Hunter reborn.

[dryfter]

(OOC: 5 pages later and 100 posts, and I still love this thread. Thank you, TieMeTightly for writing so wonderfully with me, and thank you readers......for living the ride with us. )

While some slept soundly in the manor house that night, Michael certainly wasn't one of them. The silver he'd recklessly carried with him hadn't been in contact with him long enough to be fatal......but damn he felt like shit.

His eyes burned as they cracked open, widening in alarm at the sound of someone in the room.....movement from the corner of his eye.

"Mas!..."

A thick hand shot out immediately to grab the threat by the throat....Siobhan's greeting silenced before it could even really begin. He felt hot.....flushed.....and certainly not normal. His vision wavered unsteadily as he did his best to focus on the squirming, panicking thing writhing fearfully in his grasp.

---------------------------------------------------------------

A fierce pounding echoed through the manor as a heavy fist hammered Celeste's door. Relentless in nature, Nastaja looked down the hall with alarm.....she hadn't much time.....there was something going on here......and by all the dark gods, she had every suspicion that this new girl would know what it was.....

"Nastaja....what the fuck is going on....?"

A sleepy Kira topped the stairs, her blonde hair tousled as if she herself had just rolled out of bed.

"Master Michael's room, now Kira. Don't ask questions, just go....and for the love of everything you hold dear.....try and do something useful!"

No sarcastic retort, though surely she might have had one in a different circumstance. Nastaja's tone....the tenseness of her body.....that look in her eyes.....something wasn't right, that something setting off long forgotten alarms within the scrawny looking girl. Nastaja pounded again on the door....by the time she turned around again.....Kira was gone.

Wood splintered as the whole manor shuddered beneath an enormous impact, a feral scream they all knew far too well ripping through the stillness of the morning.

"Wake up and open this door before I have to beat it down, dammit!"

Celeste....that was her name. Thinking back hard to the night before, the pain of how she had been coupled was pushed roughly to one side for now.....a genuine fear tearing through such menial things as what her master intended for her.

"Celeste....please.....please open the door. Master's hurt I think...and there's more trouble afoot.....please. We need to face this before someone dies.....and it might very well be him...."

 

[TieMeTightly]

She had been sleeping quite well, however by the time she had heard the god-awful scream her eyes had opened slightly in order to attempt and figure out what it was. When she couldn't, her eyes shut again.

A groan escaped her lips as someone pounded on her door, and she slowly got to her feet, opening the door.

Her auburn hair was extremely tousled, eyes struggling to focus, her eyes watching the girl as she opened the door. "..The silver...?" She spoke quietly, groggily before rubbing at her eyes. "What other trouble..what's going on..?"

Oh she so had wished that she had been awake for this..as her gaze was unfocused and the words were obviously filled with tiredness that she hadn't managed to shaken.

Even so, Celeste was already headed down the hall, toward Michael's room. It was simple - simply because she could smell him..and she wanted to be near him - and of course if he was injured she would do whatever she possibly could to help him.

As she walked she began to come out of her practically comatose state that she had been in while sleeping, becoming incredibly more animated in her facial features, the first stream of worry appearing while she glanced back to the woman who had roused her.

"...What's going on?" She asked again, though it was obvious at this point that she would be able to comprehend."

 

[dryfter]

Finally.

As the door slowly creaked open, hurried fingers wedged instantly in the crack presented....taking full advantage of the opporunity, Nastaja ripped the door open....well on her way to a full fledged panic. For the first time, she was close enough to scent the newcomer.....information filed away for another....less dangerous time.

She seemed to have good instincts though....heading immediately for the master bedroom and the commotion that had begun to die down. It was that sudden lack of disruption that worried Nastaja the most.....

As the door burst open from a staunch kick from the were panther, the stout wood ripped off its top hinge, barely kept from flying into the room altogether.

Siobhan lay sobbing at the foot of the bed, curled into a miserable fetal position, her features hidden beneath her flowing white hair.....though all could see the naked flesh of the girl shaking like a leaf in an autumn wind....

"Master.....no....."

The scent of blood hit them both like a wave then.....dark blue eyes widening, the were-panther followed her nose......

Kira lay like a broken doll...still struggling....a shard of cherrywood protruding from her chest, a remnant of what had been his closet. But that wasn't all.....there was much more here to be learned if only she could do so quickly. Somewhere in this mess of conflicting scents, she found him as well.....blood.....no doubt what had sent the little fox girl so quickly in this direction as well. Nastaja grimaced slightly.....this new woman really needed to be trained. She was so obviously freshly bitten it was almost embarrassing.

"What's happening?"

Nastaja nearly leapt out of her own skin, Angel had crept upon them both so quietly. And yet, her sister's calm demeanor may very well have been exactly what she needed....

"He's hurt, Nastaja....look at his hand and wrist.....my god.....did Kira bite him?!"

Blood flowed from the blonde's chest....a similar trickle coloring her pretty face as it dribbled from the corner of her mouth. Eyes everywhere widened as Michael leaned over, grasping the wounded woman by her graceful neck.....a lone hand raising above shoulder level.....blurring in a heartbeat as fingers distorted and widened into a savage paw....one with claws already bared and deadly.

"Nastaja! His leg! Silver poisoning! He's not himself.....DO SOMETHING!"

The brunette's gaze narrowed, even as Michael turned towards the doorway....as if noticing them all for the first time.

"Stand back......now."

Feminine lips curled back across sharp teeth as a change of her own started. She sensed Angel step away almost immediately.....though this new girl....

"NOW."

Tanned skin darkened even further as fur bloomed across her slender body.....a feral scream echoing through the room almost instantly as the change completed.....insanely intelligent eyes regarding him through a dark visage....a tongue flicking nervously outward from a muzzle filled with razor sharp teeth.....

His strike stopped at the last second.....a fraction of an instant away from tearing out his victim's heart. Emerald green eyes narrowed viciously as he regarded his obvious challenger with an only half seeing gaze. The scent of blood was thick in the room....spurring on his rage and insanity......the pain in his thigh was excruciating.....a never ending burning agony that seemed to sear nerve and bone alike.

With a savage cry, he threw himself at her, a chunk of the door frame flying through the air to bounce off the corridor walls as his challenger ducked suddenly to avoid the mightly blow. And then like a flash, she was gone, racing away from him down the hallway like a coward....

She had challenged him! She would die by his hand.....nobody this weak deserved to carry his seed. His shifting was instantaneous....much faster than hers had been. Several long strides later and he was in pursuit.....

It was her only hope.....turning, Nastaja darted down the stairwell. She knew he was in hot pursuit.....and she knew what probably awaited her if she got caught....

