"Andrew, you've got to help me!" Greg exclaimed the moment he got back from school.

Andrew immediately dropped his bag, ready to go wherever he needed to. "Let's go. Are you under attack?" He asked seriously.

"No, he's on a date." Chris commented.

Andrew froze. "He's- he's what?"

"It's not a date!" Greg protested. "She just won't leave me alone!"

Andrew frowned. "Who won't leave you alone?"

"Karen Linda." Greg sighed. "She said she was a friend of yours."

Andrew blinked. "Karen Li- wait, Karen?!? Where did you meet Karen!?!"

"Where do you think?" Greg raised an eyebrow. "In the wilderness, while I was hunting. And now she won't leave me alone because it's too 'dangerous'!" He scoffed. "I'm tellin' ya, I'm starting to get why Chris just tells everyone everything all the time. Do you know how annoying it is to tell someone you'll be perfectly fine but not be able to explain why?"

"Wait… so Karen found you, a complete stranger, in the wilderness, and now… she's insisting on protecting you?!?" Andrew asked incredulously.

"Well, she figured out I was connected to you pretty quick. Actually she assumed I was you at first. I was in my scorpocroc form and apparently that seems like exactly the kinda thing you'd turn into." Greg elaborated.

"Okay… and what do you expect me to do about it?" Andrew frowned. "It isn't like I can just walk up to her and tell her to leave you alone. At least, not without telling her about who we are. And at that point, you might as well just tell her yourself."

Greg scowled. "Damn it." He paused for a moment, considering his options, before letting out a sigh. "Well, she has to leave me alone eventually, right?"

"You should just give her the pamphlet." Chris shook his head. "We're already telling the Clans and she is Andrew's friend. What's the worst that could happen?"

"I- wouldn't exactly call Karen a friend…" Andrew muttered, before letting out a yelp as Li Jing pinched him.

"She's a friend." Li Jing stated firmly, turning to Greg. "You can trust her."

Greg raised an eyebrow at her, before shrugging. "If you say so, I guess I can tell her… just tell her to keep it secret?" He asked, and Li Jing nodded.

Chris sighed. "Secrets are such a pain."

"Yes, Chris, we know." Thomas rolled his eyes. "But sometimes they're necessary."

"That doesn't make them any less of a pain." Chris shrugged.

*

"Aren't you bored?" Greg asked, glancing over at Karen/Linda as he dug the ability core out of his latest kill and popped it in his mouth.

"I can't believe you eat those without washing them." Karen/Linda grimaced. "And it doesn't matter if I'm bored! I'm not going to let you get yourself killed out here!"

Greg sighed. "Okay, if I can convince you that nothing out here can actually threaten my life, will you leave me alone?"

Karen flinched slightly, before sneering at him. "Obviously. It isn't like I want to be stuck out here babysitting you!"

Greg paused, cocking his head slightly before shaking it. No, he had to be imagining things. Why would Karen/Linda be offended by that? "Alright, Chris, give me the pamphlet." He announced, holding out his hand.

"Chris?" Karen/Linda frowned, before pausing as a pamphlet did appear in his hands. "Did- did you name your spatial ring?" She asked incredulously.

Greg raised an eyebrow. "Spatial ring? No, I- ugh, just read this." He shook his head, holding out the pamphlet for her.

Karen/Linda stared at the pamphlet for a moment, before looking back up at Greg. "You realize I'm a Goat, right?"

"The moment I offered it." Greg muttered, coughing slightly in embarrassment. "Hold on." He took some smoke and made a small stand, clipping the pamphlet open for her to read from. "There, how's that?"

Karen/Linda blinked. "How did you-"

Greg tapped on the stand. "It's in the pamphlet."

She frowned at him for a moment, before grumbling under her breath as she turned her head slightly so she could focus an eye on the pamphlet, squinting slightly. She'd barely gotten through the first paragraph before she looked up at Greg incredulously. "You can't be serious."

"Completely. Keep reading." He insisted, tapping the stand again.

