***** An Unexpected Proposal *****

The smell of oil hung heavy in the air, causing Andrew to wrinkle his nose as the slick scent assaulted him. He had expected the odor when he entered the auto body shop, but it still surprised him. It was the first time he had been in a place like that since Sara had bestowed upon him his new senses, and nothing could have prepared him for the powerful bouquet of grease and steel that welcomed him.

Looking around, it was nice to put an image to the name; "Dale's Auto Body And Repair".

The bell rang one more time as the door closed behind him, announcing his entrance. Glancing around, Andrew wondered if 'The Rocket' was out back, or if they had already stripped it for parts and sold what was left.

"Be right out," a familiar sounding voice called from a doorway behind the counter.

While he waited, Andrew studied the small room, admiring the pictures of cars hung on the walls, and magazines that were arrayed on a small table next to a pair of chairs that sat in the corner. On the other side of the room was a coin-operated vending machine with three different types of snacks; color coated chocolates, cinnamon jellies, and peanuts. Beside it sat a tall soda machine emanating a dull hum that didn't seem to bother the black and gray cat that was curled up at the top edge of the device, watching Andrew with a lazy gaze.

A few moments later, and Dale entered from what Andrew assumed was the auto body shop. The older man looked exactly as he had imagined, skinny and of moderate height, his arms stained with grease and oil, though his calloused hands were spotless, if a bit beaten.

"What can I do for ya?"

"Not sure if you remember me, sir. I'm Andrew, Sara's-"

Dale released a sudden and unexpected laugh, interjecting, "I remember you, boy. You're that damn fool who tried to jumpstart a car from your house's mainline power."

Andrew blushed and nodded his head, resigned to live the lie, and not wanting to try and explain what had actually happened. Regardless of what people thought, no one would ever believe the truth; that Sara had given him such an overwhelming blowjob that he had fried every piece of electronics for dozens of yards in all directions.

"So, whatcha want? Sara's car's out back if you're lookin' for it."

"No, sir. I've actually called a few times the last couple of days... and... well, you keep hanging up on me."

Dale's eyes lost their pleasant cast as they narrowed into slits, the edge of his mouth curling into a smirk as he shook his head.

"Dammit boy, this is an auto body shop, not some smithy you can just waltz into like it's the damn dark ages or some such nonsense."

Andrew chuckled at Dale's imagery, pleased that he hadn't been thrown out as soon as the mechanic knew what he wanted.

"It isn't like that, sir. I just want-"

A loud noise echoed back from the workshop, followed by another man yelling, "Fuckin' shit, Dale. Tell that dumbass to fuck off and get back in here, I'm struggling man."

Before the mystery man finished his statement, Dale was rushing back through the doorway, a worried look on his face.

"What the hell, Earl. I said wait till I got back, and you still went ahead and tried to pull it without me? Is this 'international bring your idiot to work day', or what?"

Andrew listened to them argue for a solid minute before he resolved himself to wait, and took a seat at the table. While he leaned his head back and browsed the internet through the phone in his pocket, his magical gift navigating using the device with minimal power, the door opened and a rather large and disheveled man came in.

The sounds of Dale and Earl's efforts slowed down for a moment until the new arrival spoke up, "Hey Dale, my truck ready?"

There was exasperation in Dale's voice as he called back, "Yeah, just give me a few to finish this up."

It only took a few seconds for Andrew to realize that the man was drunk. Not falling over drunk, but intoxicated enough that his movements were sluggish and his expression was a bit distant. With a bit of effort, Andrew kept his frustration to himself, the idea of that man driving a truck off the property nagging at him as he tried to look away.

The man crossed the room and got some peanuts out of the vending machine, the salty treat falling into his cupped hand. After looking at the chair next to Andrew's, the guy decided to stand at the counter while he waited.

He dumped the peanuts onto the counter, and kept trying to peer back into the shop, slowly popping the nuts into his mouth and eating them louder than Andrew thought possible. After a few moments, the cat rose from its faux slumber and dropped onto some shelves before finally reaching the counter.

It was a large male Manx, its muscular body covered in disheveled fur from a lifetime of fighting. With a confident gate it meandered up to the large man and meowed directly at him, its eyes moving between him and the peanuts. It sat and stared the tall man in the face, before meowing again.

"Just give him a peanut," Dale provided from the workshop, his voice sounding strained from his efforts.

"Fuck that," the newcomer said with a slight slur. "I ain't givin' this cat shit."

Before Dale could say another word, the cat lunged at the man, startling him and causing him to fall backwards in fear. By the time he stood back up, the cat had already taken a peanut into its mouth and dropped off the counter.

It hopped onto the coffee table beside Andrew, releasing the peanut from its mouth and began to lick the small treat, a deep and pronounced purr emanating from its mighty chest. Andrew couldn't help but laugh at the crazy cat, or the incensed look on the drunk man's face.

As Andrew watched the anger cloud the man's expression, and the stomping steps he used to cross the small room, Andrew remembered why he hated drunk people. His experiences had been limited, but the few he had met were never happy. He guessed it had something to do with where they were in their disease, but as he watched the man cock back his fist, eyeing the cat with deadly intent, he knew it didn't matter, he couldn't sit back and let things move forward.

Mr Spencers training had not let Andrew down, and before the drunk could release his attack, Andrew stood and knocked the man over, doing everything he could to make it seem like an accident.

"Dale, you lazy son of a bitch. When's my car gonna to be ready? I ain't gonna' wait another god damn second."

The words felt dirty leaving Andrew's mouth, but they served their purpose. While the large, drunk man fumbled to get back to his feet, expletives flying from his lips fast and loose, Andrew continued to walk towards the counter. He could hear Dale as he dropped some tools and got to his feet, rushing to get back into the office.

"You little fucker!" the large man yelled, storming towards Andrew.

Before he could reach him, Dale arrived. "Jimmy, what the hell's going on in here?"

His hands were coated in grime, and Andrew could tell by the way he was fidgeting that he didn't like being in that room with dirty hands.

"This little dumbshit knocked me over!"

With a steely gaze Dale glowered at Andrew, expecting the small man to wilt before him. To his surprise, Andrew stood strong, holding to the narrative he had invented to defuse the drunk who was watching them closely.

"I ain't mean to do that, sorry bro.They've had me waitin' here for damn near thirty minutes whilst they're back there playin' grab ass or some shit."

"Boy! Shut your mouth and sit down over there."

Dale's voice was stern, but Andrew could see a glint of a smile creep into the older man's eyes as he pointed towards the chairs.

"Jimmy, you know I can't give you your truck when you've been drinking like this. Eddie'll put you back in jail if he pulls you over again, you know that."

The fight left Jimmy's eyes as he scanned the room, stammering and stuttering while he tried to come up with an excuse. With a guiding hand, Dale led the inebriated man to the door, a chime announcing the drunk's departure.

Pulling the other chair across from Andrew, Dale sat down and studied the small man.

"What was that all about?"

It was an honest question, and Andrew could tell that Dale was reevaluating the way he saw Andrew. It was something he had been seeing in people more and more lately.

"He was about to hit your cat, and I couldn't let that happen."

"So what, you thought it'd be a good idea to knock him over and start making me and Earl look like idiots?"

Andrew smiled while he considered whether he should say the first thing that came to mind, and after a moment he decided he had to.

"Earl seems to be doing plenty of that on his own."

Dale twisted his head and fought to keep his composure, while a laugh carried back into the office from the workshop. While Dale shook his head and smiled, Andrew continued to explain.

"I just needed you to get back in here without letting Jimmy know it was because of him. Becoming the bad guy seemed like the best way to get your attention, and draw Jimmy's focus from your cat.

"I can definitely take a hit better than little Mike Tyson over there."

The cat looked over, still licking the peanut like nothing had happened.

"You know this is an auto body shop. We aren't setup for smithing here."

Andrew smiled and responded, "Ohh, I know your shop isn't, but that shed out back sure is."

Dale squinted his eyes, "You been trespassing on my property?"

With a laugh, Andrew explained, "No need. You did all my spying for me. If you don't want people to know, stop posting pictures of you with your knives on social media. Or, at least close the door from your smithy, so your business isn't visible in the background."

Dale leaned back in his chair and studied Andrew for a long moment, his eyes seeming to look into Andrew's soul. It was clear he liked him, and was struggling with the decision.

"Here's the thing, smart guy. I've had a lot of people come and go from this shop. Some really talented and book smart people, but I keep bringing back Earl because he knows what he needs to get the job done. Those other guys overthink everything, looking for problems where there ain't none.

"Earl just ain't smart enough for that."

Earl's voice projected back into the room, and while Andrew could not picture the man's face, he could almost imagine his smile as he heard the upbeat tone, "Thanks, boss..." There was a brief pause, and then he added just loud enough for them to hear, "Now, where'd I put that damn coffee?"

Dale and Andrew shared in a warm chuckle for a few seconds, before Andrew responded, "I know what you're saying, sir. But, I'm not like that. My mom and dad taught me a long time ago to keep it simple stupid, and I guess the lesson stuck."

With a raised eyebrow, Dale challenged Andrew's assertion, "I've got a car out back that says you ain't learned that lesson, boy."

Andrew winced as he realized his mistake, having a hard time remembering the lie they had constructed to explain what happened to Sara's car.

"You ain't just asking to learn, Andrew. You're wantin' to use my tools, which cost more than a pretty penny."

Somehow, Andrew knew that the equipment was not Dale's biggest concern. Judging by how the older man was looking at his small stature and frail seeming frame, Andrew suspected there was another concern. Something he had learned most land owners in small towns worried about.

"Not gonna lie, sir, that was not my finest moment. But, I see your point now. I really just want to learn, and since we have history I thought I might be able to work something out with you.

"If you're worried about liability, should something go wrong, I can get a legally binding document that would release any liability you have, and would protect you should I get hurt whilst working in your shop. There are a few notaries in town that are pretty cheap, so it should be pretty easy to set up."

Dale laughed, surprise written in the edges of his eyes as he shook his head.

"You're a weird kid, Andrew."

"Yeah, I've been hearing that a lot lately."

For a moment the two men just looked at each other, neither sure what to say.

"Just let him use the shop, you old bastard," Earl provided from the doorway. He was a bit shorter than Dale, and his skin was tanned and rough from years of working out doors. The face was almost what Andrew had imagined, a long narrow face smiling back at them with slightly sunken cheeks.

Whatever Earl had been through, life had not been easy on him, but you'd never have known it from the smile on his face.

"I ain't paying you to eavesdrop, get back to work."

With a wave of his hand, Earl turned and returned to the shop, the sound of a socket wrench picking up a moment later.

"No need for contracts, but I don't want you making weapons. Not yet, anyway."

Andrew struggled not to jump out of his seat with excitement.

"That won't be a problem, sir. I was planning on making something else anyways."

Dale let Andrew's enigmatic statement go unchallenged, changing subjects slightly.

"Well, now that we know what you want, what'cha offering in trade?"

It was clear that Dale led a simple life, and had every earthly possession he needed. Having done his research, Andrew already knew what he wanted to offer.

"Your website, sir. I'm not going to sugar coat this, it's kinda out of date and honestly pretty terrible. While a lot of your reviews online are great because of you and how affable you are, a lot of people mentioned not coming back because of how difficult it was to pay. You're not too far from the freeway, but it seems most motorists get their cars towed to 'Jack's Premium Car Servicing' when they break down, even though its further away."

Dale sucked his lips like he'd just tasted something sour, the reaction Andrew had dreaded receiving.

"I don't want no fancy gadgets in here. I tried one of those credit card processors a while back, and the damn thing kept breakin' down. Cost me more in frustration than anything else."

With a bit of concentration, Andrew tried something he and Sara had talked about the night before. Thanks to Karen's gift, he could sense Dale's frustration as the older man thought back on his past experience, and while it took far more energy than Andrew had anticipated, he managed to form the spell he had hoped would be available to him.

Dale took a deep breath and calmed down, his gaze falling on Andrew as if he was waiting for a response.

"There are new tools that are way better than those old crappy credit card processors. I tracked the IP of your website back to here, so I know you have internet, though I have no idea who set that up for you."

There was fondness in the old man's eyes as he stated, "It was my son, back before he went off to college. He was a bit like you, too smart for his own damn good."

Andrew rolled his eyes and tried to take that as a compliment.

"The best thing I could do for you, Dale, is to modernize your website, get some wifi in here so your clients don't have to burn through their data while they wait, and get you setup with a new point of sale system.

"You'll lose a little bit off of each transaction, but the ease for your customers should help get more people coming through, so that should end up being a net positive. I'll buy the hardware, and handle the installation for you, as well as write your new website and see what I can do to integrate the POS with it."

Over the course of Andrew's pitch, Dale's face clouded over with a look of surprise. The truth was, Dale knew he had neglected his business, the last few years had seen a steep decline in clients. He never worried, because he owned the land and his expenses were shockingly low. It hurt him to admit it, but he felt guilty about how things had turned out.

What Andrew was proposing was dangerous, and in many ways uncomfortable to Dale, who liked to keep things the way they were. Whether Andrew knew it or not, his offer was forcing the old and stubborn man into facing something he had been ignoring for years. Not a single thought entered Dale's mind about Andrew's ability to do everything he had promised, which made the offer all the more frightening.

Extending his trembling hand, Dale and Andrew sealed their deal. The small young man's grip was much firmer than Dale had expected, and the warm smile on Andrew's face filled Dale's chest with trust and confidence.

"I'll close the shop up at about seven, I wanna get this car done before calling it a night."

Andrew continued to grin, plans for his future scrolling behind his eyes.

"Sounds perfect. That'll give me a chance to checkout your server and see how your son built your-" The shocked look on Dale's face made Andrew stop and change his direction. "Or, I can come back around eight-thirty. I don't have to start on your website today."

Dale shook his head and forced himself to accept Andrew's original offer, every fiber of his body begging him to keep things the way they were, but his new confidence was pleading with him to take the chance.

"No, no. It's back in that closet. I think there's a TV and everything back there as well. Truth is, I ain't looked at that darn thing in years."

Andrew popped his knuckles and stood. "All right, let's see what I can figure out. I'll need to cut out in a couple of hours for an appointment, but I should be able to come back around eight-thirty, if that works for you."

With a shake of his head, Dale stood and shook Andrew's hand once more. "Great. That'll give me time to eat."

Andrew assured Dale that he wouldn't be making any changes yet, he just wanted to get a sense of where things were and what all needed to be done. After that, the two men parted, Dale back into the shop where Earl teased his boss and forced the older man to laugh through a series of demeaning comments he gave in return. Andrew opened the closet and was greeted by the sight of boxes and brooms, everything that could possible be placed into a closet seemed to have taken up residence in that small space.

Way in the back, behind all the flotsam that had built up on the shores of that long forgotten closet, Andrew could feel the underpowered computer turning away with nothing to do.

"This won't do," Andrew mumbled as he started pulling out the first of what would be many items from the closet. Meanwhile, his gift accessed the machine, using an old buffer overflow exploit to root into the box and give him full access. He knew his first order of business would be updating all of the software on the old machine to close off the numerous and painfully simple security vulnerabilities it had.

As he continued to unload the closet, making his way towards the machine, he became more and more excited by the growing list of updates and changes he needed to make.

"Man, I love being me," he stated, his entire body humming with the knowledge that he was doing exactly what he was meant to do.

***** New Growth *****

Sara found it amazing how different study group was without Andrew.

Everyone could feel it, but no one said anything. They all laughed and joked while helping each other figure out their assignments, but there was a shared thread that they all knew was missing, everything seeming just a tiny bit harder for its absence.

Seth's mother had sent him over with a large batch of lasagna that they all tore into with abandon, the cheesy, meaty dish proving a huge success. Seth beamed with pride as he watched his friends enjoying a dish that had always been a part of his life, while Allison grumbled and teased the red haired young man seemingly out of spite.

With Stewart and Steve cleaning the dishes, Sara and Bruce took a moment to step outside, allowing the cool night air to ease their digestion.
"How've you been doing?" Bruce asked, his voice a deep resonating bell, sounding out with concern.

"Much better lately," Sara answered, kicking a stone as they walked down the driveway before turning her gaze back towards the tall black man. "If you'd asked me that a couple of months ago, I would've probably said fine, but now... Well, things are pretty awesome."

There was happiness in Bruce's smile as he listened to Sara's statement. A moment later, his demeanor changed, and he swallowed as he worked up the strength to say what was on his mind.

"Yeah... After everything with Zack, we've felt pretty shitty about how it all shook out. Every time you came up, he kind of lost it..." his voice trailed off as he struggled to express himself. "We knew we could only be friends with one of you. And..."

While Bruce sighed, Sara kept her eyes on the ground, remembering how hard it had been watching Bruce and Steve continue their relationship with Zack. She had always suspected that they'd been forced to choose between them, but at times she had found herself wondering if perhaps her peculiarities had driven them away.

Part of her wanted to get angry at the choice they'd made, and as she considered that distant fire that was building in the background of her mind, she knew that a week before it would have already consumed her. Yet there, at that moment, she felt its warmth but was able to keep it from taking over, instead focusing on the words he had used, and the way he had made his confession.

She could tell that his admission had not been easy for him, and that he was treading unknown and uncomfortable waters. There was a deep remorse that was only made light for the athletic man by the joy Sara had found in where her life had taken her.

"That sucked, man... But you know that.

"You guys all played sports together, and always had more in common, so in a way I understood. Though it's great to hear that it wasn't my weird behavior that made you two abandon me like that. We were always so close, but most of the time I knew you all followed me out into the woods because it was what I wanted, and that you'd rather play football or stay in and play videogames."

They had made it a short way down the driveway, nearing the edge of the clearing that surrounded Andrew's homestead, when Sara noticed a hedge of bushes she had never seen before. It was skirting the edge of the forest leading into the clearing, and as her keen senses focused in on the thick shrubbery, she could tell that it was impossibly dense.

One thing was certain, it was not there the night before when she had done her last patrol.

"Well, rest assured, cat-girl, we had a blast playing in the forest with you, and would've done it for years had things been different."

Sara was pulled out of her observation by Bruce's light hearted sentiment. Turning her eyes towards him, she could see the worry in his gaze. Realizing that he had mistaken her distant stare for pain at what they were discussing, she smiled and punched him in the arm, forcing the tall man to take a couple of steps to the side and yelp out with pain.

"You get one boyfriend, and become all mushy and weak." Her grin broadened as she shook her head and watched him recover from her soft, yet affective assault. "This is what happens when I leave you alone for a few years."

Still rubbing his arm, Bruce laughed and shook his head. "And to think, I actually missed this."

Sara raised an eyebrow and stated with confidence, "I'll show you what you missed."

Bruce broke out in a huge laugh, and jumped away from her, amazed at how quickly Sara closed the distance between them. It wasn't until Sara was tickling him that he remembered how often they used to play that game. He was reminded of how weak Sara made him feel, and how no one since her had ever stood up to him like that.

