Starting Over

[Maira]

Finn kept looking at his niece, Maira, in her seat next to him as he drove the rental from the airport to his adopted sister Chastity's house. He couldn't really call her a girl as she was a grown woman, but she was still young and looked even younger curled up and sleeping with her head against the window. She had bruises and fresh scars all over her body from the attack she'd suffered a few days before, but only the few on her face and neck were currently visible and they added to her appearance of being young and vulnerable. Luckily as a wereleopard she was a fast healer and most of the scars and bruises would quickly fade, and eventually all but the worst of the scars would disappear entirely.

Maira had been sleeping almost since they'd gotten in the car, she'd been doing a lot of sleeping lately as she recovered, and it wasn't until Finn put the car in park at Chastity's house that she finally stirred. "Wake up sleepy head, we're home," Finn said with a fox-like grin.

At her uncle's voice telling her to wake up, Maira grumbled softly but forced her eyelids apart. The glare of light off the snow, coupled with remnants of sleep, caused her to blink a few times before her eyes could focus properly. She peered out the window at the big two-story farmhouse covered in and surrounded by snow. With a sigh, she straightened up and looked at Finn. "You're sure Aunt Chastity said it was okay? She really doesn't mind me staying here for a while? Her wife and the two men don't mind either? Are you sure?"

Finn laughed at Maira's obvious second thoughts and reassured her, "Sweetheart, Chas is more than fine with you staying here and actually volunteered it before I even asked. If she thought there would be any objections from any of the adults in the house she wouldn't have done that. You know how your grandparents are, they adopt anything in need and Chas isn't much different."

Maira again peered through the rental's windows, now starting to fog, and then she sighed again and finally opened the door letting herself out. She was about to make her way to the trunk to get her suitcase when Finn told her over the top of the car, "Don't worry about your stuff, me or one of the other guys can come back out and get it later. Lets get you inside, I know Chas wants to feed you and look over your wounds. You know her, Miss Mother Hen." Unable to resist her uncle's joke about Chastity, Maira smiled and laughed softly before following him up to what appeared to be the back door.

[Demeter]

Rhea blinked at the sight in front of her. Chas, coat half on, was hopping around the artic entry at the rear of the house while trying to pull her boots on. Guessing what was going on, Rhea peered past Chastity and saw the car pulling to a stop in the drive. Finn must have arrived with Chastity's niece. She'd only ever met Maira once before, on a trip to Ireland before Sev had been born. She smiled softly as Chastity tumbled out of the entry and when skidding up to the car.

The moment she'd heard that Maira was injured, Chas had demanded that Finn bring her niece to her. They had the space for guests after all and Maira would have plenty of time to heal, physically and emotionally, from her trauma here. As the family members greeted each other out side, Rhea propped open the doors and stood, toes curled up, at the back door.

Sev was down for a nap and the guys were in town fetching supplies so they could save those introductions for later, Rhea thought as Chastity hustled everyone into the house while making noises about getting Maira some proper outer wear. They were past the month of that the Polar Night lasted around Point Hope, but there were still too few hours of light, as well as too much snow and cold for someone with such thin blood to be wandering around without the proper gear.

Once everyone was inside and crowded around the fireplace, Rhea greeted Finn and Maira. She also introduced them to the newest member of the family. An injured sled dog named Sprocket. Leaving, Chas and Finn to catch up, Rhea led Maira up the bedrooms. "You must be exhausted. It's such a long journey up here and in your state, it couldn't have been easy on you. Get some rest, Maira, and we'll wake you for dinner in a few hours.

It was several hours later when Chastity went up to wake her niece. Dinner was ready and Rhea was serving up the hearty stew in the kitchen. Sev, in his human form for the moment, was strapped into his high chair, chasing Cheerios around the tray while Grae ran a small serving of the stew through the food processor for the baby. When Chas came back into the kitchen, followed by a groggy Maira, Rhea smiled at her and told her to take a seat.

She set a bowl down in front of Maira. "Eat and then you can take a bath or shower, if the Doc here says you can. It's been a test of my strength, Maira, keeping that woman from prodding at you. You've met Grae and Cameo but Sev hasn't met Cousin Maira yet."

