Every young dragon knew that The Shifting was a special day to celebrate, except for, well, me. All my life, Crystal Gazers –dragons who tell the future– and my classmates have told me countless times that I will never ever manifest a special Stalker. Stalkers meant everything to us. They're abilities we have when we turn fourteen. There are five special stalkers. Three main ones: Flame, Snow, and Rain; two rare ones: Wind and Storm.

There are those that are stalkerless. They lived around the wall. The wall was built to protect us from enemies. I have no idea what enemies they meant. Only royalty knew what our enemies are. No one else. Well, except the Dargon and two Rangers. The Dargon was a war commander. The Rangers are just for backup and carrying out orders. They also lead other fighting groups. I learned that in Dragon Politics, taught my Master Torrent Hunter Rain.

Our names are special. Those that are stalkers will have names related to the stalker they manifested to. Master Torrent's past name was Hunter. His last name was Rain. It sounds ladyish, but nobody actually cares. I wondered what my name would be. If I'm stalkerless, I'll be Flicker forever.

My eyes went over to the black platform littered with beautiful bouquets for the Shifting. The sun told us it was the middle of the day, and the white, puffy clouds danced with happiness, showing how great the day was. The only misfigure in the sky were the squawk of pitch-black ravens that signaled the start of trouble. The thick air smelled like cherries, but too much cherry.

"Everybody!" Lady Frost shouted over the chattering of the forty-one students that had their fourteenth birthday. "Let's get ready for the Shifting!"

Everyone silenced when nearby royalty guards roared for silence. Nobody would want to disobey those fierce dragons. They were there if something wrong happened in the Shifting. That happens very rarely though. The King wanted to ensure everyone would be safe.

Lady Frost calls, "Those in Gold, come over here!"

Our economy separates the rich and poor. Gold was for the rich; Copper was for those that are not rich or poor; and Rust for the poor. I'm in the Rust category. Any orphan would be in the Rust category. My parents passed away when I was little. I don't know how they died, and the other dragons won't tell me.

I lived in a small shack near the forest. To earn coins, I cleaned the school as soon as lessons were over.

"Bugger, of the Gold class, please come forward." I watched as the first fourteen year old dragon walked over. From the look of his shiny wings, he's ready for the Shifting.

The outside turned eerily silent as the dragon walked over to the helmet-shaped crall. It was rumored to get our brain to react and the ability would appear. Bugger stuck his head in. The crall turned and shifted until Bugger's face was covered. Several seconds slip by. It shifted one more time and recoiled backwards. The Shifting was finished.

Bugger staggered out, eyes glazing over. That happens when somebody uses his or her ability. Our keen ears heard a small crack of thunder. Stormer. Bugger's a stormer. I cringed as Lady Frost called, "Stormer! Please congratulate Bugger!"

Cheers ripped through the air.

"And what will your name be?" Lady Frost asked Bugger.

I strained forward, wanting to hear the answer.

"Monsoon Bugger Storm," Monsoon answered.

The crowd cheered one more time when Lady Frost beckoned him to go down to the circle to be marked, a special ceremony nobody except those with stalkers knew about. I guess I'll be doing that very soon . . . if I even have an ability.

The other Gold class students finished the Shifting. They had three Flamers, two Snowers, six Rainers, one Stormer, and unfortunately, a stalkerless. The poor dragon had flown away, sobbing uncontrollably. I wondered if I would do that if I turned out stalkerless.

The Copper class came and went. There were eleven flamers, six snowers, and eight rainers. The typical stalker abilities. I was about ready to fall asleep when the time came for the Rust class to come.

I struggled to keep my eyes open as the Rust class walked over to Lady Frost. She looked down at our raggedy little bunch of five dragons. I only knew two of them. Raggs and Claw. Raggs had only one wing. His parents abandoned him when he was a hatchling. He lives with me now. Claw tended to be on the shy side. He almost never talked. Yet when he did, it came out low and whisper-like.

Lady Frost announced, "Grass of the Rust class, please come forward."

Grass goes toward the crall. His wings quivered as he placed his head into the crall. I didn't blame him. My own heart was pounding rapidly in my chest. I hoped my bug breakfast didn't come out of my mouth.

When Grass came out, his eyes glazed over and flames shot out of his mouth. Flamer!

"Flamer!" Lady Frost yelled, "Please congratulate Grass!"

Practically no dragon cheered. Rust dragons' Shifting wasn't nearly as heart stopping as the others, for some reason.

Grass chose the name of Red Grass Flame. It sounded weird to me, but it wasn't my business. I kept silent as the other Rust dragons did the Shifting. Before my turn came, we managed to get two flamers, one rainer, and one snower. Claw, now known as Freeze, got a Snower ability; Raggs, called Downpour, received Rainer. It fitted his personality.

Now, it was my turn. I walked toward the crall. My heart didn't beat as fast as I thought it would. I felt calm. Taking in a deep breath, I stuck my head into the crall.

The first thing I saw was darkness. So much darkness. I heard the gears twist and click. Pain shot through my head. Then, the shadows came. I went forward, trying to grab the shadows with my puny talons. Their invitation was impossible to ignore. Instead of me grabbing them, they grabbed on to me. Safe at last. The shadows plunged into my heart and head. I tried to scream, but nothing came out. Blinding white exploded near my face.

The crall opens. I stumbled backwards. I felt my eyesight give away, but I could still see the crowd of forty-one students, waiting for something.. That means my eyes must be glazing over.

Nothing came out of my mouth. I'm no flamer. Snow or rain doesn't fall from the sky. I'm not a Snower or Rainer. No crack of thunder or wind. Not a Winder or Stormer. What Stalker ability did I receive? I knew I had one. My mind told me that.

Shadow.

I automatically imagined a spear to prove my ability, and it appeared in sight, light gray and somehow not in existence yet. My heart pounds with excitement and joy. I looked around at the crowd. There eyes are filled with ultimate terror, mouths open, eyes widening with terror. I turned to the trembling Lady Frost.

Her face lighted up with terror as she screamed, "SHADOWER! GUARDS!"

I stared as the guards rushed over to me and pinned my wings, so I wouldn't fly away, as if that would happen. They strapped bindings around my wings and mouth. I could taste blood in my mouth with how hard they were clamping my jaw.

My eyes traced over to where Freeze and Downpour stood, eyes round with terror. I knew I had done something wrong, but what did I do wrong? Why did Lady Frost call the guards? I think back about what she said. Shadower. That's what she said. What was a Shadower? Could it be another Stalker? It sounded like it. Rainer. Stormer. Shadower. It made sense, but I have never heard anybody say that word before. Shadower.

The word sent shivers down my spine.

The captain of all the guards comes forward, baring a spiky club. I recoiled in fear. Uh-oh. That meant trouble. I backed away, shaking with terror. Please don't hit me with that thing.

"You're a Shadower," the captain hissed. I swear I haven't heard something that evil in a long time.

Tears blurred my eyes as the club rained down on my little head. The club met my head with a thump. Pain shot through my brain as I collapsed to the ground, unconscious.