Fantasy Compliments and Conundrums : Private for Tarmagon and readysetstalk

[Tarmagon]

Ryan could feel Grace's possessiveness as he Shifted and dressed. It was, appropriate. The exhaustion she was feeling worried him a bit. He knew her body was still recovering from the massive wound it had taken and the shock of becoming a werewolf, but this had him a bit worried. However, there wasn't a damned thing he could do for her in the woods, and they had their little Pack, not to mention the rest of the town's survivors to worry about. First things first. Cabin.

As they walked, he could feel Grace's weariness growing with each step. She was moving by sheer willpower at this point, and Ryan suppressed a sigh of relief as a flash of roofing appeared through a gap in the trees ahead of them. Grace apparently noticed it as well, because 'Clear the cabin' echoed across the Pack Bond before Ryan could form the thought himself. He was gratified to sense Kathy and Sarah move to execute Grace's request... no, it was an order, with alacrity. It too the pair less than a minute to ascertain that the only living things besides themselves was a small family of mice that seemed to have taken up residence in a cupboard. As Ryan opened the door, Grace rubbed against one of his hands, then slipped inside. Ryan followed her, taking in the single, large room at a glance. Furniture divided the space into a sitting area, kitchen space, and a set of bunks along the back wall near a pair of small doors made it obvious where hunters slept. There was a half-loft accessed by a set of stairs against one wall, with a small fireplace along the opposite wall in the 'sitting' area defined by a worn couch and pair of recliners that were equally worn. All in all, a place to rest, eat, and share stories about past hunts and plan upcoming ones. There appeared to be a gun rack built under the stairs, but Ryan didn't have time to figure that out, since Grace had started to make a beeline for the bunks, only to Shift and collapse, naked, in the middle of the room.

"Take her to the loft," Sarah said, standing equally naked in the door of the cabin. "There's a bigger bed up there. Bathroom and storage are through those two back doors by the bunks. Guns are under the stairs."

Ryan nodded his thanks as he moved forward, scooping Grace into his arms. Sarah slipped past him, still naked as a jaybird, to disappear through one of the small doors. She reappeared a moment later, a huge towel in her hands that she tossed to Ryan as he was headed for the stairs with Grace in his arms. It was a bit of a maneuver, but he managed to have the towel land on Grace, who didn't even stir. Nodding his thanks, Ryan headed up the narrow stairs, taking care not to bang any part of Grace onto the wall, though he doubted she would have awakened even if he had dropped her over the railing to the floor below. At the top of the stairs Ryan found a cozy little half-loft with a pair of rustic wooden chairs and a full bed. A rather small dresser, armoire really, sat in the back corner. Wan grey light streamed down from a skylight, dim to most, but not to Ryan. The bed was covered with what appeared to be a heavy cloth, but when Ryan lifted one edge the bed underneath was fully made, ready to use.

"Hunh, dust cover I suppose," he thought, laying Grace down on top of the cover and applying the towel to her wet body. Despite the vigor required to dry her, only a couple of inarticulate protests emerged from Grace's form, even when Ryan toweled her hair dry. Rather than search around, Ryan lifted Grace again, then stripped the cover off of the bed, then turned back the bedding one handed. After that, it was the work of mere moments to ensconce Grace in the embrace of the sheets and blankets, her head resting on a fluffy pillow. Ryan leaned down, pressing a kiss to her forehead as he drew the covers up around her chin.

"Sleep my mate. I will be close."

Noise below him called Ryan's attention to the edge of the loft. Looking down, he saw Sarah, now clothed in oversized camo pants and shirt, setting an armload of wood down beside Kathy where she knelt in front of the fireplace. Kathy was also fully clothed again, and as Ryan watched there was a shower of sparks, followed by a tiny flame. Ryan watched for another minute as Kathy nursed the little flame, encouraging it to take on larger and larger pieces of wood until a cheerful little fire danced on the hearth, banishing the grey light streaming through the windows with something much more welcoming and cheery. Ryan nodded to himself and made his way back down the stairs, just as Kathy set a full sized log onto the fire with a nod of satisfaction.

"Grace settled?" Sarah asked as Ryan reached the bottom of the stairs.

"Yes," Ryan replied with a nod at the fire. "Good work you two. Where's Marissa?"

"Bathroom," Sarah replied, pointing to one of the doors. "She said something about not having to use leaves since real tp was available."

The light coming through the windows, already dim and grey, vanished all together as a massive gust of wind hit the cabin. The constant patter of rain crescendoed to a roar that was itself drowned out by a massive peal of thunder.

"Well, I'd say we made it here just in time," Kathy said. "But where did this storm come from? I expected a miserable, rainy day, not a hurricane."

"Magic," Marissa said, emerging from the bathroom. "Whatever has been done to Half-moon Falls is screwing up the local weather something fierce. I don't think whoever did this expected things to get this bad though."

Outside, hail began to rattle and crash against the walls and roof as though to punctuate Marissa's words. All three paused to glance at the windows, watching the hailstones, some as large as a clenched fist, bounce about on the ground. Marissa stepped quickly to the kitchen window, placing her palm flat against it, her eyes slipping closed. Ryan could actually see a faint blue glow suddenly outline all the windows, then fade as Marissa removed her hand with a nod.

"That will protect the glass..." she said, pausing as a large hailstone crashed into the window she had just removed her hand from. The hailstone bounced away instead of shattering the window, and Marissa nodded in satisfaction. "And the spell won't be detectable from outside the cabin."

"Nicely done," Ryan said, smiling at the witch before turning back to Kathy and Sarah. "Supplies?"

"Staples in vermin resistant cases in the storeroom." Sarah replied. "Also a couple of cases of MRE's. There's a bit of vacuum sealed jerky as well. No electricity. Small propane bottle, nearly full, for the stove. Water for the toilet is gravity fed from storage tanks on a raised platform behind the cabin. There's also a smaller potable water tank to service the kitchen. Lanterns and fuel for them in storage, but only a couple of days worth. I haven't checked the gun safe yet, so I don't know if what we actually came for is here or not. Oh, and there's some spare camo stuff in storage as well. Most of it is pretty big though."

"Good," Ryan said, listening to the storm rage outside. "It looks like we'll be here a bit, so no rush. Let's make a better inventory, and get warm and fed. I'll check on Grace once I check to see if there's anything that'll fit me back there. Rest, warmth, food. That's what we need right now, and we seem to have it. Let's recover while we have the chance."

readysetstalk (Talk about just in time.)

 

[readysetstalk]

The fog began to roll in once more, surrounding her in it's cool embrace. The expectation of meeting the wolves once more quickly turned to disappointment. There were no more wolves. Not this time around. The fog did not stay at her ankles like it had previously. It rose, higher and higher, until it hit her small waist just above the curves of her hips. This fog was thicker. Cooler. A single exhale into the air left its own trail. As she turned, the air around her dropped in temperature. The water clinging to the dark strands of her hair froze, leaving soft ice crystals.

Before her stood the beast who would have taken her life, given that Ryan hadn't tried to save her. The difference in mass was astronomical. The beast stood much taller than it had in real life. It stood before her, its chest rising and falling through labored breathing. Although Grace wanted to run in the opposite direction, far far away, her feet were planted right where she stood. Their eyes locked. It was impossible for her to even try to look away. The burning golden color of its eyes bore into her very being. For a long while, they just stood there. The anxiety coursed through Grace. Her breathing picked up. Tremors started in her hands. Ragged breathing slipped through parted blue lips.

It felt like eons, but soon the beast before her was lunging at her. Its claws were outreached towards her. A bellowing roar broke the stiffening silence between them as the beast closed the distance between them. Grace's arms came up in defense, blocking her face as her eyes squeezed shut. It stopped nothing. The beast latched onto Grace and drove her to the ground, beneath the dense fog. There was no stopping it. Ryan wasn't there to save her this time. As the beast tore into her belly once more, visions of what possible future she could have had with Ryan flashed before her. Just as the beast started to work its way up to her face, she let out a blood-curdling shriek.

Both in her subconscious, and as she laid there on the bed fixed on the loft.

