Cold. Bruised. Tired. Hurt. Raj lay curled in a ball in the corner of a beat up shack that sat hidden in the woods behind his uncle's house. He didn't know what time it was, he gave up trying to find out, he couldn't even lift his head without omitting a cry of pain. This was his life now, over the years since his parents disappeared he kept hoping they'd return to him and wisk him away from the living hell that had become his life.
He didn't remember much about them, since he was only six when they never came back from work that day, his sixth birthday. He didn't know he was a shape shifter at that time, only after a week or so of their disappearance he started to change. He had to learn everything himself which was hard, he didn't even know that, or if his parents had been shape shifters as well.
Once he started grade school, he was outcasted, bullied and shunned, and that was just as his human half, he didn't want anyone to ever find out he was a shifter. After the first half first grade he was befriended by an older boy, older by five years. At first Raj was wary, not sure about this older boy, Xyander.
Xyander was a foreign exchange student, so Raj feared once he got the hang of things and knew everyone's social status he'd just get up and leave. Over the years Xyander became somewhat popular, was in a number of clubs, some athletics and some smarts, such as chess club, book club and robotics; but his friendship with Raj never ended.
That was six years ago, but because of Raj's home life and past he never grew to trust Xyander enough to tell his friend his secret, and Xyander never told Raj his. When Raj was nine, and Xyander was fourteen Xyander was attacked by some older boys who almost killed him; as a result Xyander lost most of his memories. Raj was always there for him, over the next three years the two became almost inseparable. Xyander started to have feelings for Raj that didn't go unnoticed to almost everyone, other than Raj that is.
Raj woke with a start, biting back a sharp cry light peaked in through the cracks of the shack. He sighed softly and forced himself to stand up and shift into his human form. He slowly walked to the corner of the shack where he hid several spares of clothes and got dressed. He had to force himself to grab one of his day packs with school supplies and drag himself towards school by a path in the woods.
He wasn't aware of two eyes following him as he left the shack and made his way towards school. By the time Raj reached the school yard he saw Xyander waiting for him. "Hey Raj, how are you?" Raj limped over, not even bothering to try to hide it, he gave his friend a slight shrug. "I'm still alive, so I guess that counts for something" came his reply, it sounded almost distant to him, as if it weren't even his voice.
Xyander frowned but said nothing. Then, without asking he took Raj's backpack. "Don't push yourself. I'll help you get to class" Raj opened his mouth to protest but Xyander had already headed to the door and was holding it open. Raj sheepishly walked inside and went to class, Xyander gave Raj back his bag, "I'll see you around lunch time. And remember not to push yourself." He said over his shoulder before heading to his own class.
Raj sighed slightly
