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Keldor closed his eyes with satisfaction as Lyn stroked his sweaty hair away from his face. Currently she was stretched out and lying on his torso, belly to belly, her face to his, smiling with great contentment after giving him a vigorous workout a few moments ago. He looked like he'd just had an enjoyable time with her, and he had. An arm looped around her waist as she continued running her hand over his hair, unsticking it from his skin. Then he squeezed her with it, and she rested her head on his chest, listening to his heart beating.They'd only been lovers for just over a month now, but it felt as if it was something they'd always been doing. Something they had always been. There was a sense of familiarity between them; they somehow just knew what to do during their lovemaking. Well. Almost. At first, Keldor was someone who took a vigorous-if-perhaps-rushed approach to sex—as if he just wasn't used to taking his time with a lover. But with gentle coaxing, he began to learn to slow down and actually enjoy himself instead of trying to see how quickly he could get the deed done.It was this that was on Lyn's mind when she began to speak."Keldor?""Yes?" he replied, not opening his eyes just yet."I was wondering something," she said, drawing invisible lines along the side of his body. Just touching him, which he seemed to enjoy, if the hum it elicited was an indication."Have you had other girls before me?"Not the sort of question one should ask one's lover, but given how Keldor had approached making love in the beginning, it had made her wonder about his experiences."Are you going to be jealous of them?" he wondered."'Jealousy' isn't the word I'd use to describe how I might feel about your answer. I am with you now; not them."Something about those words set him at ease. Lyn was not the jealous, possessive type, he was glad to note."Yeah, I've had other girls before," he admitted, grateful that this wasn't going to be something he'd have to get all defensive over. "A few.""And were any of them your lover? As in, were any of them your girlfriend?"She felt him tense up under her, and she looked up to see him with a frown upon his face as he looked at her."Why do you want to know?"Did he think she was going to get jealous after all?"I kinda got the impression that maybe you..." Her voice trailed off. How to parse this delicately? "...had a certain kind of experience with them. If maybe your relationships with them were different to the one we have.""You mean, you want to know if I dated any of them?"Lyn simply looked like she was waiting for any answer he'd give her with no expectations either way."I..." It was his turn for his voice to trail off. "I.... I never... Never..."He looked sad in that moment. He must be feeling some old pain he'd thought he'd buried a long time ago."It doesn't matter now if you 'never' with the others," Lyn assured him. "Everyone has a first. And I'm happy that I get to be your first. To be the one who gets to show you just what love can feel like first." She gave him a kiss on his pec, then pulled back to see what looked like tears swimming in his eyes. "You're not alone any more, Keldor. I'm with you now."What had he done in life to deserve someone like Lyn, his eyes said to her. How could one man be so lucky?She pushed herself up, then slowly ran her palms up and down his chest."And I'm more than happy to teach you things. Show you things. Introduce you to things you didn't think were possible."She was grinning like a cat now. So many possibilities to explore each other; discover just what it was he liked most. Show him what it was that really gave her pleasure. Keldor could become a very skilled lover, if he was as open to experimentation as she was. He certainly seemed to have a bit of an appetite, if his initial intensity was anything to go by. All he needed to do was learn to pace himself; stretch it out a little, and really feel.And like a cat, she was now gently raking her nails along his body, making sure that she caught his nipples as she pulled her hands toward herself. It was making him go somewhat slack-jawed, before he groaned with pleasure."You like that?""Yeah..." His voice was breathy. "I like it a lot.""Good." A pause. "Are you up for more?" she purred."'Up for more'? Didn't you get enough already, Lyn?""Never," she said salaciously. "And if you're not 'up for more'—" Lyn reached around, and this time he groaned much louder than before when she 'found him' and gave him a torturously slow stroking, "—you will be when I'm done with you."Keldor gave her a wolfish grin.Uratha really could recover quickly from just about anything, she thought with a happy sigh as he sat up and began kissing her all over her breasts, hungry again...
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The news from the first of his spider spies was not good. It wasn't the fact that the hunters had info on his daughter—she was known to them now and that didn't bode anything good. Saeliza could take solace in the fact that, so far, the hunters had very little information on Lyn and evidence of her doing magic. That was both a good thing and a bad thing. Good in the sense they only had the one incident where she was caught using magic (when she'd used it to defend herself from a sexual predator), and bad in the sense that sooner or later, as she improved in her skills, they would have more opportunities to gather intel on her.More worrying though was the fact that the hunters knew she had a connection to Keldor. At the very least, they knew the two were friends. No, they didn't know that the werewolf in question was Keldor—thanks to Saeliza's skills the hunters thought he was some other wolf—but that wasn't the part that troubled the mage. It was the fact that the two of them had a relationship at all that was the worrying part. The inhabitants that dwelled in the shadows of this dark world tended to stick with their own for the most part. Changelings, werewolves and the like kept to their own, living insular lives and attending to their own affairs; only occasionally interacting with each other whenever they had to or needed to. Sometimes a friendship would be formed between, say, a mage or one of the undead, but that was the exception, and only rarely were these friendships particularly close.And two supernaturals who weren't of the same kind becoming lovers was so rare there were only a few recorded instances in recent history.The hunters were aware of the connection, and would only manage to get more information on them over time. That was an inevitable. Saeliza couldn't keep Lyn or Keldor confined to the apartment forever; they'd eventually have to leave the confines. Keldor especially, due to his lupine nature. Keeping him locked up not only ran against his instincts to run unfettered, it would only fuel the rage all Uratha had in plentitude.Saeliza would've sighed if he could. Lyn was coming along well in her studies, but she wasn't ready yet to master anything particularly complicated. Especially more potent, more vulgar magic. The kinds of magic that risked Paradox the most. Reflexively, he stroked his chin, remembering his first experience with Paradox, and how it had marred him permanently. He did not want Lyn to suffer a similar fate. To be disfigured in some way. But the situation was dire, at least to his mind, and he couldn't be where Lyn was all the time to defend her. Her relationship with Keldor would make her a person of interest to the hunters, and she'd have to be able to rely on herself for defence since she couldn't always have her father or her lover around to do it for her, no matter how much they might try or wish to.Right now Saeliza had two potential solutions to his dilemma. One would be to erase whatever the hunters had on file regarding his daughter and Keldor, whom they regarded as their "mystery wolf". The other was to start teaching her offensive and defensive magics. Erasing would be done first. It would buy him the time he needed to begin Lyn's lessons in earnest. They'd eventually either recover what was lost, or rebuild her dossier from scratch. But at least she'd be able to protect herself when that day came...
*******
"Lyn, I want you to come with me to the sanctum," Saeliza asked her one night when he'd found her snuggled up with Keldor on the sofa. He hadn't caught them engaged in anything compromising, but that didn't stop them from having embarrassed reactions to getting caught. It was one of those times when he wished he still had a face to emote with."Why?""New lessons.""What sorts of lessons?" Keldor this time."Lyn being known to the hunters means she needs to learn combat magics," he explained. "I would have hoped to teach her these things when she had gained more knowledge and skill, but my hand has been forced."Naturally, Keldor had an angry, protective expression on his face. He would not let the men and women who called themselves "hunters" harm his mate. He'd do anything, in fact, to keep her safe.Animal instinct. An admirable quality. Even if he wasn't exactly an animal in the strictest sense of the word."Can Keldor come, father?" Lyn asked. Saeliza should've expected that response, and he wanted to say "no". Really, he did. But that look in her eyes..."As an observer, yes."Lyn beamed at that.
*******
"Blocking spells are the most basic forms of defence," Saeliza instructed Lyn while Keldor watched with a bit of anxiety. If anything went wrong he couldn't help her. Uratha gifts would be useless here. He'd just have to trust Saeliza; remember that the mage wasn't trying to do anything to harm her.That's what it looked like, anyways, to the mage. It was sweet the way the cub cared for his daughter. But caring could only do so much. Ultimately it would be up to Lyn if the situation became dire."I want you to focus on forming a barrier. A barrier that will block anything physical or magical. You must not allow me to penetrate it.""How do I do that?" Lyn asked, worried. Was she not confident enough in her own magics that she couldn't conjure a barrier? She'd have to get confident. Her life depended on it."Like this," Saeliza demonstrated, as the air shimmered and took on a greenish tint in front of him. "Focus, Lyn. Envision the air around you becoming solid. Impervious."Lyn closed her eyes; face screwed up in concentration."Relax, Lyn. Barriers are easier to maintain if you are calm."Calm. Yeah, right. He was going to be flinging magical projectiles at her, and expecting Lyn to keep her cool against the onslaught the entire time. Well, calm or not, she'd eventually learn to become calm whilst under pressure. Might as well start now. When the threat to her wasn't a real one.The air shimmered around Lyn. Purple-hued. Not a particularly strong casting, but, it was her first time. The next part would show how well it stood up to an assault."I will not be giving you warnings of when I attack, Lyn. You must learn to anticipate anything I do. Because the people who will attack you for real won't be alerting you before they do."Fear crossed Lyn's face. Keldor's face was concerned. Saeliza wouldn't actually hurt his own child, would he?As he'd told her, Saeliza's attack came without warning. Green energy bolts flew towards Lyn, and, in a moment of fear, dropped her barrier. Yelped when the bolts collided—he'd meant them to sting, and that's exactly what they were doing now.Keldor was on his feet at once and reflexively shifting into something more combat-capable."Sit down, cub; she's not harmed."He sat down, shrinking."Says you!" Lyn shouted. "That hurt!""It wouldn't do to have you practise defence if you were defending against things that wouldn't hurt."She pouted at that, but didn't argue."Try again. And don't let fear cause you to lose focus."Her barrier was barely up before the stinging bolts were sent her way again; a few penetrating her shield and causing more pained yelps. Keldor was fighting himself and his instincts to not rush to her side and help her."Again."
*******
They spent the better part of two hours practising casting and maintaining shields, with Lyn's efforts improving a bit towards the end of her first lessons. She could hold it for a few minutes before losing it and getting stung as a result, but it was a start. At the end of the lesson Saeliza instructed Lyn to practise casting barriers as frequently as possible. He wouldn't be flinging bolts at her while at home, but she needed to be ready to cast something at any moment. To make it as reflexive as breathing.Rubbing herself where she'd been stung multiple times, Lyn agreed. Anything to not end a lesson in pain.Keldor, Saeliza expected, would be doing whatever he could to "make it better".But first, it was time to head home.They could all use a rest after this.
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"Lyn? Is there some reason why I am now no longer allowed in your room?"Lyn looked up to see Keldor standing in the doorway to her bedroom, a long-suffering look on his face and clearly unable to get inside, now that she'd had her magical barrier up. Feeling embarrassed at this, she dropped the shield to let him inside."Just... Just was practising my barrier magics," she muttered as an apology."Seem to be getting better at it if you're able to keep me out," he said with a grin, which made her face turn pink. "Now can I come in?""Yes. Yes, of course," Lyn said hastily. "You're always welcome here.""Extremely welcome," Keldor teased as he made his way over to her bed. Lyn scooted over so he could sit, then climbed into his lap so he could cuddle her. It was always nice, having him surround her like that. Him holding her like this made her feel safe and protected. Two things she was in short supply of lately, what with the hunters on her trail. Her father had said he was doing what he could to help her; buy her some much-needed time so that, should she have to, she could protect herself from them.But it was quickly beginning to wear on her. She was still confined to the apartment, and the longer she remained so, the more stir-crazy she got. What she needed was to be outside, not confined—which to a Thyrsus, was utterly unnatural. Her place was "out there", not "in here", and she was very close to climbing the walls out of sheer frustration.Sensing her discomfort, Keldor gave her a kiss. "I know what you're thinking and it's getting to me, too." Amazing how quickly they'd learned to read each other; sense how the other was thinking or feeling.Like magic, really. Of a different kind."I can't stand it any longer!" Lyn cried out. "How much longer am I supposed to stay in this place? I'm losing my mind!"Keldor said nothing; just made comforting sounds while Lyn raged on."I know, Lyn; I know," he told her once she was done. "I'm not enjoying this either."Hearing that made her feel a little bit better about her situation. Not completely, but better than before."I just— I want— I need to go outside! And not up on the roof, Kel. Outside!"Saying these words lit a fire of rebellion in Lyn's heart. Reminding herself that she was a grown woman capable of making her own decisions made it grow bigger."Lyn...," Keldor began. He could sense the change in her mood through the way her body moved. Muscles twitched like some wild animal that was about to run. "Lyn you shouldn't...""Why shouldn't I?" she challenged him. Lyn wasn't always impulsive but when she was she could get downright stubborn about it."Your dad, for one.""And he's not here. He left to take care of business between his cabal and another, remember?""Yeah, but... He has ways of finding out about things. He found out about you being known to the hunters.""Because I effectively told him!""After you'd nearly been grabbed by one!" Keldor shouted. He was starting to shift again; she could feel the changes through her clothing."That was one time!" she shouted back."And you're willing to risk it again?"Lyn huffed, then leapt out of his lap, her back rigid with anger. He was right about that. She was "risking it again". But she didn't care, either. She had her blocking spells. That should be enough."I know what you're thinking, Lyn, and you shouldn't do it.""Why?""You might get hurt, Lyn!" he pleaded."Not if you came with me.""What?!" he blurted after stammering for several seconds."If you came with me then I would be safe.""Lyn! Lyn, no! We shouldn't!""Yes, Keldor. We should. We absolutely should. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm getting my coat."
