Lynn Dawson discovered light after a lengthy stint in darkness. Having fainted outside while witnessing what she presumed was some weather induced hallucination, being in the extreme cold far too long, she resisted the blurry vision and made a disturbing comprehension of her renewed reality. Laying in a bunk within the main base camp housing she not only stared at the ceiling but captured a hint of brewed coffee amid shallow breaths. While the aroma was magical it didn't quite nudge aside the odor of wet fur. Eyelids fluttering, she tilted her head to her right and spotted a large man with a silver ponytail pouring coffee into a mug.
"Welcome back Lynn." He spoke without looking at her. "Blood pressure is back to normal. Just try and remain calm." No blood pressure kit in sight how could he know that. "Fear is natural but you have nothing to worry about. We truly are the good guys." The past not so much, but these days the brothers led a quiet existence.
"Who are you people?" She sat up in far too big of a hurry only to find the world spinning. "Please don't kill me."
"Take it slow Ms. Dawson, I just said we're the good guys. There is no plans on murdering you in any distant future. Let alone eat you like Gravy Train." He calmed her with a single palm directed slowly toward her. "You are among friends; I swear it on my life. A very long life at that." Lucien aka Lucky was immortal, shape changer as well. Wearing a red plaid flannel shirt and jeans he appeared perfectly normal. Yet, she knew he wasn't. Unless she had been imagining it all. She was still struggling with having her daughter Aurora go missing.
"Again ... who? What?"
"I'm Lucien. Yes, my brother and I are werewolves, more shape changers, but we like our wolf forms the most. Harmless werewolves I might add. Well...," He brought her the coffee and carefully handed it to her, "... unless we get cornered, I suppose. We're pretty good at hiding our lives. Hell, we don't even pay taxes. At any rate our brother Gary ... Garameth ... the lead dog in Aurora's pack nicknamed Ghost went missing the same day your daughter Aurora did. We felt him missing from this plain of existence the second he vanished." He taps his temple, "We're all mentally bonded even when we're apart by long distances. Not all of us are like that but it's luckily built into our DNA. Stanos and I hail from Montana, Gary went off on his own a few years back ... reasons I suppose. He made his home here in Last Ditch, Alaska to find freedom yet keep in touch with society in small fashion. Like I said we all share a telepathic link with one another. I can offer at minimal some insight into the night your daughter vanished."
"Tell me ... please." Lynn searched his expression as he mentally suggested she remain calm while he moved closer to take a seat on the bed next to her. He appeared a gentle giant as he rubbed his beard.
"Aurora and the pack went in search of that fallen cargo plane. Stanos and I saw through Gary's mind what he was witnessing. It wasn't pretty. They..." He paused as if hearing something then nodded, "Stanos is at the crash area now. He smells gasoline, blood, and magic."
"Magic?"
"Yes, magic. It's all around us." He ventured a swirling index finger to symbolize their surroundings, "Some circuits more foreign than others. Truthfully, while technically we are werewolves to most, we are so much more than shape shifters because of magic. By the way, I trust you can keep our secret. We really do mean you no harm Lynn."
"If it helps me find my daughter absolutely! As insane as this is." She wisped her blond hair from her eyes, Lucky noticing her green eyes paused to hold his breath, they were lovely at her age of 47. He had to look down at the floor for a moment to avoid making her sense a minor attraction. Too late, she picked up on his temporary fondness just by his shy demeanor, Lynn was far from naïve. Not wanting to appear interested in her Lucien sighed, "Intriguing! Stanos smells Sasquatch."
"Excuse me? Sasquatch as in Bigfoot?" Her green eyes flare wide, "They're real?"
"If werewolves are real, why can't there be a huge hairy bipedal cryptid with the strength of twenty men? Yes, they are quite real, all over the planet. My brother says there were three of them present at the site. Parents and an unborn child. The parents perished but were obviously extracted by the military, we don't sense any other Sasquatch dens for three hundred miles. If others of their species collected their remains Stanos would be aware of their involvement, but getting here that fast would be impossible. Our visions through Gary let us witness their reasons for departure but Stanos is just confirming what he can to see if we missed anything worthy of noting. Some things we already know, others offer questions. One of Garameth's pack, a Russian woman named Anna, known to Aurora as Tailchaser was beheaded by a young boy. Stanos says a Wendigo scent was present, but the male Sasquatch killed its physical form. It's evident by Tailchaser's passing that the boy was possessed by the Wendigo dominating his body as a host."
"What's a wendigo?"
"A magical demon that feeds on human flesh. The one there that day is likely what brought the plane down. Your daughter..." He pauses again spooking Lynn into setting her coffee aside on a table to read his expression.
"Is my daughter dead?"
"No! Well, I can only offer what we saw through Gary, but she was alive when our connection severed. Yes, Stanos senses the increased magic where the stone staircase resided."
"Staircase?"
"Yes! Have you heard stories of strange staircases leading to nowhere only to disappear leaving no proof?"
"No, I really never bought into things like magic."
"It's very real Lynn. The staircase often lends credence toward portals in time and place. Our ancestors told us of such portals appearing and luring in unsuspecting prisoners. This particular portal claimed the boy, your daughter, and her entire pack. Gary followed your daughter, loyal to the end as we know it thus far. It is very possible they are alive out there ... wherever there, might be."
"Aurora is forever gone to me?" Tears fell.
"I have no answer to that. Hope is all any of us have Lynn. We will do whatever we can to find our brother, in turn find Aurora. Obviously, we cannot make promises but ... paws crossed."
"This is a lot to swallow."
"Good thing, I'm not hungry." He winked at her, "Sorry! Poor taste in humor. I won't eat you; I promise." She felt safe with Lucien, but his eyes did lure her sensuality. Worst time ever. Lynn Dawson did feel very alone in the world. He could relate. Now however was not the time.
Hearing something distant Lucien again perks up, "Are you expecting any other flights?"
"Not that I've been notified of. I'm new to this role of caretaker. Truthfully, I only took on this job to find answers. That, and to be close to Aurora if she were still out there somewhere. The military pulled out taking the plane with them and just apologized for my loss, once I arrived. They only looked for her a day. Come on? They could have searched longer than that. That's why I was out on the snowmobile ... out looking. Praying for answers."
"We're here to help Lynn. Until of course even we must conclude that answers are not to be found."
"You mentioned the girl, Anna." Lynn thought for a moment aloud, "Where did she go?"
"Soldiers took her body away. Those of the Sasquatch clan as well. It is there, if we can figure out where they were taken our search begins." The noise of engines become clearer, "We have company."
"Let me call out to them, find out who our visitors are." She crawls off the bunk and goes to the radio. Before she says a word Lucien stands next to her with concern. "Relax Lucien, I won't warn them of you."
"Good! Our flight here was under the radar. Members of..." He stops before indulging too much information.
