Kierra

Imagine my shock when he actually shakes his head. The motion makes me smile.

"I'm covered, I won't blind you."

Succeeding in annoying him, he turns and glares at me, amber eyes flashing. Can see his attempt to keep eye contact, but he's a male. Can only expect so much. Doesn't even have to be jabbed at his gender since anyone who's with you would make a perusal.

Anyone who tells you differently is lying. Can be any type of body, any shade. Eyes roam, that's just a natural thing. I'm sure there are those that are prudish enough to keep their eyes firmly away, but I'd imagine those people to be prudish in all things and have a serious stick up their ass.

"Asher has been bouncing around since then, said at one point he was at the preserve way south of here, had been thinking of staying there when something pulled him back here... Do you ever feel like your life isn't really your own? I'm really beginning to feel like this whole thing has been orchestrated by someone...or something."

I lay my hand on the cool glass in front of me while looking into eyes that start bleeding to yellow. I can almost feel where his eyes alight on. My back is mostly covered by my long hair, but I can feel his heavy gaze on my left shoulder.

Everything I've fought up to this point seems to really take issue with my left side. Every single fight, it gets busted up. If I were still human, I'd be seriously mangled right now.

Hell, if I were still human, I'd be a dead one, just from that first encounter. Wouldn't have had to deal with James and all his squalor if I had, but then Bastion would have also died. My sister. An assortment of others who would have gone if I hadn't been around to take out the people I'd killed.

Another notch hooks into the feeling that events are being planned and plotted out. Do you recall that scene at the end of the movie, Men in Black? The one where an alien hand is shown to be playing with marbles before grabbing them up and putting them in a pouch, each marble containing a galaxy? Maybe this isn't quite that extreme though.

Hopefully.

I think the apropos visual here would be higher beings in one shape or form playing a game of chess. You win some, you lose some. Key pieces come into play as they enter the picture; the game.

One major thought that that brings to life is; which piece are you? If your life isn't your own, are you a background pawn, or the king always in danger of toppling? Will the toppling be done by someone else’s hand, or by your own by taking on too much, making the wrong move? What happens when the game is over? Is it ever? Or just new pieces put in place for a never-ending loop?

Hurts my brain even thinking about it. When my eyes focus on the now once more, ice crystals are spreading out from my hand to creep along the glass.

Have you ever really taken the time to look at it when it forms? It's really quite beautiful. Curious, I try directing it, making the pattern forming into one of my own. As it starts doing so, I smile. Pulling my hand away slowly, I turn my hand so it's palm up, picturing everything in my head as I direct it.

A combination of magic and science.

Can simply explain it away as something fantastical that can't be explained, or really analyze it and know that you're reducing the kinetic energy of atoms within the air, pulling in the tiny water molecules of moisture, freezing them, and reforming into something else.

I think that's how a lot of magic and 'fantasy' end up losing their mystery. Someone has to pick it apart and find an explanation for everything. We lose the wonder and ability to see more of what's there as we get older.

Not even having a past like mine or Bastion’s can really take that from you, not unless you let it. Possibilities are endless when you learn to lose yourself in something, whether it be internal; retreating from the world to create your own and get away from pain - or external. External is more difficult I think since the ability to 'see' gets lost somewhere along the way. Artists can retain some of that sight within whatever it is they create; the will to dream and fabricate something new, to bring things to life.

I think you'd be amazed at just how many there are, but they're passed off as something else. Delusional. Schizophrenic. Autistic. The list can go on really. The downfall of each being that they can no longer control how much they see, or they make what is there into something Dark, made of nightmares.

The ice forming above my hand is spinning slowly, hovering as it takes shape. Doesn't take long, could probably be almost instantaneous if the picture was clear enough on what I want it to do. I can see Xavier behind me, much closer than he had been, watching what's happening.

Instantly, the ice shapes into something that only recently became a visual on skin. Not sure if he can even see it on himself, so I now show him, making it larger than it is on flesh, the color much the same as it takes on a light blue. Think that's also more my doing, since water tends to take on the color of the particles within it. It's kind of dusty in here. Dusty water forming into ice doesn't seem very attractive.

Still slowly spinning, I raise it higher till it's hovering more in front of him. The larger, thicker circle containing the inner threads of a dreamcatcher, but instead of the usual webbing pattern, it's an intricate snowflake. He reaches out to it but pulls back before actually touching it.

"That's the mark on me, isn't it?"

I nod and stop its spinning so he can see it clearly. I smirk for a moment before questioning him.

"So how do you figure a bite mark turning into that?"

His lips quirk. As he's looking at it, I start my shifting. From being around others when they do theirs, each person gives off an energy while they morph, no matter the species. The best way I can explain it is a release of 'magic' coming from the body.

When I had gone against that tan Werewolf, I was able to keep the energy expended on a lower key to keep him from feeling it right away. When I had fought Nicolaus for a short span of time before his pet came in, the energy that had come from him was also low key. Faline's is really strong, almost like a small explosion.

Think that's more from the way she shifts though, her will bending the ability to come almost instantly. The amazing part is that it doesn't exhaust her to do so. The first ability I learned when I had been buried within my wolf was how to instantly shift, it comes with a price though; shifting to wolf or Were instantly has somewhat of a time clock on it. The length of time I spend in that form becomes how many hours of unconsciousness needed to recover.

In other words, when I go back to human, I better be somewhere safe because I will be passing out immediately. Passing out and staying out for however long I had been in the previous shape, longer if lots of energy was used from fighting or long constant travel.

