Faline

Avina smiles, relaxing a bit once we get moving. We take the exact same way back, but the undead male isn't where he was earlier. Guess it would make things too easy if he had been.

Lame.

Getting back to the kitchen with no incidents occurring, I take in a deep breath. One thing my sister and I found out is that I can taste food through her. Whenever I'm home, she's going to be eating a lot of chocolate. Doesn't matter the form it's in.

Avina tries moving off to the side to assume the position.

"Don't you dare."

She looks startled for a moment. Looking around the room, I spot one of the stand-alone stools. Retrieving it, I set it next to my counters and point to it, much like I had with Maii. Having seen me do it to the boy, she grins and takes a seat.

"Alright animals, what's been made since I left? Come up with anything new? How are we on supplies?"

As if no time has passed at all, we get back into the swing of things. The drab room seems to brighten as I get everyone engaged in talking, even the ones coming in that aren't cooking or eating. Vampires come in as well, taking up positions around the room.

I scowl at them, but other than just standing around and talking in pairs, they're not harming anything. Kerry indeed hadn't started a list yet but mentioned she was going to be doing so soon. After I get a look through everything, we compare notes and smile.

She has a few extra items added for the things she's usually making, but other than that, we both have the same idea of items required. While writing it down I get some extra stuff put down as well. Food and drink items as well as a coffee maker, a list of teas, and the all-important; Smirnoff.

Have to smile when I write it down, just imagining whoever’s face as they pick it up. Several cases of each flavor. Not like it'll spoil if not drank right away. When Kerry asks what it is, I give her a grin.

"I found out when at home that there are certain alcohols that can be 'drank' by Vamps."

In saying that, I catch more direct attention from several. One I recognize from before; he having said he hadn't been out that much, so he wasn’t sure what a few of the items were that I was working with. I dip my head towards him before continuing on.

"Not mouthfuls obviously, but small amounts on the tongue and sipped at very slowly over a period of time. Won't get any of the effects of the booze of course, but the combination bite from it mixed with the flavoring makes it quite enjoyable."

Tapping the pencil on the table, I look to the Shifter female curiously.

"I haven't tried with other types, so I don't know if it depends on the alcohol content or the combination flavors. I think I tried with the red wine here before and it was God awful, but it was also meant for cooking, not actual drinking."

Can't remember what it was that had been made, just recall it being in the big pot that a lot of it had gotten poured into. Going to have to keep a good eye on it, don't want recovered alcoholic submissives getting a hold of any of it. Or any of them really. Don't think that would be a very good idea.

Glancing back over, the one Vampire has gone, as have a few others. A couple are still standing, tucked into the far corner as they look over the room and conspire in low voices. With all the noise in here and their low pitch, what they're saying can't be made out, and I can't lip read.

Wonder if the ones that had left went to make a booze run. The idea makes me smirk but it's highly doubtful unless they send someone else after it. Someone who isn't deathly allergic to that giant glowy ball in the sky.

An excited cry comes from the side doorway, causing me to look up as well as several others. A tiny frame comes running towards and stops just before she plows into me. Tiny as in real thin, not short, as she's five-foot even. Err, guess that would be short, huh?

"You're back! There were so many things said, I couldn't believe it, and here you are!"

Arms wrap around and pull me into a hug. My eyes fall on the healer in the doorway, looking exasperated. I smile at her, motioning her over as I try to detach from the teenager.

Danica, the girl I'd saved from that lawyer pedo, is looking at me with eyes so dark blue they could be black. Both are dressed in their tube tops, loincloths, and collars. Can't see them in some of the items I pointed out, so I’m going to have to go over it with Lady again.

Their uniforms are different for two reasons; one being they aren't 'available' to clientele, the other because of age. Danica is too young and the healer, while still in shape, is older and well...the healer.

That's one thing I'm very glad Lady doesn't do; wanting to keep pedophiles out and away from her business. Maii, when he was here, was also not available. His was a combination of age and his skittishness making him shift at random times.

Since most of her subs are from the streets, they come in a variety of ages. I think she tries to stay away from the younger ones, but they do turn up as well. Should ask if she knows anything about Maii; where he comes from and such. Would be really messed up if my sister gets adoption papers all signed and then finds out he has family looking for him. All sorts of awkward too, I'd imagine.

"Here I am, yes. Pretty sure most of what you heard is garbage. When hearing rumors go around, never believe what you hear. Always go to the source and find out the truth."

She nods as if I'm passing on some great wisdom. Hell, around here, it probably is. I spend a couple of minutes explaining everything to both of them, clearing up falsehoods and tall-tales. Both look relieved.

