Stepping out into the cool, evening air, Elodie stretched her arms out to either side and twirled about beneath the twin rising moons to celebrate her freedom.

Jail was not a nice place. Not only did they take her hair ribbons, totems, and sash away, the cells were cramped, the sheets musty, the cots shaky, and the manacles! Those were the worst. They made the magic go to sleep and left her so very cold and hungry, except it wasn't the cold or her empty belly that was really bothering her. At least the company was good, as Astrid was very kind and would share her warmth even though it made her nervous to. Elodie could not understand why, but she had also never seen Astrid hug anyone before, not even her oh so pretty mama mademoiselle Alice who always had a hug for Elodie and usually yummy cookies too.

Though she gave no hugs, Astrid was just as kind as her mama and oh so very smart, smarter even than Howie. With Chrissy's help, she was able to sneak two burritos into the cell, though they did not help with Elodie's hunger which was not really hunger. It was difficult to understand, but Elodie tried her best to. A known danger could be guarded against, so better to know than not know. When shackles made the magic go to sleep, it left her empty inside and out, like a warm hug that went away without warning. No, like hugging someone and jumping into the cold lake, with that warmth stolen away in an instant by the chilly waters.

So perhaps it was like a wet blanket blocking the magic from flowing from the world to Elodie and back out again. She did not much like it, so she must not do anything to get put in manacles again. Except she did not know why the men wearing six-pointed stars put them on her in the first place, because she only attacked the bad man after they attacked Harald and threatened the rest of them. They snarled and snapped then lunged as if to attack, so she went for the throat and showed no mercy because they were not guarding their territory, but out on the hunt, and Elodie was not prey. She tried to explain it to the men with badges, but they would not listen and Monsieur Askefjord told her to be quiet, which meant be silent even though they were not the same thing.

The outside world was so very strange and confusing with all their rules that did not make sense. She was glad to be free again though, and with the manacles off, she could not help but stretch the magic a bit. Jumping as high as she could, she spurred the magic to life just to feel it wrap her in its soft and cozy embrace. Only for a few seconds as she lazily drifted back down until her toes touched the ground, but Papa said she was not to use Spells in town unless absolutely necessary so as not to scare the outsiders. Howie did not warn her in the same way, but his questions inside the jail house showed that he shared the same concern. For what reasons, she again did not understand. Why did it matter if she killed the man with Spell or foot? Fang or claw, horn or hoof, it mattered not how one died, only that they did, and though she was sad to kill something that was not prey, she would not submit and allow others to devour her either.

Cowie, Frowny, Stella, and Terrance all shared in her joy, hopping and skipping around her as she went on to dance in the street, and she led them on a merry chase and laughed to see them follow her about. The birds were oh so very idle, so they did not hop or run about very often, but a few hours of absence made them chase her all the harder in order to share her warmth. She kept the game up for a few seconds more before letting them win, gathering the birds and calf alike into her arms to nuzzle them close and show that they were loved. Frowny was the biggest and already exhausted from their short chase, so she decided he would have to join them on their morning runs moving forward so he could build up his strength and endurance. Unlike Elodie, Frowny was most certainly prey, and slow, weak prey did not survive long.

Nor did oblivious prey, and though she was not prey, not all believed so. As such, she kept a sharp eye on their surroundings even while enjoying the night to make sure there were no more bad men lurking about. She could not say for certain, but there were many, many eyes turned in her direction. Staring was rude, but everyone on the streets was staring and she did not like this. She could not bare her teeth and snarl to scare them off though; Mama said that was also rude, and even if others were being rude, that was no excuse to be rude as well. Instead, Elodie pouted and ran back to Howie as he walked out with Chrissy. Astrid, Harald, and Monsieur Askefjord were right behind them, and even though they were all nervous and worried, they did not hug now either. Strange, but Mama said Elodie was not to ask too many personal questions, because prying, much like so very many other things, was rude.

So instead of latching on to Howie's arm, Elodie linked arms with Astrid and tilted ever so slightly so Terrance would hop over to the red girl's shoulder. He was the friendliest kiccaw, a silly little bird who would hop into the mouth of a predator so say hello, but luckily he was protected by the others. Like Frowny who puffed up to see it, but Elodie gave him a little nuzzle as she followed Howie back to his boat by the docks. Gone were his false smiles, and he no longer even tried to appear relaxed. Though he had always been one to see danger in every shadow and treetop, he made no effort to hide it as he glared at people who looked too intently even though Mama also said that was rude.

