@Tigger@XxLyraxX

Runa smiled down at little Celeste and again at Bronze. "Thank you, I'm fine. Both with my shop and with myself, though your concern is very much appreciated and extended back to you." Runa easily let Celeste go in favor of letting her go to Bronze. The small female wolf in a rather good mood and it showed in her warmer than usual smile.

When pleasantries would be over, Runa would give both Celeste and Bronze a final good bye before going back to her shop to work the rest of her day away. Curtains didn't make themselves!

Niall Collins

Niall was not one to show much of a facial expression if any at all, though anyone who knew him well enough might have seen the glint of laughter in his eyes. 'Surely this kid knows that we can all tell he's a wolf.' he thought as he watched this new stranger carefully. Elize was impressive but it came from being so close to the beast that lay in her heart. From what he had pieced together over the years she had been with them she had lived exclusively in her lupine form for nearly five years before becoming part of their pack. Even now she probably spent nearly ninety percent of her time in her her fur rather than in her skin.

"Elize does't come inside, she dislikes the walls. I told you she was mostly lupine, more so than many of us, myself included." He spoke matter of factly, simply stating the truth. Though he wasn't amused by the comments there was little he could do right now, if Elize took issue with it she would have likely been at his throat already so he left it alone. He hummed slightly after he spoke, moving out of the doorway and towards a little room just along the inside of the wall where he unlocked and opened the small box where they kept the room keys to retrieve one for a room with a single bed.

Due to his extreme height Niall was forced to duck his head to get inside the little room and get out of it. He swung the door shut and locked it back before returning to where Clay was standing. He offered the key to the room to the other male as he spoke, "Last room on the left up those stairs." He gestured to the staircase at the back corner of the lounge room, "Also, it would take more than having a werewolf approved door to get her indoors."

Elize Vanzant

Elize bared a mouth full of white teeth that contrasted sharply with the black skin of her gums as she emitted what could only be described as a snicker when she very clearly frightened the male. The Moon knows she had frightened people and even killed before but this had been far too easily done for her to over look. There was just something not right about a male being afraid of a bitch in her fur. She had been fiercely admired only a few moments before but now he wasn't very keen to look at her.

Most bitches were not covered in scars as she was but she had been admired for her exotic coat color and her golden eyes from the time she was a child. They had fawned over her and males had lavished her and her pack with gifts and she had been a very powerful playing piece, especially as she became older. Her hulking size for a female wasn't something entirely unusual here, Kleo was around the same size but they were both on the larger end of the spectrum for bitches. Unlike Kleo, however, Elize's face, chest, and front legs were covered with shimmering grey scars and lines of white hair where scars lay beneath her thick tawny coat. A line of bare black skin lined her golden eyes, making them stand out and as she transformed back into a human she kept them.

Her body vibrated easily but shifted more slowly this time, allowing the process to be watched fully as she stored the wolf away all but the parts of her she allowed to stay on the surface. She gave Clay a wide smile filled with teeth that didn't belong there all the while watching him with brilliant golden eyes, "Perhaps he can join our celebratory hunt tonight, Niall. The moon is not full just yet but we have enough space to play here." Her high soprano voice rang easily as she pushed the last of the wolf away, eyes fading back to a luminous blue. Like always though her wolf lay just barely below the surface, always awake and waiting.

CLAY

It was written all over his face, the curl in his lip, the tension in his brow, a strong disdain, distrust and disgust at the creature before him. Deep in his wavering eyes were questions, uncertainties and terrible memories, all of which were hidden far from the surface by barriers of negative emotions.

"I don't know what the Hell you are thinking but I am Nothing like you!"

He snaps sharply in reply before Niall could. Simultaneously he snatches the key just as sharply and gives a guttering growl "I'll be headin' to my room now thanks". Then giving a not so genuine nod and smile he bids thank you and goodbye before making his way to his room.
Truth is, even if he wanted to join them (which he clearly didn't), unless the moon was pulling the wolf from him he couldn't bring himself to change.

(If uninterrupted)
It may only be morning but the exhausted Clay will collapse into the bed as soon as he makes it into his room, where before to long he will find himself snoring and reliving those terrible nightmares from which he cannot escape.

