Moira.

  I have an extra spring in my step after finding the money. I feel bad that I could not find it's owner, but I am thrilled to have lucked into an easy meal and new attire. I do see what Eve was meaning, the bold yellow dress truly does draw too much attention. It stands out too much among the others. I want to blend. I need to be as they are. So I roam around the streets looking at signs on buildings and wondering how exactly to go about finding better camouflage. I feel bold, and I approach a middle aged female.

        "Hello. I notice you are dressed lovely. I am not from here, nor familiar with these buildings. Do you know any affordable buildings to buy attire from?" I curse myself for my stiff dialect, but communication with most humans still makes me nervous.

        "So formal and charming. Yes. That dress is overwhelming my dear. But let me let you in on a secret." Her mouth scratches wide and she leans into my ear. "Everything I wear is thrifted. Bargains, honey. Let me put you on." I grin at her playful demeanor and happily trot along to wherever this alpha lady leads me. Her presence is demanding, and people acknowledge and take note of her as we pass. I admire this, and strive to present myself in such a way too.

         "I'm Moira by the way!"

         "Aislaine. Pleasure to meet you."

         Inside this store, I noticed a difference immediately in how I am perceived and the prices of the contraptions on the shelves. Others actually smile at us and nod as if we are familiar, those emotions don't scurry quickly as the fierce little lady side eyes them. She holds my hand and leads me around, asking questions that I often do not know the answer too. What is my bra size? Pants size? What is my style? She laughs when I lightheartedly told her I was feral, and my style was pretty much dirt and leaves. She slaps my shoulder and snorts, and her reaction makes me do the same.

        I am slow at math, having rarely had to use it past counting in my home life, but I keep track carefully of the prices of things she helps me with. I even point out several items similar to those she currently wears and she approves and puts them in her own basket. I make a mental note to grab a hair brush, something she tells me I need to polish my hair.

        She gives me unbelieving looks when I fail to call a garment by the correct name, or when I am slow to try them on. I feel bad, but I finally just tell her that I grew up a cult and we all rarely wore clothing or were allowed out. Not the answer I wanted to give, but close enough if the books I had read were accurate. I just needed a good cover for why I do not know typical human things, and so far this seems to be working.

         "So were your parents abusive?" She asked, her eyes portraying her concern.

          "Most certainly not, just terribly busy. Everyone had jobs and we spent most of the time gardening, preserving or hunting. They both also had other families and those children were younger than me." She lightens a bit.

          "Oh thank goodness. I was afraid they were cruel to you. I'm proud of you though, it takes courage to leave everything you've known and venture out here." This warms my heart and I feel lighter knowing that somebody understands just a pinch of my struggle to get here, and my anxieties.

          "Thank you, it feels so good to actually tell somebody this. I've been here for days now and so far everyone but like two people have looked at me like I have seven heads. It's been tough."

          "I couldn't imagine. Say, have you found work yet? Where are you staying?" I am too afraid to actually tell her where I've been staying, so I lie.

          "I met a girl the first night here who let me stay in her home, as for work I am trying to get on at Treats and Trestise."

           "Nice! I wish you luck, my dear Aislaine. Should you need work, or a place to stay I would gladly take you." I squint at her, suspicious for a moment and she diffuses with a smile.

           "I'm not going to lie to you, I have a boy your age who would eat you up." She laughs and I laugh uncomfortably too in hopes of seeming less off put.

            I take the flip flops and the tennis shoes, a brush, two pairs of jeans and a few shirts to the register to check out. The thought amuses me that I picked up so much terminology from her, in such short time. Mentally, I applaude myself for bring such an intelligent wolfie and learning as I go. I also cheer myself for being so easy on my money. I carefully selected the lowest priced items of each set she tossed at me. I have to admit, these seem much better. I looked like snybofy else in these. I blend. Even if she weirded me out at the last, I am super grateful and I decide to cover the few items she has, having already calculated them in my mind.

          "Oh! Thank you darling, you did not have to do that. I know ypur budget is tight." She pulls my arm and turns me into a hug as we load the bags.

          "You are welcome! You more than earned it helping my clueless self snd using your time. It means so much to me."

          "Now, there's a mix of stuff in there. Casual tops and dressy. These things I had picked were what I had intended to buy you myself. You see, you need interview clothes too. They differ from regular, and you NEED A BRA SIS. You can not show up to that interview just free boobing it." I snort.

           "Free boobing?"

           "Immature little turd. Is that what you took away?" She smacks my shoulder and we giggle. "That's a bralette by the way, since we didn't know your size cup I grabbed a medium."