She cast his attempts at defense aside as if he were a child trying to tackle an adult. The few she allowed to work, only served to remind him of how agile and strong she truly was by how deftly she went along with his movements. Years of football had taught him how resisted force felt, and everything about their exchanged seemed one sided and completely controlled by Sara.

Tears were welling in his eyes, and as she backed away, giving him a chance to recover, he felt light headed and giddy with the memory of what it felt like to be a kid. Steve used to be able to make him laugh like that, before their relationship had changed and his touch began to have a whole new effect.

Standing up, he shook the last of the laughter from body and stated what he had truly wanted to tell Sara.

"I know that Andrew is special like you. I don't know what he can do, but I know he isn't entirely human."

The shock must have been evident in Sara's face, because he smiled and reached out, his gentle caress on her cheek providing the comfort he intended.

"We've known since we were kids that you were special, Sara. How could we miss it? Whatever brought Andrew into your life, hold onto each other and don't let go."

She wanted to say something back, but stood there stunned as she tried to make sense of their relationship. All those years she thought that no one knew, that she had kept her secret safe, but they had known the whole time.

Zack knew...

"I'm gonna head back and see if Steve's got that Molecular Bio shit figured out yet. I love him, but he is terrible at science."

Seeing the look on her face, Bruce leaned into her vision and stated, "Don't worry, we've kept your secret all these years, I think we can keep one more." Studying her worried look, he smiled and realized what was bothering her. "Zack doesn't know about Andrew, if that's what your freakin' out about. He's too clouded by his dumb ass feelings for you to see Andrew as anything but the small, frail little man that he appears to be."

As Bruce turned to leave, Sara mumbled, "Thank you."

The tall man just waved over his shoulder, jogging back to the house and giving Sara the time she needed to consume everything she had just learned.

Rather than worry, Sara found herself grateful to have Bruce and Steve back in her life, Andrew's presence seeming to have mended more than he could ever know. Whatever Zack knew, he had never used that knowledge against her, and she felt no need to start worrying about it now. Instead, her gaze wandered along the dense shrubbery that had formed along the perimeter of the clearing.

With cat-like agility, she sprinted the short distance through thigh deep grass, reaching the artificial boundary to the forest. The fence was much more impressive in person, all of the branches interwoven in a tight and impenetrable mesh, creating a natural barrier that would keep out even the smallest of animals.

She knew they would just chew through, but that was not the point of the natural barricade. It reached up almost four feet, and extended about halfway down that first edge of the forest. With a light step, she followed the wall to where it stopped, the hedge ending with a natural and mundane flourish of wide spread limbs.

Beside it were a few similar bushes of moderate size laying on the ground, their complex root systems dirty and exposed as if they'd just been pulled from the earth. Sara figured they were about three feet tall, and unlike everything that had been integrated into the wall already, their limbs were reaching out in all directions to maximum light exposure.

After sniffing the air, Sara knew immediately where the wall had come from, catching the floral and yet earthy musk of Tani'm lingering in the air. The small woman had just been there, and as Sara scanned the forest she knew that Tani'm may very well still be out there. The hairs on the back of her neck refused to soften, bolstering her confidence that Tani'm was indeed waching her.

"You don't have to hide, you know. Andrew isn't here."

A half dozen yards away, movement drew Sara's attention; bark on the lower part of a tree shifted and came loose, Tani'm's scent filling the air with more intensity as the small woman came into view. It was an impressive illusion, causing Sara to shake her head in surprise as she watched the young druid start walking towards her.

Sara found herself still frustrated with Tani'm, the woman's behavior towards Andrew and her family lingering in the back of her mind. But, as Tani'm came closer, Sara could tell that something was different.

Tani'm was struggling to maintain eye contact, seeming much more like a small child than the paragon of the forest she had fought beside those nights back. There was a vulnerability that seemed fresh and raw, as if the older woman was exposing herself in an uncomfortable way.

Something within Sara forced her into action, her body moving before her mind understood what was going on. Within a moment, Tani'm was wrapped in Sara's arms, the taller woman clutching the frail girl in her embrace. Tani'm's body was tense, her arms pressed against her chest in fists as she tried her hardest not to cry.

Neither of them had expected it, and a part of Sara wondered what had come over her. Before that moment, the closest she had come to maternal instincts was when she had stood up to bullies on behalf of smaller kids, but that was always different. Those other times she had been more interested in stopping an abuser than protecting a weak kid. She would make sure the child was okay when everything was done, but they had never been her focus.

In that moment, with Tani'm shivering in her strong embrace, Sara felt the difference. She wanted Tani'm to be okay, and knew that something within her was broken.

"I'm so sorry..." the small woman began. "You all did so much for my forest, and... well, for me too."

Sara rubbed her back and held her close, that feeling of protectiveness she had just discovered guiding her actions as she began to talk.

"Don't forget, this is our home, too. We weren't about to let some little puppy dog take that away from us."

Tani'm leaned back and looked up, her eyes brimming with tears as she looked into Sara's gaze.

"You aren't mad at me?"

Sara smiled and shook her head. "No... I wish you'd treated us better, but Karen helped us understand what you were going through."

At the mention of Karen's name, the last of Tani'm's strength gave out, her final barrier collapsing and sending the small woman into a fit of sobs. Sara was still finding it hard to understand why she was not upset at Tani'm more, holding the crying woman and feeling only sympathy for the pain she was going through.

It wasn't until her thoughts once more turned towards Karen that Sara began to laugh with understanding.

Immediately, she felt Tani'm's body go tense as the small woman's barriers came back up, the forest growing cold as warnings of danger screamed into Sara's mind. Tani'm's green eyes locked onto Sara, tears still running down her cheeks and along the rigid edges of her clenched jaw.

With the blade of her finger, Sara wiped away a tear and smiled, trying to put Tani'm at ease as she explained, "I'm sorry for laughing. It wasn't you, but this whole situation. Two days ago, I hated you for how you treated my mates-"

Sara considered going into detail about how much they had all done for her, but after a moment's thought she decided to remain on task.

"The very thing you fear, is the only reason I'm able to comfort you right now. If you'd come here even a day ago, I very well may have chased you off my property."

The anger and fear that had washed over Tani'm rolled away and was replaced by confusion, her questioning eyes pleading with Sara for a better explanation.

"That thing thing you saw, between Andrew and Karen... I know it seems weird, but it's so much more than you know."

Sara squirmed, arousal stirring within her as she remembered how warm and content she had felt the night before, her tummy rounded by Andrew's copious and powerful seed. It took a moment for Sara to shake those lingering thoughts, and to decide just how much to share. She knew she needed to explain enough so that Tani'm could at least accept that what they were doing was not a bad thing.

"We're bonded, you know that much, and you know that Andrew was trying to make me a full Therian before Brandon kidnapped me. Well, that act you witnessed is how he was doing that, and recently we learned that it's also bringing us closer together. Somehow, it's sharing the better parts of ourselves. We thought it was just us influencing Andrew, but it seems like Karen is also influencing me."

Tani'm could see it in the young woman's eyes, the feral and intimidating flame of her rebellious nature was tempered and less intense, but still there in the fleeting and distracted way Sara had difficulty focusing on her. A rodent moving between burrows caught Sara's attention, distracting her for a moment before she returned her gaze to Tani'm.

It was a leap from everything Tani'm knew about the world, but made sense if she took it at face value. Andrew had done nothing but be kind to her, even through all of her mean spirited attempts at pushing him away. Sara's fiery attitude only showing itself the one time through his actions, when he had answered her insistent questions with a sardonic response the night they had planned their attack on the wolf.

The idea that he was being influenced by Sara and Karen was comforting to Tani'm, who had always seen their relationship as being one sided. As she looked back, she began to see the truth of their relationship. Andrew was captured by the women as much as they were ensorcelled by him. All of them doting on each other without qualm or question. At the time, she had only seen how Karen and Sara had behaved, seeing deference in place of the adoration that drove their actions.

"Did I really have everything so wrong?"

Sara grinned and pulled Tani'm back against her, the soft and tender act reminding Tani'm of Karen in the best possible way.

"Yeah, you totally did. Dummy!" Sara added at the peak of their shared moment.

Tani'm sniffled and laughed, happy to know that Sara was still there, if just a bit different than she remembered. Pulling apart once more, Sara looked back towards her house and shook her head. "There must be something in the air tonight, because I'm just surrounded by sentimental fools."

The frailty in Tani'm was still there, and after seeing it, Sara added, "But it's nice to see you, little girl."

Another laugh took Tani'm further away from her hurt feelings, and bought Sara a moment to find the question she wanted to ask. "What brought about this change, Tani'm? It's only been a few days, and... I don't know, you seem different."

With a cautious glance, the small woman looked towards the ground, the life of the forest filling her with confidence and resolve while she contemplated everything she had been through.

"Karen helped me realize that not everyone is trying to control me. Even the tribe expects things from me, but she never has." Looking up and seeing Sara studying her, she amended her statement. "Neither have you or Andrew, if I'm being honest."

A few moments passed, and as much as Sara wanted to keep Tani'm talking, she gave the small woman a chance to glance around and gather her thoughts.

"An old friend's helping me understand how I got this way... Why I don't trust anyone, and why I can't seem to let anyone in... She thought it'd be good if I tried to make up for how I'd treated you all. I couldn't tell her everything that happened, but she knows enough to guess — I think. Anyway, she won't tell me exactly how messed up I am, or what I should do to get better, but her questions kept making me think about you all, and what I could do to let you know I'm sorry.

"I figured with you hanging out with your friends tonight, that I'd be able to sneak in and get at least this first part of the wall finished." She gave a sheepish smile and tilted her head, admitting. "I kinda figured you might find me, though."

Sara pushed the small woman's shoulder, declaring, "You're damn right I would find you. Sneaky little rodent."

With a laugh, Sara looked around the forest and sniffed the air, asking, "Speaking of rodents, where's your furry little shadow?"

"Ohh, Thunderfoot? He's out looking for his way home again. I'd be helping him, but I really wanted to get a start on this."

Her hands brushed through the stray branches that were casting out from the unfinished edge of the hedge, Tani'm's smile fading as she asked, "Do you think he'll like it? After everything he fixed at my house, I really wanted to do something special for him."

Sara could not believe the difference in Tani'm. Just two days before, the small woman could barely look at them, let alone show any kind of appreciation for what they had done. Not only was she unafraid of Andrew, she was trying to do something to make him happy.

Shaking her head, Sara asked, "Who are you? You're nothing like the little girl I met a few days ago."

"I'm still figuring that out," Tani'm began. "But I'd appreciate it if you stopped calling me little girl."

Sara smirked, loving how Tani'm had taken her bait. "Little woman?"

With a roll of her eyes, Tani'm knew she had made that too easy, but instead of getting upset she laughed and found Sara's antics to be endearing.

"How about, 'Lord Protector'? That has a nice ring to it."

Sara laughed and shook her head, stating, "Tani'm, it is. You and Thumper really do belong together."

Tani'm joined Sara in laughing, her mention of Thunderfoot causing his journey through the forest to filter into her thoughts. He was bounding between the trees still searching for the path he had taken to get to their forest. Every once in a while, Tani'm could tell that he caught a whiff of home, a stray scent on the breeze that sent his heart racing, but never seemed to lead anywhere.

"To answer your question," Sara stated, pulling Tani'm from her introspection. "Andrew will love it, it's beautiful and impressive. More importantly, his mother will appreciate how much it will keep the wildlife out of the clearing, and Andrew will enjoy knowing how much it will mean to her."

Tani'm's eyes went wide at the mention of Andrew's parents. "Ohhh god, I hadn't thought about that. There's no way you can explain this to them!"

Sara gripped the worried woman on the shoulder and squeezed ever so gently.

"Don't worry about that. Andrew already has to explain why he used his father's grenade, and how their M16 got destroyed. We decided that we're gonna be honest, and try to explain everything, but we'll keep you out of it."

Tani'm could hardly blink from the shock of everything she had just heard. When she had read Karen's note, she assumed that Andrew had used dynamite to blow off the back half of the wolf, but learning that he had used military ordinance was something else. Eddie had explained to her months ago that the military would be establishing a top secret base, and to give them a wide berth, but she had never thought Andrew's parents were a part of it.

Every day reminded her more and more how far she had come from those carefree days when she could just patrol her forest and protect the animals from poachers.

There was suspicion in Tani'm's eyes as she asked, "Can Andrew trust his parents?"

It was an odd and out of place seeming question that took Sara by surprise. With a questioning glance the tall woman asked, "What do you mean? They're amazing, and love their son more than anything... Of course we can trust them."

The small woman gave a big sigh, finding it hard to let go of her nervous and suspicious nature.

"The military is setting up a base out here, and everyone is looking the other way. I've heard a few rumors about what they're getting up to, but it's all stupid and crazy ramblings from rednecks and hillbillies. A lot of UFO and alien bullshit."
She stopped talking for a moment and looked back across the clearing, studying Andrew's house.

"If you can find out what's really going on, that would be amazing. Eddie doesn't want to admit it, but he is kinda worried about what they are doing."

Sara was impressed by the mental leap that Tani'm had just taken, and kicked herself for revealing that Andrew had used military equipment in the fight. For some reason, she had forgotten that Tani'm was an outsider to their little family, and had revealed too much.

She considered telling Tani'm that Andrew's parents were running the base, and that if anyone knew what the military was doing, it would be them, but caught herself just before she began.

"I'll see what I can find out."

There was a brief pause, the cold night air settling in around them as they both looked back towards the small but sturdy structure that rested in the middle of the clearing.

"I should get back," Sara stated. "I still can't believe how well you're doing."

With a warm smile, Tani'm responded, "Me either."

And just like that the two woman parted. Tani'm working to finish the western edge of the thick hedge she had begun, while Sara returned to her friends.

Sara tried to sort through the new information she possessed as she took her time crossing the clearing. She could not wait for their regular call with Karen later that night, when she could share the news about Tani'm and how much she had changed. Just the thought of how happy Karen would be to hear that news brought a smile to Sara's face.

"At least something good came from that damn wolf," Sara thought as she crossed the doorway and was again enveloped in the joy of her friends.

***** A Past Renewed *****

The silence of her life had never felt more isolating. At least, that was how Karen felt as she sat in her chair, legs curled up against her body while she sipped her tea and thumbed through a book.

She had read it at least a hundred times, and seemed to study it with complete disinterest, looking for anything that would keep her from missing her mates. Karen felt their presence in the back of her mind like an itch she couldn't scratch, knowing that in two more hours she would get to hear their voices, explore their lives through the magic of the modern age. Even if she wasn't comfortable with the new application that Andrew had installed on her phone, she was glad to know that he had found a way to secure their communication, and eager for them to start talking in open and genuine terms.

The one thing she held onto that helped guide her through the night, was the merriment and joy she felt from her mates. Everything they did seemed new, and through their bond she got to share in those feelings of discovery once more. Their perspective revitalizing her own appreciation of the mundane and everyday things that she had been taking for granted.

It amazed her how comfortable their changing natures had become to all of them. Andrew's realization about Sara's gifts being imparted to him laying the foundation of their new understanding about how they related to one another. She was growing and evolving and knew it was happening, hundreds of years giving her the perspective to know exactly how her personality was being affected.

Unfortunately, that also made her acutely aware of how much she hated being alone, her once loved lifestyle feeling empty like her house. Her school bag rested beside the front door, all of her student's assignments already graded with nothing left to be done. With little else to distract her, she set down her book and turned on the TV, scanning through the channels until she found a cooking show that interested her.

Lifting her teacup to her lips, and savoring the familiar tang of herbs and cream, she felt the hairs on the back of her neck begin to stand on end.

"About time," she grumbled as she set down her cup and stood from the chair.

Karen turned and faced the closet that sat in the corner of the room, its door sealed and unassuming. She struggled through a mixed sea of emotions, each of them pulling her in different directions as she considered whether she should use the Glamour ward that Andrew had crafted to obscure her appearance, but knew it would do no good. The Council always sent talented magicians to check up on her, and she knew that this was one of their best.

A slight whistling noise filled the air as a breeze began to pull towards the closet, air rushing through the cracks of the door for a few seconds before it stopped, the only noise remaining was the sound of a knife chopping on a cutting board coming from the TV.

"Ohh, for the love of god, woman!"

The voice was deep and masked by the sounds of coats and hangers as they fell from their rod, a loud thud being followed by an expletive as the door swung open. Inside the closet was a moderately sized man of advancing age, his legs wrapped in a mass of winter wear that seemed to cling to his flailing limbs as he stumbled his way forward.

It took a few moments before the man could shake the last of the clothes from his legs, kicking them into the closet and slamming the door with a huff.

"I know you're still upset, but this is a bit petty, wouldn't you-"

The man's words were cut short as he turned and caught sight of Karen. They stared into each other's eyes, frustration still lingering on the older man's face. He was barely five-foot-eight, with a crown of silvery-gray hair atop his balding head. A large scar dominated the right side of his face, adding a sense of severity that was only accentuated by his broad and muscular body. Dress shoes, slacks and a vest completed his look, adding that final edge of authority to the already impressive looking man.

Most wizards favored their studies above all other pursuits, but Karen knew that this man was different. He had learned in the hardest of ways that you must be prepared for anything that life may throw at you, and prided himself on his diversity of interests.

The moment dragged on and the man's studious gaze continued to take in every detail of Karen, from the contours of her face to the way her casual, baggy nightwear failed to hide her curvy and feminine body. The annoyance he had worn when he first appeared was replaced by confusion as he stated, "You've changed."

"That makes one of us."

There was a chill in the air that had nothing to do with the weather, growing even colder as Karen turned and walked into the kitchen, her voice a grumble as she said, "Everything's fine here. Just tell them I'll be here a few more years and then I'll move on."

She didn't bother to look back, his returning frustration told Karen everything she needed to know. By the time he caught up, she had a baking sheet on the kitchen island, and was lifting a mixing bowl from a lower cabinet while she glanced around, inventorying the rest of the ingredients she would need.

The man cocked his head as he entered the room, studying Karen as she worked. Karen could feel his surprise washing off of him like a cold and sobering mist. It had been at least five years since last they'd met, and their previous exchange hadn't ended well, beginning much as their current meeting had.

"I'm assuming this is a professional visit, just like last time."

With a slump of the shoulders, the man shook his head and mumbled something in Russian. His voice was slight, but Karen caught every word as he whispered, "Stubborn old root."

With a bit more confidence, he stated loudly, "I can't believe you're still upset. It's been half a century, Karen."

"I'm not upset," she barked, flour rising into the air as she ran her hand violently through the contents of the bowl.

"We both know you bake when you're upset," he stated while tipping his chin towards the preparations she was making.

Karen knew he was right, and for a moment that made her even more angry. Her eyes darted between ingredients while she sorted through what was going on, feeling her thoughts scurry and scatter in a way she had not felt for centuries. She found it strange, recognizing her own behavior so clearly, while a different part of her mind kept her hands busy with the preparations. Her temper had never been that intense, and even at the height of her anger with the man, she had never allowed it to get the better of her.

