Change (Kitsune) Read Online Free PDF Page B

more easily seen. It doesn't take a silver bullet to kill us, though, don't get me wrong, a sliver bullet will do the job, but so will most others. We aren't immortal, we just heal faster than most. Any wound that would be instantly fatal will still kill us."
    "I see," I tried to think, "Why tell Brandon that I might shift?"
    "Brandon came to me after his first shift and told me that he could tell you were Kindred. I explained to him what he needed to know. And just as importantly, how he couldn't say anything to you about it, but that I needed him to watch you for signs that you would or had shifted
    "So Brandon has only been my friend because you ordered him to watch me?" I asked, feeling betrayed. I wondered how I couldn’t have known he had been my friend because he was ordered to.
    "Actually, no. Brandon has been your friend for how long? Since you both started Kindergarten together, right? That makes what, twenty years?"
    "Yeah, about that."
    "Brandon was sixteen the first time he shifted. So if you’ll the math, you’ll see he was your friend for eleven years before he came to me. And for the record, I only told him to watch you, to keep an eye out for you, because he was already your friend."
    "I see," I calmed down and told myself to stop jumping to conclusions. I really wasn’t sure how I felt about the situation but it was more than a little upsetting to be finding this all out now.
    "Generally, Kindred children are raised knowing what they are, or what they could be.” Bill continued, “They’re taught to keep the secret from their first words and steps and somewhere in their mid to late teens, they're taught how to shift. Shifting’s not impossible to shift before then, but it's uncommon. It generally only happens in life threatening situations, when an animal form fears for its life and forces the change, like yours did.
    "For someone who had no clue what she was or what was going on, to suddenly shift and manage to shift back to human so soon, and without help, is really a big deal. It's uncommon for someone who's known what they are their entire life to manage the first shift without help."
    "But I did have help, Brandon told me what to do, how to shift back."
    "That's not the kind of help I mean. What I mean is another Kindred either feeding you power or helping by forcing your animal form to retreat."
    "Kindred? You've used the word several times now, what do you mean by it?"
    "Kindred is a term we use among ourselves, instead of pack or Kitsune. It helps to protect our secret from normal. If they never hear you refer to Pack or Kitsune, they can't get suspicious and start asking questions. Kindred is an old fashion term for family, more commonly it's shortened to kin these days. But we use the full word, and it means a member of the pack or Kitsune."
    I was silent for a moment, unsure what to say. I was saved from having to say anything when Karen walked into the room carrying a plate filled with chunks of fruit and cheese.
    "Here's you a snack, I’ve dinner started and I expect you to stay and let me feed you that as well," She sat the plate on the small table between the two chairs. The sight of the food made my stomach growl again, and I felt my face redden with embarrassment.
    Bill chuckled "Go ahead. I know you've got to be starving, and I've been grilling you instead of feeding you."
    "Help yourself," Karen said, "I know you're hungry. And Brandon brought your bag inside, it's waiting for you next to the front door when you need it."
    "It's fine where it is, but I'll need it when I go home."
    "Why don't you go ahead and get something to eat and let it all sink in. I'm sure once the shock of it all wears off, you'll have plenty of questions."
    "Alright," I said, shifting in my chair so I could easily reach the plate. I took a few pieces of cheese and popped them, one at a time, into my mouth as Karen spoke up
    "Dinner shouldn't be too much longer, but I knew you'd be starving."
    "Thanks," I