Faline

We go for the furthest one first and get the door opened. Her smell isn't familiar, so I'm not sure what animal she is, just know she's a Were. The image that meets me is pretty much the same as Tasha had been.

Reaching out for a water bottle, I go in. Her eyes peek over knees that have been drawn up, white skin showing new and old bruises.

"I can't tell what kind of critter you can turn into, just that you’re a Were-animal. Did you hear everything earlier?"

Light blue eyes blink at me as I hold out the water. She nods as she reaches for it, the scars on her arms telling the story of previous pain trying to be ended. Self-inflicted slashes cover her wrists and inner arms.

Doesn't look like it had been too serious at first, but then something happened. They get thicker, newer, and angry looking. Although I'm sure a lot of the redness is from the rubbed raw skin caused by hanging in leather cuffs.

"What's your name?"

Just as Tasha did, she chugs down the water. Recent whip lashes line her sides and the red bandage covering the removed brand will have to be looked at for sure. Other scars line her body from previous beatings but hopefully we'll be able to get those to fade more.

"Chandrika, and I'm a hyena."

My head cocks in curiosity as I kneel in front of her. The low voice sounding just as raw as her skin.

"Hyena, huh? I think you're the first one I've met. Mostly cats around here, but wolves are also common. Will you have any problems being near them?"

She hesitates then gives a shrug.

"Can you stand? Bath or shower? Tub should be full by now. I want to have the other female, the Shifter, come with at the same time, might make it easier for both of you to be near someone familiar."

Chandrika stands easily enough, still some wincing going on, which is to be expected. When upright, she's about five inches taller than me. Everyone is taller than me. Somethin' wrong with this picture.

"I would like the bath and her name is Thessily, she’s a clouded leopard. I never saw her in animal form, but she told me when I asked once. She doesn't talk much."

Making a sound of acknowledgment, we exit the room and go for the next room. Thessily. Real pretty name. She's one who'd been brought up front when we'd gotten there.

Even then I could tell that she was starting to fade under the mask that she’d been showing. Few more days, maybe a week, and she would have become a hollow shell. Able to walk around and give a little interaction, but otherwise dead.

Looking at the hyena next to me, I scowl. She looks younger than Tasha. Short brown hair is cut in a 'butch' style and body shape is closely reminiscent of Lady.

"Chandrika? How old are you?"

Her body may be young, but the one behind those eyes is much older.

"Year younger than the other girl; sixteen."

I wince then move to open the heavy door enclosing the female Shifter. She's sitting cross-legged in the middle of the room, towel loose and not really covering anything as most of it is in her lap and under her.

"Thessily? Come with me please?"

She stands immediately and comes close. The movement, however, was taken as a command, not a desire to be out of the room. She's handed a water bottle but just looks at it, her towel having been dropped and forgotten.

Her features look Mexican with big dark brown eyes, long dark brown hair with sun blond streaks, and the same height as the hyena. Even though she's taller compared to me, she seems shorter with her 'smallness'. Thin, yes, and slightly hunched into herself. Much like Avina, actually, though not quite with the bird-like fragility. She bears the same marks as the others, plus more.

She has no markings on her face, unlike the others who had gags on. Her wrists and ankles are still semi-raw with bruising here and there, but much of the actual scarring looks older. Trisha is able to get her to drink the water, after the first swallow she takes it readily. With as submissive as she is, she had to have been there for a while.

We make our way to the washroom, I watch her the whole time. She keeps her head down, eyes as well and keeps right at my side. My heart hurts for the girl as I hope we can bring her back, but I've never tried anything like this before.

The tub is indeed full, even still steaming. If you've ever seen Roman bathhouses, this is much like that, just deeper. It's sunken at least three feet, don't know for sure since I've never been in one. Thessily does move a little closer to Chandrika, so it was probably a good idea to bring them together.

"How long were you guys there for?"

My question gets put off as they both step into the water, the Weres towel having been dropped somewhere. Her back is crisscrossed in thin old and new scars. Looks much the same way mine does, or did, I would think.

The hyena sinks into the water immediately, going under before coming back up. If either feels stinging to their wounds, it isn't shown. The dazed-looking Shifter blinks a few times as she watches the other girl.

The look she gives me for direction has me floundering till I just motion for her to go ahead. She stands there for another minute looking lost. Dammit. Keeping my sigh to myself, I retrieve a couple of washcloths and start stripping.

When just as nekkid as they are, I kneel down and sit on the edge, handing Chandrika one while I keep the other. Soap is given to us by way of Danica, who's holding the papers so they don't get wet. I'd seen this done in movies, so I don't know if it actually helps with anything or is just another Hollywood way of showing tits within a film.

