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Part six

The next few days were a rough mix of tantrums and tears as Reya slowly came to terms with her status in life, no longer being beaten and raped for the slightest misdeed brought tears of gratitude to her eyes.

"REYA I thought I told you to wipe your paws when you came in?" Anne scolded as she mopped up some prints again

Throwing her hands up in the air Anne cried out silently "each time I make progress I take two steps back, give me strength.

Falling back away from Reya to give her some space Anne spoke again.

"I'm not mad Reya, I'm annoyed I have asked you before to wipe your paws please stand up and come out of the corner, I'm not going to hit you. You KNOW that. So calm down and stop crying."

Slowly Anne's words sunk into Reya's fear rattled mind as she stood blood dripping from her paws where her grip had cut into them.

Anne's sharp nose detected the blood as Reya stood and put the knife down by her side.

"Ah crap you cut your hands again didn't you, well go rinse them off and put some bandages on them least I know you keep that blade clean, once you do that wipe off your feet and mop up your prints.

"No". Reya replied shortly, before Anne cleared her throat a quiet warning about politeness

"I mean no Anne."

"Better but I do wish you'd warm to us a little more ah well I will pick you up at 3:30 this afternoon behave be good and be friendly." the emphasis places on the friendly was noticeable, forcing sociability on the girl was probably the only way they'd get her out of this shell.

Nodding Reya walked into the school her odd appearance drawing looks that she tried to ignore at the doors to the school a few police officers stood by some holding hand held metal detectors and others quick searching other students. Snarling silently Reya walked into the school through the detector, before setting it off with her blade.

"Stop Mrs. Over here." A younger officer said as her pulled her aside physically.

Wrenching her arm free of the officers Reya snarled out, "grab me again and I'll bite it off."

Raging as she was patted down by the female officer Reya howled at the indignity and when her blade was discovered the officer suddenly got nasty.

"Well well what have we here little scab girl going to kill her normal schoolmates?"

Twisting Reya's arm around her back a position it was not designed to go Reya screamed in pain...

"STOP IT you're hurting me my arm doesn't bend that way."

"Shut it girl your in big trouble."

Howling as her other arm was pulled behind her and placed inside a nylon handcuff.

Tearing up with pain and forced to her knees by it, Reya continued to howl and scream for several reasons. The agony in her arms as they were forced into an unnatural position and worse the casual mistreatment she was receiving caused the schools principal to come running expecting to see a scab having hurt a norm.

"What's going on here Officers?" the newcomer asked

"Caught this dog scab trying to smuggle in a knife, we're just doing our job."

"Then why is she screaming like that."

"She's muttering about something her arms I think.."

By this point Reya's arms were being badly strained, her arm ligaments being pulled out of position but her inner fire reignited.

Fighting her way to her feet and using her newly flexible spine Reya managed to get her arms back in front of her easing the strain.

As for the nylon cuffs, having the most powerful jaws in the mammal world can come in useful a quick snap and a gnash resulted in her freeing herself.

"Listen you fucking asshole give me my blade!" Digging into her small, annoyingly pink purse she dug out the small card she had been issued with by the judge. A card that went everywhere with her as did the wolf-blade.

Seeing a hyena girl who had managed to free herself, and who was now bristling with unbridled rage hurling the card at the officer who had accosted her she approached him carefully repeating her earlier statement her teeth grinding visibly with each word. Catching the card awkwardly in his off hand the male officer prepared to defend himself.

Snarling Reya dug her own semi blunt claws into her paw.

And waited...

Checking the card the officer passed it to his compatriot who passed it to the principal who nodded, and retrieving the knife from the officer handed it to Reya before beckoning her to follow him.

With the drama of her entry behind her Reya stopped snarling and returned to her previous cautious state as she followed the principal to his office.

Having read her notes from Phil and the psychiatrist at the hospital,

Mr. Roth knew what he was dealing with and didn't make any conciliatory actions.

