The Bonding Chronicles Ch. 17

There was a weight to her words, as if speaking them alone was enough to pull her down.

"Wow," Andrew responded, looking between Thunderfoot and his mate, the beauty of the brunette distracting him for a moment before he returned to his thought.

"Are you going to go to Tani'm today? After everything she did, we need to at least try and help make her whole."

The abrupt turn to Andrew's train of thought took everyone by surprise.

He was saying something all of them had been thinking, but it was still nice to hear the words aloud, even if they had not expected them in that moment. The fact was, they were beside themselves with worry for the small woman, and for the torment that the discovery of her bond with Andrew must have caused her. Tani'm's fear of that eventuality had been well known to them all, even though she had only ever voiced it to Karen. The voluptuous brunette lit up at the prospect of helping her friend, while the rest of them were forced to face how they felt about the small woman.

"I know you want her to join us," Andrew stated to Karen, the older woman's gleeful expression proving his point for him. "But, what about you, Kitten?"

Sara maintained her place at Andrew's right side, where she was draped across his body in a show of supreme relaxation, her head resting upon his chest as she listened to his heartbeat and watched Karen work.

"I like her well enough, I guess."

There was an indifference to Sara's voice that seemed out of place for the woman who always either loved or hated people, swinging from both extremes like a talented trapeze artist. For her to sit so firmly in the middle took Andrew and Karen by surprise.

"I mean, she has some awesome abilities, and that girl's body is just adorable." She lifted her head and looked up at Andrew, leaning forward and giving him a peck before she finished, "But, I don't like how she treats my man."

She rested her head back down and grimaced. "I mean, seriously girl; shit or get off the pot."

Andrew and Karen erupted with laughter, Sara remaining where she was and allowing her head to rise and fall to the rhythm of Andrew's mirth. A faint smile was the only clue that revealed she enjoyed the moment as much as her mates, but that was as much as she was willing to give them.

"I'm nervous as well," Andrew confessed, causing a worried look to spread across Karen's face.

"I understand her having trust issues, and my guess is that if she chooses to join us, then the bond will help ease that transition. But... If that is truly who she is, I don't want to take that away from her. The problem is, I also don't want that kind of negativity in our family."

Karen looked relieved by what Andrew said, realizing that he was continuing to be the man she had wanted him to be — wise and compassionate.

"If she would be happy with us, and not second guess or doubt her reason for joining our family, then I would love for her to be part of all this. I mean, look at everything she's done. She risked her life how many times in the last three days trying to rid the forest of that damned wolf? How many men did she save that first night, trying to take on the wolf herself?

"Karen, ever since you told me about how she's taken care of the forest since she was a child, fostering its growth and protecting the balance that keeps it so healthy, I've loved the idea of her nature. I have caught glimpses of the caring person you described, but unfortunately, I'm confronted with an entirely different person most of the time, and am forced to wonder if those two personalities are truly reconcilable."

The silence that extended from Andrew's statement spoke almost as loud as his words. There was a profound truth to everything he said, and Karen could not fault him for his perspective, she was just grateful that he had the presence of mind to temper his experiences with the fears he knew Tani'm carried. The fact was, they were all attracted to her, and found different values within the small woman that drew them towards her.

Thunderfoot looked at Karen with annoyance, his large black eyes squinting in frustrating as he stared directly at her. It seemed that patience was a lesser virtue that the jackalope chose not to subscribe to.

"I asked if you would be visiting her," Andrew began, his voice again happy and carefree, "because I wanted to give you the strength to finish mending 'The Savior of the Forest' here."

Their lightened mood was contagious, and while Thunderfoot tried to remain stern, the magical creature joined them in their laughter with a strange yet melodic chortle, his chirps and chittering noises causing the group to laugh all the more.

"That's a kind, and wise offer," Karen responded, just before a pallor crossed her face. Andrew knew she was imagining the horror of Tani'm's missing arm.

"She looks better than you'd expect. Her talents truly are amazing."

Andrew had just finished speaking when Sara spoke up with zeal, "Yeah, whatever that bark crap is she puts over people's wounds, it's freakin' amazing."