[Maira]

Being greeted by a bouncy Aunt Chastity had caused another smile to turn up the corners of Maira's mouth as she followed he older woman back inside. Man it was cold out here! As hard as she tried to look awake, Maira must've been failing miserably because after introductions around the fireplace, including to a sled dog that Maira eyed cautiously, Rhea had her follow her upstairs and led her to a bedroom telling her to sleep until dinner time. Sheepishly, Maira grinned her thanks, and slipped inside the room shutting the door closed behind her. It had been a really long few days and she wanted nothing more than to sleep for a week.

While Maira was resting, Chastity grilled poor Finn about everything he knew about Maira's situation. Last she'd known the girl had only been human and finding out this way that she no longer wasn't and that it hadn't been her choice that got her Changed really ticked Chastity off. Seeing an uncharacteristically dark look in his sister's eyes, Finn stopped her before she could say what he knew was coming, "She won't let me punish the guy who bit her, and she certainly won't let me punish the females attacked her and their idiot mate. I told her what I do and just how it was her father came to be adopted by my parents in the first place, but she made me swear not to do anything except get her to you."

Chastity grumbled quietly about stubborn redheads for at least the next hour, after which amount of time she started eyeballing the stairs. She wanted desperately to check on the girl she'd watched grow up from a distance and finally she caved into her instincts and headed for the stairs, only to be stopped by Rhea. This happened a few times and finally it was Grae taking her aside, when the two guys got home from town, and telling her, "If she is hurting physically or emotionally, which from what Finn says she is, she needs sleep Chas. You of all people should know how important that is. Plus, if she really is a wereleopard then sleep will help her fast metabolism heal her even faster. Leave her be until the stew is ready and we can get a good meal in her." Chastity had grumbled about bossy men for the next hour.

Finn had been watching his sister with equal parts amusement and understanding. He'd never seen her quite so adamant about taking care of anybody in their extended family before, but she also hadn't been a mother when other situations had come up. Apparently having little Sev in the house had really heightened her need to take care of those in need. If she wasn't careful she was likely to start taking in "strays" just like their parents had taken her and many others over the years.

Finally when the stew was ready, Rhea stopped guarding the stairs and let Chastity go up and wake Maira. She knocked gently on the bedroom door and when she didn't get an answer, Chastity opened it and peered inside. She wasn't surprised to find Maira hadn't even bothered changing out of her clothes into pjs, but she frowned a bit at the sight. Maira had never been uncomfortable around her family, and still being in her day clothes kind of indicated she wasn't feeling totally welcome here. Softly, Chastity called Maira's name and after a moment the young woman started to stir.

Twilight's Rain had tried convincing Maira that their new den was safe, but her human side wasn't ready to give in to the big cat's suggestions. So, against the cat's better judgement, Maira had slept in the same clothes she'd been travelling in. They pinched in awkward places but were otherwise suitable for sleeping in if she had to. And, just in case the men of the house decided she wasn't as welcome as Chastity made it seem, Maira wanted to be able to leave at a moment's notice and not have to fuss around with changing back into normal clothes. Rain couldn't argue with that logic, but she really did think Maira was worrying too much.

Still groggy from sleep, Maira followed Chastity down the stairs and settled at the table where Rhea indicated. She really liked Rhea, had since the first time she'd met her, she was very straightforward but she still had a good sense of humor and right now Maira needed both. Rhea did very brief introductions to Grae and Cameo, she wasn't sure of the exact relationship between the 4 of them but she was sure that living here she'd figure it out. Then, much to her surprise, Rhea pointed out an adorable chubby toddler in a high chair. Instantly she brightened a little and she got up and went to see him.

Bending down to get on eye level with him, Maira held out a finger for him to grab and she said sweetly to him, "Hi little man, I'm your cousin Maira. Do you mind if I stay here for a while?" The baby, cooed at her and did the universal arms in the air sign for "pick me up!". Unable to resist, she looked to Rhea and Chastity for permission and when both women smiled at her she obliged the baby. She gave him a snuggle and took in his baby scent, and for the first time Twilight's Rain caught something besides the smell of human in the house. She had no idea what it was, but she could tell it was a predator like herself and suddenly she was on guard.