"Reya I'm sorry about what happened I meant to get there to greet you and get you passed security. I'm aware of your situation and that you've only recently scabbed over.. I won't make any pointless remarks nor will I say anything concerning your past to the students. I will merely make it know that you have permission to keep the blade with you at all times. Sadly we don't have any public school records for you and your tutors reports are sketchy so I will have to have you tested before I can place you in your courses

Nodding Reya stood and walked off.

The first few days of school were rather boring being sent to the resource room to take a battery of tests was not what Reya had in mind for her public school education, but was unfortunately required. Fortunately she tested at average or above enabling her to be placed with her peer group. Life at home was not an easy situation either.

Having her foster mother in the room while she showered was hard enough but actually needing help for her back was pure torture.

Anne was understanding and maintained her distance, offering support and guidance Even though her heart ached to take this poor child into her arms and heart.

Reya was not a disobedient child mostly out of fear; any scolding could send the girl into hysterics, so dealing with her had to be done in calm tones and with the utmost patience.

Her foster father Carl had little dealings with her maintaining a presence during the few times she would be in the family room but not approaching her nor attempting to handle her without Reya's express permission. Her mother on the other hand was given a little more leeway.

Reya's mind was slowly coming to the terms of her new life, and while not accepting everything some things had sunk in, she no longer felt sick at eating raw or nearly raw meat (searing it helped the spices stick), And while she still flinched at Carl's entrance she no longer assumed he meant her harm at every opportunity.

It wasn't until the 2nd full week of her residence in the Pizarro home that she felt she still was herself, as that was the day her things arrived from her room at Thornwood

"REYA!" Carl yelled up stairs trying to get the reclusive hyena girls attention.

Reya had been napping in the window bay in her room when she heard her name bellowed across the house and while Carl meant nothing other then a harmless summons recently awakened, Reya's hyena instincts took control and propelled her four on the floor down the stairs.

Hearing the rapid patter of feet Carl winced inwardly as he thought about what he had inadvertently done.

Reya darted down the stairs and slammed into the wall near the door with tooth rattling force, and while her dense muscular body withstood the impact without damage it did serve to finish waking her up

"Oww." Reya muttered as she sat back on her haunches. "All fours is fine for running but bad for stopping, you called Mr. Pizarro?" She asked fear causing her voice to tremble.

"Reya your stuffs here the delivery guy wants to know where you want it, looking at her crumpled form aside the wall her added ..."sorry for startling you."

"May I put the forge parts in the back yard sir?"

At Carl's nod she directed the delivery man to put her safe and her personal things in her room while another took the anvil and her tools to a small corner in the back yard.

After the delivery man had left Reya headed out to the allocated spot for her forge. A small section of lawn near the back of the yard. Building her forge from scratch "Anne?" "Yes Reya dear," her foster mother said her arms deep in a mess of dough, over the weeks Anne had worked up a fair bit of trust with the girl, always on Reya's conditions, but occasionally when tired or really pleased a 'mom' would occasionally escape Reya's usually scowling lips Anne treasured these fleeting moments and never was to busy to speak to the girl she was increasingly beginning to think of less as her fosteree and more of as her daughter.

"I'm not going to ask what your doing to that dough, but I was going to ask if it's ok maybe could I visit the bar again I liked it there, and Mr. Phill said I should be safe enough.

"I don't mind if you go out but you'll have to let us know in advance and maintain your curfew as well as making sure your homework's done..."

"Yea I was thinking about that, I know you need to keep close watch on me because I'm a criminal?" Reya's eyes darkened as she spoke this.

Noting the dangerous change in Reya's tone Anne pulled her gloved paws from the pile of goo and asking silent permission from the girl gave her a brief embrace leaving doughy globs on Reya's neck fur.

"We don't consider you a criminal Reya we may have to report to a judge and your social worker didn't think, but when did you want to go to the bar?"

