The "Animals" and the "Pack"

[SugaredKittie]

Ahere sighed as she looked up at the looming gray clouds outside her window. It was going to rain, again. When didn't it rain? She growled at the gloom and doom weather as she went to the bathroom to get ready for another long day that was sure to be full on insults; just like every other day.

She brushed her long hair back into a ponytail and fluffed out her bangs before she brushed her teeth, all the while glaring at her reflection. Why couldn't she be like them? Why did she have to be different? Not that she was the only different one, there was a few others like her, but not enough. Not enough to stand up to the horde that always picked on them. She could tell the pack leader, but what would he do about it? They teens that weren't different would just say she was making it all up.

She hated being different, being the only fragile, breakable one in the family. Her older brothers tormented her when no one was looking while her father continued to take money from her savings account to pay for things for the pack. She hated it. What she wouldn't give to be just like them. It was what all the "differents" wanted. To be like the rest of the kids so they didn't get picked on anymore. But that couldn't happen. Kelly was the example of what happened to those who tried to become like everyone else.

Kelly had wanted nothing more than to be part of the pack, and one day one of the guys thought it would be funny to give her just that. They attacked her when she was walking home late one night from the restaurant all the "differents" worked at to earn money for themselves. She was given the chance to be just like everyone else except when it came to her first change her body couldn't handle it. She died as her body torn itself apart to try and change forms; the boy that attacked her was "put down".

Ahere shuddered at the memory of what had happened to Kelly. It repulsed her from wanting to be "Pack" but at the same time she couldn't ignore the nagging in the back of her mind that said if she could be like them the teasing would finally stop. She didn't really believe that was true, but she relished the thought of never being teased for being "Human" ever again if she could just become a cougar on the night of the full moon like everyone else.

She huffed. 'It's stupid to dwell on it Ahere.' She told herself as she went back into her bedroom and grabbed her waterproof down jacket; September in Oregon was always wet and cold. 'You're what you are and there's nothing that's going to change that. Just keep saving up money where dad can't find it and get the hell out of this town as soon as you can.'

There was only one good thing in her life besides seeing the other "non-pack"s that would be at school and that was her one friend that was Pack who stood up for her. 'There's always a silver lining.' She reminded herself as she shouldered her school bag and put her boots on that were waiting at the front door. 'Just keep telling yourself that and you'll make it...'

[RageDoomsday]

Devin sighed and rolled out of bed. If she didn't get going now her father would be at the door soon. She padded over the her bathroom and started shower water before heading back to get clothes ready. Grunting at the little light through the window she flicked on her light and continued through her closet. Before long she re emerged from it and laid a black t-shirt and a pair of light jeans on her bed before walking to the window. She could feel the cold air and rain before she even whipped it up. The smell of wet Oregon hit her and she grunted

"Rain again? Of course... it always rains." she turned and went into the bathroom. After pulling off her bra and underwear she stepped into the hot shower. Devin closed her eye and let it beat on her face. There was a knock on her bedroom door

"Hurry up! You have to leave in a half hour" her father yelled. She knew he was gone before she would answer, probably thinking she didn't hear him. She bathed and grabbed her towel after turning off the water. Standing naked in front of the mirror she stared at herself. Her black hair clung to her face and shoulders like a drown rat. Her eyes seemed to be the only thing nice, like they were glowing, kinda evil looking. She light up with a small smile at that thought and exited the bathroom. She pulled on her pants and bra then went back into the bath to do her hair and put her contacts in. She pulled it up the typical way, tying back the braids before pulling the rest up and went back to pull her shirt on. Devin chucked her towel back over the railing and headed for a quick check on her computer. Reaching for her phone before she got up again she saw she had a text from someone.

"You still hang out with that scum?" it was from a number she didn't know. Just someone at school who didn't like that she was best friends with someone who wasn't like them. She deleted it and grabbed her coat, pulling it on as she shoved her phone in her pocket and descended the stairs. Not bothering to say goodbye to her dad she went right for her shoes. Chucks were not the best for rainy weather but she didn't care. She pulled them on, grabbed her bag, and headed out the door.

It wasn't raining yet as she hurried down the walk way to Ahere's house. She waited on the front step for her friend to emerge.

[SugaredKittie]

Ahere opened the front door and blinked a few times at Devin before she registered it was her friend.