          "I drink from all cups, I don't mind the size?" She snorts this time.

           "You have much to learn, but you are so bubbly and sweet. Ah. You have to at least come home with me for dinner."

           "Are you sure?" I really don't want to, but she's been so helpful and the promise of food is enticing.

          "Positive! Now come with me, let's get you to the house and cleaned up for dinner."

           We walk from the shop, down the street and around a corner to a 'parking lot'. She leads us to a sleek black machine and with a press of a button the back opens and she sits the bags in. She motions me inside the front and I have no idea how to open the door, but after a few hilarious fails I figure it out. Once inside, I immediately freak out when it begins to move. It's a strange feeling, and the objects out the window move so fast. I clutch the door handle and she laughs as she saws the 'wheel' as she calls it, around.

         "Calm down Aislaine, we don't live far from here."

         "It is my-my first time in a car..."

         "This is hilarious! I'm glad to be the one to pop your car cherry."

         "What is that? I'm hungry. I would eat cherries from in here if I could find them." I sniff a lightly, but I do not scent anything edible.

          "It's a sex joke. Damn girl, you really are lost in this society eh? You've got a lot of slang and perversion to learn if you're to make it here."

          "This is turning out to be a lot more complicated than I had thought."

          "Yeah, humans are pretty complex. They can take anything and make it into a headache it seems." I tilt my head.

          "Yes dear, I know you are werewolf. I'm not human either, but my scent is masked. Are you familiar with vampires?"

           "Yes, but I've never met any."

           "Now you have, and you are about to meet several more." She pulls out her phone. "I'm texting Charles to let him know we have a guest and to out out human foods. We have several friends who live with us and we feed eachother. It's nice not to have to hunt so often." My heart beats rapidly, but I force it back to regular rhythm. I don't trust her, it any of this. I try to stay calm and clear headed though, so I can improvise if a bad situation comes from this.

           "That's interesting, and beneficial to both parties. I would like not having to hunt constantly myself, as it's certainly tough in this city. I tried venturing into the woods by the park, but I made enemies there."

           "City Wolves?" I nod.

           "Yeah, those were the ones."

           "You'll need to watch for that faction, they love to cause trouble. They aren't the only ones either. There are several other 'packs' here that rival one another."

            "They told me something among the lines of 'lone wolves are tolerated' and tried to force me into coming with them."

            "They do typically kill those they can't convert, but I have a feeling you are a fiesty one." She winks and I perk up.

            We pull up outside a large, white house with tons of square green shrubs and several purple ground covers in bloom. She parks the car and turns it off, and I fumble for a moment to let myself out. I follow slightly behind and to her side with the bags, as she makes her way to the door and lets us in.

             Now I smell the vampires, the food, and the human guests. The ceilings are high in here, and dark wood and neutral colors coat and trim each wall. Here and there are bits if stone, and I admire it. It gives me a bit of peace to see more natural elements. We finally settle into a room where she instructs me to sit on a piece of plush furniture. It's cozy and I feel like I sink right in. I whine a little in delight and she chuckles.

          "First time on a sofa?" She inquires.

           "Yes I-"

            "Your first time was on the sofa? Did I pop in at the wrong time?" A slender man of about six feet appears out of nowhere and I am up on my feet in an instant to back up Moira.

             "You're wasting ypur dirty humor on this one I'm afraid. Aislaine, meet Charles. Charles is my love." Her smile broadens and Charles winks deviously as he unabashedly admires his partner's figure.

              "I see you've gotten yourself a guard dog. Does she bite?" He sneers at me, and I realize quickly that he is not fond of my kind.

             "Do be kind. I like Aislaine, we've enjoyed our time today."

            "As you wish darling. Might I asked how you met Aislaine?"

            "Certainly! I followed her around town. A male wolf dropped money for her and I became intrigued when she sniffed it and couldn't find it's owner. Girl was obviously broke and new here, and she was worried about it's owner. I found that adorable. I wanted to watch her. I moved along soon and she spotted me and complemented me after asking about clothing shops. I never get to shop with other females so I jumped on the chance. I invited her home, and here we are. She tried to pay for my things! Isn't she sweet?"

          "I suppose she is much more charming than the others I've encountered. She seems pleasant and harmless. Where will she be staying?"

          "I'm actually just here for dinner and to spend the evening, afterwards I'll have to return home. I'm supposed to meet a friend in the morning." They smile at me too widely and my hair raises.

         "Let's get you upstairs to the shower. I'll show you how to work it and we'll wash that dress. You'll get to meet our son soon over dinner. I can't wait." I follow her up the stairs with a scowl. I like dinner, but I've little interest in meeting the male.