And yet, it was as she hoped.....her own clear mind winning out over his fevered one as his leg buckled suddenly on only the third step....his injury forgotten in the midst of his bloodlust. Michael descended the rest of the way on his face.....more than one spectator grimacing at the sound of his own neck snapping beneath the force of his momentum meeting such a horrible halting.

Eyes wide in apparent death....Michael lay there....at the bottom of the landing, unmoving and still. Kneeling at the body....a soft tear rolled down the oily black fur of her bestial mask.....Nastaja only now able to risk a glance back up the stairs.....

"Celeste.....Celeste come here.....we've much to talk about. Angel.....the medicines.....now please."

 

[TieMeTightly]

They had made it to the room quickly and her eyes were wide from the scent of blood that literally flooded her senses and sent her itching for something to eat. She could feel the eyes on her - practically telling her with each glance that she knew nothing about what she was and what their lives were, but she didn't care. She just stared at the scene, not knowing what to do.

Then they were speaking, and she glanced back after a few moments though her eyes almost instantly returned to the bed. Kira bit him? None of this was making any sense..was this all because of the silver? That meant that it was her fault.

She heard herself whimper - though it was a sound of despair rather than from pain or fear..she was frightened, guilt ridden even at the moment. The silver was what had done it - it had been confirmed.

She was told to stand back but couldn't will her feet to move..until the second time, taking a few hesitant steps backward as the woman began to change, causing Celeste to shudder almost violently. It was still something she wasn't used to seeing.

And then everything happened in an instant and in slow motion all at the same time. Her breathing was uneven as she watched - him eye his new challenger..then to see him follow her. Celeste didn't wait a moment before running after the pair.

If she was caught she would surely be dead, but she heard the fall then - as he fell down the stairs to the foot of the stairs, the sound of his neck making her stop at the landing - staring with wide eyes at the mangled frame.

Her heart was racing..practically pounding out of her chest while she was regarded and she inhaled sharply as though trying to concentrate..but it was so difficult.

After a moment she started down the stairs, at an almost zombie-like pace until collapsing to her knees beside Nastaja, her eyes shut. "..This is my fault..I shouldn't have even thought of the jewelry it was so stupid.."

 

[dryfter]

"Jewelry?"

So that was it. Despite herself, the panther female actually struggled with a soft smile. Obviously not the expected reaction, as the little fox woman before her shifted rather uncomfortably beneath the response.

Angel returned in a heartbeat.....a thick metallic case in one hand. From this proximity, all three women could hear the bones and ligaments setting and mending.....though MUCH slower than they should have been.

Driving the needle deep into his chest, the burdened Angel could care less if she hit anything important....instead pushing the plunger of a hastily produced syringe....sending a soft green liquid coursing through his veins. Seconds later, and he trembled....a soft shudder rippling through what was supposed to be a strong body.

The two sisters glanced back in unison at the thoroughly miserable Celeste. Leaning, they both took an arm over their shoulders, hoisting their master partially back into the air.

"He needs his bed again.....grab his feet, Celeste. The worst might be over, but we've no need to be cocky about it."

Gently, the three of them managed to move him back up the arduous stairs....their job only getting easier when they reached the top. The hollow sound of wood bouncing forcefully off of stone caused all three sets of eyes to glance up from what they were doing....

Kira stood before them.....her chest still open and heaving.....though the blood had stopped despite almost a clear sighting the internal organ responsible for pumping that precious fluid. The blonde wavered slightly....stumbling with a groan as she managed to limp out of their way before sinking to her knees with a groan....

"He was gonna kill her.....he'd have hated himself for months when he came back to his senses.....poor Siobhan....."

As they laid him back upon the bed, tended to his wounds, and generally discussed the options they had to them......she had never moved, still huddled at the foot of the bed, shivering and mewing softly like a cat left out in the cold and rain.....

 

[TieMeTightly]

Celeste hadn't really noticed their expressions, though she did help as soon as she was told that she had to really to get him back into the bed.

Once they had settled him back into bed she smiled despite the fact that she was wavering and guilty, Siobhan's trembling form at the foot of the bed easily drawing her attention and she slowly slinked to where she lay huddled, reaching her hand out gently and touching her arm carefully.

"Shio.." Her voice was quiet and she was doing her best to rid her eyes of any emotion but kindness toward the girl. She swallowed hard and glanced back to Michael, but the rise and fall of his chest was enough to calm her down slightly.

"How about..I lay here right next to you and wait until he wakes up.." She spoke quietly, leaning down and whispering into her ear, trying to get her to come out of the fetal position that she had found her in.

"..We can stay here together..so he knows when he wakes up that you've been here..he will be so happy that you did.." She hoped, anyway. Of course he could have been angry with her, but really Celeste couldn't picture Michael getting too upset with Siobhan.

So as she had promised she lay down on the bed next to Michael, curled up as well though her head was facing Siobhan, watching her cautiously, tiredly. This had all happened because of her damned jewelry. Sighing heavily she shut her eyes, trying to think of something..happier.

 

[dryfter]

"How about...I lay here right next to you and wait until he wakes up....We can stay here together...so he knows when he wakes up that you've been here...he will be so happy that you did..."

*sniffle*

Slowly, that white mane lifted.....revealing a dirty, tear streaked face.

"I-I wasn't naughty this time.....honest...."

Her voice was kept at a soft murmur.....the young woman slowly being coaxed out of her huddled shell. Watching in return as Celeste rose onto the bed next to their master....cuddling next to him....feeling his tremorous breath with each unsteady inhalation.

"I was worried....I saw master was hurt last night....you saw. He told me he was alright....then this morning....."

Slowly, her legs peeled away from her body, revealing her tight naked body once more without an ounce of shame.....pert breasts swayed gently as she moved to the edge of the bed....only her head slipping over its edge.....nuzzling softly with the slightest of purrs as she nudged up against Celeste's belly. She knew she was being watched.....and the thought that this one cared enough to do so warmed her heart....

"Thank you.....do you really think he'll be happy to see me.....us.....when he wakes? What if he attacks you like he did me?"

Though the question was serious enough, anyone could tell at a glance that this mysterious little pet had gained a certain measure of confidance.

And she owed it all to the woman still by her side.....

 

[TieMeTightly]

Celeste wanted to be anywhere but on the bed. Though at least at this point the scent of blood was mostly just the lingering scent now instead of something fresh.

When she finally heard Siobhan's voice she opened her eyes, smiling slightly as though trying to encourage her that it would really be okay. She smiled almost brightly when she felt the nuzzling against her stomach and let her eyes shut again. "..If he attacks me..he attacks me..it will be alright.."

She nodded again, still trying to convince herself of this. What if Michael did attack her? What would she be able to do besides die in an instant because she had no idea of what she was doing in defense.

Sighing quietly Celeste patted the bed right next to herself, obviously intending on keeping her as close as possible in order to keep her calm and confident. The girl was always so sheltered...and Celeste thought she was bad.