Grace's breathing was labored as her body shot straight up, the blanket falling from around her shoulders to pool at her waist. The nudity wasn't even concerning. The wolf within her spoke to her, telling her that she was safe. That didn't stop her own anxiety from flooding through the bonds. Apparently when sleeping, it was impossible to try and block that away from the others. As tears streamed down her cheeks, she glanced around the room to take in her surroundings. She could sense Kathy and Sarah. And Ryan. He was there. Marissa, too. Their party had made it. Wherever they were, they were safe.

Her level of anxiety seemed to dissipate as she mentally checked on everyone. But the exhaustion was calling her name once more. And so was hunger. A sharp pain flashed through her core as she collapsed back into the pillow. It had only been three hours, but it felt like it had been days. Still, she was exhausted, and starving. There was no energy to get up. Hell, there was hardly any for her to keep her eyes open. And cold... Grace felt like she was freezing, despite being bundled up in the blankets.

Rolling to her side, Grace pulled the blanket back up to her chin, her eyes finally closing once more.

Ryan... I don't feel too great...

Tarmagon She's going through it.

 

[Tarmagon]

Ryan had found a set of pants and a shirt that weren't too terrible aa fit in the clothing stuffed into a locker in the storeroom, and he and Sarah were conducting a more thorough inventory of their supplies as Marissa tended the fire. Kathy had claimed a portion of the freeze dried venison and dehydrated food pouches, not to mention a couple of the MRE's and was doing something involving a large, cast iron pot she had found in one of the cabinets. So far the results had been more promising than Sarah's quick inventory had led him to believe. Flour, sugar, dehydrated vegetables, even coffee and all the dried creamer they could want were sealed in airtight bins. The cases of MRE's weren't the small ones that were commercially available, but the much larger cases used by the military. Obviously whoever had stocked this place had connections...

Unease tugged at Ryan, something wasn't right. Sarah and Kathy seemed to feel it as well, casting glances around nervously, sniffing the air for scents... The scream cut through the air like a buzz saw, even as it's echo sliced through the Bond like a scythe, driving all three werewolves to their knees for an instant. It was over in a heartbeat, and as one, three heads turned upwards, then they were in motion. Sarah and Kathy pounding up the stairs, while Ryan eschewed the narrow staircase, leaping directly to the loft from the center of the downstairs living room. Despite his speed, Ryan was barely in time to see Grace collapsing back onto the bed.

Ryan... I don't feel too great...

There was no obvious threat visible, and Ryan's senses reported nothing out of the ordinary, except the pounding of Grace's heart. Ryan was by the bedside in an instant, pulling back the covers to expose Grace to his gaze. Despite an inarticulate sound of protest and hands grasping at the covers, he proceeded to examine every inch of Grace's body. Kathy and Sarah arrived moments after he had begun, neither commenting on Grace's nudity, merely moving forward to help Ryan examine her for any injuries they had missed in the mad rush to the cabin. Agreement flowed over the Pack bond in less than a minute, and then they were tucking Grace snugly back under the warm blankets. Despite the warmth starting to permeate the cabin, Grace seemed to have a chill, and before anyone could say or do anything, Sarah had stripped down to her underwear and climbed into the bed with Grace, hugging her body tightly to her own.

"We can't have you out of commission Ryan," Sarah said simply as a protest began to form in Ryan's mind. "I'll stay here with Grace and keep her safe and warm. You finish with what we were doing. Kathy, as soon as you can, bring up something hot for Grace. Now, scoot!"

Ryan couldn't fully suppress a chuckle as the youngest member of their little Pack took charge, and he gave her a sardonic salute as he bent over to kiss Grace gently on the forehead.

"You're safe here love," he whispered. "Sarah is here, Kathy is here, and so am I and Marissa. Rest. Let your wolf rest."

You have nothing to fear love. We have a safe den. We have a Pack. You are my mate, and the other half of my soul. We will get through this.

Reluctantly, Ryan headed back downstairs, leaving his Mate in the care of their youngest. Despite being a were for only a couple of days longer than Grace, Sarah had taken to her new self as though born to it. Ryan hoped she could help Grace a little, because he had always been a were. It was all he knew. He could support, comfort, aid, but he couldn't understand. He had always had his wolf for companionship and protection. Turned weres had to learn how to deal with this new part of themselves in their own way. Sarah seemed to have succeeded, and he thought Grace would as well. He just hoped it would be sooner rather than later.

 

[readysetstalk]

The cool air seemed to sink its claws into Grace’s skin as Ryan pulled back the blanket from her naked form. The time it took him to look her over felt like years. She knew physically.. she was okay. Her wolf had made that clear the second she’d shot up in that bed. The sense she felt from the pack helped that. Mentally, Grace wanted to yell at him for taking what bit of warmth she had left, locked under the blanket, away from her. But physically she was in no shape to do such a thing. It was like she was still drunk after a night of drinking straight whiskey.

When the blanket was finally placed over her again, she returned to a curled position. Her eyes opened long enough to see Sarah start stripping down. Though physically, she remained still, she felt the wolf in her try to reach out to Ryan. Sarah was pack, but Ryan was mate. Grace didn’t want Sarah right now. But.. Sarah is what she was getting. As soon as the skin to skin contact began, the yearning for Ryan started to subside. Grace’s entire body was shivering as her hands clenched at the blanket. Her wet hair wasn’t helping the matter much either. But when Sarah’s warmth started to seep into the cocoon that she had created, her body and mind started to relax.

Grace twisted slowly to face Sarah. She moved her arms around the younger woman and tucked her head under her chin. Gracelynn was absolutely clinging to every ounce of warmth she could get. It was as if her body wasn’t able to make it’s own. It was still recovering from the wound, and from coming back from absolute death. She shouldn’t be here right now. But she was. Grace was trying to ignore the hunger pains growing in her stomach, but the low growls were easily heard.

“Thank you,” she whispered. It wasn’t but moments later that her exhausted body finally gave in and with heavy lids, her eyes closed. She couldn’t keep them open any longer. Grace needed rest. She could only hope that the nightmares would be kept at bay. If she was going to get a decent amount of rest, it needed to be a peaceful rest. She’d yet to have that.

With Sarah’s warmth, a little bit of color was starting to return to Grace’s cheeks. Her body temperature was still low, but it was starting to rise. Once she had some food in her belly, she’d be much better off. Until then, she’d rely on leeching warmth from the young woman she was latched onto.

 

[Tarmagon]

Ryan found he was distracted as he searched through the clothing for something that he thought would fit Grace. He needed to be upstairs with his Mate, not down here, digging through someone else's clothing. He should be...

"Stop that," Kathy said crisply from where she stood, stirring the large pot of, something, that she had created from the scavenged supplies. It smelled pretty good, and Kathy was nodding to herself as she stirred, though the look she shot Ryan was reproving. "We need to know this trip wasn't for nothing, and we need you focused. Sarah will let us know if anything happens with Grace, though I think you'd know before any of us. You need to be ready and able to face anything that tried to surprise us, not snuggled up in a bed with Grace, no matter how much you think that's where you need to be. Now this stuff is almost ready, so by the time you finish up, we can take a big bowl up to Grace and try to get her to eat."

Ryan gave Kathy a wry, two finger salute and quickly pulled out a set of camo gear that was probably only one size too large for Grace. Of course, as her body accommodated her new nature, it would probably undergo a few changes. Moving to the gun locker that was the focus of this little outing, Ryan found three shotguns locked behind a glass door, with two large, locked drawers forming the base of the cabinet. With a silent apology to Sarah's family, Ryan concentrated on his hand. In moments it was larger, furred, and most importantly, clawed. Trying to minimize the damage, Ryan worked his claws into the small gaps between door and frame, then the drawers and the base of the cabinet. All three locks yielded to his ministrations, and he examined the contents of the drawers with interest. Boxes of buckshot, bird shot, deer slugs, and yes! steel bird loads nestled in neat rows in the drawers. The top drawer seemed to be devoted to twelve gauge ammo, while the bottom seemed a mix of twenty and... ten gauge? Ryan looked carefully at the shotguns, then shook his head in wonder. All three were pump style, and there were indeed a twenty, twelve, and ten gauge resting in the velvet lined niches.

"Well, it looks like this wasn't a wasted trip," Marissa said, coming up behind Ryan to peer into the gun cabinet and drawers. "I just hope the cost isn't higher than we can bear."