Karen wasn't sure why, but the way he stated her name bothered her more than she expected. She knew it was partly because of how her new name sounded coming from his gravely and familiar voice, a name from her past begging to be spoken in its place. For the first time since he arrived, she took the time to look at him, the edges seeming to fade from the contours of his face as he smiled back, forcing Karen to grin as she remembered the person he had once been.

His eyes once more traced the soft features of Karen's face. "As much as things have changed, some things never will."

There was fondness written in his eyes as he seemed to remember times long past.

"If they sent you, then they must want something big."

The man chuckled. "Nothing big. Guess they just got tired of me asking to check in on you."

They looked at each other for almost a minute, the silence becoming strained as the man began to twist where he stood, Karen's expression remaining hard and unconvinced despite the fondness she felt from their past.

"Is it really that terrible to see me?"

His voice was almost pleading, which seemed all the more strange when compared to the gruff and stern looking man who had asked the question.

Whatever shell had hardened Karen's heart cracked at the sound of the muscular man's voice, his vulnerability touching something deep and primal within her. Even she knew that her cold attitude was abnormal, but her frustration at having to deal with The Council so soon was enough to make her ignore the oddity of her behavior.

"Seeing you is a bitter treat, young man. There's rarely a day that I don't think of you with love and longing, knowing that no matter how long I roam this world you cannot be replaced. Yet, my heart aches with the memory of how I lost you, and to whom."

His eyes were cast down, his head rising with brief jerks that were abandoned just after they began. It was as if he was looking for salvation within the chaotic stone patterning that sat in front of him. Her statement was much like the ones she had made the last time they had met, but for some strange reason he found himself empathising more with how his actions had affected her.

"They aren't as bad as-"

The room grew cool with the force of Karen's will, her anger falling upon the broad shouldered man like a thousand pound weight.

"Stop, Alexi. That topic is a land well ravaged by the wars we have waged upon its once fertile grounds. You will plead a case for the reformation of their ways, while I challenge how you can forgive what they've done, and how it has affected your life so profoundly. Round and round we go, until — as always — you vanish for another few years and we both wallow in the tepid waters of our misery."

Dropping a small ball of dough on the baking sheet, Karen smiled at the tall man. The smile seemed genuine and sincere, which took Alexi by surprise after the embattled declaration she had made. Not only had she summarized where their conversation likely would have gone, but she nailed exactly how he had felt after their last exchange.

It had taken him months to let go of his guilt for the way he had abandoned her, but unlike that last time he could sense within her words a recognition that she understood the same thing. For once, she was looking beyond her own pain and seeing how her behavior had affected him.

His thoughts were cut short by Karen's soft voice as she asked, "Now, how about you get the strawberry jam from the fridge and help me get these cookies in the oven? Then, while they bake, you can tell me what they want."

With a stunned and blank expression he walked to the sink, and began to wash his hands while he continued to process everything that was happening. As he considered the profound changes that seemed to surround him, he realized exactly what she was preparing and a smile spread across his face.

"You've no idea how much I've missed these — they're my favorite."

With a shake of her head, Karen responded, "I know."

By the time Alexi returned with the jam, having taken a spoon from the first drawer he checked, the pan was over half covered with little balls of cookie dough.

After filling the spoon with a small amount of jam, he looked over and forced himself to say, "So, we're really going to pretend that you haven't changed? I've looked at that face for most of my life, and..."

He was standing off to the side, glancing over at Karen while his unfinished statement trailed off, placing small dollops of jam in indententations at the top of each cookie. Within those dark brown eyes were a million questions he was afraid to ask, and despite how their conversation so far had given him hope, he was still unsure whether she trusted him or not.

She felt his apprehension as she pretended to focus on what she was doing, but knew she was not fooling him. They had cooked together for decades, and he knew better than anyone that she could have done everything they were doing blindfolded.

"I'm not sure," she lied. "Over the last couple of years I've started to take an interest in my gifts, and this..." she paused long enough to flourish her arms out from her sides, tracing her body as she finished, "is the result."

Her long life had never given her a talent for deceit, and she could see it in the brash man's eyes as he watched her with a questioning gaze.

"What about you, mister? Kinda figured you would have settled down and started enjoying the twilight years of your remarkably long life."

The fondness in her voice was no lie, and Alexi grinned as he shook his head. "Na'. The Councils keeping me too busy for anything like that. There's too much to do, and too few with my talents to accomplish it all."

Truer words had seldom been heard, and Karen just nodded as she laid down the last few cookies and looked at him with pride. She may not like who he worked for, but she admired how capable he was.

"I've never grown tired of seeing what you can do. You've always been such a talented young man."

The grin on his face broadened as he tried to correct her, "Dammit, Catherine. I'm over eighty years old now, you can stop calling me young man."

Hearing her original name once more uttered in Alexi's grizzled voice caused Karen's eyes to light up as she continued her little game.

"Your words say one thing, but the way you're looking at these cookies says another. Unless you're too old for 'barquette aux fraises,' in which case we can just toss these out. The oven could use a break, isn't that right, little guy?"

She concluded her statement by petting the oven door, talking to it in a sweet and childish voice in an attempt to lighten the mood. Looking up, she found Alexi watching her with confusion written across his face. His expression changed the moment she saw him, and with a smile he chose to play along.

"No, no... I guess compared to you, 'young man' is fitting."

He lifted the tray and slid it into the oven before Karen could make good on her threat, his eyes darting between her and the oven as he made his move.

Standing, he wiped his hands against each other out of habit. He knew that the action did nothing but help solidify in his mind that he was done with that task, but chose to continue because he liked the ritual of it.

"Before we get into The Council's purpose for my visit, I just need to ask; Are you sure everything's okay?"

His concern was rolling off of him in sheets, obvious to Karen's enhanced gifts, and noteworthy in its depth. In many ways that made Karen happy — knowing that he still cared — but she was unsure how to respond. As much as she wanted to trust Alexi, their history having given them a bond they could never break, she knew the truth would put him in an impossible position.

"Listen, son."

Her eyes followed his, making sure he understood the importance of how she had started her statement. The long pause served a more important purpose though, it gave her time to think.

Karen had noticed the same thing that Alexi had, that the reserved detachment that acted as a lens with which she viewed the world had vanished. Ever since bonding with Andrew, she had noticed her eagerness for new experiences growing, but had never expected to have been changed so drastically. Where she had once had a complete disinterest, she found in its place a playful thirst for life and experience which she had not known since she was a child. Something she had lost long ago, and had given up ever finding again.

With that realization, and a better view on the events that had taken her child away from her, she continued.

"I'm sorry."

His eyes grew wide at her unexpected words, an eagerness for context reaching out from his shocked expression.

"It's been unfair of me to begrudge you the decision you made. The fact is, you managed to remain hidden far longer than anyone else, and I know you tried so hard because of me. A part of me always knew that you'd be drawn to the answers they could provide, and that I'd lose you the moment you were discovered."

She reached out and caressed the skin on the side of his face, a long and difficult life having given him a coarse patina.

"I'll never forgive them for what they did back when you found me. I'm grateful to have had you in my life, but if they had intervened instead of exploiting what was going on, you may have had a mother and father — a whole family who would have loved and cherished you. So many people could have had..."

Tears were rolling down her cheeks as Karen thought back to when Alexi had stumbled into her life. The great war had given the world a surplus of orphans, but fate had ensured that after his parents were taken, Alexi found his way almost forty five kilometers to her house. Half dead, and speaking a foreign language, she found him hiding under her porch. A frail and frightened little boy, who flew into her arms the moment he sensed her kind and tender soul.

Alexi never talked about his parents, but Karen knew he missed them still. As a child, he would whisper of a brother and sister in his sleep. Karen never knew if they were dreams of the past, or a future the boy had wanted, and in the end she didn't care. It was something she trusted he would bring up when he was ready, but he never was.

Karen shook her head and pulled back her hand, a small smile spreading across her face as she realizing she had allowed herself to be pulled down an old and familiar pain.

"Ever since they found me, I've tried to deny my gifts. Each loss-"

With a gentle voice Alexi interrupted, "You owe me nothing... Mom." Tears were welling in the corners of his eyes, the broad-shouldered man's face scrunching up as he fought back his emotion. "I knew joining The Council would take you from me, but I had hit the limits of my gift and if I wanted to help more people, I needed to trust them, and the truth is... well, they found me years before I joined them, and allowed me to roam free knowing that I was your child.

"Whether you know it or not, there are many in The Council that remember you fondly. I may have been the one that you were able to raise, but every child you found keeps you in their hearts, and..." his throat choked up as he tried to finish his statement. "We love you still, and will never let anything happen to you."

It was difficult for Karen to remain strong as she watched Alexi fight to hold himself together. Words that had begged to be spoken finally finding a voice, and rending the scars that had formed on his heart away, revealing tender and unused flesh beneath. He may have appeared to be a burly and muscular man in his late fifties, but all Karen could see was that fresh-faced little boy who was hiding in the darkness of her life.
With her arms held out, she sniffled back her tears and welcomed her son into her arms. His face nestled into Karen's neck, her curly, brown hair tickling his nose in a familiar and comforting way. She could feel a deep pain that they both shared begin to fade away as he broke down and cried.

His healing sobs gave her strength, and as he gathered himself within her embrace she thought back upon his words, realizing — perhaps for the first time — just how much of an impact she may have had. Karen's perspective on life might have changed, but the renewed thirst with which she sought out her next adventure did nothing to quell her distrust of The Council.

It was comforting to know that she may find allies there, should the time come where they were needed, but the organization's actions still spoke in larger volumes than anything else. There was little they could do to leave the shadow that their dark deeds had cast; some stains were just too deep to ever wash away.

Alexi felt his mother's gift as it soothed and comforted him, and allowed it to take the sharp edges from his pain and ease his fading grief. Neither of them had expected the cathartic revelations that had taken place, and just enjoyed the moment as they settled into the burgeoning new relationship they would form. Whatever they had shared before Alexi joined The Council was gone, and in its wake they hoped to build something new and better.

Pulling back, Alexi wiped away the last sign of his weakness, and focused his gaze on Karen. She didn't need her gift to know that despite the breakthrough they had just shared, he was nervous about what he was about to say. It was in that moment that they both knew their new relationship would need to have boundaries if it was going to survive.

"It's alright, son. Let's just get The Council's business over with. I hope you'll understand if my answers are... well, carefully worded."

Alexi smiled and nodded, the last traces of their emotional journey still clinging to his mind as he acknowledged the wisdom of her statement.

"When we're done, I can take you to manage your estate, if you'd like. I know it's been awhile."

Karen thought it was a sweet offer, but was reminded of her mates, and was surprised by how quickly they had complicated things with her son.

"I've got other considerations before I'll be ready to redistribute my assets." She paused long enough to take his hand, before finishing with, "With recent changes in my personal life, I'll need to determine how things should be handled if something unexpected was to happen to me."

Alexi tilted his gaze, choosing not to pull at the thread he could see sticking out from the edge of Karen's statement. With the question that sat at the tip of his tongue, he was working hard to hold back his curious nature, knowing that Wilcox would see not just what he saw, but what he thought. The longer he was there, the more difficult he found it to ignore the strange things that seemed to surround Karen.

Walking to the fridge, Alexi pulled a sheet of paper from a notepad that was hanging from the door. There were cartoon cats clawing at the top edges of the paper with the words 'Scratch Pad' written in bold letters beneath.

"Clever," he chuckled as he took a pen from atop the fridge and wrote down an email address.

"Send me a message when you're ready, and I'll come back as soon as I can."

"Wow," Karen began, "My ludit child has moved into the modern age? This truly is an era of change!"

Alexi's eyes furrowed into a scowl, attempting to hide the smile that lurked at the edges of his lips.

"There's some new wizards who are just in love with these stupid things, and all of us are expected to use them now."

Karen didn't seem surprised as she watched Alexi wave his smart phone in front of himself with a derisive sneer, being reminded of the boy she had raised all those years before.

For the next half hour they sat on stools and talked, catching up on the mundane things that had kept them busy. Or, at least that was what Karen had done. Alexi talked in broad terms about ferrying wizards across the world between the hubs of magical study and other points of interest that The Council controlled. It was clear that they each were skirting certain topics, but the slight omissions did little to dampen the bonding that took place.

Alexi oohed and aahed as he ate the cookies, memories of his youth revisiting him with every bite. Karen watched and enjoyed, seeing again the young boy she had raised in France.

Their tender moment was far more brief than either of them had wanted, but they could sense the end of their time together. While Alexi returned the stools to where they belonged, Karen wrapped the remaining cookies in a large cloth napkin, stating, "Even if these cannot keep you safe, at least they can keep you happy."

It was the first time in a half century that Karen had felt like a mother, and the warmth in her chest reminded her how great it was.

"Thank you, mom."

He tucked the arms of the cloth bundle into a pocket, allowing the package of cookies to hang at his side. Returning his gaze to Karen, his eyes opened wide, drawing her attention as he stated, "Okay, when I start speaking next, we'll need to be careful... You understand?"

Karen shook her arms out and wiggled her body, loosening up before she nodded her head, removing the smile that had been on her face.

A moment later, Alexi walked out of the kitchen and moved towards the closet he had entered from. Turning, he again walked into the room and spoke, "I'm sorry to arrive unannounced, I'll try not to keep you any longer than necessary, Ms Anderson."

His tone had changed completely, all warmth was gone and his face was a mask of calm confidence. Gathering herself, Karen washed away the last of her mirth and joined into the performance.

"Thank you, Sir."

There was a bite to the way she addressed him, as if that simple word was a weapon. In it, Alexi felt the pain of loss he had once known before their recent reconciliation, though he was careful to keep any thoughts of that out of his mind. Instead, he allowed the anguish of her words to settle in a bit before pushing himself forward.

"I know you've still got a few years until our next inspection, but events in this area have come to light that warrant a visit. Given your history with... magically gifted children, we thought you might have some insights."

If Karen was surprised, she hid it well. Instead, she shook her head and huffed, "Unless you're looking for a half-therian, I don't think I'll be of much help."

"Well, that may actually be of value. The thing is, recently there was an attack somewhere in this area. A therian woman attacked a large boy in the forest. From the eye witness account, he was pretty muscular and had brown hair. Likely a football player, judging by the way his musculature was distributed.

"Sound like anyone you know?"

After taking a sip of her tea, Karen grinned and forced him to wait as she took her time savoring her drink. That behavior was new, he thought for a moment before stoking the embers of his frustration at how she was drawing out her response.

"Really? The almighty and powerful Council has relegated itself to meddling in therian affairs."

Her eyebrows raised to punctuate her point as she continued, "Don't worry your arrogant little heads about it, it's all taken care of."

She could see by the expectant look on Alexi's face that she would need to go into more details, so with a sigh she continued, "Alright, there's a half-therian girl in the area that I've been taking care of for a few years, and all of this has to do with her.

"Some brat named Brandon from her father's clowder became obsessed with her, and chose last week to execute a foolish and narrow minded plan. You see, he wanted her to be his, and thought he could force her to bond with him if he could... I don't know, Stockholmes her into it.

"You guys would love his plan, it's the exact perfect balance of naive optimism and sociopathic disregard for other's well being."

There was no need to force an emotion on that barb, Karen's words hit home and reminded Alexi of exactly what she thought of The Council, and by extension him.

"Anyway, his plan was to kill her boyfriend, and take her to a rundown warehouse in Oregon. I can take you there if you're interested... No? Okay, well what ended up happening was that Brandon and this other girl he had already forced into bonding with him, Marcy... no, Mary... I can't remember... They attacked her boyfriend, used the distraction from the fight to knock out and kidnap her.

"I arrived just in time to save her boyfriend, but my friend was already gone at that point. He had gotten so close to dying, and lost almost all of his memory of the event, but he lived."

Within those words Alexi could feel a deep and profound relief that the man had survived. The emotions were pure and unmarred by treachery. Whoever this friend of hers was, or her boyfriend, Karen cared about them both greatly.

"I was terribly worried about my friend, but there was nothing I could do. She had told me about running into Brandon a week before at her father's property in Oregon, but even then I had a hard time believing the deranged young man would have gone through all that trouble.

"Later that night she called me, and told me she had killed Brandon. Her boyfriend was stable at that point, but I was drained from sealing the wounds on his chest — they were so deep and I was so tired by that point. It still surprises me how he had survived, the slashes were clean to the bone, but managed to miss anything vital, just centimeters from his heart."

Alexi was captivated by Karen's story, almost imagining the events as they were described. It all felt so real, and had a ring of truth to them. He found himself struggling to find a gap or tether of a lie anywhere in the tale, and despite his hidden desires he was trying. Sure, she was hiding the names of her friend or the boyfriend, but that was to be expected — she would tell them if they needed those details for their investigation.

"Once my friend found her way back, she told me what had happened. It was thanks to Brandon's mate, and her resistance to his commands, that my friend was able to out wit and ultimately kill Brandon. Once I learned that, her boyfriend surviving the attack made much more sense. The girl's defiance to her mate's command had allowed her to skirt the edges of his words.

"That was why so much damage could be dealt, but almost everything vital had been missed."

She took another drink of her tea, looking at Alexi with an expression that made it clear she was done.

Alexi cleared his throat and started his standard routine of follow-up questions. "What can you tell me ab-"

"That's everything I know, so just go back to your masters."

Her words served every purpose she had intended, reminding Alexi that he was just a cog in a machine that she abhorred, and that even if she knew anything else, she was not going to share it. They may have the ability to take away her freedom, but she was fiercely loyal to her children and would never give them up.

She told them everything she did, because she had faith that The Council had no interest in therians, and in that respect, she was right.

"Thank you for your time, Ms Anderson."

As Alexi was gathering his thoughts, visualizing the complex series of symbols that would take him back to where he needed to go, Karen's phone chimed.

She checked the small device and grimaced, a look like she had read something dreadful plainly visible on her face for a moment before she turned off the screen and pocketed the phone.

"If you'll excuse me, I need to go help a friend with a family problem."

Again, there was no hint of subterfuge in her statement, and behind the dread of what she was heading into Alexi got a sense of joy and anticipation as well. She watched him carefully, her eyes making it clear she was waiting for him to leave before she got ready herself.

Walking to the closet, Alexi stepped over the fallen jackets and folded over pants, ski wear mixed in with rain jackets in an obvious attempt to mess with him. The symbols were plentiful and complex, but came naturally to the older man as he drew them within his mind, drawing power from the center of his being and channeling it into the fabric of the back wall.

A rippling shimmer cascaded over the painted surface, until there was a rush of warm air pouring out of the newly formed portal. On the other side Karen could see a sterile and unremarkable room, unfamiliar scents telling her that it led somewhere she had never been. Again, she shook her head and watched in amazement as Alexi stepped through the door and it closed behind him.

She was just as impressed with it as she always had been. Her amazement vanished as she turned and headed to her room, thoughts of Sara's text swarming through her head.

"Time for family outing."

Sara's text was short, but its secret meaning was known to her, and filled Karen with anxiety. Whatever was going to happen, life would probably never be the same for their family again.

