Ryley moved quickly along the streets of his hometown. Keoni chased behind him, her movements much more graceful. He’d been so focused on what was going on in the Mirae that an entire day had passed. For all he knew, his mum could have already contacted the local enforcement.

His hooves thudded on the dirt as he skidded to a stop in front of his small house. He caught his breath, leaning over, and ignoring all the panicked thoughts in his mind.

Oh, Mum was going to kill him.

He took one last deep breath before opening the side door, ducking so his antlers didn’t hit the doorframe. Keoni followed him inside.

Immediately, their presence was noticed. A blur crashed into Ryley, squeezing him hard.

He held his breath as she spoke. “Ryley, where have you been?” Was his mum crying?

“I um…” he avoided the question. “It doesn’t matter. I’m home now.”

“Nice try,” She stood up and put her hands on her hips. “Where were you?”

He scratched the back of his head. “I fell asleep at the library.” He hated every bitter word of that lie, especially to his mum. “Nobody woke me up until opening.” Keoni gave him an impressed look at his improv.

“I went to the library, and you weren’t there. Three times.” She held up her fingers for clarification.

“In the attic, Mum,” He responded. “I’ve been working up there for days now.”

Was she convinced? His heart pounded in his chest, and she could probably hear it.

“I’m unconvinced. First you got lost for a day, and now you fall asleep at work for a full day and night. What’s next, you get captured by a Mir-Cognate and it almost kills you, and you barely escape with your life?”

“Sorry, Mum. Isn’t there no such thing as Mir-Cognates?”

She rolled her eyes. His little comment might’ve failed. “There is. You’re lucky we have the Hunters to keep us safe. If one of those creatures gets a hold of you, you’ll never live to see the light of day.”

Yup. Caste was the most dangerous creature ever, with murderous attempts and intentions. “No more leaving the house until you can prove you’re responsible again.” She glared at him.

Ryley held his tongue. “Yes, Mum.” There were so many things he wanted to say. So many things he learned were wrong about everything.

“Keoni, somehow you’re always around when Ryley gets into trouble. Got any explanation?”

Ryley felt bad that Keoni was being dragged into it. “I’m… I just go with him. He’s my friend.” Keoni stopped herself from stuttering.

“And your brother.” She reminded her. “If you had anything to do with what’s been happening, it ends right here.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Keoni responded, though she was quiet.

Ryley watched her pace away wearily. He felt guilty lying to her face like that, and staying away for so long. He walked across the hall to his room, mostly where he read. Keoni followed, similarly tense.

“I hated that,” He said once they were out of earshot. “I really hated that.”

“Amen,” Keoni pulled up his only chair and sat down.

“You’re welcome to go,” Ryley offered. “This is my punishment, not yours.”

She thought for a moment. “I’m staying.” She fidgeted with the clasp on her bag. “Though I want to know what happens if your mom finds out.”

“More like my father,” Ryley muttered. He’d been hiding from everybody what happened, but just now, Ryley knew Keoni needed to hear it.

“My father works for the Quuarks,” Ryley blurted. “If he finds out that I’ve spoken to any Mir-Cognate, he’ll try and capture them.” He twiddled his thumbs.

“For how long?” Keoni asked, tilting her head. “Last I remember, he worked at a tavern.”

“We weren’t making enough money, so he drafted himself. I… I haven’t seen him in a month.”

“I’m sorry,” Keoni said. Her words reminded Ryley of something Qaye had just taught him: ‘My intentions are no longer going to cause harm.’ a “sorry” meant in his culture. Ryley didn’t quite understand how that worked in situations like these.

“It’s alright,” Ryley responded, trying not to dwell on it. His father had come home every few months in a uniform, and it never occurred to Ryley what he was doing while he worked for them.

The image of Caste’s raw back where he’d been pummeled repeatedly popped into Ryley’s head. He couldn’t help but think if it was his very father who did that to an innocent man. He clenched his fists, taking a deep breath. His blood heated and his heart pounded.

He calmed himself after a minute. Maybe he could convince his father to quit.

No, that was a stupid idea. You can’t just sway a person like that. Ryley frowned, trying to think of what he would say.

“Something going on in your mind?” Keoni asked innocently. “You look like someone just told you they hated the color yellow because it was too cheerful or something.”

Ryley laughed a little, the first time since he’d seen Caste be tased. “Nah, just having silly thoughts.” He randomly changed the subject. “Qaye called you Tejh Sister, too. I should do that.”

“Do not.” Keoni yipped. “Fancy titles scare me.”

“If you say so, Tejh Sister.” He grinned.

Keoni grabbed his wooden bookmark off his desk and threw it at him nonviolently. Ryley giggled, his other thoughts and feelings on hold.

Loud footsteps echoed into the hall. Loud clomps of hooves against the hardwood.

Only his father was that loud.

Ryley stood up. Did a thought seriously summon him?

The door closed as Ryley moved into the frame, peering down the hall.

