Mouse, Mordred, Jonothon, Octavian, Sergei, Vortigern, Spike, Logan, Heath, Keltie, Christina, Sabretooth, Priss, Sabre, Kanika, Faolan, Victory, Saku, Merenseger, Ewan, Natalia, Sophie, Andrew, Blakesley, Elizabette & Xavier.
Mouse scrambled out of bed and looked out the window. Blood streaks decorated the glass.
"She's dead. Something's gone wrong. Something broke and the world mourns, because she was meant to fix it. Blood rain..."
Fafnir skulked into the room, whites of his eyes showing.
I can smell it. Calling. God, Pack. Smells sooooooo good.
"I know."
She put her hands palm out on the red stained glass and shuddered. Sometimes, like now, it was so hard to pull out of the Pack. She had to be two legger for now. But a part of her wanted to go running through the blood, lap it up and howl. Fafnir pressed up against her legs, whining.
"Faf, really not helping."
She could feel Melisande and Flynn in the back of her mind, Jason too. But Jason was scared and the other two were just hungry. Melisande particularily so. They were predators, not like her little Jase. He was just sweet.
Mouse shuddered again and turned away from the window with an effort, closing the curtain. Deep down, a part of her pysche howled for the thirstquenching blood.
***
Logan attempted to calm Kanika while the little girl wept inconsolably.
"She's deeeeaaaaaaaaad! Mama's deeeeaaaaddddd!"
***
Faolan threw his head back and howled, the mournful song of a wolf. Mordred tried to calm him, then went onto the twins. He glanced out the window. Red. Red rain.
He went over and opened it. He smelt the red liquid and his lip curled back.
Blood.
He licked his fingers thoughtfully as he closed the window again. Fitting. His heart had been ripped out today. Why shouldn't the world weep blood? He had.
***
Victory screamed and turned sharply, glaring at Christina who was bound securely.
"This is your fault! You should know, it's your fault she's dead!"
The little girl flew at the alien, scratching down her face and wailing. Sabretooth grabbed her off the woman who just laughed at them while blood ran down her face. His nostrils twitched and he left with the kicking, screaming, flailing Victory in his arms.
Christina licked at the blood running down one side of her face, and laughed again.
***
Saku couldn't help it. When he felt the seperation of the death, a spark flared out from his fingers and set his bed on fire. The shock of that let him regain his senses, and he put it out with the glass of water next to his bed. Distraught, he sobbed his heart out into his pillow.
***
Blakesley looked up from where he was working at his computer and went to the study window. He looked past the red into a world dripping with blood.
"How curious."
***
Merenseger crawled into Priss's lap and they both keened with loss, a wail breaking out of their throats and climbing to the skies.
***
Sabre put his head in his hands and wept. For his lost sister.
***
Keltie sprang backwards, snorting in disgust as the blood hit her flawless black hide. Blood! Everywhere!
She squealed like a fly had bit her and backed into the shelter of an overhang as the rain continued to pour down. Her tail flicked uneasily as she stared out into a rapidly reddening world.
***
Sergei tapped Jonothon's shoulder and pointed towards the window.
"Borzhemoi, look at dat."
Jonothon looked over and went to the window with a lot of other students.Jubilee slid the window open and put her hand out. She felt liquid fall onto her palm and then brought her hand back inside. Octavian inhaled and looked sick.
"It's blood."
Jubilee gasped and then turned and wiped her hand down Sergei's shirt. The Russian looked semi-offended.
"Hey!"
Jonothon rolled his eyes, and looked at Jubilee.
You know we'll never 'ear the h'end of it?
"Yeah, well, suck it up, Brit bad boy. And to you, moredhel, ner."
She stuck her tongue out at him. Sergei rolled his eyes and then put his hand on her head.
"Makehypas cicta, shut up." (Little sister)
"But ewww, that's so gross," Jubilee said.
"Is there like someone on the roof or something?"
"No," Xavier said as he wheeled into the room.
"Please, everyone calm down. This will end...soon."
***
Elizabette grabbed Heath's hands as they whirled around and around in the rain. Red streaked down their faces and they laughed, licking at their lips.
"Isn't it splendid?"
"It's fantastic!"
***
Natalia looked out from under the lip of their cave as the bloodrain poured down.
"Ewan, my dearest, it's raining blood."
"Smells good, doesn't it nae?" Ewan said.
He reached for her and kissed her hard, biting at her lips. Natalia wrapped her arms around him and kissed him back just as hard as the blood continued to fall.
***
Sophie looked out the window, jittery and nervous. Heath and Elizabette had been playing tricks. Robyn looked out as well, mouth wide.
"Ooh-er."
"Yeah."
Sophie grimaced. Well, wasn't this just wonderfully Hellmouth-y?
***
Spike slid down the window of the car and looked out.
Blood.
Falling from the sky.
He pulled the car into a u-turn, tires squealing. Away from the city they were headed into and back out into the countryside. Horns blared behind them.
"What's up, Spike?" Vortigern asked.
"Every vamp on the face of this earth is gonna be out in this," Spike said.
"Especially any hungry ones."
He stepped on the accelerator.
***
Andrew looked out the window and dropped the glass he was wiping up. It shattered and he turned.
"Anya! There is blood outside, falling like rain! From the sky! Is there a prophecy?! Please say there's a prophecy and we can stop whatever it is!"
