Shifters: The Day I Became A Werecat

Chapter 4: The Truth Slips

Ari stood still, mouth gaping. "You're- you're the owl!?"

Crystal's legs shook, her chest painted red with blood. Her smile was weak. "Yes. I was the owl. I had seen you before, so I had to follow you."

She fell to the side, grasping the railing with her pale hand. Ari rushed to her side, helping her to her feet. "Are you okay?"

"I'm okay as long as you're okay," Crystal replied. "I... I just needed to tell you about this. I didn't know you were in danger until I saw the hunter."

"How did you know it was me?" Ari closed the door so that her mother couldn't hear, assuming she was awake. The heavy rainfall drowned out their conversation to anyone outside the dimly-lit porch.

"The moment I saw you, I knew how you would look transformed," Crystal continued, "every shifter is connected to their animal through their looks. For you, it's your physical appearance, but some shifters try to connect through their clothes, like me."

Ari thought back to how Crystal looked at school. She wore a lot of brown, for sure, and had the kind of pants that were large at the top and bottom but snug at the middle. Even now, she's wearing a very spotted sweater with orange and white, kind of like her feathers. "So if you wore white clothes, would you be a snowy owl? Or a different animal altogether?"

"No, but-" Crystal paused, her mind weak once more. Ari put her hand on the doorknob, but Crystal stopped her by overlaying her own hand. They were both quick to take theirs off. "Don't! I have a better place."

Crystal took the fallen crystal- a piece a shimmering blue azul- and put it in a chain around her neck. The rock fit perfectly into the hollowed hole, and in that moment, Crystal's shape stretched and contorted into that of an owl's. There was no chain visible, and the crystal barely peeped out of her speckled feathers.

"Can you talk?" Ari asked in amazement. She'd never tried it out during her time as a cat; her focus was on survival. Oh, no. How do I survive now, as a shapeshifting cat being hunted down? I'd never known anyone who hated me... Unless....

"Of course," Crystal hooted, staring up at Ari with her large golden eyes. Her talons stepped clumsily. "I only changed back because I wanted you to trust a familiar face."

Well, I barely knew you for a day, but I'm sure I would trust you even if you weren't an owl, Ari thought, her blush hidden by the mist. "I don't think you can fly in the rain."

"Pft," Crystal whistled through her beak, "Nonsense. I'm just going to bleed out. But, if you can carry me like you did before, I can give you directions to one of many Shifter Cabins. They'll have medical supplies. If you bring me inside, I'll be bleeding all over your floors."

Ari looked behind her backyard, then to the left and right of the streets. Her heart raced as time flowed, a realization that Crystal would die if she didn't get help. It made Ari forget her own shoulder pain from the shots that grazed her. Panic swelling in her throat, she admitted, "I can't turn into a cat!"

Crystal's voice wavered, but was soft. "No, no, don't worry. It's okay. What's your favorite color?"

The question made her pause. Right now you want to ask questions?! You're dying on my porch! But, Ari kept her cool as much as she could, and said, "Green."

"Okay, that's good, do you have any green stones?" Crystal prompted.

Crystal, I might have a crush on you, but that doesn't mean I can't say you're being weird. "What does it matter?"

A fit of coughs had to pass before Crystal could speak. Small spurts of blood fell on the floorboards, which were washed away in moments. "Just find one."