Third no-man’s land crossroads down, Amari sprayed the same symbol on the widest tree near the edge of the clearing. Scuffling snaps and crunches, Amari looked back to Nova twist and turn on the ground. An appreciative chuckle floated out of her as Nova rolled to all fours shaking the leaves and dirt from her coat. A curious nose sniffed the air and led Nova criss-crossing through the clearing. Nova took to transforming like a forest fire in the dry season. Pulling her own senses forward, she smelled the two day old deer mix with the smaller herbivores and a fresher puma. Pride filled her as Nova’s growl rumbled the air, the kid was a natural.

  “Nova, come on. I’m done here.” Amari called. Another natural path led them through the thickest parts of the underbrush. Long thorns and serrated leaves scratched at her exposed forearms. She looked to the sky, they would be out til after dark completing this task. Awkward rustling and a whimper, a muzzle pressed into her shoulder. “What is it?”

  Amari looked down to where Nova balanced on three legs. “What did you do to yourself?”

  Nova growled and jerked her paw back as Amari tried to lift it in her hands.

  “Let me see you, big baby.” Amari placed her hands on her hips, leveling a serious look at the Nova’s large frame.

  Nova dropped on her flank, tail tucked beneath her. Ears back, she lifted her paw.

  “You are not the first to have troubles with the Honey Locust, these thorns have flattened a tire or two.” Amari gently turned her paw. A three inch long spike stuck out from the pad. Air sucked over her teeth in sympathy. “This will be painful. You ready?”

  Amari waited for Nova to nod her head, as she braced the offending paw against her leg with one hand as the other readied to pull. “One, two, th-!”

  One sharp yank and Amari pulled her lips between her teeth in a tight smile. When her siblings did that to her whenever something got stuck in her paw, she hated it. She’d be loath to admit to them that it worked. “It is better when you aren’t fully expecting it.”

  Betrayal filled Nova’s eyes, matching the snarl vibrating in her throat.

  “Change back, it helps your quick healing if you don’t have to walk on the injury.”

  Cracks and pops later, Nova stepped up to Amari’s side shaking out her hand. “I don’t like you right now.”

  “I know.” Amari tossed her arm around slumped shoulders. Angry red filled Nova’s palm as the hole disappeared before their eyes. “How are you liking the benefits?”

  Nova curled her fingers over her palm. Flexing, the red faded to pink. “I don’t even feel it anymore.”

  “Not surprised, only a few things would leave a permanent mark. Mistletoe, Rowan wood, Wolf Lichen. To name a few.” Amari shivered as she ticked off the most common poisons or woods for weapons against them. Her hand rubbed her upper arm. Morbid curiosity or perhaps a bit of self-loathing led her to test the internet’s most prominent responses on how to handle a werewolf. “I would avoid them.”

  “Well, there is something else out there that affects us. Did we ever figure that out?” Nova swallowed hard.

  “Labs are still out. Orion has connections he pulled favors to get your blood tested for a number of things.” Desperation to know what could affect future Mutares sat in the pit of Amari’s stomach. Choice was everything, to have it taken away twisted her stomach even more. Accepting the consequences of your choices made you stronger and matured you. Amari couldn’t fully bring herself to regret the years she missed out on waiting to transform. It was something that rolled around her mind more in recent weeks.

  “Can you tell me as soon as you get them?”

  “As soon as I possibly can.” Amari hated the tightness of Nova’s smile. Guilt gnawed at her gut. “Can I ask you a question?”

  “Sure.” Nova shrugged.

  “Why did you pick Foxton of all places? It's not like our little town is much to look at outside tourist season.”

  “I didn’t.”

  “So Foxton wasn’t your destination?”

  “Warthford was.”

  “Warthford? Why? It is even smaller than Foxton.”

  “I got a letter.” Nova started to rummage through her bag. “Some lawyer sent me a letter that told me some distant relative died leaving me something.”

  “Why didn’t you say anything? We can help you with that.”

  Nova paused her riffling. Her hand thumped her head. “Can’t believe I forgot to mention it, nothing crazy has been happening.”

  “Sarcasm is appreciated,” Amari struggled against the laughter bubbling in her chest. “But not super helpful.”

