Our House

Chapter 2
Our House

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Chapter Description: Good hospitality is hard to come by these days.

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As the teen wolf stepped to one side, the corporal stepped past the thresh hold and into the house. She tingled as welcoming warmth washed over her. Smells of warm bread and some kind of stew wafted through the corridor and she realised it was probably this family’s supper time. Now she truly felt guilty for disturbing them but she did need assistance and she would try not to take up too much of their time. The lad led her down the corridor and opened a door which spilled out into a rather homely living room.

Star noticed how old fashioned the decorating of the house was. She was interested to see a large black and white television stood like a ancient behemoth in one corner of the room. In the opposite corner was a proper old fashion well worn record player. The couch was large and well used and had little crocheted patches draped over the arm rests. The place looked like it had been torn from the pages of a 1950’s good home magazine.

A woman appeared from a different door, drying her paws on a towel which she then threw casually to drape over her shoulder. She was a red panda with long brown hair tied up into a neat pony tail, dressed in a simple plain blue dress with an apron tied around her waist. Her green eyes studied Star and Star found herself suddenly very nervous like she was standing trial or applying for a job position. The corporal realised with embarrassment that she was actually standing to attention and she relaxed her stance somewhat and coughed to break the silence.

"I’m sorry I didn’t mean to intrude but..."

The woman cut her off with a light chuckle.

"Oh goodness no, you haven’t done anything of the sort sweetie. We were just about to sit down for supper but it can wait for a moment. What can I do you for?"

The woman’s friendly demeanour relaxed the soldier further and Star smiled scratching the back of her pink and yellow hair.

"My Jeep has broken down and I was wondering if perhaps you had a telephone I can use to call road recovery"

The red panda sucked her teeth and shook her head.

"Sorry deary, our phone line has been out of service for...lessee...nigh on six months now. We’ve been trying to get it fixed but the telephone company just doesn’t seem to care. So can’t help you there. However when Daddybear comes in we can get him to look at your vehicle, I’m sure he can get it patched up in no time. But he’s not due home for another couple of hours.”

Stars heart sank. She still had a lot of driving to do to get to the base in time for her detail in the morning and had no way now of contacting the base to let them know what was going on. She was going to be late and she was going to probably get much more than a scolding for her effort. Still she couldn’t exactly do any more than what she was already doing, so instead she simply smiled at the woman.

"Thank you so much. I’m sorry for putting you out like this."

"Pish posh!" The woman flapped her towel in Stars direction. "These things cant be helped. But if you’re not adverse to chicken and leek stew with home made crusty rolls you’re more than welcome to join me and the kids for dinner."

Star nodded her head meekly, humbled by her unexpected hosts generosity. Star was never a girl to turn down the chance of free food.

"Thank you. I’d love to. Do you have somewhere I can clean up a little"

The red panda woman nodded and then waved at the teen wolf who had been stood, sullen looking, to one side during the entire conversation

"Zach show...err, sorry Miss, I didn’t catch your name"

Star flushed red. Where were her manners. She stepped toward the woman and extended her paw in a handshake gesture.

" I’m terribly sorry, where are my manners. I’m Anastasia, Anastasia Bryce. But everyone calls me Star."

If the corporal lynx had been paying attention to the wolf boy she would have possibly heard the tiniest of sobs as his ears drooped ever so briefly. However Stars total focus was on the mother of the household.

"And you are?"

The woman chuckled and took Stars paw giving her a firm handshake.

"I’m just mother, certainly in front of the children. Isn’t the right Zachary."

Zach and mother locked eyes for a moment and Star felt like she was missing something. The moment was brief though, as mother released her paw and pointed back towards the door.

"Go on now Zach, show Star to the rest room and be quick about it. The stew isn’t going to stay warm forever."

Zach glared at Star and then spun on his heels and stalked from the room, Star quickly followed in step behind him. They walked down the corridor and up a flight of stairs, then directly at the top Zach flippantly gestured towards the first door.

"That’s the bathroom, STAR."

The anger in his voice shocked her. What a little brat, she refrained from giving him a clout across the back of his head. And instead smiled sweetly at him ruffling his head fur "Thanks kiddo. You can go back to your mummy now if you want. I’m sure I can find my way back down without you." Star had to admit she found it a slightly satisfying seeing the boy flush red.