Anya, Gwen, Angel, Kennedy
"Andrew, calm down, it isn't raining blood."
Anya rolled her eyes and looked out the window.
"See, it's just... oh my."
She paused.
"You know what, it's raining blood. Maybe we should check the books. Go ring Wesley."
***
Gwen blinked in surprise as she, Dom and Billy left the pub.
"Am I just really pissed or is it actually raining blood?"
Dom shrugged.
"Well, if you're that pissed, then I'm that pissed, and by the look on Bill's face, he's that pissed too."
"Oh. Interesting."
And then she promptly fainted.
***
Angelus led Kennedy outside, opening his mouth and catching the droplets.
"Mmmmm."
Kennedy leant into Angelus and grinned.
"It's like... heaven."
Andrew, Wesley & Devon.
Andrew nodded and picked his way across the broken glass to the phone. He dialled Angel Investigations.
"Angel Investigations, we help the hopeless. Wesley Wyndham-Pryce speaking," Wesley said tiredly.
He rubbed his forehead tiredly.
"Hello, Wesley, it's Andrew. Have you looked out a window lately?"
"What type of question is that?"
"I'd suggest you do. Now."
Wesley sighed, but wearily complied with Andrew's suggestion.
"Dear Lord, it's raining-"
"Blood. Prophecy?"
"I'll get on it right away. And..."
Wesley hesitated. What with one thing and another, he hadn't had time to call New York Slayerhouse and tell them about what had happened.
"Angel lost his soul."
"He WHAT?!"
Devon entered the kitchen, looking sleepy.
"What what?"
"You have got to be kidding me. Can't it be like, superglued?! That's like...too many times! And when did this happen? Why didn't you call and tell us? I hope to god you've told Faith after what happened last time. What if he comes here?! We're good, but we're not Angelus good."
"Bad time? Watch me go...holy shit!"
Devon noticed the prevailing weather conditions.
"Oh, f*ck, Oz!"
Oz
Oz yawned as he came down the stairs.
"Hmm?"
He noticed the rain of blood.
"Huh."
Andrew & Devon.
After a few more minutes of conversation, Andrew hung up the phone.
"Angel lost his soul."
"Man, not again," Devon sighed, then looked at Oz.
"Laconic bastard. Almost everyone else is freaking out, and you're all just, 'huh'."
Anya and Oz
"Figures. Something all kablooey is happening and our champion goes off to the dark side."
Anya huffed.
"Very inconvenient."
Oz nodded.
"Hmm. Interesting."
Andrew & Devon.
"World's mad," Devon said.
"I usually only see shit like this when I'm on a bad trip. But everyone else is seeing it too."
"Anyway...Wesley's gonna look through his books and see what he can come up with," Andrew said.
He tilted his head slightly as he heard a cat yowl.
"Bet that the city's going mad. Every demon is going to be out to dance in the rain."
Anya and Oz
Anya nodded.
"Back in my day, I would've..."
Her eyes clouded wistfully for a moment.
Oz was still staring out the window.
"Falls like rain, yet it's blood. Interesting."
Andrew & Devon.
"You go wolf on us, I will trank you," Devon said to Oz.
"Or I'll get Anya to do it. Anya's scary."
Andrew chuckled slightly, then bent to clean up the glass of the cup he'd dropped.
Anya and Oz
"I'd make you howl, wolf boy," Anya said, going to help Andrew.
"Slightly offended here," Oz said, holding his hands up. "I'm not going to go wolf."
Andrwe & Devon.
"Yeah, but howl in a good way or a bad way?" Devon said, grinning slightly.
Andrew made a face as he swept the smaller bits of glass into a dustpan.
"You are so twisted and wrong. Besides, Willow."
"Willoooooow."
Devon shook his head slightly.
"Yeah, but you can't blame us for thinking oh no, blood, hyper wolf senses and all that shit."
Anya and Oz
Anya glared at Devon as she straightened up and looked out the window again.
"Not even I did this as a demon. Although that would've been a laugh."
Oz shrugged.
"Am what I am."
Andrew & Devon.
Devon snickered and went out to the living room. He turned on the tv.
"Holy mother of God, it's happening everywhere!"
"What has enough power to do that?" Andrew said.
"Even in the Old Testament, God only did it to one country!"
Anya and Oz
"Why doesn't Wesley read faster?" Anya complained.
"Why don't you read something?" Oz asked.
"I could... we don't have as many resources though. Keep talking like that, Oz, and you're going to get shot with a trank gun."
"Huh."
Andrew & Devon.
"Wesley has a lot of books," Andrew said.
"And probably not very much help. Cordy..."
"Mega bitchy princess," Devon said.
Anya and Oz
"You dated her," Oz said.
Anya cracked her knuckles.
"This has be confused. Why is it raining blood and why hasn't anyone got answers? What about Giles? Why doesn't he call with the answers?"
Devon.
"For what she looked like, not what she did or what came out of her mouth," Devon retorted.
"And Giles is probably all snuggled up with that white haired hottie. God knows I wouldn't want to get out of bed."
Anya and Oz
"Hmmm, well... he should be reading. And translating. And doing what Giles does," Anya said, nodding decisively.
Oz shrugged.
"Was your funeral."
Andrew & Devon.
"Was my way of getting laid," Devon corrected.
