FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Chapter 1

Oliver stirred and tried to wiggle free from the grip of the Megatherium. "Nope, you're staying here," the beast said, pulling back the badger. "I like the way you keep my chest warm,"

"Beast, I gots my practice to do. Li Wei will be waiting."

"Okay, I'll let you go if you promise to show me what you learn later."

"I always does. Now you go cuddle with the bear. He'll keep all of you warm."

The freed badger ran out the door of the museum toward the southern cliffs. "Ain't gonna make it on time, damn it," he groused.

There was a sudden flurry of air above, pushing him and the grass in all directions. Instinctively he stood up, raising his hands toward the sky. The talons of the fenghuang encircled the badger's arms and pulled him into the air. "Mornin', Dragon. Thanks for the lift."

After a short flight across the island, the fenghuang lowered her passenger to the ground in front of the temple dog. The canine smiled at the badger. "I believe you get up late most days because you enjoy her doing that."

"Yeah, I does. But I lives with husbands who sleeps in late too. They works hard."

"So what shall we start with today, Badger? Qi gong, tai chi, kalarippayattu, or would you prefer tantric sex?"

The badger laughed. "I loves sex with you, Li Wei. I always chooses that first."

The temple dog reached out and grabbed the badger. "As do I, Little One." Their lips met as Oliver became a werebadger. His training for the day had begun.

Back home, the sloth leaned over and bit into the neck of his bear husband. "Time to wake up, Beautiful. It's your turn to do morning rounds."

"Whose dumb-ass idea was that?" the bear growled sleepily.

"The chief surgeon's. He's got the final say on those things."

"Well, he's an idiot."

"Don't talk that way about my husband."

The bear rolled over, looking into the eyes of the sloth. "I love you, you know."

"Yeah, I know," the Megatherium said. "And no, you don't get to sleep in late because you said it."

"Damn," the bear said, rolling out of bed. "You're getting too good at this."

"Well, you get in the shower and I'll make breakfast," the sloth said, smiling.

"Okay, none of that branches and leaves stuff, though. I'm not going vegan because you're one."

The sloth paused. "Or I could offer to scrub your back."

The bear began reflecting on the idea as his paw reached down and pulled at his nuts. "Hmmm... that sounds nice." He shook his head. "No, no... I can't do that. I'm already getting hard thinking about it. That would make me late. I made up the rules about punctuality, after all.

The Megatherium leaned over and kissed the bear. His thick curved claw slid along the genital sheath and tugged at the ball sack. "That's why I woke you up two hours earlier than your start time."

The bear smiled. "You did?"

"And I bought that almond-scented soap you like so much."

"Two hours, huh?"

The sloth leaned in and let his tongue move in circles across the bear's chest. "Recycling water filters means we don't even waste a drop no matter how long we play."

"Oh, gawd," the bear groaned. "I'm going to be late for work, aren't I?"

The sloth smiled. "Yeah, most likely." Together, they headed off to the shower.

Nathaniel nearly ran over Sarah as he rushed through the hospital doors. He paused long enough to make sure she was okay before saying, "Sorry. I'm late for rounds. I'll say hello later, I promise." He continued trying to button his shirt as he ran down the hallway.

"That had to be been one hell of a shower," Sarah yelled to the retreating doctor.

"It was," the redheaded human yelled back. "I married well."

Sarah laughed as she walked out the door. Standing on the porch, she watched Martin heft himself over the last step of the hospital entrance. She sat next to the Megatherium as he eased himself onto the porch. Sarah pulled at the clasp of her lunch box and grabbed a breakfast bar. "So, Uncle Martin. How goes life?"

Martin looked down at her and smiled. "It goes well. I hear you're bringing your family over to visit tomorrow."

"Yeah, I figured it was about time. The kids are getting old enough that they should meet their uncles. They don't remember Uncle Max. The oldest were too young when he died. But they have three amazing uncles. I want them to learn how wonderful you are before they grow any older."

"How are you going to explain the fact we never age?"

"I figure Paul will ask that question way before the kids do."

"And the answer for him?"

"I suppose telling him you moisturize every day won't cut it."

"I doubt it," the sloth said with a chuckle.

"I'm not sure what to tell him," Sarah sighed. "But I love you three so much. I can't keep hiding you away from my family. And it's time they knew what I did on this island. I've been working here for almost three years."

"Has it been that long?" the sloth said, surprised. "I can't believe how time flies by here. It seems like only yesterday you came storming out in that nurse's outfit."