After a moment she glanced back to Michael, speaking quietly. "Shio.." Already she was shortening her name, apparently not caring really if she liked it or not. "..Stay right here next to me..we won't touch him..we won't disturb him..but this way we can be here if he needs us..is that alright with you to do that?"

Even if she didn't want to stay, Celeste wasn't going anywhere. She was already curled up next to Michael though she was being very careful not to touch him as she didn't want to disturb him. He needed to recover - and every breath that was ragged through his lungs made her cringe to hear..but she refused to move away, slowly shutting her eyes.

 

[dryfter]

Shio? Her ears twitched at the sound....rare it was that she was given a nickname that didn't detail just a little of her private life. Slut, whore, pet, cunt, toy, fuckmeat......these were what she had grown used to.....titles of her master's affection. To hear another name rather than those, and that of her own, seemed so foreign to her....

Eyes widened suddenly as Celeste patted the bed next to her....inviting her up. Even if she truly wanted it....she could not, not even if right now her fluttering spirit wanted to wilth all its being. She was warm to the touch, this one.....and if the moment ever arose where she could do so without displeasing....him....Siobhan knew of a few ways she could return the favor. After all....Michael had trained her well.....

Her head shook violently from side to side, though none of the vigorous motions seemed to transfer over to the bed....

"I can't....really, I can't...."

She nuzzed harder against the woman before her....pressing firmly into her taut body as if doing so could convey some small measure of the thankfulness she felt.

Siobhan nodded softly as Celeste expressed her desire to stay at Michael's side. A gentle purr of approval rippling from her throat, her head sinking just a little to the juncture where stomach met bed.....resting softly, though her eyes remained awake.

----------------------------------------------------

Throughout the course of the day, the manor's master remained bedridden, though signs of improvement were present. Breathing much more steadily, some of his movement ability was returning as well....as was evidenced by the occasional stirring in his sleep. Even in his sleep, he could smell her....the bloody haze of his battle enraged mind having slipped away long ago to fixate instead on everything he had done to her these past few days.....the fear.....the teasing, torturous at times.....the mind blowing sex that he enjoyed when he claimed her......her growing submission.....

As soon as he had become lucid enough to dream through his horrific injuries.....only Celeste could visit him there.....

-----------------------------------------------------

A gentle knock on the door preceded her entry.....silent footfalls padding gently across the room as Angel approached the three of them, her grey eyes scanning each person before her with careful scrutiny. At least Siobhan seemed to have calmed down.....

The pregnant were-panther gave a soft sigh....

"Nastaja was right....you should have been left alone in here. It seems you've done much for the atmosphere."

Kneeling bedside, Siobhan purred softly as a gentle hand reached forward to scratch the top of her head even as the other raised to her master's forehead....checking for any irregularities in body temperature.....

"He has a slight fever yet....but that's to be expected, given the circumstances. The silver exposure will affect his ability to heal...but seeing as none was actually....inside of him.....I think.....he should heal in time."

The brunette gave Celeste a "if you know something more, now would be the time to say it" look. Reaching for an object hanging from her maternity pants....Angel leaned over once more....slowly draping a cool cloth over Michael's brow.....

"That should help a little. Such a good little kitten for watching over master like this for us, Siobhan."

Angel looked up from a sudden frenzy of scratching and purring....not missing how this other girl reacted.....

"You have our thanks as well, Celeste. And if you were worried, by any chance, Kira is making a full recovery even as we speak. Crazy bitch, that one.....annoying, irritating, exasperating................and totally loyal and dependable."

The brunette struggled for a moment to rise once more.....weariness painted across her face for a moment.

"We don't expect you to leave him.....just know that Nastaja would like a word with you whenever you're able. If he wakes within the next two or three days, I'd try the gym downstairs.....Siobhan will show you the way if you need. My sister has a tendency to work out her stress through physical hardship......"

 

[dryfter]

(Stupid double posts. lol)

 

[TieMeTightly]

Celeste had not slept well. Any slight stirring caused her to open her eyes and check him, worry flicking easily across her face, however after each little bout of worry she would resume her post laying next to him and once again drift off.

It wasn't until she heard the knocking that she glanced up with weary eyes at the pregnant were-panther, tilting her head slightly to the side though she said nothing in return for the little compliment..well - mostly because she wasn't certain if it was a compliment or not.

"I think he will be okay.." Celeste glanced back to him with a reaffirming nod, sighing quietly - tiredly mostly.

It wasn't until she heard her name that she looked back up to the woman, her eyes actually widening somewhat. "Of course..I'm glad Kira is well..I was worried." She of course didn't want them to think that she didn't care..the poor girl had had her chest gashed open it wasn't something that left the memory any time soon.

When she mentioned something about having a word with Nastaja she immediately rose from the bed.

"I can go now..I'll be back to him as soon as possible..if you tell me the way I am certain I can find it..that way Siobhan won't have to leave him..and someone can be with him at all times.."

She had been careful not to mention any nickname, almost afraid that they wouldn't approve of it and simply have something else for them to scrutinize her for.

The girl was doing her best to 'fit in' though it seemed that she was barely making any sort of impact and she certainly didn't feel like part of the family..the clan as it were.

And - if Nastaja's topic of conversation was something other than pleasant...she wanted to get it out of the way as quickly as possible.

 

[dryfter]

"I can take her....."

The voice was slightly strained....stiff in its presentation. Gazes rotating towards the doorway where she stood with a pained smile. Kira leaned heavily on the doorframe, doing her best to look nonchalant and tough in the eyes of those she had come to care about.....

"Kira....you really should be in bed.....those wounds....."

"....weren't silver touched, and are healing quite well, thank you for worrying Angel. Especially touching that you'd be concerned about a annoying, irritating, exasperating, crazy bitch like me."

The words were delivered in a teasing tone, the blonde's grin widening almost instantly....as if she enjoyed seeing her panther counterpart flustered and speechless.

"Well, if you're that eager to see what her highness has for you, then by all means follow me."

"Kira....show a little respect for my sister! She saved your life."

The swagger in her hips stopped instantly, along with her slightly unsteady gait. From this position, ony Celeste could see the rare touch of solemnity as it crossed her usually boisterous visage....

"I know, Angel," she whispered softly. "That's between her and me though, k?"

Pausing just long enough to make sure her guest and new housemate was in tow....her slinky form started forward again, not taking long at all to reach the stairs.....

------------------------------------------------------

The mansion surely must have looked huge to her, with as long as it had taken Kira to lead Celeste here. Drawing nearer, Kira strode forward as if it were nothing....as the air slowly began to fill with the sound of sharp feminine cries, followed by a staccato thud.....growing louder with each step....

