To Love a Stray Ch. 17

Malcolm and Dwayne slip past us to enter the quarters and Micah blocks my path as he turns his head to look at me intently.

We must make sure it is still safe for you and the baby

I look at him surprised and sniff his nose before giving him an affectionate lick on his jaw line, Dwayne and Malcolm come out of the quarters and Micah leads the way inside with a gentle huff to me. I follow closely and when we reach the hallway door where we can either turn towards the bedrooms or turn towards the lounge room I hesitate and whine softly in distress. Micah turns to me and purrs in concern as he rubs his head against my shoulder, I take a step towards the bedrooms and Micah watches me but makes no move to stop me. I hesitate then walk slowly into the lounge room and lie down on Micah's mattress pawing at the blanket and grabbing it with my teeth.

Micah is shape shifting beside me and I spare him a glance before grasping the blanket in my teeth and trying to roll and drag it across my body but all this achieves is to tangle me in the folds of the blanket and I whine as I wait for Micah to finish his shift.

"Rosy. What are you doing? What's wrong?" Micah exclaims as he gently untangles me from the folds of the blanket. I whine as I settle myself on my stomach then look at him before glancing at the blanket he holds and back to his face.

"You want the blanket over you? Is that it?" Micah asks and spreads it over me at my slight bob of my head.

"Hey Doc! Doc can you come and look at Rosy? She must be cold or something she's insisting on being covered with a blanket." I can hear the worry thick in Micah's voice as he turns his head. I lower my chin to the floor and grit my teeth as I concentrate on controlling my change to a steady smooth change.

"What the ... Oh! Micah look," Doc says as I lay panting softly beneath the blanket winded by the change back to human form.

"W... Rosy! It's okay Rosy," Micah soothes gently and I feel him rearranging the blanket on my shoulders slightly as I rest my cheek against the mattress. I manage a slight nod and close my eyes for a few moments as I collect my strength.

"Rosy changed back to human in here," I hear Malcolm whisper excitedly.

"Is she okay?" Justin demands in a whisper.

"Don't turn around! You know she won't like it if any of us look her way," Donovan hisses. I open my eyes and lift my head to glance around, everyone has their backs to us or are busy getting dressed. Dwayne is even turning the TV on and starting the playstation as if I am not lying naked beneath a blanket a few feet behind him. I try to make sense of shape shifting here among the toms and can only conclude that my inner cat trusts them now.

"Sam can you go and get Rosy some of her clothes from our room?" Micah asks as he pulls his own jeans on before sitting on the edge of the mattress with one hand on my back between my shoulders.

"It'll be alright Rosy. I'm right here," Micah tells me reassuringly. I can hear movement around the room but keep my eyes focused on Dwayne's back too scared to look around incase I see someone glance my way.

"Here," Sam says and I hear the faint rustle of clothing and soft steps moving away from me before some soft clothing is pressed into my left hand.

"Dwayne go find something to do in the kitchen," Micah says evenly as I feel the mattress move beneath me.

Dwayne pauses the game he is playing, gets to his feet and heads to the kitchen without so much as a glance my way. I look toward Micah uneasily and he smiles reassuringly at me before offering a hand to help me sit up. I hesitate a moment but remember that not only has Micah seen my entire body naked he has touched and tasted it as well. My face burns with embarrassment as I sit up letting the blanket fall down to pool around my waist and hips as I slip my arms into the sleeves of the oversize t-shirt and pull it down over my head. Micah takes my track pants and slips each leg over a foot before helping me to my feet to pull the track pants up and around my stomach.

"There, all dressed." Micah announces with a huge smile and I glance his way self-consciously. I sit back down pulling my t-shirt down as far as it will go before glancing at Micah with a slightly embarrassed smile.

"The stews are cooked," Dwayne announces as he walks in carrying a big bowl of stew, a cup of coffee and a mug of strawberry flavoured milk.

"There you go," Dwayne says as he hands me the mug of flavoured milk.

"Thanks," I say softly.

"Hungry?" Micah asks as he gets to his feet.

"I'm full thanks," I answer before sipping the milk. I lick the rim of milk from my top lip and glance at the toms slightly embarrassed as they file into the room carrying their food.

"Am I the only one who had a decent feed?" I ask slightly surprised.

"The deer weren't that big," Malcolm comments and I glance towards Donovan and Mitchell who are eating their stew hungrily.

