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Chapter 16: A Kin to Trouble

Nathanial went to the stand of trees he'd hidden behind yesterday, before his mother died, and sat on the far side looking at the tops of the trees beyond the stone wall. He sat crying and tried to figure out why he was crying. He'd given up all hope of his parents becoming the type of parents he read about in stories, well, except the Brother's Grimm type stories. They'd fit in really well, there. He felt someone walking toward him, Ella, so he stood up and dried his eyes. He was almost composed when she came around the trees. "Nathanial. Do you really believe what you said? That you want things to go on the way they were with your father?"

Nathanial sniffed and nodded, "Yes. He- he left us. He's always cared more about money than anything. W-when I told him about the Demon attacks, and the carjacking, he said 'do you know how expensive three funerals are?' He didn't ask if we were all right or anything! He was just worried about the cost. When I told him that we were healed, he was worried about the bill, not relieved that we were okay." He felt himself getting angry again, which made him happy. He loved the strength that seemed to accompany it. "What that bastard is doing is trying to cover his ass, and make sure he stays on my good side! When it comes to him, there is no good side. He'd just best stay the hells away. I will protect my brothers! You saw how he treated Micah, how hurt Micah was to be ignored and dismissed. If he tries to stick around and suddenly become 'Daddy of the Year', he'll only build Micah's hopes up again before crushing them. I have no idea why our parents hate him so much, but I'm done with it. They are and were useless pieces of trash. I'm the only family they need!"

Ella looked stunned at the vehemence in his voice, "Have you ever been diagnosed with MPD? Multiple Personality Disorder? You have two distinct personalities going on, one that terrifies everyone. Micah most of all. I like the other one more. Relax and let me talk to him, would you?"

Nathanial felt a little confused, but knew what she was getting at. It annoyed him, "There's only one me. I just get angry when my brothers are attacked. Get rid of Garret and I'll be fine."

"This anger isn't healthy. For you, for your brothers, or for anyone else close to you or who wants to be close to you. You'll chase everyone away. How will you protect them, then?"

Nathanial knew she was right and looked away, "We'd be dead if I wasn't angry last night. I can't use my magic without the strength it gives me. When I feel like this, it's like all the magic in the world is at my beck and call. Like my brain suddenly becomes a grimoire. I studied some portals, and when I got angry, I could understand what I saw and read. When I'm weak and normal, I know what I did, but it just doesn't click. Like reading the same spell out of a text book versus a grimoire." He sniffled again. "I scare me, too. But I don't know what else to do." Another tear ran down his cheek, "My friend, the one in the car with me, got shot. I saw his blood, and everything slowed down. It was the first time that anger started." He pulled the bullet out of his pocket, "One of the Hunters shot at me. I saw the bullet leave the gun, heading right at me. I wanted it to stop, and it did. I couldn't have done that, otherwise. I was scared and a little angry, I couldn't leave them alone. They're all I have. I'm all they have." He turned away, ashamed of his tears. He felt Ella walk carefully toward him, place her paws on his shoulders, and turn him around. She pulled him in close, hugging him gently and kindly. Nathanial felt the dam around his emotions break again, and began crying in earnest.

Some time later, Nathanial guessed a bit less than ten minutes, he began to calm down. He suddenly realized where he was. Ella's hug was kind and comfortable, but felt odd. He was used to the firm muscles of Geoff, or the more bony chests of his brothers, she was squishy. Soft. He pulled away in embarrassment as he realized why. Ella looked at him, struggling not to laugh, "You act like you've never been hugged by a woman before." Nathanial turned even redder and scuffed the ground. "You... haven't?"

Nathanial shook his head, "Lily never hugged us. I've never met my grandparents, and the rest of my family is afraid to get close. Not that we ever see them much, not even at Christmas or the Olympic High Holidays. I had a nanny when I was really young, she may have hugged me, but I can't remember." Ella looked dumbfounded, then furious. Nathanial flinched.

She noticed his flinch and forced herself to calm down, and carefully drew him into another hug, "Everyone needs a hug, now and then. I like this Nathanial more, and so do your brothers." She let him go, "A piece of advice. You may end up hurt again by Garret, but he is your father. Don't let an opportunity go to patch things up with him. There are few things in life that you will regret more than finding out you'll never get another chance to make things right with your family. For your sake, take this chance. I'll help you try to find out what is behind Micah. He never filled out the proper paperwork for a third child, I need to know why. I also want to know why they would treat a sweet child like that so badly. Three sweet children, actually."

