The rain fell down like an omen to dread, lining everything with a glossy coat of polish. Like Diamonds falling into a deposit box, little drops fell into pools of water on the black tar. Clouds thundered angrily overhead, howling at me to go back the way I came. Today hadn't been a good day. Shifters, on their first day of school, would go with family in their families native mastered animal. For my family that was the Python, and my parents "snaked" their way out of going so they could stay home and torture the maids and butlers. I'd argued with them that they'd done it with my brother Damien, but they waved it off and sent me in a Limmo and a "police" escort. Argument lost. It was a Shifter tradition to do that but then again, not many Shifters are filthy rich like dear Mom and Dad.
My reflection was dim on the black shaded windows that prevented others from seeing me as we drove on the mountain trail. My red eyes glowed in the darkness of the incoming twilight; sad, bored, how ever you word it, it's nagative. My long black hair was braided in one think braid and hung over my shoulder. My bangs fell into my face, framing it lightly and shading my pale complexion just enough to make me look like some sort of goddess. I was short for a Shifter my age, fifty three (we age slowly, so I look like I'm fifteen), but I didn't see it as bad. I have the advantage of being stronger and faster than your average Shifter, stratigetically smarter, and good with rhythyms and sounds. Fortunately, I fall in neither of my parents gene pools. It comes in handy because I tend to fly off the handle a lot and get in all kinds of fights.
The trees flew by as I got closer to the school, and soon they gave way to the four towers of the school. Each tower resides in one direction of the Human Compass. North, South, East, and West. They had demonic, Dracula-looking castle spikes making it demonic, and cryptic, almost. Atleast the accomadations are supposed to be okay. People and animals ran across the fields to get to cover from the rain. I'd purposefully made myself late for the opening ceremonies, too boring.
The Escort people turned on their sirens, making people stop and look to see who's coming now. All the faces looking my way, I felt my face and my heart flush. Even though I knew they couldn't see me, I ducked anyways. Like I needed another reason to get pestered other than being my brothers sister? Hell no! The sound of the ruby leaf pendant tapping on the interior plastic of the door was reassuring. Damien had gotten it for me when I graduated from Eighth grade last year before he went away for school. It moved it beat with the holes in the ground from lack of care on the road. I liked it...
Kitta stood at the gate you use to get on and off Campus, accompanied by a couple of school guards to make sure she didn't run anywhere. She was impatiently tapping her foot when we pulled into view, then she was just jumping and waving her arms like a maniac. Yes, I can see you, Kit, I though to myself. I smiled at the fact that I could still make silent humorous jokes after the 34 hour limmo ride without stopping. The curious eyes that had seen us coming were arriving at the gate now and watched in wonder as the limmo pulled to a stop before entering the campus to drop off my stuff. I opened the door and in she popped, locking me in her arms. She has firey orange hair, but it was pulled back into a dark orange winter hat with fall leaf designs on it. Her hezel eyes and tan complexion were bright, even in the dreary weather.
"You're here!" she shrieked. "I though you'd never come!"
"With back up!!" I laughed back and pointed to the Escort people pretending to be police. She laughed and shut the door behind her. Why make her walk when here's a fancy Limmo ride with her best friend in it? Kitta Foxwood has been my best friend practically since the day I was born. Her mom had been my moms best friend in highschool, but when my mom got super rich they stopped talking. Finally, as a surprise visit, they showed up and we've been friends since. We're practically sisters, too. We share everything with eachother. She makes me feel more in control of my emotions when I'm around her, more calm.
The campus was beautiful. Huge, but beautiful. There was a waterfall in between the Highschool Campus where we were and the Middleschool Campus. The Elementals a long time ago made another demension for our people to live peacefully. It's pretty much like another state hidden in a one mile radius of the center of the Rocky Mountains. There is a College Campus, a Highschool Campus, a Middleschool Campus, an Elementary Campus, and a Preschool Campus. Not to mention a few towns and villages but nothing more than that. The lush grass would soon be dying to make room for snow, the lakes and ponds will freeze up, plants and trees will go dormant. All those fun things that bring quiet out in the winter time.
