Chapter author - YouAreNowIncongito

Reed wasn't usually this far out in the forest. He was there to inspect the unnatural craters the thermal/mechanical scouting groups had found. The craters per say weren't particularly interesting, just holes in the ground of different sizes. The interesting thing was the question: what had made them? It seemed the ground in the craters had just disappeared. The scouting group had lots of weird theories but Reed didn't really care. So what? It's just holes.

Now he was on his way home, he had left the scouting group behind, they wanted to investigate further. It was so typical for the thermal/mechanical faction. They always wanted to be part of something bigger. Suddenly Reed stopped, he felt the presence of fire.

“Geez, a forest fire? I better put it out before it becomes something bigger" he thought and went in the fire's direction. He stopped. He had thought he would find a small fire slowly consuming a bush, but it was a young wolf lighting and putting out a fire over his nose staring fascinated at it.

“Darn scouting groups, too busy with their conspiracy theories to actually do their job.” Reed swore.

Ramsey looked surprised up and put out all fire. A big red and gray puma came out of the forest. He had a big red-yellow mark on his back where red flames emitted and filled the air above him.

“Cute flame" Reed said friendly.

“Emh, what flame?” Ramsey answered blushing. He had promised his father to not play around with the fire, which was why he had sneaked away from the rest the wolf pack.

“Don’t worry, I'm not going to tell anyone. Look I'm a fire shifter myself.” He made a hunch towards the flames at his back.

“Fire shifter?” Ramsey made big eyes.

“Yeah, that's what you are. You haven't found it peculiar that you're the only one in your pack possessing powers like that?” Reed went up beside Ramsey.

“Well yes, but…”

“Truth is: you're really not a wolf at all” He poked the wolf on his nose with a paw. “You’re an element shifter, a fire shifter to be precise.”

“What's an element shifter?” Ramsey said curiously.

“We are a species of our own, demonic element creatures pretending to be animals. So you're not a wolf at all, you're just pretending”

“I am a wolf!”

“Nope, and I'm not a cougar" Reed smiled. The scouting groups must have fun meeting all these individuals all the time. Why did Delmar back out of this?

“You're wrong! I am a wolf! I've always been one." Ramsey said grumpy.

Reed laughed “Of course you've always been looking like a wolf, you were born as a wolf and your mother is a wolf."

“My mother is dead."

“Oh, sorry.”

“It’s alright I never really knew her. She died when I was very small. My dad too. But I have an adoptive father now. And I love him." the wolf smiled like there was no bad things in the whole wide world.

“I'm glad to hear that." Reed smiled. Wasn't he just adorable?

“Who are you?” Ramsey asked curiously.

“My name is Reed. I'm an general for the chemical faction of the element shifter society. You know there's a lot of guys like us in this world.”

“There are?”

“Yep, but that's a secret so don't go telling anyone.” Reed said with a wink. “Here let me show you a secret little shifter trick.” he transformed into his human form. The young wolf took a step away baffled.

“You’re a human?”

“No as I said, I'm an element shifter. A demon pretending to be something it's not.”

“A demon? Like a demon blood?”

“No, not demon blood. A pure demon. Demon without the blood after" Reed wasn't sure that explanation even made any sense. Ramsey looked happily and confused at him.

“My whole pack are demon bloods." he proclaimed happily.

“Listen, they not the same as us. Merely a bleak shadow of us. You and me we are the real thing.”

“The real thing? You mean; turning into humans?” Ramsey was still confused but made his best attempt to understand what Reed saying.

“You can do this as well if you like to.”

“I can?” the wolf looked amazed.

Reed explained the secret art of shifting into your human form to Ramsey. The wolf listened carefully and paid attention to every single detail. He asked several questions both about the shifting process and his elemental powers. After a while he decided he wanted to try it out.

The young wolf transformed into a short curious looking teenager. The red marks on his nose and his cheeks seemed to have transmitted to this form as well. On his head he still has two wolf ears happily pointing forward. He had also kept his tail. Otherwise his human form was perfect. He looked surprised at his hands. Reed was surprised as well. He didn't count with the kid being able to shift nor having a human form this good on his first try. This kid was probably pretty strong.

“I guess we'll have to work on the ears and the tail.” Reed said smiling. Ramsey took surprised up a hand to one of the soft furry ears. He tried to take a step forward but lost his balance and fell to the ground. Reed helped him up.

“I know, it's a bit hard to walk upright the first time but you'll get used to it.” he laughed.

“The ground is so uncomfortable under my paws” Ramsey complained.

“Your feet" Reed corrected him. “That’s why the humans wear shoes.” he pointed at his boot.

“What’s your name kid?”

“Ramsey."

“Congrats, you got a real name. You won't have to change it.”

“Why would I want to change my name?”

“Because you need something people can call you. Not just some animal noise. If you don't have a proper name people are just going to call you by your element.” Reed explained. “Being called fire all the time isn't so neat. But as I said you don't need to worry, you've already got a real name.” Ramsey still looked like he didn't quite understand.

“Listen I would like you to come to the city with me. I can teach you about all this.” Reed made a waving moment with his hand, a firework of red flames danced around it. “There’s a whole society for people like us.” The boy suddenly shifted back into his wolf form again.

“I can't.” he said sorry.

“Why not?”

“I need to protect my father.”

“Can’t the pack protect him?”

“No, they can't. Not from that.”

Reed sighed, this was typical pack animal behavior. They never wanted to leave their family behind. He could drag the kid to the city but then he would probably try to resist and hate Reed for an eternity.

“Alright you can stay, is not my job to force you. If you ever change your mind or need any help go to the northern districts of the city and ask for Reed Johnson, that's me.” he smiled and patted the wolf on his head. “Until then, don't go around showing off your abilities. They’re secret, remember?”

“Yes!” the wolf smiled.

“See ya” Reed held up one hand as farewell as he walked away, he transformed back into his animal form and headed back home towards New Devantos.

The trip hadn't been a complete waste after all. He would give the pup a month or two to think about it. If he hadn't shown up by then he could always send a scouting group to force the pup to the city. That way Reed wouldn't end up as the bad guy in the wolf's eyes, rather as a kind recognizable friendly face. The kid seemed strong. He would make an excellent soldier. Plus he was easy and fun to teach. He was definitely going to take the place the kids mentor.

“I won't let you have this one Maxine.” Reed mumbled pleased as he walked home.