Maybe it was Rain pushing to the surface in Maira, or maybe it was completely random, but little Sev at that moment went from cute cooing bundle of baby chub to a squirming rolly little white dragon. Dragon?! Maira squeaked, Twilight's Rain hissed, and both of them passed off the little creature and ran out of the house. She waited only long enough to get off the porch before Maira gave in to Rain's demands to protect her and she let the leopard out in a rush so fast that her clothes were shredded and she on four furry padded paws bounding across the snow-covered field before anybody had a chance to make it out the door behind her.

[Demeter]

Suddenly finding herself with an armful of baby dragon, Rhea sighed as Maria took off. She turned and looked at Finn. "You didn't tell her? Finn, you know that Sev can't hold a human form yet and you didn't tell her?" she asked. "Cameo, Finn...go get her before she gets lost and freezes to death. Chas, can you go up and get her some fresh clothing. Grae, please take care of dinner. And I'll calm this guy down."

Out on the porch, as they stripped down, Cameo eyed Finn. "Great going, Finn. Now I've going to get cold," he said right before shifting.

Finn stopped him before Shadwell left the porch. "Wait! She was in a fairly serious relationship with a black leopard. Don't startle her."

Shadwell turned his head. *Very well, you find her and I'll come up from the left. She'll see Grae's mark.* He said before leaping into the drifts on the other side of the neatly shoveled walkways.

Finn sighed and finished his shift. As he was lighter in weight then Shadwell, the fox was able to travel across the surface of the snow while the Jaguar had to leap through the drifts. Though he was normally accompanied by Grae when shifted, the night covered the black cat.

It took them a matter of fifteen minutes before they found the snow leopard stuck in a deep drift. Though she was a snow leopard, the cat probably had little experience with deep snow. He left Finn to make the initial approach while he circled to the left. The only mark of color on Shadwell's body was the white outlines of the mark Grae had left on him. It showed on the left shoulder blade of all his forms.

Whatever Finn said to his niece kept her from freaking out to much when he came into view but Shadwell could tell that the girl was still shocked to see him. *I am Shadwell, Cameo's feline half. We are Jaguar and we are Grae's mate. I'm sure Finn has apologized for not telling you exactly what Grae, Rhea and Sev are. They are part of the race known as the Brood. We should return to the house before you freeze.*

[Maira]

She wasn't sure where she was going, didn't really care. All she knew was that back in that house there were at least two dragons: cute baby Sev, and Rhea. Rhea was somebody she had met and liked in the past but at the time she had been oh so human. Even just earlier that night she'd only smelled something a little strange but as she'd never met dragons before she had no idea what the smelled like. Especially since they were supposed to be truly mythical creatures, not just urban myths like werewolves and such. Just what the hell was going on with her life?! How could her family seem so normal while she was human and then the first time she sees any of them since changing she comes to find out that absolutely none of them are who they were supposed to be.

As Maira's brain was preoccupied with family drama and all the worries and what-ifs that could possibly plague the poor girl, Twilight's Rain was finding it quite difficult to focus on her surroundings and considering she was in unfamiliar territory that was a very bad thing. Before she knew it, Twilight's Rain slipped into a patch of trees and the first tree she came to she was going to jump up into. Only at the base of it was an extremely deep pocket of snow and when she tried to launch, her body weight caused it to collapse in on itself. She essentially landed in a snow sinkhole.

The shock of suddenly being covered in snow, shut Maira up and Twilight's Rain took over as she tried to get them out of the drift. By the time an extra large fox head poked over the lip of her sinkhole, Rain was growling in frustration because every time she tried climbing or jumping out she just got deeper into the snow. **Calm down Maira, quick motions aren't going to do you any good,** came a familiar yet foreign voice in her mind.