"Though she was too prissy to do much more then a bit in the backseat."
"Gah, don't want to know," Andrew said.
Devon grinned devillishly.
"Oh, I bet you do. Virgin."
Anya and Oz
"Oh leave the pansy virgin alone," Anya said distractedly.
Oz grinned.
"Moving on?"
Andrew & Devon.
"Why? Teasing the virgin is so much fun. And he's pure as the driven snow," Devon said.
"Shut up," Andrew said.
"Anya, that didn't help. And I'm not a...pansy."
"Hate to correct," Devon said, grinning.
"But you collect action figures. *Action figues*. That's pansy behaviour."
Andrew frowned.
Anya and Oz
"Those stupid dolls. Still don't understand you and your stupid dolls, if you can't play with them, why have them?" Anya asked.
Oz snickered slightly.
Andrew & Devon.
Andrew threw his hands up and walked away.
"I give up."
"It's no fun if you leave," Devon said.
"I know, that's why I'm doing it."
Anya and Oz
"Oh come on, sissy," Anya said, walking after him.
"She should work on her people skills," Oz said.
Taylor
Taylor slowly moved up behind Mouse, dressed in darker clothing than usual.
He silently, slowly and carefully slipped his hands around her waist, and began to sway her even slower.
His eyes squinted slightly as he gazed out onto the street, hardly breathing at all.
Andrew & Devon.
"I work on mine all the time," Devon said.
"That's why people love me."
"I don't," Andrew said.
"That's because I haven;t worked at you, because you're totally straight and therefore, not worth my effort to get you into bed," Devon said.
Andrew growled.
Mouse.
Mouse shivered, looking up at him.
"Taylor...?"
Fafnir whined and scratched at the glass, feral eyes looking out. Mouse twitched slightly, trying so hard not to drown in the wolf.
Oz
"He growls, interesting."
Oz chuckled to himself as he headed upstairs.
Taylor
"Shh..." Taylor put a finger to his lips for a moment, then dropped it to her waist again.
"Just watch..."
The fuzzles cooed anxiously from their drawer.
"Isn't it pretty?" he whispered.
Andrew & Devon.
"He spends too much time with you, obviously!" Devon said.
"Oh, do it again. Such a cute little puppy growl."
Andrew glared at him.
"I hate you sometimes, then I remind myself you've smoked so much pot, your brain's pretty much destroyed. And then I just pity you."
Anya
"You can always kick him out, Andrew. He's usually and full of drugs and will get us all killed one day."
Anya nodded matter of factly.
Mouse.
"I..."
Mouse wet her lips nervously, looking out again.
God.
Melisande cooed into her mind, drifting like waterweeds and petting so softly.
"Pretty, pretty...Father knows. So very pretty..."
"Oh..."
Mouse hung her head slightly.
Taylor
A smile crept across Taylor's face, as he closed his eyes.
He was content with listening to the rain, and Mouse breathing.
Softly. he leant down and kissed her neck.
Andrew & Devon.
"I'll leave that to you, Anya," Andrew said.
"I'm going to go and...do some research."
Devon pouted at Anya.
"You wouldn't really throw me out, would you?"
Mouse.
She was so close to just slipping into the wolf, and never coming out again. Fafnir turned to look at her.
"No."
Again, louder this time.
"No. I'm not...I'm not a wolf. I can't be one..."
She swallowed, looking at the blood. God, so close.
Anya
"You push your luck."
Anya flicked her hair over her shoulder and headed for her room.
"I think about it often. Dump you on Xander's doorstop."
Taylor
"You've always been so close..." Taylor barely whispered, so she could hardly hear him even though his was right near her ear.
He opened his eyes.
"Sometimes it's good to be insane."
Devon.
"Aww, Anya.." Devon said.
"Don't you love me anymore?"
Anya
"Anymore implies there was love in the beginning."
Anya gave him a long look.
"And there wasn't. You know... I'm this far away from sending you packing to Tulsa, where you can annoy Xander, and mooch off him, and make HIS slayer protect you."
Mouse.
"Taylor..."
Mouse looked up at him, very, very worried.
"Are you...feeling alright?"
He'd wanted her to hold on. Not to be...wolf. To be a twolegger, not one of the Folk. She'd become less wild, more civilised. All for him.
Devon.
"I'm...going to go elsewhere now and stop talking," Devon said.
He edged further into the living room, out of her line of sight.
Taylor
"Perfect," Taylor whispered.
He slid one hand into hers, and tugged softly.
"Come," he said softly, attempting to lead her from the room.
Mouse & the Three.
"Ok..."
Mouse let him lead her, anxiety in her brown eyes. Fafnir padded along.
Melisane felt her mother's mind and giggled. Flynn batted at the mobile overhanging his cot, claws sliding out.
"So, what do you think?" He asked Melisande quietly.
"I think everything's perfect."
"It's wrong." Jason said.
"Father, wake up!"
Taylor
Taylor's eyes darted from one wall to the other, the smile returning to his face as he led Mouse down the hallway and to the front door.
He unlocked it, disregarding Bee's presence from the kitchen doorway, and opened it before pulling Mouse out onto the veranda.
Mouse & Keltie.
"Sabre said tae stae out uv yorrr way, but this is too fecking moch," Keltie said in disgust, blood dripping down her nose as she cowered against the wall of the house.
