Ariana was thankful that Kitty had been there with her all morning to help her get things set up. It was one thing to face Kitty who offered endless support no matter what she decided, but it was a completely different thing to face Alcher’s other friends. To look them in the eye and know she should have done more to stop the outcome of the fight with Kaden. Even now, she couldn’t imagine throwing him under the bus. No matter how much he haunted her nightmares, both in her sleep and while awake. She’d set up a table for refreshments. She figured some German beers were the way to go so bottles of Warsteiner and Carlsberg were put in ice on the table along with some cured meats and soft baked pretzels. A small nod to the first place Alcher ever called home. For the tree they were going to plant and spread most of her ashes around, she’d chosen an oak tree. Strong and understated, just like Alcher. She’d had a little stone made up to place beside the tree that said “In Loving Memory of Alcher”. She let out a sigh as she waited for the others to arrive and told Kitty, “Thanks for being here and helping me get set up.” 

 Kitty hadn’t been there when Alcher died. Really, looking at that moment, she doubted that there would have been much that she could do. But she could do this. She could be here for Ari. She could be here for the memory of Alcher. She hadn’t known the older wolf for very long, but she knew that she had cared for those that were close to her. She cared for those she saw as family, and Kitty was from a world where family was everything, even if she ran from it sometimes. She stuffed her hands in her pockets, dark jeans and a black tanktop the only thing she had that were particularly appropriate for mourning, and shrugged. “‘Course, shortstack. No place else I’d be.” She didn’t want to be here. She didn’t want this to be real, but that’s how things were going. This was what she could do, so it was what Kitty would do.

 On their first meeting, something about Alcher scared Leah.  It was her bravery, maybe, or her instant protectiveness the moment she suspected Leah might be supernatural.  They met by chance, but over pizza, Alcher had offered Leah friendship and a protector, all wrapped into one.  And since then, they had been through so much together- tragedy, loss, trauma, healing… The healing had been so recent, why didn’t Alcher get her chance to enjoy it for longer than a week?  The second Leah climbed out of Nicole’s truck, she flocked over to her, grabbing her hand without a second thought as they walked over to the tiny crowd that was gathering.  Alcher’s pack, she had assumed, and in a way they felt like a strange, extended family, even if they had no idea who she was.  “I’m sorry these are the circumstances we’re meeting under”, she said quietly.  Her face felt swollen and wet.  “I’m Leah… Alcher and I were good friends.  And, uh… this is Nicole”, she gestured toward Nicole, her hand still tight around the other woman’s.  “Alcher was very close to her, too.”

 It wasn’t long ago that Nicole visited Alcher’s farm, but it felt like a lifetime had passed. In some cliche way, it kind of did. Too much had happened in the past days for any of them to stay the same. She looked around the place, almost unaltered from the day they embarked on that spiritual test. Except for the humble memorial set up to remember Alcher. It fit, Nicole thought. It wasn’t about big flashy displays, but about those whose lives had been changed by the old werewolf. People that Nicole had never met, but were all unfairly bound by the tragedy now. Leah’s hand in hers offered a semblance of comfort, and she knew the other woman needed it just as much as she did. She squeezed in support as they reached the rest of the group gathered for the occasion. Relieved that Leah had taken the initiative, she nodded in acknowledgement as she was introduced to the younger girls. She couldn’t help but notice how strong the scent of wet dog was around her. “Are we all here?”

It didn’t feel right to be the one gathering them here, but she was the one who saw it. The only one who knew what happened. Ariana owed it to those Alcher cared about to let them know what happened, at least the bare bones. She owed it to Alcher. She’d traveled far and wide to help wolves all over the world. She’d touched so many lives, it wouldn’t be right to forget that. With a solemn nod, she told them, “Thank you for coming. It’s– well, everything aside I am glad to meet you.” She absentmindedly rubbed her own arm and felt entirely awkward in this setting. She’d put this together, she should be leading, but it was hard to separate guilt and duty. She let out a breath and gestured toward the table. “There’s some snacks and drinks,” she started, “I can do a bulk of the digging to plant the tree, but I thought it might be kind of symbolic if we all got to shovel some of the soil out. Maybe share stories?” She’d never done something like this before. Her previous losses hadn’t really allowed for it. “Sorry, I’ve never really– well, put on a memorial with like other people.” 

 It was noble that Ari wanted to take these things on by herself, but Kitty wasn’t one for nobility. She’d always thought it was rather foolhardy, watching folks try to do things on her own. She’d always had a helping hand around; that was what families did. Until she’d set out on her own, of course. But that was different. She nodded at Nicole and Leah in greeting. Under other circumstances, yeah, it’d be real nice to meet them. As it was, this was bittersweet. As it was, Kitty wondered if this was how they all ended; hunted down like animals leaving behind a trail of folks to mourn them. She didn’t want to think about that. “You’re not diggin’ to plant the tree by yourself, though I’m sure you wanna show off how big and strong you are,” she told Ari. “We’ll… We can do what feels right.” She thought Alcher would want that. She thought that might be a good way to honor her memory.

 Truth be told, Leah hadn’t known what to expect when she came here today.  There were so many different customs and traditions in White Crest, even among like-supernatural groups.  And the supernatural tended to have their own traditions as well.  But sharing and hearing stories from Alcher’s loved ones sounded like an amazing way to memorialize her.  “I’d really love that”, she said, nodding along at the sentiment that they’d all help with the work of digging.  “Having something grow in her memory feels… it’s going to be a really nice excuse to come back here and visit her”, she said, biting her lower lip.  “Did you, uh… is there a spot picked out for it?”

 Nicole was comfortable staying back, letting the other three takeover discussions. After all, they seemed to have a better understanding of Alcher than she did. Truth was, as entwined as their stories had become, she didn’t know what Alcher would have wanted. She never got the chance to learn the small details. She chose to resent the woman for something she didn’t have control over. And when she was finally ready to move past it, the universe decided to pull the rug from underneath her. Her heart sank with regret. She observed the younger girl, sympathy growing as she explained how out of her depth she was. They wouldn’t let her do it alone, she nodded quietly as they all agreed to help. She did know Alcher wouldn’t want that, at least. Not with her pack mentality. She stepped aside, allowing the shorter girl the space to guide them towards the spot.

 Ariana sported a weak smile in Kitty’s direction. She knew Alcher would be happy to see them working together like this. Through the days that followed Alcher’s death, Kitty had been nothing short of supportive. It was the werewolf family Alcher had been so happy to finally find and she hardly got to enjoy it. That didn’t quite sit right with her, but it was one of the few ways she knew she could honor the older wolf’s memory. “Yeah, what feels right,” she agreed. She took charge of the direction they were going with planting material in tow. There was one spot on the land that Stark always gravitated to. She was inclined to trust the canine’s instinct and hoped he would continue to hang out there, visit Alcher so to speak. “That’s what I was thinking. There’s a spot over near where we’re building the barn that Stark likes a lot,” she gestured towards it, “They really did have such a good connection. Don’t know if it’s a wolf thing, but Stark always seemed so in tune with Alcher.” It was in sort of an innate way. She could tell the dog was still down and his energy matched her own these days, but Luna seemed to pick his mood up. She stopped near the spot and stuck her shovel in the ground there. “How’d you meet Alcher,” she asked, looking toward Leah and Nicole. 

 Following after Ari, Kitty slung a shovel over her shoulder. Ari knew Alcher far better than Kitty did. Hell, Ari knew about being a wolf far better than Kitty did. All she knew were her family’s services, the way they gave their bodies back to the earth and celebrated afterwards. Her mamaw had been returned to the bayou, letting the swamp take her back home. It was from the earth that they came, and it was back to the earth that they would return. She imagined everyone just wanted to go back home when they died. Kitty wanted to make sure, at least, that they could honor this place, Alcher’s final home. Following after Ari, Kitty dropped her shovel and looked at the other two women, curious.

 Leah followed after Ariana to the spot she had picked out, agreeing it was as good of a spot as any if Stark had picked it out.  Animals had an innate sense about these sort of things, especially ones that had been so bonded with their companions as Stark had been with Alcher. She pressed her lips together at the question, glancing over to Nicole for support before she piped out an answer.  Leah, under most circumstances, wouldn’t reveal her status as a supernatural to anyone she didn’t trust, but this was Alcher’s pack- her family.  She trusted them, and so Leah knew without a doubt how trustworthy they were.  Besides, it was likely that what had clued Alcher in that she wasn’t human was already swirling questions in Ari and Kitty’s minds. 

 “We were both at Luigi’s and decided to snag a deal together for a 2 for 1 pizza.  Can’t beat a bargain, right?”, she chuckled, remembering how horrified she’d been at first.  “But she could… smell me.  Smell my fire.  And where normally not being human is something I’d hide away, Alcher encouraged me to let it shine through, that there was nothing to hide about.”  She looked at Nicole again, and then between the other two women.  “Maybe not the most sound advice in White Crest”, she said with another chuckle, “but it was definitely a welcome dose of self-love I hadn’t even known I needed.  We… there were some hard times for us after that, involving her wolf when the dreams were going haywire.  But there was never a time that Alcher’s presence didn’t make me feel warm and protected.  Not ever.”  She wiped the few tears that had fallen down her cheek, letting out a slow breath.  This wasn’t fair.  She wished they didn’t have to be here.

 Comforting speeches may not be in her wheelhouse, but physical activity sure was. Nicole grew up shoveling, that much she could do. So she followed along, ready to get back into action. She remembered Leah mentioning how the two met before, but was curious for the extra. And she was surprised, in a pleasant way for once, by how mundane it was. It gave her hope, albeit barely, that not everyone was in town was doomed to meet under horrible circumstances. There was a sad smile on her face, watching the woman speak of her memories. She clenched her jaw, resisting the need to cry.

 Pushing the shovel into the spot, she helped herself with her boot to sink it deeper. “Uh,” Nicole sucked in her bottom lip, trying to find a way to make her first, second and third encounter with Alcher less terrifying than they truly were. Not once they met under good circumstances. Most times they were both in incredible pain. But things were supposed to get better. After beating the watch’s curse. So much for that. “We met at the beach. Cave of voices, you know the one that’s—”  Nicole trailed off, they probably knew. Instead of focusing on how, she recalled what it felt like every time they met. “She always… uh, had this—” she was scary, really. But not in a bad way, “she was intimidating, like she knew… she knew so much. She acted like a leader” not for nothing, Nicole followed her three times into the unknown. If she didn’t have Alcher, she wasn’t so sure she would’ve made it out of the dreamscape a year ago. “She… might be the reason why— I’m still around” unable to look into anyone’s eyes, she fixed on the ground instead, and began digging. “What uh, what about you two?” 

 It was bittersweet to hear how Alcher met her other friends. Ariana had always seen the older wolf in a more serious and motherly light. Meeting someone over pizza felt light and breezy, but it wasn’t surprising that Alcher had been straight to the point that Leah smelled like fire. She’d never been one to beat around the bush. Not that Ariana was particularly good at subtly, but she tried. “That sounds like her,” she said with a ghost of a smile, “She was all about accepting and taking pride in your nature.” She scooped a few more bits of dirt out of the ground. The motion itself was comforting in its own way. Movement always helped her feel more at ease. “I remember the crazy dreams. She mentioned having a hard time. I’m glad she still had a comforting presence. I think it’s the way she carries herself. It’s hard not to feel safe knowing she’s on your side.” 

