Dirty Paws

by SurrealSteamPuck

Rachel Berry was not afraid of She had to repeat this mantra to herself as she ran away as fast as her short legs could carry The elliptical had prepared her endurance, but never for speed, and even then, she felt her knees start to ache, her legs burn, and her breathe It wouldn't be long before it caught up with *AU where Rachel meets weretiger Quinn*

12. Chapter 12

Chapter 12:

Author's Note: Dear lord, this was a long break. I played a lot of video games, a lot. To the point where I really did nothing else. Except finish this. Which took forever. Because Puck of all people wouldn't cooperate. Bastard.

Anyways, I finally touch on Quinn's transformation, a bit more about the world that I started to talk about the previous chapter, as well as define some of what the other characters can do, though not necessarily by name. I hope this answers some questions. I wanted there to be more, but I couldn't extend this any further without feeling like I padded the chapter.

Once again, I fail to own Glee and its characters(FUCK RYAN MURPHY), but grats on Christ Colfer, Naya Rivera, and Lea Michele on their wins at the PCA.

As always, please read and review, and most importantly, enjoy.

SurrealSteamPuckk(WeOffendedShadows)

!-!-!-!-!-!-!

Dec. 1st

Rachel hadn't seen Quinn for the rest of the weekend. After they got back to Lima, Ms. Fabray was there waiting for her daughter, who she hugged pretty tightly, leaving Quinn surprised and standing frozen for the moment. They didn't talk in the car; Quinn slept the entire way back, Rachel's lap was her pillow. She ran her fingers through her hair, scratching her head and the back of her neck with her lesbian appropriate finger nails. Her girlfriend purred most of the way, mumbling about how the bacon was wasted and she would require more. It would have been adorable had she not been so obsessed about the topic. She had no right to be upset about that the bacon would have to remain behind at her Poppa's for the rest of the family. Maybe she could find some way to make it up to her without having to deal with the slaughter of innocent animals.

The holiday was a disaster and Rachel had hoped to salvage it, but Ms. Fabray had wanted to spend time with her daughter. The woman did not blame her for the situation, at least, she didn't think so, but Quinn was out of reach the entire weekend. Rachel sent a five page document explaining why she felt horrible about the week and needed to make it up to her. It was short, but it would have to do the job until she could see her again.

Quinn came out to her mother some time ago, probably just after she wanted to start a non-relationship with Rachel but before it became a real-relationship. While she didn't feel pressured or unwanted by the woman, it still was a strain on their relationship. But Ms. Fabray was trying. Rachel had yet to meet meet her, but all she heard was that Quinn's mother was trying.

Finally, on Sunday, just before she was setting her alarm clock and going to bed for the night, Rachel's phone buzzed. It was a text from Quinn, saying how she was looking forward to seeing her at school, looking forward to holding her hand, kissing her in the hallway, walking her to class. She would never announce it, but that was as much as Quinn would show her love, and yes it was love, to the world for her. Rachel slept under many blankets, dreaming of her tigress.

Now, prior to the first bell, Rachel stood at her locker, looking through and waiting for her girlfriend to show up. She hadn't the chance to talk to Brittany and Santana yet, but a few texts confirmed that they would have a get together soon.

Arms wrapped around her waist and a chin rested on the top of her head. Rachel breathed in deep the vanilla and berry scent and curled into the arms. She relaxed into the embrace and smiled as a purr filled her ears. "Hi," Rachel said, closing her eyes.

"Hi," Quinn said.

"You okay?"

"Are you with me?"

"Always."

"Then yes." Rachel spun in her arms and her smile grew as Quinn's hands found her waist, holding her just above her hips. Her thumbs slipped under her sweatshirt, under her long sleeved one, and her undershirt, tracing circles on her bare skin. She shivered and hooked her arms around Quinn's neck. "Yes, I am."

"I'm sorry bout this weekend." Quinn leaned down a little bit, she was taller, only by a few inches, but taller non-the-less, and kissed her forehead. Rachel giggled and pulled her girlfriend close.

Quinn had decided that black jeans and a t-shirt were appropriate today and she loved how the jacket she wore over it just draped on her shoulders as though it were a roman statesmen's robe. The vanilla and berry scent was strong, enveloping her once more. "There is nothing to be sorry about, Rae."

"I wanted to yell and scream at her," Rachel said. "But you were the priority. You and your safety and your happiness and, well, just you. I was worried about you. You matter."

Quinn nodded, smiling at her. "I talked with my mom this weekend."

"Mom?" Usually it was mother, when did-

"About the Hunters, about the supernatural world, about everything she did not tell me," Quinn said. The smile never left her face. "I talked about you. A lot actually."

"Oh," Rachel said. "Good things, I hope."

"Had to scrap the bottom of the barrel for some, but sure, we will say 'good things.'" The smile turned into a smirk before sliding into a smile. Rachel tried to glare, but her girlfriend smiling at her was too wonderfully not to be happy about.

"Is there a reason for this?" Rachel asked. "Is it that time again?" She scanned the hallway quickly. Most of the students hadn't arrived yet, but a few were lingering in the hallway. While her exhibitionist streak was something she would like to feed at some point, completely exposed and actively watched were something she wanted to avoid at least until after her EGOT.

Quinn looked up and tapped her chin. "You are good for a few days. No, I learned some things I want to share."

"You? Willingly sharing? I don't have to pry it out from you?" Rachel said. She had hoped Quinn took the smile to mean that she was joking. Her girlfriend still felt guilty about being so closed up sometimes, and she knew that she shouldn't push those buttons, but it was so tempting now.

"More like I cannot avoid it." Quinn stilled then looked to her right. Before Rachel could follow her gaze, she grabbed the back of her neck and pulled her flush against her, her lips smashing against her. Her eyebrows shot up, and she barely got a breath in before Quinn pressed hard against, her pushing against the locker. Rachel gasped, her hands trying to find traction on her jacket, but the faux leather refused to yield. Rachel settled on sliding her hand up Quinn's front, sliding up her shirt to her collar and gripping it. Quinn captured her bottom lip and sucked on it. She tasted like berries.

She could feel the pounding rush of Quinn's heart beneath her hand. She smiled into the kiss and Quinn pulled back slowly, giving her gentle small kisses on her lips, her nose, her cheeks and forehead. Rachel giggled, and her hand slide back down to her waist, pulling her hips flush and their legs overlapping. "What was that?"

"Hey," Finn said.