He stepped away from her out of her comfortable reach and patted his head fur down squashing it back into submission. He then glared at her for a moment then shrugged.

"Ya know what! Forget it. I was gonna try and help you but you can just sod off."

Star chuckled at his sulky mood.

"Look kiddo you’ve already been a huge help showing me where the bathroom is, unless you know how to replace the head gasket in my Jeep or get reception on my..."

Star had been digging around in her pocket to show Zach her mobile phone but her pocket was empty. She checked the pocket on the other side then patted down the rest of the pockets on her combat trousers. They were all phone-less.

"Fuck!"

Star blushed realising she had just sworn in front of a minor and her head shot up in alarm to look at the lad who was now smirking.

"Don’t tell your mum I said that."

The boy just shrugged turned, still smirking and headed back down the stairs "No one ever listens to me anyway. I’m just a kid."

This left Star stood on the landing alone. She tried to think. Her mobile could have fallen out at any point during her hours jog to the house. Or if she was lucky it might have fallen out of her pocket as she had jumped the garden fence. It was too dark now to find it and knowing it was a model that was waterproof and fairly robust she was confident it would survive out there for the time being, she was already putting these folk out that her phone could wait until after she had eaten to go find it.

She went into the bathroom and washed up. The soap that she used to wash with, had a strange odour to it. Like some old memory was triggered by its smell. It reminded Star of summer holidays as a kid. It made her smile as she scrubbed with it. She stripped down cleaned up and got a fresh shirt out of her rucksack it smelt faintly like diesel but then driving in the Jeep for hours tended to make everything smell like diesel. Star didn’t mind, truthfully she preferred that smell over the smell of perfume. Tugging the shirt on she gave herself a quick once over in the mirror, shouldered her rucksack and headed back down the stairs, glancing at the family photos that dotted the wall along the stairwell.

The mother and Zach along side a giant badger man that Star guessed to be the Daddybear that the mother had referred to, and then two girls one a wolf of about 9 or 10 years old with long flowing silver hair and piercing blue eyes and a small bear of about fiveish, with a dog sat to one side, its head cocked to one side. Cute family. Star guessed that the kids must all be adopted or fostered or something as none of them resembled their parents. But Star wasn’t planning on prying into their family dynamic. The photos made them look happy enough and a happy family was all that really mattered.

She headed back down the stairs and returned to the living room which was now empty. Her ears perked up when she heard voices coming from the room next door and so she headed in that direction walking into a dining room attached to a beautifully rustic looking kitchen with wooden work surfaces and pots and pans hanging from the ceiling. Again this wonderfully homely feeling washed over Star and she smiled with this odd sense of nostalgia or memories she couldn’t quite grasp.

"Take a seat there dear" Mothers voice snapped Star out of her ogling and she realised the rest of the family was already sat at the table waiting for her. The mother stood at the head, a few steaming pots lay before her but their lids were partially on, hiding the contents but the food within smelled divine. Zach sat to the left looking sullen then opposite him sat the two girls. The same two from the photos in the hall. A greyish wolf girl with platinum white hair, wearing a white blouse and flowery shirt, stared, slack jawed in Stars direction and the little bear girl her hair bright blue in bunches, wearing a denim jumper dress with a wooly red and white striped jumper was clambering up onto her seat and trying to climb on the table in order to get a better view of the stranger. A dog sat patiently beside the mother it’s eyes never once leaving the pot of stew. Star moved to the seat she had been pointed to and realised it was a large almost regal looking chair. She sat on it realising her feet didn’t touch the floor.

"Mummy, that lady is sitting in papas chair!" The five year old girl shrieked as if Star had just torn the head off her favourite toy. "Mummy Mummy the lady can’t do that! She can’t!”

The girl was bordering on tears and Stars immediate reaction was to jump from her seat, fear of making the girl cry made her own heart jump into her mouth. She never knew what to do with screaming children. They terrified her.

"Look kid I’m sorry. I’ll sit some place else okay." Star looked around frantically and realised the seat she was sat in was the only vacant seat.

"I’m sorry dear." Mother spoke up kindly. "We don’t have visitors here very often at all so there’s no spare seats. Ursie. Stop your whining or miss Star can have your seat and you can go to bed without any supper. Am I understood?"

