“They said he will most likely make it,” Tiffany’s words were a jumble of relief and hope.

Timidly she stepped forward and hugged Falreath once more.

“I don’t know how I could ever thank you,” Her words pushed out through broken crying.

Falreath simply patted her back and waited. Time passed as the young woman released all the pent up emotions. As he held her now, she seemed far younger, closer to her true age than she had on that rock when she held up the world.

Falreath had heard her story as they waited in the hospital. Of the anniversary hike the young married couple took. Of the sudden attack, of the fierce fight and desperate prayers. Of the fire that spread and seemed to draw the rats in. Of the hike through the forest with her husband over her shoulder. Finally the moments she sat in the cave, fearful of what time would bring. She had unleashed it all upon him, and he just listened. His heart ached and he wondered what it all ment.

“Thanks again,” She whispered as the two parted.

“You’re welcome,” Falreath simply said as he began to turn, his mind relieved to hear the news. His gut in turmoil over the future fears.

“Mi, might I get your name before you go?” She timidly asked.

“Falreath, C Falrealth,” Falreath answered as he continued on his way, hand up in a wave over his shoulder.

She might know who he was, she might not, but at least she knew his name now. His mind was a mess as he left the woman and hospital. It was an emotional day and he wanted it to be done, yet he knew he still had work to do.

***

The sunset poured in on Eldridge as he slept on his couch. A grunt escaped him as he tried to turn over and found himself in a free fall. His body spread out as he fought to prevent the inevitable crash. He was too late and his torso slammed against the carpet, body soon followed.

“Gah,” He muttered as he pushed himself up to his knees.

He took in a heavy breath as he looked around his living room, unsure how he returned.

“C!” He exclaimed as his mind remembered the events of the day.

His brain raced as he looked around for any sign of danger. The sight of his empty living room calmed his mind enough that he was able to focus. Afraid of damage he touched his chest and the rest of his body only to find they were whole. Eldridge sighed in relief once more as he stood, the soreness mostly gone.

“Seems they dropped me off,” Eldridge muttered to himself. “Ocel you there?” he asked as he once again patted down his clothes.

“Resting” He heard her voice across his mind.

“I see,” He answered as he grabbed his phone out of his pocket.

There were a few messages from C and some emails but nothing much else. He opened the messaging app and read over the information. It seemed the man wanted to meet at the nipple around nine this night. Eldridge was tired, but that should be durable depending on the current time. His thumb swiped on his phone and he saw he had nearly an hour and half until then. That would be plenty.

“Might you be able to answer a few questions?” He asked the air, curious about the day. He had a rough idea of the happenings, yet there were still some fuzzy parts.

“Maybe,” He softly heard as he began to empty out his pockets. Soon the coffee table held his wallet, phone and ticket from the day's game.

“Fair enough, get your rest,” Elridge answered as he tossed his shirt onto the couch behind him. “I will ask later.”

With that done, he headed to the shower to take care of his desperate need to get clean. As he walked, he let his mind wonder and now that he knew what to look for was able to find the bond between himself and Ocel. It was an oddly comforting thing.

The shower was long and hot, his body simply reveling in the relaxing nature of the time. Once out he got himself dressed, well he got a pair of nice pants and walked out into the living room once more. Ocel was laying there on the couch in her panthery form, eyes closed and a tail that swished back and forth. She cracked one eye as he walked towards her.

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“In time,” She sent him as she stood and walked off the furniture. “I will answer all in time.”

In her words, Eldridge felt his own exhaustion. He didn’t know how exactly, but he knew she simply wasn’t strong enough to have the conversation she wanted to have.

“In time,” Eldridge agreed as she touched his hand and began to slowly melt onto it once more.

The oily ozze made its way onto his chest and transformed into a shirt that matched well with the current pants he wore. It was almost as if she could read his desire, which she probably could.

“In time we will all be strong enough,” Eldridge continued as he picked up his phone and wallet. He looked at the ticket, prepared to toss it away when he noticed the receipt from earlier.

As he examined it, it further confused him, he didn’t buy anything today. Upon picking it up he opened the paper and noticed a number on the inside.

“Wait,” he muttered as the image of it falling out during the game came back to him.

