[@WildRose][@KatherinWinter][@DeadlyPhoenix]

[center]Marisol[/center]

Mari had been sitting and staring at the wall. The shakiness of her hands had mostly subsided. The clock said it was nearly 3am. Gage would still be up waiting for Will to get home. Picking up the phone beside the bed, she dialed.
After four rings the answering machine picked up. "H-hey guys," she said, trying to keep the quiver from her voice. "It's me. I wanted to-"
The phone was picked up before she could say anymore. "Mari?"
Relief at a familiar face washed over her. She clutched the phone with both hands like a life line. "Gage..."
"What's doing pumpkin? Where are you calling from? The number is blocked."
"My cellphone got destroyed. I was-"
"Destroyed?! Where are you? What happened? Are you okay? Were you in an accident? Do you need money? Are you-"
"Gage," Mari broke through the barrage of questions, a slight smile on her lips. Gage and Will were like a second set of parents even though they were nearly the same age as her. "I'm..." she almost said okay but didn't want to lie. "I'm safe now. I was attacked about an hour ago. Lessers."
"Oh my god! Where are you baby girl? I'll come get you."
"I'm... Really I don't know where I am," she confessed. "I'm not hurt. I was saved. Gage... it was The Brotherhood."

There was a pregnant pause on the other line, followed by a whispered swear. "That's some heavy shit Mari."
"I know. Anyway, one of the Lessers stole my wallet. I can't go home. So one of the Brothers brought me to some kind of mansion."
"You're telling me a warrior-male took a single female to his house?!" Gage's voice had gone from quiet to shouting with every word. "What the hell kind of douche face bastard-!"
"Gage calm down please," she pleaded. "He hasn't hurt me. He disappeared after we arrived. The Doggen is the only other person I have seen."
"I don't care! I'm contacting the glymera and petitioning for you to be released into my custody. You will stay with Will and me."
"Gage no, please don't bring the glymera into this," Mari pleaded. "I called you to let you know I'm okay. I don't know how long I'll be here but-"
"I know how long: about five minutes after I get a hold of that bastard! They're warriors Mari! Do you know what warriors do? They fight and they fuck! And guess which one they'll want to do with you! Do you really think 'no' will stop them?!"

Mari winced at the yelling. She did not take yelling well. It upset her. She had grown up with her human grandmother yelling at her constantly. "Gage, please... stop..." Mari whimpered, trying not to cry.

[center]~~~~~~~~
Rhage[/center]

Rhage shrugged. "Nah, my brothers eat when they want. This is all for me. After I... well, after the Beast comes out, I come back tired and hungry as hell. I need all of this to recover from having every muscle, organ and bone in my body snap and rearrange themselves. Twice. Within a short period."

It pleased him to see her eat. He walked over and snatched the plate from her hands. Dumping the ribs off, he looked through them meticulously, only picking the best looking ones for her before handing the plate back. He ignored the fact that such an action was uncomfortably close to a bonded male's need to give his female only the best. "I have a good eye for meat," he said, trying to come off as casual. He grabbed his own heavy loaded plate again before sitting and beginning to inhale the food. A satisfied purr hummed in his throat, like a tiger savoring something delicious.
Piles of food disappeared down his throat with no sign of him getting full. The only time he paused was to pick the best parts of each type of food and setting them aside for her. It was scary how he did it so unthinkingly, like it was a natural thing he had been doing for years.

Noah came in after a while, clearing his throat to get Rhage's attention. "Excuse me Master Rhage, but I believe Master Vischous requires part of the fare. He is bringing a guest of his own : a female going through transition."
Rhage swore ripely then glanced at Juniper. "Parden my French," he said. "This is not going to be good."
Three females in the house?
"I believe she is suffering from some form of post traumatic stress," Noah continued, looking uncomfortably at Juniper. "Perhaps the company of another female might help soothe her?"