Disclaimer: Does it look like I own him? No? GOOD, CAUSE THAT'S THE ANSWER!

Chapter 2: The Quietest Plane Ride I've Ever Been On

Huyana's POV

The rain stopped all to soon as Mrs. Ituha and I left for the Laning City airport the next morning. Anook hopped into the back of the car and I got in next to Mrs. Ituha. I wore a midnight blue Chinese shirt with a dragon stitched in white thread, baggy black cargo pants with a silver chain on my left hip, fingerless fishnet gloves, and black skater shoes. My long raven black hair was tied back into a ponytail that blew in the post-rain wind. The air smelt fresh and clean. I loved this smell.

Jessica and Zaira were waiting for me as I approached the plane. I said good-bye to Mrs. Ituha, and boarded the plane. As we took off, I took out my MP3 player and placed it on 'The Only One' by Evanescence. Jessica was reading a book-'Hunt for Red October'-and Zaira was applying lip-gloss. Anook was chewing on a dog bone I had bought him a year or so after he saved my life. I'll never forget when I first met him…

-Flashback-

"Calfuray! Kaya! Huyana! Len! Time to wake up!" Mrs. Ituha called up to her children. 8-year-old Huyana opened her dark blue eyes. She rubbed her eyes and forced herself out of bed. As she got dressed, Huyana thought about what had been going on the past few days. For the past week, Huyana had been having dizzy spells whenever she was running. They sometimes even happened when she was walking to her bus! Afraid of what it was, Huyana had ignored it and keep it a secret. She walked down to the kitchen and saw her younger brother at the table eating cereal.

5-year-old Len groaned and rolled his light blue eyes as 10-year-old Kaya ruffled his light brown hair. 12-year-old Calfuray rushed into the kitchen and poured herself a bowl of Frosted Flakes (don't own). "What's the rush, Cal?" "I overslept! If I'm late for 1st period, Mr. Brown will have my head on a silver platter!" Huyana saw some opportunity in this and smirked. "Only a silver platter? Not bronze or gold?" If looks could kill, Huyana would be 6 feet under with daises growing by her tombstone. "Huyana, stop teasing your sister. Now, all three of you, hurry up! The bus will be here any moment!" "Yes, Mother!" All four said.

It was morning recess. Normally Huyana would be chilling out at the swings, but today she was running around like there was no tomorrow. It was a chilly May morning but warm enough for the children to be outside in just their uniforms, which, for the girls, was a knee length navy blue skirt and white turtleneck. Every girl wore mid-calf length navy blue lace-up boots and white socks underneath it. Huyana was playing tag with a group of boys and girls in her class. Suddenly, everything started spinning and Huyana felt lightheaded. She fell down and let darkness over come her.

Huyana woke up in a hospital room on a bed in a hospital gown. She looked around and saw her father and mother. "Dad? Mom?" she said. "Oh, Thank God! You're awake!" Mrs. Ituha rushed to her daughter's bedside. The doctor came in and took some tests and returned a few minutes later. "Mr. and Mrs. Ituha, may I speak with you?" Huyana strained to hear her parents and the doctor. "Leukemia?! But that's impossible!" her mother shrieked and then cried into her husband's shoulder.

Huyana was now scared beyond all belief. She had read about leukemia, it was a cancer and the same cancer that kill many innocent children in Hiroshima after WWII. "Dad? Mom? Am I going to die?" Huyana asked her parents. "The doctors are doing all they can. But you can fight this, Huyana. You're our strong little girl, right?" "Yes Dad, I am." She hugged her parents good-bye and watched them leave. The doctor was talking to a nurse and said that the leukemia was in its most advanced stages. There was nothing they could do anymore. Huyana hung her head, her raven black hair now free of its usual high ponytail fell in front of her face. There was no more hope. Chemotherapy wouldn't help matters any, now. She was going to die.

Three days later, was the day they all dreaded. Huyana was growing weaker with every passing hour. Everyone who visited was pained to see how much the once strong, energetic girl was wasting away. Her parents were forced to leave the hospital. Huyana had resolved the day before, that she would not be afraid of death. Still, it took all of her strength to close her eyes and fall asleep.

