Chapter 8

Angela was furious.

She, an adult gargoyle, was grounded. It seemed that, without knowing what to do about their argument when she returned to the castle last night, he had simply confined her for neglecting her duty to the clan. Luckily it was only for two nights, but that didn't mean she was happy.

She knew her father meant well, and that she hadn't explained why she was going out to him, but she was afraid. Her father was the most traditional gargoyle she had ever met, even if he was dating a human. Even her mother, despite her dislike of humanity, was more open-minded than her father, as long as you weren't talking about humans. Goliath had, on several occasions, expressed his dislike of same-sex human couples. It wasn't that he had expressed hatred of them, but he was clearly uncomfortable.

And that was why she hadn't explained her situation to him. For all of his faults, Goliath was her father, and she wanted his approval, wanted him to be proud of her. Of course she felt the same about Demona, but even with the fact that they disagreed about human/gargoyle interaction, her mother had never shown anything besides love towards Angela. And on the few times they had talked, Demona had mentioned how proud she was of her daughter.

The millennium old gargess would more likely be put off by the fact that Kat appeared human. And Angela had no intention to change that. Her mother could use magic, and Kat had mentioned that there was magic that could bind a kitsune to serve the caster, and as much as Angela loved her, she didn't trust Demona not to try and use Kat towards her own ends.

So, with nothing really to do, Angela made her way to the gym. It was Thursday night after-all, and the red-head was usually in in the gym Thursday nights, as well as Tuesdays, working on maintaining her level of fitness.

So it was no surprise for the lavender gargess to find Fox working the large bag, wearing a yellow sport's bra and yoga pants.

Angela just stood there for a few moments, watching as Fox finished her routine. When she was done, Fox smiled and turned to Angela, "Hey, aren't you supposed to be out on patrol?"

"Father grounded me," Angela explained sourly. "I'm not allowed to leave the castle for two nights."

Fox frowned. "Why?"

Sighing, Angela began to explain, "Officially, because of my continued lateness returning to the castle, unofficially, I think it has something to do with the fight we had when I returned last night."

Fox smirked. "Ah yes, the triumphant return from your date, which lasted two nights. You weren't doing anything naughty were you?"

When Angela blushed, Fox's smirk widened. "You were, weren't you?"

"That is none of your business," Angela told Fox, albeit a bit weakly.

Chuckling, Fox gestured for Angela to follow her to the mats. "What do you say to a little sparring, I need to keep my skills up after-all?"

"I'd be happy to. There's nothing to do anyway, at least nothing of interest to me."

"Just remember to hold back," Fox told the gargess. "This is just a sparring match, and I would hate to explain to David a serious injury if you forget."

Angela sighed. "This would be so much easier if I was human, wouldn't i..."

Angela was cut off as she was surrounded, unexpectedly by ahand heldlight. Katrealizeet to explain the full abilities of their bond, and so Angela had discovered, quite by accident, that she could share Kat's magic, in this case shapeshifting. Not knowing how the bond worked, her temporary wish that she was human changed her into one.

So when the light faded, a very human Angela stood before Fox, a very naked human.

Angela looked much like Demona did in human form, with beautiful, regal features, only with a darker skin tone, and obviously a different hair and eye color, which were the same as her gargoyle form. Her breast were full, firm b-cups, and her muscular figure was definitely an hour-glass.

Both humans were silent for a moment, until Angela realized her state of undress. Blushing, she quickly covered her breast and sex with her hands. "Uhh...? What just happened?" the gargess asked.

"I was hoping you'd tell me," Fox said. Turning away to give Angela a modicum of privacy, she continued. "I won't look if you don't want me to, but we are both women. You don't have anything I haven't seen before. But, I believe you need some clothes, in case Owen or David come in here. Just a moment." Fox quickly ran out of the gym, and into the attached shower/locker room. She returned with her shower robe, and quickly handed it to Angela.

The gargess turned human quickly pulled the garment on, and the two women faced each other.

"If you give me a moment, I'll see if Puck is giving Alex a magic lesson," Fox assured the other woman. She turned to leave the gym, but was stopped by a hand on her shoulder.

"Wait a minute," Angela said carefully. "Let me call someone first."

Walking over to the phone in the gym, Angela picked up the handheld, only to relize that, as she had never needed it before, she didn't know Kat's number. Turning to Fox she asked, "Do you have a phone book?"

0000000000

Kat sighed as she heard her shop phone ring. She contemplated letting it go to the machine, since it was technically after hours, but decided since she was there, she'd pick it up.

Setting down the marker she was using to mark the sheet-metal she was working on, she stood and made her way over to the phone.

"Nine-Tail Customs," she answered.

"Kat?" the voice, which she instantly identified as Angela's, asked on the other end.

Kat smiled. "Angela? What do I owe the pleasure? You've never called me before."

"Um, something happened. I'm...well I ….Kat, does the bond alter me in anyway?"

Kat frowned. "Not really, I mean there are a few effects, that I was planning on explaining to you when we saw each other next. But they don't really alter you in anyway, unless you want them to. Why? What happened?"