Startled, Rain looked up at the fox and tilted her head to one side curiously before asking, **Uncle Finn?**

The fox grinned, tongue lolling out, and answered her sheepishly, **In the fur kiddo. Sorry about not warning you that Sev might not be as human as he looked. I always forget the Brood hatchlings can't hold their form until they're at least two. And as I'm sure you've figured out, Rhea is also a dragon. What you probably don't realize though, is that even though Chas and Rhea are a couple, its Grae who is Sev's father. He's a dragon too. Grae and Rhea respect each other and are good friends but basically they only make babies together since both of them have other people they love and they're both gay. Speaking of other people that they love, Chas is a member of the Alati race, think angels, and Cameo is a were like you, only he's a black jaguar.**

Hearing the fox telling them about her family, Maira shoved Rain out of the way a little bit and took it all in. When Finn was finished, she only then noticed that there was a large black male cat prowling up on her other side. It took every ounce of her control not to freak out at the sight of him, but it was the weird white outlined mark on his shoulderblade that finally helped her keep calm. Inka didn't have a mark like that so this had to be Cameo. Just as that thought crossed her mind another semi-familiar voice entered her mind and the pair tried not to shudder at the memories of a voice of another black feline pair in her mind. Gods they missed them...

**He told me,** she replied shortly. Then, trying to sound a bit less bitter, she asked, **How do you suggest I get out of this snowy version of hell?**

[Demeter]

Shadwell shook his head at the Snow Leopard. **By holding still while I go get a rope to help haul you out of there. Once you are more settled, I'll take you out and show you how to get around this snowy version of Hell. I'll be right back** he said before leaping back through the snow towards the house. He sent ahead to Grae and the man was out of the house and unlocking the shed. It only took a few minutes but Shadwell returned to Rain's sink hole.

He dropped one end of the rope over the edge. **This isn't going to be fun for you but hold on and I'll pull you out. When I tell you, try to jump out.**

It took a few tries but Shadwell managed to haul Rain out of the deep drift. He looked over his shoulder. **follow me back and we'll have you warmed up in a few minutes.** Shadwell led both Finn and Rain home. He told them to go up through the porch and too warm themselves by the fire while he returned the rope to the shed. Grae was still waiting there to lock the shed back up and Shadwell took a moment to purr and twine himself around his husband before dropping the rope on a hook. He followed Grae into the house, breaking off to go upstairs and shift back.

Downstairs, in the living room and bouncing a still fussy, but now human looking Sev, Rhea watched the fox and the snow leopard pace in front of the fire place. "I'm so terribly sorry about that, Maira. I thought you knew," Rhea shot a look at Finn, "about Sev, Grae and myself. Maira, when you are settled, let me know. There's another snow Leopard in these parts and I'd be happy to introduce you to Ivan; he's our local vet"

[Maira]

The more Shadwell spoke to Rain, the more the snow leopard relaxed. As much as her heart wanted him to be Inka he just wasn't and her mind could tell the difference. By the time he managed to get her out of the snowy hole and they all got back to the house Rain was a lot calmer than when she'd left and in turn Maira was as well. She was still nervous at the idea of being in the same house with dragons, but if her Aunt Chas was married to one and mothering another then she was just going to have to deal with it because they were family after all.

She was still in leopard form when she followed Finn inside to the fireplace and was going to curl up in front of it, fur and all, when Rhea spoke to her. While she may have been calmer, she was still a bit jumpy and at Rhea's voice, Rain stopped dead in her pacing to look at the woman. She listened and considered all of Rhea's words carefully before she reacted at all. Rain knew Maira wanted to apologize to little Sev for basically dropping him into his mother's arms, even if he was too young to understand, so the big cat padded over to the dragon pair before laying down before them. Front paws crossed and head up erect as she watched the baby Rain sent to Rhea, her voice just a shade deeper than her human's and more confident, **If he won't be scared, you can put him down with me. Most little kids love how soft my fur is and think I'm great to climb on.**

She waited long enough for Rhea to set little Sev down and then Maira took her turn and added to Rain's words, **You're family, I love you guys even if I was left in the dark by Uncle Finn. He's a kitsune, my dad is a vampire now, and Aunt Chastity is an Angel or an Aluti or something like that. I've always loved dragons but I never expected to have my baby cousin shift into one in my arms." This last was accompanied by a feline version of a smile, squinting eyes and a soft barely audible purring which seemed to excite Sev because he squealed and then giggled and finally just burried his face in the fur of her shoulder.

