Catta, now eighteen, ran through the woods until she entered a clearing where the moon kissed the ground. She went to the center of the clearing and sat down a brown leather bag.

She pulled a jar out of the bag. Starting at the edge of the trees, she made a large circle with sea salt on the ground. When both ends of the circle met, she left her jar of salt on the ground beside it. She moved to the center of the circle and knelt on the ground in front of a white candle she'd placed there.

She closed her eyes and blew softly on the wic of the candle. It lit and started to flicker back and forth strongly. She pulled several small glass viles out of her bag and poured their contents around the candle. The sweet scent of cinnomon and rosemary filled her nose. It was quickly followed by the earthy scent of sage.

She carefully placed the vials back in her bag then went to where she'd left the jar of salt and placed the bag next to it. She had on a white shift that she slipped over her head and left laying on top of her things. A light breeze tickled her bare skin as she returned to the middle of the circle. She lifted her face up towards the light of the moon and started to dance. She flung out her arms and spun in circles. She flitted around light as a bird, and then her feet would pounded against the ground to a rhythm all her own.

She moved all over the clearing as she danced from one side to the other. Not always spinning but always moving in a circle, always with the moonlight shining down on her.

Dylan was coming back from hunting and spotted Catalina in the woods. He followed her to an opening in the trees and watched her, curious as to what she was doing out here alone in the middle of the night.

He watched her appear to pour something on the ground in a circle as he watched from his place tucked behind a tree, not daring to make a sound. She lit a candle in the middle of the circle so fast he missed ever even seeing a lighter or match. He continued to watch her full of curiosity as she started pouring something on the ground around the candle.

His eyes widened in surprise when her nightgown was pulled over her head. The moonlight poured over her now naked body. Her skin appeared to glow under its bright light in complete contrast with the shadows it also created.

He knew he should leave as this was obviously meant to be private, but he couldn't. He was completely captivated by how beautiful she was as she did some kind of odd ritualistic dance in the clearing. Throwing her arms to the sky, falling to her knees, rolling across the ground, jumping up again, and spinning in circles.

He'd been standing, so still he could've been one with the trees. When she stopped dancing and blew out the candle, he realized she was probably getting ready to leave. He backed away quietly into the woods as she pulled her dress back over her head. He wondered what it had all been about as he walked home at a steady pace. He wouldn't want her to find him out here and discover she'd not been alone.

Catalina and Ethan squared off in the middle of the dusty training field. Other warriors stood in a circle watching them. Catalina was always something to behold. She was a great fighter and always so vicious. She'd only been allowed to train with seasoned warriors since the age of fifteen because of it.

They'd only been at it for fifteen minutes. Ethan already had a black eye. A reward she'd given him to match her busted lip. He swung first, aiming for her head, she dodged easily. She spun and kicked out, catching him in the thigh. His muscled leg held where a lesser warriors would've buckled.

He grabbed her ankle and yanked her towards him, moving his hand to her thigh, pinning it to his hip, forcing her to stand on one leg. She smiled evily at him and swung her other leg up and around his other hip. She squeezed his waist between her thighs as hard as she could. He coughed, and his face turned a light shade of purple.

She leaned back slightly and started throwing punches to his face. He let go of her thigh and tried to block the blows, but it was close quarters and hard to do. He was unable to get her off of him and didn't want his face turned into a bloody pulp. So, he wrapped his arms around her torso, pinning her arms to her. Then, he fell to the ground on top of her. His weight was crushing her. She released him and kicked him off. They rolled away from each other.

He scooped up a handful of dirt as he stood. They squared off again. He slung the dirt towards her eyes and morphed up into his nightmarish war form.

She rubbed the dirt from her eyes and tried to dodge a swipe at her chest. Three, jagged, bright red, lines now marked her, but they were shallow. She ducked low as he struck at her again. She kicked out at his shin and landed two blows to his rib cage on the way up.

He was bigger but she was faster. The next time he swung at her, she quickly grabbed hold of the arm and ducked behind him, pinning it to his back. She twisted the arm, straining the socket. He tried to reach over his screaming shoulder and swipe at her with his claws. She grabbed his wrist and pulled the arm tight against his throat.

She kicked the back of his left knee, and it gave. She pulled his arm even tighter around his throat. They stayed that way for about a minute, both struggling. Him to get free and her to keep her grip on both arms. Finally, he gave in, and the circle cheered the well fought fight.

"To medical with both of you," Nick said, with a flick of his hand and roll of his eyes.

"I'm fine-" Catalina tried.

"Medical," Nick growled, then softened his tone, "The days almost over anyway. You won't miss much."