"And you two gave me those hares. You are really sweet," I declare before draining my mug. Mitchell glances my way as he spoons a large chunk of meat into his mouth and chews on it before swallowing it.

"We're just looking after you so you can look after the baby," Mitchell tells me evenly.

"Yeah," Donovan says around a mouthful of food. "You didn't even want to go for a run all you wanted to do was hunt food."

I stretch out on my side so I can see most of the toms and look around at Micah as he walks into the room carrying his own large bowl of stew and an oversized cup of coffee. He pulls the blanket over me before sitting down level with my head and shoulders and I scrunch up one corner of the blanket to use as a pillow.

"Here," Justin says and hands me the pillow that lives on the lounge. I tuck it under my cheek and inhale the scents that cling to it noticing that all of the toms have touched it at some stage recently. I yawn and blink several times before glancing around curiously. I catch several of the toms glancing my way with satisfied smiles on their faces and frown.

"What has got everyone so amused?" I ask curiously.

"You finally trust us enough to change in the same room as us." Dwayne says as he looks me in the eye.

"I didn't mean to," I protest as I look away from his gaze. "It just happened somehow! My cat took over and suddenly I was in here changing back!"

"Your cat works on instinct much more than on conscious thought. I have noticed your inner cat's instincts are very strong even when you're in human form. On some sub-conscious level you instinctively knew you could trust your clan's toms even now when you're at your most vulnerable." Doc tells me gently.

"No! I don't trust any tom that much," I protest as I pull the blanket up over my head to shut myself out of the sight of the toms. I squeeze my eyes shut tightly as I concentrate on blocking out the noises the others make as they eat. I do not trust any of the toms enough to be naked around them, except for maybe Micah. The tension begins to ease as I realise he is right beside me and ready to protect me if I need it. Someone rearranges the blanket over my head so that even though it still covers me and blocks the others from sight it allows fresh air to enter every time I breathe in.

* * * * *

The need to go to the toilet wakes me and I remain motionless as I try to work out where I am. It is dark but there is a muted light to the darkness and I can hear the occasional sound of movement or breathing changing pace. I realise with surprise that I have a blanket over my head as well as my body and I frown as I push it down off my head and sit up carefully.

"Need anything?" Micah asks softly with a glance my way. I glance at him and smile, suddenly happy just to be near him.

"I'm all right," I assure him before climbing to my feet and heading for the toilet. When I return to the lounge room, I see that all the toms have carried their mattresses into the room and are adding pillows and blankets. A sudden sense of devilry overtakes me and I sit on the middle of Sam's mattress where he is trying to spread a blanket out but I sit on it reducing it to a bunched heap.

"Anyone ever tell you what a great help you are?" Sam asks me straight faced.

"No, but ya love me anyway." I say with a laugh. Sam regards me silently for a few seconds and I begin to wonder if I have said something wrong.

"Yeah, I actually do you know." Sam tells me gravely before kneeling beside me and engulfing me in a big gentle hug. I tense in his arms at first not sure what to do, it is so long since I can remember wanting a hug. Instinct takes over and I lean into Sam's embrace enjoying one of the few undemanding, unnecessary physical contacts not initiated by me I have allowed since my first change. I turn my head and brush a kiss along his jaw line feeling the slight rasp of his unshaven whiskers against the softness of my lips. I bring both arms up to hold his arms and rub my head against his shoulder.

"I love you too big brother," I say quietly.

"Enough soppy stuff already," Mitchell pretends to complain and I glance across at him to see him watching me longingly. I narrow my eyes at him and push out of Sam's embrace before stalking towards Mitchell on my hands and knees taking care not to smile or display any emotion on my face.

Mitchell watches me closely and goes to move out of my way as I move onto his mattress but my sudden lunge is too quick for him and I take him over backwards, pinning him to the mattress as I look down into his face and laugh.

"Gotcha," I laugh down into his startled face.

"Hey be careful! You could hurt the baby," Mitchell warns alarm evident in his face and voice. I grin baring my teeth and pretend to try to bite his hands as he tries to catch hold of my shoulders to steady me.

"Rosy," Micah cautions softly. I look over my shoulder at him and frown.

"I never had brothers or sisters growing up I could play with and the local boys didn't like getting beaten up by a mere girl." I tell him disdainfully.