*******
Winter was still weeks away, but its bite could still be felt as Lyn wandered the streets, shivering slightly despite her coat. A late autumn snow was falling, and it was already dark out. But she was finally outside the apartment after being told to stay inside it for weeks now. Her father would be extremely angry with her for her reckless behaviour, but right then, Lyn did not care. She was a Thyrsus mage, and Thyrsuses did not take confinement well. Even ones that were somewhat more tolerant of city life than most. And out here, feeling the subtle energy shifts that could be felt as one season gave way to another in the endless circle, Lyn felt she could finally breathe again after being forced to hold her breath for so long.She wasn't out here alone, though. Keldor was a few paces behind her, grumbling to himself no doubt for having been unable to stop Lyn from carrying out her act of defiance. He'd tried several times, back when they were a few blocks from the building, but Lyn's mind was made up, and if he was so adamant about making sure she was safe, then he'd just have to come along. And she knew he would, too. The animal within him saw her as its mate, and would not allow anyone to harm her while he still drew breath.It didn't mean he liked it, though, and a part of her felt a little remorseful for having taken advantage of his instincts. For using him as her own personal attack dog.A little remorseful. But not enough. She was free, now, and intended to enjoy it, too."Lyn!" he called out to her once he'd caught up with her."Yes, Keldor?" Her tone was terse."Let's go back. Please?""No.""Lyn!" It actually sounded like a canine whine when he spoke her name."I am not going back. Not until I choose to.""Lyn..." Now the whine was that of a petulant child, which only served to irritate her rather than persuade her. In response she increased her pace and soon had him several feet behind her again. If he kept this up he'd find himself on the wrong side of a shield spell.Especially if he kept calling her name like he had any ability to stop her tonight."Is that man bothering you, miss?" someone said to her as she passed them by."Not yet," Lyn snapped."I could call the police," she was offered. "You can borrow my phone.""No thank you—"Suddenly Keldor had caught up to her, and was now trying to grab her. Something that brought back the awful memories from weeks ago when one of the hunters had tried to do the same thing. Without thinking she had her barrier up and Keldor was—at least to any onlookers—being pushed backwards somehow without being touched."DON'T YOU DARE!" she screamed, using her anger and her fear to put as much distance between Keldor and herself."Lyn! Please!""What the—? My God!" the stranger cried at the sight of Keldor moving backwards, and not of his own volition.Oh no....It felt very much like glass shattering or wires twisting and breaking, as Lyn realised what was happening. She wasn't just doing magic in front of a sleeper; she was doing improbable magic. Vulgar magic.She could feel the various patterns around her begin to buckle and bend as reality as she knew it clashed with reality as her witness knew it, and when two realities clashed, disaster was an almost certainty. What was happening—what Lyn was doing—was supposed to be physically impossible. There was just no conceivable way she could physically prevent Keldor from getting close without either of them touching the other.Her vision went funny as shadows flitted about. Images of alternate worlds came in and out of view. Invisible threads only she and the other awakened could sense were snapping. The Tapestry was beginning to tear, and if she didn't cease her spellcasting who knew what sort of Paradox would be caused.Assuming it hadn't already happened...Release the spell... Release the spell... Release the spell!Lyn let go.Someone screamed.Was it her?
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Pain was the only thing she could feel as she let her hold on the magic go. Pain like nothing she'd ever felt before.She was back in the apartment again, with Keldor kneeling beside her as she lay on her bed. At least, she thought it was. Her vision was still distorted, but improving."You were told," an iron-cold voice said, "to stay in the apartment."Her father was also in the room, and she didn't need her eyes to see with to know just how angry he was with her. It was practically rolling off him like heat waves. A rage almost as powerful as the rage the Uratha possessed."And you disobeyed."Lyn could only groan in response."And you." He must be addressing Keldor now. "Why didn't you stop her?""I tried! Saeliza I tried!""NOT HARD ENOUGH!""You did magic. In front of a sleeper. When you know you shouldn't!""It was an accident!" Keldor protested."SILENCE!"You could practically hear him shutting up."I warned you, Lyn," he said with lethal calm. "I warned you about this. And now I have to go and clean up the mess that you made!"Lyn could feel herself actually shrinking in response."Is... Is it bad?" Keldor's tone was fearful. Timid. "She... She'll be okay?""Yes. Fortunately no permanent damage was done to her. Fortunately... But she will need time to recover from this." He paused. "At least this time my daughter will do as she's told, even if she is doing so involuntarily."Saeliza turned and left the room without another word, while Keldor held her hands together in his.
How could she have been so foolish?
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This was all his fault. Keldor knew that. Lyn would not be in the state she was currently in if he hadn't grabbed her and triggered a flashback to her being near-abducted weeks ago. Lyn would not have felt the need to cast a spell to protect herself if he'd been mindful of recent events. But he'd done it, without thinking of anything other than to get her to turn around and go home, and in her fear she'd cast her shielding spell while in front of what Lyn and Saeliza called a "sleeper", causing the Paradox that currently had her in a lot of pain.It was the morning after, and Saeliza had not come back that night, given that he was currently trying to mitigate the effects of the Paradox. Which must've been pretty bad, if he'd been gone the whole night. While he was gone, Keldor had spent the night lying with Lyn in her bed. Not to make love, but simply to hold her close; to let her know that he was sorry for what he'd done, and comforting her while she was hurting was his way to show it to her. At first she'd rebuffed him, still in a lot of pain. But when it had abated somewhat, she'd allowed him to touch her.Throughout the night he'd muttered to her while she slept fitfully; apologising for his abysmal behaviour. Sometimes it sounded like she heard him, but then her own mutterings took a different turn, and he knew she was probably muttering gibberish in her half-sleep. Keldor himself did not get much sleep; he was waiting for Saeliza to return so he could explain what had happened last night, and take the rightfully-earned chewing-out he'd get from the mage. Yes, Lyn had defied her father's orders, but he was guilty too. He understood that much.Morning's light began to filter in through the window. Dawn was coming and so far he hadn't heard the door open or close to tell him of Saeliza's arrival. Of course, he might be here already. The man had ways to make sure his comings and goings could be undetected. He had a preternatural way to make no noise when he wanted to. It was, Keldor figured, a way of concealing himself by way of muting sound. If that was the case then Keldor would just have to go and check to see if the mage had managed to sneak in unheard.Carefully, he extracted himself from Lyn's embrace with some pained mumblings on her part, got up from the bed, stepped out past the bedroom door, then crept down the hallway towards first Saeliza's own room (he wasn't there), before turning around and headed for the living room and kitchen (he wasn't there, either).Well. At least he checked.Before going back to Lyn's room he realised that he could use a drink, so he went to the fridge to get the water pitcher to pour himself a glass. It was as he was washing off the glass he'd drank from to clean it and put it away that he heard the soft sound of a door opening. Placing the glass back in the cupboard, he stepped out towards the door right as it was being closed."Keldor. I was not expecting to see you up." The mage's tone sounded pleasant enough. "I was just coming back from a meeting with my cabal.""I thought you were dealing with the Paradox Lyn created earlier..." Keldor's voice went weak and became a whisper that was hard to make out."Turned out to be not particularly serious and therefore easy enough to correct.""So. Um. Why were you meeting with the cabal.""Sit down with me at the table and I will explain."He did."You need to understand something, Keldor," Saeliza began. "Magic is something that is supposed to be kept secret from those who are not mages, just as the existence of the Uratha is supposed to be kept secret. But unlike how it is with your people, mages don't exactly have an easy way to conceal its existence from those we call 'sleepers'. We don't have anything like Lunacy to protect us."He stopped for a moment, then resumed."Doing magic in front of sleepers is a tricky thing to do. If what we do looks too much like magic—looks too impossible to a sleeper's eyes—we run the risk of what is called a Paradox. Their disbelief causes problems. Makes magic go awry. Lyn did magic in front of a sleeper, and caused a Paradox to happen.""What happened to Lyn?""Havoc. It's one of several kinds of Paradox and is the least severe. She suffered a backlash because the magic had nowhere to go.""She'll be okay?""Yes. But she'll be in a bit of pain for a while.""So why did you need to meet with the cabal?""Because this isn't Lyn's first time doing magic in front of a sleeper.""Is— Is that bad?""It's against our laws to do magic in front of the unawakened.""Lyn's in trouble?" He sounded scared for her."I managed to convince them that this was an accident; that because she is young and inexperienced she likely did not intend to do it. They were not happy, but they accepted that.""It...," Keldor began, and Saeliza turned to look at him. "It ... wasn't exactly an accident... Well, for her it was, but...""What are you trying to tell me, Keldor?" he asked, voice suddenly cold and stony.Keldor flinched slightly. Saeliza sometimes spoke like this when he was about to get particularly angry."What is it, Keldor? What happened?""I— Um— Well," he started to babble."Yes?""I was... Trying to get Lyn to... To..." He stopped. Began again. "I was try-trying to get her to turn around. Go back home. I-I wasn't thinking. I grabbed her by the arm and—""And she had a flashback.""I-I think so." His voice was small now."And... Did she use defensive magic?""I-I think so. Yes."Somehow, Saeliza managed to sigh in exasperation."I am not happy with you right now, Keldor.""I-I know," he squeaked out."Your ill-thought-out actions could've done a lot more damage than was done.""I know." The words were barely audible now."I will have to inform the cabal about this.""I-I'll... Go get my things, and...""What?""I'll go.""What?" Saeliza was surprised by this. He didn't seem to know that it reminded Keldor of how Miro would speak to him whenever he got cross. "No. No, you don't need to leave.""I ... don't?""No. One mistake is not a reason to cast you out.""It's not?""I don't know what you're used to hearing from others when you're in trouble but I am not those people. Yes, I am angry with you, but not so angry that I'd throw you out.""You won't?""No.""But I will need to be alone for a bit so I'll have to ask you to at least leave the table and go somewhere else for a little bit."Happy that he'd gotten off lightly—compared to what he expected he was going to—Keldor hastily left the kitchen to go back to Lyn's room to help her feel better after her accident...
*******
Everyone thought Randor was insane, pursuing this new obsession of his. It made people not want to be around him, which suited him just fine for the time being. This task of his was personal. While others scoffed at him for believing that the new mystery wolf might actually be his brother (how he came to that conclusion he couldn't say, other than it was a hunch of his), Randor was determined to uncover the truth.He was a hunter now, after all, and if there was one thing all hunters had in common, it was their near-fanatical zeal to uncover and reveal the world as it really was, rather than what most people took it to be. And sometimes, it wasn't other people who needed to be convinced; it was one's fellow hunters. Just because two people were hunters didn't mean that they'd immediately agree with each other. Arguments could erupt over a disagreement over just what it was they were dealing with.This wolf he was dealing with had to be Keldor. It just had to be. There were no reports of anyone having a First Change since Keldor's anywhere in this state or in any neighbouring ones, so the wolf being a new cub was out. And their database didn't have anyone in it that matched the description for this new, unknown wolf. Not the one Randor was using. Not the ones he'd requested access to or asked to have information sent to him.It was proving to be quite the puzzle.Well, to solve a mystery one had to look for clues. Starting with what was known about this one. He had a physical description, so if he were to be spotted out on the streets he'd be easy to identify. He also had people he was associated with. Or, one person. A young woman. Whom the hunters knew about. A mage. A new mage. This wolf had not only been seen in her company but had come to her defence when Jake tried to bring her in for the other hunters to deal with.Hmmmm...What did they know about her?For starters, they had a name: Evelyn Powers. Jake had told them that much when he'd seen the security cam footage from the city's public transit system. On a whim, Randor entered the name into the database. What he got was intriguing. There wasn't just one Powers in the database; there were two. Feeling excitement surge through him, he decided to go over the second entry.It was proving to be extremely informative.Nicolas Powers was an extremely skilled mage who specialised in illusory magics—a talent made necessary because of a disfigurement he'd inflicted upon himself early on in his journey as a mage. The specifics about what sort of disfigurement he had was vague, but Randor didn't care, because to him it wasn't important. What was important—after the fact that he was a mage who used magic to disguise things with—was that he had a child. A daughter, to be more specific, although the details regarding her identity were somewhat vague.Randor sat back in his chair.What were the odds that these two people might be related? Pretty good. Magical ability was not something that their Banisher allies said ran in families, but there were those mages who were trying to build lineages of mages. It might be possible that these two were part of a lineage, but then, it might just be a happy coincidence that the daughter took after her father and became a mage herself.He scratched his chin idly. Suppose these two mages were in fact related. If the daughter knew who their mystery wolf was enough to at least be friendly with him, what were the odds that her father would know him, too? Very good odds if they were both mages.Randor kept on going, digging into all the intel they had on Nicolas. It didn't take long to hit pay dirt.Nicolas Powers was known to have liasons with the city's various supernatural inhabitants. Or rather, the various leaders of things like the different Uratha packs as well as this city's changeling freehold. If he worked with them, he would know about things like a new werewolf having a First Change. He would certainly want to know about that, so that things could run smoothly between him, his cabal, and the rest of the supernaturals.Stretching for a bit, Randor pondered over what he'd just learned. There were two mages in the city with the same last name. One of them was new; the other had been at it for years, and it was the latter Randor was now interested in. Nicolas knew concealing magics and he had dealings with werewolves. If anyone in the city were to have a First Change, he'd be one of the first people to know about it.Keldor's First Change was a high-profile event, what with it leading to the deaths of two prominent individuals in this state. It would be a dire situation for Keldor. He might even be desperate enough to ask for help. Anything to avoid being caught.Anything to avoid being brought to justice. And he'd had plenty of run-ins with the law to make him do whatever it took to get away with murder.Like ask a mage to use magic to do things like conceal him. Disguise him. Make him invisible perhaps. The list of possibilities were endless.Quickly Randor reached for some paper and a pen. He was going to write down his theories; see if they sounded as good as they did in his mind. Once he was done with that the next thing to do would be to present it to the others and see what they had to say.
With luck, Keldor wouldn't be doing very much hiding for very much longer...
