“Bonjour Howie!”

Jumping off of the bridge built into the tree with arms outstretched, Elodie spurred the magic to life within as the ground rushed towards her. The air thickened and wrapped her in a soft and cozy embrace, slowing her plummeting fall to a warm and lazy descent, and she smiled to see Howie’s alarm as he straightened up then played it cool as Featherfall gently dropped her in front of him. The magic fell away the moment her toes touched the dirt, and she skipped over to pat Old Tux on the nose, letting the brave horse take in her scent while her hands assured him she meant no harm. A wise and sensible creature, one experienced in the ways of the world, he stood guarded against her not for his safety, but for the safety of the man he carried.

“And a good day to you too, Elodie.” Smiling his false smiles while looking around for threats, Howie continued to pretend he was calm and relaxed, when the truth was anything but. If Old Tux was guarded, then Howie was cagey and wary, a creature who scented blood and danger in every shadow and treetop. It showed in how his head was always turning and eyes never still, while he kept his hand resting in front of his belly to show his claws were still sheathed upon his belt. Ever vigilant even in his own den, so much so that he tossed and turned in his sleep at night because he found no solace or safety sleeping alone.

Poor man. Few were strong enough to make a life of it alone. Though Howie was plenty strong, even the fierce tuskwulf needed a pack to watch over him as he slept, while the lone wulf spent his solitary nights howling at his reflections in the moons.

“You come for visit?” Elodie asked, hoping he’d have plenty of time to play.

“Fraid not,” Howie replied, and she pouted to hear it. “Here on business.” Cocking his head, he studied Elodie as she cradled Old Tux’s head and rubbed her cheek against his. “Look at you two, already the best of friends.”

“He is very brave and very understanding,” Elodie explained. “I show him I mean no danger, so even though he smells danger, he is not afraid.”

“That so.” Dismounting from his saddle, Howie patted Old Tux’s neck to reinforce Elodie’s message, and the wise horse finally fully relaxed in her embrace. “You’re awful chatty today. English too. Wasn’t sure you spoke it.”

“Oui-Oui.” A wise horse for a silly man, even though Howie knew many things. “Mama, she explain it to me yesterday after we leave.” Pausing to think of the correct translation, Elodie greeted baby Cowie and lifted him into her arms before finding the right English. “Bonjour, ma petite veau. Mm, Mama say Howie speak English, so Elodie should do the same. Is polite.”

It did not make sense, because if it was polite, then why did Howie not respond in French instead? Then again, Elodie had trouble enough understanding his English, so maybe he had troubles with words. Howie just nodded though, saying, “I see. Didn’t think your mama liked me much.”

She didn’t, though Elodie knew better than to say as much. “Mama says Howie is not enemy, not tribe, and not Elodie’s husband, but fierce and dangerous friend.”

The words made him smile, a real one this time, with his eyes flattening into slits and his teeth showing from between his lips. Fangs bared even in joy, Mama’s description was right as always. “Fierce and dangerous, huh? I like that.”

Elodie did not know why, for danger was nothing to be proud of. She would accept him as he was, but he would have to prove himself to Mama and Papa as well as the rest of the tribe. Unlike sweet Cowie who’d already been accepted, and he gave her a kiss while nestled in her arms before directing her attention to Howie’s saddlebags draped over Old Tux’s back. “What is this?” Elodie asked, drawing closer to inspect them with her eyes and her nose. There was something in the bag that Cowie yearned for, except he knew it was not for him, so he wanted her to ask for it and share it with him. As she drew closer, she caught an enticing scent that was not a scent and hints of a song that was not a song. It was the sound of the lakeshore on a calm summer day, or the smell of the forest after a light spring rain, and whatever else it might be, it called to her in so very many ways.

Lifting the flap of the saddlebag to see what was inside, Elodie yelped when Howie swatted the back of her hand and drew her arm back. “Pour-quoi?” She asked, cradling her arm and Cowie both as the sweet calf flicked his ears and nuzzled her in sympathy. It wasn’t that the hit hurt, but Howie delivered it so quickly and without warning. “That was not nice.”

“Ain’t nice to go rummagin’ through bags that ain’t yours either,” Howie replied, giving Elodie’s cheek a little pinch in apology. Baring her teeth, Elodie snapped at his fingers to give him a light nibble in warning. Her teeth cut through empty air before clacking together, then a flash of motion and a light touch gave her another scare as Howie flicked her nose ever so gently. A show of strength, speed, and mercy all in one, followed by a finger pressed against her forehead to keep her at bay as soon as she moved in for a hug.

“But you are friend,” Elodie proclaimed with a pout, not understanding why he was so against letting her see his things or share his warmth. He was husband too, even though Mama and Papa did not like to hear it, and Howie kept denying it. Pushing past his finger, Elodie rested her head against Howie’s chest, or at least she tried to as he back pedaled away while she continued to give chase. So bashful, her husband, a ferocious hunter and able guardian who turned timid when faced with intimacy. She thought him so bold and forward to hug and kiss her without warning, and she loved how he rubbed his cheek and chin against her head to mark her in his scent. The food he cooked was delicious as could be, and his touch was warm and tender when he washed her fur with a wet cloth. A brief but effective courtship that won her over in a single night, so even though he only had one hand and much too bony and angular for her tastes, she accepted his affections and went to share his bed as a proper couple would.