Which was really the most confusing part. You were not supposed to do rude things, but so very many did, but it was also rude to call someone rude for doing rude things. Of course, Howie was being rude because he was absolutely furious and spoiling for a fight, but fighting with the men with badges would not end well. Like a grumpy diamondclaw whose long winter sleep was disturbed before Spring, Howie was ready to lash out at anyone and anything so long as they gave him good reason, and Elodie did not like it when he was angry like this.

Not when he had his fangs bared and claws unsheathed, for he kept his free hand hovering close to the gun on his belt, the tiny one Astrid brought out with her earlier today. He did not like being armed only with the one weapon, which was why he hurried them back to the boat as quickly as he could. Or as quickly as Chrissy could, who was huffing and puffing to keep up because she was oh so idle like Frowny. Elodie did not know how they did it, standing or sitting in one place for hours and hours and hours without going so very bored. Even with a full belly and Astrid to cuddle with, the minutes dragged by as they lay on that cot with nothing to see or do. It was still better than being bothered by the ugly, stinky old deputy who thought himself still young and vital enough to draw Elodie's and Astrid's interest.

Pesky as the older man's attentions might be, it warmed Elodie to see Howie step in to defend her. He was to be her husband after all, and he took his role seriously even if he refused to lay with her again after that first night. Again, she could not understand why, but these were his customs so she would abide by them even though he never really tried to abide by hers. More stilly outsider ways which would never make sense, so she would have to be content knowing he cared. What she did not like was how angry it made him, because anger should not play a part in it. The older man made his approach, and Howie fended him off with his words, and that should be it, but this was not so. From that point on, Howie was brimming with fury, rage that could be heard through his back and forth with Harald while they played their silly game.

Which Howie was not very good at. His pieces were pack, but he treated each one like a solitary hunter, laying traps that were all too easily seen through and relying too much on his strongest piece, the queen. He also sacrificed pieces all too often when instead he should retreat and have them work together to deny his opponent's moves. Or took the bait because it was much too tempting, when he would be better off opening his eyes to look at what lay around it. Deal with the danger, then take the treat, a simple concept Howie should know well enough, but he did not put into practice.

And losing did nothing to improve his mood. Nor did his talk with the man pretending to be his lawyer, the first one who took them on as clients, not the second who sat with them in the small room and explained everything to Howie and Monsieur Askefjord. Why Howie's lawyer was two men sharing one face was a question she was dying to ask, but Howie also said to say nothing because they did not know who was listening, so she kept quiet up to now.

Returning to the boat did not improve Howie's mood either. "What happened to my stove?" he asked, staring at the blackened steel that no longer hummed with magic after Astrid set it on fire. Elodie didn't say anything though, because it was not her mistake to admit, but neither did Astrid who shrank back behind Elodie and Harald as if to hide from Howie.

Instead, Harald answered for her. "Astrid tried to make fish and chips for lunch. The pot caught on fire, which she tried to put out with water."

Knowing Howie was probably hungry, Elodie chimed in to help. "We went out and bought burritos, and Astrid and Chrissy helped sneak them into the cell. They were very yummy, and there should still be more because we bought enough for lunch and dinner." Unless Monsieur Askefjord and Chrissy ate them all, but they did not eat very much. Especially Chrissy, which might explain why she was so very idle. No food means no energy, so maybe if she ate more she would have more energy to run and play.

"I see." Howie wasn't angry about the stove, or sad even. He just accepted it with a little sigh and said, "Well, I got a hot plate we can heat them up on, and I'll whip something up for myself. Astrid, you want I should teach you, or…?"

Elodie hoped Astrid would say yes. Howie was oh so very busy and might not always have time to cook, but if Astrid learned then she could help. Elodie had tried to learn before, but she could not pay attention to the cooking long enough to see it through. Mama and Papa were also not very good at cooking either, not like Howie, Aunty Ray, or Monsieur Serrano with his yummy paella with clams and pasta. If there was no one to cook for her, then she was happy to eat her fish and clams and leaves and roots all raw, but things were so much yummier when cooked.

Then again, maybe Howie could teach Elodie how to cook, though he did not ask if she wanted to learn. He noticed her interest soon enough though, as she continued watching him heat the dinner burritos even after her gave her the first one, and he started explaining why he was doing what he did. He kept the hot plate on low heat and let it sit longer on each side while covering it with the big leaves used to package them. She did not like how long it took, especially when the burritos were already very yummy when cold, but she could not deny that they were much tastier when hot. Though still hungry after eating her first burrito, she offered to let Howie have the second, but he smiled, gently pinched her cheek, and said he was fine. A real smile, if not a big one, and Elodie was happy to see it even though Howie was much too thin to be prideful as well and refuse food from her plate.

