Connections

Chapter 1: Assignment

“Sly! If you don't hurry up, I'm going to tell Ruler to leave you here!” Meldric, my brother, called from up the grand staircase. We live in the Center. The Center was pretty much the capitol, but Ruler told me he didn't like to use old Animal English, he said they didn't know how to speak correctly, and I had no choice but to believe him. Ruler was my adoptive (the only word he chooses to use without making a fuss about it because he couldn't think of another word) father, since my parents died in an Animal attack. Those rarely happen, so it was a really upsetting. I guess the thing I'm grateful for was that I never knew them. People always ask why Ric (what I call Meldric since his name can get so tiring so say, over, and over) mourns our parents, and I don't. Truth is, I don't know, but the only thing I can tell them is that it's because Ric is very empathetic, whereas I don't like to think about things like death, and destruction. There's nothing I hate more. We're supposed to be going to the Assignment, which happens when a Supernatural – we despise the Animalz nickname for us (Kreaters) so we never use it – turns sixteen and gets assigned to an Animal. The Animal will serve that Supernatural until they die. It's a real honor.

But we were late. And, I hate to admit it, but it was my fault. See, I've lost my left shoe, and have spent the past half-hour looking for it. Since I'm a shape-shifter, I've changed into a mouse to look for it quickly, and get into small places with no such luck. It was Ric's threat to leave without me that convinced me to abandon the attempt. I knew he would follow through. That's the thing about Ric, you never have to ask him if he means something, because he always means what he says. I changed back.

Every time I change, I feel a tingly sort of feeling throughout my whole body, and then it feels as if my body has become jello. Then, poof!, I'm me again. This time was no exception. I found the first shoes I could find – black heels – and left.

As soon as I was down the stairs, I could feel Ric's surprised gaze on me. I never wore heels, in fact, I hated them. I was looking for my best sneakers, but in haste, I'd picked...heels. “Wh-” Ric started, but I clapped my hand over his mouth.

“If you want to live to see tomorrow, I wouldn't say anything.” I hissed at him. He chuckled under my hand before stepping back and saying, “Come on. Ruler may always say that he's never late, since things can't start without him being there, but I'm pretty sure he's getting very impatient.”

I glared at him before walking outside. Being a warlock, you'd think he'd be used to change since he lived pretty much forever, but the truth was, Ruler hated change, so in all the years since the war, not much has changed. Cars were the same, buildings were the same. The only difference really, was that there was no incurable diseases and everything was very economical. The Ozone problem, global warming, things like that? We've completely fixed them. But Ruler, being Ruler, decided that whenever we went somewhere, it was going to be on a horse-drawn carriage. There is nothing more embarrassing than being driven down the street in a horse-drawn carriage because your dad is too old fashioned to buy a car, especially when he has the money to.

Anyway, Ric was already in the carriage, with Ruler in front of him, and I sat next to him. “Darling, what took you so long?” Ruler asked. He also likes to talk really formal and old fashioned. It's down right annoying.

“I couldn't find my other sneaker.” I answered.

“Well then wha-” Ruler started, but broke off as he glanced down at my feet, and I saw his eyes widen slightly.

“Don't say anything.” I said quickly.

“No, darling, I think you look rather smashing in shoes of such finery. Honestly, I'd be very pleasantly surprised if you took to wearing them more often.” he said.