The Shifters: Katrina

Once again, I woke up in the dorm ready to start a crazy day. Instead of regular clothes, all I wore were beat up sneakers, a tank top and shorts that were all made of shifting-friendly material. My key had its own little slot in the pockets of the shorts, perfectly fitting as I left the room. Outside, I ran into Willa on the stairs.

"Well if it isn't my little apprentice," she mused. In her hands were a pair of red apprentice bands. "Miss these?"

Right. I meant to ask Coraline about them.

She grabbed my wrists. "You know the drill. You're getting training from Koren, apparently. I'm impressed, only masters train apprentices, but he's just a guard," she murmured, fastening the bands around either wrist. The two bands on either side, blue and red, clinked together as I shook out my hands.

"I'm still training you for water. Coraline will train your dragon form since she's our leader and therefore the only person even remotely close to be qualified."

"She also said something about combat training," I prodded, wondering who would be my fourth trainer.

"She wants you to get some training from the other compounds," Willa said absent-mindedly, "but I think Kami and Molly will be training you for combat in human form."

Coraline, Willa, Koren, Kami and Molly, I listed. I need five separate masters just to be in control. Just for people to think I'll eventually be in control.

Shame tried to take over my current mindset, but I forced it down. They were looking out for me. I had real enemies out there, and I had work to do.

"What about school?" I wondered. Willa and I began walking down the stairs, my head tilted curiously.

"You're still going. Your classes will change, though. We're sending you back with a complete new schedule after the festival is over."

"How many festival days are left..?"

She thought for a second before nodding to herself. "Three."

It was already November, and my twenty-fifth day since I came to Iluita. It was also a Monday, meaning my first day back in school would be this Friday, and the festival would be over on Thursday. It'll be a month on Saturday. A month since I left them. I missed Halloween entirely, I realized. The thought seemed daunting, but I also knew this was my life. This was who I was.

"Thank you for letting me know," I told the master. "Is there something you need?"

"Just to let you know that we have training tomorrow, and Koren is expecting to start your training with him tonight," she answered, "that's all."

I nodded, ready to skip ahead and get on with my day. The master water shifter was slower, going at a leisurely pace down the stairs.

"Before you run off."

I turned back. "Yes?"

The master gave me a tired smile. "I'm happy you're alright, and that you have your form. Congratulations."

First time I heard that one.

A genuine grin appeared on my face. "Thank you, master. See you tomorrow."

She nodded, and I was off.

Outside, I found myself alone. After browsing the shops set up for the festival, I had a small bag of new purchases. I carried them with me, grinning at those who passed. Since I had nothing better to do, I found myself walking toward the dueling area. I wouldn't get another chance to watch them for a year, so I wanted to catch what I could. I sat on one of the top benches, leaning forward as the next duel of animal forms was announced.

It was Quintin who sauntered into the arena. His opponent was none other than Luke, a freaking panther. The boys were both clothed in the shifters' clothing, a large wolf standing opposite of a large wild cat. I was on the edge of my seat, eyes wide as I waited for them to start.

"Oh, hey!"

I tore my eyes away from the start of the fight to see Rowan making his way past the seated shifters to the empty space beside me. He sat down with a thunk, offering me popcorn from the large bag he hugged to his chest.

"These two met yesterday, didn't they?" He wondered, watching Luke pounce toward Quintin. The two of them seemed like opposites of each other. The panther had fluid, agile movements while the wolf had strong, charging head-on attacks.

"They did," I replied as Quintin slashed at Luke's face with a large paw. Slashing was definitely better suited for Luke as a wild cat. "And they definitely had some tension yesterday."

"Damn," Rowan commented. I rolled my eyes, watching as Luke rolled Quintin onto his back. I tensed, thinking it was over when Quintin suddenly convulsed, kicking Luke onto his ass. The wolf scrambled upward, mouth dripping with saliva. He dodged the panther's next attack, diving for his side and sinking his teeth into Luke's flank. Fur tore off their bodies as Quintin retreated, narrowly avoiding getting slapped by a wild cat's clawed paw.

"They're both strong," I murmured.

"And smart," Rowan added as they danced around each other. Neither could land a hit, since they were both focused on defending. They wanted to take whatever opportunity they had, but they both seemed to avoid any injuries.

"Maybe..," Rowan continued, "they're afraid."

"Of what?" I scoffed.

"Each other. Losing. Getting permanently hurt." He glanced my way. "Take your pick. It could be anything."

I opened my mouth to counter when he cut me off.

"Weren't you afraid? Of me?"

We stared at each other in a strange moment of intensity. The duel was far from my thoughts as I frowned, considering his question. His eyes, with their peculiar colour, seemed to stare right into my thoughts as I stared right back.

Was I afraid?

"No," I responded quietly, not breaking our locked gazes.

"I don't think I was afraid. I did accept defeat at one point," I admitted. "But I also had something to prove. That blocked out my fear."

"You weren't afraid of pain?" He prodded, his eyebrows lifting. I found the expression on him surprisingly cute, maybe even attractive. Rowan wasn't ugly by any means, but I hadn't been expecting that fact to occur to me.

"Well... I don't know. I've been in too many fights to count. We seemed to think similarly, and we were decently matched," I concluded, gently grabbing his wrist. I held it up, my own lifted as well. His red apprentice band brushed against my own two. "We were opposites for the most part."

He smiled. "You seem to have broken the whole 'opposites' thing."

"Sorry," I said, dropping his wrist and matching his smile. "I guess I just keep wanting more."

"That's not it," he denied, breaking off our intense stare as he settled on the bench next to me, unconciously scooting a tad bit closer. "You've got more raw power, energy, and, who knows, maybe more talent."

I don't believe you, I wanted to say.

Instead, I felt myself turning pink and laughing it off.