"It's too damn early..." She muttered as she shifted the weight of her bag. She sighed and shook her head. "One of these days you're going to get your ass kicked for being my friend."

It still surprised her she had been befriended by a person from the "pack" but she enjoyed hearing stories of what happened in the "pack" where she would never be allowed. She blinked her nearly purple colored eyes up at the sky and groaned. "Even in summer it's cold and rainy..."

She watched as Devin nodded in agreement then watched the treeline before she realized she was doing it; it was a habit she had piked up after Kelly had been attacked. She never wanted to have her guard down like that. She shuddered again at the memory of the terrible death; the teachers had even gathered everyone together to watch the recording of it since they record every child's first change to make sure nothing goes wrong. It had given her nightmares for weeks.

"What do you think they have in store for me today...?" She finally asked her friend. The "pack" always had something in store for the "non-pack", it ranged from innocently harmful to extremely harmful without actually breaking skin for the virus to transmit. Last year they had purposefully tripped her down the three flights of stairs in their school; she had broken several bones and was still recovering.

[RageDoomsday]

"They won't dare touch me unless they want their asses handed to them..." she stated and nodded in agreement to Ahere's comment about the weather. The girl ignored her comment and looked through the treeline before they walked off the porch. Devin rolled her eyes. The 'pack' always messed with the kids that were not able to change.

"Nothing." she laughed "I changed my classes so I will be with you in the halls all day." her mouth reached a smile before she could even look over at her friend. "Dad will be angry but he won't do anything." she reached up and itched a spot on her neck where her newest tattoo was healing.
She pushed her shoulder against her friend as they walked.

"So do you work tonight? I want you to come over if you don't! Dad will not be home till like, 1 and we don't have school tomorrow. We can watch horror movies and stay up all night." Her fingers fidgeted with her lip piercing. It was habit since the day she got it, replaced her clicking her tongue ring after she stopped wearing it.

[SugaredKittie]

Ahere shook her head. "I cannot believe you'd switch your classes! None of the stuff I'm taking is gonna do any good for you." She wanted to be mad but she couldn't help smiling at her friend.

"Yeah I work. Not very long. I'm there to help make the specialty for tomorrow then I'm off. I think about two hours. It's not much but I want all the work I can get. I need the money."

She sighed before shaking off the sadness she felt every time she thought about money. It hurt her that her dad kept taking her money but she was getting better at hiding it.

"I'll get popcorn if you get the movies?" She smiled at her best friend. Tonight was the night of the full moon, all the pack members would be out for the hunt and wouldn't be home until the early morning. It was the best time for the girls to hang out.

She enjoyed spending time with her friend but couldn't shake the nauseating feeling she got every time she got closer to the school.

[RageDoomsday]

Devin shook her head.

"I will hunt while you are at work and then come meet you there before you leave." She glanced at the girl "To night is full moon and I don't want everyone around hunting while you are walking alone." she sighed. It was bad enough that the kids fucked with her at school. She didn't want some idiot doing what they did to the other girl a few short months ago. Devin liked all the kids who could not change. They were nice kids and secretly she envied them. To be able to not have this curse would be awesome. They would be able to leave this town in a few years without worrying about being caught or seen.

"We can get us some delicious popcorn and awesome movies together!" she jumped and hugged her friend.

[SugaredKittie]

Ahere smiled at her friend. "Will you be able to change back before the hunt is over? I know it's hard for some to control the change."

She gazed at the brick and concrete of their school as she sucked in a breath. "I will be fine walking home alone after work. I wear more silver now after the... incident than I did before. Besides, the hunting grounds are far from the restaurant. I will be just fine."

Did you have a preference on movies and or popcorn?"

[RageDoomsday]

"I will, ever since they did that to Ke...." she started and stuttered "Ever since they attacked Kelly, I have been practicing." She glanced at her friend when she said the girls name. Ahere had a harder time then Devin did with what happened. Or course she did, Kelly was like her before, to Devin it was sad but she didn't have the fear like the other would. Ahere had nightmares for weeks after they made everyone watch it on tape. It was sad, Devin found herself looking at the ground while they walked.