The little kid stopped her whimpering instantly but glared at Star across the table as Star eased herself back into the large oversized seat feeling rather small and insignificant swallowed up by such a huge seat. The Daddybear must be an impressive looking figure indeed.

The table descended into silence as Mother dished out five bowls of rich smelling stew. Stars stomach grumbled breaking the silence and causing the older girl to giggle and Star to blush. A stern look from mother shushed the girl and she sat with her head bowed as the bowl of food was placed before her.

There was a moment where everyone bowed heads and Star copied expecting a prayer but no one said anything for a few moments then everyone started to tuck in. Zach tore into his food as if he had never eaten in his life but Star guessed that was fairly normal for growing teenage boys. Ursie too dug in in a similar fashion possibly too young to quite understand table manners whereas the other girl and mother ate rather daintily. Star sat watching for a moment and then dug in herself fashioning a manner more closely resembling Zach than the more controlled eaters around the table. Star was not exactly used to good table manners having spent a large chunk of the last 7 years of her life eating in mess halls surrounded by various squads of the British army who weren’t renowned for their refined table etiquette.

She swallowed her first mouthful of food, a quiet purr emanating from her. The chicken and leek stew perfectly cooked and full of flavour.

It was then that Star felt like someone was watching her and she looked up from her bowl to lock eyes with the youngest kid glaring again at her. Star forced a friendly smile onto her face. Clearly she had made an enemy of this child by sitting in her daddy’s chair.

"And what’s your name little girl" Star tried the tactic of mending public relations. The girl seemed to react to the question shrinking back in her seat and looking fearfully at her mother. Her mother nodded happily.

"Its okay Ursie. Star here isn’t a stranger she’s a guest so you can talk to her." That seemed to ease the child’s fear and the girl sat upright puffing herself up proudly

"I’m Ursa. I’m this many" the girl held up 3 fingers on one paw and 1 finger on the other paw.

"Wow four years old huh. I bet you can do lots of stuff" Star exclaimed trying to bolster the kids ego a bit to get the child back on her side. Ursa shook her head though

"No I’m not foor im this many" she held out her paws again but her expression looked pained and confused. Perhaps the kid was 5 and just not counting correctly Star felt awkward again now but the other girl stepped into the conversation.

"Ursie the lady...Star doesn’t care how old you are. She’s a soldier that means she kills people."

Stars blood ran cold and she shook her head. Whilst it was true that she had seen combat and had indeed killed for queen and country discussing such things around a strangers dining room table in front of young children just really wasn’t her idea of fun.

"Oh no. That’s not true at all. I am in the army yes. But I deal with computers and satellites mainly nothing scary I assure you.

The two girls looked blankly at Star. " mama? What’s a tattlestripe?" Ursa was curious now and had stopped eating. She was practically climbing on the table in order to get her mothers attention.

" A satellite? Its a bit too grown up for you sweetheart its what helps get the television to show us pictures." Mother finished her stew and laid the spoon down next to the empty bowl. "And Gree don’t pry into our guests life, its very rude"

The wolf girl shrank back apologetically for a moment and then perked up like a bright idea had just popped into her head. "Sorry miss Star. Mummy is miss Star staying over? Can we have a slumber party?"

This caused Star to giggle. "Kid I think I’m a little bit old for slumber parties and I think I will have to be on my way home as soon as your daddy gets back."

Star finished the last mouthful of food. She was stuffed it had been utterly delicious and now she was feeling comfortable and relaxed with a full stomach

"Thank you for dinner. That was a beautiful stew"

"I’m glad you enjoyed it. All that went into making it was grown here on the farm. We’re a self sufficient family here we all chip in and work hard." The pride in the mother red pandas voice was easy to hear. Star nodded thoughtfully as all three kids slipped down from the table and started clearing the table with no fuss or complaining and they headed out to the kitchen. Star could hear the taps being run and she guessed they were cleaning the dishes. She felt a little useless.

"Is there anything I can help with?" She asked the mother. Who stood and walked over to Star and ruffled the soldiers hair.

"You just keep outta the way sweetie. Its all under control."

Star was bemused by the strange contact and blushed a little flattening her hair back down in much the same way Zach had done earlier. She decided to break the awkwardness with a question.

