Kierra

Once inside, Xavier is at the kitchen table with the boys explaining blade mechanics.

"Hate to interrupt guys, but gonna have to pause for a bit. Bastion can you get Asher dried off? He may have his own spot but that doesn't mean it needs all gunked up. Maii can you grab one of the larger beach towels for me?"

Both hop to do their requests while I look at Xavier. He's looking at the bundle in my arms with a raised brow, but I think he recognizes the scent as well. At one point or another, I'm sure we all tried to find him.

"Are all the blades off my bed?"

"No, but they can be. Where do you want me to put them?"

Nowhere really to put them, but thankfully everyone here is relatively responsible.

"Counter for now I guess. How're they doing so far?"

His smile before leaving can either mean very well or he has a lot of work cut out for him. Ben comes in and takes the desk chair. Can't say I blame him, being in a house surrounded by Were-animals.

Maii comes up with a huge towel, looking curious. Telling him to follow me, we go to my room where I have him lay the towel out over the knife cleared bed, folded once. Even folded it's very large.

Carefully putting the sleeping fox on the towel, I pull back. He’s so tired he doesn't even move, so I curl his tail close to him. I have no idea how he looks as a human so no clue on sizes. So, for now, he just gets left on the towel. Looking over to Maii, I explain that this is our resident fox that has been slipping past Asher for over a week. He makes an ‘O’ face, then smiles.

"Watch out for mister cranky out there, he's mad I took his chew toy away."

A hand goes over his mouth as if containing a laugh, glinting blue eyes holding the mischief mine are. What he doesn't hear though is the black wolf rolling around my brain as if a cat on nip.

Aloud he grumbles since everyone heard me. Winking at the coyote, we head back out, me snagging a new shirt as we go. Light gets left on so he can see right away where he is if he wakes, door left open an inch. A house full of supernaturals, he isn't going too far without someone noticing.

Into the bathroom to clean up and change shirts, then to the living room where I lean against the end of the bookshelf right at the mouth of the hallway. Looking out over the main living area brings a smile to me, not sure why.

Benjamin, still in the desk chair and Asher in his usual spot on the original couch, just turned the opposite way so he's not staring at the wall. Bastion is sitting with him, showing and talking about the blade he's holding. Would be a little nervous, but he isn't playing with it in any way, just holding and turning it.

Maii is sitting on the ottoman facing the brothers on the longer side of the new couch. Seems he's trying to follow along as they talk about bikes, but the boy just looks confused. Xavier seems to have claimed the other end of the ‘U’, where it's wider and not as long.

Leaning back with his arms crossed behind his head as he watches my Imp, long legs are stretched out along the cushion. Biting my lip and trying to be as unobtrusive as possible, I go in and get my phone from the counter close to the fridge. Bringing up the camera and pointing it out into the room.

Only ones to really notice is Benji, since I walked in front of him, Xavier, since he's always watching me, and Asher. Zooming in just a little, I get them all in frame and snap a picture. Grinning as if I accomplished something amazing, I put the phone down and go back to the hallway.

Know I'll start pacing so I don't see the point in sitting down. Having never done anything like this, I feel all sorts of awkward. So to get started, I ask Zypher and Shade if they know anything about what's going on. When I start talking, Bastion sets the butterfly knife onto the coffee table and turns to face me. Maii as well spins around, his legs drawn up and folded. When the brothers shake their heads, I sigh, having no real idea where to start.

"Alright, let's see. You guys were filled in on the whole prophecy bollocks, factions, and recently passed events, yes?"

Nods, faces grim. Heh, if they're grim now it's just gonna get worse.

"Mkay, I wouldn't bother saying anything but since you're under my roof, I figure you should know since it will bring nothing but trouble. Trouble, danger, and very bloody fights."

I'm stalling, think everyone sees it. Reinforcing my spine, I go on.

"For the last seventeen years at least, there’ve been people, young adults and kids mostly, coming up missing. It's recently come to my attention to just what's going on, I don't know just how far it goes, but so far it's enough. There's a human trafficking ring active here."

Feet are now pacing, not even looking up to faces as I go back and forth.

"Not just human, but Shifter and Were as well. My sister and I got a hold of a few members and got enough information to at least get a point of where to start. There's a man looking for Bastion claiming family ties, he's not related in any shape or form, he's part of this ring. From what I've heard from Alarico, he knows about supernaturals and knows a 'pale-colored wolf' has the child he's looking for."

Have to work at keeping on track and not branching out like I have a habit of doing.