---

Continued listening to the somewhat over-excited and vocal wake up ceremony used to get the young pup of hers out of bed. The slow awakening and transition into some fun activity ensuring he was well awake before she dragged him out and got him dressed for any event they had to attend. Once young boy was clearly awake and attentive Kleo would smile widely as her attacks of tickles and the occasional raspberries upon bared flesh slowly ceased.

"Okay you, time to get changed," she'd begin as she dragged young boy to her chest, lips puckering as she quickly pecked him upon the cheek and snuck in a raspberry upon his neck which caused child to squeal in laughter. Smiling as cheerfully as she did most mornings Kleo arose from beds surface leaving Tyrone sitting or laying upon its now well disturbed sheeting whilst she rummaged through some drawers, the child's clothing collection mostly consisting of plaid pattered shirts and cargo shorts or longs of mostly tanned and some black.

Pulling out a green plaid white shirt and a pair of knee-length khaki shorts she'd head towards the bed and gesture for young boy to arise, quickly stripping him down and re-dressing him in new clothes for the day Kleo would allow quick tickles and laughter to be had before lifting her child to her chest, one leg either side of her waist as she perched him upon her side and kept arms wrapped about him for support before heading back out front.

As she alongside Tyrone emerged from cabins entrance she'd watch as Runa headed off too late for any hello's or goodbye's, though bright hues quickly shifted over as she spotted young Celeste standing near Bronze and she descended the small set of porch steps, "Alrighties you two, ready for some breakfast?" she'd quickly ask as she attentively watched all three of her closest companions, aiming her question directly at the two standing in-front of her as she knew that the just recently awoken Tyrone wouldn't turn down a meal.

---

Had continued his squabbles of squealing and laughter as mothers attacks slowly ceased, the morning routine quickly continuing as usual as he allowed his mother to undress and re-dress him in new fresh clothes that he didn't seem to mind. Though every now and then with small tickles here and there through the process he'd laugh and throw high-pitched 'no's towards the loving and friendly parental.

Once the morning routine of waking up and getting dressed was over he quickly latched on when she offered to carry him out, he was bigger than his age suggested though he'd get away with some things if he could and watched their path as they emerged from buildings innards. Smiling brightly as he saw Bronze and Celeste he'd wave small ivory limb towards them, "Hi!"

Small ears listened politely when his mother asked if anyone was hungry, knowing full well she knew he was he still raised his hand and bounced in her arms, "Me! Me! Me!" he'd repeat over and over before settling once she appeared like she got the idea. As he waited further he'd wriggle slightly within mothers arms, reaching outwards as he attempted to get her to put him down, though he knew she liked to be mean sometimes and held him tighter as he attempted to free himself, making it more of a challenge as he huffed and stared at Bronze as if he might help him in some way.

Willow finished taking care of her garden, she stepped back to admire her work and then went back inside, sitting down at her loom. She started making a rug, the bar snapping and her fingers flying across the strings. The snapping become the only sound in the house and she simply continued to make layers and layers and layers, not really sure what else to do with herself in this new place, having not really seen anyone around lately.
"Maybe this could go in one of the rooms.." She murmured as she crafted elaborate designs in the rug.

@Dark Light
The snapping finally came to a halt as she finished the elaborate rug. She pulled it off the loom and laid it on the floor, fixing the little mistakes with quick and exact movements. This would be perfect for one of the rooms. Willow thought as she held up the completed and self-approved product, No ones staying yet so it shouldn't be any trouble to just pop in and place it in a room.
She bundled up the rug in her arms as best she could and walked out, closing the door behind her with much difficulty. She decided it wasn't worth it to lock it so she simply strode with confident steps towards the bed and breakfast.
She slipped in quietly, not that she was trying to sneak around or anything, she just always felt the need to be quiet. Up the stairs she went and she went to the most unlikely room she could think of... the last room on the left. The door was slightly cracked, but she thought nothing of it as she walked in and with a whipping motion, she laid the rug on the floor, not once stopping to notice Clay .

