Hand in hand, Monster and Trouble spoke within the confines of each others minds, as whispering around creatures who had heightened senses was an epic fail in subtlty. They hadn't even made it out of their father's line of sight when their “older brother” Luca made the scene with his usual goofy smile and awkwardness lingering about him. His question caused Mike Jr. To lift a brow and Janelle to giggle. As little Monster tended to give lectures where only a one word reply was needed, Janelle did her best to spare herself time wasted by answering in his stead. She released Junior's hand for a brief moment to clamber up the front of Luca with ease, giving him as tight of a hug as she could muster. While Michael might treat Luca like a son, Janelle still had a little crush on him. Though it wasn't as deep rooted as Mike's crush on Scarlet. “No, ma c'è qualche succo di mango in là! E 'il mio. Ma io condividere con voi.” She gave a light giggle and was soon on her way, pulling her brother after her. It didn't take long before they ran into another Packmate.
It wasn't a surprise -running into so many of the Wolves in such a large house- because it was time for a hunt and they tended to snack a little before hunting. Running on an empty stomach was no fun. With Leanna, Monster was the one to do the talking. Janelle rarely spoke to the woman because she was still on the fence about her. The young boy's brown eyes cut upward, his voice holding its usual matter-of-fact tone that gave him an air of “I'm smarter than you” (which ended up with people in general less inclined to interact with him). “È un dato di fatto, è stata una giornata piuttosto successo. Janelle è molto vicino ad essere rimosso dalla scuola e mi seguirà dietro poco dopo. Abbiamo poi essere homeschooled e non costretti a subire la presenza di quelle di calibro inferiore a mente, corpo e anima.” Having answered her quite promptly, he took his turn and tugged his sister behind him as the two raced off to his bedroom.
He could smell them and hear them as they moved around, faster than any other creature. A light shiver went down his spine before his gaze fell on Luca and Leanna entering the kitchen. “Uno di voi ha visto Ryder?” His voice was a bit gruff as he questioned his younger brother's whereabouts. They would be hunting soon and Michael felt that it would be good for them as a Pack to hunt again. They hadn't been on a hunt in the past week that the vampires had been there and he needed them to get back to feeling a sense of normalcy. He ran his fingers through his hair in an exhausted manner, though he was more mentally tired than he was physically tired. He was a bit physically tired, yes. Because even after laying down the law of his lands and having both the vampires and his wolves agree to working together, he found himself immediately waking up at every bump in the night, not feeling truly safe until the sun would begin to peek over the distant mountaintops. Janelle and Mike Jr. seemed to put their brave faces on and he knew that they were curious, but they had spent the past five nights in Michael's, Scarlet's, Luca's, Andrew's, and Stefano's beds, rotating between each Pack member. And that was going to stop. His kids needed to know that they didn't need to be afraid in their own home.
As soon as Cheveyo left, she was greeted by Jack and then Zak and then Darcy. Well, wasn't she just Miss Popular. She hadn't spoken to any of them, not even replying to Jack as she took the time to finish her bottle of wine first. She made a mental note to buy some of the more expensive and stronger liquors on her next visit to one of the nearby cities. She was longing to get nice and drunk by the next time that it rained so she could dance like a happy fool up the mountain. Maybe she'd find a hitchhiker there and get to have a snack while she was at it. Oh, that was a lovely thought indeed. While she was thinking about it, she was finally able to drag her gaze up to inspect the others. Zak was looking like a pirate, as usual. Not bad. Darcy, she found absolutely adorable. Mostly because of her dimples and her round face and squishy cheeks. Those blonde locks of hers would have made her quite a prize during Astrid's time. But that attitude might not have been as well recieved as her pretty face.
Her gaze then fell to Jack and she felt the corners of her lips twitch just a bit into a half smile. The way she smiled was always so angelic-looking. Unless she pulled her brows down just enough to perfect a decent glare. She had one of those faces that made it hard to intimidate people. Which really sucked when you were a Viking going into battle. But, back to her attention on Jack, she found herself canting her head to the side a bit to watch him. She often wondered what it was about those such as Jack and Zak and Dante that allowed her to easily befriend them but when it came to the more approachable Genevieve, Mariette, and Darcy, she had hardly a thing to do with them. She still hadn't quite decided how she felt about Aeliana. She had decided that she felt Jack and the other two were kindred spirits in one way or another more than the other three. Jack had been a soldier and Zak a pirate – She being a Viking was pretty much a mixture of both. Dante had a passion for music and dance that only one who had truly watched it evolve could. Though she never did fight with Zak or Jack. She never could bring herself to get angry with Jack and Zak was too mellow to get on her nerves.
All introspect aside, she finally spoke after what seemed like ages. She switched to English, as it seemed like the one language that you could count on any vampire knowing. America was pretty much a playground for vampires and there wasn't a single vampire over the age of seventy who hadn't been there. “You are too kind, Jack. You aren't looking quite so bad yourself.” Her smile had become one that was coy and seductive in nature, as it seemed the more natural of her smiles and almost a default. Her reply to his words had come five minutes later, but she could remember a time where she engaged in a chess game that took twelve years to complete. It wasn't that they were that bored. They were simply that determined to win at all costs. “There are some flowers I want to take you to see. I can guarantee that you've never seen any like them and you likely never will. Let me know when you're ready to leave and I'll call for our slobbering shadows.” She sipped on the wine again before setting the bottle down and joining him by sitting on the chair across from him. That was Astrid. She always assumed that people would go along with what she said because...Well. People usually went along with what she said. She never really gave the gift of options.
Translations
Nope, but there's some mango juice in there! It's mine. But I'll share with you.
As a matter of fact, it has been a rather successful day. Janelle is quite close to being removed from school and I will follow behind shortly after. We will then be homeschooled and not forced to suffer the presence of those of less caliber in mind, body, and soul.
Either of you seen Ryder?