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He searched the beach, he searched the street. Vance looked all over but found no familiar faces. How disappointing. The boy dragged his feet as he wandered, the day soon waning into twilight. He ached for attention and companionship. Maybe he should just head home.

A soft sound of meowing echoed in an alley. Vance looked over, his eyes sad and tired from the lost day. What was that? The meowing continued. It seemed to be obstructed by something. Vance walked through the alley, searching for the noise. It seemed to be emanating from an upturned box... a box that was moving.
Vance squatted down, curious to know what was inside, and lifted the dirty old box from the ground.

Underneath was a thin, ratty looking cat. It had angled, bony features, a scar over it's eye and matted fur. Had any adult looked at this cat, they would assume it to be riddled with disease and steered away.
All Vance could see was a friend. His expression softened, a delighted smile floating on his face. He set the box down. The cat looked quizzically from Vance to the box and back. "Hi. What were you doing in there? Playing?" The tomcat backed off wearily, staring at the boy with wide, wild eyes. "What's wrong, kitty?" Vance asked, scooching closer. The cat leapt onto another box and sat down, staring down at Vance.

Vance sighed. Was there nothing he could do? He felt so rejected. "Are.. you hungry?" He asked, reaching into his bag and pulling out a sandwich. The cat's pointed ears flicked in intrigue. He stood, hopped down and crept toward Vance.

Elated that his plan worked, Vance pulled out the meat from his snack and set it down for the cat. The tomcat quickly began feasting on the piece f meat as if it hadn't seen a decent meal in ages. Vance giggled and ate the rest of his sandwich while he watched the cat. Once finished, the cat purred loudly, rubbing his head against Vance's hand. Vance giggled, scratching the cat behind it's ears, and petting it's back. The cat seemed elated, purring louder and rolling onto it's side.

Eventually, Vance realized it was getting dark. he would need to go home before the street lights came on, or else Donovan would be mad. Vance stood up. "Bye bye, Kitty." He said as he turned and left.
The young boy walked up the street, not noticing the little straggler following him home.

When Vance got to his house, he heard purring behind him. The boy turned to spot the tomcat, sitting down and staring at him. Oh boy... it followed him home. It must like him!
Vance smiled and leaned to pick the cat up, making his way inside. "Daaad! I'm home!" The boy ran into the kitchen, snuggling his find and looking up at his father expectantly. Donovan's eyes nearly popped out at the sight of the ratty looking tomcat.
"He followed me home. Can I keep him?" Vance asked hopefully. "Pleaaase?" Donovan sighed. Oh no. He knew this would be an issue. "No, Vance. Put it back outside." Vance's face fell, holding the cat snugger. "Why?" He asked quickly with a stubborn look. "Vance, he's dirty and probably has fleas. Just no."
Vance saw that as an opening, and smiled. "But we can give him a bath! He was living in a box, Daddy!" Vance pleaded with his father. Donovan rubbed the bridge of his nose. He didn't want to hurt Vance, but having a pet was a big thing, and this cat... wow this cat..

"Vance, a pet is a big responsibility. And I don't think this cat is very healthy. He could be dangerous." Vance shook his head harshly, tears welling up in his eyes. He knew this tone his father was giving. He never won these fights when his tone was like this. "Daddy, please?! I'll clean him, and feed him and walk him and.." Vance continued with his list of new responsibilities, dead set on saving the cat from a boxed life.

The pair became silent. The cat yawned.

"Okay, Vance. You win." Donovan said softly at last. Vance's tear stained face grew wide with surprise. He actually won?! "However," he started with a finger raised, "He is completely your responsibility. No complaints when it gets too hard." Vance nodded vigorously, petting his cat protectively. "And, we need to take him to a vet. He might be sick. Tonight, he sleeps in the garage, okay?" Vance nodded, heading to the garage. Donovan sighed. At least Vance was happy. Hopefully it would all work out.


After a few days had passed, and a visit to the vet had been made, the cat had been made part of the Hart family. Vance brushed the cat's now slightly less revolting fur as the feline purred contently on the floor. Donovan smiled, watching his son. The boy really was doing a good job. "Got a name yet?" He asked from the couch. Vance nodded. "Boxer!"

Why had the door been left open in the Curio Shop? Why did a naughty little kid run loose, knocking things over as he perused the shop?
A book had been knocked off of the shelf. A self help book for new werewolves, or so it would seem; had anyone been looking at it.

Throughout the day, the book was kicked unknowingly across the floor, and eventually out the door. It was a very windy day, and the paperback book slid across the ground, it's pages flapping back and forth wildly.
Donovan Hart happened to be passing by, when he almost stepped on it. "Woah, geez. Who tosses a book?" He said to himself, trying to stop his bangs from blowing into his eyes.
The man bent down and picked up the book, holding it inside his coveralls in case those dark clouds produced rain.

