Andrew sat in the back corner of the classroom, away from everyone else, bored as he listened to the teacher drone on. He was fifteen now and the school year was close to being over, which Andrew was immensely grateful for. Ever since that day, he'd become known as the kid who killed someone, and his already weak ability to make friends got even worse. Even Benjamin had slowly drifted away, as that lingering fear that somehow he'd make Andrew angry and end up like Eric ate at their friendship.

There were those who, when they heard about his reputation, wanted to get closer to him, but the type of person who was interested in a kid who killed someone wasn't the type of person Andrew wanted to be friends with. Of course, the fact that he ignored or even drove off the few people who actually tried to interact with him didn't help his reputation either, leaving him even more isolated. You would have thought his ability to read emotions would have helped, but it only constantly reminded him of the way everyone around him viewed him, like some sort of monster or ticking time bomb. What was the point of knowing about emotions you had no idea how to affect them?

Without friends, school had become more and more irritating to Andrew. All he could do was learn, but he was smart enough that he didn't need to pay too much attention to get good grades. Even if he daydreamed all through class, he'd still retain enough information to get a high B or low A on the tests. School was just a boring prison he had to sit through for eight hours a day, five days a week, until he could get back home and head into the forest.

Andrew had slowly regressed to the point where all his friends were animals. He hung out with wolf packs, played with birds and squirrels, and stayed up late talking with the spiders in his room. Even during class he'd find some creature to keep in touch with, a habit which no one particularly appreciated, especially when it came to spiders, which was really a shame. Spiders could be pretty insightful. Their entire mantra revolved around preparation and letting life come as it will. It was very zen and they'd help Andrew through quite a few hard times.

During lunch, Andrew went to find a secluded spot to eat, as usual, usually outside where he could share with some wildlife. He headed towards a secluded area he liked with a few park benches and a small little patch of trees. As he approached, he noticed a small group was already there. He cursed slightly, preparing to leave, when he noticed some familiar auras and sighed, heading over.

"What was that bullshit you pulled!" A voice growled, followed by the sound of something kicking something soft and a cry of pain. "You think it's funny to make me look dumb in front of the entire class!"

"Leave him alone!" A girl's voice cried out.

"I-I wasn't even-" A pained voice groaned.

"Shut up!" The angry voice growled again, delivering another kick. "And you, stay out of this! This has nothing to do with you!"

"You're just a bully and a coward who can only pick on the weak!" The girl spat angrily.

"A coward? You think I'm a coward?!? Bitch, I'll show you how bold I can be." The angry voice exclaimed.

"St-stay away from me!" The girl's voice cried out again.

Andrew walked onto the scene to see Benjamin curled up on the ground groaning in pain while a much larger boy approached Cathryn with a fierce look in his eyes. As he grabbed her by the arm, pulling her towards him, Andrew let out a frustrated sigh, glaring at the boy. "What are you doing." He asked blandly.

The boy froze, turning to see Andrew standing there, not looking happy. "A-Andrew, I-I-I was just-" the boy gulped, stammering as he released Cathryn, backing away.

Andrew sighed yet again as he felt the pure terror radiating off the boy, shaking his head. "Just get out of here." The boy quickly nodded before running off. Andrew glanced at Cathryn, then Benjamin, before turning to leave.

"W-wait!" Cathryn shouted out, stopping him.

Andrew paused, turning back. "What."

"Th-thank you." Cathryn thanked him, flushing.

Andrew grunted, nodding slightly, before turning to go again.

"Wait!" Cathryn called out again. Andrew paused again, turning back and raising an eyebrow at her. "Is that it? You're not even going to check on Benjamin? Isn't he your friend?!?"

Andrew glanced at Benjamin, who flinched slightly. "You can't be friends with someone who's terrified of you." Andrew commented, turning to go again.

"Wait!" Cathryn called again, but Andrew just ignored her this time and kept going. She stomped her foot in frustration. "What is wrong with him!"

"I told you this was a bad idea." Benjamin muttered as he climbed to his feet, dusting himself off. "Why do you keep doing this? You spend so much effort chasing after him and all he does is ignore you."

"I-I'm not chasing him!" Cathryn retorted, flushing in embarrassment.

