Fight By My Side

Today was the day I never wanted to happen. If they never died, I wouldn't be here. Maybe I would be back at the house, chatting with my former neighbors. My dad would have his arm around his shoulder, bragging about how I could Shift many times in one day to the other people with Gifts. I just wanted to be back at their sides again, I would do anything for those moments.

I set my muzzle on my paws with a soft whine at the memories.

I was waiting out in the field again, taking watch outside the old house. Vic was going to the Barrier in hopes to get some food that we badly needed. I was in my wolf form, lounging outside. Mike was outside on watch with Jack staying inside sleeping, and Ronnie had left a few hours ago.

Ronnie's arm had healed in the two days he had been with us. One of the perks about the Gift was that you healed at an exceptional rate. The price that you had to pay was that every time you changed, it took some energy out of you. Even with all my training that my dad had helped me with, I could only Shift three or four times a day. Vic and Mike could Shift twice. Jack could Shift three times. The thing was, the longer you held it, the more energy it used. It took months of training with my mom and dad to hold my form for many hours, and do that multiple times.

The clouds were fleetly rolling through the sky, starting to shroud the sun and push it behind the veil of looming grey. They mirrored my mood. The wind bent the grass over, sending ripples splashing through the hills. Mike flew down, landing a few feet in front of me. The three boys that lived with me all knew what today meant for me. His small hawk face leaned down near mine, the wide eyes blinking sadly. I lifted my face to touch my nose to his shoulder, a way to acknowledge him.

Mike cawed quietly, a forlorn sound that echoed. The feathers brushed against my face as he put his head on my shoulder, trying to comfort me for my loss. I guess being with an avian form is tougher since you don't have two hands. At least two paws was a little easier.

The youngest Fuentes brother flew back up to the top of the shattered roof as a soft sound caught our attention. While Mike went to his post, I looked over my shoulder to see a creme colored mountain lion. Unlike others of the species, he had a little dark colored poof of hair that poked up between his ears with blonde streaks in it, similar to his real hair.

The sun finally was caught in the cold embrace of a cloud and the light it illuminated was dimmed. Jack prowled up next to me and sat down, not saying a word. If you knew Jack like I did, you would realize he wasn't a man of many words. If he saw you were upset, like I was now, he wouldn't just go up and start trying to give you a thousand word essay on how sorry he was, he would just give you a reassuring hug, and stick by your side if you needed anything. With the Fuentes brothers, sometimes it was good to be around someone who understood the beauty of silence.

The wind blew from the north, but had the bittersweet scent that rode its currents. Jack noticed it as well as we both stood up. I touched my shoulder to Jack's telling him to stay. He bobbed his head as I trotted off to see if Vic was back, or if we had a visitor.

We were a little far from the main part of the gravel road, so I traveled about a half mile before I spotted the visitor. A tall boy sat on the rocks, staring out at the mountains as the sun appeared long enough through the dismal clouds to kiss the mountain tops goodbye. I sat there, watching the intruder.

I've seen him many times before. He was a regular visitor to the fields. He was always with a ginger boy that was only a few years younger than him. They came mostly on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but it was out of the ordinary for them to be out today. It was Friday and this time he was alone. This older boy, older than me, had seen me once before when I wasn't cautious. From then on, I had always excused myself from the Sanctuary to watch them on the days they came out. My brain lusted to know what they did in the meadows during the times they came. I craved for answers to why they were here, but I never got close enough to reveal my position.

No matter how often I saw him, he always reminded me of my father. He was a spiting image.

He had gelled up brown hair and his posture said he was somewhere in deep thought. His scent on the wind said he was a Usual, but he could be with the Gift and didn't know it, or maybe a Shapeshifter that hadn't Shifted in a while. He moved off the rocks and back to the gravel road. I trailed him through the grass, watching him slowly walk down the gravel path and towards the tar roads. I hadn't been this close to the road in a few weeks.

The wind picked up again, throwing his scent straight in my face. I carefully inhaled, closing my eyes and remembering the smell. It was sweet and strong. His cologne must've mixed with the natural scent.

Maybe today was the day to show myself. It would get my mind off what happened so many years ago, how I might have been able to stop it or die trying.

Descending from my hill where I overlooked him traveling, I softly threaded my way through the long grass and weeds before stepping onto the path. I took a few cautious steps forward when he turned around.

I shouldn't be here! What if he was a Guardian? Will they find the Sanctuary? He might report me and they'll track us down here! I was so foolish! I thought to myself as his eyes caught mine in a sea of brown curiosity. There was something more hidden in his gaze.

Was that admiration?

It was to late to turn around now.

I felt like it was my father looking at me, not the boy.

We stood in solid silence for several minutes. I quickly assessed the situation. If he fast move, I would sprint west, then around the old houses and towards the heart of the Range, moving between the houses. It would be risky, but I've had to evade the Guardians before. If he tried to follow me to Shadow's Sanctuary, I would have to deter him somehow, but I couldn't attack him or kill him; that would alert more Guardians to search the area.

He took a slow step forward. I watched his motions as he casually closed the gap to less than two lengths away from me.

Close enough.

If he tried to make a break for it, I would have to stop him from going towards our house. I barred my teeth, snarling with my ears flattened against my back. He hesitated and the fear filled his eyes, as it should be. After deciding what to do, the boy backed up and finally turned around, sighing in defeat.

I couldn't help but feel bad for the boy, but I had to follow him, making sure he didn't try to back track and follow me, like a curious child. He started walking away and I silently walked behind him. I slipped once and he ducked his head, as if I was trying to make a leap for the kill bite.

Seriously? Knock it off and keep walking. I thought to myself as eventually he realized I wasn't going to kill him. If I was a human, I would've laughed at the fear filled actions. As we walked and neared the worn, paved road, I studied his features.

Tall and skinny with tattoos down one arm. His eyes were a soft brown, full of curiosity and kindness. As he saw me walk slightly closer to him, the edges of his lips curled into a cute smile as the happiness spread through his face. For what he was joyful for, I didn't know. He was kinda handsome with a a lean frame and strong arms-

Knock it off! He's just some Usual kid! I growled to myself. But the logical part of me scolded my heart, my feelings kept hoping that he would come back some time.

He kept walking, although I stopped at where the tar started. The boy paused as he realized I wasn't following him still and he turned. His eyes locked on mine for a moment and I probably would've Shifted to a human if I didn't have the strong enough willpower.

He raised his hand in a wave goodbye. Could he sense what I was? Was I honestly that obvious? If Dad was still around, I would've had to run a three mile sprint for this mistake.

And I saw my dad walk away from me for the last time.

I couldn't help but bob my head a little, acknowledging that we were parting. As soon as he went to walk, I sprinted away from the scene.

I had hoped to get away from the mistakes of the past, I manged to slip up even more! Ugh, if Jack, Vic, or Mike knew, I wouldn't ever hear the end of this. Jack would scold me, Mike would tease me, and Vic would just be...Vic.

I sighed and kept going, trying to get the images out of my head of the boy with the tattoos. He looked so much like my dad it hurt.

So with a broken heart, I headed back.

Notes

Sorry this was such a long chapter! Here's Wynter's point of view!

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