Glad people are showing interest in this fic :D Thanks to Erudessa-gabrielle for reviewing! Here's another chapter for 'ya!
Derek's p.o.v
"By the looks of things, we're dealing with another species of shapeshifter. A were-leopard. From her dark coat, i'm guessing she's a Javan leopard" Deaton tells us. While we waited for Deaton to arrive, the leopard started to warm up to Malia and Malia warmed up to her as well now that the air is cleared and her wounds are healed. They share something noone else does, they're both forest-dwellers, both lived their lives in their full animal form in the woods. I'm proud to say, Malia stepped up and offered to look after her, make sure she's calm and also to make sure she doesn't hurt anyone. Malia took her into my room, shifting into her own coyote form so she can communicate with the she-leopard.
"Why would there be a leopard in Beacon Hills though?" Stiles asks Deaton. Me, Scott, Stiles and Lydia are surrounding the table, talking to Deaton while Kira and Liam keep themselves busy doing something else.
"Were-leopards are known to originate from mountains just like normal leopards. Just like the wendigos, they could have migrated here. We know her pack was killed by hunters, maybe she was running, the nemeton could have pulled her here as well" Deaton says, trying to figure this out as he speaks. When my room down creaks open, all eyes snap to the unknown girl wearing one of my shirts, far too big for her, and Malia with her arms around her shoulders.
"Not a were-leopard" she says. "My pack comes from the Malaysian tropical rainforest, we aren't leopards, we're were-panthers" she corrects. This is her, this is the leopard..uh, panther. She's skinny but toned. She's curvy and her hair is black, reaching down to her lower back. In her human form, her eyes are pale blue, almost turquoise. She looks older than Malia or Lydia but not as old as me. Deaton approaches her slowly, the girl's eyes turning green and a small growl escaping her lips.
"He's okay, he's our emmisary, he won't hurt you" Malia assures her. Her eyes flick to me before she backs down again. It amazes me how fast she's put her trust in Malia but it also doesn't suprise me, Malia was in the same boat not too long ago.
"Panther?" Deaton asks her, coming to stand in front of her. She nods. "Also known as the black leopard" he adds and she still just nods, glancing nervously at the people surrounding her.
"Because of where we come from, they're called panthers but panthers, leopards and jaguars are all similiar" she says quietly.
"Why don't you take a seat? I just want to ask you a few questions" Deaton says softly, motioning for her to sit. Malia nods and sits with her. She's still nervous with the others here. Scott must have noticed because he speaks up.
"Stiles, why don't you take everyone home?" Scott suggests and Stiles nods. He gives Malia a quick kiss before leaving with the others. I narrow my eyes at the spazzy Stilinski. He winks at me, smirking as he leaves. As much as I hate to admit it, he has gotten under my skin. And..if Malia had to be with anyone in the pack..Stiles is the best choice..I guess. Kid's selfless, invincable to a fault.
"What else can you tell me about you?" Deaton asks her.
"My pack were killed by hunters, back in Malaysia. I've been running for awhile" she tells him.
"For how long?" Malia pushes.
"4 years" she tells them. "Once I turned 16, I was taught to shift into my panther form. The hunters came and..and they killed them all. I was the only survivor..i've been running ever since" she tells us. So she's 20, I was right, older than the others but not as old as me. My wolf howls for her loss. We all feel sorry for the girl. She's probably so tired she's past exhustion.
"What about you?" Deaton asks her.
"Me?" she asked confused, like noone has ever cared who she is, only cared about the pack as a whole. I guess being an omega for that long would do that to you.
"Well..what's your name?" Scott asks her. She looks up at Scott, eyes darting to me and back again, speed of light.
"I was born in Malaysia so..they call me Ismah. It was to show that I would be truthful, reliable and show great self-preservation, to push me to survive, just like my mother" she tells us.
