Kierra

Claws and muscle recede, eyes slowly turn back to my normal green. I stand there, looking out over where the wolves ran. Not sure how long I'm there when my arm is touched.

"Are you okay?"

Looking over to the blue-eyed boy, I run my gaze over him. When I found him he'd been a starved, dirty little thing. Now he's cleaned up, clothed, and fed. Wanted for his looking much younger than he is.

Twelve years old yet looks years younger. Since having him, he's grown a couple inches and looks healthier. Should probably still get him to some kind of physician to make sure he's indeed healthy. Alarico has one, doesn't he?

"I'm good, Imp. Just lost in thought. Diego has had to deal with the same stuff you did before I found you. He may be a little older than you, but in many ways, he could be considered the same or younger."

My fingers comb through his shaggy hair, hair I thought he'd want to be rid of but wants to grow out.

"Think I'm in over my head; taking on so much."

I smile at him, knowing that it's an understatement of massive proportions. Looking into his eyes, I pray once again that I don't fail him.

"I know you haven't been with me long, everything's moving so fast and I think it's finally catching up with me. So much change all at once has me second-guessing myself."

Confiding to a twelve-year-old is probably foolish, but it involves him and he deserves to know. His nervousness is beating at me, his fear of being abandoned. Cupping his face, I make him look at me before he can turn away and go cold.

"You and Maii are mine, that's not changing. You will always be with me. Least till you're of age and tired of me."

Smiling, I lean down and touch my forehead to his.

"You two are stuck with me, taking on my name and everything. I'll be telling my mother about the two of you tomorrow, telling her that you're mine. Not sure how she'll react, but it doesn't matter one way or the other."

Pulling back, I wipe away a tear that's escaped his luminous eyes.

"Remember, I said it would be a learning experience for both of us, each of us learning about the other as we go along. Hiccups will be made, but we'll get through them as long as we talk to each other."

I stop at that, Maii popping into my head. Not sure how it's going to work with him, but with him joining the others in the Shifter school, hopefully, we'll be able to communicate easier later.

"Think one thing the three of us should do is learn sign language. I know a little but not enough to hold a conversation. Will make things easier for Maii I think."

He nods, his faith restored in knowing he won't be left out in the cold. Not just taking on two kids, but two boys. Which was supposed to be easier? Boys or girls? I'm so in for it.

Wrapping an arm around him, I lead us to the house.

"By the way, that was Benjamin on the phone. He'll be coming by in a couple hours to pick me up. We're going to check out a place that is tied in with the Ring I'm looking for. Might find some information on Frank."

Bastion winces at the name. Probably always will. To this day I can't stand the name 'James' or 'Jim'. I avoid people with that name as much as I can.

"Xavier is going to stay with you guys, Shade and the others will be home in a few hours. House is going to be crazy full, so I'm going to bring the TV back out. I've seen you look through the movies, what do you want to watch first?"

His eyes light up even more as we go in. The big-screen television had been moved into my room so it wouldn't break during various issues. With so many stuck in one small area, bringing it back out, I think, is the best idea. Not everyone likes reading or doing puzzles.

Image of Zypher sitting down to do one is just all sorts of weird.

Bastion runs off while I turn into my room and pull off the sheets put over it. Getting it out to the living room is easy enough, finding a spot for it, however, proves to be more interesting.

Finally decide to just leave it so it faces both couches. Pushed forward enough so it isn't in the middle of the walkway or floor. Extension cord and hookups, and it's all set.

The Imp comes forward, a movie in his hands. My smile couldn't possibly get any wider at his choice.

"You know, once upon a time, when I was really young, I had snuck downstairs at my grandparents and seen that on. My grandfather was watching it, and instead of yelling at me to go back to bed, he called me over to watch it with him. Ever since then, he was my horror movie buddy."

Of course he found his fun by scaring you at key points in a movie, laughed at you, then gave a sweet of some kind. Usually chocolate. I miss my grandfather.

Bastion smiles as he looks down at the Child's Play movie set. Some kids you don't want watching horror movies till they're older, but I think that's hogwash. Some keep withheld, sure, but not all. My parenting probably needs some work.

Xavier comes in from the basement, his clothes kept below. T-shirt and another pair of sweats. Will need to replace the other pair. Won't be easy to find with his long-ass legs.

Rubbing at his head with a damp towel, his eyebrows raise when he sees the TV.

"Bad parenting tip: When you want to keep those within the household occupied for longer than five minutes: get a TV."

He smiles at my remark, but my eyes are drawn to his hair. Obsession indeed. Tearing them away, I look for the others. Maii is at the corner with Tigger's cat tree, playing with the fat cat and getting bopped on the nose repeatedly.

