The Last of the Shifters

Kyra POV: The Last Kitsune

I woke up in my bed, unable to remember most of the night, my head pounding. I shouldn’t have drank last night, why couldn’t I remember what happened. Rubbing my head, I looked at me phone. I had several missed calls and text messages from Ilea.  

*Where did you go? *  

*You freaked out and ran off*  

*ANSWER YOUR PHONE* 

*I’m calling the cops, were all out looking for you* 

While scrolling through the rest of the messages, I heard a light knock on my door. “Come in” I crocked. My door opened slightly, I could see the light coming in from beyond the door, my room was really dark so I could only think that it was night again. “Kyra darling, are you feeling, okay? I brought you a glass of water and some aspirin.” My Grans sweet voice was quiet and calm as she entered my room. I sat up, and took to aspirin and water from her.  

It was then I notice the sweet smell of chocolate chip cookies coming in through my now open door. I smiled to myself and took the aspirin with one gulp of water. “Are those cookies I smell?” I asked bashfully. “Yes, they are, I need to explain some things to you and we can have some cookies while I do it.” Gran said with a small smile. 

I got up out of bed, following Gran into the kitchen where a fresh plate of cookies sat on the table and so did two glasses with milk in them. I smiled as I sat down, turning to my gran and asking, “What do you need to explain to me?” You wouldn’t believe me if I told you that she was 60 years old; she doesn’t look a day over 30 if that. She must have found the fountain of youth. 

“Darling, I want you to understand that I hid this from you for your own protection.  I couldn’t let anyone know the truth not even you.” She explained with a sad smile. 

“What is it?” I asked with a mouth full of cookies. 

“Kyra, you are now 18 which is when a lot of things will start to show more for our kind.”  

“What do you mean our kind?” I cut her off, abruptly. 

“Do you ever wonder why I look so young even though I am well into my 60’s?” she questioned as if I she didn’t already know the answer. I nod and motion for her to go on while I dunked the other half of my cookie thoughtful into my milk. “I am the last of the Kitsune alive, I was pregnant when The Blank Spot began, I was not allowed to defend my pack, the Lycanthrope that I have told you stories about since you were young, Damos, wouldn’t let me. He was my mate, being kitsune or trickster foxes we don’t usually have mates with in our own species much less any other species. Your mother, was our only child. He died before she was born. You are what I like to call a hybrid. Your inner wolf will appear soon, much like your mothers did before she was shipped out.” my mouth at this point was hanging open, I spent my whole life thinking I was human. Kitsune are born with their powers of shifting, where Lycanthropes won’t shift until their 18th moon.  

“How have you not been caught yet?” I questioned dumbfounded. 

“My dear we Kitsune have to ability to not show up genetically when tested. You can do it as well for a while until your wolf appears.” She sighed. “But once your wolf appears and you fully shift for the first time, you will no longer be able to fully mask your genes.” 

I stood up and started pacing, taking in all the information I was just given. “So, when they test us this year, if I have shifted, I will be sent away?” I asked out loud already knowing the answer. Gran nodded, “Yes but I do have a cabin on the other side of the wall, that I visit from time to time, that you can go to, instead of the island. The wendigos don’t come near the walls anymore, now that the humans have learned what kills them.” I couldn’t process what she was telling me at this point. “I needed air”, I grabbed my coat and left