It was late, after midnight, when Amber finally left the Mansion grounds. She hadn't been feeling herself lately, due to the progress her mutation had been making. Or rather, progress was definately not the right word unless progress involved her transformation into a plague victim. She looked ill, maybe even like she was dying, although she wasn't. Finally she had went to see DocProf and been told that no, there was nothing wrong with her medically. Which was a shame in a way because at least a medical condition she could treat. This was a part of who and what she was and it was the thing that was slowly turning her into some sort of hideous and inhuman monster.

It wasn't that Amber had a problem with mutants with physical mutations, in fact many of them were quite gorgeous in their own ways. If she had blue skin or soft fur or even scales she wouldn't have a problem. But this was something all together different, this was something that made her seem sickly and dying and it was only getting worse. Who knew where it was eventually going to lead and what she was eventually going to look like? She had always been an unattractive girl, with her pale white skin and perpetual stutter. This was turning her from unattractive into something downright hideous to look upon. What had she ever done to deserve such a fate? Had she really been that horrible?

Amber was feeling depressed enough after her meeting with DocProf that all she had done after that point was go into her room and sleep the remainder of the day away, only awakening a short while ago. More and more often lately she had been getting into these dark moods and the only way to deal with them was to go into the city, in the middle of the night, and shift and pretend she wasn't human anymore. While her body was that of a prehistoric predator her mind could forget its human troubles. In the middle of the night she could run and hunt in peace and not have to concern herself with human worries. It was so much easier when she could just forget about being human. Sometimes she wished she could do so forever.

With those thoughts in mind Amber walked out of the Mansion gates and into the street, pulling her dark purple robes close around her. All she had to do was find a place to shift in peace and stash her robes and everything would be better, at least for a little while.

Koga stood like a sentry on the property wall of the mansion across from Xavier’s. He realized something the other day. So long as he didn’t directly disobey the master’s commands, he wouldn’t pick up on it, he could still answer honestly and get away with this, the trick was who he let see him, he couldn’t lead more mutants to the master that would on further his power and territory, he hadn’t put the idea into the balding man’s head, but it was a matter of time before he realized that Koga could probably capture more mutants and in turn they could capture even more… so how did he do it? how did he get a message to the mansion that he was being held hostage in his own body, when he was forbidden to tell anyone about the master…if he did so , the next command that would take effect was that he would commit suicide…which at times sounded appealing. It had been half way through this year when it all started. When he tried to take down a kidnapped and instead fell into a twisted world of obeying sinister commands.

And so he stood looking at the school he had loved and called home and unwittingly abandoned without so much as a good bye. His eyes fell to a figure on the lawn a young woman in violet robes, he was pretty sure he brought that girl on the bus almost a week before he left. Her name was…Amber! Or at the very least someone that looked very similar to her. Could he afford to talk to her? what if she tried to help…he would just have to escape and without an explanation…he could lie. No, he didn’t want to lie, better to say nothing.
Should he even approach her? Yes, he should, it would be nice to hear a friendly voice. He tilted his head in wonder, what was she doing out this late? He wondered what she was up to…? Hmmmm. Perhaps he would hold his piece a moment longer. Stealth was Koga’s forte and so he stalked the young woman for now, just until he learned what was going on.

Amber didn't notice the fact that she was being watched, didn't have the slightest idea in fact. \Normally she tried to be observant about the world around her, even with her limited human senses, but her emtoional state didn't exactly help matters. Her mind was elsewhere, trapped in the whirling vortext of her self defeating thoughts. Maybe she should have been used to just how unfair life was by now, but the fact was that it didn't make things any easier. If only she could spend all her time alone in the body of a long extinct animal then everything would be better. It was a good dream to have.

Amber began walking further away from the Mansion, seeking out one of her usual places used to stash her robes while shifted. She didn't have to go far, thankfully, having found a rather private alley nearby that had served her purposes in the past. It had the advantage not only of being out of the way, especially at this time of night, but also the fact that it wasn't in one of the worst parts of town. Mutant or not, while human she preferred not to enter the less savory areas of the city.

Once Amber entered her alley of choice she emptied her pockets and loosened her robes. Tonight was going to be a night of true freedom in her Deinonychus form, running and hunting in the city. If she stopped to think anymore she would probably break down an cry which was the last thing she wanted to do. She was stronger than that, better than that. Instead of breaking down, however, she took a deep breath and mentally prepared for the inevitable pain of shifting.

Koga hesitated momentarily as his hormones wrestled with his sense of honor, the moment passed quickly as his honor once again dispatched of the urge to be wicked. Pale white shoulders were peeking out of a violet robe by the time he had made it over to her. "Wait Amber! You don't have the privacy that you think you do...er why isss it you are undresssing here?" Koga glanced around the the quiet little roadside nook.

