Shifter's Chosen (TEASER!)

Prolouge

Shifters.

Just one word, and eight letters, but a misunderstood word. What do you think of when you hear the word 'shifter'? Most likely a werewolf, maybe a werepanther if you ever read any books by Jan Gordan. I'll let you in on a little secret:

There are many more breeds of were animals than humans are aware of.

Oh, how do I know this if I'm said human?

I'm not.

I'm a Shifter. No, not a Were. Shifters and Weres are completely different things, but somewhere the definitions got messed up and now mean almost the same thing. Let me clear up the confusion for you.

Weres (like werewolves) don't get to choose their form, they're born with it. They aren't made, they are born into their species. Those stupid people in Hollywood got it all wrong. Even if a Were did bite a human, they wouldn't change into whatever species bit them. Nada. Weres have a ruling family, the Alphas of all Alphas and all that shit.

Shifters are a completely different type of being. We are made, not born into the species. We are born human and have to go through the Trials, times where any regular human would commit suicide but the future shifter makes it out not only unharmed, but stronger than they ever were before. It's safe to say that the percentage of humans that make it through the Trials are slim. We get to pick our soul animals, but even at that, it doesn't make us Weres.

You see, while Weres are free to be in packs, prides, flocks, or groups, Shifters are not allowed to join the ranks of the Weres. We are a more evolved race, stronger, faster, smarter, and more durable than all of the Were species put together. We are here as a sort of warrior slash protectors of the Weres.

Weres hear stories of what lurks in the dark corners of the world, things humans cannot even begin to imagine, but the monsters and daemons of the myths are never seen by a Were. It is biologically impossible. Weres have advanced senses for the world in which they live; Shifters have advanced senses for the Nether and for the world in which we dwell. We fight back the daemons and monsters which haunt all the werechildren of the world's sleep. We are the Guardians of Terrene. They are the helpless, we are the strong. It is the way the world is meant to be.

Yeah, it's a little much for a sixteen year old girl to take in. Yeah, I'm expected to protect the Earth from monsters and such but I can't even drink. That doesn't mean I haven't. And, on top of that, the Council of Elders took a special interest in me even before I was a Shifter. Fun, huh? Plus, I went through all of the Trials without Shifter interference, which was unheard of. I also got the rarest Soul Animal in the world; The Black Jaguar.

The Black Jaguar is rare because only one Shifter ever before received the animal. It was nearly impossible to obtain. See, when you pick your Soul Animal, you go through more tests. They didn't want people who would be stronger as a wolf to pick tiger so they put us through more tests. Questions and scenarios that they make up and put into your head so you have to live them out. It tests your character (for instance, loyalty and faith could be a wolf. Slyness and ferocity could lead to a big cat, tiger maybe. Honesty could be a small bird and pride would probably an eagle or hawk) and your decision making. As if it wasn't enough to go through the Trials. I made my decisions and got the Black Jag. The Council found out and their interest in me skyrocketed.

But that's a story for another time. Right now there are bigger problems.

What goes through your mind when you hear 'Order of the Chosen'? Probably 'Oh, they don't sound so bad!' They are that bad.

To Shifters, the Order is the one thing that makes us look over our shoulders. The Order of The Chosen is a group of supernatural beings called Iarrthóir. They are the most human looking of all the supernaturals. Iarrthóir is an Irish word that loosely translates to 'Seeker'. That's exactly what they are. They're faster than Vampires, more cunning than the Fae, and have more brute strength than a Werewolf. They are the most powerful beings after Shifters. (Don't tell anyone I'm telling you about them, since humans have no knowledge of the species.) For as long as there have been daemons there have been Shifters and in turn, Iarrthóirs. The Iarrthóir exist for one reason:

To exterminate Shifters.

Yeah, nice huh? Apparently the Creators (or Moon Goddess, Nyx, God, Budda, whatever your species prefers) thought it wasn't enough for us to be tested in the Four Trials and to go through Initiation and more stuff, they made the Iarrthóir's flaw be insane jealousy of the Shifters. Hence the name Iarrthóir, which means Seeker (like I said before). They seek to gain our powers.

Iarrthóir have a hierarchy of a sort. Meaning they have a family of rulers, who dominate the species, ordering death and chaos. Shifters have tried numerous times to negotiate with them, but every time the dignitary is murdered. It shouldn't be my problem, right?

Unfortunately it is. I know, it sucks ass.

Upon one successful discussion with the Kaosa, the commanding family, it became my problem. After being asked what they needed to stop the senseless death and murders of my species, they replied two words.

"Ashli Lynx." Me. No one knows how they found out about me since no other species knows about us or them and no one could tell them. Shifters are hardwired at the first transformation to always put the species secrets and Terra Firma before their own life. But humans haven't. If Iarrthóir compel a human enough, they can use the humans for their dirty work. Humans can be given one Iarrthóir ability, and usually that is the ability to search through a Shifter's brain. If a Shifter knowingly gives information to the enemy, they are stripped of their Soul Animal and any memory of their time as a Shifter. What's left of the former Shifter is an empty shell. It's a terrible thing to see happen. I've seen ten Shifters go through this process, one of which was my mentor, Kain.

I have no idea why the Iarrthóir want me so badly. I wish I did but the Council didn't think I was mature enough to know the reason as to why they want me. All I know is the rumors that sneak and slip like shadows past the Council's guard dogs. Things whispered at night to one's mate when one is almost certain that no one is close enough to hear. Secrets about how the Iarrthóir are dying out and how there is only one one heir to the Iarrthóir throne. No one seems to think that I want to know about what is going on because to them, I might be the Foretold (another story for another time) but I am still only a Changling and adolescent.

This is my tale, my life. Ever since... him. He's the reason I'm here, the reason I got dragged into this mess. Stupid, stupid boy.

I know that all of you are wondering what the Trials are. Here they are in order of which they happen: Divorce (most people go through this), Moving (same as Divorce), Abuse, Neglect (True cases of both; not just some snotty child saying so) Bulling (happens at the same time as Abuse and Neglect), Death of a Close Family Member, Loss of Friends, and Heartbreak.

So I'll say it again:

Damn you, Cicero!

I guess it comes naturally to him, breaking people's hearts. After all, his name does mean 'Keeper of Darkness' in latin. That's exactly what he is; a keeper of the darkness that haunts all of the heartbroken's dreams. You know whats really sick though?

I'm still in love with Cicero.

Yeah, my mind's a pretty fucked up place, right? Even after he was the straw that broke the camel's back, I still love him. Can someone get me a bottle of Požaraviski? No? Damn.

AUTHORS NOTE!!!

Hows the new story guys? Comment with feedback, please! I'll start this when Abducted's finished, promise! 

KEY:

Požaraviski= Fire Whiskey. Humans are unable to consume the drink, and it's extremely painful for most were's. It has a bite to it, but it's the only way Shifters can get drunk.

Thanks for reading the first chapter!

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