Qiana helped clear the dinner table and clean up with Malachai, Rachel, Ian, and Michael. As they finished, they were all sent off for the night.
Out in the front, circled around were the Aussies talking to each other in human form when Brutus took notice of Qiana and approached each other to talk.
"just wat in the bloody hell 'appened tonight?" Brutus began, distressed. "At the bloody billabong, we weah eagah ta kill each other, now we'ah awrdered by Grant ta be bung ta wawrk ta kill the clans convicts togethah."
Shrugging her shoulders, Qiana responded, "We're just going to have to adapt now. I even had to prove myself with a blood oath over dinner to make them comfortable. They're designated kin to the clan no matter if they are human."
Brutus looked over at the Gatlin kids nearby waiting while staring at the shifters back, he quietly turned Qiana away from them before continuing.
"Well, just until Chiquitah no longah finds them all fahkin' useful. Ya know, I heahrd Rothman proposin' ta kill off the Slaughters befawah the rest of the family 'ad ta get involved. It's only a matder of time, 'n I'd rathah not waste time treatin' humans liyyke my own. This can get grubby."
Qianna then gently put a hand on Brutus' arm, whispering back, "Don't you remember being like them? In the shadows, with no one to help? You and your sisters were getting rejected by many clans all around the world because of being born of incest from years of your clan family's isolation. That was something you couldn't control. It took people like Caz and my family, the Bullards, to vouch for you and your family. If it weren't for us getting you immigrated here, you all would still be stuck in Mexico. It's going to take time to get used to, even if you are under orders, it's just for a short while, and then you all will be able to roam free to live your own lives again."
Scratching his black buzzcut hair, Brutus made a heavy sigh, "I thought time done in Mexico was enough ta get heah ta prove ourselves, but shit am I knackered of repeatin' servitude. Fine, miss, I'll do a few dog tricks fawr them, but as soon as Chiquitah gives us the bloody go-ahead, we'ah leavin'. With awr without ya."
Qianna nodded curtly, wanting to have everyone try their best at making their sentences work. Looking back towards the front porch, Luda Mae walks out with Hoyt, Drayton, and Thomas.
"You all there, c'mere," She commanded the group of shifters. They obeyed, standing at her attention.
"Since we gots to work together now, me and my family got some rules around this home. Now, I don't care why you all in your birthday suits, but during the day, you all ought to wear clothes from here on out. Malachai, Michael, Ian, and Rachel will give them tomorrow. Fly into the trees at night, but don't let me catch you seeing your hoohas and peckers got it?"
The Aussies looked at each other, refraining from smiling and even laughing with each other as they knew keeping the peace between the two groups was important. They all nodded in agreement as Luda Mae continued.
"Next order of command is you all gon wear crosses of our lord & savior Jesus Christ and read the bible every Sunday mornin'. No exceptions. And lastly, y'all ain't welcomed into the home unless Slaughter, Hewitt, and Sawyer lets ya in. Ya'll hear me now?"
"You got it, miss."
"Too right."
Hoyt then stepped forward to the group. "As for my command, Drayton and Thomas, to especially the only man I see here," he said, pointing to Brutus, "Y'all gonna have to be good dogs and hunt down whatever catch we bring home. Not for whatever jailbird that gets kicked to our front porch. No, we got a set of teeth for any human stragglers and wanderers that like to stick they nose in where it don't belong. Got it?"
Katerina then spoke up, "Whatevah ya throw, we'll catch, 'n watevah ya awrder, we'll chayse."
"Heh, I can see who the smartest of y'all are." Hoyt commented, turning back inside with the rest of his family members.
As Qiana hugged the girls and Brutus goodnight as they then set off for the trees. Qianna cleaned up for the night back in her room, brushing her hair thinking it had been too long of a day, and she couldn't wait to get to sleep.
*knock* *knock*
"Spoke too soon."
Opening the door, it was Malachai.
"Hey, sorry, I know it's late, and it was a lot today, but..."
Malachai softly held Qiana's hand as he swiftly planted a kiss on her lips. She remained frozen in shock as he pulled away.
He looked at her, blushing red, trying to keep his composure.
"I- I just wanted to tell you goodnight."
Turning away down the hall, Malachai retreated to his room. Qiana slowly closed her door in disbelief at what had happened. Shaking her head, she felt her racing heart letting out a sigh.
"Lord, you work in mysterious ways."