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Saeliza might have gone easy on Keldor after he'd told her father the truth of what had happened that night, but Lyn wasn't inclined to be as charitable. She'd spent the better part of the week in pain from the recoiled spell caused by the Paradox, and, since she didn't need to be told who had contributed to things going awry, seeing as she was there and all, had refused to speak with him or allow him in her room for several days after.To his credit, he'd accepted it without protest and had given Lyn her space as well as enough time to get over it and forgive him.She would, eventually, but they both knew she wasn't going to forget it.With Keldor in the proverbial doghouse (in some ways one could see the rooftop he spent his time upon as an actual doghouse), Lyn spent her time practising the barrier spells she'd been taught. Once she had those mastered, her father would begin teaching her offensive magics. It made her feel a little bit annoyed doing so, because, had there been no sleepers to witness it, the spell she'd used to get Keldor to back off would've worked without a hitch. She also wouldn't need her father pleading her case; to not have the cabal punish her for doing magic in front of unawakened eyes.But, then, she remembered why it had happened at all, and it was this that made her feel more inclined to forgive her lover for his stupidity. Keldor would not have felt it necessary to grab her and make her recall her ex-boyfriend, Jake, doing the same thing if she hadn't been defying the rules laid down by her father in the first place. Saeliza had made it very clear she was not to leave the building, and Keldor had tried to get her to reconsider. Lyn wouldn't hear it; her rebelliousness wouldn't listen to his protests.Lyn had gone out. Keldor had followed to keep her out of trouble. She even suspected that, if her father had suspected her disobedience, that he'd lie for her. Protect her from her father's anger.In short, Keldor had done something incredibly stupid and not-thought-out, but, he wouldn't have had a reason in the first place if she'd done as she was told. Thinking this made her feel guilty. One bad decision on her part had led to another bad decision on his part. And getting angry with him for it wouldn't change that fact.When he came down from the roof for dinner she'd tell him that.Saeliza, however, had other ideas."You've managed to master defence," he told her after knocking on her bedroom door and being let in. "Now is the time to practise offence.""But it will be dinner soon," she pointed out."And it looks like Keldor will again be eating alone."That casual remark made her guilt return. Saeliza knew the two were having a disagreement between them and knew that Lyn had refused to eat at the table while Keldor was there. And he knew why, too, but had let her deal with it herself. This conflict between them was for the two of them to work out themselves.When she didn't respond, he decided to sit in the chair next to her bed."You can't be angry with him forever, child," he said gently."I know.""Keldor knows that what he did was wrong; he admitted it to me himself.""I know that too.""Do you plan to talk to him about it?""I was going to do it tonight, before you came to tell me I had lessons.""They can always be rescheduled, Lyn. This is more important than mastering spellcraft."He paused for a moment, then resumed."What you have between you is very special, Lyn.""Aren't all relationships special in their own way?" she asked, confused."Yes, but not like what you have with Keldor.""I don't get it.""Well. You're a mage. He's a werewolf.""Yes, I know that, but—""You've been a mage for, what? Six months? Seven? And you've met several mages since your awakening.""Yes, but—""And how many of them have lovers who are neither another mage or a sleeper?""I don't know—""As for the Uratha, not one of them has an Uratha mate, for they know the dangers that come from mating with one's own kind.""Yes, father, but—""We all of us either stick to our own kind or take partners from that part of humanity that lives in ignorance of us. Rarely do we take someone from other supernatural races."Lyn simply stared, bewildered."What are you trying to tell me, father?""That what you have with Keldor is rare and special, and that you should treasure it." He got up from the chair and patted Lyn on the head before he turned to leave. "And that is why I will reschedule your lessons for another day."She watched him go, then, when he was out of the room, she shut the door with a wave of a hand.Never had she given this much thought to all the relationships she'd been in. There had not been very many, and Jake had been the last one prior to Keldor entering her life and changing it completely. It was just something she took as a given. People met other people and sometimes they would fall in love with each other and form relationships with each other. Relationships were just part of being an adult. And while each relationship was unique and special in their own way, having one at all was not.And as for him being different to Lyn, well... Of course Keldor wouldn't be like her. She had no intentions of dating someone who was exactly like herself. Most people didn't.But a mage and a werewolf? She'd never really thought much about that aspect, and it made her wonder, now that her father had brought attention to it. Why didn't people from the various races interact much with the others? She'd assumed that, as her father was friends with weres and changelings and even the undead, that it was normal for supernaturals to engage with one another. Routine. Never did she consider that he was an exception to the rule. That she and Keldor were an exception. That loving someone who wasn't one of your own kind was an even bigger exception.She'd been running her hands up and down her arms for several moments before realising she was doing it. As if to recall the feeling of Keldor's touch. What it felt like when he was loving her. Suddenly she felt warm. Needy. More than she wanted to apologise (and she did), she wanted him to touch her. Anywhere. Everywhere. Again and again. To make her cry out his name in passion."Lyn? Keldor is back."Of all the unwanted intrusions into her thoughts she could think of, this one had to be the worst."I'm coming!" she shouted so that the two men could hear her, then felt her face grow hot as she realised that her words could have several meanings, especially with where her mind had just been. "I'll be out in a moment!"Just as soon as she tamed her blushing.
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Dinner that night proved to be something of a challenge for Lyn. Not because she was still cross with Keldor—far from it. After what her father had just said to her not more than half an hour ago, she couldn't get the thought of just how unusual and unique her relationship with the young werewolf was. And knowing this (as well as acknowledging her own culpability in what had happened recently) made it hard for her to stay angry with him for very long.There was also the fact that, despite her best efforts to squelch them, Lyn's thoughts kept taking a certain turn, and, judging from his body language, Keldor knew what was on her mind without having to read her thoughts. She might avert her gaze enough so that he couldn't quite see it in her eyes, but his keener senses would tell him where her mind was at.Certainly her scent was giving her away; of that she could be sure.Which just fuelled her imagination even more.At the rate things were going they wouldn't be able to have their much-needed talk tonight; they'd be too busy going at it to discuss anything of importance. And then be too worn out afterwards to have enough energy to utter anything other than monosyllabic responses.Chk!Lyn started at the sound, then looked down at the plate in front of her. Had she chipped it when she stabbed at her asparagus spear a little too hard? She hoped not. It could be magically repaired, but still. It wouldn't do to be damaging the dishes because her imagination was running wild with all the possibilities she had to look forward to tonight."As enjoyable as your company is, Keldor, I'm afraid that I'll have to cut it short," Saeliza said suddenly, getting up as Lyn looked up. "My projects have been set aside too long, and I don't think they can wait any longer."That, apparently, was her cue. And her opportunity to finally have some alone time with Keldor.Chewing her lip, Lyn gathered up her plate and cutlery and quickly made for the sink. To make it look like she hadn't been having rather suggestive thoughts about her lover. Keldor got up a moment later and before she knew it he was standing behind her, blocking her exit."Let me help you with that," he offered, using dishwashing as an excuse to get closer to her. While he washed and she dried, Keldor pressed himself against her, leaving her with no doubt in her mind that her aroused scent had been affecting him the entire time they were having dinner. That his thoughts were the same as hers were.Him nibbling at the back of her neck just further clarified things, as she sighed in contentment. How could she stay angry with him when he touched her like that?"We'd better take this somewhere else." His hot breath was tickling her ear. So was his tongue when he flicked it against her lobe. Her response got Lyn a chuckle. "Or else we'll have more to clean up."Really, she was willing to just let him have at her right then and there, as she turned around in the confined space to give him a kiss, but Lyn could agree. A kitchen sink really was not the right place for them at this time, she noted, as they headed towards her room, her heart racing and her blood running hot, kissing the whole way there.But instead of just disrobing herself like she wanted very much to do, Lyn asked Keldor to sit down with her so that they could finally clear the air between them. It would be impossible to talk about anything important whilst making love, nor would they be able to say much of anything once they'd finally worn each other out."What is it, Lyn?" Keldor asked as he sat down. He'd already taken his shirt off, giving Lyn a good look at his lean frame. Lean. Supple. Flexible. The kind of body that sent her mind into overdrive, like it had been earlier. She liked that kind of body in men.Damn it! She was supposed to be having an important conversation with him! Not checking him out and assessing his sex potential!Getting her lust somewhat under control, she took his hand in hers. It was warm, like the rest of him."Keldor," she began, after taking a deep breath. "I ... haven't exactly been fair to you the last few days, and I... And I... I want to apologise for that.""You don't have to Lyn; it was my fault.""No. It wasn't," she insisted. "This all happened because I didn't listen to what my father had told me to do.""But you wouldn't have had to cast any spells if you'd—Lyn had shushed him by placing her finger on his lips. She'd said what she needed to say, and didn't want to discuss it further tonight. Not when she had other plans."We're not going to have an argument over who's responsible," she told him, her tone firm despite her playful mood. "It's not good for a mood-setter."Keldor nodded, silenced, while she shifted herself onto his lap. Despite their-near quarrel over who was the guiltiest regarding the Paradox incident, it was clear that he was still up (in a manner of speaking) for what Lyn would rather be doing.Namely; him.Hand still at his mouth, Lyn began to slide it down, under his chin; savouring the feel of his facial hair as she did, along his throat, then finally to his chest, leaning in slowly as she did so, her lips nearly coming close to his by a millimetre or so, then pulling away, but not before tapping his lips with the tip of her tongue. Her grin when she did was practically catlike. Teasing."And there are better things to do with mouths, anyways."Keldor's expression for a half-second was a glower, before he caught on to what she was up to."Yes," he agreed, one hand sliding down her back to slide up under her shirt to caress her skin, which earned him a pleased hum. "Yes there are.""You plan to use your mouth for just talking tonight, Kel?"Slyly, before leaning in briefly to suck in her bottom lip, "To start? Yes."That got him another hum, as she pulled him in with her hands that she now had at his shoulders.Shut up and keep kissing me, she said silently, arms about his neck so she could press her still-clothed torso against his naked one, and her mouth to his. Or, if you won't do that then help me w—Like he could hear her thoughts, Keldor had helped her by unfastening Lyn's bra with the hand he still had up her shirt, before breaking the kiss to give her a devilish smirk.Well. It needed undoing anyways. Before or after shirt removal; it didn't matter.And speaking of, he was already commencing with the removal of said shirt. It was an interesting sensation; having fabric slide across your skin and over an unhooked bra that was tapping against your back while still under your clothing.Which, she noted while it was being removed and she was being pulled back into his embrace, she liked. With luck he'd remember that one and do it again in the future.The future, though, was a long way off, and to be frank, she was much more interested in the present. Especially with the way he was kissing her whilst sliding his hands just so to make it easier to slip her bra off her shoulders so she could get free of it, without breaking mouth contact in the process.Keldor had learned much and well from her, once he'd become her lover. Before then, he'd needed to be taught seemingly simple things like how to take his time, rather than seeing how quickly he could get through the process and achieve the payoff, like how it had been for him with the others he'd been with. And there had been several—more than Lyn had had. But while he had the numbers advantage, Lyn had the advantage in experience.Quality, he'd learned, was more important than quantity.Lyn, he would say if asked, was definitely quality. And, in a way, he got quantity in return.Like every Thyrsus mage, Lyn was an extremely earthy sort of woman with a healthy appetite for sexual pleasure, and, apart from their recent quarrel, and the regular interruptions women experienced at intervals, she was keen to indulge in. And thanks to Keldor's Uratha stamina, Lyn was able to indulge. A lot.As if they were both trying to wear out the other.No complaints about that. Lyn was up to the task. Even if, sometimes, it wasn't until just a few hours before dawn when they finally exhausted themselves.Thinking about that—or about anything, really—came to a halt when she felt his mouth at her breast. He was kissing his way to its centre; towards her nipple, before taking it in and doing one of the things she liked best: circling its tip with his tongue."Damn," she moaned. That always felt good. Especially when he didn't reply with some witty comeback like "I'm not damned yet" but kept on going, from one to the other and back again. Then she yelped, when she felt him lightly using his teeth.He might not be using his mouth to talk, but that didn't mean he was silent, as she felt—as well as heard—him laugh in response. It felt good to her, and it made him pleased to know he could have an effect like this on her.Laughter from Keldor stopped, as the fingers she'd woven into his hair while he was giving her breasts his undivided attention gave an involuntary tug, causing Keldor to groan himself. She'd never expected it when she'd found out the first time, but he loved having his hair touched. Or tugged. Or whatever. It didn't matter, really.Of course, when he groaned this time, he'd opened his mouth and let go, which got a noise of protest from Lyn."Kel..," she whined, and he took her hint, returning to his task until Lyn was practically squirming. Squirming, and wishing that she could get the rest of their clothing off. As soon as possible.Well, she was a mage, and could alter reality with a thought, and thus, when she made her wish, reality complied. Gone was the rest of their attire, and Keldor was now looking down in surprise to see his jeans gone. It was the second time she'd magicked his clothes away, and it was just as amazing now as it was when she'd done it for their first time. Only, this time she'd done it unintentionally, and her own expression was half surprise, half amusement.Lyn was going to have to remember that one.Next time.Wasting no time at all, it was Lyn who soon had Keldor begging her to take pity on him, as she ran her fingers up, down and around his dick in circles. Slowly. Torturously.It was rather enjoyable, having him at her mercy like that.Time to kick it up a notch.Using the pads of her fingertips on the underside of his shaft, and the one on her thumb to run along his sac, he was soon positively crying for relief.Lyn, though, was relentless. She might not have had a lot of lovers, but the bag of tricks she'd built up with the ones she did have was bottomless. A seemingly endless well to draw from when it came to pleasing a man. And was he ever pleased.Maybe a little too pleased, Lyn noted, when something liquid ran down under her fingers while she felt his body shake underneath her. Eh, well. Didn't matter. It was now his turn to give this time anyways, she noted, pushing at him so that they could lie next to each other. He might be spent, but only for the moment.Uratha recovered quickly. Faster than ordinary humans.Which she was counting on, as she felt his own fingertips lightly trace a line up and down her spine, eliciting not-so-little shivers as his free hand moved. The other hand—the one attached to the arm Lyn now had pinned—was up by her neck and tickling the tiny hairs on the back of it, and it was soon Lyn's turn to beg Keldor for mercy.He only let up just long enough to move the free hand from her back, and now it was her front—from collar bone down towards her own sex—that was getting a line traced up and down. And every time his hand went downwards, it went a little bit further than before. It wasn't long before it was Lyn who was having fingers tracing along her nethers; along the line between her legs, pressing further between when he got there, which really upped the squirming, much to his delight."Like that?" She could hear the smile in his voice, since her eyes were closed now."Yeah," she breathed. "Keep doing that."He did. For a few moments longer, before trailing his hand upwards; up just below her navel. To stroke there. Lightly.First he was giving. Now he was taking away. But teasing her in a way that told Lyn she'd be getting more.Damn it."Now" was the right time for him to be giving, and she was making it clear what she ought to be getting with her hand on his. He didn't acquiesce, though. He just made his touch quicker and slightly firmer; moving in circles.Upwards.Damn it again!Or not.Definitely not "damn it" if he kept running circles around, but not touching her nipple, getting closer and closer with his thumb, like that."You going to just tease me?"Her answer was a flick of the thumb across it.Much appreciated, as she threw her head back and he did it more and harder. Then gasped when thumb was replaced with tongue."Like that too?""Shiiiit...""I'll take that as a 'y—'"He shut up, then moaned when he felt her hand on him again. Circling near the base of his dick the way he'd done with her nipple, but not with the pad of her thumb but fingers; occasionally running them down between his balls."Ahhh, fuuuuck Lyn...""We can do that. But not yet.""Tease.""Yup.""Gah...!""You don't like that?"It was his turn to have his nipple flicked. With her tongue. Something she hadn't tried before."No." A pause. "Do it again."This was going into the bag of tricks for another time, judging from the way he was reacting. The only time his language was this crude was when she was giving his cock some extra attention. Like she'd just done. She'd never thought he'd be as sensitive here as he was there.It was definitely making her feel rather wicked.Would he like it if she did both at the same time?Oh boy, did he ever!"........gonna fuck you so hard you'll ... staring up from downstairs..."Adding this one to the bag of tricks."That better be a promise, Kel."He said ... something ... in response, but what it was, she couldn't tell.Lyn laughed in reply, then rolled him so he was lying on his back.Keldor had a rather dopey looking grin on his face as he looked up at her."And if it isn't?"She rubbed his cock with the crack of her ass. Up and down. Slowly."I'm just going to pretend it was.""Don't threaten, Lyn," Keldor growled. "Just do it."Well if he was going to ask that nicely, then "do it" she would.Or rather, was doing. Right now.He growled even more, head now deep in the pillow while he savoured the delicious sensation of Lyn's wet flesh around him, eyes shut as tight as possible. Mouth a bare-toothed grimace. As he did, he gripped her at her hips, and it felt like he'd grown claws and that was what was now digging into her. Drawing blood. Or maybe he actually had. With Uratha, it could be hard to tell, given that they sometimes shifted involuntarily; in whole or in part, when feeling strong emotions. She'd have to check later for any scabs.Once she was done fucking the daylights out of him first, of course.And if she thought he'd reached the upper limit of vulgarity during sex, her reaching behind to massage his balls whilst she ground against him proved he could go still further in that department.Until he lost the ability to use words, that was. At which point his voice became guttural, raspy and completely bestial.Practically feral, even, once he couldn't hold it back any longer.How nice it was that he was an easy man to satisfy, Lyn noted as she kept going until she herself was done, while he gasped for air to regain what had temporarily been lost thanks to her efforts. For the moment. Healthy appetite and rapid recovery time, after all.Keldor looked like he could've sworn Lyn was not only capable of purring when he unscrewed his eyes open after the screwing he'd just gotten from her, but actually was. Like maybe there was a bit of the animal in her, as there actually was in him."Had enough yet?" Lyn asked.He reached up, and pulled her in, before flipping her over. Lyn laughed. Sighed when she felt him nibble at her neck again."When I have 'had enough', Lyn," he told her between nips, "You'll know.""Good. Because I haven't 'had enough' either."
