Shifting Times

Tanner smirked widely. Whatever game this shifter was playing, he was going to play along. He had an idea of who it was and, no matter how torn up he was going to be inside, he was going to prove it. Well, I'm going to call you Jane until I actually figure out who you are. About the whole Leal thing, I look at all the girls I meet like that. It's... a way of gaining trust you could say. Treat them good and worship the ground they walk on, then wabam! Snap the trap. You just wait, I'll have Leal by the end of this week. The other shifted growled weakly and Tanner smiled sadistically, everything an act.

~~

Layton stared at Chevy disbelievingly. The way he acted around her. The way she acted around him. How they looked at each other! It was so obvious now! Without a second thought Layton planted her lips on his, both falling backwards with a thud.

Chevy laughed holding her close. "I hadn't known you had imprinted yet." He smiled to her. "I was waiting."

"I was torn up because of you imprintin on someone else." She smiled. HE kissed her again holding her close.


*~*~*~*~*

Leal snarled. You hurt Leal and I'll tear you from the inside out! SHe growled.

Who are you to her? He luahged.

Doesn't matter. She hissed snarling at him. [/i]You hurt her or use her and if she doesn't kill you I wilL![/i] She felt like she'd been stabbed though, he didn't feel the same for her as she did him. He hadn't imprinted on her. he was using her!

Tanner felt like doing one of two things. One, throwing himself in the path of the car or two, lathering himself in steaksauce and throw himself into a pit of rabid wolves. Whichever was more painful. He'd proven it was Leal... but at a high cost. He'd probably just lost the most amazing person in his life. So, if I hurt her, you'd kill me.

If she doesn't do it then yes, I will.

But, how is that possible? Considering she's you and you're her... aren't you the same person? If she doesn't do it then you won't do it? Am I wrong, Leal? He tried to hide the pain that was flashing across his features, unsure if he was succeeding or not.

---

Layton giggled lightly and kissed him back, snuggling closer.

Chevy held her close, then there was a knock at her door. he shifted to a mouse crawling under her bed and she pushed his clothes under then scurried to get the door.

"Hey, sis, what are you up to?" Landon asked from the door. chevy say him peeking around.

"Nothing, why?" She asked.

"So, tell me about Chevy." He smiled.


*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Leal can't shift. She said.

Damn it, Leal. he jumped on her pinning her down. I know it's you!

Not that you care. She hissed jumping up and pulling away. You care nothing about me! She spun around and took off at a run.

Layton felt a blush creeping up her neck. "W-what about him?" She studdered, only to be drug over to the bed teasingly by Landon. He flicked her on the nose and she glared at him, swatting his hand away.

"Everything! What is he to you?" Layton paled, but the blush began to creep again. "Awh! Lay-Lay's blushing!" Landon pinched Layton's cheeks like an older brother would and cooed to her like she was a little kid.

"Stop!" She hissed, a bit of humor in her voice. He tightened the pinch.

"Not until you tell me about him, Lay-Lay!" Landon laughed loudly while Layton pouted.

"Fine, fine, fine! Ow my cheek! I'll -OW!- tell you!" Layton pulled Landon's hands away from her face and growled, yes growled, lowly at him.

"Please begin. Do NOT leave anything out." Landon literally took out a small notepad and pen and began to scribble fake questions here and there. "So... what is he to you?"

Layton blushed but took a deep breath to calm herself. "M-my boyfriend... I guess... I mean, I like him a lot, and I think he likes me."

"Uh-huh. Ooh that's scandolous! Ohehehe!" Landon was acting like some gossip magazine interviewer. Layton slapped him upside the head, making him fall to the ground with a thud. He regained himself quickly and went back to writing. "So, Layton, tell me daling, have you two done the 'you-know-what' yet?" That question caused Layton to growled angrily and yell out a stream of cuss words. She kicked Landon out of her room and groaned, locking the door behind her and flopping down on her bed, waiting for Chevy to scurry on out.

---

Tanner dug his claws into the grass below him and spun the opposite way, shifting into a finch and flying high about a running Leal. He dived down and landed on her snout, looking into her cat-like eyes with his small, beady ones. You know that's not true Leal! I had to make something up so I'd know who you really were? You think that it would've made a difference to any of us if you were a shifter? I'd accept you, Layton would accept you, and god knows that Chevy would accept you! You know that I care about you deeply. Tanner was taking a risk at the moment. A large lion against an teeny tiny finch weren't the best odds in the world.

Leal snarled. No, they wouldn't, but the Navajo would I wasn't going to ruin their party by tellin them they were wrong. When Layton came along I didn't feel to bad, but I didn't feel like revealing it.