“Is this, her number?” Eldridge asked himself as he looked back down at the paper.

He looked at the time and wondered if she might want to go out this night. After a few seconds of contemplative worry he decided he would dial the number. The number rang, and rang, and rang, and…

“Hello?” The soft femine voice asked from the other side.

“Hi,” Eldridge began, “This might sound weird, but were you the ticket operator today?” He asked with a steady voice, though his mind raced.

“Huh, oh yeah, so then this is Eldridge?” The woman asked.

“Yeah, well I found this note in the ticket and wondered,” Elridge paused as he prepared. “Wondered if you would be available for a short date this night.”

***

Byung looked over at Devon asleep on the chair, the chest as it slowly moved up and down. Though he’d resolved to join the fight earlier in the day, to help the area survive the coming changes, his stomach still churned. The danger of the day was still flowing over him. He would find himself jumping at the slightest sound. His thoughts would roll over the battle again and again.

His hand clenched the chair as his phone began to ring. With a sigh, Byung released all the tension and picked up his phone. “You’ve reached Kim,” He answered on reflex, most of his calls having been business related.

“Hello Byung,” A familiar voice, one he couldn’t quite place, spoke from the other line. “I’m Mr. Hinklebottom, I drove you home today,”

The man paused and Byung took his cue.

“Yes, I remember. The rental car was dropped off just fine if that is what you’re wondering.” Byung replied.

“Good, Good. However, that wasn’t why I called.” Hinklebottom stated. “My employer would like to invite you to an event at the Twisted Nipple around nine tonight. I am sure you can guess the topic.”

“I can,” Byung replied as he felt the choice come to the forefront once more. “I’ll be there.”

“Very well, I will let him know.” Hinklebottom said, his voice as steady as ever. “Have a nice day.”

“You too,” Byung answered and the line went dead.

“Alright Devon,” Byung said as he stood. “It’s time for work.”

The rat looked at him and a questioning image passed through his mind.

“Preparation to fight,” Byung answered with an image of his own, one of the Mind defeated. The Rat jumped to her feet and scurried over to his leg and climbed until she could melt onto his hand.

***

“Look Gil,” Arthur said, exacerbated. “You need to have the trail closed off for now. I am sure you heard about the attack. What will happen if more hikers are attacked!” As he continued, Arthur's voice slowly grew in volume.

“I understand your concern man,” Gil replied, his voice tense. “You have to understand the limits that I'm under. A huge portion of that trail is private property. We don’t have the right to close it down, at least not for animal attacks. And even if we did, it would be a massive PR disaster.”

“Gil, whatever attacked those hikers is still out there,” Arthur continued doing what he could to convince his acquaintance of the risk he saw this day.

He could probably convince him he saw Guinevere transform, but did he want to risk it at this point. He wasn’t sure how it would go, and he had basically taken her under his wing.

“It is lives we are talking about here.”

“Look, as thanks for the help. I will have a search party sent out for the dangerous animals.” Gil answered and Arthur felt himself deflate.

He knew the most likely result of that search. Nothing.

“The thing is, animal attacks are considered in the risk one takes when they hike a natural trail such as the divide. We can’t simply close it because we’re worried about some possible attacks. There are always possible attacks.”

“Fine, but don’t come to me when more people are attacked and possibly killed!” Arthur said as he hung up.

He figured that would be the result when he first called, but he had hoped. With a sigh he turned around towards the hospital, he wasn’t sure how long he was on the call but the sun was nearing the horizon.

“I don’t think we need to rush,” A man’s yell caught Arthur’s attention and his gaze shifted to a couple as they hurried towards the front.

“I told you,” A middle aged woman yelled back as she jogged towards the entrance. “I told you we should have taken them. If…”

The words cut off as the door closed behind the clearly troubled couple. A few moments later Cee walked out the front door and nodded to him.

“Any luck?” Cee questioned as he neared the limo.

“None unfortunately,” Arthur answered as he sat back into the vehicle. “It is unfortunate but I’m not sure what else I can do about it.”

“I’ve got a plan,” Cee answered as he joined Arthur in the limo. “Take us to the house so we can clean up,” Cee said through the partition glass. Hinklebottom simply nodded and started the vehicle.