Karen/Linda eyed him suspiciously for a moment, before letting out a huff and starting to read again. "This is ridiculous." She grumbled as she continued, shaking her head at the impossible claims the pamphlet made. At least, that's what she thought until she got to Andrew's section, and her eyes widened. No wonder he survived and came back with that weird form! But if that was true… Did that make the rest of it true too? She glanced up at Greg nervously. "You- you really can't die?"

"Yup." Greg nodded, grinning slightly. "I'd prove it, but dying kinda fucks with my energy, so I'd rather not."

"Fucks with your energy?" Karen/Linda frowned.

"Yeah. Basically, if I'm killed, I still die, technically, so all the things that happen when you die happen, meaning I lose a good chunk of my ability energy in the process, which, you know, is annoying. The fact that I heal a moment later doesn't change that." Greg explained. "But other than that, death is meaningless."

Karen/Linda's expression twisted. "You shouldn't have told me this."

"You didn't exactly leave me much choice, now did you?" Greg snorted. "I mean, you can't exactly hang out with me forever, you know? And since you weren't leaving on your own… plus Li Jing vouched for you."

"You talked- no, wait, that isn't the point! I can't keep this a secret!" Karen/Linda exclaimed. "My mother- she'll know I'm hiding something and she'll force me to tell her! And then- then… then I don't know what she'll do, but it won't be good! She's a monster!"

Greg blinked, unable to keep a grin from slowly spreading across his face. "Is that so? And here I was thinking this World was going to be boring. Taking down a monster is just the kinda thing we need to spice things up." He let out a low, evil chuckle, causing Karen/Linda to shudder, her eyes widening as she stared at him incredulously.

"Are- are you insane!?! You can barely fight the fodder we've been encountering! What makes you think you can even touch my mother!?!" She retorted.

"For one, because I'm a true immortal, not just some long-lived dipshit. And two… because I know about her, but she doesn't know about me." Greg replied, his grin widening.

"But she will! The moment I go back home, she'll know!" Karen snapped.

"Ah, then there's a simple solution to that, isn't there?" Greg smirked. "You don't go home."

Karen blinked, taking a step back. "Wh-what?"

Greg coughed awkwardly. "Sorry, didn't mean to make that sound threatening… no, I just mean- you read the pamphlet, right? Just come live in Chris's world with us. You'll escape your mother, we can bring you to better hunting spots so you grow faster… hell, you could even get connected to Chris's world and become immortal yourself! Win win, right?"

Karen sputtered. "You- you would do that for me?!? Just like that!?!"

"Yeah? I mean, for one, it isn't that big an imposition, and two… well, Li Jing trusts you, and you could have hidden the fact that your mother would find out, but you didn't. Plus, while misguided, you have been trying to help me all day… which, you know, I have to respect. So yeah, we'll help you." Greg explained with a shrug.

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Karen/Linds's breathing quickened as she struggled to process this. It was all happening so fast! How did things shift from protecting some idiot who was trying to get himself killed to that same idiot offering her a legitimate way to escape from her mother?!? The chance to utterly change her life forever just plopped down in front of her, like it was nothing! "I- I don't- I can't- I need- I need to think." She stammered.

"Take your time." Greg nodded in understanding, before pausing. "Just, you know, try to make a decision before you have to go home." He cocked his head. "Though I suppose that would be a decision in and of itself."

"You- you wouldn't stop me?" Karen/Linda blinked.

"Nah. I mean, your mother finding out about us would be annoying, sure, but it isn't exactly the end of the world. Definitely not enough to kill you over or anything." He shook his head. "Plus, you thought my full strength tackle was a hug… I'm not sure we could stop you. Unless we went after your human side… but then we'd be making enemies of all the Bonded, and that's just not worth it."

Karen/Linda nodded slowly. It would be foolish to attack a Bonded in the base camp. She paused. "Then… how are you going to get me out? You can't go into the base camp and my human half can't leave!"

"Oh, we'll have Andrew pick you up. He's already on his way here anyway." Greg waved dismissively. "So you're on board then?"

Karen/Linda hesitated for a moment, before letting out a groan and nodding. "Yes. I'm- yes." She left it at that, unable to even begin articulating the emotions boiling within her.

