The Shifters: Katrina
Part Two - Ch.30: the Trail

My mother is a part of a group of humans that hunts down the existing supernatural race of shapeshifters. Which I am a part of.

My super nice, super gentle mom-friend has been betraying all of us.

The man who is as powerful as Coraline, who is our leader and an extremely intimidating person, is orchestrating the mini invasion of hunters that's currently happening and is therefore also a traitor.

Overall?

It seems like I'm going to need to deal with some baggage after this.

My thoughts were taking over my mind the second I realized who the tiger was. The shock along with everything else was overwhelming enough for me to accidentally call back the ice that was holding the hunters in place. They took two steps before Kami rolled her eyes, holding them up in the air while Koren tried to shake me out of my shock. My friends floundered, sensing my distress.

"What is it, Katrina? What do you know?"

That was the third time Koren asked me.

This time, I found my words.

"Sonya," I blurted, "she's not the only rogue. Someone is offering her power if she helps them and the hunters take over Iluita."

His expression darkened. "And that has what to do with Xavier, Katrina?"

"My dream," I breathed, my chest feeling heavy. "It happened again. There was a tiger. It tried to kill Kami! Then... Then it fought with Coraline."

"That's just a dream, Katrina."

"But that isn't all!" I insisted. "The hunters, when they arrived, Sonya told them to go meet with her master, and when they asked for clarification, they asked if she meant the tiger."

Koren looked skeptical, as did Kami and the other guards.

"You don't believe me?! Who else would want to take the compound from Coraline? He would've been leader if she hadn't shown him up with her personality. Of course he's bitter," I seethed. "He knows he's stronger physically."

I pictured the time when I was in the van a month ago, being brought to the compound. How Xavier had roughly forced me back into the collar when I was freaking out. He wasn't understanding or calm like a leader, he was powerful and brash.

Like me.

"I know it's him," I panted. "Him and Sonya, and maybe others."

Koren's eyes flashed with anger. "You're talking about the head of the elites, Katrina. In front of a lot of people."

My eyes passed to my friends. They looked just as distressed as I was, but some of them looked like they were shocked. Like they believed me.

I stepped away from Koren, fists balled at my sides.

"Don't believe me. You don't have to," I growled. "You can stay here and deal with the hunters, and I'll go rescue my friends from the traitor."

"Katrina--"

"Don't."

Koren froze where he was. While I was overwhelmed and upset, my two glows had begun creeping up my arms. Red went from my right hand to my collarbone, mirrored by the blue on my left side.

"A hell of a lot is happening right now," I confessed lowly, "but I'm going to keep moving. You don't have to believe me or join me, but if you try to stop me...

"You'll be in a lot of pain too."

With that threat hanging between me and the ones I'd begun to see as my friends, my new siblings, my home and my safety, I turned and ran, heading for the compound. My sense of smell was as heightened as possible, my feet following Tyree's familiar trail. Behind me, there weren't any guards following, but a few of my friends had believed me enough to chase after me. Rowan, Luke, Cory, Emma, Chloe, Gene and to my surprise, Sam and Max.

I'd forgotten all about those two.

"What the hell are you two doing?" I wondered as the eight of them caught up, my question directed at the water apprentices who hated my guts.

"We're saving a fellow water apprentice," Sam grumbled, "and... We believe you. It's been suspicious. Xavier was almost leader, but then he got dethroned and it was clear he was upset about being deemed unfit. Then, he starts letting Koren take over with the guards? Doesn't add up."

The new information he gave me confirmed my suspicions. I nodded my thanks to the two of them, following the trail that was getting stronger. We rounded a corner, finding a deserted street.

"Where is everyone?"

"Oh," Max piped up, "while you were focused on the rogues and splitting everyone up, we snuck off to get people safely into their houses. If a fight breaks out, the people who are weaker will be safe."

The two apprentices gave me smug glances. I rolled my eyes, ignoring the smile that threatened to appear. Instead, I sniffed the air, Tyree's scent strong as if she'd just been here.

"They're nearby," I said, "but the scent is strong enough that it doesn't give off a specific direction anymore."

I chewed on my lip. I wanted to save them. To save Talia, Tyree, Quintin, Shae and Alisa. They probably didn't even know Xavier was the rogue they were looking for.

"There!"

Everyone's heads whipped toward the direction Emma was pointing in. Splattered across the pavement were spots of red, and I felt my throat close. It wasn't quite right to be the scene of my nightmare, but that didn't make it any better. I took off running, following the splatters out of the town area and into the forest. I heard snarling, heard trees crack and branches break. A stream of fire shot out from my right hand, burning a path through the bushes for me. The others followed, each of us using our super speed if possible to reach our friends.

The path spat us out in a destroyed zone of trees. The circle of destruction was about twenty meters wide, filled with broken trees and burning leaves. In the center were two bodies and three upright figures, facing off with a wildcat.

A wildcat with orange fur and black horizontal lines along its body.

The tiger.

I ran forward, fire and water curling around my body. The water doused the flaming trees, and the flames scorched the branches in my way. Without hesitation, I threw myself between my friends and the tiger.

Tyree, Quintin and Shae were still standing, though all three bled, while a white and black striped tiger and a blonde haired girl with braids laid in the dirt. Alisa and Talia were alive, their breathing shallow. Max and Sam ran to Shae, standing protectively in front of her. Rowan parked himself at my side, as well as Luke. Cory ran to his brother, Gene ran to Tyree, and Emma and Chloe knelt in the dirt beside the two fallen girls. A growl left my throat as I stared down the tiger, my glow expanding and contracting with my breath.

"Xavier."

Its head tilted. Did Sonya betray me?

"No. Actually, she escaped."

Good for her.

I glared, gritting my teeth. "You're a monster," I spat, "you betrayed everyone. You pretended to be our friend and a mentor to so many of us!"

Coraline pretended to be my friend, but we know where that went, Xavier's voice groaned in my head. He wasn't just bitter, but upset. Years of sadness had built up. Regret too, probably. The wish that he was fit to be a leader.

"You need to leave Iluita," I told him, "or we'll make you leave."

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These people are all too soft to kill me, Katrina.

A smirk, one that held no real amusement, popped onto my face. "Try me, then."

I believe that you'd break every bone in my body, Xavier relented, but you wouldn't kill.

My arms tensed, real flames licking their way onto my skin. My red glow became a live fire on my arm, and the blue glow became water sticking to my skin, writhing along with my anger.

"Let's see who's right, Xavier."

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