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"Ahh"

Rose opened her eyes very slowly, blinked several times to focus on her surroundings. I sighed in relief. It had been about three hours since she had passed out. After we had driven out of the mall I didn't know what to do with her, she was the nurse not me, so I just took her upstairs to her room and laid her down on her bed, trying not to panic. I had stood there for fifteen minutes, sick with worry when I realized that her room looked a lot like mine: white ceiling, wool floor, one bed and a single window. The only difference was that beside her bed stood a small drawer. On top there was a green mint pot with flowers in it. At the moment I didn't know it was just a flower so I was quite intrigued by it. I looked closely at it and got hypnotized by the light around the flower, dancing to some silent tune. The yellow river seemed to come out of the flower, droplets of it touching the petals. The little river of light floated around it, defying gravity. I looked at it for a lot of time and wondered if all flowers were the same. Then I heard her.

She finally stopped blinking and saw me standing at the side of the bed. She looked at me from head to... well, paw. She frowned.

"How come you are standing and I'm in bed?"

"Don't ask me, you're the one that passed out."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you were-"

"LOOK OUT!" She yelled pointing behind me.

I grabbed the flower pot beside the bed and threw it behind without looking. The pot splattered against the wall, becoming a million pieces.

"Glad I wasn't there"

I looked at the bedroom's entrance and saw Camille.

"Oh, you meant her", I said, "don't worry, she won't hurt us."

Rose looked at me astonished.

"Right, you haven't met." I cleared my throat, "Rose, the dark-furred girl over there is Camille. She saved us back at the mall"

"Camille, the just a moment ago passed out girl on the bed is Rose."

Camille stared at her with a calculating glare. She studied her for several seconds, looking at her like she was an object. I could notice that Rose was getting a bit pissed off.

"Glad you're awake."

I looked at Camille and raised an eyebrow. I wasn't expecting that. When we had talked she seemed so cold. All I could get out of her was her name and all the other questions I had made she evaded. Rose hadn't expected it either. She mumbled

"Uh... thanks."

"You feeling better?" Camille asked, tying to sound empathic.

"Yes, but... what exactly happened?" she asked, looking at me. I was about to tell her when Camille spoke up

"As far as I saw, you guys were getting some stuff, just like me. I had no intention on helping you until the others arrived. I knew you wouldn't stand a chance against so many of them. So, I helped."

"You... killed the bull dog?" asked Rose, remembering the events.

"No. That one's on your friend there", said Camille, pointing at me.

Rose gave me a shocked look and asked, "Really?"

"Yeah, kind'a. Not sure how, though".

"You used your gift".

We both looked at Camille.

"What?" Rose asked, saying exactly what was on my mind.

"I'll try to explain it as best as I can. See, when the Aurora wave hit us everything got messed up. People disappeared and we got fusion with animals. It gave each of us a certain color and a certain gift".

"How you know that?" I asked, almost defiantly

"Because", she answered, "my gift is to know others gifts and make them better. It's like self-awareness or something."

That was the most sense-full thing I had heard. At last, something that had a how and a why that I could understand. Rose spoke up

"So, what you're saying is that a Neon wave hit the earth and we got mixed with animals and got super powers because of it".

Camille thought about it and said "Yeah, pretty much".

"That explains how you managed to heal me" I said to Rose.

"Yeah, but still. If we all have one, what is Echoes' gift?"

"His gift is to retaliate", Said Camille, "That's the best way I can put it. Everything that anyone does to him happens to them. Like that bulldog guy, he tried to chop your arm off, his ended up chopped. But he's hurt too, so he's not invincible."

I stood there, letting the new information sink in. I tried to make sense of what she just said, trying to use logic to deny it. I said

"Well, it does make sense."

"Wait", said Rose, "Camille, if your gift is to know others gifts how come we didn't see you?"

She hesitated.

"I know my way around shadows" she said finally. I could see that those few words hadn't come out easy.

"And also, how did you end up at the mall alone?"

Camille shot her a scary look. "That's none of your business". Then she turned around and stormed out of the room. I looked at Rose.

"Way to go girl."

"How was I supposed to know she would act that way?" She leaned on the wall behind her, her feet and arms crossed. "I don't like her". I sat down on the bed beside her.

"You want to kick her out after she saved our lives and showed you your gift?"

