The Shifters: Katrina

My twenty-sixth day in Iluita. A peaceful Tuesday. Two days until the visiting shifters here for the festival left, and four days until the one month mark of me being thrown into the shifters' world.

But here I was being dragged out of bed by incessant knocking.

"Can I help you?"

On the other side of the door was the timid-looking Alisa and the smirking Luke.

"Morning!"

I scowled. "Why are you here?"

"Willa sent us to talk about your new school schedule," Alisa explained cautiously. "She figured I could lead you around for a bit since I'm a fire shifter too."

My eyes passed to the band on her arm. Definitely a red one, not that that fact was new to me. I actually liked Alisa, she seemed like a fairly decent person. Luke had apprentice bands, but they were green, so I doubted why he tagged along.

He seemed to see my doubt in my expression and grinned. "I'm here for fun, Katrina. Don't mind me."

Great.

"I'll be out in ten minutes."

They both nodded and I didn't hesitate to shut the door in their faces. I showered despite telling them it would take ten minutes, straightened my hair and did all the other regular hygiene things. Then I threw on a long sleeve shirt that had a black torso with camo patterned sleeves and leggings with the same pattern. Underneath was a tank top and dancer shorts made of the shifter-friendly fabric. After grabbing the necessary items, I trudged back out of my room.

"Sixteen minutes," Luke announced, his eyes on his phone. "But impressive considering we heard the shower."

I hummed, already heading for the end of the hall. Alisa and Luke caught up, the girl handing me a sheet of paper. It listed my new classes, teachers, and the general gist of where I'd find them.

The elements with M. Crim, third floor.

Water control with Master Ryu in the water common room.

History with Mrs. Halter, second floor.

Shifting basics with Coraline in the gym and / or outdoors.

Fire control with Master Samuel in the fire common room.

Hand-to-hand combat with Victoria in the gym.

First, third and last period were mainly the same. Fifth period, the fire control class, worried me since I'd never met Master Samuel or been in the fire students' common room, but I figured that was why I had Alisa showing me around. There was an awkward silence between the three of us, the stillness of my personal hallway adding to the tension.

I wonder what animal will be compatible with a dragon, I thought, scowling. We neared the staircase, the other two walking down a few steps before realizing I wasn't beside them. Balancing on the banister, I shot them a dry grin before lifting my hands from the smooth wood. The camo leggings did nothing to slow me down, their soft texture helping me slide faster as I rode the railing down to the bottom floor. Just as I hopped off, my feet hitting the ground silently, I turned to see Luke and Alisa sliding down much slower. Surprisingly, Luke looked afraid of riding the banister, while Alisa was perfectly balanced.

"So what's on the agenda?" I asked as Alisa approached, taking her place at the front of our little group.

She shrugged. "I have to give you a tour and show you your classes, then you're free to spend your day however you please."

"Sweet," I laughed, cracking my knuckles. I was antsy, but the prospect of the many hours of training to come kept me focused as we left the girls' dormitory and skipped over to the school.

Luke trailed behind us, marvelling at the interior of the building while we walked. I found myself watching him with a smile, snorting when his eyes lit up after seeing the green and white doors for the common rooms. We passed the blue door, where I'd been before, and Alisa glanced over at me.

"I'm assuming you know where Master Ryu's class will be."

I nodded. "Have you lived here all your life?"

It was her turn to nod. "Most of us have. Compounds were formed a long time ago, and have changed since then, but it is common for shapeshifters to live in them their entire lives. My family has been living in Iluita for decades."

My eyebrows raised. "So not everyone is brought in from the outside?"

Alisa shook her head, braids hitting her cheek lightly. I could see her tattoo for a moment, still hidden by her shirt. I couldn't help but wonder what it was.

"No, most shifters are born in their compounds," she insisted, "and we are a small race. If we were numerous, we wouldn't be confined. Either way, there are very few shapeshifters like you who are born on the outside to human parents. We can't figure out why it happens -- random shifter births -- but we also know that sometimes humans themselves don't know they're shifters because their potential is low and they never realize."

A small oh left my lips as I processed her words. It made sense, though I highly doubted that every shifter brought to the compound was kidnapped. I remembered Tyree mentioning it before, but not exactly what she said.

"How do outside shifters normally get here?"

Luke jumped into the conversation at that point. "Most compounds share access to a fake school campus. We pretend that we're taking their kids to a prestigious school, but really they live in the compounds. It's a tricky business, which is why the leaders usually leave shifters on the outside alone unless they're extremely strong."

My power waves, I thought, the fights I got into. They're the only reason I'm here.

For once, I was glad I was a troublemaker. Our conversation halted as Alisa stopped outside a red door, knocking on it. Luke couldn't go inside without a master's permission, meaning we were stuck waiting while someone came to the door.

"Can I help you?"

A middle aged man with graying hair and light brown eyes opened the door, hunched forward slightly. He was extremely tall, and instantly I knew he was Master Samuel.

"Hello, master," Alisa said politely. "I was showing Katrina the common room for her fifth period class."

"Oh," the man smiled, "that's handy. Come on in, even the earth boy."

Now with an invitation, Luke was able to enter the room without feeling like his head was going to be chewed off.

"So you must be Katrina," the old master smiled. "It's nice to meet you, dual caster."

I inclined my head. "Nice to meet you as well."

He led us to a rectangle of couches similar to the one in the water common room. Luke sat next me on one couch while Alisa sat alone and the master took the sofa across from us.

"You know," he continued, "not many shifters are unique as you are, Katrina. Only the originals had extra power. These days, those with weak shapeshifter genes are unlucky. They lose their elements, or even their forms."

The idea was horrifying. After acquiring the power, understanding and the bond I had with the animal inside me, I could never give it up. No matter how much trouble I got into. This was who I was.

I would chose this, even if that meant leaving Mia behind in that closet a second time.

That didn't make me any less guilty, though.

"That's interesting," I replied flatly.

He pursed his lips, displeased with my nonchalance. The master spoke with us for another moment or so before we were off, Alisa leading Luke and I through the rest of the school. My thoughts were occupied by nightmares, whoever was around when Rowan and I were on the hill, hunters and my own training.

I had a lot of work cut out for me.