Catalina followed after Ethan towards the clinic. Ethan's injured arm hung loosely at his side the whole way. He probably needed to be seen worse than she did, but he insisted she go first.

Catalina entered the clinic to find Emily looking over some paperwork. She admired how her mocha skin stood out in contrast to her white lab coat as she waited to be noticed.

"If you're going to be here this often, maybe we should have you an assigned cot in the back, " Emily joked as she looked up at her.

"Probably should," Catalina joked back.

"Well, remove your shirt so I can see the extent of today's damage," the doctor said, turning serious as she looked down at the blood, peeking through the tattered remains of it.

Catta did as she was told. Emily cleaned the wounds and gave her a salve to rub over them for the next couple of days.

"It's not too bad, probably won't even scar as long as you use the salve," Emily said, emphasizing the last part.

"Yeah, yeah. If I was worried about scars, I wouldn't pick such brutal fights," Catta said with a shrug.

"You might care one day," Emily warned, a slight hint of tenderness in her chocolate eyes.

"Yeah, well, I'm starving. Off to dinner. Thanks," Catalina responded with a warm smile before walking off briskly towards the smell of food.

Catalina stopped by her room and traded her ruined shirt for a tank top before continuing to the dining room. The soft sound of chatter and forks scraping plates filled the room as she entered.

She found herself a seat at the high table near her brother's. A heaping plate of steaming food was soon sat before her. The high table was a large oak table at the head of the room. It was mostly reserved for the Alpha and his family. However, sometimes, the betas, gammas, or visiting wolves of high rank might sit there.

Dinner was rather quiet today. The dining room was always open to all pack members. They could take all of their meals there or none of them. When times were peaceful, maybe a quarter to half of the seats would be full. In times of trouble, it was packed to overflowing, and tables were set up outside as well.

"Have a good day at her fields?" Stephan asked, gesturing to the wounds on her chest.

"Should've seen the other guy. She almost tore his arm off," Nick chuckled.

"Why so vicious, sister?" Jax teased, between bites of food.

"They get what they ask for," Catta answered, before shoving a fork full of pasta into her mouth.

The playful banter continued back and forth until they had all finished eating and started getting up to leave.

"Wanna play a round of chess before bed?" Emmett asked, looking at Catta as he stood up from the table.

"Not tonight. I'm tired," she answered with a yawn.

"Today's training wear you out?" He asked as they started up the stairs.

"Ha! Not a chance. I just didn't get much sleep last night," she answered.

"Well, you know where to find me if you change your mind," he said before heading off in the direction of the library.

She was in a small dark place. A little boys caring hand let go of hers and disappeared. She could feel the heat from the flames as they destroyed everything they touched. She could hear the screams all around her. She could hear her mother's screams! She was too terrified to move. She curled into a ball and rocked back and forth, trying to ignore it all. Someone was calling her name...

"Catta!"

Where was it coming from?

"Catta!"

She just wanted it to go away. She wanted it all to be over. The screams were so loud! The flames, so hot!

"Catta! Get up! Get up!" Jax hollered as he shook her awake.

Her eyes popped open, smoke filled her nose. Emmett and Stephan entered the room with buckets of water and started trying to put out the flames that were lapping at the curtains and walls.

"Get her outside!" Stephan barked at Jax over his shoulder.

Jax pulled her up into his arms, carried her down the stairs, and out the front door. The chill of the clean outside air helped to wake her the rest of the way.

"What's going on! It's happening again, isn't it?" She asked in a panic filled voice.

"Everything's okay. Sit right here. I'm going to go help them get the fire out before it spreads."

"No! Please, no! Don't leave me!" She begged, grabbing ahold of his hand.

"It's okay, I just need to-"

"No, you can't leave me! If you leave me you'll die too!" she screamed before breaking down into sobs.

"Oh, Catta... It's not them. It was just a night mare," he said sadly as the realization hit him.

He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her tightly against his chest. Her body shook against him with each pain filled sob. He rubbed the top of her head and told over and over that they were okay. Everyone was okay.

"Catta," Stephon called her name skittishly as he came outside.

Twin rivers ran unchecked down her face as she looked up at him from the cacoon of Jax's arms. Emmett stood not far behind Stephon. She sighed in relief to see them both alive. Catalina wiped her eyes on the sleeve of her oversized night shirt.

"It was a nightmare," Jax told his father.

"Catta, you started the fire, baby. You're a witch. I didn't really know what that would mean for you, for us, or what the dangers would be. I've never known any witches, but now I do. And, I think the dangers of your powers going unchecked just became crystal clear. I think it's time we find you a teacher."