While the others moved to the door Stiles tried to control his breathing and his heart rate.
"She's the fox?"
"No somehow a fox and Sapphire switched places. What do you think dipshit?"
"Calm down Stiles." Scott laid a hand on his shoulder. "Let me try something first. We'll know if it's her or not."
Kira laid a hand on Scott's arm. Looking at her he could tell by her eyes that it was Sapphire. Nodding his head he half shifted, letting his eyes glow red.
Having a stare down with the small fox was pointless. She wasn't budging. Her stance was still stand off ish and her hackles raised.
"If it is Sapphire then no one is in charge of her. I can't force her to shift."
There was a low growl behind them. Turning around they saw a black wolf with blue eyes.
"Derek?" Scott questioned.
The wolf nodded then jerked his head to the side. Stepping up, through everyone Derek stared at the fox.
'Kit, calm down. They're your friends. Stiles is more than a friend though. I smell him all over you. Kira is like you but can't shift. Lydia is a banshee. Liam and Isaac are betas. And Scott is a true alpha. You know them and what they can do. Don't do anything you'll regret.'
Sapphireslowlyeasedoff. Sittingdownshe staredattheblackwolf.
'Derek. I don't know what's happened to me. I was fine this morning and all through my warm up. Then right before I went into the ring I felt weird. There's no other way to put it. There was an accident and then I woke up in here like this.'
'Can I come closer?'
Sapphirenodded.
Taking a step forward Derek slowly stepped up to the edge of the trailer. Sniffing for a couple seconds he shook his head.
'Something is in your system. Either it was injected or put into food. Can you recall anything?'
The fox cocked her head to the side as she thought about his question.
'He cooked last night. I noticed that his was already plated before mine. When I asked he said he didn't want mine to get cold. Since I was in the stable at the time he might of slipped something into it.'
'I'll see if I can figure something out. In the meantime stay with Stiles.'
'What? Are you sure that's a good idea?'
'Yes. He may be annoying and sarcastic as hell but he will help keep you sane... well as sane as anyone can keep a fox. Just don't draw attention to yourself. I'll talk to you later kit. Whatever I say to them when I'm back in human form just go with it.'
OnceDerek shifted he turned to face Scott and Stiles.
"You're right about one thing. No one controls the fox. They're solitary animals. And it is Sapphire. She is a shifter. The guy who she has unwittingly been following orders from has done something to force a shift. I'm going to try to figure out what it was and while I do that she's going to stay with Stiles."
"What!? You want a fox to stay with me? My dad may know all about y'all and the supernatural but he does NOT know about Sapphire... nothing at all." The last part being directed at her. She gave a tiny nod to let him know she understood.
"I know something you don't know Stiles and because of that she needs to stay with you." Derek moved closer to him. "Got it?" Gulping loudly he nodded his head.
Deaton had watched the whole conversation take place from his spot by the door. Stepping forward he got the young fox's attention.
"You spoke with Derek using just your mind didn't you?"
When she nodded the vet continued. "Have you tried to speak with a human the same way?"
Sapphire shook her head.
"I think you should try. There's no telling how long you may be stuck in this form. It could save some trouble in understanding what you may need."
Sapphire gave a yip of understanding.
"We probably need to come up with a different name for you to go by while a fox."
"How about Fluffy?" Suggested Isaac.
She growled.
"Snowball?" Was Liam's suggestion.
She growled again. This time with her hackles raised.
"Guess we'll have to work on that later." Mumbled Scott.
"Maybe you should look up Japanese names." At the puzzled look everyone gave him the vet elaborated. "She's a kitsune. Which is Japanese for fox. So it would only be fitting."
At Sapphire's enthusiastic nodding Kira and Lydia giggled.
"I should of thought that." Kira grumbled to herself.
"I guess I'll be on google most of the night." Stiles informed everyone.
"Well you have to get her into your jeep to begin with." Scott laughed.
"You're enjoying this aren't you?" As Scott nodded he growled. "Well stop it. How am I gonna hide her from my dad? How am I suppose to do anything that involves taking care of her needs?"
Jumping down to the ground Sapphire used a claw and wrote in the dirt, 'I'll help you.'
"At least she can still understand us." Lydia remarked.
Having had enough Sapphire trotted away from the group. Going to stand in front of Deaton she looked from him to her horse trailer and back.
"I'll take care of him. I know somewhere safe to stash him and the truck and trailer. You don't have to worry."
Satisfied with the answer she turned and trotted over to Stiles's jeep. Sitting down near the driver door she yipped to get his attention.
Stiles turned to look at her. "Are you telling me to hurry up?"
With a foxy grin on her furry face she nodded her head.
"Unbelievable." He grumbled while the others laughed. "I'll see y'all later since someone wants to leave."