On the other side of the country, in a small office building in Louisiana, Alexi marshalled his thoughts and sorted through his memories, trying to harden the ones he wanted to keep secret, while holding the later moments that he had prepared with Karen near the front of his mind. He tried to stitch his arrival together with the interview he had held with Karen, attempting to compress and forget the entire exchange that happened before it.

The room was white with gray carpeting, fluorescent lights doing everything in their power to make it all seem even more impersonal. There was one door leading into the room, and it was back behind Alexi where he had just come in. He opened it, and instead of the portal that lead to Karen's house, he found a hallway with a few more rooms off to each side.

It was all so plain and boring, no sense of style anywhere. The truth was, it was an important detail that few understood, but he knew its purpose far too well. It was impossible to identify where you were if there were no details to notice. That was why there were no paintings or art, no plants or anything other than white walls and gray floors. He could be anywhere in the world, and yet in a way if felt like he was nowhere at all.

After a couple of turns down a few more nondescript hallways, he found himself in a large room filled with benches and lockers. While at first glance everything seemed normal, there were a few lockers that had fist sized circular indentations in the center of their doors. Walking up to the first one, he looked around the large open space, ensuring that the room was empty before he continued.

Alexi pulled a clear orb out from within his pocket, connected himself to it and caused a swirling cloud of light grey mist to form within its center. After the mist shaped itself into an intricate and ornate symbol, the lines of its design shimmering with mystical intent, he inserted the magical focus into the indentation on the locker door.

The moment the orb made contact, it snapped into the recess on the door, Alexi's hand coming away as the door swung open. Within were bottles and books, each one containing decades of research and wealth that Alexi had acquired over his time with The Council. Pulling the satchel of cookies from his side, he placed them on a shelf near the top, one of the only places with enough space for the large bundle.

With a sigh, he closed the door and reclaimed his focus, the glowing symbol within vanishing into a swirling cloud of light-grey mist as he pocketed the device. With purposeful steps he navigated his way through the office building until he found himself at the room he was intended to go for his debrief.

Opening the door, Alexi was expecting to find Wilcox, but came to a sudden halt as he found himself face to face with Oren. Wilcox was hard enough, the talented young wizard proving his reputation had been well earned in the couple of interactions that Alexi had shared with him. But Oren, he was a legend.

For over a century, Oren had been on the governing board of The Council, and even though they had only seen each other in passing Alexi found himself awestruck by the old and powerful wizard.

"Stop your fanboyin' and take a seat. I don't got all day." There was a surplus of happiness in Oren's voice as he concluded his statement, a laugh filling the room as he leaned back in his chair and admitted, "Actually, I kinda do. So, go ahead, think some more about how amazing and charismatic I am. I know I added the charismatic bit, but go ahead, run with it."

Alexi was stunned, not sure whether he should laugh as he walked the few steps to take a seat in front of Oren. The old wizard was cradling his walking stick across his legs, still chuckling to himself at his own joke as he followed Alexi's confused thoughts.

"Don't you worry, young man. We'll get this all figured out. Just relax and look into my eyes."

No longer had Oren instructed him than he felt himself drift into Oren's gaze, the older man drawing him in with a grin. The moment their minds were connected, Alexi was taken aback by the chaotic happiness that began to swim around his thoughts, Oren's laughter echoing through his mind as he said, "Just focus on what happened at Karen's, everything will be alright."

Part of him still wanted to protect Karen, to hide what had happened, but his thoughts were muddy and difficult to form, leading his mind to the beginning of their meeting. Oren watched it all, Alexi stumbling out of the closet, and being stunned by how young Karen looked. As the memory played on Oren seemed to suss out details that Alexi had missed.

Like how her gift had influenced his emotions in such subtle but effective ways. Or how she had been pushing her emotions into his mind without thought, as if she was not fully in control of that gift, which was unheard of for a wizard over thirty, let alone two hundred. Every detail built up a fear in Alexi's heart that he had somehow betrayed his mother, that Karen's trust had been misplaced, and that their relationship was once more lost.

"You are Russian, I'll give you that. No need to worry, young man. Everything will be alright."

With those repeated words, Alexi felt a calm and comforting wave wash over his mind, and he knew that everything would be fine. He was not sure how, but somehow it would all work out. Karen would be safe, and he had protected her secrets.

As Alexi consoled himself in those comforting thoughts, he watched as Oren went back through his memories, fortifying the events in ways Alexi had never known, until they were lost even to him. By the time Oren was done, the only thing that Alexi could remember was a seamless series of events where he had exited from the closet amid a sea of frustration, which only grew worse as their conversation escalated into the kitchen where Karen explained everything that had happened with the therian attack.

All in all, the conversation with Karen lasted a couple of minutes, and was cold by any measure. Alexi's pain at all of Karen's barbed comments were there in horrific detail, but none of his observations about her strange new gifts or behavior were present.

Oren stood and rested his weight on his walking stick. With a step, he crossed over to Alexi, where he rested his hand on the grizzled man's shoulder, stating, "Everything will be alright."

With those words, Alexi once more remembered the real series of events, and took comfort in the reconciliation that had taken place. All of his insights, along with Oren's were there for him to remember.

The door to the room opened, and Wilcox came in.
"Here you go, Master. Triple shot venti mocha frappuccino with salted caramel and two pumps of vanilla, just like you asked for."

The moment Alexi heard the young man's voice the true memories from Karen's place faded, replaced by the expertly crafted scene that Oren had forged a moment before. It was one-hundred percent true, but edited to fit the narrative that Alexi and Karen had staged. There was a small part of him that knew there was more, and understood how to gain access to the real memories, but it was buried in the farthest and darkest reaches of his mind.

Oren took the large and overly complicated drink with a smile, declaring, "Understated and elegant, just like me."

Wilcox rolled his eyes as he stepped aside, glad to have helped his friend and master.

With a pat on Wilcox's arm from Oren, the old man said, "He's all yours Wilcox. Try not to break him."

"I'd never, sir."

Oren laughed and rolled his eyes, gripping Wilcox on the shoulder and squeezing as he said, "I know, my boy... One of these days I'm gonna teach you how to take a joke."

"I'm sure you will, master."

The sound of Oren's chuckles vanished the moment the door closed, and Wilcox took the old man's place.

"So, where should we begin?"

***** Action and Reaction *****

Everything about Dale's shop looked different illuminated by the eerie moonlight that filtered in through the leaves above. "Night is a time for transformation," Andrew thought as he pulled to a stop in front of the single story business.

Sweat clung to him as he exited his parents' SUV, the moisture and accompanying aches reminding him of the sparring session he had just finished with Mr Spencer. Andrew was surprised how the teacher continued to push him further than he expected, teaching him skills he knew would come in handy. Grappling, it seemed, was a difficult art to master, and was less about strength than it was about properly applied pressure. Something the fit instructor had learned from experiences that Andrew hoped he would never have to face.

Stretching out his aching back, and surveying the dark and empty building, Andrew again considered how the friendly seeming shop had been transformed by the descending darkness. The streetlight that rested a dozen yards away barely illuminated the front of Dale's shop, and seemed to make no difference in the spooky sense of isolation that Andrew felt as he looked at the secure building.

His shoulder popped as he stretched it, revisiting him with pain and reminding him of the torturous positions his teacher had put him in. The building was locked, Andrew could sense it as he reached out with his mind and studied the door. The deadbolt was in place, and everything had been shut down. Everything except for the camera's, that is, which were feeding into an old security tape deck at the back of the shop.

Andrew walked with careful movements around the building, his sore joints reminding him of everything he had learned, and distracting him from his paranoia. For some reason, Andrew's eyes scanned from dark place, to dark place, finding plentiful shadowy corners hidden among the broken down cars and discarded appliances. He kept expecting something to jump out from one of those dark recesses, some mysterious monstrosity with a focus for death and defilement.

His attention was drawn to the clanging sounds of someone working metal, the obvious noise of a smith plying their trade. Dale had left the side gate open, and the pealing sounds of hammer strikes made it easy for Andrew to find his way to the older man's improvised smithy.

"You look like hell, boy," Dale announced as Andrew approached the large building, open bay doors revealing the inside of what had once been a multi-car garage.

"For once the product matches the packaging," Andrew began, spotting a chair a couple of steps away and plopping down as he finished with, "I'll be alright, just need a moment."

"You got yourself about fifteen minutes, then I oughta be 'bout done shaping this steel."

The old man was holding a pair of tongs, a bright orange piece of metal resting on what Andrew thought was a small looking anvil. For some reason he had expected it to be larger, but as he studied it he realized it was probably about the same size as the ones he had seen on TV.

Dale had not held back when he committed himself to his hobby. There was a propane forge, power hammer, belt sanders, drills, presses, and on and on. The only things he seemed to lack were the amazing assortments of materials that the shows on TV had provided their contestants. Andrew guessed that the broken down and abandoned vehicles that lay in the field around the garage provided Dale with everything he needed.

The older man really seemed to love what he was doing, and worked the hammer with a precise and almost melodic cadence. It was mesmerizing, and the more that Andrew watched the more he felt himself falling into the pattern of it.

He could almost feel the metal cooling as it rested on the cold steel of the anvil, each strike of the hammer sapping more of its heat but reshaping the metal how Dale wanted it.

It was like a dance, and Dale was the conductor that created the music which gave focus to all movement. A few hits with the hammer, flip or shift the steel, a few more hits, adjust again, hit again. The bright color would start to fade, and the reshaping of the steel would become almost impossible to notice, so Dale would return the metal to the forge, bringing it back to temp.

Dale had lied, it took him almost thirty minutes to shape the blade he was working on, and Andrew recognized it for what it was. A kitchen knife, reminiscent of a butcher's knife but much smaller and thinner.

A chill ran down Andrew's neck as Dale dunked the red-hot blade into a vat of oil, the searing sound announcing the conclusion of the older man's work. After a few seconds, Dale pulled the once glowing steel to reveal an almost black strip of metal that would become a beautiful and useful addition to anyone's kitchen.

"So, before you go and get that big head of yours all wrapped around some fancy project, I got a few things I need you to do for me."

Andrew still ached, but watching Dale had given him the time he needed to regroup himself, and heal enough that he would be able to work. The older man had placed his cooling metal on a side table while Andrew made his way over, and by the time to two men came face-to-face, he was toweling the sweat from his brow.

"You see this here?"

Dale held out a coat hook that had been made from a rustic piece of black metal. It had a flattened top with two holes, where it could be secured to a wall, and as basic as it was, Andrew could tell that it would require a lot of work to make. Handing over the roughly shaped metal device, Dale reached over to a side table and brought over a jagged piece of scrap-metal.

After handing over the cold chunk of steel, the tired looking man walked over to a nearby chair and said, "I'm gonna sit here, and you're gonna' put on that apron I was wearing. I'll step you through making a few of those hooks."

Taking his seat, the weathered man lifted a bottle of water to his lips and drank deeply, giving Andrew a chance to put on the apron and familiarize himself with the tools.

It all felt so strange to the young man as he moved between machines, lifting the hammer and carrying the tongs. They were much heavier than he anticipated, but for some reason didn't feel strange in his grip. Quite the contrary, he clenched and released his fingers, allowing both implements to shift and slide in his hands, testing their movement and finding that everything felt oddly naturally.

The heat from the forge was intense, but brought a smile to Andrew's face as he listened to the roar of the flames that seemed to beg for him to place the steel into its depths.

"Alright, first things first," Dale began, exhaustion dripping from his words as sweat fell from his chin.

Over the course of an hour, Dale lead Andrew through the processes necessary to craft a simple hook. By the end, Andrew had found a rhythm of his own, the hammer falling with a steady and regular cadence. There was a small pile of broken metal off to one side from the numerous times he had overheated or overworked the steel. Dale sat back in his chair and watched as the small man applied everything he had been told.

They were simple tasks, and had done exactly what Dale expected; helped Andrew to learn how to place the metal in the forge, and when to pull it. He shook his head as Andrew flipped the steel, applying a few more hits of his hammer before returning the metal to the forge.

"You should work it longer, boy!"

Andrew looked over at Dale, admiring the look of admonition that was clearly written into the older man's face.

"If I work it now, it won't move nearly as easily, and..." Andrew paused to look into the forge, "well the metal likes it when I work it hot, if that makes any sense."

It had taken Dale months to get that sense of agency from the material he used, that feeling that the steel wanted to be tempered, or that it was tired of being hammered on. He had always found that those instincts were right, but knew that Andrew had not been at the forge long enough to have learned the lessons necessary to gain those insights.

"Yer just wastin' time and my gas by puttin' it back in so early. You could get a good minute more work into that steel, ya fool."

Andrew had been shifting the clamps around in the forge the entire time they were talking, and withdrew the metal which had returned to a perfect light orange that begged for Andrew to work it.

While he responded, Andrew returned to the anvil and spoke between hammer blows, "It took me about a third the time to heat this back up as it would if I'd worked it for another minute. But look..." he stopped talking long enough for Dale to watch him shaping the small piece of metal. "It's taking shape much faster now than it did before. I've already accomplished as much in ten seconds as I would in that entire minute you'd wanted me to work it."

The older man was standing with his arms crossed and a look of frustration on his face.

"I figure that with the way I'm doing this, I'll get it done about twenty-five percent faster than if I worked the metal cold. Though, the main reason I like doing it this way, is that it saves me so much effort since I'm able to get the metal into shape with about half the hammer blows."

Dale guffawed, his breath escaping in a huff as he un-crossed his arms. "If ya ain't gonna listen to my advice, or learn from my experience, why're you here?"

Andrew wished he hadn't anticipated that reaction, but he had known it was coming before his mentor had even spoken.

He continued to shape the metal as he responded, "There's still so much to learn and get better at. You've only begun to teach me about... what was it that you were talking about earlier? Forge scale, cold shuts, inclusions and... well a lot."

He walked back over to the forge, inserting the steel and twisting and shifting it as he studied the older mans face. It was strange, Andrew felt like he knew how the metal was reacting to the heat within the forge, sensing hot spots in the metal, and cold spots in the forge, trying to find that perfect place so that the metal would heat up evenly and in exactly the way he needed it to.

Most of Dale's face was twisted with annoyance, but there was a glimmer of recognition within those creases that crawled from the corners of his eyes.

"Like you said, I could be wrong, but after all those failures," Andrew stated as he pointed his chin towards the small pile of ruined steel. "I've managed to learn a few things, and tracking timings is something I'm really good at."

Andrew could tell that the metal was ready to come out of the forge, a warm flutter of emotion telling him it was time to give the hammer something to do. At that same moment, across the room, his phone chimed.

Sara's text was short, "It's time for family outing."

"Are you sure we should do this?" Andrew texted back, glad for the encrypted chat application he had installed on all their devices.

Returning to the anvil, Andrew sighed and placed the red steel on its top. Part of him begged to continue shaping the metal, yearning to learn more from what he had been doing, but he knew he had to leave.

"Dale, there's a crazy amount I can learn from you, and we both know that. But, as we move forward there are going to be things I can teach you as well."

He placed the hammer on a table that was off to his side, and handed the tongs across to the grumpy looking man, who was staring at him with squinted eyes.

"I'll be back tomorrow to start working on your web-server. It's tragically behind on updates and I'm amazed it hasn't been hacked already."

To Dale's credit, he held his frustration in check, confusion mixing in with his emotions and visiting Andrew in thick waves. Andrew felt the man's troubled feelings, and was reminded just how quickly his life was changing.

"I'm not sure this deal is gonna work," Dale stated as he took the tongs with a quick and forceful grip.

"That's a decision only you can make, Dale. Either way, I'll be back tomorrow to get that server patched. It'd be great if I could get some more time in here as well, but..." Andrew shrugged with a smile, and continued, "Just try it my way, and see if you agree with me. If not, I'd love to try it your way and be proven wrong."

Crossing the room and grabbing his bottle of water, Andrew made a point of looking at his phone. He released a huff of his own, and then declared, "Unfortunately, I gotta get going. Family emergency."

The moment Andrew stepped away from the forge, the last hour of exertion came down on him like a freight train of exhaustion. Exiting the large building, his shoulders slumped and he went cold as the night air cut into his damp and quivering body.

Dale was still studying him from the warm and well lit interior of the vehicle bay, the roar of the forge calling out to Andrew and sounding like the perfect music for the older man's annoyed thoughts.

While Andrew walked, Sara's response came in, "We talked about this. Yes, we should. Don't be a pussy. He says get here ASAP. SD, he's pretty pissed."

As Andrew approached his parents' SUV, he was forced to admit that perhaps he had scheduled a few too many things. His body hurt from the beating he had taken from Mr Spencer, and his arms and hands ached from the last hour of swinging that hammer. All of that did nothing to help as his mind struggled with the consequences of what they were about to do. Could they really risk exposing themselves like they had discussed? Perhaps there was wisdom in keeping gifts like theirs a secret.

With more uncertainty than Andrew cared to admit, he texted back, "I'm sorry, kitten. Thanks for the kick in my exhausted ass. I'm on my way."

Through their bond he could feel Sara's elation as she read his response, the thought of his return lightening her darkened mood.

"This is gonna suck," Andrew mumbled as he started the car, the night seeming somehow more oppressive than he remembered.

***** An Unexpected Source *****

"Darkness closes us in, threatening to steal our light from the mortal realm, and still you keep your secrets?"

The All Father crossed the last remaining steps to The Mother Superior, pulling her bronzed and perfect body against him. They were silhouetted against the bright blue sky and pristine white clouds as they stood at the threshold of their lofty perch. A large room filled with tapestries and pools, beds and divans draped in blankets and adorned with pillows scattered throughout lay open behind them, their eyes cast out over the mountainous clouds that spread out before them.

With eyes of pure and unblemished blue, The Mother Superior saw not the floating ocean that The All Father gazed upon, but scanned a distant land far from the world they inhabited. To her mind, space was a fluid thing, and she swam its vaste shores like few others.

"I beg your pardon, dear wife, but find myself pleading for specificity. My secrets are many, as you well know."

There was warmth in his words that drew her back to him, whites of her eyes filling in around the amazing azure blue hue he adored.

"Your only lie is one of omission," she stated as she turned and allowed herself to settle against him, resting her face on his hardened chest.

"Why could you not tell me what he is? And, why has his arrival not terrified you, as it has me?"

His embrace tightened as he squeezed her against him, his body attempting to provide comfort where he knew none would be found.

"Why should it? Marilen's gifts were unheard of in her time, their effects still felt in the mortal realm today."

Pulling back, the fearsome woman seemed to grow in stature as her gaze hardened.

"She may have been before my time, but every story reads the same; of a wizard so strong she shaped the fabric of the world into devices never before dreamt of. Artifacts so powerful that even the gods feared them."

Her appearance darkened all the more as The All Father leaned back and bellowed his laughter with a thunderous roar. She could feel his joy in her chest as she was forced to listen to his long and pronounced guffaw.

"Ohh please. The woman I knew was talented and kind, beautiful and witty as the sun is bright, but nothing about her caused fear in me or any of my brothers or sisters."