Within a minute since I wasn't pushing it, I'm sitting as a Silver Wolf in front of the mirror, ice symbol still holding up. Amber eyes had gone to mine while I'd been shifting. The shift to yellow when looking into the mirror minutes before sticks since that's my wolf’s color. I stand and turn to face him head-on while he intently stares at me. Him dropping to his knees in front of me has the formed ice shattering.

Instead of falling, it just returns to a minuscule state within the air. The mirror also clears of the frost that had formed on its surface. Meanwhile, the man in front of me slouches while sitting on his legs.

Can't be very comfortable with the length of his torso, but I see none of it in his eyes. His intensity starts to worry me, so I cock my head. A large hand comes up and combs through the side of my face before the other follows suit on the other cheek.

He dips forward and lays a kiss on my forehead, then moves till his mouth is right at my ear as he speaks low.

"For ever the length of time you need me, I wish to stay by your side."

Pretty deep for the playboy, so I give him a way out.

"Oh, I don't know, if you think me mean now, I can only see that getting worse as I get older. You'll be tired of me by this time next year."

If I'm alive that is. His hair tickles my nose, being so close makes his scent strong. Don't know when it happened, but at some point, I started attributing his smell to mean home, just like Asher and Bastion.

His hands had clenched in my fur at my flippant reply, so I try to soften it.

"As long as you wish to stay, I will have you. You are welcome by my side anytime."

After all he's done for me, I can allow no less. His heart is thumping hard, so I step into him. The emotions coming off him so strong, I almost drown in them.

I catch thoughts passing as he has them. Memories. The long travels having lost their draw. A self-made loner feeling like he's missing something but not knowing what, spending many a night wrapped in some woman or another’s arms yet still feeling nothing. His looking for a home to settle down, hoping something will come from it. Hiring out his services to be able to build something of his own someday.

Xavier is actually really well off, having gotten large amounts for him to do this or that, mostly involving killing someone. That shit ain't cheap. He'd taken on one last job before his search for a spot to build on, never knowing that his last task would lead him to just what he wanted and just didn't know it.

A place where he was needed.

A place where he's still needed. Even Asher got drawn into the pull of what was originally me and a small lost boy. A place he can call his own, a family. The comfort of knowing he's no longer alone.

His thoughts and emotions tear at my own heart. Not sure if he meant for me to see it or not, so I just keep it to myself. Guys can be weird about that kind of stuff. Instead, I send him warmth, the knowledge that his presence in my home is a comfort. To both me and Bastion, hell, even to my pervy cat. That gets me a smile, can feel it form against me since he buried his face into my fur.

He finally lets go and pulls back, liquid amber eyes trying to avoid mine. I leave it alone and let him pull himself back together. Can't leave until he opens my door though, so I hope he doesn't take too long.

Moving closer to the door, I sit and wait, trying not to look too impatient. I'm tired though, so I'm not entirely sure what expression I'm wearing. Having been looking away from him so he can gather himself, the large hand coming down to rub at my ear comes as a delightful surprise. If canines could purr, now would be the best time. Eyes already heavy, they drop and I lean into the rubs. Kind of sad that as a human, you can't really feel the delight of touch that you do as an animal.

Having someone play in your hair is close, as I'm sure a back rub would be, but those can't compare to a good ear rub when in wolf form. When he pulls away, I almost fall over. He gives a small deep chuckle. Probably did that on purpose.

Nipping at his hand, I scratch at the door. Cuddle sleeps are calling my name. A long finger goes up the middle of my nose and stops to rub at a small area on the nose bridge between my eyes. That...is no fair. It feels amazing, so wanting him to stop so I can go out is in debate at the moment.

"Now who's being mean?"

My voice slips into his head, pitch low and lazy, sleepy. With a smile, he finally takes pity on me, opening the door and letting me out. Almost walk into Shade again on my way out. If he's going to constantly be underfoot, I may have an issue. Moving aside, he follows my progress into the living room, eyes larger than normal as he watches me. Makes you wonder if he's seen a female wolf before.

I share the thought with Xavier, who tries to stifle his laughter. Getting to the couch corner my Imp is still sleeping in, I nose him lightly. Sleepy blue eyes open, then smile as he lifts up so I can crawl in under his head. Moving into a position that has Bastion against my belly, head laid on my side while I curl around him, my long tail comes up and drapes over part of him as if a blanket. My head lays next to his bent legs, nose pointing out towards the room.

Being gawked at by a pair of brothers who just look dumbfounded is quite comical. Licking my muzzle gets followed by a yawn. Sleepy eyes watching them, Xavier's off to the side grinning at the staring near twins. They're both dressed, looking like they're about to go out.

"Going back to town?"

Even my projected voice is low and sleepy as I wait for their answer. Blinking their eyes out of their stupor, heads bob and features lighten into smiles.

"Does she always do that?"

Since they're not talking to me, I don't answer. Xavier nods, his own grin turning into a proud smile.

"Yes. If everyone beds down at the same time, we're in the basement, but she's always curled with the boy. Should see them when they wake up. Bastion climbs in his sleep."

He laughs. Guessing he's seen it happen. Probably ended up losing his pillow at my hip from the boy's dream travels. Can go to sleep with him next to me and wake with him on top of me. They join his laughter. Very amusing.

"If you guys don't mind, I'm going to take a nap. Xavier if you're staying here and awake, make sure Maii can get in, please."

He nods. Brothers are indeed going into town, going to look for jobs so they aren't 'mooching'. After they leave my eyes close, then open sometime later when my head is lifted into a warm lap. Xavier's scent filling my nose sends me back off into dreamland. A land that I had dreaded to go to at one point in my life, still fear going to it every now and then when memories have gathered too close to the surface that day. Really sucks considering some of my best ideas come when I'm sleeping.