As the doors opened at her insistant touch, twin sets of eyes gazed upon the scantily clad Nastaja even as she delivered another crushing kick to the sand bag she had been sparring against. The straightness and perfect form of her stance definately enough to persuade anyone watching that this woman actually knew what she was doing....

"HAI!"

Another sharp slam and thud....lithe form twisting almost instinctively into a defensive crouch as the sound of the door closing behind them reached her ears. Blue eyes sparkling, they scanned the two intruders with a sniff of disapproval.

"You'd better have a good reason why you're not in bed, Kira. Those wounds of yours...."

The blonde snorted softly, "Shut it, Nastaja. You wanted to talk to Celeste, and she had no fucking clue how to get here. Seeing as Master is more important than you are, I left Angel and Siobhan with him rather than have one of them escort you."

Voice lowered, Nastaja glared at the lankier female....her own lithe musculature far outweighing that of the woman in front of her.

"Are you looking for a fight, Kira?"

A firm hand closed tightly around Celeste's shoulder.....only the fox girl aware of the true nature of the touch.....of how she was being used in a sudden attempt to steady Kira's suddenly buckling legs. And yet, when she looked up, all she saw was that boyish, feral grin.

"Do you think you'll win this time?"

Blue eyes shifted from blonde to redhead.....then back to Kira once more. Spitting in contempt, Nastaja straightened suddenly, abandoning her stance.

"I just might considering you can barely stand. Did you think you could fool me?"

All foolish bravado gone, an almost petulant look crossed the face of Celeste's guide.

"I had to come, Nastaja....I haven't been able to thank-"

"No thanks are needed. You know very well that you'd have done the same.....and have in the past. You know that. If you'd like however, I can stop by your room later and look at your wounds myself.....I really do think you should return there......"

While undyingly curious, it was obvious how much pain Kira was really in now that she'd finally dropped her mask. Nodding softly, the blonde gave Celeste's shoulder one last squeeze before turning towards the door slowly.....

"I'm glad you came, Celeste.....though....I admit I hadn't expected you so soon.....or with Kira guiding you either. Forgive my harshness, please. Its....a rivalry the two of us have.....one that she's been winning as of late."

Wiping some of the sweat from her brow....her breasts strained harshly against her tight sports top.....even her tight gym shorts seemed designed to flaunt every soft curve in her full figured body....

Reaching up....fingertips sought out her amulet.....the action itself finally drawing attention to the thin platinum chain that had suspended it just below the confines of her top....her own cleavage doing much to obscure it from view until now.

A single brilliant orange gem sparkled in its ornate center.....the play of light across its surface catching the eye even as its owner moved her other hand up to catch it and display.....

"See this? I've been thinking of it since last night....."

For a moment, those bright eyes of hers were hooded, sheathed in memory and nostalgia....

"He brought this for me......I'd thought it left behind......the only token I have left to remember my mother by. Like me....she was bitten as well.....claimed or killed I've no idea though.....though I'd like to think she's still alive and well somewhere....."

Her voice grew softer then.

"He was injured terribly. Hunters had been investigating the massacre of my family, one of them had found my amulet. He....he knew how much it meant to me. This....isn't the first time master Michael has tasted silver. He was bleeding everywhere.....but he looked so satisfied.....placing what was mine back into my hands....."

Slowly, those brilliant orbs bore down on her, Nastaja's gaze growing in weight as it bore down on the diminutive woman before her.

"I have to know, Celeste. That he did the same thing for you, and it wasn't just you poisoning him in retaliation for being bitten. It's driven me crazy all night....and I most likely won't sleep until I know. I'll warn you that I've a good sense for detecting lies.....as well as tell you right now, that your answer will determine whether I butcher you where you stand right now."

As if to back up the words, Nastaja fell immediately into a different sort of stance.....her feet and hands ever moving slowly as she waited. Though her eyes....those once piercing blue eyes seemed to waver slightly.....just like her voice as she spoke next.....

"Don't make me kill you, Celeste.....please tell me it was an accident.....or it was foolhardiness on his part.....or even tell me he didn't know what he'd been holding."

For a split second that gaze hardened again.

"Just don't tell me a lie."

 

[TieMeTightly]

Celeste tilted her head when she heard Kira's voice and sighed heavily, actually agreeing with Angel that she should be in bed but she otherwise nodded, really not wanting to deal with anyone getting upset just because she also agreed that Kira should be resting. But it seemed the girl wasn't going to listen anyway.

So instead of arguing her new tour guide she instead slipped away from the bed with obvious hesitation and reluctance before following behind her, her gaze on the ground. She didn't want to look up and see eyes on her - the judgement that she could already feel from practically everyone but Siobhan was enough to drive her insane. So instead she remained silent and submissive - until they reached Nastaja.

The tiff between the two women made her tense - but it was mostly because she felt Kira's arm over her shoulders and she was ready at any moment to catch the girl if necessary and hold her up - though she hoped it wouldn't be. When she left her there by herself with Nastaja, Celeste immediately grew tense, looking up at her as she listened to the bit of a story.

Of course the story was followed immediately by threat and she couldn't help but take a step backward as her stance changed again.

"Of course...of course you would think that.." She spoke quietly, doing her best at the moment to remain calm under the circumstances. "He told me he was giving me a chance to grab my things..my valuables - the only memories of my life that I would be able to have and I went for my jewelry box...and...when he reminded me of what silver did I put it back.."

"When we got into the car and were driving..his leg was smoking and I made him pull over...that's when he handed them to me..but..they're still in the car I don't even know how I'm going to get them..I didn't do this to him. I didn't even know that he had done this for me."

"I do hope that you are a good judge of lies and truths because if he finds that I am dead and repeats the same story I'm certain that your fate will not be a pleasant one." Despite sticking up for herself in words, she looked as though she wanted to do nothing more but retreat.

 

[dryfter]

Listening intently as Celeste spoke, her mind barely registered the open threat at the end of her speech. The more and more she had talked, the more it seemed the two of them were the same.....at least in this regard. She wondered if Celeste could see the softening in her gaze.....it had to be there if one looked hard enough. Who was she kidding, for one that spent most of her time pretending to be the fierce warrioress that Kira actually was.....a sudden sign of sympathy was sure to show.....

"It is as I thought then....."

Her voice was low, quavering softly as if lost in her own past. Turning slowly, her back to the new woman she was to accept into this house.....Nastaja wondered if perhaps their brief talk today might make it a little easier.

For you perhaps, but I think you've probably frightened the hell out of Celeste, and that'll make things tougher.

"Stupid! Idiot! What! Were! You! Thinking?!"

Each word was punctuated with a sudden flurry of blows as Nastaja took out her perplexity on the sandbag once more, force barely contained by the massive sack. For long minutes, the powerful woman rained blows down on its shiny surface until it was all she could do to stand.....