They'd be falling asleep a few hours before dawn again, it seemed...
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Dawn at this time of year came late, so when Keldor finally awoke after what in his opinion was the best way to make things up with your girl, it was still dark out. But, given the colour of the sky that he saw when looking out the window, it wasn't as dark as it was during true night. The sun would be up soon, and then the day would begin.Briefly, he thought about sleeping in for a little longer. Just enjoy the feel of Lyn's warm body pressed against him while she slept on, a half-smile on her face.Her naked warm body...Her very beautiful and naked warm body...Damn. Now he was ready to go again.Sighing, Keldor got up from the bed, headed for the door, opened it to check to see if Saeliza was awake, confirmed that the mage was not, then quickly rushed over to his room to grab a couple towels—including one to wrap around himself so as to not give anyone a clear view of his mood that he didn't want anyone who shouldn't be seeing it seeing it, and finally dashed to the bathroom to start his shower.The one he'd hoped would take his mind off of Lyn and their recent activities.But the thing about trying not to think about something is that it just makes you think of it more, and sure enough, it didn't take him long before he was in need of relief. In need of relief, and Lyn wasn't around to ... help out.If he wanted any, he'd have to take care of it himself.Grabbing the shower gel for a little more lubricant (water would be sufficient by itself, but it wouldn't feel as nice), he squeezed some into his hand, getting himself ready to attend to taming his hard-on. It was about that time when he'd heard the door to the bathroom open and someone step inside.
Oh, shit! Fuck! Damn it!
He wasn't a prude when it came to things like self-pleasure, and Lyn had asked him once to do it in front of her so she could watch, but it might not be Lyn coming into the bathroom just as he was about to give himself a hand.
Oh, god, kill me now...
"Father? Are you in there? If you are, I can leave."God, in his mercy, had decided to send someone else other than Saeliza instead of striking down Keldor.Keldor let out the breath he'd been holding, pulled back the curtain just enough, and peeked around."Oh. It's you. Good. I was hoping it would be."Lyn was giving him a cryptic grin."Yeah," he said, forgetting for a moment that he was in a state of excitement, and pulled the curtain back further.Lyn's grin just broadened."I see you're up, too.""What?"He looked down.Oh. That.How could he have let that slip his mind?"I... Uh... Oh. Um. Yeah.""Oh don't tell me you're going to be all modest with me?" Lyn was staring at his cock as she slowly began to untie the belt to her bathrobe; taking her time. "Especially when you have nothing to be modest about?"That got her a satisfying blush.Keldor wasn't exactly sure if Lyn's assessment of his goods was "in general" or if it was "to her". Probably both. He liked to think it was both.But maybe he should think about it later. Lyn had her bathrobe down so that the cloth revealed the upper portion of her breasts, but stopped just above the nipples.Could she hold it in place with just her tits? She probably could. They must be hard enough. He certainly was. And if he wasn't, watching Lyn tease him like this would make him so."Shall I ... join you?" she asked sultrily, pausing her undressing."Uh. Yeah. Sure."Damn it was so hard to take his eyes off her. Or even just think."Good. Because I was going to anyways," she winked as she resumed taking off the rest of the robe.An exaggerated shimmy later, and the terrycloth was now at her feet, giving him an unobstructed view of her body. There was not an ounce of shyness in how confidently she held herself for his inspection.Good god was she gorgeous!How did he of all people manage to get her?Taking a bigger step than was needed to enter the tub and the shower, Lyn made a point of pressing as much of herself against Keldor as she could while the warm water flowed over them both; particularly the part of him that most wanted her touch. It wasn't her hand or anything just as good that did; just her belly. Soft. Nice. He liked it a lot. And it felt great pressing against his cock like that.She wrapped her arms around his neck. He did the same about her waist, then began to kiss her.It was like being out in warm summer rain, them standing there under the showerhead. A nice, rainy summer's night, just being outside with your lover. Her tongue tapped against his lips a moment later and he opened his mouth for her so she could enter; gentle probing at first, then flicking against the roof in the way that had him moaning nicely."Lyn..," he breathed into her mouth as he pressed her even closer to him. "Soft, pretty girl."With her arms about his neck she had easy reach of his head, and soon she had her fingers running through the wet strands of black hair, tracing patterns with the tips against his scalp. Which caused him to break the kiss as he savoured the feeling. Water was wonderful for enhancing touch. It was also wonderful for enhancing the feel of being touched, and his eyes were closed as he focused on what Lyn was doing."Like that, Kel?" she asked, grinning catlike, despite the fact he couldn't see."....yeah..," Keldor agreed. "Keep doing that."Obligingly, Lyn continued, but this time, she stood up on tiptoe a little just so she could begin nibbling and sucking at his earlobes. First one, then the other, and Keldor was soon feeling like jelly from the attention she was giving him."....fuck, Lyn..,""Oh, you want to do that now?" she teased, but somewhere in his fogged-by-lust brain, he knew she meant it. Especially when she wriggled her belly that was now fully pressed up against his dick. She'd probably have an imprint there by now, given how hard she was pressing against him. Lyn rubbed one of her legs against his. "No time like the present."Taking the hint, Keldor scooped Lyn up under her ass, then hoisted her into place so she could get into position.Hot water mixed with the feeling of hot, wet flesh was a delicious combination, Keldor thought, as he helped Lyn move up and down so neither would slip or fall. He even braced himself against the wall, sliding down and bending his knees a little so that Lyn could have more to sit on as she rode him. Or bounce and gyrate on, to be more exact.And now the reason why Lyn was so pressed up against him was because Keldor's grip around Lyn was tight enough to get her within range of his mouth, that was suckling at her throat while she had her head thrown back, gasping with pleasure. It wouldn't take her long before she was seeing stars, once he began massaging near the base of her spine. That was enough to get Lyn really moving, and, once again, Keldor put his vulgar vocabulary to good use; practically hollering out every profanity he knew when he came.A knock came at the door, and they both practically jumped."OCCUPIED!" Lyn shouted, as she turned her head in the direction of the sound, and the knocking stopped at once.Keldor had a look of bashful embarrassment at nearly getting caught in the act, but it was quickly replaced by a dopy grin.
This, he thought, before things resumed, was how mornings should start.
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"I'm glad to see you two in such good spirits after everything that's happened," Saeliza told Keldor and Lyn one morning after their rather vigorous making up. He'd said nothing to them about things like not having access to the bathroom; simply accepted it. His daughter and her lover were grown adults and these things were to be expected. It was this aspect of the mage that amazed Keldor; how easygoing Saeliza was. How much he took things in stride. How he just rolled with it.If only Keldor could say the same thing about his father...That thought made him frown a little into his breakfast. The holidays were coming up, and this would be the first one he'd spend without his parents.Not that his father ever really invited him over for things like Thanksgiving or Christmas, back when he was still running wild with his dodgy friends, or made to feel like his presence was all that welcomed before he went semi-feral. Only his stepmother made these things bearable, and to be honest, it was her Keldor was going to miss the most the closer the holidays got."You're awfully quiet, Keldor," Saeliza noted over his customary morning paper. "Is there something on your mind?"Lyn, hearing her father address Keldor, looked up to see what his answer might be. But all he did was mumble something at his eggs before saying "No" to Saeliza. She probably suspected that he wasn't being honest with the mage, but if Saeliza didn't press him for an answer she wouldn't. At least, not right away."Well, if anything ever does trouble you, you know you can talk to us about it.""Yeah," he mumbled again as he got up to take his plate and utensils to the kitchen to wash. "I know."But the thing was, when it came to discussing what bothered him, Keldor just wasn't very good at it. Partially because the only person who actually gave a damn about him during his entire life was his stepmother, and partially because he wasn't the sort of person who very much cared for heart-to-hearts. Even Amelia had difficulties getting Keldor to discuss his troubles with her—he much preferred a more physical method for dealing with his problems. But she was astute, and quickly learned that the best way to get her stepson to open up was to get him to engage in some sort of activity first. Usually something that involved hitting things, but they tended to work, and once he'd punched it out, he would end up crying it out to her.Looking back, it seemed to be one of those things that foreshadowed what Keldor would eventually become.Realising that the dishes were more than clean, Keldor dried then placed them back where they belonged before heading off to his room."Keldor?" Saeliza said to his back, and he turned to face the mage."Lyn has defence lessons tonight. Would you like to come along?""Sure," he said, though his tone didn't sound all that excited about it. "When?""After dinner. We're going to the sanctuary so that Lyn can learn offence now that she's mastered defence.""Okay.""You ... don't sound very enthusiastic. You're not having another quarrel are you?""No. No we're not. We're good."Sometimes... Sometimes Keldor wished Saeliza had a face. It would make judging his reactions easier. It would make it easier to read him.Still, he got the impression that maybe the mage was concerned for him. Had perhaps sensed his change in mood. Was waiting for Keldor to open up and tell him what was wrong."Are you going up to the roof today?""Maybe."It'd give him an opportunity for him to get out of the apartment and out of his head by spending the day prowling about in wolf form. But that was quickly losing its novelty. Wolves weren't meant to be confined to enclosed spaces. They needed room to stretch out and just run.He needed to run.Unbidden, memories from the last couple of weeks came back. Of Lyn defying orders and Keldor stupidly grabbing her and causing a Paradox to happen. As much as he wanted to run across open ground, it wouldn't do to pull a similar stunt like the one that had hurt Lyn. It wouldn't do to remind her of that."Well, whatever you intend to do today, make sure to wrap it up by dinner time." He headed towards the door. "I'll see you both later, when I'm done with my projects.And then he was out.Leaving Keldor alone with Lyn.Normally he'd jump at such a thing; taking advantage of the fact that he and Lyn wouldn't be interrupted for several hours to just ... enjoy ... each other. But his mind just wasn't in it, and Lyn could easily tell. You didn't spend time with another in the most intimate of fashions without learning how to decipher another's thoughts or moods, and Lyn was already perceptive as-is.Without a word he plopped himself down on the sofa (having decided to not spend time in his room), switched on the television, and proceeded to search through the channels for something that might be somewhat interesting enough to watch. Or he could just flick through the stations. That might do as well.Or not.There just wasn't much on at this time of day other than the usual mid-morning fare of talk shows where the hosts garbled about this thing or that, and if it wasn't that, it was some kind of house and home plop that never interested him—even the ones where the hosts waxed poetically about this power tool or that. As for the sports channels, they were still going on about last night's results, and, for all that he was a physical type [as Lyn would attest to], sports never were his thing. Among the line-up were a few children's shows, but with Lyn sitting and reading in an armchair nearby, he wasn't about to watch something he was clearly far too old for.He sighed. He could watch the twenty-four hour news stations talking about traffic congestion, some local tripe about a festival or some other event, or maybe whowever was currently wanted by the police and "here's the tip line if you have any information that could lead to an arrest".And throughout most of the stuff that was live was the usual trappings of festive decor to announce the upcoming holidays.Which just made his mood sour even more.He'd stopped caring about the holidays well before he hit his teenage years, and Miro's dislike for his own son made Keldor like them even less. Were it not for Amelia he'd have forgone ever even observing them save to make the usual tired commentary about how obnoxious it all was."Kel? Kel!""What, Lyn?" he growled."You're awfully quiet."First Saeliza. Now Lyn. Butting into his brooding time."So your father says," he snapped."Kel. Please don't take that tone with me.""I'll take whatever tone I like!" His voice was rising, and he could feel the now-familiar sensations of shapeshifting."Keldor. Is something bothering you?""No! Nothing is bothering me! Now stop asking!"Lyn was crying now. Not because of the tone he'd just taken, but because she sensed that, for all his protestations to the contrary, something was bothering him. Her heart was going out to him, and she clearly wished he'd just tell her what was wrong.Too bad there wasn't anything to hit in this place that could help him punch his way through his temper first.Getting up from the sofa after switching the television off, Keldor stormed off to his room. Not long after he'd closed the door, the sound of something bouncing against the wall could be heard. He might not be interested in sports, but he did have a few balls that he'd purchased not long ago for some reason he couldn't remember, and he was currently throwing one of them against the wall and catching it.Bonk.His father was dead.Bonk.So was his stepmother.Bonk.The only one in his whole family who cared about him.Bonk.The only one who seemed to want him around.Bonk.And he'd killed her the night of his First Change.Bonk.If he could go back in time... Go back to that awful night... He'd change... He'd change...He'd have his First Change somewhere else. Somewhere where Amelia wouldn't be. And then she would be alive and safe. She might never be able to understand what he'd become, but she'd be alive and safe.Bonk."Mom...," he whispered as the ball he'd been tossing flew back at him without getting caught. "Mom... I'm... I'm sorry... You loved me and I hurt you... And now I'm never going to see you again..."Hot tears ran down his face, and he was too caught up in his misery to bother stopping them.Keldor had killed the one person in his life who'd loved him as if he were her own. The one person who made his life bearable. The one person who wanted him around, especially during the important days of the year.Important days which were coming up. And she wouldn't be there to celebrate them with him.A soft tap at the door."Can I come in?""Yeah," Keldor croaked, his throat tight from his grief."Keldor..," Lyn said as she came in, "What's wrong? You stopped playing with your ball or whatever it was you were throwing at the wall just now."His mouth moved, but no sound came out.She was sitting next to him on the bed, now. Using the pad of her thumb to wipe his tears away."You're not the only one missing someone," she spoke softly. "My mother's gone, too."How did she know? Was it obvious?"I wasn't much more than a baby when my mother died. Father had tried to save her, but he couldn't. I don't remember her—I was too young to form memories of her—but I can tell that father loved her. Loves her still. And he misses her. Very much. He doesn't show it; he's always got his 'brave face' on, but I can tell. I can tell her death hurts him, even now. And I... I'm all he's got left in this world. The only thing of mother he still has.""But... But he seems so...""Cheerful?" Lyn shook her head. "Keldor, that's all an act. He seems cheerful and carefree to everyone else, but I know how he really feels. What he really thinks. And I know that if something happened to me he'd just give up entirely. Decide to stop living.""Why are you telling me this?""So you know you're not alone."Keldor looked away, more tears falling."I— I didn't know...""Keldor... It doesn't matter what you're going through, or have been through, because someone somewhere is going through it too, which means you're not going through it alone."He nodded, silent again. Lyn took this time to climb into his lap so that she could stroke his hair in order to comfort him."We're here for you; father and I. We're here for you."At that, he wrapped his arms tightly around Lyn and cried.
