#mj-monroe

Jaden didn't really know when he had actually made the decision to come find MJ. The moments after Kelly had left his place after dropping off the lucky feather he'd given to MJ ages ago were sort of a blur. He wasn't sure exactly how his mind had come to the conclusion that this was the best course of action, but the next second he was calling Harley, filling her in on his plan and then she was heading home to meet him, insisting on coming too. He hadn't really had much time to think about it either, as they'd caught the first flight out of Jackson.

Once they'd gotten on the plane and settled in their seats, though, Jaden suddenly had plenty of time to think about it. Sure, Harley and him had talked about what all MJ had gone through in the last few weeks and what they thought the best way to approach the situation was. But after a little while, they'd both fallen into silence. And thanks to what Jaden considered sibling telepathy, he was certain Har was pondering what all this would mean for their friend too. 

When Kelly had given Jaden his bird feather key chain back, a part of him couldn't help but feel as if MJ was rejecting him. Giving that little token to MJ, cheesy as it may have been, had been Jaden's way of saying that he would always be there for her. That he'd be there whenever she needed, no matter the circumstances. And her giving it back, had almost felt like she didn't want or need his help anymore.

During the four and a half hour long flight, Jaden had gone back and forth with thoughts that maybe this trip up to New York hadn't been a good idea. What if she really didn't want them? What if it wasn't just an act to make them think she was okay on her own. What if she really wanted to be on her own? Were they overstepping their bounds here? But as the pilot announced their upcoming descent into NYC, he realized that it was too late to go back now and after he and Harley had gotten their bags, they hailed a cab and were headed to the hospital where Harley said MJ'd be. 

It was Jaden's week to do the grocery shopping. But considering Harley always ended up having to go out and pick up things Jaden hadn't hadn't thought to get, Jaden wasn't sure why he was given this responsibiliy in the first place. But then again, it was just how Harley and Jaden worked. He went grocery shopping, forgetting all "the essentials," and she came up with grand schemes to rearrange their furniture, but had to wait for him to get home to move the heavy stuff. They were the yin to each other's yang.

Ella would be lying if she said she didn't enjoy shifting. Sure the act itself wasn't quite, y'know, comfortable, but slipping into her otter coat was a freedom that Ella never could quite match as a human. So as often as possible, the girl would slip off down to the river, stash her clothes in a hole in some nearby tree and go splash about to her heart's content.

Yet, tonight, just as Ella had tied up her hair and began preparing herself to shift, she head a rustling nearby. As quickly as possible, the girl crunched down into her otter form and slid through the water towards the noise. What looked like a small yellow canary -- odd for the area, canaries weren't very popular as pets here, and they weren't native-- was struggling to find a good place to land. Ella watched the bird curiously, not sure exactly what to make of this.

At least until the bird finally decided on a small crop of grass near the river and promptly began to shift into a young redhead. Ella's heart lept into her throat. Another shifter?! Someone other than Alcide?! This was amazing! Without a second thought, Ella scrambled up the bank of the river, shifting back into her skin as she all but ran towards the girl.