"You weren't even there, Uncle Martin."

The sloth tapped one claw next to his eye. "The Sight, remember? I see pretty much everything your Uncle Oliver and Uncle Will do. Not always in real-time, but their lives are a part of me in much the same way the Changelings share theirs. I think that's because of how I feel about them. There's unfinished business between those two."

The Megatherium shifted his weight to one side. "I'm glad it doesn't affect them the same way. Sometimes it can be distracting. Will is one horny wolf. And Oliver does things with Li Wei that... well... all I can say is I'm glad he does his training before the island opens up. You don't want to see what it does to me."

"That's just weird," Sarah laughed. "You're just one big cute bag of weirdness, aren't you?"

"Yeah, I hear that a lot from people," the sloth replied. "Well, not the cute part. I'm used to the weird descriptor, though."

"It has to be tough, Uncle," Sarah said. "I realize you're talking about the funny parts, but those two suffered an awful lot to be where they are today. And you... you never talk about it, but I know you have as well. It can't be easy to watch it all play out over and over with the rest of the world's hate and pain on your shoulders."

"We're the lucky ones, Sarah," the sloth said wistfully. "We have family to ground us, to keep us from falling into that abyss of suffering the world places at our feet each morning." He looked at Sarah and smiled. "So, tell me about Paul. What are we going to do with that husband of yours?"

"Well, the first thing you're going to do is leave his ass alone. He's my husband, and I'm not opting to open up our relationship anytime soon."

"Well, that's a given," the sloth said, laughing. "Although I've seen the naked pictures of him on the Internet and I have to say you scored big time."

"YOU DIDN'T!" Sarah yelled in shock.

"Nope, but now that I know they're out there, I'll need to go searching for what I can find."

"They won't be there after tonight," Sarah said, punching the sloth's arm.

"Damn. I should have kept my mouth shut," the sloth said.

"But I do have a favor to ask of you," Sarah said. "It's important to me."

"Then the answer is yes."

"Uncle Max once told me what Uncle Nathaniel looked like when they first met. He was this skinny young man with green eyes and brown hair. That guy looked nothing like what Nathaniel looks like."

"Right. If we're in our animal forms, the protections in place often default to what the humans think they should see. Nathaniel hadn't chosen his human form when Max met him, so Max's brain chose what it thought was appropriate. It's the same with us all." The sloth adjusted himself on the step. "That's why about eighty-five percent of the humans that worked on building the museum thought Oliver was our kid."

"Really?" Sarah said, laughing.

"Don't you tell him I told you. Ever!" the sloth said sternly.

"I promise, Uncle, never ever, ever," Sarah said, trying to compose herself. "But that's why the favor. I understand that your human forms aren't your favorite. But could you please at least let my family meet you as human first so that image imprints on their minds?"

"Well, I don't have any problem with it, but Oliver might."

"Oliver might have a problem with what?" Nathaniel asked.

The two turned to see Nathaniel with Oliver on his shoulder. Martin looked at Sarah. "By the way, I should have mentioned that my husbands were coming up behind us. Seems Darrin took over for Nathaniel's rounds because he was late." Martin waved to his mates. "I said Oliver might have a problem becoming human long enough so that Sarah's family will see him as the same person in the future."

"Don't likes being human," Oliver griped.

"Please, Uncle Oliver. You only have to be human long enough that my husband and kids lock you in their memory. That way, when they visit here, they'll all recognize you no matter what form you're in."

"She's right, Oliver," Nathaniel said. "That's the only way they're all going to see you as the same human every time. The kids are likely to view you as a playmate if you stay small."

The badger looked into the face of the bear and frowned. "I ain't your kid. I don't care what those fucking builder guys say."

Sarah laughed and then caught herself. "Sorry, Uncle Oliver," she apologized.

"S'okay. I knows you don't think that."

"So, will you please? It shouldn't take long. And it will help us all out."

"I suppose. But I ain't wearing no clothes. Their brains can dress me any way they damn well please."

"Okay, Uncle Oliver, I appreciate your help."

"Well, I suppose I best go talk to Tyler to get the word out that we're going full-on ape suit tomorrow," Nathaniel said. "Lewis should be fine with it. Li Wei is, of course, a temple dog forever. We'll have to deal with that."

"Fair enough," Sarah said. "I want them to meet my family and learn to love you the way I do."

"We'll bring cookies to get on their good side," Martin said with a grin.