"Micah, relax. It is very unlikely Rosy will do anything that is uncomfortable or painful so she's not likely to do any harm unless whoever she's mucking around with doesn't watch what they're doing." Doc tells him.

"Ha! See! You listen to Doc," I tell Micah before turning my attention back to Mitchell. I reach for his ribs where I know he is ticklish and he gives a snort of annoyance as he tries to twist away from my attack.

"No Rosy! You could end up getting hurt," Mitchell protests as he catches both of my wrists and prevents any further tickling. I narrow my eyes as I frown at him and move to sit on the edge of the mattress when he lets my wrists go.

"Worried I was going to get the better of you just like I do when you try to catch me when we run?" I ask dryly before turning my attention to the others.

Micah is watching me with concern but is making no visible effort to stop me and I look around at the others, Justin is eyeing me uneasily clearly not sure what to think while Donovan is showing interest but is clearly wary of Micah. Chris is lying back on his mattress watching me with amusement while Malcolm stands by his bed watching with a grin. Dwayne is looking at me levelly and when I glance at Sam, he raises an eyebrow at me as if questioning my behaviour.

"You lot are a bunch of scaredy cats," I mutter as I return to Micah's mattress.

"Who'd be scared of a scrawny little thing like you?" Dwayne asks with a quick glance towards Micah before advancing towards me on all four, I eye him a moment then narrow my eyes as I brace myself on my hands and knees.

"Looks like you need a lesson in respecting other cats' mattresses. You can't just stalk across them like that," Dwayne tells me.

"Or sit in the middle of them when someone is trying to spread out their blanket." Sam joins in as he begins to stalk from the other side. I glance from one side to the other judging their movements, the play of their muscles in their shoulders that tell me how tense they are. I lift my chin and move my eyes towards Dwayne even though my attention is on Sam as well. I dodge Dwayne's grab and scoot onto his mattress to grab his pillow.

"Oi!" Dwayne protests as I tuck the pillow under one arm and back carefully away from him using my feet to feel for any unseen toms behind me. He makes a playful grab for me and I duck to one side to avoid him and scramble to the opposite end of the mattress. Sam tries to catch a hold of me as I dash past, but I twist away from him as I scurry towards Micah's mattress, I almost make it but a strong arm catches me gently across the ribs and I am pulled backwards and land on a hard male body as my captor rolls and uses his body to cushion my landing.

I use my own momentum to keep rolling right back onto my hands and knees but find that the arm remains around my ribs and I get lifted off the mattress and pulled back against a solid chest.

"Sam help me get my pillow back off this little minx," Dwayne laughs and I hug the pillow tightly against myself while I watch Sam approach me slowly as if he expects me to resist.

"I scratch," I warn him.

"You'll need both hands if you hope to keep that pillow," Sam grins.

"I kick," I say as I narrow my eyes.

"You got both legs wrapped around the pillow as well," Sam points out as he stands over me looking down at me.

"I bite," I pretend to snarl savagely but ruin it with a giggle.

"Do I look like a rabbit or a hare?" Sam asks in disbelief.

"Maybe a little bit when I squint and tilt my head to the side ... nah, more like a big fat old frog." I say grinning.

"That is it! You're in for it now." Sam threatens as he reaches down towards me. I squeal and hug the pillow tightly as I wriggle like a worm, I feel Dwayne's hold loosen and I try to roll to one side. Sam's fingers find my ribs and I shriek as I collapse into laughter, Sam moves from one side of my ribs to the other as he tickles me and I wriggle as I attempt to escape from Dwayne's hold.

"Enough," I finally gasp between giggles. My ribs are starting to hurt from laughing and my face muscles feel tired from smiling as I crawl away to Micah's mattress when Dwayne releases me. I still have his pillow having refused to let it go and I grin as I glance back at him as I lean against Micah's chest. Dwayne narrows his eyes at me and stalks towards me on all four, I eye him a moment before clutching the pillow to me tightly.

"It's mine," I declare and Dwayne growls softly in play. I growl back and gasp in surprise at the speed of Dwayne's attack. He straddles my thighs and catches both of my wrists in a loose hold.

"Going to give it back?" Dwayne asks with a wide smirk. I give an exaggerated sigh and let go of the pillow with a pout.

"Now what am I going to use as a pillow? Micah only bought his out and I'm not sharing it with him, he snores," I say woefully.