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"How are you feeling, Keldor?""Me?" Keldor looked up at Saeliza and his non-face. "I... I'm okay, I guess.""Lyn tells me you've been rather upset recently."Well shit. Lyn told her father about his recent blubber-fest over his stepmother's death. But... They discussed just about everything. Lyn and her dad. Of course they'd discuss this."Yeah," he said, tersely, not really wanting to discuss his feelings on this matter again. Keldor had discussed it once; he didn't want to talk about it again."Keldor," he began. "I do understand how you fe—""How I feel?" Keldor roared, rage pulsing in his veins. That hot, raw, pure anger that fuelled the Uratha. Already he was in Dalu form and moving into Gauru. Saeliza back up a step, knowing just how dangerous the war form was, not just for him but for Keldor as well. "How I feel? How would you know how I feel?"You could almost see steam coming from his nostrils. One wrong word on Saeliza's part could see his head sent rolling, before Keldor went on a tear."Losing a loved one hurts, Keldor. Especially when you know you can't help them. That nothing you could do could save them."Keldor growled. In Gauru he was limited in terms of human speech. But a growl was something that crossed all language barriers."I tried! I could! I threw everything I had at her to save her! But I couldn't! Much as I tried to, her life slipped out from my hands!"Saeliza looked like he desperately wanted to cry, but could not. Because he did."I was young! Thought that I could do anything! When Maligna took ill I thought saving her would be easy! I could control reality itself, I'd thought! What couldn't I do to save her? If I wanted to, I could make it vanish with a thought!"Keldor tilted his head to one side, listening."Everything I knew, I threw at her. Despite the fact that she was a Sleeper. Despite the fact that what I was doing was against our laws! I didn't care! I could do anything! Could try anything! And I tried! By God, I tried! But I hadn't counted on the fact that some things can't be undone with a spell. And that there are things in this world and others that are stronger than what some young, desperate man can overcome."Now Keldor was sitting, in a doglike fashion."Paradox. You know what that is. Doing what is improbable to those unawakened to reality. The harder I tried, the harder it became to cast spells. But I was young and I believed I could do it. Could overcome Disbelief itself."He hung his faceless head in defeat for a second time."When I came to, Maligna was gone. And so was..."Keldor felt himself shrink as he saw Saeliza's body shake. He whined, deep in his throat, for he was now going into Urhan, not to human.Pale fingers threaded their way through his glossy black fur as Keldor looked up to see Saeliza leaning in over him."It's not your fault it happened. It's no one's fault. Some things are just beyond a person's control."Again he whined. Saeliza had been carrying this burden of guilt for years. Carried it without any complaint. Without anyone knowing how he felt or even what he'd been through, other than Lyn and now, Keldor.Instinctively, he placed a paw onto Saeliza's foot, and the mage knelt down so that Keldor could tuck his lupine head into the crook of the mage's neck so that he could offer comfort."It's okay. It's all going to be okay. You have friends now who understand."In response, Keldor howled mournfully.For both of them, and for the ones they lost.
*******
"What do you mean, 'what proof do I have'?" Randor snapped as he was finishing up giving his evidence regarding his theory about the currently-unidentified werewolf that he was obsessed with learning more about and revealing who he was. He slammed down the folder that contained not just the intel, but his theory, onto the desk angrily. "All the proof I have is right here!""We don't dispute that you have proof in your hand, Randor. What we do dispute is that you can't back it up with data from our records.""Come again?" Randor scowled. "I don't get it."Thomas, the man Randor was talking to, leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled."You can't back it up, Randor, because the data isn't there anymore. It's gone. Wiped clean. All of it."Randor was stunned."How?""Someone or something hacked into our database and wiped out all the information we have regarding both Miss Powers and Mister Powers.""Who?""We have a pretty good idea who." Thomas grinned. "Nicolas is rather protective of his child and has every reason to erase anything that would endanger her and her safety. Naturally, since he must know that we now know about her and are building up a file on her, he'd want to make sure to neutralise any threat our compact might present. Including erasing several dossiers.""How many?""Enough to make it look like he wasn't behind any of it. Which just incriminates Nicolas even more.""Do we have any backups?""Of course. But we need to get in touch with whoever has the copies, and he's currently unavailable.""Which means...""...that until he becomes available, we can't authorise your little project."Randor was angry now, and had his mouth open to shout something at the man who was his superior in the compact."Officially."That shut him up."'Officially'?""What you do for our compact unofficially, Randor, can still be of use. In fact, I am unofficially sanctioning your project. Because I believe that the intel you can gather in an unofficial capacity will be of great benefit to us."
Thomas was quiet for a moment to let it sink in.
"Your enthusiasm for the calling; for the vigil; is impressive. Which is why I am permitting you to carry this project out. So long as what you do is unsanctioned, you're free to do whatever you want to or need to to not only find out more about this werewolf, but you could also gather more intel on both Nicolas and Evelyn Powers than could be gathered officially."
"You're still greenlighting this?"
"Unofficially."
Randor couldn't help but smile at this.
"Do note, Randor; if word gets out that you're proceeding without authorisation—"
"—you'll deny everything."
"Naturally."
His smile broadened.
"You can start right away."
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Contrary to what he might've expected after having a heart-to-heart with both Lyn and Saeliza about the deaths of her mother and his stepmother, Keldor was feeling pretty good, despite the subject.Almost light and easy; like a weight had just been lifted from him, now that he'd finally gotten it out of his system.It didn't make the upcoming holidays something he was more willing to anticipate, but at least the pall of Amelia's death wasn't darkening his mood any more. And it made his company during Lyn's lessons on offensive magics much more enjoyable, now that he wasn't distracted. He could watch Lyn as her father and two other mages from the cabal taught her what she needed to know. Keldor even watched as they taught her how to cast offensive spells that might otherwise seem too improbable and thus be considered "vulgar", Paradox-creating magic in a discreet way, so as to not make it look too out of the ordinary.By the end of the week, Saeliza deemed that Lyn was sufficiently practised enough with both offence and defence that the prohibition on her and Keldor remaining apartment-bound was lifted.Her squeal of delight almost made him want to do the same.Instead, he'd treated her to an extra-long marathon of lovemaking that didn't end until dawn's light began to peek through her bedroom window."Much better than being taken out to dinner," she'd said coyly, stretching like a cat once they'd woken up later that morning. Keldor had responded by taking her there and then, much to her delight. Turns out that Keldor enjoyed the act of making love nearly as much as she did, and she made sure to tell him so once she was able to form coherent sentences again."Finally. I have a man who can actually keep up with me!"He'd asked which part of him was most good at "keeping up", and was playfully swatted at with a pillow as Lyn laughed.Really, it was nice to see the two happy again; as if there were no troubles on the horizon. As if the events from nearly two months ago never happened.Two young lovers. Happy. Content.Walking hand-in-hand one night as snow fell lightly upon them. As if they were just ordinary people out amongst other ordinary people.They certainly felt ordinary in that moment.Normal."Oooh, it sure is cold out tonight.""Hmm. Doesn't quite feel that way to me."One of Keldor's recent discoveries about being a werewolf was that he didn't seem to mind things like the cold all that much. Yes, he still felt it, but to him it didn't feel quite as chilly to him as it did to Lyn."You're lucky," she noted. "I should've worn something heavier."Keldor quickly looked about them, then, in a whisper, said, "You could use a warming spell?""Don't know any yet. And after the Paradox, I'm not really keen on doing magic in public if I can help it."He felt a little guilty at that. He had played a significant role in causing it, and hadn't quite forgiven himself even if Lyn had."Maybe we could go inside one of the shops? Get a hot drink? I'll buy.""Ohhh you're so sweet," Lyn said, snuggling against him now, which made him feel rather warm. "How about this one?"It was a little bistro that neither of them had been to before, but looked inviting enough to try. There also wasn't very many people inside at this time, since it was past dinner, and most of the customers who ate it here had already left. It wasn't like some pub or bar, where things would just be getting started, especially now that the seasons for hockey and basketball were well underway.The doorbell tinkled overhead as the pair entered, made their way over to a table, and sat themselves down, as one of the staff looked up.Then gave them a scrutinising look before coming over."What would you like to eat," the lady asked, looking at Lyn like she knew her from somewhere. Lyn, though, didn't appear to recognise the waitress at all, and simply smiled politely at her."We're just here for a drink," Keldor said, feeling his protective instincts surge a little, which baffled him. What could possibly be the reason for that? His mate was in no danger with him around, and besides. Lyn could defend herself sufficiently if trouble started. "Something warm, perhaps?""We've got some flavoured coffees if you'd like that.""I'd love it!" Lyn said eagerly."And you?""No coffee.""Cocoa? We got some real nice French cocoa going.""No cocoa."It made him feel sad that cocoa was something he couldn't have anymore. Like caffeine chocolate did funny things to him whenever he'd ingested it."What about tea?""Sure, if it's decaff."The waitress gave him a look like he was some kind of heretic for drinking tea without caffeine in it, but said nothing; just scribbled down his order."What flavour of coffee would you like, dear?""Hmmmmm... Something seasonally appropriate?""Apple pie, cinnamon spice blend, peppermint.""Oooo peppermint sounds good!"More scribbling."Just give us a few minutes to get it ready for you two."Then she left, leaving Keldor feeling even more uneasy than when she'd approached them.Perceptive as always, Lyn noted the change in his body language."Kel? What's wrong?""I— I don't know. That woman. I— I think—"The bell tingled again, and the very last person Keldor ever wanted to see again in his life walked in with his girlfriend hanging off his arm and giggling."Shit. Damn. Lyn, we need to get outta here.""But why? We just got here."Keldor flicked his gaze to indicate she should look behind her."I'm sorry, but I still don't—" she began, after having taken a look."It's my brother," he hissed."Your— Oh."Lyn looked like a stiff winter breeze had just blown in. She certainly understood the gravity of their situation. Despite never having met Keldor's half-brother before, she did know that, if he knew who was sitting just feet away from him, would have every cop in the city descending upon Keldor before he could get very far.So far it looked as though neither Randor nor Marlena had noticed them. They were too busy noticing each other for them to know who else was in the shop with them."We need to—""Your drinks," the waitress said, placing them onto the table.Damn. So much for slipping out. Now, if they tried to leave, they'd have to deal with the fact that they'd bought something without paying for it. And he didn't want that."Drink as quickly as you can," Keldor instructed quietly, praying that there was a friendly spirit in the area who might be willing to help him out in his time of need.Or, friendly enough, given that spirits tended to not like the Uratha very much."Hey there, you two," the waitress said as she turned and finally saw one of Keldor's least-favourite relatives in her establishment. "Oh, I so love it when you two drop in! What'll you be having?""The usual, Beth!" Marlena chirped."Right then. Be back in a few.""How are we going to get out of this?" Lyn's voice was a whisper. A rather squeaky whisper."Divine intervention?" Keldor whispered back.A chair scraped, and the two nearly jumped out of their skins.It was Marlena, getting up to head towards the bathroom, leaving Randor temporarily alone.Not for long, though. Beth was making her way over while Marlena was gone."Can I talk to you?" she asked him quietly. So quietly that the only person who could hear her was Randor and his now super-sensory half-brother."Yeah, sure Beth. What's up?""You heard about the data breach?""Yeah. Several files were erased."Data breach? What were they talking about?Keldor listened in, straining his hearing to catch every word."The guys at the top are furious about it.""I know.""They think that someone managed to hack their way in. Magically, according to the Banishers.""Yeah. Thomas told me about it. He thinks that that mage Nicolas is responsible."That caused Keldor to take a huge gulp of the hot liquid, which scalded his mouth and set him to coughing.Randor turned around to look at the man he didn't recognise as his own brother."You okay there, bud—"He stopped. Eyes now wide in recognition of Lyn."Hey! I know you! You're that freak's daughter!"Randor was already getting up just as Marlena came back."What's going on?""Lyn! Lyn, run! Run now!""NO YOU DON'T!"Keldor moved to put himself between Lyn and his brother so she could make a break for the door."I don't know who you are but get out of the way!""Leave her alone!"He was growling now, and the lights in the bistro were being reflected in Keldor's gaze in the form of eyeshine."What...? No..."Randor went for his gun. Keldor went for Dalu."Leave! Alone!"