Nathaniel sat down beside Sarah, and the badger slid down into his lap. "It will be fine, Sarah. We'll show up as humans. What could go wrong?"

The sloth looked at his mate. "Seriously, Hon? You realize that's a challenge to the universe, don't you?"

The next day proved the universe accepted the challenge.

As the extended skiff arrived at the island, Nathaniel, Martin, Oliver, Lewis, and Tyler were all at the dock, ready to welcome Sarah and her family. Allowing the other tourists to disembark first, Sarah and her family stepped off the boat last. Sarah carried one-and-a-half-year-old Max in her arms. Three-year-old Jessica held her five-year-old brother's hand. Both Kristopher and Jessica were on their best behavior for the visit.

"We wanted to name our oldest son after your dads," Paul said to Nathaniel. "I'm afraid it came down to picking one out of a hat. But your fathers have been a much bigger part of Sarah's life than her father ever was."

Nathaniel smiled, "Thank you. Max and my fathers would be honored by your choices."

Paul shook Lewis and Tyler's hands and smiled through the introductions. He shook each of the uncle's hands without incident, ending with Martin. "I've heard so much about all of you. I can't believe I finally get to meet you," Paul said with a wide smile.

Martin smiled. "Well, that's Sarah for you. Everything is so top secret. Most everything I found out about you I've garnered from the Internet."

Sarah glared at Martin. "Uncle," she said with a threat unspoken.

"You know," Martin said with a smile, "all those cases your law firm takes defending people pro bono. You piss off quite a few capitalists."

"Glad I could do it," Paul laughed.

As the adults talked, the two children, still hand in hand, walked over to Oliver and smiled.

"What?" Oliver asked when the children's staring made him uncomfortable.

"Mom said that we were supposed to be good and not to stare," Jessica said in a whisper.

"We're sorry for staring. It's just that you're not wearing any clothes. Isn't that cold?" Kristopher asked in his indoor voice.

Oliver looked at the two, aghast. He shook himself and became the badger. Jessica laughed out loud. "He's a skunk bear!" She said, pointing.

Sarah's face blanched as she turned toward her children staring at the little badger.

Kristopher nodded. "He's like a teddy bear with stripes."

Martin laughed. "The universe has spoken."

Li Wei crested the top of the dock's ramp and waved hello. "I'm sorry I'm late. But my charges were adamant that they wanted to see Oliver in his... his... new outfit. It took all this time to convince them to stay where they are." He looked at Oliver. "That's not a new outfit."

Jessica was already halfway up the ramp before her mother made an unsuccessful grab for her. "Doggy!" the little girl yelled.

The temple dog reached down, scooped up the little girl into his paws, and brought her up to his face. "That's true, but you're not supposed to be aware of that, Little One." Jessica kissed the dog and stretched out her arms. In a rare historical occurrence for the planet, a dog hugged a child.

Paul was looking increasingly confused. "What's going on? Am I missing something?"

Sarah let out a gigantic sigh. "More than you realize, Babe." She looked at her two children now hugging the temple dog. "Kids, let's leave Master Li Wei alone now, okay?"

The temple dog looked down at Sarah. "I'm quite all right, Sarah. They might be better here in my arms until you sort out what's going on."

Nathaniel had the same look of panic on his face as everyone in the Were group, save Martin. Martin stepped forward and took Paul's hand. "We should talk. I'm going to suggest we head over to the museum where we live. The soundproofing there is fantastic." As he shifted into the Megatherium, his clothes shredded.

Paul looked at Martin's belly, still seeing the shorter, clothed human version. "Is this going to be something to do with why Sarah hasn't let me visit in the three years she's worked here?"

"I'm afraid so," Martin said as he put his arm around the confused human. "But on the plus side, it's not as bad as you think. It's much, much worse."

"Martin," Paul sighed, as he walked up the dock with the sloth that looked like a Latino human to him, "you have a funny way of saying things."

"Yeah, I hear that a lot from people," Martin replied.

Inside the museum, Paul was even more confused. "Okay, I'm sitting on the bed... which isn't a bed. It appears to be a barge filled with polymer grids and memory foam. But you say it's a bed, so I'm going with that. Now, what is going on?"

Sarah sat by her husband. "Max married a special man."

Paul looked at her. "I'm aware of that. I've known Nathaniel for years. He's good stuff."

"No, I mean 'special'," she said, making air quotes, "as in not exactly the same species."

"Like the skunk bear," Jessica said, laughing in the arms of the temple dog.

