Kierra

The empty plate is almost licked clean. Washed up and rosy, blue hazel eyes find themselves on me. Looks young, but not extremely. Would guess around the same as Maii. What was his name? Kani?

"Alright, your turn. You know, I think I talk more in a day now than I would have for at least a few days before all this. People makin' me talk an shit."

I gripe, but I smile at the new male, he looks nervous. Can't say I blame him, the way I bounce from one thing to another.

"First things first, the orange tabby is not for eats. Swear I'm going to put a sign on the door saying as such."

Scowling over at Xavier who still has my cat between his legs, Kani follows my gaze, a grin and low blush coloring his cheeks. That's an interesting response. Indeedy.

"Even with as traitorous as he's being right now."

Amber eyes find mine as he slowly rubs my cats back. An eyebrow rises, but I don't fall for his bait. Clearing my throat, I attempt to get back on track.

"Your name's Kani, right?"

His head nods as he looks back at me, the scattering of facial hair pegs him as teens at least, but that's easy enough to see.

"How old are you? Are you running from someone in specific? Seen your shoulders stiffen earlier."

Eyes flicker around as he swallows a little difficulty, then finally settling back on me with firm defiance.

"I'm of age to be out on my own. I'm nineteen. I ran away from home, I couldn't stay there anymore."

Don't get the feeling he ran because he had an argument with a sibling or a parent, not with the fear coming off him. He does sound kind of petulant, but I don't think it's on purpose. Also get that he's trying to hide something from the crowd.

Might be nineteen, but his voice does have a higher pitch. From the way he keeps taking small glances at all the guys who have gotten up, I get a small niggling in my brain. Catching me smirking at him, his cheeks tinge pink. Oh yeah. Busted. I slip into his head, bringing warmth with me.

"You're gay, aren't you?"

He looks panicked till he realizes I asked in his head, eyes go down for a moment just to rise with tears. I give him a small smile.

"It's alright, no one here will judge you. You have no fear of me driving you out because of your gender preference."

He looks relieved and finally nods his head once. I actually don't know how they will react, but it can't be hidden, so I project a question to them all, leaving the fox out just in case. Including Benji as well as I ask if any of them have a problem with homosexuality.

Thankfully, they don't all look over at once, making it obvious something was said. A sigh of relief slips from me when they all respond with head shakes. Not sure how Bastion will react either, so I ask him directly in whispers. He will more or less be the deciding vote on whether the newcomer stays or goes. Having picked up three new males, he's become quieter again.

"Bastion? It’s your decision if this one stays or goes. I don't want you uncomfortable in your own home. The fox is gay, will that be a problem for you?"

Can see his shoulders hunch, so I get down immediately and go to him. Crouching down in front of him, he's leaning over Asher's rump onto his back. The black wolf is looking at me a little warily before looking to the boy. I slip back into his head since his face is hidden in midnight fur.

"If you can't do this love, just tell me. I'm not going to make you deal with something you're uncomfortable with. You have to tell me though."

Reaching forward, I lay my hand over his clenched one, gripping at the wolf hard. His heart is pounding, which makes mine stutter and is my answer.

Kani will have to go.

I can give Ava a call and ask if she can house him for me. My heart sinking, I pull my hand away and move to stand.

"Wait."

I freeze at his request. Shade and Zypher had made their way below to shift, Maii following. Xavier is standing and talking with Ben near the couch behind me.

"Let me see."

Not sure I understand, so I cock my head. He pulls himself up, looking determined as he gets off the couch and goes to the fox still sitting quietly at the kitchen table. I follow a few steps behind, unsure of what he plans on doing.

He goes right up to Kani and stares into his face. He seems to understand what Bastion is doing, so he keeps eye contact. After a few minutes, my Imp turns and nods. Giving the fox one last look before he goes downstairs. Kani looks at me, worry clear on his face. I keep my voice low as I sit across from him at the table.

"Bastion came from an abusive man who sold him to others. He had to be the vote that let you stay. I do apologize, but this is his home and I don't want him to feel unsafe."

Blue hazel eyes soften, his facial features revealing that he seems to acknowledge exactly what I'm referring to.

"I understand. With that being the reasoning, I wouldn't want him to feel like he's going through it again. Really glad he's decided to give me a chance, I don't want to make anyone uncomfortable."

I nod, looking towards the stairs as clicks come up. The fox looks confused for a second then his eyes widen when the two Arctic wolves come up with a white-faced coyote. Think Maii has made new friends, which I'm very happy about.

All look at the fox before the wolves go to the backdoor in tandem. I stand to let them out as Maii gives Kani a coyote grin, the action seems to ease him a little more. They're all let out one last time before bedding down.

Bastion comes back up, having gathered himself and putting on his happy mask. I want to comfort him, but he'll not accept that right now. He nods at us and goes for Faline's room where he changes.

"What's going on?"

I stand and stretch my arms up, back arching.

"Everyone's getting ready for bed. We all sleep below in animal form. There's an area cordoned off with curtains that you can undress and change in. Just fold your clothes and we'll find something else for you tomorrow. Well, later today."

"You all sleep together in animal form?"

Nodding, I pull the tie from my hair so I can get it brushed out.

"Yeah. Got a nest set up down there. Up to you if you want to sleep with us or up here."

He still looks confused but follows when Asher goes below. Turning to Xavier and Benji, I join them. While they stand, I sit on the cushion usually claimed by the tall pain in my ass.

"Since you guys are going to bed, I'll head home. While comfortable, I don't want to be stuck here all day."