Finn had been watching from near the fireplace and when Maira went laid down for Sev to play on her, he ducked into the shadows and then upstairs to his room where he shifted and slipped into warm clothes he had stashed away for when he visited. Once dressed, he slipped back down the stairs and only briefly glanced into the livingroom to see the leopard belly up with a very happy, now dragon, baby pouncing on her tail as she twitched it. He couldn't help but smile at that, it showed just how resilient Maira was. Pleased, he wandered into the kitchen where he found Grae and Chastity deep in conversation and when he entered, they both glared daggers at him causing him to stop and put his hands up in surrender. His only defense was, "Go look in the livingroom, everything is fine." When Grae and Chas exchanged skeptical looks with each other, Finn urged, "Hurry, go before Sev shifts back again."

The sight that greeted the trio brought a huge smile to Grae's face and tears to Chastity's eyes. Finn couldn't help but smile smugly and then he wandered back into the kitchen to snack on what was left of his dinner. Grae and Chas joined Rhea on the couch and the three of them watched as the leopard and the dragonet rolled around on the floor getting acquainted.

[Demeter]

Ivan made use of the dog pens halfway between the Peyton and the McKenna-Zabat homesteads. After swiping his bag from his brother, he headed for the house on the right. He had a patient in that house who needed his bandages changed while his lawyer brother had an appointment with the people of that house. 

Little Sev's parents had decided to get their affairs in order should the unthinkable happen to any of them. Vitali, the lawyer whining about the snow, had been up for the complicated task even if he loathed snow. When Vitali had learned that his little brother was headed out that way, he'd invited himself along to have the foursome sign papers. 

Ivan headed up the back steps, let himself into the Arctic entry and knocked on the door. He grinned when Chastity answered. "Hey, here to check on my patient. He tagged along," he said, motioning to his brother. After the people doc let him, Ivan headed towards the living room where his patient was. He stopped when he noticed the young woman on the couch. 

Cat, his mind instantly told him. And just any cat but a snow leopard. He smiled at her, said hello and then went about his business of examining the wounded sled dog. 

After having been told about their visitors, Rhea came out of her office. She leaned against the back of Maira's couch. She looked down at her niece. "That's the snow leopard I was telling you about. Well, half leopard, half dragon. Morning, Ivan. This is Chastity's niece Maira. She's here for a visit. Vitali in the kitchen?"

Ivan grinned. "Yep. He bitched about the snow and why couldn't we take the car. I opted for the sled on purpose to annoy him," he said while balling up dirty bandages. "I'm the little brother. I'm supposed to be annoying. Heh, Rhea, know anyone who needs a job? My office manager-assistant-receptionist took off to the lower 48. I need help." The last was said with the desperation of a man who couldn't figure out the billing software or the filing system. 

[Maira]

Maira hadn't been at her aunt's house for more than a day when two strange men showed up on a dog sled. She watched them as the dogs ran them up to the house and Maira felt herself smiling. That looked like fun, and she had always loved working with animals. Getting to have that sort of working partnership with them must be something very special. When the men finally got off the sled and made their way to the house, Maira went and curled up on the couch with a book.

The men came inside and one went straight to the wounded husky girl named Suka and started working on her while the other apparently stayed in the kitchen. When Rhea leaned down and whispered at her that the man tending Suka was half snow leopard, Maira perked up and eyed him curiously over the top of her book. Of all her years of being Pard, she'd never once met another snow leopard like herself. All the ones she'd known were typical leopards, either orange or black. Hell, she'd met more cheetahs than she had snow leopards.