Like man and wife, they slept together, her head nestled in the crook of his shoulder until his restless actions woke her, which is when she hugged him tight until he settled down for the rest of the night

So why would he not hug her now? Only a day and a night had passed since they shared a bed, and she announced her desires clearly by repeatedly stepping in close with her head lowered towards his chest, but he kept turning and retreating to avoid her touch every time, a game that was most frustrating to play. “Stop,” Elodie said, planting her feet with a growl to show she didn’t want to play anymore, but he wasn’t listening, so she stomped her feet and stood still to glare at him in challenge. He met her eyes and smiled, but kept his distance all the same, so casual and relaxed she knew he’d never submit, not even when he was clearly in the wrong. Too much time spent as the lone wulf separated from the pack, so long he’d forgotten how to become a part of the whole.

Then Elodie would teach him, as was her duty as his wife and mate. With her words, like Mama would say. “Howie,” Elodie began, as stern and seriously as she could, but Howie was struggling to contain his mirth. “I want a hug. You scare me when you strike my hand, yes? Now you must comfort me.” Still cradling Cowie with one arm, she threw out her other arm in invitation for an embrace. “Come now.”

“How about a pat on the head instead?”

“Non!” Stomping her foot again, she dug her toes in the dirt out of sheer frustration. “I tell you what I want and why, so you come give me hug now!”

“Well, you can’t always get what you want,” Howie replied, his tone calm and patient as he reached out to poke her nose. Only to retract his hand when she pressed forward to nuzzle, a strange, silly, contrary man. “So now we negotiating. If a pat on the head ain’t enough, how about this then?” Reaching into his saddlebags, he pulled out a jar of pink candies and tossed it high into the air, and she gasped to see him treat such a prize so rudely. It was not what sang to her and drew her in, but it was a pleasant gift all the same, unless it was not a gift and he was teasing again. Catching the jar with a grin, he held it out to the side, then up over his head, then hid it behind his back, only to laugh as he watched Elodie track it. When he was finally finished with his mean-spirited games, he offered the jar and she accepted with gusto before leaning forward to present her head. A little slow sometimes, Howie could be, as it took him a long second to remember he still had yet to pat her head, even though he was the one who offered. A light and all too brief touch later and he was done, touching her shoulder ever so gently to turn her around as they headed back to the compound. “Your daddy in?”

“Non.” Holding the jar out in her one free hand, Elodie watched him unscrew the lid before opening her mouth. Howie chuckled, then summoned his glowing blue hands with a flick of his fingers and a word under his breath, then used one of them to retrieve a candy from the jar and drop it in her mouth, denying her the chance to nip his fingers in retaliation for his teasing. Clever man. She nipped at the Mage Hand anyways in a fit of pique, tearing through the delicate flows holding it together and dismissing it back into nothingness. “Papa is running with Raja, Monsieur Burguet, and Duwa,” she explained, speaking around the sweet candy while Howie screwed the lid back on. “Papa has been very busy lately with helping you work, and could not go running or swimming often.” Poor Papa. He must have been so stressed, unable to go thundering down the trail alongside his herd or padding through the forest at night, all because Howie worked too hard without rest. Now that would change though, and maybe Howie would go running with them, along with Old Tux and Cowie.

Sensing her quiet invitation, the horse flicked his ears to say he would see, because he would not do anything Howie did not allow. A firm hand, Elodie’s husband had, or future husband since Mama said they weren’t really married even though they’d already lain with one another like only a husband and wife should. Mama claimed there was more to it, but Elodie figured they’d done the most important bits, so all that was left was for Howie to move in, or for her to leave and join Howie’s tribe with Chrissy, Tina, and Aunty Ray.

The big town was so exciting, all full of new sights, scents, and sensations. Though Elodie would be very sad to leave Mama and Papa, she would be lying if she said she wasn’t excited to see what life would be like in New Hope. Bumping her shoulder against Howie’s as they walked side by side, she studied the man who would be her husband. The world would call him Yellow, but his face was as pale as any White albeit with a warmer tint, while his slender forearms were tanned darker to almost match her copper skin. Though he wasn’t a tall man, he wasn’t short either, of a similar height in his boots compared to her without. His fine black hair was in the same middle ground, hanging just past his neck and perfectly straight save for the permanent crimp from his big cowboy hat, one which hid the long, silken bangs he kept swept back and out of his face. He had no hair on his lip or chin, which Elodie rather liked, and a pleasing enough appearance that was both youthful and wise, while his scent was a pleasant mix of Aether, woodsmoke, and steel that never stank of sour sweat.

