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Part III: Shaking Hands With a Knife

"Gosh, okay. This is weird. I'm used to having the upper hand. Alright. Uhm, would you like to make a deal?"

Finn is dreaming. In his dream, he's cold. Very cold. Everything is cold. The mountains are cold, the snow is cold, the ice is cold, the night is cold, and the two people huddled around a crackling campfire are cold. Yes, the people. He's hovering in the air over them, right next to their tent. They, a cat and a red fox, are sitting on a log next to each other. They warm their paws over the fire, packs at their side. Their fur billows in the wind, their out-of-date clothes following suit.

The cat looks up at the snowy horizon, half heartedly looking for something, then sighs. "I still think I see him sometimes. My father."

The fox takes a bite out of the loaf of bread on his lap and swallows it without chewing. "I know you do. I used to be the same way about my sister." He says wistfully.

The cat sighs, gently running claws through his orange fur. Silence hangs in the air. The cat opens and closes his mouth a few times before deciding on a question. "What are your parents like, Siegwald? You never talk about them."

The fox takes another bite. "Well, they're lovely. Old. My father was a doctor, my mother stayed at home to take care of me and my sister. I just never talk about them because they're all so normal. There's nothing to talk about, really. No crazy stories, no great adventures..." The fox thinks carefully for a moment. "Your father was a witch, yes? I believe you said that." The cat nods. "You know what they say about witches, right?"

The cat's ears perk up. "What?"

Siegwald grins. "They live twice. Reincarnation is the more proper term. They have one life, and then always, always, they are born again. Same species, same look, same abilities. No one is quite sure why. They just are."

The cat, seeing the truth in Siegwald's expression, smiles a smile that reaches deep into his bright blue eyes. "Do you think he's got his second life left to go?"

Siegwald nods. "I do," He says. "I do."

The cat closes his eyes, retracting his claws back into his paws. "Thanks." That's all he says. The two of them watch the horizon, the last echelons of the sunset seeping under the earth.

The scene fades to darkness in Finn's dreaming head. Before the black can settle, he starts to hear the morning birds outside. And, following them, the sound of his alarm. He wakes up and yawns, then quickly slaps the top of the vibrating machine. What just happened? Everything was so vivid.

The cat. He recognized him. Why? He didn't know him. He was some dream specter.

He looked just like River.

Finn rubs the top of his muzzle. This isn't getting solved right now. He's still very groggy. Just like his last strange dream, he's putting off solving it. He stumbles out of his bed to grab some clothes and get in the shower. The snowy campsite he saw lingers in his mind. It felt so real.

Whatever. He'll ask River about it later. Maybe they dreamed the same thing again? Reaching the bathroom, he grabs the clothes he had laid out for himself last night and turns the water on. He at least had some things to look forward to. One, this shower. Two, winter break is coming up. It's a good time to relax and work on projects. He doesn't have a job (He dropped his last one to focus on his senior year), so he'll be fairly free to do whatever he wants. He wonders what River will be doing. They talked late into the night. He didn't think to ask. He also seemed excited, though. He quite liked the cat, despite their strange meeting just 2 days ago.

He takes his shower and finishes his other daily rituals before heading off to school. Today isn't nearly as bad as yesterday was. He breezes through most of his classes, just waiting for the day to end. Vinlandic Military History was pretty interesting today. It covered the Battle of Saratagia in-depth, a very important battle in the war of independence. They really weren't supposed to be covering the independence war right now, but the teacher skipped it at the beginning of the year, and here he is.

His grades in school were fairly good, but he got them through the skin of his teeth, and it showed. It wasn't something he worried about though. Instead, he anxiously waited to talk to River about his dream. He could've texted him at lunch, but River's lunch bell was before his, so by the time he got to respond they'd already be out of class. So he waited, and eventually, the final bell rang. The garbled sound of hundreds of voices all talking over each other doesn't hesitate to pick up as Finn packs up his things and heads out to talk to River. They meet at the same spot as yesterday and head out to the school grounds, shuffling their way through dozens of other eager students to their spot from before. He sits down on the grass and leans against the brick wall. The winter sun shines down and into his fur, the wind blowing it back and forth. He rests his tail on his lap, relaxing. Without his winter coat, he'd probably be cold right now, but it had grown out quickly this year and left him comfortably warm. River, on the other hand, seemed to be faring worse, but he didn't mention it.

