Somewhere, West Virginia, USA.

Ruby watched Jeb and the Trap Master leave into the woods. She didn't want him to leave. But she knew that despite their closeness that she had been practically smothering him since the night of the Gathering.

The Chief came up beside her.

"Where is Master Jeb going?"

She looked at him for a moment. Surprised to see him out and about and not stuck in his books.

"Him and the Trap Master are going hunting. What are you doing out?"

"I am going to explore a little bit and collect some plants!" He said excitedly as he held up a burlap sack and hugged a makeshift poncho made from a welcome mat closer to him.

"Are you sure that's safe?"

"Don't worry! It's just a few samples of things nearby!" He explained and made his way just a little south of them.

She took a few breaths to calm her nerves. He'd be fine.

"Breathe. Just. Breathe. It'll be good for him to get out."

"Hello Ruby." She was broken from her calm as the voice of Casius interrupted her. He was still dressed in the purple robes she saw him in at the Gathering.

"W-w-what do you want?!"

Casius just rolled his eyes.

"I don't get this sense of hostility that comes from Jebadiah and yourself. I've been nothing but polite."

"Maybe because you're trying to turn Jeb into a monster! And you keep messing with my head!"

Casius gave a exasperated sigh.

"Being a bit dramatic aren't we? Sure The Mother has a unique sense of humor. But when you've been alive as long as She has, you develop peculiar quirks that many might find... disturbing. As for 'turning Jeb into a monster'. That is why I am here. The Mother has sent me to invite you to speak with Her regarding the future of Jebadiah."

"Well Jeb is gone at the moment! So I guess you'll have to wait!"

Casius once more sighed.

"I didn't come here for you and him both. YOU were invited. By yourself."

"Well... what if I don't want to go alone with you?! What's stopping you from killing me while I'm alone and Jeb's gone?!"

"Again with the dramatics. If She or I wanted you dead, you would already BE dead. We certainly wouldn't go through all this trouble." Casius said as he turned to leave.

"Where are you going?!"

"Back to The Mother."

"You'll tell her I'm not coming?"

"No. You'll come with me. If you want to know how to save Jebadiah." Casius said as he continued without looking back.

Ruby looked in the direction Jeb and the Trap Master left in. Then the spot she last saw the Chief. She shuffled nervously. Then she cursed and followed after the robed man.

As they climbed the mountain, Ruby tried to get Casius to speak more about what exactly it was that Jeb's mother wanted to talk about. But he was fairly tightlipped about it. Only telling her that 'things would be made clear'.

It was only a few minutes before they reached the grounds. She paused before they entered and looked at the sky.

"Did we really walk so far, so quick?"

Casius chuckled as he continued to walk.

"The Mother has great power over the fabric of space. If you are welcome, then a lengthy hike becomes nothing more than a brisk walk."

"What do you mean?"

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Casius stopped and raised his arm and pointed through a clear patch of trees. Ruby looked in the direction he was pointing and gasped when she saw for miles! She could see the little dot that was Jeb's home, the town, and miles of flat land broken by a single river that stretched west of it! She could see the vague silhouettes of another town on the horizon.

"B-b-but?!"

"THAT is nothing to what She can really do. If She so desired, then you would never reach this place. You would find yourself trapped on the mountainside. Forever lost as the woods and ground itself shifted to Her whims." Casius spoke with maddened zeal as he turned to continue leading Ruby to Jeb's mother.

The rest of the camp's inhabitants barely spared a glance at Casius or Ruby as they made their way through. Not even a greeting was given as the two reached the worn cabin of The Crone.

Casius didn't bother to knock as he entered the cabin, Ruby trepidly followed. Jeb's mother sat on a chair knitting. If Ruby didn't already know otherwise, she'd think she was just another elder human. But she did know. So the façade didn't work on the kobold.

She smiled kindly as she looked up at Ruby and Casius as they entered.

"Hello dear! How are you this afternoon?"

Ruby wasn't amused by the act and glared defiantly at the Crone. She cackled at the glare and tossed her knitting aside.

"You're no fun anymore!"

"It's never been fun! Like when you took my tongue!"

"Oh phooey!" She waved her hand dismissively.

"Is there a point or did you drag me here to torment me some more?!"

"Torment you? TORMENT YOU?! If torment is what you want dear then We can oblige!" She grinned far too widely as whispering filled the air.

"THE! POINT!" Ruby snapped. She was growing tired of her games. Casius was right. If they were going to kill, or even torment her, they would've done so already.

"See? No fun anymore Casius!" The Crone faux whined and her face returned to normal as the whispers died down.

"It's an acquired taste Mistress." He stated as he took a position beside her.

"As to why We invited you here. It's about Jeb. More specifically his future."

"And how you're trying to tur-" She stopped speaking as her tongue vanished!

The Crone leaned forward with a ice cold grin and held up a twitching forked tongue.

"Just as you've grown tired of Our games. So too have We grown bored of your whiney naïveté! So here's how it's going to go now dear. You're going to sit there and listen as We speak. If We hear so much as a whimper from you before We're done. We'll keep this tongue, and you can pleasure Our boy some other way!"

She cackled as Ruby's eyes went wide. Ruby nodded and the Crone spoke.

