Welcome Home (NJ)

[Deleted]

Listening to Rose explain about the hybrid form and the dangers of being feral. He considered that information for a moment looked at her and nodded at her to show he was listening, but he couldn’t help but think that the talk of a hybrid feral wasn’t a subtle yet to the point warning. Especially when she began to say that the beast had to be put down. The local Pard would not allow a feral to go unchecked for long. Which brought him to the subject he had wanted to ask her since she first tricked him into revealing what he was. “Tell me about the Pard , please Rose” Krul said, then in an attempt to soften the tension between them “I am very curious about them.”

Listening to Rose speak of the Pard put him at ease somehow. Following her directions it took almost no time at all to reach the foster home where Nathan was placed. Shutting off the engine Krul looked across at Rose and placed his hand on her arm when she opened the door to stall her for a moment. An apology in his eyes he said “ Listen Rose; Thank you for all your help so far, I am really grateful for everything.” then with a sudden realization he continued “I know I have been a bit distracted and tense, But I really do want to spend as much time with you as possible…" his eyes widened as he realized how that sounded "to learn what I need to know." “and I am sorry if I have made you uncomfortable.” letting go of her arm he opened his own door and exited the car. Admitting to himself that spending time with Rose had been the most comfortable and enjoyable times he could think of.

Asking her to allow him to speak to Nathan alone first so as not to overwhelm him when he asked him more questions, Krul followed Rose to the front of the house spotted Nathan right away. He was sitting on the steps to the front porch. Krul approached him and asking if the boy remembered him he received a smile and a short yes. Asking the boy if he would walk with him he told him he had a few quick questions and his answers could help catch the thing that killed his parents. Walking through the property of this foster home, Krul felt oddly at ease and hoped that Nathan did as well. He began asking his questions and he was right Nathan was more helpful today and confirmed everything Krul had seen last night when he tracked the feral hybrid. Thanking the boy for his answers and his help Krul walked him back to the Porch he had found him on.

Searching for Rose, he finally saw her come to the door with another woman. The introductions began. Krul found he liked this woman even before he found out her name. Suddenly he realized why he felt so at ease here. Every set of eyes now upon him belonged to a Pard. This began to bother and annoy him for some reason, he was not used to being this comfortable around people. he thought to himself that this was just something he needed to get used to. His life was changing rapidly thanks to Rose and this was his only complaint? Worrying that he was comfortable and tended to like these people right away. There are worse things, he though to himself. Looking over at Rose, he smiled. Wishing he could find the proper words to thank her for changing his life. And hoping that she would like to take a more personal hand in that change.

[Maira]

After explaining about the hybrid form and about Ferals, the rest of the car ride was spent with her talking about her Pard. Glad to no longer be talking about those uncomfortable subjects Rose smiled at Krul and started chatting.

"Well, all Pards are structured basically the same. The active members consist of a mated Alpha pair, their advisors which are typically Mediators though sometimes Seers or Spirit Guides, and then the Warriors, Scouts, Elementals, and Death Walkers." She saw the confusion written clear on his face as she spoke about each type of Pard member and she couldn't help but laugh at herself. "I'm sorry, I forgot you don't know the different Moon Phase Abilities we are each gifted with." From there she went on to explain all the different abilities and the phase of the moon they coincided with.

When Krul looked slightly less confused, but a little bit more overwhelmed Rose changed topics. "Sorry, you wanted to know about my Pard specifically didn't you?" Trying to figure out where to start, Rose ran her thumb back and forth across her lower lip. It was a habit she had had since she was small. Her parents always knew when she thinking though they were never certain if she was plotting a prank on her siblings or contemplating whatever it is a small girl contemplates.

Finally, she smiled and started speaking, "Well, like I said before, there is an Alpha pair who are basically in charge. As my mother is the senior Mediator of the Pard i've actually grown up alongside their children, they were like another aunt and uncle for me and my siblings. Of course, the whole Pard is just like one huge family anyway. All the cubs, kids I mean, are raised by all the parents. My aunt that we're going to see today is actually my only biological aunt."

As she spoke, Rose only stopped her explination of her Pard family to give directions when they were needed. By the time they arrived at her Aunt's home, Rose still wasn't finished. If given the right motive she could become a chatterbox and Krul had deffinately given her that motivation. Her Pard family meant the world to her and if she could make Krul see that, maybe he would want to join. She had won over more than one wanderer that way and most of them had been quite set in their solitary ways even knowing that there were other Pard out there.

When he pulled the car into the driveway and came to a stop, Rose was about to get out when his hand on her arm stopped her. She listened as he told her he wanted to spend more time with her, to learn what he needed to. When he apologized for possibly making her uncomfortable, Rose blinked at him confused. What could he have possibly done to make her uncomfortable. She was about to tell him he was being silly for thinking such a thing when he let go of her arm and got out of the car.

As they walked up to the porch, Rose could see a much less bewildered looking Nathan sitting on it watching them approach. Apparently Krul saw the boy too because he asked Rose if he could speak with him first, alone. Rose only hesitated a moment, Nathan was her reason for coming after all, but then assented. Krul needed to talk to the boy just as much, if not more than she did.

She watched the man and boy as they walked away from the porch for only a moment to make sure that Nathan wasn't uncomfortable around the detective. When she was sure the boy would be fine, she made her way into her Aunt's house and was greeted by chaos.

When Detective Krul and Nathan finally made their way back to the house, Rose heard them climbing the steps of the porch. Eager to introduce her aunt to Krul, she grabbed the older woman by the hand and dragged her out of the kitchen (they had been making a mountain of sandwiches) onto the porch.

Once the introductions were finished, Rose took a good look at Krul and smiled at what she saw. He was happy. Content and happy. She decided that on the way back to her office she would ask him if he would like to meet the Alphas of the Pard. She hoped he would say yes as normally upon meeting anybody she brought to them, the Alphas would invite that person to be a member of the Pard. If Krul was going to be in their city long the Alphas would prefer he joined, for his safety and their own state of mind. If he chose not to however, they would respect his choice and just label him a 'welcome solitary'.