Opening the door he allowed her to jump in.
Settling down in the passenger seat she curled up into a ball and waited.
Once Stiles pulled into his driveway he moved to put his hand on her but stopped himself. Clearing his throat he stuttered, "S...Sapphire, we're he...here. Wake up."
Lifting her head she looked at the hand that still hovered in the air above her head. Narrowing her eyes at it she turned the glare to him. Seeing the guilty look and the uncertainty on his face she softened her eyes. Standing up Sapphire sniffed Stiles's hand and then decided to bump it with her nose.
Stiles took a breath. "My dad isn't home yet so let's get inside quickly."
Opening his door he jumped out and Sapphire followed. Staying next to his heels she waited until the door was open before hopping inside. Following him upstairs she didn't really need Stiles to show her which room was his. The wonderful minty smell that was her Stiles was easy to follow. 'Wait...my Stiles. When did I start thinking of him as mine?'
Shakingher head to clear it she found herself in his room. Jumping up onto the bed she curled up and placed her tail over her nose. Stiles sat at his desk and pulled up Google.
It had to of been hours she thought until he finally stopped tapping away at the keys.
Turning the chair around he looked at her until she lifted her head up.
"Are you ready to pick another name?"
Nodding her head she sat up.
"Shiro." She shook her head.
"Oinari." There was a growl.
"Karenina." She cocked her head to the side.
"Hime."
She looked at him as if to say 'Really?'
Stilessat there looking at her before mumbling under his breath.
"I tried white...princess, beautiful and then I came across that one with Oinari. I guess I just have to research some more."
Glancing at the fox curled up on his bed every so often he was bound and determined to get the right name. It was also still hard for him to believe that it was the girl he had fallen in love with. Stiles didn't believe for a second that she had killed anyone. That she had to of been forced or her body had been taken over. Sapphire was just too kind and sweet and innocent...well maybe not that innocent anymore especially after last night. Which he still had a hard time believing as well. She was his age and had never been with anyone before. He was beyond happy that he was her first. The thought brought a smile to his face.
Sapphire had been watching him from under her eyelids. Reaching for her power her eyes glowed. Pushing her mind out she thought, 'What are you smiling about?'
Stiles jumped out of his skin, fell out of the chair and rolled over a couple times before calming himself down.
Looking up at her he whispered,"Did I just hear you?"
She nodded.
"That was weird but awesome. To answer your question I was thinking about last night. Seems like a dream. I never thought you would do anything like that with me . We have snuck into coaches office or in the janitors closet but never anything more than making out."
'Never think like that. I like you Stiles...a lot. Once we find a way to get me back to being human I'll tell you again.'
Stiles just sat there with his mouth gaped open.
'Karenina will work if you want to use that one.' Came her whispered thought across his mind.
"Are you sure?"
She nodded. 'And yes I know what it means.'
"Can I learn to do what you do? Talking to someone using just my mind."
'I don't know.'
She cocked her head to the side, listening. 'Your dad is home.'
Karenina jumped off the bed and slipped under it. She hated cramped places so she was happy to know that she was probably under there for only about 10 minutes.
'Since he has to go to the school ask if he can look for someone.' She thought as soon as she heard about the parent teacher conference.
"Hey dad. Can you do a favor for me?" At his father's nod he continued. "There's this girl an...and I would like to know if som...someone is there for her." Stiles stuttered over his words.
Noah just looked at his son. Then, "Is this about the new girl? The one you and the others went to see today at the horse show?"
"Yes the very same one. Why do you ask?"
"We got a call at the station and were told that she never showed up at home. Any idea what happened?"
"I know there was an accident. She headed towards the vet clinic afterwards. I haven't heard from her."
"What about the others?" When Stiles shook his head Noah decided to question him. "Is she like Scott?"
"Ww...why w..wou...would you ask that?" Stiles finally got out. Tripping over his own words.
"That right there gives me my answer." Taking a breath Noah looked around the room. "Is she here?"
Stiles sighed in defeat.
"Karenina." He whispered.
She crawled out from under the bed and looked at the sheriff. He seemed to be calm.
"She's a fox."
"Yes dad. Glad we established that. But to be exact she's an Arctic Fox. White fur and all."
"I'm guessing something happened to make her shift."
"Yes and we don't know what it is or why he would do this." Stiles realized he said too much and shut up.
So of course the Sheriff switched into protective mode. "Someone did this to you?"
With a nod of her head the questions continued. Stiles sat on his bed so his father could have the computer chair.
It seemed like hours and hours later until the Sheriff finally left the room. His head spinning from all the information. He nearly had a heart attack when he found out that Karenina could communicate telepathically. Especially since he heard her voice in his mind. It took a few minutes before he was comfortable with it happening.