"Maybe Wednesday after school?"

Nodding to Reya Anne replied that she would talk to Carl about it and they would work something out about her going out.

Even when the amount of dough is small it takes a fair while to clean out of fur especially when the arms of the bather can't reach nor bend in the required direction..

Muttering under her breath Reya pressed the small intercom her foster father had installed, for the most part they now trusted her and a compromise was reached concerning her observation during bathing, most the time she was permitted to bath with only minimal assistance unless she had been upset or angry this compromise was only because"Anne.... ANNE can you please come help me......I.. I cant reach the goo..." as embarrassing as it was still to have to ask for help she at least knew her 'mother' wasn't going to take advantage of the situation at least not for more then a chance to chat without Reya finding an escape.

Anne replied she would be right there leaving Reya to fume and turn her soaked fur towards the wall away from Anne her ears down and her tail low.

"Whewy smells like a wet hyena in here, Seeing Reya ears were down she stopped her good natured tease and approached slowly. "You ok hon?" she asked inviting the child to unburden herself. Reya was prone to mood swings sometimes rather violently but she never took out her anger out on herself much to the relief of her parents and the judge who still held control over her fate, nor did she take it out on others using her ever present blade in anger.

No her anger was directed at objects that had no value and could always be fixed or replaced bar stock was her favored target smashing it against her anvil tell her rage ended and she could focus.

" Anne "Reya whispered her mind slipping while deep in thought. I'm just annoyed about needing help bathing it bugs me.."

Seeing there was no risk in the situation Anne took the opening to give a gentle lecture.

"You know Reya its not a bad thing to need help sometimes in something, Carl " she paused before adding a subtle reminder, "your father has to help me with keeping my tail free of tangles. Its cheaper then going to a groomer I tend to be too gentle to clean them out," she smiled considering what the grooming usually led too, shaking the pleasant memory away she continued "The fact that you need a little help scrubbing your back doesn't make you weak."

Anne continued in this vein while she worked the shampoo deep into the thick ruff of fur at her daughters neck and back before rinsing it off and handing the brush back to her daughter who gently waved it away her left ear upright and listening even though her head was lowered, taking the implied permission Anne continued to help her daughter scrub the rest of her back nothing but love and concern in her gestures.

"Is there anything else bothering you that I can help with?" Anne asked as she topped up the hot water in the tub.

Turning around to face Anne Reya raised her head, a mischievous look in her eyes something rarely seen.

"No thank you mom," she said extending her arms for a embrace.

Having her daughter reach out to her and use the affectionate term of mom should have raised some alarms, but Anne was just happy and didn't see it coming. Receiving the hug from the wet hyena Anne smiled happily before Reya used her greater strength to pull Anne into the tub before leaping out and running off dripping wet, but laughing, a happy hyena laugh, the first true laugh they had heard from her since she had been in there home.

Anne began to laugh herself once she realized that it didn't seem there was any malice in Reya's act.

Reya ran out of the house dodging on all four's out to her forge after shaking off in the garden she stoked her forge's fires and warmed up. Her happy mood showing itself as she began some simple forgings. Glad to be in the heat as her fur dried off.

Anne pulled herself out of the tub, angry but not mad how she could be mad at a prank that had no lasting effects nor did any real harm, but gave her foster daughter a bit of joy. Toweling off she shook her head and went to hunt the miscreant down.

Noting the paw prints in sets of four Anne began walking out to the back yard where Reya had likely gone when a scream and a sudden flare caused her to burst into a run. Sprinting over to the moving flare Anne took in the scene in an eye blink.

Reya was in trouble something had happened her arm was burning and she was mad with pain.

Still smiling Reya put some bar stock in her forge to heat it preparing to do a rod and bar weld sword an older style made from non folded metal more brittle but far easier to make. Shoving the cold metal into the hot forge Reya disturbed a pocket of air or something else. Something caused her fire to surge catching her by surprise she pulled the metal from the forge showering her off arm with hot coals and igniting her dry fur her natural oils furthering the fire in seconds her whole arm was alight screaming Reya ran outside agony filling her mind.