"I'm human."

The kitsune sighed in relief. It seemed that Angela had just unintentionally shared in her magic. That was no big deal, the fact that Angela had accessed shape-shifting was odd, in fact Kat hadn't even thought about that, as she didn't know of any kitsune's whose bonded weren't human, but then that was probably why Angela had access to that particular aspect. "Is that all? It's nothing to worry about. I can come and explain it all to you know, if you tell me where you are."

"Um, that depends on how you feel about someone knowing what you are. Currently Fox Xanatos is here with me, we were about to spar when the change happened. Were in the castle gym."

Kat tensed up. Fox was an outsider, and Kat was very hesitant about informing people what she was. But Fox was apparently Angela's friend. "Do you trust her to keep my secret?" she asked.

There was no hesitation when Angela answered. "Yes."

"I'll be there in a moment," Kat said, before hanging up the phone. Quickly, she made her way to the roof. Sighing, Kat turned into her kitsune form. She was taking a very big risk, but if Angela trusted Fox, Kat would give her a chance. She just hoped she wasn't making a mistake.

With a thought, Kat turned invisible, before flying up into the sky as fast as she could.

0000000000

Angela and Fox waited patiently for Kat to show up. And they waited in silence.

At least it was silent until Fox let out a gasp of surprise, as a white nine-tailed fox appeared in front of her. "Hello," the fox greeted, "you must be Fox."

The red-head smiled, and replied, "Yes." she looked between Angela and the fox, "Though it appears that while I am Fox, you are a fox."

"Kitsune actually. I am Kat," the kitsune replied before turning to Angela. "Forgive me for not returning to human form. You may trust Fox, but I don't, not yet. At least like this, she won't recognize the human me."

Angela smiled. "I understand. But can you explain to me why I'm human right now, and why I'm naked. When you became a gargoyle you were clothed?"

"But I'm not now," Kat explained. "The transformation...stores the clothes you were wearing with that form. I had to make that tunic and put it on as a gargoyle, and change back to human wearing it in order for it to appear with me. If I were to change naked, then next time I took that form I would be naked."

"I think I understand that part," Angela assured her mate. "But could you explain the bond?"

"Of course." Kat paused for a moment to collect her thoughts. "When bonded, a kitsune's bonded can share some of the kitsune's magic. Normally, this is mainly limited to immortality and a cease in aging as long as live, with the option of slightly greater strength, speed, and reflexes. Of course normally, we are bonded to humans. The main reason we shape-shift, is to blend in, and I suspect, though this is pure conjecture, that because you can't pass for human as I can, you have the option of shape-shifting. Though as it is most likely limited to a degree, as all our abilities are to human bonded. I doubt you could shape-shift into anything other than human."

"When you say option, what exactly do you mean?" Fox asked.

"My father never wanted to use greater strength, speed, or reflexes, so he never had access to those abilities," Kat explained. "In order to access the abilities, you have to want them, truly want them. Needing them, or wanting them just for a moment won't work. I can't really explain it any more than that, but I doubt Angela will have greater strength or speed, as a gargoyle she already has greater than human qualities of those. As for reflexes, if you," she looked at her mate, "aren't satisfied with your reaction time, they might be faster. But I couldn't say for sure."

"Okay, but I can change back to being a gargoyle?" Angela asked, a little worried.

Kat nodded. "Yes, now that you have access to the ability. At first you're going to concentrate on the change, with practice you'll be able to change at a moment's notice, with just a thought. One word of warning though, if you are human during the day, and change to a gargoyle, you will become stone almost instantaneously."

Angela raised an eyebrow. "You know from experience?"

The kitsune's head turned slightly to the side. "When I first managed the change, it was around one in the afternoon. Luckily, I was in my apartment."

"Go back for a minute," Fox said. "What about the non-optional changes, you said Angela would be immortal?"

"That is because kitsune are immortal. It would be painful if our mates died while we continued to live on. But if I died, Angela's life would pick up at the age she is now at bonding. She would then continue to age and be able to die. However," Kat turned back to her bonded, "You can still be wounded and feel pain. As a gargoyle you don't have the same worries as me, but you will also heal faster. In your human form, you need to be aware of this fact. Because, let's say you are shot, you would be up and about in an hour, and the wound would have completely disappeared within two. So I need to teach you to control that healing in case someone witnesses it." She thought for a moment, "Actually, I think it would be best if my dad did that, as he has actual experience in using that particular ability."

Kat smirked, showing her razor sharp teeth. "But I think before we do that, we have another problem to solve first, besides changing you back into a gargoyle."

"I agree," Fox said. She looked over at Kat, and the woman and kitsune exchanged a glance.

"What now?" Angela asked, slightly worried.

"Isn't it obvious?" Fox asked.

When Angela shook her head, Kat spoke again.

"We need to create a human identity for you."

Angela was slightly worried from the smirks both Kat and Fox were sporting.

0000000000

Sorry for the wait. Hope you enjoyed.

Please Review and Check Out the Challenges in My Forums.