When the vet asked Rhea if he knew anybody looking for work, Maira looked up at her aunt's wife, excitement shining in her eyes, when Rhea smiled at her encouragingly Maira turned to the man and put down her book then answered for Rhea, "My visit is probably going to be pretty extended and I'd like to have something to occupy my time. I worked at an animal shelter, for years, down south so I'm familiar with animals. Not sure how good I'll be with office type stuff but I learn quickly." Maybe it was a bit forward to just volunteer herself, but if this man was half snow leopard and half dragon and still able to work with animals surely she'd be able as well, right?

[Demeter]

"Oh, pretty girl!"

Scowling, Ivan smacked his brother with a soiled towel, grinning when Vitali howled about clients and thousand dollar suits not mixing well with puppy pee. "Keep your eyes, and your hands, off my new assistant. Not only do I need her to not run away screaming, but her partner recently died. Hands off, Vitali. That one is off limits."

Vitali pouted and watched through the door window as his brother's new assistant-receptionist rearrange the front office her liking. "I can't even look?"

"I know you are part of the reason Martha ran off. Something about your 'dark, smoldering looks made her loins quiver for your man meat.' She said those exact words to me. She told me, her employer that you, my brother, made her loins quiver. Do you have any idea how much mental scarring I have from that. I feel icky."

Vitali rolled his eyes. "Oh, grow up, Ivan. So, she's single?"

"Have you not been listening? She's a widow whose mate recently died in traumatic and horrible ways. She does not need you making her loins quiver!"

"Yeah, but she could need help with the grieving process. You know, friendly shoulder to cry on and all that. Someone to take of things for her..."

Ivan growled as he locked up the puppy's kennel. He'd promised Maira that this job would be easy, only a few clients a day - mostly the idiots from the lower 48 who brought their cockapoos and labradoddles and yorkies up north - and she could use the time to keep her mind busy. Nothing in his desperate pitch had included his man-whore lawyer brother throwing pheromones at her. Still growling, Ivan tackled his brother, causing the both of them to go tumbling through though the unlatched door and into the front office.

Tangled together and cursing, they rolled around the floor at Maira's feet until Ivan caught Vitali in a choke hold and hauled both them to their feet. "Maira, this is my brother Vitali. He's a lawyer and works next door. Could you get the door please, he's just leaving. I'm sure someone needs suing."

Ivan tossed Vitali out the door and pressed himself against it. He stuck his tongue out as Vitali flipped him off and cursed as the older Brood sprinted off in the opposite direction from his offices. "Shit! The back," he howled as he bolted towards the back of his building.

Halfway to the rear door, he heard the chimes on the front ring and he slid to a stop. He could hear his older brother's swarmy lawyer voice as he introduced himself. Growling because Vitali really was a bastard, Ivan sped back to the front. He found Vitali holding Maira's hand, no doubt after kissing her knuckles and telling her that if she needed anything, anything at all, she shouldn't hesitate to call.

[Maira]

Maira could feel somebody watching her as she rearranged the front office area so that she could find things. She did her best to ignore that feeling and was fairly successful until her new boss and another man came tumbling through the door that led to the clinic in back. She squeaked, jumped out of the way, and then stared at the two as they tussled on the floor a moment longer before Ivan pulled them both up off the floor and introduced his brother before shoving him out the front door. She couldn't help but snicker at the interplay between the brothers, and when Vitali snuck back in the front door after making it seem like he was going to the back door, Maira outright laughed.

As soon as he took her hand, however, Maira's amusement faded and her guard went up. She didn't know this man, barely knew his brother and he was her boss, and he had already kissed her knuckles and was vowing to help her if she needed anything. It took all of her self control not to snatch her hand from his and smack him for his forwardness. She was very glad when she heard the door to the back clinic open and she turned and looked at Ivan with a stare that begged for assistance with the overly touchy lawyer.

[Demeter]

Ivan grumbled as he strode forward and grabbed Vitali by an ear and twisted. Ignoring his brother's howls, he apologized to Maira and hauled Vitali out of the office, down the walk, and into his own offices. He pushed Vitali onto his reception couch. "Sit. Stay. Don't harass my assistant or I'll tell Father. You know how he is about manners."

