The forest is unforgiving

“Yeah well about 17 years of being friends with Caden will do that to you,” she laughed, “That and becoming a mentor and now an alpha. I kinda wish I could get back to the act first ask questions now later attitude more. Less gets done if I spend time worrying.” She laughed at his joke and nodded, “Alright, you got a certain place you wanna go or does just any old bar work?” She shrugged, “I don’t know, you got anything fun planned with your friends? You thinking about keeping work to the pack or taking on a civilian job too?”

“Hey, worrying is my job,” he teased with a smile. “But thinking things through is all of our jobs, even if it’s not fun, and makes us concerned.” Maddoc shrugged, “anyplace works. I’m not picky with drinks.” Truth was Maddoc wasn’t a big drinker. He liked having a beer once and a while but he’d never particularly liked the taste. The only times he got drunk was when he didn’t know about the alcohol, usually hidden by the sweet taste of soda or juice. “There’ll be the usual parties, not to mention the fun of moving everything out of the dorms. Maybe...” he admitted. “I’d probably just get a job in a shop, nothing that takes up too much time since the pack is the main priority.”

 Caden knew Maddoc would recognize him, even with how close he was, the smell of his wolf would register somewhere down in the boy. “You do know me. You just, forgot, for now..” It wasn’t making any since, his whole pack had been hit by this supposed spell, yet he was not affected, nor were the few members of the MC either. Perhaps it was a range thing? it definitely got him interested in finding out. “I’m going to try and help you get your memory back but for now I need to know what the last thing you remember before ending like this was.”

“Um...” Maddoc started, inching away from the man. “Look-- I um...” he didn’t want to make the guy angry. “C-could you at least give me your name? Maybe that’ll jog something,” he offered, his voice shaky. “I remember...” he racked his brain for an answer. “I was home, reading? Yeah reading or something. And then I was here but that can’t be right. Right?” he looked to Caden for an answer.

“Hey, it’s cool. Apparently I’ve turned into a worrier. We can work on it together, although being a problem solver sounds a lot better to me,” she smiled. “Well, for starters, how about I go buy you a celebratory drink or something? We can do some catching up. It’s been a while. What’s going on in your life aside from the graduation and house hunting?”

“Really?” he asked, raising a brow. “You never struck me as the worrying type. More of the... act now ask questions later kind of person. Not that there’s anything wrong with that- though I do prefer a little time to dote on issues,” he admitted. “I’ll take you up on that offer. I’m about to be slammed with paying back those loans so I need to take handouts when I can,” he joked. “Honestly... not much. Both those things keep me pretty busy, along with pack stuff. Don’t know what I’m going to do when college isn’t a thing anymore.”

“I do not, in fact, live ‘round here.” Ephram chewed and swallowed, digging his tongue into the crevice of one tooth to try and unearth some stuck caramel corn from it. “I’m from somewheres further South than this, down in Kentucky. No idea how I ended up here.” He shook the popcorn in the box and, as if he’d understood what Maddoc had been thinking, said, “I ain’t used to bein’ in a big city like this where you don’t know nobody. Reckoned with the look on your face, you was kinda feelin’ the same way, huh?”

“Me too!” Maddoc exclaimed. “I mean- I don’t know how I got here. Is that weird?” he mumbled. “It is weird,” he told himself, before looking away from the boy and back at his hands. “I’m from up north- Canada, Thunder Bay. Which is technically a city but...” he glanced up at the skyline. “Nothing like this.” He looked back at the man, “maybe you just got lost trying to go somewhere? I don’t know much about driving and navigating but... it’s possible.”

She gave him a shrug and a smile. “It’s the newly turned wolves that do it. They are out of control because they don’t know what’s going on and if someone doesn’t get to them first and explain it, all that’s left is a bloody mess that reflects on the rest of us.” She nodded in agreement that they could definitely get wild and defensive and violent too. “Some part of us is wild. That’s just the way things are. We’re just trying to keep the pack safe is all. That’s the most important thing right now.” That was what she had to keep telling herself to keep her from going after the Dalgaards. “You shouldn’t be worrying about this right now though. You’re graduating from college. Celebrate!”