Chevy scurried out shifting and dressing and smiling at her. "Brothers are mean." He smiled

**ALl I had. I have to go I think**

Tanner shook his head and shifted into a tiger, causing Leal to slam into him. And why not? He taunted, sitting down before her. You could've at least told me, considering the fact that I did imprint on you. Shit. He wasn't supposed to have said that

--

Layton laughed and shook her head. "He's the meanest. No, not really. He's pretty cool once you get to know him." She stood up and walked over to Chevy, wrapping her arms around his neck. She kissed him lightly and threaded her fingers through his hair, smiling into the kiss with another laugh.

Leal frowned. I know I imprinted on you But hell like I knew oyu imprinted on me! She growled.


*~~**~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~

Chevy leaned into the kiss loving the feeling of her fingers in his hair. "I love you." He whispered.

"Isn't that what imprinting is?" She laughed.

"Yes, still." he smiled.

Layton smiled at him and began to laugh lightly. "Then I love you too," she smiled and laughed again, kissing him lightly with a wide smile. They both fell onto the bed, which caused Layton to laugh a bit louder. She kissed him yet again before the door swung open, slamming into the wall behind it and revealing both of Layton's parents and Landon.

"I'm innocent!" Landon shouted before running out of the room and ducking behind the couch.

--

Tanner dug his claws into the dirt and growled lowly. Yeah, well I did and I have no idea what to do, okay? So, you obviously hate m-- Wait. Tanner smiled cockily. You imprinted on me?

Leal laughed and shook her head sitting down too. YES! She hissed at him. You really think I'd put up with you otherwise?" [i]I imprinted,even if I hadn't I woul dstill have fallen for you damn it!


*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*

Chevy jumped up in front of Layton. "What the hell do you think your doing?" Her dad growled. "Get the hell out of my house. Stay the hell away from my daughter."

"Bite me." he said shifting to a lion and pushing against Layton. Get on. He smiled at her. She jumped on his back and he tore out of the house.

Tanner felt much better. Well, then can I tell you something? He shifted back into a lion and stared at Leal. I fell for you the day I saw you. Before I even knew you're name all I had runnin' through my head was just an image of you. I mean... it was almost scary.

--

Layton let go of his fur about a mile away from the house and dropped to the ground, now running on four, furry legs. Thanks. She purred mentally, her fur brushing against his.

No problem. He replied with a chuckle. Your parents seem very... strict?

Well, they're just looking out for me. I had an incident with guy I really liked a couple months back that led to me being in the hospital over Christmas. Ever since then they've had a tight hold on who I'm with. Layton laughed dryly. But, if they actually met you I'm sure they'd love you.

Chevy smiled and rubbed against her. I think I understand. I hate that someone would be so rude to you to put you in a hospital. You don't need to tell me what happened, you probably don't want to think about it. He ran faster until they were up on the top of a water fall looking over.


*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Leal laid down and tried to remember. That's why you fought with CHevy like you did. I mean I understood his side of it, but never did understand yours. I didn't know why you had acted like that unless it was because he made Layton upset.

No, I fought with Chevy because he was cheating on me. I felt so heartbroken. Tanner pretended to cry and Leal shoved him with a small laugh. No, I'm not sure why I fought with him. It felt like instinct. He raised his lips up in a smile and let out a rough laugh.

---

Layton smirked over at Chevy and tackled him so they both fell down the waterfall. Hope you shift! She laughed loudly as she fell. Layton shifted into a fish the second before hitting the water and swam over to the bank, shifting back into a lion and climbing out. Chevy clambered onto the soggy bank next to her and glared playfully, shoving her into the water.

Chevy smiled as she came back out and tackled him again. He nuddged her playfully and then got up and ran towards the reservation. Come on, I have some clothes at the reservation. He said as they ran.


*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*


Leal smiled and laughed. That's definatly instincts. It's why Chevy nearly killed Ranger. She repled.

Why? He asked.

I guess you could call it your shifter's jealousy and protection of who it's imprinted on. She shrugged. Luckily the girls don't have it as bad as the guys. SHe luahged

Layton stepped out of Chevy's bathroom, now in a pair of baggy shorts and a huge t-shirt, and crept up behind Chevy, who was digging around for a shirt. She jumped on his back teasingly, sending both of them to the ground with a thud. She laughed loudly at his surprised expression. "Gotcha," she winked tauntingly.

--

Tanner groaned loudly as he ran beside Leal. He never was one for excersise unless it consisted of sports. How much farther is the reservation?

Not much. Leal laughed. Tanner groaned again and hung his head, attempting to pick up the pace.