Maximus

Max watched the sun rise, praying for just about anything to happen so she didn't have to face her. She knew her duties were to her family, but let spring never come again if she actually cared for today's festivities. The last day of fall was revered by all shapeshifters as a day of love. Not that everyone believed in that stinky old myth anymore. Maximus Ride had gained the role of leader when the last leader, a hundred year old tortoise known as Terien, had passed away, and claimed Max as the next leader. This put a huge responsibility on her, and she knew that she certainly wasn't ready for a Mate yet.

A loud creaking snapped Max out of her daydreams as a small, white rabbit nosed open her small cabin door. "Good Morning Angel" the older, sleepy leader said. Her eyes sparkled with love for this young, orphaned rabbit shifter.

"Morning, Max!" Angel said as she shifted, her body losing almost all its hair and growing taller. Before Max could even blink, a small, blonde girl was staring right at her with reverence.

"I was wondering if you already knew who you want to pick as your mate… Not that you're obligated to tell me or anything." The shy young female looked up through her long lashes at Max. Despite being the shifter who had practically raised this small, orphaned girl, Max still couldn't figure out what Angel was thinking half the time.

"I don't really think so; no one seems to really stand out for me." Max sighed. The fact was, she didn't want to have some bossy mate controlling what she could do or say. Maximus Ride just wasn't the quiet type of girl that could be feminine. She was a true tomboy through and through. Nothing about any of the males in her village could ever strike her as anything but typical. Angel frowned, "Max, don't worry, somebody will come along someday and blow you off your feet."

Before Max could say anything, the hyper girl was already skipping out the door and saying" I can't wait until you have babies! I'm gonna have a sister!"

As the door banged behind her, Max ran her hand through her long, bronze hair. She knew that Angel was just trying to be nice, but that girl was always trying to suggest something to her. Max could take care of herself, as she proved by stretching and dressing in a button up shirt and some cargo shorts. Taking a deep breath, she walked outside to grab a bite to eat and start on her job.

Fang

The forest was alive with the sounds of numerous animals rustling about in the dense foliage, but one noise in particular stood out from the others. A white bird of prey was rolling and stomping around in a puddle of mud, the brown muck seeping through his feathers and tinting his color to an uglier color.

Fang hated the feeling that he got from mud in his plumage, but he had to camouflage himself if he wanted to catch prey. With one last push, he was covered in brown. Shaking his feathers free of the worst of it, he pulled himself into the air and started the hunt. A short while later, he had caught one mouse that was too slow to get away. His stomach growled for more, but he was too tired to keep hunting. Setting down on the ground, he shifted into a tall, dark-haired young man and walked to the stream that he had sighted during his flight.

The surrounding foliage was a beautiful array of colors, way different from where Fang was born. He had been born to a loving mother in the snowy mountain peaks deep within Mountain Flock territory. At first, he lived a carefree life, with his mother sheltering him from all harm. Within his fifth year though, he was summoned before the leader to begin his shifter training. Only the birds of the highest pedigree were trained by the leader, so naturally Fang's mother was proud, but she had been a worried wreck when they took him away.

Fang still remembered how everyone had stared when he shifted for the first time. He had been so excited to see what he looked like, but he had reigned in his feelings and stood at attention like it was no biggie. The leader had yelled, "DEMON! That boy is a DEMON!" and before Fang could truly understand his situation, every shifter was upon him. It was pure strength that got him out of there, but he wasn't without wounds. Yes, he was scarred both mentally and physically, with an inability to trust others, and the inability to turn his head without pain.

The cool water was refreshing, and Fang washed his face free of the disgusting brown gunk that remained from his hunt.

*SNAP*

Fang pivoted, his heart hammering in his chest, and a grimace upon his face as he prepared himself for the worst…

So as you see, I'm going to leave you in suspense for the first chapter. I promise that not all the chapters will be this short, this is only my intro chapter.

Please send your reviews! I need to know how you like this! Let me know what kind of action you'd like best... and ill see what i can do. ;)

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