"I'm a badger, okay," Oliver said. "I ain't no skunk bear."

Sarah looked at Jessica. "Tell your Uncle Oliver you're sorry, Jessica. It's not nice to call badgers names."

"I'm sorry, Uncle Oliver," Jessica apologized. "I never heard of a badger before. But you're really cute."

Oliver looked away shyly. "It's okay I guess. I look a bit like a skunk bear if I think about it."

Sarah pointed to the sloth. "Uncle Martin is a..."

"Elephant with no nose," Kristopher blurted out as he held Li Wei's paw.

"A giant ground sloth," his mother corrected.

"I get a feeling I'm not seeing what everyone else is seeing," Paul said.

"That's pretty much it, Babe," Sarah replied.

Nathaniel looked at Paul. "You're taking this remarkably well."

"I'm married to Sarah. I'm used to a constant state of confusion in my life."

"Well," Nathaniel said, "It's about to get a lot more confusing. Please, try to remember, we love your family."

"Dive in, Uncle Nathaniel," Paul said. "Trying to brace me for what's coming is freaking me out more than whatever it is you're going to show me."

Nathaniel reached out and touched Paul's temple. He shook and became the short-faced bear.

"Bear!" Paul yelled.

"Bear!" his children screamed happily.

"He's a bear, Babe," Sarah said with a sigh.

"I'm a bear," Nathaniel said, shrugging casually. "Other than that, I'm pretty much the guy you've always known."

Paul looked around the room at the menagerie he called family. "You're all animals?"

Martin rose from his seated position. "We're actually werebeasts if you want to be technical. Except for Nathaniel. Max married something even more special than the rest of us." He pointed to the white and timber wolf. "Lewis and Tyler are the ones you're going to be most familiar with because of Hollywood."

"You're werewolves?" Paul asked. The two nodded. "The monsters that kill humans?"

"I haven't killed a human since I became a werewolf," Lewis answered. "I wish I could say that of the years when I was human. What you know, Paul... what you think you know, doesn't even come close to the truth."

"Okay, I'm listening," Paul said. "I thought I made a big leap of acceptance when I let my uncle marry two other guys. I'm feeling pretty stressed right now, realizing Uncle Max married a bear, and my family is every Furry's dream date."

Nathaniel knelt before the human. "You're doing great, Paul; amazingly great. We have a lot to discuss."

"I made cookies," Martin said.

Paul looked up. "Got milk?"

"Yeah, gallons."

"Okay, break out the cookies and milk, and let's have at it."

The last skiff had returned to the mainland with the tourists as Paul sat leaning against the cliff railing. He watched the dragon slamming back into the water as his mate and children gathered up their evening meal.

"They're beautiful, Li Wei," he said. "How many children do they have?"

"Eight," the temple dog answered.

"It's unbelievable," Paul said. "How am I supposed to deal with this? How can you ask me not to run from this place telling everyone what I've seen today?"

"We can ask because our lives depend on you never telling," Nathaniel said. "Stay the night here on the island. Let us take you out tomorrow to meet Sarah's patients. Learn what the history of this island looks like since Max first came here. Let us show you the history that no living human besides your wife has seen and ask yourself then what you will do."

"I may not be as strong as Max, Nathaniel," Paul said. "I admit I've never been as strong as Sarah."

"I can take back the memory," Nathaniel said. "I can take it back for all your family and it will be as it was before you first met me. You will still have your uncles. We will still love and care for you. Only you'll never see us as we truly are."

"And I would never know there are temple dogs and dragons; that my uncle is a Changeling; or his husband is a surly guy, mostly because he's a badger."

"A badger that's damn glad he don't know what surly means," the badger said with a frown.

The Megatherium reached down and picked up the badger. "He said you're crabby and you don't like humans."

"Oh, well, that's the truth. I guess I is surly," the badger said, scooting into position on the sloth's shoulder. "Septting for the humans I love, like Max and Sarah." The badger paused. "You ain't so bad, Paul. And I kinda like your kids. They's nice too."

"That would all be gone," Paul whispered. "My wife would never again treat a werewolf. My children wouldn't play with a temple dog or talk to a Megatherium. And I wouldn't remember what it feels like to finally understand why I spend so much time in this family totally confused. It would all make sense because it would all be a lie that makes my life normal." Paul looked out across the bay. "I would be at peace."

The temple dog, holding the hands of the older children, drew close to the human. "One can never be at peace by turning from the truth, Paul. This isn't an easy challenge you face, but it is the one before you. You must not ask yourself what is the easiest path, but what path brings you and your family true happiness."