"You think We are going to turn Jeb into a monster. Some, horrible creature that snacks on babes and lurks in the shadows! Well, We are. Mostly. Whether he eats babies after the fact will be up to him. But the point is. He WILL become something greater than some mewling mortal! And you're going to help!"

Ruby gasped when her tongue was returned to her. She looked at the Crone wondering if she was "allowed" to speak now. She nodded and Ruby spoke.

"And why would I help you?!"

"Because if you don't. We'll kill him." She stated plainly.

Ruby's face went pale.

"W-w-w-what?! But he's your-"

"Son? Exactly. Which is why if you don't help We'll be forced to kill him for his own good."

"How?!"

"You ever seen what happens to a mortal mind when exposed to that much power? The kind of power that allows beings such as Us to both build and destroy dimensions and realities on a whim?"

Ruby shook her head and the Crone continued.

"Thought not. Jeb's Awakening WILL happen. It's not a matter of if but WHEN. WHEN it happens, no amount of friendship and love will stop him from destroying you, your tribe, your children, his friends, and the town. Hell, maybe the world! Course he would attack me in his madness and I would have to put him down like the rabid dog he would be. The kind of power Jeb will have isn't meant for a mortal mind to handle, even someone who's half mortal would still lose their mind from it."

"T-t-that's no-" She paused when the Crone glared at her.

"That's EXACTLY what will happen dear. Because that's what's happened hundreds of times before. You think Jeb is Our first offspring, or even Our first with a human? Their human parent gets emotional and tries to "save" them from the "horrible monster" inside them. Then the Awakening happens and they're torn limb from limb. Their souls devoured by the child they sought to protect."

Ruby was about to speak, but a glare from the Crone silenced anything before she was finished.

"That is what will happen to Jeb. He needs to be prepared for the change that WILL happen. So, if you love Jeb. You'll help Us. You'll stop this pitiful "savior" act or he'll Awaken. He'll go mad. And he'll kill everyone he loves. Then We'll kill him."

Ruby waited a moment before she was sure she was allowed to speak.

"What if you're just lying to mess with me again?!"

The Crone leaned back with a carefree look on her face.

"Then don't believe Us. Go back down and play house with Jeb. Act like nothing is wrong. Maybe We're lying."

Then a grin split her face.

"But what if We aren't? You know Jeb isn't human. At least not fully. Are you really going to take a chance that YOU might be wrong? If We're wrong, then nothing happens and you live happily ever after! But what if We're right?"

What if We're right, those words echoed hauntingly in Ruby's mind as she descended, alone, back down the mountain. The journey wasn't as quick as before. She wasn't sure if it was her mind or if The Crone was just giving her the chance, and time, to think about what she said.

If Ruby was right, and she helped the Crone. Then she could be turning Jeb into a monster. But if the Crone was right, and she DIDN'T help. Then Jeb would be lost anyway.

But the more she thought the more she knew the Crone was right. That the tribe was right. Jeb wasn't a normal human. A part of her wanted to believe that this was just another trick, another mind game. But she couldn't do it anymore. She wanted to protect Jeb. If the Crone was right, then protecting him the way she's been doing would just damn him, and everyone else.

She was resigned. She had to at least come clean with Jeb. She might not have to help the Crone. But she couldn't lie to Jeb anymore. He had to know. As if a spell broke she trudged into the backyard of Jeb's home.

She could see the Trap Master had returned, but she couldn't see Jeb anywhere. She didn't hear anything the Trap Master was saying, but she got the sense it was important to the tribe. But she had another goal in mind.

She sighed sadly and made to go into the house but was stopped by the Trap Master, apparently done with whatever it was he was talking about.

"What's the matter Den Mother?"

She looked at the Trap Master with sad eyes.

"I've decided to come clean with Jeb."

The Trap Master looked a little surprised but nodded and put a hand on her shoulder.

"You're doing the right thing, even if it might not feel like it."

She nodded.

"C-could you accompany me? I don't think I have the strength to do it on my own."

The Trap Master nodded and followed the Den Mother into the home. They passed the Chief as he was just going into the study once more.

"Oh?! Hello you two! How was the hunting Trap Master?"

"Poor. Owlbears have claimed the north as their new hunting grounds and have made the game scarce."

"Oh dear! Have you brought this up with Master Jeb? Perhaps he can lend some aid?"

"He was there. We are on our way to speak with him about other matters."

"Oh? OH?! Well, I wish you luck Den Mother. I know it's hard, but you're doing the right thing."

"Then why doesn't it feel like it?"

The Chief put a claw on her shoulder and smiled sagely.

"Because the right ones never do."

"Can you-?" She pleaded.

"Of course." He answered knowingly.

With that brief question, the Chief joined the other two kobold leaders as they climbed the stairs to Jeb's room. Each step felt heavy and made Ruby's ears ring. Or maybe that was just her heart hammering.

They reached the closed door. They could hear ruffling of clothes from the other side. Ruby's breath was rapid. The Chief and the Trap Master placed comforting claws on each of the Den Mother's shoulders.

She took a couple of deep breaths. Then she knocked thrice on the door. The sounds of ruffling ceased and Jeb soon answered the door. He smiled before he saw the look on Ruby's face.

"What's wrong?"

Ruby looked at the Chief then at the Trap Master. Then at last, at Jeb.

"Jeb? Can we talk for a moment?"