"Hi, Keltie..."
Mouse pressed a hand to her forehead, feeling sick and shaky. Fafnir's nose twitched and he howled softly.
Taylor
Taylor growled slightly at Keltie as he let go of Mouse's hand, seeing her as ruining the momentum.
He hesitated as he looked out over the street, then stepped down the stairway to the veranda and into the rain.
He closed his eyes and spread his arms.
Mouse & Keltie.
"She's dead, didn't you feel it?" Mouse said distantly.
"What creature of gramarye didn't?" Keltie said.
The nygel moved up onto the porch, blood sliding through her long black hair.
"I'm going to go...wash. Get this...filth off my hide."
She kissed the medallion around her neck, and she disappeared. Mouse stared out after Taylor, then took a first faltering step into the rain. The rain...it was warm.
Running, knife in hand as Fafnir flowed ahead of her. The leap, the kill. Warm blood down her throat and a barking laugh rising as she watched her Pack feed.
Taylor
"I'm here you sons of bitches," Taylor said out loud, the blood running down his face and body like water.
He held his head back, his fingers trembling as he still held them out.
Mouse.
"Taylor?"
Mouse moved across to him slowly. Fafnir slid out into the rain, muzzle pointed to the sky. His tongue slid out to lick at his jaws.
Tastes good.
Taylor
"What?!" Taylor exclaimed, turning to her sharply.
His eyes were unusually wide and alert.
"Is something wrong?"
Giles
Giles wrapped his arms around Priss, stroaking Merenseger with one hand. Another wailing kitten hopped on the bed, and Giles kissed the top of Triumph's head, as she slid into her older sister's lap.
"Daddy, what's wrong?" Robbie asked, scared and confused, He hopped on the bed, and laid his head on Giles' chest. Giles held his family close together, as they all mourned together.
Drusilla
Drusilla walked into the house silently, covered in blood from head to toe. In a state of catatonia, she laid on the bed, staring at stars only she could see. The kittens were all huddled together under the bed.
Mouse.
"Besides the fact that blood is falling from the sky?" Mouse said.
"I don't know. You tell me."
Priss
"She's dead, she's dead," Priss wept.
"I watched her die, and there was naught that I could do! Goddess take that treachorous Asian bitch! Fated it was, but to make Sabre and I watch was beyond cruel."
Giles
"Like Mummy?" Robert asked.
"Yes. . . and no," Giles answered his son. "Your Mummy had an accident. Nyx was killed."
"Like in the movies?" he asked in a small voice.
"Sort of."
//hurts,// Triumph said. //Hurts inside. Sad. I can feel it inside.// She nuzzled her littlermate.
Priss.
"I cannot do this," Priss gasped.
She got up from the bed and fled, disappearing between one step and the next.
"She'll be back," Merenseger said calmly.
The small kitten licked a paw thoughtfully.
"She has some things to see to. The Weary Traveller may not rest for long..."
Giles
Robbie petted the kittens with all the patience of a four-year-old. It had only taken him a short while to accept that Merenseger and Triumph were more than just kittens.
"Is Miss Priss's Sister in Heaven with Mummy?" Robbie asked.
"Mummy's in Heaven. But I do not know exactly where Nyx's soul has gone. Possibly Hamunaptra," Giles said. "That is where the sould of a human Egyptian would go."
Taylor
Taylor closed his eyes.
"Thou shalt hurst thee with thy words if thou nae carefult."
He chuckled, then looked to the sky again.
"Precious..." he cooed.
Merenseger.
"Who says she's dead?" Merenseger said, then jumped off the bed.
She swayed out the door with all the self assurance of a cat. She was hungry. Death was nothing, merely something that happened.
Mouse.
"Taylor, what is wrong with you?" Mouse asked.
His emotions were all jumbled, and she couldn't get a grip on them.
Taylor
Taylor hesitated, then slowly placed his hands on his head and swayed on his feet.
"For every life there is one who is weaker..." he began softly.
"There is always someone to look down on. I am not that person. I never want to be that person again..."
Mouse.
Fafnir snarled, moving in front of Mouse protectively as the blood rain continued to fall. He registered Taylor's words as a direct challenge to Mouse's status within their dysfunctional little pack.
You've got the water sickness. You're rabid.
"Faf..."
Mouse gentled him with a soothing caress, staring at Taylor.
"Why are you saying this? I don't understand..."
Taylor
Taylor growled slightly at Fafnir's reaction, then turned his head away. The sudden movement sending drops of blood flying from his hair.
"I'm sick of being the hunted animal. That, is the only reason I say these words. They want me so bad, then why don't they f#!+ing take me? Us? They'd rather our souls die as they bide their time, ready to pounce on us the second we turn away... and to what..."
He stopped himself, and turned back to her.
"A world of darkness is not where I belong. It slices us and forever shall..."
He shook his head and looked away again.
Mouse.
Fafnir growled at Taylor, lifting his lip away from his teeth. He then turned his head and butted Mouse's legs.
We go now. Leave the rabid Alpha. Go. Now.
"Faf!"
Mouse stood her ground and Fafnir headbutted her again, trying to make her move.
He smells mad. Go.
"Fafnir, stop it!"
Fafnir snarled at her, and Mouse looked shocked.
