15 KiB
Chapter 39
“Ow!” Abraham shouted. “Calm down, it’s not that deep.” Michelle scoffed. “Seriously, you’re such a girl.” “And what’re you, exactly?” Asher smirked. “A stray dog?” “One more word and I’ll punch your fangs in.” Michelle sneered. The others snickered at their banter, but Abraham simply sat in silence as Sarah weaved webbing around his arm. The cut wasn’t deep, but it was bleeding quite a bit. “I wish Calypso were here…she’s much better at this than I am.” Sarah sighed. “No one’s better at wrapping things than you, Sarah.” Katie said encouragingly. “No, I mean medical things…Calypso’s better at treating injuries.” Sarah explained. “Is she really?” Katie let out a furious hiss as everyone turned to see Naomi walking inside. She held up her hands defensively as she entered. “Easy! Easy! What’s with all the hostility?” “You got a lot of nerve, bitch.” Michelle snapped, walking towards her with her fists clenched. “After what your bear did to Abraham, you’re lucky I don’t gut you like a fish.” “Oh, fish jokes is it?” Naomi rolled her eyes. “And here I thought you were the clever one. Look, I’m sorry about what Mato did. I had no idea he’d do that…but you should know, Mato is quite hostile towards humans…I admit it was my fault for letting Abraham out of my sight, but I have no control of Mato when he’s not near.” “Trust me, I’ll have words with Mato when he’s out of his web prison.” Asher snarled, baring his fangs. Abraham felt slightly unnerved by the venom in Asher’s voice. Everyone seemed so upset that Abraham had been hurt and ALL of them seemed out for blood. “Hey everybody! What’s all the hullabaloo?” Tori cried out, dropping down from the top window and landing gently nearby. As she saw the expressions on everyones faces, her smile melted away and she folded her wings. “Did I miss something?” She asked. “I’m glad you’re here Tori.” Naomi smiled. “Could you go check on Mato for me? He’s probably still tied up in the woods.” “Tied up!?” Tori cried. “What happened!?” “I promise to explain later. Just go find him and calm him down.” “Um…sure…right…” Tori jumped up and flew out the window she came in from and Abraham felt Sarah finish her work on bandaging his arm. “Feel better?” Sarah asked. “Not exactly…my arm feels fine but I want to know what Mato was rambling on about…and what you were talking to him about earlier.” Abraham asked. Naomi blinked a bit and then shrugged, sitting down on a stack of old tires. “Guess it couldn’t hurt to just lay it out for you.” She stated. “Mato is a skinwalker, which means his gift is passed down in his family. His family of bear shapeshifters lived in a cabin in a hunting territory south of Wyoming. As skinwalkers, only silver can hurt them, like werewolves. So news soon spread about the bears that were “invincible” which drew in customers at a local hunting lodge. The owner of the lodge loved the business so the game warden made a deal with the family. Simply let hunters “try” and shoot them and he’d make sure that the REAL monster hunters never found out where they were…a good trade right?” “What went wrong?” Annie asked. “One night the Dawn Bringers found their way to the home Mato’s family lived in. Most were killed, but Mato managed to escape with his sister Valery. They ran to the hunting lodge of the game warden to beg for shelter. But it turned out the Dawn Bringers had paid him off for information on the family. The money was too tempting for him to pass up. Val was killed in front of Mato…and Mato lost his mind. Mato killed every Dawn Bringer in the whole damn place.” There was a dark silence that seemed to actually dim the lights around them. Abraham rubbed his arm as he slowly started to forget the pain and feel pity. “R-regardless…” Katie snapped, though a bit more hesitantly, “his…what he did…he didn’t need to hurt Abraham!” “I’m not saying you’re wrong…but don’t you think there’s some merit of truth to his philosophy? We’ve known monsters and humans who have tried to coexist in the past…and it always ends in destruction or failure. The humans turn on the monsters and slay them. The monsters round on the humans and slaughter them like cattle. Mato’s philosophy is simply that monsters and humans are predestined to hate each other and kill each other for all time. While it is a very…what’s the word? Morbid? Yes, while it is a morbid reality, there is a degree of truth to it.” “Only if you allow it to be.” Asher argued. He glanced at Abraham and gave an encouraging grin. “And we won’t let it be that way.” “We’ll see, won’t we?” Naomi asked.
