The Shifters: Katrina

"Katrina..?"

I turned, albeit reluctantly, and faced the person hovering behind me.

"Oh... It's you."

Beth, one of the first people I had ever spent time with in this compound, stood behind me with an uncomfortable look. Her hair was longer than it had been when I first came, and she had a small scar below one eye. It was either from training or the invasion.

"Can we talk?" She asked, her tone passive. I expected her to hate me, especially since I blew Heather into a wall, but her expression was blank.

"Are you going to attack me?" I countered, crossing my arms. I noticed her shivering, since Beth didn't have control over fire, and extended a bit of my warmth to her.

"No, I wouldn't dream of it. I just wanted to speak with you," she murmured softly.

Mine as well give her a chance.

"Alright," I shrugged. "Where do you want to take this?"

Beth looked around us, trying to decide on a place. Eventually she sighed, motioning to the school. "We can use the water commons room."

I nodded, following her into the building. I'd grown comfortable inside, unlike how I'd hated my school back in Greenhill. Learning had been hard for someone who was constantly fighting with kids or getting punished for fighting. Part of me believed that I could've been a great student, if I had been raised somewhere where I got along with others.

I couldn't think about that anymore, though. This life I had had led me to Iluita, where I was happier.

I was almost thankful for being an outcast.

The water room hadn't changed, both of us walking inside with a relaxed demeanor, Beth's blank expression cracking as she smiled. We sat on opposite couches, which were normally Quintin's napping zone.

Funny. When I first came in here, I was freaked out about having the apprentice bands. Now I'm identifying a couch as my lazy friend's second bed.

"So..," I trailed off, awkwardly looking at Beth. "What's going on?"

"I just wanted to talk to you in case something happens and... I don't get the chance to..."

She's scared, I realized. So is Coraline. So is Koren. So is everyone else.

So am I.

"Listen..," Beth murmured, "I realize that Heather and I pulled some really dick moves. And I'm sorry. I won't blame anyone else for it -- we made those decisions. But I don't want you to hate me."

A dark thought crossed my mind, my expression hardening.

"Is this because of what I told Heather?"

Her face softened, almost looking afraid of me. "W-What?"

"I told her that when the time comes, I'll save the people I care about," I repeated coldly, "but not everyone."

Beth shook her head rapidly. "I didn't know she spoke to you, and honestly, I don't blame you. This Guardian stuff is overrated -- anybody can see that. I would save the people I could, but saving everyone is... Impossible."

"Then... This was random?"

A shaky smile appeared on her face. "Katrina, people could die. I needed to make peace with some of my old problems," she joked, speaking through the lump in her throat. "Tyree is my cousin, Katrina. And I already tried to make things right with her."

I sighed, dropping my chin. We sat in a state of silence for a moment longer before Beth coughed, awkwardly getting up to leave the room.

Before the door shut behind her, I made sure to ease her worries.

"You're forgiven. It's not my first time dealing with a bully."

Then, the lock clicked into place, and Beth was gone.

Even if that wasn't much of an apology... I just don't have the energy and heart to hate her. She isn't a bad person. Misguided, maybe.

The door opened once again, my back snapping straight as I twisted my head over my shoulder, trying to make it look like I wasn't sulking.

"Oh, it's just you," I grumbled. Master Willa snorted, watching me slouch once again. The water master sat opposite of me, taking Beth's place unknowingly.

"Rough day?"

"Try like a rough month," I said, though a smile cracked through.

She scoffed. "Amen. What's on your mind, Katrina?"

"I'm sure you can guess."

She shrugged. "Alright. Anything else?"

I hesitated. Other than the invasion, I couldn't pinpoint anything that troubled me. Nothing specific, at least. It was all just a raging pool of conflict and self-doubt.

"Maybe a certain dream..?"

My chest tightened as I thought about the dream I'd had more than once. The one of a cheetah and a tiger clashing, surrounded by injured shifters and dead bodies. In the dream, I watched while standing on the ledge of a building, not moving a single muscle no matter how badly I wanted to save those down below.

"Coraline mentioned them to you..?"

The master nodded. "As your private teacher, she wanted me to know. Are those any better?"

I shook my head. "I feel like it's a warning. Yeah, sure, we already had one invasion... but I fought Xavier last time, and he must be the tiger..."

"But you're not a cheetah," she finished. "Coraline and that young man Rowan are cheetahs. And both are important to you."

"I dreamt that before I even knew Rowan was a cheetah," I murmured, "so it must be Coraline, right? And that means that she and Xavier..."

Willa reached forward, grabbing my hand. The master gently rubbed her thumb across my knuckles, like a mother would. The comforting gesture set my thoughts at ease, at least a little.

"You can protect them, Katrina," she told me softly. "When you see that fight, you will intervene."

But I don't. I never did. Not in that dream.

And Zella doesn't want me to intervene. I have to let them fight.

Don't I? Who am I to ignore her?

"But what if that's the wrong choice?"

Willa shook her head at me, scoffing. "Wrong and right don't exist, Katrina. One side will always see it different than another. Go with your gut."

I swallowed, clearing my throat.

Does she have a point?

A warm hand caressed my cheek as Willa came around to sit next to me. She was by far the best teacher I'd ever had my entire life, and the nicest one too.

Sorry, M. Crim.

"But... I have another question."

"Go ahead," she murmured. "I'll answer if I can."

My dream popped into my head, my hands shaking as I pictured the exact scene.

Something bright and blue. Something cold, as if I was buried in ice. Flames.

"Can two elements mix?" I asked. "Like... Join together to create something different?"

The master sighed.

"When two shifters use their elements, they don't interact. Sure, water and fire will cancel each other out, but that's the law of nature, not our power intertwining."

"So..?"

"As far as I know, no," she murmured. "But... You might be a special case, Katrina. You're full of surprises."

"But I'd still need to figure out how to do it," I pointed out, burying my face in my hands.

"Just one thing at a time, Katrina. Pace yourself."

I snorted quietly, making a face even though she couldn't see it.

Doing things slow has never been my strong suit.