You don't argue with the rabid. You just go. You have pups to think of now, not just yourself, Alpha Bitch. Pack Leader, we go now. Leave the insane to their own thoughts.
He shoved his shoulder into her legs and Mouse stumbled backwards a few steps. Fafnir turned his head to snarl at Taylor again. Mouse ran around the wolf to Taylor.
"Tay, the only one like that is Blakesley, and he's probably dead by now! Or else we would have seen him once the babies were born!"
Dawn and Clark
Dawn and Clark looked out of the windows of their ice house, that was always strangely warm. Clark looked surprised as Dawn's eyes flashed green.
"What is it, Kintôné?" he asked her, using the Kryptonian word for 'Beloved.'
"Blood. . . .very strange, and somewhat icky. You know, it's all going to freeze out there."
"Blood bounces on ice."
"But it has to settle at some point."
"Will you be able to remove it, when it ends?"
"I don't know. I haven't used magick since Glory disapppeared. She's finally fading, you know.
"I know, I can sense a change in you."
"Let's go to bed," Dawn said. They shared a bed, though they hadn't yet made love.
~*~*~*~
Kitty wrinkled her nose as she phased through the blood so it wouldn't get on her, slipping between the drops before making it back inside.
"That was icky," the Jewish girl declared. "I mean, I know that god made it rain blood in Egypt, but I never took it literally it." She looked at her friend.
"Hey Tracy, how's Jamie doing?"
"He lost another double today. He's still hurting. So, are you going to sit and listen to Displaced practice like a good little groupie?"
"Probably. Am I, like, that predictable?" Kitty asked.
"Just a little." Tracy gently swatted the Wisp away. They went up to their room and Kitty scooped up Lockheed. He seemed to know something strange was happening. He nuzzled his fuzzy purple head against her cheek.
"Hey, buddy. let's go downstairs." Kitty took her pet dragon downstairs, while Tracy went off to visit Jamie, and tell him about this very strange rain of blood.
Taylor
Taylor hung his head, as if bowing to her - though he stood taller.
"The woman with black wings... the Spider... Eye. They want me. Slaughtered. Like the beast of burgers."
A single tear mixed with the blood running down his face.
"I'm losing. I've already lost."
Mouse.
Mouse reached up to stroke her fingers along his cheek.
"Don't lose it, please, Tay. I don't know if I can do this without you."
Taylor
Taylor's eyes raised to meet hers, and there they stayed unblinking.
"You are much stronger than I," he said softly.
He looked down again.
"Yet I will falter."
Mouse.
"I'm *not*! Why do people keep telling me I'm strong when I'm not and all I want to do is crawl into a hole and never come out again?!"
Mouse pressed the back of her hand to her lips, close to tears.
Taylor
Taylor looked up again, then reached up slowly to tap her temple.
"Because you have the wolf within you," he said softly.
"Be it far from the strongest of animals, it makes you stronger than most like you."
Mouse.
"I can't do this, Taylor, I can't."
Mouse put her hands over her mouth, afraid she was about to scream. Or howl.
She was more afraid she'd howl.
Fafnir whined anxiously.
Taylor
"Shh..."
Taylor slowly pulled her hands away, and leant in to kiss her.
"Times like these may only happen once in a lifetime," he whispered, gesturing to the sky.
"The only thing that's left is to enjoy it. We have already mourned. Too many times."
Mouse.
"How can you enjoy...blood?"
Mouse could feel it soaking into her hair, sticky and wet. Clinging to her skin like liquid cobwebs.
Easily... Fafnir said.
With the right attitude.
"If I let go...I'll drown. If I let go of the twolegger part of me, I will *be* wolf, just not on four legs."
Taylor
"Blood, my dear, is a part of life..."
He stepped back a little and closed his eyes again.
"It doesn't always mean death. Blood is a giver of life. It can also take it. Like electricity."
He chuckled.
Mouse.
Mouse swallowed.
"What is *wrong* with you?"
She tried to get a grip on his emotions, to get a sense of what was going on, but she couldn't. And it wasn't like when he blocked her. She knew the emotions were there, but she couldn't make sense of them.
Taylor & Jason
Taylor opened his eyes again, his head tilted down slightly looking almost evil.
"Nothing is wrong," he tilted his head a little.
He looked out at the street, then made his way back up the veranda. Hesitating at Bee's side, he pushed past and inside.
Bee watched after him, then turned concerned eyes on Mouse.
Mouse.
"Everything is wrong."
Mouse nearly fled to the house, hands wiping at her bloodcovered arms in disgust.
"I can't cope with this..."
Fafnir howled, mournful tone ringing out into the unnatural rain.
Taylor & Jason
Bee sighed and closed the door slightly, enough to let Fafnir in.
Taylor had made his way to the bathroom, to begin washing himself off.
Mouse & Clarissa.
Clarissa watched Mouse with a worried eye.
"Taylor's using your shower. You can borrow mine, chickie."
"Thanks, Riss," Mouse sighed and went to get the blood off her skin.
Fafnir settled on the porch and started to clean himself off with long sweeps of his tongue.
Taylor
Taylor turned the shower on, and stepped in fully-clothed.
Lucky most of what he was wearing was black. The blood would be rinsing out for weeks upon weeks though...
He cooed softly to himself, like a fuzzle, as he just stood under the water.
Mouse & Clarissa.