Huyana's Dream

Huyana woke up in a silvery cloud-like place. "Huyana." A strong voice called out her name. "Who…Who's there?" Huyana called out. This was a strange feeling, Huyana felt stronger than she ever had before. A sliver wolf appeared in front of her in an opening that shone with white light. This wolf had the deepest blue eyes Huyana had ever seen. "I am the Great Silver Wolf, Anook. I have come to offer you something." Huyana stepped forward to show she was interested. "If you wish to see your parents again, I can awaken the demonic blood inside of you. But you must accept your demonic heritage." Huyana didn't care, she just wanted to see her father and mother. "I accept!" A swirling blue and silver cloud came and washed over her. Huyana screamed and then the pain stopped. The wolf walked up to her and placed a necklace over her neck. "I will journey with you back to earth and protect you and teach you how to control you demonic powers. Now wake up." Huyana did as commanded.

End Dream

Huyana sat up screaming, stopped, saw Anook, and screamed again. A nurse and the doctor rushed into her room. They looked at her charts and to say they were shocked was an understatement. Huyana hugged her pillow and shook. She felt stronger than she had ever felt before. They noticed the wolf and went to get him out of her room. "No! He's my friend! Don't kick him out!" Huyana said getting out of her bed and ran over to Anook and hugged him around the neck. "Thank you." She whispered into his ear. The doctor was amazed and said he was going to redo the tests and would call her parents. Mr. and Mrs. Ituha were at the hospital in a flash. When they saw Huyana standing, smiling and petting a wolf (the last part shocked them), Mrs. Ituha was crying tears of joy. And Mr. Ituha was filled with relief.

Huyana returned home the next day with Anook and started training after explaining to her parents the reason behind her unexpected recovery. Her sight, hearing, smell, and her feeling had grown stronger and she had grown faster. Her family accepted her for who she was. They were a little shocked, but they still accepted her.

-End Flashback-

I can't believe it's been so long. He showed me my real mother, and it just about tore my heart apart. The cold, motionless stone statue that was once my living, breathing mother was so beautiful. Anook said that my mother had long golden blonde hair the color of the sun and eyes as deep and dark as the timeless ocean. She had fair skin and a lovely figure. She always wore shades of blue and green, but never together. My father, Anook said, was a strong man who had raven black hair and crimson eyes. He died trying to save my mother and me. Their names were Kalin and Meridia. Actually, Anook saved my life two times: he was the one who threw me through the portal to earth and of course the leukemia incident. I own him so much…

Jessie's POV

I must say, things where quieter than what I expected. Huyana was listening to songs my mum and dad would abhor me listening to. It appeared like I was reading, but I was really evaluating my comrades. First up, Zaira Yarkona.

Zaira was the new girl a few months ago and she was given quiet a hard time by the prep and jock population. Zaira was rather skinny then, really only skin and bones. She wore size 0 jeans and needed a belt to keep them from falling. You could see her rib cage though her shirt, for crying out loud! Now, Zaira looked more like a girl her age should look: she was wearing regular size jeans (smaller than us, but not abnormal) and she had regained her color. Zaira's curly brown hair was actually shining and her hazel eyes were sparkling. She laughed, had a good time, and told jokes. She had a fair amount of friends after what we Uptowners (that's what we call the rich, semi-to-really popular kids) call the Huyana Incident.

Well, Zaira was still pretty skinny, and a group of shallow Uptowners were giving her hell in a neatly packaged hand basket. Huyana-of all people-came up in her Chinese shirt (the emerald green one with the dragon stitched in golden thread) and baggy cargo pants and took Zaira over to the Loners' table. Everyone there had a deep hate for authority and come from a bad part of town called Downtown by the vast majority of the population. That shocked everyone because Huyana rarely-if ever-ate at school. That marked a major turning point for Zaira.

And as for Huyana, well, the raven-haired girl was more trouble than she's worth. She was always blasting her gothic rock, punk rock, and the occasional country music and wore different versions of the same outfit day after day. I have talked to her and not argued with her. We're not enemies, we're just way to different to get along as anything more than acquaintances. I don't have much to say about her. I respect her as my 'friend' and my enemy. We face off in everything, but we-unlike most rivals-at least attempt to get along.

