Niamh grabbed the duffel bag that was sitting on the back seat of the Taxi cab next to her.She twisted the straps around her hands as she watched the scenery pass by.Miami was very bright Niamh thought to herself settling her dark sunglasses more firmly on her nose.Ireland was certainly not dark by any stretch but this was annoyingly bright for being Six pm.She leaned back in her seat not even noticing till that moment that she had been sitting forward.She was just got excited about seeing her cousin after all this years.Well not really her cousin but her God-parents niece.She pushed the ugly thought of her parents out of her brain.

Moments later the taxi pulled up to the front door of a nice looking house and the cab driver looked over his shoulder at the red head.

"We're here Miss".

KEstral puttered around the Kitchen listening to her Mom chat with someone on the phone.She narrowed her eyes as she tryed to listen in and got a swat to the head for her troubles.Muttering she made her way to the Fridge to get something cold to drink.Her Irish Cousin was suppose to be showing up any time now and her Mom was on the phone with her Aunt Amy promising to het her know when the Red head had arrived safetly.Kestral pulled out a pitcher of Grape Juice pondering why she hadn't seen her cousin before this moment and why she was choicing now of all times to move.


Taking a small sip of her drink she drifted back towards the bar that her mother was standing against.A uneasy feeling rose up from the pit of her belly and she froze wondering what had caused a reaction like that.A od smell drifted past her nose and she cocked her head hearing a car just outside the door of the house.She sat her glass down and made her way to the front door shifting her hand to pull the gun she always had on her.Making no noise as she padded down the hall ,tightened her grip on the gun and peeked out of the many windows that lined the front of the house.She watched as a Red haired girl got out of a Taxi and looked towards the house.

"Mum,She's here" Kestral called down the hall tucking her gun back to it's rightful spot.She swung open the door to be hit firmly with that odd smell.Maybe i should still have the gun out She thought wearily to herself scanning the front yard.

Niamh was out of the cab and leaning next to the door of the Driver when the front door swung open.She had been about to ask him to wait for her just incase shehad the wrong address.She didn't want to dropped off in astrangers front yard after coming all this way.Looking up at the sound Niamh watched as a young woman with jet black hair stood in the doorway before turning to say something over her shoulder.A moment later another Woman,apparently the first one's mother,appeared.This face she knew and offered a wave too.


She straighten up from the door and grabbed her duffel bag off the ground.Taking a deep breath Niamh made her way over to the house wondering if Kestral could smell her already.

Kestral stepped out onto the porch so she could clearly see all the corners of the large yard.Nothing would be able to skip her bright eyed gaze and she frowned slightly her forehead wrinkled as she looked for whatever could be making the smell.Hearing a moving sound coming from the hall she glanced over her shoulder to see her mum step out onto the porch still chatting away on the phone.Barely keeping the implus to roll her eyes under control Kestral glance back at the cab in the front yard.

That's some bright hair Kestral thought to herself her hand twitching slightly,her body wanting to be holding onto her gun.She watched as the red head said something to the cabbie and picked up a large duffel bag off the ground.She stared as Niamh made her way over to the porch.
"Yup Amy,She's just arrived.Looks a tab tired but that's it" Her Mum was saying cheerfully into the phone attached to her ear.Kestral bristled slightly when ner mind finally connected the dots.That smell was coming off of her cousin.She reached into her shoulder holdster to pull out her gun.

Niamh had just looked over her shoulder to wave at the cabbie as he drove off when the smell of metal increased.Puzzled she looked back towards the house when she spotted Kestral pulling a gun out.Startled she dropped her bag and threw her hands up in the air.She froze unsure.Would her own cousin shoot her for being a lycan? Maybe not telling wasn't the best idea she had ever had.She watched as her Aunt frowned and looked over at Kestral who know had a two handed grip on the weapon.

"I didn't mean ta startle you Lass" Niamh kept her voice low and sweet. "I should have said something 'fore now i now but i wanted ta tell ya in person.Seemed nicer like and all". She pushed her beast down not wanting to make Kestral any more excited than she seemed to be."I happen to be a Panther".She glanced over at her Aunt to see how she would take it the news as well.

