I see Shadowclaw across the clearing of battling cats and the stare she gives me sends shivers up my spin. I unsheathe my claws and we both leap at each other meeting in mid air.

My names Kaya Mahala. Right now I'm in a battle that will ultimately decide my fate. But I'm not nervous. Its best if I start at the beginning.

ONE YEAR AGO

It all started one year ago.

BBBRRIIINNGG. The bell goes off and you can hear chairs scraping the floor. I get up and put my spiral in my back pack. My friend Cindy waves me over. "So you ready for the test tomorrow? I'm totally gonna flunk it."

"Yeah you know me. You wanna borrow my notes?" She shakes her head no.

"No use in wasting my afternoon. It wouldn't help," she says giving me a goofy grin. "You gonna come over tonight."

"No. I'm going to go to the animal shelter. You wanna come help? Mary wouldn't mind some extra help." Its true. Lately the veterinarian has been swamped with an overwhelming amount of stray and feral cats coming in.

"I don't know. Last time..."

"Forget about last time. Ren and Nate will be there." Ren and nate were the most popular boys in school. But despite that they were actually really smart and cared about collage and the enviornment. So they volunteered at the same animal shelter as me. But I did it for the veterinary hours I needed to get into ATM the only collage in Texas with a degree in veterinary medicine. "It'll be fun. And you know you enjoy petting the puppies and kittens." I had her there.

"Okay. I guess."

"YES. Come on lets go," I say grabbing her hand and dragging her. We get out of the school and get on our bikes. We peddle the short ride over to our local animal shelter. When we get there Ren and nate are already there, packing the van, probably to go pick io another reported animal. They nod to us and I wave pulling Cindy in behind me.

I walk to the back nodding to the guy sitting at the front desk. He knew not to stop me. I walk and see Maple holding down a dog while Mary gives it a shot. I shiver. That is one thing I will never be able to do as a veterinarian. Giving animals shots. I hate needles. Mary glances up. "Hello Kaya, Cindy."

"Hey Dr. Mary," Cindy says.

"For the hundredth, Cindy, time just call me Mary." She takes the needle out of the dog and puts it away. "Okay maple. Take him back to his cage please."

"So what can we help with?" I've been fidgeting trying to stay still.

"Well Ren and nate are about to head out and go pick up a whole group of feral cats. They might need help especially from some one with your talent." She was referring to the way that I connected with animals. She called it a gift possessed by few outside of the animal kingdoms themselves. "I'm gonna send maple with them. Why don't you two go as well."

"Okay. We'll be back soon." With that I again pull Cindy out the door. We go outside and are soon joined by maple. We go over to where the two boys are about ready to leave. "Mary said y'all might need our help."

Ren just laughs. "We don't need help from any girls," he says but at that nate elbows him in the gut.

"Come on dude. This is a lot of cats and you've heard what she can do," he says referring to my talent.

"Fine," he says rubbing his stomach. We all stifle giggles. They jump in the back and we follow. Ren signals to the driver and the van starts up. Its a short ride. We jump out and I see we're in the abandoned lot across from the school. "Okay so where are the little monsters." I smack him in the back of the head. "Uh ow."

"These are intelligent living breathing things and you call them monsters. Last time I ever think you care for cats."

"Look lets just find em and bring em back to the shelter kay," nate says. I nod my head and think I hear Ren mumble something like fine. We start searching. I stand and take a deep breath letting my senses take in my surroundings.

"Hey what are you doing? You gonna help, or are ya just stand there?" I hear a thump and smile invisioning Cindy smack Ren. "Again ow."

"Shhh. Shes using her talent." My eyes shot open and I dash around a corner.

"I found one." Its a pure black she-cat with white paw tips. "Its okay. I'm not gonna hurt ya." I keep muttering reassurances as I come forward to pet the cat. Before I can touch her, she scratches me then runs off. "Come back here." I start running after the cat aware of the others behind me. The cat turns down an ally and I follow to see a whole group of cats. "Ambush," I say before the first cats jump on me teeth bared. I can here the other struggling for freedom but I cant see them. Then everything goes black.