The Shifters: Katrina

Admittedly, it did take a long time for the doctor to finish with me. I passed out mid check-up, forcing him to finish bandaging me up while I was out. Thankfully I had washed beforehand, my skin rubbed raw as I took my scrubbing a little too far. I had been jittery as he checked me over, which meant that he wasn't too surprised when my body gave up and I fell asleep.

My eyes finally opened again in the morning. I was laying in a sleeping bag in a tent, the space big enough for a single person. My entire body ached, my appendages bound by bandages. Sitting up, I noticed how sore I was, my power feeling depleted as I worked my way out of the tent. Instead of my bloody, destroyed clothing, I wore a frumpy black hoodie and black-and-white plaid pajamas bottoms. My hair seemed different, but it was better than it being blood soaked.

"You're awake."

I jumped, completely startled. My tent was set up between two trees, a familiar boy with green eyes leaning against one of them.

"Well if it isn't Luke Morgan," I murmured, my teasing tone slowly giving way to one filled with relief, "you wouldn't believe how happy I am to see you."

He spread his arms, beckoning me forward. Luke was like a pillar I could always rely on, especially as I stepped toward him, leaning into his chest. The hug was warm, endorphins making my head spin and my heart race.

"We survived," I whispered into his neck, holding back a sniffle. "We did it."

I could feel him smile against my hair. "Those who died would be proud of us."

My grip on him tightened. "I just wish that no one had to die, you know?"

"I think everyone wishes that. It will take a while before this compound is healed... But speaking of those who have passed on, I think there's someone you should see."

Luke pulled away, gently taking me by the hand. I followed along obediently -- for once in my life -- until we reached a short, one-story building made of mud.

"This is where the people with the worst injuries are being taken care of until we can fix the infirmary," he told me, leading me inside. The building was long, two rows of patients stretching across the floor. We walked all the way to the back, my breath catching in my throat.

At the end of one line was a black haired girl with her ends dyed blue, laying underneath a thin white sheet. She was pale, and so unlike her usual fashionista self.

"Hi, Katrina."

"Talia?"

Luke grabbed me by my shoulders before I did anything rash. "Talia didn't mean to help Orgull, Katrina. Really. That's why she's here."

"We're treating a trait--"

"She's not a traitor," came another voice. I whirled, my eyes landing on another patient. Kami winked at me from the floor, covered in bandages. "And she's not going to last much longer, Katrina. Coraline and Rowan did a number on her."

"...I brought you here to say goodbye to a friend," Luke explained softly. He took a step back, giving me space. "So maybe spend some time with her, yeah?"

"Luke--"

"You would've wanted to say goodbye to Molly, right?"

There was a sharp pain in my heart, tears stinging my eyes as I processed his words.

What a low blow.

Still, I got the idea, kneeling next to Talia. I took her hand without question, giving it an affectionate squeeze.

"I'm not going to ask you why," I whispered, "so why don't we just talk about anything you want, Talia?"

She turned her head toward me with a small smile, bringing our hands to her face. She kissed my knuckle like she was an affectionate parent, holding my hand in both of hers.

"I want you to know that it was a dumb decision," she admitted. "It felt out of character for me... But I can't take it back."

I nodded. "You can't take it back, and I can't forgive you. Not entirely."

Talia sighed. "I know..."

A silence fell between us, the wounded girl taking a deep breath. Her eyes fluttered shut for a moment, her movements slowing down. She was tired, half asleep as I sat with her.

"I can't believe I thought you weren't all that much when we first met..," she mused, running a hand through her hair. "I thought I could intimidate you. I hated having to be away from the compound... But then, I was friends with you."

"And you chased me around with weird clothes, don't forget about that."

She scoffed. "You needed the help."

I chuckled fondly, remembering her efforts to make me look good. Shaking my head with a rueful smile, I met Talia's eyes, trying to ignore the bandage wrapped around her forehead.

It wasn't easy.

"Was... Was Orgull a good compound, growing up..?"

There was a small sigh from her, but she didn't ask me why. Instead, she pursed her lips, her eyes holding a faraway look in them.

"Yeah," she answered finally. "The people wanted us to grow up strong and aware of the risks, but they did it because they loved us. There was a strong sense of community in Orgull, one that was even better than Iluita's."

Her eyes passed around the room, lingering on each wounded shifter. "I thought that I would pass away in my bed one day, at peace and wrinkly. I could've never imagined this ending."

I frowned. "But your story isn't over, Talia. Not yet."

She let out a soundless laugh. "Give it a day or two, Katrina."

"Don't talk like that..."

Her eyes met mine, full of life and love. It felt like she was herself once again.

"I won't talk like that as long as you won't break down over me when I do pass away... Whether it be soon, or when I'm ninety."

I forced myself to nod. "You have a deal."

Talia's smile was wide this time, her thumb rubbing circles around the back of my hand. We went silent, holding each other's gaze.

"I'm tired," she whispered. "I'm still a bit drained from trying to recover..."

This is goodbye, then.

My smile was awkward and forced. "Then you should rest. I'm glad I got to see you."

Her eyes fluttered shut, her grip slowly lessening. I watched as she snuggled into her blanket, already half asleep.

"Thank you, Katrina..," she mumbled. "And about the influence..."

...Influence?

She yawned, going still for a moment.

"...Talia?"

The girl's last burst of energy came in the form of two words.

"...her voice..."

Then, she was asleep.

And maybe that sleep is when her brain began to shut down her body, or maybe it was later in the day after I left. The doctors never found out.

All I knew is that Talia would not be around to see Iluita grow past this conflict.

So I sat there, watching her sleep, until my feet began to tingle and my eyes stung from staring too long. Talia had managed to leave more questions circling around in my mind, but I knew deep down that I would have time for those later. For now, I needed to say goodbye to many others.

I didn't need Luke's help to find where the graves were. I started with those I knew had passed on, since I wanted to spare myself the pain of having to search for names of my friends in the roster of those who passed on. At least for now.

And that's how I found myself in front of Molly's fresh grave.

I couldn't hold back the small tears that rolled down my cheeks. My voice was locked up in my throat, my arms wrapped around myself. I sat opposite of the makeshift marker, sniffling.

"Hi, Molly..."

I swallowed heavily. "W-We did it. We did good, I think. Coraline is okay, and Xavier was killed... Iluita will survive."

A tiny flame gathered across my knuckles, showing my grief. Water dripped from my other hand, both powers out of control.

"I just wished that you could see this," I said, my voice wobbling. "You would've been able to help so many people and fix this compound in days. You were an amazing elite."

I pictured Molly in my mind, trying not to scream in frustration. Her sweet face, blonde, shiny hair -- her brown eyes that were always looking at me like I entertained her, like everything I did was funny to her.

"Thank you for comforting me even when I didn't know I could ask you to. Thank you for being the mom friend I didn't know I needed. I just... thank you."

Cold wind whipped past me as I sat there, unable to come up with anything better. I stared at the ground, listening to the distant sounds of shifters trying to rebuild our compound.

You would've wanted me to be out there saving Iluita. You believed in me.

You still do, otherwise you wouldn't have died trying to warn me.

I kissed my fingers, gently touching them to her name on the marker.

Rest in peace, Molly.

Getting to my feet, I glanced down at her resting place one last time. She laid in a row with many other respected fighters, a tree standing behind her grave. During the spring, the ground above her would be covered in bright wildflowers, and during the fall, she'd have an amazing blanket of coloured leaves.

The thought brought a smile to my face as I turned, forcing myself to keep walking as I went to find another friend to say goodbye to.

I knew that it wouldn't be the last time I was there.

But for now, I needed to keep going.

For her, of course.