The Shifters: Katrina

Thankfully, the moment passed quick enough. Tyree walked my way, slinging an arm around my shoulders and steering me toward the school. The others followed, each one of them trying to tell me about the past two months all at once. I was laughing, unable to actually understand a single thing any of them were saying.

"One at a time, kids!" I yelled over them, just as we were walking into the school. "You guys are crazy."

Shae hip bumped me, which in turn bumped Tyree and made us hit a wall. We laughed, the gorilla rolling her eyes as we finally reached the gym in one piece.

Though I didn't miss the exasperated look on Tyree's face as we went inside.

Our noisy group caught the attention of everyone inside the gym in seconds. Heads turned, faces lighting up with shock and genuine happiness when they noticed me getting squished in the middle. People ran over, and I nearly got knocked over again as multiple shapeshifters tried tackling me with hugs.

"God damn it Katrina," came a familiar adult voice, "you're such a distraction."

I detached myself from the bundle of teenagers, looking over the shoulder of one of them -- Emma -- at the master that had been teaching a class.

"I told you I was trouble, Willa."

She laughed, shaking her head ruefully. "That was basically the first thing you ever told me."

I winked. "Was I wrong?"

A grin spread across my face as ice pellets zipped toward our group, the master smirking. My fingertips flickered blue as I caught the pellets, forcing them to explode into gas due to overheating.

Willa applauded slowly. Then, she opened her arms. I skipped forward, quickling hugging my first teacher.

"I heard that you're staying home this time," she murmured in my ear. "I hope you can settle in, for once."

"Me too..."

We separated with grim smiles, the master wandering back to the shifters who didn't know me as well. I turned to face my friends, grinning like a madwoman.

All of them were there -- everyone I had spent most of my time with, besides the masters, elites and other adults. There were the water kids; Shae, Cory and Quintin, with the addition of Sam and Max, Ryu's apprentices who didn't seem to hate my guts anymore. There was, of course, Tyree's ragtag underdog group. Her, Ben, Antonio, Gene and myself had spent many lunches together, even after Sonya betrayed the compound. That was something that stung, even to this day. Alisa stood with them as well, a classmate I so happened to befriend along the way. She was one of the best examples for someone with less raw power who was just as strong and dangerous as the rest of us. After all them were the foreign shifters who were only staying in Iluita to babysit me -- Luke, Rowan, Dani, Anna, Chloe, Emma, Liam, Wyatt and Talia. All the friends who had supported me, even when I ran away from my problems, and especially when I needed them most, even when we're facing invading hunters.

I hugged each one individually, promising I would stay in the compound this time. They, in turn, promised to help me with whatever I was avoiding this time.

All in all, they still made me laugh until my heart felt warm and my cheeks hurt.

"So, why did you track us down?"

Everyone looked at Luke. He was the type you'd find hanging around a beach, with his bronze tan, blond hair and teasing green eyes. Green apprentice bands hung around his wrists, marking him as an earth-using protegee. Luke had always had a nonchalance about him that I'd appreciated.

Dani was the one who bounced on her toes, clapping for everyone's attention. "We're playing hide and seek tag with our forms as a welcome home game!" She declared. "Katrina's going to be swamped in catch up work, so we have to play tonight!"

Anna, one of the youngest of my friends, winced. "It's so late, though."

Chloe nudged her playfully. "I'm sure you'll survive."

Anna scowled, crossing her arms and trying to hide her grin. "I'm chasing you first, Chloe."

"Deal," my roommate said, making everyone snort at the two of them. We all looked back at Dani, who glanced at me for confirmation.

I shrugged at her. "I guess we can do this. Pick whose it and we'll get twenty seconds to hide in the forest -- and forest only. This compound is way too big."

They all agreed, getting into a circle to pick who was it based off rock, paper, scissors. Dani made me sit out, claiming I shouldn't start since I'd be 'rusty after all my professional work.' Apparently, I was too mature for fun.

I'll show them, I thought with a grin. The elites haven't trained the trouble out of me quite yet!

Rowan was the first one to win his safety, but instead of being excited, he seemed to pout. The others kept playing, leaving me to watch as he sighed. Eventually I wandered over, shoving him with my shoulder. He looked at me like he was about to chew me out, but his words died as I grinned at him.

"Cat got your tongue?"

He sighed. His tan was deeper than Luke and I's combined, and flawless as it had always been. His brown hair was longer now, brushing against his ears every time he looked around. Rowan's eyes were just as orange as before, which still struck me as peculiar, but since Coraline's eyes were pink, I let it slide.

"I'm just... Just... Ah, damn," he muttered softly.

"Spit it out," I teased. He shoved me, the two of us laughing. I threw a little flame at him, which he extinguished with a single wave of his hand.

When his pout returned, I frowned.

"Seriously, what's wrong?"

Rowan looked away shyly, not meeting my eyes.

"I don't have an animal form to play the game with."

Oh.

That would be a problem.

I nearly told him it would be okay for him to sit out when I caught Chloe's eye, just by chance.

A lightbulb flickered on in my thoughts.

I smacked his arm, jarring both of us. Those strange eyes met mine, filled with surprise.

"We'll be a team!" I exclaimed. "You can stay on my back."

A smile melted onto his face, the boy shaking his head and snickering.

"Thanks, Katrina," he said, "I think I'll take you up on that one..."

I mirrored his smile. "I don't take no for an answer."

Winking, I linked my arm through his, ignoring the fact that his cheeks held a hint of pink in them. Instead, I dragged him outside before the seeker, Alisa, had even started counting. The others yelled at us for being cheaters, but their cries were followed by laughs as I stuck my tongue out, transforming for the second time today.

Rowan had an easy time getting on, holding on tight just as Alisa began to count down from twenty.