Maddoc chuckled, “I know I should be focused on the good stuff. Guess I’ve always been a problem solver- can’t settle down for a second.” A little smile came to his face, “Can’t say I really know how to celebrate either,” he shrugged. “At least until my parents come here, they probably have a million plans and probably want me to show them around. Even though they lived here longer than I have,” his smile grew a tad more.

 Caden had been looking all over for Maddoc since he had ran into Eva and Cassie and seen how they were acting. It was strange but Caden was slowly starting to piece things together. He managed to catch Maddoc’s scent and followed it to the younger man. Caden approached him carefully, his gaze was strong but tender in a way, “Mad Dog? you okay?” he wasn’t sure how to go about it, however he figured by how Maddoc didn’t really know who he was based on the look he gave him.

Maddoc felt a jolt when he heard someone say his name. Well... close to his name, close enough. He looked up, surprised to find someone he didn’t recognize in the slightest. He pointed at himself, “me?” his voice was shaky. The guy looked tough, like the bikers that would pass through town. Most of them were softies but they were also quite a bit older. This guy was young, and could probably pummel him no problem. Though the man was unrecognizable, there was something familiar about his sent. “Do... I know you?”

Eva frowned as he started to tell her everything. She felt bad that part of the reason he was feeling all of this was because she hadn’t done her part in helping to protect the pack. “I’m sorry. And you’re right, you shouldn’t hold it against them.” She certainly couldn’t. Her parents had left town because of Tamreyn. “We’re not going to let things get out of control, okay? We’re going to find a way to deal with these witches. No one else is going to die on our watch.” The safety of the pack came first, and no matter how much she wanted to kill the Dalgaards, she wouldn’t move against them without some sort of foolproof plan. She wouldn’t let anyone else get hurt.

Maddoc nodded, “yeah, easier said than done.” He feel back into his chair. “You know- I always hated that movies and stuff portrayed werewolves as out of controlled beasts. Got even more annoying when I came here and found out that’s how a lot of people see us but... I guess there’s some truth to it,” he admitted. “We are wild, and defensive, and when things get back we’re violent.” He looked across the table at Eva. “I’m glad we’re trying to keep things under control though. I just hope we can until all of this is settled.”

Plopping down on the bench next to the kid, Ephram said, “Don’t let me ruin your thinkin’ thoughts, son. Looks like you got plenty on your mind.” He himself had made a conscious decision not to get fixated on how he’d gotten to Chicago and any of the mechanics and logistics of the situation; he was here now, and he might as well deal with that. There were all kinds of things that could be for the taking in a city as big as this; Ephram had gone into one of the huge dollar stores and boggled at the variety of stuff to be had on the cheap. 

Maddoc was a bit taken aback when the man sat next to him but he told himself it was normal. Heck- it was normal back home. The difference was pretty much everyone knew everybody, at least to some degree. Either the person sitting next to you bagged your groceries or waved at you from across the docks. No one was a stranger back home. Here, everyone was a stranger, a whole city filled with unknown people. “Th-thanks,” Maddoc stuttered though he didn’t move to take the food.  

Ryan held out his pack of cigarettes to Maddoc “want one?” 

Maddoc shook his head, “I don’t smoke,” he responded. “Thanks for the offer though...” he had to keep things calm between them- even if his emotions were bubbling up inside. 

“Then I get a feeling we’ll get along pretty well.” She said with a smile. He seemed so optimistic and positive, and that’s the kind of energy that Wyatt was prepared to surround herself and her living space with. Someone so easy to talk to, with a welcoming exterior. “You’re in luck. I don’t boast about many things, but my cooking is something I can confidently say is… amazing.”

“Um...” Maddoc started when she asked about his job. That would be another problem. She was human. Human affairs and supernatural affairs were separate. Whenever they mixed there was trouble. Well- maybe not for vampires but werewolves yes. Course he had an excuse lined up, same one he’d been using for four years. “Job isn’t anything to special. It’s a family business- not my family’s but a family friend’s.” He smiled, “though I work there so much it might as well be my business,” he joked.