The Shifters: Katrina
Part Three - Ch.7: Tired Teens

I laughed mentally, Dani's voice bursting into my head. As it turns out, Rowan and I made a good team. He kept a look out for the seeker while I focused on keeping up a brisk pace. We were forced to stay on the ground or in the trees for the sake of the animals that couldn't fly, but I still used my wings for some extra speed here and there.

I can hear you, I thought back to Dani.

I can hear you guys too!

Same!

We've all got some good telepathy skills!

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I scoffed, as much as I could scoff as a dragon, and shook my head. Everyone was in on the telepathy, even Rowan. He could hear it, while I had to send his words to the others as thoughts.

While we play, we can talk! Dani told everyone. So... Rant! Tell Katrina about everything.

I got my form! I heard Ben think. His mental tone was excited, almost overjoyed. I'm a blue whale!

A whale?! I thought, Rowan laughing on my back at the mere thought. I shushed him, only for the boy to laugh louder. He promptly shut up as I leapt onto a tree branch, jarring him and nearly dropping him off my back. How is that even possible?!

Well, right now I'm just partners with Gene, Ben explained. But I hang out in the lake sometimes.

Rowan, who was now hanging on for dear life, tapped my scales. "Five o'clock, seeker. It's Tyree."

I cursed, mentally of course, and bolted in the other direction. Tyree, whose cover was blown, let out a cry and dashed after me, her gorilla footsteps echoing as we darted through the bushes. I was larger than her, which meant I was stuck with the more obvious pathways. Rowan held on tight as I pushed myself faster, the wind zipping past my scaled face.

"Katrina, faster! She's almost got us!"

Running is not exactly my thing, I thought to him. I'm better suited to flying.

"Well get better at running!" He replied seriously. "Or, well, jump!"

Aye, aye, captain, I muttered mentally, wings flapping once as my back legs sent us into the air. Tyree skidded across the ground as we want overhead, my claws sinking into one of the largest trees. Rowan's arms were wrapped tight around my neck, his legs nearly falling off as we rested in a vertical position. The gorilla huffed, running off when she realized we were going to give her a hard chase.

"Phew," Rowan sighed. "That was close."

She's always good at everything, I told him. I'm not surprised that she almost caught a dragon.

He laughed, patting my scales. I carefully maneuvered us back to the ground, letting the boy settle back into a safer spot.

Oh, hey, another voice said in my head. This one belonged to Antonio. I got my form too.

Cool, I thought back, what is it?

I'm a black widow -- as in the spider.

Creepy, I said, mentally shuddering. Aren't you tiny, then?

Definitely smaller than you.

I scowled, ignoring the laughter of everyone else as I set out to find the 'tiny' spider.

Okay, Tyree? I said, sending the thought out to everyone it could reach. Rowan was still laughing on my back.

Come back and tag me. I need to catch this little hoe.

Hours later, well past midnight, I was flopped on the ground as a human once again. Half asleep, but having enjoyed myself, I glanced around at the rest of my friends. We were all laying outside the school, wiped out from the intense game that had lasted more than a few hours. I had managed to get in some gossiping time as well, which killed two birds with one stone.

Yay for me, I thought, my brain filled with thoughts that were only mine once again. Now I can cram in some work.

"Hey, my fellow idiots..," someone began, only to yawn. It was Cory, the energetic water shifter laying a few feet away. "We never got to have a party..."

I lifted my head, frowning at him like he sprouted a second head. "You want to have a party right now?!"

He shot up, looking terrified. "Hells no. I want sleep now," he said firmly. "However, maybe on Wednesday..? Would you be caught up by then?"

"You can arrange a party for Wednesday? You know this is technically Monday morning already, right?" Shae said begrudgingly. Many of us snorted, and I caught the shy look that crossed Cory's face right before he shook it off, scowling.

"You leave it to me!" He insisted. "If Katrina's good with it, then I'll be ready."

Eyes passed to me, staring like they always had.

It was just that now, I could handle them.

A smile broke out onto my face. "Even if I'm still swamped, I'll put it off for a party. Who do you think I am?"

Cory hollered in excitement, getting up to high-five me. He danced around like an idiot, getting a few tired laughs for his efforts. When he realized we were all worn out, he began dragging the boys toward their dorms. Tyree did the same, picking girls up by their collars and hauling them toward our dormitory. Not wanting to be dragged, I forced myself to my feet and had to decency to get Chloe as well. My roommate couldn't stop yawning, the younger girl leaning into me as I guided her to our dorm. Clearly, I was used to wild nights much more than she was. Chloe collapsed on her bed almost instantly, leaving me to take her shoes off before I got myself ready for bed. She was already snoring by the time I shut the lights off, flopping into my own bed. It was still perfectly made, my side of the room untouched.

All the souvenirs I had brought back from my missions were in a bag next to my bed, even the ones from the most recent job. I laid in my too-perfect bed for another minute before I caved, walking quietly over to the bag. Inside, there were posters and little knick-knacks that reminded me of all the things I actually liked back in Greenhill.

I took my time, looking through everything. One of the first things I had was a Polaroid picture a girl had let me have. I had asked her to take a picture of the elites and I when I noticed she had the particular camera. We were in front of the willow tree that marked the center of the town we had stopped in, and at the bottom, I'd written, "the Katrina Willow Tree twin," in sharpie. I smiled as I gently ran my fingers over it, taping it above my bed. The next time I left, I would have to buy my own Polaroid. After that were little ridiculous postcards I had picked up for the sake of it. They stayed empty, joining the Polaroid on my wall.

From the second mission, I had some more ridiculous things. One was a poster I had wanted in elementary school -- it had one of my favourite female action heroes on it. I taped it onto the wall as well, but it was separated from the smaller, goofy souvenirs. The rest of the things I had were simple ones, including a snow globe with a wolf inside that I had teased Koren about, a necklace that spelled out 'G-O-A-W-A-Y,' and a cheesy Valentine's day chocolate that someone had given me a sample of on the last mission. I ate the chocolate, promising myself that I'd have a wonderful Valentine's, even if I was single and stuck in what was basically a high-security gated community.

And with that thought in mind -- and without brushing my teeth again -- I fell into the land of dreams.

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