Especially when he didn't cook much for himself. While showing Astrid and Elodie how to make fries in hot oil, he ate a dinner of hardtack and pemmican, neither of which were very yummy. Hardtack was hard enough to make her teeth hurt, while pemmican was much too greasy and strange for her tastes, but Howie ate it up without making any faces. This from someone who didn't like clams or mushrooms. He really was a strange man, but a kind and caring one too as he showed them both what to do while keeping an eye on Chrissy who was feeling scared and sad.

So sad she didn't want to play any music, not even when Howie asked if she was up for it. Taking a deep breath, Howie glanced over at Astrid, Harald, and Monsieur Askefjord all sitting inside and reading their books. When he was sure they weren't looking, he leaned in to kiss Chrissy's forehead a light kiss, right on the pretty pinkish purple gemstone. He did that for Cowie and the kiccaws sometimes, but never Elodie. She didn't pout or make a fuss though, because Howie was worried about Chrissy and trying to cheer her up. Taking a seat right next to her, he slipped his arm around her shoulder and cradled her close while rocking side to side.

"I'm sorry Chrissy," he said and Signed, after a long stretch of silence during which Elodie wanted to say something or snuggle in alongside them, but didn't for reasons she couldn't vocalize. "I must've scared you somethin' fierce, tellin' you to kill those deputies if they laid a hand on you." Chrissy nodded ever so slightly, then shook her head, but her fingers were clutching his shirt and refused to let go even to sign her thoughts. Howie didn't mind though, because he understood Chrissy well enough to know what she meant. "I know you could've done it," he said, his tone filled with pride and amusement. "You done great in there, keeping your guard up and staying ready to defend yourself if need be even though you was scared."

Chrissy shook her head, and Howie chuckled to see it. Hugging her even tighter, he asked, "So you wasn't scared?" Again, Chrissy shook her head even as she burrowed deeper into Howie's shoulder and looked scared as could be. "Well I was." That caught Chrissy's attention as she sat up and took notice, while Elodie scooted a little closer to hear a little better. "I'm serious," he said, glancing over at her and waving for her to join them as they sat at the stern of the ship, with a nice view of the lake and the night's sky while hidden from anyone who might be watching them from shore.

So Elodie did as Howie asked and took a seat next to him, where he even put his arm around her shoulder and hugged her close. He didn't give her a kiss on the forehead, but he smiled when she presented it and touched his head to hers instead. That was good enough for now, even if she didn't understand why things had to be different, so she snuggled in against him to listen to what he had to say. "I was terrified when I saw you walk in with chains on Elodie," he began, hugging her just a little bit harder as the kiccaws and Cowie settled in on all their laps. "Especially when I saw your bloody foot." Turning to Chrissy, he added, "And I was terrified when that deputy started saying those things, because I was locked up and unable to protect either of you. I'm sorry for getting you all wrapped up in my mess like this, and so scared to think about how things could've gone wrong in so many ways."

Heaving a big sigh, Howie fell silent as he thought about what he would not say, but Elodie could guess. "But it did not," she said, wrapping her arms around his waist and clinging all the tighter because he needed a hug same as Astrid. "We are fine, yes? I stomp on the bad man, Harald took care of the rest, and Chrissy was ready to defend herself with her Big Spell."

"You right," Howie said, even though he didn't sound like he was agreeing. And he wasn't, as he continue, "But you never should've been put in that position in the first place. Only reason Dakota Slim approached you was because he thought I was here to kill him. Which I ain't. He don't got no price on his head, and I don't got no reason to go after him." Pausing, he thought about it, then said, "Well, I didn't. Do now, but you handled it well enough." Looking at Elodie, Howie thought about something else, then asked, "You alright? Like… are you sad or scared or anything about having to kill him?"

Elodie tilted her head, because it was a very strange question. "No," she replied, and because she wasn't sure if that was the correct answer, she explained, "He was a bad man who wanted to hurt us and kill you." So why should she feel bad about killing him? He would still be alive if he had not said or done the things he did.

"That's good," Howie replied, giving her another big hug before asking, "Hey… you think you could straighten a horseshoe with your bare hands?"

