Okay this is the last chapter of 'The Shifters: The Hidden Race' I will be posting an authors note directly after this chapter is posted. The sequel is in the works and I already have a couple chapters made......and it starts off with a bang, right out of the starting gate.

I just got back from camp today! so much fun! The camp is called The Painted Turtle. I had so much fun! I spent the fourth of July there and my 17th Birthday there!!! I made fabulous new friends...saw old one and made memories to last me a lifetime....now I'm exaughsted though so.......yeah..........oh and I lost my voice.....I woke up and could only speak in a whisper this morning no matter how hard I tried.......I have most of it back but its still not what it should be. and my brain function is 20% right now........I just realized I'm rambling on this authors note........so I'm done now.

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Chapter 25: The Goodbye

*Conrad*

After we calmed ourselves of laughter we said good bye to a very tired Kat and left for the day. I visited her everyday for the rest of the week that she was there. She spent another week at her house unable to leave much. Again I visited every day.

Two weeks after she was discharged from the hospital it was time for me to leave. Kat had been growing more and more upset during the past week knowing that I was leaving and I could tell that I was going to be monopolized by her when I got back.

“I won’t be gone as long as you think.”

“You’re going to be gone for three Narsda weeks.”

“I think that’s the first time you’ve said Narsda without flinching.” I said smirking at the fact that she was getting used to Shif ways more and more every day.

“It is. Rassy how long is three weeks here on Shif?”

“About one year.” I said cutting Ras of with his mouth open. I could hear a slight choking sound come from Kat.

“How come you have to be gone that long?”

“Because I have to travel the whole planet and speak in almost every village. That takes time.”

“I’m going to miss you so much Conrad.”

“Don’t think about that. Anne and Ras are going to make sure that your mind is off of me for the next few weeks.”

“They are going to have to perform a miracle.”

“How do you think she made everyone believe that you were mugged when the video clearly showed the fight I had with the Waldorgian?”

“I hadn’t though about that.”

“That white mist she sent into your head before the battle?”

“What did that do?”

“It insured that if you got seriously hurt that we could pass it off as what happened during the mugging and that you would go into a coma long enough to prove it and try and get you to believe that it was all a dream.”

“You were telling me that it was so that no one could surprise me in battle, Anne!”

“Sorry I had to lie. Otherwise you would have hurt me!”

“True when I’m getting ready to fight I’m not exactly pleasant to be around.”

“That is a very true statement. We went back over the battle field and half of the people you fought were either beheaded or stabbed in the heart or lung. You are deadly when angry.”

“I did that!” She cried in astonishment.

“Thanks Ras, I wasn’t planning on telling her that.”

“Sorry man. Kat if it makes you feel any better you’ve passed to a new level of training because of it?” Kat leveled a glare in Ras’s direction before saying something.

“You really think I care about that at the moment?” Before she could say anything else I wrapped my arms around her pinning her arms at her side and putting my chin atop her head. “What are you doing C?”

“Changing the subject. Anne? Ras?”

“Yeah?” they said in unison.

“Can you give us a private moment?”

“Sure.” Ras said at the same time Anne said. “No.” Ras rolled his eyes and picked Anne up into a bridal hold and carried her off, Anne trying to kick her way out.

Kat had stared after them her eyes a little wet. She apparently zoned out seeing as she didn’t notice that I had stepped in front of her. I used my thumb and fore finger to grab her chin and pull her into a kiss. When she finally pulled out of her shock she responded to my kiss. I pulled her tighter to me letting go of her chin.

She put her arms around my neck pulling me closer and putting all of her fears into the kiss knowing it would be the last for a while. I did the same knowing that I wouldn’t get to see her for a year. I felt her tongue inviting my own to join her. I did and our warm breaths danced with our tongues. How they didn’t knot I will never know but eventually we had to break apart to grab a breath.

I put my forehead against hers and stared at her tear stained face.

“Please don’t cry.” I said cupping her cheek and wiping her tears with my thumb. I grabbed her chin and tilted her head to look at me giving her a quick peck on the lips. Her eyes were rimmed red and a stormy gray at the moment, revealing her sadness.

“I can’t help it.”

“Then can I at least get a smile to remember you by?” She tried her best but it was weak, bringing more tears with it.

“That’s better. I love you Kat.”

“I-I love you too my lovely Prince.” She said her voice cracking right away making her whisper the rest of her sentence. I kissed her forehead and walked to the plane taking me back home. I turned back to her to see Anne giving her a hug while Kat cried into her shoulder. I could feel my heart breaking but I had to go for her.

*Kat*

The kiss ended and our foreheads rested against each other. I couldn’t help crying during the kiss and when he looked at me he pleaded me not too wiping my tears.

“I can’t help it.” I said barely a whisper, with new tears cropping up into my eyes. Worry spread across Conrad’s face as he said. “Then can I at least get a smile to remember you by?”

I gave him a small smile knowing he was about to go and that question was his way of telling me. I knew my smile wasn’t good enough but it was all I could do on this occasion, and it brought even more tears to my eyes.

To my surprise Conrad still said. “That’s better. I love you Kat.” His voice cracked a little showing that he was as upset at his leaving as I was. I knew I had to give him the best thing he could have for his year on Shif.

“I-I love you too my lovely Prince.” I said but my voice cracked on the first word forcing me to whisper. I kept my head down so he wouldn’t see me crying, but he still kissed my forehead. I could hear him walk off but I heard Anne’s high heels coming up right behind me. She pulled me into a hug and it took me a second to realize. I put my head on her shoulder and started to cry, wrapping my arms around her waist.

I could feel Conrad leaving and the last thing I saw was the aircraft taking off.

“Come on Kat. We are going to go home and watch movies. What do you want to watch?”

“Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure please. It always makes me laugh.”

“You got it.” We walked away from the deserted football field of the high school with the late Saturday sun setting behind us. I would be coming back to school next week and I had a free day to make sure I calm down.

“Hey Er?”

“Yeah AM?”

“What would be the most effective way to get Kat to laugh right now?”

“She says don’t you dare tickle me.”

“Rassy!” I screamed. I turned to look at the two and they had their hands up in a way that said they were going to get me. I ran as hard as I could making me laugh in the process. They finally got me and tickled me until I couldn’t breathe. Maybe with these two around I can get through the next few weeks.

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"Don't be sad because its over.....be happy because it happened."

That's one of my favorite quotes and I don't even know who wrote it.....but dont worry the authors note chapter will explain more about why you should be happy!!!!!!