Living the EXO life

1

"CRYSTAL! TIME TO GO!" My mom shouted from downstairs.

I looked around my room for the last time, my cat in my arms and my half-tame fox at my feet.

My cat clawed out of my grip and settled on my shoulders. I sighed.

"COMING EOMMA!" I shouted down the stairs.

I heard my cat suddenly hiss as I turned to see my older brother Jack at the door.

"Come on sis. Time to go."

I nodded and followed him out.
Downstairs, Sky fluttered angrily in her large cage.

"Calm down Sky. Just for an hour and then you can come out."

The Gyrfalcon ruffled her feathers at me but stopped complaining.

Flash whined at my feet.
"Eomma says there's a forest nearby Flash. You can go play there. Maybe you'll finally find yourself a Vixen."

Willow hissed at Flash.

I sighed.
"Stop arguing, both of you. It's It's a long journey and I don't want to have to put up with the pair of you arguing." Ryan came down with his cross breed dog at his heels. Ryan had a beautiful cross between a German Shepherd and a Husky. Her name was Amber because of her eye colour.

Sophia had her lazy cat Rita draped around her shoulders like a scarf.

Willow jumped onto Sophia and I looked at her.

"Willow! Are you really disowning me?!"

Willow meowed innocently.

I looked at the brown and white tabby.

I looked around.
"Where's Calico? CALICO!"

My calico cat came padding down the steps and intertwined between my legs. I smiled.

"There you are."

Harini came down last. Her fluff ball of a dog came padding down after her. Her dog was basically a pompom. A white pompom with brown patches. The size of a pomeranian but cuter.

"Is that everyone?"

"Where's Jonathan?"

"BOO!"
Jonathan had snuck up behind Harini and had tickled her. She screamed and then hit him repeatedly.

"Don't. Ever. Do. That. Again!"
Harini smacked him on every syllable.

Sophia finally restrained her and Jonathan scooted behind me.

"Aish! It was just and joke."

I laughed.

"Let's go. The sooner we leave the sooner we get there and get this over with."

The eldest nodded and straightened his clothes.
"To the car!" I rolled my eyes at Jonathan and walked out, my animals at my heels.

We plied into the enormous eight-seater, van-worthy car and the animals were placed in the back.

I transformed into a wolf and lay down with them.

You see, my family hid a dangerous secret. We weren't exactly human.

Jack and Jonathan were werewolves and hybrid cross.

Sophia, Harini, Ryan and I were demon and nature hybrid cross.

Being a nature hybrid meant we were honour-bound to protect nature and we could bend the elements. It also enabled us to understand all species of animal.

Which is why we have so many pets.

While Ryan's dog looked like a simple cross-breed, it was actually split. It was a two headed dog with two tails, a German Shepherd and a Husky.

Sophia's cat Rita was actually a demon. So was Willow. Those two were the troublesome twosome.

My fox and Gyrfalcon were normal animals though.

As was Harini's dog.

Jack and Jonathan didn't really have any pets. They were waiting for us to move first.

Flash came and lay down with me while the other animals played.

Eventually they came and set down with us and I drifted off to sleep.

The door to the car suddenly opened and I jolted awake.

"Shhhh." I felt a hand run through my thick fur and I looked up to see Jack.

I shifted back to human.

"Try and be a bit quieter next time."

He grinned.
"We're here."

I groaned and got out the car. The animals followed after me.

I gaped at the large building in front of me.

"A mansion. That's a new one."
Willow noted, leaping onto my shoulder.

Sky fluttered onto my other shoulder

"Too right. The place is huge. Perfect for flying."

"No flying in the house Sky, you know the rules."

Sky pecked me gently. That was her way of pouting.

"Maybe."

"Will they let a wild fox like me in the house?"

Flash asked, slowly approaching me with his tail between his legs.

I crouched down, making Willow jumped onto the ground and Sky take off.

"Flash. You are the most amazing fox in the world. They could never turn you away. So you walk in there with your head held high and your tail high and proud. If they don't want you I will fight for you. Of course you're staying while I'm alive."

He raised his head and removed his tail from between his legs, flicking it so the fur ripples in the breeze.

I stood up, smiling.

"Let's go."

My mom knocked on the door and it was opened by a pretty, middle-aged woman.

She smiled brightly when she saw us.
"You must be the children. You've grown so much, why you four quadruplets were about 2 when we last saw you. So beautiful and handsome. Welcome. And I see you have pets."

I stepped forward.
"Miss-"

"Please, call me Aunt May."

"Aunt May, I'm Crystal. I was wondering if Flash would be able to stay. He isn't really a pet and is only half tame but he is clean and doesn't make a mess."

"Maybe I see him?"

I nodded as Flash walked up nervously.

She gasped.
"A fox?!"

I nodded.

"Could I-?"

"He won't bite. I found him caught in a hunter's trap and help him. Slowly tamed him after that. Would I be able to keep him? He doesn't go after other pets."

"Of course. He's such after handsome thing. Your Gyrfalcon will be able to fly around indoors as well."

I smiled and bowed.
"Thank you."

She laughed.
"No need to thank me. You are all like family."

She stood away from the door so I could go in.

"You might have to debate for your fox with my sons and nephews though. They aren't as easy to convince."

"Then I'm glad I came prepared."

She smiled.
"You are just what my boys need. Inside, 4th door on the right."

I nodded and followed her directions before opening the doors, Sky on my shoulder and Flash by my feet. Sophia must be with the cats. She was always the cat-lady.

What I saw next shocked me to death.