 When her palms started to feel sweaty, she held out the shovel for someone else to grab. Listening to memories of Alcher made it harder to breathe. The lump in her throat was hard to swallow down though she was sure her glassy eyes gave her away. Ariana supposed it was normal for people to cry at funerals, but it didn’t feel earned. Not anymore. She let out a breath to steady herself before looking at Nicole. “I get that, she had a commanding presence,” she agreed, “She’s the reason I’m still around, too. She was a protector. A fierce one.” 

 Her own first meeting with Alcher was easy like Leah’s. While their meeting had been planned, she had no idea that Alcher was a wolf until she met her. The sense of ease Ariana felt with Alcher had been immediate. The woman seemed unbreakable in the way she carried herself. It always felt like there was nothing she couldn’t overcome. How wrong she had been made her tempted to wrap her arms around herself, instead she stood closer to Kitty. “When Alcher first moved to town, I had offered to show her some of my favorite hiking spots. Once we met up, we were able to sniff each other out. It was very Spider Man meme.” She fidgeted with her hands and watched the hole grow bigger as they all took turns digging. “From there, she always looked out for me. Even when she didn’t agree with me.” 

 There was so much that the other three had experienced with Alcher that Kitty didn’t really know, couldn’t really know, but she wanted to try. The reliving of memories with a loved one was just as good of a way to get to know the dead as meeting a ghost was, her mama liked to say. Not everybody could talk to ghosts, but everybody could share memories. Kitty took the shovel from Ari with a small smile; she’d help however she could, and this was the biggest way that she knew how. She dug deep, trying to take too much of the stress off of everyone else while they reminisced. Chuckling, Kitty said, “She was intimidatin’ for sure.” And then she handed the shovel off. 

 Shrugging gently, Kitty was quiet as she said, “I didn’t really know Alcher all that long. She introduced herself as Ada before we got to know each other.” She hunched over, feeling smaller than she was. Alcher had been kind, and she’d wanted Kitty to accept the part of herself that she just… couldn’t, not really, not even on a good day. She was trying, and she’d never let Ari know, but she still just didn’t really feel like a wolf most days. It was like when she’d been with her family, all spellcasters with just her being odd one out. She could fake being fine with being a werewolf just fine, though. She’d fake it til she made it. That was what she always did. Kitty gave the group a lopsided smile and said, “I helped her around the place. Grew up in a place not too different. Alcher was kind. She refused to call me Kitty, though.”

 Memories poured out of all of them, and with the memories, the hole they dug out for Alcher’s tree grew deeper and deeper.  It was poetic, in a way, and so similar to the emptiness Alcher left them all behind with.  Leah pressed the shovel in for another go, always careful not to put too much exertion on her arms.  “I knew her as Ada first too”, she noted, passing the shovel along again.   She loved listening to everyone’s stories.  They were all so different, but also so intensely Alcher.  A protector, a leader, and most importantly, a friend.  Her early death was so incredibly unfair.  “She always spoke so fondly of her pack”, she said, looking between Ari and Kitty.  “She had such an admirable duty to family, didn’t she?”

 Nicole’s eyes narrowed, trying to decipher what meme Ariana was referring to. She offered a smile all the same. There were differences in each story, but one thing stayed consistent: The respect Alcher had earn from each of them. No matter who spoke, it seemed the woman had a lasting impression. The shovel was passed and with her hands empty, her anxiety crept in again. She kept a watchful eye on Leah as she took her turn shoveling. It wasn’t too taxing, but she always worried for her glass bones. And a broken wrist wouldn’t be too helpful in these circumstances. “She really cared about you two”. Eventually the shovel made its way back to her, and she took care of finishing up. 

 Hands on her hips, Nicole examined their work for a moment. “Uh… looks good” She would’ve liked to keep shoveling. Dig as deep as their stamina allowed, and distract herself from the awful reasons behind their meeting. But the hole was more than ideal for an oak tree. Her gaze met Ariana’s and she offered a curt but encouraging nod before looking over to the small tree. It would not get better after this, planting and spreading Alcher’s ashes. But they could do it, together. She swallowed against the knot in her throat. “Need help with it?”

 It was difficult to hear the others share their memories of Alcher. Ariana couldn’t help but feel like she failed them, too. If only she had something, anything, more. There was so much consistency to their memories though which seemed to prove Alcher was always just who she was with them. Her steadfast presence and loyalty was something that brought comfort to those who knew her. She watched as the soil continued to pile up outside the hole and nodded along as Leah spoke. “She did. She’d stop at nothing to protect the people she cared about.” 

 She laughed a bit at Kitty’s last memory with still teary eyes. “Oh yeah, she always called you Katherine. The first time she spoke to me about you, I had no idea who she was even talking about.” Using a full name was proper and just inherently Alcher. Ari would still never call Kitty by her full name, but it was an amusing memory. 

 The hole in the ground was ready as Nicole looked back her way. Her own gaze shifted to the small oak tree that still had so much more to grow. One day, it’d be big enough to give Stark a nice shady spot to rest as he watched all the other animals on the land. The thought made Ariana smile weakly. She couldn’t do right by Alcher, but she could do right by Stark. It wasn’t much, but it was something. Ari knelt down next to the tree and began to remove the plastic pot that held it and placed it in the ground. Returning the soil around it would be easier, but spreading the ashes would be much harder. Part of her like having them in a jar she kept next to her bed, but Alcher’s remains weren’t meant to spend the rest of time indoors. Like Alcher herself, they needed freedom to roam and explore. Eventually the wind would carry them around the farm and the forest that surrounded it. It was appropriate. She carefully placed the tree in the hole and inspected it with a careful eye. “Once we put the soil back in, it’ll be good. We get enough rain that it’ll grow well here.” 

 “Alcher loved this farm, it’s a good place for her ashes and memorial,” Ariana said quietly, “We’d do fires out here a lot and cook meat over the open flame while Stark ran around. She was with me through a lot and we had so many serious conversations, it was always just nice when we could relax and enjoy each other’s company without any of the worries.” 

 Easy, shortstack, Kitty wanted to say, wanting to reach out and comfort her smaller friend, but she knew that there were times that folks needed to feel their emotions on their own. Ari always knew that Kitty would be there for her if she needed someone to lean on. Kitty would just wait until she was needed, and she didn’t mind it one bit. She managed a smile of her own, lopsided and a little bittersweet. “I’d almost prefer Kate,” she said. She thought about Leah’s words. What was that saying? The strength of the wolf is the pack, and the strength of the pack is the wolf. It was hard for Kitty to wrap her head around, feeling something familial for people who weren’t family, when family was all that she’d known for so long. But she felt like Ari was family. In the brief time she’d known her, there was something about Alcher that felt like family. She didn’t know what to do about that. She didn’t mind it, though.

 Kitty helped the others with the tree, getting it in place. She scrubbed her hands down her jeans as she listened to Ari’s soft, sad voice. Kitty looked at the tree, at the farm. “This is a good place. My mama likes to say that emotions can get stored in the earth, the soil, the roots. The better the memories, the better the growin’. There were good memories here, and Alcher was a part of that.” She looks at the tree. “It’ll grow. It’ll be just as strong as she was.” She’d help make sure of it as long as she was around. And she’d make sure Ari was okay, too. Ari was too small to have all that sadness weighing her down. Time was the ultimate healer, but she figured it could be assisted. Kitty didn’t have the magic to heal, not like her sister Natalie, but she could do it the nonmagical way. Maybe that could be enough.

 It was hard to know the right thing to say at a time like this, when everything seemed so wrong.  Tears filled Leah’s eyes at the silly anecdotes that the others shared, both from happiness that they had experienced them and sadness that none of them would ever get that chance again.   Like Kitty, she put a hand around the stump Ari was about to put in the hole.  It felt right that they all put it in together, and she was sure it was what Alcher would have wanted.  “This will make it so she’ll always be here for those fires.  When we’re all old and gray, and even after.  Lifetimes from now, people will come to sit under this tree and be able to feel the monumental protection she placed over all of us.”  In the scribary, she’d write down reminders to herself to visit often, to never allow  the likes of a hunter wipe out Alcher’s memory.  “We should make it a point, I think, if it’s okay with you all, to come back here this day every year to continue to honor her memory.”

 Nicole watched Ariana and the girls lower the tree, but her mind kept replaying Kitty's words. Or rather, her mother’s words. Her throat closed, touched by the sentiment. Memories of her family filled her mind. She had never done anything similar to this memorial for them, always keeping her love locked inside. Safe, she used to think. Was that why it still felt like unfinished business?  

 As Ariana shared more casual stories, Nicole could only hope the soil soaked all the love they were pouring into it. If that was the case, the strongest tree would grow. It would remain long after most of them were gone. She nodded at Leah’s suggestion, glancing at the tree. A year from now, who knew where any of them would be. It felt incredibly vulnerable to admit it, but at least she had something to look forward to now. "I'd like that," she said. Picking up the shovel, she scooped a small amount of soil to cover the roots, before handing the tool back to Ariana. She hoped this year would be kinder to all of them. She’d like to see all of them look a lot better than they did in this moment. Maybe then, the next meeting would be filled with laughter instead of tears.

 Nothing would ever feel like enough, but Ariana felt a bit better knowing Alcher was being honored properly. Maybe it was selfish and maybe she had failed someone she loved yet again, but she could play her part in keeping Alcher’s memory alive. And maybe that’s what she’d meant before. You will not lose me, kliener. The repetition of Alcher’s words didn’t ring in the same bitter feeling they had at first. I will always be here with you. Looking at the tear stained faces around her, for the first time since Alcher’s death, her words clicked into place. While Kitty was an inevitability in her life, Ari would love and protect her more fiercely. Then there was Leah and Nicole, two women she would have never known if it wasn’t for Alcher. She made a promise to herself to be sure Stark did get his play dates with Pax. And Leah’s suggestion to come back every year and continue to honor Alcher, it’d keep them all connected. She knew better than to think that it would make the hurt and guilt fade away. Nothing ever would, not completely, but this was something. Her eyes were still glassy as she looked at Leah with a weak smile, “That’s a great idea. I think Alcher would love that, too.”

 She took the shovel Nicole passed her way with a nod and patted down the final bits of soil. Ari took a step back to look at the tree they all had a hand in planting. It seemed sturdy and strong though she knew it’d take some time to fully root itself in place. She set the shovel down and grabbed the makeshift urn that held Alcher’s ashes. She held it tightly against her chest for a moment before turning to the others. “If you’d like, we can all take a bit to place around the tree and have a final goodbye of sorts?” 

 The tree was in place, and Kitty couldn’t help but look down at it in contemplation. It would grow into a good tree, a tall one, one that would be able to stand on its own in a few years. But, for now, it required just a bit of tending to. A little effort, a little love. But that’d be easy. Moving on from what happened to Alcher would be hard. They’d manage, though. Kitty would make sure that Ari was alright, and, as long as the other two women wanted to stick around, she’d make sure they were alright, too. Maybe a pack didn’t have to just be wolves, though she couldn’t know. A family, a coven without any magic users, though she felt like they all had a little magic in them in some way. 