That made things a bit more obvious. Quinn was claiming her. Not that Rachel had a real problem with it. They did agree on her role in public, and she was more than happy to play that part. As Quinn moved to let her go, her arm remained on her shoulders, pulling her even closer. "Hi Finn," Rachel said. She leaned into her tigress.

"How was your break?"

"Eventful," she said. "Things didn't go as planned."

"I'm sorry to hear that. Listen I was wondering if it were possible for you to help us, you know, like you said." He looked so confused and lost, and refused to look at Quinn.

"Finn, as I said before-"

"I know, I know that. It's not just me this time. Mike, Puck, and I went and got Sam back, and we were thinking that you could help us get caught up."

Rachel looked up at Quinn. She stared at Finn, who didn't even notice her. He just looked down at Rachel smiling, expecting that she would automatically say yes. But she wouldn't, not until Quinn said it was okay. For a minute, no one moved, though the smile disappeared from Finn's face slowly. Finally, her girlfriend nodded, and Rachel turned back to Finn. "Just you four?"

"Brittany might join," Finn said, the goofy looking smile plastered on his face again. "Though I don't think Santana would be too happy about that."

"Probably not, but both of them are more than welcome. After Glee today, we'll set a schedule that works at ensuring Sam is well prepared for Sectionals." Rachel stood up slowly to kiss Quinn on the cheek. "I'll see you later, kay?"

"Sure, Santana will probably demand we eat together, so look for her at lunch, okay" Quinn said. "I have packed us something. And do not worry. It is vegan, those poor defenseless vegetables." Rachel stomped her food, turned, and stormed away. The sound of Quinn's laughter was music that rivaled only her own voice, and she was honored to at least have caused it, even if the joke was at her expense.

But it died as quickly as it arrived. Rachel didn't need to look back to tell that her girlfriend and ex were glaring at each other. Part of her would have liked them to get along, Finn was not a terrible person, just rather slow and limited sometimes, but he was like a golden retriever puppy: always trying and sometimes failing, constantly looking for that reassurance he was a good boy, and in general oblivious of things around him.

Quinn was a cat. Not physically, well not physically also, but she was a cat metaphorically in the same manner as Finn was a puppy. She needed really nothing from her, but kept coming back because she wanted to be there. She was there to support and love and cherish her, independent enough that she functioned without her, and Rachel could function without her, though she didn't want to.

Everything was going great. Then Jesse showed up. Again.

"You."

"Now, I know you're upset for some strange reason," he said. Rachel growled in her best Quinn imitation and pushed him out of her way. Sadly, he followed her. She had yet to figure out just exactly he was doing in McKinley, given his role as a college student and/or drop out, but that was not her concern. Her concern was that he was following her, which now would be called stalking. "But we seriously need to talk."

"Does it look like I want to talk to you?"

"That's not the point," Jesse said. "Rachel, you need to listen to me just for one moment."

"And why should I." She didn't stop walking away. Her classroom was a few doors away, but Jesse seemed determined to annoy her. "You have done nothing but hurt me."

He grabbed her arm and spun her around. Her books nearly flew out of hands, and she almost lost her balance as he pulled her face to face. "This is important. You are in danger."

This was not the boy she remembered. Jesse had changed in the time that he had left Lima, and Rachel worried for a moment that she missed noticing it before. Was she just that blind? Standing this close to him, a worrying-glare focused on her, she took his appearance in. Gone was boyish man-child with self-proclaimed perfect hair and unbelievably smooth skin. He really did talk too much about himself. And why did she remember that? Replacing his old self was a short-haired, poorly shaved, thin man. He also was more confidence, if that was possible. Or maybe it was confidence that replaced arrogance. Rachel didn't like it either way. But his eyes were so sunken and tired. He never smiled, Rachel realized. The few short times, even greeting her in that pseudo-excited voice, he never smiled.

"Why do you care?" Rachel asked, trying to pull away. His grip was strong. "And what kind of danger?"

"That is your concern?" Jesse replied. "You are so distrustful of me because of one stupid high school mistake-"

"In case you haven't noticed, I am in high school." Rachel stomped her foot. "And that was not a mistake, you murdered all those baby chicks and-"

Jesse laughed loud enough to echo through the hallway, even with all the people in it. "Seriously, you're mad about that? Not about me playing you, tricking you, because your mother was too scared to confront you herself? God, what did I ever see in you?"

Rachel's glare intensified. She hadn't forgotten about that, but in truth, it was nothing that she hadn't expected. Not that she thought her mother was horrible person or anything like that, but she went about it all the wrong way. The only one injured in her acts was her, and she had forgiven the woman. When she turned eighteen, she might reach out, though probably only with Quinn's permission given the odd relationship between all of them. Did it mean that she was step-sister or an aunt of Beth? Well, would be Aunt. A girl could dream couldn't she? Rachel already alluded to the desire to be with Quinn a long time, so it wasn't too far off of a dream.

"Either tell me why I am in danger, and of what kind, or get the fuck out of my school," Rachel said, trying to channel Quinn's growl with Santana's tone. Maybe it was enough of one or the other or both, but Jesse stepped back.

"Lima is not safe."

"For who?"

"For anyone. There are…" He looked away, eyes darting at the various students falling away. She was really late to class, or would be. Maybe she could run to it and make homeroom. "There are things here. Things that are savage and murderous."

"And how would you know this?"

"I wasn't at college the past year, Rach."

"Rachel, my name is Rachel," she said. This was really wasting her time. "Why does this even matter? I don't care-

"Rachel. For once, just listen to me. Think about something more than your precious singing for once in your life and listen to me. You are in danger. There are monsters in the world, more than you can imagine. And Lima is filled with them right now. You need to get out of here. I'm trying to protect you."

"Whoa!" Santana's voice echoed down the hallway. Most of the students were gone, and she could see her friend turn the corner, glaring at the back of the man-child. "What the fuck is he doing here? He bother you, Rach?"

Santana glided across the floor, and Rachel could have sworn she felt a brief hymn of something with each step, in time with her heart.

"You."

"I see that Shue 0.5 is here, fucking up the property values with the amount of product in his nonexistent hair."

Jesse stared at her. "I know you, Satan."

"Please, like I haven't heard that before." She paused before him, hands on her hips and glaring up at him in her red and white armor, short skirt on all. Seriously, she'd kill for Quinn to wear it again, especially with her knew haircut. Whoever made that uniform was certainly a pervert. Bless him. "What the fuck are you doing in my school?"

"I know you," Jesse repeated. His hand went to his belt, but grasped at nothing.

"Came without any of your tools of murder I see." Santana stepped toward him; he stepped back.

"You have no power over me, witch." Why the hell would he call her that? Jesse clearly wasn't afraid of swearing.