When he seemed to be talking comfortably with her Aunt, Rose smiled at Nathan and nodded her head in the direction of the swing that was hanging just a little ways down the porch. When he smiled back at her and started walking towards the swing she followed. She just chatted with the boy for a while, asked how he was settling in, if he liked his new foster siblings. He seemed rather well settled though Rose could still detect a hint of the scared confused boy from the day before. After all, he had been the sole witness to the murder of both of his parents by something likely not human if what Krul had told her were true. The fact that Nathan was handling himself so well, so soon after such a trauma, just proved that despite being newly pard he was, the family atmosphere was already working wonders.

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Krul watched Rose and Nathan begin to head towards the swing set. It was now her turn to make sure the boy was getting on well enough. A slight snicker brought him back to the present. Rose’s Aunt Barbara turned a knowing glance on Krul and he began blushing. The feeling of comfort giving him courage he looked up into her eyes and asked “am I that transparent?” “all young people are, you needn’t worry about it though.” she answered. Krul and Barbara continued to talk in easy fashion. When she asked if Krul would be meeting the Alpha pair soon. Thinking she stole Rose’s thunder, Krul shrugged noncommittally. Turning to look at Rose he was surprised to see she was only several feet away on their return trip to the porch. Saying their goodbyes a short while later Krul watched jealously as Rose hugged her aunt, he thought he heard a slight whisper pass between the two women.


Returning to the car Krul again opened the passenger door for Rose and caught a beautiful smile on her face. Hoping that smile was for him he gave a slight bow and closed the door for her. Getting into the car and starting the engine he said “ where to now, lovely Rose? I know I have stolen you away from your work” thinking himself a ham for going overboard he smiled to himself and started the engine. Immensely enjoying this woman’s company for more then the obvious reasons. Once out on the highway again receiving his instructions from Rose as to where to go. He brought the discussion back to where he needed it. He understood the basics of the Pard now. But what he needed now was to know what would happen about the beast he tracked the night before. He fully intended to go back and see if it was still there and if not track it again. Something Rose had said earlier about most feral taking hybrid form. Krul had to ask. “am I going to be hunted as well? If feral Pard take that hybrid form does that make me feral?” it seemed an innocent enough question and the fear of being hunted was real enough. So it came as quite a shock when Rose began to laugh at him. Albeit it was a friendly laugh but he knew once again that his lack of knowledge about Pard life was painfully obvious.

[Maira]

Once she was sure of how Nathan was doing, Rose headed back over to Krul and her aunt while Nathan scampered into the house to grab up one of the sandwiches that the two women had made earlier. As soon as the door shut behind Nathan, Rose turned to her aunt and said, "You're doing a wonderful job with him as always Aunty Barb, thank you."

The older woman smiled at her niece and turned to Krul saying, "I don't know what she expects, I raised six boys of my own. If I couldn't handle one that's more than halfway raised already I'd be a shame to all mothers." She gave a hearty laugh and hugged her niece goodbye whispering to her softly, "Found another lost soul did ya?"

Rose hugged her aunt enthusiastically and didn't bother to justify the other woman's whispered statement with more than a smile. Everybody in the Pard knew that Rose brought in newcomers, though it wasn't normally what people of her Moon Phase did, but very few actually understood all that was involved in doing so. Her aunt, working with the children Rose found, understood better than most.

Having said goodbye, Rose was now ready to head back in to the office. She hadn't gotten any calls while she was visiting but she was sure by the time she got back there would be a whole list of things for her to do. Apparently Krul was thinking along the same lines as Rose was because he commented on how he had stolen her away from her work. She shook her head and answered, "No you didn't, you just got me out of that stuffy office a bit sooner than I had planned."

Once they were driving, Rose gave him directions back to the highway. They didn't sit in silence for long though because he asked a question, which despite her best intentions, made her laugh. "No Krul, you won't be hunted because you took hybrid form!" she said once she quit laughing. "Most Weres are capable of the hybrid form, it just takes more discipline, in non-ferals, than a regular shift as it is a precarious balance between the two forms we have."

Still shaking her head, actually annoyed with herself for not being more clear at the onset and worrying the poor guy, Rose added, "If you want, I could arrange for you to meet with my Pard's Alpha and Elders. They are really good about answering questions you might have, especially in regards to your abilities. Since I don't know what Moon Phase you are they would be able to help you figure that out too, and arrange for whatever training you might want or need. Hybrid form isn't normally taught to were-creatures until they have been Changed for at least a year, normally longer. The fact that you didn't stumble onto it until last night after how many years of being Changed? That's very odd. Of course I doubt you had much reason to discover it earlier."

Here she was, talking the poor guy's ears off again. Something about his innocence in regards to his heritage just made it so easy for her to start rattling off facts. Things that she had always take for granted.

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Directing him to take her back to her office. Krul saw what promised to be the perfect day with this beautiful dissolving away in a crash of thunder. She answered his question about being hunted and he genuinely felt relieved. He knew what was coming next and held his breath as she asked if he would like to meet the Alpha pair and the elders. He didn’t want to offend her or her Pard but he did not want to meet a bunch of stuffy people who are vastly superior to him until he knew more. “I am sorry Rose, but I am not yet ready to meet your Pard.” Krul apologized. “If I am going to stay around, and I may have found that reason I have been searching for. I would prefer to have something to offer your Pard as a sort of peace offering” Krul Looked at her adopting an evil grin he went on. “Besides Dear Rose I am not yet ready to lose you.”

As they pulled into the lot for social services Krul said “I have some more tracking to do tonight , but I would love to get together with you later.” Krul hoped she would be free and as he waited for her response, he began to catalog all the questions he wanted to ask her, very few of which had to do with Pard.” Before she could answer however Krul decided to add a bit more incentive. “and I am not talking about the Bar you took me to last night, though that was a good place to start, safe place if I had been on the verge of being feral.” Krul laughed “I would love for you to come to my place. Quieter no brother to tousle your hair or tease you, besides I make an excellent Stuffed Pheasant.”

Again waiting for her to digest it all he switched off the engine and got out of the car. Raced around to the other side and opened her door for her. Smiling he said “I know it is cheesy, the opening of the door. But I cant be helped.” walking her to the front door he asked her “so what about tonight?” “I could swing by and pick you up when you are done for the day. You could follow me in your own car if that would make you more comfortable.”
Dropping further incentive he said "and if you wanted to you could always come with Lok and I to track, how long has it been since you let Keeper have some sport?"