It had been the first time The All Father had made mention of the others of his kind in centuries. And as the thoughts of them came to the front of his mind, she could feel him pull away, only for the thoughts to vanish as he forced himself back into the moment.

Before he could continue, The Mother Superior interjected, "I know those orbs you make for The Council were designed by her, so don't try and confess some modesty for a woman who has long since died. You may be a fantastic crafter of mystical devices, but she was a visionary in every way."

The All Father's eyes twinkled as he looked upon his bride with love. "You're a very smart woman."

His statement was punctuated by a passionate and heartfelt kiss, his adoration for her felt in every tender moment of their union. After longer than The Mother Superior had intended, she pulled back with a gasp, her heart fluttering with needs that caused moisture to drip from her womanly folds, her sweet and floral scent filling the air as she struggled for breath.

"You will not ensorcel me with your sexual magic, you sly and devilish man. I had a point..." Her voice trailed off as she tried to recenter herself, The All Father's turgid member pressing against her midsection and scattering her thoughts, delaying the inevitable as she finally took hold of what she had wanted to say.

"She was a regular wizard, and had such a huge impact. This boy is a Magus, and seems to not be held to the same rules as their kind. If the stories of her are to be believed, and his powers tower above hers as all magai from any discipline do, then he might be capable of things we may never understand."

The All Father studied her with a curious gaze, his hips shifting slightly as their libidos fought to gain control.

"Don't feign ignorance, it's an unflattering color on you. Magai are bound to the realm of their discipline, and you know that. When Andrew bound himself to the Therian, we assumed his powers would be from one of the schools of the Fey, but then he went and bound himself to the healer... and then we had no idea what his gifts would be, but took comfort in knowing that while he had a chaotic nature, he would at least have a true and caring heart."

His movements were getting more intense, and The Mother Superior was beginning to feel her own control slipping as he licked his lips and ground himself against her. She could tell he had been listening, so continued her speculative train of thought before she lost herself to his teasing rhythm.
"But now, well it seems like he's from whatever discipline Marilen was. You were around then, surely you know where her powers came from?"

His movements stopped and he pulled back, his arousal fading as he prepared to confess what he already knew. No matter how much he wanted to protect his bride, he knew he could never bring himself to answer her question with anything but honesty.

"Tír na nÓg," he said with a barely audible whisper. "The lost realm of the gods, where dragon's fled, and mankind may never step."

Her heart stopped and her skin grew cold, the legends were true.

***** Family Outing *****

Dave almost managed to convince himself that Andrew had not caused the gruesome scene he had seen in the forest. That his son had not put himself into such great danger, and yet part of him knew the truth. He knew that if Sam ran the serial number from the grenade fragment he had found, that it would trace back to a stockpile that had gone missing in Australia.

It had no connection to them, Michelle had been careful about that, but it would raise questions that Dave didn't want asked. Eyes could turn towards their operation, and their already observed activities would be followed in a completely different way.

Michelle thought Dave was crazy, that his paranoia had finally gotten the better of him, and as he approached the house, he hoped she was right. His sat-phone and long-range coms were turned off and resting back where PFC Ford had drop him off several miles away. He was supposed to be meeting Sam, who was running recon on a farm that had reported sighting a strange animal the day before. It wasn't the wolf, but perhaps something equally dangerous.

While he had bought himself a few hours to investigate if Andrew was involved, he lamented the fact that so much of his time would be eaten up by running to his house from the drop off point. He could count on Sam to maintain his cover, but they had to meet up on schedule or risk drawing the attention of that watchful eye that Dave knew was studying them.

By the time he arrived, his body was coated in sweat. He had ditched his gear near the drop off point, but even without that extra weight those miles through the forest were brutal. Sara was sprawled out on the couch when Dave came through the door, a thin blanket draped across her legs and a sci-fi book open in her hand. There was a black cat resting in her lap, its eyes closed as her off hand caressed its cheek.

He feigned a half-hearted smile as he crossed the room into the kitchen, filling a glass and chugging its contents with a righteous fervor.

"You know, Dave, they invented these things called cars. They take you from one place, and as if drawn by an army of horses, whisk you to your destination at almost impossible speeds."

Dave listened to Sara's teasing comment, which was very much like her, but was surprised to be reminded of Andrew by the wit and intellect within the words she had used. Still, he smiled as he refilled the glass, "I'll look into that."

As soon as the cup was empty, he placed it in the sink and stormed into his room, shutting the door as he entered. Immediately, he knew his fears were well founded. While the room looked just as Michelle and he had left it, just above where their stockpile had been hidden rested a piece of paper folded into a standing V, on its side were the words, "We need to talk. ~A"

His eyes bunched and his biceps hardened as he clenched his fists. It had been almost two decades since Dave had been that angry, or felt that betrayed, not since Michelle and his last operation with SOAL, before the organization was dismantled and their lives were forever changed.

Returning to the living room, he found Sara reading her book, the cat looking over at him with a contented gaze before it turned onto its side and allowed Sara to caress its belly.

"Call him, text him, I don't care. He needs to get here now."

Sara raised her eyes and gave Dave a waggish grin, stating, "Already did."

Dave was taken aback, Sara's calm confidence softening the jagged edges off of his temper, and soothing his anger in a way he could not understand. He watched her for a few long moments as something nagged at the back of his mind, until he noticed it. Her eyes were an impossible shade of yellow, a set of amber pearls studying him with a predators grin. She was not afraid of him, and in a weird and unexpected way that comforted him.

She had always been an eclectic and carefree young woman, and why she chose to wear such strange contacts Dave didn't understand. For a second he thought that perhaps she wanted to make Andrew feel more comfortable for his natural purple eyes. But, knowing her, he figured she just thought they looked cool.

Her phone chimed, and as she picked it up she stated, "He may be a bit, so you might-" she paused and laughed for a moment, before she continued, "you might as well make yourself at home." Her chuckle settled down as she shook her head, finishing with, "Ohhh man, this is all kinds of weird."

There was a long pause as they stared at each other, Dave looking for some emotional aftermath from the bloody scene he had seen in the forest. He was too aware of how traumatic those events were, and began to wonder if perhaps Sara had not been involved. Sam had seen two sets of tracks scattered around that horrific site, and while Dave knew that Andrew had been one of them, he had assumed that Sara would be the other.

Her casual gaze brought him doubt, and as he continued to look for some telltale sign, Sara spoke, "There's braised game meat in the fridge, if your hungry. All your beers are in there as well, in case you need to, you know, take the edge off or whatever."

She turned her attention to her phone, reading a message and then shaking her head as she said, "Has Andrew always been this much of a worry wart?" as her fingers flew over the screen.

Watching Sara for another moment, Dave could see the intensity of her devotion for his son had not diminished — if anything it had gotten stronger. Dave turned and strode into the kitchen, taking her up on her offer; his training and experience in the military having taught him to never pass up an opportunity to fill an empty stomach. Further, he was glad for the distraction as his circled his flailing disappointment.

After a few minutes of preparation, Dave was seated at the small dining room table, a large piece of juicy, sauce-laden meat presented before him. He had never been much of a cook, and recognized as he bit into the surprisingly chewy cut of meat how spoiled Michelle had made him with her excellent cooking.

"What is this?" he asked between chews.

Sara looked over from her book and seemed to consider his question for longer than he expected, and just as the moment became awkward she tilted her head and stated, "Wolf," and then smiled as his eyes grew wide.

"She was involved," Dave thought as his eyes turned down towards his plate, Sara having returned to her book by the time he looked back up.

They stayed there for a long time, neither of them seeming to feel the awkwardness in the silence that surrounded them. Dave respected Sara for that, knowing that Andrew or Michelle would have needed to fill that void with something, with anything, to distract from their thoughts. With more work than he anticipated, Dave finished the soft and juicy piece of meat, and by the end his jaw was sore from all the chewing. By all accounts it should have been tender, and yet beyond any reason he could find, it was tough — as if the fibers of the meat refused to pull apart, no matter how much the cooking had softened them.

He was just at the sink rinsing his plate when there was a knock at the door, and before he could turn, Sara was out from her blanket and dashing across the room, a broad and joyful grin spread across her face. It had to be Andrew, Dave thought, confused why his son would be knocking.

"You don't gotta knock, silly," Sara said as she threw open the door, an infectious happiness bleeding out from every word. "We're all family h-"

Her words were cut short by the sight of the woman who was standing in the darkened doorway. By every measure she was gorgeous, her slender face framed with dark and curly brown hair. Dave figured she must have been in her mid-twenties, but the intensity of her eyes spoke to him of wisdom well beyond her years. He was reminded of his grandmother and the kindness he had admired in her gaze. He couldn't help but smile at the memory, but be confused by the unexpected comparison.

Dave remembered the old woman fondly, memories of the lessons he had learned flooding back to him as he saw a distant reflection of her in that woman's impossible eyes.

"Hey Sara," the mysterious woman stated with a sheepish smile.

"Don't you 'Hey Sara' me, you're wearing makeup and... not fair! A nice dress, too. I thought we were gonna keep this casual."

The woman laughed and pulled Sara in for a hug, and the intimacy of their embrace was not lost on Dave who continued to watch them from the kitchen.

"It's been some time since I've been in this situation, my sweet girl, and I would hate to give the wrong impression. Anyways," she continued as she pulled back, "it's not that fancy of a dress."

Sara was blushing as she withdrew from their embrace, the woman having an obvious effect on her.

"Really? How long has it been since you've introdu-"

Sara's teasing remark was cut short by the beautiful woman's finger as it pressed against her lips.

"Hello, Dave. My name is Karen, and I'm a... friend of Sara and your son." There was a brief pause as Karen and Dave locked eyes, the implication of what was happening dawning on Dave who stood in stunned silence. "Would it be alright if I joined you in conversation? While I know this is a private matter, I suspect I'll be able to ease certain parts of tonight's discourse."

"Ohh, for fuck's sake," Sara announced as she walked back towards the couch. "You're not a goddamn vampire, woman, you don't need an invitation."

Whether it was the shock of what he had just realized, or the strange otherness of the woman who had appeared, Dave found himself laughing at Sara's outburst with more intensity than he expected. Waving his arm, he welcomed her into his house.

The mysterious woman entered the room and took a seat at the dining room table, while

Sara went back to the couch. A moment later, the black cat returned to her lap and watched her as she said, "Karen, somehow I messed up your recipe. That meat is still super chewy and tough."

Dave moved to the side of the table and watched everything with intensity, seeming to study the interaction between Sara and Karen with interest.

After crossing the short distance to the fridge, Karen pulled the last few steaks of braised meat from its icy depths, placing the large plate onto the countertop and poking at the meat with a fork. Dave had no doubt that Karen had been in the house before, and suspected she knew the place well.

"How have you been cutting it?" Karen asked, her attention returning to Sara.

"Just like that, why?"

Karen laughed, her voice a musical sound that made Sara light up and smile.

"Well, that's your problem. You cooked this perfectly, but it's a remarkably lean cut of meat, and given its source my guess is that you need to treat it like flank."

Dave knew what she was leading towards, and kicked himself for not having cut it the way she was about to propose. He had ran the grill in his family for years, and learned early on that how you cut the meat was almost as important as how you cooked it. Despite his dawning knowledge, Sara just raised her eyebrows and put her ignorance on full display.

"You need to cut it into thin strips against the grain," Karen provided, trying to ease Sara's lack of understanding.

"I'm not trying to cut wood here, Karen. We're still talking about meat, right?"

Dave refilled his glass and together with Karen they stepped Sara through what they were talking about. As their conversation neared its end, it dawned on Dave just how weird their exchange had been. Karen seeming to fold into their life without effort, as if she belonged and had always been part of it. Sure, they were waiting for Andrew, which had allowed Dave to accept how Sara had welcomed her into that difficult moment, but never would he have expected to interact with her so soon, or so easily.

There was something about her that was comforting and put him at ease. Something that most people would not have noticed, but Dave became uncomfortably aware of the longer they were together. His anger was almost entirely gone, and their easy conversation had moved towards much more personal subjects as Dave found himself telling Karen and Sara a story about Andrew and how crazy he had been as a child — how he analyzed everything and made sure that all of his toys were in their precise and purposeful place in his room.

The sound of Andrew's car as it pulled up outside cut off their laughter, bringing a different type of joy to Sara and Karen that was obvious to Dave. Part of him was relieved to know that Andrew was safe, but he still found himself looking at his watch and grumbling.

Fifteen minutes was hardly enough time for Dave to get the answers he wanted, or to express the sheer scale of Michelle's and his disappointment in their son's actions. To help Andrew understand just how reckless he had been, or to try and understand why he would think he could defeat a creature like that — not that he knew what that creature had been, Dave was forced to admit to himself

Sara had Andrew in her arms before he even stepped into the house.

"Hey, Kitten. I see everyone's here already."

"We're just waiting on you, lazy little SD."

At the mention of that nickname, Dave saw his son's eyes flash towards him. There was worry etched into their edges, and yet there was more there that Dave had trouble identifying. Andrew was different, somehow older seeming and wiser, but behind all of that there was what Dave had expected to see in Sara but failed to find — fear.

"I'm almost out of time, Andrew," Dave bellowed as he stood from the table, his speech all prepared and ready to go. "What the hell-"

"Before we get into all that, Dad, I need to grab a couple of things and then we can go somewhere that might afford us a bit more time."

Dave stood in blank surprise, stunned by Andrew standing strong before him, seeming to be immune to his thunderous and righteous temper. Sure, Andrew had never put him in the position to unleash his anger at hm before, but Andrew's outburst still seemed different from the boy he knew.

"What are you talking about, Andrew."

"Just trust me, okay?"

For the first time since he arrived, they all noticed the fatigue that weighed Andrew down, his shoulders slumped and his body coated in sweat. His hair was matted and his lips seemed dry.

"I'll get the bag, sweetie," Sara stated as she ran to the back of the house, vanishing into the master bedroom while Dave continued to watch the strange family that Andrew had built.

"Andrew, you stubborn boy. I tried to tell you that training with Mr Spencer and Blacksmithing on the same night was too much, even for you."

Karen's words were sweet, and Dave felt her love for his son in her every expression. She walked over to Andrew, whose eyes were still glued on his father's as the two men measured each other's reactions. Her hand cupped the side of his face and brought a smile to his eyes, pulling his attention to the stunning woman who nestled up against him.

"I'll get stronger, and hopefully this is the worse it'll be."

Karen pulled back and shook her head at the small man, "That may well be true, but there's no need for it."

Dave had never felt more isolated in his own house before, their conversation happening as if he weren't even there, though he knew that Andrew had not forgotten him. They wanted him to hear what they said, and wanted him to be part of it. Dave and Michelle had just accepted Andrew's relationship with Sara, and Dave knew that this was how Andrew had decided to introduce Karen's unexpected presence.

"You know what just happened, and you're still trying to convince me that we have the time to take things slowly?" Andrew's words to Karen were a whisper, spoken with love and dripping with concern.

Sara came back into the room still wearing her running shorts, a sports bra and a form fitting t-shirt, with a large black bag slung over her shoulder. Dave expected to see some sign of jealousy from Andrew's wild and free spirited girlfriend, but instead she seemed to beam with happiness as she stopped and asked.

"Are you two about done? Seems like the grumpy old bear here has better places to be."

Dave eyed Sara, not expecting her wit to find him at a time like that. Andrew and Karen shook their heads at their partner, their eyes shining with the devotion he had grown accustomed to seeing from Andrew alone, and seeing it from Karen furthered his surprise.

"What the hell is going on?" Dave asked, not getting an answer before Andrew took Karen's hand and led her out of the house.

"There'll be plenty of time for answers in a few minutes, Dad. Just try and keep up..." Pausing, Andrew noticed Karen's loose but figure accentuating dress, her makeup done up in a subtle but effective way. With a smile, he turned his eyes towards his father and revised his statement, "Since some of us decided to make this a formal affair-"

"This dress is not that fancy, geez!" Karen interrupted.

"I guess it'll take a bit longer to get there," Andrew concluded.

Dave had never known Andrew to be so assertive, and found it to be a good look on him. Part of him wanted to put his foot down and to demand answers that very minute, but strange things were afoot, and something told him that he needed to trust his son. Whatever was going on would be made clear soon, and if it wasn't, then there would still be the same hell to pay.

To his surprise, Sara led their way out of the house and out across the field. Andrew seemed distracted as he looked to the edge of their clearing, in the direction back towards the road. Sara saw his expression and stated, "I'll explain later."

Andrew shrugged and kept ahold of Karen's hand. For the next several minutes they maintained a steady pace that Dave found difficult to maintain. If not for the three younger people leading his way, Dave would've been lost in the first minute, his footing seeming to slip from him more and more often the further they went. Never once did Andrew or Sara miss a step, and Karen only seemed to stagger when her flats slipped on the mossy terrain. It was as if they could see through the darkness, and moved with a purposeful ease he found impossible.

He knew the true source of their steady travel though, that they had made the journey enough times that the little light they were given was enough for them to find their way. That was what he convinced himself of at least. The longer they went, the more frustrated Dave became, until after almost ten minutes Dave grumbled, "We don't have time for these games, Andrew."

Stopping and turning around, Andrew faced his father, the small man seeming more insignificant than Karen had ever seen him by the comparison to his towering progenitor. She could see the family resemblance, but recognized how different Andrew was from the god like man that towered above him. It was no wonder the women of the town had been talking about Dave, he was gorgeous and manly, the moonlight making his strong and muscular body seem even more impressive than it had been in the house.

Andrew cleared his throat and looked slightly sheeping as he looked up into his father's glowering face. "This is as good a spot as any to get you ready for the last leg."
Dave shook his head and seemed disappointed as Andrew continued, "You'll need to hold onto one of our hands from here on out. There's... well, let's just say I don't want you freaking out unnecessarily."

A rumble reverberated in Dave's chest as his anger swelled up. "Enough Andrew, we need to talk-"

"Another couple of minutes, Dad, and we will."

Sara and Karen were standing to the side, holding each other's hands with a nervous expression on their faces. Dave was still not sure how to feel about that development, Sara's involvement in Andrew's life was an unexpected turn that Michelle and he had struggled to accept, but having seen Karen with them, he could see the same ironclad devotion that Sara and Andrew shared. She was an integral part of their lives in a binding and unbreakable way, he saw that, but it would take time that Dave didn't have to determine what that meant.

Michelle had always been good at those things, discerning what people were feeling, and why. Andrew was his blind spot, Dave knew that, but whatever was happening between them was way outside of his wheel of expertise.

The consideration he was giving to their relationship was clouded by his growing frustration at their situation, and how flippant Andrew was being with their limited time together. His anger was like a coiled spring, and as his eyes scanned through the darkness he could feel it tightening.

"That's enough, we need to talk now."

Andrew simple held out his small and delicate seeming hand, stating, "This isn't a negotiation, father. I'll explain when we get there, but without this there isn't enough time to cover everything. Despite what you think, I'm not the only one that has questions to answer, and I'm just as eager as you to know what the fuck is going on in my life."