Sagging gently, long black hair spilled over her shoulders as her head rested against the punching bag.....only barely aware that Celeste still watched.

"I'm.....sorry......forgive me......I......had to......know."

 

[TieMeTightly]

She half expected her to be torn apart limb from limb following her telling of the story and she stared at her with her own wide eyes, struggling obviously to remain calm in the face of Nastaja..which was nearly impossible.

Her breathing was somewhat uneven when she turned to the sand bag, and Celeste simply stood there and stared with her jaw dropped in response, obviously not expecting the woman to..kill the punching bag for some reason unknown to her. Maybe she felt bad for accusing Celeste of wanting to hurt Michael?

If he had told them what she had done, however..they had every right to suspect her. Though when she eventually just stood with her forehead to the punching bag Celeste blinked at her words, struggling to form her own.

"..It's alright.." Surprisingly, her voice was steadier than she had thought it would be.

"..I know that I'm not..very well liked here.." Immediately her eyes found the ground more appealing than the woman. "..But I should tell you that..I'm trying. I'm trying not to be in anyone's way..and..to be as kind as..I possibly can..I am jealous..and I am young..and....I can't control it yet but I am working on it..so please. Please don't dislike me before you know me..I do not dislike any of you."

It was in that moment that she turned after actually nodding once. She had said her peace..and she hoped that it wasn't offensive..she just had to get it out..to tell them what she was feeling because at the moment..she felt like if she didn't tell someone she was just going to explode.

But she didn't wait for a response. Celeste turned and retreated..back to Michael's room. She was exhausted, and though she was scant-clad in a thin tshirt and underwear..she wanted nothing more at the moment but to be near him.

 

[dryfter]

Nastaja watched, perplexed and still trying to regain some of her fierce energy even as the newest of the house arrivals fled from her then. What on earth made her think that she'd been judged already?

Soft footsteps brought her back to focusing on the world around her, even as a soft hand slipped over her shoulder....kneading the muscles there as if to soothe them before sliding around to cup still heaving breasts....

"Are you alright....or should I continue?"

Angel's voice was husky in her sensitive ears, promising much. Too much....

"Not now, please Angel....."

Gentle hands obediently retreated, choosing instead to only work on the knotted muscles of her sister's back.....forcing a soft purr from Nastaja's throat....

"So good......but I have to find Kira again."

Angel gave her a quizzical look, doing her best to find the tightest knots and ease their tension....

"Why? I thought the two of you didn't get along so well."

Nastaja managed a rueful smile, moaning softly beneath the skilled fingers of her sister were-panther. Slowly and skillfully, Angel was beginning to work wonders on her sweaty body.....

"Celeste seems to think we all hate her.....and that she's trying her best to....stay out of our way. I know Kira said she was a fox clan female, but I guess I wasn't prepared for someone this....skittish. I'd sit down and explain things to her myself, but I'm afraid I just scared her terribly.....and gods only know that we can't trust Siobhan to do it. Not to mention that someone is going to have to teach her more about her new body. I was correct, she is freshly bitten, not just some whore used as a deal breaker for an alliance between clans."

Angel frowned softly, her tender fingers stopping what they were doing for a second.

"But I....we....hardly know her. She just got here yesterday."

Nastaja nodded, "And remember when Kira first arrived here? How she thought she was master's only pet and then she met us? Celeste just confessed jealousy to me moments ago.....I'm fairly certain she suffering the same way."

This time a rueful grin crossed her sister's face, "Then let's just hope she doesn't take it out on us quite the way Kira did, yes? We certainly learned some interesting things from her."

Leaning forward, Angel pressed her lips hard and unbidden to Nastaja's...drawing out another soft moan from her sister, the kiss deepening for just a second before spinning off to find the gangly blonde with a mischievous grin.

There was no mistaking the scent she left behind.....the air heavy with sweat.....and arousal.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

She hadn't been in her room. And why the hell she was back out of hers was a question she herself couldn't answer. Frowning, Kira moved down the hallway....a pretty good second destination on her mind as she made her way towards the master bedroom. Painful memories of the recent past made her flinch for just a fraction of a second before knocking gently on the doorframe....her thin body silhouetted in the enterance.

She had been right at least. There she was, curled up protectively against the master as he slept, even as Siobhan watched them both.....both pairs of eyes turning immediately to her. With a sigh, Kira slowly made her way into the room....

Easing herself painfully onto the side of the bed, a small hand reached forward.....tenderly stroking the cheek of her stricken master.....her true concern and worry showing through for the first time.....

"Celeste...."

Their eyes never met, her own grey orbs scanning the limp body before her for any signs of improvement.

"Thanks again for watching over him. It seems....it seems up until now, only Siobhan has had the patience for it. I get agitated.....Nastaja gets angry and blames herself for not being there for him.....and Angel.....well, I've not figured her out just yet."

Finally, she turned towards the were-fox....giving her a tired smile.

"Will you stay with him tonight? I....I must spend the day and night resting now.....master hurt me badly, but I'll heal. And don't tell anyone that I just admitted that."

A soft chuckle.

"Tomorrow....I've been asked to do some training with you. Its going to be....unusual....so please here me out. At dawn....if you would please....meet me in the garden out back, its impossible to miss if you follow your nose. Angel keeps quite a lovely assortment of flowers blooming back there.....its one of my favorite places."

A soft uplifting of the corner of her mouth.

"Oh....and don't bother bringing clothes."

 

[TieMeTightly]

It was quite obvious that Celeste considered the questioning judgement. Whether or not she was asked or accused of something, it all sounded the same at the moment - and of course threatening didn't seem to help much.

So instead she chose the safer route of being beside Michael as he rested - glancing up only when she heard the knocking. She had actually been unaware of most everything. She had been staring blankly - watching his chest rise and fall with each breath as though she had to make certain that he was still breathing, and Shio was still watching the pair but even her eyes weren't bothersome.

When Kira stepped into the room and addressed her, Celeste slowly sat up - almost reluctantly, watching the gesture between her and Michael curiously only to smile softly at her when she did it.

"Of course I'll watch him..it's my fault this happened..he took the stupid silver for me."

Her words practically dripped with guilt as she slowly lay back down next to him. "..You should rest. Regain your strength...and I won't tell anyone I promise.."

She could feel her eyelids becoming heavy but she was struggling to keep them open - to focus on the woman. "..What kind of training...and what do you mean don't bother bringing clothes." She was actually groaning as she rolled onto her back, covering her face with her hands momentarily before stretching out on the bed and looking back up at her.

"I like my clothes...I don't have any besides these..and..I am not as comfortable with..being naked like the rest of you. What are we doing that requires no clothing..I don't think I like the sound of this..and..who told you you have to train me..did he? Or...someone else?"