Karen shook her head and banished the thoughts that had started to visit her, Sara's unexpected outburst proving helpful as she began to focus again on her immediate task; healing Thunderfoot. Andrew connected himself to her, and was pleased as Karen used that tether to power her gift. The jackalope knee was difficult to rebuild, but proved much easier than the thigh she had completed a moment before.

Soon, the talented woman had worked her way to the rabbit's ankle, Andrew's power proving more than enough to meet her needs, and just as before, the animal's strange anatomy flowed out from her, every inch stitched together thanks to the guiding force of her gift.

"Should we talk about the wolf?" Andrew asked in a somber tone.

The lightness in their hearts dimmed as the shadow of that beast looked out from their recent past, Andrew's question forcing them to consider something none of them wanted to deal with.

"What's there to discuss?" Sara asked, melancholy in her soft voice. "I wasn't ready for it. I was... I had no idea how to fight that damned thing. All my gifts, all that training... None of it mattered."

Sara stared at her hand that rested on Andrew's chest as it clenched into a fist, her knuckles turning white as she sighed.

"It was just so damned powerful. Every attempt I made to wound it put me in danger, and I knew if it got ahold of me, then the fight would be over. I thought about letting it grab me, and as it tore me apart I could do the same to it, but I knew that the fucker would just heal whatever damage I did, leaving me to suffer while it came out unscathed."

Andrew had been thinking those same thoughts, realizing just how fruitless it had been trying to kill the beast in the ways the girls had used.

As Andrew's gaze peered through the shifting leaves of the canopy above, tracing lines between stars while he tried to piece everything together, Sara watched Karen, who continued to heal the rabbit's leg while she fought her own concerns. Thunderfoot looked confused, his eyes jumping between Sara and Andrew as if the creature was considering saying something. After a moment, the rabbit locked its eyes with Sara, a vision filling the woman's mind as the rabbit attempted to speak.

"Holy shit!" Sara stated, a smile spreading across her face as she shook her head.

"What?" Andrew and Karen asked in unison, their eyes turning towards Sara who was still watching Thunderfoot.

"I think thumper wants to train... I mean, I'm pretty sure he does, it's kinda hard to know for sure, with how he talks. He just showed me the fight he had with the wolf, and it was similar to mine, in that neither of us seem to understand how to fight a beast like that. My agility helped me keep away from it, so I lasted much longer than he did, but it still seems obvious that we need to learn how to fight something like that."

Andrew chuckled, shaking his head and stating, "Sure, let me just pop on down to the pet store and pick up another direwolf for you to practice with."

Sara lifted her head and poked his chest with her finger, eliciting a yelp from Andrew who laughed as he protested, "Hey there, little-miss-pokes-alot, I have a point."

"Well, yeah... Maybe you do, but how about you be that supportive and loving little nerd I need? After all, it's Mrs. Anderson's job to rain on my parade."

She finished her statement by flourishing her hand towards Karen, who shook her head and laughed while she neared the end of healing Thunderfoot's wounds.

"Alright. Well, I got nothin' sweetie." Andrew began. "Any wild animal large enough to compare to the wolf would never live up to the challenge, and wouldn't understand why you were fighting it. That would be such a horrible thing to do to- Ouch!"

Andrew was once again cut off by Sara, who poked him in the chest once more.

"Yeah! I know, silly. Hunting animals for sport isn't really my thing, but thanks."

Karen laughed while Andrew glowered and responded, "I was just trying to think it through, geez."

Sara leaned down and kissed the red spot that was forming on his chest, purring as she caressed him with her temple, comforting and marking her mate in one simple action.

"Not to step too far from my role as family pessimist," Karen began, casting a playful smirk towards Sara. "But, I think your only option right now will be to fight with this towering example of rabbit masculinity."

Thunderfoot thought about that statement for a moment, and as its meaning began to make sense to their furry companion, he rolled his eyes, forcing them to laugh.

"What, too far?" Karen asked, knowing that the rabbit liked to be addressed by over the top honorifics. "Duly noted, little guy."

