The Shifters: Katrina

The world around me had faded. It was the lake once again, except I wasn't abandoned at the bottom. I wasn't lonely, nor afraid.

Instead, I was just below the surface. I could see a shining group of people in the air above me, waiting for me.

But the water reminded me of pain. My heart ached from loss and from physical exhaustion. I didn't want to continue on -- Iluita had gone through one bloody fight. I had done my part.

I didn't want to deal with the aftermath.

Is Nathan dead? Did Talia survive?

If I go back to reality, will I still be laying on a dead man's bloody chest?

My control wavered. I wanted to sink.

No. I did this for Iluita.

I'm going to be okay.

I inhaled, somehow taking in something other than water. It was that same burning sensation -- the blue flames -- that lifted me upward.

My face broke through the surface, my eyes falling open.

I could see two particular things.

One was a group of all my favourite people, completely fine and healed as if it was an ordinary day. The sight of their smiling faces brought tears to my eyes.

The other was Molly, standing between them and me.

"You did well, Katrina," she murmured, her hand resting on the top of my head as I floated on the surface of my lonely lake.

I miss you already. I'm sorry you died for me.

She shook her head, leaning forward. My eyes fell shut, tears slipping down my cheeks as she pressed her lips to my forehead.

"You didn't do anything wrong, my dear. But it's time for you to face your new life, Katrina. A new journey has begun."

Please don't make me go back.

A sad smile graced her lips.

"How can you protect them if you hide here, Katrina?"

She had a point.

And we both knew it.

Goodbye, Molly.

I...

I love you.

Her smile turned happy.

"We all love you."

"Katrina."

"Is she okay?"

"She's breathing. That's more than we can say for many others."

Who's there..?

"And this is the girl that I saw? The other Guardian?"

"Yes. She'll protect you, Reagan."

The two unfamiliar voices fell silent. I blinked, finally opening my eyes.

I wasn't on Xavier's chest, thank god. The first thing I noticed was the stillness of where I laid, and the fact that the only thing covered in blood was me. My head pounded, my vision swimming.

A hand rested on my cheek. "Wake up, Guardian. I have someone for you to meet."

Familiarity struck me.

"Zella..?"

I heard a smug hum. "Hello again, Katrina. Sorry I disappeared. I had to get someone out of Orgull for you."

I pushed myself up, trying not to vomit as my eyes found Zella's. Her white hair curled around her shoulders, Zei's descendant leaning against a tree. Beside her, a golden-haired woman watched me, her crystal blue eyes wide in amazement.

"It's... you," I realized, remembering another one of my dreams. "T-The Guardian."

Zella winked. "Katrina, meet Reagan. Reagan, meet Katrina."

The girl waved shyly. "Hi."

I balked. "Yeah, hi. Where were you?!"

The descendant reached over, patting my shoulder. "Calm down, Katrina. You're overworked," she told me. "I took Reagan out of Orgull to protect her before the fighting started, and now I will leave her with you."

I nearly passed out, blinking rapidly, expecting them to disappear. We were in a familiar spot -- sitting on the magical soil that let shapeshifter blood grow a plant. From here, I could see Iluita in ruins -- but the fight was over.

"Most of the shifters from Orgull were arrested," Zella explained, "but many hunters who weren't killed escaped."

I didn't answer, staring at the devastation.

"Your fellow Iluita shifters are hiding in the forest, trying to form a plan. Oh, and they're looking for you. You two can catch up with them once I'm done here."

I rolled my eyes. Of course.

Steeling myself, I looked back at Zella. "So you were on my side, then."

She snorted. "Of course I was. And look, your fellow Guardian is safe and sound."

"So what else do you need, Zella?"

The mood turned somber, a cold breeze stiring up locks of her white hair.

"Compounds will be waiting for the results of this fight, Katrina. Tensions are running high now that Orgull has essentially fallen. That, and the hunters will never truly be gone," she explained. "I'm just here to warn you. Be prepared for many more fights like this. Train hard."