"I can't kick her out. Besides, we could use an extra hand the next time we go to a mall. Maybe I'm just a little edgy"

"Maybe"

I looked at the entrance and made sure that Camille wasn't hearing.

"But I gotta agree with you. She does give me a bad feeling."

...

I went down the wool covered stairs, smelling the delicious dinner that Rose had made. God, if she knew something it was how to cook. When I got off the stairs I noticed Camille on a corner. She was leaning against the wall, a foot behind the other. Paw behind the other. Okay, we never quite figured which, but you get it. Her arms were crossed and her eyes were closed, the yellow katana tied to her back with what used to be my bandages.

"I was wondering where I'd left them", I said. Camille heard me and opened her eyes.

"Since you didn't need them anymore I thought about putting them to good use. That okay with you?"

"Fine by me". I answered.

"Dinner's ready", said Rose while coming out of the kitchen, "Camille, you're welcome to come and eat with us. And I want to offer an apology for upsetting you earlier".

Camille nodded. "You didn't mean to. And I would love to take a bite on whatever you made. It smells amazing".

I could see that Rose was flattered, even though she tried to hide it. "Then come, the table's already set". She turned around and entered the kitchen again. Camille followed her with a balanced stride and I went after. The kitchen's table was made of glass and had a circular shape. On the table were three plates and in the center there was the dish.

"What's that?" I asked while sitting down.

"It's called 'Poutine'", said Rose.

"You mean like the Canadian food?" Asked Camille.

"Yeah, that's the one", Rose answered.

I didn't even bother to ask what 'Canadian' meant. I knew by then that that the answer would only get me more words I didn't understand and then more and more, so I just let the question pass.

Rose served each of us a third of the 'Poutine' thing and we dug in. I used the fork as well as I could manage, but I didn't remember any manners either, so I think I made a fool of myself. I saw Camille eating it bit by bit, testing the flavor. I tried to copy her movements, but to no avail. Then she said

"This is pretty good. Where'd you learn to cook?"

"My dad taught me. He wasn't very good at it, but we always had fun. You know, when I moved out of Toronto, into this town all I would do was cook, just to remember him. To remember home." She looked at the wall in front of her, but seemed to look for something beyond it. Then she came back to focus.

"Sorry, I tend to do that."

"Don't worry" said Camille "We've all lost someone."

Silence was made on the table and we kept eating the 'Poutine' until there was nothing left. I started to get up and leave the table when Camille said

"I checked your supplies. It seems that there's only food for two days and water for four. Also, the van that we stole only has half the tank, so, if we were to go to the mall again, it'd be a one way trip. Do you know any gas stations nearby?"

Rose thought of it, taking her finger to her snout, trying to remember. She said "Only to the North, the other way from the mall. But it's just a couple of miles away, much closer than the mall."

"Perfect." Said Camille, her face unchanging.

We all stood up and left our cardboard plate's in the trash can. I followed the girls outside the kitchen and saw Rose extending her arm towards the couch.

"You can sleep here."

Camille nodded and said "Thanks for letting me stay."

"Don't mention it." Said Rose dismissively "you need anything, just say it." She turned around and went up the flight of stairs towards her room.

I went upstairs and into the guest's room, closing the door behind me. I stared at it and noticed that it looked different since I was standing. The bed looked much smaller and the ceiling looked lower. Even the window seemed smaller. I took off my jeans and walked to the bed. I let myself fall on the blankets and I stretched my arms, ready to finally get some sleep. I closed my eyelids and started drifting off, thinking about nothing, just enjoying the feeling of falling into darkness. Then I saw a clearing. I was standing in it and taking in the rising sun. 'What a beautiful morning'. I heard a sonic boom. I looked behind me and saw an animal run away. 'Fucking coward'. I saw a Neon wave. I ran.

I woke up panting and with my body burning. I tried to make sense of what I'd just seen, trying to remember why I had this feeling that I'd seen it before. Then I remembered the flashback I had in my way to the mall. It was the same thing, just a little bit more detailed. So that was what hit us, that's the Aurora wave. I felt joy for finally remembering something, but I couldn't shake the terror of the moment. I stood up and went to the bathroom, barely seeing where I was stepping. I didn't trip only for the faint moonlight. I opened the bathroom door silently and closed it behind me. I put my hands at the sides of the bucket full of water that we used to clean ourselves. I dip my hands into the cold water and put some on my forehead and cheeks. The fur on my face got soaked and flat against my skin in a damp way, the almost freezing water refreshing my skin. I sighed pleasantly. That's just what I needed. I took the water off my face with my hands and I saw a pair of eyes staring at me.