"I do not know," Elodie replied, as she had never tried. She didn't understand why Howie wanted to know how strong her arms were though. She'd stomped that bad man with her legs, which were much, much, much stronger than her arms. If she wasn't so comfy, she might well have asked, but she was too busy enjoying his warmth and his scent to care much about conversation.

Not Chrissy though, who was still sitting upright and focused on Howie who was still Signing as he talked. "Anywho, Chrissy," he said, heaving another big sigh as he did. "You don't have to pretend you wasn't scared. It's normal, especially considering what I asked you to do." Chrissy nodded, and Howie reached out to tap her nose gently. "You understand why I told you to do that though, right?" Chrissy nodded again, but this time, that wasn't enough. "Can you tell me why?"

"Bad man," Chrissy replied, her hands lighting up to say even more, namely that he was talking about how he wanted to hurt her.

"That's not all though," Howie said. "It's not enough that he was saying bad things. You can't act before he does, or else you take the blame, like how Elodie, Astrid, and Harald could've gotten in trouble for what they done. Understand?" This time, Chrissy didn't answer, because she didn't understand and neither did Elodie, so Howie did his best to explain. "Words and intentions aren't enough in a court of law. A threat isn't enough. There needs to be an imminent danger of death or serious physical injury to you or another person, and only then can you defend yourself with lethal force."

A statement which was lost on Elodie as she tried to parse the string of words, because it did not make sense. When that deputy was saying those horrible things about Chrissy, Elodie was ready to charge at him and kill him through the bars to protect her, but now Howie was saying she would have been in the wrong. Why?

It was clearly lost on Chrissy too, who sat still and blinked many times before returning to Howie's embrace. Though he tried to explain it a few more times, Elodie just could not understand why she had to wait until someone tried to hurt her before defending herself. It would be like if she saw a dangerous predator baring its teeth as it approached, but waited for it to attack first before striking back instead of hitting it on the nose to scare it off. It was very silly, but for some strange reason that was how the laws were written, and there was no way to change them to make more sense.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

"All I'm sayin' is," Howie began, after giving up on trying to explain, "Is that you both gotta be real careful out here. I don't want you hesitatin' to defend yourselves, but you also can't be too gung-ho about it, yeah? Soon as someone's got a weapon in hand, then you free to act, but before then… I dunno. You'll have to make your own judgement."

"Okay Howie," Elodie said, even though she found it oh so strange for him to use so many words to say something so very simple. "I will follow your lead, and when you are not there, I will protect Chrissy."

"Thank you, Ella-dee," he replied, though his tone told her he was still worried. He didn't dwell on it though, just started humming a melody before launching into the song, one about cats and cradles and silver spoons. It was one of Cowie's favourites, seeing how he raised his head from her lap to watch Howie sing it. It wasn't her imagination this time, it couldn't be, because if Cowie and Chrissy were both entranced, then there was good reason for Elodie to be drawn to Howie's singing too. As before, it wasn't that he was the best singer, not like Tina was. No, Howie's singing was pleasant because it was so genuine, revealing a part of himself he kept hidden from the world and even himself, so much so that even the Magic responded to his lyrics. She did not understand what any of the words had to do with who Howie was, but he believed it so and the magic agreed, because it loved him so.

It wasn't just his sensitivity to magic that made him such a powerful Spellcaster. The magic responded to him in ways unlike with anyone else, not even Mama, Elodie, or Chrissy. They lived and breathed the magic, but with Howie, it was like the magic sought him out, was drawn to him the same way Elodie had been the first time she'd seen him. There was something about him, something she could not define, a glint in his eye, a hitch in his step, a tone in his voice that made her happy to be around him, and she would not be sent away.

So it was all the more important Elodie learned how to live in his world, because he was too stubborn to come live in hers. Silly Howie. He would be much happier if he did, because so much of what made him upset had to do with his world. When he was here like this, singing without a care in the world and baring his soul for all to see, this was what his life could be if he should only choose it. He refused to though, chose what he believed was 'normal' even though it made him miserable having to navigate the laws and rules of 'polite society'. Better to do away with it all and run through the forests, swim through the lake, and maybe even soar through the skies one day together with Elodie and a pack of their own.

