I didn't wake until around 5 that evening. My stomach was growling. I needed to eat something soon. Shifters needed more food than normal humans, since shifting took up so much energy. I wondered why mom hadn't woken me up by now, but then I remembered where I was. I sat up slowly, still not quite believing it until the empty silver hourglass fell down to land on my chest. I lifted it to look at it closer. The hourglass itself was the size of my thumb with the school crest stamped on the bottom. It would be very noticeable, which was no doubt its purpose.

My phone was flashing from my nightstand. I wondered how I hadn't heard it go off earlier. I must've been really tired to have slept through my phone. It was my lifeline. I picked it up to check what I had missed. I had a message from mom. She was worried about me already. I called her back first. It was a conversation full of oks on my part, but it appeased her and her worry. I hadn't even been gone 24 hours and she was already worried. I realized I'd never truly spent the night away from home, though. I'd spent nights away, but they were always at the homes of the other shifters, with my brothers hanging out with their friends in the next room over.

The rest of the texts and Facebook messages were from shifters wondering what was going on. We were all a tight-knit community. Lissa was the first who had contacted me. I sent her a long email explaining everything that had happened so far. I noticed Caleb was among those who had contacted me. He was extremely polite, but expressed concern that I was ok. The shifter boys tended to be very over protective of the shifter girls, even if the girls weren't theirs to claim.

My stomach growled again, pulling me from thoughts of my family and extended family of shifters. I was alone with the vampires now. I saw that there was a folder that had been slid under my door. I padded across the soft carpet and picked up the envelope. Inside was a schedule of events for the next few days until classes started. Breakfast would be served starting at 6pm with activities and sports try-outs for the Apprentices all evening. There was also a note from Professor Kinoshita stating that belt tests would be held at 10pm. I knew I needed to be there for that at least.

I quickly made sure that all of my things were put away properly. I had been too exhausted last night to do it properly, then. Once that was settled, I looked around the room and found a door I hadn't yet opened. I opened it carefully and saw that I had my own bathroom. There was no other way into the room, I checked and was relieved. Sharing a bathroom now was something I really didn't want to do. I hadn't had to at home, and thankfully I wouldn't have to here either. I moved all of my toiletries into the bathroom and quickly got a shower. I dressed in my uniform carefully, and folded my gi and the white belt I had been given into the school-provided duffle bag. I didn't want to have to run up here after breakfast and the first Apprentice activities and before the belt test. I also threw a few pens and a notebook just in case. I was scared to head down to breakfast. I knew that I was alone here. I wasn't expecting much support from my fellow students.

I made my way downstairs, trying to appear confident, when all I felt was fear. I was used to the laughter and jokes of my brothers. They weren't here. I had my phone in my pocket, but that wasn't reassuring enough. I made my way alone down to the cafeteria. I'm sure the school had a fancy name for it, like they did for everything else, but it was a cafeteria nonetheless. There weren't many students here, yet, but it smelled like breakfast, which was enough to make me happy at the moment. I headed towards the food line and got a plate of pancakes, eggs, sausage, fruit, and coffee. My tray looked huge compared to the other girls. I felt even more self conscious and took a table by myself by the windows, feeling alone and unwanted for the first time ever.

More people began filtering in as the evening continued. They seemed to have already made groups and were sitting together. The new preppy blonde girl from yesterday had found some other popular looking kids to hang out with. The shy nerdy girl followed in behind her. You should try to make friends, I heard my mom's voice in my head. It wasn't her real voice, but I knew it's the advice she would give in this situation. I wasn't sure, however, if anyone would even want to be my friend. Shifters were often feared by those who didn't understand that we could control the animals inside. Vampires generally didn't like us on principle, but a treaty had been created with the vampires years ago for equal tolerance and the two groups were actually starting to like each other and cooperate towards convincing the humans to like both groups.

The shy girl was looking for a place to sit. It was obvious she wasn't going to be welcome with her roommate. I looked up at her and, screwing up what little courage I had, waved to her. She ignored me to go sit at a different table by herself. I put my hand back down, my face flushing and feeling dejected.

I hoped the rest of my time here didn't go this terribly.