The Shifters: Katrina
Part One - Ch.6: Welcome Home, lluita!

When I finally re-opened my eyes, the van was stopped and the shifters were getting out. I stumbled out of the van myself, sitting on the ground as the others seemed to unloaded some secret compartment of supplies. Wherever we were, it was warmer, even while the sun was going down. It was probably past eight by now, but it was a Friday, so I wasn't sure if either of my Moms would be worried about where I was. Not yet at least, unless they got Kami's letter.

As my thoughts went to Kami, I found myself watching her and the others. They were extracting duffle bags from a compartment beneath the van, and even though the bags looked filled to the brim, they had no trouble carrying them. Each shifter took two bags under both arms before Aaron shut the doors of the van and clicked a key hanging from his fingers. A gust of air then pushed it down into the ditch, and while I expected it to crash and be ruined, the shifters had another plan. The van rolled onto a platform of mud before it was pulled safely into the ground and a roof of sturdy, dried earth slid overtop to conceal it completely. I gasped in amazement, earning myself a cheeky look from Koren.

"There's many more vehicles hidden underneath the ground. How else would we keep our stuff hidden from regular humans going by?" He teased, nudging me with his elbow as he began following the others back toward the forest on the edge of the road. The trees were thick, sitting close together like a jungle. I raised an eyebrow as they happily strolled toward the thickest trees, chatting lightly as if they weren't walking into the middle of nowhere.

"Katrina!" Molly called, winking at me. "Hurry up!"

I gaped, but caught up to them as they began to disappear inside the trees. I followed closely behind them as the shifters pushed through the branches, leading me toward a wall of rock. They all dropped off their supplies, Rachel walking toward the smooth wall.

"What is she doing?"

Molly stepped beside me, pointing toward Rachel's hands. They were glowing green, her power apparing in her palms.

Earth, I thought, thinking of the elements. The green element.

"So only shifters with earth powers can get into this place?" I asked, watching as Rachel laid her hands on the wall. It rumbled before giving in to her will, slowing crumbling apart and creating an opening. The shifters picked their things back up, following Rachel through the door she created. Molly grinned at me over her shoulder, beckoning for me to come through as well.

"Don't worry about the doorway. Each element can open their own passage, just in different places. This one was the most convenient," she explained, pointing behind us as we cleared the doorway. Ahead of us, Rachel's glow disappeared, and the door restored itself.

We were sealed inside, with our only way being forward. A cavern led down into the ground further, which was where the shifters were currently headed happily.

Am I really doing this? I thought, looking back at the sealed entrance. I couldn't shake off the loss of my family, the feeling so strong it felt like I'd died and been separated from them.

I could try to fight and escape. Go back to them.

Go back to Greenhill, live among people who despised me like I despised them. Where my home was filled with love and support, but not understanding.

It's not like I could've asked them to do anything more for me. They did everything they could.

Slowly, I walked toward the wall, my hand resting on the cool surface.

And if these shifters are right, and if that hunter proves anything, they would be in danger around me.

Could I do that to the people who did everything they could for me?

Exhaling, I pulled my shoulders back and let my hand fall to my side. The choice couldn't be made -- I couldn't force myself to let go so easily -- but I knew what choice I was going to pick one day. At least, I thought I did.

My heart hurt as I turned back around and caught up to the shifters, leaving the entrance, and everyone else, behind.

Life sure changed a whole lot, and very quickly, I thought as I shuffled behind the others, my head bowed down as tears leaked down my face. Each one was wiped away within seconds, to hide my distress from the others, but part of me knew they could feel it as well.

Steps fell in beside me. They were the light, agile ones of Kami, the python. Her pink hair appeared in my sight, a smirk on her face as I wiped away the last tear and sniffled.

"Don't be a baby, kid. We all left something behind to be here. You aren't the only one suffering, so don't be a drama queen. You'll be happy here."

Kami's words, while harsh and unkind, snapped me out of my trance. The painful thoughts and words haunting my head cleared as I stared up at her in wonder -- wondering how someone could act so bitchy toward a kid they just kidnapped.

She snickered, moving ahead of me back to where she'd been with Aaron. I watched her go, my mouth hanging open. Part of me was offended, while another part was grateful that she got me out of the slump temporarily. Above all else, I wanted to scream at her for calling me a kid and a drama queen, but using my own 'suffering' as an excuse for respect wouldn't help my case with her.

I would just stick with hating her, and one day, I would kick her ass for it.

That is, if I did prove to be a shifter like them.

My mood instantly lifted as light appeared up ahead. We'd been walking with the light of someone's fire -- I couldn't tell which shifter used it -- but now, it was real sunlight ahead. Molly turned, grabbing my hand as they began to pick up the pace, running out of the tunnel. It seemed like all of them hated the tight space, and they were happy to run around outside the tunnel.

Molly helped me out of the tunnel, since the edge was steeper than I imagined. As she pulled me by my hand, holding me steady, I began to see what a shifter compound really looked like.

Bright forests. A pond nearby. Sun touching nearly every spot. Three large buildings with so much open space I wondered if they were safe in the winter, and several smaller ones that looked homey and were brightly coloured. The town's roads were busy, and the town itself was large. I could see people working in fields, but they weren't farms. More like open areas large enough to be elephant sanctuaries.

Oh, I thought, of course. They're for people in animal form. This is all for them.

I smiled, staring down at the town. Everywhere I looked, another feature popped up. I could even see games going on between people wielding different elements.

"Wow..."

Koren stepped in next to me while the others continued to run around the opening.

"Welcome to lluita, Katrina."

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