Young Writers Society

Heather-

Amazing, other bird shifters... but Ballow acted like a child. I guess that was okay and secretly I wished that I could do that, but now was not the time. Didn't he realize how serious this was?

"Should I go and bring them back so we can get moving?" I asked.

"Nah, let em go. They're just having fun," said Trent.

I was shocked at how beautiful it was when they shifted. It made me a little self concious. I mean, it must seem awkward to watch it when I did it...

"So should we get going?" I asked casually.

"We should probably wait for them..." Heather trailed off.

Jason nodded. So we all just watched them dive and swoop through the air. I bumped into him teasingly.

He looked down and smiled. "What was that about? Loosing your balance?"

"Sure," I blushed and looked back up at the sky.

~Damien~

Stop freaking following me! I swooped through the air, trying to lose the annoying crow. He'd tried to speak to me but communicating with humans is annoying. Okay, so he's a bird now but talking with people can lead to affections...and everybody dies someday. I never want to be hurt again.

I dove, using my whole faster-than-any-other-animal-on-the-planet abilities to get ahead of me. Then I rose abruptly and was suddenly above him. I dove down at him, aiming just to scare the crap out of him. He moved suddenly though and my razor sharp talons raked his wings though I tried to avoid him. His flapping faltered and I gently grabbed him so he didn't fall.

When they were on the ground, I gently put him on the ground. "I'm sorry." I told him in falcon. Then, as the humans started to run up (names are so trivial) I took off. They would hate me after this anyway.

**I just thought that Damien would be a good evil guy (even though he's kinda non-confrontational unless he has to be) if they threaten some little kid or something if he doesn't join**

Trent ran over and picked up the guy that had shifted. Wish I was better with names "Where is he goin?" He demanded looking at the Falcon that was taking off.

"Guess he's not to happy. He will probably follow us." Heather shrugged.

"We better go too. I'm gonna shift, if anyone wants a ride, I'm sure I can fit two of you, three if your smaller." He said as he set the guy down and backed up shifting. His hands turning into HUGE paws and his back rippling into his bear form. He shook his body once he shifted then streched out. He didn't want to stand up so that he didn't scare anyone.

Jason

Losing her balance...that's rich. He thought, smiling a little to himself. But if she wants to be that way for now, so be it.

"We better go too. I'm gonna shift, if anyone wants a ride, I'm sure I can fit two of you, three if your smaller." The voice of the big guy - Trent - startled him out of his reverie. He blinked as he saw him changing into his bear form again, then managed to compose himself.

"I reckon he's right, we're not going to get to Tennessee if we just stay here and watch birds all day." He shot Carmen a glance, "You need a lift?" Without waiting for an answer, he shifted, body stretching out into his ocelot form. She could just hop on if she decided to.

Peter and Liz

He was still smarting that control of the mission had been handed over to his big sister when the trucks reached the outskirts of town. He would probably always be sore about it. The pack had been expanded to a full-sized one, twenty five hyenas, including Peter and Liz. Bigger, faster, smarter hyenas, as Harper had promised.

As they stepped out of the truck, Liz flashed Peter a mocking smile, "Well now, little brother, don't look so downcast. They'll still listen to you, I've made it clear to them that you're to be my second." She said, stressing the final word. She looked at him another moment, taking a little pity on him, "And don't worry about the boss, either. He knows you're a better fighter than I am. He just thinks this mission requires a little more brains to go with all the brawn. And that's me."

She looked to the sky, surveying the wide open countryside before them, "The real question now is this: Where have they gone, and how are we going to find out?"

Heather-

I was shocked when Damien had scratched Ballow, and on his wings too. Trent was now carrying Ballow (who was knocked out from the accident) on his back and also carried Sarah.

"Heather, you going to fly overhead?" It was Carmen.

"I can if you want me to." I shifted as I jumped up and took off. It was beauftiful from the sky, the mountainous outlines and the rivers and the sun. They all blended together like a mass of different colors.

"Look for some water!" I heard from below. There were many rivers and streams to choose from and the closest was a stream to the north. But that would take us back a bit and delay Tennessee. I'de have to tell them.

..........................
Can we talk in animal form or is it just animal sounds that we understand like a different language?

OKay, well I've just been personally asked to bring this back to life. Does anyone who was in this want to come forth and put forward an idea?

I say we just continue with the idea. Good guys go to Tennessee, bad guys join the scientists and then they fight on the way. I think I'll send out another pm for people to update. If this dies again than we don't have to continue the storybook.

***This can't die***

Trent walked along side the others making sure he didn't move his back to much. He didn't want to knock someone off. Heather dove back down and landed in front of him shifting to her human form.

