Faline

Shaking the funk off me, I lean forward and knock at the door, going down several steps before it gets opened. Ava opens it carefully. Smelling her now, I wonder how we ever missed it before. Her eyes are luminous and red, but she stops at my expression. My smile becomes a shit-eating grin.

"She wants everybody to come down so she 'doesn't have to do that one by one crap'."

Ava makes a cry that sounds a lot like the one I let out earlier. A small furry mass darts passed me and down the stairs, at first I thought it was Tigger or even Maii, but the long poofy tail is totally unknown to me.

"Um, who was that?"

I get laughter from the one downstairs and in front of me as I back down the stairs, everyone piling in one by one.

"Orion? Where's..."

Before I get it all out, there's a coyote in my hands. I finish going downstairs and back to where my sister lay as the others make their way over. The shivering animal had jumped into my arms, so I know he's scared.

"I don't know why she sent you with me Maii, but I'm glad she did. You don't belong in that place."

Whispering to him as I watch the mini snow leopard, I feel really dumb once it clicks.

"Lily?"

I get meowed at before purring starts and she rubs along my legs then against Kie's face. Wow. Sniffles have my head turning to Bastion. Not sure if he heard me imply that my sister is alive.

"Bastion? Can dry your tears, she isn't dead."

He looks at me as if I'm playing a joke, so I nudge Kie with my foot. The look on his face of sheer fury at my movement has me yelling into her head to move before he tries to kill me.

"I'm fine Imp, just tired."

By the reaction and my hearing it as well, I take it she projected it. Watery blue eyes widen before he rushes over and nearly falls onto her. That right there shows me just how much she means to him. The small coyote slowly settles in my arms as the others come in.

Ava sits up by the silver head before it's moved into the boy's lap. From the action, I take it he's done it before. Xavier is all smiles as he crouches at her back. Relief is written on his face and in his eyes, but I still narrow my eyes at him. Once he notices, I get a lopsided grin.

"I take it she told you how we met?"

He chuckles, leaning back till his rear end is on the blankets. Asher goes behind me to come up at her head, sniffing over her face to her side then back to her face.

"Asher lay down, I know you're hurt. You and Xavier. Quit being he-men and plant your asses."

I grin. Glad I'm not the only one she orders around. The black wolf sneezes but lowers himself next to the boy and her face. Lily-leopard stubbornly keeps her spot at my sister's neck, refusing to move even when the very large dark canine noses over her.

Orion is the last to walk up, he also has a relieved smile, which really makes me wonder just what being a 'Silver Wolf' entails. I smother a smile when she snorts in my head, saying it entails every male she comes across to think he can boss her around.

Sitting in the spot I was in before, I let Maii have my lap. Kie opens her eyes, raising her head to look back at the towering lion. Her eyes go from him to Xavier then back.

"You sure you two aren't related?"

Both smile and give a small chuckle, shaking their heads at her. Yellow eyes focus on Orion as if reading him. A slow incline of his head has me wondering what's going on before he sits to the left of me, closer to her feet.

We all sit there for a few minutes before Xavier gets up and goes behind the sheets at the other end. He going to take a nap? Kierra smiles in my head, telling me to watch. Watch what?

I'm about to ask her if he's going to start stripping when sure enough, a minute later a really long-legged canine limps out. My eyes widen as my mouth drops open. Reddish-brown fur with white undertones, long black legs, and a mane of pitch. Tall ass ears, a short tail, and laughing light brown eyes look at me, his mouth opening to give a canine smile.

Blinking at him, I look to Ava who just grins. Beginning to think I'm at the butt of some joke here.

"Uhh, pretty obvious I didn't listen to much of Kierra's animal ramblings. What the heck are you? A dogdeer?"

Orion laughs. I jump when the long-legged thing starts yipping at me, startling Maii who jumps up in a panic when he sees Xavier. If they aren't careful the poor kid is gonna start pissing everywhere.

