Violet let out a shriek much like a frightened horse would, and it could have caused Pepper to panic if Anna hadn't quickly clasped her hand over her friend's mouth. Violet's eyes were still showing white, although it looked as though she was trying to calm herself...and perhaps failing.
     "Please, don't freak out." Anna slowly took her hand away. She almost wished she hadn't, considering her friend's shocked expression. "Please, it will make it worse." Violet didn't respond, but made a low sound in her throat, seeming to agree with Anna.
     "See, I think it's a mark," Anna averted her eyes, "but there is really no way of telling."
     "...Okay." Violet choked out, her voice weak.
     "It's on my hand," Anna brought her hand out, without showing the mark though.
     "Uhm..." Violet looked confused, studying the long, black bite.
     "Well, that's not the actual mark..." Anna averted her eyes again, then reluctantly brought her left hand over her right. The mark quickly showed up, as if it wanted to.
     Violet nearly did shy this time, sucking in her breath and grasping at the grass on the ground. Anna saw her hands partially push together into hooves, before quickly switching back. She had to give her friend credit; she knew a shift like that wouldn't be picked up on the Shifters Inc. radars.
     "That's..." Violet's face twisted as she searched for words. "...interesting?"
     "Thanks." Anna said rather dryly, but not trying to seem harsh. "That's what I thought." The moved her left over it again, causing it to vanish.
     "Well, that's a nifty trick," Violet said, as if she was trying to change the subject. "It's like,"
     "Like I'm using the Force or something, I know." Anna couldn't help but roll her eyes. "It kind of feels like that, too."
     "So...the line?" Violet touched a damp part of it before Anna could stop her; she hadn't expected her to be so bold. Violet recoiled instantly, grasping her hand. She rushed over to the water and dunked it in, swishing it furiously.
     "Gosh, what is that?!" Violet stared madly at Anna, her fear forgotten for a moment.
     "I was going to warn you," Anna pointed out, shaking her head. "I didn't expect you to go and touch it."
     "And what exactly is it?!" Violet took her burnt hand out of the water and put pressure on it, wincing slightly. Anna was a bit ashamed she didn't have an answer.
     "I...don't know? Look," she quickly continued, "who knows anything about marks?"
     "Hm, true." Violet looked thoughtful. "But your not getting off that easy."
     Anna sighed. "And how must I gain your forgiveness, mighty horse?"
     "Show me your hand." Violet was serious this time, her large, brown eyes dark.
     "You asked for it." Anna showed her it again, knowing that when Violet saw it more detailed she would probably let her horse side show again. The wound had started to turn crusty, at least, the normal, red part had. The black part-she had made the mark visible again as well-was still damp, oozing slightly. It was almost nauseating. Thankfully, Anna had a strong stomach. Violet, on the other hand, well, Anna was glad she wasn't a horse right now, or else she would probably colic.
     "And...did this show up with the mark?" Violet asked, holding her stomach.
     "No...Pepper bit me. Long story." Anna shot a glance at Pepper.
     "I'll be sure to shoot him some bad vibes later." Violet said, half serious. "Now, what's up with this funky looking thing?!"
     Anna quickly explained how it had burnt the grass, and, obviously, her.
     "See?" She ran some of the ink-like stuff over the ground, causing it to smolder. She quickly placed her other hand over to stop it.
     "That's...scary." Violet declared, more like stating a fact then discovering one.
     "Your telling me." Anna huffed. "The real clincher is, I've never even shifted!"
     "Have you tried?"
     "Sure I've tried."
     "No, I mean lately." Violet shook her head. "Like, right after you got the mark."
     "No, I haven't tried in quite a while..." Anna felt somewhat stupid. "But, really, how do I even do it? It's like, like I don't have a feel for it." She looked down. "Most people say it's like an instinct, like blinking, or breathing, or something like that."
     "Well, yeah, usually it is," Violet said slowly. "But most people and, uhm, well," she faltered, "they have very specific ancestry, so they know what to do."
     "You've been catching up on your reading." Anna gave a small corner smile.
     "It's all from gossip, trust me." Violet laughed a bit. "Anyways, it was easy for me, I knew what to concentrate on. But you," she looked awkward, "you don't really know."
     "I've focused on dogs, though," Anna insisted, trying to talk herself out of whatever she was getting into. "I have a whole list of what I might be, and have tried...shifting into all of them. Nothing works." She couldn't keep a bit of a whine out of her voice.