"I will be out as soon as school is over, probably even change before the sun it down the whole way. My hunt will be over before most will even start hunting. The moon is always there, even if we can't see it. Its why we can change when we want. But I have been working on making myself change before the sun is down on the full moon. I will be back here in good time." she smiled a little and looked at Ahere again. Her grandparents never liked the 'un natural' girl but her Father had been friends with Ahere's parents all his life. Devin and Ahere grew up together because of that. She had always felt Ahere's family was great and understanding. That all changed when they got older and she knew what was really going on. Part of her wanted to get Ahere out of this town, get all the kids who could not change out. It was only a few of them so they could blend in somewhere else. The other part could not let her best friend go.

"What type of movie do you want to watch?" she stared ahead at the school. To many kids were standing outside... they were going to start early. Thats alright, Devin was in the mood to fight. A small growl formed in her throat

[SugaredKittie]

Ahere sighed and shook herself as Devin mentioned the girl. "if you say so." She finally answered as she listened to her friend's explination for the early change.

Her mind wandered as they approached the school, her siblings would be here and they always enjoyed watching her get picked on. Jack wasn't as bad since he was the oldest but he was also out of the school and now as far away as possible. But the twins James and Anthony loved torturing her and several times she had to be taken to the hospital for stitches. Her mother was no help at all, always blaming Ahere for being a "defunc" and her dad, though he tried, was always busy with the restaurant. All she really had was herself. Even at times Devin didn't really understand, but god knows she tried her hardest to. It made Ahere smile.

Ahere sighed as she saw the gang outside the school and shuddered as the snarling reow escaped Devin's lips. It always creeped Ahere out to hear a cat growl emit from a human throat.

[RageDoomsday]

Devin wrapped her arms around Ahere's shoulders and steered her around the crowd. They were almost to the bottom of the stairs when there was a hand on the back of Devin's shirt. She was pulled back and lost the grip on Ahere.

"So what do we have here..." she heard as she was spun around to face the owner of the hand. "Trying to protect the little piece of shit again?"

"Chuck, don't start you fucking red neck piece of shit. You know I will wipe the floor with you." a much louder growl then before exited her mouth. The boy, Chuck, laughed and threw his hand across her face. Two of his 'goons' went around her towards Ahere. She could not turn to see if they were hurting Ahere yet for she jumped and was on the boy in a blink of an eye. A group had gathered but she could hear a few teachers already yelling and pushing their way through the kids. Again another hand was on her back and yanking her to her feet. She looked down and spit on Chuck who another teacher was starting to help up. The kid was in tears and had a few cuts from the few punches Devin got in around hit arms.

'Pussy... To bad you don't change into the little cat you are!" she growled again as the teacher pulled her back again. Chuck was pulled away and into the crowd before Devin even finished her last growl. She could still hear him whimpering as her shoulder was shaken and the cause nearly yelled in her ear.

"What was that!" It was Mr. Miller, her favorite teacher... of course. "Are you trying to get suspended!" Devin sighed and looked passed him to see Ahere on the stairs. Teacher must have gotten to the goons before they touched her, or at least she hoped. Mr. Miller was yelling more about some punishments as she started to push her way to Ahere. She was pulled back again and Miller's voice was whispering in her ear.

"Your not going to be able to protect your friend if you are not allowed at school." she shook him off and held her hand out to her friend.

"Come on, did they touch you?"

[SugaredKittie]

Ahere sighed as Devin pushed her through the crowd until she suddenly felt Devin's hands leave her shoulder. "Devin?" she questioned until two guys walked up to her.

"Hal.... Sam...." She murmured as they smiled at her, a dark smile. "Dont you have something better to do like go kiss some ass?"

"Shut up." Hal snapped as he smacked her, her lip busted instantly. They were always stronger than normal and never controlled that strength.

"You and your kind shouldn't be here, no one likes you." Sam answered darkly.

"Yeah well if you moved you wouldn't have to see me." She answered.

They moved in, dark scowls on their face causing her to wonder if they'd toss her over the railing until a teacher grabbed them.

"Move along." The teache said as Ms. Miller stalked past to Devin.

Ahere watched as the boys left and Devin joined her, shaking her head no when asked if they touched her. No reason to worry her about a busted lip.

"let's just go to class." she muttered

[RageDoomsday]

Devin didn't look at Ahere until they were half way to home room. Her cheek throbbed surprisingly, she figured it was starting to bruise since it felt more like a fist then a hand when Chuck has hit her. She looked over and saw blood on Ahere's lip.