"I'm worried," Clarissa said to Bee.
"Are you worried? You should be if you're not."
Mouse stripped, grimacing as the bloodsoaked clothing peeled away from her skin.
Taylor & Jason
"You would think so little of me?" Bee raised his eyebrows, "of course I'm worried. Maybe we should contact Steel... or Mr. hanson himself."
Taylor shook his hair out, almost coating the glass and tiles in red, before beginning to strip down to only his necklaces. His clothes were left in a pile at his feet.
Clarissa.
"Or both," Clarissa said.
"Both could be good."
She bit her lip thoughtfully.
"Wasn't Taylor seeing a shrink? Cos I *really* think he should go back. Some of the stuff he's thinking...seriously whacked out shit. And Mouse is just about ready to crack herself. What's it...post- natal depression, and I can't say I really blame her."
Taylor & Jason
Bee rubbed his chin.
"I'll call Steel."
And he made his way to the phone.
Once Taylor thought he had most of the blood off, he left the water running to rinse his clothes and stepped out. Grabbing a nearby towel, he wrapped it around his waist, and went to fetch some clothes from the bedroom.
Mouse & Clarissa.
Clarissa went to her room and handed Mouse some clothes through the door.
"These are yours."
"Thanks, Riss," Mouse said faintly, then closed the door to get changed.
Taylor, Jason & Kirk
Steel felt his mobile ringing, dug it out of his trenchcoat, saw who it was and answered.
"Yeah Bee?"
"Hey Steel. Look ah... The Hanson's been having trouble lately. Mental trouble that is. And Clarissa says it's getting worse. You know about it, right?"
"Yeah sure mate. He's been having treatments from the Telepathic Temptress. You knew that."
"Yeah but if it's Tanya, then it shouldn't be getting worse, right?"
"When was his last treatment?"
"Last month sometime."
"Maybe that's it. He might be oevrdue for the next one..."
"Should I contact Walker?"
"Don't worry him," Kirk insisted, "you need to contact Tanya."
"Ok Steel. Just letting you know."
"Thanks mate."
Taylor got dressed in rather thin clothing for the current temperature of the house, and slowly left their room. He heard Clarissa and Mouse in a room down the hall, and Bee on the phone.
Who was he talking to?
Mouse, Keltie & Clarissa.
Clarissa noticed it had stopped raining blood, at the very least. Mouse came out, wet hair clinging to her face.
"Better?" Clarissa asked softly.
Mouse thought for a moment, then shook her head.
"Oh come here."
The alien hesitated for a moment, then went over to the older woman and started to howl with tears. Clarissa patted her shoulders and tried to soothe her.
Keltie hit the ground and flicked long black hair out of her eyes. Snorting with disgust, the nygel picked her way through the puddles of blood.
Taylor & Jason
Taylor stopped short suddenly, feeling Mouse crying.
The strange thing was, he didn't care.
He looked up again and made his way toward the kitchen where Bee was.
He hung up just as Taylor entered the room.
"Who was it?" he asked in an almost deep voice, head tilted down slightly.
"None of your concern, Taylor. Why don't you go and find Mouse?"
Taylor put his hand on the bench.
"Who was it?" he repeated.
Bee frowned slightly.
"It was Steel."
"What did he want?" Taylor frowned.
"Nothing. Just checking up."
"And what did you say?"
"That everything was fine. Please Taylor, find your fiance'."
Mouse, the Three & Clarissa.
"Shh," Clarissa said uncomfortably.
Mouse cried harder.
Jason started to cry softly, tears rolling down his cheeks. Melisande made a disgusted noise.
"Weak. Father's being strong."
"You don't understand..." Jason sniffled slightly.
Flynn batted at the mobile again.
"What's to understand?"
Taylor & Jason
Taylor hesitated, looking away.
"My fiance'..."
"Yeah," Bee just looked more worried.
"Mousey..." Taylor called softly in an uncharacteristically high voice, but without moving.
"Calm down Taylor," Bee insisted, "you'll scare her."
Taylor looked up at him and smiled.
"I'm not a scary person," he insisted, then tapped Bee on the cheek.
"I'm the boy next door, remember?"
Mouse, Keltie & Clarissa.
Keltie turned on her heel to survey the street. The hairs on the back of her neck prickled. Fafnir sat up on the porch and growled softly. A droplet of blood slid off a tree's leaf to land in a puddle. The waterhorse turned to go back to the house, and paused.
A growl echoed up the street, and she turned back. A huge black dog with red eyes prowled up the street.
Mouse gasped, throwing her head back as she was slammed with hate, anger and hunger. Overwhelming hunger. She went to the window, pulling out of Clarissa's arms and sliding down the pane, then punching out the flyscreen. Clarissa scrabbled for her mind telepathically, only to be bounced back off one of the strongest blocks she'd ever felt. Mouse dove out the window, hand going to her ankle where as always, she'd strapped her knife.
Fafnir hit the Hellhound hard, rolling it over the ground in a flurry of grey and black. Keltie backed up, eyes rolling to show the whites. She changed, hooves stomping restlessly on the cracked pavement as the canines tore and snarled at each other.
A snarl rumbled up through Mouse's lips as she watched the fight, knife hanging from her hand. Kill it. Kill the outsider which threatened Pack. It had to die.