"Do you have any idea what time your husband will be home"

"Daddybear should be home soon sweetheart how about you go play with Gree for a little while before bedtime"

Star stood from the oversized chair, her plate having already been cleaned away and nodded. She guessed she could help keep the kids entertained for an hour or so as way of passing the time and perhaps a little repayment for the kindness she had been shown. At least she was being asked to look out for the older of the two kids and not the younger one. It was at that point that Gree, Zach and Ursie returned from the kitchen. Mother smiled at the three of them. "Right it’s an hour before bed you can all play quietly for an hour. Gree why don’t you take Star up to your room and show her around"

Grees eyes lit up and she nodded eagerly whereas Ursie had the opposite reaction and flopped onto the floor in an imminent temper tantrum.

"No fair nooooo fair!!! I wanna play! Why don’t I get to play with Star?"

Stars ears flattened she waved her paws at the squalling child, again panic setting in.

"Whoa there we can all play together okay?" In Stars haste to console the screaming kid. she didn’t realise what she was letting herself in for. Ursa stopped crying instantly a large grin plastered on her face and she scrambled to her feet, rushed over to Star and tried to climb up the soldier. Star had no chance to really do anything other than grab the bear cub under the arms and haul her up, the child was small and light so it wasn’t that much of an issue.. Ursa giggled playfully, tugging on Stars pink braid. Star winced a little. The solider really disliked small kids.

“Why is your hair a funny colour its like half pink and half yellow? Are you sick?” The girls question sounded more inquisitive than nasty and Star nodded and grinned mischievously.

“Yep. I’m really sick and when my hair goes completely yellow I’ll explode.”

The look of horror on Ursies face made Star laugh out loud and she shook her head “Don’t worry about it. I’ll cut all my hair off just before it all goes yellow so I wont explode.” The horror on the child’s face was replaced by relief as Gree took Stars spare paw and led her out of the dining room and through the house to head back up the stairs.

“Come see my room We can have a tea party okay” Star allowed herself to be led and soon found herself in Grees room. There were posters all over the walls of cute animals and horses. Dolls and teddy bears lined the shelves. The room was painted shades of pinks and whites. The minute Star was inside the room, Gree let go of her paw and rushed over to a toy box, threw open the lid and pretty soon Star found herself cross legged with a doll in her lap and an empty plastic teacup in her paw. Gree sat on one side and Ursie sat on the other as Gree poured pretend tea into Ursies cup. This was Stars idea of hell. She had never been nor would she ever be a girly girl and had managed to avoid all this rubbish as a real kid. She couldn’t wait to get back to her Jeep and fix up the engine so she could get on her way.

“More tea?” Gree’s soft voice cut through Stars thought process. Star nodded absent-mindedly and held her cup out just as the bedroom door opened and a large hulk of a man stood in the doorway. He was some form of badger or bear close approaching seven foot tall his hair tied back in a ponytail and a scares across his left eye and cheek gave him quite a scary oppressive feeling. In dark pants and a red shirt. The two girls scrambled to their feet and with shrill shrieks of “Daddy DADDY” threw themselves at the newcomer. The badger chuckled, his voice deep but full of good nature as he scooped up his two daughters and hugged them tight. His golden yellow eyes came to rest on Star and she put her toy cup down and stood up walking up to him. Star was only five foot tall and she felt like a child in his presence. She extended her paw to shake his, only to realise both his paws were currently occupied in holding his children. She was about to speak when he smiled kindly at her.

“What have we here? Another mouth to feed no doubt.”

Star blushed and was about to answer when Mother came up behind her husband, carrying Stars rucksack and chuckling.

“Actually she’s already been fed tonight Darling.” Mother came up and hugged her husband from behind. Star felt awkward witnessing the affectionate move and she shuffled her feet finding the carpet suddenly interesting.

The man stared at her for a moment causing the female soldier to blush. Mother stepped around her husband and situated herself between the two adults.

“Darling, Star here needs your help to get her vehicle fixed, she broke down not far from here.”

The colossal badger bear shifted his kids in his arms so that he could scratch at his speckled grey goatee thoughtfully He and his wife seemed to stare at one another for a few moments. Causing Both young girls to giggle and poke at one another excitedly causing the large male to break into a huge tired grin.

“In the morning. I’ve had a long day and I don’t think I’ll be much help out there in the dark. But first thing in the morning We can get my pick-up truck and fetch your vehicle and see what we can do to fix it. Does that sound okay little one?”

