Wolfsbane

Tala heard the door shut. She wanted to run to the door and run away. Stop it, just calm down. You have lived in a house since you were a baby. She looked at him and forced herself to smile. "Hello. Sir," She said not knowing what to call him. He offered her his hand and she shook it.

"I'm sorry we were not able to talk earlier K.C. I'm Professor Xavier. Do you know what we do here, K.C.?" She shook her head. "I'm here to help you control your powers."

"I don't have any powers." Tala stated matter of factly.

"Are you sure of that?" She nodded.

"I can't teleport or go through anything." Tala said. 'Not everyone shows their powers that way. I don't and neither do you.' How can I make you understand? I'm not special or anything, I'm just your average runaway teenager. 'Everyone is special' she smiled. "I'm sorry Professor but I don't have powers." She said. She started to turn around thinking that was the end.

"K.C. would you like to sit down?" She looked at him slightly confused but sat down anyways. "Why is it that you ran out of your room tonight?" Tala sighed she had almost forgotten that.

"I just don't like sleeping indoors, nothing big. I have been sleeping out side for the last two months, just got used to it I guess." She shrugged. He nodded his head as if he understood. You don't understand. You can never understand She wanted so bad to say but didn't want to go into that whole deal. No she was safe here so long as she stayed to herself.

"Where would you like to sleep then?" Tala thought about her 'nest'. Leaning forward she said,

"I know the perfect spot."

So that's how it was. She would do everything she wanted to do inside and then she would sleep outside. It was perfect, camping and then being able to shower too. After a week of getting to know people she figured it was time to get a job. She needed to pay the school back some way and four hundred bucks was not just going to appear before her.

Bobby was walking with Tala down the street. They were supposed to be looking for job for her, but weren't doing a very good job. They were laughing when they came to a pet store. "Oh Bobby can we just take a quick look, please?" She gave him her best pleading face. He laughed and they walked into the store. They were looking at the puppies, with Tala completely entranced she didn't even notice the girl until they bumped into each other. "Oh I am so sorry." Tala started to say when she stopped. She had seen this girl before. She had short red hair that was in pigtails with a green shirt and blue jeans.

She looked at Tala and grinned. "Hey you're the new girl." Tala nodded she was starting to get used to being called the new girl. "I'm Rahne. You're Tala right?" Tala nodded again. "Nice to meet you, oh hey Bobby," Rahne paused and slightly smiled. "Are you two going out?" She asked shyly. Tala laughed.

"No. We are just hanging out. Do you want to join us?" Rahne looked once more at the puppies and then looked at them.

"Sure as long as you two don't mind." Bobby smiled then looked at his watch.

"Oh I got to go. Sorry see you guys at home." He smiled and bolted out of the store. They both watched him leave.

"Dang you got lucky. He is so cute." Rahne said.

"Well we aren't going out or anything but I'll agree that he is pretty cute." Rahne laughed. "You want to go get some ice cream?"

"I would love to." They walked out of the puppy store and down the block to Cold Stone. They both ordered then sat at the booth in the corner.

"So tell me about yourself." Tala said.

"Well I like taking long walks on the beach and reading romance novels." They both started laughing hysterically. "Seriously, let's see I'm from Scotland hence the accent. I'm fourteen and completely in love with dogs and wolves. I'm going to be a freshman this year and yea I think that pretty much covers the basics. What about you?"

"Um well I'm from California, fifteen, and I'm going to be a sophomore. I also love dogs and wolves. I actually traveled with a wolf from California to Arizona."

"No way you traveled with wolves? That is sweet. I tried to get near a wolf once but it ran away. Can you tell me about it?" Tala shook her head.

"It isn't something I like to talk about. So why did you go after a wolf?" Rahne smiled.

"Don't you know? I can turn into a wolf. It is my power." Tala dropped her spoon her ice cream completely forgotten.

"Really, Can you show me?" Rahne looked around and shook her head.

"This place is not the greatest place to show you." Tala nodded in agreement and they quickly shoved the ice cream into their mouths. Five minutes and two brain freezes later they walked out of Cold Stone.

They walked down the road looking for a back alley or some private place. They reached an alley and went behind the dumpster there. Rahne looked around and slowly began to transform into a reddish brown wolf. When she was done she looked at Tala.

Tala laughed and too began to change. Her eyes were first. They were no longer a dark blue but a dark brown with blue specks. Her teeth lengthened and her body shed its clothes for black and brown fur. Her ears became pointed and she grew a little stub for her tail. She was taller than Rahne but skinnier. Where Tala had once stood was now a Doberman pincer. The only thing that resembled Tala was the black studded collar.

Rahne quickly changed back to human form and so did Tala. Tala was smiling enthusiastically while Rahne looked worried. "What's the matter?" Tala asked, her smile fading away.

"You told the professor you didn't have any powers."

"I didn't know this was a power until you told me."

"Then what did you think it was?" Tala shrugged not knowing why Rahne was freaking out.

"Look I'm sorry for whatever I did. I'll tell the professor when we get back but right now I want to go buy a tag. Will you come with me?" Rahne nodded and they walked out of the alley. The walk to petsmart seemed to take forever. Neither of them had said a word since they had left the alley. They went to the tag machine. Tala looked at Rahne. "What color should I get?" They looked at the options and decided on the silver bone shaped one. Tala looked at the space that said name and raised an eyebrow.

"How about dog girl?" Rahne suggested.

"That was so funny I forgot to laugh." They thought about it for a second.

"Did you know that on your chest is a black star?" Tala nodded. That was her favorite part about being two colors. "What about star?"

"No way am I going to be called star."

"Well it has to do something with a star." Tala agreed. "What about starbite?" Tala thought about it for a second. It had a nice little ring to it.

"What's your name?"

"Wolfsbane."

"Alright, Wolfsbane and Starbite. I think it sounds a little weird but hey I'll give it a try. If I change my mind I can always get another one." She typed it in and four minutes later she had a little silver tag hanging from her collar.

Deciding they didn't want to go home yet they walked back to the dumpster and transformed. They walked back out to the street and went to the park, racing the whole way.

Rahne won the race with Tala right on her heels. They ran up to the jungle gym and stopped short. There was a family there complete with their two dogs. They were two Irish setters. Holding them was the littlest girl in the family. The Setters scented the girls before their owners saw them. Tala winked at Rahne and growled softly. That set the Setters off. They ripped themselves from the little girl and came charging Tala and Rahne.

Rahne glared at Tala declaring all of this was her fault in one glance. They braced themselves and collided with the Setters. Tala didn't know how Rahne was doing but she could tell that this was not going to be easy. The dog she was fighting was heavier than her and was using that as a deadly advantage. They rolled and tore at whatever they could. She found an escape and took it. She quickly rammed the Setter in the side. It flew two feet before landing on its side.

When it didn't get up Tala ran to Rahne. Rahne had done far better. She was standing over the Setter baring her teeth. The Setter had its tail between its legs and was whimpering. Rahne looked at Tala and glared once more. Tala just shrugged her shoulder then winced.

They let the Setter get up and it ran to its masters as did the other one. Tala watched in satisfaction. She turned around just as a wire went around her neck.

Hey everyone please read and review. Come on I know you want to! Oh and poll. What do you think Tala's name should be?

Kool-wolf: I'm glad you like the story!