The Shifters: Katrina

Tyree and I stuck together as we located those who were trying to put names to the faces of those who were killed. There were lists posted on trees, which seemed like an odd, insensitive way of notifying families of their losses, but it was the best the compound could do.

Unfortunately, it didn't help the pain that came with reading the name of the only person I didn't realize was dead.

Tyree had found another name on the list, choosing to go visit their grave while I left to find Kami's younger brother's.

I saw it too many times in my dreams, but it still hurts.

Nathan's grave was just as well kept as the others. I left another rose made of ice on top of his. I probably would've cried again, but my tear ducts had long dried out. Instead, I simply stood there, silently apologizing to the dead man. Who knows, maybe I could've tried to save him. If only I took my dream more serious -- then I could've done something.

But that was a lie. I could've done that battle a thousand times -- and the outcome would've been just as grim.

"Tyree said you would be here."

I didn't look up. It was easy to identify the voice.

"Hi, Coraline..."

The leader sighed. "Hello, Katrina... Hello."

Silence choked both of us, the cheetah coming to stand next to me. I finally glanced at her, staring at her side profile. It looked like she had aged twenty years, wrinkles forming around her eyes and mouth.

"I'm sorry he's dead," I whispered softly. "I know he was your friend."

"He was my worst enemy, is what he was," she countered. Coraline glanced at me, her eyes sweeping my bandaged form. "That man was a traitor. But... Xavier had been a friend."

"Sonya's the same," I said softly, my eyes watering. "I... I killed them both."

"It may never get easier, Katrina," Coraline told me, her hand squeezing mine. Her body heat kept me just a little bit warmer, reminding me that we were both still alive. "But the compound thanks you for what you did, as a Guardian and as a troublemaker."

I found myself smiling in spite of the tears on my cheeks.

"I do have bad news, though..."

Oh god.

Please, if anyone is listening, please soften this blow.

"There's one last person you should visit."

My eyebrows lifted. I hadn't personally recognized any other name on that list of shifters, but I still followed Coraline through the rows of graves. She wandered all the way to the back, stopping at one of the freshest plots.

A single word was written on a sheet of paper, taped to a stick and thrust into the dirt. That was the only marker she got for her grave.

That was the only marker for my mother's grave.

"I thought she left... I kicked her out," I whimpered, unable to stand on my own. Coraline held me up, holding my shaking figure.

"She was caught when they invaded. Her body was found outside the fire entrance. She was killed and left there, so we buried her out of respect. Very few people recognized her."

Despite all of our struggles, I still found a part of my heart mourning the mother I loved. Tears flowed freely once again, and I didn't know what to say anymore.

What do the others think, back home? Does Abigail think Marie skipped town? Do my adopted siblings think they were abandoned by both of us?

I sniffled, staring at the fresh dirt.

If I ever went back, what would I tell them?

What could I tell them?

"Katrina..?"

"I think... I think I need a minute," I said quietly, going down to my knees. I laid my hand on the smooth surface, unable to take my eyes off the dirt. "Alone, too."

Coraline hesitated, but eventually stepped away.

For a while, all I did was cry. I let it all out, ugly, loud sobs finding their way into the open air. I was on the verge of screaming, my mouth wide open as I yelled in silent emotional agony. It drained my energy, leaving me shaking, my forehead resting on the fresh dirt. Each time I sniffled, a new wave of revolting snot threatened to drip out my nose.

Death and pain wasn't pretty, that's for sure.

Ice spread from my fingers, taking form of a vine growing over her grave. Instead of leaving a flower, I left a thin design of ice, the strands of it growing over the slight bump of dirt. The design took shape of a growing bundle of flowers, complete with leaves and a circle above them -- which I intended to be the sun.

Which I hoped would make her death just a little prettier.

My heart seemed to waver in my chest as I kissed the marker before getting to my feet. I rubbed my hands over my eyes, drying my tears while simultaneously spreading dirt across my cheekbones. I huffed, exhaling slowly as I did my best to get a grip.

Better?

I turned around at the sound of the voice in my head. Coraline stood as a cheetah behind me, her face filled with innocence.

"Better," I nodded. "But... what do we do now, Coraline?"

The cheetah paused before a hopeful voice filled my mind. We rebuild. We strength our defenses.

"Are we going to help what's left of Orgull..?"

If the wildcat could've smiled, I think it would've.

I will let you make that call, Katrina.

Only once Iluita is safe, of course.

I managed a smile despite all the loss that had been suffered due to this one fight.

"That's a deal. We should get started right away."

"That's just what I was about to say."

Both Coraline and I looked to the side, Kami standing with her hands on her hips and a smug look. Bandages were wrapped from her neck to her knees, shown by the low collar of her shirt and the rips in her pants.

Zip up your coat, Coraline scolded, then we can focus on the compound.

Kami pouted. "Way to ruin my entrance, Coraline."

The cheetah huffed, bounding toward the snake shifter. I followed, trotting behind the two women as Kami led us toward our destroyed village, listing off all the plans that were being put into action.

And when I looked back at the sea of graves, I happened to see something incredible.

Maybe it was a trick of the light, but I desperately wanted to believe that what I saw was real.

The figures were transparent, lined by a ghostly glow. One looked like a bird, its long neck perched gracefully on the shoulder of a wildcat next to it. Beside those two were large and medium sized figures. One seemed to be a bear, while the other was dog-shaped, a tail flicking back and forth.

My breath caught as I stared at them, only for the four figures to disappear with the wind like they were just in my head.