Shifting Times

Cheveyo White Hawk, also known as just plain Chevy, walked towards the town with his two older brothers. They were tall, and very broad shouldered, built for strength, agility, and power. He smiled at the thought. He could take down any of the whites that lived in Aldro any day. The boys back at the reservation were harder though. He lived just outside of the reservation, their property acctually was half in the reservation half out of it. He went to Aldro whenever he was board though, it was a lot more fun then the reservation where the elders were always watching their moves. They were just three of the shifters.

Your arrogent. Mirry hissed in his head. He laughed as the bird landed on his shoudler. She was a beautiful red tailed hawk.

THank you, Mirry, now please get out of my head. She nipped his ear at that comment and his brothers laughed. He was lucky to have Mirry as his spirit animal, he could easily pass her by as a pet. His older brother Alo's was a wolf, and then his other brother Lance's was a snake. A rattiler to be exact.

"Arguing with your bird again?" Lance smiled. Chevy shrugged.

"Least mine can't kill me." He smiled back.

I could if I really wanted to! Mirry protested ruffling her feathers. All three laughed, Chevy at her words, and his brothers at her actions.

"I don't think she agrees." Alo replied. He shrugged as they walked into the store.

Layton Paige Riley wiped a bead of sweat off her brow and took a deep breath. With the hot sun beating against her back she lifted yet another box filled with her belongings from the back of her moving trailer, stumbling slightly but regaining her posture and striding into her apartment, where she threw the box on the ground. She walked back out to the trailer, only to be greeted with the sight of furniture. Oh joy. A young cougar stretched out across her mattress, claws extended. "Eh, Naji. Get off my mattress. I need to lug that in." The cat just flipped around and growled teasingly. "No Naji don't-!" Without listening the cat tore his claws into the soft mattress and ripped down the length of it. "Naji! Now I have to go to the store! Really what kind of 'pet' are you?" She put air quotes around the word and walked to the black 2008 Dodge Ram that pulled he moving tailer behind it, and unhitched it.

Go to the store Layton. I'm starving. Naji laughed in her mind.

"I was going anyway thanks to you!" Layton shouted at the cat before cranking the truck to roaring life and pulling out onto the street and speeding towards the nearest store.

Layton slammed the truck door closed, stalked into the store, and right up to the nearest employee. "Where can I get a mattress?" She asked in a sigh, rubbing the back of her neck to slightly relieve her stress and anger.

"Right this way," the old employee replied, leading her deeper into the store. They passed a group of large boys right before stopping at the mattress isle. "If you need any help with it just ask one of the younger ones around here. Thanks for shopping have a nice day," with that he walked off. Layton glared at the large mattress before her. This would be fun.

Chevy watched the girl walk past him and then turned to grab another bridle for one of the horses.

"Um, excuse me." THe girl said tentivly walking back over. The three turned and faced her and her face went red, it was kinda cute. "Could you help me move this?" She asked motioning to a matress she had pulled part way out.

"Course." He stepped past her while his brothers shrugged carrying their baskets of food for their mom. He picked up the matress and followed her to the front his brothers following behind him. "Which is yours?" He asked motioning towards the cars.

"Dodge ram." She replied. He nodded and walked out to the truck tossing the mattress in the back. She walked out and he smiled.

"Will you need help getting it in your house?"

**Lol sorry, was watching Lifetime**

Layton shook her head slightly. "No. I'm going to make a... friend carry it in for me," she smiled lightly, feeling her pockets for her keys. She finally found them and unlocked her truck. If you mean me then you're wrong. My claws hurt from ripping that uncomfortable mattress of yours. Naji chuckled in a growl.

Haha. Good, even more reason for me to make you carry it. She smirked mentally and physically. She shook the smirk off and sighed. "Thanks, I'm Layton by the way," she stuck out her hand, which he shook.

"Chevy," the boy replied, "And these guys are my brothers, Alo and Lance." He pointed to each and Layton shook their hands. "It was nice meeting you all." She walked around and opened the door, not bothering to close it as she began to crank her truck.

*I was thinking of having it run out of gas on her. What do you think?*

**That'll work.**

Chevy nodded and turned to elave. Her truck roared to life, drove two feet then sputtered out. He bit back a smile and turned around as she climbed out her face red as a tomatoe.

"Get back in there and put it in Neutral." Alo yelled at her. She nodded and did as he said. Chevy jogged to her window.

"Steer towards the gas station across the street." He told her. He ran back to where his brothers were and helped push. It wasn't hard. Mirry flew over their heads watching them.

Showing off? She laughed.

No, helping a stranger.

One that you think is pretty. She giggled.

Layton~

Layton sighed as they truck slowed until it was right in front of the gas station. "Sorry," she apologized out the window, climbing out of the car and running inside quickly to pay. The man at the counter was laughing hysterically. He'd obviously seen what had happened.

"Let me guess. You just got to this town and drove the whole way without filling up." Layton nodded solemly.

