Animalistic Spirits

Chapter 3: Training Day?

It's been a few weeks since I found out I was part of some secret group of warriors who could turn into animals. "Jimmy come on you have to shift at will can't do it only when you're angry take control of those emotions" Henry would say as he and Austin swung a log on a rope at me. Not even sure why the log is there like what the hell am I supposed to do as a.....

UNGGH was the groan I made as I got hit in the chest landing on my back out of breath. "Guys why do I have to dodge this stupid log like its pointless just tell me how to change," I said as I laid there trying to catch my breath and wishing I could die. It's been like this for the past few weeks. Training and training always getting hurt, whether it's by them two or the girls I still get my butt whooped day in and day out.

"Come on Jimmy you know why I've explained it so many times," he would sigh as he walked over to help me up. "Look we are weak in this form against wendigos you're going to have to learn how to shift while being attacked in order to have a chance to fight them back," he would add on as he looked over to Austin. "We need you to channel your emotions that was causes the shift once you channel it and get a hold of it you can do it at will," he would say looking and gesturing to Austin as he would shift into his animal form.

"Alright I get it, so out of you four who was the first to change," I would ask taking a look at them as they looked at each other.

"Well we did have a fifth member before you got here," Austin would say as he had shifted back putting on his clothes. "Her name was Alexis she was also a bear though she was a black bear not a Kodiak," he sat down on a nearby tree stump to put on his socks and shoes. He would gather his things and put on his backpack "We are done for the day see you two on Monday," he would walk off heading out of the forest.

"Did I say something wrong he looked upset?" I had asked as I started to put back on my clothes as well.

"No it's fine he's just not over her yet," Henry would say as he stayed behind with me. "She was in the same grade as him they were sophomores when they both changed she did at first and then him," Henry looked over checking to see if Austin was around. "They were dating at the time and were kissing which initiated the change between them, the group they were in at the time didn't allow members to date so of course they broke up, but he still loved her."

"Wait there's another group here in town of shifter?" I would ask interrupting the history of what he was saying.

"Yeah it some died others moved away to get away this job takes a toll on some people you grow up with your group only to see some die or leave," he said as we walked towards the exit of the forest. "Though anyways they had a mission I won't share the details because it is his to tell, but long story short she ended up dying in his arms towards the end of their sophomore year," he would say as they made it out of the forest. "He really blames himself for her death, but after that the group changes almost every year up until today I would say we are group like number 48 maybe even higher," he said as he looked around to be sure no one would see them leaving the forest.

"I thought we go back all the way to our ancestors so it would be in triple digits right," I asked another question. At this point I felt bad for asking so many, but I still was learning and trying to keep up on our history.

"Well yeah though over the years the ability to shift dies out as each of us die there are other tribes like ours who can shift though in Alaska there is mainly about 5 groups of shifters," he would say. "Now I've never met them, but at least we know we can always ask for back up when we need it," which he wasn't wrong I mean I would gladly ask for help if we need back up. Plus if there is 5 other groups we can for sure take on more than with our little band of misfits.

"Though Austin doesn't want the help of the other groups mainly because they tend to keep to their territories," Henry would say. Ah okay then never mind I guess it is us against the world, I thought to myself as I took a deep sigh and started to head home. "Did your mom say I could stay the night, I brought Call of Duty," even though he was a freshman he actually became my best friend he was someone I could open up to or even find bearable to be around.