 Kitty patted Ari’s shoulder. “I think that’s a good idea.” She waited for the urn to open and took some ashes, sprinkling them around the tree. She bent down and dug her fingers into the soil. “For I am the soul of nature, who giveth life to the universe. From me, all things proceed, and unto me must all things return,” she whispered, eyes closed in reverence. Her was a belief of all beliefs, a conglomerate of things that blended together, but one thing that tied all things was nature. It was what tied them here, now, to this spot, returning one lost to the place from which they came. Even though Alcher would rest far from her homeland, the natural world would always accept her back with open arms. Kitty stood back up and took a deep breath. Slowly, she let it go.

 Leah couldn’t help but think of loved ones in her life that had passed before Alcher did.  None of those losses were easy, but with her phoenix born family members there was always a sense of comfort that they would meet again soon. When it was her turn, she stepped toward the urn, the ashes felt familiar in her hands. But these would not form life again in a few months.  Instead of signaling the beginning of something, they verified the ultimate end.  She bent down near the tree, the tears that filled up her eyes making it nearly impossible to see now.  “See you soon”, she whispered as she spread out the ashes, watching as the wind already took some away.  Afterward, she reached into her pocket and pulled out a ring she had found for just this occasion.  She wasn’t sure if it was the case with all phoenixes, but with her family, it was typical to leave a ring at the grave site of a loved one.  It was a symbol of hope that, phoenix or not, life was cyclical.  They would meet again, somehow.  She pressed it to her lips, her eyes closed in thought, before placing it gently at the base of the tree.  She stood up, walking back over to Nicole to lean against her, if only for a moment before it was her turn. 

 Nicole’s heart pounded in her throat, anger simmering inside her as she listened to the girls have their final moments with Alcher. She found it difficult to comprehend that the urn contained all that was left of Alcher. If she could’ve removed herself from the situation, if rational thinking could’ve been possible, then maybe she wouldn’t be so disturbed seeing her imposing figure reduced to that. 

 She barely felt Leah by her side before she realized it was her turn. Grabbing a handful of the ashes, Nicole kept her gaze down and waited. Waited for her mouth to cooperate. Waited for the goodbye to leave her lips. She had tried to keep a mature outlook to all of this, detach as much as she could, but holding the ashes twisted something within her. She didn’t have the strength to chase away the dark clouds in her mind anymore. What could she even say? She didn’t have wishes of a peaceful rest. Fuck that. Alcher shouldn’t have been resting. She should’ve had more time. Should’ve been with them, leading this unconventional pack she created. When her chest ached and her throat cried out for release, how was she supposed to have any beautiful sentiments? She waited for mouth to cooperate, but not even her heart wanted to. 

 Chewing on the inside of her cheek, Nicole endured the wave of anger. And slowly, she let some ashes slip through her fingers. She wondered if Alcher was reunited with her family. The one she gave up her love for. Maybe that was the greatest consolation. Maybe Alcher really was in a better place. Still, logic didn’t serve her heart. She swallowed against the painful knot in her throat, spreading the ashes in silence. Maybe another time she'd be able to come back and say goodbye, but she couldn't right now. She didn’t have the words. She never learned, did she? She had a plea instead, it crossed her mind as she watched part of the ashes mix with the soil while the rest were wept by the wind. I’ll look for you. Please be there. Don’t leave us alone. 

 The moment felt so final. Even if the nightmare played over and over in her dreams every night, it was hard to accept as real. This final send off had given Ariana some small bit of purpose to hold on to, some small piece of Alcher to share with those who loved her most. The connections made today would help keep Alcher’s memory alive, but it was hard to reconcile that she was gone in the first place, that she had been frozen in place watching. Her heart thudded in her chest during these final moments where the urn was passed back to her. A fresh wave of tears pricked at the corner of her eyes as she grabbed a handful of ash to lay around the tree. 

 She knelt down in front of the tree and stared at it for a few moments. Ariana carefully patted down the ash in the soil around the tree. It was the end of one cycle, but the beginning of a new one. This tree would grow strong just as the bonds made today would. They had to. She whispered as her hands left the soil and ash, “I’m sorry.” She wanted to believe Alcher could hear her. That she could forgive her and knowing the older wolf, she probably would. Her support had always been unyielding, even when they disagreed. All she could do now was protect the people here, to never let herself sit idly by in a dangerous situation like that again. Her voice was soft enough that it was likely only Kitty could hear, but she made a promise. “I promise I’ll keep them safe. I’ll fight for them and I’ll love them.” 

For good measure, Jasmine asked Lea’s friend to meet her at her office. She’d only been slightly nervous about taking the wards down, but since Leah had provided her with a vial of tears, at least she had her left arm back which meant she could more easily swing an iron rod if Larry Bob decided to pay a visit. Hopefully, this woman’s ghost wasn’t violent. She doubted they would be and would probably relish at the chance to talk to their sibling. At least, most ghosts seemed to like being able to relay their message. It was odd being a telephone of sorts, but if Leah was friends with this woman, she could offer up her services free of charge. Even if that was reluctant. Her office was in pristine condition with some of her certifications hung up on the wall as well as her Equal Housing Opportunity Acts poster as was mandated by the law. She kept her office somewhat modern looking with touches of plants here and there. Most of them came with a care guide from Nell to save them from her… whatever the opposite of a green thumb was. She saw Ada approaching through the glass door to her office and smiled warmly as she entered. She extended her hand to shake, “You must be Ada.” Her eyes lingered behind her for a moment, not seeing any trace of a ghost. She couldn’t feel anything off either. The woman definitely wasn’t possessed at the very least. “Leah explained that you may be experiencing some ghost problems. Sorry to jump right into things, but could you tell me a bit about it?” 

 Alcher was never opposed to getting help, but the inherent problem with exorcists was that they were human. Human plus, sure, but still human. They all mostly still operated within human law and human morality, which meant she would have to monitor what she said and how she acted. Even the office the woman had Alcher come to was filled with human stench and human commodities. The only good parts were the plants. Alcher approached the doors, waiting for her to open them, glancing down at the extended hand, but not taking it. “I am,” she answered, looking back up at the woman. She seemed relatively normal, but then again, there was very little about mediums that stood out among humans. “You must be Jasmine.” Alcher took a seat across from her and took in the office around her. “I’ve been seeing my dead brother around,” she said simply, “I had an encounter with something Leah told me might be Deogen fog, and ever since then, I’ve been seeing him around. I believe only I can see him, and he talks to me.” Took another look around before resting her gaze on Jasmine. “He’s not here now.”

 Considering what Jasmine agreed to help with, the aloof nature and lack of niceties from Ada took her by surprise. The hand she extended fell back to her side and her perfectly arched brows furrowed together momentarily. If Ada wasn’t going to keep with what was considered polite then neither would she. “That’s me, yes,” she answered plainly. She sat tall in her chair as she sat down at her desk and listened to what Ada had to say. If an encounter with some other monster had set off being able to see her brother, it seemed more likely it was an illusion. People didn’t just gain the ability to see ghosts… except for that one time ghosts were visible in White Crest. Okay. maybe it wasn’t entirely impossible, but it seemed unlikely. “If Leah believes it was a Deogen fog, I’m inclined to believe her. She’s very well versed in this sort of thing. I don’t believe that would give you the ability to see ghosts though.” Her tone was matter of fact though she would need more details. “There are ways to be sure though. I had taken the wards down here temporarily so a ghost may enter if they wish. If he’s a ghost, I’d be able to see him while he’s present.” If he seemed to be keeping to himself outside of that, Jasmine doubted that would work. “Are there certain places he usually appears to you? There are a few things we can test.” 

 “It’s not all ghosts,” Alcher corrected, not bothering to keep the ice from her tone, “just the one. And, like I said, I’m not sure he’s a ghost. Hence why I’m here.” She trusted Leah, she truly did-- but humans were all the same. They would either believe her or write her off, and Jasmine would be no different. She didn’t owe this woman anything, especially not her politeness. “He’s not here now, as I said before. I only tend to see him in--” she paused, clicked her teeth-- “moments of distress.”  She glanced around the office once more, as if to check and make sure she was right, that Klaus was not here at the moment. “What are these tests, then? I’d rather not have to linger on this, if he’s not actually a ghost.” 

 “I never said it was,” Jasmine snapped back unable to fully hide her annoyance. She had offered her help up to this woman. What was with the attitude? If she had this all handled on her own then she could be gone. Deep down, Jasmine’s sense of purpose wouldn’t allow for that. So, through gritted teeth, she said, “Moments of distress are hard to imitate, but you should keep some salt on you.” She fished through her purse and pulled out a ziplock bag that was filled with rock salt. It wasn’t ideal and she’d much rather see this “ghost” for herself, but she was finding she wasn’t too eager to spend much time with this Ada woman. She handed the bag of salt over and explained, “When you see him again, sprinkle a bit of this on him. If he fades or flickers, he’s likely a ghost. They’re also sensitive to iron. If the sale has no effect, then you have something else on your hands. Likely an illusion. Does your brother ever ask you to do anything?”

 Alcher eyed Jasmine warily when she pulled out the bag of salt. Her annoyance was lost on Alcher-- human sensibilities just didn’t matter to her, and so often, she was blind to them. She reached out and took the bag, giving it a small shake. “That’s it? Just...pour salt on him?” She lowered the bag and returned her gaze to Jasmine, crinkling her nose. “Right. Will do.” And iron. She would keep these things in mind, no matter how much she begrudged learning them from a human. She thought for a moment, trying to remember all the things Klaus had said to her. “No, not really. He mostly just…” reminds her of her failings, “talks about our childhood with me. Or tells me I’m doing something wrong. Typical older brother things.” She was certain of that. “So how do you know Leah?”

 The woman in front of her seemed wholly unimpressed with her suggestion. Sure, it wasn’t much, but it’s not like Jasmine could do all that much considering the maybe ghost wasn’t even here. Plus, it was more knowledge than Ada had previously. She hardly needed praise from this woman though. “Yes, that’s it. If it’s really a ghost, they’ll disappear for a while. I could also put wards up around your home if that’s something you’d like. If you see your brother in the building with wards up then that’d also be a dead giveaway he’s not a ghost and more likely an illusion.” Still, if this was a ghost problem, she had some obligation to help even if she found she wasn’t a big fan of this woman. “Hm,” she said pondering what exactly that could mean, “Not sure that really feels like an unfinished business sort of thing that would keep him on this plane, but I guess we’ll see. Let me know how it goes when you see him next.” The small talk surprised her given Ada’s general demeanor. Alright, maybe she was trying. Not everyone was great at the social thing. “Oh, Leah? We’ve been good friends since we were kids. We went to school together and have stayed friends all these years. How do you two know each other?” 

 So that was it. Ghosts, Alcher though, were pretty pathetic, then. Just a swing of an iron rod, or some salt? Sad. Well, they were dead already, but unlike vampires and zombies, they had no solid form. Perhaps they’re only advantage was that they could not be seen by the normal eye. Alcher postured to herself whether or not it might be possible to see them through some magical means, and if she was willing to stoop to the level of a human to ask that. She went with no, for now. Perhaps if this turned out to actually be a ghost, she would reassess. “I will pass on the wards for now, until I know for sure what he is,” she answered shortly, brushing off the rest. She was, however, much more interested in the other woman’s answer about Leah. Childhood friends. She wondered if this woman knew of Leah’s true nature and how truly special she was. Her brows knit together. “Have you lived here your whole life, then? In White Crest?” she shifted on her feet, plastic groaning as it took on all her weight for a moment, before switching back. “We actually met at one of the restaurants here. We got to talking and it turned out that we had a few things in common. She’s helped me with a few problems, as well. She’s a very smart girl,” she answered, “very special.”

