Chapter One
So.... Where to begin. Well, how about I start from the beginning. Okay? Yeah, okay.
I was "created" in a lab by nutty scientists. My genes were spliced with feline genes. So, I've spent most of my life in a dog crate, being poked and prodded. Until I escaped.
It was a normal day like any other. Meaning, I was trapped in small crate, shifted into cat form so that i fit better. They had already done the daily testing routine to everyone in this cell block, so I was my expecting any scientists until the morning. Which is why I was surprised to hear noises at the door.
I looked across the room to Kai. He was in a cage opposite mine. Back then, he was the only other shifter I knew. They rest of my current family had been in cages further down, so that we couldn't see them. So Kai had been all I had.
What do you think it is? I ask him. Well, not really ask. Us shifters can speak two languages. One being English, the other being cat. And I'm not just talking about meowing. I'm talking about body language. It's a key part in cat communication.
I don't know. But be ready.
I give a little flick of my ear, to tell him I'm prepared. Then I start signaling to the rest of the creatures. Any of them that can understand me, that is. Strange noise. Might be bad. Be ready.
The news spreads like wildfire. All around us animals and mutants and tensing up, ready for whatever is coming.
The door opened with a low creak. Standing silhouetted in the door was a person. I took a long sniff, trying to see if I recognized this human. It was then that I picked up an odd smell. I smelled...feathers?
The silhouette moved, and the strange human walked in. It was a tall girl, probably around fifteen years old. She was starring at horror at the many cages. Then there was more movement at the door, and five more kids appeared. All of them smelling of feathers. For a moment, they all stood there with the girl, starring around with faces showing shock, anger, and fear. Then, one by one they began to slowly walk around.
The first girl walked over to me, and starred at me for a while. Then one of the humans, a little girl with big blue eye and curly hair, came up behind the tall teenager. "Max," she said,"We need to help them."
The teen, Max apparently, looked at the child. "Angel, I don't-"
"Please Max," she begged.
With a sigh of both exasperation and frustration, she said,"Fine." Then she addressed the rest of the group. "We're busting them out. Start opening cages." She grabbed the lock on my cage and yanked it open. Then she started moving down the row, opening locks and throwing cage doors open.
I looked across the room to Kai. His cage door had been opened as well.
What now? I asked him.
We follow them. He answers.
Carefully, I push my cage door open. Then, I leap out, landing on the hard tile floor on all fours. Kai pads over to me and together we make our way through all the mutants that are now milling around and look for Max.
She's at the very end of the last row of cages, talking with a mutant girl. The girl looks almost normal, except, she has wings. And she smells like feathers...suddenly, I realize what these people are. They aren't scientists, they're mutants. They're bird people.
I quickly tell Kai what I've discovered.
That must be why they want to help us. They've gone through the same thing. I flick my ear in agreement, keeping my eyes on the feather people. They're gathering now, forming a plan or something. Then begin to move towards the door.
"Everyone, follow us!" Max yells. Kai and I run after them, trying to keep together in the flow of the crowd. We all race forward, through the door to a room full of metal computers. Then we're running through another door and into a dank, dark, gross place. My night vision lets me see pretty clearly, but I still yearn for light as I race along.
"Mrrrowww!" I long feline wail lets lose. I mentally translate it to, Help, please!
I look over at Kai.
Someone's in trouble, he says.
I know.
Then let's go.
Before I have time to react, he's turned against the tide and is searching for the source of the sound.
Dang it, Kai, I think.
I turn around, bracing myself for impact. Dozens of creatures fly past me, shoving me around and battering me as I go. I brush against skin, fur, slime, feathers, and scales as I go. Finally, I see Kai's bright white pelt ahead of me.
Kai's standing next to three other feline forms. A quick taste of the air tells me it's two males and a female. All very young. I slide to a stop next to Kai, who's looking down at the little female with concern. She's injured, her one leg cut and bleeding. Badly, might I add.
What happened? I inquire.
