My diamond shaped "birthmark" shown brightly in the black of the night as I screamed higher that I've ever screamed before. My voice is like a dog whistle! This isn't even scientifically possible! The wolves cringed and howled in fear as some of their pack retreated. My voice must have been so high pitched, I couldn't even hear myself scream. All we saw was the sound waves, showing that a sound was there. The bright light scared the rest of the vicious wolves away.

But something didn't feel right, my body grew weak at an alarming rate. My voice quieted down, my "birthmark" dimmed down to my skin color, and I felt exhausted. My world was spinning, my ears rand so loud that I thought my head was going to explode. Derrick said something inaudible and ran to my side, then my world went dark. The forest was quiet again, the trees were swaying in the passing wind, the rushing water was peaceful as well. It's as if nothing had happened. The only noise was Derrick, who was franticly trying not to lose himself, and trying not to lose me.

******

I awoke in a bed, covered in sheets and bandages. I must be back at the cabin, maybe Derrick brought me here. My vision was still unstable, but I could still make out the handsome cat boy who was sitting at the edge of the bed. Derrick's chocolate brown cat ears and tail were sticking out as if they we're saying "hello!" To me.

"I'm so glad that you are okay," Derrick said relieved, "One minute you were screaming like a banshee, then the next you passed out were spewing up blood."

Derrick's soft tail brushed against my left hand. I stroked his tail and he smiled. That reminds me of an important question!

"Derrick- no wait, nevermind..." I stopped as slowly I sat up. I kind of already answered my own question... well sort of...

"What is it?" Derrick questioned.

"It's nothing..." I answered, trying to not sound suspicious.

"You can tell me anything Christina, even if it's personal." Derrick pressed on with a soft tone in his voice. He has that kind of tone that makes you want to tell him evrything.

"It's just... Do you think I'm weird? And... did you see my 'birthmark'? on my right shoulder?" I somewhat lied. I know he's wondering why I ran off, but I'm too ashamed to tell the truth.

"No, I don't think your weird, you're certainly not normal. But isn't being normal overrated? Also, I didn't see your 'birthmark' until the whole wolf attack incident. Have you had it for a long time?"

"Yeah, ever since Saturday morning. You didn't notice it before? Even when we went swimming?" I answered a little confused.

Why was my "birthmark" invisible to him then? Then again, I only saw his when he found me after I ran off.

I slipped down my right sleeve of my light pink shirt just enough so Derrick could see my diamond shaped mark. He looked a little surprised and examined it closely.

"No I'm pretty sure I've never seen yours before... ah, may I?" He politely asked before he reach out to touch it.

"You may." I answered.

Derrick's soft hand caressed my shoulder, constantly rubbing it to see if the mark was a fake. At the moment, it was really hard not to reach out and kiss him. He was so close to me with his adorable cat ears, his soft kissable lips, his chocolate brown hair... What am I saying?! I'm supposed to be mad at him!

"You have a mark just like I do." Derrick concluded as he lifted up his shirt to show off his masculine self- I mean his "birthmark". It was in the shape of a diamond, just like mine. That brings me to another question!

"How long have you had that mark?" I asked Derrick, letting go of his shirt as he kissed my forehead.

"I only noticed it on the day that I met you." Derrick answered as he smiled.

He seemed to have scooted closer to my face, his cat parts were still out and his chocolate brown eyes stared into mine. As if I was under a spell, I subconsciously closed my eyes as his soft lips pressed against mine. His warm, strong arms cradled me as I held onto him for more. My body felt warm and our hearts were in sync. His soft, wet tongue entered my mouth and they tangoed to the tempo of our passion. He pressed me closer to him and my arms moved up to his neck. Low moans escaped and drifted off into the air. I lost myself in him, I wanted more of him, and I hated myself for it.

As we parted, My emotions left me. I was supposed to be mad him, mad at him for loving me. Wait, why would that be a bad thing? After all I've been through, don't I deserve a break? I finally get this experience and I want to give it up? That's not what I want... what do I want?

"...tina? Christina? Hey Christina?" Derrick words slowly entered my consciousness.

"Huh? Oh uh...yes?" I knew that he knew that something was up.

"You kinda zoned out for a minute there. Are you okay?"

"Oh yeah, I'm okay." I lied.

"No you're not, you wouldn't have ran off like that of you were okay."

Damn, he just had to say what I didn't want to hear.

"Oh yeah, uh...hehe, yeah..." I stuttered, trying to avoid the question.

"Christina..." Derrick pressed on, I had a feeling that he wasn't going to let this one slide.

"Uh... well... Derrick I can't tell you, I'm sorry..." I lied.

"Why not?" He started to get puppy dog eyes, which was weird because he was still a cat.

"Because I just can't..." I looked away.

"Well," Derrick said as his hands reached for my sides, "I'll just have to tickle you to get the answer out of you!"

Derrick's hands races up and down my sides in a childish manner. It's as if he knew all my ticklish spots, he made me laugh hysterically and I couldn't control myself. Eventually I couldn't take it and I gave in.

"Alright! Hahaha! Alright! I'l haha Te-tell you! Ah! Derrick! Stop! ah!" I could barely say a full sentence.

Derrick removed his hands from my sides to let me catch my breath. As I collected my self, I tried to get the courage to tell him the truth.

"Derrick, I may just be a girl, and I may just have overreacted about everything that has happened, and--"

"Christina..." Derrick pressed on.

"Alright, alright..." I took a deep breath and prepared the briefest explanation possible, "I ran away... because... of you..."

