Born a were, the woman with ocean-blue eyes has always been aware of the natural dangers. Despite the radiant smile and carefree spirit, Ren remembers well the lessons her parents taught her, heeded their cautionary words when it came to the outside world. After all, nowhere else (that she has heard of or been to, that is) was like the were village her family came from, safely hidden away within the tallest mountains of Japan. Thousands of miles away from any human town, city, or countryside and thousands more from Sacrosanct, there had been no need to worry about being seen or discovered. From the stories her mother and father would tell the were woman since she was very young, it was as though the villages in which their family had lived for several generations alongside others whose own ancestors first came to find sanctuary were an entire world away from all others. There were no dark hunters to flee from, no undead lurking in the shadows of nightfall, no witches or warlocks wandering those quiet mountain peaks, no fae folk daring to try and make settlement within the dense and ancient forests that reached for the heavens, and above all else, no humans to be cautious of as it was always with the presence of humans that the other supernatural races always seemed trail after. It was there that all weres shifted freely among one another, each knowing that they were safe to do so and none feeling that very need driven by self-preservation to keep their human forms during daylight hours for fear of being discovered, hunted, and slain like their kind has been since the very first Old Ones walked the earth. When the were woman thinks back to those tales and tendrils of her family's history and origin, she often feels a familiar sense of subtle surprise at the thought that her parents would leave such a safe place for the outside world where their existence was less than welcomed a large majority of the time.

She knows that they'd wanted her to see more than just the world they'd lived their youthful years in despite the dangers, and Ren was entirely grateful to her parents for the risks they'd taken in making the long journey from those mountains and into the unfamiliar and foreign and the challenges they overcame each day simply existing alongside humans as well as the other races, all to give her a richer, fuller life.

And so, she'd been careful, just as the were woman knows her mother and father would want her to be. Of all the beautiful souls she'd met along the way, not one of them knew what Ren was. Although she was far from the secretive or deceptive type, she'd always been sure to keep that part of herself quietly hidden beneath the surface. They would either know her as the friendly feline who'd padded into their world unexpectedly, or the petite woman with silken obsidian hair and ocean-blue eyes so very unique and belonging only to her. Never has she shifted before the eyes of others, and there was likely a chance that the were woman never would. There was something almost... sacred in the shifting between forms in front of another soul. She'd been told since she was little that it was something that the rest of the world should never know, that it should only be shared between family blood and soulmates. So deeply ingrained into the were woman was this understanding of what it was to be were, of how the outsiders would see her kind, it was almost entangled with her very nature and instinct to guard that one piece of herself. She would give her heart and soul to those she came to know as friends and love unconditionally, but despite the openness of her heart to the world beyond the protective embrace of her parents and the haven they'd made for her as well as themselves in that small town so very far from the city, Ren has kept this small piece of who she was to herself. It wasn't a matter of trust, especially when she knew that it was only a matter of time that someone would discover that the feline and the fair-skinned were woman with ocean-blue eyes were the same creature. No, Ren knows that it was only a matter of time before Bjorn, Raven, and Mayuza would find out - if they haven't already. If anything, she was somewhat surprised (and a little amused, even) that none of the dark hunters seemed to fully grasp that the pretty cat they'd found in the southern district yesterday wasn't a true cat... but, perhaps this was because of the heaviness her ocean-blue eyes had seen reflecting within the depths of their gazes. Even now, she could very much feel the pressing of their wariness upon her spirit, and it stirs in the were woman a sadness and curiosity.

She's seen many tired and lost souls in the years she's spent traveling across the states. Some she'd been able to comfort and lift their burdens, if only for a little while, and others she could do little more than hope for a soft smile from. Yet, looking into Bjorn, Raven, and Mayuza's eyes... she'd seen deep sorrows unlike any she'd found before... and, more than ever before, Ren wanted to understand and help soften their troubles however she could. After all, they were her friends now!