For Koga's part he was dressed very warmly, bundled up in what could only be described as ninja clothing, right down to his foot and hand wraps. when he decided he wasn't doing anything that required blending, he bundled up as much as possible and slid the little heat packs in there pouches like miniature heating rocks that any cold blooded pet needs to survive the colder climates. hadn't she been taller before/ or was he still growing...he hadn't put much thought to it the last few months but he must have been.

"Wait Amber! You don't have the privacy that you think you do...er why isss it you are undresssing here?"

Amber almost jumped straight out of her skin at the unexpected words behind her and hastily put the edge of her robe back where it belonged. When had she gotten so horribly unobservant anyway? She was aware of the fact that not paying attention at the wrong time could lead to a rather unpleasant situation for her, so how could she allow someone just sneak up on her? For that matter, it could end in more than just an unpleasant situation, it could even lead to death given the mentality of some people. Some people that didn't take very kindly to mutants.

Amber didn't register immediately that it was Koga who had called out, Koga who she hadn't seen around the Mansion since not long after he had given her a tour. "Koga?" She turned around uncertainly. Where had he gone? Had something bad happened to him? He hadn't seemed the type just to dissappear with no notice to anyone.

Amber gave Koga a critical look, taking in his very warm and bundled up ninja gear. She was acutely aware of her own sorry appearance as she did so, the signs of the dire illness which she didn't actually possess. "Are y-you ok Koga?" Later she'd find out where he went, once she had ascertained his current state of well being.

~~”Koga?”

The young reptile wiggled his fingers at the female before him, His dark eyes studying her, his proximity revealing that she seemed to be in rough shape, but the same could be said of him whilst his body undertook its changes. So he treaded carefully, it wouldn’t do at all to make the delicate flower before him self-conscious.
~~"Are y-you ok Koga?"

“Ok, Isss a very relative thing, mentally not at all, physssically yesss, emotionally I’m neither here nor there.” He smiled lightly as it were all very amusing…but for months now he had wanted to simply fall over and weep for all the things he had done in the name of the master, and to the fact he couldn’t stop the master and free the other children. But he was working on figuring it out, which was all he could do for now.

“ How about you Amber? Hasss the Ssschool been treating you well?” Koga Inquired calmly. What was he doing? He was only endangering her…what if the master asked him where he had been who he had been talking to, what if he told him to bring her to him. Ryuichi’s full lips pouted for a moment at the thought, he would have to work on being vauge.

“Ok, Isss a very relative thing, mentally not at all, physssically yesss, emotionally I’m neither here nor there.”

Amber didn't quite know what to make of the strange words. Clearly something wasn't right with Koga, that much became aware immediately, but what exactly that was she had no idea. From their past encounters she remembered him being cheery and charming and all together very different than her usual angsty self. If there was one thing she knew about, however, it was feeling mentally and emotionally not ok. She hadn't been ok for some time.

"Is there anything I can d-do to help?" She might not have any idea what was going on but there was a time when Koga had been kind to her and Amber couldn't, in good conscienct, not offer her support in return. it was the right thing to do, after all.

“ How about you Amber? Hasss the Ssschool been treating you well?”

"School's been good," Amber answered with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Everyone is v-very nice." Of course, that was slowly changing as her mutation developted and she looked more and more ill. It wasn't obvert, no direct cruelty, it was more a subtle shunning. It seemed even some mutants were undesirable to speak to. Mutants like her. "Wh-where have you been Koga? I haven't seen you around." It wouldn't be fair to burden him with her own problems given that he seemed to have problems of his own.

~~”Is there anything I can d-do to help?"
“I think I am going to have to work thisss one out on my own, I whole heartedly appreciate the offer though.”He seemed to mean it, the hollow look on his face seemed to fill with a bit of that old Koga spirit as he spoke.
~~"School's been good," "Everyone is v-very nice."
“Good, I had no doubt that you’d have an easy time fitting in around here.” Another sentiment that he whole heartedly considered. Amber was just the type to have no trouble with the majority of the student body. And absolutely none with the adults. Atleast that was the vibe he got off her.
~~ "Wh-where have you been Koga? I haven't seen you around."

“ I literally can’t sssay. When I come back for good I’ll fill you in on all the details,” He had to get her off of this subject. He couldn’t risk her, she was too sweet and innocent. He smiled a little bashfully, “Ssso it ssseemsss I’m not the only one ssstreaking around new york?” That should do the trick.
“I’ve usssed thisss ssspot a couple of timesss.”

“I think I am going to have to work thisss one out on my own, I whole heartedly appreciate the offer though."