*******
Lyn was no sooner out of the bistro than she heard the sound of gunfire, a woman's scream, and a bestial cry of pain."KELDOR!" she shouted reflexively, as her lover came staggering out, bleeding, with his brother at his heel."You're both freaks! Both of you!"Lyn watched as Keldor decided to show his sibling just what a freak he actually was, when he went for the war form.She'd seen it once before, back when Jake had tried to grab her. Saeliza had told her about it afterwards. That it was the most dangerous form for an Uratha, and not just because it was the most lethal of their five forms.Kuruth.That was the word the Uratha used. Saeliza said it meant "death rage". Meaning that Keldor could go into a complete killing frenzy and slaughter anyone around him—including loved ones. The longer he stayed in Gauru, the more he risked kuruth.She had to do something, and fast. If Randor wasn't reacting to the sight of Keldor in gauru like every other person did or would, then it meant he had some immunity to it. Some way to not dissolve into a whimpering, crying mess.Maybe he was like Jake. One of those hunters her father told her about.If he was then that gun would be loaded with silver.A gun aimed at Keldor's heart.She went for Randor just as he pulled the trigger, grabbing his hand and took the opportunity to use her magic to protect Keldor. His aim went wrong, right before the gun went flying out of his hand.Unfortunately, he'd managed to get Keldor. Not in anything vital, but Keldor was no doubt in agony now."Kel... Kel, please..," she pleaded. "Change back. I'll get us home.""What did you call him?""We gotta go!"Somehow he managed to hear her. Somehow he managed to change back. But in the changing he'd lost the concentration he used to keep the illusion Saeliza had cast on him to disguise himself.Only for a second, but long enough."No.... No! NO!"It was Lyn's turn to give Keldor the instruction to run, and he did.To leave her to fend off Randor just long enough to buy Keldor time to get away before she, too, fled.
And the evening was going so well, too....
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
"I must say, I am certainly impressed with you two. It only took you, what, three days to get into trouble? Again."It was the next day, and Lyn and Keldor were both once again face-to-no-face with Saeliza, and having to give an account of what had happened the night before."Father!""It was purely coincidence! Neither of us knew that Randor would be there too," Keldor protested. "If I'd known, we wouldn't have gone!"Saeliza just sighed. He'd only just managed to teach Lyn how to protect herself, and already there was a new thing to worry about.Randor. Keldor's half-brother.Of all the things he expected, Randor being associated with the city's hunter compact had to be among the things he expected the least.It also made things more complicated. Anything to do with relatives tended to be complicated. And this was Keldor's relative. Which had to be bothering him quite a lot. Based on what little he'd been told about Miro's younger son, the two had never really gotten along. Keldor was older yet more inclined towards getting into trouble, while the younger Randor was very much about abiding by the rules and being something of an exemplar.Naturally their relationship would be strained because they just didn't see eye to eye in the past, and now that Keldor had become a werewolf and Randor a hunter, they were enemies. Randor's new job was to protect humanity from all kinds of supernatural threats, and a werewolf certainly fell into that category.And the worst part of it was that this wasn't something he or any other mage could really do anything about. Keldor was Uratha, and this was a matter best left to others of his kind.It saddened him, knowing there wasn't much he could help with here.Even the spell he'd cast on Keldor had failed, according to Lyn. For a moment, it had slipped, and Randor had seen past the disguise.He'd been upset about that, but Keldor had told him that he must have dropped his concentration when he shifted back to human form."It won't work if you don't remember to keep it in the back of your mind," he'd said last night whilst helping to remove the bullets so Keldor could heal."I'm sorry, but being shot with silver tends to get in the way of that," Keldor had snapped back.That shut him up."I can always adjust the spell," he offered again, but Keldor didn't seem to be too eager to take him up on it."I guess I kinda knew that I'd be found out at some point. Just didn't expect Randor of all people to be the one to do it."Keldor sounded like a condemned man. Or a man who was about to enter a fight he couldn't avoid."I know that this isn't going to be easy to deal with, and it's not something either Lyn or myself could ever really understand, since neither of us have any relatives other than each other, but you know you can still talk to us about it. We'd still listen."The young werewolf just looked at his feet. What must he be thinking? Certainly it must feel like a betrayal; having your own family pledging to destroy people like yourself. As well as those you love.He had a difficult road ahead of him.He might even be forced to do things he never wanted to do, but would, to keep his loved ones safe from harm.Lyn gave his hand a squeeze."You don't need to make any decisions now about what you should do, Kel, but we'll support you. I'll support you."He nodded."First thing I'm gonna do is find Sophie. I'm gonna need to talk to her and her pack about this.""She'll probably ask you if you've decided on things like tribe yet," Saeliza pointed out. So far, the other Uratha had given Keldor ample time to make such an important decision as tribal affiliation, knowing it wasn't something that was done lightly. "Keep that in mind."Another nod."I know I'm not a werewolf, and mages don't have tribes," Lyn began, "But I could still help you with that. Everyone wants to belong, no matter what they are.""Yeah, I... Yeah. Okay.""We're here for you, son. Always."
*******
Marlena had not been having a good time of it ever since the confrontation with the mystery wolf who had turned out to be his own brother in disguise.It figured. Saeliza would want to help Keldor escape justice for the crimes of murdering their parents, especially since he had to be fucking the mage's only child and daughter. Randor shuddered with revulsion at that thought.Nicholas Powers would love that kind of thing, given what he did for a living; acting as a kind of liaison between the different freak populations that infested this place. A union like that could strengthen ties between two of the city's supernatural peoples. Might even get one hell of a brat out of it too if they managed to successfully spawn. Imagine the bragging rights a mage-werewolf baby would get him! It'd make him utterly insufferable during meetings with his cabal, no doubts about that.Saeliza would enjoy it. Randor would have to deal with the inevitable ribbing he'd get for being the uncle of such an unholy creation as that. They'd all know, and he'd never live it down.Except, perhaps for Duncan. Duncan at least Randor could count on to not take every opportunity to take the piss out of his friends. A good man, that Duncan. A real comrade-in-arms."How are you feeling?" he asked his girlfriend as he sat down next to her to comfort her. Ever since she'd seen Keldor in Gauru she'd been having nightmares and had at one point required medical intervention to help with a nasty panic attack.It helped that the hunters had people in just about every occupation that mattered. They were able to help calm her down in her time of distress."Okay, I suppose. Still having those dreams."Randor slipped his arm around her carefully before he gave her a hug. The nightmares had made her jumpy, and even the smallest of things could have her in a real state if one wasn't careful. But she accepted the comfort he gave her and leaned in.He made her feel safe. He made her feel protected.Things it was a hunter's job to do."You have Kelly's number if you're ever feeling panicky," he reminded her.What a shame that Marlena was this close to being an absolute basket case after experiencing what both hunters and the Uratha knew as Lunacy. It made him want to put a silver slug into every werewolf in the world. Starting with Keldor."I know. And I'm grateful that I can talk to her. She really seems to understand what I'm going through."Of course she would. She's one of us, he wanted to say, but there was no way that she'd ever really understand. Most people didn't. It was why hunters were so few in number. People had enough trouble as it was understanding regular weirdness in their lives. Understanding the impossible-to-comprehend was beyond their capacity to cope.Encountering that left many people a quivering shell of their former selves, and Randor was doing everything possible—used all the pull he'd managed to accumulate in such a short time—to prevent that from happening to the woman he wanted to make his wife.The woman he'd taken to the bistro Beth worked at to propose to her.Keldor deserved two more bullets just for that.Get rid of one more werewolf so Marlena could sleep safely at night."Will you be hanging out with your friends tonight?" she asked him, fear creeping into her voice."Not unless they need me for something important. Until you're better again, I'm staying here with you.""Thank you, Randor." Marlena snuggled against him. "You're a good man."Something this world is in such short supply of, he noted, keeping his potential fiancee company until it was time to go to bed. But I intend to ensure that there's enough in this world to keep you and the rest of humanity safe from every predator that prowls in it.He glared out at the window into the night sky beyond it.I, Randor, son of Miro and Amelia, swear to it.
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Nine days after the incident at the bistro that Beth worked at and Marlena had seen something humanity wasn't meant to see, Randor was at what passed for headquarters for the city's hunter compact. He and Duncan were busy discussing something Randor needed."Really. It's quite simple. If Keldor's using magic to disguise himself, then what we need is for him to drop the disguise long enough to get the evidence we need.""Yes, but this involves magic. I work with gadgets. Machines. Technology. That sort of thing." He scratched at his moustache idly. "Isn't this something for the Banishers to work on?""I've already consulted them, and they're working on something as we speak.""Then what do you need me for?""I need you to be there to help me gather evidence, and to act as backup in case Keldor decides to get hairy.""Okay, I could help with that—""Great!"—I wasn't finished.""Sorry.""Anyways, I could help with that, but if I'm helping you with this, I'd like to be sure that we will get the proof we need.""What're you getting at?""You say you saw the mystery wolf briefly drop his disguise and revealed himself to be your brother—""Don't. Ever. Call him that. He's not my brother. Not anymore!"Randor's voice raised with every syllable he spoke until he was near-to-shouting."Okay. Okay! I won't!""Good.""Anyways, you say you saw him drop the ruse for a moment. It was at night when it happened. The lighting could've made it look like he'd dropped it for a moment, but in actuality, didn't.""I know what I saw!""You're real keen on bringing Keldor in to face justice—""You've got that right..," Randor muttered darkly."—but we need to be sure we've got the right guy."Duncan got a look of incredulity from Randor. His mouth was hanging open for several seconds before he closed it, then glared at his friend."Why do you think I'm asking you and the Banishers for help with this? You think it hadn't occurred to me that I might be mistaken in all of this?"Duncan looked taken aback for a moment, realising how uncharacteristically dumb he'd sounded just then."Look, man; I'm sorry, alright? I'm just going over proceedure. I've also got a lot to do, especially with the whole Trydor thing. He's been unusually quiet as of late, and that never bodes anything good.""Yeah. Well. Hopefully the next time we have to deal with him it won't involve us running for our lives."Neither Randor or Duncan had forgotten that night when they were carrying out a kind of stake-out at Trydor's lab. They'd been discovered, and had nearly been caught by the men who were supposed to be delivering something to the blind scientist. It had been a close call for them both and neither were too keen on going back so soon after their near-capture by the delivery goons.If they went back they intended to bring with them everything they could get to defend themselves, because they knew that dealing with Trydor never meant dealing with just Trydor. He had allies. Powerful, unnatural allies. And they'd love to get their paws or claws or whatever appendages they had on the hunters who threatened their asset.Those thoughts had them quiet for a minute or two, as they were both thinking the same things."Anyways..."The uncomfortable silence was broken again."Okay. You've got the Banishers working on something. What is it that I'm supposed to do, other than record or provide you with support if things get violent?""I need you to help me find the guy I'm looking for, first. Find some way to track him down so we can catch him, get him to drop the disguise long enough for you to record it, then maybe bring him in and put him down.""Wow you've really thought this one through, Randor.""Don't give me your sarcasm, Duncan.""Look. I know I deal with gizmos and shit, but tracking someone down is for intel.""I can't go to intel for this."Randor got a scrutinising look."You don't have authorisation to do this, do you?""Oh you've found me out. So are you gonna help me or not?""You're gonna get me into trouble if I help you out.""Only if it all goes sideways. If it doesn't we'll soon have Keldor in custody and a silver bullet put somewhere he can't heal from, and then I can move on with my life and marry Marlena knowing I don't have his existence casting a hairy shadow over it anymore."Quiet again for a moment."Right. I'll do what I can to help you track him down. Keep in mind that this ain't my specialty here, so it might take a little longer than usual. But I'll help.""Thanks, man. You're a real pal.""Hey. What're friends for, eh?"A pat on the back."So. You also think he's doing Nicholas' daughter. You want me to get proof of that, too?""DUNCAN!"