"Yes sir. Didn't have any money until I got to the ATM at the edge of town. I just moved in and thought that I'd be fine driving for the rest of the day. Yeah, bad idea." The man just laughed and put the money into the register.

"Well," he took a breath, "you're lucky you weren't in the middle of nowhere when it happened."

"Yes sir, thank the heavens that didn't happen. Thank you!" She called to him as she walked back out to fill up, only to discover that the guys already were. She felt her face heat up. "I'm so sorry. I had no idea that that would happen. Thank you guys so much. I have no idea what I would've done without you three," she took a deep breath, her eyes apologetic.

"Flagged down someone else and had them help." Alo smiled polightly at her. He was itching to get back to the reservation where Lyla was, the girl he imprinted on.

"What?" SHe asked confussed. Chevy smiled.

"That's what you would've done without us. Anyone in this town would've stopped and helped in a heart beat. There almost as nice here as they are at the reservation." He smiled.

"Reservation?" She asked.

"There's a Navjo reservation two miles that-away." Lance smiled. "We've got the best land in this whole state."

"LEast that's what the goverment says." Alo laughed.

"It's not bad." Chevy smiled at them and their bantering. "It was nice meetin you." He smiled at the girl, we'll let you get home."

**Do they go to school or no? Just wondering**

"Huh? Oh yeah. You too," Layton smiled sheepishly and jumped into her truck. Layton I'm starving. A large paw set itself on her leg, making her scream and almost fall out of the truck. The guys looked at her as if she was some crazed person. "Sorry," she laughed nervously, "spider." They nodded and she slammed the door, beginning to pull out. "Stupid cat! Scared me to death! Just for that you're not getting fed!"

But Layton, Naji whined, I'm starving! He stressed the word and jumped into the passenger seat, only to be knocked out of it. What was that for?!

"Well, it's kind of wierd to be seen with a huge mountain lion in you passenger seat as you drive through town. Don't ya think?" This cat was giving Layton a headache, a very painful one at that. "Now, if you stay down there I might just give you the steak in the freezer." At that Naji purred in delight.

That's what I'm talking about. I've got you wrapped around my claw. He laughed mentally

"What was that?" Layton demanded darkly.

Nothing!

"Thought so."

***It's summer. ***

Chevy watched her drive away laughing. "She's nervous." He smiled. They walked out of the town and to the coverage of the woods.

"Horses!" Alo yelled in challenge. He ran forward shifting his shape and taking off at a gallop, he was a gorgeous black horse. Chevy hissed and ran after him shifting into a buckskin. LAnce was not to be out done and followed changing to a sleek brown theroughbred. Chevy pumped his legs running quickly.

Turn left and into the woods, there is a short cut. Mirry said. He switched directions racing through teh woods listening to Mirry's directions. he stopped at the corrals behind the reservations main office and shifted to his normall form grabbing the clothes that were stashed under the building pulling htem on quickly.

"You boys are going to go to jail one day for changing back to normal and being stark naked." The ranger laughed walking out of the building. "Your brothers coming?"

"Yes, sir, if they aren't already here then I beat them." He smiled. The ranger laughed and motioned him inside.

"There is a new family moving to the reservation. They have a daughter." The ranger smiled. "A shifting one."

"Why is everyone trying to get me to imprint." He hissed.

"Because, your the only one that is on our property so far that hasn't imprinted yet." The ranger replied watching him carefully. "Don't lose your temper, Cheveyo."

"I'll imprint when I'm ready." He said getting up. "Tell my brothers I was here already." He said getting up and leaving. He quickly tied his closthes to the cloth on his ankle and took off towards the middle of the town as a german shepard. He was anger to say the least.

**Haha, even better**

Layton had finally finished moving in. She'd even took the uhaul back to the nearest place! Naji was groaning in hunger as rolled onto his back. Layton. Hungry. Feed me. Now. He whined. "But you just ate a weeks worth of meat!" Layton snapped in disbelief.

And I normally eat a full deer, or sheep. Yeah, sheep's good too. Drool fell from his chops.

"All you think about is food, huh?" Layton sighed in question.

No! I think about food, and mating, and cubs, and... and... food. He looked around the room small apartment living room. Layton finally gave in and began to laugh. What? Layton what are you laughing at? Layton!

"I'm laughing at you because you know that you are just a preverted young mountain lion that fills himself until he can't fit anything else into his body. God, you're worse than my brother." Layton smiled lightly and regained herself.

I beg to differ! Your brother was a mindless twenty year old that believed porn was watching his sister in the shower. At that Layton had to laugh even more. She whiped her eyes and finally sat up.

"Okay, okay. I'll go ask around and see if they have a butcher around here. Then I'll buy you a lamb. Okay? Be back in an hour." With that she walked out of her apartment and jumped into her car, letting a stream of giggles escape her mouth.