[Maira]

Rose was more than a little baffled when Krul turned down her invitation to take him to meet the Alphas of her Pard. Not the fact that he did turn down her invitation, but his reasons. She just looked at him curiously as he continued to speak. He said he was going to stay around, or very likely he would, and she was happy about that. He was a sweet guy and quite a breath of fresh air because he soaked up all she said like a sponge.

As they pulled into the parking lot for her office, Rose readied herself to get out of his car. He mentioned that he had more tracking to do that night and in an instant Justice Keeper was all ears. She may not have been one of the Hunters of the Pack but she was a leopard and leopards needed to hunt.

His plea to spend more time with Rose and then offering to cook stuffed pheasant again got Keeper interested. A free meal and spending some time alone with a male leopard, that wasn't her brother, was more than a bit inviting. Rose too liked the idea of seeing Krul more but not for the same reasons as Keeper. Rose would take it as an opportunity to find out more about him, hopefully talk to him more so he'd be more comfortable with the idea of meeting the Alphas.

Rose was still trying to straighten out all of her thoughts and Justice Keepers emotions when Krul turned off the engine of the car, got out and ran around to open her door. She laughed when he told her he "couldn't be helped". While some people may have thought it was a cheesy gesture, Rose thought it was sweet.

As they walked to the front door of her building, Rose was going to ask Krul, so that Keeper would leave her alone, if she could possibly go tracking with him that night. He likely wouldn't find the beast twice, after him finding it the night before she was sure the creature would have caught his scent and moved off. Almost as if he read her mind, he asked if she wanted to come along.

Nodding her head and smiling Rose answered him, her voice tinged with leopard induced excitement, "I'd love to come with you and track tonight, then you can still make that dinner if you're feeling up to it. Plus that will give me some time to answer any more questions you have." Her smile softened and she added, "I really would like you to meet the Alphas, they're really nice and laid back, you don't have to try and impress them. After all, most people who come to the Pard are at first a whole lot less likable than you are." She wasn't flirting with Krul, or at least she wasn't doing it conciously. She just really did think he was a nice, sweet mannered man. He had a lot to learn about what it meant to have his heritage but he was willing to learn and while Rose hated school, she loved to learn.

Before she could continue rambling, Rose squeezed Krul's hand in a friendly gesture and said happily, "Okay, I really gotta get back to work. I'll see you at 5ish? If I'm not down here just come on up and drag me away, I tend to get rather wrapped up in things and loose track of time." Before he could say more, Rose let go of his hand, pushed open the door and walked inside. A few steps from the door, she turned and waved at him a smile still on her face. When she turned away from him, Rose still had a smile on her face and it didn't dissappear until she stepped out of the stairwell into the main office of her department. There were four cops inside and three children, all of them a little worse for the wear.

With an inaudible groan, Rose hurried to her office, unlocked the door, and hung her coat and purse inside before heading back out to the main room. She took the report from the receptionist, and looked it over while she listed to the four officers explain why the children were there.

[Deleted]

Waiting there watching Rose enter the stairwell Krul had a stupid grin on his face. Once she was out of sight the jubilation hit him and jumping into the air, landed a perfect back flip. Turning around still grinning Krul noticed two Police cruisers in the parking lot. The grin fell from his face in an instant. Remembering the horrors that Nathan had faced he turned and ran to the door bursting through and up the stairwell. Leaping one landing at a time. He could not believe how he let himself get that distracted not to notice the cruisers. He of course could be wrong but the only reason two cruisers would be here is for social services, there was nothing else in the building that required the presence of four uniformed officers.

Reaching the fourth floor Krul composed himself so as not to burst through the door and scare everyone especially the four armed men. Walking swiftly to the group near the receptionist. Krul nodded at her and Rose and asked the officers what had happened. if it was another murder or simply a case of domestic violence. Fearing the worst he waited for their answer. The officers explained that they were found near the old warehouse on Laurel Wood Avenue, they had been playing when a wild animal had attacked the group of kids, one child being severely wounded was now at the hospital receiving care. All the children were in a state of shock, and as such the officers could not get a statement from them or any information as to where they lived. So they brought them to social services under the impression that the children were homeless.

Krul Looked up at Rose and Lok took partial control to inform Keeper, That was where we tracked the feral to last night. Keeper obviously told Rose or she had heard it for herself because her eyes widened slightly before she could control the reaction. Krul knew what she was thinking, the child who was attacked. If the child lived he or she was now Pard. Krul’s expression grew angry, he would have to put a stop to this beast, and soon. Lok told Keeper what Krul was thinking. Krul says it is imperative that we track tonight, if you are still up for it? Krul Looked at Rose and saw determination in her eyes as she nodded slightly. He asked her “do you want help with this lot? speed things up so you can go to the child in the hospital.” waiting for her answer, Krul looked over at the uniforms and noticed that they were taking it in turns to look at Rose. Getting a bit jealous, Krul just clenched his jaw and stood a little closer to Rose. He didn’t realize just how Possessive he was acting. He genuinely liked Rose and wanted so much more then just a Teacher / pupil relationship. Perhaps he should take her up on the offer to meet the Alpha pair and the Elders. It would remove her from that position and he could concentrate on her without her thinking that his affection, his need was nothing more then gratitude.

[Maira]

The story the police officers told had Rose raging mad. Four children, attacked by a Feral in broad daylight? One of them seriously wounded? She needed to let her Alpha's know so they could set out the Hunters and Warriors to kill the beast. She was about to excuse herself to go make that phone call when Krul came in through the department's door.

Rose blinked as the Detective made his way over to the little group gathered around the receptionist's desk. After a moment of confusion she realized he must have seen the police cars that were likely down in the parking lot. She wasn't sure how she had missed them herself, but miss them she had. When Krul questioned the officers present, Rose watched as they bristled slightly until they realized he was one of their own.

They went over the story again and this time instead of watching the officer who was speaking, Rose watched the children. They were terrified. She wanted nothing more than to get them alone, cops could sometimes be quite intimidating for children...hell for anybody. If she got the kids away from the police officers, maybe, just maybe, she'd find out what their names were, where they lived. Judging by the time of day and their appearance though, she would wager that the officers' guess about them being homeless was true.