There was a threat in Andrew's statement, and true anger in his tone. Dave had never seen that before, finding that his son was different from the boy he had left a little over a week before. The man who stood before him was self confident and assertive, two things the Andrew of old never was. If he was not so angry, Dave might have been proud, but instead he found himself questioning just what Andrew had to be upset about.

"What the hell were you thinking fighting that wolf, Andrew? The bully was one thing, but that was just stupid."

Instead of looking surprised, Andrew shook his head and looked towards the ground, sighing before his head came up and he responded, "I'll tell you exactly why, but you'll need to tell me why you allowed the government to study me for the last eighteen years."

Dave realized his surprise must have shown on his face as Andrew again extended his hand, asking, "Are you ready to follow me now?"

Whatever was going on was well beyond what Dave had expected. He had arrived with the plan of ambushing Andrew and Sara, but so far every step of their confrontation had gone awry, leading Dave to more questions than he knew how to ask. Not for the first time, he found himself wishing that Michelle was there for backup.

Instead of saying anything he released a heavy breath and took his son's hand.

Within half a minute, Dave found his thoughts lingering on the weapons cache back at the house. How much had Andrew used, and what exactly would they need to replace. The more he tried to ignore those thoughts, the more pressing the questions seemed. It wasn't until the hairs on his body began to stand on end that his attention was drawn back to Andrew, who was pulling him through the darkness.

Panic filled Dave's heart, his mind traveling back to the last time he had felt that strange and tingling sensation. Yanking his hand from Andrew's grip, Dave pulled his sidearm and aimed it into the impenetrable darkness. The closest trees were outlined in a faint silvery sheen, but everything outside of their small group was a mystery, and through it he could hear the sounds of gunfire.

He knew it was a memory, Michelle and his last mission in SOAL, and the moment when they had been separated. His heart raced and his finger itched to pull the trigger, his brain racing to predict where the next undead monstrosity would appear.

"Get back," he bellowed, sweat pouring from the sides of his face as his whole body seemed to tense.

Reaching out, he gripped Andrew's shoulder and immediately felt the weight of his memory fading away, his thoughts returning to normal as the sounds of the forest replaced the silence of the tomb.

Dave's breath was coming to him in a deep and measured pace, his body suddenly feeling cold as his muscles started to shiver. No matter how many times he was in active combat, he would never grow used to the adrenaline fatigue that inevitably had to come crashing down upon you.

"It's alright, Dad. We're safe."

Karen stepped over and Dave's eyes turned towards her as she reached out. Her hand cupped the side of his face, and with it came an overwhelming sense of peace and calm, his body recentering itself as he felt his pulse return to normal. In her eyes, Dave could see understanding and sympathy, recognizing in her gaze that she had been through the same type of thing he had just experienced.

"I'm not sure what you just felt, but it was not real, okay?"

As she spoke she held his focus, and together they walked with Andrew and Sara leading their way. Dave was so transfixed by that remarkable woman that he failed to notice as the area around them opened up, or as the scale of their surroundings expanded around them. It wasn't until he felt Karen's eyes stirring his desires that he broke contact with her.

Immediately, he knew that something was wrong. The air was too warm, and the area seemed far to bright, as if a full moon was shining down upon them. A couple dozen yards away there was a large pond, and in the ripples of the water he could see the signs of light emanating from below while steam rose from its surface.

Everything about it seemed idyllic, the ground coated in a soft and gentle cover of moss, grasses and clover. Small flowers of varying colors were scattered about, while maples reached up high into the canopy above. Looking out upon the vast open space, Dave knew he was seeing something special and unique. In his heart he found happiness and contentment, his mind turning away from Karen and towards his wife, where he imagined what her body would look like rising out of that water.

How soft her skin would be, the sheen of the light as it danced across her perfect feminine form. How she would taste as he sucked her nipple into his mouth, her body grinding against him as they fell back into the warm and welcoming pond.

"I'm gonna give you a minute to adjust, Dad."

Dave heard his son's words, but found it difficult to pull himself from his fantasy, a hidden and unknown force keeping him in that alluring thought. For awhile he felt like he was caught in a dream, Andrew and the girls walking towards the pond where they all turned and looked towards him.

"Are you sure this is the best idea?" Karen asked, worry evident in her kind eyes. "I mean, we've never brought a human here before."

Andrew had already kicked off his shoes and pants by that point, leaving them in a pile a short distance from where they stood. "Well, no, not really... But my dad isn't like most men."

Karen never turned her attention from Dave as she responded, "You can say that again."

Sara was not far behind as she said, "Damn right, sister."

"Hey!" Andrew almost yelled as Karen and Sara turned and laughed, helping him to remove his shirt while Karen continued her thought.

"We're just teasing you, silly boy." Karen stopped for a moment and glanced back towards his father, continuing with, "Besides, he's definitely human, Andrew. I'd know if he was anything like us, and he's not. But at the same time, he's the pinnacle of what a man can achieve." She paused long enough give Andrew a soft and reassuring kiss. "He would need to be to have given us you."

Again, Sara chimed in with a well timed, "Damn right, sister."

They all embraced, seeming to forget that Dave was there captivated in his trance, but even through the fog of his fantasy he could tell that they were holding back. He felt it in the core of his being, their lust and adoration for each other saturating every inch of that magical place.

With pants and grumbles they parted, Sara and Karen taking a seat on the padded ground while Andrew walked out into the pond, his briefs maintaining his modesty while his father stood and watched.

Dave's impressive length was silhouetted against the fabric of his pants, fighting to fulfill the desires of his fantasy as he imagined his wife's passion-laden breath filling his ears while he sheathed himself deep inside of her. Seldom had he wanted her more than he did in that moment, and as his breath grew heavy, and those familiar sensations of release began to build up within him, he forced himself to focus.

He blinked his eyes and took a sharp breath, his vision focusing in on Sara and Karen, who were chatting in casual and carefree tones. Focusing on the sounds of their voices and the feeling of the warm air as it kissed his skin he began to force the images of his wife from his mind.

The sensation of her lips on his neck was the first to go, a sigh of disappointed needs building in his throat as her rasping moans were replaced by the background noise of Andrew in the water. His cock jerked and throbbed as the woman of his dreams released her vice-like grip from his turgid and wanton flesh.

Finally he felt like his thoughts were his own once more, and as his eyes scanned his surroundings, more details came into focus. Most importantly was the arcane circle that covered the ground beneath Sara and Karen.

They turned their attention on him, both of them smiling as they saw he had overcome the mysterious force that had ensorcelled him.

"Ahh, you're back."

Karen's tone almost made her statement sound like a question.

"What the fuck is happening?!" Dave demanded.

The two women laughed while Andrew peered out from the pond, his head just sticking out from the water as he asked, "How much time do we have to answer that question?"

Sara and Karen's laughter doubled as Dave checked his watch, but they grew eerily silent the moment he began to answer.

"One minute, Andrew. Happy? You've no idea the difficult position you've put me in."

The grins that were on the girl's faces were priceless as they looked from Dave back towards Andrew.

"Actually," Andrew began. "Yeah, I'm pretty happy."

As Andrew walked out of the pond, Dave could tell that the fatigue that had stolen his son's strength was gone, and in its place he saw a power he had never known Andrew capable of. He was no match for Dave, but he was miles from the small and fragile boy Dave had known all those years.

Everything that Andrew had been doing had already begun to shape his body into a well crafted machine. The distribution of muscle was different from Dave's, whose body served one purpose; war. Sure, there were signs of combat readiness in his son, that was unmistakable, but there was more. Within those lean and wiry muscles was an unyielding strength that Dave could not deny, which would serve a purpose he could not guess at.

Andrew had been changed, whether by Sara or by the place they had moved to Dave could not be certain, but he knew that the child they had brought there was gone. Andrew was so much more than what he had been, and despite the changes he had already seen, he had yet to become the man he was destined to become.

"Son, we're almost out of time, so please just stop playing these games."

For the first time that night, Dave's commanding tone was gone, and he could tell that everyone noticed it. He was no longer trying to dominate them with his presence, and no longer attempting to influence them with his anger or imposing stature.

"This place is special-" Andrew began.

"No shit," Dave interrupted.

They all smiled, glad to see a sense of humor in the large man.

"Beyond what you've likely noticed, time works differently here. For every second out there," Andrew pointed back the way they came before he continued, "thirty seconds passes in here."

There was a long silence as Dave's brow furrowed, his eyes moving from Andrew and over to Sara and Karen. He expected to see some sign that they were in on Andrew's joke, but instead he saw them fighting their laughter as they whispered back and forth.

"There's no way he's gonna believe him," Sara stated.

Karen seemed to be studying him as she responded, "I don't know, he knows about the wolf... He might be willing to accept the truth."

The fact was, Dave's skin tingled as a slight breeze brushed up against him, the warmth of that place seeming so far removed from what he expected. Looking around, he couldn't help but smile at how beautiful everything was, a contented feeling mixing with his simmering arousal and forcing him to accept that something strange was going on.

Again, he was reminded of that time those many years ago when Michelle had vanished. How those stone passageways had appeared cold and unremarkable, and yet there was a menacing presence he could almost feel in the stale and stagnant air that told him something was wrong. The sylvan place he found himself in with this son was nothing like that, but the unexplainable source of his feelings seemed somehow similar.

"Seriously, Andrew, can we just try and get at least one question answered before I have to leave?"

Sara laughed and declared, "See, I told ya so."

Karen rolled her eyes while Andrew remained focused on his father, the two men holding each other's' gaze for the longest moment. For the first time in years, Dave could tell that Andrew was having a hard time figuring something out.

"How the hell do I get you to believe me?"

There was anger in his voice as Dave responded, "Stop playing these childish games, Andrew. I know there are mysterious creatures in our world, but what you're describing is just foolishness. I thought you grew out of this magical thinking a long time ago, but I guess not."

Andrew was growing tired of his father calling him by his first name, recognizing how the older man was trying to influence him in a subtle but demeaning way.

It was a difficult problem, Andrew realized, trying to convince someone of the truth of what he was saying. Especially someone as bull-headed as his father.

"You need to accept this, Dad. It's pretty central to the reason we got involved in the conflict with the wolf."

"No, Andrew... That was just stupidity. You could have died."

With a huff, Andrew blurted, "What, like those hunters? How many people needed to die before we stopped it? Ten? Twenty? At what point does this become our problem."

Andrew could feel his father's temper rise up to meet his, the influence of The Glade doing little to stem their mutual frustration.

"It's never your problem, Andrew. You should have contacted your mother and I, it's our job to deal with shit like this. I told you before I left to reach out if something came up, but I knew you wouldn't. You never do."

Instead of responding, Andrew closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Dave could tell that his son was trying to recenter himself, a practice that Andrew was very good at. Andrew reached his arm out and sighed, his shirt lifting off of the ground and moving into his hand with unexpected speed.

"I'm really not sure how I can get you to understand what's going on, and I'm honestly tired of trying to do it subtly."

Dave watched as Andrew tore the the sleeve of his shirt off with his mind, his eyes wide with shock as he tried to comprehend what he had just seen.

"If I'd called and told you what was happening, you would've been killed. That thing was far more than a wolf."

With every word that Andrew said, more and more of his sleeve unravelled, until all of the fabric had been unspooled into a large coil of thread that hovered in the air beside the small man.

"You would've set up an ambush, and probably would have done some pretty good damage, but in a national park there's no way you would have used anything of substance. The fact is, you never would have believed what I told you, and would've gone in over confident and underprepared."

A rock pulled itself out of the moss at Andrew's feet and lifted up into the air. As they all watched, the thread wove itself around the rock in an intricate pattern, and after a short period of time, it had created a very ornate and yet sturdy looking latticework before tying itself off. Most of the thread was still hovering in a spool just beside it, connected and yet loose and free.

Dave blinked and shook his head, his brain refusing to accept the feat he had just witnessed. The rock, and its newly constructed netting of thread standing in conflict with his understanding of the natural world.

His revery was disrupted by Andrew, who stated, "Go ahead, tell me I'm wrong."

It took Dave a moment before he could respond, "If we'd setup a proper killzone, there's no way that thing would have survived."

Andrew shook his head as he responded, "Perhaps it would have worked, but ultimately I think you would have discovered that the beast was far more than just a large wolf."

The stone drifted over to Dave, and dropped. Before the older man could think, he caught the falling chunk of earth and felt it's cold wet surface in his iron grip. Somehow, he thought it would have been warm.

"Throw that straight up."

Dave looked at his son with confusion written in his every feature.

"Seriously, Dad. Throw it up. You wanted me to prove that time works differently here, that will do it."

His mind was swimming with so many different things; Karen and Sara's unexpected relationship with Andrew, confirmation that they had fought the wolf, the strange place he found himself in, and most recently Andrew's ability to move things with his mind. Studying the rock, he decided there was nothing to lose, and pulled back his arm before throwing the stone with all of his might.

Just as he expected, the stone quickly vanished into the canopy, but as he looked over he expected to see the thread chasing after it. At first he did, he could see the tension of the rock as it pulled the tail of thread after it, but it quickly dawned on him that the thread was not moving away nearly fast enough.

Instead, it was unspooling at a very languid pace, as if the rock was barely moving away from them. While he watched it, his mind trying to figure out what was going on, Andrew's voice reached out from his side.

"I don't know how fast you threw it, but you have to admit that the thread is not moving as fast as it should. The fact is, its moving thirty times slower than it should, because the rock exited The Glade and entered regular spacetime."

Dave looked between the thread and Andrew, the coil getting smaller and smaller as the seconds ticked by, but remaining stubbornly slow despite everything that Dave expected.

"Since you were... distracted for about a minute when we got here," Andrew started his statement with a blush, "and you said you had a minute left after you came back around, that means we had two minutes left when we got here."

Despite what people thought, Dave was not dumb, and appreciated Andrew giving him the time to work out the implications of what he was saying for himself.

"So we have almost an hour before I need to leave?"

Sara whooped while Karen cheered, "I knew Andrew could do it."

Their love for his son was obvious by the looks they gave him, their eyes glued to the small man who stood before him. He was still struggling to accept what he had just figured out, but the slowly diminishing spool of thread helped him to realize the truth of it.
"How?"

The unspoken aspects to his question were not lost on Dave's audience, who seemed to consider what he said for a long moment. It took a few seconds before Andrew chuckled and admitted, "I'm not sure."

"Well, how did you find this place?"

At that, Andrew laughed and shook his head, walking over to Karen and caressing her head as he stated. "The truth is, I made it. Karen thought this glade might be a place of power, and gave me a ward to draw in the soil so we could see if it would activate. When I went to draw it, something came over me and I kinda got carried away."

The girls parted and flourished their arms out across the design they were sitting on. Beneath them, he could see the strange arcane symbols that were drawn with flowers, grass, and light colored moss. The more he studied it, the harder it became for him to focus on the design, each symbol being forgotten a moment after he saw it.

Dave had always known that Andrew was special, but he had never suspected his son was capable of any of the things he had seen that night. Sure, he was smart, but they thought his impressive intellect was the beginning and end of his gifts.

"How long have you been able to do these things?"

Andrew's back seemed to straighten as he looked down at Karen, his hand tracing the edge of her jaw as their eyes searched deep within each other. His lips mouthed, "Thank you," with a smile before he released his contact and returned to his father. Dave was still taken aback by how comfortable Sara was with Andrew and Karen's intimacy, his confusion furthered as the young woman laid down, and rested her head into Karen's lap.

"Just after Sara and I started to date, that's when these gifts started manifesting."

Dave could feel his son's eyes as the young man's gaze studied him, and knew that Andrew was studying his every reaction.

"Ever since Sara entered my life, things have been... different. At first it just seemed like it was something keeping us together, bound heart to soul in an indescribable way. We know we're nauseating with our affection, you and Mom made that pretty clear early on. We thought it was an external force, we thought it was this place, back before it was awoken, or transformed, or whatever I did to it. That it was keeping us devoted to each other and drawing us back. But now I think we agree that it's me."

Sara raised her hand and said, "Yuuuup! All you, SD."

Dave shook his head and thought back, realizing in that moment just why Andrew and Sara had always been so head over heels for one another.

"But why now? Why here?"

Their smiling gazes showed their understanding of his confusion, yet he could tell they appreciated how he was taking them at their word. Part of him wanted to dismiss what he was being told, but there was something about it that rang true, and he had to know more.

"Sara," Andrew began. "She's not human, Dad."

Part of Dave had already suspected as much, their few training sessions having laid the groundwork for the understanding that his son was trying to impart. Her agility, and the ease with which she mastered every lethal technique he had taught her was evidence enough, but looking over he could see there was more. Her face seemed different, her cheeks just a touch more angular, and as their eyes met he realized his mistake from earlier. She was not wearing contacts, the color of her eyes were naturally amber.

His face softened as the realization struck him. Like his son, she bore a distinctive difference from most people. Something that marked her as special, and beyond her wild nature, set her apart.

Karen was running her fingers along the athletic woman's arm, a broad smile across her face as she watched Dave. He almost felt her eyes upon him, her gaze brushing across him like the soft touch of an old friend. There was something about her that was comforting, but something within him railed against that influence, feeling its foreign nature and rebelling against it.

"What..." Dave tried to begin, his thoughts getting away from him as he tried to piece everything together but failed. "What the fuck is going on."

Andrew reach up and gripped his fathers bicep, his fingers grasping with surprising strength as the small man pulled his father's attention.

"Sara's an Alurianthrope," he provided.

Dave's befuddled expression caused Sara to roll her eyes as she stated, "A were-cat, I'm a were-cat. Part cat, part woman... one-hundred percent badass. Andrew, you gotta stop using that fancy word. We go through this every time."

Sara's outburst brought levity to their tense moment, a slight chuckle filling the air as Karen and Andrew agreed with every word that Sara said.

"Dad, let's just pull the bandaid and get through this. I'm some kind of wizard, what kind we don't know, but it seems like I bond with magical women, and am pretty talented at making and understanding things. The main thing I can do at this point is control electronics and I'm really good at levitating things." His eyes turned towards Karen, who nodded at his unspoken question, giving him permission to continue. "Karen is a witch, a healer to be exact.

"As you've noticed, she bonded with us. It happened right around the time you left on deployment. It was difficult at first, but that's just because Karen and I fought it at first, while little miss kitty cat over there knew right away that it was how things were meant to be."

Dave had heard enough, his mind was racing, and while he took comfort from Andrew's touch he refused to believe what he was hearing.

"No, that's impossible. You can't use 'magic' as an excuse for lust, and this childish game of pretend needs to stop before you get yourself killed. You're not a wizard, there's no such thing, Andrew."

Looking over at Karen, Dave's voice grew louder and more angry as he bellowed, "How could you play along with this? You're old enough to know better."

The last thing that Dave expected was the laughter that followed, not just from Sara, who rolled around on her back, but from Andrew and Karen who were much more subdued but equally entertained.