"You bleeding." she stopped "They did touch you... I swear imma.." she stopped at the look on Ahere's face and sighed

[SugaredKittie]

Ahere licked the blood from her lip. "It's fine." She said. "It's nothing too bad."

The day dragged on as she dodged more insults until school was finally over. She sighed with relief and waved as Devin took off for her own hunt before she made her way to the restaurant. The only good thing for the day.

"Hey Eric." She said as she entered the restaurant and grabbed her apron. "Been busy?"

"Nothing more than the usual for the full moon. We have to stock up on meet and all that. You here to do the pot pie for tomorrow?"

"Of course, what else am I good at?" She smiled as she walked back into the kitchen. Several large steel rectangle cooking vessels were lined up on one side while piles of vegetables lined the other. There was a giant pot of chicken simmering on the far back burner; Eric had started the chicken early that morning. She smiled at the thoughtfulness, it would have taken much longer if she had to cook all of the chickens as well.

"Time to get cookin'!" She said as she began to peel and chop the vegetables.

[RageDoomsday]

Devin stopped at her house to simply drop off her things. In her room she opened the window and stripped down. One thing that really sucked about shifting, never wear your good clothes, they would be shredded if you shifter in them. She stood naked and closed her eyes. Because the sun was not down yet she had to concentrate on the change.

She raced through the woods with a panthers equivalent to a laugh in her throat. After she had changed she jumped out her window into a large tree in the back yard. She loved being changed, it felt so free to her. Being able to run this fast, being able to stalk and pounce on prey like and over sized house cat... yea she loved it. The sun would still be up for at least and hour and she was already coming into the hunting area. She slowed and her soft ears pricked at a 'crunch'. He body lowered to the ground. There was a deer looking around 40 yards in front of her. A low purr rumbled in her chest as she stalked along the ground. As she got closer her huge paws had snapped a twig. The deer had only flicked its ears and looked around for a quick second before going back to its grazing.

Devin smiled inside and pushed her body into the ground. A small shift of her legs before she pounced at the deer, the chase was on. But not for long... only a few yards after it started Devin was dragging her prey to the ground. Its neck clenched in her sharp teeth, her maw covered in thick blood. She flicked her own head and the deers neck snapped. It fell limp and collapsed to the ground. She ate her fill quickly and stopped at the small mountain spring to clean off. She was running late, the sun was almost set and she could hear others starting on their hunt. She raced back to town but didn't have time to head home and re shift. She, a huge half wet cougar, sat outside her family's restaurant and waited for Ahere to come out. She hoped Ahere would know it was her...

[SugaredKittie]

Ahere pushed back her rich red hair as she carefully applied the last dough piece to the last chicken pot pie. Then she slid them all into the industrial fridge and smiled. "All done."

She sighed as she smacked the flour covered apron causing some of the flour to puff up. She washed her hands before she hung up the apron and walked out of the kitchen. "See ya Eric!"

"Bye Ahere. Be safe. I hear the hunt should begin soon." Eric answered as he leaned back against the bar.

"I will, I'm wearing extra silver today." She shook her wrist at him to show of the silver chain that danced in the lights. She smiled and waved as she walked out into the fading light. At first she glanced over at the large cat and began walking off then stopped, turned and gaped at the large wet cat.

"Oh....My...." She stuttered as she backed up a few steps. She shook her head as she tried to figure out who could be standing there staring at her. Was she going to be attack?

"Devin...?"

The cat dipped its large tawny head.

"Dear god Devin you scared the living daylights out of me! Why are you here in cat form? Wait, never mind. Do NOT answer that..." Ahere sighed. "Just.... come on I've got some clothing that'll fit you at my place. I got some old cheesy horror movies at home and buttered popcorn." She smiled and walked off down the street

[RageDoomsday]

Devin laughed a cats laugh and padded beside the girl. She stopped and shook a little, her still damp fur was beginning to chill her. She started beside her friend again and purred the whole way to the house. When they got to Ahere's house she waited outside for a towel. Ahere had looked at her puzzled but one look at the massive cat's paws and she disappeared into the house. Devin took the towel in her mouth and disappeared into the bushes. Re appearing with the towel wrapped around her.

"No need for the clothes." she chirped at Ahere, "Just grab the movies and that. I will re shift and jump in the shower at my house." and she did that. The towel sat on the cats back after she changed again. She hoped that Ahere didn't find the shifting gross.