Some other mutant's claw caught her as she was running. The boys here have been trying to help her, but she just can't go and further without being carried.
Then we'll have to carry her. I tell him. Looking her over, I see it would be impossible for a cat to carry her. She's too old to be scruffed like a young kitten. But, it would be easy for a human to carry her.
One of us is going to have to shift.
I will.
Are you sure?
Yes. Now get back.
I take a few steps back, along with the boys who have also been listening. Then I watch as Kai begins to shift. I turn away before he's fully human because, let's face it, no one wants to see their best friend naked. I mean, gross.
So I listen as he picks up the little female kitten in his arms and dashes off to catch up with the rest of the mutants. Then, since I know it's safe to turn back, I looks over to the boys.
I'm Adira, I tell them.
I'm Xander, says the golden tabby.
I'm Alex, the brown tabby says.
Great. Now let's get the the heck outta here. We all the race away, dashing at top speed to reach the rest of the group. In almost no time, we're caught up. Everyone has stopped running, staring ahead to something I can't see.
I'm going to find Kai.
We want to come too, the boy named Alex says.
Fine. Stay close. I don't know this is about.
We begin to weave our way through the crowd of creatures. I try not to flinch as a brush against the scales, feathers, and fur of other mutants.
We find Kai in almost the dead center of the crowd. He's shifted back into his cat form. (Thankfully) and the little tortoiseshell she-cat is lying on the ground beside him. The boys rush over to her, and I quickly ask Kai what's happening.
It's a fight. Between one of the winged humans and another mutant. I believe it's part canine. They each seem really resentful towards the other. He pauses, then adds. I don't think they're both going to walk away from this.
Should we try going another way?
That's probably best. Get the kids.
I nod, and I am about to tell them we're leaving, when a jet black pelt blocks my path.
Are you a shifter? The cat asks.
Yes, I answer her.
Are they? She asks, jabbing her tail towards Kai and the children.
I think so. I tell her. I hadn't honestly thought to ask the boys if the three of them were shifters or not.
Well so am I. And I want to come with you.
I look into her cold, distant eyes and ask, Why?
There's safety in numbers.
I nod in agreement. Well, in that case, it's probably best we find any other shifters in this crowd.
I know where two more are. I think they're the only two others.
Where?
There, she says. She flicks her ears towards a pair of cats, huddled together. A female and a male, one a bright ginger the other a stormy grey.
Go get them. Then we're leaving. I want to leave before things get too ugly. I had been listening to the fight this whole time, and it didn't sound pretty. Just now there was a loud crunch and a scream from the girl. It made the fur on my neck rise.
The she cat nods and makes her way through the crowd, and I watch her for a second as she then begins communicating with the pair. Then, I turn back to Kai.
Are you going to shift again? I ask him.
Yes. I still don't think she's strong enough to walk.
Then get a head start. We'll be right behind you.
Alright. Be careful.
I will, I tell him. Then I turn away as he begins to change forms.
The black female and the other two are making their way back to us. It'll be time to go in a moment.
Ready? I ask the boys.
Yes, answers the one called Xander.
Stay close, I tell them. Then, I turn to the three who've just walked over.
We're leaving. This fight is getting very ugly-, I begin. But I'm cut off as a wail of grief echoes through the stone passages.
We need to go. Now. Follow me. They all give a quick nod, and then we're off, racing through the tunnels after Kai.
The last thing we hear as we race towards our freedom is the echoing sound of a heart wrenching wail.
"You killed your own brother!"
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Author's note:
Wow, I can't believe I finally got this done! It's been rolling around my head for months! Now, if any of you didn't pick up in this already, these are the mutants the flock set free in like the third book? It's the same time they got Total. But the details are really fuzzy in my mind, and I don't have the book, so if anyone wants to correct me, be my guest.
I hope you all enjoyed this, and I ask for any criticism you can give me. I can take it, just don't run me over with a bulldozer. Basically, don't be horribly blunt. Thank you all!
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