“It can’t be a shifter, can it?” Dean asked, Brianna’s mate. I hoped they just let me go thinking I was wild.

“No, it’s a girl, too. She couldn’t be wild. We don’t have wild packs near here and loners are almost inexistent in this part of the country.” Brianna said from next to him. The rest of the pack agreed. Man! These guys get along really well! I whined and looked around. I didn’t lower my gaze, telling them I don’t submit, but I couldn’t help but whimper at my situation. My ears perked up and I looked outside of the circle to see Brad step next to the circle, in human form.

“Well little wolf, this is a pleasant surprise!” He exclaimed. “Sorry, but I must do this, for my pack’s protection.” He lifted a blow gun to his mouth. I tapped into my energy reserves and swerved around it. With my last bit of energy, I scooped wind with my wings as I shifted into an owl and flew off. Safe, but not for long. I flew straight home and shifted into Hyper, gobbling down some bugs for a snack. I finally shifted into a human and laid down in the bed. I had gotten sheets earlier and got up once more to put them on the bed. Finally, I fell asleep.

“Caelum! Look how old you are!” it was my mom. I prepared myself for the all too common nightmare. “Come save u-” she was cut off as a bolt shot out from my heart, crying as my power over lightning killed her writhing body.

I shot up, my eyes pure black. I hated that nightmare. I figured out that I can channel fire, or things similar to it, like lightning. I sometimes fear that I would electrocute someone I love. But that is not a risk, since all the shifters I ever knew are dead. Except for this pack! I thought, but knew it would never be the same. My pack was mostly all captured, the ones put up for public display. I started forming a plan while I lay on my bed, knowing I would not sleep anymore tonight.

I decided my best course of action was to join the zoo. I had visited it with Arianna and they had a tank with leopard geckos, so I could fit in perfectly. Just got to wait until after climbing with my new friends! The thought excited me. I have friends again! And they were just like me! Except for the fact that they think I am a threat. I would slip in to the zoo an hour after climbing, which was from 8:30-12 o clock. I planned on pretending I got out of the cage. Tonight, I would have to melt some of the glass on the cage, make it look natural. I finally decided to melt the glass and shifted into my wolf form. I couldn’t resist. I loved this form because it was strong, fast and powerful. I love my dragon even more, but I don’t blend in with anything so I would be way too noticeable. I listened to the thump of my feet as they rhythmically hit the ground. In almost two minutes, I arrived at the zoo. This town had no security cameras and no phones. The only technology they allowed were computers. This was because they were claiming to be a native tribe and wanted to ‘keep traditions.’ It was actually so there was no way evidence of their nature could be revealed. This worked out for me, since it meant I could sneak in easily. I quickly did what I came her to do, shifting into my dragon form. I let an extremely small amount of heat escape from my under scales. The scales under my back plates were as hot as fire, but could I could trap the heat when I wanted to. I pressed my back against the wall, burning it slightly. Then I flamed the glass closest to the heat lamp. That should do the trick! I climbed into the sky, enjoying my dragon form. It was about seven feet long, including the tail and my wingspan was almost double that. Yeah, I have really long wings. With two wing beats, I was whisking towards home. Below me I heard the warning call of a wolf, dammit! I forgot about them! I swerved towards a clearing and waited for them to arrive. They cautiously gathered in front of me, defensive and ready to fight like a cornered animal. I spoke with a deeper voice than normal, just to throw them off.

“Who are you and what do you want?” I asked, acting like this was my territory. That ticked them off. Adrian, a black older wolf growled at me, showing me his teeth.

“This is our territory! Not yours! Leave now, or submit to questioning.” The night patrol leader stepped out, confronting me. He was pretty much begging for a reason to kill me. The leader was Adrian, well Adrian Jr. The other Adrian was his father and his son looked almost identical, minus the gray hairs.

“You know I can beat all of you with one sweep of fire, don’t provoke me!” I said, trying to sound ominous. I snickered at their looks of terror. I shifted into my fox form and sat down, licking my paws patiently. They looked stunned, I guess they didn’t think I would leave the more powerful form for a weaker one. I knew that they thought I was a dragon/snake/fox mix, so I used that to my advantage. I had three available forms. “Ask me three questions, then I leave.” I said, not wanting to sound totally hostile. The last thing I needed was for them to give the order ‘kill on sight.’

“Ok, how long have you been here? How did you find us?” Adrian Jr. said as he shifted into human form.

“That’s two of three questions, but I’ll count it as one, since they have the same answer. One, I have been here since I arrived with the girl. While in the wilderness, I helped her get food, and she treated my wounds. She knows of my forms.” I think I gave them too much info, but it was all technically true, I hunted in my forms and did other stuff in my human form.

“thanks, I guess you are more reasonable than I thought.” He said with a hint of a smile. He turned to his father and asked him to get to town to tell the alpha. Well, that made it easier, I didn’t have to say Jr. anymore.

“hey, I want to get some sleep, so please ask the questions, Adrian.” I surprised him by saying his name. he looked over his shoulder after his father before asking me the next questions.

“are these your only forms and do you or the girl have any intention of turning us in if discovered?” those are good questions

“I have more forms, but I am not telling you of them yet. For the second question, no. she had shifter friends who were publicly executed. She hates the government for it. She, and I, will never turn in shifters. Also, she knows about you guys.” I changed into my dragon form and flew towards my house, not bothering to confuse their trail, since I was flying. Tomorrow would be a long day.