"Did I do something that offended you?" Derrick questioned.

Baka... Of course you did, you did everything! Well, almost everything...

"...Don't you remember?" I muttered as I cringed the bed sheets, "I don't want you in my life..."

I got out of bed and ran for the door.

"You're not going anywhere." Derrick stated.

He was quick to grab my wrist and I tried my best to get away. I tugged and pulled but he was too strong, his grip is really really strong. I could tell that he's trying his best not to hurt me.

"You can't run away from your dilemmas Christina. I'm not letting you go until you tell me everything that's going on with you." Derrick pressed.

"No Derrick, let me go!" I still didn't want to tell him the truth.

"I know there's more to why you ran away. I have a right to know! Please, talk to me!" Derrick isn't going to give up any time soon.

"I already told you! I don't want you in my life!" I somewhat lied.

Even if I told him, he wouldn't understand. He wouldn't understand how it feels to be harassed by your own so-called parents, how it feels to know that your little brother could be dead for all you know, how it feels to be treated like a sex toy for your early teen years, how it feels to be torn between person and property, and how it feels to be indulging in your own pleasures while the people you love could be in grave danger. He just won't--

"I understand how it feels!" Derrick yelled as something changed about him. Wait, what?!

"Y-you... you can read my mind?!" I said astonished.

"Apparently!" Derrick's grip still hasn't loosened.

"I understand how your feeling Christina, not all of it but..." Derrick took a deep breath, "My mom and Sophie could be danger because I'm not there. Some home invasions happen in our neighborhood and I'm the one who protects them, I'm the man of the house. I'm the one who helps out with everything, I nurse Sophie when she's sick, I help pay the bills, I keep the family lively. If I'm not there then..." Derrick's voice trailed off.

He loosened his grip and tried his best to stay strong, Sophie and his mom must mean the world to him.

"Christina, I know you're mad at me because you think that loving me is a sin. Yes, you do have Joseph who could be... not doing so well right now. I have family who are worried sick about me too. But don't you think it's better to be in high in spirit in this situation? We don't know how long we're going to be out here, running from a sex crazy creep. Christina, I'm not kissing you just for pleasure, I do it because I know that it makes you feel better. I know it might seem counterproductive to the objective of getting home but..."

I found myself starting to cry again as the urge to run away came upon me once more. I can't run away this time, Derrick is sure to catch me since he's aware of my feelings. The only thing I could do is give into him. We probably won't be separating anytime soon so... I guess a little pleasure can't hurt. Right?

Evidently, I found myself indulging in his strong arms. It's my fault for being so naïve, I should have just talked to him in the first place. Ugh, I'm such a girl...

"Derrick... I'm--"

"Sorry?" Derrick finished my sentence.

"Yeah"

"I forgive you" Derrick smiled as he leaned down to kiss me.

"But I'm still not falling for you!" I protested as I parted from his hold.

Derrick smiled and barked. Wait, barked?! I was gazing upon something as crazy as when I woke up to cat boy Derrick.

"Derrick... you h-h-have... And a-a tail?!" I stuttered.

"Yes I do have cat ears and a cat's tail, I thought you knew that..."

"No, you have doggie ears... and a doggie tail... you're a dog..." The words slowly escaped my mouth.

Derrick looked in the mirror behind himself to see his reflection, but with brown floppy ears and a long brown bushy tail.

"Wh-what happened?" Derrick questioned.

"I'm not sure... but I think it has something to do with your powers." I concluded.

He turned around to question me.

"What do cat and dog parts have to do with my powers?!"

"Well, when your cat parts were out, you healed my wounds. Just now, since your dog parts are out, you can read my mind... I still don't understand how you got your 'birthmark' though..."

Even more questions keep popping up!

"Anyway," I concluded with my hands on my hips, "We can't tell California girl about this, she might freak out."

"California girl? Is that what you call her?" Derrick sighed, "Her name is Grace."

I didn't realize that I said what I thought out loud. Good thing she's not--

"What cha'll talkin' bout?" A bright and witty voice bursted.

Derrick quickly moved away from the mirror, put a hat on his head and did his best to hide his tail so fast that I couldn't see a thing.

"I saw you two run out the house like it was on fire, is something going on between you two? Are you two having lovers quarrels?" Grace teased as she batted her eye lashes.

"No we're not. It's a long story, but everything... most things are settled." I reassured.

"By the way, I never got your name darlin," She asked with a voice as nice as western waitresses at diners.

"I'm Christina and this is--"

"Derrick! Oh, he is such a sugar cube!

I guess they already met...

"Sorry for all the commotion Grace," Derrick apologized, "We kind of had a fight..."

"It's alright sugar cube, life happens. Now, who's hungry?"

Our stomaches answered the question for her. I've missed three meals, I'm not sure how I survived. I feel like stuffing my face. Who cares about being ladylike? When a girl's gotta eat, a girl's gotta eat.

"I'll go make something tasty, I'll call you down." Grace smiled as she walked out the door.

We both exhaled as we heard Grace's footsteps grow farther and farther away.

"That was close..." I said as I felt a sweat drop.

Derrick took his hat off and wagged his tail.

"I can't believe that I'm a dog, woof!" Derrick barked.

He covered his mouth after saying that last part. I guess since he's a dog, he barks... this is going to be interesting.

***************

As Derrick and I try to figure out our newly found powers. A dark cloud rolls above us in the sign of despair. A tall handsome teen was eerily making his way to the cabin, what we didn't know, was that he was going to make our lives even more miserable than they already are. I can taste the bloodshed from here...