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"Nu bath githul, Keldor," Sophie Autumn's-Howl said with a sigh. She really didn't sound too pleased to hear about what had just recently happened at the bistro, even if it did yield useful news about a previously-unknown hunter's identity.Keldor stared at a spot on the wall away from Sophie. He was back in the old abandoned textile mill that now served as a kind of neutral ground for the city's werewolf packs. A place he'd never thought he'd ever see the inside of again."Yeah, I know," he mumbled, not looking up to make eye contact."What did she say?" Lyn asked. She was seated next to Keldor at the thrift shop table and chairs, her father to her right. "What do those words mean?""Lyn, please," Saeliza interjected as his daughter's cheeks went pink from embarrassment. "Don't interrupt."The alpha of the Burned Oak pack went on as if she hadn't heard Lyn's question."I suppose it was only a matter of time," Sophie began, tone somewhat resigned. "It couldn't last forever.""What couldn't last?" Keldor wondered."You can't go on without tribe or pack forever, Keldor. Or at least, without making a decision about it."She was quiet for a moment."It's rather unusual for a newly-changed werewolf to wait so long; to put such things off for so long.""I don't understand," he started, then added, "You're not gonna make me, are you?""No. No one's going to make you do anything.""So why are you telling me that we don't normally put off things like this?""Keldor, your First Change was quite high-profile. One of the most high-profile this city—if not this state—has ever seen. Miro and Amelia weren't some nobodies most people wouldn't care about, like some random stranger is. They were notable members of the community and therefore very well-known. And their deaths would certainly be commented on, and they have. As their son and the prime suspect in their slayings, you needed time to not just adjust to a new reality but also to find a way to keep your head down and lie low for a while. We gave you that time, but now it seems like it's running out. And so you need to make a decision regarding what your future is going to be.""You said you weren't gonna make me!" Keldor exclaimed."We're not. That is, we're not going to make your choice for you. We're not going to tell you which tribe you feel you best belong in and therefore should join, nor are we going to assign you to a pack. These sorts of things you must figure out on your own. But you need to make a decision soon. Your life just might depend on it.""I can handle Randor!" Keldor shouted, his voice echoing off the steel-and-concrete walls. "I've handled him since we were little!""Randor you might be able to take on, one-on-one," Sophie pointed out, "But your brother is a hunter and part of this city's compact. Can you handle what might be twenty or more hunters at one time? By yourself?"He was quiet then. She did have a point.It was Lyn, though, who spoke next."Remember what I said. If you want help deciding on where you feel you most belong, I'd be willing to help you.""This isn't something a mage can help with," Sophie started, but was cut off."Belonging isn't something only some people understand, Sophie. Just because I'm not Uratha doesn't mean I don't understand wanting to belong.""Mages don't have tribes.""No. We have orders," Saeliza agreed. "But tribe or order we all want to feel like we're a part of something. The words are different, as is some of their meaning, but at the end of the day they're groups and provide our peoples with that which makes us feel like we belong to something; that we're not alone in this world, strange as it is when we first learn the truth about it."Now it was Sophie's turn to be quiet. Clearly she was giving the offer some thought. Keldor and Lyn both had anxious, anticipatory expressions on their faces as they awaited her verdict."Well..," she began at last, drawing the word out. "I suppose it wouldn't hurt to get help from someone not of the People..."Excited expressions from the young couple now."But please, please do not dawdle in making your decision, Keldor. If your brother's a hunter, and if Saeliza's right that he might've caught a glimpse of you with your mask off, then time is a luxury you can only barely afford. The longer you wait, the more time Randor has to find some friends from the compact, get together, and start tracking you down. And if you're lucky, you'll just be killed when they catch you."Fearful expressions now. Something about what Sophie said made them wonder if the hunters did more than just kill their targets, what those other things they might do were, and how to stay out of their clutches so as to avoid getting the answers to their questions.Lyn and Keldor exchanged frightened glances. Sophie might not've said it, but they were both in danger. They were known to be a couple by now, and catching one meant you'd force the other to come out of hiding in order to save their lover from God-only-knew-what horrors the hunters had waiting for them."We'll get to work straight away." Lyn's voice was tiny and squeaky."Please do. I don't want to see anything bad happen to either of you.""Well it seems we're done here," Saeliza noted, causing his daughter and her lover to jump in surprise; like they'd momentarily forgotten he was there. "Lyn? Keldor? Let's get back to the apartment.""I— Yes father.""Of course.""You don't have much time!" Sophie reminded as the three got up from the table to head towards the door. "So don't waste it!"The trio left, with two of them feeling a growing terror in their hearts.Saeliza's mood was, like his face, unreadable...
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"So what exactly are your options?" Lyn asked Keldor the following night.As usual, they were in the apartment. As usual they were in Lyn's room. But not for the "as usual" reasons."Well, there's five tribes," Keldor began. "But there are more options than that.""Oh?""There's the Pure and the ghost wolves," he explained. "But the Pure are our enemies, and the ghost wolves aren't really a tribe; just a catch-all category for werewolves who, for whatever reason, don't belong to a tribe on either side.""What do you mean? Why?""According to Sophie and Odi, some people don't take too well to finding out what they really are, and there's a lot of them amongst the ghost wolves."Lyn nodded."Yeah. Mages have got people like that. Father's mentioned them before. Banishers.""Right. Not everyone who becomes something other than human enjoys their discovery. They like what they used to be a lot more than what they are now. Or they just can't handle it. Just don't like the idea of being some kind of horror movie monster.""Sort of like that one guy in that old movie. The Matrix? That guy. The one who didn't want to be in the real world anymore.""Bit like that, yeah. Reality's too much for them. They want to go back to living a lie because the lie's more comfortable to them. And safer. Or something."Lyn hugged the pillow she was holding. She was clearly thinking about how her life had changed within the past year; how becoming a mage had altered her understanding of the world. It hadn't been easy for her, and she'd told Keldor as much not long after they'd first met. How she'd thought she was losing her mind.She wasn't losing her mind, but others around her thought she was. Like the hunter who used to be her boyfriend.Jake.He growled softly. Jake was one of those people who'd do all manner of ungodly things to people like himself or Lyn or Saeliza.They didn't deserve that sort of thing, and Keldor swore that he'd die first before anyone harmed the people who'd become family to him."Keldor?""Huh?""I was wondering if you'd tell me more about the tribes.""Oh. Right. Well, as I said, there's five in all. Storm Lords, Bone Shadows, Hunters in Darkness, Blood Talons and Iron Masters. What unites each one is a kind of philosophy of sorts. A mindset or life approach or ... something along those lines. It dictates things like the role you'll play in Uratha society. Tells others a bit about what kind of person you are. People know what to expect when you tell them you're a Bone Shadow, or what sorts of thoughts a Blood Talon will have on a given topic. It's not absolute, of course. Some people will deviate a little from their tribe on one thing or another, but all Storm Lords will have more in common with each other than not.""So which one do you think suits you best?""I don't really know, other than that I know I'm not Blood Talon or Storm Lord material, and I don't feel like the Bone Shadows and I have much in common.""What, exactly, do these tribes ... represent?"Lyn had paused for a moment between the last two words, as she tried to find the right one to describe their qualities.Now it was Keldor's turn to be silent, as he thought it over."Okay, so basically the first one's a tribe built around being a warrior and the honour that brings you. The Storm Lords are also about honour, but that honour comes from being an exemplary leader, and to be a leader one can't have any weaknesses, because they feel leaders shouldn't have any. As for the last, the Bone Shadows are people who spend their time being all spiritual and stuff, studying spirits and things like it. And one thing I know is I'm no warrior, a leader or someone who believes in things like ghosts and shit."The way he said it made Lyn's expression become equal parts hurt and insulted and reassuring him that he was being too hard on himself."Look, Lyn, I'm not," he said angrily. "I don't have the things they're looking for in a new recruit.""How would you know?" she asked softly. "Have you ever tried?""Lyn, I don't want to do something so stupid it'd get me killed while I try to earn some Uratha merit badges, I couldn't lead my own shadow, and if it wasn't for the fact that now that I'm a werewolf and have to deal with spirits among other things, I'd think anyone who believed in stuff like tarot cards was nuts."Now Lyn was really hurt and insulted, and Keldor could see that it took every ounce of willpower she had to not tell him off before kicking him out of her room for the rest of the day and maybe keep him out of it for several more. He wasn't trying to upset or ridicule her; he was just explaining how he used to see things. That he still had some hurdles to overcome as part of his new life.Several calming breaths later, Lyn decided to focus on what Keldor considered "spiritual stuff"."How would you know if it's not for you if you've never tried it? I mean, have you ever even done something as simple as meditate?""What? You mean sit cross-legged and go 'Ommmmmmmm' all day? No. Why?""You've already decided to not become a glory hound or a kind of pillar of the community, but working with things like spirits isn't as strange as you think it is. I mean, I still do, and you don't think I'm weird."Keldor didn't dare to insist that he still thought these things were weird and crazy."Look. Before you write off an entire group of werewolves because of what they do, why not try and see if you really don't have the aptitude for it first?""Lyn I'm not gonna read your cards!"Lyn just huffed, trying to calm herself again."Keldor! Holding a deck of cards won't hurt you! It's paper, not silver!"Her response was a mutinous look in return."C'mon, lover! At least try? I'll let you pick whichever one you like.""This is stupid...""Contrary to what you think, it's not stupid and it might actually help you!""Werewolves don't do card reading!""Just! Try! It!"Whoa. Where did that come from? Lyn could be scary when she wanted to be, or when she was in no mood to take 'no' for an answer."Several minutes passed before he finally said "Fine" and got up from the chair he'd been sitting in. Seeing that she'd gotten her way, Lyn hopped off the bed and crossed the room to her bookshelf where she kept all of her cards and assorted "spiritual stuff"."Don't overthink this," she told him as he put on his most hardcore skeptic expression as a last act of defiance. "Just go with what your instincts tell you to go with.""Yeah yeah...""Keldor...""I'm doing it, okay?" he grumbled, then muttered, "...can't believe I'm doing this..."Thankfully, Lyn didn't respond to that. She just let him go through her collection until he found the one he liked best."This isn't gonna work, Lyn. I'm not a Bone Shadow!""Or maybe you are and don't know it because you haven't tried to tap into your potential out of fear someone'll call you insane."Something Lyn herself had been called almost a year ago now, when she thought she was losing her grip on her sanity while the world tumbled around her."And if you do have potential, it means we might be able to work together as a pair."Hilariously, that caused him to blush, then try to hide his face behind his hair to avoid having it commented on.They already worked as a pair; just, not in the way Lyn was implying."Okay, I've got my cards," he growled, once his blush receded enough. "What do I do next?""Let's go sit at my desk.""What?""You're going to be shuffling the cards then laying them out. It helps to have a flat surface to do that with and the floor's not always comfortable for that sort of thing."All he did was roll his eyes when her back was turned. He wouldn't be worrying about it at all if he wasn't going to be reading a bunch of cards. He might even be doing something else instead. Something way more fun and enjoyable.Too bad he was close to not getting to do that sort of thing after grousing about the subject of Lyn's cards. Lyn might've forgiven him, but it was a "mostly", and thus "completely". He'd be sleeping alone tonight once he was done here."So. Hopefully you'll have shuffled other kinds of cards and thus you don't need me to tell you how to do it?"If he didn't know Lyn as well as he did he'd have missed her sarcasm.His initial reply was to open the carton the cards were kept in to slide them out."Of course I do," he grumbled. He'd played cards with his friends in low places many times before."Good."She meant, "Then start shuffling". Of course.All he did was mouth something before he began.Shuffling tarot cards wasn't any different to shuffling regular cards, save for the shape of them, as well as the fact that there were more of the former to shuffle than the latter, and his hands were obviously not used to it. More than once a card jumped out, and Lyn couldn't resist pointing out that jumper cards usually meant an important message."Set them aside for now," she started, then explained, "You don't normally do that with jumpers—you read them right away, but since you've never done this before we'll make an exception."More skeptical noises from Keldor. This wasn't how he'd expected to be spending his day."Right. They should be well and truly shuffled now. So what you'll be doing first is looking at the cards that jumped out, seeing as they're the ones with the important, urgent messages.""Of course."As Lyn proceeded to instruct him, he turned the jumpers over one by one."Anything coming to you?" Lyn inquired. "Does anything stand out to you?""Yes. They're telling me that I'm a massive idiot for doing this."The punch he got in reply was only half joking."Keldor... Just try?"But examining them again didn't really help him all that much, and after a few more minutes, he was ready to give up."Look. I don't really think this is the sort of thing Bone Shadows even do. They deal with actual mysticism, not silly things like crystals and cards.""Keldor," Lyn said sharply. Her patience with him was wearing thin. "I am trying to help you! The least you could do is to stop being so difficult!""This isn't really my—""Spirits can speak to us through many different avenues," she began. "Most people tend to write this off as nonsense or just a pleasant form of entertainment or diversion, but I've found that things like card reading to have been very informative. I've learned things. Gotten good advice. You could, too, if you'd just open your mind.""I've already had my mind opened the night I changed for the first time and killed my parents!""Now open it further! Look at the cards. Look at the imagery, and just let them tell you what they want to say."Nothing came, though. All he felt was frustration, and when he got frustrated that usually meant things like reflexive shifting or shouting or hitting things. Lyn noticed and told him to just try and take calming breaths before he tried again. He did, but the pictures didn't really make much sense to him, and once again he was ready to throw up his hands and declare defeat.Lyn, though, chose to help him by fetching the accompanying book that helped beginners learn the meanings of the cards."Keep in mind that what's written here is standard interpretations. Different decks have different imagery that the artists felt best suited the basic meanings, and more often than not imagery choice affects a card's meaning. Depending on how it's drawn, the Fool card can mean slightly different things from deck to deck."Keldor didn't snap back by saying that he didn't need a card to feel like a fool as Lyn moved her chair around so as to be able to sit next to Keldor."But right now I figure that it might be easier if I helped to point things out."Leaning in slightly, Lyn got a good look at what Keldor had laid out on the table and began to frown."Oh. Oh dear. This doesn't look good at all...," she began commenting, mostly to herself."You've got that right," he began, but was cut off."They're trying to warn you, Keldor. Something bad is coming.""Something bad always comes!"He was ignored."Keldor, I think you're in danger—"Unfortunately, before Lyn could explain what it was the cards were warning them about, Keldor's temper finally boiled over and in his fury sent them all scattering while Lyn cried out in despair."No! I was so close to making it out, too!" Then she whirled around to see Keldor looking slightly shaggier and taller than usual. Tears were in her eyes, but they were tears of anger. "I almost had the answer!" she shouted at him. "If you would just learn to control your anger...""This is stupid!" he snarled, voice deeper and somewhat rougher due to the changes in his body."This is for your own good! I'm trying to help you here and... And..."Quickly, she turned her back to Keldor."Please go. If you don't want my help with this then please go.""Lyn, I do want—""Then cooperate.""Lyn...""Just cooperate with me.""Lyn...""Tomorrow. We'll try again tomorrow, but for now, good night."He waited a moment, then turned and left her room to leave her to her self.Once he was gone, Lyn was left to pick up the cards that had been scattered and wishing that Keldor hadn't chosen a bad moment to lose his cool...