She paused only to shake her head.

"...As soon as we're finished I'm coming back here...how long is it going to take..I..I don't want to leave him for very long..I have to make sure that he recovers perfectly.." It was still the guilt driving this - that he had gotten her jewelry for her because they were her memories.

"...I don't want to leave him for too long.."

 

[dryfter]

Kira watched in surprise as Celeste struggled with her own fatigue. Nastaja had said she had been damnedly hard to get up this morning....how could she be that tired? And yet from her words, the blonde could almost feel the weight of guilt that the girl carried on her sexy little shoulders.

Yet it seemed she had enough energy to barrage her with questions. Kira half wondered if she had as much to answer them all. Reaching forward a second time, those same tender fingers stroked a soft lock of auburn hair back from the girl's face.

"Listen....its not your fault. He chose this path, and the fact that he did so for you makes you one of us."

Kira glanced down at Siobhan, fully aware of the teen's own keen hearing. And yet, what she was going to say was hardly a secret.

Kira sighed, not really knowing where to begin.

"Look....I'm not sure if you've been told how we all came to be here. And its not really my right to tell anyone elses story......but I can tell you mine."

Kira paused....wavering slightly, even in the sitting position, her eyes closing slightly with a soft frown.

"On second thought....how bout I make that an incentive for tomorrow morning? None of us are asking you to be naked all the time.....not even Master. The fact that you're wearing clothes now means he's allowed them. Only Siobhan's been denied clothing of any kind."

Another glance down at the white haired girl at the edge of the bed. Siobhan moved slightly....placing her chin instead on Kira's shapely upper thigh as she gazed up at the much taller woman lovingly. With a sigh, Kira reached down to scratch the top of the girl's head gently....drawing out a soft purr as those gentle eyes closed happily.

"Thank you, ma'am....."

A soft smile crossed her face once more as she regarded the girl with sudden tenderness.

"He didn't mean it, Siobhan. He wasn't in his right mind....it was the silver, not any disobediance on your part. You must understand that. And for that reason, while Celeste and I are training tomorrow, you must not leave this room for any reason. I'll make sure Angel brings you something to eat, ok?"

"Yes, ma'am."

Turning back to Celeste, Kira gave her a wry smile even as she continued to scratch pleasure into the lithe girl half on her lap.

"As for clothing tomorrow morning? Absolutely not. I won't be wearing any either. We'll be working on your ability to change and shift, as well as getting you accustomed to some of the benefits of your fox shape. One thing I must know."

Siobhan recoiled immediately as she felt the slender woman before her slowly struggling to rise.....offering her head to Kira as a surface with which she could steady herself.....a gift accepted most readily as the blonde leaned hard on the naked and strangely happy teen.

"Just how many lycan hearts have you consumed so far? Has he fed you any? Have you won any battles yourself yet? Just let me know tomorrow morning, k? For now, you look wiped.....get yourself some rest."

 

[TieMeTightly]

Celeste eyes had been full of worry but she actually calmed somewhat as her hair was brushed our of her face, her eyes glancing from her - to him, then back again before sighing.

She certainly didn't feel like one of them..but she would accept that. She really didn't have much of a choice in the matter.

The interaction with Siobahn made her smile - apparently it wasn't difficult to make her do so - and the thought that Kira was going to tell her story right then nearly made her sit up again, and she only sighed in response for it being 'incentive' for the morning.

Wonderful.

And when she mentioned that clothes would not be allowed she simply frowned, though her brow knitted at the question. Why was that something that she needed to know? But again, it was dismissed to be discussed the following morning.

Obviously Celeste wasn't getting out of this so instead she just nodded and let her eyes slip shut. "Morning then.."

It only took minutes for her to actually fall asleep and within an hour she was again curled up against Michael, her face buried in the crook of his neck as she pressed herself against him - occasionally making the odd - soft purring sound in her sleep.

She hadn't even known that she was doing it - apparently she wanted to be closer to him than she thought she did as if she was any closer she would literally be laying on top of him. But this was nice. This way she could hear his heartbeat and feel him breathing.

It was a much better sleeping arrangement. It would be better if he was..less comatose at the moment and more pulling her against him - but she would settle for this - mostly because he couldn't really complain.

 

[dryfter]

Birds sang happily....the scent of lavender and lilac around her even as a slender finger helped Kira focus her contemplation on the simple life of a ladybug as it traversed the long and tapering digit.

She scented Celeste's arrival long before she saw her. And yet....when she finally saw her.....

Kira swallowed hard.....taking more than just a few simple seconds to run her gaze across the were-foxes body. She knew she was being watched, and rather angrily too......Kira was still wearing the same tank top and jean cutoffs that she had when they had first met.

Reaching for the hem of her top....the lanky woman pulled it over her head. Blushing slightly, she shook her head angrily as her small a-cup breasts were freed into the cool morning air....nipples hardening almost instantly.

"And you think you're jealous?," she muttered....moving forward silently with a pained look on her face.

"I can see I'm going to always be the small one."

Tender fingertips traced the gentle swells of one breast....not missing Celeste's reaction. The other hand reached down for the button on her cutoffs. She had half expected her new protoge to not show....the fact that she had said much.....

The denim fell away from her then.....the absence of panties glaring as Kira stepped out of the pool of cloth to display her own glorious body to this new lycan. Motioning towards a cool marble bench, she bade Celeste sit....waiting for her to do so before taking a seat uncomfortably close to her.....

"First things first, yes? I believe I owe you a story......lean your head back, hun....I'll see what I can do about that hair of yours, I can see you've had little time to tend to it yourself."

Thin fingers massaged Celeste's scalp even now.....knowing that she had to get her would-be trainee to relax just a little if they were to continue. She had a terrible surprise for her this morning.....and she had to make the most of this opportunity to build trust.....if she failed, she doubted Celeste would ever occupy the same room as her again.

Silken strands of hair were slowly groomed through practiced fingers....Kira seeking out and finding each tangle and snarl to gently work it out once more....

"Michael isn't my first mate, you know....."

She could feel her tense beneath her touch....though whether it was the admission itself.....or the sadness in her voice as she spoke that prompted it, she may never know.....

"I was....mated to a were-wolf.....traded from my clan in a deal that kept the wolves from savaging my people. We were a small branch, kind of like this one.....very few males and few still that were expendable."

Kira seemed to double her efforts as she found a particularly large snarl.

"And yet, my master was never happy......and neither was I really. He was brutal....his couplings savage enough to break bones. And if that weren't bad enough, he would beat me for days when I didn't bear him children. He had countless mates....trophies from other lycans slain....humans he had found sexy enough to bite down on and force to his bed. I was nothing special to him.....almost forgotten."