Clean and neat, but not overly tidy, and constantly on the move whether it be with his hands, feet, or head. That’s how he was now, always glancing about here, there, and everywhere except back at her. More of his vigilance, even though she was here to safeguard him from threat, but he had little trust in anyone besides himself. Perhaps that was how he lost his hand, to a threat he did not guard against, and now he worked hard to stay guarded against all, but that was no life. There would come a time when he had to trust the people around him, if only so he could relax and enjoy life. That’s why they went running in groups no less than four and swimming in packs of six, so half could stand guard while the rest lost themselves in the thrill of motion.

Howie would learn in time, and Elodie would care for him while he did. She would have to hunt more often and bring back larger game so he could grow fatter and softer. Then he would be more comfortable to hug, instead of too bony and hard. “Thank you for the candies,” she said, soon as she remembered to, cradling the jar and Cowie both. “They are very yummy.”

“Glad you like them,” he said, patting Old Tux on the neck. “I got more for you in the pack, but only if you promise not to accept candy from strangers no more. That ain’t safe, girlie, so no more risking your neck for sweets, got it.”

“Oui Howie.” Elodie giggled, all too pleased by his attention. He did not want her to go see the tall round boy again, and this was how he showed it, by providing her with more than what her other suitor presented. Howie was so silly, because Elodie had already chosen him, but it was good that he continued to court her. “You come to bring candies?”

“And your share of the haul,” Howie replied, catching onto her confusion a moment later because he wasn’t wholly attentive of her while they conversed. “The Abby you killed. Forgot to mention it before y’all lit out yesterday, and I figured I might as well get back to work on the dock now since there ain’t nothin’ for me to do back home besides twiddle my fingers.”

“No work,” Elodie declared, meeting his dubious gaze in challenge. “Papa says, Abby, they are too active, so it is too dangerous to swim.”

“Is that what y’all do all the livelong day? Swim out in the lake?”

Elodie nodded. “Many yummy fish and clams to fill our bellies, and we know the currents to avoid running into Abby. Too many now though. Very frightening.” She shook her head and shuddered to remember how scared she’d been the other night, when all those Abby chased her through the forest and surrounded her by the big tree. They would not let her climb to escape, striking her with their hooks and dragging her back down to the ground until she sliced them apart with her claws, and even then they would not leave her be. The mudkippers burrowed through her fur in search of her soft belly, while the merhounds nipped at her heels and kept her turning this way and that. The big froggies? They hit her so many times and so very hard with the big, hooked hands, and one sprayed her with projectiles every so often which hurt something awful. Only the beast within kept her from cowering against the tree, all fury and rage at the audacity of those intruders who dared to strike at her.

Howie’s shoulder pressed against hers and didn’t pull away like before, and she accepted his comfort with warmth and gratitude, leaning heavily upon his wounded arm and resting her head on his shoulder too. There it was, the warmth and kindness he exuded once he lowered his guard, a man of tender affection and heartfelt care like he showed her their first night together. He was strong too, fighting off all those Abby on the lakeshore by his lonesome several weeks ago, and again when he came riding in to save Elodie from Abby after she got so very lost and confused.

“Well,” Howie drawled, and Elodie could tell he was struggling to think of something to say, even though he didn’t have to say anything at all. His actions already showed his concern for her, and his words only soured the message. “Least that explains the terrible cooking.” There it was again, that mean-spirited humour of his. Mama worked very hard to make stew for so many men, and again to see Howie fed every day he was here. Having tasted his brisket wraps though, Elodie could also see why he thought Mama’s cooking was poor, but they didn’t have all the sauces and spices he kept stored on his kitchen counter.

No matter though. She would teach him to be kind, or others would learn to see past his hurtful words and judge him by his actions instead. Linking her arm in his like she’d seen Chrissy do to keep him from running away, Elodie dragged him through the side door while ignoring all his efforts to get away, mumbling about not wanting to impose and whatnot. “Look Mama,” Elodie called, kicking the door closed behind them so he could not run away. “It is Howie. He come visit with candy.”

Howie laughed. “Suppose I did. Good to see you miss Amelie.”

“Bonjour,” Mama replied, her smile warm and inviting, but directed at Cowie. For Howie, she only had a cool look, as she was not yet ready to see Elodie married off. They’d talked of it for many months, of how there might eventually come a day when she would leave, but the day was too soon according to Mama and Papa both, even though Elodie believed she was as ready as she would ever be. “You did not bring Tina, Chrissy, or mademoiselle Rachelle?”

“Afraid they’re all busy back home, unlike my slacker self.” Shrugging, Howie fought to free his arm from Elodie’s grasp, but she clung tighter and threatened to bite down on his shoulder until he stopped. “Tina’s gearing up to escort a convoy down south to Summerbloom next week, while Aunty Ray is organizing things to make sure there are enough seats for everyone who wants out.”

“What about Chrissy?” Elodie asked, so eager to see her new friend again, one who was so funny and lively. There were no other children the same age as her, with the closest being Jadienne a full five years younger who couldn’t even Wildshape yet.