"I understand how you feel, Dave, and wish I could tell you that this was not happening," the older woman began. "The world is a scarier place than you knew ten minutes ago, but your refusal to accept it doesn't change the dangers that lurk in the shadows of your ignorance."

Karen paused to look down at Sara while she caressed the young woman's cheek, the gentle touch bringing a smile to Sara's face and reminding Dave of the cat from earlier in the evening. "I hadn't asked to be pulled into this. In truth, I worked hard to avoid all emotional attachments for a very specific reason..."

Dave saw the conflict in the young and yet oddly wise-seeming woman as her eyes looked to Andrew for strength.

"It's your choice, Honey."

With a deep breath she closed her eyes, and Dave could tell she was fighting against her own fears as she struggled to make her choice.

"I'm over two-hundred years old, and have watched as generations of my family have been born and died. All of my friends, and lifetimes of love burnt within the fires of the centuries, their ashes cast to the winds of memory."

Sara nestled up against Karen's belly, whispering, "We ain't going nowhere."

Karen ran her hand along Sara's face, love written into her gaze as she nodded. "The last thing I expected was to be bound to your son, pulled into this amazing family. Now that it's happened, I wouldn't want my life any other way." For a second she paused, looking at Dave with sympathy etched into her smile. "I know you don't trust me, I can feel it in the same way you hear these words, and I don't blame you. But, whether you believe us or not, this is the truth."

Dave looked back at his son, the young man's gaze still studying him with intensity. Looking at his watch, he grumbled and shook his head. Memories of his own youth coming back to him, and how he had seen the mystical around every corner. The world felt so large and majestic that he had a hard time imagining it without some magical edge.

Sure, Dave had seen some pretty amazing things during his time with the military, his experiences in SOAL laying the groundwork for a career chasing the supernatural. But his final mission before that organization was dismantled remained his one true view into the unknown. Nothing he had seen spoke of magic, just unexplained aspects of science, or massive and fantastical creatures which showed just how far mother nature could deviate from her original designs.

"Andrew, you've seen too many movies, or read too many books. I know things have been tough with the bullies at the school, but you can find healthier ways to escape. This is-"

"No! For fuck's sake, that's not it. You want to know why we fought the wolf, so you need to understand how we got there. You need to know why we felt it was our duty to try. We knew it was dangerous, but we had the best chance."

"Just because you see a large wolf, or discover a unexplained place in the forest doesn't mean you have powers, Andrew."

Before Dave could continue his lecture, the hairs on his arms stood on end, Andrew's face changing before his eyes until the boy he knew was gone, and another larger boy stood in his place. He was taller and much more muscular, a jock if ever there was one.

"I'm not doing this because of Will, Father," the unfamiliar boy said, his voice unknown to Dave.

Again the boy before him shifted, this time into a tall and athletic young man with a muscular but slight build. Short blond hair stood up at the top of his head, giving the boy a dangerous and yet compelling look.

"I'm not doing this because of Zack, either."

Again the voice had changed, and while he didn't recognize it, he knew that it's masculine tenor belonged to that face.

Once more Andrew's appearance shifted, and while it took longer than the other two times, Dave knew who it was well before the transformation had completed.

"I love you and mother more than you can know, which is why we are even revealing this all to you, but at some point you'll need to accept that we're telling you the truth. Mother would not refute what she saw with her own eyes, but yet somehow, I knew you would."

It was strange hearing that statement coming from Michelle's mouth, his wife standing before him delivering Andrew's message. Dave could feel his reasons for denying their claims shattering against the image of his wife that stood before him, his hand reaching out and nearing that perfect face. His fingers trembled as they grew close, and the moment he made contact his breath escaped him.

Andrew's face faded back into place, Dave's hand drifting down as the illusion of his wife vanished, shrinking from the tall woman until all that was left was his shorter and fragile seeming child. No, not fragile Dave had to admit, but small and forever capable of making him worry.

"I know this is hard for you, Dad. But we need to move past this. I don't know what's happening any more than you, but we are trying to figure it out."

Dave's heart sank as he suddenly believed his son, and all of the wild claims that they had made. His gaze drifted up towards the canopy, where he saw the tail of the thread flowing up and out of sight. It had taken minutes for the rock to pull the long bundle of fibers out of the glade, just as Andrew had promised it would.

"You should have called me, Son. There was no reason you had to do this alone."

Dave watched as Andrew twisted his heads, realization dawning on him as soon as the words hit him. Karen wrapped Sara in her arms and the two woman grinned as all of the younger people seemed to share in the same emotion. Part of Dave wondered if perhaps they did, knowing how in sync they seemed to be with one another.

It took a few seconds of thought before Andrew shook his head and laughed, admitting, "You're right, Dad. I should have called you. We really could have used you and mom out there. That thing was crazy dangerous, and we were just winging it. With all the experience you have, I'm certain you could have come up with a better plan."

For the first time in what felt like hours, Dave felt connected to Andrew once more. Things were still wildly out of control, but at least they had agreed on something.

"What happened with the wolf, Andrew?"

Andrew shook his head and stated, "No, I think we've answered enough of your questions for now. It's time you tell me why you allowed the government to study me all this time."

The black bag that Sara brought opened up, and his broken M16 found its way out before a large folder, full of papers. The stack of documents drifted through the air until it stopped just before Dave, who reached out and took it. The large man's eyes grew wide as he opened it and began to scan through the pieces of paper. There were things even he had not seen, pieces of the puzzle that Dave and Michelle had been trying to put together themselves.

"How did you get this?" Dave asked, his eyes continuing to scan the documents as his trailing voice completed his thought, "It's amazing."

Whatever Andrew had expected, Dave could tell that his fascination with the documents had not been it. It took all of his will for Dave to pull his attention from the documents, and again he wished that Michelle was there with him.

Looking up, he could see that Andrew looked weak, a different kind of exhaustion creeping into the corners of the young man's eyes.

With worry on his face, Dave stepped over and helped Andrew sit down next to Karen, the beautiful woman pulling him against her as she asked, "You just had to show-off, didn't you?"

As Dave withdrew his hand, he asked Andrew, "You okay?"

Andrew nodded, stating, "Yeah, making myself look like Will, Zack and especially Mom took a lot out of me. That's a difficult spell to maintain, even for me."

They looked at each other for a moment, Andrew's description of what he had just done standing strange to Dave. His son had described the most amazing thing that Dave had ever seen as if he had just gone for a jog, like it was the most normal thing in the world.

Sara broke Dave's silence with a brief statement, "Less gawking, more talking. The people demand answers."

Her hand shot up in a triumphant fist, and again Andrew and Karen shook their heads and chuckled, all of their eyes turning towards Dave. For a moment he looked between them, and could tell that they expected the full truth. He thought about everything they had shared, and while he wanted to deny it, to think it all a lie, he knew it was the truth. With that knowledge came the realization that Sara and Karen were taking a huge risk, exposing themselves to him, and potentially the government.

With a sigh, he resigned himself to following their example.

"We figured it out two deployments ago. We hadn't finished training the troops or setting up the base when all of a sudden they moved us. The new assignment made no sense, and wasted our talents. It was clear that something else was going on, so your mother dug into it. It seems that Mr Walsh had reached out and was trying to get you transferred to a college."

There was fondness in Dave's voice as he continued, "God that man loved you. Of all your teachers, he was the best.

"Your mom didn't dig too hard, because she knew by that point that they were watching us. Before she stopped, she figured out that they'd tried to get him moved to another school, and when that failed, they moved us instead. Mysteriously, Mr Walsh came under investigation, almost losing his job for something he didn't do."

Dave took a moment and looked around, glad to see that all eyes were still fixed upon him.

"Ever since then, we've been trying to figure out what they want with you, and what we could do to try and make it stop. That's when we started putting things into motion, culminating in our 'retirement' from the military this year. No matter what, we wanted you to stop moving, but we knew that if the brass was interested in you they weren't going to stop. Further, we're too important of assets for them to let get away that easy."

With a deep breath, Dave considered whether he really should continue with the story. Looking at their expectant faces, he knew he had to.

"The government is nothing if not predictable, and given our experiences and knowledge we knew what types of assignments they would deploy us on. So, your mother began to do research, while I reached out to all the people we knew. I couldn't start organizing anything, not until we knew what we were going to do, but it didn't take long for Michelle to discover our ruse, president Roosevelt.

"Everyone knows that he was an avid hunter, and would come to this forest often to bag a few elk. But your mother's been given access to many files that most people have written off. In them, she found something pretty amazing, an old picture of this national park's founder standing before a colossal elk. It's black and white, but the scale of the creature was unmistakable. It seems that this park exists to try and find more of those elk."

For some reason Dave expected their faces to light up, for realization to wash over their faces as they learned the unknown history of the forest they called home. But, in place of shock he found acknowledgement, as if he had told them something new, but not unexpected.

Karen was the first to speak, "That makes a lot of sense, but why hasn't the government tried to setup a base here before?"

"Well, they did. Or, we think they did. There's no documents, but that picture was one of many from this area. The only one with a massive animal in it, but all the rest were from this area, and showed military personnel patrolling the forest, searching the area over the course of about a year. Our guess is that they never discovered anything else, and stopped searching before people began to notice what they were up to."

Andrew huffed, intrigued by his father's story but frustrated by its lack of relevance.

"Dad, that's great and all, but what's that have to do with anything?"

There was an impetuousness to Andrew's words that surprised Dave, who tilted his head while he responded, "Over the course of the next two deployments your mother and I reached out to everyone we trusted, not knowing what would happen but hedging our bets just the same. After everything was as ready as we could make it, we put in for retirement. We were pretty sure we knew what they would do, and they didn't disappoint."

For once Dave knew how Andrew felt during one of those pregnant pauses, and like his son he savored the suspense that descended upon his audience.

"When they asked what it would take to keep us in service, we made the most outlanding demand they'd ever heard."

A broad smile spread across Andrew's face while Karen nodded with understanding, Sara looking between them and asking, "What?"

"This base is only being built because my parents demanded it."

Sara looked directly at Dave, and as he nodded his agreement with what Andrew had just said, she laughed.

"But I saw your contract, Dad, and beyond guarantees of duration and a hefty bonus, there's no mention of anything like this."

Dave just shrugged, stating, "Why would they? If we manage to figure out where those elk are hiding, we aren't gonna get the credit. We were clear with them, we wanted a long term stateside deployment, and absolutely no military interaction with you. No doctors, and no covert operatives infiltrating your life. We didn't try to hide why we were retiring, and how angry we were at what they were doing.

"Thankfully, General Armitage always liked us, and while we could tell he knew about what had been going on, he seemed ashamed of his part in it. Or perhaps he was just upset at getting caught, I'm not sure. Either way, we have our deployment, and they get to do research on whatever we find. Getting to pick most of the base personnel was not something I expected them to give me, but they did. Guess they really want to try and track down more of those elk, because if anyone can find'em, my men can do it."
They all studied Dave for a long minute, Sara's thoughts seeming less focused on their topic as she looked up into the canopy.

"Might want to move over there, Dave."

Laughter erupted as they all noticed the rock that Dave had thrown up into the air falling back down into The Glade, the long streamer of thread following behind it with the same languid and otherworldly pace that staggered the mind. Andrew wasted no time, lifting his hand and pulling another rock out of the tangle of moss and grass that coated the forest floor.

With unseen hands the rock floated up, Dave looking between his son and the levitating rock with wide eyed wonder. Never did Dave think he would see such a thing, and never from his son.

The rock floated up high into the air, and just as it crossed into the tangle of branches and leaves that rested above, Andrew stated, "God, that's weird!"

A moment later they all watched as the rock that Andrew had lifted up also began to fall, though its pace was glacial as it ever so slowly began to pick up speed.

"Why had I never thought to do this before?"

Dave could see in the girls' faces that they were excited by whatever Andrew had discovered, his surprise mirrored in the delicate features of their joyful faces.

"I was trying to get the rock high enough so that we could compare its falling speed with the rock you threw. You know, to prove that time is moving one-thirtieth normal speed here, but I guess I hit the boundary of The Glade. That was kinda scary, because one second it felt like I was holding it, raising it up, and the next it was gone, as if it had never been there."

Andrew was still watching the newly falling rock, a grin spreading across his face as he said, "Let's see what this does."

The very next second, the rock picked up its pace, descending at a normal rate until Andrew used his gift to catch it, slowing it down and floating it to the ground, where it landed with a soft thud.

"Seriously, Andrew... How could you keep this from us?"

The young man's smile faded as his eyes settled on Dave.

With the strength of his anger, Andrew stood, his body seeming to chase after his words as he almost screamed, "How could I keep this from you? You've known about the government monitoring me for years, and profited from it. Never once had you even hinted at any of this to me, and you wonder why I kept secrets from you? Isn't that my job, as your teenage son? Besides, it seems like you and mom have been giving me a crash course for years."

"Andrew!" Karen yelled, her beautiful face marred by emotion.

"It's alright," Dave said, his voice calm as he studied his son. The only sign that Andrew's words had bothered him was a slight flexing as he clenched his jaw.

After a few seconds of the two men studying each other, Dave continued, "I guess we all thought we were protecting each other."

The pain on Andrew's face was understandable to Dave, who had expected as much. But what surprised him was the way Karen and Sara seemed to huddle together, holding each other for comfort. Dave didn't think they were aware of what they were doing, but the conflict in their eyes was undeniable as they looked between Dave and Andrew.

Dave had expected Andrew's anger to arrive a day or two in the future, once he had time to process his parent's involvement in what the government had been doing. There were few things that Andrew valued more than loyalty, and Michelle and he had expected Andrew's anger once he knew the truth of what was going on. They had thought they would reveal everything a few years from then, unless the government forced them into revealing things sooner, but as he looked at his son's fuming face, he shook his head with surprise.

Not only had they been forced to confess themselves sooner, never would they have guessed the circumstances of Andrew's discovery. Or the speed with which he was working through it.

"How were you keeping me safe? Ignorance does nothing but ensure..."

Andrew's voice trailed off as he looked over at Sara and Karen, shock overtaking his face. Turning his eyes back to his father's, Andrew squinted as he asked, "Dr Blake, is he working with the government? Please, tell me he's just a regular asshole, and not a professional one."

Dave looked confused as he responded, "Who?"

The suspicion on Andrew's face was priceless, almost making Dave laugh as he tried to suss out who Andrew was talking about.

"My Physics and Calculus instructor. He's a real douchebag, and had it in for me those first two weeks..." Andrew paused and took a deep breath, giving Dave enough time to notice that whatever had came into his son's mind had him worried. "I don't know why I did it, but he gave me a test that was impossible for anyone to pass. Even with the knowledge necessary, which no pre-junior in college should have, there just wasn't enough time or tools to complete it.

"For some reason I didn't consider the implications of what I was doing, or even the stupidity of what the teacher was attempting. There was no way he was going to grade it. Even if I failed it, he couldn't enter it into my record, since it was evidence of clear and total bias. He was going to be forced to throw it out, but I arrogantly aced it. Even the graphing parts, which required a calculator and tools to properly plot out the points. Every answer on that test was perfect, and in a third the time it would have normally took... I'm a damn idiot, and if he's working for them, then there's no way they aren't watching me now."

Sara tried to stand, wanting to pull Andrew into her arms, but Dave watched as Karen held her back. Within Karen's eyes, Dave could see understanding, as if the young woman knew how much he wanted to be the one to comfort his despairing child.

"Whoever he is, he's not Military, so I think you're clear on that side."

By that point Dave had already gripped Andrew on the shoulder, his firm grasp drawing Andrew's attention. "How could I have done that, Dad? I'm not normally that dumb."

Dave laughed and shook his head, speaking with a smile, "You like to think you're special, but you're still a teenager. Stupidity and adolescence go hand-in-hand, my boy."

There was a confidence in Dave's voice that seemed to set everyone at ease.

"Besides, he can always disappear if he starts asking the wrong questions to the right people."

Andrew and the girls laughed, not noticing the false tenor to Dave's mock merriment. He meant every word, and now that he knew about what Andrew had done, he was determined to make sure that the test vanished, and that its existence was contained.

"You shouldn't beat yourself up too much, Andrew. Do you have any idea what other boys of your age would do with gifts like these?"

A strange and eerie sounding thud drew their attention to the ground, where the rock that Dave had thrown into the air finally touched down. As they watched, the thread quickly fell on top of it, falling at an expected rate.

"Okay, so why did the rest of it fall like normal once it hit?"

Whatever funk had clouded Andrew's countenance faded away as he smiled, eager for the change of subject, and to share his understanding of the place that surrounded them.

"Let me start by saying we have no idea! But, we noticed that rain, leafs or anything else that falls into this place seems to move at the same speed as the outside world, which is to say a thirtieth of our speed. -"

"That is, until it touches something native to The Glade," Sara declared, excitement dripping from her every word as she took over for Andrew. "It's the craziest thing!"

Andrew was beside himself with bubbly energy as he sorted through his thoughts, Karen watching her partners with a broad smile. It was a strange family, Dave thought, three people he never would have expected to find each other, or to get along, and yet he couldn't help but think that they worked well together.

"Which confirms that my levitation abilities are an extension of me, since that second rock that I floated up there was falling at outside speeds until I touched it with my mind. Not sure how that helps us, but it's interesting nonetheless."

Karen was beaming with pride as she said, "Well, it does explain why you can activate magical devices without touching them. Perhaps you've been using telekinesis since before I showed you the spell?"

Dave was standing right there, and yet as he listened he felt like he was a mile away. Despite everything he had seen, and the outlandish story he had come to believe, he still struggled to accept the truth of what they were discussing. Karen's offhand remark about magical devices being the final straw that broke his disbelief's back.

"No, I don't think that's it," Andrew responded, his eyes switching from left to right as he scanned his memory. "That was different, I think. Telekinesis is such an obvious and strange feeling for me, that had I used it before I would've known."

With an exasperated huff, Dave looked between all of them and stated, "Assuming this time magic stuff works like Andrew says it does-"

"It does!" Sara interjected with a grin.

Dave just looked at her and shook his head, hating himself for smiling at her coy little game. "Then hopefully that gives you enough time to tell me how you came to blow up that wolf with one of my grenades."

Andrew raised an eyebrow and smiled as he asked, "One of? Seems like I need to start digging around the house some more..."

Despite the humor that they all found in that moment, a seriousness came over the younger group as they huddled up and whispered amongst themselves. After a short time, Andrew emerged and declared, "There are certain aspects of this story we need to keep secret. No matter how I tell it, you'll know that there are others like us out there, so I won't try and hide that, but I will do everything I can to keep their identities from you."

It was Dave's turn to drop a surprise on the young group, and he was not above admitting how much satisfaction he got as he said it.

"If you're worried about Tani'm, don't be. If you think we were able to setup this base without the local tribe knowing about it, you're mistaken. The tribal elder made it clear that the forest was to be respected, and if we upset the balance, then we could expect a visit from her."

Andrew and Sara smiled, informing Dave that she was who they were trying to protect, but in Karen he saw something different. She was proud of the woman, and yet worried about Dave's knowledge of her.