 None of her knowledge seemed to be all that impressive to Scars over here. Jasmine didn’t need her praise. She knew her extensive knowledge of ghosts, exorcism rituals, and background with languages was impressive. Hell, she’d put a lot of time into all of the above and this woman was here for her help. Albeit, she couldn’t provide the most help without meeting the ghost or not ghost in question. “Hold off on the wards, got it,” she agreed. In this town they were always a good idea, but it was her brother in question here. She remembered how she removed the wards from her own home when it was Bea that was the ghost. “Oh yeah,” she answered, a bit more cheerful now that Ada seemed to be engaging more in there conversation, “Born and raised in White Crest. Definitely an interesting place to grow up to say the least.” She listened as the woman explained how she met Leah. It was no surprise to her that Leah was making new friends so easily. Her arms rested on her desk and she nodded along. “Leah is a great person to get to know. Even if it’s not a ghost, it’s likely one of her books has something on this. I can’t tell you how many time her books have literally saved the day.” Clearly she liked Leah’s manners, but that was okay. The way she said special though caused Jasmine to raise a brow. “She is very special. In many ways, but most importantly, she’s one of my dearest friends and one of the kindest people I know. Did she have any other ideas for what could be going on with your brother?” 

 “Interesting is one word for it,” Alcher agreed, “though I’m not sure you’d understand the word I would use to describe it.” Not many Americans bothered to learn German, or even Polish, for that matter. Too far deviated from their beloved romantic languages. Not that she cared much for human language, but it was the one she was taught to love and communicate with, and so she held it close to her heart. “She’s already trying very hard to research what it might be. Hence why she sent me to you in the meantime.” She reached out and ran her hand along one of the bookshelves in the office, letting her fingers trace some of the spines. A strange collection of books, though Alcher could only understand the titles of half of them. “One day her compulsion to help others is going to get her into trouble,” she commented, turning her eyes to look at the other woman, but not her body, “she needs someone around to protect her when that happens.” It was the unasked question that hung in the air before Alcher turned to fully face Jasmine. “If it’s not a ghost, she believes it’s some sort of leftover magic from the Deogen fog. So I suppose all that’s left to find out is if I need a witch doctor or, well,” her eyes looked Jasmine up and down, “you.”

 “Try me,” Jasmine said with a hint of a smirk on her face, “Though I only know English, French, and Latin fluently, I have a baseline understanding of a good number of languages… given they’re all ancient languages used for different exorcism rituals.” Was she being a little show off-y? Probably. Did she care? Not even a little bit. There was still a certain air between them that made her feel more inclined to brag. She wasn’t sure how she got along with Leah so well, but she wasn’t going to question Leah’s choice in friends. “That sounds like Leah. I’m sure she’ll be reading book upon book until she finds the answer,” she responded and she watched as the woman ran her hand along her books. Most were on real estate seeing as they were in the office. There was the occasional book on ghosts and the like on her shelf though none were in English. No one ever questioned that too deeply and if they did, she simply said she enjoyed the study of languages. Not entirely off base as it was. Her eyebrow raised at the mention of Leah needing to be protected. Did that mean she knew Leah was a phoenix? If anything, her favorite flame thrower was far more capable of self defense than most, but this town had a way of throwing some pretty crazy loopholes and Leah wasn’t entirely down to harm others. “I don’t disagree with you there. This town can be dangerous… for everyone really. I love who she is and how willing to help others she is, but I think I’ll always worry for her. Unless it’s a ghost, I’m not the most helpful protector… though iron rods are good for whacking people. Just don’t have the enhanced strength to back it up. Do you feel inclined to protect her?” If it had anything to do with magic, she knew Leah had that covered. “Hm,” she said slowly, “Well, I think either way, Leah has contacts to cover it. She has me for ghosts and our other best friend for magic so… you could say we’re quite the trio.” 

 Alcher pondered a moment, before the right word came to mind. “Kuddelmuddel,” she answered simply, a word that had no direct translation from German to English, but meant something along the lines of unstructured chaos or mess. And while Jasmine’s repertoire of languages would have impressed any normal human, Alcher had no care for it. She knew a few languages herself, out of necessity, but the language she preferred was the one of her beast, and therefore it was the only one she cared about. “I do,” Alcher answered honestly. Leah was small and fragile and her talents lie in helping others through information and research. She was not a fighter. She should not be in positions that put her in that situation, no matter how strong or capable she thought herself. If there were monsters out there that could give Alcher a run for her money, then Leah was hopeless. Alcher would not let anything happen to her, on her watch. “It’s a pity you exorcists aren’t granted with anything other than words and sight. Your cousins get superstrength, after all.” She folded her arms back over her chest and tilted her head. “A magician and an exorcist. Leah makes the most interesting friends, doesn’t she?”

 Jasmine listened closely to the word only to realize she’d never heard it before. It didn’t have any familiar Latin or Greek roots to it that would have made it rang a bell. It sounded more Germanic which while the language had some ties to Latin and Greek, it was a beast all its own. “You got me, I don’t know what that word means. Good word though. What does it mean? Roughly, anyway.” She knew better than most that not everything translated well to English. There still seemed to be an air about Ada that she wasn’t quite sure about, but she was admittedly curious about this friend of Leah’s. Especially since losing Bea, she found she was considerably more protective over the people she loved. If this woman felt so inclined to protect Leah, Jasmine wouldn’t complain even if she wasn’t necessarily a fan. She absentmindedly organized some of the files out on her desk and raised an eyebrow. “Cousins? I don’t have any cousins with superstrength,” she asked with a her features scrunching together in confusion, “Mediums don’t have super strength either if that’s what you mean though some of them have telekinetic like abilities.” Blanche came to mind though the young woman was still learning how to harness said abilities. There was something in the way Ada mentioned Leah’s friends and called Bea a magician that caused Jas to let out a huff. “Pretty sure magicians and witches aren’t the same thing. One does party tricks, one does actual magic. You sure seem rather concerned about the company she keeps for someone who only just met her.” 

 “I suppose the closest thing would be...chaos, a mess, unpredictable.” Not that Alcher had enough understanding of the English language to explain properly. But that wasn’t the important thing here, and she didn’t care to explain further. “No, I’m aware exorcists have no superstrength. Cousins as in...hunters,” she said with a hiss for that last word. The reason she had been brought into this world, to take down the hunters. “Wardens. You people who think you are chosen to protect mankind. I don’t take issue with exorcists usually, if they mind their boundaries.” Her eyes settled back on Jasmine. She doubted the woman had many hunter friends, but one could never be too careful. “All magic is just tricks,” she said evenly. “I understand what it’s like in this world for her more than you or your magician friend ever could. Bond is not forged through time, but trust.” She let the words sink in before taking in a breath and standing up a bit taller. “But, if that’s all-- I think I’ll take my leave. I’ll let you know if it turns out my problem is a ghostly one.”

The night air was still, not even the usual whispers thought to break the silence of it. So strange for the Cave of Voices to be so quiet. Kevin wondered if it knew what was to come. There had been a few children poking about earlier, though none had seen her sitting in the dark of the cave. They had all gone off now. It was better that way. Tide was low. Perfect for her dreamers, it wouldn’t do for them to slip on the treacherous rock. Kevin sat in the middle of the cave, eyes shut, waiting. They were coming. Three lovely little souls walking in their dreams, following the path she had set before them. It wouldn’t be long now. They were bringing the elements to her, the things she had lost. Soon they would be whole again. She would be whole again. 

The first thing Alcher registered was the weight in her hands. As her blurry vision cleared in front of her, a dim glow could be seen between them. It blotted out most everything else around her as she squinted. The next thing was the cool touch of rock under her bare feet. She did not slip or falter as she walked along them. Her body carried itself until it came to a dark cave, lit mostly by the object in her hand. It felt soft and cool against her hands as well, much smoother than the rocks digging holes into the pads of her feet. She did not know where she was, only that there was someone already here, and more coming. Her body stood stiff as she came to a stop. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. The figure in front of her swayed, blurry, in and out of her vision. Who are you? Her mouth begged to say. Where am I? Her eyes asked.

Nicole’s steps were determined as she entered the Cave of Voices. It hadn’t been easy, driving all the way to the docks. Then the climbing. Stepping in a few puddles inside the cave was nothing in comparison. But as she blinked back into consciousness, she felt the familiar jolt of fear in the pit of her stomach. Worried brown eyes scanned her surroundings as she blinked into consciousness. Confused, the bag she held in her hand almost dropped to her feet. Her grip tightened just before it could slip from her fingers. Disoriented and frozen on the spot, there was a sense of deja vu. It wasn’t the first time she had woken up in the middle of sleepwalking. It was the first time, however, where she was unable to panic. If the adrenaline running through her veins was any indication, the stakes were high. Her own feelings could wait. “What…” she opened her mouth to speak, all her thoughts vanishing before she could string more words. She turned to her side, to the person carrying the only source of light in the cave, then to the figure ahead of them. She couldn’t make out who it was.

Queenie shivered back to consciousness. Her foggy memory was only enhanced by the darkness of her surroundings. There was nothing more than dim lighting and the cold bit at her as she slowly started to realize that she thought that she should be in her home, but this was certainly not her home. Despite this, Queenie seemed too dazed for this realization to truly affect her. Although logically she knew that her mind should be racing with questions, she couldn’t help but think that she was exactly where she needed to be. Even if where she was still remained a mystery, and the people gathered around her were nothing more than complete strangers. On instinct, her hand went to the pocket of her sleeping shorts. She breathed a sigh of relief when she felt the outline of the pen through it. She had no idea what the pen was or why she immediately thought that it was so important, but she felt calmed just knowing that it was there. Finally, her body seemed to recognize the cold and she found herself huddling into a fetal position and hugging herself for warmth, “What is this place?” She managed to ask through chattering teeth.

“There you are, my loves.” Kevin smiled as she slowly stepped toward the light. The glow of it was soft, warm, just as she remembered. They had done it. Oh how wonderful! Her perfect dreamers! If only her hands could hold theirs properly. Not yet. But soon. She looked to each of them, her eyes warm. “I’m so glad to have you here with me. Please, may I know your names? I won’t take them from you, I’ve already found one. You may use it of course, please call me Kevin. Show me what you’ve brought me, dears.” Three perfect dreamers bringing the pieces together.If only she could banish the cold--actually, now that she thought of it. Some of her strength had returned, maybe it was enough. She lifted one of her warped limbs, muttering under her breath. A rush of warmth billowed from her fingerless hand, filling the cave, forcing out the chill of the waves. “There. I do hope you’re comfortable.”

Despite the new warmth surrounding them, Nicole shuddered, hair standing up on the back of her neck as the figure spoke. Eerie yet welcoming, she didn’t know what to make of that combination. It shouldn’t be possible. And why was the voice speaking to them like that? She shook her head curtly at the request. “N…” no she didn’t want to give her name. But part of her craved pleasing whoever was speaking to her. Kevin, what a friendly name. Kevin wanted her name and her bag. How could she deny it? Her initial defiance only lasted a moment, taking a tentative step forward. She opened the bag, looking inside with apprehension. Luckily, the bones were still there. “Is this…” had she obtained what Kevin needed from her? Despite feeling awake, her brain still was too foggy to work properly. Every word she tried to speak slipped away before reaching her mouth. And what about her name? Right, she was supposed to share that as well. “Nicole”. 