Finn's thoughts turn back to his dream. He looks over at River. "I dreamt last night. Something weird again." Finn says.

The knowing look in River's eyes tells him everything. "What was it about?"

Finn looks up at the sky, imagining the scene he had dreamt of. "You already know, don't you?"

River nods. "Two people sitting next to a campfire... what do you think it means?"

"Pfft, I don't know. I don't want to say anything too radical. Something is causing us to dream the same thing, though, River." Finn responds.

River nods again. "The bone." He says softly.

Finn looks back at him. "The bone?"

"Yes. The one I gave you. If I am a bone witch, I must have accidentally marked the bones when I picked them up. And since I gave one to you, you were connected to me." River answers. Seeing Finn is still confused, he continues. "My mother told me about it. You can mark bones, animal and not, and give them to people you trust."

Finn winces at the mention of the dead body again, whoever they were. He doesn't understand how River can talk about it so casually. "You trust me, right?

River looks him right in the eye, looking serious. "I do." He says. "I do."

The duo talks for another half hour, but River's father arrives to pick him up. Finn heads home and plops down on his bed, throwing his stuff on the floor. A lot has happened in so little time. Besides making a new friend, he found a body. A fucking body.

Finn turns his attention to his bottom bedroom drawer. He hasn't told his parents about what is contained inside, and he doesn't intend to. Don't get him wrong, they are nice people. His father makes time for them when he can, and his mother is always around... he feels a pang of sympathy for River. It's clear, whatever his mother was like, that they were very close. Losing a parent must be dreadful. What can be done, though?

Finn walks over to the drawer and slides it open, hesitantly grabbing the bone inside. He turns it around in his paws. It's so weird having it here. When he walks into his room, he can sense its presence. It's not supposed to be here. And as a Finder, he can feel things that aren't supposed to be in an area.

He wonders about the arm bone. Who did it belong to? Are the gods upset that he's handling it like this? What does River think of it all? His parents would certainly be disapproving. Not because of any righteous fervor, but because who would want their son involved in something like this?

His phone vibrates in his pocket. He sets the bone back into the drawer and closes it, going back to sit on his bed. Turning on his phone, he sees a message.

River: Are you touching the bone I gave you?

Finn types a response back. Self: I just was. why?

River: I could feel it

Self: what do you mean?

River: I felt really weird and I could sense specifically you touching something

Self: thats kind of cool but really strange

River: That's how I feel too

The next few days pass by in a breeze. Winter temporarily recedes just enough to let the snow melt, revealing the grass underneath once more. (It's still mid-winter, though.) With their big tests done and only a week left before winter break, school begins to relax. On the weekend, he goes to drive past Edward Windborough's house.

The place is the same as last time. Quiet, surrounded by empty fields waiting for the next farming season, and the same house: White-painted paneling, black roof, vines growing up the sides... This time, though, he gets to see the owner of the residence.

Windborough is a lanky, frail wolf. His clothes are worn, the trousers clearly patched many times. Finn didn't expect him to be fey-touched, too, just like him and River: An anthropomorphic animal. Longer life, too. It probably doesn't matter much. It only means that fey-blood runs through his veins, meaning he can certainly practice magecraft (Something not all humans can do) and is more prone to being a witch, but that's it. And if he was a witch, he probably would've been more careful about what he did with the bones.

Deciding to do a bit of investigation, Finn stops by the old man and rolls down the window. "Are you alright there, sir?" He asks in his nicest voice.

Windborough looks up at him, a steely look in his eyes. "Yes, boy."

Finn glances down. "Strange place to be digging a hole, sir, right out here by the road." He feels a prickling sensation on his arm as he puts his paw out the window.

The old man takes another chunk out of the earth beneath him. "I'm making something." That's all he says, sounding agitated.

