Free Thunder: The Shadows Are Stirring (Thunder Stories Book 1) by Hannah Sullivan

older than eight, maybe because of the responsibility he accepted when he learned he was a Shifter. One day, he’ll be a mentor and guide for Benders like us, passing between the Barriers, and getting people to where they belong in life. Shifters aren’t common, so Owen’s pretty unique.
    He and Jamie get along well. Jamie’s always been a little different, himself. At school, he used to get teased. I’d wanted to interfere, tell the kids to knock it off, but he asked me not to. They’d call him things like Brainy Jamie. He told me he didn’t mind the name because it was true. As soon as the kids realized Jamie didn’t care, they backed off. In fact, the nickname stuck, almost as a compliment. Mom used to call him an old soul; to Dad, he was “Little Man.” He would say Jamie was exactly like him, except he didn’t get into enough trouble. I must’ve inherited that part.
    Jamie glances over at Owen, and digs his elbow into the little guy’s ribs, managing to hold onto all the snacks. Not waiting for a response, he starts running out to the meadow, calling over his shoulder, “You’re ‘It’, Owen! Gotta catch me!”
    I laugh and stand, walking in their direction. I can guess what’s gonna happen next; he’s trying something from the unwritten Brotherhood Book. This has to be step one in Operation: Make-Owen-Happy. I don’t want to miss it.
    Jamie can’t run very fast with his arms loaded down, but he’s making a good pretense at attempting. They race through the damp, knee-high grass, until Owen tackles him from behind and apples, crackers, and cookies go flying all around.
    “Oops. Sorry. I didn’t mean for the stuff to fall. I was just tryin’ to get you.” His wavering voice carries back to me. Bending to pick up an apple, his forehead wrinkled with unease, I can tell he’s starting to second guess his playfulness. “I’m sorry,” he repeats, sounding like he expects Jamie to be mad at him.
    “Hey, no worries. That was an awesome move,” Jamie answers with an easy grin and, right as Owen turns to hand back an apple, Jamie takes him down by the knees. Surprised, Owen lies there on the ground, and I think maybe he made the wrong call until a wet cookie smacks Jamie’s forehead. A burst of laughter erupts from the grass, and Jamie dives down.
    Sometimes a kid just has to be a kid. Back on the mountain, I would practice the same stealth attack smack-downs on Jamie, whenever he got into a funk. Nothing like a brotherly assist for improving your outlook. And now he’s got Owen doubled over, laughing. Healer magic accomplished.

Chapter Seven: Deconstructing
     

    (OLIVIA)
     
    T HE MORNING OF MY BIRTHDAY, I wake up and discover a small paper package on my pillow. So much for being alert even while asleep. I open it, and inside is Ethan’s necklace. I can’t believe he’d give me something that means so much to him. When I slip the black cord around my neck, the warm stone lies just below the hollow of my throat. Skimming my fingers over it, I wonder whether it was this smooth when Ethan found it, or if he’d rubbed away any rough edges over the years.
    Rushing to get ready for the day, I trip over my satchel, which I’d left in middle of the floor. I windmill my arms trying to find my balance, and I manage to land like a shaky surfboarder, muttering “Tah-dah!” to myself precisely as Sam and Ethan walk past my open doorway. Of course. I proceed with a full bow and a wiggle of my fingers in a girly wave. Ethan snorts and Sam shakes his head.
    “She sure is weird sometimes, but she’s always good for a laugh!” Sam says in a pseudo-whisper. I get the last laugh when my slipper beans him in the back of his head with enough force to ricochet against Ethan’s arm. I hear them both snicker as they walk down the hall.
    Sam and Jamie ended up keeping the first room we were all in; I moved down a room and now share with Callie, whenever she’s here between her college classes. Every morning,