Alcher’s eyes steeled themselves as the figure in the center spoke. She’d been joined by two others, but there was still only three scents, including her own. Why did this center figure not have one? Who were they? A name told Alcher nothing. But despite the initial distrust, despite her years of paranoia and watching over her own shoulder, she found herself compelled to speak. “Alcher,” she said, and she didn’t even hesitate. Didn’t even try and give her fake name. Alcher clicked her jaw shut and tried to look around, but found her body stiff and unwilling to yield to her own demands. Her hands stayed out in front of her, cradling the bulb as if it were a child, a newborn bastion here to save the world. Or perhaps just this mysterious figure. She narrowed her eyes to convey her distrust instead, but did not move otherwise. “Why are we here?” she found herself able to ask.

Despite her brain knowing that logically something was amiss, Queenie grinned against the new warmth that enveloped around her. There was conflict. Not outwardly, but within herself. Battling against every bit of her that knew none of this made sense. Queenie was a doctor, a woman of science and logic. This figure, this… Kevin defied those things. But instead of fear or disbelief, Queenie felt triumphant. Because this was where she was supposed to be at this moment. As if Queenie had always known exactly what it was for, she reached into her pocket and pulled the pen free, setting it on the ground in front of her but keeping her hand cupped over it so that it couldn’t roll away. She needed to keep it safe. “My name is Dr. Queenie Lin-King.” She glanced over at the two nearest to her. They were like her, not like Kevin. Were they here for the same reason? Could they explain any of this to her? Did Queenie even need any of it explained? Everything felt so confusing but yet it all seemed to make sense. The dissonance was jarring enough to build a tension headache.

“So wonderful to meet you all.” Nicole, Alcher, and Queenie, what wonderful names. Kevin drew close to Nicole first, leaning close to inspect the bag. She sucked in a delighted gasp, bringing her hands together. If only she could clap properly. “You’ve done it, my love. You found him. Oh, I am so very proud of you. Here, lay him out carefully,” she said, stepping to the side, ushering Nicole forward. Perfect, so very perfect. Alcher next. “You’re here to help me, sweetling. You’ve already done so much, finding my things for me.” She took the lightbulb carefully. With a mutter under her breath, the glass fell away. The glow remained, a small, warm ball of light that she tucked back into Alcher’s hands. “When dear Nicole has him set out, put that in his chest, thank you, my darling.” She was so close, they were so close. Her sweet dreamers, they would all be handsomely rewarded. Smile wide, Kevin turned to Queenie, moving to crouch before her, inspecting the pen trapped beneath her fingers. “That’s it! A doctor, you said? So refined! Will you write for me? Here, let me show you.” She reached out, mangled hand gentle as it alighted on Queenie’s temple, giving her the words, where they ought to be on the bones, and the ones meant for each dreamer.

The joyful gasp should’ve soothed some of the doubts lingering in the back of Nicole’s mind. She had earned Kevin’s approval. That was all she wanted, right? But as the sound reached her ears, a shiver ran down her spine. Could she still back out? No, there was no time for that. She drew a nervous breath, kneeling as Kevin requested for the bones to be laid out. She set the bag on the ground carefully, memories of the night she had dug the grave flashing through her mind. Her stomach twisted unpleasantly when her hand touched the first piece. Never in her life she imagined she’d be putting together a human body, as if it were a puzzle. In hindsight, she really should’ve paid more attention in biology. Once she was confident enough with the job done, she dusted her hands off, shooting one last concerned look before stepping aside for Alcher. It was a good moment to look at the other two people there with her. She wondered how they felt. Desperately wanted to meet their eyes, search for any sign that they were doing the right thing. 

Alcher’s uncertainty didn’t matter in the moments after Kevin’s joy filled the cave. The approval sent a warmth through Alcher that she hadn’t felt in well over two decades. It matched the warmth in her hands, even as the mysterious figure took the light from her. She almost felt wrong without it, but then it was returned and instructions were given. She watched the woman named Nicole begin her task, setting out the bones. They had no smell and Alcher shivered. But she waited patiently for her to finish before she went over to the bones herself and kneeled. The light drizzled from her hands as if it were physical-- thick, heavy sand, sliding through her fingers as it dripped down onto the bones, and Alcher placed the light directly into the chest, whose ribs were all broken, collapsed in on themselves. Was she giving him life? Was this what Kevin wanted? When her task was done, she stood and backed away, hands empty, and looked to the last woman. Her task was perhaps the strangest, but somewhere deep down, Alcher knew she would complete it without question. Just like they had.

Everything made sense once Kevin had helped Queenie see. Before, the words would not come to her. It was all she could do to sit helplessly and silently against the cave floor and cradling the pen as if her very existence depended on it. She had questions, but no means to form the words to ask them. She had just waited for the opportunity, for Kevin to help her realize what it was that she needed to say. Once she knew, it seemed that she had never had any need to speak those words at all, but instead write them. It made sense, since she was carrying a pen after all. Queenie stood by, eagerly waiting for Nicole and Alcher to finish their pieces. Once that was done, Queenie crawled over and immediately got to work. It was as if the bones had been labelled for her and she was simply tracing over the lines. She slowly worked her way down the remains, filling in each spot before finishing up and turning towards the two that had woken up with her. She moved towards Nicole first, pressing against the woman’s forehead and writing across her, spanning its entirety. After she had finished she slid across the floor until she met with Alcher, motioning for the woman to lift her shirt and then proceeding to draw across the ribs, her pen rising and falling with Alcher’s breath. Then she finished with herself, scribbling up and down her arm before switching to her left hand to try to do the same to her either. After she was finished, she studied the work. She squinted her eyes as she tried to read them, but for some reason none of it seemed legible. Though it made perfect sense to her as she wrote it, now she couldn’t seem to make out any of the lettering. Giving up, Queenie slid back to her original spot and continued gripping the pen tightly.

“Wonderful, my loves,” Kevin said, positively beaming. They were all so wonderful, such good listeners! She could feel the energy coming off them in waves, so, so alive. But it wasn’t theirs that she needed. Still, they could give her strength. Breathing in deep, Kevin rounded the body, kneeling before the skull. She looked to her dreamers with an encouraging smile. “Sit with me, darlings. Nicole, at my left, I think. Alcher, if you would sit closest to the light, yes, just reach out and touch his ribs, be gentle, my dear. And dear doctor, if you would try to hold his hand--the right one, yes. We’re nearly done, I only need a bit more help, you will ground and guide me. Close your eyes and think of a dream.” She waited a moment, allowing them to take up their positions before she closed her eyes, a soft, even chant dripping from her lips, slow, like the water dripping gently from the roof of the cave. It would take a bit of doing, navigating to him. He had been so difficult, and that had been before he had been dead and buried for a few centuries, now he was likely to be an absolute nightmare. But as her chant went on, Kevin could feel him, a wisp of the wind flitting into the cave. She went on, her words, grabbing, tethering, pulling the ancient spirit back to the bones. “Now my dreamers, hold him tight, we have him. Don’t let him trick you.”

Nicole’s body stiffened, despite the gentle trace of the pen tickling against her skin. She wished to read what was being written, but as the woman— Queenie, reached for Alcher it became clear deciphering the words would be impossible. She observed in silence, brow slightly furrowed as the doctor completed her task. She waited for the next instructions, her hands balling into fists as Kevin asked her to sit with her. She did as she was told with no hesitation, she was past the point to rationalize what was happening inside the cave. With one cautious look at her companions, she closed her eyes at last. A dream. She could not think of any. She lowered her head, taking the foreign chant in. The repetition made her eyelids heavy, and as she began to think falling asleep wouldn’t be such a bad thing at all, a deep, chilling voice boomed in the cave disrupting the atmosphere. She jerked at the sound, shoulders rising to her ears almost expecting something to fall on them. Eyes opening wide, she turned to Kevin for answers. Her breath grew shallow as the cries continued to resonate against the walls. He wanted them to stop, he needed help. Were they not doing exactly that? What the fuck was she supposed to do?

Alcher stayed still as the doctor wrote upon her ribs, hands holding the tattered shirt she wore up so she had access to her ribs. As if she just knew where the writing was to go, and what it meant, and why it was there. But she did not. When the doctor moved on to herself, Alcher lowered her shirt and watched with curious eyes. When Kevin beckoned them to sit with her, Alcher obliged without hesitation. Though she was born and raised to be a family head, a leader, her body still understood how to follow. It still craved for the uniform movements of a pack. She sat and closed her eyes. A dream. A happy dream. Her brothers, her family. Mother and father watching as children played in the fields. Their laughter echoed in her ears and she smiled. It was interrupted by screaming. A man. Alcher’s eyes wrenched open but all she saw was the skeleton and its light and Kevin. Whoever this man was, he did not understand. They were helping her. They were giving her life. What could have been better than that? “Just let go,” she said to the man in her native tongue, “just stop fighting.” She could not fathom why she fought so hard for this Kevin, but everything inside of her told her that this was right-- that she was right. Alcher closed her eyes once again and pulled harder on her energies, keeping the man in place as best she could.

It seemed obvious that the other two dreamers as Kevin referred to them were in a situation much like Queenie. Confusion seemed to rest upon their faces just as it did on Queenie’s, but much like her they were readily complying. It should have raised so many red flags, but instead Queenie pushed any doubts aside because Kevin was there for them. She was going to take care of the three of them. All they needed to do was help her with this. Whatever this was. Through the fog, Queenie knew that something was amiss. This was something that Queenie would not participate in. Things that she did not believe in. Yet she sat eagerly with Alcher and Nicole and closed her eyes at Kevin’s commands. It was time to dream. But someone, or rather something, was trying to stop them. Another voice, different from any of the ones within the cave now permeated through Queenie’s thoughts. Begging all of them to stop. Queenie tried to ignore it, but the voice was constant and unsettling. If Queenie were completely insane she would almost call it inhuman. It had been enough to force Queenie to break into a cold sweat, but she ignored it and continued focusing on Kevin instead. She just needed to see this through.

There was no way Kaden was missing this full moon. Two in a row was shameful enough. It should probably have felt familiar, he’d done this for years. Two off shouldn’t have made a big difference. Still, he felt a little out of sorts, almost like he was wearing an old shirt that didn’t quite fit the way he remembered, while he wandered the woods, moon high and bright, weapons polished off and strapped to him. The crossbow and rifles were on his back, pistols at his side, plenty of knives, too. Now all he needed was something to fight. And maybe a little less doubt brewing in him. The forest was entirely too quiet for his liking. There were no signs of werewolves or any monsters for that matter. The tight hold he had on his pistol seemed almost silly. There was nothing there, nothing to fight or keep people safe from. Not out there, not right then. Maybe it was fine if he sat out. It’s not like he was making much of a difference one way or another. He could turn back. Call it a night. Try again next time. Who’d know? His mind flashed to the reports he got about the massacre at a barbecue over the Fourth of July last full moon. No doubt it had been a werewolf. Had his absence cost those people their lives? He couldn’t know. But he wondered all the same. His grip tightened around his gun and he listened closer, past the sounds of crickets and the few owls nearby. There was rustling. He wasn’t alone out there in the woods. No, this was right where he needed to be. He wasn’t going to get distracted or doubt. This was the hunt. It was what he was made for. He wasn’t going to let his inaction cause more deaths. This was his decision. Kaden made sure his gun was loaded and ready, silver bullets, and kept to his path, forging ahead through the trees towards the sound.