The sympathy and worry in her voice gave Ryan pause. Grace would be fine, of course she would. They were Bonded in so many ways that she had to be okay, didn't she? Ryan was Alpha, the one that others looked to for direction and level headedness, but in that instant... the stoic demeanor cracked and a terrified man stood where the impassive Alpha had been moments before.

"She's going to be alright," Ryan said, though there was a quaver in his voice. "She has to be alright. She's my other half, the better half that I didn't even know I was missing. I can't lose her. I can't live without her."

"Shhhhh," Marissa whispered, wrapping her arms around Ryan for a moment. "You two are bound together in a way that is the stuff of legend. Grace will recover, though I can't imagine the nightmares you two are going to have to put up with. She was strong enough to accept the Bond, strong enough to survive long enough to accept the Wolf Spirit. You will both be fine... eventually... if any of us survive this charlie-foxtrot."

Anything else Marissa might have said was interrupted by a call from Kathy.

"It's ready! Let's get some of this into Grace if she's awake enough to eat."

Ryan turned into the kitchen area as Marissa returned to the fire. Kathy had a huge mixing bowl filled with something that smelled wonderful. He accepted the bowl and a spoon, then headed up towards the loft, taking care not to spill the very full bowl.

"Send Sarah down when you can," Kathy called as Ryan mounted the stairs. He paused on the first riser as Marissa left the fire and ran into the back room with a 'wait a moment' gesture. She returned with the clothing Ryan had picked out for Grace, draping the cloth over his shoulder then making a shooing motion. Ryan nodded his thanks then headed up the stairs to relive Sarah and care for his Mate.

readysetstalk Ryan brings hot food, warm clothes, and Ryan. How will Grace respond?

 

[readysetstalk]

The bond they had was certainly that of legend.

As Grace slept, curled up with Sarah, their bodies creating a cocoon of warmth underneath the blanket, nightmares had started to creep their way back into her mind. In her subconscious, she started walking through the field of fog once more. In the distance she could see the creature that had inevitably killed her in the waking world. Both she and the creature stood still, facing each other. The fog rolled in thick, distorting the silhouettes. But as the creature started moving in, getting closer and larger, there was a pull. She felt something tugging her back, away from the approaching beast. Without moving her feet, Gracelynn was pulled back, the distorted silhouette getting smaller and smaller until it disappeared entirely.

In the blink of an eye, the fog was gone and she stood alone in a green pasture. Purple wildflowers were spaced sporadically around her. The air was warm, a gentle breeze moving through her long dark hair. The atmosphere was entirely different from what it had just previously been. Grace’s eyes slowly moved about the area, until she felt the warm embrace around her waist. She looked down to see a hand carefully snaking around her midsection, fingers gently gliding across the new scar going from hip to ribs diagonally. She knew that hand, those fingers. Her body rotated and turned around. She was met face to face with Ryan, his hand now resting on her lower back.

Even though physically in the waking world he couldn’t be with her, he was with her in her dreams. Her arms slipped around his shoulders as she pulled herself closer to him, their chests pressed together as her lips crashed with his. The love she had for him overflowed from her dreams to the bond, expressing to him that no matter what, she’d always be with him. The worrying he was feeling, the uncertainty, the fear, had pulled her from her own distress. She was pulled to a much better space, allowing herself to relax and seek comfort in him.

As he ascended the stairs, Grace’s body stirred. She could sense him getting closer. Her arms had tightened around Sarah momentarily before she opened her eyes. Her stomach let out another low growl as the smell of the food hit her nostrils. Gracelynn’s cheeks were sunken, and the dark circles under her eyes were much more prominent now. She felt like she was wasting away. For a brief moment, her mind flashed back to when Ryan had devoured half of the food at the diner after saving her that night. Now she understood why he had to eat, because she was starving and felt extremely weak.

Gracelynn sat up in the bed just as Ryan reached the landing. Her eyes immediately went to the bowl in his hands. “Food?’ She asked. It didn’t matter that she was still naked. What mattered was that Ryan had food. Grace licked her lips in anticipation, her eyes flickering between Ryan and the bowl. She was practically buzzing at just the thought of getting something to eat. If she had much more energy, she would have gotten out of bed. But her body was slowly starting to shut down and conserve as much energy as possible. She was on thin ice.

Tarmagon Grace is ready to eat, and spend a little bit of time with Ryan, should Kathy permit it.

 

[Tarmagon]

Ryan saw Grace stir and sit bolt upright as he crested the landing. He didn't need her almost plaintive question "Food?" to know she needed food desperately. Sarah felt Grace stir, and rose smoothly, clad in nothing but her underwear, to make space for Ryan beside Grace who was totally unconcerned by her own nakedness. Ryan nodded to Sarah as she grabbed her clothes from the floor beside the bed, dressing quickly as Ryan sat beside Grace, the bowl in his lap. He moved close so he could hold the bowl and support Grace in a sitting position at the same time, pressing a large spoon into her hand, which he noted shook like a leaf in a gale.

"Thanks Sarah," he said, turning momentarily to the youngest of their Pack. "Can you have Kathy send up another bowl? This one is a start, but I think Grace is going to need more."

"On it," Sarah replied, then vanished down the stairs as Ryan turned his full attention to Grace. She seemed very frustrated by the shaking of her hand, and looked like she was about to go face-first into the bowl of hot stew and damn the cutlery.

"Hold one love," Ryan said, shifting so he was sitting against the headboard of the bed. He pulled Grace onto his lap, reaching around her to hold the bowl with one hand and the spoon with the other. It seemed Grace was too far gone in hunger to be embarrassed, and she allowed Ryan to lift spoonsful of the stew to her lips, nearly snapping at the spoon as it rose. Ryan could feel Grace's body starting to respond to the calories as he fed her, a subtle relaxation coming over her. By the time the bowl was half empty, Grace had claimed the spoon herself, allowing Ryan to concentrate on just supporting her. By the time the spoon scraped on the bottom of the empty bowl, Ryan could hear footsteps on the stairs.

"Wow, looks like I got here just in time," Sarah said as she appeared, another steaming bowl in her hands. She adroitly swapped the empty bowl for the full one, then cast a critical eye on Grace. "You're looking a little better already Grace. Kathy's putting together another pot of this concoction, so eat up. Ryan, you'd best keep our girl warm and fed."

With that final rejoinder, Sarah vanished down the stairs, taking the empty bowl with her. Ryan chuckled ruefully, then nodded to the bowl in Grace's hands.

"Eat that first, or dress first?" he asked, nodding to the pile of clothes on the end of the bed. "Those shouldn't be more than three sizes too big."

readysetstalk Grace has food, Grace has Mate, Grace has the option for clothes.

 

[readysetstalk]

The only thing on Grace’s mind was that bowl of stew in Ryan’s hand. She couldn’t take her eyes off of it as he had closed the distance between them, soon taking up space next to her. The next few movements were all instinct. She’d do whatever she had to in order to get that food inside of her belly. Gracelynn’s wolf was pacing in her mind as it waited for the comfort that the calories would bring. She was seconds away from drinking straight from the bowl when Ryan grabbed the spoon to feed her.

The warmth radiating from Ryan helped ease her body, but until she had food, she couldn’t fully relax. It was impossible. And then she felt like he was feeding her ten times slower than what she would have done for herself. Eventually, she was able to take charge. When she was finally able to grasp the spoon on her own, she did just that. Soon, the spoon was scraping the bottom of the bowl to get every last bit of it.

Her eyes snapped to Sarah as she produced the second bowl. A low growl sounded in thanks as she took up the new bowl. She was already several spoonfuls in when Ryan gestured towards the clothes at the end of the bed.

“Eat first,” she spoke quickly, soon scooping a spoonful of stew into her mouth. Her pace had slowed as she got halfway through, and by the time the bowl was gone, she had resembled something of a normal human eating. It was still a bit quick, but she wasn’t wolfing it down as fast as she could. There was still a lingering hunger but it was nothing compared to what she had been feeling. Her wolf was licking her chops with satisfaction.

“Compliments to the chef,” she mused softly, placing her spoon in the empty bowl. Her naked body relaxed back against Ryan’s chest for a moment. Her head rested back against his shoulders as she looked up at him with a complacent smile. For now, she was full enough to feel somewhat normal. It wouldn’t be long before she would need more. For the time being, she was okay. Grace pressed her lips to the underside of his jaw. “We made it,” she whispered, truly proud of their little pack for getting to the cabin. She wish she could say they made it unscathed, but her dying put a hitch in that.

