from Niko, swiping my entended claws at his outstretched hand, as I feel my walls begin to rise around me again, and I get defensive over myself in an instant. Without even meaning to, although I'm glad I have gotten at least a little bit of control over myself, I feel a wave of heat spread throughout my small body, followed by the unmistakable sound of my bones cracking and breaking, and the next thing I know, I'm staring down at dark brown paws.

' Robyn... Robyn I'm feeling cornered again.' I whimper out, my heart thumping loudly in my chest, as I flatten my large ears against my furry little head, and slowly back up until my backside hits the cold tub. My fluffy tail instantly tucks between my trembling back legs, whimpers escaping my lips, as I crouch low, darting my eyes wildly around the large Loo in search of a place to hide, and press my back paws against the tub as I prepare myself to dart.

" Get away... I don't want either of you near him! Understood?" Robyn seethes darkly, his strong words making me pause slightly from my paralyzing fear, as I feel my heart swell with fondness, and gently nudge his thigh with my nose. He is getting so good with with his speech! I'm so proud of him... SO proud.

" He needs a ba--"

" If you come near him, I swear to the Goddess I will cut your damned throat! He will lash out if you get too close... He feels cornered again." Robyn growls deeply, his eyes flashing pitch black with rage, as his claws extend, his teeth sharpen like his Fox's, and he gives a deep, sharp snarl of warning.

Robyn suddenly stops moving, going utterly still, and the air is filled with the sounds of bones cracking and popping, and, a moment later, I am staring at my Big Brother... In Fox form. We can control our shift! This will make things ten times easier!

With no warning whatsoever, Robyn scruffs me, his sharp little teeth making me squirm in slight discomfort, but I stop the slight squirms, and curl in on myself. I realize, with shock and intense worry, that I am ten times smaller than what I was... The size of a few month old Kit rather than the adult size I was! That shot Calder gave me must have messed with my already pitiful size in human form...

Robyn is still an adult however, and I notice, as he jumps up onto the counter with me swinging lightly in his jaws, that he is sleeker, much more muscular than what he was from the horrid lack of food over the lonely decade, and he has a much more... Protective Aura about him!

" Hm... High places? I have an idea for the Lounge... Stay here boys." Niko suddenly pipes up, his eyes narrowed in thought, as he grabs Alec's hand tightly in his, and the two leave the Loo... Allowing me to calm down from my panicked, cornered-like state.

It seems like decades pass, but it was just a few long, boring hours of Robyn sitting on the counter, tail curled around his paws, with me still held firmly in his jaws, before the bedroom doors open again, and footsteps sound getting closer to the Loo. Robyn tenses in his spot instantly, his chest rumbling with deep growls, but he allows his hackles to lower, as Niko strides in, and gently lifts Robyn up... Who still has me scruffed for my own Protection.

Niko carries us down into the Lounge, and the sight that greets us makes my eyes widen, as I squirm in Robyn's mouth in hopes of him putting me down. Level upon level of smooth boards covered in plastic layer the walls, and go along in different patterns and directions towards the very high ceilings...

" Since you guys like high places, and small places to hide, I had my Guards, my brothers, and myself construct this for you... Thank Goddess we're Vampires, or this would have taken us months! The boards are made out of hard plastic, and wide enough that you guys can get up there even in human form..."

" With every level, there are three or more rectangular hideouts for you guys to fit in in human and fox form, and they are lined with thick fleece to keep it warm and ink black for you guys..."

" You two can stay up there as long as you need to... Just remember to come down now and again so we know you two are okay..." Niko explains, a smile on his handsome face, as he places Robyn down on the Lounge floor, and then casually leans against the gate.

I wriggle in Robyn's mouth, whimpers and yelps escaping my lips, but he decides that putting me down still isn't an option, and me up onto the first level of our new play... Thing? I finally get restless, not liking how Robyn continues to carry me around like his little Kit, even though I technically am HIS, and begin to growl lowly in warning.

' What's wrong Ravyn? What's the matter?!' Robyn, hearing my small growls, instantly goes into high alert, his hackles raising, his sleek fur bristling, and growls of his own rumbling in his chest, as he checks for any sign of actual danger.

' Down Robyn... Put. Me. Down.' I growl to him, continuing to thrash and wriggle, as he allows himself to calm down, his ruffled fur smoothing out, and gently places my tiny Kit self down on the plastic board between his front paws.

I instantly jump ahead of him, my curious side coming out to play, as I sniff and paw at everything around us, and give a very excited yak. I climb up onto the second level, and then to the third, and then the fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and finally, to the eighth and final level.

Feeling so much better now that I'm up so high, I take a break from my crazy, wild exploring for a brief moment, and lick at my fluffy Kit fur. I feel a faint breeze brush my pelt, and I instantly turn around. I see a square hole cut into the wall of the Manor, a piece of black cloth, blowing up slightly from the wind outside, covering it, and I tentatively walk up to it.

" That leads to the outside!" Niko calls up to us, his eyes locking with mine in an instant, as I peer down at him for a brief second, and then crawl through the hole. The cold Autumn air greets me, and I look around in awe. I'm standing in a tube that trails all around the outside of the Manor, clear on the sides and top, and made of the same hard plastic as inside on the bottom... In the sides of the tube every now and again are little windows that are too small for me to fit through, but allow the scents and fresh air of outside in.

' Come out here Bird!' I squeak to my twin, my eyes huge with glee and surprise, as Robyn joins me in the tube, and we explore the tube for a good half hour. The sun had risen over the Mountains around the Manor, and the crisp, Autumn air ruffles my fur in the best way.

I notice, that all of the curtains for the many, windows are drawn tight, allowing no sunlight to enter the Manor. Robyn and myself head back inside, shaking out our ruffled fur absently, and skip down the levels until we reach ground. The Manor is eerily dark inside, but, at the same time, it is also comforting.

I shift back, the way my body breaks and puts itself back together is much easier and even more comforting than before, and I sit on the floor with my shoulders rolling as I get used to being back in my human form. I shake out my curls, shivering slightly, as my severly dead ends brush my back in a very uncomfortable way, and I feel the sudden urge to have a makeover so I can feel much better. Niko, sensing my distress about my hair and myself, steps over the gate, and kneels down in front of me.

" Let's go to the Mall Sweetheart..." The Mall? I haven't been to any Shop since I was six... I'm excited!