Karma's POV.

Elias hesitated at the doorstep.
I could sense his insecurities and guilt even more.
"We could always go somewhere else" I suggested.
He didn't hear me so I nudged him with my bare foot.
"Elias!"
Elias spun around pulling out his dagger his eyes flashing and a small growl emanating from him.
I took a small step back from him in surprise.
He's human right?
Before I could inspect his eyes he spun around, jaw clenched as he knocked on the door.
"Elias..." I couldn't finish as the door was opened to reveal a couple in they're mid forties.
"Elias! What about your mission!"
"Hey auntie Liz" Elias guiltily smiled back.

Writer's POV.

Elias's uncle's eyes narrowed in on Karma taking in her scrawny yet impressively muscular frame for such a small little girl.
Her wild mess of sandy blonde curls and dirty face covering the freckles beneath giving her a wild look.

"Who is this?" He demanded, bringing a stop to his wife's fretting over Elias.
"Oh goodness gracious! I was so worried about Eli I didn't notice you little munchkin. What's your name?" Liz finally seemed to notice Karma.
"Kit!" Elias quickly hurried to say before clearing his throat under his aunt's curious gaze and his uncle's harsh one.
"She... Uh... Got lost in the woods and... I was wondering if she could stay here with you for awhile to regain her strength before she heads back to her village." Elias gulped under they're studying gaze hoping they would buy his little white lie.

"Why of course Honeykins.
Now come inside you two! It's cold outside and you're without a jacket while she's barefoot! You look like mutts!"
Karma struggled to keep her growl in at Liz's remark as she ushered them inside.

***

The living room had a rather homie like feeling to it till you noticed the dead stuffed wolf hanging above the fireplace, it's mouth still open in a viscious snarl.
Elias gulped and clenched his fists and jaw as he sat on the sofa and stared up at it with glistening eyes.

"These wolves... No, these monsters are the pure incarnation of evil son.
I will not have you drawing them and pretending to be one for "FUN"!" Elias's dad hollered at a younger Elias.
The boy was only five at the time.
"But mom said-"
"Your mom was wrong boy! Look where her beliefs got her? Killed by those beasts she admired! They didn't even leave her bones for us to burry!"

"Elias" Aunt Liz snapped him back to the present with a dish full of oatmeal cookies and a cup of milk.
Elias choked back a sob of the now fading memories.
"Thank you aunt Liz"
"Now, now boy. I thought I told you to call me just Liz? "Aunt" makes me sound so old!" This resulted in a smile tugging at Elias's lips for the very first time in a long while.
"Liz..." He didn't get to finish as Karma came down the steps wearing the nightgown of Elias's deceased cousin Isabel.

Aunt Liz teared up as she brought her hands up to cover her mouth.
"You look just like my little Izzy..."
"Pull yourself together woman" Elias's uncle interrupted his wife's rambling.
He then turned to Karma
"Kit, is it?"
Karma nodded.
"Can't speak huh?"
"She's mute!" Elias butted in.

He didn't want to risk Karma saying something that would give them away.
Uncle Ben turned to Elias "Then how'd she tell you about her family and village?"
"She... Uh..."
"Oh leave these poor children alone Ben! They may be washed and clean now but they're probably still starving and in need of a good nights rest!"
Liz unknowingly came to the boys rescue.
"Alright then. Dinner" announced Ben turning to lead the way into the kitchen.