Star tried to hide the disappointment from her voice and nodded cheerfully trying to ignore the fact that she’d just been called little one, she may be slight and short for her age but she was a member of the armed forces. “Thank you for helping me out. Sorry to put you and your family out at such an inconvenient hour sir.”

He let out a low chuckle. “Less of the sir, it’s Daddybear. Okay”

Star again nodded but refused to call him that, in much the same was she wasn’t referring to the red panda as Mother. It just felt weird. Mother clapped her paws together and grinned

“Anyway it’s almost time for bed so I shall show you to the spare room”

Star bowed her head In respect. “Thank you once again. For everything.”

“Such a polite guest. It’s a pleasure. It’s very rare for us to get visitors, now follow me okay!” With that Mother left the room and Star did as she was told and followed the woman across the hallway not before bidding the husband and children a goodnight. Mother swung open the spare room door smiling apologetically.

“Sorry this room is a little sparse but it should have everything you need.“

Star stepped inside and other than a plain wooden wardrobe, a wooden chest of drawers, a single bed and a wash basin the room was devoid of furniture or belongings. It almost reminded Star of the army barracks. The fact she had a bed to sleep in tonight was more than she had expected so she was thankful for anything.

“Thank you, this will be more than adequate. I appreciate the hospitality”

Mother giggled and dropped Stars rucksack inside the door. “Well lights out will be in about 20 minutes so good night Sweetie, I hope you sleep well.”

Star looked at her watch. It was only just approaching half past seven in the evening, but as a guest in the house she wasn’t about to protest about the early night, it had been an exhausting day and an early night would hopefully mean rising early to get the Jeep fixed. Mother left and pulled the bedroom door closed leaving Star alone.

Star stripped down to just her black bra and panties, feeling actually pretty tired. Now that she was here getting ready for bed. She had her back to her bedroom door so didn’t notice it quietly opening and Zach slip into the room along with the mongrel brown dog that followed him into the room.

“Miss Star?” The boys voice caused Star to jump out of her skin and she spun round clutching at her chest even though she had a bra on.

“Zach! “ She hissed flushing red with embarrassed anger,stalking towards the white wolf boy grabbing him by the shoulders and spinning him around. She had no intention of being some teenage lads first wet dreams, she was just thankful she had kept her underwear on.

“Get out!” She whispered in anger, not wanting to raise her voice because she didn’t want to get the lad in trouble. But Zach put his paws against the door frame stopping her from pushing him out the bedroom. The dog paced back and forth in the bedroom looking agitated by the scuffle and it whimpered.

“Wait don’t throw me out. You gotta get out of here, you can’t stay the night trust me. You’ll be trapped here forever if you spend the night. Please. You gotta believe me.”

Star didn’t entertain the lad, she didn’t need an under-age kid in her room with her practically naked. With one swift leg movement she swept the lads feet out from under him, holding him up by his shirt collar and by the scruff of his neck she threw him out onto the landing outside her bedroom.

“Sorry Zach.” She spoke to him quietly. “This isn’t some free for all grope fest or whatever your hormones are telling you”

Zach glared at her as the dog came up and licked his face. He got up and dusted himself down. “Don’t flatter yourself. You’ll be sorry in the morning. Then you’ll be begging for my help but it’ll be too late.” With that said he wandered off, the dog following behind him, it’s head slunk down as it tottered after the teen.

Star closed the door and as an afterthought dragged the chest of drawers over to the door barricading herself in. She didn’t want Zach trying a similar stunt later when she was asleep.

Climbing into bed she found that whilst it looked pretty plain the mattress and duvet were very comfortable indeed she lay there listening to the unfamiliar creeks and groans of the house and she soon found herself purring and drifting off to sleep.

She was trying to run. She was scared, it was dark and she found the more she ran the harder running became. Suddenly her feet were tangled in some form of sheet and she yelped as she fell to the ground. The sheeting slowly wrapping itself around her legs binding them. She yelled, fear overtaking her. She was being mummified. Wrapped and bound. Giant hands swam into view and she felt her heart leap in her chest, a mix of fear and happiness swamping her emotions. The giant hands got closer. Then she woke up.

Star opened her eyes in alarm, and that’s when the screaming started.

 

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