Chapter 1

I looked over the ashes of my once peaceful city. The Avengers had come, and destroyed it all. I kicked a rock, and stepped over the rubble that was my home. My dishes lay shattered beneath the stones of my once steady walls, the furniture smashed to bits. Tears fell, despite my previous effort to suppress them. I bent down and lifted Pansy from the ashes. The small velveteen rabbit seemed to look at me with sad eyes. I missed my family. I missed being normal.

"Brae..." I heard quietly behind me.

I turned around to face the voice and saw the familiar tender face of Stryker Simons, the only person I ever wanted to see when I wanted nothing more than to be alone. I ran to him and he wrapped me in his warm embrace. Stryker had only seen me cry once before, at the time of my parent's death. No one else had seen me cry. Because that's just not what I did... But now, standing in the ruins of my home, the piles of ash and rock that was my childhood, I couldn't help it. The tears came, unwanted and foreign to my body. Stryker whispered softly in my ear, trying to calm me down. And it helped. But I couldn't stop crying. I took a deep shuddering breath and wiped my eyes angrily. "This is it. I will find them, and I will tear. Them. Apart." I growled, eyes flashing dangerously. Stryker bit his lip. "Brae...you can't get revenge on them. Don you see? Hats exactly what they want..." he said quietly. I knew he was right; I just didn't want him to be.

"Go away, Stryker." I hissed, hopping over the two foot wall of brick that was my bedroom wall. "Rae I'm just trying to help!" he called. "I DON'T NEED YOUR HELP!" I shouted, walking down the deserted street at an angry pace. Stryker morphed in front of me. "Stop!" he shouted. I flinched. We all had powers. Stryker could teleport, or Morph, himself wherever he wanted. He could pass through walls as well. Maisa was a girl in our sector. She could light herself on fire, and walk right out of the ashes that were her body. Fitting name right? Carson could talk to animals. Aera could bend water and ice. I could shape shift and read minds. We were all freaks. But we were a family. And we stuck together. Stryker grabbed my shoulders, shaking me out of my trance. "Oi! Cut it out!" I snapped, jerking out of his grip. "Look to your left." he hissed. I turned my head slowly and saw the small red bird, watching us with its mechanical eye. "Avengers..." I gasped. Stryker grabbed me and dove out of the way, just as a shot came whizzing past my head. I let out a quiet yelp and grabbed his hand. "Run!" I shouted. We took off together, running for our ship that was docked in the field. Stryker ran beside me, and pulled me into the ship. I could hear the bullets strike the side of it, and I flinched slightly. "Go, Go, Go!" I cried, and the ship lifted off. Stryker and I sank back against the wall, breathing heavily. "Only you could find a way to be tracked by Avengers in a city that doesn't exist!" Stryker joked. I laughed breathlessly. "Quiet you..." I said, changing into the form of a small brown dog and curling up by his side. He ran his hands through my fur and I smiled inwardly. "Cute dog." Maisa laughed. I barked softly. The crew laughed and I stretched, putting my head on my paws. "What is she this time?" Carson asked curiously.

I snorted, projecting my thoughts so they all could hear. "I'm a Bernese mountain dog. Sheesh. For someone who can talk to animals..." I joked. They all laughed, and I closed my eyes, the quiet hum of their voices and the slow purr of the engine fading away as I drifted into a light sleep.

I awoke to someone carrying me off the plane. I grumbled angrily, batting at the arms with my paws before falling asleep. I decided change back in the strong arms holding me up, and heard a small chuckle of surprise. "Putmedown..." I grumbled, and was immediately obeyed, dumped on the front step. "Get up." hissed Carson. I sat up groggily and frowned up at him. "Why'd you drop me!" I whined. "Oh good god girl...just go to bed." he said, walking up the stairs and into his own room. I stood up and stretched, changing into a small black kitten and padding up the stairs. I hopped up on my bed and curled up underneath my pillow, trying to fall asleep again. Not long after I got upstairs, Stryker walked in, seeing my black tail flicking angrily beneath the pillow. I could hear his footsteps as he walked over and sat on the bed, lifting the pillow off of me. I hissed slightly, fur standing on end. Stryker rolled his eyes. "Brae." he said quietly. "Please change back..." I shook my head, blinking my gold eyes at him. He sighed. "Why do you always change before you sleep?" he asked, trying to get me talking. My small kitten self shrugged slightly, curling up on his hand. "Animals don't have many dreams..." I thought to him. "It keeps the nightmares away...The memories of what we've done..." my eyes slide closed. He runs his fingers through my soft black fur. "I'm sorry..." he whispered. "To be honest...I get scared too..." he muttered defeatedly. I looked up at him and mewed softly, rubbing my face against his hand slightly, purring quietly. He smiled weakly. "Ey, I'm alright kid." he said.

I nodded slightly, meowing quietly against his hand.

Stryker closed his eyes, petting me gently. I purred louder, closing my eyes.

Stryker yawned slightly and I smiled. "Go to sleep..." I thought to him. I hissed when he started to move. "You can stay here..." I thought, snuggling into him. "Yes ma'am." he said, smiling softly.

I stretched, expanding my claws before putting my head down and falling asleep. My sleep was peaceful and dreamless, as it was every night, but something was ultimately better about tonight. I just couldn't put my finger on it.