Kestral kept her breathing light and quick as she sighted down the barrel of her gun.Her mum made a startled noise at her side and took a quick step back.All other background noise faded away till it was just her ,the gun and the cat in front of her.She had no idea if this really was her cousin now,it might be someone hired by Megan's old family. A last ditch attempt to get the runway tiger to come home.

"I'll call you back Amy" Her mum stampered into the phone before closing it."Kestral Blake! What in earth do you think your doing Missy!"Her Mum place her hands on her hips as she frowned at her only daughter.

Kestral didn't answer just keep her eyes on the Lycan in front of her.She narrowed her eyes at the red head in front of her when she started to speak.An Irish acent was hard to place but she sounded like she had an honest one.A Panter? Kestral thought to herself, She had never heard of such a thing before.

"Throw me some id.Do it slowly".

Niamh kept her hands in the air as Kestral looked down the barrell of her gun towards her.She held her breath as she watched her Aunt give her cousin a stern look and end the phone call with Amy.Moving slowly she reached into her pocket and pulled out her passport.She hadn't been here long enough to get a id so she hoped the passport would work well enough.She threw in a slow under hand motion towards the porch.


"It's all I have on me Lass" Niamh offered finally taking a deep breath.She wondered why Kestral seemed so jumpy.It couldn't just be her showing up a Lycan,there had to something else going on here.

Kestral shushed her mother as she made her way off the porch and otowards the passport that was on the ground.Kneeling she kept her gun aimed at the Lycan in front of her as she picked up the pamplet.Gripping it in her non-gun hand she rose keeping her eyes on the redhead in front of her.

"Any good reason why you didn't tell us that you were a Panther?"Kestral asked voice mild with a slight edge.She flipped though the paper noting that they all said the same thing.Niamh O'Brady was indeed standing in front of her.She glanced up from the passport to stare down the Panther in front of her.

Niamh shifted from foot to foot asshe watched Kestral look over her passport.She wasn't sure what kind of welcome to expect but this wasn't it.She offered a shrug and a weak smile at her cousin.

"Didn't think you'd notice right of the go,Wanted it to be a surprise.Something that we had in common,..you know?"

She knew that her answer sounded weak but it was a honest answer none the less.She watched as Kestral looked back at her, holding her breath as she wondered if Kestral was gonna put the gun away or not.

Kestral thought hard for a moment before slipping her gun back into it's little hiding spot.Tossing the Passport in a slow throw she gave it back to Nimah.

"Come on inside then" Kestral said moving to the side of the door so that Niahm could pass her by and enter the house.She took another long look around the front year before turning blue eyes back on the Panther.

Niamh let out the breath she had been holding when Kestral stashed her gun away out of sight.Who knew her cousin would be so edgey.She vowed to find out if she was just twitchy or if something else had her on edge.When Kestral stepped back from the door Niamh leaned over and grabbed her duffel bag of the ground.She took another deep breath as she made her way to the front door of the house twisting sideways to slip past Kestral who was still standing in the doorway.


As soon as she entered the house a phone was thrusted into her hands by her Aunt who sent a glare Kestral's way before giving a smile to the Panther."Tell you Mum your not dead by my Daughter's hands".A snort was heard from behing her as Kestral followed her in shutting the door behind her.

Kestral left out a snort at her mothers words as she wandered back towards the kitchen.No need to tell her Mom that she would have just hurt the Panther alot..not killed her,atleast not right away.Settling on one of the many bar stools kestral picked up the glass of water she had left behind earlier.She took a sip before casting dark blue eyes back in the direction og the hall.


A moment later Niamh appeared laughing at something the voice on the phone was saying to her.Kestral watched as Niahm drifted closer than patted the chair that was next to her.She gave a knowing look to her Mom who headed in the direction of the game room before looking back at the red head next to her.

Niamh took the phone that was offered to her and set her bag down in the hallway as she placed the phone to her ear.She listened for a moment before laughing out loud at something her Mum had said.She made her way into the Kitchen following Kestral.

"Tis alright Mum.Got myself in a bit of a pinch without meaning to." She listened as she noticed Kestral patting the chair next to her.She flashed a smile as she slide into the seat and leaned forward onto the bar."Listen Mum.I've got to go....Lova ya to".

She hung the phone up with a click and looked over at her cousin.She was quite pretty up close without the gun Niamh thought to herself. "Sorry again about the start" She said brushing a lock of red hair behind one ear.