Alan's POV

Yesterday was when Wyland came home. After I departed from Austin's presence, I went back home. Wy was already there, so I quickly greeted him then hung out in my room. I was worn out and just relaxed on my bed. The food sat heavy in my stomach, the steak that my dad had cooked up was delicious but filling.

The thunder rumbled outside. I leaped up, clutching my stomach as a twisted feeling over came me. It felt as if my muscles were suddenly sore and they were being pulled and stretched.

The words for help got caught in my throat as I rolled over on the ground. Then the feeling went away. Standing up, I felt so small, seeing only a foot off the floor. Panicking, I let out a yelp that came out as a strangled meow.

No. No. No.

I rushed, trying to get up. Maybe I had passed out and I was hallucinating. Looking down at my hands, I saw ginger colored puffs of fur.

I was a cat.

I was a ginger cat.

And my brother was a Guardian. He was trained to detect these kinds of things, to read the signs and see who had the Gift. This couldn't be happening. Wy would kill me. I could see my death already.

"Alan? Hey little bro, what are you doing?" I could hear Wyland's voice rise from the bottom of the stairs. I had just Shifted and had no clue how to change back. The footsteps slowly made their way up the stairs. It wasn't like I could just tell him to go away!

"Alan?" His voice questioned again. I scurried around the room, feeling faster than before now I had four feet to launch me off the floor and back onto my bed. I curled, trying to hide in the pillows and shut down my mind.

The feeling of being stretched passed over me again and I returned to normal. Just like that, I was back to a human.

Thankfully, I still had my clothes on. I didn't know what to expect after changing back.

"Little bro, what's up?" A knock at the door announced the arrival of my brother. My energy levels seemed depleted after the twenty second Shift into a cat. Wy knocked and came into my room, looking at my curled up form curiously.

"Feeling sick, brother?" He asked curiously. I nodded, feeling a headache growing on me.

"I haven't been feeling very well this evening." I told him, trying to close my eyes. Wy nodded and left my room, closing the door behind him.

I had to tell Austin. Wait, I couldn't. If his parents found out, he could get into trouble, and he would also be forced to call the Guardians.

A few minutes later, my mom came into check on me. In her hands, she grasped a glass of water and a cold towel. The headache grew worse. Taking my temperature, she found nothing, but decided I was just going through some allergies.

"Go to bed early, Alan." She told me. I nodded, thanking her for her care.

"I will." I responded, although it was only eight.

"Goodnight Alley Cat." She smiled fondly and closed the door, flicking off the lights. I thought of the nickname. It felt more true than ever before.

Going back to what had just happened, I couldn't believe it. The Shifter that killed my sister-I was turning into one of them. With the cold towel on my forehead, I felt a little better, but I attempted to decide what to do next.

I couldn't stay here. Wyland would find out eventually and that would be the end of me. As a Guardian, he was sworn to protect the citizens and eliminate all possible threats.

Now I was one of them.

Fear made the headache worse. I couldn't stay with Austin, my parents would come find me and drag me back. But I did now have another disguise. I'd have to leave the house, and stay as a cat.

But where would I go?

A sudden idea popped into my head. It was the best option that I had, but it didn't allow for me to pack anything besides the clothes on my back. The good news was that I didn't have much to need to take. Searching through my closets, I pulled on a pair of comfortable, long shorts and an old Green Day shirt with a beanie to top it off. I knew Austin had no pets and he never talked about it, but I had to try. I wrote a note to my parents, leaving it on my bed, explaining my disappearance.

I wonder if Austin liked cats....

Notes

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