The young man arrived at home, closing the door and breathing a sigh. What a windy day! He kicked off his shoes and walked into the living room to sit down, setting the book down on the couch beside him. He rested a bit, looking beside him at the title of the book. "So, You're a Werewolf: Self Help Book?" He knitted his brows, flipping a couple of pages where it lay. What a strange book, he thought.

Donovan picked the book up again and began to read, ignoring the storm outside, and Vance's shenanigans in the other other room while being engulfed in the book. It was pretty funny, he thought.
Until of course, the book started moving. The pages started to flip around wildly, and while Donovan stared at it with a look of bewilderment, the book transformed, dropping a teenage werewolf on his lap. The two stared at each other with befuddled expressions until the teenager raised a brow, his expression judgmental. "Who're you?" He asked in a snarky tone.

Donovan yelped and shoved the boy off his lap, sending the poor guy tumbling head over heels across the living room.
The boy stopped rolling practically sitting on his shoulders with his feet in the air. He rolled into a sitting position, rubbing his head and staring up at Donovan with a pout. "The Hell, man? That was cold."

Donovan blinked, standing up and beholding the teen on his floor. "You're one of those.. from that shop." And that meant one thing. No exchanges, no returns. This brat was his, whether he liked it or not. The teen raised a brow, not really caring what it was Donovan was talking about, he shrugged and looked around. "Got any eats?"
Donovan sighed. He was no Vance. Not even close.

They now sat at the kitchen table. Donovan had cooked up some meat on the BBQ, watching as the wolf boy dug into the thing with his hands, making quite a mess of himself while he was at it. "Listen.. we gotta make some rules." Donovan said in a harsh tone, crossing his arms.
The boy looked up, licking sauce off of his lips. If anything, that shove from earlier established that Donovan was the Alpha male. Better for him to give the man a little bit of respect. Only a little.
"You can stay here. You can eat my food, and Hell, I'll even give you a room and bed to sleep in." He paused, staring the boy straight on with intensity. e needed to be forward with this boy. "I have conditions. One: My word is law. Two: You keep messes to a minimum. Three: When I bring a woman home, you treat her like gold, or you stay the Hell away. Four: I have a son. His name is Vance. I'll introduce you in a bit, but there is something you must do while you live in this house. Protect that boy with your life. His word is also law, and I will not have you upsetting him without good cause." Donovan was well aware how sensitive the boy could be, so he was going to be a little lax on the no upsetting rule. His kid needed a little more backbone.

"Understood?" He asked, staring down the wolf kid. The boy swallowed his mouthful, nodding while keeping his gaze focused on Donovan. "Good.. also, try and learn some manners. Go wash up after you eat." Donovan stood up, about to prepare a room before pausing. "Name?" He asked.
"Ain't got one." The boy responded with a mouthful of food. Donovan nodded, sighing a bit. "Right. I'll get back to you on one.."

Donovan started to wonder how life would change. Was he some sort of nursery now? Geez..

Vance was on a mission! He was sent out to get milk! The boy demanded he do it himself, and that Vahn stay home. Vance wasn't happy with being assigned a bodyguard, even though he loved having a big brother. The walk wasn't far, and Donovan decided it was safe to let the boy go.

Vance ventured triumphantly out of the corner store. He was about to head home, but someone caught his eye.
There was a teenage girl, sitting slouched on a curb with a duffel bag beside her, and a few pieces of luggage behind her. Vance peered around her as he got close. She looked sad!
"What's the matter?" Vance asked with a frown. The girl perked up and stared at the red eyed boy, smiling kindly. "Oh, haha. Just uh.. thinking, I guess." Vance sat down beside her, still looking at her with his concerned puppy dog eyes. "But you look sad. My name is Vance! What's yours?"
The girl smirked and held out a hand to shake hands with Vance. "Savannah. Actually, I got evicted from my apartment after it, like, caught fire." Vance gasped, his hands on his face in shock. "No! Your home! What about your mommy and daddy?" Savannah giggled and waved her hand. "Don't have any. And now no home either. I'm gonna try and find a place that wants, like, a live in housekeeper or something."

Vance tapped his lip, then looked as if he had a brilliant idea. "Daddy'll know! Come home with me!" He tugged at the girl's hand as he got up, urging her to follow him.

~~~

"I knew I should have sent Vahn with you.." Another 'stray'. Vance goes out and brings home another friend. "But Daddy! She has no parents! and her house is on FIRE!"
"Was." She piped in, ruffling her strawberry blonde waves of hair. "Actually, like, anything you could do for me, I'd totally appreciate! Even just, like, let me crash the night so I can go hunting tomorrow."
Donovan looked from one puppy eyed kid to the other, scratching his head. He then looked around his house. Lately, since becoming a parent of not just one, but two boys, his house was a mess. He couldn't keep up.

"Alright. How about this. I'll give you the spare room. In exchange for no rent, you gotta keep this place clean." He knew Xai might not like this arrangement, but honestly, he couldn't let this girl live on the streets. That and, well, he was no housekeeper. By himself? No problem. Not so much anymore.

"Eee! Thank you!" She squealed, hugging the man and gathering her things. "You won't regret this!"