Maybe some day, but for now, she would follow him into the outside world. That's why she was happy to take first watch when he asked, since Astrid was still feeling sad and could use the extra rest. As for Chrissy, she was feeling too glum to keep Elodie company, so she joined Astrid in the uncomfortable wagon along with Cowie and the kiccaws. Soon enough, Elodie was left alone on the deck, where she retreated to the back where no one would see her and slipped out of her dress. Finally clad in only her skin, she danced beneath the moonlight and did a little hop and skip before reaching out to Hopping Cloud. The wind brought them together with a faint kii and caw that only she could hear, and the world grew large around them.

Or rather, she grew tiny as she shrank down to the size of a round little bird who did so love to hop. Hopping Cloud was once the brave of his flock, a hunter who hopped forth to seek out bugs, lizards, and rodents, and whatever bounty he found, he would bring home to the others. To satisfy his desires, they hopped over to her dress and rummaged through her pockets to find the candies hidden within, candies she brought over to the wagon and hid within the shadow of the wheel. Three candies for three birds, and three more for Cowie because Howie said too much candy wasn't good for him, but did not say how much was too much. For a bull his size, Cowie could likely eat much more candies than Howie, so three seemed like very little, but Elodie had to save some for herself too.

With that taken care of, they proceeded to hop up the rope tied to the mast and perch up atop the tallest point on the catamaran. The rocking of waves and howling of winds threatened to overturn them both, but Hopping Cloud was an experienced brave who'd climbed the highest peaks of the desert dunes and knew full well how to handle himself. His world was a dangerous one, where vigilance and speed of leg were his only defenses against the predators roaming the sands, but he survived for many moons and hatched countless chicks in his time, unlike so many others who often died on their first trip. Up on the mast, Elodie let Hopping Cloud handle the vigil while she entertained herself with games just like Howie taught her.

By counting.

There were 39 boats to the west, but only 15 to the east before the river forked to the north. That was so very many boats, but not as many as she'd seen in the lake back home. Of course, she never counted them because numbers were of no interest to Noisy Clapper, and thus of no interest to her when they were joined, but Howie was teaching her to separate the two so she could stay focused on the important facts. Like how Hopping Cloud saw a threat moving along the shore, two people with dangerous weapons in hand. Elodie knew it to be the guards though, and they were no immediate threat since their weapons were shouldered as opposed to readied. Same with the sounds, which worried the kiccaw greatly, so Elodie soothed his frayed nerves and explained them all one by one. The creaking wood as the docks settled for the night, the dull thud of a loose rope blowing in the wind, even the lapping waves of water were strange and new to the kiccaw despite having been on watch with Elodie twice before now.

Much like with Dancing Hooves, brave Hopping Cloud was still prey, but Elodie was not and never would be. That was the key to keeping her from panicking like before, remembering that she was not prey, which was why she trained as Hopping Cloud during their nightly watches. At least the kiccaw's instinct was to hold still and remain quiet, while Dancing Hooves would run and cry until she could do neither. As for Elodie, she liked to bounce, so she did up top the mast, holding their wings out wide and bobbing back and forth even though they had no flock to dance with.

Not now at least. They would dance with Frowny, Stella, and Terrance in the morning, and maybe Chrissy would join in too, but for now, they danced alone as they stood vigil over their flock.

17 buildings, 102 windows, 13 street lamps, and more, Elodie counted and kept watch while wishing she could be doing something fun. Like exploring the stables to see if there were any friends to be made, or checking the barrels sitting inside the warehouses and finding out what they held inside. Night was the perfect time to explore the town, because all the people were fast asleep and there was no danger to be wary of. Elodie still found it all so very fascinating, this world outside of the tribe that was so strange and scary and wonderous at the same time. It seemed like every time they went into town, they would run into something dangerous, but the same could be said of the forest and lake. How many times had she scented Aberrations on the wind or in the water and was forced to flee for her life? Too many to count, and while most Aberrations had died without their Progenitor to guide them, there were still some sleeping in the mudbanks or in undersea caves just waiting for a new Progenitor to reach them.

The only difference was that she understood the rules of the forests and lakes, ones which rarely changed no matter which forest or lake she run and swam in. The same could not be said for towns, where rules changed without warning once you stepped past an invisible line, one that separated Federal from the Frontier even though it was all the same land. It could get even more complicated, because there were other towns not associated with the Federation, towns which had their own rules that were sort of the same but also very different. That's what Howie said at least, as he tried to tell them what to expect in the Deadlands where four tribes shared the lands, meaning their rules were even more complicated. Better to follow Howie's lead, but she would have to learn someday because they would not always be side by side.

