Just as he said that, four pairs of feet thumped up the stairs and Noah yelled, “Stop right there!”
There was some cursing, and then Kit slunk inside seeming contrite. “Sorry!”
“Yeah, less speed. Besides, this is your house, and Derek and Cal’s. You should be the one telling the others how to behave,” Noah said in a patient tone.
That was one of the things Derek loved about shifters. They always took care to raise the kids together, and nobody got offended if you scolded or corrected an adolescent member of the group.
“Uh, yeah, thanks,” Kit said, turned to the three taller boys who were still in the small entryway. “Make sure your feet are clean and then come in.”
The boys smiled, made a point of wiping their feet on the round rag rug they stood on, and then walked in at a more sedate pace.
Soon after, Maxim followed them, took his shoes off, and came to sit with everyone else.
The large Russian was a hard nut to crack. He seemed kind but wary, always looking for any sign of deceit. Derek wondered what he’d been through to make him like that.
“Mikael says, if you need anything from store, let him know. Grocery run time tomorrow,” Maxim half-grunted in his usual style.
“Oh, right. How do you grocery shop for such large group of people?” Derek asked, and Noah started to explain the process.
Suddenly Kit lifted his hand and froze, then slowly tilted his head to the side.
All the shifters turned into statues and listened with intent. Then Kit clambered from his seat and ran outside.
“Cal?” Derek whispered.
“Yeah. Boys, let’s eat and clear out,” Noah said quickly. He drained his coffee and glanced at Derek. “Do you need anything specific from the store? If not, I can make sure you get the regular stuff we’d bring here anyway.”
“Nothing comes to mind,” Derek said and thought a bit. “No, actually, add chocolate to the list.” It was a comfort thing, so sue him.
Maxim grinned. “Finnish chocolate is the best.”
A bit surprised at the expression, Derek nodded at the tiger. “I can’t wait to taste it then.”
In five minutes, everyone was out and on their way back to the other farm. It was funny that this house was even called a farm, really. It hadn’t had any farm animals in decades and while there was a spot that might’ve been a field back in the day, it was now overgrown and the trees were ten, maybe fifteen feet tall.
Derek waited until the yard was quiet before going outside. Without any extra senses, he hoped he could still find Kit and Cal somehow.
He peered everywhere from the airing holes in the foundation of the house to the nooks and crannies of the outbuilding.
Finally, he gave up. “Kit, can you show me where you are?” he called out.
A moment later, he heard a rustling, then a tiny sand-colored head with massive ears peeked out from inside a… currant bush? Kit chattered at him in fox speak, which he didn’t understand at all.
“Is he okay?” Derek asked as he slowly approached the bushes on the edge of the yard. He’d noticed them, of course, but hadn’t really paid attention to them because they didn’t look like they’d produce any berries anymore.
Kit nodded.
“Okay. He must be hungry.”
Kit nodded again.
“I’ll cut up some meat that’s in the fridge. I’ll leave it in a bowl in the kitchen. Try to get him inside.” He looked up. “Seems like it’s going to rain soon.”
Kit chattered again, this time almost questioningly.
Derek wondered what he was trying to say. “I’ll go into my—his room and read or take a nap. I won’t come out unless you come tell me it’s okay.”
That seemed to have been Kit’s question, because he nodded and pulled himself back into the tangled bush where somewhere, a Scottish wildcat hid from Derek and maybe, the whole world.