“Oh, Chrissy don’t leave town often,” Howie said, which was about the saddest thing Elodie had ever heard. The town was new and exciting, but to only rarely go beyond the walls seemed so very restricting. Most days, Elodie would follow Mama and Papa out into the lake and swim from shore to shore in search of food, or take to the forest on hooves or paws and range far and wide in search of prey. To deny such things to Chrissy, the chance to see new sights or familiar ones in a different light, it was too sad to even think about, so Elodie gave Mama a look that said she wanted to go back with Howie when he left to visit Chrissy and cheer her up.

Mama didn’t agree, but she didn’t shake her head either, which meant she would think about it for now. Taking advantage of Elodie’s distraction to slip free, Howie pulled a small wooden chest out of his saddlebags and presented it to Mama. While she held it up, he opened it for her and said, “Didn’t just come here to deliver candy. Y’all left so quickly yesterday, I forgot to tell you about Elodie’s split from our take.” Pointing at a solid bar of matte-green metal, Howie explained, “Cooked just over ninety grams of Aberrtin in total, and that’s sixty-two grams there, or $18.60 worth. Figured that’d be a fair split, two to one, seeing how Elodie handled most of it and I just cleaned up.” A humble and honest man, Howie was, but neither his words nor his Aberrtin was what caught her attention. No, she was fixated on the source of the scent that was not a scent and the song that was not a song, one emanating from the two purple crystals that sent a pulse of desire coursing through her blood and drew in her close until Mama snapped the box lid shut.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Mama said nothing else, just stared at Elodie until she back away, which she did because Mama was most fierce. “The Spell Cores,” Mama began.

Only for Howie to interrupt, which Mama hated. “Yep, got lucky with two,” he said, missing all the cues written plainly on Mama’s expression and body language that said she wanted them gone. “One’s a Floating Disc, the other Blast, so I’m guessing the girlie soaked up a fair few hits before I arrived.” Elodie nodded emphatically, and Mama’s anger subsided at the reminder of Elodie’s ordeal and Howie’s ignorance. “I figure y’all can pick which of the Cores to keep, then I’ll tell you what it is, and that’s fair. The Floating Disc is more valuable, but that’s a fat Blast Core, so it might be good for an overpacked or upcasted Blastgun if someone’s looking to make one.”

“Keep both Cores and lock them away while you are here,” Mama said, not giving Howie a chance to interrupt again. “You have a warded gun case, yes? That will suffice.” Elodie opened her mouth to complain, only to shut it when Mama gave her a look, one that said she knew best and this was how things would be. There would be no explanation if not for Howie here, so at least there was that. “Elodie,” Mama began, saying her name the right way, ‘elle-la-dee’, though Howie’s ‘Ee-lo-dee’ wasn’t too terrible on the ear. “She cannot be trusted with Spell Cores. She has, how you say, a fixation? A compulsion, one that drives her to consume them. She has already eaten one, and I will not risk another, much less two more.”

Though surprised, Howie didn’t seem scared or appalled by the news, just gave Elodie an appraising look. “So she was born Innate and consumed a Spell Core after the fact?”

“Yes,” Mama said, heaving a small sigh. “She was twelve when she first shifted, much too young to understand, and she let the spirit take hold of her mind. She does not think like you and I, is more likely to act on instinct than reason, which is why she swallowed a Spell Core without thinking. It gives her power, yes, but at great risk, and I will not have her taken from me for being too dangerous to go free.”

Cuddling in close to Mama, Elodie silently apologized for past mistakes, but all was forgiven with a smile. As for Howie, he gave her a smile and said, “I know how it is. Cowie’s the same way.” That made Mama smile too, even though she rarely did when speaking of such a serious topic, and Howie’s quick actions in locking the Spell Cores away helped too. “Well, in that case, I can give you cash value. Same for the Aberrtin too if you’ve no need for it, but unless you got pressing need for cash, I suggest holding onto the Aberrtin instead. It’ll hold value better, and I’m betting things are gonna get real expensive around here real quick once half the town’s population gets shuttled off to Summerbloom or Irongate.”

“Cash will be fine. New Hope is being abandoned? You mentioned a convoy, but did not say it would be so large.”

It wasn’t just Mama that was concerned, as everyone else was listening in even if they didn’t look it. Howie noticed it too, and raised his voice to explain, “No, not abandoning. Just givin’ non-essential personnel the option to temporarily relocate outside the Mindspire’s range.” Howie shrugged. “I imagine we’ll lose most white-collar workers, as they usually the first to get out of dodge soon as they see trouble brewin’ over the horizon. Clerks, accountants, notaries, bookkeepers, those sorts of people. Bunch of paper shuffling pencil pushers we could all do without, but they keep things running on a bigger scale, I suppose.” Giving everyone an encouraging look, he added, “Means there’ll be more room in the churches soon enough, so if any of y’all are feeling the pressure from the constant droning, then I encourage you to come in and seek shelter. World of difference soon as you step through them church doors, bringin’ that loud, fluctuating pitchy hum down to a low buzz that you barely even notice.”