A soft tremble in her touch....a soft drop of moisture.....its bead running down the dusty red hair until eventually absorbed by its silken surface.

"Master killed him.....in front of me and three others.....a barfight that spilled out into the streets into something much, much more. My past master had been hunting for fresh pussy.....as well as bragging about the fine ones he already had. That is why he brought me along......a trophy....and nothing else."

Soft lips pressed down upon her head then....a gentle nuzzling.

"Master was just meat to him....an opponent to be devoured for power. Unlike Master.....he never fed his mates the hearts of his bested opponents. I almost didn't know what to do with it when Michael offered me my first....."

A soft curling upward of the lips.....a satisfactory smile that Celeste would most likely also never see.

"You should have seen the look on his face. He was so used to his strength and brutality winning out for him all the time. He hadn't counted on Master's cleverness, nor meeting a brutality and viciousness of his own."

A soft hand reached around her then....cupping the were-foxes left breast even as she jumped slightly at the touch.

"It hurts you know.....not even the first changing hurts that much.....right here. When the master bonded to you.....dies."

Her touch was warm....soft....and completely non-sexual. It was best that Celeste not discover that side of her.....yet.

"I begged him to mate me, to brand me with his fangs. Anything to keep my past master's clansmen from coming for me.....claiming me as yet another of his own."

Kira's other hand reached for Celeste's tiny wrist....raising the slender appendage up and back just a little.....leaning forward enough that the were-fox could feel the ragged skin where her neck met her shoulder.....a mark that would never truly heal.

"And that was how I came to be with Master. And I've never looked back.....I.....I never want to suffer like that again.....no matter how brief an instant it is."

Giving her a soft pat, Kira rose....her sleek and thin body lithe enough that Celeste could almost imagine counting the ribs of the tomboy before her.

"Master treats me well....he....he even lets me hide myself at.....that time. He knows I'd do anything....even die.....to protect him so I don't have to feel that again. But still....I wonder how long.....how long he'll let me continue before he takes me too."

Head dipping suddenly, when it rose once more, a naughty mischievous grin was plastered across her cute, impish face.

"I think its time you saw me for what I am."

The shift came quickly for her, the blonde hair spreading, growing from every pore of her skin, even as some patches of her body darkened, black spots coloring her fur sporadically.....her jaw widening in an impossibly huge yawn as bones and tendons cracked and snapped back into place......

In hybrid form, Kira was every bit as sleek and deadly as she was as a human, and now Celeste could perhaps understand how she had managed to encounter them both on the road to the mansion......and beat them there as well.....

A were-cheetah.

"The gifts of my clan are easy to figure out, yes? Inhuman speed at the cost of an insanely high metabolism. No matter how much I eat....."

Those grey eyes softened once more as she looked at the woman before her....

"I'll never be able to fill out my figure like you...."

 

[TieMeTightly]

Celeste had slept..'well' the rest of the night though she knew it was simply because she had been next to him. When she did finally rouse herself she reluctantly got up, pulling the shirt and underwear off with a slight frown only to fold it and put it on the edge of the bed.

It was uncomfortable for her..to be naked around people she didn't know. Well even then, she knew them - but she didn't know them well. It was as simple as that. Though even upon knowing people for a long time she wasn't comfortable being naked.

Even when she was in gym class in high-school she was the one girl who would go into the bathroom stalls to change. It was so much easier that way to avoid any glances.

After making certain that Siobhan knew that she was not to leave the room and giving her a gentle pat on the head she finally got up the nerve to leave the room..to go out to the garden.

She knew immediately that Kira would be able to smell her fear - her hesitation to even show - but she did show because she had said she would be there.

Of course when she saw her the damned girl was still fully clothed and almost immediately a scowl came to her features. If she remained clothed it was a simple fact that Celeste would just go get clothes. However she didn't, and when she settled onto the marble bench she tensed a bit awkwardly as she had sat quite close.

She stared at her even as she told her to lean her head back, and she slowly managed - sighing quietly as she felt the fingers on her scalp. That was one thing that she was apparently very good at - and she now knew why Siobhan liked it so much. The comment about the mate made her tense but she didn't move away.

She wasn't sure if she liked that. It was a possibility for them all, she supposed - but there was still that thought as the story followed - of rescue. Michael had rescued her..when all that he had wanted to do to her was torment her for hours. It was so incredibly different. And that was why she became so tense - as she remembered what he had done to her.

When she felt the lips against her head her eyes opened slowly - simply because she didn't seem like she could sit still for very long.

Celeste managed a quiet gasp as she felt the hand cup her breast, her heartbeat growing faster still as she continued - talking about the death of a master and the pain in the heart that lingered.

She shuddered somewhat, lost in her own thoughts again as she felt the bite that would never heal, just as she had her own on her inner thigh that would be the same mark.

And for the rest of it she just sat there. As she changed into what she actually was - the hybrid form lovely and something that she couldn't help but stare at, her gaze lingering here and there at spots.

When she finally managed to blink and look back up at her she tilted her head slightly, smiling. "..A man...a..something. Something wanted to claim me..and Mich...Master killed him and had me eat the heart..I was so hungry..and it was..incredible." Her gaze found the ground again and she shrugged slightly.

"And really, if my figure looked like yours I wouldn't want to fill it out." She spoke quietly then, watching her as she stood in front of her. "...What sort of training do you have in store for me, Kira..what else are you hiding for today."

 

[dryfter]

The cheetah girl stood quietly, listening as Celeste mentioned the male who had challenged Michael....an eyebrow quirked in silence as she discarded the scene in silence as over and done. The male was dead, she had eaten his heart, and his life and spirit now fueled her. Kira wasn't surprised at all to find that Celeste had been recently bitten.....though her next comment did cause her face to soften a little....

"And really, if my figure looked like yours I wouldn't want to fill it out."

If she were still human, she might have blushed a little. This fox girl really was cute.....damn being bi could be such a pain sometimes. It had taken time, and a little patient seduction....but Kira had experienced the pleasures of her housemates.....taught them to pleasure each other as well. Perhaps with a little patience.....

The were-cheetah shook her head. Those were thoughts for another time, certainly not a welcome distraction now. Not when she had such a serious job to do.

"...What sort of training do you have in store for me, Kira..what else are you hiding for today."

"Hiding? I hide nothing, fox girl. And yes, I know your clan....as do the others. I still can't believe you are jealous of us. Yeah....Nastaja might be larger in the chest than you are, but she's got her own issues too....thinks she too muscular and not feminine enough. Me? Look at me....I'm flat just about anywhere you look. Wish I could get just a little more curve to my backside like your sweet little tail.....instead of looking like an anorexic crack whore all the time. But again, I digress."

For the first time that day, Celeste found herself fixed with a fierce look.....one that she'd never experienced before from this fiesty girl.