Nathanial smiled softly, wiping his eyes, "Thanks. Conor, the Wolf who dropped me off, said the same thing. The try to patch things up stuff. I-I don't know," He sniffled, "I loved it when he was teaching me magic. He was always distant and gruff, but he paid attention. It hurt when even that little contact was suddenly cut off. I don't know if I could go through that again. Why? What did I do to make him do that to us?"

"Ask him. It's the only way you'll find out. And don't threaten him, please." She put her sleek black paw on his cheek, "You'll get more help and answers being you. This you." She smiled then put her 'professional' face back on. Nathanial followed her back to the patio, a cool breeze was beginning to blow.

The silence and stiffness was palpable. Nathanial saw Garret and felt his blood pressure climb. He looked at Ella, and sighed, taking a deep breath and forcing himself to relax. "Garret. I don't know if I can ever forgive you. Just answer this: why? Why did you leave us? Why leave us with her? If you didn't like her, or want anything to do with her, why would you leave us when you knew she hated us? You could've divorced her and taken us away!" He turned and struggled to keep the tears and anger away. He felt Garret look down at his paws on the table.

He also felt the fear and nervousness in his father subside, "So, all that talk on the phone was just bluster? You're still the weak and pathetic dog you always were. I knew while training you that it was futile, no one in this cursed family has ever been able to become worthwhile through magic." Garret snorted, "I gave you the training I did because it's dangerous to have even failed Mages walk around untrained and uncontrolled. You were worse than I..." He was suddenly cut off as he was thrown backward out of his chair and then lifted off the ground by his throat.

Nathanial was glaring at him from fifteen feet (four and a half metres) away with pure hate in his eyes, standing rigid as tears dripped onto the ground. "Rot in Tartarus." A portal opened beneath Garret. It was very dark inside the hole, and a cold breeze blew through. All of the light and life around the portal seemed to be leeching away, the grass right beside it instantly withered into dust. Suddenly a large shape slammed against the opening, a mouth larger than the portal tried to grab Garret. The inside of the round mouth was lined with row after row of inward pointing teeth. Ella quickly cast a spell, creating a glowing dome over the portal. The creature, who's maw reminded Nathanial of a Sarlacc from Star Wars or a Sand Worm from Dune, kept trying to break through to get Garret.

Ella put her paw on Nathanial's arm, and in a panicked voice said, "Please, don't! Let him be. I can't let you do this." Nathanial's face relaxed slightly, and he threw his father to one side. The large Akita bounced and rolled a few times before coming to rest by the wall beyond the pool. The portal closed, leaving a large circle of dead grass. He saw Micah and Nicholas crouched beside the door to the sitting room, terrified. He sighed and let the rage melt away while Ella ran over to Garret.

"Sorry, guys. I know you hate it when I get mad like that. I'm sorry." He sat at the table, placing his head in his paws. Micah and Nicholas edged away, trying to get over to Garret or Ella without getting closer to him. Ella spoke to Garret angrily for a minute before she led a shaken and bruised Garret back to the table, it was obvious he didn't want to be there. Micah and Nick stayed behind her. "I'm sorry, Agent Ella. I tried to keep my anger under control, and tried to give him a chance. He's not worth it."

Ella snorted, "You may be right. You are worth it, though. But, was that really Tartarus? What was that thing? I won't ask how you did that. Just be glad I stopped you. That would be a capital offence, even for a minor. Now Mr. Marks, do you believe that 'it was just bluster'? Your son has gifts I've never heard of. Damned scary ones, quite literally in this case. But we both have questions for you, and you haven't answered his." She still looked spooked, despite her words and tone.

Garret looked ill, his voice strained, "I don't have an answer. I love my work. I love selling things, the less someone wants something, the bigger the rush it is to get them to buy what I'm selling. I love making money, being successful. A beautiful wife and gifted children are part of the success I always dreamed of. My dream just soured and has turned into a nightmare. I wished on 'The Monkey's Paw'."

Ella frowned slightly, so Nathanial explained, "A story. A magical mummified paw of a monkey that grants wishes. But it always takes your wish and twists it to make you worse off than you were before. He's wishing we were never born, that he never married Lily."

