Kierra

Multiple bloodsuckers litter the room with other naked forms huddled down on their knees. Where the ones hunkered down show fear, the upright Vamps show either disdain, hunger, or eagerness, many watching the blood fall from me. Since it's heavily perfuming the air, it's impossible to hide.

Xavier and Asher are also bleeding, maned wolf's arm must be broken with the way he's holding it, shoulder just as messed up as mine. Asher is breathing heavily as he walks on three legs, holding up a foreleg. Both of them have bright eyes, I'm sure mine mirror theirs. The thrill and rush of a fight rides us all even with the damages done to our bodies, but we have to go now if I'm to get her home before I expire. My arm is held close with a splayed hand covering part of my right side, hiding as much as possible from the onlookers.

Pulling her up into his arms to cradle her while he carries, he nods for us to go. We go through with heads held just as high as when we came in. Orion gets through the doors before a woman thrusts an animal into Faline's arms, says a few words, then turns and leaves.

Alrighty then... We keep going, males at my sides as we go through while Faline pulls the blanket tight around her face before tucking in close to the lion. The sight pulls at my heart, the knowledge that she won't be able to join me in the sun anymore tickling my brain.

I firm my spine, who needs the sun anyway? Both she and I were night owls to begin with. Mostly. Once the outer double-door is opened, Orion darts through it.

We follow at his heels, Xavier running ahead to open the van's back doors. When opened he dives inside, all of us going in so the doors can be closed. The smell of burning skin is harsh and I hear her low whimpers.

Turns out the animal in her lap is a small sable and black colored coyote. The white on his face creates a skull-like mask. Orion and Xavier open another door up front and go through to the front seat, the lion tosses back another blanket, this one larger.

Asher sits next to the back opening, I press my forehead to his as I send my thanks to him for his help. Warmth fills my head with a question of how bad I'm hurt. He'd know if I lied, so I keep my mind blank and lick his face a few times before going to my sister's still form.

The small canine hunkers down, terror in his eyes and growling at me. I reach out to his mind, whispering to him who I am. His ears go up and he backs away slowly.

No windows back here, so I lay next to her, reaching out to tug at her hair that's poking out of the blanket. A red hand comes out to grab my bloodied one as the cloth moves away from her reddened face. Sunburned even through the blanket, or she moved at some point in the mad dash.

"I found you."

My voice is low and strange in this form, but still me. Yellow eyes travel over her face and marvel at her newness. Paler skin, different eye color, altered hair shades.

"I knew you would. No doubt."

The engine rumbles as we move through the streets. The metal under me vibrates, jarring my wounds. Painful, but I don't show it as I stare into my sister's strange but same face.

I lose sense of time till we stop, pressing my forehead to hers as I raise up and crouch over her. Doors open and shut while the other blanket is grabbed and unfolded. She stays in the other and helps me get her wrapped in the new one.

It smells heavily of the lion, but right now I could care less. Pounding at the back door sounds before it opens, Asher moves and jumps out as I hand her through into Orion's arms once again.

Jumping out myself, I have to stop just to breathe, insides protesting loudly at being jarred. I stand still as the lion runs ahead into the house, the world tipping a bit.

Swallowing it down and ignoring both of my males, I run for the door as well, keeping my strides as light and as even as I can. Pushing a hand over my side to stem some of the blood flow coming from me, I keep going. Bursting through, Ava points to the basement right away, her eyes wide as she sees me.

Bastion's face goes pale, but I touch his nose before going downstairs. Gross leaving blood on his face like that, but have to let him know I'm okay. Besides, putting my hand on his head would have been worse and a lot messier.

"Xavier, the coyote."

He nods and goes back out for him. Almost forgot about the little critter. My steps turn heavy the closer I get to the bottom.

"Ava! Bring down the first-aid kit please, I think it has something in it for burns."

Orion has my sister in the small area that had been surrounded with sheets to close off as a changing room. Soon as my foot touches bottom, I start my shift back to my human skin. A shallow whimper escapes as everything moves.

Walking into the small area, Faline flings herself into my arms again, one of the darker colored sheets wrapped around her like a toga. I wince, but she doesn't notice. The lion behind her does though, his black eyes narrowing at me. I narrow mine right back before she pulls away, his brow raising at my lopsided grin. He hands me a sheet as dripping red fur disappears.

"Thank you, Orion, for your help. Wouldn't have been able to do it without your van. You have my gratitude."

Can't talk very loud when trying to keep blood from escaping your mouth, but he notices that as well. As soon as he steps forward, I collapse. Had just gotten the sheet around me too.

Faline cries out, seeing the pale sheet instantly become saturated in the blood that I had been stemming from my side. Can't hold the cough back as I fall to my hands and knees, blood flying out as it leaks from my torn lung.

"I got you...home. That's what...what was im...important."

Orion moves me onto my side so I don't drown right away by being on my back, the blankets under me get soiled. My little sister is crying as she yells for Ava, panic in her voice. The sheet rips over my side that's bleeding the worst, body doesn't even jerk he does it so smoothly. I can see Asher and Xavier coming down the stairs from the corner of my eye.

"Faline, the tall...tall freak coming... Xavier."

Smiling, it's all I can get out this time. Asher pushes himself into my brain, angry with me that I didn't say anything. I whisper to him that I hope he finds who took his wife from him, that he gets his peace.

Sending them all warmth as mine fades, my side is numb, but I get the feeling someone is doing something to it. Faline is crying, her gold eyes luminous as she starts yelling at me.

Feels good, getting yelled at by her again, even if it is still annoying. Try to reach a hand to her face, but my arm feels too heavy. So instead, I open my mind to her, letting her know how I feel and the fondness I hold for the males here, my hope that she can take them under her wing as each one is a misfit just like her and I. Try telling her a little about each one, but even the voice in my head is fading. Know she hears me though.

I can hear Bastion's cry, it makes me frown. Eyes close for only a moment, or that was the plan, but they don't want to raise again.

Before everything fades out, liquid copper is poured down my throat. The same burn from it going down is also felt on my side seconds later.