The Shifters: Katrina

It took us less time to fight the hunters than it did to get Luke back and a team out to collect the unconscious people. Once my friend was safely in the infirmary alongside the patrol team, I found myself swarmed by the elites and Coraline, as well as others who wanted my report.

"It's not an invasion yet," I said firmly, silencing everyone in one foul swoop. The crowd had bombarded me outside the infirmary's front doors, and I was just barely avoiding getting pressed up against the glass. Coraline eventually herded everyone back, Koren looking tense and worried. The head of the elites constantly glanced at the skies, clearly paranoid.

"A patrol team got attacked by a group of hunters outside the compound," I said loudly, grimacing, "they were clearly well prepared."

"So Xavier is close by?" Dani piped up, standing in the middle of the group. "He has to be the one leading them, right?"

"But what if he's been sending teams out to every compound he knows the location of?" Talia offered, her arms hugging her sides. She looked just as worried as Koren. "Our homes could be under attack too."

Right, my thoughts began, the foreign shifters are probably worrying about their compounds and families.

"We have to be ready for anything," Coraline sighed, rubbing her hands over her face. "Koren?"

"Yes, Coraline?" The head of elites said immediately, the other five snapping to attention as well.

"You six will patrol, and only the six of you. Find out if there's more hunters waiting for us."

"But we can help!" I insisted. The group was made up of the six elites, Coraline, and most of my friends. "We've dealt with an invasion before, we can take some of the work--"

"No," Coraline interrupted. "You're meant to focus on training. This isn't your job, Katrina."

I glared at the spotted, pink-haired leader. "But if this is like what happened before... Then we need to help."

"Like you said," she grunted, "it's not an invasion."

I crossed my arms with a huff, glaring at the ground. We knew that Xavier and Sonya were teaming with the hunters to take down Iluita -- and those two knew the compound as much as the rest of us. They would be using strategies that would be the most effective on Iluita, which meant that we'd need all the people we could get to help out.

It wasn't the time to be hesitating. It was the time to hit hard and deal with this.

Frustrated, I gave up, storming toward the dorms.

They give me responsibility, but ignore my opinions on serious things.

I have all these abilities, but it feels like I can't do anything with them.

I want to protect everyone, but how can I?

Damn it.

No one was surprised to see me storm off. I was the hot-headed troublemaker who grew up in the wrong place -- socializing was my greatest weakness.

But I had made friends. Didn't they count for something? Didn't it prove that I was improving every day?

But I still feel helpless and like there's something I don't know.

"Hey."

In my blind frustration, I'd missed the fact that I was being followed.

Turning, I was surprised to see several people behind me. Most of the foreign shifters, Tyree's group and the water kids stood behind me with uneasy smiles.

It was Tyree who led them, offering me a wink.

"Want to talk about it?"

My shoulders sagged.

"Which part?"

She chuckled, throwing an arm around my deflated body. "Up to you."

I leaned into her with a sigh. Tyree had taken a chance on me when we first met without anyone ever having to ask her to. She saw me as the lost new kid, and she didn't care about where I came from or how I got to the compound, nor did she care about the blue bands that had been slapped onto my wrists.

Instead, she just did what she thought was a nice thing and let me sit with her friends. She even gave me the option of abandoning them.

And now, look where we were.

I smiled into Tyree's shoulder.

"Want to talk about it over a game of dodgeball?" I offered, knowing it was a simple pastime. "I don't think I can sit still."

Anna, one of the youngest of our group, perked up. "Dodgeball is a good game."

"But no playing easy," Shae demanded. "Make it hard for us! I want to practice some serious evasion moves."

"You're on," I agreed.

Our group headed for the gym, surprised to see it empty. Dani and I dragged out the dodgeballs while Tyree and Rowan split the group into two teams. Tyree took me on her team, the two of standing back for the first few minutes, dodgeballs in hand.

"So, what's on your mind this time?" The taller girl asked, chucking the ball overhead. It barely missed Dani by an inch.

"I'm just anxious about another invasion," I sighed, "and I feel like we should be helping the elites."

"The compound answers to Coraline and sometimes Koren," Tyree murmured, catching a ball that Anna threw. "We have to do the same."

"But... What if Coraline is too attached to Xavier?"

Quintin, who was playing on the front lines of our team's side, glanced back. "You think something's up with her?"

Right, superhearing...

I shrugged. "There was a conversation."

Rowan, who was the team leader for the enemy side, hit Shae in the stomach with a dodgeball before glancing my way. "And?"

I gritted my teeth together, avenging Shae as I nailed Rowan in the throat with my dodgeball. "Koren and Kami think that Coraline won't be able to kill Xavier."

"They probably have a long history," Talia pointed out dryly. She threw a ball at my gut, and I dove out of the way, rolling to the side. Another ball flew toward my face as I laid on the ground, and I barely had enough time to catch it.

"Well since Xavier's so strong..," I sighed, pausing momentarily, "...they think I'll have to kill him -- or at least be the one to take him down."

Rowan jumped over the ball that I tossed at his legs, flipping midair. I caught a ball that Tyree passed to me, adding a little power behind the throw. It missed Rowan again, instead knocking Chloe off her feet.

"I know where you sleep!"

"Sorry!"

My roommate flipped me off playfully as I basically did the limbo under a ball thrown my way.

Cory waved sheepishly from the other side before Quintin got him out.

"So you're anxious about that?" Tyree prodded softly when we crossed paths, each of us running for another ball.

"Even if I hate Xavier... Killing someone is..."

From the other side, Rowan pursed his lips.

"In Ileial, our training is a lot more harsh," the foreign boy muttered. "Most of us aren't fazed by killing hunters. It's kill or be killed when it comes to them."

I paused, squeezing the squishy blue ball in my hands. Half of either team were sitting on the sidelines, waiting for someone to catch a ball to let them back into the game. However, they were just as focused on the conversation as those on the court were.

"But we all thought Xavier was the good guy."

An awkward silence crept into the room. A few measly throws were traded, those left in the game looking sullen.

That was, until Dani got to her feet.

We paused to look at her. She, Luke and Rowan were all from the same compound, which meant that she had their rough training as well.

"Okay, so we're being treated like little kids who are only liabilities in a fight yet still given the responsibilities of your leader," she stated flatly, "but that just means that we need to work together. If us Ileial kids have to, we can help you work up to the idea of going that far in a fight."

Quintin, who was still right up front, twisted to stare at Dani. "You want to coach us into being killers?"

She shrugged. "It's either us or them."

But what if we just made up with them? I thought. Or at least got rid of Xavier's bond with them. It would weaken their army.

I sighed, running my fingers through my hair. "Dani's right. This won't be like sparring."

"We know that," Ben blurted. He had been on our side, standing near Quintin. "But this is Xavier. He's crazy strong."

"He knocked you out too, Katrina," Tyree said softly. She patted my shoulder, dropping her dodgeball. "He's more experienced. He's dangerous."

"We still need to help out," I shrugged. "No matter what happens."

She shook her head at me, snorting. "How did I know you were going to say that?"

We both jumped as a ball smacked Tyree in the side of the head.

Rowan grinned, sticking his tongue out.

"I'm rubbing off on her, duh. Now come on. Dodgeball is a perfect way to practice evasion."

Tyree cracked her knuckles, sending me a dark look.

"Catch a ball and get me back in. Time to prove how tough us Iluita kids are."

I grinned, eyeing the other team.

"On it."