The release of the full moon was often a relief on Alcher. Human life was daunting. It tired her in a way she could not fully explain. She’d never quite found the words for it, even after all these years. Maintaining a visage that never felt like home put a strain on her that only this could release. This moment, paws tearing across the ground. Leaves kicking up behind her. Shadows dancing across fur, eyes sharp. Jowls covered in blood, drooling for more. Her slender body slipped between trees and through brush with an almost eerie silence. An advantage to her species that her father had taught her to use well. One she’d honed living with the wolves high in the mountains of Poland. Of course, there was always noise to be heard for those with sharper ears. The tell-tale crunching of leaves, or rustling of bushes. Alcher’s nose was focused on the hunt in front of her. It’d been so long since she’d had a good meal. Her haunches grew stiff, taught, as she slunk through the shadows in pursuit, quieter now. They were clueless to the danger behind them. Sitting alone next to their tent. Gold eyes honed in on them. Just a moment more. When she leapt, there was little sound, that instinct, that bloodlust, driving her forward. Claws connected and jaws came to snap down when a glint caught her eye. The wolf reeled, fire sputtering and cracking in a pit next to her. The smell flooding her memory, warning her: danger. The man screamed. Someone was approaching from behind them. Alcher’s head whipped in their direction, pale moonlight pouring down on the scene as a distantly familiar smell wafted up the hill and up to her. Hunter, the wolf said, teeth bared. Ready to fight.

At the scream, Kaden took off running. It didn’t matter what it was, there was certainly danger and in all likelihood, it was a monster. He pushed past the trees, trying to keep any semblance of stealth that he could, though there wasn’t much left, and felt the chill creep down his spine before he saw what had happened. A wolf. There was no doubt in his mind. Pistol still ready, knives within reach, he peaked past the trees to see a clearing with a vampire. And a werewolf, snarling and savage. Kaden raised his gun, ready to fire when he noticed something else. Something missing. A leg. The wolf only had three legs. Memories flashed through his mind but he could only see red as he looked ahead of him. Kaden screamed as he let loose every fucking bullet in his gun, aimed at the beast who had killed his parents. He didn’t know what had hit in his rage, but it didn’t matter, he was already reaching for his knife with his free hand. He would take down this monster by any means necessary, it was the only thought on his mind as he charged head on at the monster. He’d kill this wolf. Even if it was the last thing he did. It wouldn’t be like last time.

Bullets rained down. Alcher’s instincts kicked into full drive and she darted into the trees, weaving in and out. They connected with the body she’d left behind, with the trees, the dirt. Her shoulder. She yelped, but kept running, sliding around a bush and turning her fangs on the hunter that had interrupted her meal. He was lost in something primal as well, a rage that she knew and understood. In this state, her mind would not make the connection, but the familiar smell blasted through her senses. Something took over her as well, a rage even unknown to the full moon. She barreled directly into the hunter, bullets be damned, and landed hard on top of him, claws digging in. Fierce golden eyes stared directly down into the hunters. You, they said. Recognition present even in this state of disarray. Jaws opened wide to bite down, yearning for blood, for flesh, to finish what had been started so many years ago.

Screams and the sounds of gunfire were music to his ears. Oscar sprinted through the trees, more than ready for a good fight. The time between full moons always seemed to drag on and on this particular moon, he was on unfamiliar terrain. Nothing like a change of scenery to really add some more excitement to the hunt. The probability of running into Kaden was also high this month since he’d made his way to White Crest. He hadn’t had time for a proper greeting, but he knew they’d find each other over the course of the full moon. He weaved through the trees, following the sound of wolf yelps and bullets. His own gun was ready and loaded with silver bullets. As he neared the campsite, he could make out a familiar form. Kaden. Just the hunter he was looking for. What better reunion than killing a werewolf? His pace picked up and the adrenaline was pumping through his veins. The wolf attacking Kaden only pushed him to move faster as he recklessly fired bullets out ahead. At the very least, it would distract the wolf and buy Kaden some precious time. As he neared, what was off about the wolf became more apparent. Three legs. He knew this wolf and it only inspired him to open fire again.

The wolf was fast, faster than most. He’d almost forgotten. Almost. He braced against the beast with his arm as the claws dug deep. Kaden roared out at it as he pushed it away, scrambling for his knife. He kicked his legs out at it and tried to dig the blade into the wound in its shoulder, open it wider, make the pain deeper. As his knife went for the wolf, the wolf's teeth went for him and he felt a chunk ripped out from his arm. He screamed in pain, but still heard the thunder of bullets going off around them. He used the momentary distraction to roll away, cradling his arm in his hand. Fuck that hurt. Kaden looked down to find his knife and saw the other hunter headed his way. “Oscar?” He hadn’t seen his uncle for years now. Was he really here in White Crest without so much as a warning? “What the fuck are you--” Kaden heard the growl of the wolf nearby. Right. No time for a reunion, not now. Time to fight. He pushed past the pain pulsing in his arm and pulled out his other pistol, loaded and ready.

More bullets, more distractions. Alcher felt the fury building in her chest, even as more silver scraped her skin, ruffled her fur. But the taste of a hunter’s blood made her salivate. She swallowed it whole and licked her teeth, turning to go for more. But there was another scent in the air, another hunter. Fists and feet were pounded against her and she reeled back, snarling. She bared her teeth to the two again. Even with all her experience, she understood she was outmatched in this situation. Going up against two hunters wasn’t worth it. But the beast inside of her clawed for something else. For more blood, for more fight. She had no control anymore. Her body moved on its own as the wolf inside and out of her lunged against the two-- only to be interrupted by a loud bleating. A noise the wolf recognized from decades spent living in supernatural forest. In the next moment, the large, hulking creature stormed its way through the bushes, baring down on the three. Alcher’s ear went back, her body pulling into a low, tense stance. A low growl in her throat, blood still dripping from her maw. Waiting to see what move any of the other three would make.

The bullets grazing the wolf had been enough to give Kaden a chance to roll over. Oscar could tell his reflexes were still mostly intact. “Not now, Junge,” he barked as he focused on the werewolf growling in front of them. The monster was bloodthirsty and needed to die once and for all. The advantage was theirs and he intended to take it. With his silver blade in hand, he opened his arms, welcoming the wolf to make her attack. Get her in close range and he’d be able to sink his blade right in. The wolf sprung toward them just as he wanted her to. He was buzzing and the thrill left him ready to spring into action. He raised his knife, ready to engage the wolf before him when he heard it. The sound was animalistic, but definitely not a wolf. His head whipped up though he kept his knife at the ready. A bies-- fuck. The blade was quickly traded for his gun. Bies hated loud noises and it’d still work on the wolf if she decided to try anything funny. He opened fire on the bies, hoping the loud noise would at least get it to stand down. Their playing field would be better if they could get the damn wolf out of the way first.

Kaden was set to fight, ready to square off against the singular wolf he wanted dead most in the world when he heard a bellowing behind him. His head slowly turned towards the sound. Shit. That was a bies. Kaden had no clue which was a bigger threat at the moment. Just because the bies was bigger didn’t mean it was more dangerous, right? He didn’t want to let this wolf get away. Not again. He couldn’t. He kept his gun aimed towards it when the antlers came barreling towards him. Shit. He rolled out of the way, pain searing his arm as he felt dirt and branches dig into the open wound. He hated wasting silver bullets on a fucking bies, but he was left with little choice and started firing at the monster. “Watch out for the eye!” he called out, even though he was pretty fucking sure that Oscar knew what he was doing. It was instinct to warn other hunters, so many of them were so fucking clueless half the time.

An opportunity presented itself. Alcher’s eyes looked between the two hunters, now engaged with the large beast, and her mind, overrun by the moon, had a decision to make. She could run right now. Make a break for it, and get out of this scuffle not much worse for wear, aside from the bullet wounds that would heal. Just more battle scars to add to the pile. Or, she could stay. And she could take this opening to go in for the kill. But it was dangerous, now, even more so. The beast was enraged, angry. They must’ve stumbled into its territory, and somewhere in the back of her mind, she understood that she had been lucky to encounter this beast alone. But would she get a chance like this again? She had to try. The people who destroyed her family might’ve been gone, but they’d left successors. They didn’t deserve this life. And it was with that last primal thought that Alcher bolted forward, ducking under the large swipe of a hooved claw, skidding around, and ramming directly into the felled hunter again. His eyes looked just like his mother’s when she’d ripped out her throat. She wanted to enjoy this. But in the next moment, a paw swiped across the area and Alcher was knocked from his body, claws tearing at more flesh before she was tossed directly into a tree. Sticking in a spot once the branches beneath her stopped snapping. She groaned with effort to escape, tearing at the wood. She was a sitting duck here. The monster turned back to the hunters. Pesky hunters. Her body finally hit the ground with a thud.

Oscar scoffed as Kaden told him to watch out for the eye. Who helped teach him about all these monsters in the first place? Any beast hunter worth their salt had at least read about bies though this was his first face to face encounter. First day in town and he already had a new entry for his personal hunting journals. “You think I don’t know what a bies is,” he called out with a joking edge in his voice, the thrill already winning him over. He kept the booming of his gun going to either wound or scare off the bies. Kaden could handle the three-legged bitch, that much he could trust. The wolf had a lot of fight, but the bies did not discriminate who it would go after. Kaden was getting fairly beat up, but the wolf was off him now. Nothing a little patch up wouldn’t fix. Kid always had been a tough little shit. Booming echoed throughout the forest as he released another clip on the bies, letting out a cathartic yell as he did so. This was the most excitement he’d had in a while. “You got the wolf under control?”

“Yeah, yeah, shut it,” Kaden shouted back. Still a wave of embarrassment washed over him. Of course Oscar knew what the fuck a bies was. He fumbled a little when reloading his gun. Shit, why did he feel like the inexperienced kid again? Oscar definitely had the beast taken care of. For now. But the thing bellowed and charged at them both again. Kaden threw himself out of the way, landing hard on his injured arm. He winced and shut his eyes tight, clenching his jaw hard and trying not to scream out in pain. Pain didn’t matter in a hunt. Not until they were done. For now it was adrenaline to channel, nothing more. Kaden pushed himself up and glanced around for the wolf. It was fallen by a tree. This was his fight to lose now. He ran over, no way was he letting this monster out of his sight. Fate brought them all there that night, he was sure of it. Who was he to deny fate its death? Kaden took his knife in his other hand and ran straight for the fallen wolf. He’d chase it if he had to, if he could. Kaden was about to pounce, drive the blade deep into its fucking heart, but he heard a crunch behind him. He turned and saw Oscar reeling from a hit by the bies. Fuck. Kaden turned and fired his gun at the looming beast, hoping to give the other hunter time. Fuck. He surely let fate slip through his fingers behind him.

