Shifters

Chapter 3

Zarrac: I wandered through town, trying to think about all my mother had said.

Kitana: On my way to the bakery, I saw the prince walking down the road. I was about to go talk to him, but then I remembered that I'd met him in my wolf form, and he didn't know that it was me. I ducked my head and continued on my way to the bakery.

Zarrac: I decided to get lunch when the bakery came into view.

Kitana: I told the baker's son thank you as he handed me my bread and I turned to walk out the door when I ran into the prince. "Oh, your highness!" I bowed my head and curtsied for him. "I am so sorry! I didn't see you there!"

Zarrac: I smiled at her, slightly. "It's quite alright. I was at fault."

Kitana: "Your highness, you could never be at fault."

Zarrac: "I'm human, am I not? Just because I am a prince does not mean that I can't be at fault."

Kitana: I glanced up at him, blushing. He was right. "Of course, your highness." I turned to leave.

Zarrac: Her eyes were—so unique. Big, bright, and pure blue. I had the strangest feeling that I'd seen them before, but I couldn't remember where. As I thought about it, it hit me: the wolf's eyes were like hers. But that was a wolf. How could a girl have the same eyes as a wolf?

Kitana: When I was back on the road, I turned back and saw the prince staring out at me. I whirled around and scurried back to the butcher shop.

Zarrac: Closing the door to the bakery, I wondered if it was possible. That wolf had human eyes, and she was taller than me on all fours. This girl had those same eyes, and she'd looked nervous when she was speaking to me. More so than most villagers. No, it wasn't possible. There was no such thing as werewolves.

Kitana: I was distracted from my work for the rest of the day. And my older brother, Noah, could tell.

"Kitana, are you alright? Your mind seems to be elsewhere."

"Yes, I'm fine," I replied, defensively.

He hesitated as if he didn't believe me. "Why don't you go for a run? I'll cover your duties."

"You would do my duties and your own? That's a bit much for one person, don't you think?"

"I can handle it. Besides, you're not much use when you're unfocused. Go on. You need to clear your head."

I took his advice and went out the back door.

Zarrac: The town seemed crowded, so I went into the woods instead.

Kitana: I didn't want to run, so I climbed a tree and lied down on a strong branch to think.

Zarrac: A ways into the woods, I looked up into the trees. And there was the white wolf from before. I didn't know if I should call out to her or anything, so I stayed silent and simply watched her.

Kitana: After a while, I felt like I was being watched. I jerked my head and ears up, listening to everything, looking for whatever was targeting me. But then I heard a human heartbeat from behind me. I turned and found the prince staring up at me.

Zarrac: I still didn't know what to say, so I stayed silent.

Kitana: I stood and jumped down. I barked at him.

Zarrac: I reached out my hand as if to pet her.

Kitana: I growled threateningly and snapped my jaws at his hand. I was not a pet dog.