Everyone traded glances at that, because Elodie and Mama were the only ones so drastically affected by the Mindspire. Howie’s description fit her experiences perfectly though, meaning even though he wasn’t an Innate, he was still highly sensitive to the magic. Good. Their children would be that much stronger for it, which Elodie had sensed the first time she saw him a few weeks past. For all his vigilance, he didn’t see her, or maybe he did and ignored her since she was Wildshaped into a rabbit and hidden inside a bush. There was something about him that drew her to him, same as the Spell Cores he carried, though the ones in his guns were shielded well enough thanks to all the lead and metal surrounding them. Elodie just wanted to hold one, to feel its warm pulse against her skin, but Mama and Papa wouldn’t even risk letting her hold one under supervision, which was why the whole community made do without any Spell Cores at all.

And were worse off for it. Elodie was sad that they all had to suffer for her, but they never once took issue with her because of it. They were tribe, and they looked out for one another, a bond she would miss if she left with Howie.

“We will consider it,” Mama said, while her tone and posture said, ‘never’. A town was no different from a prison in her eyes, for hers was a spirit more wild and free than any other, always first to greet the moons each night and race out over the hilltops to see what lay over the horizon. Starting this community and staying in one place for so many years was hardest on her, even with yearly trips up north to the plains, but everyone agreed that they couldn’t keep up their nomadic lifestyle for much longer. Mostly because Elodie was coming of age, but the other children wouldn’t be far behind, and they needed to be socialized in ways the community couldn’t offer, not without reining their other halves in.

Elodie saw no need to do any reining in though. Better to let the animal and human become one, for that was who she was meant to be. Why strive for dominance and control from one side when you could let both live in harmony instead? Whether it was the animal or human in control, they were all Elodie in the end, so why work so hard at keeping them separate?

As for Howie? Everything she learned about him told her he was a kindred spirit, a wanderer who tolerated town life more than he embraced it, but he was not so fortunate as to have a tribe to wander with. Perhaps that would change soon enough, so long as he allowed himself to trust, and Elodie yearned to see it happen. The town was necessary, an anchor to their humanity that reminded them of what they could accomplish, but the wilds were what spoke to their hearts and souls.

A voice Howie seemed intent on ignoring as he convinced Mama to let him resume work on the dock. Said he would be fine by himself, but Elodie wasn’t the only one who saw that Howie needed help acclimating to the tribe. That’s why when Mama asked for volunteers, Monsieur Nowak, Monsieur McKay, and Monsieur Bird didn’t hesitate to step forward, even though they had supported Papa’s decision to delay construction. While boats were not allowed on the lake, there would come a time when the restrictions were lifted, and a stone dock would make things safer and more convenient for everyone involved.

And now that Howie knew about their Wildshaping, they would no longer have to hide their activities by bringing boats out every morning and stashing them in blinds for the day.

Before heading out to work, Howie handed Mama another chest full of jarred spices and pickled vegetables, along with a big bushel of cloves he said would grow fast and really add flavour to their meals. All from his Aunty Ray, he clarified, as if he were afraid the others would think he was trying to buy their favour with gifts, like that would be so horrible a thing. As for Elodie, she stood to the side and pouted, watching all the promised candy go to Mama which she shared with all the other children too. It was heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time, to lose out on all those new and exciting sweets, but the children were happy, which was good too. Better still was seeing Howie drop his guard around the kids, smiling as he pinched cheeks and ruffling heads whenever they came close while answering questions about this and that without so much as a word of truth.

How could one lose a hand in a shaving accident? Or find a baby calf growing in their caddish patch one morning? It was all silly nonsense meant to bring smiles to faces, with Howie acting as if he was entirely serious to play it up for the kids.

Not for too long though, as he soon left to put Old Tux away in the stables, but Elodie convinced him to let the old horse roam around with her and Cowie instead. Without his tack and bridle, Old Tux didn’t seem to know what to do outside of a stall or paddock, so Elodie stayed closed with one hand on his shoulder so he would know she was there with him. That’s all he needed, a herd to be with, a group to face whatever may come because they were stronger together. Howie was the leader of Old Tux’s herd, but he didn’t not understand his role, so more often than not, he did the horse a disservice by leaving him alone and without companionship.

The big piebald beast was happier now, glad to have purpose once more, and she could see it in his bright eyes and light steps as he eagerly awaited his next command. Now was not time for work though, at least not for Old Tux, so Elodie stood and watched Howie from afar with a mind to teach Old Tux how to play.

It didn’t take long for the horse to grow fretful, for they were creatures of habit and routine. What’s more, the wise horse knew the dangers of the lake and worried to see his leader working so closely to it. Howie didn’t mind one bit, directing Monsieur Nowak, Monsieur McKay, and Monsieur Bird to spread out a few metres away from the shore while he himself stood even closer. Made no sense for his guards to be further back from the water than him, but no one questioned him since he radiated confidence in a manner which demanded their trust.