The realization finally fell on her that she was still naked as the day she was born. Carefully moving off of his lap, she crawled down to the end of the bed and picked up the set of clothing. It was gigantic. But it was better than nothing. Gracelynn pulled the shirt over her head, skipping the bottoms, and then moved back to settle onto Ryan’s lap, this time around she faced him.

“Thank you,” she smiled. Now that her mind and body were at a more peaceful state, safely tucked away in the cabin and away from the dangers outside, she was finally realizing the magnitude of this bond they shared. The bond before paled in comparison to what they had now. The soul bond had been powerful, but this? Out of this world. Grace no longer felt like she was simply connected to him. She felt like they were the same person, yet different. She was no longer scared or apprehensive about what they were, or what bonds were forming from it. This felt… natural. Like she finally found where she was supposed to be.

“How long do you suppose we’ll be here?” She asked, grabbing his hands and placing them around her waist. While their time together was likely not long, she wanted to soak up as much of him as possible. Her body craved to be near his in ways words could not describe. His touch alone was enough to sate that craving.

Tarmagon Grace is content. Hunger will rise again, but for now, content.

 

[Tarmagon]

"Eat first," Grace nearly growled between her mouthfuls of the stew. The speed at which she ate caused Ryan to raise one eyebrow, wondering how she managed not to spill a single drop. By the time the second bowl was half empty however, her intake had slowed to something approximating a normal human, albeit a hungry one.

“Compliments to the chef,” Grace mused softly, setting the spoon into the empty bowl before relaxing back into Ryan's embrace. After a moment she turned slightly, kissing his jawline. "We made it."

Ryan could feel her satisfaction and pride in their little Pack, even as awareness of her own nudity seemed to finally move to the front of her mind. Grace crawled to the end of the bed, Ryan's gaze locked on her form even as his hands moved the empty bowl to the floor beside the bed. As she shimmied into the over-large top, foregoing the pants, Ryan felt a tremendous surge of possessiveness wash over him.

"Me/mine/we/us/ours/hers!" thundered in Ryan's heart as Grace moved back up the bed, taking her stop back in his lap, her face close, her legs around his. It was her place. The peace that it brought to her washed through them, calming the almost panicked possessiveness Ryan had felt moments before. They were...

“Thank you. How long do you suppose we’ll be here?” She asked, grabbing his hands that the emotion storm of minutes ago had frozen and placing them around her waist. Those hands lay still for a moment longer, then moved of their own accord, moving up to wrap Grace and pull her tightly to him. The Bond between them swelled, expanding into a cocoon around them that shut out the rest of the world. To the outside observer they were locked into a tight hug, pressed cheek to cheek, but within their union, they were one soul, drifting back and forth between two bodies. For a timeless moment, there was no 'they' there just 'was' the entity that called Ryan and Grace's bodies home.

Such communion was not meant for the human mind to comprehend however, and slowly Ryan and Grace drew apart. Gently, reluctantly, they settled back into their bodies. Ryan drew a shuddering breath, then blinked rapidly before his mind fully returned to the here and now, allowing him to process Grace's question.

"At least until this unnatural storm passes," he said, absently stroking Grace's hair as he watched her face, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "And at least until we manage to get your metabolism stabilized. Please love, don't scare me like that again."

readysetstalk Whoa. That's new.

 

[readysetstalk]

"Me/mine/we/us/ours/hers!"

Grace’s eyes had snapped up to Ryan’s as those words not only thundered through him, but through her as well. It felt like she had been put in the passenger seat and the wolf inside her took over, drawing her in closer to Ryan. She was not in control of her movements. Instead, she simply allowed the entity inside to take charge and place her there in his arms, where she needed to be. As they were reunited, something overcame them.

It felt like she had left her body, her soul joining Ryan’s in a world that she had no idea existed. Until now. There was no answer as to how long this took place. There were no complaints either. For that immeasurable amount of time, the world around them had been stripped away. Two parts of a single being were finally joined together, becoming one once again, before finally giving way and separating once again, allowing Grace and Ryan to take charge once more.

A soft breath slipped through her lips as her eyes focused on Ryan’s. It didn’t even need to be discussed between the two of them. Not verbally. Whatever they experienced just now, was likely not the first time this would happen. Love washed over Grace at Ryan’s words, swelling first through her chest before warming her entire body. For a moment, her mind was focused on his hands. How it felt to feel his touch again, the warmth that it brought, and the gentleness of his actions. Her own hands slid up his sides, up his chest, and to their resting place over his shoulders.

“Trust me,” she spoke, a soft laugh slipping through, “It’s not on the itinerary.” Grace inched in closer to him, her palm gently placed on his cheek, as her lips pressed against his for a soft, sweet kiss. “I promise you,” she whispered, pulling back just enough to lock eyes with him. “I would much rather stay here, in the land of the living, with you.” She allowed a brief moment for her words to sink in before her lips found his once again.

Tarmagon Grace is accepting of the change.

 

[Tarmagon]

“I would much rather stay here, in the land of the living, with you.”

Ryan felt Grace's words wash over him, soothing away any lingering anxiety in his mind as the feather light touch of her lips on his both soothed and excited his body. He was almost painfully aware of her bare legs, as well as other parts of her anatomy separated from his only by the pants her wore. The need to be one with his Mate was almost more than he could bear, but he was also aware of the presence of their Pack just downstairs, as well as Marissa. While the Pack Bond was closer than any married couple could ever be, what he had with Grace was... different. There was a depth to their Bond that wasn't meant for others, and when Grace had become a werewolf herself, something already special had, evolved. Ryan wasn't certain how he knew, but he knew, to the very core of his soul, that the next time he and Grace were, intimate... there weren't words. He just knew that it was only for the two of them. Anyone in close proximity would be left changed, and Ryan wasn't certain it would be in a good way. For now however, Grace's lips danced on his like the brush of a butterfly's wings, and he let everything disappear but that connection.

Seconds? Minutes? Hours? later, Ryan let their surroundings intrude once more. He slowly pulled back, staring into Grace's eyes as he resisted the urge to slide that over-large shirt higher up on her glorious body. Later. When they had privacy. When he could devote his entire being to his Mate. Ryan's thoughts were interrupted by a loud grumble from his stomach, mirrored a second later by one from Grace. The startled look on her face told him Grace had been as lost as he had, and for some reason he found himself starting to chuckle. Chuckles gave way to laughter as he hugged Grace close, even as his stomach protested again.

"As much as I want to stay her like this lover," he said between laughs, "I think our bodies have other ideas. Shall we head down and see what else Kathy had managed to concoct for our dining pleasure?"

readysetstalk Something has intensified, a LOT. And Grace's need for food is bleeding over.

 

[readysetstalk]

Any time Grace had been this close with Ryan, the world around them had slipped away. But unlike those times previously, it had truly felt like it was just the two of them in existence. Everything around them had faded to black, and there she sat, perched on Ryan’s lap, was all that there was. There were no sounds of others rustling around them. She couldn’t hear the thoughts dancing along the pack bond. Just Grace and Ryan, left to themselves, in a haze of darkness where they were the only light.

His concern about their intimacy was shared, and the only thing she could do was acknowledge and agree. This short amount of time they were kissing seemed to only solidify the idea that what they had was beyond what anyone else could ever begin to comprehend. Their souls were one. The next time their bodies joined, she was sure that not even words would be able to describe such a moment. She felt it in her bones that things would drastically change, for both of them, and anyone around.

Quiet giggled seemed to erupt as their stomachs talked to each other. Her arms were still loosely around his shoulders as he spoke. Her eyes watched his as her hand came back around to gently cup his cheek. “I think our bodies have conflicting ideas,” she mused quietly, glancing down between their chests to where her lower half was still planted. Her thumb brushed against the skin of his cheekbone before she pressed one more soft kiss to his lips.

“We should probably listen, though. At least to the hunger part.” Okay, maybe one more kiss. She smiled a little wider as she carefully moved herself off of his lap. She slid off the bed easily and grabbed the pair of pants he’d brought her. She held them up to judge the size and frowned. These were going to be fun… Still, she slid her legs into the pants and then effortlessly pulled them up over her hips, giving him a decent show before she was completely covered in camo.

