Intro

Six kids with extraordinary powers ― they can shapeshift. Pounce, the black panther. Ty, the russet wolf. Lily and Moonbeam, capuchin monkey and lionhead rabbit. And Mitch and Thorn, brown bears. Thought up by some seriously insane scientists, these six "Shifters" were created for study purposes; if one were to have two different instincts ― human and animal ― which would over-power the other? Now living on their own, Pounce and her friends must struggle to survive with their abilities, confused and lost as they are. They're strong, but are they strong enough..?

Please read and review! I know it's not really about Max and the Flock, but please don't flame me for it! I really wanted to write a novel, and I needed somewhere to test it out and see how people enjoy it.

So…enjoy!

Oh! And if you have any (nice or constructive) comments, please give them to me! I would like all the help I can get with this story! ;D

Finally, I'll just shut up now and let you read the actual plot…

Chapter One: A Blazing Start

The heavy mist filled the air, thick shadows of blue and grey forming over the deep puddles in the uneven ground. Little streams of leaves and mud trickled through the soggy earth, reminders of the downpour that had only just recently ceased its restless bucketing. The sky, dark with clouds, still rumbled quietly, as if on edge to start up the storm once more.

There were no animals; they had all fled at the first signs of rain. And obviously this land was too far away from civilization for anyone to visit, especially during a hurricane. The forest seemed completely empty.

Key word ― seemed.

I panted hard as I ran through the trees, my breath coming out in short, shallow gasps. My heart pounded against my chest, as if trying to break out of my body, desperate to be free. My thighs burned like someone had lit them on fire, and tears streamed down my face as the cold wind stung my skin. My long, black hair blew out behind me, snagging more and more twigs in its grasp the farther I ran.

I was sprinting for my life.

During the storm, a tree had been stuck by lightning, causing it and it's neighbours to catch fire. Unfortunately for me, I had been only about two meters away, so now, with one arm I propelled myself forward, while the other swung limply at my side, twisted and useless. I wasn't sure if it was broken or not, but either way, it was pretty painful.

As I rounded another clump of trees, I screamed; in agony or frustration, I didn't know. It might have been both.

The fire, roaring away like a lion, was right in front of me. In my haste and confusion, I must have gotten turned around and run towards the fire.

I came to an angry halt, furious with myself. I was never this stupid! It must have been the fact that I was exhausted, in excruciating pain, and that this dang fog was so thick that I couldn't even see properly.

The fire was growing nearer by the second, and I knew I had to do something, and fast. But what? How could I outrun it? I had pretty much used up all of my energy already, and my arm was so sore now that I was on the verge of ripping it off just to get rid of the pain. There was one thing that I could do…

No.

I didn't think that it was possible, not while I was this worn-out. Impossible. But maybe…

I had to at least try, right?

Collecting myself, I spun on my heal and broke into a dead sprint, racing away as fast as I could through the trees. The fire blazed behind me, right on my heals.

I ran faster and faster, pushing myself to, and past my limit, and yet still the flames stayed with me. Now was the time to do it, before I collapsed and burned to ashes.

I snarled and leapt into the air, flexing my leg muscles as I pushed off. When I was about three feet in the air, I Shifted.

My heart sputtered and halted altogether as my body began to transform.

My back and outstretched limbs became stockier, my new "outer" skin growing around my ripped jeans and tank-top. My nails grew longer, becoming razor-sharp claws. I quivered slightly as a long, black tail began to sprout just above my behind, and I instantly become more aware of everything as my enhanced sight, smell, and hearing kicked in. Finally, as my hands became giant paws, a layer of black, silky fur grew over me, warming me a little.

I had gone from fourteen-year-old girl to black panther in less than three seconds.

In the next instant I was speeding up, running faster than ever before. My crippled arm ― or, paw, I should say ― was still too injured to use, so I limped along on three legs. However handicapped I may have been, this was still way faster than running on two feet.

I sailed away from the fire, my tail working extra hard to help me maintain my balance.

I growled a laugh as I thought about the fire, now far behind me, and I slowed a little to figure out where I was.

The fog was still blindingly heavy, and it almost like swimming on your feet. I peered ahead of me, deciding which way to turn next.

That's when I fell.

The cliff seemed to come out of nowhere; one moment I was jogging along the hard earth, and the next thing I knew I was tumbling through the air at an alarming speed.

I slowly counted to five in my head, and still I hit nothing. I must have been falling a long way. I could almost make out the sound of running water ―

Cold.

Agony.

And then…nothing.

The last conscious thought I had was of icy, painful water, and then all was dark.

So what do you think? R&R and tell me! What should happen? Do you like it so far? Any grammar or spelling issuses...? I want to get all the help I can with this story!

Please review! (but I don't take very well to flaming...) ;D

-PounceGirl out!