"Wrong, fucker." She kept walking towards him, pushing up him against the locker until she was inches up from him. Santana somehow glared down at him. "You are in my-" She turned and looked at Rachel. "Go along to class, Rach, I've got this."

"Santana," Rachel said.

Her face relaxed, almost resigned to something. But she gave Rachel a small smile at least. "It's okay. Me and St. Dumbass are just gonna have a little chat about boundaries. Just go, please. You don't need to hear this." Rachel turn and ran.

She wasn't frightened by the pounding in her heart as Santana walked down the hall, or Jesse's words about her being in danger. It wasn't even the fact that she didn't want to see what she was going to do to him, which she was curious.

But Santana never said please. And the thought that she did scared the fuck out of her.

!-!-!-!-!-!

Quinn sat in her small, assigned art studio, staring at a painting she had been working on for a while. It was due at the end of the semester, along with the rest of her portfolio, but she was not worried. Most of her work was completed, and she really only had to finish this last piece. Mrs. Carolle had already promised her a few slots in the Winter Showcase, maybe even a whole section for her.

Art was something she did for herself, maybe something she shared with her friends, but really, it was just for her. She did not expect anything of it. Her schools only cared for the diversity it brought to her application. It was not like Yale had a great art program.

The door opened and Rachel slide in, closing it right after her. "Hey," Quinn spun on her stool and smiled at her.

Rachel only nodded before walking over to her and sitting on the floor next to her, wrapping her arms around her legs and laying her head against her thigh. "Rae? What is wrong?"

"So," Rachel asked, "I have something to tell you."

"Okay?"

"Jesse has shown up," she said. Quinn stilled. Brittany had told her about it, at least mentioning that something had happened. "At school. Twice."

"He has been here twice." Rachel nodded. "Did, did he harm you? Do I need to speak with him?" Rachel shrugged. "What is wrong then?"

"Today, he," Rachel tried to speak but shook her head.

Quinn slid down from the chair to eye level with her. Her eyes were bloodshot, and she sniffed a couple of times. But she smelled no tears and heard no elevated heartbeat. "Sweetie." She did not have the words. While she was really good at understanding them and projecting them, rarely had she found the right thing to say. Instead, she pulled Rachel into a hug, her head against her chest, and rocked back and forth.

"Santana said please."

"That is never good." Quinn meant it as a joke, but Rachel just nodded. She turned into her and relaxed enough against to make Quinn support her entire weight, which was easy enough. She was small, but mighty.

The only thing to do was wait until Rachel started rambling. At some point, she would say everything that she needed to, and maybe then Quinn could have a whole picture. The wait was not long.

"It was so weird. Jesse came in and was trying to warn me about these monsters in the area and then grabbed my arm and started to say that I was stupid, though not in as many words, and then Santana showed up and the hallway like shook but didn't, you know, and my heart started to race and hurt and pound in my chest, and I had some difficulty breathing, then Jesse called Santana a witch and Satan, which isn't that weird because, really, we've all called her and or thought she was those things, but she mentioned his tools of murder and-"

Quinn let Rachel go and reached for her phone. Her girlfriend stared at her as she typed as fast as she could. This was not good at all. Though she knew a few more things than before, her mother had at least warned her. Especially since another Skank was dead. Melissa "Miles" Donavon was found, in human form so there was some closure, but not much, butchered in her front lawn, naked. The Mack cornered her and they had almost a fist fight over the topic. That and her dating Rachel. Sue had to break them up, or rather pull Quinn off The Mack.

A Hunter. A Hunter, with a capital H, was in town. Or at least, she had reason to think so. And what Rachel had talked about was Santana nearly losing the little control she had over herself. She never understood what the Latina could do, just bits of fact thrown in randomly and tail ends of conversations she overheard. But Santana took her role as protector seriously. Somehow that involved magicks.

Her mom talked about them, that there were those out there who could tap into this force of energy that is entwined with life and everything then use it to do great deeds. Quinn showed her the card, but she had never heard of Remy Lafitte, or his shop. Then again, they were pretty isolated, by design, in Lima. There were more creatures out in the world than just werewolves and were-tigers. Apparently, vampires, demons, and monsters of all myths and tales existed and plagued the world. The world was much bigger than she could ever expect.

When Quinn first learned of her heritage, her duties as the scion of her race, her mom told her about how they were hunted down and nearly made extinct. She had just assumed that it was the regular old poachers. But Hunters. Hunters were something far worse than a run-of-the-mill random mundane killing for food or protection. Hunters were monster killer, and existed to slaughter innocent people for the sole fact that they were not human. Or at least their definition of human.

Thus, a need for Santana to stop having sex with Brittany and to find her so that she could at least have an idea of how much danger she, they were in.

"Quinn? Did I do something wrong?"

"No, never," Quinn replied. She sent her text and returned to Rachel.

"I already told Dad that I don't want to spend Christmas with Grandma."

"What? Topic change much?"

"Clearly whatever is happening you know more about than me, which I'm sure I will fix when you come over tonight and we study together, and if you are unsure I mean-"

"Okay, I am really, really okay with that," Quinn said, "but what is this about Mrs. Berry and Christmas?"

"I refuse to spend time where the person I love is not accept." Rachel looked up at her, smiling shyly and refusing to meet her eyes. "I know we haven't talked about it, but I just want to put that out there."

"Not too fast?" Quinn asked. It was. Fast. Very fast. They had been dating for less than a month, though prior to that was not dating for a while. Then the three months she avoided Rachel, and prior to that two months of becoming her friend. It was fast, and it worried Quinn.

Rachel shook her head. "We've know each other for four plus years, Quinn, and in that time, we've had a relationship. Antagonistic, but a relationship nonetheless." She frowned; their relationship had been something horrible, mostly because of her actions towards the diva. There was a small amount of bullying in middle school, but high took it to the next level, making things much worse for the diva. Six months was not enough time to fully erase it, and she never would erase it completely, not from her end. Quinn caused so much pain and anguish to Rachel for no reason other than to make a father who she could never satisfy, but she would continue to try no matter what he or anyone else thought, happy.

"But six months ago, you changed so much, and while it was all for you, part of me felt it was also for me," Rachel continued. "It was you who pushed to make amends, you who pushed to make me happier than I had ever been. And you protected me this year, even when you ran away. Most importantly, you always came back, even when I thought you hated me."

"Never, Rae," Quinn said, "I never could hate you, even during freshmen year when I was really horrible."

