Kierra

"So how are you two related?"

The tall man looks over at the other.

"Alastor is my nephew. Faline found and saved his life. There's no way to repay her for that. She'd already had my protection, but if she hadn't, she would now."

Can't help but smile, the big bad tough guy slipping to show affection for both his nephew and my sister. She seems to have that effect on people. Would appear that it doesn't matter what race they are.

Chandrika follows Bastion back up the stairs, her features now relaxed as she walks over to the small fox. Sitting on the floor next to the cushion and whispering to him. I leave them to it as Orion catches my attention.

"I have to get this one back to his mother. If you need anything, just give me a call."

Inclining my head to him, I follow after them to watch as they leave. Big vehicles like his really aren't meant for the woods, catching on everything it seems as he pulls out. Breathing deep of the crisp air, I look up.

Cloudy, as usual. Even with the air as cool as it is though, it's still heavy with moisture. Too wet for snow. Still get the urge to go for a walk though, a jaunt through the woods is a calming experience and one I've always enjoyed.

Has to be denied though, for now at least. Too much to do. Turning, I go back in and close the door behind me. Getting Xavier pulled aside, I let him know what all happened with Bryanna at the diner.

He nods, but his brows are furrowed in concentration. I touch his forearm, then pull away, asking him what's wrong.

"You'll be talking to the Gray Alpha, Gabriel, later, won't you?"

Glancing over at the clock, I nod. Need to get Ava called here soon to let her know I'm coming. What do I do with everyone else though? Can't keep taking new people over to Ava's constantly, but don't want to just leave them here either.

"Do you have to?"

I blink a couple times, confused.

"What? Well, I don't have to, but I kinda need to. Why?"

Amber eyes stare at me from maybe a couple feet away, intent and focused.

"Be careful. I hung near some of the Gray Wolves a few times before I found you, there was talk of their Alpha looking for a new wolf. The one who sang out over the lake."

My wincing doesn't deter him.

"There was one who was really angry, said his friend was killed because of the new one. Specifics weren't gone into detail, but not all the Grays will be open to your coming."

"Pfft, not all that surprising, and I've only killed two Werewolves, the one who raped me and the one who Changed me. Unless it was a Vamp or human, and that seems to be unlikely."

Actually, I keep hearing that the different groups don't intermingle much, yet that doesn't seem to be the case where I'm standing. A lot of mingling seems to be going on, so someone needs to update their info. Granted I also got most of my intel from a wolf who was in self-exile, so...yeah.

Rika's head had swung toward me at my mention of killing, the rape part really getting her attention. Two different cases, yet both times the perp was a Werewolf. Please, God, don't let that be a trend.

"I can't help what others are going to think of me, that will happen no matter what; animal, human, or one-eyed purple people eater, all are going to think what they wish about a newcomer. A stranger. That's just normal."

My shoulders rise and fall in a shrug before I motion out at everything with an arm.

"Thanks to events, twists, turns, and one of the world’s cruelest jokes, here I am. I may not have wanted to be what I am when this all first started, but now I'm glad I am. Being turned into a monster has given me the strength I need to protect those I care for, for those I look after. And right now, my little house is getting outgrown. What once was perfect for my sister and I is now too small."

I touch his arm once more as his face closes down, amber eyes becoming shadowed.

"I don't blame any of you for anything, and certainly don't blame any of you for coming here. I'm proud and honored, really. It sucks that the person I have to go to is a superdick, but I'm willing to for all of you. Took Ava to get me to really see it, but we all need this, not just me."

I smile at him before looking over to Bastion, Maii, and Kani, then Diego and Rika, who are both watching us. Green eyes go back to those amber ones, ones that have brightened back up.

"All of you guys are worth dealing with one douche-dog. We may live on the land he owns, but he doesn't own us. He starts annoying me, I'll just dish it out right back."

Xavier snorts before grinning, cocking his head. Tilted the way he is, my mark on his neck is evident. I reach out to touch but stop in mid-movement, green eyes going to his again.

Without any nudging or even wanting him to do so, he drops down to a crouch in front of me so I can touch it. Touch him. I'd be extremely annoyed if I had to crouch in front of someone like how he's doing, or at all for that matter, but he looks completely relaxed and calm. Eased and serene.