Once again Amber wasn't sure what she should make of the words. It was clarification that something was, in fact, wrong but it was also a polite way of saying that he didn't want her involved. What would be the right thing to do in this situation? To take him and his words at face value and leave it be, or to try and investigate further? She hadn't ever been in such a situation before and she just didn't have an answer.

“Good, I had no doubt that you’d have an easy time fitting in around here.”

"I had an easy time fitting in," Amber replied, eyes downcast. "Until my m-mutation decided it hated me and I became this." Amber made an angry gesture down at her clearly unhealthy body. "For once I was actually happy and then this had to happen. I'm t-turning into some kind of horrible victim of disease. N-no one will ever want to come near me again." All of a sudden she felt close to tears. It wasn't fair of her to lay all her problems onto poor Koga who had problems of his own, not fair at all. "B-but you don't want to hear about those. I want to help you, but only if you w-want me to."

“Ssso it ssseemsss I’m not the only one ssstreaking around new york?I’ve usssed thisss ssspot a couple of timesss.”

Amber blinked in confusion, her distracted brain struggling to catch up with the sudden change in topic. "S-streaking?" Another blink and she realized what Koga meant. "I'm n-not streaking." Her cheeks reddened. "Its j-just that sometimes I like to be alone. I shift and run free in the city. Its comforting." Most likely that only made her sound like a crazy person. Oh well.

~~"Until my m-mutation decided it hated me and I became this."

Koga’s head tilted in an instant, she did look under fed. Malnourished even. But it wasn’t so bad, he would’ve spoken before she continued, but she was letting it flow, and it was best not to interrupt.

~~"For once I was actually happy and then this had to happen. I'm t-turning into some kind of horrible victim of disease. N-no one will ever want to come near me again." "B-but you don't want to hear about those. I want to help you, but only if you w-want me to."

“firssst of all, I underssstand all about mutationsss doing thingsss you’d rather they didn’t DocProf sssaysss my mutation isss nowhere near done with me, sssecond of all, if no one will ever want to be near you again, why isss it that I am about to hug you? “ Koga didn’t give her a chance for protest. He stepped in close and gave her a gentle embrace.

“ It’sss really complicated and I don’t want to endanger you. Not for my sssake.” He shook his head lightly. And stepped back.

~~"S-streaking?" “I'm n-not streaking."

Koga’s smile exploded onto his face.
~~"Its j-just that sometimes I like to be alone. I shift and run free in the city. Its comforting." most likely that only made her sound like a crazy person. Oh well.

“Technically, if you are ssshifted but undressed you are ssstill ssstreaking, but that isssn’t a big deal to me…if I want to blend in and not wear stuff that will ruin the ability, I um. Well I ssstreak.” He laughed “ I can keep an eye out for you to make sure you have privacy, no peeking, I promise. Can I asssk what you ssshift to? ” He said turning his back and setting his legs in a wide stance that made it inconvienent for turning around.” It was just a gesture, but

“firssst of all, I underssstand all about mutationsss doing thingsss you’d rather they didn’t DocProf sssaysss my mutation isss nowhere near done with me, sssecond of all, if no one will ever want to be near you again, why isss it that I am about to hug you? “

Amber could have cried when Koga came into to give her a hug and she very nearly did. Maybe it was because they both shared the fact that they were visible mutants or maybe it was just because Koga was such a good person inside, but either way Amber was grateful. "You aren't a-afraid of catching something from me?" Because surely that had to be the reason why she was shunned all of a sudden.

“ It’sss really complicated and I don’t want to endanger you. Not for my sssake.”

Amber nodded sadly, deciding to take Koga at face value. "I j-just wish I could do something. You've been so nice to me. I'm n-not as easily endagered as you think." She might not be the most experienced ever, but she wasn't nearly as niave as she once had been. She knew how to take care of herself and, if need be, she believed the had the capability of helping her friends. If she was allowed to do so, of course.

“Technically, if you are ssshifted but undressed you are ssstill ssstreaking, but that isssn’t a big deal to me…if I want to blend in and not wear stuff that will ruin the ability, I um. Well I ssstreak. I can keep an eye out for you to make sure you have privacy, no peeking, I promise. Can I asssk what you ssshift to? ”

Amber giggled. Despite the current situation and both hers and her friend's current problems, she couldn't help it as the image of an invisible streaking Koga flitted through her head as well as a streaking dinosaur girl. Maybe all that was needed, sometimes, was a good laugh at the ridiculousness of life in general.

"I change into d-dinosaurs." Despite everything Amber still felt a unique pride in her gift. "If you w-want I can show you but I'm warning you I c-cant talk while shifted. B-but I can text if you have a phone."