Would be worried, but claws aren't out and the derpy cat is in play mode. The whole image is cute, having me smile once more. Young coyote playing with a tabby housecat.

Kani is in the kitchen, scrounging for food, it would seem. Does sound good, and soon as I think about it my stomach growls.

"Chandrika and Diego are downstairs. What happened?"

Xavier gets my attention once more, his tone having me raise a brow.

"Couple young Reds didn't know Diego is one of mine. A lesson was taught."

His expression clearly shows he isn't happy, not sure what his problem is. Turning to Bastion, I ask him to go ask the others if they would like to join him. He nods, sliding a quick glance to the man beside me.

"You didn't touch them did you?"

Stepping back and looking up at him, I give him a droll look.

"I'm not an idiot Xavier. No, I didn't touch them, just scared them and gave warning."

He nods, watching me go into the kitchen. He gets ignored while I fix myself something quick. Need to shower then get ready. Standing at the counter chewing at a bland sandwich, I watch the others as they find spots to get comfortable.

Maii and Diego are still in animal form while the rest are human. Rika gets it set up for them, doing a double-take on the movie chosen. Looking over to me, I nod with a grin. Grunting, she finishes up.

I head for the shower, tossing my boots into my room first. Think it's the quickest shower I've ever taken in my life. And that's saying something.

I make it back to my room with no mishap, drying while inside, making sure the door is shut firmly. I'm not into the BDSM scene, but I am dominant. Not a Dominant, just dominant. No one’s toy or submissive. Couldn't even act like one if I tried. Too much attitude.

Rummaging in the box again, I pull out a pair of black leather pants. Nothing too fancy, small spikes decorating the pocket areas and down the outer legs being as fancy as it gets. Now I remember why when I could wear them, I didn't too often; underwear lines.

For the smooth lines one usually goes for, underwear is either a barely-there thong or nothing at all. Since I don't care for butt flossing, I just go without. Sweating is going to be the problem now since it gets really hot in leather, really quick.

Hopefully we aren't inside too long and outside stays cold. Can just rotate in and out if needed. A pain, but rather that than to start smelling funky.

Looking in the box, I glare at the corset top, debating on being able to get away with just a snarky t-shirt. Big busty girl in a braless top showing lots of skin really isn't my thing. Will definitely fit in with the goth crowd being as pale as I am.

There are shoulder straps, but still. Wiggles and jiggles galore, and beware of any bending over. Then again, that's usually how you can tell if it's on right. If you fall out, it's not tight enough. Charming, isn't it?

Luckily this one has buckles as well as ties, but it still gives massive lift that I don't care for. A lot of bigger girls like to show off their...assets - I don't. Whole self-conscious thing.

Putting it on, I look in the mirror in dismay. Well, I can indeed wear it again, but the ties need to be tightened. The back ones. I look at my reflection in disgruntled disgust.

Going for the door, I poke my head out and call for Rika. Could call Kani, but even gay, he's still male. It's a thing, okay? Bear with me. Stepping back inside, she finds me glaring at myself.

"Would like your assistance. Need the ties in the back tightened."

Smirking, she comes in and shuts the door. For sure comes in handy to have another female around. Especially one that doesn't kick my territorial issues into high gear. Couple more years and Chandrika might show up on my radar, being as pretty as she is, but right now she's still too young. Of course, it's now that she's in here that I recall her saying she's into females, not males. Eh, that doesn't bother me.

"Do you have any fishnets?"

At her question, my eyes go to my arms. You'd think they'd be slimming, but I picture fat bulging through the material.

"I don't, no. Faline does but I have no idea where."

"I do, hang on."

I look at her in curiosity, but she's already taken off. Doesn't take her long to return with a small black bundle in her hands.

"I'd seen them when you were going through her closet, she has them on a hanger with various other colors and lengths. These I think will look just right."

Not being a fashion bug, I'll take her word on it. While she works on my back ties, I pull the fishnet gloves on. Looped around the middle finger and thumb, the net reaches to mid-upper arm. Have to agree, it doesn't look that bad.

Just like the rest of me, my arms have slimmed down as well, becoming less jiggly and more firm. Thicker and muscled before, but still had an overabundance of fat. I blame the bread. Blame it for my mile-wide hips, too.

Doesn't take her long to finish, the top now snug enough to border on uncomfortable. Don't like tight clothes. Too form showing. This, however, doesn't look that bad.

Black corset with silver buckles down the front and pointed down hem, triangulated in the center and rising back up over the sides. So strips of my belly can be seen but not much. Really doesn't look bad, but not something I'd want to wear every day.