Sprinting towards her Anne body checked her running daughter into the ground smothering the fires on her arm with the damp towel Anne had around her...

"Don't move Reya your hurt not sure how bad." Picking up the extinguished hyena and moving into the house Anne could see Reya's fur on her arm had been burned off almost to a hair the once pale skin underneath now red with Carl was due back from work momentarily and she and he would take her,

Upon Carl's arrival Anne brought him up to speed as they headed out Reya whimpering

Once booked into the E.R Reya was seen relatively swiftly. fortunately for all concerned her burns were mostly superficial and easily treated.

Once dosed with painkillers and able to think coherently, Reya stirred while the doctor was treating her arm

"Wha What about the fur, will it grow back." she asked a faint note of anxiety in her wavering voice.

"Fortunately for you Reya Thornwood, unlike human skin which doesn't grow hair well after scarring animal skin is much less affected by the damage it will grow back.

But I'm curious as to how it happened?"

While Reya and her mother related the incident and the cause thereof Reya broke in a sudden concern on her mind.

"Mrs. Pizarro? Your your not mad at me for pulling you in the bath are you," Reya asked her jowl raising in a semi querulous snarl.

"No no I'm not mad at you, angry yes but we will deal with that later. Right doc fix her up and I'll need a copy of the report for her social worker."

Nodding the doctor wrapped her arm in a tight medicated wrap and gave her a sling.

"Use the sling to keep from jostling the arm to much and the wrap and medicated spray will help the burns heal without much scarring I'll give you some pills for the pain as well but don't take more then two a day .

Reya did go to school the next day wearing her bandage and a long sleeved dress, something she still despised, her schoolmates teasing her for her excessively formal cloths. Their teasing soon stopped as she unsheathed her dagger and smiling with her ears and tail, placed it in front of her at each class, as though challenging the schoolmates to push her.Her health teacher a Mrs. Schmidt drew her aside during the classes' activity

Mrs. Schmidt was a nice teacher one who was kind and concerned for the wellbeing of her students.

"Reya. I just wanted to ask if you're ok. I noticed you're in a foul temper today and the others seem to be unreasonably hostile, since I know you don't like dresses I'm assuming something's wrong. Want to talk about it?"

"No..... well yea..."

As the pause drew out and Reya remained silent Mrs Schmidt held her tongue and waited practice and patience letting her know when to speak and when to wait.

"I hurt myself." Reya finally said her voice a angry snarl.

Mrs. Schmidt's eyes widened at Reya's confession. but held her peace.

"I was stupid and messed up."

"Did you cut on yourself ? Mrs Schmidt asked aware of Reya's previous experience.

"Reya shook her furred head."

"So it wasn't deliberate?"

Reya nodded.

"so your not forced to wear the gown."

"No its to cover up a bald arm on a stupid bitch of an animal"... Reya returned spitting out the words.

"Um bald..."

"Yea was working on some stuff after being silly, burnt my arm doc's say it'll be ok but its bald hence the dress to cover it up."

After clearing up a few more items Reya was dismissed to return to her class work.

Throughout the day Reya was pulled aside and forced to repeat the explanation to other teachers several of which confirmed Reya's story with a call to her parents.

Muttering as she poked at her arm idly flipping through the entertainment unit that afternoon after school. Waiting until Anne or Carl came home and she could go out, or do something as after she got back from the E.R she was told not to use her forge until her parents said she could.

This restriction was hell for the young girl to deal with. With nothing on T.V Reya began sketching out rough ideas on paper to pass the time until her foster parents came back from their respective jobs, Anne working part time as a receptionist and Carl full time as a technical manager Of an IT Company.

