We spend two days training and trying to figure out what we're going to do about everything. "I don't think we have much of a choice anymore," Kayla says as we are all gathered at the table.
"What are you talking about?" Dad questions.
"We won't be able to fight Shawn and his thugs with three Shifters. He probably has at least six wolves with him," she sighs. "We have to have at least three more Shifters."
"How are we going to find anyone else? I thought I was the only one until two months ago," Kayla gives me a suggesting look.
"We have to change some of us."
"No. We don't even know how," I shake my head at the notion.
"Bite them," she shrugs.
"And if that doesn't work?" I cross my arms.
"Then we're screwed."
"We might as well try," Riley steps in.
"Yeah, if it works, we have a better chance of ending this without anyone getting hurt," Dani adds.
"But if it doesn't work, we have less of a chance than we do now," I protest.
"It's worth a shot," Lizzy says.
"Who would change?"
"I will," Dani volunteers.
"Me too," Jack adds.
"I'm not letting a bunch of kids do that alone," Pops says.
"So, you're all okay with this?" I ask. Maybe it is a good idea. If it works, we'll have an advantage. But if it doesn't, we'll be stuck at a disadvantage.
"I think so," Dad nods.
"Fine," I sigh. We go outside and Bree, Kayla, and I change. I'm in wolf form this time. I'm starting to get better at controlling which one I turn into.
"Let's do this," Jack sighs as they already themselves. Kayla goes up to Dani, Bree goes up to Jack and I go up to Pops. We all bite their arms and back up as we wait. None of us bit to the point of bleeding a lot but there is blood as we all watch. After a minute, I start to think nothing is going to happen but I'm quickly proven wrong as the three of them groan and shift. They double over as we start hearing their bones crack as they shift and change into new forms. Dani turns into a grey-ish white bobcat with black patterns while Jack turns into a blue dragon with spikes on the end of his tail. Pops is now a white wolf with a black spot on each of his ears.
"Cool," Caleb says as he steps outside. The bus must have dropped him off already. He's been riding the bus once in a while so that we have more time to get ready.
"Caleb!" Ms. James gasps as everyone turns around.
"Have you always been able to do that?" Caleb bounds off the porch and to the six of us as we stand in the grass. "Are you all able to do it?"
"No, Caleb, only they can," Lizzy and the others explain what we are and which of us is who and we spend the rest of the day playing with Caleb and making sure Pops, Dani, and Jack can change and move in and out of their new forms. We spend as much time training and sparring with each other for the next week and a half. As the days go by we make a lot of progress. We also start falling behind in school. We're all more focused on getting back so we can get back to training.
Jack, Dani, and Riley still haven't told their parents about anything and they keep getting in trouble for staying at my house so late every day. They don't listen to their parents even if we try getting them to go home earlier than midnight. The meeting with Shawn is tomorrow and the only plan we have is to show up and expect him to start a fight. "You guys are doing a lot better," Bree says as we all go inside from training.
"We all are," I add. "We still need a plan, though. Any ideas?"
"What do you think Shawn is going to do?" Olivia asks as we sit in the living room.
"Knowing him. He would make sure we know what he could do. Whoever he brings will be beside him," Pops explains.
"Should we do that?" Kayla questions. "If he has an army he would laugh at us."
"The place he wants us to meet doesn't really have anywhere to hide so I don't think we have a choice," Dani shrugs. He wants to meet in the field behind the park. It's in the open but we don't have a choice. If we want to end this we have to deal with the public.
"It's only the six of us, and we're already going to be in the public eye. If we try hiding it will just bring more attention to us," I nod.
"Wow, wait. You guys aren't going alone," Lizzy says.
"I'm definitely not letting you go without me," Dad adds.
"The more people we bring, the more of a chance there is of someone getting hurt," I tell them.
"If Shawn brings anyone he can, we'll have a better chance of beating him if we have more fighters," Kayla protests.
"I'm gonna have to agree with TJ. If we bring more people and lose, that's just more people hurt," Jack says.
"We'll need as much help as we can get," Bree shrugs.
"How about we vote?" Riley suggests.
"Sure," we all shrug.
"All for letting more of us come with them?" Riley, Bree, Olivia, Kayla, Dad, and Lizzy all raise their hands. "All against?" Jack, Dani, Ms. James, Pops, and I raise our hands.
"Looks like we're coming," Lizzy smiles.
"Fine, who's coming?" I sigh.
"I am," Dad says.
"Me too," Olivia nods.
"Same here," Riley adds.
"I will," Lizzy states.
"So ten of us?" Kayla questions.
"Nine," Ms. James says. "I'm not letting my daughter risk her life."
"I have to. I'm not going to let my friends go against this guy alone," Lizzy protests. "We need to put a stop to this and I want to help." Ms. James sighs and takes Lizzy outside. I focus on the plan so I can't hear them. "If you guys are coming, you can't go empty-handed. You'll need something to fight with."
"I have a baseball bat," Jack shrugs.
"I have a bunch of knives and Mom has a gun," Dani adds.
"I can get one of my dad's wrenches?" Riley hesitates.
"I still have brass knuckles from Halloween," Olivia smiles.
"We have a shovel," Dad shrugs. We start making a full plan when Ms. James and Lizzy come back inside. Lizzy managed to make sure she can come with us and we discuss the plan. When Caleb gets home we all hang out and watch TV until going to bed. When everyone wakes up, we have breakfast and wash up before getting ready for what we're about to get ourselves into.