Garret looked up at him sharply, "I never said that!" Nathanial looked at him, passively. "Exactly." Nathanial kept looking at him, "In those words, anyway. Gods! What do you want me to say?! I hate my life! I hated coming home to Lily always demanding more money, more jewels, more status symbols!" He spoke in falsetto, batting his eyelashes, "Oh, so-and-so bought this, so-and-so went there. So-and-so gave this much money to the church." His voice returned to normal, "Gods! I gave her everything she said she wanted when we married, but it was always more and more. It was paying the Dane-Geld." He snorted, "Rudyard Kipling was right." He noticed everyone's blank looks, and grimaced, "What are you learning in school? It was an old practice. Essentially it was protection money paid to the Vikings so they wouldn't raid you. They just kept asking for more. Rudyard Kipling wrote a poem about it, called 'Dane-Geld'. Now, instead of Vikings, you have the Mafia and other mobs. And wives." His mouth was twisted in bitterness, and he fell silent.

Nathanial growled, "So you took it out on us, because you were too spineless to deal with her. What a shining example of manhood."

Garret's head snapped over to glare at his eldest, before he choked down his sharp reply and looked away, "Think whatever you want. You were right. Let's leave things how they were, we'll all be happier."

Agent Ella's tail was twitching, but she merely said, "I have some forms for you to fill out. They appear to be overdue. You only filed for two sons. You have three."

Garret's lip curled, "He's not mine. Or Lily's. I had a vasectomy after Nicholas was born, and Lily had her tubes tied. She still became pregnant, somehow, but we were tested after Micah was born. We can't have children. Zero sperm, no tubes connecting to her ovaries. Unless an embryo was implanted in her, there's no way she could've gotten pregnant. Ask the Fey who he belongs to."

Nathanial growled, "He's my brother. He belongs to me, if you refuse him."

"Then he's yours. You fill out the paperwork." Nathanial reached for the papers.

Ella shook her head, "You're not his parent. I'll get the forms for Guardianship, if Garret is serious."

Nathanial frowned, "It still doesn't explain how he can use Mage magic. He's still an Akita. It'd be a simple matter for a Healer, or something, to reattach your testicles for a night and have you get someone pregnant. Assuming you did cheated on Lily at some point, a disguised Fey, perhaps." Garret looked away. "Did you ever get a paternity test? Or compare Lily's DNA to Micah's? She's not buried yet, it can still be done." Nathanial brow furrowed, "It isn't against any Society rules for halfbloods to exist, is it?"

"No. It's against rules to marry a Fey, as if you could find any Fey willing to marry a Fur, Mage or not. But there are no rules against being born. Some disagree with our rules, but we don't punish children for crimes committed by their parents. If Garret did sire a child with a Fey, unknowingly, a complaint would be filed with the Seelie Court. That would be the end of it." Ella put the papers in her pocket, "The Society requests paternity tests to be conducted. We require the results. As far as proof of who the mother is, that is your choice. Considering the possible nature of his ancestry we will provide you with the name of a doctor and lab to contact."

Nathanial suddenly jumped up, panicked, "Micah! Where is he?!" He closed his eyes, and focused, "Fuck! Fuck it all! I can't find him!" He pulled out his cell and dialled Geoff. Geoff picked up on the third ring, "Geoff! Micah's gone! I can't find him. Nick, talk to the police out front, see if he went that way. Geoff, can you and Faelen please check the woods behind my house? Please? He- he's really upset. He mightn't be related by blood to us after all. He was always terrified he might be a Changeling. It turns out it might be true."

"Gods! The poor pup. Yeah, I'll clear it with Da, and head out. If he left from the back, we'll get his scent quickly." Geoff hung up.

Nathanial focused again, 'Scent. Hunt.' He had a sudden realization, 'My dream!' He pictured the beast from his dream and filled in all the details he could. The smell of its fur, the way it felt as it leaned against his thigh, the sound of their baying and its breath, and how it appeared to his magic senses. He looked into the shadows of the bushes against the wall behind the pool, and peered into the darkest part he could. He tried to call the mastiff forth, the way Geoff made the bat, but he felt the magic for something else build in his mind. He let it form. His body made the gestures and said words to a spell he didn't know. A mastiff made of pure darkness stepped out of the shadows. "Hound. Find Micah." He pictured Micah in his mind, with all the detail he could. "His scent is here." He pointed at the spot he last saw his baby brother. Ella and Garret shrank back as the large mastiff stepped forth. Its shoulder was level with Nathanial's chest, and it was an extremely broad and muscular beast. As it sniffed where Nathanial pointed, and began casting about, Nathanial noticed it was also male. His fur seemed to trail a short bit of wispy darkness, like black mist, and his eyes were a deep purple, with no whites or pupils.