I stared back at my reflection, into those cyan eyes that seemed to hold too many secrets. Who I was. What I did. Why I did it. Whom I wanted to be and whom I knew. But no answer about the mysteries of my self came to me. I sighed and looked at my furred chest, wondering why I had woken up with no memory and with broken ribs. Who am I? I shrugged the issue away and went to my room, leaving the bathroom door opened. I threw myself to the bed again, jeans on and closed my eyelids, but no matter how hard I tried to sleep dreams eluded me. After the hundredth try a single thought came to my head. I need to do something.

I stood up, trying to make no sounds, but unable to keep my energy down. I left my bedroom's door open and I headed downstairs slowly, trying to be silent. I went down step by step, the wool absorbing my weight and the noise. I finally reached the ground floor and started to turn the door knob when I saw movement at my left. I turned my head and saw Camille sleeping sideways, her ears occasionally fluttering. I let out the breath I was holding and I opened the door. As soon as I stepped out of the house the night air struck my body with a welcoming sigh. I took a deep breath and I smiled, feeling some sort of peace in my heart. I closed the door behind me and I walked towards the asphalt, glancing at the van on my way. I stood on the road and looked into the starry sky, thousands of white flickers above me. Then I looked ahead of me and saw yellow stars dancing at the other side of the road, lured seemingly by the forest. I followed the floating lights, hypnotized by their constant flicker.

As I finished crossing the road and stepped into the woods a neon green light glowed at my feet. As I stood there the forest came to life with a green glow, some trees giving off a fainter glow than others. As I gasped and stared with wonder all the forest started to flicker around me, lighting up my path. I walked forth, touching as many plants as I could and saw their reaction to my touch. Some of them got a stronger glow, while others got fainter. Some didn't change at all. I kept waking, glancing at an occasional flower here and there, which colors differed from the plants surrounding them, giving them an unique touch. I walked on, the yellow stars still floating around me. Then I saw a tree.

The pine stood taller than any other, demonstrating its mightiness by sitting on top of a hill. Amazed by it, I walked towards it. As I closed in I saw a river of light flowing around it, just like the flower from Rose's bed had. The only difference was that the droplets were green and spiraled around the tree in a much slower way. I stood at its base and saw each branch let go its own light. I took a step forward and reached slowly with my arm. With a single finger I touched the trunk and saw how the tree lit up the night with a fiercer glow than before.

I heard a growl.

I turned my head as fast as I could and saw a creature at the base of the hill, the opposite direction where I had come from. It stood on all fours and was bulkier than me, its head probably at the height of my chest. It had Black fur and was covered with white hexagonal markings. I watched its spiraling horns at its head pointing up and its eyes staring at me. I changed my stance to defend myself. If it attacked the gift would protect me, but I at least had to look strong. Then I heard footsteps coming from behind the creature. They sounded much bigger than it. As the steps grew louder I finally saw it. The other creature looked just as the first, only different by its larger horns and size. It easily out heighted me and the thing was even bulkier than the van. It walked in front of the little one and growled at me. I could feel my knees trembling. Then I saw more and more of those creatures closing in and I didn't think about it. I turned tail and ran towards the house.

I sprinted as fast as I could, hearing the creatures following but in a slower pace. I remembered the path I had taken and in no time was seeing the house. I stormed in, but as soon as I entered I felt a hand hold my throat. I was put to the wall and heard the door closing. "What the hell were you thinking when you went out?" When I recognized Camille's voice I calmed down. Not waiting for answer she let go and told me

"Go get Rose. We gotta get out of here".

I wanted to say something about holding my throat, but now wasn't the time. I climbed the stairs three at a time and glanced how Camille unsheathed her katana. I stormed into Rose's dorm and went towards her bed. She was still asleep. I grabbed her shoulders and shook her awake until her eyes fluttered open. She came to focus really quick.

"Echoes, what are you doing? It's like three in the morning".

"There are some things that followed me here, they are coming."

"What you mean?"

"No time to explain, just... get up and go downstairs for the food, I'll get the van."