There were four buildings total on this campus. The Dorms building for both guys and girls, the actual school, the recreational building has a pool, a football field, a soccer field, a Track track, a work out room with treadmills and lifers (that fun stuff), and a basket ball court. Well, two of those. One in and one out doors. The last building is the three story cafeteria. First floor food and seating and the other two are just seating. The whole place itself is like a cryptic castle inside and out, except the dorms. It's a "Cheery Castle" on the outside, in Kit's words, and like a luxury hotel on the inside. Though the hallways are lit by torches because the Vamps are uncomfortable with the flourescents.
We, followed by curious people, curiously followed the maids who'd accompanied me to make sure I got situated all right. They liked me and my brother because we did things for ourselves and helped them n occasion. We even said please and thank you...Unlike some people I know. The people following us were a majority of guys, but they couldn't come into our dorm unless we let them in or invite them. Heh, heh. Card keys.
The girls followed us, about three of them. Being an Empath, I could sense their personalities right when they started following us. The tall on in the middle with long silver blond hair, preppy clothes that only bitchy girls wear, and overdose on makeup and jewlery describes vane bitch who wants to knw whether or not I'll be on her side as one of her minions. The two on the other side were just as drone as a nano-bot. Enough said.
I didn't take the time to look at the room personally, but I did look long enough to know that the left side was my room, the bathroom was on Kit's side wall, and my new wardrobe was being filled with clothes from my siutcase. I thanked the maids, tipped them 400 dollars each (because I can do that) and ran out into the now empty hallway with Kit in tow.
There was a "wear what ever you want" rule here so long as it was prejudice. Meaning no logos, no immature pictures, and no swears. It also meant that I could go bare foot! That rule will always be my favorite, no matter what.
Before leaving, I got into a pair of baggy jeans to go outside in, and I changed my Arizona tanktop for a dark blue long flaired sleeve shirt with a deep v-shaped neck. My hair stayed in a braid, though.
The water from the puddles was cold and refreshing on my feet as we walked along the pavement path. I don't like jackets or hats like Kit, but I do like outside. Poor Kit was in a green pair of those horrible rubber boots that humans wear when walking though ankle deep water. She had on jeans, like me only not as loose, and a brown plastic rain coat that was more like an extra large shirt only the sleeves fit.
On our way to dinner, I got antsy because people started following us again, only from a stalker distance this time. With heightened senses like mine, it would drive anyone mad. But they were far enough back that we could take a turn, hide and let them walk past without being noticed. Kitta told me to relax and if they got closer then we'd go beast and give them a run for their money. Metaphoricaly speaking because right when I got the idea she told me, "No stealing, either." I called her a kill joy and we laughed our way along.
"Don't look at them," she said suddenly. I looked up and a group of people were on their way towards us on the same path. Not enough room for the both of us and them so either them or us would have to dirty ur feets so the other can get by. "And let them go by."
"No. It's a group of all guys, and there's only three of them. They should be gentlemenly and let us pass first."
"They may be freshmen like you but they're mean," she hissed before they got in hearing range. I was too hungry to care.
Just as expected, the three of them purposely took up the walkway that would have been big enough for all five of us towalk along if Kit had stayed behind me. She did, but that didn't mean she was happy about what I was doing.
"Hey, girl!" the black haired kid in the middle said rudely.
"Yes, boy?" I asked just as rudely. I wasn't focusing on him or his two lackeys. I was concentrating on the smell coming from the big building behind them...Some sort of delecious meat, veggies, and golden baked potatoes.
"How dare you talk to melike that! Do you have any idea who I am?" he growled.
"Nope, now can you guys use the manners I know your Units gave you and let the girls pass? Some of us are hungry, you know." I pretended to glare at them. The black haired kid got really red.
"You're hungry, huh?" he said arrogantly. Then, with speed a few levels under mine, he lunged his fist at my face. I immidately caught it and countered with a punch to the stomach. Taking advantage of his delay, I threw him in the mud. The other two ran after him even though it was only a few feet from where they were standing.
"Thank you!" I hollered behind me. Kit was now beside me, alarmingly close. I think she though I was gonna get my ass kicked.