"I know that now, and the now matters more than anything. When I wake up, my thoughts are of you and how you are doing. I worry about you so much, not physically because besides Santana you're the scariest person I know, but how you doing, how everyone is treating you. How you are dealing with everything. I like how you come and find me whenever I'm having a bad anything, without ever being asked. I like how you find me when you're having a bad day, because you actually want my comfort, not that it is some vague notion that you need to do it like your previous boyfriends. I like how you actually have tried to eat vegan food with me, even when your very nature is against it. For Barbara's sake, Quinn, I've make bacon for you."

"Which I never got."

"That's besides the point. You make me laugh, you make me feel safe, you make me smile. A real smile."

"I love your smile."

"And my nose."

"It is a cute nose." Quinn kissed it.

"You don't make fun of it. You, my worst tormenter, never picked on the one feature I worried about the most. You care about what I do and make sure that it is important to you. You've treated me better than any of my other boyfriends and, and I'm rambling, aren't I?"

"I love it when you ramble," Quinn said. "And I you." She leaned her forehead against Rachel's and rubbed it slightly. The words would come one day, one day when she could tell Rachel what she wanted to say. But the tigress was content to just express it through whatever little ways she could.

"I find it nauseous, but Brittany makes me usually not say anything," Santana said, and Brittany slapped her arm.

"Be nice," Brittany said. "You promised."

"That was made under duress. You can't hold me to it." The Latina walked into the room and sat down directly in front of the couple. Brittany closed the door and followed, settling in her girlfriend's lap. Rachel climbed into Quinn's and pulled her arms around her waist.

"Of course I can." She kissed her cheek. "I have it in writing."

"Lipstick on my ass doesn't-"

"Once again, I must remind you that I have no desire to hear about your sexual escapades." Quinn glared at them.

"And you and Hobbs don't get freaky in here?" Quinn blushed and hid in Rachel's hair. "Or was it only once? Because damn girls, that's a long fucking time going without a little satisfaction."

"I'll have you know that I'm satisfied every night," Rachel said, but quickly covered her mouth. There were times when Rachel's propensity to talk got Quinn in trouble or caused her embarrassment.

Brittany laughed before Santana could even respond, asking the question Quinn did not want to hear. "And you aren't taking care of Quinn? For shame, my protégée, for shame."

"Now, Quinnie here is a big girl." Santana's words shook slightly, a laugh or two was thrown into the mix just to make it worse. Quinn tried to bury completely into Rachel, pulling her tight and adjusting her so she was a shield against the pair. "She can take care of herself, can't she?"

Be quiet Rachel, please for once do not say- "She doesn't. We've been talking about it and-" Quinn let go of her waist and clamped both hands over Rachel's mouth. The other couple laughed even harder at them, Brittany falling out of Santana's lap. It would have been okay if Rachel had not started licking her hand. She fought the need to pull away, really. Her arms shook and her hand slipped a little. Then Rachel started to grind against her, sliding back and forth in her lap. Quinn shifted around, trying to find some position that did not press her perfect behind against her, and held tight.

"Ooo." Santana straighten up and Quinn watched her pull Brittany into her lap. "I should have known that the Hobbs enjoyed being watched."

This was not supposed to happen. She wanted to talk to Santana about what was happening, bring in Brittany, who probably knew most of it already if only from observation, and Rachel into whatever was happening around them. They needed to know how to be safe. Rachel arched against her, pressing down a bit further. She moaned against Quinn's hand, shivering for a moment before continuing to grind on her. Her skirt was riding higher and higher, and she really wanted to rub through toned thighs, run her fingers up and down the perfectly smooth skin until -

"Can we hold off on this?" Quinn said, almost shouting. She looked up over her girlfriend, who hadn't stop, damn her, damn her, her tigress was already itching to come out this week, but she just wouldn't stop, at Santana whose hand was in the process of disappearing up Brittany's blouse. The blonde had stretched out a bit, her reaching behind her to pull Santana's head even closer. Lord, she really didn't need to see that. "P-Pease. We have things we need to discuss."

"What is more important than watching a little pony get her rocks off on a pussy cat?"

"Your conversation this morning," Santana stilled completely, and Quinn felt the familiar hum for a spilt second.

"Rach told you?"

Rachel nodded. Damn her, seriously, this was serious and she was still grinding and licking her hand. Quinn was pretty sure it wasn't because she wanted to talk just to tease her until she let go, but she refused to be the first to give in.

Brittany slide off of Santana into a spot halfway between them, touching Quinn's knees with her feet. "Sannie?" Quinn steadied herself and tried to ignore the beautiful diva in her lap. At least she stopped grinding her for the moment. She could gather her thoughts again, away from how much she wanted to do unholy things to Rachel. Now was not the time for that.

"It was nothing, Britts, I-"

"What happened?" She turned to Quinn, the fun and joyful girl was gone. This was the Brittany that Quinn knew from middle school, the girl who saw everything and took it in, processed it in a way that made the slightest connections important and turned all that information into something dangerous: oblivious. Everyone thought of her as this ditz, but Quinn knew better. Brittany, of all the Unholy Trinity, was the most dangerous, if only because she was without any power.

"I wasn't there, and well," she looked at Rachel, "Rae's a bit indisposed." She let go with one hand and pitched her girlfriend's behind. She jumped slightly, but Quinn's hand remained over her mouth, preventing her from completely turning around and glaring at her. Quinn just offered a smile. "So ask your girlfriend. And you, stop it."

Brittany nodded. "Fair enough. We are in public after all. Sannie? What did you do?"

"Nothing, I swear. I didn't touch the bastard."

"I want details Santana." The Latina sighed.

"I was headed to class after dropping you off and I found Rach here being accosted by St. Jerkass, grabbed her arm and everything. So we had a bit of conversation."

"Something happened before that, what was it?" She looked over at Rachel.

Rachel tried to squirm out of Quinn's grip again. "Do you have something to say?"

Rachel nodded.

"You going to behave?" she asked. Rachel nodded again and licked her hand, dragging her tongue slowly up her palm. Quinn shivered and shifted again, focusing on accepting her human form while all the tiger-self wanted was to take her there and then. "Then stop that." She ground against her one more time before stopping in her arms.

Quinn let go and Rachel relaxed a bit more. "Thank you Quinn, though I must protest and say that we are-" She pinched her ass and Rachel yelped, nearly jumping out of her lap. "That wasn't very nice."

"Answer the pretty blonde's question."

"Fine, I do this under protest though."

"Noted. Continue."