@SkeletonShadow
There was no two ways about, Clay was on edge. This place, these lycans, the nearing full moon, the sleepless nights and endless nightmares... He was ready to snap.

Firstly a faint smell reached his nostrils reawakening anxiety, a creek in the floor aroused his attention and then the sudden blur of shadows threw him into survival mode!

In an instant he shot up, sitting upright in the bed his arm furiously comes whipping around towards Willow. When it suddenly comes to a halt before her, there is a loud 'click' as he thumbs back the metallic hammer of a large black steel 'smith and wesson' .44 magnum revolver aimed straight at her head.

The scent of alchemical silver even noticeable to his own broken sense of smell.
"What are you doing in here?" He growls furiously. His eyes darting around the rest of the room as he tries to blink the sleep away.

@Dark Light
"I-I didn't think anyone was staying here." Willow replied, careful not to make any movement that might upset him. She stood quietly and calmly, her head slightly ducked down in submission, "I apologize for disturbing you sir."
She indeed looked sorry enough, her jaw muscles tight showing that she was not as calm as she was trying to look. Willow slowly turned around, acutely aware of the revolver pointed at her head, she walked slowly and deliberately to the door.

With a heavy sigh Clay throws himself back into his pillow and the bed creeks under his weight as he slightly bounces. With a loud yawn he folds both hands and the gun behind his head and beneath his pillow.

"Hey, look I'm sorry, it's alright you don't need to sneak out. Just don't do that again alright!" Clay calmly and gently says as he tilts his head to look sideways at the intruder.

"So what's ya name and what are you doing here?" Clay asks with a friendly grin.

@Dark Light
Willow turns back to the room, motioning to the rug she had laid down a minute before, "I had just made that and thought one of these rooms would look good with it, and I happened to choose this room" she said, barely loud enough to hear. She stands awkwardly, looking at him shyly, "My name is Willow".

Clay sits up a bit, hands still behind his head as he peaks at the rug on the floor.
"Ah nice" he says falling back into the bed.
"Willow hey." He says, testing her name on his own tongue. "The names Clay, nice to meet you. Sorry 'bout before."

"So" he begins, the word drags out as he thinks how to continue, "are you like the other two downstairs?" He eventually just comes out and asks.

Niall Collins

Perhaps he should not have offered him a room but it was too late for that now. He had seen the wolf's hand fly towards his waist band, the only thing that ever meant was a gun. A gun toting unstable wolf was the last thing they needed, especially with the pups around. Niall found himself standing idly in the kitchen of the bed and breakfast. He had seen Willow go up the steps, a rug in hand for one of the rooms but he didn't think to warn her about their unstable guest.

The walls in the bed and breakfast were thin enough Niall could hear the entire scuffle in the room. He'd put him directly above the kitchen for a reason. Willow could handle herself well enough so he wasn't particularly worried. It was the pups he worried about so he headed out of the bed and breakfast and for Bronze and Kleo's home that was the closest to the bed and breakfast. It was out the door and almost immediately to the right of the building set back just a bit. He knew they would be about to have breakfast but food could wait right now.

"Bronze, Kleo," He called easily just before he reached the door, knocking slightly before pushing it open. "We have something we need to discuss."
@AcaciaMalikov@Tigger

Elize Vanzant

Elize just simply could not help herself, this was far too easily. What did this creature think he was? It certainly wasn't a wolf. The tall she-wolf wasn't one to tease usually but this was simply madness that he couldn't accept his true self. She'd met wolves like that before, being that shied away from their nature and when the wolf was strong enough to force the human back on the moon everything was a blur because the wolf refused to let the human see. It only ended poorly, those were the wolves who ended up killing humans.

Hiding from yourself was nothing to laugh about but being so clueless as to try and pull a gun, even one with a silver bullet was ridiculous. It would cause damage yes but not enough to kill. She wasn't quite sure if there were any wolves in the pack who had enough of an allergy to silver for contact alone to kill. Killing a Lycan was a lot more complicated than just shooting them with a silver bullet these days. Pretty well the only for sure way to kill any was the severe the spinal cord, exactly what was always done with rogue wolves who killed humans. A bullet, would cause extensive damage but it wouldn't be lethal unless it passed directly through the spinal column and severed the spinal cord. Silver in the blood stream would slow healing considerably but only if it was left in the wound and skin was allowed to grow back over it.