My sister whispers to me that I need to potty train the thing if he starts. Scoffing, I pull him back into my lap. The white-masked face looks out at all the canines we're surrounded by.

"He's what is called a maned wolf, but not actually a wolf."

Orion lets me in on whatever as the 'pretend wolf' limps closer to my sister, lowering and curling up near her tail. I catch the look Ava passes Orion and I'm really lost.

"Am I missing something here? Remember, I'm not one of you guys, I'm the odd one out."

Being the only Vampire surrounded by dogs and cats. Feel like one of those old women who have no kids but a house full of animals.

"Oh God, I'm the crazy lady with a house full of cats."

I say it aloud with a groan, pouting eyes going to Orion who just smirks at me. Ava speaks up for me though.

"When it comes to Shifters and Weres, we heal faster from wounds when we cluster together in animal form. The combined heat and blood magic enables quicker healing."

Oh. That's nifty. I nod slowly as I look between her and the lion.

"Does that mean you guys are going to shift to?"

They shake their heads, so now I'm confused. Sure my face shows it as Orion speaks up this time. His deep voice, even when speaking low, vibrates through the body down here. Had to suck to be him in school.

"I'll stay as I am to help protect those here from any that may have followed. You and your sister are very important to all of us as a whole and there are those who don't care for that."

Ah. That whole prophecy crap again. I nod but don't really understand. After the day's events, I'm tired as well and with all this body heat, it's making me even more drowsy.

"And you Ava?"

"I'm your guys' voice if anyone who claims to know you comes by, I'll be able to tell if anyone is lying. Orion would be able to as well, but I've known you both longer."

My eyebrows raise as I nod. That has to be really handy. Stifling a yawn, I thank them both. Picking Maii out of my lap and setting him aside, I shift myself.

It's about even now. Four cats to four canines. Asher, Ava, Xavier, and Bastion all look at me. So does Orion but he's seen me as a cat before, same as the coyote.

Said coyote looks nervous so I headbutt him, nudging him closer to my sister. He stays stiff till I curl in close to her belly. Lily pops her head up, sleepy dark blue kitten eyes look at me before she yawns, flashing sharp teeth.

Smiling internally, I do the same back at her. Granted I'm not all that much bigger than she is, but I'm full-grown, she can posture at me when she becomes an adult.

Mewing at me, she settles back down into Kie's neck. I try whispering to my sister, telling her this is far from being alone in her bed. It didn't work with Kerry or Maii, so not sure if it will with her.

"Different yes, but I find it comforting. I hope you do as well since more often than not, here is where I sleep, usually with Bastion laying on me in some fashion. When we get up later we can talk more about sleeping arrangements, right now, I want sleep."

Laughing internally, my gold eyes go to Bastion, who's now leaning to the side on Asher, sister's head still in his lap. The boy looks like he's falling asleep as well. The huge black wolf has moved at some point to face me, his legs stretched out in front of him.

Remembering the sound of his ribs breaking, he has to be in pain, especially with the boy on him like that, but he doesn't show it. Doesn't show that his broken leg hurts either.

Well, isn't he a badass.

I get my sister's chuckle in my head once more.

"You have no idea, little sister."

Her voice is faint as she continues to drift off. The black wolf's head is laying on his legs, but facing my sibling. Hmm. Glancing over to the wolf that isn't a wolf, he's also pressed close, curled up at her rump with his head on her hip. Tan eyes blink at me curiously. Curious indeed.

The small coyote curls up close to me as I push up close to a warm belly. My sister's scent is different, yet the same. The added smell of 'wildness' with Evergreen pine and cinnamon. The cinnamon is from her blood, the pine from her wolf, mixing with her familiar human scent underneath.

My eyes close, mind wondering how those at the bordello are doing. Lady. Nicolaus. I try not to feel sad, knowing that to be almost like a betrayal, but I can't help it. Not sad over Anthony, unless you count what his death has done to my Vampire.

Just thinking of him as still mine lets me know it isn't over for me. I'm home, yes. But what new problems will that bring?