"To be honest, Michelle and I just thought it was the locals talking big. Figured she was some ghost story they told their kids around the fire at night. If you disrespect the forest, Tani'm will steal you away."

After the relief settled across Andrew and Sara, Karen stated, "She's no story, and it would be wise to heed their warning. She may have struggled against a dire-wolf, but when she's finished with you and your men, it would be as if the forest had never seen your like before."

Somehow, Dave always knew when someone was boasting artificially, whether they were warlords or merchants, and every time his instincts had led him in the right direction. Karen was not lying, her words were a pointed attempt to save him from discovering just how dangerous Tani'm was. Further, he expected that had anything ever happened, he would have faced far more than just that single woman, and would have found Karen, Sara and perhaps even his son fighting at her side.

"Hopefully, she'll warn us if anything like that should ever happen, before we get on her bad side, but for now we're keeping things pretty light and unobtrusive. Now, about the wolf?"

Again they looked at each other, though Dave noticed how Andrew and Sara were really looking at Karen, seeming to gauge the older woman's desires when it came to how they should tell the story. With a bit of reluctance, Karen looked towards Dave and nodded, giving Andrew the okay to tell the full story.

It took almost all of the time they had remaining, more than twenty minutes, for Andrew to tell the long series of events. From Karen being drawn out into the forest and finding Tani'm near death, to the latest battle where Andrew had barely managed to mortally wound the beast, only for it to vanish while Sara and Andrew lay unconscious beneath their magical barrier.

Throughout the story Dave asked questions, trying to poke holes in the fantastical tale that they wove, much of it from Sara, who had been there for most of the battles. By the time they concluded, Dave looked haggard, his head spinning from all the wondrous and mystical events that he was forced to try and understand. He looked at Karen with a new found respect, because if the story was to be believed, she might be the most powerful among them.

There was only one thing that seemed strange to Dave, who could tell from the way the pieces of the story fit together that something, or someone, was missing. It seemed to him that there were parts of the battle which remained unexplained, damage the wolf had taken which seemed to come out of nowhere, but accounted for much of the creatures diminishing strength. Tani'm must not be the only of their kind out there, and while he did not understand their reluctance to include that person in their story, he respected their decision to protect one of their own.

By the end, he came to understand why they felt that the wolf would be too much for traditional methods. Especially after hearing about Tani'm's original battle with the wolf, and the dozen hunters who had almost entirely been wiped out. Their tactics were solid, and if not for the poor execution of their ambush, it could have worked. Sgt Laurence had already learned of the men who had returned from the forest, and their rambling utterances of carnage and defeat. From the reports Dave had seen, the men appeared to have been to war, the telltale signs of PTSD seeming far too familiar and under explained by an encounter with a bear.

As much as Dave wanted to dismiss what he had heard, too many of the pieces fit with the things he had already learned. His son, and his growing harem, had been far too cavalier in their planning, and risked more than they knew by their actions.

"Wow," Dave began. "That's one hell of a story."

Checking his watch, he shook his head, still finding it difficult not to think that he was dangerously late reporting in with Sam. No matter what they said, he knew that he would leave that place and find himself entering an investigation for having abandoned his post. Sure, the military may have bent over backwards to get that post setup, but their leniency was not unlimited.

His head was still swimming with the details of their tale as he turned his attention back to his hosts, finding the young family looking at him with a mixture of expectation and apprehension. Andrew was nervous, Dave could tell, that perhaps he would not believe him, or would disapprove of what the young man had been doing. He was right to worry, Dave didn't approve, but perhaps not in the way that Andrew feared.

"So far your antics have caused nothing more than a headache for some of my men, as they scrambled to clean up your mess."

Andrew looked relieved, until Dave continued, his eyes casting across them as he spoke, "I can't say I approve of this situation, but considering how little I understand about the strange forces that are at play, it's difficult to know how much of that to place at your feet. If your assertion that your presence is what drew that creature out of hiding is accurate, then we must be prepared for the next attack."

There was a palpable tension in the air as the small family studied Dave, Andrew standing between his father and the girls as if he was attempting to shelter them from being taken away. Dave would have found it cute, if it hadn't stood as evidence of the weird bond that seemed to hold them all together.

As he watched, Dave thought back on that evening those few weeks back, when Sara had first entered their lives. How inseparable they had been, and how adorable and yet confounded Dave and Michelle had found their affections. There was nothing about Sara that they found offensive, but it was clear to them how outclassed Andrew was by the beautiful and athletic woman who had fallen in love with their son. It never really made sense to Dave until that moment, their tale giving light to the mystery that had surrounded Andrew.

"You can't keep putting yourselves in harm's way."

While it was a simple request, Dave anticipated his son's reaction, continuing the moment the young man looked frustrated. "Obviously, if something is threatening our family, we'll deal with it, but anything short of that you need to keep out of it."

His son was not the only one who liked to bury messages within declarations, the perfectly chosen words understood by Andrew and the girls the moment he said them. Sara audibly squeed, while Karen smiled and Andrew stood tall, a smile spreading across his small but statuesque face. Not for the first time, Dave realized that if Andrew was just half-a-foot taller, he could be a striking man.

"Thank you, Dad."

Dave gripped his son's shoulder, and pulled him away from Karen and Sara. "We need a moment, ladies."

The two women watched them leave, both of them held in an affectionate embrace as they whispered back and forth.

"Listen, Andrew... This is all very very odd, and I... Well, son, I'm struggling to know what to do here."

Honesty, Dave decided, was likely the best tact to use, since Michelle wasn't there to help guide him.

"Damn, I wish your mother was here, she'd know what to say... or do."

Andrew laughed, and asked, "Would she? Would anyone?"

Dave joined into Andrew's laugh with a deep rumble of his own, his son's relief a palpable tonic that seemed to ease his own worry.

"Probably not, if I'm being honest, but at least I wouldn't be alone here."

As Andrew turned his head, the two men circling around the far end of the pond, Dave felt like Andrew was a much taller, older man than he had been just a week before. Whether it was recent events influencing Dave's perception, or the magical place they were in, Dave was not certain. But, as they locked eyes, Andrew said, "You're not alone. I've always been here with you. Even when I didn't want to be locked into your parental gaze, I always valued it in the end, because I knew that if you were coming down on me, it was because I did something stupid. This has always been a team effort, even if my position on the field has traditionally been a defensive one."

It was rare for Andrew to use sports metaphors, and Dave appreciated it all the more for the effort Andrew was making.

"I meant what I said, Andrew. The last time we even came close to anything as mysterious as what is going on here was right before you were born, and I almost lost your mother to it. We can't go through that with you. If something comes up, contact your mother or me, and we'll all work together as a family to figure it out."

Andrew took a deep breath, and held his father's gaze, his great mind thinking in broad strokes as he decided what he wanted to say.

"How would you have fought the wolf?"

In that brief pause, while Andrew considered his next words, Dave noticed the sentiment of Andrew's question. He did not sense any defensiveness, but rather an eager yearning for understanding.

"Ever since that last battle, I've been killing myself trying to figure out what I should've done... Sara almost died, Dad, and I would've been powerless to stop it."

No matter how much Andrew had changed, the boy he had raised was still in there, and part of Dave loved being needed by him. For some reason, he had never grown tired of taking care of his child, and hoped he never would.
"It's alright, Son. You did the best you could, and everyone is alright."

Looking back across the pond, Dave could see Karen and Sara laying on the forest floor and watching them, still whispering amongst themselves. Well, Sara was whispering and Karen was listening, though while he watched Sara said something and Karen laughed.

"If Tani'm can do the things you said, influencing animals and blending into the forest, then she was greatly misused. With the healing abilities that the wolf had, none of you stood a chance without Karen there to even the odds, and yet you all ran in blindly, your forces artificially divided and your numbers clouding your judgement. That's an often seen fault of young soldiers, and one that few who bring it into battle leave carrying. You had the right idea with that ambush, but waited far too long to set it in motion, leaving yourself with very few options. By the time you got there, because of what was happening with Sara, I understand why you did what you did, but goddamn was that foolish."

Dave looked towards the trees, his frustrated thoughts reaching out towards what he would have done in Andrew's position. Taking a deep breath, he allowed the floral fragrance of The Glade to fill his lungs. In that act, he felt strength and clarity fill his body and mind, knowing for certain that the magical place was its source, and for the first time not caring.

"The greatest thing you could have done is fight the wolf together. Karen was vital with her ability to heal, and with Sara and Tani'm there the beast would have struggled to attack her without being killed by them." Dave paused long enough to look at Andrew with a sympathetic smile, before he continued with, "I'm sure you realize this, but right now you're probably the biggest liability in combat. At least against a supernatural wolf.

"You should've waited a day, prepared more fully and brought in support from the Quinault Indian Nation. Sure, the wolf would've been able to gain more strength, but the odds would've been in your favor. Get some hunters with good, high-caliber rifles from the tribe to help. Your gifts, as you've described them to me, would have been better used if you had the tribe take some commercial explosives and turn them into pipe bombs. Once they were hooked up with electrical detonators you would've been damn useful. You could have used telekinesis to move them in close proximity with the wolf before setting them off. Hell, you could have attached them to iron rods and drove them into the wolf's body before setting them off. So, while the beast was in the open, you could stake a few into it, and then when it tried to run, you could have detonated them."

Dave was getting excited as he saw all the things he could have done with the gifts his son had at his disposal, and then grew quiet as he realized just how dangerous Andrew could be.

"The hardest part would be starting the fight in a location you control. The wolf was smart, and it sounds like it had grown cautious of traps, so you may have had to patrol the forest. I would have split people up into three, five-man fire teams. Keep Tani'm in one, Sara in another, and you and Karen in the last. Sure, searching the forest would've been slower, but it would have been a hell of a lot safer. No matter what group the wolf attacked, someone would be there to detect it, and either engage or mitigate its damage. At that point, the rest could close in quickly to support.

"The only risk is that it wouldn't have engaged due to your numbers, but from the way you described its behavior, it sounded like it was impatient and brazen, so even if it was cautious at first, likely it would have attacked after a day or two of being stalked through the forest. The hardest part would be the toll all that hiking would have taken on you, Karen and the men. For some reason, I don't think that would bother Sara, and Tani'm is probably just as tough."

"She wishes!" Sara yelled from across the water.

Dave had suspected that Sara could listen in on their subdued conversation, given the things he had heard, but was still surprised by the woman's overt display of her supernatural gifts. With a roll of his eyes, he turned back to Andrew and concluded, "The gist is, keep your forces unified and fortified with the skills necessary to get the job done. At a certain point as I moved up the ranks, I was trained to anticipate and accept a certain percentage of loss through every engagement, but in this family there is no percentage that I would ever accept."

Just as Dave expected, Andrew took time to process his words, and while he could see some of the weight lift from his son's shoulders, he could tell the bulk of the young man's burden was still there. The pressure of protecting those that you love is a leash that Dave could never release, and as he looked into the lilac eyes of his one and only child, he knew that it was a family trait that Andrew had inherited.

"They'll be okay, Andrew."

"I know, it's just... well, what if I'm not enough to protect them, or to protect me. This is some crazy, high-fantasy, A-D-and-D shit I've fallen into, dad, and the reality of it is so much more frightening than the game."

Dave laughed, admiring his son for the comparison that Dave had already made, but had not given words to yet. Somehow, Andrew had stumbled into the very thing Dave and Michelle had spent their entire careers trying to prove, and the irony was not lost on Dave, who recognized that his job would now involve hiding as much of Andrew's involvement in local affairs as he could. Looking across the water he could see Karen wrestling Sara to the ground, her hand over the young woman's mouth as they both giggled and laughed.

Whatever was going on, Andrew's mood seemed to improve as they both watched the playful game the two women were playing. Even though he could not explain it, Dave found himself thinking of them as part of his family, and wanted to protect them with the same ferocity he devoted to his son.

"The beauty of youth is that you've always been playing a game with no reset button, and you were just so caught up in the joys of life that you never noticed. There have never been any extra lives, or save slots to fall back on if things don't go your way. Your mother and I have tried to shield you from that fact, but you recognized it a long time ago despite our efforts. Somehow, you've failed to realize that whatever world you stumbled into has always been there, but you can take comfort in knowing that it has to be a small place indeed.

"There are people in the government dedicated to finding and harnessing whatever supernatural powers are out there. Through decades of searching, they've found very little proof of anything more than strange creatures and a few cases of unexplained phenomenon."

Dave started chuckling as he looked off in the distance. "Remember a couple of years back when your mom and I were home from assignment, and we were in the dining room while you were watching that stupid haunted house show. After that door slammed and the people in the show jumped and got all excited, declaring it was proof of an afterlife, you just started saying things like, 'how?' and 'like hell you dummy, it's a door, not a portal to Narnia.'

"You turned off the TV and finally noticed your mother and me laughing our asses off in the kitchen. You asked us why, thinking we were laughing at you, but it was what you were saying. The irony was that we had just returned from a debrief where the higher ups were convinced that this kid had supernatural powers, but he was just a really good con man. It took us hours of stating things very similar to what you were yelling at that TV, and it was just the exact thing we needed after probably the most frustrating meeting we've ever had.

"In the end, we learned that some people bend their realities to fit their desires, and some people just want there to be a supernatural edge to our world. A boundary that once crossed unlocks a whole new way of being. While you have stepped foot into something like that, the larger world still seems vacant of that influence, providing only shadows for us to chase.

"Don't get me wrong, I love my job, and it keeps me busy, but my experience tells me that things will be quiet for a long time, and if anything does come up you won't be alone to face it."

There was something in Andrew's eyes that told Dave there was a piece of the puzzle he was missing, something big. Looking at his watch, Dave almost shouted, "Fuck! I've really got to go."

Before he could flee, Andrew gripped his arm and told him, "There's a magical organization that is shielding the world from the presence of the supernatural. Karen dealt with them in the past, and they are powerful and influential. They'll do whatever they have to in order to keep their secrets safe. Please, dad, don't pull on the thread of where that wolf came from too hard, because if you prove there's a magical presence in this forest, you'll bring them here and everything, including you and mom, will vanish as if you never existed.

"While I'm sad at that thought right now, they could make it so that I never even remembered you, and remember my parents as a nice couple who died tragically in an accident years ago, or they could just make me disappear with you. We are hiding from them just like we are hiding from the government. We just want to live in peace, but magic attracts magic, and it seems I'm a pretty big magnet."

Dave's heart was beating like a war-drum in his chest, worry between what Andrew had just told him, and the very real threat of discovery by his lack of checking in on time. His life had just gotten infinitely more complicated, and he needed another perspective before he allowed himself to transform into full papa-bear - as Michelle had started calling him since Andrew was a baby.

"Alright. We'll talk all this through this weekend, when your mother and I will be home. Until then, just keep doing what you're doing, but also try and live. Enjoy being young and in love."

Dave felt like he did a good job keeping the stress from his voice, the tension of his recent discoveries still swarming in his overactive imagination. He was a worrier, and he needed Michelle to help him sort through all of these new sources of tension.

"I'll guide you," Sara yelled from across the pond, bounding around to meet Dave as he jogged his way out of The Glade. "This forest can be pretty difficult to navigate in the dark."

"Thanks," Dave responded, before turning his attention towards Karen and yelling, "It was a pleasure, and keep an eye on my son, he's a worrier like me, and needs someone to keep him from getting in his own way."

Karen waved and yelled her acceptance of his request, promising to give Andrew her full attention.

Sara was right, the moment they left the shelter of The Glade, Dave was surprised by how difficult the forest was to navigate. The canopy blocked most of the stars, and the mossy uneven terrain was almost impossible to walk on. Despite all that, Sara made it seem easy, her careful guidance and steady pace leading Dave to where he had stored his gear after he'd been dropped off earlier that evening. Turning on his sat-phone, he checked its time against his watch and was amazed to find them nearly an hour apart.

Andrew had not been lying, and even with their long conversation and added exchange at the end, Dave was a bit ahead of schedule. Sara had made the difference, getting him to his gear in record time.

"You got it from here?" Sara asked with a pant, her body shivering from some unseen strain as a deep and guttural purr vibrated in her chest. Dave had heard the sound before, from a cat they had owned when Andrew was much younger. It emanated from Sara in a much more intense way than he had heard before, and reminded him of her feline nature.

Despite her heavy breathing, he could tell the young woman was not tired from their run, and yet her eyes were dilated and she was struggling not to bring her hands to her body. The way she squirmed, he would have thought she was... Ohh, she was aroused he realized.

"Yeah, sure. My rendezvous is just a klick from here, so no biggie."

Sara released a sigh that almost sounded like a moan as it blended in with her steady purr. "Thanks, Andrew and Karen are being mean right now, so I need to go teach them a lesson."

For a moment he considered whether he should say anything, but before he could come to a conclusion his voice made the decision for him, "Sara?"

"Yeah?" she asked with a husky voice, her breath coming to her in labored pants.

"Do you regret what happened to you?"

Sara looked at him funny for a few seconds, her arousal seeming to fade as the shock of Dave's question settled upon her.

"You humans are so weird with your hang-ups and idealization of what you think relationships are meant to be. Bonding with Andrew was the best thing that ever happened to me. He is... Well, he's the greatest mate I could've ever asked for, and the most loyal partner I'd ever want. Up until you and Michelle, I didn't even know that humans could love as deeply as Therians do.

"Don't tell Andrew, but for a while before I met him, I was afraid I would never love anyone like my father loved his mates, or how they loved him. Until he entered my life, the human world held little joy for me, and provided little hope for a meaningful relationship. I was not enough of a human to settle into a traditional relationship, and not enough Therian to bond with a compelling mate. I'd just started accepting that I would be alone, surrounded by friends, but forever bereft of love.

"Your son changed that, and thanks to you and Michelle, he's a man I'm proud to call my equal. No matter what anyone else sees, I know what Andrew is capable of, and will protect him to my dying breath - just as he will me."

Dave stood spellbound by her heartfelt words and sudden and unexpected ideas. Everything was so new, and while he wanted to understand, he was flailing about as he tried to relate to what Sara was saying. The way that Sara and Karen seemed to be bound to Andrew appeared so lopsided, and yet to hear it from Sara he could see how wrong he was in that perception. Yet, even with her words there was just something about it he had a hard time accepting, as if Sara and Karen were chattel that Andrew could use and throw away if he wanted. He knew that Andrew would never do that, but seeing how they treated him, and how they idolized him, he wondered if a lesser man could do that, and would probably do worse still.

"Thanks for explaining things from your perspective. I'm sure we'll have more questions this weekend, but until then just be safe, okay?"

Sara popped a salute, stating, "Sir, yes sir! Permission to go defile your son, sir?"

Dave winced slightly at Sara's crude words, having suspected what was going on in The Glade, but not wanting it to be spelled out for him. Before he could answer, she dropped her salute and said, "Fuck this, I'm going AWOL. Seeya this weekend, sir."

Before he could respond she was gone, her legs carrying her out past his line of sight faster than he thought possible.

"Fuck, what a strange night... How the hell am I gonna explain this to Michelle?"