The prickling sensation in his arm turns into a sense of burning. Why did it feel like he was burning? Finn recoils, putting his arm back into his small car. "Just making sure you were alright, sir." He rolls up the window and drives off. What just happened?

He realizes what Windborough was doing.

He was putting wards around his house to keep witches away. That's why it felt like he was burning, he was too close to the wards. Magecraft, for sure. What the hell? He guesses it isn't a stretch to think that Windborough would know it was a witch who stole the bones. How much does he really know? Does he know what kind? Does he know it was a finder? Finn is the only finder in the area, as far as he knows.

Did he know about River? River did say he knew him personally multiple times.

River.

It was good to have a friend again.. Okay, he has friends, Andara and Chicago, but they both moved away together a few months ago. He still thinks about the two siblings a lot, but they're so far away now, and he hasn't been talking to them... so he really only has River now. He is a good friend, too. He'd have to tell him about this, since he is his partner-in-crime.

After the long drive home, making sure not to pass by the Windborough house again, Finn reaches into his pocket and calls River. He stays in his car.

After a few rings, the soft-spoken cat picks up. "Hello?"

"Hey. I know I don't call you much but I didn't want to write this all out over text, so here I am. You free right now?" Finn says.

"Yeah, do go on." River says, sounding intrigued.

"I went to the Windborough house like I said. Yeah, I met Edward." Finn finishes telling the rest of the story. "I have no idea how much he knows, though. Does- Does he know about your witchery, River?"

The cat pauses. "No, I don't think so. Not from what I can tell.."

Finn breathes a sigh of relief. That's good. He doesn't know what Windborough did to River, but it was very clear he didn't like him. It's possible that it goes both ways. "Alright, that's good. What do you think he's planning?"

The cat sighs. "I have no idea. I was hoping for absolutely nothing, but... we can see where that hope went."

Finn wasn't particularly worried that they would get found out, but it did show their opponent was more competent than they thought. "We still have the advantage. Remember that. He doesn't even know who we are."

"Yeah, you're right. Anything else?" River replies.

"Nope, just came to report that. I have stuff I need to go do. Anything you wanna say while you're here, or?" He says.

"Finn?"

"What is it?"

"Would you like to come over sometime? Just to hang out." River asks.

It's good to hear that question. "Of course, when?"

"This saturday. Can you come at 6? My father works late on weekends so he can pick me up on weekdays, so he won't be home for an hour or two."

Sounds good to him. He'd never actually met River's father, but the cat often spoke fondly of him, so he is willing to meet the guy. "That's a little awkward, but I can probably make it. I'll have to ask my parents first but I'm pretty sure they'll say yes."

"Okay, sounds good. I'll text you my address. Sometimes, I feel like I'm the adult of the household and my father is the child, so he won't say no. See you, Finn."

"Got it, see ya." He hangs up the phone, smiling. This'd be their first time physically seeing each other outside of school. It ought to be fun.

Finn knocks on the blue door of his house and opens it, stepping inside. His mother's on the couch again, watching some true crime show. She looks over at him and waves. "Get home safe?"

"Yep." Finn replies.

His mother looks him up and down nervously. "Where have you been? You didn't text me."

"Sorry. There's this creepy house about 30 minutes from here I saw on vacation. I had felt something in it before, so I went to check it out. I thought no one lived there, but when I drove past there was this dude standing outside digging a hole so I awkwardly kept going." He wasn't entirely lying, but he'd filled a lot of missing context clues with made-up information.

His mother nods. "I believe you. You always have been too curious for your own good. Just tell us where you're going next time, Finny. You don't want to get yourself into trouble."

I already have, ma, Finn thinks. "I will, mom. Is dad home?"

"Yes, he's in his office." She tells him.

"Okay. Thanks." He turns and leaves, heading down the hallway toward his father's small study next to the kitchen. He'd always been the more agreeable of his two parents with his mother constantly baby-ing him. He wasn't particularly worried about either saying no, but he could skip the interrogation.

He reaches the door and knocks on it. The person inside says "Hm?"

Finn pushes open the door. His father looks up at him from a computer screen, adjusting the glasses on his orange-furred muzzle. "Let me guess. You're here because you need something?"