There was much to study, but Elodie was in no rush, because she had the rest of her life to master these rules. So she stood vigil, danced, and even sang a little until the twin moons reached the proper height to say that her watch was at an end. There was no need to run down the line, or even use Featherfall since Hopping Cloud was light as a feather, but she did so anyways after jumping off the mast because she wanted to enjoy the trip down. Perhaps if she floated down enough times, she would one day learn how to fly, or at the very least connect with the Spirit of a beast that could. Not tonight however, so she hopped on back to her clothes before parting ways with Hopping Cloud. He was content with a job well done, and she thanked him for his valiant efforts before slipping her dress back on and padding back into the interior cabin.

Once again, Howie came awake before she drew near, only this time, the opening of the door was all it took to alert him of her presence. She was not even halfway to the cot before they crossed paths, denying her the chance to take in his warmth and his scent as he guided her back out. "Elodie," he whispered once they were back out on deck. "Can you do me a big favour? Could you stand watch for a little longer? 30 minutes, maybe an hour tops?"

Howie was being sneaky, not looking her in the eyes and pretending like he was distracted checking his weapons and pouches. He worn them all to bed, with six such weapons hanging from his two belts, and he even had a rifle over his shoulder, the one that went click-clack with the lever and looked so very fun to play with. He would not let her play with it though, as he said it was not a toy. This was true, so she simply nodded and said, "Okay Howie. Will we stand watch together?"

She thought maybe he was lonely and did not want to stand watch by himself, but he shook his head. "I have something I need to do," he explained, then grimaced and asked, "Can you keep this a secret from everyone?"

This time, Elodie was not so quick to nod. "I am not very good at keeping secrets," she said, and now it was her turn to glance away. She kept forgetting there were things she was not supposed to say or do in front of strangers, and while she had not made any big mistakes in years, those were years spent avoiding strangers for the most part. Right up until Howie stumbled into their lives, and now Elodie was making ready to join his tribe, so she could not hide her flaws from him.

"All right," he said, smiling even though his lips were pursed in a grimace. He really wanted to keep this a secret, but Elodie did not like keeping secrets from friends. "I'll be back as soon as I can, but keep a close eye out. Someone knows I won't be here, and I don't want to take any chances."

Curious as Elodie was, she didn't ask Howie what he was up to, because she could tell he didn't want her to know. Instead, she kept silent while he dug around in his pouch which smelled of dried plants, dead insects, rancid fat, and so much more before pulling out what he needed, a pinch of plant ash that he sprinkled around him while he cast his Spell. One that drew the darkness in around him and wove him into shadow so well that the shiny bull's head medallion no longer reflected the reddish light of the moons overhead. None of the light from the moons or stars touched him at all, and were she not standing right in front of him with his scent on the breeze, she might not have even seen him there, and she marvelled at how many Spells he knew and used so well.

"Stay safe," Howie said, reaching out to tap her nose. "If you think there's something wrong, then err on the side of caution okay?" Elodie didn't understand, so she cocked her head in question, and Howie explained, "Trust your instincts. If you think something is wrong, don't hesitate to wake everyone up. Even if it turns out to be nothing, that's better than the alternative."

Advice which was oh so very obvious, but Elodie did not point this out. She only nodded and said, "Okay Howie. Be safe."

He did not answer, and if he smiled, she could not see it. He did pat her head before leaving, hopping over the side of the ship and over onto the dock without so much as a noise. That wasn't a Spell either, only Howie's natural grace as he landed on the mooring post before gently stepping down, and then he was gone from sight. Try as she might, Elodie could not see any traces of his passing, not with her human eyes at least. Perhaps Hopping Cloud's eyes would see more, but she did not disturb him again. He enjoyed their trips together, but he was no guardian to stand watch over the flock, so she would stand this extra watch without him.

Only the more she thought about it, the more she worried for Howie. What was there for him to do so late at night, when everyone except the guards were asleep in their beds? Why did he have to hide himself before setting forth? The only reason she could think of was so he could skulk in the shadows like a hunter on the trail of his prey, and the only prey he could hunt here in town was man. Perhaps even one man in particular, the ugly Eugene who threatened Chrissy so, a prospect which frightened Elodie greatly.

He could not fight so many men with badges and guns. He would need help, and since Howie said to trust her instincts, Elodie did just that.

Knocking gently on the wagon door, Elodie waited for an invitation to come in, but heard only soft groans and murmurs coming from within. Cracking the door open, she peeked in and saw Astrid and Chrissy curled up together, with the first grumbling something fierce while the second buried her head under the covers to ward off the night's chill. "Astrid," Elodie whispered, and the sweet girl groaned some more to hear it. "We must talk. I think there is a problem, but I do not know what to do."