From lone wulf to leader of the pack, what a transformation it would be, and Elodie’s heart skipped a beat as Howie stripped down to his shorts, revealing a thin frame covered in lean muscle and more scars than she cared to count. Many were unmistakably from gunfire, others from fang, claw, or beak, and one patch of mottled skin by his lower left hip was clearly Acid burns. A seasoned hunter this one, one who thrived from hunting dangerous prey. A menacing predator, one without fur, scales, fang, or horn, but armed with magic enough to contend against Mama, who was the most experienced Spellcaster of the tribe by far.

It was fascinating to watch him at work as he settled in for his Ritual, one he identified as Water Breathing after the fact. Only then did she realize he meant to work underwater, while the others stood on shore to watch him, which seemed silly considering everyone here could shift into an aquatic animal to help keep watch from within. Before she could suggest it, Howie finished his brief explanation and stepped off the shore to sink into the depths, where he stayed for long, suspenseful minutes while his glowing blue hands floated above the water to mark his position. A thumbs up meant be ready to fight, and thumbs down to run as quick as they could, that was all the communication Howie shared before diving right in. Too long minutes for him to come back up, and when he finally did, Elodie let out the breath she’d been holding all this while and sagged against Old Tux in relief.

More used to Howie’s antics, the horse flicked its ears and laughed at her plight, to which Elodie responded with a pat on the nose and scratches on the chin to encourage his good mood. All while watching Howie pull himself up out of the water and walk over to fetch a plank of wood. One taller and wider than he was, yet he had no trouble heaving it up onto one shoulder and depositing it upright into the lake. Jumping into the water again, he dove down and wrestled the plank into position until it sank into a crevice he must have dug out. Then, the water stilled for several minutes more, until he emerged a second time and repeated his actions with a second plank.

Section by section, Howie slowly and surely built himself a wooden plank wall, one that would soon encircle the area where the docks were to be built. Interesting as the work was in concept, it was not enough to hold her attention for a full hour much less the entire day, so she wandered off to play and explore with Cowie while Old Tux continued to watch Howie work. Between bouts of play time, she brought the horse plenty of berries and roots to nibble on all throughout the day, all while Howie built a wooden dam, sealed it up, and then set to draining the water with a flexible hollow tube and a single application of the Shape Water Cantrip which set the water to flowing out nonstop. By then, it was time for lunch, so Howie dried off and ate as quickly as he could before getting right back to work mixing mortar and building scaffolding to build with one the dam was drained and ready.

Never an idle moment. That’s how Howie was, working until dinner non stop even after his guards swapped out once Papa returned home from his run. After inhaling his dinner without so much as a word of praise for Mama who cooked using the spices he’d brought, Howie cracked open a small book and sat there waggling his fingers while looking at numbers and letters for the next few hours. Didn’t pay Elodie any attention at all, even though she stayed close by, while Cowie wouldn’t even dare to wander over and beg for attention because he knew it would be futile. When it came time for bed, Howie shooed Elodie away and said she wasn’t allowed inside the bunkhouse. Pouting up a storm, she complained to Papa who just smiled and shrugged as if there was nothing he could do, so she took Old Tux and Cowie into the compound to sleep and let Howie spend the whole night alone.

The next morning, he looked well-rested and refreshed, which came as surprise seeing how he slept alone. Claimed it was all the hard work when asked, which of course made sense, as everyone slept better after a gruelling day’s effort, and she pouted some more because now he’d never come asking to cuddle so he could get a good night’s sleep. The second day progressed the same as the first, except instead of diving and building scaffolding, Howie carried stone bricks and mortar down to begin building the docks from the ground up, with Papa and Raja down there with him. Raja didn’t like Howie much because he kept calling him an ugly horse, but by lunch time, the outline was more than halfway built and Raja’s fake smiles had turned real thanks to Howie’s charms. She could hear them chatting away while they worked, small snippets of conversation coming out of the waterless pit every hour or so, but he barely said more than a few handful of sentences to her over the course of both days.

So that night, she let Cowie go free to follow Howie into the bunkhouse, then reached up to clasp the bunny totem on her necklace. A thought, a chant, and a stretch was all it took to Wildshape into a bunny, with no pain, no tension, no real sense of change even. One moment she was human, the next, a bunny, and after a quick wiggle to acclimate to her new form, she hopped on into the bunkhouse too. The world was so much larger and scarier as a bunny, so it took plenty of courage to hop out into the open and stand up to get Howie’s attention. He smiled when he saw her, and squatted down so as not too loom. “That you Elodie?” he asked, and she feigned like she didn’t understand. She was just a bunny here to make friends, something cute and furry for him to cuddle, so she shook her head and felt her ears flop from side to side as she did. “Guess you couldn’t answer even if you were, huh. Let’s do it this way. If you are Elodie look right. If you aren’t, look left.”