Finn rolls his eyes. "As always, dad."

His father chuckles and stops typing. "Hit me."

"I've met a new friend and he's invited me to stay over for a while this Saturday at 6. I wouldn't be gone for more than a few hours." Finn replies.

"Son, you're 17. Do we really need to be making these decisions for you?" His father lightly scolds.

"Mom always says her house her rules. In case you need to be reminded, I live in this house, so I need to deal with her jurisdiction as much as you." Finn answers.

"I know, I know. Just between the men of the household, she could serve to let you be more independent." His father says.

"Amen." Finn speaks.

His father stretches, leaning against the back of his chair. "Okay, permission granted. I'll notify her later. So, tell me about this friend. Is it a vixen?"

Finn scowls. "No, dad-"

"No no no, this is important, son. You need to be very careful to wear protec-"

Finn playfully slaps him on the shoulder. "You're dreaming, father. No, it's a guy."

His father has a shit-eating grin by this point. "Well, if that's your thing, then-"

Finn closes the door and walks away, hearing his father burst out into laughter behind him. Yeah, he's definitely not opening that can of worms any further.

The rest of the week passes by casually as Finn waits for the weekend to come. He goes to bed each night wondering if he'll dream about something strange again, but he doesn't. He doesn't know if it's relieving or ominous that they've stopped. Probably the former. I mean, it was only two dreams, right?

He spends Friday night staying up way too late investigating the whole "Shared dreaming experience" thing. Apparently, it's common for bone witches to share dreams with those they give marked bones to. The first dream, though? The one with the dream-wolf? How it's all hazy in his mind, it seems like a weirdly specific thing to dream. So did someone come to both of them in their dreams, then? Is that it?

...Was it the person from the bones they found?

By that hour, though, he had decided 3am was too late for further conspiracy theories. He had already found himself drowned in a hole of stories and accounts relating to one idea, he didn't need more. He could talk about it with River tomorrow.

At that thought, he faintly smiles, and goes to sleep.

River's house was not what he was expecting. When hearing 'Single father' he imagined an apartment building, but River never gave him an apartment number, and this was a small family home. Well, his family also lives on one salary, with his mom being a stay-at-home mother, but his father made a good amount of money... River's father said his father worked in construction. Not to judge, but he'd never considered that a high-paying job. Maybe he was wrong, or he just worked in an office position?

It didn't matter. He could ask River about it later. Instead, he drives into the narrow driveway and steps out onto the cement path towards the one-story building. He's still tired from last night, but he's been tired plenty of times before. He can manage.

He knocks on the white door, glancing around at the tall grass of the yard and home's tan paneling. With his vulpine ears he can faintly hear footsteps coming towards the door. A few moments later, the door clicks open and River appears on the other side, smiling. "Right on time."

Finn smiles back. "I like to be punctual." He walks into the house. It's fairly open, with a couch pointed towards a TV on one side and a decently sized kitchen on the other. A tiny hallway acts as a barrier between the two. Looking back at the cat, though, he catches him looking a bit dejected. "Hey, is everything alright?"

River nods. "Yeah, just a tough time- Do you wanna sit down?"

Finn certainly doesn't want to push him, so he obliges and sits down on the puffy brown couch. "So I guess that's how your day's been going, huh?"

River sits down next to him and yawns. "Yeah. Pretty tired too. You?"

"Not bad. My father finally put the finishing touches on the novel he was working on, so that was pretty big news around my house today. He's been working on it for years. He actually works pretty high-up at a publishing company, so it might have a clear track to get it published as well."

The cat actually looks interested, despite the statement being rather mundane. "Oh? What is he writing?"

His father had never talked about his work too openly, but if you get him going, he wouldn't stop. "Historical fiction, titled The Mushroom Teeth. It's about a guy in the 1840s when a portion of the nameless lands is merging with the world. He's one of the first to be fey-touched and it's about his journey as he gets wound up in the Wicker Covenant's wars and things like that."

River nods along to the story. "Sounds interesting. You'll have to tell me when it's published so I can read it."

