Shifters: The beginning

5. Kate

"Ugg!!"

I groaned. Where was mom? She should have been home by now!! I paced up and down, thoughts scrambled. My stomach growled menacingly, like a volcano erupting in my stomach. Why was I so hungry?

After my nightmare I slept snugly for 5 hours without a single dream. I tried to eat some strawberries but they must have gone bad because I had to spit them out.

I could smell leftover hamburger from the fridge. Its smelled fake, weak and kind of like chemicals but it DID smell better than the strawberries. I rummaged through the drawers, finding it and putting it in the microwave.

I waited impatiently for it to heat up, tapping my foot in a fast steady rhythm. Finally I heard the familiar *ding* and popped the door open.

Hastily I flung the meat onto a plate and scarfed it down. It did nothing to calm my stomach, but there was nothing left in the refrigerator.

I sighed and laid my head on the table. Absent mindedly, I wondered what was on t.v. I hopped up and turned on a random news channel. My restless brain couldn't focus on the screen and instead I found myself straightening papers on the coffee table.

I didn't realize how into my task I was until I jumped at the knock on the door. I rushed over and opened it wide, throwing my arms around my mother with a strange sense of relief.

"Whoa kiddo! You almost gave me a heart attack! Come on and help me get these bags."

I grabbed the two bags from her arms and carried them to the kitchen as she turned to go get more from the trunk of the car.

I smiled, glad to have something to occupy my hands. I was feeling strangely on edge, my nerves were frayed and I felt that I needed to keep moving.

Me and mom continued to put the supplies away until the car was empty. Then she locked the doors and came inside.

"Wanna help me make dinner? Good practice you know." She grinned at me.

I couldn't help but smile back at my mother's sunny attitude, nothing would get her down.

"Hey Kate, did you do something to your hair?" She asked. I could sense an undertone of worry in her words and cocked an eyebrow in confusion.

"No, why?" I said simply. What was wrong with my hair?

"Ah, must just be me. You grow up so fast it's hard for me to keep track!" She laughed.

As I walked to my room I wondered, what could've happened to my hair? My mother wasn't that observant, did I sleep on something?

I slouched over to my vanity mirror and picked up my brush. Then I looked up, and stopped.

My hair had been a light brown, but now it was dark, and it looked like my roots were black.

What the...

My mind whirled as I examined the rest of my body. I think my muscles grew, and my eyes were bright, not so much brown as amber.

I hastily stepped away from the mirror as my mother called me to dinner.

What the heck is going on here??