She looked left of course, because she needed to trick him else he wouldn’t bring her to bed. “I guess you’re not Elodie then,” he said, having been completely fooled by her act, and he even extended his arms for her to hop into his embrace. “Just a sweet, adorable bunny.” Hugging her close to his chest, he stroked her chin and said, “Well a good thing you showed up when you did. I was feeling a bit peckish, and rabbit skewers are sure to fill me up. Now where’d I put my knife?”

Heart leaping up into her throat, Elodie shook herself out of his arms and released her Wildshape to turn back into a person. “Non-non. Please do not eat me, Howie. I lied, it is me, Elodie.”

Her teary exclamation was cut short by Howie’s laughter as he wrapped his duster around her. “Easy now,” he said, setting his Mage Hands to help her with the buttons which felt oh so confining. “Easy. I was just joking. I ain’t gonna eat ye.” Elodie pouted to hear it, but he knew he’d done wrong and patted her shoulder to soothe her.

“You knew!” Balling her fists up, she hammered his chest lightly to display displeasure. “You tricked me and scared me.”

“Yep.” Gently patting her hair with too light a touch, he gave her an unrepentant smile and said, “Sorry for scaring you Elodie, but it’s for your own good. That could really happen if you try to be cute and make friends with the wrong person, so don’t be showing yourself to no one as an animal okay?” Suitably chastened, Elodie nodded, then slid forward and tried to climb into his bed, only for his patting hand to turn into a barring palm that pushed her back and away. “Go back to your own room Elodie,” he said, shooing her off. “Else I’ll string you up outside for the night.”

There was something in his tone and his delivery that made her believe him, so she stomped her way out of the bunkhouse and back to the compound where Papa was stood waiting at the side door. He didn’t say anything, just wrapped his arm around her shoulder and walked her back to bed, where she hugged Howie’s jacket tight and grumbled into it until she fell asleep. The next morning, she brought it out to breakfast, but didn’t return it to him. He didn’t ask for it either though. Instead, he went right to work once more, while Elodie sulked in his duster and played with Cowie and Old Tux. That was the only progress she’d made these last few days, convincing the old horse to relax while his leader worked, and now the piebald was happily rolling around in the dirt and trotting about in search of ripe berries and fresh tubers. Cowie had a spectacular nose which he used to lead them to the most delicious fruits and vegetables, so while Howie was putting the finishing touches on the docks, Elodie, Old Tux, and Cowie were getting fat on the forest’s bounty.

They wandered further and further from the compound, and Elodie kept her eyes on the forest floor, having made a game of it to see if she could beat Cowie to the next closest treat. She lost more than she won, and suspected she only won at all because Cowie let her, but it was all in good fun. Right up until she heard a branch snap to her right, and she looked up to see three mounted strangers riding up with unkind smiles stretched across their faces. They wore fine white wing-collared shirts and black silk vests under long leather overcoats, with the only differences being in their ties and hats. Blue tie was the leader, an ugly, older man with a clean-shaven face and matching scars on both cheeks, scars he gestured at with a meaty hand that displayed a fat gold ring on his pinky finger. “Hey, look at us,” he said, eyeing Elodie like the gryphikin eyes a chitter rat stood out on an open clearing. “We match.”

They most certainly did not. Elodie’s whiskers were green, three on each side that went sideways. The ugly man only had one scar a side and they went straight down. She didn’t say as much though, just backed away with Old Tux while Cowie’s chest rumbled in warning. They paid his warnings no mind, as he was still tiny and cute, and the scarred man waved her closer while slowly approaching. “No need to be scared,” he lied, “I ain’t gonna hurt ya. Why don’t I give you a lift into the compound?” Soon as they drew too close for comfort, Cowie trotted forward in a bluff charge. “Easy there big guy,” the scarred man said, pointing at Cowie like he was shooting a gun. “Don’t make me have to put you down.” A warning delivered in an almost joking manner, but Elodie believed the man would hurt Cowie without blinking, as would the other two, who already had their rifles out and resting against their shoulders.

“You even try,” Howie began, his illusory voice booming from behind the three strangers, and they all turned to look for the source with guns at the ready. “And me and my boys here will see to it you all live long enough to regret it.”

“Woah, now. Woah.” Gone was the casual, almost joking demeanour as the scarred man raised his hands in surrender. Before, he was the gryphikin, and now he was the chitter rat, glancing all about in search of the hidden Howie. “This is all a misunderstanding.”

“Which is what we’ll tell the Sherrif after we shoot you dead,” Howie replied, his voice still coming from the other side. “That is unless you set your guns down in the dirt. Got three seconds. Three. Two.”

“Okay! We’re dropping our guns. You’re making a mistake though.” Despite his bluster, the scarred man followed orders and slowly dropped his weapons to the ground, while the other two followed his lead. It took some time to get through their arsenal, as they were carrying four or five a piece, while Elodie backed away with Old Tux and Cowie. “There?” the scarred man said, still looking around in search of Howie. “Happy? We’re unarmed now, but we got business here with Carter. Just so you know, I’m Mikey D'Ippolito, a made man of the Pugliano Family. I go down, and there’ll be hell to pay.”