Vitali scowled because their shared father, Modya, was a stickler about manners and would give him such a hide whipping or, worse yet, yank the reins and have him hauled back into the holding proper. "You're a bastard, you know?"

Ivan smirked. "Well, yes. I'm your bastard half-brother."

Vitali kicked out. "I didn't mean it like that. I could tell Father that you used the literal definition of bastard again. You know how he feels about that."

Ivan growled. "Stay away from my assistant. Or I'll tell your mother that you're a man whore and about that thing with Sally Gregor."

"You wouldn't!"

Ivan smirked. "I would. If you pay any unwanted attention to Maira, I will tell your mother that you and the wife of Billy Gregor had a pregnancy scare."

Triumphant with Vitali's reluctant agreement, Ivan returned to his office and gave Maira a smile. "He won't be bothering you again, unless you ask for help. He really is harmless, just annoying. Like a puppy. Smack his nose with a rolled up newspaper or threaten him with our father and his mother and he should back off."

[Maira]

Maira had been working for Ivan for nearly a month when he finally gave her a key to the vet clinic. That way she could get in early and either set up for any early morning appointments or she could study. It hadn't taken her long working at the clinic to decide that at the very least she wanted to be a vet-tech. There was an apprenticeship program through one of the state colleges and she just needed to do clinical work with a licensed vet. Ivan had been more than happy to volunteer as her mentor.

There weren't any early appointments today, and most would probably get cancelled due to the snow storm that was moving in, but when Chas headed into to her clinic, Maira had grabbed a ride like she always did. Chastity heartily approved of Maira's decision to further her education, and was quite pleased that Ivan had agreed to help. Having another snow leopard in Maira's life would only be good for the girl. He had already taken her out after hours to prowl around some of the mountainous terrain near the holding, showing her how snow leopards lived in their native habitat. Maira had come home from those excursions absolutely glowing. Chastity was half worried she was going to have to talk with Ivan about remembering how Maira was still grieving, but the girl never once hinted to be even the slightest bit taken with the feline brood hybrid.

By the time they got to town, it was already nearly whiteout conditions. Chastity got an emergency text right as she pulled into the parking lot for the vet clinic and she pulled out again as soon as Maira hauled herself and her backpack full of books out of the SUV. Maira waived, even though she was pretty sure that it wouldn't be seen through the heavily falling snow, then she turned and went to unlock and let herself in the front door. She rummaged around in her pockets as best she could with her gloves on, but found no keys. She dug through her backpack as well, but again came up empty handed. Getting thoroughly flustered, Maira tugged off one of her gloves with her teeth and tried all her pockets and her bag again. Still nothing!

Pulling her glove back on so her fingers didn't freeze, Maira pulled out her cell phone to call Ivan and let him know she had forgotten her keys but when she pushed the button to unlock it it only lit up long enough for her to see it was out of battery before it shut off again. Cursing under her breath, Maira pulled on the door just in case Ivan hadn't locked up the night before but she found the door locked securely.

Getting quite impatient, as well as cold, Maira plodded through the gathering snow down the sidewalk to the next building. It was an older house that had been converted to Vitali's law office and she was hoping desperately that he had come in early like he did on so many other days. When she got there, she peered in the front windows of the office and frowned. It was still totally dark inside, not even a hint of light anywhere.

Now totally at a loss, Maira trudged back down the sidewalk (her tracks from minutes before already fading) and went around to the back of the vet clinic. She knew her chances weren't good, but Maira tried the back door anyway. When the knob turned she grinned widely, until she went to pull on the door and the deadbolt caught. Her smile fell away as she looked at the back of the building in dismay. It was solid, no windows and only the one locked door. She knew that each of the exam rooms had windows, but they didn't open except for a tiny part at the very tops and then only by using the turn crank on the inside. Defeated, Maira slumped down against the back door and did her best not to cry.

