4.1-Wild

Kimarhi

In the morning, I wake with the sun shooting into my eyes. My head at the foot of my bed, and my legs hugging my pillow. Rolling over to escape the harsh light, I plop off the bed. Covers on the floor cushion my fall, and I sluggishly crawl over to shut the curtains.

“Who opened you?” I snarl out at the window.

How did I get here? Not remembering the night, I must’ve been drunker than I thought. Stretching out as far as my muscles will go, I get up to shower. I’m still sore from yesterday, but no physical evidence remains. Oddly, the soreness would stay.

Reaching to turn on the hot water, it wakes my body, but my mind lags. Switching too cold for a minute, making my mind startles the rest of me into consciousness. I’m awake now and back to warm.

Looking around, my senses are on high alert, my eyes pick up on the faintest light, and my hearing is pristine. I can hear the ocean miles away. Thinking it’s best not to dull them, I rinse and get out.

Anya has my breakfast delivered again. I sit at the window seat in my towel, letting my hair dry while I eat. Some of my favorites are strawberry crepes and bacon; I happily link her, munching on a strawberry.

‘So yummy, thank you’ Even my link voice sounds like my mouth is full.

‘I’m so glad my Queen is enjoying her breakfast while it is hot,’ she follows up.

‘And finished,’ I linked her back proudly a few minutes later.

‘Good, now get to work.’ she says, ending the conversation. I love this woman.

Moving to my closet, beneath the towel, is a surge to my skin. I feel goosebumps forming, both itching and tickling at the same time. This ache tells me I need a run, shift, and be wild. The Candidates should do the same with shifter training.

‘Change the training today from human to shifter. We meet in the arena to run the perimeter, eleven o’clock,’ I say to Theo using the pride link.

‘As you will it, Princess,’ Theo replies.

Dressing for practice, I go commando, nudity not being an issue with the shifter community. I chose comfortable black yoga pants and a purple baggy tee with the clan dahlia. Pulling on a pair of slip-on shoes, no socks needed. Hair in a ponytail, and boom, I’m ready.

By ten-thirty, I’m grabbing a snack wrap and apple from the dining area, and I head to the arena for training. I stroll along, eating my apple while Theo sets up the water coolers. There’s a map of the island and bandanas, one color for each group of candidates, to be worn on the leg and tied by us after they shift.

Theo and I could track their groups more easily, looking for form, stamina, speed, and teamwork. Warriors had to work together in battle, so that this exercise would test those abilities. Whoever did well would advance to a new team and start the final training before becoming full warriors. Of the candidate’s fifty for all groups, percent make it the first time out. Others would try again with added training and dedication.

The Candidates arrive and start stretching first to loosen the joints before getting ready for the shift. It always helps to be as relaxed as possible. Shifting time varies from person to person. Most shifters took about a minute to change entirely.

Pain radiates through you as your bones crack in and out of place. Your flesh stretches to accommodate but never tears. The fur sprouting last almost has a cooling sensation, making it all worth it.

Of the candidates here, fifteen are lions, not including Theo and I, and five wolves. Wolves and Lions like to squat or crouch, though some stand. Reptiles either lie on their bellies or curl up into a ball. Fliers I saw would stay standing or do a running leap to take flight. I swear they are the fastest at shifting, well under a minute.

But they have different training regimens, led by like warriors. Training for those groups is more of an apprenticeship at first. Then they join the candidates in the final round to build pride link tactics and strategy as they are more scouts, trackers, and eyes for the warriors on the ground. Though all the shifters are good at tracking, the fliers are pivotal in directing the ground troops. The Reptiles are great with sentry duty along the perimeter as they signal to the rest of the coming attack.

We only had about a hundred fliers in the clan, even fewer wolves and reptiles. Twenty fliers are trackers and have already been inducted into the Warriors. They also fly messages back between the clans to coordinate attacks, and there are flier outposts for them if necessary.

Of the Wolves, our smallest population. Most everyone serves as warriors at some point in their lives, like the Lions. Men or women, old and young, serve as warriors. Even retired wolves will ask for occasional patrol or sentry duty and scout missions. They are incredibly noble and loyal to the realm.

“Ready for the shift? I know I need the run,” Theo asks.

“My skin has been on fire since I woke up, so yes, I’m ready,” I say while the itch starts to burn, I almost can’t wait.

“Well, it’s a nice day. Let’s hope it stays this way,” Theo adds while I take in the sun graciously.

For fun, I grab a towel twisting it, then snap Theo on the rear. He scoffs and does the same to me. Doing my stretches, I watch Theo check off all the candidates. No one is late today, not even Magnus.

I peek out the corner of my eye at him. This was not a clever idea on my part. Magnus is doing a stretch that makes me ache all over. I want desperately to rip his clothes off but hold myself back.