Perhaps Ren might have been nervous about how they'd react when they found her there in the kitchen cooking breakfast when it was entirely likely that this would be the very last thing they'd expect this morning. Maybe she should be wary. They were hunters, after all. And yet, even though there was that warning brushing ever so slightly against the back of her mind, the were woman disregards it completely. She trusted them. It might seem silly, or ridiculous even, that the petite would could have such unwavering and explicit faith in her newfound companions, but she did. Something within the were woman told her that everything would be alright. Awkward at first maybe, but she could hardly blame them if that was what they greeted her with when they made their way downstairs. She'd sensed Bjorn's movements within the confines of his bedroom long before he'd made his way down those stairs, so when Ren turns to face the hunter, there isn't the slightest trace of surprise. There is only a warm smile upon her lips, ocean-blue eyes glittering much like how sunlight would dance across the saltwater waves her gaze could be a reflection of. Ren can see the tension he'd initially held crumble in every sense, and instead, there is a warmth that colors his cheeks that has the were woman giggling brightly, the sound not unlike small silver bells in a gentle spring breeze. As she's apologizing for her current lack of clothing, Raven appears beside Bjorn, her own expression bright with surprise as well."Good morning, Raven! I hope you're hungry, I made breakfast for everyone", the were woman says brightly as she gestures to the cooked food on the countertops and the stovetop."I wasn't sure what everyone liked, so I kinda made a little of everything", she continues then, even as Bjorn disappears from the kitchen. Smiling radiantly at the huntress, the woman closes the distance between them before throwing her arms over Raven, taking the huntress into a hug. She'd been dying to do this since they'd first met, but doing so as a cat was somewhat of a challenge."It so nice to more properly meet you", she says to Raven as she squeezes the other woman gently for another moment before stepping away and smiling at her friend.

What a delightful surprise it was, seeing that her two friends weren't as shaken or startled as she'd initially thought they would be! And, as she blinks at Raven with ocean-blue eyes, she hopes that the woman felt the sheer warmth and love the Ren had put into that tight embrace. For reasons that the were woman wasn't entirely certain of right now, something seemed to very nearly whisper to Ren that Raven needed that hug.

Bjorn re-appears, the petite woman turning her ocean gaze back to the man as he offers her the gray gym shorts and a well-worn t-shirt, his masculine voice so kind and considerate that Ren couldn't help the affectionate smile that finds her lips in wordless reply to his own soft smile."Awww, Bo! That's so sweet! I'll treasure it forever and take the best care of it", she replies, taking the clothes from him and promptly burying her face into the fabrics. They smelled like him, and she was finding that it was a scent she thoroughly enjoyed. He moves away then, gesturing to the small bathroom before asking if Raven might be willing to help set the table, the huntress obliging as she follows Bjorn."I'll go put these on and help, too!", she says brightly, turning on her heels and hurrying to the bathroom. Closing the door, she slips on the shorts first before slipping off the hoodie (almost regretfully), putting on the worn band tee shirt, and slipping back into the hoodie that was already one of her treasured things. How could it not be?! It had been given to her by someone she cared so much for, even if they'd only been friends for less than twenty-four hours. For Ren, it wasn't about how long she'd known someone. No, it was whether or not there was a special connection, a bond previously unfelt, sparked to life between souls. And, with Bjorn and Raven, the were woman couldn't not feel an immediate adoration and compassion to them. While it was altogether unexplainable in this moment, she trusted that Fate and Fortune had written in the pages of her life story long before she'd been aware of it that she would meet these two. Decently dressed at last, Ren glances at her reflection in the mirror for a moment and tousles her long hair to settle any unruly strands. Satisfied, she opens the door and makes her way back to the kitchen where Bjorn and Raven were only just finishing setting up the table."What do you guys think? Do I pull off the 'comfy' look okay?", she asks her companions, twirling on balls of her feet, silken ebony hair swirling around slender shoulders as she spins. Giggling girlishly, she reaches for the glasses they'd set on the counter and moves over to the table, placing them beside each plate.

"I'll get the juice", she volunteers eagerly, nearly dancing over to the fridge before opening it, grabbing the jug of orange juice, and returning to the table. She fills each one before setting it in the center and moving to pick up her empty plate."Time to dig in", she says, blinking warmly at her friends, before moving with them over to where the food sat. This was a morning she hoped to repeat!