  Gravel crunched under their feet. The entered a small pulloff on the side of the road with a sign for the Barcombe Trail head. Amari looked both ways down the road, no headlights brightened the dusky light. Pressurized hisses she marked the back of the signpost, eyes darting back and forth from the road to her work.

  “One more and we are done.” Amari stopped short at the mess poured out over the ground.

  “It’s not here.” Nova spread her hands over the contents of her bag. “It was in my bag.”

  “Do you remember the name of the lawyer or group or even your relative?” Amari scanned the bits of clothes. A bundled group of papers and envelopes jumped out. “I am sure you looked but is it in those?”

  “NO!” Nova grabbed the bunch shoving it forcefully in the bottom of her bag.

  “Sorry.” Amari pulled her hand back. Letters from her friends and family lived safely in a safe deposit box now.

  “Did you take it?”

  “No. I wouldn’t remove anything from your bag ever.” Amari held her gaze.

  “You were the only one that had access.” Nova jabbed her finger.

  “I promise I wouldn’t.” Amari stepped forward.

  “I knew this was too good.” Nova shifted and ran.

  Shock stopped Amari cold. Snapping branches broke through and she shook her head. A quick message tapped out on the screen as she ran, Amari slipped the phone in her pocket and leapt. Mid-air she shifted crashing through the bushes as she fell into the chase.

  ***

  Amari stepped into the darkened lobby. Ignoring the receptionist’s shouted prohibitions, she stalked down the hall. The fifth door on the left’s golden nameplate held the one she wanted. Solid wood slammed open as she burst into the corner office.

  “Amari?!” Benjamin tapped his mouse and the screen went dark. He waved off the frantic receptionist as he reached out to Amari. “What are you doing here?”

  “Did you take anything from Nova’s bag?” Amari stepped back from his hands.

  “What did she say was missing?” Benjamin leaned back onto his desk. “Perhaps I can replace it if it's something she needs?”

  “Just answer the question.” Amari felt the flush of anger across her bare arms. Breath shaking, she squeezed the points of her claws into her palms.

  “I picked it up and tossed it in the back seat. I forgot about it.” Benjamin shrugged one shoulder, his hand clapped on his thigh. “When I saw it in my review, I was grateful for the excuse to see you.”

  The sadness underscored with something Amari couldn’t quite put her finger on in his eyes stopped her pacing. Muttering a count to herself, she measured her breathing. Jumping down his throat for something he couldn’t ever understand wouldn’t solve anything. “Are there any lawyers up in Warthford?”

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  “Warthford is covered by my firm and a firm from Broughton. I don’t think there is anyone set up there permanently.” Benjamin looked into her eyes. “I think Fritz handles clients from there. He lives towards that end of town.”

  “Can you give me his contact information?”

  “Sure. But is there anything I can help you with?” Benjamin lightly pulled her closer, holding her hands in his.

  “No. Just something Nova said.”

  “How is she?”

  “Locked in her room destroying images of me probably.”

  “Ah teen angst in full swing?” “Well does that mean you could squeeze a moment to grab a bite with me?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Something quick? I could use some energy to tackle the rest of these briefs and..” Benjamin playfully pulled her hands back and forth. “Your company makes everything better.”

  Amari looked at her watch. Everyone would have locked up and gone home for the night. “Fine. Thistle Do Nicely?”

  “Perfect. Just let me lock everything up and grab my phone and wallet.” Benjamin walked around his desk. Tapping the papers on the desk he pressed them into a neat pile and put them in a drawer. From the opposite side, he pulled a money clip and his phone out, slipping the first into his back pocket and the other into his jacket. “Let’s go.”

  ***

  Down a brick lined alleyway with heavy green vines wrapped around a wrought iron arbor, they stepped into the courtyard of a little shop. Sizzling garlic and onion were the prominent aromas mixing with other herbs and spices. Servers in clean aprons flitted in and out of the front door to the semi packed courtyard. With a little hand wave, they aimed themselves at a small table in the corner of the courtyard. A wonderland within Foxton that humans always overlooked. Amari smiled at the owner, a half elf woman nearing two hundred but didn’t look a day over fifty.

  “Well if it isn’t trouble.” Winlynn dropped menus on their table quickly pulling Amari in for a hug.

  “Hello again Winny.” Amari hugged her back. Every day after school, snow or shine and everything in between was spent here in this courtyard.

