Kierra

I start with the picture I have of Maii in my head with him peeking out of his shirt. Each person does their sketches differently, adding more or less detail. Since most of mine get put on canvases, detail would be considered relatively sparse.

Not much color gets added to mine either, don't see the point unless it’s to put emphasis on something, or placed as reminders for specific colors to use when ink is used. What I more or less focus the most detail on is the expressions. On natural animal faces, some expressions are very hard or not possible to get across.

Have to go more by body language unless you go with a slight alteration; turning them anthropomorphic, bipedal, or 'furry'. I can do each, just have to be careful since when most people see 'furry', they automatically think sex-crazed people in animal suits and porn. Granted there's a large part of the community that's that way, but there are two sides, just like any fandom.

Sex-crazed porn being on one side, while ones more into the art and losing themselves in the animal they want to be, on the other. Most in that community are also some of the nicest people you'll ever meet, known to also raise money for many different charities and causes.

In most of my paintings going into the gallery, I try to keep as realistic as possible with how the animals look but do add little tweaks so I get the expressions I want. I'd done fantasy prints of Werewolves before I even knew they were real, kind of surprises me that I hadn't been approached before. Maybe Weres don't go to art shows. Vampires clearly do.

The Mistress of the bordello my sister is at has one of my larger prints that I'd done around three years ago. A three-year-old painting that had been almost a foretelling of what has become our 'now'. Pale wolf with green eyes back to back with a feline with eyes of gold. Made out as ghostly, wispy creatures, but still obvious as to what they are. Had been done after I got the image from a dream and had to get it down. Wasn't sketched out before it was put on the canvas, so the original picture from my head was a bit vague.

That one is also what links my sister and I to the prophecies for each race, years before we even knew this darker world existed. Also curious as to why the Vampire bought it in the first place. If I recall, there’d been a lot of money offered for it, a little over three times what the asking price was.

Maii's face is given a startled expression, most of it in the eyes and ears since he's mostly hidden. Even give the same background that's there in reality, minus Bastion of course; kitchen table legs, a chair behind him, wooden floor, and the pants to go with the shirt. Can't help but smile as I get it penciled out. It's horrible that he's so jumpy but funny at the same time since it has him morphing at the oddest of times. Won't be able to really take him out in public till he has better control, which I hope the school will help him with.

The page gets turned to a new sheet, an idea coming to me as Maii's still in my head while Tigger walks by with a toy mouse in his mouth, doing his calling kittens routine. With the way he does that and has attached himself to Xavier, I'm starting to think my cat is gay. Thought doesn't bother me at all, find it rather funny instead. Don't see why people have an issue with homosexuality, if it's natural in the animal kingdom itself, it is for humans as well. Yes, it is a natural thing. You don't like it, that's fine, but don't be shoveling your shit onto someone else because you don't like what they do with their lives.

Coyote form once again, this time a side view as his front half is lowered in a bow, a pose meant for initiating play. Open jaw with tongue slightly out as he looks at a toy mouse just in front of his nose. Not sure what to do for a background, so I make it again my wooden floor with the kitchen as a faded backdrop. Have to admit the little guy is cute.

Another page turned, each sketch only takes around fifteen to twenty minutes to do. When I have the image in my head that I really want, it doesn't take long to get it down. Again, also quick because I don't go into major detail since I plan on painting it.

Next are snow leopards, two of them. Large mama cat curled around a much smaller kitten, the adult faces out towards the artist, while the small kitten stands on its hind legs to catch snowflakes as it snows. Ava and Lily sure are a couple of really pretty kitties.

I’m just finishing up some last detailing on the snowy background when Xavier and crew pull up. Placement of my current couch is set aside for the other to come in, but it's not in its permanent spot, just put directly in view of the open door so I can see who pulls in.

Putting the sketchbook on the desk, I go to the doorway and watch two vehicles come up the driveway. Going out onto the porch, I direct the brothers to pull their black truck up to the opposite side so the furniture truck can get through easier. Should have figured they'd have a truck. Seems everyone from Wisconsin owns at least one. Trucks and motorcycles being the most common vehicles, followed by jeeps and SUVs. Only reason I know that is from the year I'd lived up there with my father.

The bigger vehicles used for boat haulers, jeeps for mudding, and bikes for all the biker bars. You couldn't go past a block that didn't have a bar on it in one form or another. Bowling alleys, dance clubs, strip-joint here and there. Can basically call Wisconsinites northern hillbillies. Bunch of drunks and partiers, but not too much in a bad way. Speaking of which, once the truck pulls over to the side, there's a bike hooked up in the bed with a nearly shredded cover attempting to conceal it. Figures.

"Hope you don't plan on riding that thing anytime soon, I'm not digging you out when you go flying into a snow mound."

