Kierra

He blinks at me, raising a brow in disbelief. Who knew that my dislike of kids would end up biting me in the ass. Keeping eye contact, I shrug.

"They needed a place and someone to lean on for a bit, I can sort of provide that."

"They're street kids? And you took them in?"

My gaze becomes hard, annoyed at the almost distaste in his voice.

"They come from backgrounds like my own, so yes, I took them in. You know how fucked the system is. Tell me they'd be better somewhere else with someone who hasn't a clue what they're going through. Yes, I may not be the best person, I may not have what all they need, I may be the worst person they could possibly be with, but because of the shit I went through in the system, I know what not to do."

He raises his hands and backs off a step, but looks over to Rika.

"Kie, you don't have the room for them all. Each is old enough to need a room of their own, you only have two and they're taken. And you know just as I do that things can go wrong."

My arms cross as I follow his gaze. The young WereHyena is keeping her eyes down, petting the fox in her lap. The forming moisture in her eyes has my hackles raising even more.

"A new place has been bought, we'll be getting moved in after the holiday, and I know all too well how wrong things can go. Because of that, I know what to look for and what all to do to keep it from happening."

Well, I hope I do anyway. Fostering kids from fucked up backgrounds can go in so many directions, and not all good. Just have my own to look at for experience in that.

My heart clenches, but I push it away and glare at my friend who's only trying to help. He looks exasperated yet stubborn. I know I'm way out of my depth here, but I can't turn them away, not when I know what's out there waiting for them.

Would be so much easier if I could tell him everything, but that would be a disaster.

"Look, Tristan. You don't have to agree with me, but this is how it is for now. If something comes up that I can't handle, I promise I'll get someone else. Someone 'professional'. What's the difference between them and me anyway?"

He gives me a droll look, but I see it in his eyes that he's scrambling.

"They have schooling? Degrees and experience? Government funding?"

I laugh. Have to give him that one.

"Alright, so I don't have that last one, but the others? I don't need a degree, a piece of paper, to know how to help or talk to someone. It's getting schooling from that, that deadens them to what that child more than likely requires. No, I'm not schooled for it, but I have more experience with it than any of them can hope for. Only thing I can't do is prescribe meds, and if that pops up as something needed, then we'll cross that bridge as it comes."

Uncrossing my arms, I hook my thumbs in my pockets. Might help in pleading my case if I don't look like a petulant child myself. Tristan sighs, looking over to the girl once more.

"None of them have safe family they can go to?"

Before I can answer, Rika speaks up.

"My family kicked me out because my views differed from theirs, then I got picked up by worse people. Being here is the safest I've felt for weeks. Please don't take that away from me... From any of us."

Have to be inhuman to not take those words to heart. Tristan's face softens, defeated by a girl half his age. His whole argument falters as he looks back to me, stubbornness filling his eyes once more.

"If they need more help than what you can give, you have to hand them over to the proper authorities. You can't be selfish about this Kie, not if they need something more than you."

I nod. Hell, I know I'm in way over my head. If it were just me like Tristan's thinking, I couldn't do it. Probably still can't, but I have help. Most of them being animals, they have the support given by that side as well.

"Are they all considered missing kids?"

Blinking at him, I balk. Shit, that never really came up. Well, aside from Bastion and the man looking for him. Chandrika shakes her head, so that's one, err, two down. Maii? Nope. Kani? No, he's of age, and Diego was abandoned. So thankfully I can shake my head.

"No. Different takes on abandonment for each of them. If something comes up for family actually looking for any of them, I'll check things out first."

That should cover bases if he were to hear of the search for Bastion. Thinking about it, not sure if Frank went to the police about it, or it's all word of mouth. No, police would be too risky in his business. Wouldn't it?

Tristan nods but doesn't look too thrilled. Guilt pangs through me that I can't tell him all of it, but it wouldn't be safe for him. He always took mine and my sister's fondness of the supernatural as craziness.

Fondness of shape-shifters and Vampires before we knew it was real. All pristine fuzzy bunnies turning out to be fanged darkness with a grudge. We knew before that it wasn't all sunshine and daisies, but I don't think either of us realized it would be as bad as it turned out to be.