Whatever annoyance the rabbit showed at how she had just addressed him was lost as she ran her fingers between his antlers, causing his ears to go limp and his tail to wiggle while his large padded foot stamped into the ground, each beat declaring his enjoyment at what she was doing. After several long moments, Karen stopped her assault, the rabbit almost leaping against her as it balanced on its hind legs.

There was such joy in the animal that all of them smiled and laughed, overwhelmed by the happiness that flowed out from the amazing creature. Karen was forced to lay back as Thunderfoot leaned into her sideways, keeping his horns just over her shoulder as he rubbed his entire body against her chest.

The mood was contagious, and soon Andrew and Sara were there as well, petting Thunderfoot while wrapping their arms around their mate. For the first time since coming to that land, Thunderfoot felt at home. He was safe in a magical place, and appreciated by the people around him. They all savored that moment for what it was, all sexual needs forgotten as they fell head long into companionship and trust. They had been through something no one could understand, and were made stronger for it.

Thunderfoot appreciated the soft caress of gentle fingers across his belly and neck, but seemed to grow restless as the moments dragged on. Soon, he began to squirm his way free from the pile of humanity, darting over and rolling in the mossy-grass near the pond. Andrew held onto his girls, not wanting the moment to end, but knowing that it must. They had completed the purpose for their visit to The Glade, and as much as they wanted to fall asleep and attempt to forget the events of that night, they knew that so much still demanded their attention.

Sara's amber ocelot stood and stalked around the darker corners of Andrew's mind, and as it prowled he could feel Sara growing fidgety. Her eyes kept finding their way towards the moon, the dark edge at its right side mocking her with the knowledge that her ability to shift would soon be taken away. Her fingers tapped a crazy beat, moving between Andrew and Karen as Sara became more and more agitated.

"Well, I love you both, but I've got a furry little monster to beat up," Sara declared with a playful kiss to both of her wistful mates.

Andrew was sad to feel her pull away, but loved the sense of excitement he felt from his red-haired firecracker as she stood and walked away, shifting into her three-foot tall ocelote form in a matter of seconds. Her tail swooshed hither and thither as she bounded across The Glade, leaping over the narrowest portion of the pond before vanishing into the trees. A moment later, Thunderfoot followed her into the distance, both of them escaping at a slow but persistent pace.

Karen nestled into Andrew's embrace, and he could feel a sense of melancholy growing in his buxom beauty as she settled against him. There was joy in the way she caressed his body, but concern in her thoughts. He had no reason to ask, he knew what was bothering the beautiful woman.

"Do you think we're right about her?"

Karen wiggled her head, taking a deep breath of Andrew's scent.

"I hope so."

That response took Andrew by surprise, and Karen must have felt his reaction because she immediately explained.

"That narrow hope is all I..." Karen paused, reconsidering her words before she began again, "It's the only hope we have for her to join us. Without a choice, I don't think she could ever be happy, and that would break my heart."

"Why do you care about her so much?"

It was a blunt but honest question, and Karen knew there was no judgement or jealousy in his curiosity. She kissed his shoulder and loved him for his desire to understand her.

"Honestly, I'm not sure. I've never felt this way about a woman before, and ever since you entered my life, I assumed there was no more room in my heart for anyone but you and Sara. All this time drifting through life, and it took you to show me the beauty that I have missed all these years."

Their lips met in a soft but passionate embrace, words seeming somehow inadequate to relay the depth of their devotion. Andrew added that moment to the many they had shared that evening, so many discoveries made, and a world of passion explored. He rested back as their mouths came apart, the warm humid air from the pond crossing their naked bodies and making them glisten in the moonlight.

"It wasn't me," Andrew said.

Karen smiled, her eyes casting rays of adoration and joy at Andrew as she captured him in her gaze.

"Of course it was, silly boy."

"Well, yeah... But at the same time it wasn't. Believe me, I love this, I love all of it, but it's as much a gift to me as it is to you. I never had the imagination to dream of a life like this, and now that I have it, I'm... well..."

Andrew's chest rose with a deep breath, panic rising up within him as he tried to express his concern.

"Sara would have laughed this off, which is why I wanted to talk with you-"

"About, how do we try and find safety?" Karen interjected, knowing the concerns that Andrew held.

