Faline

That's all I can get out before shaking myself. I step back and motion for him to come out, giving him a water bottle.

"You, I will be returning home."

His eyes dart to me as he drinks.

"I know your uncle from him being one who saved my life once. He's also my friend, giant pain that he is. They couldn't have had you for too long."

He shakes his head, thick, dirty hair moving around him. His eyes look over me as if judging my honesty. Putting my hands on my hips, I toss attitude.

"Real big guy, freakishly tall with black eyes and hair, blond tipped. Has been looking for lost Shifters..."

I stop when he's blinking and nodding at me, looking chastened. I soften my tone.

"While you get cleaned up, I'll see if he's still in the building. If not we'll get word to him."

He looks both relieved and very nervous and scared. Shape his body is in, I can understand why. Males won't admit that they've been raped. Beaten, branded, drugged, and tortured maybe, but not that.

I motion him off with another male submissive to the showers, telling him to take as much time as he needs. Turning back to Trisha, she nods and takes off herself. Seth watches her, his brow raised.

"Sure do get around, don't you?"

Growling at him, I slam the door in overall anger.

"I'm not screwing him if that's what you're thinking, so get that thought out of your head. Orion is like a brother to me. Don't be surprised if you see a freaking huge-ass lion tearing down here, he's very protective."

He never mentioned he had a family member missing... I'm angry at that, but I know it's none of my business. At least he's been found though...that has to be of some comfort. Especially since it means that the trafficking ring doesn’t have him.

Letting out a sigh, I go to the next door. Maybe more fucked up good news will come up. Pretty doubtful, but one can always hope. That hope is smashed when I open the next door and look in though.

Shifter. Red fox. A child. He's laying on his side against the far wall, back pressed to it. The other that was tied up on the wall next to Alastor had been this boy. Around five-foot-seven I’d say, but he looks really young.

Knowing how skittish Scarlett, the red fox Shifter in my kitchen is, I lower down so I'm on my knees. Seth holds the door wide open, while dark eyes are open and watching me in fear.

Words given earlier coil through my head of one who would shift to an animal, but would still be molested. Have a feeling I found that 'one'. My heart goes out to him but unsure of what I should do, I stay where I am and wait for him. His whole body is shaking, towel off in a corner. This young, his shifting is erratic. Darker skin tells of his Hispanic roots and all the abuse he took.

From what I can see of his body, he's covered in bruises. Hair is dark with dirt and matted, the bandage that had been over the raw brand is gone, and there's evidence of previously broken bones in his legs and arms.

Would like to say that I kept waiting for him to make his move first, but my patience isn't endless. I hold out a hand slowly, open and non-threatening, and keep my voice low.

"There's a woman here who is just like you, a red fox Shifter, would you like me to send for her? Would that be easier?"

His answer is blinking at me, but his shaking slows a small bit. Turning to one of the others standing around, I'm about to have them go for her when I hear a small 'no'. Looking back to him, it's my turn to blink.

"If you'll be me comfortable in your fox form, that's fine. Still want to get you washed up though, so you'll have to go into the tub."

I give him a small smile. I pull my hand back and reach back for one of the bottles. When it's set in my hand, I don't bother trying to hold it out, it's tipped and rolled to him. Whole time I kept my eyes on him, and he’s watched every move that I’ve made as well as the bottle exchange. Dark eyes watch it as it rolls to him, yet he makes no move to reach for it when it stops a foot or so away from him.

"If you need more time, I can come back later, if that will be easier?"

When his eyes shutter, I take that as an affirmative. Leaving the bottle, I stand and move so the door can close. A small whimper-like sound has me looking back inside, the sight not too surprising.

He'd shifted, curled up where his human body had been. The water bottle is ignored as he inches closer to the door, body held so low, he may as well be belly sliding. The part that really wrenches at me...is that it's a puppy.

Or might as well be with as small as he is, being smaller than Maii was when he had been in his animal skin. Maybe four feet long in total, his tail is the same two feet long that his body is.

The most obvious thing here is his coloring. I may not know many animals, but foxes I know, and he's all wrong. Not in a bad way, just...weird. Pretty, but weird.

Inverted I believe is what it could be called. Instead of the normal reddish-brown with black legs, white tail tip, chest, and underbelly, his is switched and unnatural.

Black.

All black with blood-red ear tips, legs, feet, and tail tip. What would be white on a normal fox is blood red with a little white mixed in, but not much. Demon fox. Well, demon fox puppy.