Think both he and I know that's a lie, but I leave it and nod. Thanking him again for the tape and memory card business. As I let him out, the others come in. Still snowing, so I tell Ben to be careful. He just looks at me.

"Hey, just because you're some gung-ho Vampire does not mean you can't crash and get stuck till after the sun rises. Humor me."

Benji shakes his head, giving a smirk. Granted it's just after midnight, but got several things to do later. That and I'm not sure what Shade and Zypher's hours are. My heart clenches as I look out at the dark sky. It looks angry and foreboding. Xavier touches my arm to get my attention. He looks kind of grim and a little sad. Something's going on.

"What's wrong?"

I know he's not hurt by all my teasing, the day that happens he won't be who he is. He shakes his head and asks me to wait for him. Nodding, I turn back to look out over the dark trees. The front door is open with me standing on the porch, leaning into the railing. A nudge at my leg has me looking down, a small red fox bumping against me. Looks like any other red fox from this area, aside from the tiger stripes going down the length of his body.

"You clean up well. You have a few minutes if you need to go out and do anything real quick. Xavier will be coming out shortly. When everyone's in and settled I'll lock up and head down myself."

Amber eyes several shades lighter than what the maned wolf’s are when human, look at me curiously. Crouching down, I scritch under his jaw. His eyes close while he gives a fox grin, then runs off when I pull back.

Can feel him as I stand, the link from the mark I put on him making us very aware of each other. Get a head to the gut when I turn, the headbutt turning into a rubbing and scent marking. Grabbing a hold of his cheek fluff, I tug his head to the side, hand sliding from his face down his throat to his upper back. Toying with the black mane before fingers delve under the fur to find the skin beneath. Fingertips search around his scruff and upper shoulders, then stop when I feel him shiver. Moving them slowly, I can just make out the shape of the mark.

A smirk lifts the corner of my mouth as I play my nails over it. Can feel his reaction, blood heating, and heart quickening. His almost ten-inch tall ears go back as his eyes close. I know I should quit teasing him like this, but it's too much fun. I'm pretty sure he'd tell me to stop if he didn't want the attention. Even though he's male, doesn't mean he's a slave to his libido. Wait a minute, this is Xavier, who am I kidding.

Moving my hands to his ears, I grip both and massage them for a minute before letting him go. Resident playboy nudges my belly with his nose, so I tap it then point out to the trees. He blows air through his nostrils but does trot off. Those long black legs of his almost look like stilts over the snow, short white-tipped tail getting lost between the tree trunks. I once again try to reach out for Asher, but he's still blocking me. Wincing, I pull away, trying not to feel hurt.

Going down the couple steps to the ground, bare feet touch into the cold snow. Instead of feeling cold though, it just makes me smile. The wind is near non-existent, so the snow is coming pretty much straight down. Lifting arms and face toward the falling flakes, I stay that way for a moment before moving my arms down a little. Fingertips dance in the air as the snow starts spinning around me. Yellowed eyes close as I start weaving my symphony.

Faster and faster it spins, coming together to form the pictures in my head. Tiny flakes melt together and grow to form larger versions of themselves, thinning almost clear then coating in a layer of thicker frost. The multitude of larger shapes floats above my head, bobbing and weaving with my hand's motions. Like the very first time it manifested, there's a layer of frost coating the backs of my hands. They continue their patterns made within the air, shaping new figures that dance up with the larger snowflakes. Small animal shapes form and move around my body as my brain focuses and harnesses to play with a new energy. Canine, feline, bird, bear, rodent, and others come to shape and spin.

Discord sounds as my brow furrows, my heart clenching again with the feeling something's going to happen. The multitude of shapes crack and shatter into snow dust, then whirl around my body in a frenzy before pluming straight up. From the sky, it spreads out and falls like the rest of the falling frozen water. My breathing is fast as my heart pounds, knowledge dawning on what's going on. Snippets of a dream torment me with images while memories of knowing this was going to happen sooner or later.

Lowering my face as yellow eyes open, both fox and maned wolf are staring at me. I glare at the false wolf, he knows but wasn't going to tell me. I try to be angry, but I can't.

"Come on, let's get it over with."

I can feel confusion from the small fox, but the tan-colored eyes of Xavier won't meet with mine. Both walk in with me following at the rear, waiting in the kitchen for me as the doors get locked up and lights turned off. Stopping in the bathroom before going to my room, I stay silent.

I don't even bother with closing it as much as I usually do. Taking out assorted body piercings, brushing my hair then stripping down. My feet are damp, so I pat them dry with my shirt before tossing it into the basket. Falling to my knees as the shift starts, my body and mind start to go numb. Standing on four paws when it's done, I make my way out and to the stairs. The two males follow after me without a word.

Avoiding eye contact with anyone, I go to my usual spot and curl up with Bastion. Asher is in his usual spot on the other side of the boy, Xavier at my hip using me as a pillow, and Maii changes spots from night to night it seems. Tonight he's curled up next to Xavier and pressed close to me.

The three new males are hesitant, so I raise my head. The brothers take the area at the boy's feet while the fox comes up close to my back, settling next to Maii. Lowering my head back down, I will myself into unconsciousness.

Only works for a couple hours before I feel the warm nuzzle. It wakes me, but I don't move or let on in any way that he's woken me, wouldn't change anything even if I did. Asher and Bastion rise and go upstairs.

They're gone for about ten minutes before the boy returns alone. My eyes open as he comes back, his filled with tears as he falls onto me, gripping handfuls of fur as he cries into it, my own tears fall softly at the loss of a very dear friend.