*

"Where's she supposed to be again?" Andrew muttered.

"Section D, cabin forty-four." Greg replied.

Andrew nodded, leading the way to the cabin and knocking on the door. Karen cautiously opened the door, peeking out before throwing the door open and rushing at Li Jing. "Jing!" She exclaimed, pulling her into a hug. "What are you-" She paused, glancing at Andrew. "Right. I should have figured you'd be caught up in this too."

Li Jing smiled, patting her on the back. "It's good to see you too. May we come in?"

"Right, yes, please, come in." Karen nodded, stepping back inside to clear the way for them to enter.

Greg let out a low whistle as he walked past. "Damn. You're cute when you're not a Goat." He chuckled.

Karen flushed, gritting her teeth and clenching her fists, before freezing as she realized who he was. "G-Greg?!? What are you- but you're- how are you-"

"Multiple selves, remember?" Greg smirked. "You did read the pamphlet, didn't you?"

Karen blinked, her flush deepening. Maybe she shouldn't have skimmed so much… "Uh, right, right, then… um, so what now?" She asked nervously.

"First, you tell us what is going on with you and your mom." Li Jing interjected. "Why is Greg saying she's evil and you need to escape? And why didn't you tell me if it's true?" She asked with a quiet intensity, not happy that her friend had been hiding what she was going through from her.

Karen's expression twisted. "My mom- she's not- it isn't that she's evil, it's that- she believes that as Bonded, it is our duty to grow stronger. By any means necessary." She spat. "She's willing to go to any length for power, and the only concession she's willing to make is for personal safety. After all, strength is meaningless if you're dead." Karen sighed. "If she learns about the world guy and the system… she'll do anything to get her hands on them."

"And how is that not evil?" Cathryn asked.

"Because she isn't doing it to hurt people, she's just- she thinks that in order to keep everyone safe, the Bonded need to be as strong as possible, so any damage she does in that pursuit is justified because ultimately her power will help more people than it hurts." Karen explained uncomfortably.

"Ah, it's the whole 'ends justify the means' shtick." Greg nodded. "Noble goals, shitty methods. Not exactly evil, but not great either… Well, no, it's a lawful evil, isn't it? So yeah, nevermind. Still evil." Karen frowned at him. "What? You're the one who called her a monster."

"She is a monster, but she's still trying to do good!" Karen retorted.

"No, she's trying to uphold society." Greg countered. "Society itself isn't good or bad. Though, I suppose it's a good thing to have… hold on, let me think for a second." Greg frowned, trying to put his thoughts together. "Society is order and order is necessary for people to safely interact. Without some sort of understanding that people can be trusted to do what they say, no one can work together. So yes, society is good. However… ah-ha! There! If you use evil methods to uphold society, such as harming others to grow your own power, you erode society, because what supports a society is people's trust in the fact that the society won't let others screw them over! Once you start letting people screw each other over, society breaks down, and no one can work together! So, your mother's evil actions to preserve society ultimately harm it, making her evil!" He paused. "Wait, hold on… I think I got off track somewhere in there." This body wasn't connected to the tree, so his thoughts were a bit more… flighty.

"But she isn't trying to erode society." Andrew pointed out. "Intentions matter. She isn't necessarily evil, she's just an idiot."

"Hey!" Karen protested, glaring at him. "Don't call my mom an idiot!"

"Would you rather I call her evil? Cause those are the two options here." Andrew replied.

Karen scowled at him for a moment, before letting out a hmph and turning back to Greg. "So how am I getting out of here?"

Greg snickered at the obvious change of subject. "Alright, Chris, if you would?"

Karen frowned. "Why do you always say- eep!" She squeaked as a portal opened next to Andrew, revealing a waiting Chris.

"Come on in." Chris waved for her to enter.

"Who are you?!?" Karen asked incredulously.

Chris cocked his head. "I'm Chris. I'm the world guy."

Karen blinked. "Oh."

Chris stared at her for a moment. "Well? Are you coming? Or do you want to stay?"