She shifted back into her wolf form easily and trotted towards the barn, issuing a high soprano howl to call her sheep back home to be fed their small ration of grains and vitamins to ensure their good health. Niall's horse and the pack's cattle would come with them knowing it meant being fed.

@aspen wren @AcaciaMalikov @XxLyraxX

CLAY AND WILLOW

Willow tilts her head, confused, "what do you mean am I like the others?" She asks.
Clay chuckles in response. He wasn't quite sure how to ask it. He still hated to say the words out loud. Still stuck in some sort of denial. Looking up at the roof, after another deep sigh, he uses a joking tone to get the question out.

"Are you part wolf as well? Hell is everyone here one?

Willow sits down in a chair that was in the corner, pulling her knees up, only for the first time noticing she was barefoot, "Oh. Yeah.. I-I am.." she starts stuttering, ducking her head down once again, not answering the second part of the question.

Clay growls, but he's not angry, instead saddened.
"Hey girl!" He calls out as he crunches himself up to see her properly. With his abs under the strain of his upper torso and his arms stretched aside his head, his muscles and powerful lupine enhanced physic were clearly defined and noticeable. He drops his hands as he turns and puts his feet on the floor. Now sitting at the edge of the bed facing the intruder he runs a hand over his face then takes a second to look her over before carrying on.
"When I see some one like you it just makes me sad, makes me wonder what coulda gone so wrong that someone as beautiful," he pauses and looks to the rug "and talented, as yourself could lose confidence in herself."
"What hardship has robbed you of your carefree nature? Why should someone as innocent as yourself know of concern and fear?"
He shakes his head slowly, then suddenly perks back up, emotion stirring in his voice as his hand points towards the door. "Is it those guys out there!?" He asks, voice slightly raised. He wouldn't admit it but the idea of Niall 'actually' deserving a beating or being able to be labeled as a 'bad guy' made Clay happy.

Willow looks up extremely startled, "oh no no no no..." she says, trying to calm him, "no, they're good people."

"Good" Clay quickly replies slightly relaxing although deep down there was a tiny twisted shred of disappointment.

Willow looks down at her toes, "I've just always been like this," she giggles. Her laugh made Clay smile. "I'm not that used to other people." She continued as she studied Clay from behind her hair, her nose twitching slightly, "Anyway, what brings you here..?"

"Ah Don't mind me, just here for a few days, passing through." Clay answers while stretching, not really answering anything.
"Say, what's there to do around here? I mean what are you gonna be up to today?" He asks Willow while he stands up and starts sorting through his bag, throwing a few clothes on the bed and putting some items in his bathroom.

Willow shrugs, "I don't know.. I didn't really have any other plans besides making sure all the rooms were in order," Willow silently watching him as he moved about, still unsure about him in general.

From the bathroom the sink tap sounds, Clay calls out a muffled reply with a mouth full of toothpaste and toothbrush, "sO oo you et paid foh dis?" The tap sounds again and then shortly after he walks back into the room, shirtless and wiping his face down with a wet cloth.

He rummages through his clothes for a moment before picking up a small black item, looking at it for a moment he realised it as his black balaclava with a white skull print, he quickly tosses it back into the bag. He then finds a tight black shirt and slides it over his head. Picking up a pile of rolled notes he stuffs them into his back pocket.
"Would you mind showing me around? I need to pick up a few things." he casually asks.

Willow doesn't answer the first question, hoping he'll just think she didn't hear, and got up once he asked her to show him around, "I-I think you'd find someone else better suited to that.." she begins, twiddling her thumbs together, "I really only know here and my house."

Clay stops what he was doing and gives her a blank look.
"Huh, fair enough."
His tone says that he doesn't believe her but accepts it anyway. They are just strangers after all and he did recently point a gun at her head.
Though there was something about Willow, this young girl, that reminded him of someone he had lost long ago, it wasn't her shy personality so it had to be appearance. But it was so long ago now Clay couldn't be sure if there was a resemblance or his guilt was subconsciously creating it his mind.

