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“Is this one of those technological things that the Otherkin have brought over from the other side or…?”
“Well, it’s a little of that,” Val starts, “and yet it’s more like…” her voice drops off as she seems to reach for the right word.
What she would’ve said gets lost in the ether when a shadow moves behind her.
I jump at Jonas’s side. I don’t want to startle the pretty hostess, however; I felt compelled to let her know that there was danger right behind her.
“Val—” I start, “maybe you want to come over this way because there’s something…”
My voice trails off when the shadow gains substance and becomes more than a figment of my imagination.
Val jumps, then smiles into the shadows. In a placating voice, as if she is talking to a small child waves our arms forward. “Oh my gosh, Tor get over here before these people think that you’re some crazy person lurking in the dark.”
“Before?” Jonas says.
“Stop it,” I hiss at him.
From the shadows, a tall beast emerges; he is a full head and shoulders taller than Val. Where the wolf men were large with a wolf’s head, this new beast was even larger—and, more…Other.
This Otherkin looks like a cross between a bear and what could be a ram, with a pair of horns curving along the top of his head.
“Torben, these are our guests this evening. This is a Remi Storm from New York. She owns a gallery. And this is her director, Jonah Gray. Remi and Jonah, please meet my mate, Torben Vernados.”
“Please call me Tor,” he says.
Oh my. His voice shook me to my bones. “Pleased to meet you.”
“Oh yeah,” Jonah says. “We are going to need to extend our stay.”
* * *
We laugh in the study.The fireplace gives a cheery warmth while we linger over tea and dessert.
I didn’t expect to laugh so much, but I appreciated being able to get a little more acquainted with Avalon Valel.
It turns out that Val, short for Valiana, came from out west as well and wanted to start a new life here. They had even just started renovating the place as recently as a month ago.
“So that is amazing that you could find each other.”
Val gives Tor a shy smile that warms my heart. “Well, I have had a lot of help. We’ve spoken of Vane before. He and his pack have been able to help us, as well as the mayor and other townsfolk. You’ll get to see them tomorrow because I’m assuming you’re here for the art festival.”
“Yes,” I say. “I am already interested in a few pieces. Actually, I wanted to see if you knew anything about this logo.” I pull it up on my phone and I show Val and Tor.
“It seems to be the same artist who sculpted your sculpture upfront.”
“Yes.” They seem very uneasy suddenly. Where there was easy humor, a brittleness taints the edges of the conversation now. “That artist prefers his privacy. However, if you go to the island tomorrow, I’m sure you’ll be able to see him there. I know he is there with the artist colony.”
“Can you tell me about the artist colony? It seems like they are all very secretive despite this being a festival to showcase their art?”
“That’s the way of the Firebirds. Despite their coloring, they keep to themselves. They were driven from their home worlds and so they have been settled as a sort of refugees among the rift portals.”
“Firebirds? Are they anything like phoenixes?”
From my brief search, I found out that what we consider myths and legends from our ancient histories are actually visitors from other worlds.
I’ve also been corrected by Val and Tor that the wolf men of Vane’s pack weren’t actually werewolves or wolf men. They call themselves Wulvers. I have a lot to research and look forward to diving deep tomorrow.
Instead of an answer, Torben laughs. I can tell that it was one of his rare genuine laughs because Val also laughed wholeheartedly at him.