Taylor & Jason
Taylor's eyes scanned the kitchen suddenly, as he turned back to the front door.
"Taylor?"
Without answering, Taylor practically stormed toward the front door.
He threw it open, and saw Fafnir attacking the hellhound with Mouse watching nearby.
Surveying the street to make sure no humans were outside or watching through windows, he stepped off the veranda and made his way toward them.
A large crack was heard, and the hellhound shook. Taylor grinned.
Mouse, Keltie & Clarissa.
Cursing softly, Clarissa climbed out through the window. She had to try and stop this. Had to try to bring her back. That's why she couldn't get a hold on the girl. She wasn't equipped to deal with animals.
Fafnir tore at the Hellhound's ear, spraying more blood onto the already sodden ground. It howled, then the howl reached epic heights as Mouse sprang, plunging the knife between its ribs. She grinned with no amusement at all, and twisted, holding on with her knees as the hound bucked and howled.
Keltie whickered, and backed away.
Taylor
Taylor tilted his head slightly, face now expressionless.
With another crack, the hellhound shook again. But this time, the shock was a little close to Mouse's hand.
"Oh, whoops," Taylor covered his mouth with his hand and chuckled.
Mouse & Clarissa.
The hound tore itself away from Mouse and Fafnir and whined, tail tucked between its legs as it backed away. The red eyes glittered glassily with pain. Mouse stood easily, knife pointing outwards before she sprang again.
The two tumbled over the ground, the hound snapping and biting at the girl it just couldn't quite reach.
"BEE! Little help!" Clarissa yelled.
Taylor & Jason
Jason stood at the front door, concentration evident on his face.
A force field was generated around the hellhound, throwing Mouse off.
Taylor growled slightly when he realized even his powers couldn't get through the shield.
Mouse snarled and threw herself at the sheild, again and again, knife striking sparks. Fafnir prowled, growling and snapping at the imprisoned Hellhound. It cowered, shaking and growling back weakly. Its eyes burned liked fading embers.
Keltie danced backwards on her hindlegs, whickering wildly. So much blood. And Hellhounds hunted horses. Her eyes rolled and she bucked. Clarissa reached out to the nygel, patting her nose and soothing her down. Yeah, so she didn't like the horse. She was close enough to human that her empathic feelings came into play.
Taylor & Jason
"Clarissa, your show. If you don't do something to calm her down, I'll have to," Bee insisted.
Taylor growled at Bee.
"Leave her alone," he warned.
Mouse, Keltie & Clarissa.
"At the moment, the damn waterhorse is more human then she is," Clarissa said grimly.
"My powers don't work on animals."
Keltie snorted in disapproval, then shifted.
"I am nae human! Ye take that back!"
Mouse turned briefly, then snarled at the Hellhound. It whined and cowered.
Don't take on my Pack. I'm going to rip your throat out and feed your stinking carcass to the scavengers.
Fafnir growled in agreement.
Taylor & Jason
"She's your responsibility Riss," Jason began again, "if you don't do something, I'll be forced to knock her out."
Taylor smiled at the cowering hellhound, as he lowered himself into a crouching position. The over-long black chiffon overshirt crumpled a little on the ground.
Closing his eyes, he whistled a birdsong.
Mouse, Keltie & Clarissa.
Obviously giving the hellhound as a bad job, Mouse turned back to the group, casually giving the forcefield one more kick. Fafnir snarled and watched it while she sauntered back over to the group.
"Hmmmmm?"
Mouse looked at Taylor, then settled into an easy crouch beside him. She looked at Keltie and the waterhorse backed away.
"Obhantesh! I'm nae food fer herr wolves!"
"She has a different opinion," Clarissa said.
"Hmm."
Mouse looked up briefly again, then returned to her slow careful scenting of Taylor, running a hand through his hair.
Taylor & Jason
Taylor slowly leant his head into her hand, and opened his eyes.
Seeing the blood spatters over her face, he leant forward and began to lick it off.
"Now this is just disturbing," Bee shook his head, worriedly.
Mouse, Keltie & Clarissa.
Mouse growled softly, tilting her head slightly and eyes sliding partly shut.
"Bad, very bad," Clarissa said.
"I don't know how to bring her back. Never dealt with this before. She's a *wolf*, I can't even start to say how deep its going."
"Deep," Keltie said.
"Verra deep, deep like waterr. Ocean, even."
Taylor & Jason
"She's only alien Riss," Bee said quietly, eyes still on the young couple, "there is absolutely no way for her to be more than emotionally and mentally wolf. It won't happen. Perhaps we need a stronger telepath... or just hope that Taylor comes to his senses sometime soon."
Once Taylor has the blood off her face, he tapped the tip of his nose against hers, purred softly, then stood after taking her hands.
"Come," he insisted in a raspy voice, beckoning for her to follow him inside.
Mouse, Keltie & Clarissa.
Mouse tilted her head slightly, rumbling a soft growl in question. She looked at the house, and her lip twitched upwards in what in a wolf would be a warning snarl.
"House not a good idea," Clarissa said.
"She's not happy about it. Maybe we do need a stronger telepath. I don't know, I hate failing. But all I can sense in her is the wolf."
Keltie eyed Fafnir and Mouse, then stepped behind Clarissa.
"Fer ther to be a wolf, ther must be a Pack, aye? Get herr out of th' Pack, and ther wilt be no wolf. Course, she may or may not go mad."