When a voice quite similar to Krul's but more feline sounded in her mind, Rose nearly yelped with surprise. How had he known how to do that?! With everything else he had no clue about she had figured that would just be another thing she would have to introduce him to that night when they went tracking. Before anybody, except maybe Krul himself, noticed her sudden surprise, Rose schooled her features as best she could and tried to decide what to do. When Lok's voice again sounded in her mind, asking if she would still be up to tracking tonight, Justice Keeper growled an affirmative even though Rose had other plans.

Krul's actual voice, surprised Rose almost as much as his mind voice had and it brought her out of her thoughts with a bit of a start. Looking at the detective, Rose shook her head 'no' and answered him, "I think it would be better if kids and I talked alone first." With this, she turned and smiled at the three kids, a girl and two boys, and held her arm out pointing to her office door which was still standing open. When they started to head in to her office, Rose asked the police officers a few more questions before following the children in and shutting the door.

*****

After maybe fifteen minutes, Rose re-emerged from her office and shut the door behind her. She didn't see the police officers any longer so she guessed they had either gone back to their cars or were out in the hallway. Krul however was sitting in one of the waiting area chairs reading an old magazine, his eyes lifted from the pages at the sound of her door shutting. She raised a hand to stall him and she made her way to the receptionist . bending in she said to the woman, "The kids are all homeless. The oldest boy and the two girls, one of them is the one in the hospital, are siblings who's parents left them at the mall," here Rose's face coulded over like she hadn't allowed it in the room, "and the other boy is a run-away. See if you can find the younger boy in our system and call around, try my aunt first she didn't have as many as I thought she had, to see if there is any place with room for three. Once the little girl is released from the hospital she should be placed with her siblings, she's been through enough. The receptionist nodded and reached for the phone directory.

Once that was taken care of, Rose gestured to Krul and led him in to one of the spare offices they used for conferences. As soon as the door was shut she grabbed up one of the pillows off the couch that was in the room and screamed into it. Having vented her frustration, Rose tossed the pillow back on the couch and turned to stare at Krul. "Sorry," she said, a growl tinging her voice, "Parents abandoning their children and Ferals running rampant in my Pard's territory attacking innocents tends to get me a little aggitated."

Taking a deep breath she rolled her shoulders to relax some of the tension that had built up as she had listened to the childrens' stories. Again looking at Krul, Rose said softly, "I can smell the same beast on those children as I smelled on Nathan yesterday so we don't need to track it to find out if it was the same animal. I need to call my Alphas and let them know what's going on. As much as I wanted you to come to the decision on your own, I'm going to have to insist you come with me to meet them so that you can relay your experiences from last night. I've got a lot to do today now so give me a call around six-ish and I'll let you know where I am, whether I'm here or at the hospital or getting the other children settled somewhere."

Rose wanted nothing more than to hunt down that Feral herself but she was not a Hunter or a Warrior. She could hold her own in a fight under most circumstances but she wasn't foolish enough to take on a Feral with only an untrained, unknown leopard for back up. Rose didn't realize she was pacing until Krul put a hand out to stop her. With a small laugh she said, "You might as well go for the day, there's not really anything else you can do right now. I've got a lot of paperwork to do and children to take care of." Her eyes shining with hope she asked, "Talk to you at six?"

[Deleted]

Rose declined Krul’s offer to help with the children, he had to admit he knew nothing about kids to begin so it was a smart call on her part. But he still didn’t want to leave Rose with all the emotions flying around. Attributing it to Male ego he snickered as she went into her office with the children. The officers said goodbye to Krul heading out to a new call in the area. But Krul just couldn’t bring himself to leave yet. Sitting down in one of the chairs in the waiting room he picked up an old magazine and tried to read it to pass the time. Failing miserably at that task he was about to put the magazine down when rose came out of her office and spoke to the receptionist.

When Rose bid Krul to follow her, he got up and followed her into an empty office. Closing the door Rose picked up a pillow off a couch and screamed into it. Apologizing she explained about the children. She insisted that though Krul wanted to meet the Alphas on his own time she wanted him to relate his experience with the feral to them. As this actually fit into his plans to remove Rose as the teacher. He agreed that it was time. Thinking to himself that he was going to have a time trying to get time alone with Rose if she was not going to be his information mine anymore. Rose went on saying that she was going to have her hands full tonight and that they should get together around six in order to meet the Alphas. Sighing he picked up her hand kissed it and said. “Rain check on the stuffed pheasant then I guess?” “I’ve got something to do anyway.” he wished her a good day and left the office heading for the stairs he said loudly “See you at six.” and was through the door to the stairwell.

Lok knowing what Krul was thinking surged to the front and took control . Leaping over the handrail Krul and Lok dropped the four floors as effortlessly as stepping off a curb. Lok was boiling with anticipation as Krul got into his car and left the parking lot heading to the Empty warehouse. As soon as he was there he hurriedly stripped off his clothes, Krul letting Lok free changed instantly to the huge panther inside of him.
Instantly catching the beasts scent, still as strong as the night before. Lok entered sticking to the shadows. Searching almost invisible, he caught the beasts scent as if it was right next to him. It was, and was on him in an instant. Being in hybrid form the beast was more deadly Rose had told him. Wrapping Lok in its arms it picked him up and threw him across the room. Rolling and coming to his feet Lok rebounded clamping his jaws around one of the beasts shoulders. Tasting its blood Lok felt a blow land in his ribs knocking him loose. Again coming to his feet the beast was ready this time. Though Lok was bigger then most he was at a disadvantage. The beast, on him again slashed it’s claws through Lok’s side. Taking to the shadows Lok was waiting for another chance to strike. When out of the silence came the beasts voice in his head. I know you, I have been tracking you for years. Krul moved a bit into control to force Lok to stay hidden for the time being. This beast though seemingly feral was calculating. Krul was thinking over what it had said the beast continued, I will not leave here without finishing my business with you first. Stalling for time seeing as how Lok was injured and bleeding heavily Krul said to the beast. I don’t know you, till recently I didn’t know there were others like me. How could I possibly have wronged you. Krul waited for the answer but the only thing that came was laughter. Krul needed to get out of there and check how injured they were when he heard the beast make a noise. It was incredibly close. Desperate to survive, to be able to see Rose again. Righteous anger flooded Krul and he and Lok leaped out at the beast but something happened when they made the decision to attack, to go down fighting. They were again in that deadly hybrid form. Slamming into the feral beast like they were shot out of a cannon the beast stumbled and fell, Krul quickly advanced grabbed the feral around the torso and lifted the beast off it’s feet. The beast fighting to break Krul’s grasp finally succeeded, it turned and faced them. Taking a wild swing at Krul, he easily sidestepped it and swung back catching the beast square in it’s chest. The beast flew across the room, it landed with a sickening thud. Moments later it got up and quickly left the ware house.