[SugaredKittie]

Ahere watched with wide eyes as Devin shifted from one form to the other with ease. She had never seen anyone change. After a few moments she shook her head to release herself from her frozen position and wandered into the house. meandering around she set out a selection of movies for Devin to pick then went into the kitchen to make homemade hot chocolate with real cocoa and organic milk.

As the milk warmed she ran upstairs to change into a comfy pair of sweats. Clipping her hair up in a messy knot she danced down the stairs while humming to herself. Being alone in the house was always nice. She liked the peace and quite without her younger brothers to torment her as they always did.

"God I hope they say out really late..." She murmured as she poured the mugs of cocoa and stuck in the popcorn.

[RageDoomsday]

Devin paced outside waiting for Ahere. The smell of others changing for the hunt and some eve returning worried her. Her tail flicked as the smells changed. Someone else was here around the house, slowly Devin made a pass around the outside growling hoping to warn who ever it was. She knew it was not someone in Ahere's family. It smell was to... greasy? It had to be one of Chucks goons, or Chuck himself.
Devin hissed and called a warning to the other. She hoped Ahere didn't hear inside. The girl would worry and possibly not come out. She sent another warning before closing in on where the owner of the scent was. She lowered herself, but the intruder left, she hear them turn and run off. Releasing the air she was holding, Devin went back to the door and sat waiting for her friend.

[SugaredKittie]

Ahere grabbed a thermos, poured the cocoa into it and grabbed the fresh popcorn from the microwave before she scooped up the movies that were still laying out as she headed out the door.

"Devin...?" She called as she stopped on her front steps to lock the house up. "Oh there you are." She smiled at the big cat before she shook the thermos at her. "Your favorite!"

With that she turned and bonded off the front steps and down the street to Devin's home.

[RageDoomsday]

Finally at her house, Devin nodded to Ahere to go inside. Devin went around back and climbed the tree, then jumped into the still open window. Shifting, she showed quickly to get the wet fur smell from her. Re dressed she descended the stairs.

"So what did you get?" she called to Ahere walking into the living room. "Do you wanna watch 'em in here or up stairs in my room?" her head cocked to one side.

[SugaredKittie]

Ahere wandered into the kitchen and grabbed two mugs. Setting them on the counter she poured the cocoa into them before she made her back to the stairs just as Devin came downstairs.

"Well I only want to watch them upstairs if you're fine with a sleep over. If I get on that bed of yours I'm sure to fall asleep after all the prep work I did today. Here." She handed Devin the steaming cup of cocoa. "I made it just as you like it."

[RageDoomsday]

She took the cocoa and inhaled the smell. It was nice and warm in her hands.

"I was planning on it." she laughed. Devin grabbed her bag from school from where she had left it before hunting and started up the stairs. "Come on" she smiled.

He room was the second biggest in the house. He father was slowly fixing the basement for her, but this is the room she had slept in all her life so it was fine. She sat the back beside her desk and the cocoa on the stand beside her couch. Her bed was pushed into the corner. Dresser was in the other corner below the bed, and the couch she loved the most was in the middle of the room. Her feet dragged over the black shag rug throw in front of the couch.

"You can sleep on the bed you want, or I can push this back and pull the bed out." she sat on the edge of it now and looked at Ahere.

[SugaredKittie]

Ahere laughed as she leaned against the door frame. "Your room is as much your own as I remember. Retro-goth I would have to say" She teased as she looked that the shag rug and shook her head.

"You can pick where you want me to sleep. I have no real preference since this is your room. But if you get all rawr with me not choosing we can do what we always do. Rock, paper, scissors."

She set her cup down on the table next to Devin's and moved over to the couch. tucking her leg under her she sat with her knee against the back and held out her fist.

[RageDoomsday]

Devin stuck out her tongue and laughed at the girl. She stuck out her own fist to Ahere's.

"You mean..." she roared a little and smiled again "Is that 'rawr'" finishing with finger quotes then returned the fist. Devin wondered if her father would even come home tonight, he had a new 'girl friend' he stayed with at times. Really she didn't care...

[SugaredKittie]

Ahere laughed. "Yes that is what I mean."

She smacked her fist three times and kept the fist. "Rock beats scissors." She said as she started again, she lost the second round and won the third.

"Haha okay I guess I win. I'll take...." She glanced at the bed then the couch. "The couch."

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