Though the silly girl was nowhere near as alert as Howie, she still shuffled out of the wagon to talk all the same. After throwing on a thick robe and grumbling all the while, but Astrid did not mean any of the things she said. Chrissy came along with, because tired as she was, she was too curious to be left out, so Elodie wrapped her arms around the silly girl while explaining what happened. "Why would he leave us all alone and sneak into town at night?" Astrid asked, because she did not understand Howie as well as Elodie did. Howie had told them all what he would do, the deputy Eugene included, but none of them believed him besides her. Even Chrissy was unsure as to what Howie was doing, as she signed that perhaps he was sneaking away for fun and food, but there was none to be had in the dark and silent town.

So Elodie declared, "I want to follow him and make sure he is safe, so I need you stand watch until we come back."

Astrid frowned, not because she did not want to take watch, but because she did not want Elodie to leave. This was not her decision though, so Elodie let her think it through while Chrissy signed, "I come too?" To which Elodie replied with a shake of her head before signing that she must be swift, silent, and unseen, and Chrissy could only do the last two. She huffed to hear it, so she got a kiss on the cheek to soothe her pride as well as an invitation to the next morning run which she immediately rejected. Chrissy was so silly, and Astrid even sillier for taking so long to decide something Elodie had already made up her mind to do.

"Okay," Astrid said with a nod. "I'll keep watch, but if Howie comes back without you, I'll tell him everything."

"Of course." Why did outsiders always feel the need to state the obvious? It was a very strange custom, though far from the strangest. Like how Astrid averted her eyes when Elodie slipped out of her dress again. This time however, she did not reach out to Dancing Hooves or Hopping Cloud, and instead contacted Destroyer of Burrows, a cantankerous marten who had few lingering affections left for the material world, but answered her call all the same because she sensed Elodie's need. Together, they set off at an ungainly lop towards the bow of the ship where they launched themselves off and over to shore in a single bound to land on the hard packed dirt. Even then, their big, digging claws made a loud thump, one that would have echoed out through the night if they had landed on the dock, but Destroyer of Burrows knew full well the value of stealth.

She also knew how to track her prey, even through the dizzying array of scents here in town. Finding Howie's was simple enough, and they followed it over to the wall where he had climbed over in some fashion. Destroyer of Burrows didn't even try, and instead found a gap to squeeze through. There was no tunnel connecting to the other side, but she set their claws to work and made one in short order. From there, following Howie's trail was much too easy, as he stuck to the shadows and left his scent against all manner of walls and corners which he brushed against in passing. Rather than the main road, he wove a tangled route deep into the tangle of streets and houses, one Elodie would be hard pressed to navigate if not for Destroyer of Burrows having caught the scent. Unlike the others, the marten was a predator through and through, one who'd earned her name hunting down bunnies and chitter-rats enough to feed countless litters of kits which she raised and taught the ways of her world.

Just as she taught Elodie here tonight, dashing from shadow to shadow in complete silence and stopping often to ensure the way forward was clear. She used their eyes the least, and their nose the most, but their ears and whiskers came in handy more often than not, as they let them know there was no movement nearby and that their body could fit through a gap so long as their whiskers did too. That was how they knew they could slide under the floorboards of a house Howie had entered, a tight fit that she would have never thought to try, but Destroyer of Burrows knew their limits well.

Once under the house, she was unsure of where to go next, because Howie had most certainly gone in, but they could hear nothing. Not until they moved closer to the centre of the house however, as their ears popped and sound flooded in even as Elodie recognized the familiar touch of another person's magic. Though Destroyer of Burrow's froze in place at the sudden deluge of sound, Elodie urged her onwards, and they moved forward to trace out where everyone was. After a quick circuit, Destroyer of Burrows knew where to dig through the floorboards without being discovered, scratching open a hole just big enough to see and hear through, but not enough to be noticed.

"You can't do this," someone was saying, and Elodie spotted the deputy Eugene looking scared and frantic. "I'm an officer of the law."

"You ain't gonna hide behind your badge today," Howie drawled from out of sight, and Elodie shuddered to hear the chill in his tone. "Can't go around abusin' your authority and still expect others to respect it."