He shouldn't even have his adult coloring yet, but it looks pretty dark and permanent. Instead of a bouncy, wobbly, chirping babe, he's a cowering tiny thing. Right now he looks much like a beaten animal who'd just made it away from a very abusive owner.

Dilated dark green eyes are squinted at me as he creeps closer, tiny high pitched whimpers coming from him not only tweak at my ears but at my heart. Crouching back down slowly, I hold my hand out once more. This is more Kie's area than mine, so I'm a little lost.

My hand gets sniffed at then licked before he comes closer, crawling onto my legs and tucking close. Very carefully, I lift him, much as I do with the fat cat at home. Think Tigger weighs more than this guy though.

Wrapping him in my arms, we get out of the doorway. I turn just as Orion comes running up. Not in full out animal form thankfully, he'd give everyone a heart attack. Black eyes travel over me as he slows and stops, not any heavy breathing to speak of. Can't read his expression, but I motion with my head towards the bathroom.

"He's getting cleaned up. Give him a few more minutes."

He huffs at me, but I glare up at the giant.

"Time and compassion are needed now, not an overbearing roaring male. Calm down, he is safe now."

Black eyes slide away as his jaw clenches, a deep low growl from him has the fox in my arms shaking in fear again.

"Orion! I know you're upset. Trust me, I know how you feel, but you have to calm down. You go running at him as you are now and you could do more damage than what has already been done."

The over six and a half foot humanoid lion steps back and leans against the opposite wall. Danica is coming from one way while Trisha comes from the opposite, all of us meeting in the middle. Both are looking from me to the tiny fox in my arms, to the giant cat who is trying to collect himself.

Looking back at me, Danica gives her report.

"They both shifted and are curled up next to each other. Never seen a hyena before, they look like dogs. The other girl, Thessily, it took her a few minutes, but she finally shifted. Seemed to me that she was trying to remember how."

Nodding, I watch as Trisha tries to catch her breath.

"They probably had her for a long time, and even in animal form, they weren't safe. When in situations like these, they do what they have to just to survive. You understand that, don't you?"

Her head bows while giving an affirmative.

"Once they get to a point that they feel more centered on their own feet, you'll see some changes. Just like Kerry and the others in the kitchen. Took me days to get them not to drop to their knees around me, and now they feel safe to joke around with me and the others."

I look over to Orion, willing him to understand.

"Some might never be the same as they were before but that doesn't make them any less. They will need time, help, and understanding, and I don't see that coming from any of the other Vamps here, so it's up to us."

From the corner of my eye, I see the girl’s head bob, but I watch the lion. Where he can take his nephew home, the others will be stuck here. I can only do so much. Giving them pretty words about safety and love is a joke, this isn't the place for that. Here they are doing the same as what they'd been doing at that house, just not as extreme.

Actually...can't even say that for sure.

Since there was no money exchange involved, my giving a few to my sister shouldn't be seen as any loss to Lady, but we'll see.

The fox had slowly calmed but stiffens when I step up close to Orion, who stands more upright. My voice lowers considerably, but those visibly around can probably still hear me anyway, especially those with animal ears.

"Twelve were brought in, all in bad shape, some worse than others. Depending on their choice after talking with Lady, I'd like to have a place for those to go to if they don't have anywhere else, especially those under legal age. I'm pretty sure Kierra will find a place for them, but can you make a trip to talk to her? I'd say call, but with something like this, I need to know just what her expressions are when asked. From those, I can tell if the way can be opened for others if needed."

Granted I could reach for her in my head, but it gives the lion something to do so he doesn't go off in a rage. Don't know if he's the type, he doesn't seem like it, but this was his blood. I know if it were my family, I'd be all kinds of up in arms. Black eyes bore into me when he looks at me. Think he knows what I'm doing but his head dips.

Trisha is looking at the pup in my arms, coming forward and reaching for him. He, however, is not thrilled with that idea, whining and pushing back against me. I shake my head so the healer nods hers. Calmly, I turn to Danica, who's looking at the fox with sad eyes.

"Can you go get Scarlett for me? Want to see how they're doing down there and if any help is needed."

Not lying, just not saying everything either. The girl turns and takes off again. If I didn't know better, I'd say she was an animal with all the running and bouncing she does. Maii was always running too. Then again, in a place like this, the ability to get away quickly is what may determine your fate. I know that all too well.