Page 8 of Catch a Tiger

Chapter 3

Vix

Your family is gone. I came here foryou.

Vix blinked and realized she must have dozed off. The uneasy feeling of a half-remembered dream faded away as she looked down at the wolf pelts she’d finished skinning. Starting the process of preserving it to wear was always time-consuming but soothing.

Without her own fur, she had to steal it to ward against the brutal winter weather. Vix found something ironic about that, but she wasn’t sure why.

Vanya brushed against her side as she attached the pelts to the frames. Removing the old ones for the mountain lion to turn into beautiful coats, pants, and blankets was mindless, calming work. It washed away the last bit of uncomfortable feelings that fading dream had left her with.

“Have you eaten?” she asked the mountain lion, tossing the finished pelts in the box for Vanya to deal with when she decided to shift back to human.

The wolf meat was delicious as always, the other shifter told her as they walked out of the large dirt room together where Vix processed all her furs.

It was so hard to get the stench of angel blood out of them sometimes.

A den for a shifter who couldn’t shift hadn’t been easy to make, but Vix had her magic to help dig the tunnel underground. Making it tall enough had been a complicated task she’d needed science and magic for, but now she had a human-sized den with multiple rooms that was safe from the winter wind, predators, and prying eyes.

There was a book she’d read once that had always stuck with her – one about a family of foxes who stole from the humans, and they’d had this elaborate underground den…

She’d always wanted that for herself, and now she finally had it.

Vanya followed her into the dirt workroom she used to practice magic.It’s trading day.

“It is.” She grinned and scooped up the necklaces teeming with charms, eyeing the way they sparkled even in the dim light. “Are you staying for a while?”

A few weeks. Vanya brushed against Vix’s hip affectionately before turning to head toward the main living space.If that’s fine with you.

“My den is your den,” she murmured, slipping the magic into a small pack before following the mountain lion. “It might be a while before I’m back.”

Vix grabbed the white leggings that wicked moisture and retained heat, slipping them on as she pushed back memories of a different den…one that was made of rock instead of dirt.

This was her life now. Until she found her missing pieces, all her work had to be simple. Kenji knew that – he knew better than anyone how easily she could get distracted.

Her white, long-sleeved shirt was next, and it was skintight to keep her stupid human flesh warm enough not to get damaged.Shoving her hunter’s boots on next, she eyed Vanya as she slumped onto the bed piled high with furs in the corner.

“Do you need anything while I’m out?” Vix asked, reaching for the fur pants Vanya had made for her.

Donuts.

Rolling her eyes, she yanked on her fur coat. “I don’t think that’s aneed, but I’ll consider it.”

If she could trade for it, but Vix wasn’t going to step foot into a human town if she could help it. Occasionally, she’d take on a job, but only if she didn’t have to go into the city. Once a year was quite enough.

I don’t need you fussing over me, Vanya snarled softly, golden eyes glowing as she watched Vix slip the pack onto her back.

She tipped her head back and smirked at the moody mountain lion. “Then go hang out in someone else’s den.”

It was a miracle they hadn’t killed each other yet, but Vanya was pack. They took care of each other.

Try not to ruin that set of furs,Vanya muttered.What good is all your magic if you can’t even get blood out?

Vix sighed and tugged on her matted hair. “If you see Kenji…”

Just go. Vanya stretched on top of the furs, looking like she was going to do nothing but nap all day.I’ll tell the raven you miss him.

Flashing the sleepy lion a grin, she didn’t waste time, running out of the main room and through the long tunnel leading up to the hole under the tree. She’d carved into the earth for a long time before she’d been satisfied with all the rooms.

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