"His name is Frank Mallory and he knows at least a few down at Howler's Bane are wolves. The humans that jumped us in town I'm guessing are also part of this ring, either knowing I'm the one who has him or a whole separate faction that is wrapped up in prophecy babble."

I wave my hand in the air at the mention of that damn foretelling. Talk about trouble.

"With Benjamin's help, we've been able to gather more names and where the money is going. He's been slowly bleeding the accounts he finds, filtering the money out elsewhere. So far we know of a judge, few lawyers, some cops, and even a priest are involved. That's not counting the other people who are 'high members of society'.

I practically spit that out. Those of so-called privilege looking down at the ones they step on just to acquire more money or status. I was quite happy being a simple nobody.

"Pretty sure this spreads out everywhere, but I'm damn sure going to get a hold of it here. Personal to both me and Bastion, I promised that they would all suffer. Thanks to paranormal retardedness, help from others is minimal, which is fine. I don't want anyone involved that doesn't want to be."

My hands are wringing in front of me as I continue my circuit. The more who know about this the more who're in danger. Is it really fair of me to put this on any of them? Even with all my bluster, I need help with this. Can't do it all myself. Wouldn't have a clue how to do any of what Ben has done, or even Alarico.

Can hear Benji talking, but I'm so focused in my head that I don't hear it. Taking down the lower tiers is one thing, but going higher will prove to be much more difficult, I'm sure. How does one go after a judge without getting caught? Let alone the lawyers.

Can I guarantee Bastion and Maii's safety if they come for me here? How do I prevent any possible blowback? Faline has shown interest in helping, but she's restricted by that annoying shiny thing in the sky. Not like any of this can really be done during the day...or can it? Planning is definitely going to take a lot of time. I don't expect any of them to help me with the messy part, I'm fully capable and willing to keep all that blood on my hands.

I'm abruptly stopped when I walk into a body. I catch myself easily enough, blinking at the wide chest before looking up, his arm also out to catch me if I start falling. Zypher is looking at me with his gray-blue eyes, long purple braid hanging over his shoulder. Think this is the most serious I've ever seen him look. Blinking, I take another step back.

"What? I'm sorry, I didn't hear anything you just said. Wasn't ignoring anyone on purpose, just focused in my head."

His serious face softens a little but it’s still pretty focused. Looking away from him, his brother, Shade, is standing right at his side, per usual. Same serious expression, but he's pretty reserved anyway.

Xavier is sitting more upright on his cushion and Benji is staring at me. Can feel my face heat up, hair follicles prickling on my scalp.

"What? What's wrong?"

Getting a range of expressions, Xavier finally speaks up since no one else will.

"You have a habit when you pace, you talk under your breath. Not always full sentences, but enough that we can figure out what you're thinking."

My face flames instantly. Benjamin had been talking, I heard that before I went into my head. Major rudeness there, but when I look over to apologize he's grinning and shaking his head.

"I've seen you do that a couple of times before, I know you don't mean to do it."

Well, thank frick for that. Looking back to the brothers, I'm about to apologize to them as well when they do the same thing as Ben. Crossing my arms over my chest, I look over them all.

"Well, I'm sorry anyway. I apologize for dragging you all into this. You’re supposed to feel safe here, yet being anywhere around me isn't."

They all chuckle at me, which is highly annoying, so I scowl. Zypher bringing up a hand to face me draws my attention.

"Speaking for my brother and myself, we're perfectly fine here. Should know by now wolves are always up for making trouble and it being for a good reason just makes it better. Worth it. You have our word that we'd stay, said we'll help any way we can, we meant it. Don't have to take this all on yourself when there are many who are ready and willing to stand at your back and side."

Uhh. How does one respond to that exactly? A blush colors my cheeks again, yet I smile anyway.

"Hope you all know what you're getting into because this isn't going to be easy or clean by any means."

Smiles all around the room, even the boys. Asher is hesitant but happy how things are working for me. Slipping in gently, I ask if he's alright.

"I'm proud of you. You've really stepped up, even your sister is doing her part. There aren't too many who can do what you're doing and stick with it but I think you will. You have those here as well as many others who will be willing and even wanting to help you."

His words seem off to me, a tingling in my brain signifying a deja vu moment as well as a tug at my heartstrings. I look over to him, but his head is down as he mocks sleep. Pushing won't get me any answers, so I leave it for now, feeling uneasy.

While I'd been buried in my own head, Benji did get all his info out to them. Same stuff I heard outside so I didn't miss much. It's amazing anyone can have a smile with the gravity of the situation, but you can only do so much at a time.