I nodded my head. "I will. Thank you, Zella."

She sighed, getting to her feet. Just like before, I knew I couldn't stop her.

"It's sort of my job," she teased. "I'll be back, Katrina. But for now, fix your home, and get this girl a proper meal."

Reagan blushed, both of us watching as Zella turned toward the air entrance. It was then and there that I noticed that Zella wore nothing to mark her element, my curiosity about her increasing tenfold. Still, I kept my questions to myself as I watched her transform, the white wolf's tail disappearing behind a bush of blackberries.

Awkward silence filled the area as I glanced at the other Guardian. Reagan watched me watching her, the smallest of smiles on her face.

"The wolf told me about your story," she said softly. "So we can talk more about it later. Do you need help standing? I'm assuming you'd like to find whoever is left over of your friends."

That's a dark way to put it.

"Yeah, okay," I grumbled, getting to my feet. My vision swam once again, my body swaying. Reagan shot to her feet, grabbing my hand like a helpful nurse.

"How much did I miss..?" I asked, the shifter keeping in time with my slow hobble as I began walking toward the forest.

"Apparently the battle was finished after you killed the evil tiger. His people either fled or were captured while they were in shock. That leader of yours killed one girl but spared another, thinking you might have a goodbye to say. That good tiger, the boy, nearly killed Zella when she tried to take you. He might still be unconscious."

Oh, Rowan...

My entire body ached as I stumbled along next to the other Guardian. We made slow progress, Reagan telling me about what happened like a robot reading an online article. She filled in the holes in my memory, but other than that, her endless talking only reminded me of the people I was already missing.

I would have to say goodbye to too many friends.

But once that happened, Iluita would be able to grow. We would rebuild and fix our town, but this time make it stronger. Nothing like this could ever happen again.

Not while I was around.

I heard the others before I saw them, letting Reagan go as the echo of Koren barking orders hit my ears. I wrenched myself away, unable to keep calm as I tried to run toward the source of the noise, though my running was more like a jerky jog.

It was enough, though. I stumbled through the bare trees, leaning on one as I finally located them.

The Shifters.

"Koren!"

Everyone froze, eyes whipping toward me. They fell upon my haggard form and the girl standing next to me, grieving faces finding a glimmer of hope, at least for a moment.

Funnily enough, it wasn't Koren who got to me first.

It was Shae, knocking me to the ground with one of her signature, rib-breaking hugs.

My partner cried into my shoulder, clinging to me as we hit the ground. I let out a sob, relieved to see her alive and well as the others ran to approach me. Someone asked Reagan who she was, another round of joy flooding through the crowd as they realized we had found our second Guardian.

Which meant our losses were not in vain.

"You dumbass," Shae cried, "you always rush into fights alone. God, you're so reckless."

I laughed through my tears. "I love you too, Shae."

A strong pair of hands grabbed both of our collars, heaving us up. We looked up sheepishly, Tyree glaring down at us.

However, her glare melted away as she joined our hug.

"You did good, Kat."

I sniffled. "Not going to chastise me?"

"Not today," she grinned, turning to everyone else. "This is a group hug, folks! In the name of Iluita!"

Cheers roared through the crowd as people tackled each other, sticking to our group. I laughed, trying not to ugly cry as the entire compound came together, Reagan stuck with us as well. The foreign shifters couldn't escape it either, joining a hug with people who had once called them traitors.

It made that same hope return in my heart.

It took a while for things to die down. I was swept away for a doctor to give me a check up, which was probably a good idea. I was covered in blood, dirt and bruises, Victoria taking care of Reagan as I got lectured about my injuries. Afterward, I had to speak with Koren and Coraline -- that was their orders -- and after that, I would have a chance to visit my friends.

The ones that had passed on, or were close.

Let's just say I was hoping that the doctor would take their time.