"Uh, yes! I- let- let me just grab my things and- Linda!" Karen exclaimed. "Oh, fuck, if I'd gone through a portal without Linda." She went pale as she quickly called her Beast back.

Chris frowned. "I don't think that'd be an issue. My portals don't actually close. They just get really, really tiny."

Andrew froze as he realized something. "Wait, hold on… you can anchor your portals to people."

Chris nodded. "Correct."

"And the Bond can reach through your portals." Andrew continued.

"Theoretically." Chris nodded again.

"Then… couldn't your portals let a Beast get an infinite distance away from their Bond?!?" Andrew exclaimed.

Chris shrugged. "I don't see why not."

Andrew fell onto the couch. "Fuck." That alone could change everything! If Beasts were no longer stuck hunting around the base camps… the amount of growth- the amount of territory they could cover! It'd be insane! Of course, the problem would be making sure the portal points stayed with the Beasts after they were recalled… otherwise Chris would have to constantly hand out portal points… Andrew shook his head. It'd need to be something for the Clans to figure out, but… there was a lot of potential there.

Karen and Li Jing were having similar realizations, both girls standing there frozen, until Greg poked Karen in the side. "Well? Are you going to pack?"

"Huh? Oh, right! Yes!" She nodded, rushing off to grab her things, which wasn't much since this was only a day trip, one that had already gone on much longer than planned. She frowned down at the small bag with just an extra pair of clothes, some emergency supplies, and a few things to keep her entertained. "This…" She let out a sigh. "I did not pack to run away." She froze. "Holy shit, I'm not prepared for any of this." She gulped. "I- my mom will come after me! I can't- this isn't-" She began to hyperventilate as the reality of what she was about to do crashed down upon her.

"Karen." Li Jing called out softly, putting a hand on her shoulder. "You don't have to do this if you don't want to." She assured her. "But, if you don't, you will always live under your mother's control. This is your chance to break free. Only you can decide if it's worth taking."

"But if I do this and she finds me-" Karen protested, going pale at the thought of the punishments her mother would devise for her.

Greg sighed. "You really didn't read the pamphlet, did you?" He shook his head. "Do you see this?" He gestured to the portal. "This isn't a portal to some other place, it's a portal to Chris's world. Chris's. World. No one, not even your mother, will be able to find you there, and even if she did, Chris had complete control over it! If she wants to test her luck by going inside, Chris can just throw her into some distant corner she'll never escape from."

Karen froze. "You- really?"

Chris nodded. "Moving people is easy, and I have a lot of space in here. Infinite. I have infinite space."

Karen blinked. "Oh…"

"Plus, if you connect to my world, I can pull you inside anytime I want, no matter where you are." Chris added. "Your mother wouldn't be able to even touch you."

Karen took a moment to process that, before nodding. "O-okay. I- I think I'm ready."

"Come on, then. I'll show you to your place." Chris waved for her to follow him inside.

Karen took a deep breath, before stepping inside, pausing for a moment as she adjusted to the utter lack of any sign she'd just made one of the craziest decisions of her life, before quickly walking after him, the portal closing behind her.

"Okay, that's that." Greg nodded. "I'm gonna head back."

Andrew nodded. "Alright, we're- we're going to stay and do some hunting." Usually they alternated hunting days, but if they were already here, they might as well do it.

"Sounds good. See ya later." Greg waved, heading off.

"I can't believe you just kidnapped Karen." Cathryn muttered. "You realize that's the third woman you've taken from her family, right?"

Andrew blinked. "It's not my fault?" He offered hesitantly.

Cathryn sighed, shaking her head. "Well, at least you aren't trying to date this one."

"Not yet, at least." Li Jing commented with a slight smirk.

Andrew shuddered. "Don't even joke about that. I've already got my hands full with two."

"You could grow more hands." Li Jing pointed out.

Andrew shook his head. "No, Jing. Just… no." He got to his feet. "Come on, let's get to work."

Li Jing shrugged before sharing a look with Cathryn, whose expression twisted as she watched Andrew go. They knew that Andrew would eventually have more women in his life. It was a fact of what he was. It was just a matter of when. They might as well get used to the idea, no matter how uncomfortable it made them.