Krul Barely had enough strength left to make the change back to human, and put his pants on. Lifting the handset for his department radio Krul was able to make a call for help before passing out. Regaining consciousness Krul found himself in the hospital being stitched up. A friend of his from the department asking him if he ran into the beast. Krul looked up confused. His friend told him that his sides were slashed by claw marks.

When Six rolled around Krul was just being released. He dialed Rose’s number on his cell, determined to keep his promise of going with her to meet the Alphas. She picked up on the third ring and krul asked her where they should meet. She told him that she was just finishing up at the hospital when he said. “What a coincidence, me too !”

[Maira]

Rose had just made sure the youngest girl was sleeping soundly and had left her room when her cell phone beeped at her. She jumped at the soft noise and looked around for a clock; 6pm right on the dot. Giving a weary smile she fished it out of her coat pocket and flipped it open, answering it as she always did before nine at night, "Rose, Children and Families."

When Krul's voice answered on the other end she wasn't surprised. He had said he'd call at six and that's just what he was doing. After telling him she was just finishing up at the hospital he said he was too. Suspicious of just why he was at the hospital Rose asked accusingly, "How many stitches did you get? Do you still have all your limbs?"

Changing her course, Rose turned away from the hall that would take her to the parking lot and turned down the one to the ER. As she walked she grumbled into her cell phone rather incoherently to any passersby, to a leopard with keen hearing on the other end the grumblings were crystal clear, "I can't believe you would do something so stupid. Didn't I tell you that Ferals were dangerous and that a Pard had to take them down? Not just one enthusiastic untrained cub!"

As soon as the last few words left her mouth Rose slapped her hand over her mouth and immediately began apologizing and walking faster, hoping Krul wouldn't get mad and leave before she got to him. "I didn't mean to call you a cub, I know you're not, but you aren't at all trained in your abilities. I mean, I'm sure you're fully capable of handling yourself but you didn't even know you possesed a second form until this morning. Crap, umm..." Rose's almost frantic whispers cut off as she turned the last corner to the emergency room and bumped into a surprised looking Krul.

Rose landed on the ground with a pained, "oof," and a pathetic whimper as pains shot up her spine. Somehow she had managed to hold onto her phone through the collision and she flipped it closed now and looked up at Krul her eyes begging his forgiveness. At the same time, a lopsided grin graced her lips and she teased, "We need to stop making a habit of this," in reference to bumping into each other.

[Deleted]

Listening to Rose rant at him, he had a big grin on his face. He knew he deserved what ever ridicule he got from Rose. But on the bright side she would not have been ranting if she didn’t care. She continued to rant and rave at him till she finished one of her rants by calling him a cub. He began getting angry, so she thought him just a child. Some youth who needed a sound scolding. He was about to hang up and forget the whole thing. When she began to apologize. He calmed himself and continued walking to the outpatient side of the hospital turning a corner he received a sharp jolt mid chest and hearing a soft “oof” looking down he saw Rose. She was trying to gather herself off the floor when she said with a grin, "We need to stop making a habit of this," Krul laughed to himself and reaching down offered her his hand and help. Helping her up off the ground his free hand clutching his side.

He was about to continue the light banter when he notice just how angry she really was with him. And remembering the cub remark he didn’t want to push his luck. After all she would not have said it no matter how sorry she was, if she didn’t think it true on some level. So keeping his guard up, his ego taking a big enough hit as it was. He was not ready for the killing blow. He gestured for her to precede him saying that he did not have his car here as he rode in an ambulance. But it would not take long to get, if she still wanted to meet the elders he would meet her there if she gave him the address. Looking confused she stopped as they were exiting the emergency room. Krul kept walking not even noticing when he spotted his friend. He hailed him and asking in soft tones if he could get a lift back to dispatch where his car would have been taken. Turning to look at Rose, seeing the confused look on her face he started towards her. Calling across the distance “I need to grab a bite to eat too.” stopping in his tracks it didn’t even look as though she heard him. Wondering what the “cub” had done now, he just stood there. His friend pulled the car up to him waving farewell and getting in Krul had other things to think about.

The feral had said she knew Krul and would not be leaving until she finished her business with him. Well that would not be the case seeing as how soon as Rose informed the Alphas and Elders of the Pard they would deal with the feral in their own way. But Krul wanted to know what business the feral had with him, why it had tracked him for years. And why now that he had finally found someplace he could fit in. of course he knew why it happened now, he must have missed all the signs before when the beast had been tracking him. He believed himself the only one of his kind. Pulling into the garage that housed all the departments vehicles and the cops personal cars. Krul moved over to his car got in and started the engine. When he suddenly realized, he hadn’t given Rose a chance to say where they were meeting with the Alphas. Thinking of his empty stomach he pulled out of the garage and headed to the nearest fast food joint.

[Maira]

What Krul may have interpretted as anger on her face when she looked at him after helping her up was not anger. She was worried about him, concerned for him and frustrated with herself for not being a better teacher. If she had just been more clear about how dangerous a Feral was maybe he wouldn't have gone and gotten himself beat up by one.

Watching his face close up, an expression she hadn't seen since she first got him to confess about his heritage, Rose wanted to cry. All the work she had done to get him to open up to her, any trust they had built was gone.

Everything that happened in the next few minutes was a bit of a whirlwind for Rose, at the end of it though she was standing on the curb outside the ER exit watching Krul leave in a police car. She hadn't even had a chance to give him the Alphas' address. She watched the police car until it turned a corner and was gone from her sight then she trudged across the parking lot to her car.