"Uh huh, sure, that's why you drag me to wherever you think he's going to eat every day. Cause you're not chasing him." Benjamin nodded, rolling his eyes.

"Shut up!" Cathryn protested, stomping away, leaving Benjamin to sigh and shake his head before following her.

*

Andrew was leaving school, about to get on the bus, when he heard a honk nearby. Looking over with a frown, he saw his older brother Jack leaning out a car window, waving at him with a grin. Instantly a smile broke his face and he quickly walked over. "You're back?"

"For the entire summer." Jack grinned, climbing out of the car. "Where's Amy and Sarah?"

Andrew shrugged. "No idea. They- they do better when I'm not around."

Jack frowned. "Andrew, you can't isolate yourself just to make other people's lives easier. You deserve to be happy too, you know."

Andrew shook his head. "I can be happy later. I'm immortal, remember? They're not… I'm willing to sacrifice a bit so they can enjoy the little time they have."

"Andrew-" Jack sighed, shaking his head.

"Jack, just leave it, alright? We get along just fine at home, and school takes up most of our time here anyway. It isn't like I'm missing quality time with my sisters." Andrew stopped the lecture he knew Jack was preparing, not wanting to hear it. He went around and got in the passenger seat. "Come on, they have their own cars anyways. They'll probably meet us at home."

Jack frowned, giving Andrew a complicated look, before shaking his head and getting into the car. "You're an annoying little brat sometimes, you know that?"

"I'm pretty sure you only get to call me a brat when you can beat me in arm wrestling." Andrew shot back with a grin. "Or in a race. Or in basketball. Or in soccer. Or in-"

"Very, very, very annoying." Jack grumbled again as he started up the car and they headed home.

"So, how was college?" Andrew asked. "You get a girlfriend yet?"

"I have a few options available to me." Jack replied noncommittally. "How about you? Any special someone manage to find a way to break through that stubborn shell of yours?"

Andrew snorted. "Hardly. Besides, they're all mortals. You know how the Clans feel about Bonded and mortals together."

"Whoa, hey, I didn't realize the Clans were in charge of your dating life. What, does Elder Barry have a list of eligible Bonded arranged for you?" Jack retorted mockingly. "Just cause you can't make a new Bonded with a girl doesn't mean you can't love her. Besides, you're immortal, remember? What do the Clans care if you waste a couple decades?"

Andrew eyed Jack weirdly before shaking his head. "It just isn't a good idea. They get old while you stay looking like someone in your mid twenties, and it just gets awkward. I mean, Mom and Dad look more like your older brother and sister than your parents at this point. Think about if that was your wife and she looked forty or fifty while you looked the same? It- it'd get weird. It just isn't worth it."

Jack grunted noncommittally. This was one of their normal arguments. The more Jack saw Andrew isolating himself, the more he tried to push him to interact with the world. Unfortunately for him, Andrew had both the parents and the mysterious Clans on his side, so he didn't get very far. They were all used to taking the long view, and for them, a short decade of solitude was perfectly normal, possibly even something to seek out.

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

Once they got back home, everyone was excited to have Jack back for the summer, and Helen prepared a large meal in celebration, full of Jack's favorite foods. The girls asked question after question, digging into every aspect of Jack's college life, particularly Sarah who would be following him there next year. Andrew just sat back, enjoying the feeling of community that always made him forget how bad school was. For Andrew, as long as he had his family, everything else would be fine.

*

The next day, Andrew was heading for one of his secluded spots during lunch again, when he noticed someone following him. He turned to see Cathryn a few feet behind him, followed even further back by a nervous Benjamin. "What are you doing." He asked in the usual, dead tone he used during school.

Cathryn took a deep breath and held her head up. "We're going to have lunch with you." She declared firmly. She'd finally decided that instead of trying to coincidentally be wherever she thought he would be, she would just be bold and follow him. She wasn't going to be terrified of him. Benjamin, on the other hand, had been dragged along against his will, considering all this a terrible, terrible mistake.

Andrew blinked at her, frowning slightly, before shrugging. "Your funeral." He muttered, continuing on his way.

Cathryn followed happily, while Benjamin gulped nervously. "He- he didn't mean that literally right?"

