My my baby blue
Yeah I been thinkin' about you
My my baby blue
Yeah you're so jaded
And I'm the one that jaded you

     My finger traced along the volume spin-wheel, the lyrics blaring coherently louder than I trusted could be supported by my Jeep's stock stereo. I knew I was the only one who recognized the lyrics, additionally I was singing them, rather obnoxiously, actually. I was an 80s child, I am allowed to know them, unlike my sisters, who were just gazing at me with visible skepticism. I am not going to lie, it was delightful. I glanced over at Chitsa, the middle sister, and flashed a crooked smile. She, in a very teenage, drama-queen sort of way, rolled her eyes challengingly and stared out her rolled-down window. She was 17, and by far the most passionate of us three. We were ceaselessly contesting against each another, often because we did not see eye to eye, or she was just being an insolent brat. Your common teenager, like I said before. Nascha, our youngest sister, was not nearly as moody, and usually very, very quiet. Not meek, necessarily, she was very out-going, she was just quiet. I suppose she just prefers to speak with her body, rather than her words. I was envious, she was always so calm and grounded, especially for a 15 year old...
     I wrinkled my nose, rearranging the sunglasses that hung there, and used my free hand to tame the stray hairs, that weren't tautly tied in my pig-tail braids. Okay, I am probably not the most chic person, but I dress appropriately for the things I do. The canvas top of the Jeep was down, and I was the only one with remotely secured hair. Chitsa's charcoal hair was just longer than shoulder length, and had a very fashionable, asymmetrical bang-do going on, which was currently lashing and twisting in the changing wind. Nascha's hair was much more entertaining, for it was a good foot longer than Chitsa's and was violently dancing in my rear-view mirror. The biggest grin was plastered across her golden face, I could not help but chuckle and look back at her.
    It'd been a year now since our parents were assassinated. In fact, it had been exactly a year, since they were killed, and we were on the way to visit now. Supposedly, they were attacked by wolves while they were fly-fishing in Canada. It's true, they were attacked by wolves, but not the breed you are presumably familiar with. The wolves that murdered our parents were Shifters... I am getting ahead of myself though, for now, the Shifters do not matter to you.
     The orange, cracked, and barren Arizona landscape gave way to more hospitable and green surroundings. I navigated down an ancient looking gravel road, which was now more stray weeds than gravel. I knew the route by heart. Edging the Jeep off to the side of the one-way road, I threw her into park, and stole the keys from the ignition. As usual, instinctively hooking them through me front, left belt-loop. I  exhaled slowly, rubbing my palms against each other, the then resting them in my lap. It was time for a speech.

"Okay, guys, now just remember, they are never really gone..." I tried, but my voice faltered and cracked, nevertheless, I continued, "You'll know when you see them, okay? Grandfather used to tell us that, remember? Your ancestors are always right where you need them, you just have to look".

    Personally, I though I did a mediocre job, correct? Never mind, do not answer that. I smiled, trying to inspire hope. Actually, I think it worked, because I even saw the edge of a smile on Chitsa's face, which was turned away from me. She could have just been laughing at my stupid attempts, which wouldn't surprise me in the slightest. Either way, I was happy.
   After a moment of silence, as if someone had yelled "go" or "now", we all leapt out of the Jeep, staring off into the sprawling woods before us. I looked over at Nascha, and grazed her arm with my knuckles, offering her my hand for support. She slowly looked up at me, a small twinkle pulling across her lips. Her head shook. She did not need my comfort. She was strong, I kept forgetting.

"Shall we"? I asked, suddenly sounding very chipper. Maybe even too chipper, "On the count of three"?

   I did not even need to look over at them, I knew they had both nodded. One. All three of us stiffened, I detected the familiar heat smoldering in my chest cavity, and my skin began physically to corrugate just ever so slightly. This was our secret. Two. I shut my eyes, the boiling fire inside me began to splash over my insides like the waves of the ever active ocean. The muscles in my fingers began to twitch. Three.
   It's said that everyone experiences it differently, but I  do not feel a thing. The sound is just awful, though! Like ripping paper and an ear-splitting shriek of a young girl. Thankfully, it really only lasts about a millisecond, then it's just a totally different, lively experience. It's so natural to me, not alien at all, as if THIS is what I am ACTUALLY meant to be, not human, but a bear. Yes, a grizzly bear. I am a Shifter, we all are, my family.
   My paws barely even sunk into the saturated terra firma as I was moving so briskly, and I would be startled if I even left the slightest impression. I was the fastest on foot, or paw, however you would like to think of it. Making Nascha the slowest. Chitsa though, if she ever got wind under those wings of hers, she could absolutely soar. She was a bald eagle, and absolutely eye-filling. I was so envious. Nascha, which actually meant owl in Navajo, was actually a cougar. She was butt of all jokes at our family events, for that. She did not mind, she was so easy going. I was envious. What was I good at?

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Okay, well, I do have a bit of a plot outline, feel free to fill in any spaces you'd like, though. Obviously this is the beginning, from here {somehow} they have a run in with a pack of Wolf Shifters, who capture Nascha, then, obviously she has to be rescued. I also think the story needs a rogue, probably young, Wolf Shifter, to aid the girls and possibly become a great friend. If you have any questions, feel free to ask, especially if it has to do with back story, or the characters, who mean a lot to me.

updated Sep 20 '08 by Mikajah