"Jesse was talking about monsters and creatures and how I was in danger and it was kinda like he was trying to get me to follow him or something. For my safety. Santana showed up and the world felt kinda weird, and my heart hurt as it beat in this weird tempo that was out of sync, but strangely comfortable nonetheless, making it even stranger that neither of them seemed to notice it and-" She looked back and forth between Santana and Brittany, where the latter had started to glare at the former, who tried to sink into herself as much as possible.

"I warned you, Santana," Brittany said. "I told you to be careful."

"C'mon, don't get mad at me," Santana replied. Brittany stood up and walked toward the door, locking it. "I was doing what I was supposed to."

"We talked about this, after last time. You said you'd work on it. You'd make sure you had it under control. You promised me."

"What under control?" Rachel asked.

"Rach was in trouble, Jesse was there, and I couldn't let anything happen to her."

"I know she's your bff, sweetie," Brittany said, crouching down in front of her girlfriend, cupping her face. Quinn stayed as still as possible, watching Brittany wipe at her cheeks. Seeing Santana emotional was never a good moment, certainly not for her. Her second in command should never have to cry. She hated to see her cry of all people. For Rachel or Brittany, Quinn would murder whoever caused them to cry. For Santana, though, she would break them. Her tiger-self started pacing back and forth within her heart, her steps deliberate and slow to ensure her human-self did not burst out of the room to seek and destroy said fool. "I know what that means to you. How much we all matter to you."

"A Hunter, Brittany, a Hunter," Santana replied. "Here in my town, in my area, and I didn't know anything about it."

"No one did," Quinn said.

"It is my job to keep you safe," Santana continued; she focused on Brittany and remained as still as possible, just looking up into her girlfriend's face. "My job. Not Mami, not my Abeulo, not my cousins who float in whenever they want and leave just as quickly. It is my job to keep you safe."

"You're just one-"

"No, Britts, please," Santana leaned into the touch, trying to rest her forehead on Brittany's. "Please, just listen. It is my job to protect you. You, Quinn, and now Rach. No one else's. Mine. You understand."

"You've accepted then?"

"Accepted what?" Rachel asked. Quinn pulled her close and shook her head in her hair. This was not the time for that.

"I needed to, after hearing what happened with that Skank, after Quinn's own struggle and everything that happened to her. Me and Mami discussed it, that it was time for me to be more, to do more. I couldn't be passive anymore."

"It isn't her fault, Sanni, you didn't-"

"She is the last of her kind, Brittany," Santana shouted. The room shook briefly, Quinn's oils falling to the floor. "The last. Her mother may be something similar, but there is no other like her. And-"

"Thank you," Quinn said, though her words only vibrated against Rachel's neck. It would have to be enough for the moment. Everything else would have been drowned out by the others in the room. She had expected nothing else from her friends, being the loud people they are.

"Quinn, please explain just what is-"

"Santana, you didn't need to expose yourself like that and-"

"I cannot, will not, allow anyone to hurt any of you, Britt, you need to-"

Quinn wished that the words and tones and the anger and the sadness would have dissolved into just noise, but her hearing, no matter what form she took, was too refined for it. She heard the rage from Santana, how it pounded within her heart. The fear from Brittany, how her hair, no fur, stood on end, her ears danced about, seeking another predator. The confusion from Rachel, how her hand clenched and unfurled, her claws scratching her skin.

The trio was arguing, speaking over each other, trying to gain the upper hand. Quinn knew her three friends were loud. It was an accepted fact that she had to deal with since joining the cheerios. One of the reasons why she had been so apprehensive about cheerleading, and Glee club for that matter, was the sound of it all. The acceptance of all of herself, tiger and human, had brought out some aspects of herself that she struggled with, one of which was the increase in her senses, specifically hearing. Everything was overwhelming at the time, simple whispers overpowering her thoughts, conversations from across the room filling every fiber of her, cars and buses and any vehicle crippling her. Quinn struggled to remain sane that first month just due to the hearing, the bone-crushing transformations just added to that pleasure.

Now, it was back. In full form. She had thought she had gone past all of that, but apparently, herself had decided that she was still struggling accepting things, and therefore had to suffer for that indecision.

"Enough!" Rachel's loud voice pierced through everything. Quinn pushed her away and covered her ears as quick as possible, but the tone tore through her, biting down on her nerves and forcing her fur to stand on end. She pulled her ears down over her head and tried to curl into a corner, away from the source. It was a vague hope that it would be enough, at least the voice did not sound again.

She rocked slowly back and forth, a hand came up and scratched the back of her neck, then trailed down her spine only to return to the beginning of its cycle. Quinn did not want to relax, to calm down, but the motion continued, then another hand dragged its fingers over her scalp in strange pseudo-circles around her ears and forehead. A third set of hands grabbed hers and pulled them away from her head, gripping them tightly.

Quinn shivered, trying to force the ringing away and calm her senses. The three sets of hands forced her down slowly, letting her pull her knees to her chest and bury her face in her knees. A pair of arms wrapped themselves around her, and she felt a head rest on her shoulder. The others pulled back, but she could feel the bodies were very close. She could hear their heartbeats, frantic and militant. The longer she sat with her knees pulled tight and her face down, the heart beats calmed down, slower and slower, the sound lessening.

"I just wanted to talk about this," Quinn said. Her words sounded so distant, they barely reached her ears. The ringing had not stopped yet. "I wanted Rachel to know what was going on, why I am such a danger to her, to all of you. I wanted her to be informed, to be aware and-"

"Quinn?" Brittany said. Quinn looked up from her knees into pale, blue eyes, trying to smile at her, but the tears in the corner of her eyes prevented the full effect. "I'll take care of it. Kay?"

She nodded.

"I'll explain to her," she continued. "Sannie and I, we'll talk to her."

"I'm here, you know," Rachel whispered from Quinn's shoulder. The tigress turned slightly, looking at her girlfriend, kneeling next to her and trying to cover her completely. "I'm sorry."

"You did not know."

"That doesn't excuse us. Me" She could hear them a bit better, the ringing dissolving into nothing.

"Just, do not use your loud voice again."

"You're not the only one deaf, Q," Santana said. "Hobbs here has some wicked pipes on her."

"Be nice, Sannie," Brittany said. "Quinn, I promise, we'll take care of it later, and-"

"No," Quinn replied. She shook her head and lead back on her knees. "Please, just tell her now, so Rae can understand this, understand all of this. You know it all, Bri. You and San can tell her what she needs to know. I-" She cried softly and tried to burrow into the space between her knees. Not that it would do much good. Her ears were on top of her head.