While Kerry talks to the girl about something she's making, I take the healer, who's actually named Trisha, off to the side with my list. Telling her that I plan on getting assorted teas, I ask if she needs anything specific and compare knowledge of herbal remedies.

Granted what I know is next to nil, she shares with me what she knows. She requests specific teas for so and so ailments, but other than that she doesn't need anything. Apparently she has her own list that goes to Lady on any items needed.

While talking with her about the leafy plants being more useful for the animals, their bodies taking it better than man-made pills, a newcomer comes in. I tense and look over him, the crew behind me also becoming a little uneasy at sensing my reaction. All except Lex, who comes up next to me.

"That's Seth. He's been coming here for years, just hasn't shown up lately. Not a bad guy, just...different."

That's putting it lightly. Over seven feet tall, covered in reddish fur with black markings that look tribal, and you’d swear he was blind if you didn't notice his reaction to visual stimuli. Even covered in fur, you can see the muscle tone.

Bent legs are thick and corded, tail swaying lightly behind him. Tufted ears are more pointed than round when in Were form and the scars over his face look like they were placed almost artfully. Four lines go down the left side, evenly spaced and a bit jagged with one going over the eye. Which helps the look of being blind, really. Standing in the doorway, he raises his arms and stretches. Good lord. Even fur-covered, male Weres do have dangly bits.

Just as when in complete animal form, the extras look much like any canines; sheath and rubbery looking balls. A loincloth could be worn, but clearly this guy passed on that option. Least he isn't in happy mode, so there's no red rocket going on.

Everyone gets back to work, but I keep an eye on him as he looks around, licking his muzzle. Trisha and Danica go on their way back to wherever, so I stand by my counter and look at this 'Seth' character. I've only seen my sister in her monster form once, and Anthony I usually tried avoiding period, so only had small glimpses here and there.

The fur going down his back is longer than the front, pelt not quite as thick as when on four feet. His ears quirking around actually seem cute to me, not sure why. Werewolf monster form does have similarities to the stories that had been passed around throughout the years, but it doesn't have that 'monstrous' feel to it.

Granted I'm sure it would if it were running you down or seen with blood on them, but other than that, it's just another animal. An upright one with human intelligence... Supposedly. Not saying they’re stupid, just...slap happy.

Just like the gun, it's only purpose is to kill. Knives also, but they're also made for other things. A gun is a gun is a gun. Nothing more or less, but always a tool of destruction.

A Werewolf, or any Were-animal in this form, is usually readying for some kind of fight, or spoiling for one. Kierra's now the more 'act first ask later' type, the wolf seeming to have a lust for battle literally bred into them. Wouldn't be too surprised, actually, if that were the case.

Every Werewolf movie I've seen to date doesn't have them done right, all but one anyway, and it isn't a Werewolf movie. The movie that's the closest to showing what a real Werewolf looks like, is ‘Van Helsing’; the one with Hugh Jackman.

When he becomes one towards the end of the movie, how he looks there is much like how the real ones look. Some features are different of course and they don't rip off their skins. The whole first feeding thing is also rubbish, same as killing the one who bit you canceling out the curse.

Silver also does not affect them, Kie proved that by messing with jewelry at home. No burning or melting of skin. She even went as far as slicing her arm open and pressing the silver into it. Nothing. The slice healed within two minutes, not even leaving a scar. The whole Wolfsbane we're not sure of yet, but pretty sure it's hooey as well. Were-animals may be just as immortal as Vampires, but do enough damage to where they can't heal enough in time and they can be killed.

From talking with Xavier and Asher, the only reason my sister had been so close to death was her shifting to human when she did. She was seriously hurt, yes, but shifting made it a mortal wound. If she'd stayed in her monster form and had a little bit of tending, everything would have been fine.

The one reason Nicolaus got away with doing so much damage to them was because they weren't in monster form. If either the maned wolf or cursed wolf had gone full Were mode, they could have torn him apart in minutes or less. When in that form, Were-animals have more strength than your run of the mill Vamp.

If the Vampire is older, more experienced with fighting Weres, or has abilities that can aid them, then it's possible for a single undead to take on a Were one on one and come out victorious. If that Vampire is outnumbered, he's as good as dead if he doesn't get out of there fast. Lady, for example, could probably take on one and come out on top since she has the ability to grow animal claws in human form.

Vamps already have sharp nails, but claws are way more effective when what you're fighting has a thick coat of fur and layers of muscle. We're very strong, yes, but not as well equipped. Sister and I should practice while she's in that form, but she wouldn't strike at me like I'd need her to do. Don't think she'd let Xavier do it either - she'd have his head.