"You could have gotten your butt kicked! What the heck were you thinking?!" she hissed at me as soon as they were out of sight. I entered the cafeteria as we were talking and we both got in line. Greasy cheese burger was shoved in my face.
"I was thinking I wanted something a little less Radioactive and a little more edible," I said with a raised eyebrow. She giggled then sighed. We moved to the glass refridgerators and got our Coke-a-Colas and headed to the table Kit had pointed out upon entering.
"I can't stay angry at you, can I?" she smiled. I looked at her as we sat down at the red table with her friends.
"No, I was really thinking about eating something a little more edible and a little less than a Heart Attack on a bun." A few people around us laughed at what I said.
"Oh, yeah! You guys, this is my best-est friend in the whole of the wide world, Talon! She's finally here! Are you excited?" she introduced me oddly, but it was her way of being greatful I was here. They saluted me or said hi, but other than that, I was reduced to freshmen once more.
I took one bite of my food and almost hurled, so I threw it away. And they say that school food is healthier for you than your average house meal? Hell no! I wont believe that for a second, atleast not any more.
"Hey, Kit?" I said before rejoining the table. I didn't feel like I being there at the moment and I wanted to run off the one tenth of shit I just ate. It probably had more calories than McDonalds and Wok Inn put together!
"Yeah?" she asked, happy as ever.
"I'm gonna go for a run. See you at curfew?"
"Sure!" she said happily. I gave her a two fingered salute, my way of saying "Peace out", and changed into a wolf. I had a hard time with the snake form, even though it's my family's Master Form. I had a much easier time with the wolf than anything so I used it more. The wolf is also my favoirte form so I don't complain like my Parental Units do.
Someone held the door open for me and I passed through with a slight nod of the head. The stone pathways were leveled cobblestone, like the floors of all the buildings on campus except the dorms. It hurt my feet walking over so I'd be taking a few laps around the entire campus, and then end at the dorms.
I stepped out into the rain, almost unphased by it except for having to occasionally twitch my ears. I could feel the cold wet on the pads of my paws, and immaginged what a hot shower would be like tonight. As I took in the cold and got my adrenaline going, I did some dog stretches and just kinda did a yawn stretch. God! The Radioactive Heart Attack on a Bun was effecting me already! Time to run! And like that I was off and running as fast as my feet wanted to go.
The thud f my heart in my chest was like a never ending drum that reacted to my adrenaline and excitement. With each thud another paw came down into the cold mud. It slid under my claws and squeezed between my toes yet it made no attempt to stop me. I immagined running up a mountain as I ran, focusing only on the beat of my heart and the steps I took. I ran by the waterfall Damien and Kitta had told me about before I realized someone was trying to keep up with me.
He had blue eyes and his fur was midnight black. Like me, he was a black wolf and was running with me. He, too, was smiling. Because he was happy, I didn't want to disturb him. So I ran up the Mental projection of the mountain I was invisioning until I reached the dorms my third time around where I stopped to rest.
I slowed to a stop easily, but the wolf kid had to drop, roll, then stop instead of "Stop, Drop, and Roll." Ha ha, I made a corny pun. He stood up as soon as he stopped rolling in the mud and trodded over to where I was sitting next to the girls dorm door. The right half of the building was girls and the left half boys.
"What! A! Blast!" he shouted through a laugh. "I have never met anyone who runs like you! I thought I was the fastest wolf here, but I guess I was wrong." He was panting hard like he really had been TRYING to keep up with me.
"Um...Thank you?" I said, digging my paw into the mud. He laughed a light bark-laugh that normally comes with the form. He sat on the guys dorm side of me, still in his wolf form.
"I think this year's going to be nice having someone who can compete with me on my level instead of just doing everything by myself. What about you?" he asked siincerely.
"I think you're right, just so long as you're not an ass hole in disguise," I laughed. He laughed, too.
"Oh, yes," he said sarcastically. "I'm a terrible bully who's intent on ruling the school with an iron fist! Muahahahaha!" We both laughed.