Zypher laughs, so I take it the bike is his. Shade does seem to be the more sensible one. But really, does a truck need to be that high off the ground?

"Y’all and your long-ass legs don't need huge vehicles you know, I'm sure a regular-sized one would have worked just fine. Compensating for something, maybe?"

I grin and waggle my brows at Shade, his brother roaring in laughter claps him on the back.

"She figured you out bro, no fighting it now."

Chuckling, I shake my head. Really can do without the knowledge of how big the animals in my house are in the bits section. Bad enough I know Xavier's and Benjamin's.

Hell, Xavier has mooned my sister. Full moon too, no half or quarter. Having been standing in my doorway and bending over for some reason or another when she had come up behind him.

Since that had been unintentional, he blushed mighty prettily. Come to think about it, aside from the newcomers, think everyone in my house has seen that mutt nude at some point. My poor virtue is at stake just about every day. Ha.

"What you have 'em pull over there for?"

Speaking of the mutt, he looks a little confused.

"I ordered a new couch that should be here soon...real pretty one."

He looks horrified for a moment.

"God, it isn't pink is it?"

A snort escapes me. I'm not very fond of the color, but I'll make an exception for his face.

"Yes, Xavier, it's a bright pretty pony-pink with red ruffles and yellow throw pillows."

"...That has got to be the most hideous thing I've ever pictured."

I laugh, he laughs, everyone laughs.

"Gary give you any trouble when you were there?"

Gary Rhodes, slimeball extreme.

"He was in a meeting that didn't involve humping this time."

I give an over-exaggerated shocked face while Shade and Zypher pull out large backpacks from the truck. Geez, do males not need clothes or something? Granted I don't own as much as my sister does by a long shot, but enough to say I can wear a week's worth without using anything twice.

"Are all loners such light packers?"

Bit of a silly question, I know, but I'm still curious. They all nod with a smirk or grin. Uh oh...

"Be glad we have what we do. I'm sure the three of us have come across one or two that have nothing but a pouch with condoms."

The sad part is, they all nod, even the one in on my bed.

"That's just disturbing, but I guess safe sex is better than no sex. Speaking of which, you two, if you want lady friend time, it doesn't happen here. Boys and I are scarred enough by the Dogdeer flashing everyone, don't need sound effects to go with it."

Shudder up my back is the real thing. If I'm the one making the sounds with a partner, that's one thing. Hearing someone else with theirs is just grody.

Xavier makes a face that has me blushing, Zypher groans in mock horror while his brother laughs at him and Asher's in my head also claiming mental scars. Clearing my throat, I get everyone back on track.

"Want to show 'em downstairs? Zypher, I think I have an extra tarp down there big enough if you'd like it?"

Both brothers nod, so Xavier gets asked to show them where it is. Not like my basement is super huge or anything, just lots of stacked tubs down there that keep getting stacked higher and higher to make more room.

Down and back up within a few minutes, the tarp is within hand. It's one of those large gray ones. Original plan was to have it cover the floor and paint inside, but fumes don't care for enclosed areas. Think I like doing it outside better anyway.

While Shade and his brother work on getting the bike re-covered, the rain slows even more to a mist. Bit late for the tarp, but it'll keep from anymore getting on it. Zypher's under the tarp and wiping the thing down with a rag he pulls from the saddlebags while I look on.

Xavier moves to stand next to me, rubbing his neck. Wouldn't really have paid attention, but where he's rubbing is where I had bitten him. Wasn't entirely intentional; Faline and I had started horsing around when he, Benjamin, and Asher read it as us actually fighting and they pulled us apart. Doing so caused things to go all wonky, her and I sinking into each other’s drives as well as our own. Battle lust and bloodlust mixing and creating a volatile energy.

If they'd left us alone, we would have stopped on our own without anyone getting hurt. Xavier had grabbed me while Ben grabbed her. I turned on him, craving a good fight that went into wanting to either bleed him or screw him. I'd chosen to spill blood. Top and bottom canines had extended and sank into the side of his neck. Same thing happened between the two Vampires. She'd told me sometime after that biting between Vampires provides no nourishment, but works as a type of foreplay.

The bite has varying degrees of how strong it works, from just getting wet and horny to a full-blown orgasm. Since Vamp fluids don't agree with my blood very well, I don't get those reactions at all. Seems I got the short end of the stick on that one. Or so you'd think till you realize just how badly it can go when turned against you. Faline mentioned it's been used against her a few times, that's how she knows there are different levels of it. I didn't ask what she'd done to Benji, it was a bit obvious when he stood and had wet pants.

Things were a bit awkward for a while between them, probably would’ve been with me and Xavier since he'd gotten a raging boner, but I had gotten so angry with them all that I'd gone outside and painted for several hours. Watching him now, I begin to dread my bite did something along those lines to him.

"Xavier, sit."