Kierra

The following morning, my whole body is griping at me. I groan and try to go back to sleep, but can't. Images of long-legged canines run around in my head, amber eyes watching me, leftover pieces of a dream that make no sense whatsoever.

Trying not to disturb the child as I move to get up is a moot point as he's already gotten up. What is it with kids being such early risers? I remember doing it as well when I was young, but I don't recall a reason for doing so. Well, there was always cartoons, but I seriously doubt that's why Bastion's up.

I head upstairs, make sure there's a towel in the bathroom, push the door shut with my rump, and change. Not even going to bother looking in the mirror till I'm clean. Hot shower to wash, cold water to relax and soothe, then getting out and going straight to my room. Wrapped in a towel of course. Once in my room, I stand in front of my closet mirror and drop my towel.

The Vampire bites on my arm and neck are all but healed, nothing left but for some bruising and scarring. Ribs on my left side are a multitude of colors and still tender to the touch. Traces of the road rash on my right is fading quickly. The whole left side of my body is colorful thanks to the car that hit me.

I should really start cataloging the injuries I keep accumulating. Going to have horrible arthritis in my bones when I get old.

Err, nevermind. I won't either. Should still catalog though, just for reference.

The bottoms of my feet and hands are chaffed. I'd woken stiff, the shower helped a little, but only time will heal them. Till then moving and doing anything with my hands is going to hurt.

Just as I'm getting dressed, my phone goes off, was confused for a moment, then find it on my bed. Bastion must have tossed it in at some point, or I had, can't remember. Looking at the screen, I groan. My publisher. I would ignore it, but since I'm aware he's calling, I can't.

I answer it, then have to hold it away as I quickly turn the volume down. Funny, I don't remember him being so loud before, but I have missed several of his calls. Not to mention my brand new shiny ears.

There's some yelling, lots of cursing, some threatening and then a compromise. I'm to come in early this afternoon and go over some of the finer points of something or other that he's being anal about. Think while I'm there I need to read over my contract.

I do believe it was for three novels this time around. My three novels are done. I have a few more in the works, but I think I'm going to switch things up. I've gotten a few emails from other companies with offers, think it's time I look over them again.

Pulling on a pair of socks, which chaff my very being, I go look for Bastion. He's found on the couch, looking like he's studying the animal encyclopedias. Stopping, I watch him and smile. Feeling my gaze on him, he looks up.

"Hiya kiddo, enjoying 'em?"

He smiles and nods, gesturing to the kitchen table. Looking over, there's a glass of orange juice waiting for me with some toast. My smile widens.

"Think you're my guardian angel kid, you take such good care of me."

He does too, that's kind of the sad part. He does more for me than I do for him. I'd mentioned before that I hardly ever eat after I wake up, so he makes toast for me just in case. Even puts peanut butter on it for me every now and then. Protein.

Chugging the juice, getting a refill and drinking half of it before I touch the bread, the radio catches my eye, having been put back on the shelf, cord wrapped up on the desk. Yup. Seem to have found myself a wife.

I choke on my toast, having to take a quick drink before I inhale it. Mom used to refer to me as that when I had lived with her, since I'd stay home working on my books and taking care of the house and her when she was home. I recall getting very annoyed several times, I don't want Bastion to feel obligated.

"Bastion, you know you don't have to do these things, right? I don't want you thinking you're a slave or anything."

I look over to him to see him looking at me in surprise.

"I don't think that. I like doing it, makes me feel useful. You gave me a home, it's the least I can do."

His words make me want to cry. This boy is so gentle and smart, I don't see how anyone would want to hurt him. Speaking of smart, since I have to go into town to see a Rat, should stop at a couple stores for him.

"I have to go into town this afternoon to see my publisher, you up for coming with me? I wanna stop at a couple of other places while we're out."

He nods, grinning at me as his blue eyes sparkle with mischievousness.

"You going to go look for more trouble?"

My jaw drops open as I sputter, almost dropping my cup.

"Listen here you Imp, I don't go looking for it, it just seems to find or follow me."

I nod and lift my head, sticking my nose in the air. He snickers at me, rolling his eyes. Cheeky little bugger. I finish my juice and rinse the cup out, checking Tigger's food and water dishes. Fresh water and new food are already in them.

Come to think of it, I haven't changed his litter pan in a while. I wince, then frown. I haven't smelt it. I mean, I smell the litter, can smell that from here, but not used litter.

"Did you clean out the cat pan?"

He nods without looking up from his reading. Huh. Sweet. I'd usually make Faline do it, not wanting to do it myself and be stuck with the smell in my nose. Hearing her gag while doing it was always sweet karma.

"Thanks, bud."

His eyes flick up shyly, his cheeks pinking. He's so adorable. Leaning my butt on the desk, I look out the window across the room that's next to the front door. Tigger is laying in it, basking in reflected light beams.

"Have you seen Asher yet this morning?"

"He stopped by earlier, said there's a new fox in the area going around marking."

That was probably the smell I kept catching on my way to the neighbors.