Sarah finally coughed and stood up on her eight spiny legs, turning towards the door. She started scurrying out the garage door, shooting a glance back. “Michelle would you mind accompanying me?” “You going to free that bear?” She asked. “I want safety insurance.” Sarah explained. “I don’t think Mato will try to hurt you now that he’s calmed down.” Naomi reasoned. “No…it’s safety insurance for HIM. I don’t want to accidentally hurt him.” Sarah snarled. “You still distrust Mato?” Naomi asked. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned, miss Naomi…it’s that your past is no excuse. If Mato is looking for some kind of pity party because of what happened to him, sorry…but I have no pity for a bully like him. There isn’t one person in this club who hasn’t suffered sometime in the past for what they are. Take that to heart, miss Naomi.” Sarah then hurried out without another word. Michelle walked after her and glanced to Naomi. “We’ll be leaving in a few days, Naomi. Sorry.” She then turned to Abraham. “Get that arm healed up. I need someone who can drive that bus.” “Right. Thanks, Michelle.” Abraham muttered. Though he was pleased to have the club sticking up for him, Abraham felt conflicted. He wasn’t sure how to feel about everyone acting the way they were. The club seemed so hostile all of a sudden, and Naomi, who was struggling to keep everything peaceful, was having a hard time. “Abraham? Are you okay?” Abraham glanced at Annie and smiled, rubbing her head. “I’m okay, Annie.” He assured her. “Are we leaving?” “Are we, Asher?” I asked. Asher shrugged. “I think Michelle was probably throwing out empty threats. We don’t have the resources or intel to even know where we’re headed. But with that said, if Mato really believes that you are a threat then there’s every possibility he will try something like this again. We can’t take that chance.” Asher answered. “The sooner we can move on, the better I think.” “All this trouble just because of me, huh?” Abraham asked. “Don’t talk like that!” Katie shouted. “We’d do this for any of the club.” Abraham smiled apologetically back at her, but his heart was troubled. He was causing the club more and more difficulty with each passing day. Was Mato really right? Not completely perhaps…but was there a shred of truth to his words? Was his presence really an affront to their own survival? He didn’t want to believe it, and yet ever since he’d joined the club, it’d been one ordeal after another…could it be that it was because of him? “Oppa?” Annie whispered gently. “You’re crying.” Abraham blinked and rubbed his cheek, becoming aware of the tear rolling from his eye. He hadn’t even realized it was happening. “Yeah, it’s okay. I’m fine, Annie.” Abraham reassured her. Katie and Asher exchanged looks of disappointment and Asher shook his head, getting up and leaning against the wall of the warehouse, glancing out at the sun. He kept himself hidden from the rays of the sun, and just seeing his expression, it was plain to see he was exhausted. “Go to sleep Asher…Katie…you both need it.” Abraham assured them. “Not until we have someone we trust watching you.” “I’ll watch him!” Annie exclaimed. “Someone older than you, kiddo.” Asher laughed. “Oh, you don’t trust me?” Naomi asked. “Not yet.” Asher growled. Before he could finish speaking his mind though, the sound of the door opening cut him off and in walked the very tired looking Tamil being lead by Calypso.
“We home now?” Tamil asked, dragging his feet. “Yes, Tamil.” Calypso laughed. “You’re so lazy sometimes.” “Not used to walk around so much…” Tamil mumbled. He paused a moment and turned his head from side to side, as if adjusting his ears. “Where is everyone? I hear no one.” “They ran out for a bit Tamil…” Asher explained. “Both of you step inside the office area with me, and I’ll explain.” Asher took Calypso and Tamil into a small office area to brief them leaving Abraham, Annie, Katie, and Naomi all alone in the middle of the warehouse. “For what it’s worth,” Naomi spoke up, “I am sorry for what Mato did…it was out of line, regardless of his or my personal beliefs.” Katie nodded in respect, but did not change the frown on her face. All was silent for a while as Abraham felt more and more awkward among the few who were around him. When Sarah, Michelle, Tori, and Mato all returned from their excursion, Mato didn’t even look in Abraham’s direction. He simply walked off to another corner of the warehouse. Naomi hurried after him, most likely to talk. Tori, however flew to Abraham and knelt down next to him, looking at his arm. “I heard what happened!” She chirped. “Please don’t hate Mato! He’s not a bad guy! Really!” “I don’t hate him.” Abraham assured her. “Speak for yourself.” Katie hissed. Abraham shot her a look and then turned to Tori again. “I promise I’m fine, Tori. It’s not a big deal. Forgive and forget right?” Abraham grinned. Tori beamed and quickly hugged Abraham around the neck happily. “Oh thank you! I was so worried you’d hate us after what happened!” “Why would I hate you and Naomi?” Abraham asked. “Neither of you hurt