“Think there’s an old boot lace around here somewhere?” She asked, holding the waist of the pants so they didn’t fall right back down to the floor. “Clearly, none of the women of these men came out here to hunt.”

Tarmagon Grace can definitely sense the shift, but is not worried or alarmed, but excited to find out where it takes them.

 

[Tarmagon]

"I don't know about a boot lace," Ryan said, even as relief flooded through him. "But I do remember a coil of paracord down in the storeroom. I think we can make that work."

Ryan considered the trip down the stair for Grace as she held the oversized pants up, then grinned. He'd never turn down a chance to hold her in his arms. Rising and stepping forward, he swept Grace up into his arms, then turned to the stairs.

"It's easier this way," he said. "And it helps conceal the evidence of your little... well, it's not a strip show. What DO you call it when the act of dressing is just as provocative as undressing?"

Ryan navigated the stairs carefully, mindful of his precious cargo, and Sarah, Kathy, and even Marissa were waiting at the bottom of the stairs, all wearing smiles.

"You look better!'

"I've got more food ready."

"Thank the Goddess."

Ryan smiled as the tension that had been so much a part of the Pack Bond faded away. It was one thing to feel through the Bond, but to see with your own eyes. Tension melted away from Sarah and Kathy like the last ice of winter giving in to the warmth of spring.

"Let's get her wrapped around another bowl or three of that wonderful whatever you made Kathy," Ryan said, moving to deposit Grace in one of the chairs. "I need to find that roll of paracord and make Grace a belt before her pants make the acquaintance of her knees."

"I've got it," Sarah said, darting back into the storeroom, even as Kathy moved into the kitchen area. She returned in moments, a large roll of paracord in her hands, just as Kathy appeared with not one, but two steaming bowls of something that smelled wonderful. Ryan took the cord, measured a length by eye, then doubled it before cutting it cleanly with a single claw.

"Up for just a moment dear," he said, doubling the cord on itself before feeding it through the loops on Grace's pants. A quick tug, a twist and a knot later, and Grace no longer had to worry about losing her pants to gravity. As Grace started to sit back down, hands moving towards one of the bowls, Ryan leaned in with a mischievous grin.

"I thought you were supposed to show me the ropes, not the other way around," he whispered into Grace's ear, then skipped back and claimed his own bowl of stew and raising his voice. "You've got enough for everyone?"

Kathy nodded, moving back into the little kitchen area to ladle out three more bowls. Soon everyone had food before them, and the cabin had warmed considerably. It was quite the change from just an hour before, and Ryan could feel himself starting to relax. Things were turning around.

readysetstalk Things are looking up!

 

[readysetstalk]

“I think it’s just called getting dressed,” she teased quietly, a hint of laughter in her voice as he carried her down the stairs. Her arm draped over his shoulders, though she knew she didn’t need to help him carry her. He was plenty strong enough for that. But just as he liked to hold her in his arms, she liked to touch him when given the chance. The love she had for him radiated as her eyes watched his. Even though she would have been capable of getting down the stairs herself, he took it upon himself to help her. This man could do no wrong. She was certain of it.

She had to peel her eyes away from Ryan’s as they reached the landing, a smile warming her face once more as she watched their little entourage. It was certainly much better seeing them in this light. The last time she’d seen them she was barely hanging onto consciousness. And then she’d passed out as soon as they got to the cabin. It was almost like being reborn. Everything around her was so much different now. Grace was now a were, and the bond she had Ryan had formed was much more than anything anyone had ever seen. Despite her personality, she felt like a completely new person.

Grace licked her lips as Kathy walked into the room with those bowls. The smell hit her nostrils and her stomach let out an impatient rumble. Her mouth was watering as she waited for Ryan to finish looping the cord through her pants. The anticipation was killing her. She was absolutely starving. Grace was two seconds away from digging into the bowl when she heard Ryan’s words. Her cheeks flushed immediately and she turned her head to look at him. Where did this flirting come from? Ryan was usually pretty quiet with things like that. But soon, a small smirk appeared on her lips and she grabbed a hold of his wrist before he could get too far.

“I think I’ve shown you plenty of ropes,” she warned playfully, “it’s only fair you return the favor every now and then.” She pressed a quick kiss to the corner of his mouth before she sat down in the chair, her eyes carefully watching Ryan for a moment. But the growl in her belly forced her to focus back on the stew in front of her. She picked up her spoon and started eating. It was fast, but it was much slower than how she’d eaten earlier. Grace was trying to pace herself.

“We’re uhm,” Grace used her hand to wipe her mouth, “like a little family of misfits,” she smiled, looking around the table at everyone. Her spirits were lifted being around everyone. And, well, not dying. Everyone here around the table had a purpose. And now she felt like she really fit in here. Grace had always been a part of the pack, but she felt like the odd one out sometimes. Not anymore. She finally felt like Ryan’s equal. Like she had earned her place at his side. There was a sense of leadership that she hadn’t felt before.

“Thank you all,” she spoke between bites. “For everything you’ve done for both me and Ryan, and each other. We wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for everyone here.”

Tarmagon And Grace is in much better spirits!

 

[Tarmagon]

"I've been called a lot of things," Marissa said, setting aside her own empty bowl. "But never a misfit. Of course with this bunch, I'll take it as a compliment."

Neither Kathy or Sarah said anything, but Ryan could feel their amusement flowing through the Pack bond.

"And you are quite welcome," Marissa continued, a small smile turning up the corners of her mouth. "Thank you all for taking care of me. As the most, breakable person in this little family, I will cheerfully allow you to protect me from the mundane issues while I protect you from the more, esoteric things."

"So, what's the plan?" Kathy asked between mouthfuls. "Did we get what we needed from this little, adventure?"

Ryan started to speak, then paused. Kathy had been already cooking when he and Marissa had examined the contents of the gun safe. Only he and Marissa had actually seen the bounty they had come for.

"Yes," he said simply. "We've got more guns, ammo, and most importantly, the steel shot we came to find. The next, creature, we encounter will have a much harder time. And the, bodies, that used to be our friends as well."

The mood at the table fell briefly as they remembered the disaster that awaited them when the had to leave their cozy little nest, but then something else began to make itself known along the Pack bond. A slow, smoldering anger drifted along the bond, as well as a rock-ribbed determination to make those who had authored this, abomination, pay.

"Anger is good," Ryan said, looking each of the wolves in the eye. "A good, clean, righteous anger is your friend in battle. It will make you strong. Don't let it become rage. Rage will blind you, make you stupid. I know. I let my rage consume me once, and it nearly cost me everything. Now that I've found myself again, I can't lose sight of the future."

"The dark magic that has infected the town can feed on negative emotions as well," Marissa said, a worried look on her face. "The amulets I made will help, and anger isn't itself a negative emotion, but the aura around the town now will try to turn it into that blind rage Ryan is worried about. Sarah, how much salt is in the stores?"

"Lots." Sarah replied immediately. "They field dressed deer out here, so there are several ten pound bags of coarse salt in a sealed container."

"Excellent," Marissa said. "When we're done eating, if one of you strong types can bring me one of the bags, I'll do a little something, then we can add a little to all of the shotgun shells we can. I can promise that whatever gets hit by one of those rounds will not enjoy the experience."

"Sounds like a plan," Ryan said as a peal of thunder made the cabin walls shudder. "And since it sounds like we're going to be stuck here a while, we might was well put our time to good use. Let's finish up here and get to work."

readysetstalk They have a plan. Sorta. What will tonight or tomorrow hold?

 

[readysetstalk]

The shift in emotions throughout their bond seemed much stronger to Grace now that she was a wolf herself. It had been strong before, but now? It was intensified. The anger that resonated deep in their companions, now resonated with the same energy in Grace. It caused her jaw to clench as she pushed her spoon around in the bowl. After everything that had happened to them, it had slipped her mind that every person who remained in town was now… one of the walking dead. Literally. It bothered her, just as much as it bothered everyone else. Grace hoped that an answer would be given soon as to who was doing this, and why. After being, well, killed, by that monster, she wanted to get to the bottom of this as soon as possible.