Theoretically she could walk to Chas's clinic, the sherrif's office, or even the school to find any of her Aunt's family, but that was only if she could see where she was going. She was too cold and the wind was making her colder and was blowing the snow even harder. Since Maira couldn't even see Vitali's office very well, and it was literally the next building over, she decided that trying to walk through town blinded by snow was probably not a great idea. With no other options that she could think of, Maira just sat and waited, hoping that Ivan would show up soon.

*****

Ivan didn't show up soon. She wasn't sure how long she'd been sitting outside the back door of the vet clinic when she heard a crashing sound of a metal garbage can tipping over next door. She was cold and tired, both bad things she knew, and didn't want to get up but figured she was obligated to go check and make sure Vitali's office wasn't being broken into. On the plus side, if it was, at least she'd be able to get in too and stay warm and use a phone.

Too tired to carry her backpack, and not wanting to be weighed down by it just in case, Maira left it on the back step and did her best to wade through the now shin deep snow to her boss's brother's law office even though she couldn't see much farther than the end of her fingertips. When she reached the back of the old house, it didn't take Maira long to see the trash can that had been knocked over. There wasn't much in it, which was probably why it tipped so easily, and all she saw around it were small cat prints in the snow. After standing it back up and fetching the lid from where it had plopped into the snow, she resituated the metal container and only then noticed a window above the trash can. It was just slightly ajar. Just barely enough for a kitty the size of the one with the small prints in the snow to fit through. Maybe enough for the arm of a girl who hadn't been eating regularly and had a fast feline metabolism burning away at her reserves.

Barely even thinking, Maira climbed on top of the trash can and shoved her arm through the opening in the window. Even having lost quite a bit of weight and muscle mass, Maira still couldn't fit her arm through far enough to unlock and open the window. Her frustration finally at its peak, Maira and Twilight's Rain shared a scream/growl and before she could stop her, Rain forced Maira's arm to yank outward through the window. Not through the openeing, but through the window itself. In this weather, even Rain needed somewhere to stay or she would freeze to death and Maira was getting too close for the snow leopard's liking. When the window shattered outward, the panes falling against her then on her feet, Maira screamed again but this time with pain. Some of the glass had sliced her cheek as it flew past and some her arm as it came through the window.

Seeing her own blood dripping out onto the snow, Maira got a little woozy and felt herself fall off the trashcan. Rain's quick reaction had her bursting forth and flipping their body so that the snow leopard landed on all four feet rather than on her butt, back or head if she'd remained human. Only, in shifting so quickly to keep them safe, Rain had shredded through Maira's clothes. The only thing still partially function was the over-sized coat that she'd been borrowing from Rhea until she was able to buy her own. Knowing it would only hinder her movement, Rain shoved herself out of the coat and left it where it fell next to the trash can.

Now bleeding, as well as freezing, Rain did what she had to do and leapt back up onto the trash can and crawled through the window. The shards still sticking out from the window frame did their best to cut through her thick fur coat but most barely grazed her skin. As the last bit of her slipped in through the broken out window, one nasty shard sliced into the bottom of one of her back paws. A pained yowl escaped from her unbidden, not when her foot was cut but when it touched the ground after coming through the window.

By this point, thanks to the cold and the pain, Maira was sleeping soundly inside the leopard. She wasn't equipped to handle either very well and after everything that had happened not too long ago, she couldn't help but hide. This left Rain, hobbling around the house-turned-law office, bleeding all over Vitali's white carpet, looking for somewhere warm to curl up and lick her wounds. It didn't take her too long to find a small closet under the stairs. How she'd gotten lucky enough for it to have a handle that one only needed to push down on instead of the standard twist types, Rain wasn't sure, but when she opened it, she discovered a few random cleaning supplies and a couple spare coats and shoes. The cleaners and shoes wouldn't benefit her much but the coats, those could keep her warm. She yanked them off the hangers, dropped them in a pile and then pulled the closet door shut from the inside. Her body could heat a smaller place easier than a big one, if she left the door open she would likely stay chilly and that was the last thing Maira and Rain needed right then. Once the door was shut, it was dark in the closet so there was nothing left for Rain to do but curl up on and under the coats, and tend to her wounds before giving in to sleep.