me.” “Well…Mato and Naomi always say that humans naturally hate us…and you didn’t seem to hate us before, so I was worried you would start to.” “Abraham’s a bit too nice for that…or maybe too naïve.” Michelle smirked. “Shut up…” Abraham blushed. Their conversation was interrupted when Tamil and Calypso emerged from the office. Calypso’s face was contorted in frustration and disbelief as she completely ignored the rest of the group and walked across the warehouse. “Calypso?” Sarah called. “Aren’t you going to take a look at Abraham’s arm?” “I need to speak to Naomi for a moment…” Calypso called back. “I’ll check on him in a moment.” Again, Abraham felt a dark wave of guilt run over him. Calypso was angry…sure she’d been angry before, but she usually kept it downplayed and hidden, like when she’d lashed out at that Dawn Bringer near the store. But now her anger was not only evident, but it was like she had tunnel vision. Abraham had drawn a divide between the club and their hosts… “I didn’t mean for any of this…” “None of us did, but it is what it is.” Sarah tried to assure him. “That doesn’t make it right!” Abraham argued. He stood up, nearly knocking Annie over as he stood. “I need some fresh air.” “I’ll go too.” Katie offered. “Me too!” Annie jumped up and ran to Abraham. “Thanks but I think I’d rather be alone for a bit.” Abraham retorted. Katie and Annie both looked disappointed, though Katie looked somewhat worried about Abraham as well. Did she know how he felt? Abraham marched to the garage door to slip out. “Abraham!” Abraham froze and looked to Asher who was standing closeby, giving him a gentle, but firm glare. “Don’t forget what I told you on the beach…the night I punched you.” Abraham remembered too well what Asher was talking about. He remembered that night and how Asher had explained Abraham’s importance to the club. He gave a soft smile to Asher, acknowledging him, but his heart was still troubled. He needed to think. “I’m not running away, Asher.” Abraham assured him. “I just want to think.” Asher closed his eyes and nodded back, giving a yawn, clearly exhausted still. Abraham slipped out of the warehouse and found himself exhaling heavily, as if he had just stepped out of a cold rain, breathing heavy and trying to catch his breath. The anger and hostility had been so thick in there. He took a few steps away from the warehouse, wanting to walk around for a bit.
“MATO!” Abraham stopped dead in his tracks and looked up to see a figure running towards the warehouse fast. Backing away, Abraham slammed his fist on the door. “GUYS! WE HAVE COMPANY!” Katie and Michelle were out in a flash, with Annie hiding behind Abraham’s legs. Tamil stumbled towards the door, feeling around until he found Sarah’s arm who escorted him out. “Sound like a horse…” Tamil noted. “A horse running.” “What would a horse be doing out here?” Katie asked. “Don’t be stupid.” “Am not stupid!” “Shut up, both of you!” Michelle snarled. “Here it comes!” The entire club braced themselves for the horse that was approaching…only it wasn’t completely a horse. Tamil had been right that it was a horse’s gallop he was hearing, as the figure that approached had the body of a young stallion with dark brown hair and a long brown horse hair tail swaying behind it…but where the neck began, was not a horses head, but instead the upper torso of a young boy with long, wild dark brown hair, and deep blue eyes. His torso was covered by a white t-shirt with a red jacket over it. He had a small bandage wrapped around his left arm, but otherwise, his horse half bore no clothing. “A centaur!?” Michelle gasped. “I’ve never seen one before!” “Me neither.” Tamil joked. “I told you to shut up!” Michelle snapped. “Could not help it.” Tamil snickered. The centaur saw the group and reared back in surprise. “I didn’t know they were real!” Sarah gasped, looking amazed. “Said the spider girl?” Katie smirked. Sarah rolled her 6 eyes but didn’t respond, all now staring at the centaur galloping towards them. “AAH!” He cried, backing away quickly in surprise. “Wh-who are you!? Where’s Mato and Naomi!? You didn’t kill them did you!? ANSWER ME!” “Calm down, kid!” Katie shouted. “We didn’t kill anyone. Who are you?” “Shouting usually doesn’t calm people down, Katie.” Sarah whispered. “You need to talk softly.” “Where’s Mato!? Where’s Naomi!? And what about Tori?” The centaur demanded, stomping his hoof. “David?” All eyes turned to Naomi and Mato who, seemingly overhearing the shouting, came out to see what was going on. The centaur, David, smiled upon seeing them. “Hey!” He shouted, trotting towards them. “Are these new friends of yours?” “Not exactly…but what’s wrong David? I thought you were back on the farm with Alex.” Mato asked. “That’s what I’m here to tell you.” David cried, grabbing Mato’s hand desperately and tugging him away. “You’re all in danger! The Dawn Bringers were seen in mass! Pen saw no less than 30 agents, and they were headed this way!” “When!?” Naomi shouted. “Yesterday! They could be here as early as tomorrow morning!” David shouted. “They’ll kill you all!”