I am so proud of this chapter! I need feed back on this chapter from EVERYONE! I want to know how it is!

Ch.8 Tests and Timing

The first day of school and placement testing was out of the way. I had gone to the extent of my companion's abilities to avoid the three Society members in my grade. It seemed that at every turn one of them was looking for my, but all that I needed was a distraction to toke a pinch of their attention away.

Two girls, who were unknown to me, helped greatly in that. They would consistently approach the three members and ask them questions while I slipped away. One class was even taken up by Col and Connie sitting next to me and taking shifts watching me. Fortunately the bell had distracted them both for a second and I was away to break.

I reached the beach ten minutes after school was out and flopped on the sand. My body was drained from the repeated dodging and hiding. Aches ran up my sides and down my back. My lungs gasped for breath and I felt a chill that left my limbs cold to the touch.

You won't be able to hide again for a while. Shift said, his normally enthusiastic voice subdued.

"I didn't think I would, but I think I'm ready to talk to them, as long as Col and Connie aren't there." I panted, the strain halting my ability to talk to Shift with thoughts. "I'll have to accidentally run into Rat."

Shouldn't that have had a hint of sarcasm in it?

"Too tired." I hauled myself up and stretched, almost falling again a another wave of weakness hit me. If I felt like this every time I faded away I never wanted to fade away again! I made my way back into town and snuck past the school, seeing Connie still in the yard with the girls who had unwittingly distracted her all day. I just had to hope that they would hold her attention even when I couldn't help it stay on them by not being there.

I reached the outskirts of town and sat at the base of a tree, catching my breath.

You are out of shape!

"Oh, ha. It's because I was avoiding the C's all day!" Despite myself I couldn't help chuckling. My sand sprite buddy was always so light hearted.

Luckily, I didn't have to get back up to find Rat. He walked right up to me.

"Well, if it isn't the shadow!" He exclaimed. I waved weakly at him, trying to motion him over.

"Sorry *gasp* about that *gasp* but I really didn't want to talk to anyone if Col or Connie were there." I gasped again and tried to regain my seemingly permanently gone breath.

"Why not? They're okay people."

I let out a half laugh an finally recovered my breath enough as not to gasp every other second. "That's funny. The girl who declared I was a companion to no creature and got me into this mess and her boyfriend who always sides with her. I will talk to the Society, but only if they aren't there!"

Rat pulled out a cell and tapped a quick message then rested it back in his pocket before sitting next to me.

"So, what's your companion? Connie said she couldn't tell from the way it was formed." Shift rose along my neck and formed into his wrist thick snake form.

"This is Shift," I said, pointing him out for the benefit of Rat. "He is a sand sprite. What's your companion?"

"Mine's a frost wolf. So we both in the elementals?"

"Actually, sand sprites are in everything except two fours!" I said with joy. "They are a combination of naga, pegasus, and sand golem. I'm all three."

"Ah! You're just like Connie's brother. He is companion to chimeras, so gets all the pieces."

"That's cool. What are frost wolves like?"

"They're magnificent! I'll let you meet Icefen after the meeting thing."

"Ah, Icefen, the memory eraser. I guess I have met him before?"

"Yep," Rat said cheerfully. "He had to do the job when the minotaur got found. It was hard to lure you out!"

A companionable silence fell over us that was only broken ten minutes later by the sound of a car coming up the road. The driver was Evelyn and she ushered us in before driving into the moor. Another ten minutes and we ended up at a large farm building.

"welcome to the Masterson's!" Rat called as he jumped out of the car, howling as he went.

A gust of cold air filled with snow swirled down and formed the wolf in the middle of the front yard. It was white and huge. Rat was dwarfed next to it and he waved me over. I complied and approached the beast before me, lifting a hand. I sniffed in then nudged forward into my hand. Rat laughed and jumped up, hauling me behind him as the wolf started to run through the trees.

It was amazing and I laughed as the wind gusted through my hair. We went all over the edge of the moor and I got to see first hand how Icefen erased the memories of those who saw him. Eventually we made our way back and were confronted by four people with disapproving faces.

The first was a woman who stood next to a large green dragon. Another woman stood next to a unicorn. A storm bird swooped down and landed on the shoulder of a Native American man who stood next to a Chinese guy and a hooded figure.

"Rat, we have been waiting." said the woman with the dragon. Rat just smirked and jumped down. I followed, imitating his behavior. If I couldn't remain unnoticed, then I'd blend in.

She sighed and rubbed a hand across her face. "At least you brought him back with you." she said, her voice condescending. I immediately disliked the way she talked down about me and disregarded Rat.

"His name's Daniel."

"What?" she responded, as if shocked that I had a name.

"Well, you should learn it if you're gonna talk ta him and ask him into the Society!"

"Who said anything about him joining the Society?"

Now it was Rat's turn to be shocked. I was just as shocked, but it seemed that all of the others were in complete agreement.

"What?" I was finally able to get out.

"You are an aberration that is unacceptable. Especially since the creature that is around your neck is extinct and has been for over a thousand years."

"I am the last." Said a voice that I instantly knew as Shift's. "I was placed in a cave by my last companion, a universal."

"And he did so for good cause, because a piece of Kullervo was implanted in you, changing your nature!"

"Oh, how true that is!" Shift stated, still cheerful. "Unfortunately I was unable to take over and Shift's personality has remained!"

"Kullervo! You shall not survive this time! You were killed by the universal and she will be able to stop you now!"

"Isss that true? It seemsss that she has kept secrets from you, for I am not dead. I am merely fused with universal. She took over my main form, ssso I was able to use it to hide from her Daniel's companionship to Shift and cloud her mind when she tried to find out what creature it was she held in her hands! I used her to push Daniel, a Potential Universal away from the society!"

"A Potential Universal?" questioned the woman with the unicorn.

"Yes, a host that holds the blood and is a companion to an extinct species! All I need to do is kill this form while I am inside him and he will be a Universal in full! The human race will crumble before us!"

Kullervo/Shift leapt from my neck and grew, taking in dirt to come to full size. He whipped the other people and creatures away and tightened around me. The desert in my mind flooded with water, and before me was a deep blue ocean.

BWA HA HA HA HA! How is this? Please tell me! I want to know!

The wellspring just flooded through me and I have to say that this is the greatest that could have possibly came from it!

If you're wondering, the form you have seen so far is the Sand Sprite, but the actual thing is just in the Elemental group. Connie has been clouded by Kullervo and this has taken a sinister turn, how will it end?