Tristan stays for a few more minutes, then leaves with me telling him to call Ava to let her know to add a place setting. Not the real reason, but as a warning that another unknowing-human will be joining. All this hush-hush stuff really sucks, so now I know how Ava felt for years when she couldn't tell me.

Pretty sure as the years go on, my not looking any different will be questioned by both friends and family. Really not sure how I'm going to deal with all that. My forehead rests against the door as I listen to the vehicle pulling out and away, then stand upright as I hear the shifting of couch material.

"If we're too much trouble, me and Diego can go elsewhere. We don't want to be a burden."

I smile at her as she stands there, small fox in her arms with a look of trepidation. Taking the few steps closer, I reach out and rub the kit’s ear.

"You aren't. You're both welcome here for as long as you wish to be. I've gotten so used to talking to other animals that I forget there are people close to me that know nothing of what's going on. Tristan wouldn't be one to take this world with any type of grace, and telling him would just make his life hell. Same with my family other than my sister."

The rubs ease down over his cheek to under his chin, dark green eyes watching me intently as Diego weighs my words.

"But like I told Tristan; if any of you need something more, you have to tell me. I won't be able to be around all the time as there are things that need to be done, but I will make sure there's someone that you trust nearby. Once we get moved into the new place, if there's something wrong in my home, you can run to Ava's and let her know. Alright?"

Pulling my hand away, they both nod. Eyes still guarded but wanting to hope.

Safe.

Such a small word, yet so hard to find these days. Not just for those around here, but everywhere.

Glancing down, I see the marks showing the very lack of the sense. Reaching to move fur out of the way, more is revealed. She pulls away, turning to walk away when I clear my throat.

Chandrika stops, but her head is down once more. Moving to face her head-on, I hold out my arm to show her she wasn't the only one. A cutter. Scars older than the ones that were given recently cover her inner arms. Attempted suicide scars.

Mine are much more faded, having healed over years before becoming a Werewolf, but they're still there. Faint, but I'll always be able to see them.

"Wasn't lying when I said I have a background similar to all of yours. I'm guessing yours are from feeling so conflicted about your gender preference, yes?"

Can be pretty sure that isn't all of it, but a decent size from what she's said of her relatives. When she nods, I raise her chin higher so she can look at me.

"Don't have to worry about others judging you here. With everything you've gone through just recently, it shows just how strong you are. Strong enough to make it through and still be intact is a major thing. Don't sell yourself short Chicky, you are worth it. You're officially a warrior."

I smile when she gives me a look telling me I'm being ridiculous, but I keep up with it.

"It may not feel like it now, but when you feel more sure of yourself and those around you, you'll come to see it just as I do."

She gives a small smile, but it's pretty obvious she still doesn't believe it. Stuff like this takes time and lots of it. Right now it's space that's needed, but I have to poke and prod just a little more.

"Rika? I hate to ask this after everything that's happened, but I need you to tell me more about where you were. Who they were, things you might have seen."

That last part is just all sorts of wrong, and I'll be sure to specify when needed. Going after the people I am and hearing what they went through, seems too much of a coincidence not to be connected. She winces and clutches the tiny fox to her, but she gives a nod.

Smiling at how brave she's being, we sit and I wait till she's visually ready. It takes a person a moment when having to rewind to a part of their life they'd rather forget. I know that all too well.

Chandrika nor Diego know too much, the men's names and what she observed of each. Whenever the name Geoffry is mentioned, Diego shivers and shrinks down.

A Werewolf who abused them more than any other; took pleasure in causing pain and would rape even if you tried retreating into animal form. My own experience of that goes through my head, and both events have my eyes flashing yellow. Explains why they're so nervous around the brothers and even me in Diego's case.

I write down all the names she recalls, none of them sounding familiar from those Benjamin has mentioned. Rika had found out later that it had been my sister who'd killed a couple men and helped out with the Weres death. Can't help but smile at that, fucked up as it is.

'My sister has killed two men? Fantastic!'

Yeah, hardly what you'd expect, but with the way things seem to have become... I'll take their deaths over an innocent’s any day. The fact that it's my little sister doing it? Well, I know she can handle herself and isn't squeamish. Still messed up, but oh well.