Shifters

Chapter 1

Zarrac: I was out in the courtyard, practicing my archery. I was tired of my mother, the queen, trying to forbid me from leaving the palace after what had happened with my father. I was old enough to leave without permission, but I knew that my mother would find a way to get the guards to retrieve me from wherever I would go. I just wanted to have a chance to experience the thrill of adventure.

Kitana: "Kitana, we're running low on venison. Will you go hunting, please?" my father's wife, Heather, called from the back of the shop.

"Yeah, I'll leave in a minute." I called to her before turning back to the blacksmith. "And here is your pork chops, Mr. Walls."

He handed me his payment before asking, "You do the hunting for your family? Isn't that a job for your brothers, young lady?"

"We all play our part. I'm actually the best archer in the family," I told him with a smile. Then I turned and ducked out the back door, hanging my apron on the apron rack on my way out.

Zarrac: I decided to take a trip out to the hunting grounds, so I grabbed my arrows and headed out into the woods. I began to follow signs of game, picking up the trail of a deer.

Kitana: I'd always loved going out on a hunt. I could never get out and stretch my legs while in town. The townspeople wouldn't understand that my family and I, despite being werewolves, were still normal people. We were just a little different but apparently that's still too much for the narrow-mindedness of our village. Although we had to use different game trails than what most people used, I didn't mind. The villagers preferred not to risk breaking their necks on the mountainous trails of the north. Well, I personally adored climbing rocky slopes and navigating narrow passages at top speed. Of course I had the sight and reflexes needed to keep from plummeting to my death or running into rock faces.

Zarrac: I continued to follow the deer's trail. I paused after a moment seeing that it was heading up the mountain. I hesitated, but then I decided to keep tracking the deer, following the trail farther up the mountain passage. As always, I had my cold weather gear in a knapsack on my back just in case.

Kitana: As the wind picked up, I caught the scent of a large buck. I took off on his trail. It was a fresh scent so I stayed at a trot, trying to keep from scaring him with my approach.

Zarrac: I found a clearing and saw the big buck. I moved silently into range, pulled out an arrow, notched it, and drew back, waiting for a perfect shot at the buck's lungs.

Kitana: I finally caught a glimpse of the graceful creature. I hated to have to demise its beauty but people have to eat. I lunged into motion at full speed, wrapped my powerful jaws around the deer's jugular, and squeezed until it stopped squirming.

Zarrac: I gasped in shock as a huge wolf took the deer down. I moved away as silently as possible, but then I accidentally stepped on a twig, snapping it. I held my breath.

Kitana: Suddenly, I heard a twig snap. I dropped the deer carcass and looked around. I saw the prince staring at me, frozen in place. My survival instincts told me to kill him, but he was the prince and I wasn't a killer. I backed away, turned tail, and ran in the opposite direction, never looking back.

Zarrac: I walked away from the area quickly and started down a different trail. I tried to stay calm, but the size of that wolf was incredible, and she was glorious. I assumed that the wolf was a she because she was so beautiful and graceful.

Kitana: What is the prince doing here? I thought to myself. I stopped when I realized that he'd get lost on the maze-like mountain trails. He'd never be able to find his way out of here on his own, at least not without hurting himself.