He shuffles through his bag one last time and as a corner accidentally droops it reveals a stash of different valued bills, he had a lot of suspicious money. He removes a shiny butterfly knife and slides it into his back pocket before quickly sealing up the bag and turning back to the girl. He just stands there looking at her with a smile while patiently waiting in an awkward silence.

Willow breaks the awkward moment and bows hastily, and ducks out of the room, dropping a swatch for another rug on the ground.

---

Was smiling widely as everyone prepared to make the short journey to the Bed and Breakfast, her lips gently parted to bare the pearly whites hidden beneath before her expression would melt, a more stern and serious look taking over as she heard the approach of familiar steps, the bulky weight of the Alpha male was making approach.

"Bronze, Kleo, We have something we need to discuss." she'd hear coming from his harsh and obviously concerned nature. It was his duty to protect and the vibes he was producing scent Kleo into alert as she perked up and watched him with wide amber hues, arms still grasped around wriggling pup who waved vigorously at his Alpha having no understanding of some things that meant seriousness.

"Niall! What is it? Is something wrong?" she'd snap in a calm yet curious tone, she took her role seriously as second in charge and with young around she was eager to know anything and everything that could produce harm towards them. "Let's all go inside and we can sit down to talk," she'd quickly offer as she turned to enter back into the cabin, right inside the door to the right was a small dining area with a wooden table and 4 chairs, she'd place Tyrone down eventually and place slender digits upon his head, her voice soft as she knew he'd be upset food wasn't coming yet, "We'll go get food in a moment, be patient."

---

Continued to wriggle within mothers grasp, his energy higher than most grown wolves as he was of course just a pup and what did pups do best? They played, ran and hassled the rest as he eagerly bounced in anticipation of the coming meal, though he was distracted for a moment when he saw the larger, muscular figure of his leader approach. One hand quickly raising as he allowed small hand to flap back and forth in friendly gesture of greeting, "Niall! Niall! Hello!" he'd repeat the name after his mother although it wasn't 100% perfectly pronounced as he smiled and then looked back to Bronze before his mother.

He could pick up on the change in tones and obvious behavior as he listened to what was said, "But I'm hungry..." the soft now saddened voice emerged from young boys vocals as he was slowly carried back inside and placed on his own two feet. Hands reaching up as he grabbed at his mums lower shirt and grumbled, "What about Breakfast?" he'd huff as he stomped on his feet, though he knew better than to misbehave to much around the alpha so he calmed partially and moved to sit cross legged on the floor. Bright sapphire hues staring at all the adults before he'd get up and start wandering about the small cabin searching for something to do.

@Ayla

Clay waited a moment allowing Willow to get sone distance before he left the room, he felt that he had made things awkward and would try to avoid her and the memories she brought him for a while.

Slipping out the back of the bed-and-breakfast he avoided any other people where he could. Noticing Nialle he waited until he had entered the room before continuing on.
Once outside Clay strolled down the street as though he was on familiar ground, each purposeful step, deliberate and rehearsed leading him to his destination as if he knew where he was going. There was a hint of lost awe in his eye as he looked around at the passing environment, seeing what is and what was.

A short time later he found himself standing out the front of a... A clothing store...
Something comical brings a smile across his lips as he scratches his head while looking through the window. Window gazing wasn't enough, Clay soon walks inside, his casual stride taking him straight past Ayla whom he didn't seem to notice, in fact he didn't seem to notice much since it wasn't the fabric or clothes he was looking at but the structure of the room itself.

Niall Collins

Niall chuckled lightly at Tyrone as he bounced around wanting food. Unfortunately he would have to wait a moment and so Niall turned his attention back to Kleo and Bronze, "We have a small troublesome issue. There is another wolf here, a stray. He definitely is not in touch with his wolf at all. He has a gun with silver bullets, it shouldn't be deadly but I definitely do not want the pups near him. He is entirely too volatile. I'll help you guys pack back some breakfast and you can eat in here today. He is just passing through I believe."

