Byung stalled as he stood with the door to the limo open, his gaze on his house. When he left this morning, it was for a simple business meeting, a sale he’s done hundreds of times. Now, as he took in his house, it felt, less somehow. Though another part of it felt more real, more his. He turned his gaze to his right hand, to the glove that sat upon it, towards Devon.

“Is there something I can help with?” Hinklebottom asked from the driver's seat.

Byung turned to the man, then to Eldridge who was asleep in the back, his mumbling a near constant mark of their drive home.

“I think I should be good, Though are you sure you will be fine taking care of him?” Byung asked as he nodded to the unconscious man.

“It’ll be fine,” Hinklebottom answered with a wave of his hand. “Though, are you sure you won’t need anything more than the rental car drop off? We are a bit far out.”

Byung cracked a smile as he closed the door gently. “Nope, though thanks for everything today.” He said with a bow as he headed towards his house.

As he reached the front door, He heard the limo begin to reverse, Hinklebottom working his magic to turn the vehicle around. His right hand moved out to touch the handle, and Byung once again shifted his focus to Devon. Did the creature enjoy being in this form all the time?

As the door closed Byung placed his right hand next to the window sill and his glove slowly melted into a blueish liquid and slid off his hand.

“What am I going to do Devon,” Byung muttered as the rat solidified and stared right back at him. A questioning image entered Byung’s mind as the rat looked around.

“Ahh, this is my house. You may get yourself comfortable if you wish.”

With those words Devon scurried off the sill, onto the ground, and off to explore the room. A smile parted Byung’s lips as he watched the curious creature scurry about. Images entered his mind every now and then as the creature's excitement peaked. It was clear that the beast was growing even now, that their bond was having some unseen effect.

As Devon roamed, Byung walked to his foyer closet and took off his jacket. In the process of hanging it up, he noticed the shotgun that stood against the far corner. The shotgun that Eldridge had given him to protect against further deer assault.

“I might remind you about Eldridge’s shotgun” Cee’s words ran through his mind as he examined the weapon closer.

He had left it behind, unconcerned about the risk the world brought. The risk in the coulee around him.

“What do you plan to do?” Eldridge’s question ran through his mind once more. A question with the weight of the future.

“What will I do?” He mumbled as he closed the door and felt Devon send him an image of a running faucet.

It was then he heard the sound of running water. Concerned, he bolted into the kitchen to see the rat flipping the lever and turning the water on and off. A sigh left Byung as he turned back to his pondering, the rat clearly not hurting anything.

It was obvious that these creatures were dangerous, hell he’d almost died a few times over the course of this day. Then again, was it really his concern, as far as he knew, the creatures really only populated deep in the forest. He could avoid that area if need be. Even if they did break out, Devon and himself could just leave, this house was new, he had no true attachment.

Byung’s eyes followed the dancing of the water as the creature in question moved the flow as it came out of the faucet. The water formed loops and images before it crashed into the sink.

Not to mention the responsibility he now had to Devon, the oath he took to keep her safe. Could he justify putting her in harm's way for some thrills.

“Was it thrilling though?” He muttered to himself as he pulled out a chair and sat before his dining table. He had to admit that a part of it, perhaps a good part, was exciting, appealing. It was like living a video game, a hobby he’s long had.

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“But thrills aren't a good enough reason,” He continued as he stared out at the treeline beyond his window. “In fact they should be a reason not to, a reason to avoid such events. The danger was real.”

He felt a pressure on his back as Devon gripped his chair, her head pressed against his shoulder blade. Byung looked down and the creature scurried up to his shoulder and down his arm to stand on the table. An image of comfort and confusion fluttered before Byung’s mind. He looked into Devon’s eyes before he once again spoke.

“I am unsure,” He began. “My friends, they are going to face those beasts, that mind once more. Should I help, that mind was dangerous. You barely escaped.”

Towards the end of his pondering, Devon placed her head near his hands and rubbed. This time the Image that fluttered across his mind was stronger than any he had experienced yet.

