Running with Shifters (completed)

Chapter 5 Isadora

Chapter 5

Isadora

"No. We should go this way, avoid the..." I tune Romulus out, sliding down the roof before going to sit beside Meg on a log and watch Kate as she starts a fire in the dark.

We're an hour something out of London, in the middle of nowhere, parked in what appears to be a deserted camping ground. Ever since we stopped Romulus and Linden have been arguing over a map about which way to get to Romulus's mom's house.

Even though it's pitch black, I can still see as if it were only twilight. Granted, the dim light from the car's interior light that the guys are using to read the map by helps, but the light only reaches so far, barely reaching Kate and the fire pit.

Em, Brad, and Lanny are all curled up asleep together under the trunk and I wonder at how fully they've accepted her. Kate successfully starts the fire and just now Eli and Wallace come out of the trees in Shifted forms. Eli saunters over to us, sitting in front of Meg, and licks her face.

She squeals, catching me off guard and making me jump, and wraps her arms around his furry neck. "Who's my cute Mr. Fluffy?" she coos, scratching under his chin, and he pulls away with a huff of disgust, making me laugh and him glare at me, which only succeeds in making me laugh harder.

"What's so funny? I'm not fluffy."

It almost sounds like he's trying to reassure himself and I fluff the fur on the top of his head before he sees me coming. "Sorry to tell you, but you are. A big, fluffy, kitty cat." I add the last part for the sole purpose of annoying him and he growls at me, telling me it worked. I giggle and Meg looks between us, confused. Ignoring her, I ask him something, "why are you and Wallace Shifted?"

"We were about to catch dinner. You want to come? It'll give you a chance to run and I know you can see in the dark."

I don't even have to think about it. "Of course. What are we hunting?"

"Rabbits mostly, deer if you want."

"I didn't know they were nocturnal."

"Oh...." he thinks a moment, "I think you're right. I'm not used to hunting after dark so I'm not all too sure... Whatever. We'll see what we can find."

"Awesome. Give me a second." Before I even stop talking I'm already removing my shoes and turning to Meg. "The guys and I are going hunting for dinner. I was wondering, when I get back, if you'd be willing to teach me how to fight with the daggers? I figure I need to know how to use them outside the Craze."

She stands up and nods, giving Eli another chin scratch before answering. "Of course. You guys be careful and stay away from anything that smells remotely vampire-like." Eli and I nod, understanding what she means, and with that we start running towards the woods a few hundred meters away from the car, Wallace hot on our heels.

I regulate my speed to match theirs and it only takes a minute to reach the tree line. Sharp rocks and debris cut at my feet but my feet heal instantly, before the pain can even fully register. What pain that does register I push to the back of my mind, ignoring the dull thrum of it as I focus on the thrill of the upcoming hunt.

The others catch up and I realize I was slightly ahead of them. Just as we walk through the tree line a roar-like sound splits the air, surprising me and making me jump. Eli huffs out a laugh and I smack his shoulder, "what was that?"

"A deer. I forgot its rutting season. We'll actually be able to catch some after all."

"Awesome. Is there a plan of attack or...?"

He turns and winks at me, "just have fun!" He and Wallace are off through the trees, disappearing from sight before I burst into action and follow them at an all-out run.

Movement catches my eye and I turn my head towards it, catching an owl landing on a tree branch before looking forward again... and nearly running into a tree. Before I know what I'm doing I'm already somehow ten feet off the ground and gaining altitude quickly. I don't even have to use the branches as handholds to hoist myself up with, just using my fingers to grip the bark, and I have a fleeting feeling of being Spider Man.

Reaching a sturdy branch near the top of the tree, I perch and look just in time to see their tails disappear through the trees. Looking around, I spot another sturdy looking branch in front of me not too far away. Looking down to gauge the distance I mentally slap myself for my stupidity. Never look down. I've got to be a hundred something feet up, easily a lethal distance for a human if they fall.

But as I keep being reminded of lately I'm not human. I've survived a three story jump and a fall off of the Eiffel Tower for heaven's sake! As long as I don't somehow land on my neck I'll be fine. Even if I break a ton of bones, besides the fact that it'll hurt like heck, I'll heal everything in a moment, no permanent harm done... besides to my ego.

With that thought in mind I brace myself, lean forward, and jump.