Chapter 321

0321
“You two are really going to have to show me that trick I know everyone played it off like it wasn’t a
big deal, but that is some superior level sh*t right there. Where did you learn to do that anyway?”
She looks at both of us and I get the feeling she’s listening for a lie.
“Just training.” Mina shrugs. “Once we get good at shifting it’s something that those of us who chose
to apply ourselves get to learn.” Okay not a complete lie, but not exactly how this works.”
“What about you?” Janice looks at me.
“What do you mean?”
“Why did you put in the extra time to learn how to shift like
“l don’t like to be naked in front of other people, so it seemed logical.” I try to match Mina’s shrug,
hoping I pulled it off. ‘It’s also nice to not have to carry around a change of clothes.” I smiled at her
and thankfully she gave me a smirk back.
“That’s the truth. The humans don’t get it, or I would just walk around naked all the time. There’s no
shame here.” She looks pointedly at me.
“Don’t rise to it Little One. She’s baiting you and you will end up giving more information away than
you want to.”
Osiston must feel my irritation, but he’s right, she’s fishing just like we are. She’s just more
experienced than I am. More experience doesn’t mean better though.
I just give her a small smile. Staying quiet has worked for me so far, I will just stick to saying as little
as possible, then I don’t have to remember any half-truths I might be tempted to tell
Thankfully the rest of the group finally catches up and some shift and change, others shift and let it
all hang out. I guess when you don’t have to hide..
Some of the guys light the bonfire and everyone settles in around it. Some sitting in small groups,
others milling about socializing with different groups. Mina and I decide to sit on the far side of the
bonfire facing towards all of the vehicles, coolers and the path we took to get here. From here we
could watch pretty much everybody since no one really ventured too far from the drinks coolers.
“Why does it feel like you two are hiding?’ Tyler walks over and holds out his hands showing us he
brought us drinks. At least he heard me and it isn’t beer, although I’ve never had a mixed drink from
a can. This should be interesting.
“We’re not hiding, but it is less crowded over here and we can appreciate the fire better. I don’t know
if we’ve actually relaxed since we’ve been here. It’s kind of nice to just sit.” I tell him as he plants
himself on the log next to me, leaving no space between us and I am on the end, so there isn’t
anywhere to scoot to.
“So Tyler, you’ve heard our stories, so where are you from?
And why did you join the school in the middle of the year?” Mina pushes right on into questioning
him, but a comment like that isn’t out of character for her here so I guess it works.