There he was back in the forest, almost ethereal as rats ran around him. Then he was tugged as they bolted towards a deer. The rats overwhelmed the creature and ate it down to the bones before they moved on.

Then he saw one of the creatures slow and fight the pull of the scurry. He felt its desire for a form of freedom. He felt it fight the mind that tugged at it. Again the image changed, and once more the creatures swarmed another animal, giving a part of them to the mind behind the mass.

Another image, this one familiar to Byung as he stood once more on the sea of consciousness. The prospective this time was closer to the water, Byung’s towering form in front of him. He felt the fear, the instinctual terror and deire to apease the mind conflict with the freedom the creature felt. Yet, he also felt the sturdy shadow his own presence inflicted upon the area.

Byung watched these images, unsure of what Devon wanted to convey. The context was clearly part of Devon’s past, but what in particular? Was she letting Byung know of her own fears, her own concerns?

Then the next image, this one not as clear as the others, though it still held something primal to it. Devon and Byung stood, the shadow of his new friends all around as they faced the mind, the presence that haunted Devon for as long as she can remember. Still she stood and fought, all the shadows fought.

The final shift of images felt the least substantial of all of them, as if it was a faint dream, a wish of sorts. The hillside ran with rats as they played and built burrows. Byung stood there as Devon ran around with other rats, friends perhaps. The image ended, and Devon continued to run her head along Byung’s hand.

“Is that your wish little thing?” Byung asked as he processed the images he was sent.

“To see your family freed.” He continued as he held up his off hand and focused. Since he solidified the xenoid he had known instinctively how to use the skill. This, however, would be his first time trying.

The water slowly formed, and he made it dance in a faint imitation of what Devon had done earlier.

“Perhaps you're right,” Byung said as he made the droplets form a ring that began to spin in the palm of his hand. The water splashed as he closed his palm into a fist.

“No you are right. What was I even thinking? How could I run and leave those without means to face these dangers. At least I have some skills, some power.”

With those words, Byung felt a part of him click, a responsibly take hold. He would find this member of the twelve and free them. And in the process he would rescue Devon's friends and family.

***

Guinevere cried out mid dive as she spread her wings and caught the wind, her course altered to adjust for the movement of her prey. The air wrapped around her as she stuck out her talons. The prey moved, hairs twitched as if sensing the oncoming predator. Her claws closed as her legs bent.

Arthur tried to dodge, but he soon felt the familiar merging of Guinevere into his fedora.

“Lost again,” He muttered as he slowed his sprint.

As simply waiting for the helicopter to return felt like a waste, Arthur and Geuinevere were playing a little game to increase one’s reflexes. Either he would spin the hat off his head, or she would suddenly transform and the game would be off.

Her goal would be to dive and land, transforming once again into the head covering. His goal was to avoid the dive without covering his head. So far, he’s only succeeded a few times.

“You should trust your instincts more,” Cee’s voice drew Arthur’s attention.

The man was staring at his hands as light flickered and balls flew back and forth.

“Like she does. You plan a bit too much and don’t react.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Arthur replied, unsure of what the man was getting at. “So any word on the copter?”

“We don’t really get service down here,” Cee answered as he shot his hands towards the ground. The balls of light shot forward, transforming as they impacted the earth. Lines grew out and circles formed as words slowly solidified. As the circle flashed, Cee turned his head to the sky.

“Though, it seems they are almost here.”

Arthur watched the light shift as the ward, the name Cee gave the type of magic, formed. The man was as hard at work getting the magic right as he was with Guinevere getting the transformation right. A faint motor sound reached his ears as he processed what Cee had said. Instead his focus was on the light as it slowly shifted, sort of like a breath the letters would glow and fade.

“We’ll want to move back.” Cee spoke and broke Arthur out of his trance.

“Huh, ahh yeah,” Arthur answered as he looked up from the ward, his mind finally processed the sound. His eyes glanced towards the horizon and saw the dot as it grew in strength.