     "Hey, I'm not saying I'm an expert," Violet smiled. "But I do know a bit about it. You can't change into what you think you might be, you have to know. To feel it in your heart."
     "You did?"
     "Yeah, I actually did." Violet looked self conscious. "I mean, I obviously knew I had to be a horse, but the difference was that I felt it. Nothing could change that." Violet wiped her sleeve over her brow. "Gosh, is it hot out here?"
     Anna laughed quietly at her friend. She was grateful for her advice, and knowledge. She had never read anything like that in the standard shifter books, and doubted she ever would. What Violet had said came from the heart.
     She stared down at her palm, rubbing it with her thumb. Violet watched silently, seeming to understand that she wanted to be alone. She quietly got up and shifted, slowly walking over to Pepper. Anna stared after her and blinked away a tear. Why couldn't she be like everyone else? She shook her head. No, she thought. No, this isn't like you. You go against the tide, not caring.
     But, yet, she did care. Not because of other people, no. It was because she felt like something was trapped inside her, wanting to come out. She didn't know what it was, but she realized it had been there all along. It was pushing her, wanting her to do something. What?! I don't understand!
     She blinked away another tear. They were coming faster now. She never cried, and was afraid this would turn into an all-out sobbing episode. Even if she was her best friend, she didn't want Violet to see her like this. It wasn't because she thought crying was weak, or girly, she simply didn't like it. Plain and simple. Though, I guess nothing in my life is going to be plain and simple, she thought, ruefully.
     Unable to stop the flow, a large tear rolled down her cheek and landed on her palm. She had made the mark vanish, but the bite was still there. The tear dropped right on top, seeping into it. Anna waited for steam, or maybe a sizzling sound, but it never came. Instead, the bite began to fade. Right in front of her eyes, the black mark sealed itself up, then vanished into her skin. The only thing left was the red bite on the side of her hand.
     She blinked a few times. Ran her thumb over her palm. Scrutinized it carefully. It was gone. Without leaving any bumps or scars; it was gone. She couldn't help but breath a huge sigh of relief, even if she was still scared. At least now she could hide the mark without the ugly black line giving it away.
     But, then, what had made it go away? A tear? That seemed somewhat cliché. Maybe I should just let it go, she thought. After all, I should just be thankful it's gone.
     In her concentration her tears had left, and she wiped the sticky stains off of her cheeks. She shot a self conscious look towards Violet, hoping she hadn't seen any of that. Thankfully, it didn't look as though she had. She was standing lazily next to Pepper, both of them swishing their tails against the flies in the shade. Anna smiled as she looked at them. Alright, this pity party is over, she thought, pushing herself up. But as soon as she did, she fell back down. Her head swam and her vision clouded; she quickly put a hand up to her head.
"Not yet," a voice said, almost causing Anna to jump. It was so clear, yet somehow she knew it was in her head. "Not yet," it repeated.
"Why?" Another voice answered, and Anna noticed it sounded like hers. This is so weird, Anna thought, shivering, and realized that through the voices, she still had her own thoughts to herself.
"Not yet." The first voice repeated for the third time, sounding firmer.
"Alright, but...," the second seemed to be asking a question.
"...Yes." The first seemed reluctant, but decided. This is so weird, Anna thought again. It felt like she was listening to the radio, or else eavesdropping on someone else's conversation. Or thoughts...
"Thank you." Anna could imagine the second dipping its head in respect. Or, my head, she thought, remembering how it sounded like her voice.
Suddenly her vision cleared, the dancing spots in front of her eyes disappearing. She slumped forwards a bit, as if she was riding and her horse had come to a screeching halt. Once again, she was glad she didn't have a weak stomach. Although, it was feeling a little off. In fact, everything was feeling a little off. Of course, everything had, today. But this was different. It felt like the thing that wanted to get out was breaking, and spreading, trying to push through. It's going to escape, she thought, although she didn't know what she meant.
"No, it won't." Some how the other voice, not the one that sounded like hers, answered. "It will come, one day, but not now. Now, another is coming," it paused, "accept it, be one with it." And the voice was gone.