"Quinn, I will never leave you," Rachel said, shifting a bit until her mouth was right next to her ear. She twitched at the breath, and in any other circumstance, would have grown hard at the touch. But Quinn struggled to hold everything back. To keep the sound of the world from deafening her. To keep from lashing out and hurting people around her. Footsteps walked down the empty hallway. To keep her bones from exploding and reforming, breaking skin and muscle as she shifted in the most painful way possible. Like she had at first.

She was past all of this. She was past August and the hell she went through in dealing with her life. All of the suffering and torment that her acceptance had brought her. The acceptance was subtle and swift, no pain any more that came with it. She was a tiger and human, both at the same time. It was truth, why now? Why now of all times?

Because you are terrified she would never accept you, Quinn told herself. You know that if she knew everything, everything you knew about the world now, she'd run scared. A heartbeat paused at the entrance, calm and steady. There was a reason Quinn had wanted to be open with her relationship with Rachel, and it had nothing to do with being ready. She was terrified of what the population of Lima would say, would do, when they found out. But it was one of the few ways she could get Rachel to stay with her, to show that she was willing to step beyond her fears and worries and just be with her.

Rachel never wanted to hide, even if she never said it out loud. She was proud of who she was, who she was with, and did not care who knew. Quinn wanted to give that to her. She could do it.

Maybe, if she was not so afraid, even if she could act her way through it, Rachel would stay. But the truth was terrifying, and if Quinn was not forced into the situation, she would have ran a long time ago. She was good at running.

The three other girls jumped at the knock, though Rachel pulled Quinn closer, and she just leaned into her in a moment of weakness. A moment that she would never admit to. Ever.

The door opened, and Brittany jumped to her feet. Santana was standing in front of them. Rachel just pulled her tighter, sliding her body between the door and her. That was nice. The hand on the back of her neck never stopped either, which was very nice.

"Whoa, s'up, ladies?" Puck said. He slide into the room, dropping his bag in the pile next to the door. Quinn looked up from her knees. Santana was crouched, her hands flexing, trying to grip something, probably Puck's neck. She could hear the cracking of bone and almost snapping of tendon as she worked whatever energy she found in the room. "Looking good, Baby Mama, though that shade of orange is a bit new. Liked it when it was blonder back then, but still, looking good. As always, those ears and tail are absolutely adorable."

Tail? Ears? Oh, God. She had accepted her tiger-self, at least partly, why? Why would she do something like that? Quinn was not comfortable or happy, or even content. She was freaking out and scared beyond anything that Rachel would not accept her. Now Puck was making it even worse.

Santana darted forward and slammed him against the closed door, picking up off the ground. "What the fuck you doing here, Puckerman?"

Puck just smiled at her. "Chill, Satan," Puck said. "It's kosher."

She pulled back slightly and slammed him against the door. Quinn jerked and covered her ears again as Santana continued to yell. "You fuckwad. Answer the goddamn question, or I swear-"

"Or what?" Puck said. Quinn looked back up slowly, able to see over Rachel's arms and Brittany's form to the smiling boy, no man. He wrapped his hands around her wrists easily, though did not squeeze or pull away. "What will you do to me, warden?"

"You know?" Brittany asked, shoulders relaxing. "You know what she is?" Puck nodded. "That information didn't come easily, or even freely, how did you – oh, I understand. Yes. That makes perfect sense. Puck, would let Santana go now."

"Let me go?" Santana growled. She tried to pull back one of her hands, similar to one that Quinn had seen her use on an outgoing senior last year who called Brittany stupid, but they remained where Puck held them. "The fuck?"

"While, I'm pretty sure you'd kill me, rather easily in fact," Puck said, smiling at her, "I'd really like to meet some college chicks and show them how awesome the Puckmeister really is. So I'm gonna let go and you're gonna go back to Britts, kay? Kay."

"The fuck that is happening." Santana pulled back again, trying to hip toss him, but Puck remained on the door.

"Puck, release her now," Quinn said. She did not growl, and she did not need to. Whatever Puck was, whatever power he had, it was not stronger than Santana's or hers. Only for the moment, he had the upper hand, but when he let go, when he released the wild anger of Santana, she could kill him if she wanted. At most, Puck caught her off guard. Hopefully. Maybe.

"Right, sorry." He let go and landed on his feet with ease. Santana on the other hand, fell back into Brittany's open arms, nearly knocking her over. "Seriously, San, you'd kill me, and I'd-"

"She'll do no such thing," Brittany said.

"This being ordered around sucks," Santana added, only to cower under Brittany's gaze. "Sorry."

"Remember our agreement."

"Written on my ass in lipstick."

"It's still valid."

"Lost bet?" Puck asked. Santana growled, but nodded.

"So," Rachel said, letting the syllable drag out for a bit. "I'm pretty sure that everyone here, but Quinn needs to tell me just what the hell is happening right now. I get my tiger here, that's pretty clear, but everything else? Yeah, y'all need to start explaining right now."

"You are," Quinn looked over to the girl who was between her and the door, her and everyone else. She had moved them in such a way to protect her. "You are staying?"

"As long as you are with me? Yes, yes I am."

Rachel let go of her neck and twisted so she could push herself up, pulled Quinn's hand with her as she stood. Quinn slide to her feet and let herself follow Rachel, rejoining the group. They sat down only a few feet from where she was, but Rachel positioned Quinn so that she was between the tigress and everyone moved to grab the chair she had at her easel, though paused when he looked at the painting. He gave a brief smile, moved the stand out of the way, then pulled the chair over to them, straddling it and leaning on the back. "So, who goes first?"

"You do, fucker," Santana said. "Who the fuck-"

"A Godsire," Brittany said. Puck's smile brightened. "Am I right?" It was a term that had not come up with her mom, and while they covered a great deal of rumors and ideas, like wardens, the various groups who use by that title specifically, druids, wizards, and so many other things besides the Hunters Quinn was worried about. But it was all rumors, nothing concrete or complete. While she knew more about herself and the world she found herself in, she did not know as much as Santana or Brittany for that matter.

"What the fuck is that shit?" Santana alternated between staring at her girlfriend and glaring at Puck.

"My pa, dead-beat fucker that he is, came from a long line of blacksmiths and mechanics, various titles and such," Puck said. "When the bastard left, didn't leave much behind, anything until recently."

Brittany was practically bouncing, her hands clasped in front of her and wide smile on her face. "When crafting, no creating, became easier."

"Well, only practical things," Puck said. "I'm good at things that have a purpose, that are meant to be used, even if they are good to look at."

"Vulcan," Brittany smiled at him. "It's Vulcan isn't it."

