Shifters: The beginning

1. Kate

I sat on the porch, slowly rocking back and forth on my old wooden chair.

In the distance, dark clouds flickered with lightning and shook with thunder. A diagonal fog signified rain headed this way.

Sighing, I stood. Arms reaching to the heavens, I cracked my back and kept stretching until all my joints were comfortable.

I still felt strange, like I had been for a while now. Not to mention the sore, aching pain that had just recently kept me up at night.

My mother assured me that they were growing pains, and that I was going through another growth spurt.

This I found unlikely, seeing that I am already 5"11 and I had just finished my last spurt.

I decided that I would wait out the rain inside the house. I would probably make some hot chocolate and take a nap while waiting for my mother to return home with this week's supplies.

It was strange living on the Sandias. There weren't many people on the mountain top, so it was very isolated. Every Wednesday my mother, and sometimes me as well, traveled down the mountain in our car to collect our weekly supplies.

Since I have been sore for the past few days, Mother decided it would be best if I stayed this time.

I walked into the kitchen, pouring the hot water from the kettle into my nice worn mug.

I opened the cupboard, taking out a package of smores hot chocolate mix, ripping it open and dumping it in.

I grabbed a spoon and stirred while walking to my room and sitting on my bed.

Sipping the warm drink calmed me down, and as I finished, I laid on my pillow. Wrapping the blanket around my torso, I closed my eyes and drifted into a comfortable sleep.

The forest called my name, I answered with a howl, running through the tall trees. My grey fur blew in the wind and my paws pounded on the soft forest floor. My keen eyes seeing every little movement even as I blurred past...

I gasped, jolted awake by the burning pain caused by invisible needles poking into my skin.

Heart thumping loudly and eyes wide with fear, I placed my hand over my chest, trying to calm my ragged breathing.

Maybe I'll get another mug of hot chocolate.