began to shift. White fur disappeared, becoming flawless skin. The same white hair hung from her head, falling to her thighs in straight strands. She was young despite the colour of her hair, bright brown eyes meeting mine. She didn't smile, and I noticed the brown birthmark on her collarbone. It looked like something specific, but it was blurred by her hair that fell over her shoulder.

"You don't have time to ask me those questions," she muttered, her voice deeper than expected. Hell, it was deeper than Koren's, and he was a full grown adult man.

"Why did you help me?" Luke chirped, standing next to the woman. She didn't look at him, keeping her eyes focused on me. "Hello?"

The air swirled around her, stirring the leaves.

Then, as if she had all she needed from us, the woman jumped upward, using the air to zip away before I could shift and go after her.

Luke and I shared confused looks.

"We don't have time to go after her, do we?" I asked, my hands twitching. I wanted to chase something down, to blow off steam.

Still, Luke shook his head. "We should get back," he murmured, "plus, I need to visit the infirmary."

I watched in shock as he moved his shirt upward, showing me a slash across his side. It wasn't deep, but it was still bleeding. I sighed, walking toward Luke and grabbing his arm. The shifter laughed at me as I begrudgingly started helping him back toward the compound, leaving the bloody road behind us.

"I pity the people who have to drag all those bodies to the cells..."

"I pity the person who had to fix the hidden door after I broke it."

"Almost forgot about how destructive you were."

"That's like forgetting my name."

"Well, you have a point."

"I know. Sadly."