The Shifters: Katrina

To say standing in the middle of Coraline's office while dripping wet isn't funny would be a lie. Kami had been able to fish me out of the water when she swam in after me and shoved me upward, enough of my body sticking out for her to catch me in a bubble of air. Immediately after, she'd stomped through town and into Coraline's office while I stretched out behind her, grinning like a smug cat. She dropped me on my ass the second Coraline got to her feet, leaving me to push myself up as I dripped water onto the carpet. I pushed my slick hair away from my face, wiping my eyes. I could've dried off, but my wet-rat appearance made it all the funnier. Coraline was already scowling, probably having noticed the power waves and blaming me already. Her disappointment turned into frustration as a Cheshire cat grin spread across my face.

"Care to explain?"

"Needed to blow off some steam," I smirked, "but didn't hurt anyone this time. It helped me relax."

"You disturbed everyone! Blew people over! Knocked items that were for sale around the street!"

"No one got hurt," I reiterated.

She scowled. "That isn't the point, Katrina. You need to 'blow off steam' in ways that don't bother other people. You can't do whatever you please."

Got a point there.

"Why did you do it?" She continued when I remained silent.

I shrugged. "I was distracted. Upset, a little shaken. It was a nightmare. That, and the fact that this is new, overwhelming -- I needed something familiar. Trouble has always been familiar."

It was Kami's turn to interrupt. "The nightmare from a while ago?"

"A fresh one."

She went silent as well, both adults contemplating what I'd told them. My eyes passed from Coraline to the streets outside the window. Everyone was back on track, some were even laughing.

A smile appeared on my face.

Some can take a joke, apparently, I mused, grinning to myself. I watched an older couple brush themselves off, the two men playfully nudging each other before the taller one laughed, poking the shorter one until he scowled. Before he could stomp away, I watched as his partner pulled him in for a hug despite his protests. They were adorable, and relieved me of most of whatever guilt I felt.

"Kami, you're dismissed," Coraline suddenly ordered. "I'll train with Katrina this afternoon. Surely it'll knock some sense into her."

The pink haired guard nodded before rolling her eyes at me and storming off. I focused back on my leader-gone-teacher.

"So..?"

Coraline glared at me. "Can you train in those clothes?"

I nodded.

"Then come on," she huffed, "we've got to see what your capabilities are."

She's examining my dragon form, I thought, following her outside. The leader's presence made people do double takes, eyes on her as she led me to one of the open rectangular spaces meant for outdoor training.

"You can't shift on command yet, correct?"

"Sadly," I shrugged.

"Alright. What comes to mind when you think of your animal form?" She asked, crossing her arms. I frowned, and she continued. "When I need to shift, I think of a primal side in me that will allow me to do what I cannot as a human."

That will allow me to do what I cannot, eh?

I let my eyes drop to nothing in particular, picturing my dragon and the layers of my power. The water that was calm, the fire that was determination, and the dragon that was rage. Rage and usefulness. Skills I needed. Skills that benefitted me. I exhaled slowly. Useful. I needed my other form to be useful to me. Gradually, I felt the need to shift, to feel free and powerful, building up. I wanted to fly, to run from my worries and be carefree once again.

Pain began in the back of my neck. I winced, dropping to one knee. Coraline hummed thoughtfully.

It wasn't working. Bit by bit, the pain dotted along my spine, each joint cracking.

"Not quite working, Katrina. You're forcing the shift at this point, which may lead to some extra talents along the line, but this slow shift is only going to be painful for you."

"I," a sharp pain began in my shoulder, "can see that."

"What are you thinking of?"

"Usefulness. Functionality. The skills and power I possess as a dragon."

A grimace appeared on her face. "You don't have a particular need for it to be useful, Katrina. You won't be able to make it useful in a peaceful training situation. What else?"

Rage. Pure, burning rage.

"I don't think it'll work," I said numbly, ignoring the pain that spread into my arm.

"What is it, Katrina?"

"Rage," I spat. "It's rage."

Though I could only see her feet, I knew the expression on her face. One hand supporting her chin as she tilted her head in thought, considering my answer. After a moment of excruciating pain for me, she shifted her weight, kneeling as well. Her eyes met mine, a small smile on her face.

"When you're anrgy, you feel pressure and a warm, deadly feeling all the way down to your bones, right? Whether your rage makes you want to smash a wall, spit insults, or even hurt someone."

"That's one way to describe it."

"Focus on that. It's hard to recreate rage, since it's such a strong emotion, but you can recreate the feeling it gives you physically. That, and the pressure. That may be your dragon form pushing through to the surface."

A crunching sound echoed in my ears and I bit back a cry. My entire arm was on fire, as if spikes were trying to push their way through. Shifting seemed a lot worse when it was stalled, forced despite your animal form not wanting to come to light.

Pressure. Fiery, warmth, the need to do something to get revenge for whatever makes you angry.

That's when I felt it. The pressure in my chest, fueled by my imagination of what it was like to be furious. The need for something to relieve the anger and take revenge on whatever created such problems. It also felt like relief, the pain subsiding as the dragon awoke. I fell forward, barely catching myself as my body began to twist and morph, bones cracking without pain. Their pieces began to form into new bones, my size increasing as the shift finally occured on its own.

A sigh of relief escaped my dragon's mouth, the pain long gone as I glanced down at the leader of Iluita.

"Shifting into form on command; check."