Ella stared at it, hackles raised and tail bristling. She whispered at Nathanial, "What is that?"

"A dog." Neither adult seemed to find that answer amusing. He put a tone of cautious hope into his voice, "A hound?" No better. The dog moved closer to Garret and began growling. Garret quickly put a chair between them. "Shush. Focus on the Hunt. Find Micah, but don't harm him." He answered Ella's question, "A hound from, um, I guess the Elemental Plane of Darkness. I'd call it more of a mastiff than a hound, really. Shadow Mastiff works for me. I don't really know what he is. He helped me hunt the Hunters in my dreams, so I thought he could help me here."

"Another 'I have no idea what I really did' spell?" Ella's voice was strained, but dry.

Nathanial answered cheerfully, "Yup! Hope I can do this again, though. Hope I can dismiss it when we find Micah." He muttered the next part under his breath, "Hope I can control it." Suddenly the mastiff began baying and charged off toward the back wall. Garret and Ella turned and ran in away in terror from his voice. Shouts and screams could be heard from the police inside the house. Even Nathanial felt icy fingers of fear grip his body. Nathanial pulled out his phone and let his mind dial as he chased the dog. "Crap. How am I going to get over the wall? Hound, help me over the wall if that's where Micah went." The mastiff crouched at the base of wall, and Nathanial climbed onto his back. The fur was chilly against his paws, but very soft. The mastiff jumped over the wall in one smooth motion, but Nathanial tumbled off when he landed. The mastiff bayed again, and took off, Nathanial struggling to keep up. Geoff answered the phone, Nathanial could hear the sound of disturbed vegetation. "He went out back, he headed straight into the woods. Turn twenty degrees right, and you should intersect my, ow, path." A branch snapped back against his shin, set in motion from his dog.

"How are you tracking him?" Geoff was breathing easily, but Nathanial could sense him change course and draw closer quickly.

"My hound. I summoned it." There was no answer, "No, I don't know how, but I needed help to track down Micah. He answered my call."

"Um... okay." As he went deeper into the woods, it became darker and the mastiff would vanish from sight completely as it entered a deep patch of shadows. He sensed Geoff and Faelen drawing in, and changing course to meet up with him. They must hear him, or smell him.

Faelen called out, a little ways ahead, "I got the scent. Good gods! What is that!?" The Shadow Mastiff stopped, facing the Wolves, snarling and snapping at Faelen.

"Hound! Heel! They're friends!" The mastiff circled around, constantly watching Faelen, and moved back to a pace behind Nathanial's left side. His hackles remained up, and head held low in a threatening posture. "Micah's getting close, I can faintly sense him, too. How the hells did he get so far out, so quickly? Track!" The mastiff set off, keeping clear of Faelen. Nathanial began following, with Geoff and Faelen behind him. The mastiff was out of sight more often than not, now. Neither Wolf commented, and Nathanial had no problem following. He could tell he was slowing everyone down.

It took another six minutes before the mastiff stopped, looking at a leaf covered lump curled at the base of a large oak. A ring of mushrooms encircled Micah, the sight made Geoff curse. Nathanial looked at his summoned beast, and decided to keep him here, for now. Nathanial felt Fey magic around the mushroom ring and behind the oak. He took a pace forward, "I seek the return of my brother."

The Fey that was in his house two days ago stepped from behind the tree, eyes glowing silver. He was wearing his leafy full plate armour, but not his wolf helm. He had long silver hair held back by two thin braids of his own hair wrapped around his head like a circlet. "Thou claimest kinship with this one?" He gestured at Micah.

"I claim nothing. He is my brother. I have no doubts, nor will I entertain the doubts of others. Even if it turns out there is no shared blood, he is my brother. I have fought Demons for him, I have fought Hunters and Knights for him. I have fought my own mother for him, and watched her die. I will fight my father for him, if necessary."

"Wouldst thou fight his grandfather?" Nathanial couldn't read the Fey's face or voice.

"I don't know his grandfather, or mine. But, yes, if that grandfather threatened my brothers, either of them, I would fight him." The anger in his spirit rose up, as cold and hard as iron. He felt the Fey was referring to himself. The tall figure drew his sword and pointed it at Micah. "If you are his grandfather, why would you wish to harm him?"

