Outcasts

Chapter Three

After we grabbed my bag, we flew back to the cabin high in the trees. I didn't realize how lucky I was to have found Cassie and Ryan. We got back and Ryan flew in the window. When he shifted into himself, a bunch of berries fell to the ground, from woven baskets, from his pockets, pouched in the extra part of his shirt. He dropped wild lettuce on top of them with some tomatoes.

"Crap," He said. "Sorry about that. I can wash them."

"It's fine," We said.

He picked up a berry and put it in his mouth. "They're good," he said.

Cassie picked up a berry and smashed it in his hair.

Ryan shrieked. "No! You evil sorceress! You son of a... dog! How dare you?!"

Cassie snickered.

He growled. "AAh, you villain!" He grabbed a berry and smashed it in Cassie's light blonde hair, leaving a purple stain.

She gasped. "Oh, it is on!"

We threw berries at each other until we realized that we should probably not waste them; they were our only food, after all. So we spent the rest of the time eating them. After we were done, we had berry stains on our mouths. Cassie and Ryan seemed genuinely glad I came along, so I decided to stay at the tree houses for the night.

I pulled off my clothes and changed into my T-shirt and sweatpants. I collapsed onto the bed and lay down, liquidizing and hugging my pillow. I changed into a cat and stretched out, feeling the drowsiness pull me under.

I woke up to the uncomfortable sensation of water on my silver pelt. I guess that's the color I was as a cat. Cassie was looking down at me, she was in human form, wearing a long-sleeve shirt and a grey beanie. I thought the look suited her. She started talking but it just sounded like gurgles in some random language. Then I realized I was a cat, and morphed into myself, suddenly becoming embarrassed by my drab clothes and how I was stretched out like a cat still, hanging off the sides. I quickly adjusted myself. "What?"

"It's snowing! We need to go into town and get proper snow gear."

I looked out of my window. It was snowing. But I hadn't noticed the cold coming in and the snowflakes piling on the windowsill.

"Oh my gosh, it is snowing!" I said. I got up and put my hand out, feeling the cold flakes gather on my palm. "What kind of gear do we need?"

"Just coats and better shoes. That's all. Do you want to come?"

But I was focused on something else. "You have money?"

"Um," She said. "I... have a way."

I decided not to question her.

We walked into town and got me a pair of very expensive, very fuzzy, and very sturdy boots. Cassie got some of the same ones. We also got some sturdy coats. Ryan went shopping on his own and came back with boots, a coat, a can of mac-n-cheese, and a guitar capo.

"Why the capo?" I asked.

"My other one broke."

"You have a guitar?"

"Yeah, I could play for you sometime, if you want," He offered.

"Oh, that would be nice, if you're sure,"

"I'm sure you'll be impressed with my amazing skills," He said, raising his eyebrow.

I laughed. "I'm sure."

"No, he's really good. He broke his other capo because he played to crazily. I've been telling him to be more civilized." Cassie said.

"Well-civilized people don't steal winter coats and boots, Cassie. Also, civilized people are people. I'm a little wild. I'm an animal." He winked severely and smirked at us.