Delirious, Alcher blinked against the spinning world. Rubbed her head along the ground, trying to control the wave of dizziness. Shaking her body out, feeling it crack and crunch and burn with silver. The wolf’s eyes came to just in time to watch the hunter charging for her. It braced, but wasn’t needed. The familiar hunter stopped in his tracks and turned his back. This time, the wolf did not hesitate to make its decision. It turned, and ran. The beast that had interrupted them, the other hunter had interrupted them. The night was ruined, her meal was gone, and her bones ached. Anger surged through her enough to get her up and through the woods, disappearing into a bush, down the hill, and off away from the fight. She could still hear the gunshots, the shouting, the angry cries of the beast-- and she did not stop until the noises did. And then, exhausted, she collapsed.

The afternoon was nothing short of enjoyable outside the pit of worry that made itself right at home in her stomach. They’d run around the farm in their wolf forms to work up an appetite and then Ariana through some steaks on the grill. By werewolf standards, it was perfect. It didn’t change the anxiety that pulsed through her every time she thought of what Alcher and Kaden could do to each other. They both wanted the other dead and it left Ariana torn. Was there any stopping these two? Kaden was on a quest for revenge and she could understand. Even if Celeste’s father hadn’t posed a direct threat to her, she likely would have torn him apart all the same. She knew that now though she had leaned on the fact he was trying to kill her at the time to absolve herself of any blame. She really did miss simpler times. Right and wrong used to seem so easy, so plain to see. Now, she found she was never really sure anymore. She pushed around the last bits of steak on her plate in an effort to keep her nervous hands moving before she finally brought the subject up. “You mentioned a hunter before,” she started slowly, “Can you tell me more about them?” 

 Alcher could sense the nervousness in her pup, the younger wolf giving off an air of anxiety. Alcher let it go, though. She would wait for her to bring it up, whatever it was that was bothering her. She tended to the animals that had decided to make the farm their home for the day, setting out hay for some deer and meat for the wolves that visited often. Even scraps for the raccoons and squirrels that came around. Refilled the bird feeder. She looked to the barn, half built already, thanks to the early Spring and Kitty’s efforts. Her world had really come together well and she couldn’t help but feel as if she deserved the peace it brought her. There was just that one thing left. 

 Alcher tossed her last bit of meat to Stark and leaned her chin in her palm. “He is the child of some hunters I killed many moons ago,” she stated plainly. There was no point hiding anything from Ariana, especially regarding a hunter. “I did not know he was still alive, let alone in White Crest. He never came for me after. I supposed he had taken my mercy as a gift.” She scratched a fingernail on the wooden table. “I was wrong.”

 Why she felt even more sick when she already knew what was going on was beyond Ariana. Somehow Alcher confirming it made it all that much more real. Was there even anything she could do? Her hand fidgeted in her lap and she let out a dejected sigh. “It’s Kaden, isn’t it,” she said in barely a whisper. She knew the answer. She she hated the fucking answer. She knew this was all hopeless and there wasn’t a way this ended without her losing one or both of them. “He mentioned running into the wolf that killed his parents,” she said in a wavering voice, “S-something about a Krieg wolf. I didn’t tell him I knew you. I don’t want him to…” The words were lost to her before she could even finish them and the once comforting den started to look blurred. 

 That caught Alcher’s attention. She sat up a little straighter, eyes a little more narrow. “So that’s his name,” she said, as if this were a nonchalant conversation, not one of death. “I did not bother to ask, nor did I ask his parents.” She picked up one of the knives, a human utensil she rarely used. Stuck it into the table and played with it idly. “I wonder if his parents asked for the names of my family when they slaughtered them. Though, I suppose that might have been hard, considering they locked all the doors from the outside and lit the house on fire.” Her face was growing stern, still hurting from the scars those hunters had left on her. “They had poisoned our water, too. Wolfsbane. Could not even face us normally before destroying my entire family line.” She wanted Ariana to know what this man’s parents had done to her. She wanted Ariana to know that that was all she’d ever be to a hunter– prey. Something to kill. “Everyone. Mothers, fathers,” sharp eyes narrowed, “children.” She gripped the knife by the handle and stuck it deep into the wooden table. “His revenge is not justified. I took his parents, but they took everything from me.”

 The steak from earlier churned in her stomach as she listened to Alcher. While Ariana knew she had been right, she hadn’t known the true depth of the situation. How much it had mirrored her own. She couldn’t remember her own family’s slaughter, but the only reason she was spared was because Celeste couldn’t bring herself to kill a child. Her parents sure could though. “Holy shit,” she whispered, “Alcher, I’m so-” Sorry. It meant nothing. It didn’t make anything better or any less complex. Their world was so dark that it became harder and harder to pick out right from wrong. “That’s so fucked up,” she said as she reached out a hand toward Alcher. “I don’t blame you for killing them. I would– I think even if the Aquillas hadn’t been directly attacking me, I would have eventually done the same.” She kept a hand on Alcher’s arm and her other fidgeted in her lap. “I just– I hate this, Alcher. I don’t want to lose you or Kaden. I’m so tired of losing people. I know you are, too.” She looked down at her lap. “I wish things were different, that it didn’t have to be like this.” 

 Alcher was silent a moment, contemplating. There was a pain etched on Ariana’s face, and some of it was for her, but some of it was for that hunter. Alcher couldn’t bring herself to pity the man, but she remembered the last hunter Ariana had defended. The young boy and his army of helpers. Ariana had defended him from Alcher. Would she do the same now? Alcher did not want to lose the pup, she was her pack, she was her family. Alcher turned her hand around and squeezed her hand back. “I promise you I will not go after him myself,” she said firmly, “I have no quarrel with him.” She kept her gaze steadfast. “But if he comes for me, I will not hold myself back.” She would not just let a hunter kill her for the sake of a peace that would never be real. It was the most she could offer Ariana. 

 “Thank you,” Ariana said softly as she gave Alcher’s arm another gentle squeeze. “I wouldn’t ask for anything more than that. I’ll see if I can get him to back off, too.” While some of her nerves were now at ease, she thought Kaden may be more difficult to convince. She really did get it. The need for revenge. It didn’t make her hate it any less, but it seemed like it was a cycle that was doomed to continue no matter how hard she tried to fight it or make it better. “Just maybe lay low for a bit?I can’t–” Her voice cracked at the thought of losing Alcher. She wasn’t sure how much more she could stand to lose before she was no longer able to recognize the person in the mirror. Every loss took away a piece of her and the piece of her heart Alcher occupied was pretty fucking big. “I can’t lose you,” she finally finished. 

 It was sad, really, that Ariana thought she could ever convince a hunter not to kill. Alcher could see the naivete in her so easily, but she’d hoped her time away might’ve taken some of that away. It seemed it hadn’t. But when she saw what her hunter was capable of, it would change her mind. Of that, Alcher was sure. Peace wasn’t something that could be achieved between wolf and ranger. They were always doomed to an eternal circle of violence and revenge. Hunters killing wolves, wolves killing hunters. One for the other. It was the balance of the world. That was something Alcher had come to understand early on in her life, and it was now the most important lesson she needed to pass on to Ariana. “You will not lose me, kliener,” she said, patting Ariana’s hand on top of her own. “I will always be here with you.” Just like Alcher knew her family was always with her. 

There was always something soothing about the snow. It was only lightly falling and speckling her coat as Ariana walked up the path to the farm. Everything was so quiet this tie of year. While she was able to tune out a lot of background noise, the snow absorbed so much of it that she could take everything in and breathe a bit easier without her senses being overwhelmed. The farm had come a long way since she’d last seen it. Looking at it felt like she had a soccer ball-sized knot shoved into her stomach. She was supposed to help. Once upon a time she had been so excited to help build the place up and give it some personal touches. The table she’d been working on to gift Alcher still sat unfinished in her storage unit downtown. Drawings and ideas sat in an abandoned notebook she’d left behind. As she looked on and marvelled at just how perfect the space was, she knew she should have been there. She should have been building up this family they were making. Instead, she ran. Maybe out of habit, it’s what she and Celeste had always had to do before. But she didn’t need to. Alcher would have supported her mistake. The knot in her stomach made another twist as she thought Alcher would probably not even think she made a mistake. So she had run and now she was here, trying to step back into her old life. It felt foreign again. Like she didn’t quite fit anymore. She was a puzzle piece she was trying to shove into the wrong picture entirely as if she was her old self. That was just it, she didn’t know who she was anymore and the people she knew, they’d be able to see right through that. 

 Her feet still pushed forward. Ariana wasn’t running anymore. The road felt too empty, the faces along the way too unfamiliar. No company in whatever city or town she found herself wandering in could ever make her feel less alone, not when she knew everything she left behind. So she walked and held her chin up, wore the appropriate look of awe, and knocked on the door. The farm really had turned out beautiful and it had a homey atmosphere that made her feel welcome despite her absence. When Alcher opened the door, Ariana greeted her with a warm smile. “Hey,” she said warmly, “It’s so good to see you. And the farm looks amazing!” She gestured around her and felt unaware of what she was supposed to do with her arms now. Did she hug Alcher? Would Alcher even accept as much? She didn’t seem mad in her message, but Ariana couldn’t blame her if she was. 

 Alcher hadn’t really been able to hide the sorrow she’d felt when Ariana had left, but at the time, she hadn’t had a shoulder to lean on. And so, instead, she thrown herself into completing the cabin, and now it stood as a beacon on the farm, a sanctuary that she called home. And now she wasn’t alone. Bringing Murphy into her home had made it feel real, had made it feel like an actual den, a place where she could make a pack, a family. And now Ariana was back, and though Alcher knew she would never accept the invitation to live on the farm, she would still offer it none the less, if only to show Ariana that she harboured no ill will for her decision to leave. Alcher understood leaving, understood running. She’d done that all her life, bouncing from country to country, pack to pack. Running was natural for a wolf.

 She could smell Ariana before she made it up the drive, and patted Stark on the head as he stood to follow her to the door. It opened smoothly and she grinned down at the short pup warmly, just so happy to see her again she nearly teared up. Ariana stood stiffly, but Alcher reached forward and bent to draw her into a hug. “I have missed you,” she said, before pulling away, “I am glad you are back. And that you like the farm. I can show you around, if you would like?” Stark nosed his way past Alcher and rubbed up against Ariana, wagging his tail happily. “It seems Stark missed you, too.”

Relief flooded through Ariana as Alcher pulled her into a hug. The ball of lead lodged in her throat cleared and she let out the breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. She’d missed this. The way it was always just a bit easier to breathe around Alcher, to just be. For all their differences, there was a sense of loyalty. Of family. That was a bond that not even months apart could break. It was stronger than that. They were stronger than that. For all their differences, the battles that shaped them into the wolves they became were marred with loss. They had more than their fair share of grief, of fights to stay alive, but they always overcame it. If nothing else, they knew how to rise again like just like the full moon did every month. Alcher, at her core, was a protector of the fiercest kinds. She was purpose-driven at every step. While she may not have agreed with Alcher on all things, she respected that she always had an intention and a strong sense of who she was. That steadfast nature brought a sense of comfort, one that made her squeeze a bit tighter before she pulled away. “I’d love that,” she said with a warm smile that turned giddy the moment Stark trotted up to her. “Well, aren’t you a sweet boy,” she cooed as she gave him pets. 

 “I can’t believe you finished everything so quickly. You must have been at it day and night,” she commented while she followed Alcher. Everything looked good. Welcoming, even. A safe haven that she knew she could turn to if she ever needed it. “Did you have any help?” 

