The Shifters: Katrina

After the enlightening conversation with the two elites, I promised to take their words into account and promptly made my escape. I didn't waste time -- my steps were fueled with dragon energy as I ran toward the girls' dormitory. Despite being nervous for what was to come, the second I burst inside that building, my nerves were alive with jittery excitement. Longing to see my friends set in, and I barreled through the halls and up the stairs to my dorm. I hesitated right outside the door, my fingers brushing the knob.

What do I say?

Do I tell her that I'll be in town for a while? For once?

Or that I'm disappointed to be back, because it was so nice to be mindlessly separated from the compound?

A bad taste crept into my mouth.

Should I feel guilty that I hate the idea of being here more than when they took me from my home?

Someome's door slammed and I flinched, snapping out of my thoughts. My energy kicked back in and I grabbed the knob, the door unlocked and flying open with little force. The blonde sitting on her bed looked up, her hands covered in charcoal residue. She sat on a clean but loved side of the room, while the opposite looked awkwardly perfect and untouched.

"Katrina?"

I grinned. "Hi, Chloe."

"How long are you back for?" She asked, setting her art aside. "Just a day, again?"

I winced at her question, scratching my head. "Actually, we're done with the search until further notice."

"So..."

"I'm staying."

She paused for a moment before her face lit up. "Finally. It's been so lonely in this empty room!" She exclaimed, running over to me. The small, younger girl hugged me tight for a split second, which was the most surprising thing. It brought a smile to my face, which grew as Chloe took my bag and began dragging me toward our bathroom.

"I can put your stuff away -- sorry, I got bored and went through your drawers while you're away, so I know your organization patterns -- so you go take a shower and warm up, okay? Then I want to hear about the last mission, and we can go track down the others."

I laughed at her eagerness, thanking her before she slammed the bathroom door shut behind me. Truth be told, I heard her puttering around and putting away my things for me as I got ready for a shower. The water was the perfect temperature thanks to my abilities, and I felt tension leaving my body as I washed up. Once I got out, I felt like I had a clearer mind. Even if Koren and Kami had just dropped a bomb on me, I felt like I could deal with it in due time.

I came out with a towel wrapped around me and my hair dripping. Chloe was just putting away my bag, and she threw a pair of sweats at me without hesitation. I snorted, changing in the bathroom and tying up my soaked hair before coming back out.

"Tell me all about it!" Chloe blurted immediately. She was sitting on my bed, her sketchbook in her lap once again. I walked over, sitting beside her and looking down at the page. It was a landscape, barely even started beside the basic layout sketch.

She tapped me. "Pay attention. Story. Now."

I laughed, appreciating that Chloe was bolder now that she was comfortable around me.

"We didn't get much. We went west this time, but we couldn't find anything."

She raised her eyebrows. "So what's the new plan?"

I pulled my knees up to my chest, resting my chin on them as I glanced out the window. "I don't know yet."

"But you guys have another idea, don't you?"

We think Xavier's being hidden by humans and gathering an army bigger than we can deal with.

"A few," I shrugged. "I'm trusting Koren and the elites to figure it out while I get adjusted."

She nodded. "I think you guys will figure it out just fine."

"Thanks, Chloe."

"No problem!" She said cheerily. "Do you want to track anyone down?"

I yawned. "What day is tomorrow?"

"The first."

"The day of the week?"

She glanced to the calendar above her bed. "It's Monday."

I groaned, nearly falling off the bed as I leaned too far to the side. Since I was back in town, I'd have to go to school again. That meant I had catch-up work.

"I'll have to see them now before I get swamped in work," I sighed, "any ideas?"

Chloe paused before her lips curled into a mischievous smile.

"I might have one."

This is crazy, I've never had a rider.

The tiny human girl standing beside me laughed. We were behind the girls' dormitory, standing as human and dragon. I was settled into my animal form, crouched as low as possible. Chloe was at my side, reaching for the retractable spikes that were along my spine. Her grand idea was for us to cause a commotion in the skies to get the attention of as many of my friends as possible. The troublemaker side of me was all for it, even if the logical side was worried for her safety.

"I've always wanted to use your dragon form as a model, you know," Chloe said casually as she pulled herself up. "Can you imagine what you'd look like as a charcoal drawing?"

I'm sure it would be great, Chloe, I assured her, but are you sure this is safe? You're the first person to catch a lift... Well, on my back.

"It can't be too bad," she shrugged, "and if I fall, I can transform. I'm a raven, remember?"

Right, I thought to both her and myself. I nearly forgot.

"You've been busy, it's understandable."

I didn't answer, my spikes retracting into my scales so that Chloe could settle on my back. She straddled the area between my nape and wings, hanging onto my neck. Once she gave the okay, I let out an experiment flap of my wings and gave her a warning before I shot into the sky. We barreled upward, rising high above the compound. Chloe's grip tightened, words I couldn't hear due to the wind tumbling from her lips in a panicked rush. The stars seemed to shine brighter as we hovered in the sky, and I swore it began snowing almost instantly. I couldn't feel the snow because of the shell of scales keeping my body protected, but I saw them dotting my large form. They fell into Chloe's hair, making the blonde strands look white.

My wings flapped at a steady rhythm, allowing us to hover and stare at the dark sky. It had gotten late already, most of the town in their homes for the night.

"Alright!" I heard Chloe yell on my back. "Light it up!"

My dragon lips twisted into what was meant to be a grin. To get attention, Chloe's grand idea was for me to have my own show of flames in the sky, similar to the one Koren had done for me months ago.

She clapped as flames appeared along the ridge of my head and up my horns, creating a beacon in the sky. They rose, shining brightly as I flew in circles above the center of the compound. Chloe clung to my neck, hollering in excitement. My fire went from my head to my wings, shooting down my neck and along the edges.

It was like I had turned myself into a pair of those cool light-up shoes everyone always wanted in elementary school.

To add more flare, I made sure to breathe fire every so often to keep it fresh. A flame lit up on my tail, drawing random scribbles of fire in the sky as I flipped and spun. Chloe was laughing, holding on tight as I went absolutely crazy. Eventually the others began to notice, people standing in the streets and pointing. I watched as kids our age gathered outside the dorms, waving furiously.

Hey, Chloe... Do you think you could get off? I don't want to burn you.

"I was wondering when you'd step it up!" Chloe yelled. "Good luck!"

With that, I leveled out so that she could shift safely. Her weight practically vanished from my back as she turned into a raven, squawking at me once before taking off. Her smaller form blended into the dark sky almost immediately, and I was alone for my show.

Perfect.

I inhaled, flames shooting from my mouth and scales simultaneously. I was coated in a layer of flames, the light reflecting off my black scales as I blew fire into the empty sky, letting myself fall toward the ground. I caught myself last second, zipping back upward like an arrow.

To finish it off, I folded my wings around myself and fell. Before I became a splatter on the road, my wings stretched, a loud whoosh reaching my ears as balls of fire zoomed upward and I landed with a soft thud.

The fireballs exploded into sparks as I transformed back into a human, the only shifting-safe clothing left on my body being my gray sweats.

Which was fortunate, because it would've been embarrassing to be naked in front of the audience that had begun clapping.