"That and Hephaestus are the more common names, but my infinitily great-grandfather went by a lot of names: Tvastar, Goibniu, Volundr, or Seppo Ilmarien are a few of his names, but he went by many, more than I could find."

"What are we talking about?" Rachel asked.

"Puck's ancestor, the one he gets his, what would you call it?" Brittany turned to him.

"Gift?"

"Sure that works, his gift." Puck smirked. "One of the few things he left me besides memories and some scars."

"Noah, what is going on? Please, just tell me-"

"The world is so much bigger than you can imagine, Rae," Quinn said from behind her. If anyone was going to scare Rachel with the truth, it would have to be her, if nothing else so that she understood the gravity of the situation. "Seriously, I am a tiger that transforms into a human, for His sake."

"And?"

"What do you mean?

"I fail to see how that is important right now," Rachel replied, looking over at her shoulder. "You are you, Quinn, and nothing will stop me from loving you."

"Really sweet, Hobbs," Santana said, "but this shit is so much worse than you can comprehend."

"Then make me comprehend it." Santana looked over to Brittany. She was sitting cross legged, leaning forward a bit and drawing something with her finger on the carpet. No one said anything, no one moved. Instead, they just watched whatever the blonde was doing, waiting for her to respond.

"Plato had it right," Brittany finally said. She looked up from whatever she had created, though Quinn could not really see any definite design or anything; the medium was carpet and it was all just lines and squiggles formed out of opposing directions.

"Who?" Puck asked.

"He said that when we leave the cave, when we see the world as it truly is, we can never really explain it to others. They don't have the same reference as we now have. They don't have the words we now have, or the ideas we now know. All they know is shadows on the wall."

"Kay," Puck said, drawing the word out. "That makes no sense."

"She needs to see it," Quinn said. "She needs to experience it, really experience it. Not just the brief things she has seen, like my partial acceptance or fleeting sights of Santana's whatever, or the stories we have told her, well, mostly my stories." She let go of Rachel and glided up slowly, then stepped away from the group. "She needs to leave the cave."

She removed her shirt, revealing a white tank-top underneath and a lack of a bra, this was not planned at all and part of her really did not want to do this but Rachel needed to know, and dropped her hands to her belt. Santana whooped and Quinn looked up at the four sets of eyes staring at her. Puck was smirking, Lord, she had sworn never to be naked in front of him again; Santana and Brittany were smiling, the former possessed a bit of wickedness while the latter just had understanding; and Rachel was blushing. "C'mon Baby Mama," Puck said, "Show us what the good Lord gave you."

"Puck. Turn. Now." Quinn froze in place, her hands locked over her belt.

"Aww, don't be like that, just let it all hang out and-"

"Noah, turn around." Rachel whipped around quick enough so her hair flew into her face. "You turn around right now, or I tell your mom what happened at Halloween."

Puck paled, drastically, dangerously so. What had happened that Halloween besides the drunk bastard who had intended on attacking Rachel and hurting her and was scared so much he passed out in his own urine? Quinn really did not want to know. It could never be important enough that she needed to know. Puck stood up and turned around before Rachel spoke another word.

Her girlfriend nodded at the man-child, then returned her attention to Quinn, offering a gentle smile. She reached out and rubbed her leg. Quinn wished that it would have calmed her down, slow her beating heart, but she was going to accept herself in a small room.

Quinn finished unbuckling her belt, removed her tank top and dropped her pants. Rachel was the one who made a noise this time, and the cool air reminded Quinn just what her partial acceptance meant. There was no turning back now, even though she was showing her friends her flaccid penis. Feeling extremely warm, she turned around, finished undressing and pushed the pile of cloths at her feet away.

Leaning against the wall, she exhaled as heavily as possible, trying to relax her shoulders and back. But everything was tense, ready to pounce at a moment. Which meant it would hurt so much more.

Quinn closed her eyes, and let go of the hold she had. What she had found in the few months constantly practicing with her transformations was the idea of being both human and tiger at the exact same time. Her in-between form was a compromise and easiest to maintain, but while accepting that form, she held onto a little of her human-self and little of her tiger-self. To fully move from one end of the spectrum to another was to release one side and grab hold of the other tightly, dragging herself from end to end. Even partially accepted, Quinn had miles to go before she was fully tiger.

She gasped as her back arched and bones cracked and broke under her skin. Ripples of muscle and sinew transversed her skin as they pulled on the bone and cartilage to extend her form. One shoulder popped, loudly, and in the background, behind her own body killing her, Quinn heard Rachel gasp. She squeezed the wall, holding on to it as her legs lengthened, her knees reversing, and her toes stretching into claws. Another loud pop, her hip this time, and she fell to the floor. Quinn felt the tears on her fur that should have traveled down her face, but paused as her features shifted. Her cheek bones shattered and drew in substance from somewhere as they pushed out further and further. She wanted to scream, but that would require vocal cords, which she was not so sure she had any more. Her skin felt heavier as the fur grew longer and courser. Her breasts dissolved away, flattening into woven steel.

Her legs kicked out further as her claws dragged down the wall, gouging into it. Then her spine lengthened, pulling itself further and further. Quinn roared as the electric waves travelled up and down every nerve in her body. She would have shook, except she could not move, nothing could move. The acceptance continued on: muscles contorted and pushing outward in odd patterns, bones awkwardly lengthened in ways that should not have been possible, and patches of fur grown at uneven rates.

This was the point where Quinn tended to black out, at least a little bit. When the acceptance was almost complete, but the one final push that would make her appearance tiger tended to be something she did not want to experience and had yet to, thankfully. Everything dissolved into blurry whiteness and the sounds distorted until it was an unpleasant buzzy howl. Her body did not hold itself up any more and she fell to the ground, though the floor was much softer than she realized.

Somewhere, in a very large field, very far away, Quinn heard the gentle sounds of a lullaby sung by a crying angel. Two hands, no two sets of hands, very soft and kind, ran up and down her fur, trying to scratch the skin beneath it, though she barely was aware of them. There were four bodies in this small room with her, and her hind legs pressed against the back walls, with her forepaws rest just a few spaces from the front. The voice was very beautiful, though the crying was not.

"Oh," the angel said, "Quinn, you didn't-"

"She did, Rach," a crisp and sweet voice said. . A set of hands stopped. "You needed to see that it was real, very real. Come here."

"She didn't have to do that," the angel repeated. "She didn't have to torture and hurt and – Barbara, is it always like that?"

"Hobbs," a third voice said, distinctly vinegar and sugar filled its words. "Just come here. You need to feel this."