*****

As she was driving, Rose remembered that Krul had mentioned he was hungry and that thought made her own stomach rumble as if in agreement. Picking the phone up off the passenger seat, where she had set it after she called the Alphas', Rose dialed her brother's number at the bar hoping he hadn't been called over to where the Pard would meet yet. After five rings she almost gave up then an out of breath Brian answered. Explaining her long day, Rose begged her twin for food and he laughed and told her he'd already thought of that. Thanking Brian, Rose flipped the phone shut and drove.

After only a minute or so of silence Rose flipped open her phone again and pushed the button for her recent calls. When she came to Krul's number she told the phone to dial him back and waited for him to answer. Again she was about to hang up when a familiar male voice answered. All in a rush Rose blurted, "Its Rose, please don't hang up on me. I need to give you directions to the Alphas' home as thats where we're meeting. When you ran off and left me standing at the hospital you left before i could give you their address."

The rest of the drive to the Alphas' home was spent with Rose alternately giving Krul directions, griping at him and apologizing for failing him to the point where he was in danger to the point where she'd be griping at him. By the time she pulled up in front of the Alphas' home, she was gripping the wheel so hard from being frustrated with him and herself that when she released her grip her hands hurt.

As she had been giving him directions the whole time she was driving Rose knew that Krul was only a matter of minutes behind her, if that. Getting out of her car she was about to head into the house and hang up when she saw his car coming down the street so she waved him down. Of course as little as she was and as many cars were parked out there he likely could have driven by and claimed to have never seen her. When his car pulled up behind hers though Rose couldn't help but feel relieved.

Walking up to his car, Rose waited until Krul got out before she flipped her phone closed. As soon as he had the door shut and looked at her, Rose mumbled grumpily at him, "I still can't believe you just left me standing there. I thought you understood how worried I was about you, I didn't know you were going to get mad. I can't believe you just left without getting their address. Were you really that mad at me?"

[Deleted]

After Krul had eaten he glanced down at his phone and thought about calling Rose. He picked up his cell and it rang. Startled he dropped the phone and it took him a minute to find it under his seat. Hoping who ever called would not hang up, or if they did would call back. Grabbing the phone and pulling out from under the seat he answered it a bit more loudly then he meant to. It was Rose, odd he thought I was just about to call her when the phone rang. Turning his attention back to Rose on the phone, she began giving him directions to the Alpha’s home and ranting at the same time. He began to glower a bit as he followed her directions. Krul found that even though Rose was angry and ranting he still loved the sound of her voice. And was sure he would love the way she looked better still. But he did begin to get angry with her.

The closer he got to the Alphas the angrier he got, both at her and at himself. He thought to hang up on her several times but this anger that was in the both of them would not last forever and being rude, hanging up on her would. As he pulled up behind rose’s car he saw her waving . This woman was amazing, she could look so radiant and still rant. As Krul shut off the engine he saw Rose approach the car, thinking to himself that if she kept it up he would show her “cub.” Sure enough when he opened the door and she hung up her phone, she was still ranting it sounded like she didn’t miss a beat and she was building up a head of steam. Turning toward her about to tell her off he had another Idea that came to him in a flash. Just as she said “Were you really that mad at me?” she took a breath to continue but Krul acted faster. Grabbing her arms he pulled her into him and kissed her. As soon as his lips touched hers he felt her tense. And he thought to himself, oh shit she is going to kill me. But he felt her begin to relax and when she did he kissed her harder. It might have been only a moment or 15 minutes or a month he didn’t know. Krul lost all track of time. When they finally broke apart both of them panting. Krul looked at Rose, he could not have wanted her more. “so , are you really angry at me? Or just worried?” When she answered he gave her another soft kiss and turned to start walking to the entrance of the house. It took a fraction of a second to realize she was not next to him he stopped and looked around at her. Unable to read her expression and hoping it was good. He stretched out his open hand and silently hoped she would come to him and take his hand in hers.

[Maira]

When Krul grabbed Rose by her arms and pulled her into him, she tensed and almost swatted at him like she would her brother when he was being a pest. Then she realized that her lips were firmly pressed to his and he was kissing her. In front of the Alphas' home, likely with her brother watching from inside. That thought worried her more than a little but she gave in to the feeling of Krul's lips pressed against hers and told her mind to shut up.

When they finally parted, Rose was in shock plain and simple. Krul asked if she was angry with him or just worried which confused her. She thought she had been quite clear just how worried she was and she said as much. Krul gave her another soft kiss and turned to walk into the house.

Still in shock, and trying to figure out just what on Earth was happening Rose didn't move to follow. In all honesty she was suddenly lost in her thoughts and didn't see him move away from her. After a moment, Rose felt eyes on her and she jerked to attention and saw Krul looking at her, holding out his hand to her. Unsure of what she was feeling, let alone what to do, Rose reached out and took it, letting herself be half dragged half led up to the house.

Luckily, during the short walk from the road to the front door of the house Rose managed to get her thoughts in order. Unluckily, Brian was waiting at the door a plate of food in one hand, a soda in the other, and a poorly concealed glare shining from his eyes directly at Krul. Trying to stall any more bloodshed on Krul's part Rose gave the man's hand a squeeze and then stepped in between him and her brother. Taking the plate of food and the soda, as she knew it was for her, Rose bumped into her brother on purpose to brake his glare at Krul.

Leave it be Brian, there're more pressing matters that need to be worried about right now, Rose sent silently to her brother and watched as his glare faltered and his gaze shifted to her face making sure she was okay. I'm fine you big overprotective brute, she teased him. That seemed to put the big man at ease and he smiled at both of them and walked back into the house.

Rose shook her head in amazement at her brother's shift in moods but was grateful he was that easily pacified, at least for now. "Come on, he won't bite and neither will anybody else," Rose said with a laugh to Krul. Following her brother inside, Rose followed the sounds of many voices talking and arguing to the back rec room. It was the biggest room in the house and the only one that could even try to fit the whole Pard in it (minus all the un-Changed children who had been banished to the back yard much to their delight).

Nobody really noticed when Rose and Krul entered, which Rose was grateful for, so she led Krul over to where the Alphas and the Elders were standing in a tight circle discussing what she had told them over the phone.

