The Shifters: Katrina

Walking out of Coraline's building was a lot harder than expected. The compound was crawling with new shifters who would be here for at least six more days. It was late in the afternoon when I finally relaxed, dropping my shoulders and unclenching my jaw. I was tired, more than a little emotionally drained, and confused on what would happen next. Each time I reached, subconsciously, for my power, I could feel the temptation of using it just sitting in the back of my mind. It was clearly there; raw energy waiting to be used. Part of me wanted to try shifting, but I knew that that would only cause me more trouble. Instead I wandered the busiest streets, speaking with the owners of stores I had visited before. I avoided everyone else, noting their stares on my back. People must've heard a description of me, or maybe they were just paranoid.

Someone tapped me on the shoulder as I finished speaking with a girl who worked at one of the stores selling body-morphing clothes. It was where I'd gotten my bodysuit, and I was wondering what other styles they had when I felt immense heat and the gentle tap. I whirled, only to come face to face with someone who I did not want to see.

"Ms. Coraline warned me that even though you were instructed to be outside, you'd probably avoid speaking with anyone important," a familiar foreign shifter smirked. "So, I thought I'd track you down."

"Aren't you..," I trailed off with a scowl. "Rowan?"

He extended a hand toward me. "Nice to meet you, Sarah. Or should I say Katrina?"

Wanting to pull away, I slowly shook his hand. "Why are you being nice to me? You literally told me I was a wuss during that duel," I pointed out, pulling my hand away. He shifted his feet sheepishly, looking away. His eyes, which I had noted before as slightly orange, seemed to shine bright orange in the fading sunlight that seeped in from the windows.

"I'm from--"

"Ileial," I supplied with a hidden grin, "continue."

His eyebrows shot up, but he pushed on. "It's how we're taught to intimidate an opponent. People are sloppy when they panic, or sometimes they can be submissive if they're afraid," he explained. "I know I sounded like a jackass. Sorry."

Makes sense, I thought, but refused to tell him that. I began to turn away, done with the conversation, when he stepped back in front of me.

"What happened at the duel?" He blurted, looking lost. The expression on his face caught my eye, the two of us staring at each other. His stare seemed even more intense than those of the people who thought I was a freak, or simply dangerous.

"I'm not sure why," I told him softly, "but your fire set off my animal form. And my... second element, apparently."

Surprise flickered across my face. Embarrassment shook me to the core, and I pulled away. "I know it's weird, I... excuse me," I rambled, leaving the store. I flipped my hood up, forgetting Coraline's words. After living here for long enough, I knew the compound like the back of my hand. I'd spent hours exploring and getting into sneaky trouble, and I knew how to get to the school compound without being seen. Nothing changed in the few hours I'd been gone. My duel had been first thing in the morning, I was a dragon for less than two hours, and the entire thing with Greenhill had taken less than seven. I was back in my dorm by nine at night, hitting the bed face first. As far as I knew, this was still my room, considering they probably didn't know which animals were compatible with dragons. After laying on my face for half an hour, I stripped down to my bodysuit and threw the things I'd taken from my room in a drawer. The dirty clothes were thrown in my hamper and I got into pajamas before falling back onto my bed, only to feel something jab into my ribs.

Sitting back up, my eyes widened. The two blue bands on my wrists were normal to me, but the red ones laying on my comforter weren't. I held them up, flipping them over in my hands.

I scoffed. Looks like they're acknowledging it all.

Even if I won't.

Leaving them on my dresser, I jumped into the bed and squished around until I was probably situated. My head was turned toward the window, seeing the sky turn dark as the day became a blur in my mind.

I knew I had two elements, deep down.

I felt the power of the dragon.

But having it all in reality? I couldn't wrap my head around it. The burden of worrying about my family was partially gone, even if my heart hurt from Mia's pathetic cries and pleas. I was guilty, but I knew it was the only thing I could do to protect them. Leave. Stay far away where I could train and become strong so that I wasn't a liability. I had made peace with that at the very least.

My only other worry was what I would do with my friends and relations in the compound itself, but I would deal with that soon enough. Or Coraline would. Who knows.

"Katrina."

I flinched, sliding out of the bed. "Who is it?"

"It's Shae..."

Guilt. More of it.

Ignoring the pajamas, I practically flew to the door. Shae tackled me the second I opened it, her arms around my neck as my back hit the floor. I swore she was crying, her words a jumbled mess as I laughed softly.

"I'm so glad you're okay."

I smiled up at the ceiling. "Hi, Shae."

She smacked my arm. "Never do that again."

"I won't, partner."

She sighed, leaning back. She helped me up to my feet, hand in mine.

"Thank you for coming back," she whispered as she turned toward my door. Apparently, all she wanted was a hug.

I paused before closing it, the water apprentice glancing over her shoulder.

"I've got to stay here," I told her.

"I'm not leaving."