“Never heard of you or them.” Sauntering out of the forest and appearing next to Elodie, Howie kept his eyes on the three men and asked, “They say or do anything untowards, girlie?”

She shook her head, then realized he couldn’t see her, his predator’s gaze fixed on his prey. “No.”

“All I said is we match. ‘Cuz of our cheeks. That’s it.”

“All right. You say you got business with Carter?”

Michael nodded, his eyes studying Howie for a long second before shaking his head with a heated chuckle as he slowly lowered his hands. “You ain’t got no boys, do you? You’re that hotshot Qink kid everyone talkin’ about. The Firstborn, right?”

“Name’s Howie Zhu.”

“Good for you. So what now? That slope fuck hire you to take me out?”

Howie’s gun clicked, and the sound sent a chill down Elodie’s spine. The two men in the back flinched, but Michael didn’t so much as blink. “No. Might do the job for free if you don’t watch your mouth though.”

Michael laughed, his expression genuinely bright and cheery. “Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. I didn’t believe the stories, but damn if you didn’t make me a believer right there.”

“Hallelujah. Now what sort of business you got with Carter?”

“The personal kind. So if you don’t mind?”

Howie paused, then moved Elodie, Old Tux, and Cowie to one side before gesturing for Michael to continue on towards the compound. “Go on ahead then. Don’t worry about your guns. We good, honest folk out here, so they’ll be there when you get back. In the interest of safety though, I’m gonna keep my gun out. Gotta admit, I’m a bit of nervous nelly, so if I hear a chant or see so much as a finger waggle, then I’ll drop all three of you, hunt down the feathered fedora wearing fools watching us to the northeast, and feed you all to Abby.”

“No chantin’. No finger wagglin’. Teach my idiot crew to hide better. Anything else? No? Mind if ask a few questions on the way then? Have us an open dialogue?” Michael had already moved past, with the other two close behind, and Howie followed them closely with his gun out. Elodie followed too, wanting to hold Howie’s arm for comfort, but Cowie nudged her aside to let her know he needed to be left alone.

“Long as you don’t mind if I don’t answer,” Howie said, unaware of the exchange behind him, “Then go right ahead.”

“I heard you walked out of Pleasant Dunes with that Soviet spook’s fancy rifle. That true?”

“Yep.”

“And Ronald Jackson’s Nagas too?”

“He didn’t need ‘em no more.”

Michael whistled, a skill Elodie envied. “Hear the whole underground bunker went up in flames, and the building on top of it too. Crazy stuff.” Howie didn’t answer, just kept following the three men with his head scanning this way and that as he walked. All without making a sound, Elodie noticed, his boots always finding their way between branches and leaves to land on firm dirt or exposed stone instead. “Whole cache of explosives light up all at once and bring the bunker right down on everyone in it. You made it out in one piece though. Even had time to stop and pick up some trophies along the way.”

“Just lucky I guess.” There was an edge of steel to Howie’s voice, an anger in the set of his shoulders as he said, “That plus some help from the Rangers.”

“Yea that’s what I heard too.” Turning in his seat with his arms still raised, Michael smiled at Howie and said, “I don’t believe though. See I’m thinkin’ it was someone else that done Ron in, because I know for a fact Wayne Marlon would never turn on his old school yard friend Ronald Jackson like that. They went back a long ways, and Ron helped Wayne more than once these last few years. Good man, Ron. Knew how to look after his friends. Mutual friends who might be inclined to even the score, so to speak.”

“That so?” Now it was Howie’s turn to chuckle. “Odd that. I heard Ron was suspect number one in the deaths of some big shot mafioso family back in the old world. Didn’t think he’d still have friends among them.”

“Hey, look at you. And here I thought you didn’t know nothing about nothing.” Shaking his head, Michael said, “That stuff? Ancient history. Water under the bridge. New world, new start, am I right?”

“If you say so. You come across any of those mutual friends though, make sure you tell them not to make the same mistake Ron did.”

There was a long pause, and Elodie sensed there was more to their discussion, something she didn’t entirely understand. “And what mistake was that?” Michael asked, his tone serious as the grave.

“He never married the love of his life,” Howie said, his voice cold and cutting. “So best be sure you got no regrets before taking a run at the man who done Ronald Jackson in.”

Elodie shuddered to hear it. There was a savage fury in Howie’s declaration, but that was not what shook her so. No, it was the eager impatience bubbling underneath, and the sadistic glee contained within, a yearning for battle and bloodshed that no tuskwulf could ever match. Howie lived for the hunt, only he was no animal hunting for survival. No, he hunted for sport, and now he had a target in sight, one who revealed himself without knowing what he was in for. Dangerous as this made man Michael might be, Howie was the more dangerous of the two by far, and Elodie wasn’t sure what to make of it just yet.

Mama and Papa would know. She would ask them, but no matter what they said, Elodie had chosen her mate, and she would not abandon him so easily like this.