If people want to join our community, we vote on it. If you don't want us or we don't want you, you will have to leave Protection territory. We have a...good, safe community but won't tolerate liars or cowards."Jeff looked troubled. Alice, the younger of the two girls, spoke up, "The brothers aren't much. They didn't listen when Millie tried to get them to take precautions. Those two men raped us." She looked at me and said, "If you hadn't killed them, I would have taken the chance or died. For instance, she wasn’t ready for the fact that transforming into a dog would start affecting her perceptions, not just her shape. Her sense of smell became much sharper, and dog-like instincts drove her to try to sniff everything.As a dog, Maya felt Sonia’s ownership much more keenly, at an almost visceral level. She kept tracking her with her eyes, basking in her presence and approval. Smelling her made her feel safe, and she kept licking her dirty running shoes and burying her nose against. A slow smile developed on my face as I gazed at her. I realized that this was one of the people that were important to me. I would give anything to this person, including my life. I watched the others arrive quickly and gather at the end of the couch next to Juri-sensei. I looked into the eyes of each one and saw someone that was just as important to me as the breath of life itself. I was saddened by the missing three, but knew there would full payment for their loss. I smiled at each of them. Monday morning, instead of heading to my office, I went to Darwin Architects, where Elsa worked. I asked for her at the reception desk, and got an icy cold stare from the receptionist. She told me, “Ms. Conners will not be in this week.”“Do you know how I can get in touch with her? It’s a personal not a business situation I need to talk to her about.” I tried to sound sincere. I was well dressed and hoped that my professional image might persuade the receptionist to help me.“No.” There was a.