~~"You aren't a-afraid of catching something from me?"
“ Am I going to become a mutant?” he asked with an earnest look on his face, “ No, I’m not afraid of much. And even if I were to catch anything it would have been well worth the hug.”

~~I j-just wish I could do something. You've been so nice to me. I'm n-not as easily endagered as you think."

“mmmm, I wouldn’t wisssh thisss on CSss or Ssshinbo, or anyone else, it isssn’t that I think you can’t handle yourssself. Honest.”

He heard her giggle as his back was to her… his mouth went dry as he heard what she said next. “ I don’t have a phone, I… you want me to turn back around?” his voice held a nervous edge to it. Hadn’t her cheeks redden only moments ago at the thought of streaking surely, she wasn’t inviting him to watch her. Would he watch her if she did? Could he not? Would that hurt her esteem ? would he brother pretending he wasn’t curious, how she was shaped under the robes… Gah! His brain, behave man! She is sweet and innocent. He chanted that in his head until she answered.

“ Am I going to become a mutant? No, I’m not afraid of much. And even if I were to catch anything it would have been well worth the hug.”

"At least someone realizes that," Amber stated with another sad smile.
"Why are some p-people so cruel to others?" It was a rhetorical question which she didn't really expect an answer for. For better or worse people were people. She had begun to think that mutants were a better kind of person than humans, but now she knew differently. Powers or not, mutants were still people complete with all the strengths and weaknesses that plagued the entire spectrum of humanity.

“ I don’t have a phone, I… you want me to turn back around?”

It hadn't occurred to Amber that her words might be somewhat misconstrued. What she had meant was that she'd shift and show Koga one of her other forms. She hadn't meant...hadn't meant that he could actually watch as she got naked. Not only was she rather self conscious but shifting itself was rather disturbing, not to mention painful.

"Um, you can t-turn around once I chirp at you. If you still want t-too see one of my other forms that is." Amber's cheeks reddened just thinking about the idea of sweet Koga watching her get naked, whether or not it was for the purposes of transformation. Life certainly was complicated when mutant abilities were involved. Hell, life was complicated even when mutant abilities were not involved.

~~"At least someone realizes that,"

“ I do what I can.” An easy smile appeared on his lips. He wasn’t sure if it was just the being near the mansion or talking to someone who he could really relate to, or what exactly was happening that was changing his mood, but it was changing. He had intended on coming here and simply brooding as he looked on the mansion, but he didn’t think to be talking to an old acquaintance…friend? Friend.
~~"Why are some p-people so cruel to others?"
Koga didn’t quite understand the meaning of rhetorical…he loved to talk so if someone prompted him, he typically poured his take or opinion out of his mouth shortly. “cuassse sssome people are jerksss…I’ll try to get my ssstuff sssorted out asss sssoon asss I can, if sssomeone isss giving you a hard time here, I’ll sssort that out next.” Koga stated this in a way that brooked no argument. The school was a place to get away from the hate, not one to make you feel even more an outcast. Whoever put that question in Amber’s mouth would be regretting it and soon.



~~"Um, you can t-turn around once I chirp at you. If you still want t-too see one of my other forms that is."

“Right, I ummm, right.Yesss I do, Itsss neat that we have that in common too, a reptilian mutation” What else was there to say. Why was he always sticking his foot in his mouth? You want me to look at you naked? Stupid. Of course she didn’t. sooo dumb Koga.

Koga had such a friendly way about him, it was impossible to remain in a bad mood when in his presence. Of course Amber was still worried about him and whatever difficulties he had had managed to get himself into but she wasn't feeling quite so sorry for herself anymore. Maybe what she needed was her own personal Koga cheerleader for when she was feeling down although somehow she doubted even the lizard ninja boy would accede to that.

"OK I'm g-going to change now," Amber stated. This was always the worst part of her power, the pain associated with the change. Apparently for some shifters it was completely pain free, but life for her was destined never to be simple. At least the pain was brief and it was a price she was willing to pay for the freedom it provided her. It was a price that made her value, just that much more, the gifts that she did have in her life.

Quickly Amber stripped off her robes (after turning her back of course) and took a deep breath, preparing for the shift to come. It happened quickly, taking less than a minute and if not for the pain it might even have been considered nearly effortless. The form she choose was that of her favourite dinosuar, that of the Deinonychus. Limbs stretched, joints shifted, teeth and claws sprouted and scales and feathers grew. If those feathers were looking like they were molting and if the scales were a little more dull than they used to be, that didn't effect the sleek majesty of the form or dull the exceptional senses anyway. Once the shift was complete she let out a trilling chirp in order to let Koga know it was safe for him to turn around.