Chapter 12

Compared to the cage, the apartment felt like true freedom.

It was something like early spring in the city. The air had been cool, but a heavy humidity carried the chill through her fur and sank into everything around her.

It wasn't until Darius had started a fire that she realized how her hide had tensed and fluffed. An instinctual and subconscious tension let go as the cold was chased out of the room, and a ruddy warmth sunk into her, leaving her sleepy.

Flattened out in front of the fireplace, lying on her side; it was her first moment of true peace since coming to this crazy place.

The first comfortable and contented moments of her new life.

Stuffed on grass and clover, satiated with water, and now a warm fire to lounge in front of, Riley was becoming reacquainted with the term relaxation.

"Oh, nothing has ever felt this good..." She intoned as she drifted in and out before a blissful unconsciousness claimed her.

The sound of footfalls drew her out of the inky well. Riley experienced a gap in time. The light coming through the windows was beginning to fade as Gwendolyn crept by her and checked on Darius.

"Da, you and the beast have fallen asleep; Tobias will be home soon, and dinner's almost ready," she said as the old man startled in his rocking chair.

"Wha.. Who? Smells like stew, it does. Burson Stew? Did you head to the butcher while I was out?" He asked, puzzled.

Riley had never smelled anything like it. Sweet and savory scents, a bit of pepper, a hint of cumin, curry but not exactly, all invaded her muzzle, as did meat and vegetables she had never encountered before.

Her nose twitched, pulling the ambient air up within the cavities of her muzzle, allowing her brain to spark to life. Full alertness, like the sun parting the clouds, chased the fog of sleep away. Gwendolyn stepped beside her and set one of the clear crystals on the box with the silver plate.

A gentle music began to fill up the space. Riley cocked her head, amazed.

"Carry on upon the wayward road. That's my favorite. What did I do? You aren't putting the old man out to pasture, are ya?" Darius chuckled as Gwendolyn kissed his forehead.

"You left your coin purse on the table, Da. You spent your last silver on the boy, and we both know those don't come easy or often, no matter how much work we do. You're a dear, sweet old man and proof I married well," she praised, patting his shoulder.

"Oh, you're too good to me, lass, even if you are a spy, but ya know I've always doted on the boy, and you were quite the prize, yourself. You and Cedric have always been a good match," Darius praised, sending the compliments back like a tennis match.

Riley hauled herself up and propped with her forelegs, cocking her head in a scan to better take in the small drama playing out before her.

"I'm a maid, Da." Gwendolyn countered. Darius threw out his hands dismissively.

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"My boy was smart. Our little house and shop have never been cleaner, and you're a fine cook," He praised with a gleam in his eye.

"One is happy to serve," Gwendolyn curtseyed with a giggle.

It had been a while since Riley had any proximity to family. With her grandmother gone, that was the end of anyone that really cared about her. Her life had been on a terminal slide since, until that last moment.

"I guess my life didn't really end; it just bounced..." Riley mused as she caught the sound of the back door shutting downstairs.

"Should we get her back in the cage? Hide her?" Darius asked as Riley regarded him sourly, flattening her ears and drumming her hindpaw at him.

Gwendolyn laughed, "Oh, I don't think she likes that idea, Da; she seems right cross."

"Balderdash, it was just the noises startling her," Darius said dismissively.

Riley chose to get ahead of it and hopped between the chair and the fireplace, careful to avoid the rocking bits with her paws, as Darius again regarded her curiously.

"I suppose she's prone to hide herself," he laughed again as the sound of someone running up the stairs set the hare's heart to fearful motion.

"Burson stew? Man, I'm famished," Tobias said, bursting upon the scene.

Riley scooted forward to get a better look at him but stayed out of view. He presented as a gangly youth, somewhere between sixteen and eighteen years of age. Rail thin, like his father, Cedric, he wore no spectacles, showing his green eyes to be intense but tired. A mane of thick black hair cascaded down to his shoulders, providing ample contrast to his pale skin.

He was still all knees and elbows, having not fully grown into himself yet. In his right hand was a book strap, with three heavy tomes secured within, contrasting with a satchel bag slung over his left shoulder.

Save for the long grey robes that he wore and the silver torc around his neck, he looked every bit like your average late teen, college-bound boy.

"And how were your studies lad?" Darius asked as Tobias walked over to the bench couch and plopped down, letting his books and satchel fall to his side.

"I aced all my theory classes, and my instructor said I did well on my placement exam," Tobias let out a slow, long breath before a cheesy grin broke upon his face.

Riley was only catching snapshots of him as Darius rocked animatedly back and forth.

"But what about your practical exams?" Gwendolyn asked absently as she set the table.

Tobias winced, "passing, barely, but passing. I'm doing my best, Ma, and nothing is keeping me from graduating, at least."

"Son, you're soon to be out in the world. You've got all that learnin' in yer noggin; all you need do is apply yourself, and you'll be a fine sorcerer," she lectured.

Riley recognized a worried mother when she saw one.

"It'll be fine. You've been riding me on that one failure my freshman year after taking on too many advanced courses. I can cast Ma, and I'm a quick shot with the books and scrolls. I'll probably end up in a scriptorium or a library, and then it's a quiet life doing what I do best," Tobias certainly sounded like a kid in that moment.

There was a time when Riley thought things would go to plan, too, but the universe had disabused her of that notion three times now.

Once at twelve, and twice at twenty five.

She felt a new pity for Tobias. Adulthood and reality were going to smack into him like a freight train.

A cold shiver ran through her as she realized that she was intended to stand next to him.

"Poor kid," she said to herself, shaking her head.

"Well, about yer casting, I might be able to help with that," Darius said proudly.

"Unless you've found a companion somewhere for me, I doubt it." Tobias continued.

"Funny you should mention that," Darius reached down and patted Riley's hind quarter gently.

She startled, hopping forward reflexively.

Tilting back, she scowled as best she could at Darius.

"It seems the freight train is running both ways today," she remarked within, as Tobias startled up and bolted towards her, causing her instincts to freak.

Riley chewed it back, forcing herself to stand stalk still as Tobias looked her over.

"Granda? How! When? This is awesome! A companion? I never thought..." His voice trailed off as Riley watched him.

The excitement gave way to a deep and weary concern upon his face, cracking his joy like a thunderstorm washing out a picnic.

"He's hiding something. Something is wrong," Riley worried.

"Well, you've been working to the bone and doing well. I'm so proud of ya, boy," Darius wiped at his eyes before clearing his throat, "so what are ya waiting for? Get acquainted already!"

With a trembling hand, Tobias reached out and stroked her ears back.

Riley endured it bravely, but part of her... liked it.

"I hate my life," She intoned silently.