With Eric, Spencer and Frieda in the back of the town car that Benton was driving; he couldn’t help but notice his daughter whispering in Eric’s and Spencer’s ears. Keeping the conversation low so neither he nor Amanda could hear.
“What are you three whispering about,” Benton asking his daughter.
Frieda grinning answers; “Stuff.”
“What kind of stuff,” Benton smirking; “It’s not more rutting is it?”
“No,” Frieda smiling; “That we are saving for later.”
“Good god,” Amanda sighing.
“Is what you are whispering going to get under your mother’s skin,” Benton asking.
“No. just yours,” Frieda chuckling; “I do have that platinum credit card.”
Amanda couldn’t help but laugh, “there are no stores at the elder council building darling.”
“But there is internet connection,” Frieda answering; “and a computer that allows for internet shopping.”
Benton grumbles and stares at Amanda; “this is your doing, turning our daughter into a shopaholic.”
“Relax,” Amanda laughing; “I doubt Frieda will put a dent in the credit limit. What with having to attend whatever she and Eric need to be present for.”
“Our daughter came close Sunday,” Benton blanching; “Three thousand dollars at Awareness?”
“Most of that were the two suits I got for you,” Frieda answering; “plus I didn’t buy a diamond collar worth twenty grand one day.”
“I haven’t forgotten,” Benton looking at a grinning Amanda.
“It’s not as if you enjoy seeing me wear it,” Amanda smiling; “and nothing else but fur and a happily twitching tail.”
Benton grumbles as he pulls into the parking lot of the elder council building. Picturing Amanda in her were-panthress fursona wearing the diamond collar and seductively beckoning him to bed, did make him smile; Amanda was right, he does like seeing her wearing the flashy piece of jewelry. Getting out of the town car and along with Amanda, escorting the three children to the council entrance hall. Watching them hand over their summons scrolls and eagerly removing their clothes to embrace their fursonas; Benton cocks an eyebrow while Amanda clucks at the total lack of modesty the three just showed.
“You know there are alcoves to change in privacy,” Amanda scowling.
“Unlike you mother,” Frieda answering; “I’m not ashamed at other weres seeing me naked just as I’m shifting into my fursona. Nor am I shy in embracing my furry side,“ Frieda speaking while politely refusing the offered white robe; “It feels natural.”
“Let it go Amanda,” Benton shaking his head; “this is an argument you are not going to win.”
“Really Benton,” Amanda huffing; “this is our daughter, displaying her… assets freely among strangers.”
“It’s no more different,” Frieda shouting; “then you strolling about in your fursona during a were-panther gathering mother.”
Amanda was about to speak up when Benton places a hand on her shoulder; “our daughter has a point. Let it go.”
Amanda grumbles as Frieda grinning through her were-panthress muzzle; taking an arm and draping it over Eric’s shoulder while Spencer does the same on the other side. Eric wrapping his arms around each girl as they walk through the door to the council common area. Before Amanda and Benton leave, they each witness Spencer and Frieda’s tails wrapping and twirling around Eric’s as the three tails gently sway to and fro.
“Now that is love,” Benton remarks; “you cannot deny that Amanda.”
“If only our daughter could act more refined,” Amanda looking stoned face. Waiting to see Benton turn his back; Amanda takes one last look as the door to the common area closes. For one brief moment a smile appears before her lips, before quickly vanishing as she rejoins her husband for a morning at shopping at Awareness.
******
Jean Talbot arrives at the council building with her father waiting for her at the entrance.
“You’re cutting it close Jean,” As the two enter the building; “fortunately Tachibana and several other council members have yet to arrive.”
“Nate’s house is a little farther away from the council building then I thought,” Jean answering; “but I’m still on time.”
“I’ll give you that,” Leon answering; “but today is looking to be just as busy as yesterday.”
“It’s not just Julie’s sentencing phase is it,” Jean removing her clothes and letting her were-lioness fursona out; “there is the fallout from the Luna brotherhood murdering a wer-mer in cold blood as well.”
“That and the murder Julie committed in escaping setting the chaos of yesterday in motion,” Leon speaking as he shifts into his were-lion fursona; “I’m hoping we don’t have this drag into the weekend.”
“Speaking of the weekend,” Jean walking with her father to the common area; “I’m going to join Nate Anderson and his friends for some Christmas shopping in Seattle.”
“Okay,” Leon reading a message that was just handed to him from a were-fox attendant; “anything else?”
“I plan to have Nate spend the night with me,” Jean grins; “in my bedroom.”
“As long as you try to be quite,” Leon grabbing a cup of coffee from the buffet table; “unless of course your plan is to drive Peter to sleep in the woods.”
“At least Nate isn’t going to hit on Peter,” Jean chuckles; “unlike Liv.”
“Your lucky,” Leon laughs; “that your sexually frustrated brother didn’t take your friend right then and there.”
“Mom would of have had a fit,” Jean looking around the common area for someone.
“Who are you looking for,” Leon asking
“Spencer Lawson,” Jean answering; “left a few belongings in Nate’s car yesterday. Nate asked me to hand them over as I was heading to the council building.”
“You know what he looks like,” Leon asking.
“She,” Jean correcting her father; “Spencer is a female black furred werewolf/panther/feline hybrid.”
“Oh,” Leon realizing who his daughter was describing; “with freaky green eyes and hanging around Eric Anderson; a white furred were-panther and Frieda Knight; a grey furred were-panthress, both with freaky green eyes.”
“Those are them,” Jean acknowledging; “you know where they could be?”
“If they are here already,” Leon sipping his coffee; “try the reading room. And let Eric and Frieda know we are going to try and settle Julie’s Statue 1A sentencing as quickly as possible. No need for them to be here any longer than necessary. ”
Jean leaves her father and heads to the reading room; Entering the small library with a couple of computers, she sees the three weres in question huddled over a computer each commenting on what they are looking at.
“Excuse me,” Jean getting their attention; “can I have a moment with you three?”
“About what,” Eric being the first to ask.
“You brother asked me to hand over some items Spencer left in his car yesterday,” Jean approaching and handing over a purse and cellphone to the three.
“You’re seeing my brother, “Eric asks; “I though Nate was dating Liv?”
“Liv is my friend,” Jean smiling; “she made the mistake of introducing me to Nate. I’ve quite taken to your werewolf brother.”
“That’s nice,” Eric unable to find anything else to say; “anything else?”
“My dad Leon Talbot,” Jean mentioning; “said that the council will try to conclude Julie’s Statue 1A proceeding quickly. That way you three will be out of here as quick as possible.”
“Then we better finish this quick,” Frieda responding.
“What is it you’re trying to do,” Jean speaking; “if you don’t mind me asking?”
“Online shopping for some Christmas presents,” Frieda answering; “for my parents and grandparents.”