The Shifters: Katrina

My first stop was my dorm. I took the line of photos from the booth and taped it to the mirror in my room. Then, I slipped a tank top and jeans on over my shifting-friendly bodysuit. Once that was finished, I left once again with a key tucked into the folds of the bodysuit, since I didn't bother with shoes. My hair was tied back once again, keeping my vision clear as I stormed through the side streets of the compound. I was frustrated and disappointed in myself, finding myself sitting back on a familiar hill. It was the same one I'd wandered to after talking to Koren about how the fire element worked. I laid back on the grass, watching the sun fall toward the horizon. It was peaceful, but didn't quite soothe my mind. Talia was right about me, and the fact that I still wasn't worth anyone's respect at the moment. Not until I was strong enough to take on entire compounds with my power. To take on every hunter to protect my family. As a human, or a dragon.

I needed to get their respect, to control myself, and to find a way to help my adopted family. To ease my own worries while making sure I didn't abandon them.

"Hell, what are you doing out here?"

I looked up. Rowan was standing nearby, a flame above his shoulder to provide him with light.

"Thinking," I said curtly. "I can leave."

"Don't," he quickly answered. "But can I sit?"

"Be my guest."

Rowan complied, sitting next to me with half a foot between us. "Can I ask what you're thinking about?"

The corner of my lips quirked upward. "No."

"Alright," he sighed, "what's having an animal form like?"

Surprise was my only reaction, the very expression appearing on my face. "You don't have one?"

He snorted, glancing at the sky. It was at the stage of beautiful colours; orange, yellow, maybe even pink with the usual blue as well. "Not yet," he admitted, "but if I'm an apprentice, it's practically guaranteed that it'll be a cool form, right?"

Despite wanting to be alone, I found myself smiling at him. I nodded, and he matched my smile.

"You know," I told him after a pause, "you really did try to grind my face into the dirt at that duel."

He looked guilty for a moment. "Sorry. Spirit of the fight. The usual intimidation training at Ileial kicking in..."

I sent him a wink. "It's fine. I beat you up too."

"You turned into a dragon on me!" He shrieked, making me laugh at his expense. "I thought you were going to hate me the second you woke up and kill me!"

That made me laugh even harder, the orange eyed shifter scolding me for giving zero shits about his previous worries. We continued talking, unaware of the colours draining from the sky as it turned a dark blue. I copied Rowan, holding my own little flame above my shoulder. I could keep it in check long enough to not need the constant glow of control, the flame responding to my very thoughts like I'd been trained as a fire shifter since I arrived here.

"Talia seemed to rub you the wrong way earlier..."

I sighed. "She wasn't wrong. Until people realize I'm strong and in control, I'm just a freak to them."

"They could just be scared."

"Generally," I began dryly, "people are afraid of freaks."

He shoved me playfully, causing me to laugh once again. I had a new resolve, and actually seemed to be relaxing with Rowan's company. Once I was steady again, I laid back.

"How did you get taken to Ileial?"

He flopped down, holding his arms above him as a stretch before they fell to his sides in the grass. "Born there."

"Have you ever not lived among shapeshifters?"

He shook his head. "This is my entire life." His eyes passed to meet mine, face turning toward me. "Is that weird?"

I shook my head as best I could laying down. "Not at all. It's cool, actually. I haven't been living here that long, so it's not like I can really say much. I don't know what it's like anywhere that isn't my human home or Iluita, and I barely know Iluita."

Rowan cracked a smile. "I've visited more than one compound. It was a hobby of my parents to travel even if it wasn't for the festival. There's one a few hours south that's completely Hawaiian themed."

"Like a tourist attraction?"

"Exactly," he chuckled, listening to my unladylike snort. The two of us fell silent, peace slipping into place until there was a loud crack. It sounded a stick being snapped, but I hadn't heard anyone approaching, human or animal. I couldn't smell anything either. The two of us flipped onto our fronts before pushing into crouching positions, eyes on the shadows. My animal form benefits kicked in, night vision activating as the shadows sharpened and became lighter.

"I can't see anything," I said quietly, scanning the trees. "Nothing."

"Then who did that?" Rowan shot back. We both let our flames drop, plunging us into shadows.

"I don't know. Any ideas?"

Another crack, to our right. My eyes shot that way, spotting movement in the trees. I growled, fire lighting up along my fingertips.

"We should just run," he said. "It's no use right now. If they were going to attack, they would've done it by now."

"You're right," I whispered, "see you tomorrow, I guess."

"Right."

He nodded before spinning on his heel, breaking into a jog. He didn't bother checking if I followed, probably trusting me to take care of myself.

I glared into the shadows one last time.

Not my business. Not my objective.

With that idea in mind, I stormed off. My own pace sped until I was running, not out of fear but for the fun of it. It felt good to spend energy when I had so much of it. People didn't stare anymore as I ran by. They just made sure they didn't get run over as I zipped by, laughing.