His great body gave a huff as he finished his small bit. Worry creased his broad forehead as he ran a hand through his thick dark hair. There wasn't much he could do right now, the adults could take care of themselves but he wanted to keep the pups out of harms way if at all possible. They were no match for a grown wolf, especially one who wouldn't even fight in his fur. "You should have seen his face when Elize changed in front of him. He couldn't even tell I was a wolf he's so far gone."

Johnathen Was in the kitchen of the bed and breakfast. As a country chief he could make a cake out of Bisquick and no one would know the difference. However Johnathen made things from scratch when ever the proper ingredients were around. Specializing in family recipes and own creations his style of cooking was a pinch of this with a dash of that. With a steady heat he made the best home cooked meals for miles. Never believing the need to tailor a dish to one person he loved to put a little something into every dish. Herbs were his secrete passed down from his father to son. The littlest pinch of ground red pepper made the right touch to certain breakfasts. A marinade that he soaked the meats in over night left them perfect for cooking with no basting or need to add anything else. The barbecue was something he didn't like because the heat was too extreme and in his mind burned too munch of the flavor. Lunches were fine time for fruit, not to heavy and healthy. Water was fine and he loved it either in the pure form or some cold tea.

This place had everything he could ask for and more. He loved getting the stuff together and working them in the bowel. His father told him, "Son the effort you put into the food is part of the flavor you get out of it." Working in the kitchen to provide this simple truth to the pack was its own reward. In the heat of the kitchen Johnathen never lost the smile showing he enjoyed his sense of community and the faith they placed in him to stand with them. The time for food was soon approaching, stove was hot, and he had a lot of family to feed. No need to call them the smell would do that fine.

---

---

After feeding her flock and Niall's horses as well as the pack's cattle and pigs their rations of food and making sure everyone had water Elize headed back towards the dining hall, they would all be having breakfast very soon. She did stop off at her own little cabin, the smallest out of those here on the property and changed from her work boots into a pair of more casual boots that she wasn't so willing to get dirty while messing with the animals. Niall's large drafts had a bad habit of stepping on her foot and scuffing her good boots.

She reached the dining hall quite easily, moving down the little dirt and gravel paths between the buildings. She could smell the food that John was cooking within the building and she hummed appreciatively. She pushed open the door to the building which had only a small latch on the outside to keep the bears out. There was nothing that was brave enough to enter the small settlement now. Perhaps this new character would appear so that she could investigate him a bit further, there was something just odd about a wolf who didn't know his own nature. They were the most dangerous kind of wolves.

"Good morning, John." The tall she-wolf called as she entered the building. She knew he would be in the kitchen fixing breakfast for them all. He was truly a wonderful cook.

Verik exited a diner that sat alongside a long vacant rode near the Bighorn Mountain range. The man had been tracking down his former pack, a pack he had not seen in eleven years. He'd taken countless buses and hitchhiked all the way here over the last few days, though he didn't take a straight line just in case he was being followed somehow which had increased the amount of time it had taken to arrive. A large eighteen wheeler truck drove by and honked it's horn at him, he waved as it pulled back onto the road heading south, the man had given him a lift for the last few hours to get him this far and they'd had a bite to eat inside the diner but Verik had to go north so they parted ways. Verik walked along the graveled area towards the road with his hands shoved into his pants pockets, and started his walk deeper into the mountainous area. It had been a pain having to track down where the pack had moved to after the incident eleven years ago, but he'd finally narrowed it down to this particular range, and speaking to a few locals he had an idea of where they we're located.

----

Hours later he'd arrive at the end of a split road, and in the distance he could see the buildings of what he presumed to be the pack he was looking for. Verik was paused, looking from the small area to his phone which sadly didn't have a signal out here. He'd be lying if he said he wasn't nervous, he wasn't sure what he'd find here. A wolf on his own would eventually get caught by a hunter, and he had nothing, he didn't expect asylum but maybe a helping hand. Then again his father Orion had turned his back on the pack so they could very well shun him, assuming anyone he once knew was still with the pack. And if this pack was indeed his original pack, there was always that possibility.

So with a huff he pushed himself to walk down the path before him. What do I have to lose?