One side of my head says to move away, while the other wants to touch him. Much more than I allow myself to. Reaching out gingerly, my fingertips brush along the raised edges of the snowflake dreamcatcher.

"Winter Dreams."

His speaking jars me out of my daze.

"What?"

Xavier's head turns a little to look at me better, his black hair tickles on my knuckles as the strands move. Fingers go from his neck to his hair, playing the thickness between them.

"Your mark."

My brows furrow as I look to his face.

"You named it?"

At my tone, he grins. The black goatee on his chin has grown since I first met him. Not as long as Benjamin's, but will be there soon if he doesn't trim it. Not saying he needs to, just making an observation to try and distract myself on just how...well...yummy looking he is. Especially when grinning.

"Yes. Seemed appropriate."

My quizzical look has him laughing. Realizing I'm still fondling his hair, I pull my hand away. Have to go even further and take a step back so I don't reach for him again.

He stays kneeling for another minute before finally standing back up, slowly. His eyes on me the whole time causes my face to tint pink. The maned wolf slips into his coy mode, which means it's high time for me to really scoot.

Clearing my throat, I move out from behind the counter and direct my attention to the hyena. His low chuckles follow, which just reddens my face more. The girl looks at me curiously. Great, a witness to my awkwardness.

"Uh, Rika? How old are you? Alastor said Diego is thirteen, that right? When were you Changed?"

The small fox has stopped shivering, and only stiffens for a moment when I get close. I stop feet away, not wanting to push my luck. The girl's still sitting on the floor next to him.

"I'm sixteen, and yeah. One of the times we got him to talk to us he'd said he was thirteen. I was held there for a week, I think, and I'd been attacked a few weeks before that, so maybe a month. It happened before I was kicked out."

I nod, looking up as if thinking. Well, I am, but don't want her to really see my expression. She and I will be having a chat later on why she was kicked out.

"You said you've nowhere else to go, yeah? Sixteen...you're still in school aren't you?"

She nods before elaborating.

"Technically yes. I'm not from this area, I'm from further south, Bloomington."

Wow. That's pretty far to go and grab someone. Whatever, it's done with. I look over to Diego, at his age he'd be in school as well, but Shifters are a lot different than I had originally thought, so there's no telling if he ever was in a school.

"What about you Diego?"

I know he can't talk as he is now, but telepathy is still a thing. When he doesn't answer, I try a different way. Broadcasting so if he freaks out, they know the cause.

"If you don't want to speak aloud, that's your choice, but it will make things easier for both of us if you can let me know a few things."

Both newcomers widen their eyes. Yeah, Imma freak. Being Silver an all has given me some extra quirks. The use of telepathy while in human form is one of them.

Weres and Shifters have to be in animal form to be able to utilize it. Were-animals have to be in close visual proximity to the one they're 'whispering' to, while Shifters have unlimited range if a connection is there. I haven't tried to connect with someone who I have a bond with from afar, aside from Faline, but that's a whole different thing.

Vampires, they don't get or have telepathy unless it's a specific gift to them. Mine, so far, seems to work with everyone, no matter the shape they're in. My empathy to, comes and goes with each, depending on how well they can block me out or how well I'm shielding.

My empathy is a come and go thing, period. Sometimes I'll pick up on everything, other times I have to be real close. I'm not talking about reading the visual emotions, although I'm very good with that too, but actually feeling what they feel. Makes fighting an enemy really interesting when it's 'active'.

The inverted fox eventually squeaks at me, so I lift a brow. He finally caves.

"I'm not from this area either, not sure where I was born. Never been to a school officially, but I can read and write."

Voice is accented with Spanish, so that gives a little clue as to what nationality he is, most likely. Judging by the way he spoke though, it's almost rusty, as if not used much. When he responded, it was directly to me and not broadcast, so I ask my next question the same as he.

"For now, if you wish, you can stay in your animal form. At some point later down the line though I would like you to shift, okay? Doesn't have to be soon, but I would like to see your human face at some point."

Instead of actually speaking back, his head nods. I give him a smile in return. Rika looks between us and smiles too, although it's unclear if she actually knows why she's doing so.

"Alright mammals, I have to give Ava a call to let her know I'm coming. Who all wants to come?"