"Also said he was going to go further out, see if he could pick up on anything new and wouldn't be back till probably tonight."

Biting my lip, I scowl out the window. Alright then, I get the point.

I go to my room and put in, or back in rather, piercings. All the holes have closed, so I have to reopen them. Even though I'd stretched the one in my tongue on accident, after my second shift, it closed like all the others. Pushing a piercing needle through the muscle in your mouth is an interesting experience in pain.

I flick it around a few times. Having been without it for the past almost two weeks, it feels weird. Changing from sweats and tank top to jeans and a t-shirt, the socks get left on for now. Pulling my hair back in a haphazard ponytail, I then head back out.

The computer is still on standby from when I turned it on a couple days ago, I wiggle the mouse as I sit. Bringing up saved emails from other companies and reading through them, neither of them are in town, think that was the biggest drawback when I first got them. Reason for being with the one I am now is because it is local.

Here's a tip; local does not mean better or easier. The publisher I saddled myself with is a jerk and unreasonable. Sending each one a return message, I ask a few questions, main one being what their 'expected' terms are.

After going through the build-up of other messages, which takes damn near an hour, I'm able to shut it down. One of the messages had been from the college Faline is taking classes through, asking if she's alright, seeing as how she hasn't checked in for several days. Sent a reply that some family emergencies have come up, and she'll be back as soon as able. Think they're more nervous about losing the paycheck they get. Just seems to be how people work these days.

Catching the time from the screen before it goes black, it's still an hour before noon, but I'm getting antsy now. Snagging a piece of scrap paper, I start making out a list of things that need to be picked up. Remembering that I had told the Imp last night that I'd explain what happened, I turn in my seat and call for his attention. The next half hour, at least, is spent telling him everything from start to finish.

"What was in the basement that smelled so bad?"

"I have no clue, but from what I smelled, nothing good."

His face scrunches as he thinks about things.

"Are you going to go back?"

I nod absently, thinking of some things I should pick up so I can do so without dying.

"Yeah, I can't just leave it and not know. Some of the things we'll be picking up today are items that will make it easier, I hope."

"And the bridge man? How do you think he knows about 'Night People'?"

"When you live on the streets, having as much knowledge as possible could mean whether or not you survive. I would imagine that the homeless were the first to find out about them."

"How about the man that shot at you? Do you think he's a shape-shifter of some kind?"

"It's possible, I was too distracted to try for his scent. If not then he possibly knows others who are."

Thinking about it, the idea of having the T.V. on and switched to the news station might give me a clue as to what's going on. Possibly. Moot point now, since we'll be leaving soon. Besides, that's what paranoid people do.

"Wanna get ready to go? We'll pick up some lunch first. I'm craving french fries."

Slipping a piece of paper into the book to save his spot, he hops down and gets ready. Getting into my boots myself, I grab my wallet, phone, keys, and a blade. Need to teach Bastion on how to use one soon.

We're out the door and on the road soon after, stopping for some unhealthy fastfood. Was just going to go through the drive-through, but Bastion was all eyes when we drove up. Apparently, the last time he was at one was a couple of years ago, before his mother died.

At first, I'd asked if he wanted to go somewhere else, but he refused, wanting to go in. Nostalgia I guess. We ordered and sat, his blue eyes alight and huge. I hadn't even paid attention to the holiday decorations up everywhere. Thanksgiving, it seems, is only a couple weeks away.

I have him laughing within minutes, and he almost causes me to choke on my burger at one point as we talk smack about people. We get some looks now and then, nothing too obvious, but when an animal walks in, it's time to go, and we slip out the opposite door. Bastion asks when we get back in the vehicle if I know what kind of animal.

"Smelled kind of along the same lines as Ava, so I'm guessing feline of some kind. Now that I think about it, I've been catching a lot of that scent around, so there must be a lot of them around here."

He nods as we go on our way. Next stop is a hardware store to look at prices for a large shed. Those things aren't cheap, going to need to get one soon though. Annoyingly, I smell cats in here as well, and a couple that aren't cat but still some kind of beastie.

One of the non-cats keeps walking past us till I stare him down when he comes around for another pass. He backs off, but stays close. Grabbing some heavy-duty gloves, face masks, plastic sheeting, and some twine, I pay and we get out quick.

My jeep is so not meant for large scale shopping, but I'll make it work. Once on the main roads again, I keep an eye out behind us to make sure we aren't being followed.

Paranoid, who, me?

"What kind of animal was he?"

At my startled expression, Bastion smiles. Kid catches on quick.

"Wolf."

His eyes widen and I nod.

"Yep. Cats I'll bet on me any day. Another wolf... I haven't had much luck with wolves lately."

Looking worried, his hands twist in his lap. I reach a hand over and grasp one of his as I smile at him.

"No worries my wee Imp, I may get knocked down, but I come back up swinging hard."

He gives a small smile but doesn't look convinced. That's okay though since I'm not all that convinced myself. Next, we go to a craft store. People here love me, although now I'm afraid to see how many are actually human, or rather, aren't.