"To keep him from thee." Nathanial growled, struggling to keep from lashing out.

He thought of Ella, and how she told him he would get more answers and help if he kept his anger from controlling him. He let it go, and turned to the mastiff, "You may return to your home." He placed his paw on the broad head and sent him home. "Please. I know you don't want to hurt him, why don't you want him to return to the only home he's known? I've done everything I've could to make it safe and loving for him. He was generally happy. I know it hasn't always been easy, but it isn't worth killing him to keep him from it."

"The harm thou may do him may make it more merciful to slay him."

"May. Not will, or wish. A certain death over a very uncertain future. The Fey don't have a reputation of blood thirst, callousness, or disregard for kinship. I-I know I've become...dangerous since Monday. I don't know what's happening to me, or why. Or what's happening to Nicholas, but I can see why Micah seems to have odd abilities. I'll surrender my magic, if that's what it takes, and become a Monk to protect him. Though that'll take a long time. Magic is an integral part of me, but not as important as Micah. What do you want me to say? To do?"

The Fey smiled, and sheathed his sword, "What thou hast done, and said. Thou hast turned from thine anger and its power in the face of a threat. Thou hast spoken with conviction and sincerity. Thou hast chosen peace o'er violence." He knelt and put his paw on Micah's head, "Waken, young one. Thy brother has come for thee."

Micah blinked and sat up, shedding leaves, "Hi, Nats. What are you doing here?" He sniffled and curled around his knees, "Y-you know I'm a-a Changeling. I'm not your brother."

Faelen stepped up to him and knelt, "You are. A half brother. You smell too much like him not to be. Half Fey, half Mage."

Nathanial smiled, "All brother. You could be full Fey and you'd still be my brother. I think," He looked at Micah's grandfather, "Garret is your father. He slept with a disguised Fey, and she cast a spell to let him get her pregnant. She then transferred the embryo to Lily, making her carry you to term. Correct?" He received a nod. "Garret's not going to be happy." Nathanial couldn't help but grin widely, "Who knows, maybe he'll be nicer after this. It was his indiscretions that made you. For which I'm deeply grateful." He hugged Micah, holding him close. "I love you, Mike. Don't run off like that again, please."

"I love you, too, Nats." Faelen punched Geoff's shoulder, grinning.

Nathanial glanced back, and saw they were both misty-eyed. He chuckled and stood up, then bowed a little clumsily to the armoured Fey, "Sir, my name is Nathanial Marks, may I have the name of my kinsman?"

"Thou claimest kinship with me, now, Mageling?"

"By the blood I share with Micah, your grandson, yes. I will stand by you, should it ever be needed, and ask that you provide any aid possible, if required, should my brothers be threatened again."

The Fey's eyes narrowed, in consideration, "I will take thy vow, and hold thee to it. I recognise Nathanial Marks and Nicholas Marks as kin to Fellwedyr Tharkolys, Knight to King Oberon. Be warned, I take to betrayal as kindly as thee. I am not as merciful as thou wast."

"I understand. I hold no allegiance to the Society, and oppose the Knights and Hunters. I stand by my kin, and those I love, no matter their origin."

"Indeed. Forget not that thy father is also thy kin. He hast been a poor one, but he hast not betrayed thee."

Nathanial felt like rolling his eyes, first Spirit, then Mage, and now Fey was telling him to make things right with Garret. 'I think someone is trying to tell me something.' He nodded, "So I've heard." He couldn't keep all of the wryness from his voice, "You are the third person who has said almost the same thing. Perhaps it'd be in my interest to finally listen. I wish you good day, Sir Tharkolys."

A small smile flickered across the Fey's thin lips, "It would be in thine interests, the long term ones. And kin do not stand so distant, it is Fellwedyr. I wish thee cloudless days and bright nights, young Nathanial." He gave Micah a quick hug and wrapped a large grey-green cloak around his shoulders. It shrank so its hem just touched the back of his heels. "Fare thee well, grandson."

Micah's eyes danced, and he hugged Fellwedyr, "Thanks, granddad."

Geoff spoke up tentatively, "If we're getting answers to some mysteries, can you tell me who Liam Smith is?"

"No."

"Oh. Thought not. I wish you good day, Sir." Geoff and Faelen bowed and headed back to Nathanial's, making sure the Akita were following. Nathanial couldn't maintain the pace he had on the way out, so it would likely take almost twenty minutes to return home. He called Nicholas shortly after leaving Fellwedyr, letting him know Micah was safe, and they were on their way.

