The Shifters: Katrina

People shifted in their seats uncomfortably, unsure whether or not it was a real invitation to speak to me. I rolled my eyes, putting both elbows on the table. My eyes fell shut and I focused. Calm was water. Determination was fire. Calm, determined. Calm, determined.

Water was easy. I felt the soothing blue glow spread from my left fingertips down to my elbow. Koren's voice drifted across the room.

"One..."

His single word was enough I needed to egg myself on. I would prove that there was a second.

It seemed like the right idea considering I felt the comforting feeling of the red glow. It appeared, spreading from my skin as it went from my fingers to elbow.

"Two."

I opened my eyes, laying my hands down on the table. Their stares bore into the sides of my face as I exhaled, feeling a familiar rage in my chest. That was not what I wanted, and my focus nearly wavered before I was able to continue with my little display. Seconds passed before an icicle materialized above my left hand. Then, with a small pause, a flame appeared above my right hand.

"I've seen it before," Dani suddenly said. She sat next to someone from her own compound. "The dual elements. It isn't a fluke."

I mentally thanked her before relaxing, my hands slipping off the table. I had a raging headache and shut my eyes against the light.

"So one of our own has strong control over two elements and you said she was a dragon?"

Coraline must've nodded because they didn't ask for clarification. "Nearly everyone saw the shift," she added.

"It's a rather angry, vengeful animal," I muttered. "Strong, too. Raw power turned into something... useful. And no, I don't know why I'm like this."

"Are your parents possibly shifters?" A man asked.

I shrugged. "I'm an orphan. Adopted."

"Then, training?" He continued. "You must be in control and able to use your abilities. Maybe the hunters will back down if we have a trump card."

The others discussed the idea, going back and forth about hunters and who I was. Finally, I sighed and slumped forward on the table. My head was pounding, my loss of respect not because I was bored, but because I was in pain.

"Katrina, get your head up. Come on," Kami hissed. I could feel eyes on me, especially when I refused to move.

"Katrina..?"

Hands were on my shoulders, someone pulling me upward. I was face to face with an unknown boy, his hair an almost-blond shade of brown. Green eyes scanned my face for any sign of disrespect.

"I think she's sick or something," he said eventually.

"I need to get outside," I said softly. The rage and pressure was built up, ready to be released. I wasn't sure what it was, but I was nearly certain it was me needing to shift.

"Whatever you say," the boy said, catching my words. Before I knew it, arms were under my back and knees, lifting me into the air.

"Luke, what are you doing?!"

"She said she wants to go outside. I'll keep an eye on her," he chirped. Suddenly, I was moving. He left the room, clearly pleased that he was free from the meeting that had turned plain and boring. I was also finished with it, ready to sleep the day away. Luke, the quirky boy, kept me decently steady, never once complaining he was tired. My head pounded, my teeth clenching.

"Feet down."

I complied without question, standing on my own. We were beside Coraline's building in a space big enough for a shift without bumping into anything. Luke stepped back, raising an eyebrow.

"Do you have a layer of shifter's clothing?"

I pulled at the bodysuit before sitting down, putting my head in my knees. It was painful, but I couldn't convince myself to just do it already. Change forms.

"It isn't always easy," Luke chimed in. "What made you shift before?"

"Fire," I spat. "My fire did. Rowan's fire did."

"Rowan?"

"A jackass."

"Lovely."

The ground underneath me cracked, causing me to jump to my feet in surprise. Luke scoffed, hiding a smile. I was about to chew him out when my head pounded, my hand reaching for my temple. Vines sprouted from the ground like it was nothing, wrapping around my wrist. It pulled me toward the ground, and I saw over my shoulder that Luke had green apprentice bands around his wrists.

Is this an ambush? I nearly snarled. I pulled to attack him in return, but the vines caught my other arm. It yanked me toward the ground, and I felt another throb in my head.

Then, the rage of this petty attack released the pressure in my chest. The vines tore as my body began to feel like jelly. This time, I didn't pass out. I was awake, listening to the crack of bones shifting under skin. Black scales crept over my skin as I expanded, new appendages growing until I blinked slowly. My vision was sharp, body covered in black scales. I was much bigger now, and the pain was gone as I looked down at Luke.

"Well I'll be damned," he laughed, "you're a dragon!"

I guess I am, I thought, wondering if he could hear me. By the smile on his face, he could. Luke beckoned me over, ushering me toward the street. Shifters gasped and gawked as I began to walk, getting used to the new body. As I thundered past Coraline's building, I could see the people in the meeting gathered out front, Coraline spotting me instantly as I wandered out of my safe little shifting spot.

"Katrina?"

I wiggled the wings on my back in response.

"Incredible," Anna, the young girl, muttered.

I basked in their praise until something triggered my senses. My sensitive feet could feel the thumping rhythm of something big, but not as big as me, coming this way. I whirled, sitting back on my hind legs and using my tail to support me while my wings flared. I hissed as a blur of brown came toward me. Spikes shot from my spine, and I spat sparks as the other shifter jumped toward me.

Bitch back the hell--wait what?

My annoyed thoughts cut off just as I was about to slap whatever was attacking me with a front leg. It was a familiar gorilla, flying at my chest. I rolled my eyes, hitting her more gently than what I originally planned. She fumbled in the air before I lurched forward on four feet, the gorilla hitting my back before bouncing to the ground.

I knew it was you, a familiar voice said in my head. People were bewildered as I calmed down, the two of us nudging each other.

Nice to see you again.

The gorilla wiggled its butt at me and I snorted.

Tyree.