"You told us that magic attracts magic, and I have only had my powers for... what, a month? Already I've attracted a Therian, a wondrous healer, a druid, a jackalope and a Direwolf. Sure, our lives converged for seemingly unrelated reasons, but that is one fucking huge number of coincidences."

Karen smiled at Andrew's use of profanity before she responded, "Not to add fuel to your fire, but those are just the things we're aware of."

Andrew's eyes went wide with the realization that Karen was absolutely right, how many things were lurking in the darkness, waiting to complicate their lives in unknowable ways. His breathing picked up its pace, and as his fingers dug into Karen's soft hip, he could feel her magic begin to work on him, taking the edge from his panic and allowing him to settle.

He kissed her cheek, his small way to let her know he appreciated her intervention.

"In the long span of my life, I've stumbled across almost a dozen gifted individuals. That was why I never questioned when Sara showed up in my backyard as a child. They find me every couple of decades, some fresh witch or wizard who just came into their powers will cross my path. So many young minds excited by the possibilities that had opened up before them, and inevitably, I would see them vanish beneath the cloak of The Council.

"You live long enough, and you start to see the patterns that govern us all. Life moves like a river, predictable and yet chaotic and dangerous. All the good times creating eddies that eventually spill into the rapids that become the bad times. A never ending cycle of cause and effect, played out like some sick joke for all of eternity."

Andrew's eyes grew wide at the bleakness of Karen's statement.

"Damn, honey. That got dark fast."

"Sorry, I never realized how depressed I had gotten wading through the drudgery of my existence, until you came into it.

"The point I had meant to make, is that in all those years I have never experienced anything like this. Supernatural creatures were supposed to be myth and lore, legends passed down through the generations to remind us to respect the unknown. Before I left, The Council made one last pitch to try and convince me to stay, and..."

Anger radiated out from deep within Karen's body, a wellspring of hatred cracking open and revealing a glimpse of the pain contained within. Andrew marvelled at how intense the emotions were, the whisper of them that traveled through their bond was overwhelming and powerful. He took her sprite into his arms, his violet hands cradling her against his translucent chest within his mind.

Her temper subsided a few moments later, and again they squeezed each other, savoring the connection that kept them in sync.

"The man they sent seemed nice. He looked young, but I knew he was much older than he appeared. I swear I could feel his arrogance as he spoke. 'We protect the world from threats that humans could never understand,' he told me. I knew that some of what he said was true, but by that point I had heard too many lies for me to find my way out of it, and so I refused to follow, I refused to submit.

"They... were not happy with my decision, and tried to force me to choose what they wanted. Eventually, as you know, they allowed me to leave, but the road to get free of them was the worse part of my entire life.

"The threat they spoke of had been so vague, that over the years I managed to convince myself they were lying. After last night, I can no longer maintain that facade. I realize how I seem, biased and bigoted, which I have managed to avoid in all other aspects of my life. Unfortunately, the choices they have made to keep us safe prevents me from being grateful. Too many lives have..."

She once more trailed off, her anger rising up, and Andrew just held her, allowing the woman he loved to bask in those emotions for a moment, before reminding her of a possible ray of light in her near future.

"It's alright, honey. You can tell me when you're ready, but I think you have a little one-armed druid out there who needs your help."

As fast as her anger came upon her, it was pushed aside by the anticipation of seeing Tani'm, hope and optimism for her encounter evident in the smile she gave to Andrew.

"I'll tell you soon, I promise."

"No rush, gorgeous. I'm not going anywhere."

His eyes looked back towards the house, the burdens of his evening still looming out before him.

"Well, I'm gonna' go clean the S.U.V., and burn everything we brought back from the forest to ash, but other than that I'll be right here."

Karen kissed him briefly, before she stood up and walked towards her clothes.

"Try and have some fun too, okay?"

Andrew stood and slapped her ass as he walked by, stating with a joyful voice, "Already did."

She yelped with a hop, and glowered at Andrew, her cheeks made rosy red by the flare of lust his playful act brought up within her.

"Don't worry, miss Anderson, I'm gonna watch some 'Forged In Fire' before getting a nap."