"Closest river is norht." She said.

"We'll wait til one down south. Rivers become abundent the further south we go." Soemone said. He wasn't sure who, but he was glad they said something cause he didn't want to shift back. He nodded his head and started walking again.

~Damien~

I flew down into a clearing, shifting back into my human form. I was shaking; I didn't like hurting people even though I had to sometimes. And he was just trying to be friendly.

Sighing, I lay down in the soft grass. Being out here was soothing; I could see the stars. There were so many.

I was just about to drift off to sleep when I heard animal-like laughing.

I smiled, watching Jason shift.

How would I hold on in otter form? I would squish him in human form. I shifted and ran ahead of him, glancing behind me, seeing if he'd catch up. And sure enough he darted after me.

There was a second where I felt the instinctive pull to run from him; wild cats running at you is a little unnearving when you're as small as I am in animal form. But I didn't move, I just watched him run towards me, his muscles moving beautifully in the warm sumer air. As he passed, he tapped me lightly with his paw.

Tag, I thought. I sprinted after him to get him back. We became so involved in the game that I hadn't even realized how far ahead we were getting until Jason stopped and motioned behind us.

No one was anywhere to be seen.

Jason

The ocelot paced a protective circle around his small companion, as if seeking to ward off any would be attackers. The concept was unlikely, but after everything that had happened in New York, anything seemed possible.

Even the chance that the pack of hyenas Shade had apparently dealt with had managed to recover and give chase so quickly. It should have been impossible, he’d dealt with a large part of their pack. But somehow the others had disappeared.

Maybe the others just got behind. He thought, Maybe it’s nothing at all.

He started padding back the way they'd come slowly, quietly. He wanted to make sure they hadn’t simply left the others behind.

Peter and Liz

They saw the boy changing as he came in at a dive, his wings disappearing into his back as he entered the clearing. As one, the siblings shifted back to their human forms. The eyes of one of the hyenas, having seen the boy landing, went wide, and the animal let out a few excited yips that were quickly picked up by the others, soon devolving into hysterical laughter.

Liz gave them a stern look, and they calmed down a little, although they still whooped, just more quietly now. Liz growled something to them, telling them to stay back, then she and Peter walked to the clearing.

The boy was getting to his feet as they arrived, a fearful look on his face. “Well, well, well.” Murmured Liz, “What have we here?”

Peter had recognised the bird and continued walking towards him, fury blazing in his eyes. Liz grabbed him by the shoulder and held him back. “You.” Peter growled, “You’re the hawk from the city.”

Liz gave him a beneficial smile, “Pay no heed to my brother, Damien.” She caught his surprised look, and her smile broadened, “I read your file, that’s how. We only want to help you and your friends, although I’m sure the Pride’s agent told you otherwise. They misunderstand us…but I’m sure you’d be happy to help us out, wouldn’t you?”

~Damien~

I clenched my fists. First of all, I was a falcon-not a hawk. Second of all, no freaking way.

I didn't say that, I didn't say anything. The only thing I did was shake my head. These people weren't merely misunderstood, they were horrible people. The only way they'd ever get me on their side is to threaten a helpless being, and there aren't many of those in the woods.

Breathing in a shaky breath, I watched for the moment when the would spring. That was when I would shift.

I followed Jason through the undergrowth. I wasn't sure which way we'd come from exactly since we'd circled around each other multiple times during our game. Now, though, I had a bad feeling. I wanted to get back to the others as soon as possible.

We passed a rather large tree just as I heard voices. I nudged Jason to make sure he'd heard it. He nodded and peeked out from behind the tree.

"...I'm sure you’d be happy to help us out, wouldn’t you?” someone said. I couldn't see who was talking, but I heard some deep breathing.

I stood behind Jason, waiting painstakingly to hear what was going on. Suddenly, I felt something pick me up by the scruff of my neck. I tried to scratch at the hand with all my legs, but it didn't seem to work.

Jason turned around, hearing my cries, and lunged at the person's legs. It was too late, though, some woman was already grabbing him by the neck and tail so he coudn't reach her to scratch or bite her.

What the hell's going on? I thought, still trying to kick or scratch the hand holding me.

"Who do we have here?" the woman holding Jason asked, carrying us to where they'd been before. I saw Damien.

Traitor!

~Damien~

No no no no! My mind screamed as the two other shifters were taken.

Words stumbled from my mouth, "Let them go and I'll..." I didn't finish, not wanting to sign over my freedom. Looking at the other shifters, I stopped my shaking. It was my freedom or theirs, and they probably had more to give than me.

"I'll do it if you let them go...unharmed."