Keoni pulled him back in. “Your Rune,” she whispered, tucking her’s into her shirt.

Ryley followed suit before leaving, coming down the hall. “Father?” He called.

Huge arms wrapped around him from around the corner before Ryley could register who it was. Soon, his thoughts caught up.

“Welcome home,” The words didn’t feel quite right. His father’s hugs still felt the same, though.

“Thank you.” His father responded, hugging harder. “I missed you terribly.” He finally let go, standing back up. “Look at these antlers!”

Ryley blushed. “Still getting used to them.” He finally looked up at his father’s face.

A horrible scar cut through his eye, closing it. Ryley gasped, instantly wondering what happened.

Andriel chuckled nervously, tracing it. “A little work incident. I’m fine, really.”

The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

Ryley’s mum walked into the room after hearing the commotion. She too gasped loudly, running towards the two and pulling the both of them into another hug. She didn’t say anything more. Ryley also caught Keoni lurking awkwardly in the corner.

“I have to leave tomorrow.” His father said. “I’m working here, in this town, though.”

“What for?” Ryley asked curiously.

“Someone escaped our high-security facility, killing around thirty people. I’m sent to find him, specifically. I’m a bit afraid, if I’ll be honest.” He added. “He nearly killed me.” Andriel pointed to his scar.

Ryley desperately wanted to know who. “Do you know what he looks like?”

“Yes, but really the only official thing I know is his name: Pukka, Agamani. I doubt I’ll find him.”

“Thank you for your service.” His mum said strangely, unsettling the room. Ryley gave her a concerned glance, Keoni sharing the look.

“It’s been a ferocious few nights,” Andriel, Ryley’s father, said after a few moments. “I’d like to catch up with your mother, if that’s alright.”

“Of course, father.” Ryley responded. He’d have to talk to him later about the Mir-Cognates.

Ryley rejoined Keoni and went straight to his room. She followed him quietly, but immediately spoke when they were in private. “Well, here’s your opportunity if you want to go tell him how ethically wrong his company is.”

Ryley sighed. “How?”

Keoni shrugged, saying nothing else.

He could ask Qaye. The thought was comforting. “What did Qaye say to do if we were ready to come back?”

Suddenly, Ryley fell through the floor. He yipped, trying to stop, but he was no match for the portal’s pull. Keoni, surprisingly, just jumped in behind him.

They both landed softly in Limbo. “Ujr.” Qaye responded, staring down at both of them while they were on their backs. He hadn’t taught Ryley what that meant yet.

“Oh, thank you,” Keoni said, standing up and brushing herself off. “Don’t scare Ryley like that though.”

Qaye shrugged. “Not my fault.”

Ryley ignored his teasing comment. “I need your help.” He stood up and faced Qaye as he addressed him. That was another thing Qaye taught him to do.

“Hit me with it.”

Ryley fidgeted with whatever his hands found first, which was his back pocket. “My father is working for the Quuarks, and I want to convince him that what he’s supporting is wrong.”

Qaye tilted his head. “Well, first explain to me why you think it’s wrong.”

“You know why-” Ryley started.

“But your father doesn’t.” Qaye said plainly, putting his hand up.

“Well.” Ryley tried again. “I’d say Mir-Cognates are people too, with normal lives, and deserve to not be treated like savages.”

“High praise.” Qaye nodded. “But I must point out that Quuarks know this. It is simply propaganda they put out to encourage people to push us out of their society.” A thought appeared to come to him. “If you wish, I may be more successful in convincing him.”

“Qaye, you don’t have to…”

“Maybe I do.” He pointed out. “I believe it may make a difference.”

“If you seriously want to.” Ryley said sincerely. He hoped Qaye would be successful. If it went horribly wrong…

“By the way, who’s Agamani Pukka?” Keoni brought up.

“That’s Caste’s Physical identification for when he was a clothier, or worked at a creamery. Among other things.”

That was Ryley’s luck - his father was hunting for Caste. He groaned and rubbed his temple.

“He’s being hunted by the Quuarks in our hometown now,” Keoni explained. “Since he escaped.”

Qaye’s head creased. “Lovely,” he said, his tone drenched in sarcasm. “I received a report from the care center he’s at, and he’s fine, but they’re making sure every last device is away and off of him.”

It took a little off of Ryley’s brain to know Caste was okay.

Qaye pulled a little case out of his bag. “In the meantime, I need to prepare my Physical body before I can actually come into the Physical world. It’s very old.” He withdrew a Rune from inside and strung it around his neck. “This should do it.”

He closed the case and placed it back. “So, just to verify, your father works for the Quuarks, and strongly believes most things that have been fed to him?”

Ryley hesitated. “I’m not sure about the second part.”

“Alright, alright.” Qaye bit his lip, thinking. “Just have him be ready to answer the door. I’m not going to reveal to him who I am.” He paced back. “I’ll be there soon. Be prepared to not recognize me.” Qaye blinked, and a portal opened yet again below them, instantly returning the both back into Ryley’s room.

