A/N: Rated T for now, may go up as I go along. Comments welcome, it seems it's taken on a life of its own.

Trapped (Chapter 6)

Morning came the usual way, Ashlin finds herself on the floor thanks to an abrupt wake up shove from Taja. Things that happened the night before and her stupidity forgotten for the moment. Grunting irritably at her landing Ashlin stands and ignores the grinning witch beside her, grabbing at her clothes she put out the night before she exits the room which is comfortably dark and is greeted with the evil morning light.

“Bright.” Muttering incoherently she trudges into the bathroom and leaves Taja to fend for herself. “Evil morning person.” She continues to grate out words half asleep and dresses in her black sweatshirt and jeans, holes in the knees and hood to her shirt half choking her at the moment.

Struggling into her clothing is a common feat for her in the mornings, Taja on the other hand when she exits looks neat and ready to go. Her hair is pulled back in a neat bun, sweatshirt flowing down over a pair of tan pants. “Why is she all dressed up?” in response to coffee being placed before her Ashlin manages a soft grunt that sounds like ‘thanks’ and proceeds her process of waking up.

“Morning.” The steaming coffee has the effect that Ashlin needs to function.

Nodding she smiles slightly behind the coffee cup brim. “Morning…sorry about last night.” She feels bad for nearly insulting her only friend and sour from her battle with the werewolf shifter the night before. “Ow.” Rubbing her arm she winces noting other sore spots, they had to be pretty serious for her to still feel them that morning.

“Leftovers?” Ashlin nods at Taja’s concern and stares out the window of their apartment, yellow kitchen and sunny disposition of her friend clashing considerably with her darker mood. “I need to go…” she pauses something she hated to do was this to her new friend and the girl she took in under her care. “…go see my elders.” She adds reluctant and notes Ashlin stiffen at the mention of elders.

Standing with coffee in hand Ashlin glares at Taja. “Why? So they can inform you to kick me to the curb like my own pack did?” Slamming the cup down, barely noting the shattering sound that followed she stormed back toward her room.

“ASHLIN!” calling her now would do no good, Taja knew this but it was her requirement to turn in new shifters, and other supernatural related things into her people, this also included recent fights and issues.

Ashlin was shaking with rage now, arms crossed tightly around her in a protective embrace. She felt similar to the day her own family had forced her to leave, betrayed, confused and most of all hurt. It was reminder she did not need or want.

Knowing in her own world that this was not in her favor Ashlin proceeded to start packing her things she had gotten over her short stay. Stuffing two canvas totes and a backpack of all her belongings she settled herself on the edge of her bed within her pale lavender room. The bed with soft flowered sheets and purple comforter her only reminder of a place to call home once again. Her room had been bare by her choice, she settled herself that way because out in the woods the pack rarely had many belongings requiring electricity or much else.

Surrendering she stood and marched to her door only to find it locked. “What the hell?” attempting to unlock the door proved fruitless. “Taja!” she rasped kicking the door hard and wincing at the throbbing pain that greeted her efforts.

Growling low in her throat she put her full strength into her shoulders and rammed the door, to her surprise she floundered and smacked backwards hard on the floor. The door was reinforced against her abilities; Taja had planned this for something like this occurring at one point or another. “Taja has always been ready for a shifter.” That thought frightened Ashlin so much her anger faded, what would a shifter have to do with a witch tribe, what would they want with her and worst of all, would they kill her?

Turning to her window she ran toward it and found the glass was proofed against her as well, she was trapped and had a fate worse coming. (In her opinion anyway.) Kicking hard at the glass with all her might she couldn’t even dent the stuff. Cursing her stupidity an the possibility of a trap she panicked like the true cat she was she hissed violently sliding her extended clawed nails into the wall making long stripes peal with a ripping sound. “I may have to hurt my friend.” It was a sarcastic intuition; she would certainly do something to Taja. She had to decide whether to harm her or snap at her. Yelling out her frustrations sounded pleasant and more amusing than outright attacking her.

Pacing the room like the caged animal she was she proceeded to leave more claw marks in her wake, the wall was starting to look like a forest of tatters and her temper was growing worse by the minute. Trapping her was one thing, betraying her made this much worse and Taja was not going to get off easily.

Finally frustrated she yelled at the top of her lungs.

SLAM

“Shit.” Ashlin turned to the sound and recognized Taja’s voice, unfortunately there was someone else with her and the voice did not sound pleasant. “Shit…again.”

The voice with Taja’s sounded unpleasant, almost like he was violent and Taja sounded panicked. It was too muffled for Ashlin to make out the problem but she knew this was not in her favor. Taking a close look around the room she realized she had made a mess of things and this was in more ways than just destroying the room.

She could hear it in Taja’s muffled voice, she was on the defense and Ashlin had ripped the room to pieces. “Damn…good going moron.” She grimaced at her own bitter tone and turned hearing the door clicking indicating the lock was releasing.

Her only options were a jump and smash the light bulb, at least the darkness would hide her damaged room and hopefully she would get some answers.

“She’s dangerous Taja…you’re lucky she didn’t…” the voice froze at Ashlin’s glare staring down the male with Taja, Taja offered a small wave indicating she was sorry and waited to hell to literally come crashing down her ears.