Zaira's POV

I've actually enjoyed life in Laning City. True, I don't live in the best neighborhood, but I live in a fairly decent one. Ever since Huyana stood up for me, I've been making some pretty good friends. So, as far as I'm concerned, Huyana's a pretty nice person. A little secretive, maybe, but a nice person.

All of the loners are nice, too. They really aren't as bad as everyone says they are. Most of them are sick of being misjudged, but would rather be seen as an angry Downtowner than as a preppy Uptowner. I'm against stereotypes, but bitter feelings and feuds seem to run deep with that around here.

It's actually kind of fun to sit down with different people and just talk about the other 'clans'. Turns out, Huyana and Jessie and I are all in the same boat. Actually, Jessie, Huyana, and I would make a great clan.

Normal POV

As the plane soared through the air, the three girls were quiet. Huyana was now listening to 'Gone' by Kelly Clarkson. Zaira was reading a book about the Beatles, and Jessie was finishing up 'Hunt for Red October'. Huyana finished her song and turned off her MP3 player. "We're almost there," she said in a bored tone. "Huh?" Zaira said, looking up from her book. "I said we're almost there." Huyana repeated, looking at her fingernails. Anook yawned and stretched. Huyana looked at the wolf and smiled softly. "Have a nice nap, Anook?" The silver wolf looked at the girl and nodded. "A very nice nap indeed." Jessie and Zaira looked at the wolf with their jaws nearly hitting the floor. "He can talk?" Zaira asked. Huyana nodded, "Yeah. He can talk, and he's very fluent in just about any language you can think up, real and dead." "Cool!" "What a smart canine." Jessie said curtly and returned to her book, only to find that she had finished it. 'Oh, man…'

"I have an idea! Let's play truth or dare!" Jessie inwardly groaned. Huyana got up and stretched. "I'm game. Who goes first?" "Oh, me! I go first!" Zaira said, literally bouncing up and down.

"Okay, Jessie! Truth or dare?" Jessie sighed and answered, "Truth." "Is it true that you used to take ballet?" Zaira asked. "Yes. I did." Jessie looked at Huyana. "Huyana, truth or dare?" "Truth." "Is it true you nearly died when you were eight?" Huyana only nodded and said, "That which does not kill us only makes us stronger." Jessie shrugged. "True enough, I guess." Huyana looked at Zaira and she said, "Dare!" Huyana rolled her eyes and gave out her dare. "Flap your arms like a chicken while reciting the Pledge of Allegiance." After Zaira completed her dare, she sat down and looked at Huyana. "Truth." Zaira pouted for a second but continued. "Why did you save me when those bullies were ganging up on me?" It was a question that had been nagging at Zaira's mind since the incident.

Huyana was silent for a moment, her head downcast and a solemn look on her face. "I don't know." She whispered, her mouth just barely moving. Jessie and Zaira heard it, though. "I guess I just saw something different about you and I didn't want you to trade that in for a chance to escape the pain. People like me learn at an early age that as along as you stay true to yourself no matter what, you won't lose like if you sacrificed you who really are just to escape the hurt and the pain." Silence reigned supreme until Huyana glanced at Jessie. "Truth." "Why aren't you part of the A-list? As far as I know, you're rich." Jessie shrugged. "I guess I never felt like I connected with anyone on the A-list. Everyone there just seemed like shallow snobs and I didn't want any part of it. The fact that I'm a shapeshifter only backed up my previous decision."

Was it Zaira's imagination, or was a ghost-of-a-smile dancing across Huyana's face? "True enough," Huyana said. "Alright, you three, we're getting ready to land. Back in your seats," the captain said and the girls complied. The girls buckled up and they landed.

"Huyana, how do we get to your aunt's house? And who is you aunt, anyway?" Zaira asked. "Follow me and you'll find out. My Aunt Aki lives in a shrine with her two kids-Cousin Kagome and Cousin Souta-and her father. Uncle Taro was killed in a shooting when Cousin Souta was a year old. Cousin Kagome was only six," Huyana said as she led the two girls through the bustling streets of Tokyo. After awhile, the three girls stood at the base of the steps leading up to Sunset Shrine. "Why are there so many stairs?" Jessie asked in exasperation. Huyana rolled her eyes and started walking up the stairs. Zaira and Jessie exchanged glances and followed her.