Taylor & Jason
"Steel wouldn't have expected this. Don't worry," Bee insisted, "he won't blame you."
Taylor hesitated patiently, then lifted one hand above her head and traced her hairline down to her jaw.
"Trust..." he almost whispered, following his hand with his eyes.
"Thy tis mammal, are thy not?"
Mouse, Keltie & Clarissa.
Keltie shifted, neighed warningly at Fafnir who had gotten just that little too close and stamped her hooves. Mouse's head swung around and she growled. The nygel whinnied, teeth showing in a threat. Mouse huffed, then turned back to Taylor. Fafnir backed off and slunk back to the porch.
Alright, Pack. Mouse growled.
Pack trusts Pack. Otherwise I wouldn't let you near my throat.
"Odd, it's damned odd," Clarissa said.
"And what are we going to do with that?"
She pointed at the Hellhound.
Taylor & Jason
Taylor smiled, and began to lead her back inside and toward their bedroom.
"I'll send it on it's way. You, follow them," Bee instructed, beginning to push the cowering hellhound down the street.
Mouse & Clarissa.
"Yeah," Clarissa said.
She walked after Mouse and Taylor, stepping back slightly when Mouse snarled at her. Fafnir rose to his feet and growled as well.
"Yeah, following working real well here."
Mouse sniffed at her, then followed Taylor inside. Fafnir settled across the doorsill and stared at her, eyes gleaming.
Taylor & Jason
Jason followed the hellhound down the street, debating whether or not to call Steel again.
It was a bit late now, but in the morning he should get straight on to Tanya.
Taylor led Mouse to the bedroom, where he closed and locked the door behind them.
Mouse & Clarissa.
Clarissa went back around the house to enter by the backdoor. Damn wolf. She didn't like dogs.
Mouse simply looked at Taylor, one eyebrow raised.
So now, Pack? she growled softly.
Taylor
Taylor smiled again, and stood less than a foot in front of her.
He lifted his hands to her shoulders, and ran them softly down her arms before leaning in to kiss her.
While they were kissing, he began to pull her to the bed.
Mouse.
Mouse let him lead her, kissing him back. For an instant, she almost made ot back to the surface of the wolf. Then the flicker was gone again.
Taylor
Pushing Mouse down onto the bed, Taylor began to pull her shirt over her head - taking a single breath from kissing, before he was back on her.
His tongue made its way down her chest as he started giving her love bites.
Mouse.
Mouse wriggled out of her shirt. She moaned softly, head rolling to the side to expose her throat.
Taylor
Taylor's hands fumbled against Mouse's pants, as he struggled to pull them down. Once he had them low enough she could kick them off, he started on her bra.
Not to be bothered with getting around it, he simply ripped the fabric.
Mouse.
Mouse kicked her pants down off her ankles onto the floor. She barely reacted to her bra ripping, reaching up to push his shirt up and off. Thwarted, she growled.
Dead skin, off now!
Taylor
Taylor chuckled slightly, before sitting up a little.
Looking down on her, he made his overshirt explode into glitter.
Then he started on his belt as he went back to giving her love bites on her breasts.
Mouse.
"Ahhh," Mouse moaned.
She arched up into his touch.
Taylor
Grinning to himself, Taylor began to blow very softly around Mouse's naked chest, purposely causing goosebumps.
He got his belt undone, and slid his pants off.
Leaning over, he whispered into her ear.
"What does thee say to... doggy style?" he chuckled, before sitting up again.
Mouse.
Mouse panted for a moment, then rolled onto her stomach. She raised herself up onto her hands and knees, spreading her legs slightly.
So, Alpha?
Taylor
Taylor purred like a cat for a moment, before kneeling behind her.
He ran his hands softly down her back, before clasping her hips and driving himself into her.
Mouse.
Mouse threw her head back and yelped sharply. Blood slid down the inside of her legs slightly. She panted for a moment, then thrust back at him slightly.
Taylor
Taylor grunted slightly as a larger animal would, before creating their thrusting pattern.
He felt her begin to sweat, and though his mind was occupied elsewhere, attempted to lick some of it off her back.
Mouse.
Mouse moaned, rocking her hips with his thrusts. She panted and growled softly, eyelids flickering.
Taylor
Taylor grabbed her hips tighter when his hands slipped, holding like a mouse's jaw.
He closed his eyes, slowing slightly.
Mouse.
Mouse breathed in deeply.
"Tayloooorrrrr..."
Taylor
Taylor clucked for a moment, then resumed to a sort of growl.
He got going again, then began to tire suddenly.
Mouse.
Mouse growled softly.
Taylor
Taylor let loose with one final burst of energy, then practically fell out of her.
He fell from the side of the bed, and rolled onto his back on the floor looking up expectantly.
Mouse.
Mouse lay down on the bed and let her hand trail up his body gently.
"Hmm."
Taylor
Taylor purred, closing his eyes as he shivered.
"Thee doest love thou," he whispered, half asleep already.
Mouse.
"Love you too..."
Mouse ran her fingers through his hair gently.
Taylor
Taylor looked up at her one last time, smiled - mostly to himself - and closed his eyes again.
With a sigh, he soon fell asleep.
Mouse.
Mouse looked up at the ceiling, blinking slightly. She curled up and went to sleep.