Chapter 1

"Well Aki the thing is I think I saw him do what you can do." Jodie said.

What .. what could she mean by this? Can she be saying that she saw another person who could…

"Jodie what exactly do you mean by that?" I asked.

"Akilina you know what I mean. I saw her she shifted." She confirmed.

Shock hits me like a train. So then I'm not alone. There is others I'm not alone. Relief spreads though me and I begin to smile. For years since I was 5, I felt like I was an abomination. I couldn't talk to my parents because I'm adopted and they never showed any signs of being part animal. I remember crystal clear the first time it happened.

I was 5 years old and my parents, some of their friends and kids, and I were on a picnic. While the adults talked the kids played close by. All the other kids were playing tag but I was shy so I decided to go climb a tree instead. I climbed and climbed and didn't realize how high I'd gotten until I looked down. I was so scared and wondered if I would ever make it down. I was about to scream when the wind picked up and rattled the thin branch I was clinging to. Losing my hold I started to slip, and in a sudden jolt of terror something inside of me i wasn't aware of before burst out. I screamed as loud as I could and all I could hear was a loud bird screeching. Everything seemed bigger than it was before. I realized I wasn't falling anymore was and standing on a branch. I looked down to see if I wasn't too high up anymore and noticed my feet had turned into claws. I looked at my hand, but, it wasn't a hand it was a wing. I screamed and it wasn't my voice. I had turned into a bird. Confusion and fear took over and I freaked out. Clumsily I made my say over to where my parents were talking with their friends. I went to my mom and tried to ask what was happening to me, and to please tell me how to change back. But I could only squawk. Mom shooed me away. She didn't know it was me. In fear and loss of all hope I took off flying- clumsily- away. I went back to the tree and saw my shirt and shorts draped over one branch. I sat on my cloths and hoped I would just change back.

About an hour later they were calling the kids back to pack up and go home. They realized I was missing and started calling my name. They searched for me for a few minutes before calling the police for help. What could I do? Nothing. Despaired when I thought I would never turn back and would never see my parents again. They searched for 2 days. That's when I finally learned to change back. Relief like nothing I had ever felt before washed through me. I put my clothes on and got out of the tree as fast as I could. When I was on solid ground I just broke down crying. Over the fear id felt the past 2 days, over the happiness of being in my body again, and over the joy of the thought that everything would be ok again.

When the police asked what happened to me I told them the truth. They obviously didn't believe me; I don't blame them I wouldn't believe myself. They figured I fell asleep in that tree and when I woke up and no one was there ran into the forest later finding my way back to the picnic clearing. They found it unlikely but more believable than a girl turning into a bird. I never told anyone my secret after that.

For 9 years I thought there was nobody else who knew how to change form. I thought I was a freak and distanced myself from others. Jodie is the only person who had gained that much trust from me. To know I wasn't alone anymore and there was someone out there who could help me control my curse was pure heaven.

"Aki, that's not all. She could do what you could but, she didn't turn into a falcon, she turned into a wolf." Jodie said. That didn't really matter to me the fact that this girl could shift was enough.

"Jodie I need to see this girl! What did she look like? We need to find her! Oh my goodness I've got a whack load of questions I can finally have answers for!" I smiled excitedly at her. She smiled back. My parents didn't come home from work until eight so we had time.

"Yea I think this girl could really help. Anyway she was real thin with green-blue eyes, latish brown hair and she looked like she was around 18. I saw her at Basin drive when I was walking home." Jodie's school ends an hour before mine so that's about an hour and forty minutes since she saw her. She might still be close by but we have to start looking now.

"Ok let's go." We both said at the same time. We laughed and went to Basin drive to begin our search.

A few hours later at about half past six Jodie spotted her walking out of the blue tail pub. She was alone. We followed her until there was no one else around. She suddenly stopped.

"I know your following me." she said turning to face us, "and I know one of you is a shifter. A falcon if I'm not mistaken. What do you want?" Wow how did she know that!

"Um th-that would be me." I stuttered, "How did you know what I was? I know your one too my friend saw you. I-I was just hoping um, well can you please help me?" I said. Man this girl's intimidating!

"I know what animal you are because I'm a shifter and shifters can sense those things can't you? And how do you mean help you?" she answered.

"Um well-"

"You are first person she has met who also turns into an animal. My friend Akilina thought she was alone and a freak of nature. She just wants you to help her with some stuff about what you guys can do. So will you please help my friend understand she is not a mistake because she truly thinks she is." Jodie said. I couldn't have said that much to a total stranger. I'm so glad Jodie is here. The girl looked at me then at Jodie them back to me. She gave me a kind look.

"My name is Lupe do you know a place where we can talk? You probably have a lot of questions." She said. She is really going to help me.

AN: hey guys! Thanks for reading. I hoped you liked this chapter its short but chapters will get longer as I go on. Hey did you see the new the release date for strange fate! 2014! They keep changing the date I'm like just publish the book already! Anyway tell me what you think R&R ;)