She nodded, trusting what I was saying. She lifted the covers and climbed out of bed, wearing only a shirt and women boxers. I would've stared if we weren't in that situation. We ran to the stairs, jumping three steps at a time while going down. We reached the ground floor and Camille went running to the kitchen. I grabbed the doorknob. Then I heard wood break. I looked behind me and saw the wall beside the stairs being crushed by one of the creature's tackle. I jumped backwards, avoiding the wood falling in my direction. I went to Camille's side in a jump without taking my eyes off the creature. Camille pulled the fur at the nape of my neck, making me stagger backwards. "I'll hold the bears off". I rubbed my neck, feeling insulted, but in a blink swallowed my pride. I ran to the kitchen to see Rose getting everything into a bag. I got the energy bars at the left cabinet and threw them in. Rose said, "That's all we can take", while she closed the bag, "C'mon, let's get to the van". She ran past me into the living room. I saw Camille holding the two creatures with ease, swinging her sword from side to side. With a single strike she cut one leg and in the next she cut a jaw. "Go!" shouted Camille. Rose sprinted outside into the night and I started after her, Camille close behind me. Rose got inside the van and started it in a second. Then she put reverse and went down the road. My mind went dead. I stood there, exactly where the van had been five seconds ago, not believing what I'd just seen. Rose left us.

Camille whispered a curse and got back to back with me. "Guess it's just you and me now, Echoes." I stayed silent. I saw three of the creatures coming from the woods, the bigger one nowhere to be seen. I glanced at my right another two coming from the house. "Hadn't you killed those?" I asked. "Yeah, but their gift is to regenerate." "Oh." I put my fists up, not sure what to do, and waited for the first one to attack. Camille ran towards the creatures at my back, dodging and parrying their swings. I saw one coming towards me, while the other two coming from the woods went in Camille's direction. I ran to it. It raised its paw in the air and slashed at my stomach. I let it do it.

I felt four claws barely grace me, but the bear screamed in agony. I saw it drop to the ground, blood spilling and staining the grass. I checked my wounds, but only some droplets of blood managed to get out. Then Camille screamed. I turned around and saw her finish off the last one standing, but then dropped to her knees. I ran and as I got closer I saw her shoulder covered in blood, a deep gash showing at the end of the shoulder. I got in front of her just in time to see her eyes go white and fall sideways. I caught her midfall and threw her over my shoulder. I looked at the creature's, nine at least, severed heads on the floor, creating puddles of blood all around me. I picked up the glowing katana, not sure what to do. But I wasn't going to wait for them to regenerate. A single thought appearing in my head. She left us. I strode towards the road, gowing to the North where the van went, anger raising inside me. She left us.

And I heard a growl.

I turned around to see the gigantic bear standing in the middle of the road. But my knees didn't shake this time. I stood my ground, looking at its wild eyes. I put Camille on the ground and held strongly the katana's hilt, its glow getting stronger by the second. Then It charged. I charged too. My heartbeat got faster as the distance grew shorter. It raised its left paw and I raised the katana, blocking the blow. The weight almost crushed me, but managed to hold it. It lunged its head towards my right arm. I jumped left, barely escaping its jaws as its teeth snapped. I swung the katana at its shoulder, managing to make a small gash, big enough to get blood dripping out. It let out a pained roar and swung Its other claws at my head. I blocked it and parried, making another cut in It. But as I jumped out I saw the gash already closing. The same with the other one. The bear recklessly attacked me. I managed to parry a few times, but the strength and speed of the blows tired me. As I got slower, my mind grew sharper, trying to find a way out. Then I remembered my gift.

In that moment the bear stood in Its two back paws, ready to crush me. I let the katana fall to the floor and take a deep breath. I exhaled as the bear fell on me. When a single paw reached my shoulder my gift kicked in. The bear got stomped to the ground by some invisible force. I heard its bones cracking, just as mine had when Rose healed me. I saw the giant bear lying flat on the road and I assumed it would never move. But to my surprise it stood up again. Its knees were trembling, Its breaths uneven and harsh. It managed to raise a paw and swung at my chest. I waited for the gift to do its work when I felt my chest be gashed. As the bear's paw dropped to the ground, the creature finally unmoving, I dropped to my knees, blood warming my freezing skin. And as my eyes fluttered shut I glanced a white van coming my way. Then darkness.