Once the tension lessened, she started scooping food back into her mouth. While she listened to those around her, she kept busy with eating. That was, until Ryan started talking about his past experiences with rage. She paused in eating and reached over to gently squeeze his hand. She knew the story, knew how he’d felt, and how he felt about it now. For a brief moment, her eyes searched his before she sent a silent, I love you over the bond, shutting out the others. Grace was absolutely enamored with Ryan in every possible way. She felt it important to express her love to him, especially in these trying times.

As the conversation continued, Grace went back to eating. As she finished her bowl, her stomach finally felt full. She let out a contented sigh before standing from her chair. “I’ll get it for you,” she smiled. The small woman tugged her pants up higher on her hips before taking her bowl to the kitchen and rinsing it out. Once everyone else was done, she’d wash all the dishes. Everyone else had been pulling her weight while she was incapacitated. It was the least she could do.

Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, she came back out of the kitchen area and went to where the salt was kept. It didn’t take much looking, really. She’d been able to smell where Sarah had been, and with Ryan’s scent mixed in with hers, she knew this had to be where it was. After grabbing a bag, she returned to the table and sat it down where she’d once been eating. She moved to stand behind Ryan, leaning against his chair as her arms folded on the top of it. She looked out at the group again, truly grateful for everything every single person had done for her and their pack. She couldn’t help but feel loved by everyone. It was a miracle she was still here.

Tarmagon Grace is feeling warm and fuzzy with everyone’s efforts.

 

[Tarmagon]

Ryan felt the words flow along the Bond from Grace, bringing a smile to his lips as they ate and made plans. When Marissa requested a bag of the salt be brought to the table, Grace rose, taking her empty bowl with her. Sounds of washing made it obvious that Grace was cleaning her dish, then she was in the back store room. Ryan could feel Grace unconsciously using her newly heightened sense to unerringly find the salt, and moments later she plinked a large bag down when she had been eating mere minutes ago. Rather than sit, Grace moved to stand behind Ryan's chair, her arms folded along the back as he finished his own meal. One of his hands rose, gently stroking Grace's hair even as the other conveyed the last of his meal to his mouth. It was an automatic gesture, and Ryan looked up quickly as amusement flowed along the Pack Bond. Sarah and Kathy were grinning at Ryan, while Marissa's eyes held a suspicious twinkle as she watched them as well.

"Yes?" was all Ryan said, still absently stroking Grace's hair, one eyebrow rising.

"Oh, nothing... nothing at all!" Sarah said, obviously trying, and failing, to stifle a giggle. "Damn. You two have got it bad. It's almost like a Harlequin romance."

"You don't know the half of it," Marissa said, her eyes still twinkling, though now with mischief. "You think Pack bonds are strong? What those two have makes a Pack bond look like a casual acquaintance."

"I can feel the edges of it," Kathy said, her voice hushed. "Even in a Pack with mated alphas you can sense the individuals involved. To my eyes, ears, all my senses, it's Grace and Ryan. To my Bond... there's just... my Alpha. Not Alphas, Alpha. Singular. I don't understand it, but it doesn't feel wrong, just different."

"It is what it is," Ryan said simply. "And while I'm glad you three find us a source of easy entertainment, what do you need us to do Marissa?"

"Grab a bowl from the kitchen and open all of the steel shot shells into it," Marissa said instantly, all business. "I'll enchant the salt and we'll mix it into the shot, then refill the shells and seal them as best we can. Between the steel and the salt, as well as what I add to it, the shells should disrupt nearly any possession or enchantment."

"Let's get to it," Ryan said, giving Grace's hair a last stroke before rising and taking his bowl to the sink.

There was a brief flurry of activity, followed by the four werewolves all sitting around a large, metal bowl, carefully prying open the ends of shotgun shells and emptying the shot into the bowl while Marissa sat at the table, eyes closed and hands buried in the salt bag. Occasionally there would be a faint flicker of light from the witch, but she sat so still that she could have been a sculpture.

readysetstalk Unless you're feeling cruel, I don't plan to have anything interrupt our intrepid heroes and heroines for the rest of the evening.

 

[readysetstalk]

Warmth engulfed Grace’s heart and slowly spread throughout her body as she felt his fingers move through her hair. In that moment, she knew the others were there, but her focus was simply on Ryan. With her own smile plastered on her lips, her eyes watched as he continued to eat while still giving her a bit of his attention. A hand moved to rest gently on his shoulder, her thumb gently rubbing at the fabric of his shirt. It wasn’t until Sarah spoke that her eyes lifted from Ryan. Her smile grew, listening to the gentle teasing coming from her. In every understanding of the phrase, they did have it bad. Now that they were relatively safe here, it was like honeymoon phase had washed over them. One that they should have had on their wedding night. It wasn’t even bothersome that there were three other sets of eyes and ears present.

As Kathy took part in the conversation, Grace’s eyes flickered to Ryan. Two people, one shared soul. That’s the only way she could explain it. What happened that day was otherworldly. By all accounts, Grace should be dead right now. She shouldn’t be walking, talking, breathing. She should be decaying out in the field, becoming food for scavengers and earth worms. But she wasn’t. She wasn’t dead. She stood there, behind Ryan, smiling and enjoying a meal with their companions. Against all odds, on her own two feet she stood.

She didn’t have any words to give them. What needed to be said, had been said. She held her peace and watched as Ryan stood to take his bowl to the kitchen. It wasn’t long after that that they were all working to Marissa’s instructions, carefully pouring out the shots and then repackaging once the salt had been taken care of. Grace worked happily alongside Ryan, smiling up at him every once in awhile. When all of the shots had been repacked, she started putting them back in the boxes. Those boxes were then stacked in the middle of the table. Eventually, all was done.

The low growl in her stomach was heard, probably by everyone, and a faint hue of pink rose on her cheeks. She spoke a quiet, “Excuse me,” and then disappeared to the kitchen. There were leftovers of the concoction Kathy had made earlier, so Grace didn’t waste any time scooping herself another bowlful. She leaned against the counter as she ate, the aching in her stomach slowly subsiding. Once finished, she washed the bowl once more and then went to find Ryan. Well, it wasn’t so much as a search, as it was just going to him. There was no questioning on where Ryan was. She always knew.

Returning to her place at his side, she slipped her arms around him, letting out a quiet yawn. “You ready to turn in for the night?” She asked innocently, her head tilting back so she could look up to him. Sleeping with Sarah earlier had been great, but nothing compared to being wrapped up in his arms. And it had been a long time since that had happened.

Tarmagon Sorry for the delay! Life and death and stuff. I’ve been thinking, and are you cool with adding in another to the pack? One of younger age, around 8 or so?

 

[Tarmagon]

The work went smoothly, almost as though the little Pack had done this before. Shot out, enchanted salt in, repack the shells and give the end the briefest tap of a poker that they left in the fireplace to stay hot. There were few words exchanged, none of them felt the need to talk. Just being together was enough. Ryan was constantly aware of Grace's presence as they worked, a constant warmth seeming to suffuse him. He could feel the building hunger as they finished with their work, so wasn't surprised when her stomach gave an audible growl, He felt more than saw the blush rise on her cheeks as she made her quiet excuse and headed back over to where the remains of their meal sat. He could feel the satisfaction as she assuaged her hunger, knew she was moving about the kitchen area and what she was doing, even though his back was turned. He felt her approach, automatically making room for her as she settled in beside him.

“You ready to turn in for the night?” she asked around a yawn.

Ryan looked around noting the rigors of the day were becoming more evident as they relaxed in their space of relative safety and comfort. They all needed rest. Someone had to...

"My sentry spells will wake us if anything hostile gets within a hundred yards of the cabin," Marissa said as though reading his mind. "We can all get some rest. You two go ahead and head upstairs. we'll bank the fire for the night and turn out the lanterns."

"Thank you, thank you all." Ryan said, rising with one arm around Grace to draw her to her feet as well. "I need to use the bathroom..."

Ryan broke off as the storm, which had been slowly losing power outside, suddenly redoubled in its fury. Wind howled and rain lashed the cabin with the force of bullets, though there were no more of the massive hailstones crashing down. Ryan moved to the windows, but even his vision couldn't see more than a few yards through the rain that seemed to move horizontally at times on the teeth of a gale.