Finn laughs. "Well, it'll take a while. Even with the connections my father has it'll probably still take a year. What does your father do, River? You said construction. Like, a construction worker?"

River nods. A moment passes, and an unsaid question passes between them. "You're wondering where the money comes from, don't you?" Finn nods sheepishly. River sighs. "My mother was a lawyer."

"Oh."

"And life insurance."

"Oh." Finn says. That... makes sense. That's also pretty heavy to constantly have to think about. "Are you alright?"

"No, it's fine."

"You're not an 'it', River."

His eyes start to well up with tears. "It's- it's just that her birthday is the day after tomorrow, and I just..." He wipes his eyes, sniffling, tail dead between his legs.

Finn is confronted with the urge to hug the cat. Last time it was different, they were at school, and he didn't know River as well, but he knew him very well now... But he didn't want to scare him, though the idea was very alluring.

To hell with it, Finn thinks. He wraps an arm over River's shoulder and pulls him into a side-hug. "River..." He tries to ignore the shock the sudden touch gives him.

The feline relaxes in his grasp, letting him do it. "Do you know what happened to her? It was two days before my birthday. She was going out to get a last minute present, and- It was late- and- the car-" River begins to really cry now. "I-I guess I didn't really do anything, but I still feel like-"

"River." Finn squeezes him. "Relax."

"Okay." He says: He flips onto his side, leaning forward to bury his muzzle into Finn's shoulder. "Okay."

Finn feels hot tears seep into the cloth and fur where River rests his head. He rubs his back comfortingly. "Shhh." He whispers into his ear. The cat cries harder. "It's alright. There was nothing you did, River. Nothing." He needs to give the cat the time he needs to calm down. Seeing the similarities between this day, and, you know, he couldn't blame him. It must be a really tough time. River buries his head deeper into the crevice between Finn's neck and shoulder. This... this was good. He liked this.

Though his time with the feline was short at two and a half weeks, he feels a deep connection with River. Maybe it had something to do with the marked bone? Either day, he felt connected.

More than with any girlfriend.

With River beginning to calm down, Finn starts to pet his head. "I've never lost a parent, but I have lost a family member."

"Hm?" River says, muffled by Finn's fur.

"Yeah. I had a sister. Her name was Avery. Was an ass sometimes, but always had your back when you needed it, no matter what. She was a few years older than me." Finn winces, thinking back to what happened to her. "She killed herself five years ago. She was a good friend." Finn whimpers. "I'm sorry. I wasn't trying to make this about me. I just wanted to relate as best I could."

"No, it's okay." River says, sniffling. "I'm so sorry about what happened to her."

Good, the feline is composing himself well now. "River, it's okay. It's been awhile. Let's not dwell on me, okay? Let's just move on."

"Okay." River flips back and leans against the coach, keeping his head rested on Finn's shoulder. "Thanks for being there, Finn."

He squeezes him again. "I'm here anytime you need." He puts his head against River's, relaxing it there. "Really." Finn confirms.

The two of them don't say anything. Eventually, River yawns, lets out a contented purr, and a few minutes later, Finn hears his breathing slow. Upon nudging him, he gets no response. So the cat's fallen asleep. He must've been pretty tired, eh? He was quite tired too. Gosh, now he was having a hard time staying awake... Why was it so hard?

Finn lets out a soft snore as he falls asleep.

And sleep...

And sleep...

And sleep...

Red walls. Soft carpet. Queen-sized bed. Finn jolts awake. He's dreaming again. It's this place.

The white furred dream-wolf sitting across from them laughs. "So did I interrupt something?"

River tumbles out of his arms and lands on his lap. Finn panics. "It's not-" Is it?

The dream-wolf holds a finger up. "Nuh-uh. I know what you are and what you aren't."

River pushes himself up, starting to wake from being half-asleep. His paws momentarily grip Finn's thighs while he returns to an upright position, leaving... quite the impression. "I-"

The dream-wolf cuts him off. "That's not the point right now. We can whine about that on a different date. I need to talk to the two of you. I know you want to ask things, but that will come with time. Let me provide at least a few answers first."