Once she was close enough to be heard without having to shout, Rose cleared her throat and said, "Stephen, Kathy, I'm here with the detective I told you about." Hearing Rose's voice, a woman just as dainty as Rose but darker in coloring turned and despite the worry lines etched in her forehead grinned at her. "Rosie honey, I'm glad you got here so fast."

Then the woman turned her attention to Krul and she smiled at him too and said, "Welcome Detective Krul, I'm Kathy and I'm the Alpha female of our Pard. Why don't you and Rosie come over here and fill us in on what you know." At this she gestured towards a couch that was mostly hidden from view by the group of Elders and Kathy's mate.

[Deleted]

Introductions made, Krul and Rose followed the Alpha female to a couch hidden from view. Kathy and Rose took up some small talk and Krul began looking around. He felt someone was watching him. The Alpha male Joined them followed by a couple others and introductions began again. Finally Krul was listening to Rose give her account of what she had known about the feral. Then it was Krul’s turn. All eyes in this little group were on him. Listening to him recount his story. When Krul finished they were silent for a few moments then said they needed to confer. Krul took this as a chance to sidle away from the group and went outside for some fresh air. After about half an hour Krul wanted to get back to the meeting before he was missed or before something was decided without him. He was invested in this much more then he told them.

When Rose saw him coming back in she waved him back over to the little group, now bigger then before. Reentering the group Krul spoke before anyone else and told the full story. About the beast knowing him about his fighting with the beast. He finished by pulling up his shirt exposing his Right side, stitches very much visible. “Rose has told me just how dangerous a feral was, if she was that dangerous to me why would she not have killed me. I was alone and new to this area, no one would have missed me” he went on to say “she said she knew me and would not leave before our business was finished. It may sound ominous but the fact is, she didn’t kill me when she had the chance.” Krul let them think on it for a little bit before finishing with. “I don’t know your laws yet, I don’t know how you would deal with a feral, though I have some ideas.” he said and looked directly at Rose. “But I would like to learn them eventually, would like nothing more then to be a part of your Pard if you will have me. But I have to ask you for a couple days, so that I could find out what this feral wants with me.” “I want you to know that if and when I find out what I need to. I will be more then happy to turn the feral over to you, no questions asked.” He waited for a few moments for them to make their decision. Not that it really mattered to him, he was going to capture the feral tonight.
Leaving the Alpha’s house a little while later, Krul was as satisfied as he could be with their answer. He wasn’t expecting them to agree. But when they said they needed to first find the beast before they would deal with it they sent out their hunters on a tracking mission. That would give Krul enough time to find out what the feral wanted with him. And he thought he had an Idea where the beast was. Knowing for sure that she would not be at the warehouse still, he got into his car about to start it when he saw Rose coming out of the house. She had a dark look to her and he wondered if the Alphas set her on him like a watch dog. Not really caring because he could not think of someone else he would rather have “tailing” him. But he would have to lose her if he was to capture the feral as he intended to do. He waited in his car on the off chance that he was wrong and she just wanted to talk to him. Probably going to rant some more telling him not to do anything stupid.

[Maira]

Rose told her part and then listened as Krul told his. When the Alpha pair and the Elders slipped away to talk about what they wanted to do, Rose watched as Krul slipped away. She wanted to follow him and make sure he was okay but she figured he probably just needed some fresh air and some time to think. After all, in a matter of two days he had gone from thinking he was completely alone in the world to being faced with a room full of others just like him.

Rose wasn't sure how long it had been when Justice Keeper finally alerted her to his return but when she looked up from the game of tic-tac-toe she was playing with one of the kids she waved at him. Knowing the Alphas and Elders were about ready to make their decision, Rose shooed the child back outside and made room for Krul on the couch she was still sitting on.

When Krul started talking before anybody else could, Rose felt a bit of tension from the gathered Elders; a newcomer speaking out of turn was considered rude. Only when it became clear what he was talking about did Rose feel the others' anger ease. As Krul spoke, questions ran through her head and were likely running through the head of anybody within hearing range. The Feral had been tracking him? Ferals didn't track anything but their next meal or next victim. And she had apparently been tracking him for years. Just the fact that she had been able to still communicate showed she wasn't completely lost to the beast.

Immediately Rose wanted to try and help the poor creature. Despite the fact that it had killed and maimed innocent humans, there was the possibility of saving it before it did any more damage. If she could be rehabilitated sufficiently the Pard would certainly take its justice on her for killing in their territory but they would also want to give her a second chance at life. Though they were a strict people, Pard did not kill its own without good cause. If the Feral couldn't be saved from herself though, there was no saving her from the Pard either.

When the Alphas told Krul the decision that had been made, Rose nodded. Given the new information about the Feral it was a fair and just plan. Capture her, question her, and try and rehabilitate her. As Rose had already figured, if she could be saved she would be held responsible but allowed to live. If not, she would be killed.

The expression on Krul's face in response to the Alphas' decision was unreadable. Justice Keeper, however, could sense determination in him and that made Rose curious. When he left the house, Rose followed after him. Ignoring her twin's questioning gaze, Rose slipped out the front door and trotted down the walk to the curb where Krul's car was parked behind her own.

When she came to the driver's side door, Krull rolled down his window and Rose said before he could ask any questions, "I'm coming with you." Then, leaning down so her face wouldn't be seen from the house she smiled mischieviously and asked, "Shall we take one car or two?" It had only taken her sensing his determination to know that Krul was going to try and confront and capture the Feral on his own, even though he may not have known the different moon phase abilities Rose was almost certain he was a warrior. She had seen more than one warrior go off on their own, despite the well laid plans of an Alpha. Normally they came out on the winning end of any confrontations that resulted and so those warriors rarely got into any trouble. Rose hoped she was right about Krul and the luck that seemed to accompany all warriors, otherwise there might be hell to pay later.

[Deleted]

When Rose got to the driver side door of Krul’s car she said “I am coming with you.” This was not what Krul thought was going to happen and he very much didn’t want to put her in danger. Sighing he relented and in answer to her asking one car or two, he told her to get in. Once she was in his car he put it in reverse and backed out of the driveway. Not speaking till they were a couple blocks away, and making sure they were not being followed Krul said. “I need to stop somewhere first, pick up some supplies.” Driving his car out to the old farm Krul bought for the solitude and great area of now forested land. He was planning just how to keep Rose safe and how to use her to best effect.