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Only after she'd told Keldor to leave her room when he'd basically insulted one of her beliefs did Lyn regret sending him away. It'd be a long, lonely night without him lying next to her in bed, arms about each other after another session of torrid lovemaking, but she had to be resolute. Keldor might not have meant to say it the way he'd done, but he still said it. Lyn was not going to be mocked again for something like this. Jake, her ex, had done so before in the past, when they'd been seeing each other. Thinking about this made her wonder when he'd become a hunter—before or after her awakening?—but the fact that he was made Lyn resolve to never accept belittling again.Even if it wasn't meant.Even if it was from someone she loved.She sighed when she heard his door open and close. He probably wasn't going to sleep well, either, but he'd have to accept her decisions when it came to asserting the things she was passionate about or believed in. If he wanted them to be a couple he'd have to realise that some of the things he thought "silly" or "stupid" were important to her, and that he'd have to respect that, even if it wasn't an interest he liked.With that thought in mind, she began to pick up the cards Keldor had scattered during his tantrum. It made her a little bit annoyed with him that he'd done that. Her cards were trying to tell her something; warn her about something, and just when she was about to decipher the message, Keldor flew into a rage.Of all the times to give in to Uratha temper, he chose that one...But, Lyn noted, that was something that came with being a werewolf. They just weren't designed with patience in mind. Keldor wasn't a creature meant to remain still and calm—he was meant to tap into that primal anger that was one of the Uratha's signature traits and dispense bloody, deadly violence.Perhaps he was right. Perhaps he really wasn't Bone Shadow material. And if he wasn't then asking him to meditate over crystals or read tea leaves in order to be able to do what it was the Shadows did was only going to end in more fits of anger and more lonely nights apart.If so then maybe she should help him decide between the remaining two tribes. He still had options. It wasn't Bone Shadows or nothing at all, according to him.She could do that, though, tomorrow.Right now she needed to get ready for bed.And try to not let the memory of his hands caressing her all over her body keep her awake all night...
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Conversation the following morning consisted of words on her part and grunts and grumbles on his. The previous night hadn’t been any easier on him than it had been for her. Just as she’d expected it to be. Well. Hopefully he’d learned the lesson this temporary eviction from her bed was meant to teach. Without waiting for a response or even an ask, Lyn handed him his morning tea, which he accepted with some sort of indecipherable grumble.Just as she'd surmised, Keldor hadn't had a good night's sleep. His communication—if you could call it that—were indecipherable grumbles. It'd take him a little while to get going, given how tired he was.Serves him right, the petty voice in her mind said, and she shushed it. Lyn wasn't going to gloat at him. Not even silently. This wasn't exactly a punishment; just an assertion regarding what Lyn would tolerate. Once she'd made her point, that was it. She didn't need to pound it into him to be sure he got the message.About an hour after they'd woken up, Lyn attempted talking to him."Well. We can safely rule out one of your options," she said, feigning cheer. Keldor just grunted.Not quite awake yet."So. What are our other options? You told me there were two you definitely were not considering, and we've just eliminated a third, so what have we got left?"She got a mumbled reply, which she didn't respond to. A good idea, when dealing with exhausted werewolves. It made him speak more clearly without him getting angry first when he didn't hear Lyn say anything in return."Hunters. Iron Masters," he repeated, more clearly this time."Okay. And what is it that these two groups do?"He didn't snap or snarl out a reply. A good sign that she'd taken the right approach with him. Instead, he looked thoughtful, as he prodded his sleep-deprived brain to remember what was he’d been taught.“Hunters and Masters are kinda opposites in a way. Hunters side with their wolf half, and Masters lean towards the human half. Hunters protect places; especially wild places, ‘cause that’s where they’re happiest, and are always hunting for anything that might harm it, and I guess don’t like modernity much. Masters instead choose to embrace it, and seek to adapt to the world humans made, and use it to serve them, ‘cause humans’re getting better at finding out about things like werewolves.”It took him several minutes to relay all this. He wasn’t exactly at his most eloquent first thing in the morning, but he managed in the end.“Okay,” Lyn nodded. “So. I guess your decision depends on whether you feel more ‘wolf’ or ‘human’, and if you like wild places more than cities, or if you’d rather play video games than go on hikes in the woods.”Keldor scratched idly at his chin; deliberating this.“If I could offer a suggestion, you don’t strike me as someone who’d enjoy going on camping trips or living off-grid like a hermit.”“And what if I did, and you just didn’t notice?” Keldor snapped.“So if I were to suggest that we spend the weekend in one of this state’s parks, you’d agree to it?”“That sounds like an idea,” Saeliza said as he entered the dining room, causing his daughter and her boyfriend to sharply turn their heads in his direction. “See if you’re as attuned to nature as Lyn herself is.”Keldor said nothing as Saeliza sat himself down, and began reading his customary morning paper.How the mage was able to do that with no eyes to see with, Keldor could only guess.“What about this weekend?” Lyn offered.“Seems as good a time as any.”Keldor just frowned. He knew what they were getting at. What they were trying to get him to admit.He rather liked living in the present with all its amenities and conveniences, but he was also stubborn and willful at times, and hated to admit certain things.“We’ll go camping,” he snarled. “When it’s warmer out.”Lyn just gave her father a smirk. She knew that she’d won this little debate of theirs.
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In the end, Keldor finally had to agree that he wasn’t likely to fit in with the Hunters. Hunters in Darkness enjoyed spending a lot of their time in Urhan, and while running about on all fours was fun, Keldor didn’t want to go days or weeks or even months as a wolf.Because there were things you just couldn’t do as a wolf.Like spending quality time with your girl, making up for nights spent apart.And that was something best done while in man shape.Also, the weekend brought with it a snow storm, and Keldor was not going to spend time outside in such bad weather as that.Now that his decision was mostly made, there was only one thing left to do.Get in touch with Sophie or another Iron Master and find out what he had to do to officially join their ranks and assume his role in Uratha society. Once he’d done that, he’d just need to either join or form a pack, and then he’d be a fully-fledged member of the people.“So you’ve finally made up your mind about where you belong,” Sophie said one night, when she’d come over to the apartment to speak with Keldor. They’d just wrapped up private Uratha business, and now the four of them were seated about the table.Lyn looked on, feeling somewhat left out of all this, for none of this involved things she would understand as a mage, but she did her best to try, and to offer her support.“The only thing to do now is to perform the initiation rites.”“’Initiation’?” Keldor asked, sounding a bit uncertain.“What? Did you think it was like how it is with humans?” Sophie was trying hard not to grin. “That you submit your membership dues and get a card or something?”“Um. Well. Maybe?”“No, Keldor. You’re joining a tribe, not a club or society. And to do that you need to prove that you’re up to the task. That you actually fit in. The tribe will be to you like your family. Not family like brothers and sisters—that role is what pack plays. More like cousins, or aunts and uncles.”Keldor looked even more uncertain now. This had to be more than he’d expected it would be.“What sort of initiation will I have to undergo?” he asked, voice an octave higher than usual.“That could be anything. I’d have to talk to the others about what would suit you best.”“Will it be hard?”“Depends on if you’re up to scratch or not.”His eyes widened at that, and Lyn slipped her hand under the table to take his own; to offer support. Sophie noticed.“You can still change your mind, Keldor. You can always do some soul-searching to see if you really want to join the Iron Masters. But I would be remiss if I didn’t tell you that all tribes have an initiation, and that choosing your tribe based on how easy you think it’d be to pass yours is futile, because it won’t be. Becoming a Bone Shadow isn’t any easier than becoming a Storm Lord is, and you need to remember that.”Lyn gave his hand a squeeze, and he turned to look at her; a hint of fear in his eyes.I’m here for you, Lyn’s own eyes said.“At any rate, I need to get back to my pack,” Sophie said as she got up from her chair. “I’ll get in touch with you in a couple weeks’ time; see if you’re still set on becoming an Iron Master.”“Okay.” His voice was now a squeak.“Relax, Keldor; we’re not sending you to certain death. We need our cubs to survive.”The look of fear was still on his face when Sophie left the apartment moments later...
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"After pack, one's tribe is the closest thing to a family any Uratha will come to," Sophie Autumn's-Howl said to Keldor. He, along with Saeliza and Lyn, were meeting up with some of the Burned Oak pack in the Uratha's factory sanctuary, as well as members from a pack that the Oaks were on friendly terms with. Rounding out the group were two ghost wolves, one of whom Keldor recognised as Odi. And they were all here to witness Keldor choose his tribe.Make one of the most important decisions a newly minted werewolf could make in their lives, and it made him feel equal parts nervous, anxious and even fearful, because he had no idea just what he had to expect, other than that there would be some kind of initiation. A rite to perform, or something, and that scared him. It also made him angry, because he'd already just been through hell over the course of the last eight months or so.Surely that sort of thing merited an exemption? Couldn't he just swear allegiance or take an oath or something?One look at Sophie told him that she wasn't about to overturn centuries of tradition just for one cub who'd thought that all he'd gone through was worse than what anyone before him had ever dealt with. What he really needed was some perspective."As a people," Sophie went on, "We're at our happiest when we're with others of our kind."Keldor was of a mind to insist that Lyn and Saeliza were as good as "our kind", but Sophie was nowhere close to done with her point."When we know where we belong, and who with."Goodness. He already knew that!Didn't he?"I will say again that you were given a generous amount of time to make such a decision, because of all you've had to deal with. Keeping you safe from those that want to hurt you was more important than choosing who you wish to ally with, but after recent events, time isn't something we can afford to give you more of.""Awww c'mon," Odi grumbled. "Get to the point."Sophie just gave the Ghost a look of exasperation, but continued on."You've chosen the Iron Masters, correct?"Keldor nodded."And you're sure that this is what you want? Know that changing your mind and choosing another is not a thing done lightly or easily once you've become a member of the tribe."It didn't exactly make the spirits or fellow werewolves happy when someone changed their mind over something like this. Tribes were supposed to be permanent, after all, which was why she was giving him a final opportunity to back out of it and reconsider his choice.He'd already known early on who he knew he didn't fit in with; that's why he'd never really considered the Storm Lords and the Blood Talons. Keldor just wouldn't have what it took or the qualities these tribes expected from their rank and file. But knowing where he didn't belong didn't make it easier to figure out where he should go.Selecting the Iron Masters was, in the end, a coming-to-a-realisation that there really wasn't anywhere he could go, except to the Masters, if he didn't choose to be tribeless.Who knew such things could be so hard, or come with such a cost?Before anyone said anything more, Keldor nodded, feeling the fear inside of him grow."Very well. The decision has been made. The only thing left is to initiate you."The fear grew stronger."Oh, not right now," Sophie assured him. "It will take a couple of weeks to come up with an initiation for you. Besides. I'm sure you'd like to spend Christmas with your friends, rather than proving yourself to Sagrim-Ur."That didn't exactly sound very reassuring. It made it sound like his days were numbered, and he was being told to use well what he had left."Relax, Keldor. Everything will be fine."But he didn't feel too sure about it."C'mon, love," Lyn said, patting his arm. "Let's get back to the apartment, and I'll help you get your mind off of this."The others were still smirking knowingly even after Keldor, Saeliza and Lyn had left.
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"As you all know, we've recently had a breach in our cyber-security. Several dossiers were erased; including but not limited to two subjects the compact is gathering information on. Thankfully, we make back-ups of our data, so restoring what was lost wasn't too difficult."Several dozen hunters—including Randor—were gathered in one of the compact's largest meeting rooms. One that was seldom used, as it wasn't very often that every member needed to be present for a meeting, but this time, there was."While we know who it was that had committed the breach, we feel that it isn't really necessary to pursue him—"Several voices of protest were raised. They shouldn't be allowing this to go uninvestigated or unpunished!"Settle down..."It took a minute for everyone to stop talking enough to allow the meeting to continue."Again, while we know who is responsible, we won't be going after him, because we'd like to focus our attentions elsewhere."No one interrupted this time."Our banisher allies have been quite the swarm of busy little bees working on a solution. As have our other allies in the supernatural community, and they have just about finished their project."Murmurings passed between the assembled. Project?"We'd been a little too careless with regards to our security, and this recent breach made us aware of it. We'd simply assumed that no one or thing would ever try such a thing. We'd figured that they'd be too busy conducting their unnatural affairs to think up such a thing as hacking into our data servers. Or any other breach of our security."That still didn't explain anything."Suffice to say that this little debacle has taught us some humility, as well as made us realise that we can't take anything for granted, so, with the assistance of our allies, we're beefing things up to make sure this never happens again.Randor stood up."Yes?"What, exactly, does this 'beefing up' entail?""I'm glad you asked. While the end result sounds quite simple, it took a fair bit of time to finish. We're making sure that the only people permitted to use our data; to access any of our computers and networks, are the people in this and any other hunter group around the world."Another stood up."How does this work?""Each and every one of you here will be given a special pass that will allow you to enter our systems. It won't be anything like a normal pass. What it does is recognise you and any other hunter as one of us, and thus will allow you access. And it will only allow hunters access. If anyone who isn't a hunter tries... Well... Our allies have a little surprise waiting for them should they attempt another breach."Murmurs of excitement."What sort of surprise?""I'll bet it's painful.""Magical passes. This is what it's come down to...""Silence, please. The surprise is just that: a surprise. We won't be telling you what it is, because none of you here need worry about it. The system will recognise you all as friendlies and thus none of you need be concerned about finding out the hard way what it is. But part of it is obvious. It will alert us that someone is trying to break in, and we'll be able to deal with them. Hopefully, we won't need to concern ourselves with a second breach, but it's nice to be prepared regardless."There was silence for a moment."Does any of you have any questions?"No response."Good. You are all dismissed."