"Knock it off!" Cathryn shushed him.

They soon arrived at the same small clearing and Andrew took a seat on one of the benches, pulling out his food. He made a clicking noise and a squirrel scurried over, jumping up onto his shoulder. Andrew handed the squirrel a chip which it began to munch on happily, while he began to dig into his sandwich.

Cathryn sat down next to him, watching him curiously. "How do you do that?"

"Do what." Andrew replied.

"How do you get along with animals so well? The squirrel, the bugs, the… the crow." Cathryn elaborated. Benjamin froze, eyes widening, watching Andrew nervously.

"You just need to be able to get your intentions across, let them know you're not going to hurt them." Andrew explained simply, ignoring Benjamin.

"How do you do that?" Cathryn pressed.

Andrew shrugged. "I couldn't say. I just do it."

Cathryn frowned at him, before pulling her own food out, digging into it. She paused, before taking out an apple slice, offering it to the squirrel. The squirrel glanced at Andrew questioningly, and Andrew gave it a slight nod. It tentatively reached out to grab the apple slice before quickly pulling it back to nibble on it. Cathryn grinned widely. "Does he have a name?"

"Squirrelate." Andrew replied.

Cathryn frowned. "Why did you name him that?"

"Because I named the last one Squirrel Seven." Andrew replied, grinning slightly.

Cathryn snorted. "That's dumb."

"True." Andrew nodded, returning to his meal.

Cathryn deflated slightly at his short replies, not sure how to continue the conversation. "So…" She began, pausing as she had nothing else to follow up with.

Andrew sighed, putting down his sandwich and looking up at her. "Listen, I appreciate the effort, but I don't need you to be friends with me, especially not out of pity. I'm fine. You don't need to fix me." He then turned to a shivering Benjamin. "And no, you're not making me angry, and even if you were, you wouldn't need to worry."

Cathryn's eyes widened. "Th-that isn't- I'm not-"

"Yes, you are." Andrew interrupted her, staring at her blandly, as if he wasn't even interested in this conversation. Of course, Andrew knew it wasn't because he didn't want friends, but he wanted people who legitimately wanted to be around him, not those who simply felt sad for him. If it weren't for his ability, maybe he could find a way to delude himself into believing otherwise, but unfortunately the truth was laid bare before him at every moment, like a cruel joke. He'd rather be alone.

Cathryn fell into a stunned silence, not even knowing what to say as Andrew went back to eating his meal. An oppressive silence clouded the area as Andrew slowly finished his food, before standing to his feet. He gave the other two a slight nod, before heading off. Cathryn wanted to stop him, but couldn't, unable to get his words out of her head. Pity? Trying to fix him? Was that really what motivated her? She couldn't deny it. But… "How did he know?" She muttered to herself with a frown. She hadn't even realized that's what she was doing!

"I told you, the guy is creepy!" Benjamin exclaimed. "It- it's like he gets in your head! There's no secrets when you're around that guy." He finished with a shiver.

*

The final few weeks of the school year passed uneventfully, and finally it was summer. Andrew looked forward to the days of having nothing to do but live in the forest, away from all the crap the rest of the world tried to put on him. The only thing he had to pay attention to was Sarah's graduation, and the rest of his time was completely open.

"Ready?" Emilia asked, glancing at Andrew.

"Hold on." Andrew replied as tiny changes began to take place all over his body. His feet changed to become more hand-like, a tail slithered out from a well hidden hole in his pants, claws grew from his fingers, and his pupils turned to slits. His arms grew slightly longer, his shoulders slightly wider, and faint orange and black stripes appeared all over his body. This was the result of years of hard work, Andrew spending hours every day meditating in his territory, figuring out how to incorporate all of his different forms strengths into one, combined package. Andrew grinned as he settled into his new form, revealing a set of fangs, and a slightly deeper voice echoed from his chest. "Ready."

"Go!" Emilia announced, starting a stop watch using her delicate control of space, and Andrew bolted, dashing through the trees. As he ran, barriers would suddenly appear out of nowhere, or portals would activate, dropping rocks or sticky substances like honey, and Andrew would have to dodge out of the way, avoiding them as they came. Occasionally he'd even be shifted to an entirely different area, and need to react instantly to whatever peril he'd just been dropped into as he kept his pace up, constantly running forward until he finally came to stop in front of Emilia again, breathing heavily. "Well?"