Nathanial was frowning as he walked, and Micah kept looking over at him nervously. "What?" Nathanial asked sharply.

"Uh, um. You're mad?" Micah shrank away as he asked.

"No. I was just thinking. Were you sleeping by the tree, or were you in Faery? You were inside a Fey Ring. They're supposed to be gateways to Faery, the homeland of the Fey." Micah wouldn't meet Nathanial's eyes. "If you aren't allowed talking about it, I understand. I'm just curious. I know you've received several gifts from the Fey, like the bag you keep those magic acorns in." Micah looked guilty. "They taught you some magic, haven't they?" Micah still wouldn't answer, but nodded hesitantly. Nathanial put a little extra excitement in his voice, "That's so cool! Can you, are you allowed to show me some, later?"

That got Micah going, "Yeah! It's a lot of Charm and Illusion stuff, so some of it's hard to show. But it's really cool, and a lot easier than a bunch of that stuff you tried to teach me from that icky grimoire. Granddad said I seem to be learning it quicker than lots of pure Fey, even some noble ones, so he may teach me some defensive and attack spells, soon. Like Elfshot and Leafshield. He said those are kinda hard but are really good spells against Demons. Moonblade sounds really cool, too, but I need to learn how to use a sword, and it doesn't work in sunlight. Lots of Fey magic seems to depend on where you are, or if it's bright or dark. Sounds complicated, but I like it. Granddad says I still should try to learn Mage stuff, too, 'cause it's good to know as much as you can. Even little things can be important at the right time."

Nathanial hesitated before asking the next question. He was glad Micah was cheering up, but he had to know, "How long have you known that Lily wasn't your mom? That you're part Fey? I know why you didn't tell me, so don't think I'm mad. I'm not. I just need to know."

Micah withdrew into himself again. Nathanial could tell that Geoff and Faelen were paying close attention. Faelen tried to encourage him, "Hey, don't worry, pup. I just found out I'm less than half Spirit, two days ago. I guess I'm, what, seven sixteenths Spirit? So I know what you went through. Nathanial doesn't care, and we don't either."

A small voice answered, "Three years ago."

Nathanial stopped and thought back, he couldn't pin down a time when Micah seemed really different than normal. Then again, that was probably one of the worst years he had. He was constantly bullied at school and beaten at home. Micah could have been suffering a lot and he didn't notice. He felt horribly guilty. His voice was quiet, "I'm sorry. You were probably scared and hurting. I never noticed. I should have noticed something. It was probably the time you needed me most, and I failed you."

Micah grabbed him in a hug, "Like I failed you? Mom was hurting you, and I knew you were being picked on at school. And I was too little to help. I still am. Granddad was really nice to me, in his way. It helped. But I was always scared you'd find out and hate me, like Mom and Dad do."

Nathanial licked Micah's ears, "Never. But I know, now. I'm just glad you're doing well. Let's keep going."

As the four pups approached the back wall to Nathanial's home, they stopped for a moment. Faelen put his paw on Micah's shoulder and looked down into his eyes, "Hey, Sprite. Sorry. Micah. I know we've been calling you that, I hope it doesn't bother you. I just heard you've always been worried about possibly being a Changeling, I didn't know. I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings. It just always seemed to fit. We used it affectionately, not out of malice." Micah sniffled and hugged him.

Geoff seemed a little surprised, "I've never even considered that. Yeah, me, too. None of us wanted to hurt you."

Micah kept his arms around Faelen, the top of his head just reaching Faelen's chest, "I know. I don't really mind, you guys have really been nice to us. Scary sometimes, but then so has Nats and Nick, the last few days. Everything has been scary." Faelen rubbed the top of Micah's head and then stroked the white fur on the bottom of Micah's muzzle.

Nathanial sensed Ella waiting on the forest side of the wall. "Agent Ella is on this side of the wall. We should part ways here, I know Conor doesn't want you to interact with the Arcane Society much. She seems nice, and I think I can trust her, but it's Conor's choice."

Geoff grabbed Nathanial and gave him a deep kiss. Both reluctantly stopped before they got too worked up, "I love you, pup. Yeah, we should be going. Take care, Sprite." He rubbed Micah's ears and began to move swiftly toward home. Faelen nodded at the Akitas and followed.

"If you would wait there, Spirits, I want a word with you." Ella's voice came from thin air.