Everything is still so surreal. Here he is, vivid-dreaming, speaking to something, which is trying to make a deal with him. And to think last month his biggest concern was school tests. He feels he's adapted well, though, for what it's worth.

Finn is bursting with questions, but heeding the dream-wolf's words, limits it down to just a few. "So assuming you're real, which I'm pretty sure you are, why- Why did you stop talking for so long?"

"I couldn't get through to you! You-" She turns to the cat next to him. "River, yes? Yeah, your witchblood was too strong to let me get through to you without your permission. And you, fox-person." She returns her gaze to him. "Finn, yes? I could only talk to you the first time because the marked-bone-bond wasn't very strong yet, but every time after that, y'know, not so much. However, with the both of you so at ease, I managed to worm my way into here. A little morally questionable, I get it. But I'm getting desperate, okay? Even if it doesn't seem like it." She leans back in her chair.

Finn thinks he might've missed something, but River seems to be faring better. The feline speaks up. "I'm still pretty groggy, but I've read about this. So- you're a ghost. Not the dreamer kind, but- a powerful one. We discovered your body, didn't we?" He says softly.

The dream-wolf nods. "So the pieces are together in your head."

"And you want our help?" River asks.

The dream-wolf shakes her head. "I don't want your help. I need your help. Usually, admitting such a thing is bad business-wise, blah blah blah... But I don't want to come off as untrustworthy to you, so I'll be straightforward."

Finn decides to speak up. "What exactly are you asking?"

The wolf turns to him. "Gosh, okay. This is weird. I'm used to having the upper hand. Alright. Uhm, would you like to make a deal? My name is Margot, and I've been existing like this for, y'know, awhile now. But it's not the same as being alive, right? Yeah, well you see, I've accumulated a lot of power now. Power I can use to get out of this room. I can't do it on my own, though. I need outside help. From witches. And who happens to stumble across my long-decayed corpse? I think you know who. Yeah, so rant aside, if you agree to help me, I can use said power to help you out, y'know?"

River gets very quiet at that moment. Finn thinks they can both see where this is going. He nudges him encouragingly.

The cat speaks up. "Can you bring others back to life?"

Margot mulls over it. "Tall order, kid. But I'll try my damned best. So, as I said, do you want to make a deal?"

Finn looks at River. River looks at Finn. With one curt nod, they agree. "I believe we are both interested." Finn says.

Margot holds out her paw. "Let it be agreed upon, then."

Finn takes it, jolting at a sudden burning sensation. "We have a deal."

Margot offers it to River, he shakes it as well. He can tell he feels the same weird sensation too.

Margot grins wolfishly. "See you later, boys."

Finn's world fades into darkness once more.

He's not sure how long later, but Finn wakes up to the sound of... something? A door closing? He's still half asleep. Thump. Thump. There are footsteps on the floor.

Finn opens up one eye. In his murky, clouded vision, he sees one thing: A tall, ink-black figure leaning over him. Finn barks in fear and winces, too tired to be able to put up a fight. "Ar!"

The figure keels over laughing. Confused, Finn rubs his eyes. Blinking twice, the shape starts to look a lot more like a black cat. That must be River's father, huh?

The new cat bellows out another fit of laughter. "Oh man, I didn't even say anything and you're already scared shitless! Damn, and I was over here thinking I'd have to be a drill sergeant."

River rubs his eyes, coming to his senses as well. "Father?"

"That's me." The black cat says, still laughing.

River's crystal blue eyes look from Finn, to the other cat, to Finn, and back again. "So it seems you've already met my child of a father." He shakes his head, amused and annoyed.

The black cat composes himself. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry." He looks at Finn, who is now much less scared and a lot more embarrassed, and holds out his paw. "Finn, right?"

He takes it. The black cat's grip is firm and hard. "That's me." So River had told his father about him, then?

The man turns to look at said orange cat. "Thought I told you to not go making friends with foxes."

River shrugs. "Because what?"

The man smiles. "They're natural seducers, and before you know it, you're like this." He gestures to the two teenagers.

Finn's ears immediately go red. "It's not-"

River looks down. "Well-"

The older cat laughs again. "I believe that says all that needs to be said."