Elodie poked their head out just a bit and saw the deputy had his wrists bound in manacles that were hooked onto a beam on the ceiling. High enough so he could barely stand on his tippy toes, as he was not a tall man. Howie came into sight as he circled around his prey, one secured with help else he never would've caught him so quickly. "How many times you done it then?" Howie asked, and Eugene flinched at the sound of his voice. "How many times you used your badge to molest or rape?"

"Never, I swear," Eugene replied, but neither Howie nor Elodie believed the lie. "Look, I was just talking. Trying to scare you a bit. I never would've touched those Aberrants!"

Howie delivered a blow without warning, driving his fist into the other man's soft belly and eliciting a pained groan. "Don't much care for that word," Howie said, grabbing the guard by his hair and lifting his head to look him in the eyes. "Aberrant. Ain't nothing aberrational about Chrissy, Elodie, or Astrid."

"You're right," Eugene wheezed, so terrified yet eager to please. "I'm sorry. Innates. I wouldn't have touched those Innates. I swear it. The Sheriff, he'll look the other way if we get a little handsy, but he'd kill us himself if any of us took things too far."

"So what you're saying is you would've done it if you thought you could've gotten away with it." Howie punched the deputy again, this time in the gut. "Gotta say Eugene, that ain't the glowin' commendation you seem to think it is." Howie punched him again, this time aiming for the liver from behind, and Eugene arced back and screamed as his knees gave out from underneath and his full weight fell onto the chains above.

Howie said more things, and Eugene begged even more, but still the blows rained down. This was no hunt, no quick strike for a clean kill. Destroyer of Burrows understood what was happening though, and she explained it to Elodie in simple emotions. The marten had earned her name for doing just that, collapsing burrows once she'd killed and eaten all the inhabitants. Then she would lie in wait and watch for any returning prey who'd go down into their tunnels only to find a dead end, with no burrow to hide in or secondary paths to escape from. She would not follow them in, but simply sit at the entrance in plain sight, for oftentimes she would be full and have no stomach for more, so she would entertain herself by watching her prey try to escape.

That was what Howie was doing, the marten explained. Playing with his prey, and Elodie understood this to be true, but not completely true. He was hurting the man because he'd threatened his pack, and this he would not stand for. Even though Eugene had caused no harm and was no longer a threat, Howie still wanted to punish the man. Justice, or some form of it, since the laws would not land on his side. Frontier Justice then, and Elodie did not like the look on Howie's face as he carried it out. It was not his normal cold, calm self, or the kind, sweet Howie he showed when he sang or played with Cowie and the kiccaws. No, this was a Howie consumed by rage, one who burned with an anger that could only be quenched by the blood and suffering of those who ignited the blaze in the first place.

How many times he struck the deputy, Elodie could not say, but much time had passed before he stopped. A quarter hour at least, and though she did not like him at all, she pitied the poor deputy who'd long since stopped crying for mercy that would not come. Still burning with anger, Howie wrenched the man's head upright and slapped him hard across the face. When that failed to wake him, he Conjured a Water Sphere and used that instead, and the man came to with a sputtering cough. "You got the mob to thank for your life tonight," Howie said. "Like I said, I ain't one for teaching lessons, but you got lucky." Leaning in close, Howie met the other man's eyes and stayed silent for a long second before continuing, "Don't make me regret leavin' you alive Eugene. If you do, I'll make sure you regret it too."

Howie meant every word, and Elodie believed him. So too did Eugene, who whimpered, cried, and nodded along. With that, Howie was done with the man, leaving the room to speak briefly with someone else and clean himself off. Then he cast his Spell again, and Elodie joined with Destroyer of Burrows to scurry off into the night, hoping to get back to the boat before he did and pretend like she hadn't seen any of this tonight.

Not because she was afraid he would be angry if he knew. He wouldn't be, not really. Instead, he would be ashamed, ashamed that his hidden rage had been seen, the side of him he kept hidden as best he could because he did not understand it. Neither did Elodie, only that she knew he had all that anger hidden inside, and no means to deal with it. That's why he lashed out like he did, wanted to make others hurt like he hurt, and though she did not much like this side of him, it was there all the same. Just as some might think Destroyer of Burrows cruel for playing with her prey, some might think this of Howie too. Perhaps it was, but more than that, it was a part of his nature, one he would have to accept sooner rather than later.

If not? Then it would only grow stronger and stronger, until one day, it might erupt and consume him in truth and leave nothing else. At least now she understood him a little better, and though this side of him scared her, she knew it was not truly who he was.

Not yet at least…

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