***I'm going to play her for a second. ***

Layton finnally got to the gas station and walked inside. The guy behind the counter was watching a show about wild boar.

"Is there a butcher shop around here?" She asked leaning against the counter.

"Not in town, there's one out on the reservation. They raise and kill their own beef and all so they have one out there that is always stocked up good. I go out there once a year to get a cow." He said not looking away from teh tv.

"Thanks." She called walking back out to her truck. You'll go more then once a year.

And you'll make me broke. She shot back at him.

***Back to my guy.***

Chevy climbed behind another building changing to his human form and pulling his clothes on. He waited until Mirry landed on his shoulder then walked into the butcher shop.

"Need more meet for, Mirry?" Butcher asked. They all called him Butcher even though it wasn't his name. The bell over the door rang and he turned around seeing Layton.

"Ya, Butcher, she is refusing to go out and hunt." He said facing butcher again.

I'm sorry there isn't anything as tastey out there to catch as what he makes. Mirry shot back.

"She really likes your meat." Chevy smield at the man. Butcher grabbed a small peice of meat and tossed it in the air. Mirry shot off his shoulder grabbing the meat and then landed on his shoulder eating it.

"That's cause I have a special season for her. Let me go get you the meat I made for her earlier." Butcher turned to Layton. "I'll help you in a minute, miss." When Butcher was gone Chevy turned and faced her.

"That's a pretty bird." She smiled.

"Mirry? Ya, I found her in the woods one day and kept going back to get her to come up to me. She's been with me ever sense." He smiled as Mirry looked up from her meat and at Layton. She went back to eating her meat and tearing bits off. "What are you here for?"

"Some meat." She smiled.

"This is the place to come. Some of hte poeple around here have wild cats and the likes so we keep it stocked real good. It's a good thing we got a license to have big animals out here. It seems our amount of wild cats and such gets bigger every year. Their just drawn here." He smiled.

Layton smiled lightly. "Yeah. It's really amazing out here. Well, from what I've seen at least." She laughed as the butcher came back out and handed Chevy some meat. Fooood. Naji moaned. Layton could feel the saliva dripping off the side of his mouth as he watched through her eyes.

Stop! Get out of my head! You're giving me your feelings! As if she was Naji her stomach growled, making her turn firetruck red. Naji began to laugh mentally and she watched as he ran head first into her coffee table. Layton let out a loud giggle and quickly covered her mouth, her head throbbing in pain. Out! Out! Out! Finally Naji got out of her mind with a moan of pain. Both Chevy and the butcher were staring at her strangely. She cleared her throat, her face darkening. "I, um, need a large amount of lamb or deer meat. Either's fine." She said quickly. The butcher nodded and walked into the back, the sound of chopping meat echoing through the store. Layton could feel Chevy's eyes on her and her hid her face his her hands, setting her elbows on the counter.

"You ok?" Chevy asked.

"Ya, why?" She asked still looking away hiding her face.

"Well, your blood red and rubbing your head." He replied walking over. Mirry protested and he leaned forward.

If we're staying give me another slice of meat. She ordered. He pulled another slice out of the package and handed it to her.

"I'm fine." Layton replied.

"Right, hey, there's this amazing cafe across the street. How about you come ove rwith me and grab somethign to eat?" He asked smiling at her.

Ranger won't like that.

I don't care, I don't plan on imprinting any time soon. I wish they'd leave me alone about it! He hissed.

**Can females imprint as well, or just males?**

Go ahead. I found some amazing food in the freezer that should hold me over till you get home. Layton glared at her cat mentally. "That'd be nice, seeing as though my cat ate my lunch," Layton laughed lightly as the butcher handed her the meat. She put the money on the counter and followed Chevy over to the cafe.

The second they walked in everyone in the cafe turned to look at the two of them, making Layton feel extremely nervous. She inched slightly closer to Chevy while a waiter took them to a table, getting their drink orders. After the waiter had walked away Layton leaned across the table, her voice lowered a couple decibles. "Why's everyone staring at us as if we have three heads?" She whispered lowly. Chevy just shrugged and contined to look through his menu. Layton shifted in her seat nervously.

"Just ignore them," Chevy smiled up at lightly while she nodded and grabbed her menu, looking through it herself.

***Yup, let's say the imprint faster then guys. I'm not talkin the imprinting like Twilight. They can imprint on someone they've known their whole lives.***

Chevy wanted to punch every person in the cafe, how dare they be so mean. He ordered his food and glared at Ranger as he walked in. He frowned and walked over.

"Hey, Chevy, whose this?" Ranger asked.

"Layton, this is Ranger, he's pretty much in charge of this place." Chevy said forcing a smile. "Ranger, this is Layton, she just moved into the area."

"Hello, Layton, I'm glad to see our butcher shop comes in handy for someone other then our people." Ranger repleid. Chevy glared at him and Mirry made a mad sound at him.

I hate him! She growled in his head.

I know, Mirry, I know.