At about four pm the garage door opening brought Reya from her work trance. "Reya you in?" Anne called out as she entered the house calling out to make sure her daughter had made it home and not broken the rules.

A rough grunt was her answer, Anne's own ears tracking the sound to the living room.

"Hello Reya how was sch-" she broke off as she saw her daughter nude and pouting

"Bad day I take it," Anne added noting the unsheathed blade and the sketch pad..

"Reya I don't mind you being nude in the house so that's not an issue but you know no paws on the couch so off."

Muttering Reya dropped her paws to the wood paneled floor her claws clicking

"No muttering Reya. I'm sorry if you had a bad day, but I've been thinking and its time we had a chat,

"wh-what about?"

"several things actually."

"well after the incident with the fire yesterday I've come to the conclusion you need to wear protective gear for working in the forge so I went to the mall and got a leather workers apron for you. You should have adequate protection if your careful."

"As for the other thing your father and I have discussed it and we have decided that the best way to punish you without bringing back memories and making you fear us is clothing and restricting your activities, when you misbehave, Later that evening as the family sat down to dinner Reya's mind was occupied. absently gulping her food and crunching bones without any conscious work on her part.

"Reya pass the salt please," Carl asked as he held out his hand for it.

Reya her eyes blanked seemingly ignored him causing Carl to repeat himself a second and finally he raised his voice.

"Reya!"

Jumping backwards Reya's body dodged an expected attack spilling her drink and knocking over her chair.

"You were miles away dear, didn't mean to scare you. I felt you were ignoring me."

Carl said his voiced lowered and in a tone one would use to try to coax a frightened animal out of its hole.

Still fearful of her 'father' though he had not attempted to harm her or taking advantage of the situation. Reya kept her distance, hand on her ever present knife.

Sighing Carl beckoned her to return to the table and told her to clear up the spillage and take her seat.

"Since I seem to have scared you out of your reverie care to tell us what you were thinking about?" he added pleasantly, concern and caring evident in his voice.

"Ivy." Reya muttered before repeating herself more clearly "I was thinking about ivy."

"Is ivy a girl in your school is she making trouble?" Carl replied his ire beginning to rise. Reya's welfare was foremost in his mind until she was settled, both into her new life and in her mind.

"No".... realizing the shortness of her answer would be unacceptable to Carl and Anne, Reya expanded on her answer adding info new to Carl and Anne.

Reya snarled out the breath she was holding. "Ivy leaves, I'm thinking about something Mr. Jubatus said he's agreed to help me market some of my work.."

"Now Reya I know that someone visited you, but I don't want you taken advantage of "He's not taking advantage of me. Before you got me I signed an agreement with him, One concurrent with my orders from the judge. Wait here."

Dashing off upstairs she recovered the 3000 dollars she received from the sale of the first knife and her copy of the contract.

Once she had returned to the table and sat heavily down in her chair.

Carl's eyes went wide seeing that kind of money negligently tossed around disturbed him.

Intellectually he knew Reya's birth family was RICH but the casual disregard for an amount equal to half his monthly wage was frightening.

"Take it" Reya whispered. "I don't want it, not this lot anyways." I am supposed to work on my blade smithing and I had an idea a, knight's sword, old school. I was thinking I might consider using emerald slivers to do the decorations but I don't know any jewelers."

"So your hobby was distracting you at dinner." Anne queried gently.

Reya nodded. Yes. I'm sorry sir I didn't mean to ignore you, but I was working out how to get a good effect on the ivy leaves along the blade I'm working on. I was thinking Mr. Jubatus might be able to help me find some."

A brief sigh of relief left both parents their daughter wasn't in any school trouble but this Mr. Jubatus bore looking into nodding to each other the parents let the matter rest for now.

Later that evening as Reya had her bath before doing her homework and watching a little T.V before bed.

Carl and Anne discussed this Jubatus fellow with each other. Their discussion lasting well into the night.

End part six