Anna shivered. Not just because of the unsettling voice, but also because her skin was tingling. The thing, although not the thing, as the voice has specified, was about to break loose. She sucked in her breath, as though she couldn't fill her lungs quick enough. The tingling grew more persistent, till it felt like an icy-hot burn. She could feel that it started on her palm, racing up her arm, then to her whole body. She fought it, panicking. But, in it, there was suddenly indecision.
"What do you want?" The voice asked.
"I...I don't know." Anna answered it, suddenly feeling as though it was the most common and comfortable thing in the world; like talking to a long lost friend.
"That's the problem," she could imagine laughter in the voice. "Listen to what Violet said; you have to KNOW."
Anna's head span for the thousandth time today, trying to take it all in. What does it mean? I mean, I focus on something, am I doing it wrong? Am I-
"Stop!" It seemed to shout at her. "Don't think; Know! Relax, calm down, take a deep breath, and know."
Obediently, Anna took a deep, quivering breath. But, she had to dare to ask a question.
"...Know what?"
"Know your heart."
She remembered Violet saying that earlier.
"But it feels...guarded."
"That is because the thing is not yet loose." It soothed. "Look again, deeper. You will find something, something you know to be there. Don't think; know."
"Don't think; know." Anna repeated to herself, taking another deep breath and shakily letting it out. Her skin still tingled madly, but she had to ignore it. Relax, she told herself. She loosened her muscles, slumping down more. The tingle shot through her like fire, but now that she wasn't resisting it, it was strangely pleasant. But it still seemed uncertain. It was waiting, waiting for her.
Look into you heart...don't think; know, she thought to herself, trying to relax even more. But it seemed...too simple? She wanted to think, but she had to know. She let herself go blank, or at least tried to. Search yourself, she thought.
"Don't complicate it," the voice said. "Something simple. Just so long as you know."
"I'm trying-"
"Don't try, do!"
"More Star Wars." Anna inwardly laughed, relaxing.
"There! Relax. Calm thoughts; empty your mind!"
"Easier said then done." Anna replied, her annoyance coming through.
"Your telling me..." The voice faintly said. "But that doesn't matter. Just, do."
"Alright, I'll...do." Anna thought back, stopping herself from saying try. The fiery-feeling was still shooting through her, more aggressive now. She let herself go with it, like going limp in a pool of water. But she still felt restricted. She didn't know what to know. My heart can't be that empty, she scoffed inwardly.
"It's not." The voice said. Anna could imagine it rolling it's eyes. "Just, don't feel at all, let yourself go. Don't even search, just go blank."
"That's a bit contradictory,"
"I'm new at this," the voice replied, "give me a break."
Anna was starting to enjoy her new friend...that was in her head...at the start it had seemed stiff, but now it sounded friendly, like they had known each other all their life. Well, maybe she has.
"Alright, I'll DO that." Anna stressed the word, remembering the voice's advice.
She went blank. At least, as blank as she thought she could. The tingle was still rushing through her, seeming to burn her. She would have opened her eyes, but she had a feeling that would ruin the whole thing. The sensation was stronger now, and it seemed less restricted. It was like water that had started to rush through a dam, about to take the structure along with it.
Then, it broke loose. Anna let out a deep breath, letting it surge through her. Her head shot back at the force of it, then forwards as it streamed through her. Her legs and arms burned with the sensation, but it wasn't a bad feeling, not like something that would hurt her.
Finally, after what seemed like years, the tingle slowed, then suddenly subsided all together. She flopped onto the grass on her side, feeling like she should be gasping for breath or something, and yet at the same time feeling like she had no reason to.
Taking a deep breath, she shot a somewhat clouded glance out of the corner of her eye towards Violet, who was still over in the shade. She couldn't see her very well, but could sense she hadn't noticed what had happened. Goodness, Violet is usually the first to notice stuff.
Taking another deep breath, Anna decided to stand up, or at least sit up. She thought maybe the tingle would come back, or else her stomach wouldn't be able to handle all that had just happened. Slowly she tried to roll onto her back legs into a sitting position- and found that she couldn't. Panicking, she wondered what was wrong. She turned her head to look, but her vision was all wrong. She closed her eyes, hoping this was all a bad dream. First the mark, now what's wrong with me?!
Clumsy she tried moving her head back around, she found she had to use her neck, and opened one eye to see what was the matter with her legs. Her eye opened wide as she looked, and she froze in shock.
Oh..., she thought. THAT'S what it feels like to shift.