"Yeah. I don't think anything is going to be moving around in that," he said, turning and heading towards the bathroom door. "And there's no way I'd be willing to walk to an outhouse through that. Yay for indoor plumbing."

Ryan's visit to the bathroom was punctuated by several loud crashes from beyond the walls of the cabin. The first nearly made him jump out of his skin, but the subsequent smashing sounds were further and further away. It seemed as though some of the forest trees weren't up to withstanding the supernatural fury of the storm. He could feel the tension in the Pack bond, and took a moment to send a pulse of reassurance down the link. They would be alright

"Lets get some rest beautiful," Ryan thought, the presence in his mind and soul that was Grace the center of his attention. "I think the day is catching up with me."

The day was indeed catching up with Ryan. Everything that they had seen. The hike through the woods. The... incident. Grace's transformation... everything. Ryan was an Alpha. He was the bulwark between his Pack and the world, but even the mightiest wall has its limits. Ryan could feel exhaustion tugging at his limbs as he climbed the steps he had carried Grace down so effortlessly not so long ago. His supernatural endurance was reaching its limits. He needed rest, the presence of his Mate... Ryan felt himself swaying on his feet, and managed to direct his fall towards the bed Grace had so recently occupied. His last thoughts before exhaustion collapsed him into the bed were "I've got to stop passing out in front of Grace. She'll think I'm a weakling."

readysetstalk (Supernatural endurance has very suddenly reached its end. The events of the day have come home to roost. I don't have any issue with another character, but keep the following in mind. If he or she is a born werewolf, they won't be able to Change until puberty. If they are somehow a were created by an Alpha, then they might be able to change, but it will be involuntary at that early an age. Ryan or Grace could quite probably induce a Change either way, but it would take all of their attention.)

 

[readysetstalk]

With food in her belly, the assurance from Marissa, and the howling wind outside, Grace was more than ready to climb up those steps and crawl into bed. She stood with Ryan, her arm slipping around his waist as they rose. As it was previously through the night, she didn’t find the need for words. She nodded her head to Kathy and Sarah, then to Marissa. Without them, they surely would have struggled much more than what they have so far. Of course, with Ryan being an Alpha, she had no doubt that he would have found a way. Their companions simply made it easier, and a little more fun. The occasional banter between the group was often a mood-lightener.

“I’ll be upstairs,” she spoke, her eyes drifting up to Ryan as he spoke on his need to use the lavatory. She did, however, pause before ascending, simply to watch Ryan from behind as he walked into the bathroom. With a small little smirk on her lips, she turned back towards the steps and started her climb. Not to be intrusive, but she simply couldn’t help but keep his movements noted. With everything that had happened today, there was always a bit of worry lurking. Her lips twitched as he jumped, smiling just a tad wider. The storm was certainly coming down even harder now. She pitied anyone who found themselves stuck in it. If there were even people around anymore..

First, Grace took to the bed and pulled down the blankets. The hurried manner earlier in the day didn’t leave much room for sprucing up the bed and pillows. She fluffed up the pillows and then fixed the blankets to where they weren’t a haphazard mess. After that was taken care of, she started untying the knot in the rope that held up her pants. They were far from comfortable, so they’d take up shop on the floor while they slept. Everyone had seen her naked already. Her losing pants was the least of their worries for now.

The uncertainty of his steps once he reached the landing caused her to turn on her heels to face him. She was at his side almost immediately, ready to guide him to the bed if she needed to. Instead, he simply collapsed onto the mattress out of sheer exhaustion. Grace took the opportunity and removed his pants as well. No one slept well in jeans. Duh. Her newfound strength made it a hell of a lot easier to get him in a better position on the bed and then she pulled the blanket up around him. She bent down to press a gentle kiss to his forehead before she walked around to the other side of the bed and crawled in next to him. The storm raged on, but Grace was starting to feel her eyelids get heavy the second she laid her head on the pillow. Once the blanket was pulled up over the two of them, she snuggled in close to Ryan and let her eyes close and her mind rest. They both needed a good night’s sleep after today. Everyone did.

And for the first half of the night, that’s how that worked. A peaceful sleep, with Grace nearly attached to Ryan’s body. Both for warmth, and out of sheer love. The day had been scary and it was finally getting to the point where she was able to take time to be with him. Everything had been go, go, go earlier. It hadn’t been safe. Now, now that they were both sleeping together, in the same bed, she’d capitalize on the close proximity the best she could.

There came a time, where the storm finally seemed to give way and settle down. The winds no longer howled, but the rain didn’t seem to let up. It grew quieter, only the pitter-patter of the rain really giving any noise. Until it wasn’t just the rain. Off in the distance, a cry could be heard. It wasn’t an infant’s cry, but still young. The cry rocked through Grace’s mind, disturbing the relatively calm dream she’d been having. Her nose twitched as she started to wake up, her ears involuntarily tuning into the crying. Once it was picked up, focused on, and amplified, she couldn’t sleep anymore. It was impossible.

Grace sat up in bed, practically peeling herself from Ryan, and turned her head towards the direction the crying was coming from. Louder it grew. There was no ignoring it now. Grace slid out of bed quietly and stepped towards the window. She couldn’t see anything.. but she could hear it. And if she could hear it… so could anything else out there in the world. Just the idea of what had attacked her earlier in the day sent a wave of panic through her. The realization that it could come back sent chills down her spine. Quickly, Grace turned back around and leapt onto the bed.

“Ryan,” she spoke, not keeping her voice low. “Ryan, wake up,” she repeated, her hands shaking his chest. “Ryan, I hear a child outside, crying,” she spoke, the desperation evident in her words. Her eyes glanced over her shoulder, back to the window, before falling back on Ryan.

“We have to get to him before anything else does,” she pleaded, the urgency of the situation hitting her full force.

Tarmagon ((I’m thinking to keep it in my own wheelhouse, it’ll be a little human boy. Eight years old. He was just outside of the radius when shit went south, though his parents were caught up in it and he’s been alone this whole time. Grace will be able to relate to him, and take him under her wing. And Ryan needs a little more testosterone in the sea of women he’s collected. Again, I apologize for taking so long. My life has been a complete shit show these past few weeks.))

 

[Tarmagon]

Warm. Content. Curled up with Mate. Rest. Good. Disquiet. Apprehension. Alarm.

Ryan slammed awake, going from contented dreams of lying in the sun with Grace to instant alertness. His body was still a bit tired, but he was functional. He could feel Grace's concern as an urgent need to help thundered along their link. He could just pick up the crying that had Grace in a near panic, but he forced himself to pause for a moment rather than leap up and go tearing out of the cabin in search of the source of the crying.

Awaken.

Ryan could feel Sarah and Kathy wake as his mind touched theirs. He knew they could feel Grace's near panic, but he drew on his own experience as an Alpha, forcing a studied calm over the Pack bond even as he found the pants he didn't remember taking off and pulled them on.

"Downstairs," he said to Grace, noting that the shirt she was wearing would do for the moment. They descended the stairs, finding a sleepy looking Marissa staring at Sarah, who was building up the fire while Kathy looked out of the front window, her head cocked to one side as she obviously listened to something outside the walls.

"I hear it too," she said, not turning from the window. "Sounds young. I'd guess less than ten or so."

"The question," Ryan said as he moved up beside Kathy to listen more closely, "Is whether or not that's actually a child out there. It could be nothing more than a decoy to lure anyone in earshot into a trap."

The memory of the debacle at the destroyed camp was fresh in Ryan's mind, and despite the loneliness and despair in that distant cry, he wasn't about to rush in blindly. They would investigate, because there was no way in hell he was going to leave a child out in the woods alone at the best of times, and these were far from the best of times, but he wasn't going to lead his little Pack into a deathtrap either. They were going to be careful.

"Marissa, stay here please," he said, then turned his attention to the rest of the Pack. "Kathy, Sarah and I will go wolf and spread out. When we find the source of the crying, we form a triangle around it. I don't care if it looks like a child, smells like a child, and sounds like a child, no one moves in until we know there's no 'dead spots' where another of those demon things could be hiding. Grace, stay human. You'll carry clothes and weapons for the rest of us. Once we know there's no threat, you can drop the supplies and move in. If it is a child... well, we know you can handle children. And the rest of us can dress while you talk to him. Let's do this. The longer he makes noise, if it is a child, the more likely he is to attract something else's attention."