“I’m not so happy about this,” Keoni said. “What will your father do the moment he finds out?”

Ryley paced back and forth. “I don’t know. It’s a gamble I’m not sure I want to take.”

“Too late now.” Keoni pointed out. Ryley wished she hadn’t said that.

A knock on their front door echoed through the halls. Ryley stood up, motioning for Keoni to stay. She shook her head and trailed behind him instead, though he too kept trying to motion for her to not. She wasn’t budging, so he gave up.

“It’s for you, father!” Ryley called before answering.

Andriel came around the corner in a few seconds. Ryley opened the door, nodding to Qaye, who did indeed look entirely different. He was much older, and had spots along his face, and his fur wasn’t pink, instead brown. But Ryley knew it was him, because he still had the same expression as he always did: like he was unable to be phased.

“Mr. Gremio, a pleasure.” Qaye started, giving a faint smile and thankfully not bowing. A bow would be a dead giveaway of who he was.

“Ah hello.” Andriel responded, though he didn’t know who the “stranger” was. “What can I do for you?”

“I’d like to speak with you regarding your recent hunts for Agamani. I have some information I hope you’ll value.”

“Come in, then,” His father motioned. Qaye did so, following and keeping a distance.

“It’s been reported that Mr. Pukka died of his injuries and was thrown back into the Mirae World.” Qaye immediately said. “I heard once a deformity goes into the Mir-World, it doesn’t come out.”

It must pain him to use insults on his own species, Ryley thought.

Andriel allowed Qaye to sit down on a wooden chair, doing the same. “Is that so?”

“Indeed.”

“Were there any witnesses to what happened?”

“It’s unknown. All I know was he was one of the more important specimens to your research, and you were the nearest Quuark member I could report to.”

“Interesting.” Andriel responded.

“I understand his injuries were all from your researchers?” Qaye challenged.

“Of course. He was very unresponsive to any request made of him.”

His tone became joking. “Ever ask him nicely?”

He laughed too. “No. Way too dangerous and untrustworthy for that.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

Andriel jumped from his seat and thrusted Qaye up immediately. “Move away!” He yelled at Ryley, who was watching from the corner.

No, no, nonononono! How did he know?!

Qaye grunted as Andriel threw him against the wall, pinning his arms away from each other.

“Ah yes, this is the right thing to do,” Qaye said bluntly. Andriel looked at him funny. “‘Contain’ me.”

“You were going to kill everyone in here and you know it.”

“Father! Stop!” Ryley wailed, stepping forward. “He didn’t do anything!”

“He’s dangerous, Ryley!” Andriel exclaimed right back, pressing Qaye harder onto the wall. “He could have you dead in less than two seconds!”

“Or he couldn’t!” Ryley cried, desperate.

Andriel glared at him. “You’re taking sides with a vile creature like this?” He asked disgustedly. “What has the world done to you?”

He threw Qaye onto the ground, which the impact sent shudders through Ryley’s whole body.

“Now tell me what you were trying to do, impostor!”

Qaye tried speaking, but he seemed too shocked to respond.

“He’s not attacking you!” Ryley tried again. “Can’t you see that? He would have already killed you if that’s truly what he wanted.”

Andriel wasn’t listening. He was withdrawing handcuffs from the back of his belt.

“Father!”

With that single distraction, Qaye whipped himself around and tripped Andriel, quickly releasing one of his arms. He held him down, tracing a circle around Andriel’s face and snapping his fingers. A thin line of light followed his finger.

In an instant, Andriel was out.

Qaye stood up, panting. “That was close,” he said, rubbing his back.

Suddenly, Andriel whipped up and rammed his antlers into Qaye, sending him crashing onto the ground again. He grabbed a hold of his arms, pinning one to his back and the other on the ground. “Nice try,” He mused.

Qaye tried fighting one more time, but Andriel’s response was instant. Qaye’s arm cracked out of place and for the first time, Ryley heard him whimper in pain. Keoni’s gasp was covered by his grumbling: “That’ll teach you not to mess with the wrong people, Zuzch.”

He turned to Ryley, his face filled with frustration. “I knew it.” He scowled. “Now go to your mother and wait for me.”

Ryley wanted to argue. He wanted to defend himself. He clenched his fists and obeyed. Nothing was working in his favor.

As he was walking down the hall, another flash of light appeared, over Qaye. Ryley whipped around, seeing another Mir-Cognate.

She created a staff with her magic, pushing Andriel off of Qaye and holding him off as he tried to get her too. She held Qaye up, glaring at Andriel and then disappearing the same way she’d entered.

He cursed. Ryley held his head down and kept down the hall. Someone had come to rescue Qaye, at least, but he was still in colossal trouble.

He wanted to do something. It wasn’t fair to Qaye, nor was it fair to Keoni for her to have to watch the whole thing.

Today, he was nothing but helpless.