Emilia showed him the stop watch, grinning. "Nine minutes, forty-four seconds!"

"Yes!" Andrew cried happily, doing a little dance. Over the years, Emilia had designed many, many obstacle courses for him using her territory, and for each one, whenever he could complete it in under ten minutes, it meant he'd passed, and she'd set up another even harder obstacle course. Andrew had been stuck on this one for a few months now, so it felt good to finally beat it. "So, what's next?" He asked eagerly.

Emilia grinned at him. "There is no next. That was the last one! Just in time too. With your sixteenth birthday coming up, it's time for your first trip Outside."

Andrew's eyes widened. "You mean…"

Emilia nodded. "Congratulations Andrew. You're ready for your first hunt!"

*

It was Andrew's birthday and the family was enjoying a pizza and movie night in celebration, everyone laughing uproariously at the recently released comedy they'd picked up for the occasion, when suddenly the door burst open with a loud bang. "Where is my grandson!" A loud voice demanded as a man walked confidently through the door.

"Dad?" Stephen jumped up in shock at the sight of the man who looked like he could be his brother.

"Stephen!" The man laughed happily, coming up to him and pulling him into a crushing hug. "Ah, and Helen! As lovely as ever, I see." The man turned to Helen, bowing slightly, winking at her with a grin.

Helen sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "What are you doing here, Arose?"

"I'm here to see my grandson, of course!" Arose announced. "You've finally seen fit to grace me with a true and proper descendant I hear! Tell me, which of these is him, huh?"

Helen glared at him. "Arose, you have five grandchildren. Don't you want to greet the other four as well?"

Arose rolled his eyes. "Yes, yes, of course. I even brought them presents, see?" Arose commented, pulling a few packages out of nowhere. "Cosmetic potions, enhancement accessories, the works! Enough to let them do anything they want in life!"

"Arose, you can't just brush them off with a few gifts! They're your grandchildren! Act like it!" Helen yelled at him.

"Oh don't worry, we'll have plenty of time to get to know each other. They can pop over any time!" Arose waved dismissively.

"Pop over where?" Helen asked in a cautious tone.

"Next door of course. That way. Just moved in!" Arose announced, waving a set of keys with a grin. Helen's eyes widened, stunned by the new information. Then Arose's eyes finally landed on Andrew. "Ah ha! And you must be Andrew! Come, come, give your grandpa a hug!" Andrew hesitated for a moment before tentatively approaching him, before he was yanked into a tight hug. "Ah, it's good to finally meet you!" Arose announced happily.

"Uh, y-you too." Andrew replied, awkwardly returning the hug.

Arose pulled back, giving Andrew an evaluating look. "I heard about your unique condition. Transforming instead of releasing a Beast? A little non-traditional don't you think?" He commented with a smirk.

"W-well-" Andrew began.

"Bah, tradition is for suckers anyways!" Arose continued, waving a hand dismissively. "As long as you're powerful, who cares? Just focus on your own growth, and soon none of your problems will matter anymore."

Andrew hesitated, nodding slowly in agreement. He'd been told similar things by his parents many times, and while he was a bit skeptical, he figured getting more powerful wouldn't be a terrible idea. The Bonded seemed to deal with it just fine, why couldn't he?

Helen was still glaring at Arose, until he finally stopped focusing solely on Andrew and began talking to his siblings as well, though Andrew knew it wasn't with the same fervor. Still Arose hid it well, and soon Jack and the rest were excitedly going through the gifts he'd brought them, looking forward to the slight edge they'd have as a result. Who wouldn't want to be slightly stronger or smarter or more attractive? Emphasis on the slightly. Andrew was a testament to the fact that too much of a good thing could be very, very bad.

After he finished handing out gifts, Arose retreated to the kitchen to catch up with Stephen and Helen, while the kids returned to the movie. Andrew could still feel the emotions from there, absolutely certain his mom and Arose were arguing while his dad mediated. He wasn't entirely sure why his grandpa had suddenly shown up, but he could tell it was going to take some getting used to.