Sarah and Kathy immediately dropped their clothing without a hint of self-consciousness, and shimmered into their wolf forms. Without being asked, Marissa moved to the door, opening it for the wolves as Ryan stripped out of his clothes. Before he Changed, he turned to Grace one last time.

"Clothing into a bag," he said. "One shotgun, my pistol, and the sword. Do not approach until you feel the 'all clear'."

When Grace nodded, Ryan let the Change overtake him, then moved out into the rain with a steady lope. He could feel Sarah and Kathy moving with him, spread out to his left and right as the moved quickly, but cautiously, into the sodden forest. The crying was tapering off into little hiccupping sobs, but they had no problem zeroing in on the area. As they approached, the scent of a human male began to be detectable over the washing effect of the rain. Young. Maybe eight or nine. Hungry. Scared. Alone. Ryan squashed his instincts to rush in with an iron will. They had to be certain it wasn't a trap. He felt Sarah and Kathy spreading out, their senses probing the night. Ahead Ryan saw a downed tree, propped up slightly by the trunk of another fallen tree. There was a small heat source under the trunk, probably in a tiny protected patch. The trio of wolves circled silently, keeping their senses focused on the spot of warmth, but there were no blind spots, no sound shadows, nothing to indicate anything waiting in ambush.

Ryan could feel Grace's growing impatience as they checked and rechecked, but finally he was satisfied.

All clear love. Drop our clothes behind that big oak tree and we'll join you as soon as we're dressed.

readysetstalk (Okay. We found him. It's not a trap as far as they can tell. Time to see what kind of mother instincts Grace has.)

 

[readysetstalk]

Grace had to give in to the calming effect Ryan had on everyone. It was taking every fiber of her being to not run out into the rain and save whoever was out there crying. Her instincts as a wolf were strong, but the motherly instincts that seemed to kick in were holding their weight against them. Her eyes were locked on Ryan the whole time he got up, got dressed, and headed down the stairs. She was right on his heels, not bothering to throw on the pants she’d had on earlier. Truthfully, they were more hassle than anything. If they were going out to run through the rain, she didn’t need her pants practically falling off of her.

As soon as the pads of her feet hit the landing at the bottom of the stairs, her eyes scanned their group. They were already on the move. Kathy at the window, Sarah stocking the fire. Marissa was clueless, but that was fine. There she stood, in nothing but a giant t-shirt, ready to take off into the night. The anticipation was growing. She knew Ryan. The crying wouldn’t go without investigation. But it was killing her to sit and wait. Dark waves of hair were tangled and knotted from the bit of sleep she did get, but none of that mattered. Her jaw clenched slightly as she listened to Ryan’s orders on the group. She was ready.

Mostly.

Grace followed them to the door, standing aside to stay out of their way. As Ryan turned to speak to her, her eyes shot up to him. She scanned his face, giving a small nod. “Got it,” she spoke, ready to push him out the door to get him moving. As soon as he was out, she ran through the cabin collecting clothes for everyone and stuffing them into a bag. They’d be able to figure it out once they shifted back. Grace stuffed the pistol into the bag as well before pulling it up over her shoulders. She took a small breath before grabbing the sword and fitting it over her frame. It didn’t sit as well on her, considering the size difference between her and Ryan. After she had the shotgun in hand, she moved back towards the door. Glancing back at Marissa, she offered a small smile and stepped out into the rain.

There was no way she could avoid his command for her to stay behind until it was clear. But she could step out onto the porch of the cabin and wait. All of her senses were tuned into everything they were doing. And she was so tuned into Ryan, she felt like she was right there next to him. Thank the heavens it didn’t take long for them to clear the area. Grace was running towards them the second the notice came through the bond.

The rain didn’t bother her. Grace was far too focused on that warm spot registered in everyone’s mind under that tree trunk. Once close enough, Grace dropped the bag, careful of the gun and shotgun. She slid out of the holster for the sword and took off into the forested area. By the time she got remotely close, she was absolutely drenched. Grass and mud were clinging to her bare feet and legs, her hair sticking to her face.

“Hey,” she spoke softly, slowing her speed significantly once she was close enough. “Shh.. Shh.. It’s okay. I’m here to help you..” When her eyes finally spotted the small boy, her heart burst with sadness. How long had he been out here? Where were his parents? Why was he alone? She didn’t sense any sort of camp nearby. It was alarming.

There were quiet sniffles from the child and he lifted his head to see the dark-haired woman coming closer. His knees were drawn to his chest, his arms wrapped around them. He was in nothing but a t-shirt and shorts, and they were soaked and dirty. His icy blue eyes held nothing but sadness and fear. His lips were blue from the cold, the rain not aiding the situation either.

Gracelynn knelt down a few feet in front of him. “I won’t hurt you,” she spoke, her lips turning upward in a warm smile. “It’s okay. I have a cabin not far from here.. Would you like to come back with me?”

For a while the child was still, looking her over again and again. Eventually, he nodded and started to crawl out from underneath the tree. “I’m so cold,” he whispered, his teeth chattering quietly.

“I know, I know,” she spoke, offering her hand out to him.

The blonde haired child took her hand, his eyes widening as her hand tightened around his. “You’re so warm,” he spoke, sniffling quietly.

“I am,” she agreed, “and I’m going to make sure you stay warm.” She stood to her full height and wrapped an arm around his shoulders, hugging him into her side. “My husband,” mate her mind corrected, “and some friends are here too. We’re gonna help you.”

The small child simply nodded and hugged himself even closer to her, burying his face in her chest. Grace’s hand rested gently on the back of his head as she held him. Her eyes looked out in the direction of Ryan. He’s freezing and starving. We’re heading towards you.

After a few nudges, she got him to start walking with her. He still hid his face, seeking the warmth her body was providing, which caused them to move a bit slower than she’d like. It was still dangerous and the rain wasn’t letting up. But his crying had stopped and their location may still be safe. And he was safe. They’d get formal introductions once they were inside and out of this weather. For now, Grace had to keep him safe, and get back to the others.

Tarmagon (Grace has secured the child. ))

 

[Tarmagon]

Ryan and the rest of the Pack Changed and quickly dressed as Grace approached the small boy. He could feel her concern radiating down the Pack Bond as drew on his clothing, then slung the sword over his back. Sarah retrieved the shotgun, and Kathy claimed his pistol. Until they knew more about their new addition, he wasn't going to expose a child to wolves in a dark, rainy forest. Kathy and Sarah automatically moved out to either side, forming a triangle formation as they walked slowly towards where they could feel Grace.

Soon enough, Grace and her small charge came into view, the boy walking so close to Grace that it looked like he was grafted onto her leg. He was small, with a shock of blonde hair matted to his head by the rain, and when he pulled his face away from Grace's leg for a moment, his eyes were an icy blue. The shorts and t-shift he was wearing were soaked, and obviously not doing anything about the chill in the air. The boy was shivering, and if he had been out in the storm, Ryan had no idea how he wasn't hypothermic. Right now, it didn't matter. He, Sarah, and Kathy fell into a defensive formation around Grace and the boy, putting them into the center of a triangle with Ryan on point. Rather than complicate matters with words, he just kept quiet, letting Grace keep the boy moving in the right direction.

The trip back to the cabin was punctuated by Grace's murmurs of encouragement to her young charge as well as the steady patter of rain. The cabin appeared suddenly out of the darkness, just a tiny glimmer of light escaping from under the door. Marissa had built up the fire, because the smell of wood-smoke was obvious, even through the dampening effects of the rain. The protective triangle pivoted as they approached, Ryan going from on point to tail end Charlie as first Grace and her charge slipped through the door, followed by Kathy, then Sarah. Ryan took a final look around, testing the pre-dawn morning with all his senses before ducking inside and closing the door. Ryan turned just in time to see the boy peel himself off of Grace's leg as the warmth of the cabin hit him.

"Ben?" Marissa asked, her voice full of disbelief. "Benjamin Graves?"

"Rissa?" the boy said, turning to search the cabin with desperate eyes. "Auntie Rissa?"

readysetstalk (Sorry for the brevity. I lost a pet this week, mother in law has Covid. I'm negative, but I'm her primary care giver, so it's just a matter of time. A real s-storm)