"Well Ismah, I can offer you a place in my pack but I have to know it's safe to do so" Scott says, crotching in front of her. "I will give you a week or two to show you're worthy, we'll help you learn control so you can stay in your human form during full moons and you won't have to stay in the forest anymore"
"But i'm an omega? I'm a stranger?" she says, confused by his kind actions.
"We're aren't going to leave you out there by yourself" I tell her.
"You'll like the pack, I like them" Malia says, giving her a smile. She smiles back, thanking Scott and I, Deaton and Malia as well.
..
Scott and Deaton leave once they have the information they need. Malia now lives with me so it's the three of us left. The sun has set and I can tell Ismah is getting nervous.
"You can have the couch" I say, startling her.
"Uh..thank you" she says quietly. I bring her over a pillow and a blanket, laying them down besdie her. She looks to be lost in thought and since Malia is showering, it's just us.
"Hey, what's wrong?" I ask her. My wolf feels like it needs to comfort her, protect her even.
"What if they come here? What if the hunters find me? What if your pack gets hurt because of me?" she asks, her eyes glassy with tears. I didn't expect to see this side of the ferocious and somewhat savage she-panther.
"You'll be safe here. The pack will protect you, Malia and I will protect you" I tell her, trying my best to comfort her. She cautiously rubs her nose againist my shoulder. Since she's been a panther for so long, it will take awhile for her to get used to the difference between panther and human life again. I watched her do this with Scott and Malia in her panther form but right now she's human..and she's rubbing her nose..on me. She pulls back and looks up at me. "Malia and I can help you learn control"
"What about Scott, the alpha?" she asks me.
"He isn't fully evolved yet. Werewolves are different, not all of us can take on our animal form" I tell her. Deaton told us that her kind can all shift into panthers/black leopards when they turn 16.
"Are you and Malia the only ones who can?" I nod. "What's your name?" she asks somewhat shyly.
"I'm Derek Hale" I tell her.
"I heard of the Hale pack" she says. "I heard about how powerful Tahlia was"
"She was my mother" I tell her.
"I also heard about the fire..i'm..i'm sorry" I know she's trying to comfort me but she's struggling, just like Malia did and sometimes even still does with certain things. "Is Malia your sister? It's just, I can smell the family bond between the two of you"
"She's my cousin. My sisters were..uh..were in the fire" I find myself telling her. And again she's rubbing againist my arm. We both turn towards the spiral staircase when we hear Malia walking down.
"I'll stay in here with you tonight" Malia says to Ismah. She nods with a smile. I get up, making my way to my own room to turn in for the night.
"Goodnight Derek" Ismah says. I turn around to her.
"Night Ismah" I say to her, I don't miss the look Malia gives the two of us. I go into my own room, getting into bed and easily falling asleep, the busy day having tired me out.
..
I wake just as the sun is coming up. I try get back to sleep but I know I won't be able to..not without checking on Ismah. I open my door soundlessly and step into the lounge area. I expect to find the two sleeping on a couch each but that isn't what I find at all. I can just make out Ismah's sleek black coat and Malia's grey coat amoungst their blankets which they're wrapped up in, curled around each other. They're not even on the couches, they're on the floor. Once my wolf and I have agreed that they're both okay, I decide to go for a long run, to clear my mind. I sneak past the two and peel my shirt off. I manage to get outside without waking them. I walk until i'm quite far away, then I take off in a full sprint. I soon find myself needing to feel the wind through my fur. I tear out of my clothes, taking on my wolf form. I keep running, feeling all the worry and fear from the deadpool, from Peter, Kate, the Calaveras, everything, rolling off me like water off a duck as I run faster and faster.
..
..
Turns out she's a were-panther! Panthers, jaguars and leopards are considered similiar though but I like the idea of her being a were-panther, I haven't seen anyone else write it yet so hopefully i'm the first. If not, no worries :) Hope you enjoyed! Favourite, follow and review please, love to hear what you think! Stay golden!