"The exercise is simple. I've told you my gift.....I'm fast.....very fast. I can outrun master's car with little effort at all unless he gives it every thing it can take....and even then, I win in a race every time. And for your information that means I clock out at well over 180 miles per hour."

Kira chuckled softly at her trainee's facial expression at that bit of news.

"The exercise is simple. You need to run.....change if you can, though I suspect you can't if all you've had is just one heart. You need to evade me at all costs.....because if you don't.....you will be bitten. All you have to do....is make it back inside the house. If you get bitten....we'll wait until the wound mends itself.....and then the exercise will begin again."

Her face took on a more serious note as she watched the girl before her recoil.

"Honestly, love.....I don't like doing this. But you have to know the extent of what you can do.....the gift that you've been given......even if you do think it a curse right now."

 

[TieMeTightly]

Celeste had been doing fine up until the girl's look had gone from soft to something far more dangerous that actually made her take a slight step backward from where she had been standing, her eyes wide.

Though it wasn't until she actually spoke and told her of this..training that she simply blinked at her, her jaw dropped in obvious shock at what she was supposed to do. Outrun cheetah-girl. That was impossible. She could out-run a car.

Almost immediately she challenged her. "You don't like doing this? H..how am I supposed to outrun you! This is ridiculous..y..you can't actually think that I will be able to..even if I change..even if I managed to do that."

She shook her head then, crossing her arms stubbornly over her chest. "Is this some sort of pick on the new girl type of thing? How many times can we make her try to run for the house and bite her before she actually gives up...?"

She looked around then, almost like she was waiting for the others to pop out of the woodwork. "..I can't outrun you in this form. I cannot outrun you in my changed form. Even if I could..evade you. It's not like it would help much. What..hide in a rosebush and hope you get pricked?"

Celeste was frustrated already though it was quite obvious by the look on Kira's face that she wasn't kidding - and this was going to be done today.

So instead Celeste continued to glare - however unfolded her arms. "I'm going back inside." With that she turned - and started back for the house - just wanting to get away from what she was at this point considering to be the most pointless of things that she had ever done, though it was obvious that she didn't realize she was already playing the game. She was trying to get inside.

Her yes were fixed on the door as she nearly stomped away from the girl. This all had to be some cruel trick. And really..bite her? Who bit people anymore just because they weren't as fast as a cheetah. Celeste was failing to believe at all in herself - though it didn't seem to be helping matters that Kira probably had very little faith that she could win as well. There was no way she would be able to make it back..and at this point she considered this bit of training stupid.

 

[dryfter]

Fangs snapped shut on empty air.

It was so easy.....or so she had thought. Celeste didn't want to play by the rules, she'd be shown just how serious she was. Honestly, Kira couldn't think of any other way to let the poor girl know that she was serious....both with the exercise, and with helping her discover her own gifts.

And so she had let her walk off, not wanting this to be too easy. Celeste had almost made it halfway to the house when the cheetah girl sprang into motion. She didn't know why the fox female had glanced around the garden, almost as if she suspected someone else was there....but in the end....it had all happened as Kira suspected it might.

She was silent....a golden streak barely brushing the flowers she passed as she bolted from the garden at a ridiculous speed to burst across the freshly cut grass of the lawn. Her back to her attacker, Celeste couldn't have possibly have known she was coming....or if she had....just how fast.

She had almost gotten a taste.....the fox girl's shoulder actually in her mouth before she dropped with a startled squeak. Kira's feet got tangled up over the sudden obstacle.......the resulting swath of torn grass extending for dozens of feet before she finally came to a pained halt. Slowly....painfully.....she picked herself up from the ground.....

Turning to regard her once more, she could see the fear in Celeste's eyes.....even more so as she began her mad rush again.....closing the distance between them with blinding speed.

SNAP!

She skidded across the slick greenery, desperately trying to turn around even as her own momentum carried her away from her prey. She had missed again!

And it had nothing to do with the accuracy of her attacks. Kira watched as the reality of the situation finally sank into Celeste's mind....driving past the haze of fear she must have felt. Bolting to her feet, her fox clan housemate finally bolted for the house.....

With a savage yowl that could only serve to inspire more fear in her heart, Kira tore up sod as her claws sought firmer purchase. This would be her last shot.

Even as Celeste reached for the screen door to the porch, she came in from the side. Claws scrabbling ever so softly on the stone steps....

Got you!

A panicked noise....her thin frame arching backwards, Kira watched in admiration as Celeste flew backwards out of range of her attack, a neat backwards flip that denied her attacker purchase once more.....fangs closing where fingertips had been split seconds ago.....where her whole arm had been seconds before that.

And then she was gone......like a rabbit bolting back to its burrow.....

Celeste had won. Now to go tell her what she'd learned....or perhaps she'd just tell Angel or Nastaja. She had a funny feeling Celeste probably didn't like her very much right now.....

 

[TieMeTightly]

Celeste had not been really expecting the attack. She actually had really just thought for some reason that she would have been able to go inside with literally no issue whatsoever - though..she could almost 'feel' her behind her, and she had tensed up terribly when the girl came zipping by, her eyes wide.

There was obvious fear in her eyes and she inhaled sharply as she was charged again but just as before the grass had served her well, the slick surface in addition to speed apparently not the best of things to put together.

However Celeste didn't have speed. No that wasn't true she had speed just not the same kind - and certainly not the same amount. So she bolted toward the door - the fear actually pushing her harder and she managed to make it to the screen door but the cry that came from Kira's lips actually had her practically trembling.

She came at her from the side and Celeste looked up immediately with those same wide eyes only to yelp in her fear - actually more of a yipping noise as she ducked out of the way. That was when something..incredible seemed to happen.

Her animal instincts kicked in and in order to get away from the girl and she not only shot back away from her but then to avoid a second time she flipped backward, her chest heaving as she stared at Kira only to scramble back inside.

She would have gone directly to Michael's room..but she didn't want to - not with herself in such a mess of a state. She actually would havebit her! Made her try all over again! No that wouldn't do.

She shut the door to her room easily and within a moment was in the shower, trying to rid her body of any trace of contact with her. She wasn't happy with that..with what their training had amounted to. Celeste scrubbed herself until her skin was pink - ridding her body of any evidence of the past few nights and freshening an incredible amount. She had found a loose cotton nighty in one of her drawers and slipped that on with ease before moving back toward Michael's room.

She had done well to avoid everyone. Any noise that she heard she ducked away from - any flicker of movement that could possibly be the trick of the eye - she refused to go near. It took only a moment for her to get from her room to his, and she slipped in eagerly, making her way back to the bed. She knew she smelled good. Hell, she could smell herself. Any foulness that hinted she had been human days ago was gone, with only a light floral from the soap and shampoo remaining.