She hadn't gone far, but I motion her closer to me. Sitting on the edge, butt on the cold tile, my legs are submerged. I inch closer so I don't seem so opposed to touching or being near her. Leaving the bandage alone for now, I turn her so her back is to me and pull her long hair up and do a quick braid so it doesn't get in the way too much. I wet the cloth in the warm water, then wring it out over her shoulders and back. Unlike the others, she doesn't have various dried fluids on her skin. Does have some bruising around her neck though, the shape of fingers quite visible. Clenching my jaw, I immerse myself in doing what I can.

I start humming so it isn't so quiet, just random notes before a song gets caught up and stuck in my head. Habit has me going right into what I'd be doing at home; singing aloud. Think I startle quite a few, but I ignore them and go on.

Elvis Presley's 'Don't Be Cruel' flows from me in a rather butchered manner, but it comforts me if nothing else. Probably isn't very appropriate, but when is it ever when a song gets looped in your head randomly? I'm able to keep myself from bobbing around like an idiot, but my feet tap underwater.

No one joins in, but that isn't surprising. Either too young or just plain haven't heard.

Oh, oh! Found a perfect way to annoy the lord of the castle.

When her computer is open, I'll have to get to it and get a playlist started that doesn't stop and is on repeat. The very thought brings a smile to my face. Will have to get random and completely dorky tunes going, and I know the perfect one.

She will have it stuck in her head all day. Big bad Vampire with the dreaded 'I'm a Gummy Bear' song looping in her brain and giving her no peace. I'm a freakin' genius. Of course, now it's stuck in my head, but I'm able to keep from singing it aloud. That really would be embarrassing.

I'd gone from wringing water over her, to lightly scrubbing till white and sudsy. I glance up after a while and motion Trisha to look over the hyena. Pretty name that it is, it's too long. Need to shorten it to a nickname.

"Chandrika, do you have a nickname you go by or can I shorten it so it's more efficient?"

She looks startled, but smiles and nods.

"Old friends used to call me Rika, is that alright?"

Smiling myself, I nod. Letting the healer do her thing while I try to rub some life into the girl in front of me.

"Thessily... That sounds like something I'd learned years ago in school. An area near Greece, I think. Pronounced differently, so more than likely spelled differently too. From what I remember of pictures, it's a beautiful place."

All I'm getting is random blinks, but I keep going. Being impersonal isn't that hard, her thin frame trembles lightly and some of the marks I go over have me hesitating though. Moving her forward, I slip into the water.

My legs being in the water has warmed them, but the rest of me is pretty cool. Need to feed if I want to feel warmer, but that isn't very important right now. Going over her chest has her wincing, so I apologize.

Bruises don't have to be visible to hurt, and breasts are very tender when manhandled. I lighten my touch as much as possible while still being effective at washing. Steadily heading south, I stop over the healed over wounds on either side of her belly.

Although 'belly' usually implies a roundness, and that isn't the case here. If anything it's more on the opposite side. Not starved, but well on her way. The thick roundish mounds of scar tissue line both sides; four old puncture wounds.

Doesn't take much guessing as to what it's from. Kierra has given and received much the same marks. Claws had been pushed into her body, and with the overall size, I'd say they went deep.

I look up at her, my emotion showing on my face. She's watching me but still gives no reaction. Brown eyes are dark and have a 'fadedness' to them, but they aren't 'empty'. There's still time as long as she doesn't retreat anymore.

"I can't give the comforting words that you will be safe here, can't give them to any of you, although I wish I could and actually mean it. Everyone here has seen and felt the worst that someone else can do to another person. I can't change what has already been done, but I'm hoping I can change where you go from here. This place is by no means perfect, there are those who can be just as cruel."

I give her, Trisha, and Rika a conspirator’s grin, eyes glinting.

"Although, between you and me, I will enjoy weeding them out and making sure they feel just as much pain. You can ask some of the others around here, although I'm sure most of what you'll hear is overly exaggerated, about the others I've...taken to task."

Trisha and Danica nod when the hyena looks to them. I smile proudly before clearing my throat and getting back to serious matters.

"As of today I've been given the task to look over you all, I just hope even after all you've been through, that you can understand if I blunder now and then. If there's a home you have to return to, tell me and I will try my damnedest to get you back to it. Within reason, of course, I will not give you to some previous pimp or handler."

Hadn't thought of that, but it is a possibility if they felt 'safe' with that person. My brow furrows as I file it.

"As I said before, this place is in no way perfect, but I'm trying to make it better. You will have a bed, roof over your head, warm food readily available, and 'basic' safety. I'm sure all you new animals know all about the cruelties of most Vamps. There are many here and it's even run by a woman who drives me up the wall. It's because of her though, that we were able to get you all out of there."

Drive me up the wall indeed, but she does have some seeming good qualities, even if they are directed for other purposes.

"If you haven't noticed yet, I can ramble on. Once Trisha gives the all-clear for the both of you, you'll be taken to a room where you can shift and rest. Since you all came from the same place, you know each other’s scent, so I thought it'd be comforting for you to sleep next to one another."