I looked to the sky which was now black and the rain was letting up. It was only drizzling out now, but we both were soaked beyond comparison. I stood up and shook. He didn't complain but he did get up and started heading away.
"I've got to go now. When can I see you again?"
"When I run again. That wont be long considering the food here is almost as radioactive as a humans Dump." He laughed and ran away. When I was sure he was out of sight, I sat back down to wait for Kitta to return. The curfew bell was about to ring and she hated being late for anything.
People came pouring int the dorms at the sound of the bell, but she didn't come. I scanned each face twice as they passed making sure I didn't miss her, and I didn't. The last time she was late her brother made her run ten laps around the block, and she was seven. I sat obediently and waited like a dog for its master.
Almost twenty minutes after the curfew bell, she came running like she was running for her life. Her orange hair was a mess, aglow in the rising sun, but a mess all the same. She had a few welts on her forehead and forearms. The look of her face was terrified, but when she saw me, it became total relief. That's when I saw why. That Freshmen from earlier and his lackeys were chasing her. I let her run inside and I followed. Once inside, I changed back. I covered her mouth so she wouldn't start blathering on. I heard the foot steps of their approach and shoved her behind the wall where they couldn't see her. Then I sidled against the door where they couldn't see me through the little window.
"Can you see her?" asked on of them in a low whisper.
"Le'me look," said the other oaf. When I felt two sets of hands against the door, I reached for the knob and forced it open with all of my strength.
They were sent flying backwards onto the wet blacktop, noses bloody from the impact. The leader stood in shock at what I'd done. This time, I took his face in so I'd remember t beat it to a bloodier pulp than his two unlucky subordinates. He had black hair and blue eyes that were lit up with anger. He was tall, muscular, and very hot. If he wasn't a total Douche Bag I'd want to ask him out. When I took up a fighting stance, he snapped to and took up his own.
"What the hell did you do to her, ass hole?" I growled at him.
"I think I was making an attempt to teach you a lesson for treating me the way you did earlier, but here you are so I'm going to go ahead and call that a bon-" Before he could finish I punched him down with a right hook. While he was stunned, I picked him up and threw him against the wall.
"Now you listen to me and you listen good, boy. You may have been top dog in the past, but you sure as hell aren't now. I am the ONE person you don't want to piss off. Unless you have a death wish, I suggest you leave Kitta alone. Oh, and before I forget," I adjusted my arm and pressed harder on his neck, "my name is Talon. Don't bother telling me yours because I'll know you as either Dumb Ass or Ass Hole. Now get out of my sight, you mangie mutt!" I released him and threw him on his buddies who were waking up the exact moment he landed on their sore butts. I went in through the doors without looking back because I could already hear them running for the door nex door.
Kitta wasn't where I'd left her but I could smell that she'd gone upstairs to the dorm room. I bolted up the stairs and down the hall. I really just wanted to go to bed, but I had to make sure she was okay first. I knocked twice and then entered when the sobbing vibrations in the air temporarily ceased.
The curtains were closed, the room was dark. We don't actually get to start school until the day after tomorrow because not all of the students had arrived yet. The walls were a pale orange-pink with white stripes going up the wall. The ceiling was just plain white and the carpet was a solid gold color that looked just like the color of a marshmellow perfectly cooked to a crisp gold, only carpet isn't edible, my friends. The beds had white pillows and white down-comforters on both beds made them look almost similar except one had Kitta curled up in a ball.
I walked over to her bed side and tried to put a hand on her shoulder but she shrugged away. Guilt filled my conscience as I looked at the bruises on her arms. If I'd listened to her and backed down, this wouldn't have happened. But I didn't and it did which means it's my fault. Grah! I hate psychology!
"Sorry," I whispered before I went and got a night gown out of my wardrobe and jumped in the shower. Of three things I was certain. Number one, I have a crush on a kid who's face I only know as a wolf. Number two, I just declared war a kid with a superiority complex and he may or may not end up dead if he does or doesn't piss me off. And finally three, if I don't back down soon and he goes after Kitta again, she may not go home for summer vacation alive.
"Then it looks like I've got a job to do," I said to myself as I started the shower. "Now get moving, Talon."