I walked ahead of him and before I knew it I was walking through the meeting room door, only to be greeted by another girl, who was quick to pull into a corner. “Hey!” I sat there for a moment “Hello?” She stuck out her hand “My name’s Eri, nice to meet ya!” I tilted my head a little “umm…nice to meet you?” She grabbed my hand shaking it up and down in a weird fashion “Your Rem right? I just wanted to welcome you here!” I shook my head a little “Thanks…”

“You’re welcome, sorry I really get exited when new people come into the group, and I’ve waited for another girl for a while!” I sighed “Oh…then nice to meet you…did you get forced into this too?” She shook her head “Nope I joined, well…kinda.” She pulled her hair back from her left eye to show me a bright yellow eye “I’m a part of these people. Part Dog!” She said happily. I focused on her eye for a moment “That animal stuff again? Is that part of the initiation or something?” She shook her head, a more solemn expression crossing over her face. “I came to these people because I caught the same illness they did…you should learn about it soon…that’s what these people are here for, were all working together, to stop these mutations…that’s why were fighting the government. I guess it would be best to let the leader teach you about that though…by the way…shouldn’t he be with you?” I looked back at the room filled with the talking figures “I walked ahead…” I looked down my face suddenly turning red again.

              Eri looked over at the door, not noticing my face “We might be able to see what he really looks like today…have you seen him yet.” She looked down finally seeing my expression “Wow you’re really blushing bad, you did see him didn’t you!?” I shook my head a little “N-no, ok, I didn’t.” Suddenly the room grew completely silent as the door opened, a familiar figure walking in. Gasps could be heard around the enclosure as he stepped through the door. “Oh my…” Her voice trailed off “Is that…?” I nodded. “Wait you did see him.” I didn’t move, and just listened as his footsteps centered into the center of the room “What are you staring at?” He said harshly his cold voice awakening the crowd. Soon everyone had turned into groups of now more talkative people.

        “Ah Alkerrai! What a surprise, I knew you weren’t a normal leader, but I never would have imagined you to be one of us!” I looked over to see Rahseem walk into the room, smiling. “Good to see you again, its good to say you didn’t run away, but aren’t you glad, now we all know who you are!” Alkerrai hissed back at him “Don’t test you’re luck, fifth.” Rasheem grinned “Ah I feel so happy that you aren’t as old as I thought, your just like one of us.” He said tauntingly. Alkerrai faced him, the others easing away from them “Are you challenging me?”

“Maybe, for the place of first command.”

“What a fool…”

“Are you feeling threatened my dear friend?”

“Don’t’ speak to me as if I’m an ally.”

“But aren’t you, we are working together.”

“Continue to challenge me, and I will be proud to reveal otherwise.”

“Ah, again so testy.”

I watched closely as Rasheem removed the bandage on his tiger claw, his bright eyes glimmering with the light of the morning sun.

Alkerrai simply stood there “If my appearance has shaken your faith in me…then let me prove otherwise…” Rasheem responded haughtily “Yes, perhaps their faith SHOULD be shaken…now we know we’ve simply been following another student.” I gasped as Rasheem charged forward thrusting his claw outward.

        Alkerrai dodged it easily, and was quick to avoid the next few lunges, and after the last miss we all realized who we were really dealing with. After Rasheem missed his last lunge, the leaders mercilessness reveled itself, if only a little.

        Pulling back for a second, Alkerrai lowered his right hand, and with amazing force brought it upward. He was hiding his claw, and I was sure he was because what would have merely scratched Rasheem, dug three huge gashes from his chin all the way up to his forehead.

        All of us stepped back as he covered his face, yelling in agony. Alkerrai only finished by lowering his bandaged hand, blooded tips now revealing themselves from the cloth. “I wouldn’t allow my appearance to fool you, insect.” I shivered as he lifted his claw up to his face, moving the sharp point over his mouth, licking off the blood. “Third in command, take Rasheem, to the infirmary…his yelling stings my ears.”