  Jokingly Winlynn slapped Amari’s arm. “I hear you have been back for weeks and this is the first time I’ve seen you. Your bunch is in here at least once a week.”

  “She hasn’t made time for anyone but family.”

  “I am family.” Winlynn pressed a hand to her chest.

  “You certainly are. I am sorry. I will make sure to stop in more often.” Amari pulled out her seat.

  “You better. The usual?” Winlynn smiled brightly.

  “Please.” Amari nodded.

  “Benjamin?” Winlynn turned to look at him.

  “The same.” Benjamin cocked his brow looking down at

  “Two Spesy Specials coming up.” Winlynn walked away with a shout.

  “Wow, didn’t know I was here with a celebrity.” Benjamin slipped his jacket on the chair before sitting.

  “Shut up.” Amari rolled her eyes. Not surprising Winlynn named their mix of a la carte choices as a special.

  “Fine.” “We did the basic catch up with classes and work. How about we pick something more personal.”

  “Like what?”

  “First times?”

  “Why is that so important to you? Did you make a fool of yourself?” Amari drank deeply from her ice water. A gusty sigh, she wiped the back of her hand across her lips.

  “Like my father would have allowed that.” Benjamin placed his napkin neatly in his lap.

  “He is a stickler for family name and propriety. I bet you had a party though.” Amari placed her head in her hand. How many times had he complained about another Morningstar family event in these very chairs?

  “Not a party but there was a pack run.”

  “The Morningstar pack is huge. How did you guys manage that?”

  “It is tradition, though we now have to go really early and really far away.”

  “Tradition is important.”

  “Humans make our traditions a little more difficult.”

  Amari looked up from the line she was tracing in the metal. There was an edge to his voice. “Technology has changed a lot of the landscape but we still have the forest reserve.”

  “True I am grateful for that.” Benjamin leaned back as a young server placed a caddy on their table.

  “Did you hear a researcher is coming up?” Amari bet he had heard, this was not something that stayed quiet in their circles.

  “Yeah. Again humans ruin everything.” Benjamin’s hand tightened momentarily on the table. “But that is a depressing topic. I want to know, were you able to get family there? Was Ric there?”

  “Yes. Ric was there. My family unfortunately missed it. I mean we all choose to pick up holiday shifts to cover our favors for around the full moons.” Amari qualified. Transformations were a pivotal time in any Mutare’s life. Her family would have been there if they could have juggled the time.

  “Too bad, what human holiday did they have to cover?”

  “Valentines day. Not that we really need it. All of us, unattached and all.”

  “Part of me thinks I should feel bad about that, but I am glad you are unattached.” Benjamin smiled roguishly.

  “Stop it.” Amari leaned back in her chair, pulling her fingers through her hair.

  “No.” Benjamin’s eyes twinkled mischievously. “Anyway. What was it like?”

  “Well I had gone off Wolfsbane for a while, you know.” Amari heard horrors of people still only off wolfsbane for days and the painfulness of the transformation. “It was the second full moon after the holiday break. I chickened out for the first, but it was kinda a new year’s resolution.”

  “Some resolution, change your whole life?” Benjamin shook his head as a puff of air escaped.

  “That’s how I thought new year’s resolutions should be. One thing you can focus on changing to make yourself a bit better.” Amari shrugged. A list of resolutions was a bit much, but one thing was creatine manageable.

  “Not disagreeing, I’m still just surprised. It took only a few months for you to change your mind.” Benjamin lifted his hands in surrender. His eyes never left hers.

  “I learned a lot in those few months.” Amari felt like he was searching for something. He looked like he might ask, but then it seemed like he changed his mind as he leaned back again.

  “So you run with Ric?” Benjamin crossed his arms.

  “I did. Though it was better when my family came to visit and run with us.” Amari smiled at the memory. A cool night running through the little bit of snow that made it through the trees. Everyone tried to knock branches just right to bury the next person in the fluffy powder.

  “You guys were always really close.” One dimple formed in his cheek as Benjamin’s gaze pulled from her to Winlynn.

  “Here you guys go. Two Spesy specials. Can I get you any sauces or anything?” Winlynn placed two plates heaping with a base of fries and everything but the kitchen sink on top.

  “No, thank you.” Amari smiled gratefully as well as at the wide eyed look on Benjamin’s face. “I think we are good to just enjoy your creation.”