 Alcher smiled as Ariana’s grew at the sight of Stark. The older dog was still so full of life and energy, now that he was free of his wretched old owner. He roamed the farm and the woods around, and always came back, knowing where his home and his family was. Alcher gave him another scritch before turning her attention back to Ariana. “I did not have much else to do,” she commented with a slight shrug, “I had a little help now and then. I have also recruited another wolf to help build a barn. I am thinking it will make a good place for strays to rest, and to perhaps keep some animals for the farm.” They had had cows back in Poland with her sister pack, as well as sheep, and Alcher had enjoyed their presence as much as their flesh. She fed more often on humans, anyway. “Here, I will show you around the house first, come in,” she ushered the younger wolf in and led her to the living room, which looked more like a den than anything. The pelts on the ground, the couches covered in blankets and pillows. A fireplace. “Of course, Ulfric set the bones, I just finished everything.” 

 Ariana appreciated the easy rhythm they were able to fall into. Somehow it felt as if no time at all had passed while too much had passed all the same. It was good to see the cabin, her, and the farm seemingly all doing well. “Fair,” she commented. She perked up at the mention of another wolf. If she was in wolf form, her ears would have quite literally perked up, but the expression on her face illustrated that same sense of curiosity. “Another wolf, huh? What are they like? A barn does sound like a good idea. Keeps the whole place very much a little wolf haven,” she said with a smile. She followed Alcher in and marvelled at the pelts. It had the comforting feeling of a den and was filled with that familiar smell that was so specifically wolf. Her eyes immediately darted to the fireplace, her favorite part of any home. “Now, that looks cozy,” she beamed, “Think we could toast up some s’mores on there?” She looked back to Alcher. “I’m sure that helped. He’s good with that kind of stuff. And clearly so are you. It’s perfect.” 

 “Ah, she is quite wonderful,” Alcher said, giving a happy sigh. Murphy reminded her of herself at that age, so wanting and full of life and potential. So willing to do what it took to get what she wanted. A true protege. It would give Ariana time to finally grow into the wolf Alcher knew she could be. “Her name is Murphy. A gorgeous white wolf. She is from Germany as well. From an old branch pack of my family’s, actually. I am excited to introduce her to you.” She enjoyed the excited look on Ariana’s face when she saw the pelts and the fireplace, and Alcher was proud of how she’d made this cabin into a home. Into a den. Into a sanctuary for her pack. She gave a nod, grinning. “Oh, of course. Just no chocolate,” she reminded, shaking her head as she came over. “There are three bedrooms down the hall and the kitchen is around the corner,” she noted, pointing in the respective directions. 

 There was always a certain level of excitement that came with meeting a new wolf, even as she struggled to come to terms with her own fallbacks. Ariana smiled as Alcher told her about the new wolf in town. “Soon we’ll have a whole rainbow of wolves,” she commented with a warm grin. Her eyes widened when she learned Murphy was from Germany too. It warmed her heart that Alcher got that connection to where she was from. After spending her whole life fighting for and helping other wolves, Ari couldn’t help but think she deserved that. “Wow, that’s amazing. How is it having someone from home in White Crest? I imagine it’s gotta be nice to have that piece of home with you.” There was part of her that was also eager to meet someone who had been connected to Alcher’s family. To see a glimpse of the life that shaped the wolf who stood behind her no matter what. She turned a glance back to the fireplace with a smirk, “Right, no chocolate. I’ll still put some on mine, stomach ache be damned.” She peeked a glance in each direction, admittedly a bit more excitedly toward the kitchen. It was quaint and had everything it needed. She could see herself coming over and taking over to make them all a nice steak dinner. “The kitchen is my favorite part of any home. May have to throw some steaks in to pregame the s’mores.” 

 “I can not wait,” Alcher smiled, watching the warm expression grow on Ariana’s face. It was Alcher’s hope that one day she could pass on this cabin and this life to Ariana. In the years they’d known each other, she’d come to think of the pup as if she were her own. If Alcher had ever had a pup, she’d hoped they would’ve been like Ariana. “It is quite nice. She– brings me a sense of peace, with my past. To know that it was not all lost.” Murphy was a representation of her past and her future. This town, this cabin, these wolves– they were her future. She wanted to be at peace with that. She was trying hard to be at peace with her past. It was harder, knowing a different piece of it was here in White Crest with her. The hunter at the market. With him around, her pack was at risk. She had sworn off hunting hunters, though, as the attention it brought to her and subsequently her pack, was too risky. And yet here was one, from twenty years ago, still following her around. Her past would not let her rest so easy. She blinked back to the present and looked to Ariana and the gleam in her eyes as she examined the small kitchen. Alcher was no cook, but she remembered Ulfric insisting on a nice kitchen. She smiled. “Steaks and s’mores sounds like the perfect meal, really,” she chuckled, “perhaps a good one to invite the others to, to meet everyone.”

 “Me either,” Ariana responded with a glowing smile. All her life, she had wanted to find others like her. Being the only wolf she knew had always felt isolating. If months alone on the road taught her anything, it’s that the whole “lone wolf” thing was entirely overrated and very lonely. Finding other wolves, connecting with them, even finding other supernaturals in this town, brought her the family she never got to have. One that Alcher was most decidedly a part of. Her features softened and she nodded along. “I’m glad she’s here then. And not just because she’s another wolf. I know coming to peace with the past is hard. I’m glad she brings that. I look forward to meeting her.” Ariana had contemplated reconciling with her own past and going to Tennessee while on the road, but the thought of going there and finding nothing was too much. At least if she never went, there could be some shred of hope left. She smiled at the idea of them all having a meal together, like a normal family, but found. Normal was something most of them had robbed from them in some way or another. “That’d be perfect. One of my roommates is actually a werewolf,” she exclaimed, “Her name’s Kitty and she’s a ton of fun.” 

 It was nice to know Ariana felt the same, about wanting a pack. For several moments, when they’d first met, Alcher feared Ariana would reject a pack, like so many of the other wolves Alcher had met. But the young girl had longed for a pack all her life, just as Alcher had, when her birth pack had been taken from her. And while none would ever replace them, she knew, now, that they didn’t have to be replaced. She just needed a new space for a new family. She wished she had learned earlier, but she supposed she wouldn’t have made it here, then. And there was no other place she felt she wanted to be anymore. She finally felt settled. “I think you will love her as much as I do,” she said, the smile still bold on her face, “she is quite wonderful and beautiful.” Alcher perked up herself at the mention of Kitty. “Oh, you have met Katherine? I ran into her the other day, on her way to her work place. She has agreed to help build the barn with me. She said she grew up on a farm and would love the chance to help. And you live with her? How is that going? Are you two safe? Taking care of yourselves? She claimed she has problems controlling herself, are you helping her with that?”

 Ariana couldn’t help but cock an eyebrow at the mention of Murphy being both wonderful and beautiful. The smile that still lingered on Alcher’s face only made Ariana smirk, “Beautiful and wonderful, huh?” She waggled her brows jokingly, but if there was something going on there, she’d be happy for Alcher. It didn’t take long for her face to fall as Alcher asked questions about Kitty. It was nice that they met and would be working on the barn together, it’d be good for Kitty. She knew that. Alcher was far better suited to help someone adjust to wolf life. Especially when she considered the fact she felt like she barely had a hold of herself lately. The past six months had required a lot more runs in wolf form through the words to keep a handle on herself. “Oh, that’s great! I’m glad you’ve met already and she’ll be helping build the barn,” she tried to muster a more convincing smile, but failed, “We are safe, yeah. Living together is going well, even if she accidentally puts stuff on the top shelf that I can’t reach and I have to do some kitchen acrobats.” She let out a choppy laugh with that statement. “We’re taking care of ourselves, I think. I don’t know if I-” She looked down at her hands that had someone wrung together in the midst of her talking. “We run together outside of the full moon sometimes, but I haven’t made her join me on the full moon yet. I just don’t think I’m the best person to help. I…” She took a deep breath that felt too heavy in her lungs. “Before I left, I killed someone. Accidentally. I think you’d be a better teacher…” She trailed off and found she was unable to look back up to Alcher and her gaze stayed fixed on her fidgeting hands. 

 Alcher gave a knowing smile, gentle eyes wrinkling up as she did. “Yes,” she admitted, a tad shyly, “quite beautiful.” And if there was something more growing between her and Murphy, then Alcher supposed she wanted it to. Perhaps she was tired of being lonely and curbing her feelings. She wanted love, too. A mate. A true mate. Alcher’s attention turned to Ariana again, though, as she explained more about her situation with Katherine. “You have always been good at improvising,” she said with a nod. She was just glad that the two had found each other and had that companionship. Being a lone wolf was hard, it was not who they were. Her face fell a bit and she let out a breath. She had made a guess as to why Ariana had left, and this outcome had been one of them. “Ariana,” she started, moving towards the girl and putting a hand on her shoulder, “helping is not just about teaching or leading. Sometimes, helping is simply being there. Companionship. A shoulder to lean on. That is not quite something I can provide.” She let out a breath. “I know you value your stance on non-violence and I understand the pain this has caused you, but you are a wolf, Ariana, and you must reconcile with the beast inside of you. Mistakes and accidents will happen, and sometimes those result in death. It is important, however, to face these mistakes and learn from them. Running never works. Your mistakes will always catch up to you.” And Alcher’s had recently, too, hadn’t they? She had left one boy alive, and now he was a full fledged ranger. She should have killed him when she had him under her claws. She wouldn’t make that mistake again.

 There was a small smile on her face as Alcher confirmed Murphy was quite beautiful. Ariana was happy for the older wolf. She knew first hand a life with constant travel could be lonely. It filled her with a warm feeling to know Alcher found a home here, a real one, and this cabin was a testament to that. She looked forward to meeting Murphy. As they switched gear to heavier topics, Ariana let herself settle into the comfortable couch. The smell of familiar wolves lingered on the surface which only made her sink further into the cushion. She nodded as Alcher spoke and took in the meaning. “I think… well, I think I’ve been helpful in the companion department then. We get along really well.” A smile crossed her face as she thought of their many late night dance parties or feasting on Takis with Nell. It amazed her how quickly that house had started to feel like home. She held onto that feeling as she shifted her weight and let her chin rest on her knees. Her reasons for leaving always left her stomach and heart in a bit of a mess. She let out a long breath. “I know you’re right– about the whole running thing. I like the more wolf-like parts of myself, I really do. It just really shook up this idea I had of who I was and all the things I had planned out for my life. I needed some space to clear my head and actually process things.” She sighed and looked up at Alcher. “Space did help. I don’t think I have things all figured out, but maybe I don’t have to yet. It was easier to think through and feel everything without all the personal ghosts here.”

 Alcher sat on the couch beside the young pup and let herself relax against it. The smooth wood of its backing felt cool under her palm as she brushed her hand along it, listening to Ariana. “I’m glad you have each other. Companionship is just as important as leadership,” she said. That was something her mother had always told her and tried to reinforce that to her children. But they’d always had each other, her and her brothers, they’d never lacked for that growing up. Alcher had nearly forgotten her mother’s words as she spent most of her life seeking vengeance for a family that she could never have back. “I understand,” she said, nodding calmly, “space is an often forgotten thing we need for ourselves sometimes. I am glad it helped clear your mind, but perhaps leave a letter next time, yes?” Her voice lilted towards the end, an attempt at a joke, as she nudged the young wolf. “You will figure things out in time, of that I am sure of. And I will support you the best I can.”