"Want me to move my mattress over here beside yours and Micah's and if you need to you can come share my pillow?" Dwayne asks with a laugh. I give a disdainful snort and roll my eyes at him.

"Yeah sure and you'd probaly YANK it out from under me the moment I'm asleep," I pretend to pout. "But if you must ..." I watch with interest as the mattresses are rearranged and return to leaning on Micah.

"Comfy?" Micah asks.

"There anything to eat?" I ask as I realise I feel hungry.

"I'll get a bowl of stew for you," Malcolm says as he gets to his feet and heads towards the kitchen. He returns quickly with a large bowl of thick chunky stew and I begin picking pieces of vegetable from it to eat with the fork he got me. I spear a large piece of meat that keeps getting in my way and glance towards Donovan, I lift the fork up to display the meat.

"Want it Donovan?" I ask.

"No, you eat it. You need it," he tells me.

"I don't want the meat just the vegies," I tell him but Donovan glances at Micah before he shakes his head once again. I glance around the other toms but they all avoid my eyes and I am frowning by the time I look at Micah.

"You eat the blasted thing so I can get back to eating my vegies." I say irritably.

"You need a balanced diet," Micah tells me firmly.

"I had a full feed of fresh meat and you're worried because I won't eat some cooked gunk out of a stew?" I demand angrily.

I move away from Micah and lean against the lounge as I look between the meat on my fork and the vegies in the stew I want to eat, finally I give a snort of annoyance and use the fork to flick the meat at Micah.

"Hey!" Micah snarls angrily as the meat splats satisfyingly against his chest.

"Deal with it," I snarl and begin eating a piece of potato. Micah gets to his feet and heads to the kitchen, I hear something thump as it hits the side of one of the bins then water running and I presume Micah is washing his hands as well as wiping off his chest where the meat had hit him. When he returns he places a small flat plate beside me before returning to his mattress.

"Put any pieces of meat you decide you don't want on that. Don't throw them at me again," He warns.

"Well stop telling me what I do and don't need! I'm not stupid." I snarl at him before fishing another piece of meat from the stew and glancing at him.

"Eat it or put it on the plate," Micah warns in a low growl. I flick the meat onto the plate before fishing out several pieces of different veggies and eating them. Finally, all that remains of my bowl of stew is several chunks of meat on the plate and a few pieces floating around in the thick broth.

"Had enough?" Malcolm asks as he takes both the bowl and the plate.

"There anymore vegies left?" I ask hopefully.

"Probably a few, half a bowl or so." He informs me.

"Can I have them?" I ask with a smile. He soon hands me the bowl with mainly only the vegies I requested and a little broth. I am full when I finish and I happily relinquish the bowl to Malcolm before stretching out on Micah's mattress once again. I yawn and stretch before making myself comfortable. I look at Micah and push my t-shirt up exposing my swollen stomach. Micah watches me for a few moments before giving a slight nod and placing his hand gently on the swell of my stomach, I smile happily and begin purring softly as I half close my eyes.

"Can I have a go as well?" Donovan asks quietly. Micah glances up from his hand on my stomach to look me in the face, I can see the worry deep in his eyes and I rub the side of my face against his pillow smiling at him.

"Please Micah," I beg him softly.

"Okay. Just a minute or two each," Micah says firmly. I lay quietly as Micah returns his attention to my stomach. His hand looks large and dark against the pale flesh of my stomach. After a few minutes, he reluctantly takes his hand off my stomach and moves aside slightly to let Donovan close to place his hand on my stomach. I watch Donovan's face fill with awe as Wynn kicks energetically beneath his hand, Donovan glances at me and I smile happily.

"He moved," Donovan whispers softly as he lifts his hand and moves so the next tom can place his hand on my stomach. I lay on the mattress calmly as one by one those present have a turn of resting their hand against the swell of my stomach and even Doc lines up to take a turn.

"He certainly is active," Doc comments as a small foot kicks against the slight pressure of his hand. "He always this active this time of the day?"

"Yeah he goes real quiet about the time I have my afternoon nap and then not long after I wake up he starts moving around and kicking like this," I tell Doc.

"He probaly has a sleep when you do. Babies actually have periods when they barely move and are asleep while they are still in the womb," Doc tells me with a serious face.

"That doesn't surprise me," I admit.

"Beside well fed how are you feeling," Doc asks with a grin.