Pulling up to the old barn Krul shut off the car and asked Rose to get out and follow him. He explained to her that underneath the barn was old bunker made for the purpose of a fallout shelter. Krul was grateful that this place had a ready made secure place to store his gear for the more “unusual” cases he worked. While the farm house was being renovated Krul rented an apartment in town. But this is where he comes to let Lok run free.

Once inside the bunker Krul switched on the power and the place lit up showing the walls lined with all sorts of guns and weapons. He walked right over to a large chest and opened it. From inside it he pulled out two small metal attaché cases. Turning to the cabinet on the wall he withdrew a syringe and two vials of clear liquid. setting them next to the attaché cases Krul turned around and looked at Rose, a dark expression came over him. He needed to try to persuade her to wear protection for this outing. Knowing that a fight would erupt he walked to the far rear of the bunker and opened a closet. Hanging in there were several racks of body armor. Turning he said to her “Put these on.” and waited for the storm to hit.

[Maira]

Rose smiled when Krul told her to get in and she ran around to the other side of the car, not daring to look up at the house when she felt eyes on her. The growl that sounded in her mind was quite familiar but all Rose answered with was, I'm a big girl Brian, get over it!

With that, she shut her brother out of her mind but kept close tabs one him through their twin bond to make sure he wasn't following them. He wasn't, and from what she could tell, he hadn't told anybody he'd seen her leave with Krul either. That would be discovered only once the Hunting party headed out and they all saw her car still sitting there. That wouldn't be for at least a few more hours though, they would wait for total dark and it was still an hour from sunset.

The ride to wherever Krul was taking them was pleasant and the scenery was beautiful, not to mention somewhat familiar. One of the other Pard members lived out this way, he had quite a few acres of forest that many of the Pard loved to run in. Rose was about to say as much when they pulled onto a gravel drive and headed in the direction of an old barn a ways away from the road.

When they pulled up and Krul stopped the car in front of the barn, Rose got out as she was asked and followed Krul into the barn and then down into what had probably at one time been a fallout shelter. She was only slightly surprised to see the walls of weapons when Krul flicked on the lights and she slowed her pace to look at the different ones. Even though she could shift in an instant and be armed with claws and teeth, Rose had been taught how to fire a gun. To most everybody's surprise, she was a great shot too.

When Krul said something to her from the other end of the bunker, Rose looked up from the rifle she'd been eyeballing (it didn't look quite legal), she saw him holding out something to her. Walking over to him she was about to ask him to repeat himself when she realized what it was he was holding. When she figured that out, she knew what he had said before.

Looking from Krul to the body armor and back again, Rose laughed and asked incredulously, "You expect me to wear that? First of all, there's no way it will fit me, if you haven't noticed I'm just a bit smaller than you. Second, it will inhibit my being able to Shift." Inside her, Justice Keeper was pacing and growled her agreement. If anything would defend her, it would be Keeper herself.

Only when Krul looked at her and threatened she would have to stay here at the farm if she didn't put it on did Rose relieve him of the body armor. She grumbled and glared at him as she tried to figure out how to strap it on. Eventually she gave up and with a laugh asked, "How do you put this thing on anyway?" She may not have wanted to wear it but if wearing it meant she could go with Krul and try and help him and the Feral, she would do it.

[Deleted]

She didn’t protest as much as he thought she would especially after he told her she had to wear it or stay here. As she was trying to put it on Krul went and continued getting ready. Pulling out some shackles and an Iron peg he screwed the peg into an outlet in the middle of the bunker floor. Then clipped on a Rigging hook. Suddenly Rose spoke in what sounded like frustration. And Krul looked up seeing the trouble she was having he got up and showed her how to strap on the body armor.

When Rose was set with the body armor he asked her to follow him to the table where his supplies where. He began telling her the plan. Opening one of the attaché cases he pulled out the stun gun inside and checked that it had a full charge. Handing her the weapon he explained his plan. “you will have one of the stun guns. While I distract the feral you hit it with the charge.” “now you need to be within ten yards of the beast, or you wont have enough cable and the gun will need to be reset.” he went on explaining how she would be going in through the back while he went through the front. “the beast doesn’t know your scent, though it will know you are there. I have a feeling it will be focused entirely on me.” Explaining exactly how the gun worked Krul pointed out. “The first time you pull the trigger would be like firing any gun. Pins and cables fire out of the weapon and embed themselves in the target. Discharging themselves as they hit.” he looked at her to make sure she understood. Then went on “to discharge it again simply pull the trigger, there is enough power to discharge it three times.” telling her that he will have a gun on him as well in the unlikely event that she missed.

He went on to pick up the vials and syringe. Showing her the first vial her told her. “This is Diprivan, it is a general anesthesia. After the beast is knocked out from the stunning we will inject it into the beast to keep it under while we transport her back here.” pocketing the syringe and the first bottle he picked up the second bottle and put it next to the shackles. “that one is Sodium Amytal, it too is a local anesthetic with a hypnotic inducing effect. Basically it is a truth serum is one existed. I don’t know if we will have to use it or not but it is here incase we do” gathering up his body armor he looked at Rose and asked her if she had any questions as to what they were going to do.

[Maira]

Rose smiled thanks when Krul came and got her all situated with the body armor he had foisted at her. She was quite surprised at how well it fit and she had to ask, "This isn't yours is it? It was made for somebody smaller like me wasn't it?" Rose wasn't sure if Krul heard her though because he wandered back over to the stuff he had been looking at before she had asked for help.

When she got over to the stuff and Krul explained that she was going to be in charge of the stun gun Rose raised an eyebrow. Keeping the smirk from her face but somehow she managed. While she knew herself capable, the fact that Krul was letting her help him with something so dangerous made her feel good even if she thought it was kind of funny at the same time.

Once he had explained everything Rose asked, "Alright so where do you think we'll find her? You said I'll be going in through the back so you must know the place we're going right?" She hoped he wouldn't think her being nosy or think that she'd somehow let the Alpha's know and have them beat them to the place, she was just curious.