The Shifters: Katrina

An eerie silence followed my threat. I had potential ways to hurt her hovering above my hands, and the impressive fact was that I didn't need the glow for control. The elements responded to my thoughts, smoother than they'd ever been. The guards didn't dare interrupt, and it seemed as if Coraline was simply waiting, trying to guess what I'd do. My mother watched me, eyes trained on the fire and ice, green irises sparkling with both terror and hatred.

"I expect nothing less from a freak of your kind," she muttered, forgetting that we had super hearing. I tensed, ready to get revenge. For myself, Molly, Victoria, Dani and every other shapeshifter in existence.

But if I hurt her, I'd prove her right.

With a sigh, I let my shoulder slump forward, the elements disappearing. My eyes were glued to her face, memorizing every curve, every subtle feature along with the obvious ones. She'd been one of my two saviours. One of the people that saved me from my life itself.

"I used to think that I owed you," I confessed quietly.

"That you and your family that you brought me to... Were my everything."

Her weight shifted. Maybe she was surprised, touched, or even regretted the harsh things she'd said. Maybe there was a sliver of a mother within her.

Not that I'd take that chance.

"But now... Now you're going to follow my leader, answer her questions, and betray the hunters. I hope you're stubborn, so that they can punish you for it. Or maybe they'll be so nice you'll realize every horrible thing you've done."

She sneered. "Given up on your threat?"

"I wasn't finished!" I shouted, hand shooting forward. My fingers circled her throat with an iron grip, lifting her off the ground. She gaped, grabbing my hand. Even when she dug her nails in, I refused to let go. "If you so much as sit when Coraline tells you to stand, I will make good on my threat. You aren't my mother anymore, Marie Roberts. You're a traitor."

She spat at me, the ball of saliva falling uselessly to the ground. I dropped her, though there was possibly a smidge of a throw mixed in to make her stumble and fall. Spinning on my heel, I met Coraline's eyes before nodding. She mirrored it, watching as I ran as fast as possible.

It wasn't long before Tyree caught up, her legs carrying her just as fast as mine could. "What are you doing next? You must be pretty upset."

I'm beyond pretty upset. My plan is to bottle this up and cry later.

"Doesn't matter," I grumbled, "there's a rogue shifter letting people in. We have to figure out who."

A sigh left my lips. "And that's not all. They called for backup, remember? Everyone else seemed to gloss over that fact."

"Shit," Tyree spat, "so we have to stop more from getting in."

I nodded. "And if we don't figure out who's letting them in, it'll be a lot harder on us."

The gorilla's hand landed on my shoulder, her strength bringing me to a stop as she halted. "Katrina, we're just kids. We can't deal with this on our own," she said, ever the voice of reason. Frustration coursed through my veins, which seemed to be my newest habit.

"What else do we do?"

"Go back and get the rest of the elites on board. It's their duty to deal with this type of stuff," Tyree pointed out.

"But--"

"There's another option," she cut me off. "We... We could ask the others for help?"

My eyebrow rose. Tyree elaborated. "Sonya, Ben, Antonio, Gene, your water friends -- they can help us."

"We will, too."

Both of us tensed, looking down the road. Quintin stood in front of a large group, ranging from the water kids I'd trained with to the people I sat with during lunch to the foreign shifters I'd just met. Hell, even Sam and Max were there, hands stuffed in their pockets.

My spirits soared. "How did you guys know..?"

"You ran out of the class after seeing the fight," Alisa grinned, "I may not be the type to charge in head first, but I rounded up as many of your friends as I could. Figured you might need help."

"So, what's the problem?" Luke asked, surrounded by my friends from school. He had started fitting in right away, everyone taking to his charm and kindness.

I swallowed, trying to calm my racing heart. "Someone, or multiple people, have gone rogue. They're letting hunters inside the compound. Those people that were attacking also happened to call in back-up."

"Why didn't you get the elites to follow you?" Shae asked softly. Despite her gentle tone, I nearly flinched.

"One of Katrina's adopted mothers is a part of the hunter group attacking us."

"I kind of... Ran off," I admitted sheepishly.

Rowan scowled, looking over our group. "The fastest two should get the elites, since it's safer to go in pairs. A strong team of four or so should hunt down the rogue. Everyone else can follow Katrina to take down the incoming hunters."

"Me?" I squeaked, slightly breathless. There's no way in hell I can lead anyone into a fight, I can't even lead myself.

"Yes, you," Rowan replied firmly. "It has to be you. You're the reason we're all still here, after all."

"And you've fought these guys," Tyree pointed out. "Multiple times."

Most of them don't even know about Wally and what happened, I realized. But they're willing to trust me.

I closed my eyes, mentally examining the strengths of our team. "Everybody tell me your forms, if you have one."

Shae; panther. Quintin; wolf. Cory; pitbull.

Tyree; gorilla. Gene; horse. Sonya; panda bear. Alisa; cobra.

Luke; panther. Dani; tabby. Anna; lemur. Chloe; raven. Emma; chameleon. Liam; arctic fox. Wyatt; owl. Talia; tiger.

Without a form; Ben, Antonio and Rowan.

And for myself, a dragon.

"Gene and Chloe. You two have some of the fastest animals, you should go get the elites and any other guards you can round up."

My roommate and friend both nodded, shifting in an instant. Chloe was a rather large raven, but still extremely fast. I listened to Gene's hooves on the paved road as I decided the next team.

"Those who will track down the rogue are Quintin, Tyree, Alisa and Shae."

The four of them nodded, prepared to leave.

"Wait up."

Everyone glanced to the back of the group. Talia, the girl with the coldest presence, stood with her chin held high.

"I want to help with the rogue," she announced. "As a tiger, I'm strong enough to."

A tiger.

My mind flashed to the scene of my nightmare. Cautiously, I strode toward Talia, holding her frosty stare. I stopped a foot away from her, sizing her up.

It wasn't her.

The realization came easily. It was a gut feeling, one that wasn't only from me, but from the dragon deep inside. When that form, that strong, protective form, acknowledged her loyalty, I finally understood the importance of animal compatibility.

If it wasn't her, then it was someone else. Which means Talia will hopefully be well matched with that tiger if that shifter does turn out to be a rogue. If that dream even counts for anything.

"Thank you," I told her softly.

She nodded. "Let's go, then."

The five of them clapped hands before running off together, not yet shifting. That left me with eleven other shifters, ready to face down whatever hunters tried to come into our compound.

Twelve of us. To guard four entries into the compound.

This was going to be difficult.