"I didn't need to see this to know it's real," the angel continued. "I was aware when she chased me at Halloween and snuggled with me. I knew then."

"You knew a good day," the second voice said.

"Shit, that fucking sucks." A hearty-bold voice said.

"Yes, it does," the vinegar and sugar replied.

"Does it always go like that?" The angel stepped closer, a field closer.

"No," crisp-sweet said, "sometimes, most of the time, she has good days, where it's easier for her." The angel was another field closer, and Quinn could smell the sweet berries that were her aura. "Quinn wanted you to understand, Rach, to know just what she is. You see her as this human-mostly thing, with a bit of tiger in her. This is her real form. Everything else is just something she tries to be. Everything else is just covering."

"Quinn is Quinn," the angel corrected. She was a few feet from her. Quinn leaned towards her, pushing a body away to get closer to the angel. "She is both the tiger and the human." She wished the angel was right. Maybe she was. The Lord would not have sent her to the tigress had He not thought she required His love and guidance. Her angel.

"Sweetie," sweet-crisp continued. "That maybe be true, but-"

"There is nothing else to say," The angel knelt down against her. Quinn felt the knees on her side and a set of hands run up and down her back for a moment before one settled just at the base of her neck. "Brittany, I know you want me to understand that Quinn is probably a wild and dangerous animal. Fine. I accept that. But this is Quinn. And while I'm pissed at her for doing something so stupid as to hurt herself in order to show me something I already knew, I-"

"Rachel, listen for once," Vinegar-sugar said. Quinn perked up and turned to look at the source. "Just listen."

"Yes, you're right," Brittany said, "she is both, but sweetie, it's what this all means."

"I don't understand," the angel replied.

"If Quinn is one idea, one concept of what the world is capable, then there are others, countless others. It's not limited, it'll never be limited." The crisp-sweet stepped closer. Quinn wanted to growl, but a slow drag of the angel's hand on her neck paused the sound in her throat. Crisp-sweet knelt next to them and smiled at her angel. "The point of this isn't to tell you about Quinn, it's to tell you about-"

"Me," Hearty-bold finished. "It's about me and Satan here."

"Why does that matter?" The angel asked. "You guys."

Quinn watched as hearty-bold walked slowly over to them, a bag in his hand. He knelt down in front of the females, pouring the contents out. It was scrap and rubble. "The strangest thing about this," he continued, "isn't the strength or the wisdom that I was gifted, but this." He picked up the pieces of whatever, they all looked so small in his hands, and slowly twisted and worked them, adding one after another. "It's nothing to do with the physical, but the innate ability and knowledge? That's freaking."

Hearty-bold held in front of him an object. It was not interesting. But her angel thought it was. "Is that, what did you, Noah, I-"

"It's just a toy," he said. "It's meant to be played with and used and enjoyed. Quinn can tell you about how I cook these days. But what no one knows is the workshop I built under that old shed in the backyard. No one knows about the furnace and forge I molded and formed from scratch. No one knows about the weapons I have made there."

"Noah, what-"

"I am a smith, Rach." Hearty-bold placed the object between them. "I create things with a purpose. And in my line, the real purpose we had was to destroy. I probably have some ancestor who makes art and music better than I can, who creates enjoyment for the sake of enjoyment. But that isn't me. That isn't what I was blessed with, the power I have. I have these designs and ideas of weapons and tools that you couldn't believe possible. Things that would destroy the world ten times over. Things that would reshape and reform Earth into anything I wanted it to. And the worst part? I know I could build them right now. I want to build them right now. The cooking, the toy making, the weapons? All of that is just to distract me from doing what I really should be, could be, doing: preparing for war. I don't want that. I've never wanted that."

"And Puck has it a bit easier than I do," Vinegar-sugar said. "He at least has some knowledge, some method to hold back what he is. He's not trying to fight a tornado or mudslide with every breath, every movement, every second."

She walked over to the girls next to Quinn and sat down near crisp-sweet. "My Mami told me once about our history, I've mentioned that druidic past right? That we've come from a long line? Doesn't matter, really, Hobbs. What does is what I am now. My family, all of my brothers and sisters and my Mami, we have a purpose, a singular and ultimate goal in life that we can't escape: to protect. My brothers have found places, homes to protect. Whether it's a small town outside of Atlanta, or half of LA. My sisters look at the bigger picture and work for organizations that help better the world, that protect the unfortunate. This isn't just some charity work we do, some lip service. You need to know that. And we don't just protect as a mundane would either. We are much more than that. Rach, give me your hands."

Her angel pulled away slightly. "What? Why?"

"It's okay," Crisp-sweet replied. "It won't hurt you."

"I promise," Vinegar-sugar added. "I just want to show you what it is."

"How can-" Her angel let go of Quinn, and she wanted to growl again, but her focused on the Vinegar-sugar's movements, reaching out slowly and just holding her hands palm up in front of her body.

"Have faith, Hobbs, it'll be fine. Just take my hand."

Quinn leaned down a little bit and pushed the angel's back with her nose. Vinegar-sugar was okay, maybe. She could trust her with the angel. Her human-self knew that well. That Vinegar-sugar and Crisp-sweet were humans who would protect her and her angel, and while Hearty-bold-now-smoky was a bit of a stranger, with the other two she had nothing to worry. She hoped.

Her angel looked down at her, kissed her forehead then turned to Vinegar-sugar, holding her hands out and waiting for the other woman to move.

Crisp-sweet sighed heavily and grabbed Vinegar-sugar's hands. "Stop waiting and just do it, Sannie," she said, then placed them under her angel's.

Bright green light filled her eyes, and Quinn tried to hide behind a paw and her angel's back. She pressed her nose against her butt as she started to shake. The room shook as Quinn held herself still, held her angel up. The sound of nothing grew louder and louder as breathing and heartbeats dissolved into the green light. She wanted it to end. It had to end. But this was something Quinn possessed no knowledge or understanding. She had to trust Vinegar-sugar, if for no other reason than she trusted her once.

The light died down and her angel leaned back into her, breathing heavily. Vinegar-sugar fell over completely, wrapping her arms around herself and shivering. Crisp-sweet gathered her up, and Hearty-bold-smoky dropped a jacket, her jacket, over the collapsed girl.

"Quinn?" her angel said. She lifted her head up and looked down to her angel. She was so small leaning against her, curled into her. "I'd really, really liked my human-girlfriend back right now. I could-"

Quinn roared as she pulled herself in. There was no question as to what was required of her, of what her human and tiger-self knew: Rachel needed her. It was just the issue of collapsing all of her mass now. This would hurt. A lot.