"I thought I knew what the truth was, Li Wei. It never involved talking to a temple dog monk."

"You have always known a part of the truth and you have clung to it. Now a bit more has unfolded. Ask yourself if turning from the truth to avoid confusion is in your nature, or if embracing the truth at all costs is who you are."

Paul looked at Sarah by his side. "What do I do, Babe? You're as much a part of this as me, more so. Your life has always been this."

"And my life is with you, Babe," Sarah said. "I can live without most things in my life, but not without you, not without my family."

"But these... these..." he waved his hand around to the beasts standing around him, "these are your family."

"And they're yours too," Sarah said. "You will never find another family more loyal or faithful to ours than those beside you. They love you so much they're willing to step aside and let you live a life without them."

"I don't want to live my life without them," Paul said, leaning over and kissing his wife. "And I don't want you to live your life without them, either." He looked back out at the waves rolling toward shore and the dragons feeding below. "I'm scared."

The little badger leaped from the shoulder of the sloth and landed on the ground close to the humans. "You ain't the only one who's scared, Human. We showed ourselves to the only critter in this universe who's killt us for thousands of years. I knows because I was one of you, and I am haunted by what I has done in the name of trying to stay human. There is a special hell for humans who turn away from doing what they knows is right, and it's one we makes ourselves."

Paul looked down at the badger. "Is that what I'm doing, Uncle Oliver?"

"Can't rightly say, but some of what you's afraid of I knows all too well. It's okay to be afraid. But you gots to remember you has family to help you through. We may not be humans, but we's your family. And if there's anything I understands it's that you don't walks away from your family."

Paul smiled. "Can I hug you, Uncle Oliver?"

"You really gots to?"

"Yeah, I really have to."

"I suppose it's okay then. Can't say no to family."

Paul reached down and pulled the badger up into a hug. "I suppose a kiss on the cheek is out of the question," he said, continuing his hug.

"Your wife does it all the time. But remember, I'se gay. If you's any good at kissing, there could be side effects you don't wants to see."

"True, but as you said... you're family," Paul said, pressing his lips against the badger. Oliver laughed as his foot turned a little circle.

Paul turned to Nathaniel. "I have a request. But it might come with a terrible downside."

Nathaniel stared at the human as Paul put down the badger. "If it's important to you, then the answer is yes. We'll do what we can."

"You said that the Were Nation is protected. That the only ones who can see you are the ones that love you."

"That's mostly true. Sarah and you have had your vision unblocked by me. I'm not exactly sure why your children see us, though."

"Take back what you did, Uncle Nathaniel. Don't make me forget today. Take back what you did to let us see you."

"Are you sure that's what you want?"

"Uncle, it's what I need. It's what our family needs."

Nathaniel lowered his head, and his fur shifted toward a green luminescence. He looked up with a sad look on his face. "It's done." The bear sat back on the grass, placing his paws on his lap.

As the group stared at Paul and his family, the museum's carillon bells struck the hour. From across the island, the bells sounded distant, quiet, even comforting. But today, they stressed the awkward passing of time while everyone waited to see what Paul hoped to accomplish.

Paul looked at Nathaniel. Slowly, a grin crept over his face. "Bear."

Nathaniel looked at him. "What, Paul?"

"No, I see a bear." He grabbed the bear and kissed him on the lips. He pushed back, "Oh god, you're gay. I forgot about that. I probably shouldn't have kissed you."

Nathaniel laughed. "I'll try to cope with the overwhelming desire to shag your butt."

Paul laughed. "I'm sorry, Uncle. I'm an idiot when it comes to saying the right things around you guys." Paul waved his hands. "But I see a bear. Don't you get it, Uncle? I love you. I thought I always loved you, but maybe it took a day with you, seeing you as you really are, to realize how much you mean in our lives. Now I realize how much you sacrifice to be with us, how much protecting us has meant to you. And that makes all the difference. I love you because now I know the truth." He looked at the surrounding group. "I see you all. For the first time in my life, I'm looking at my family."

Sarah looked at him with a blank stare. "What the hell are you talking about, Babe? You're saying Uncle Nathaniel is a bear? Like that old gay slang they used at the turn of the century? Sure, he's chubby and furry, but you shouldn't be grouping him with some obsolete identifier that stereotypes him. I doubt you're ever going to find him wearing flannel or leather."

Paul's face dropped. "Honey, you don't see that Uncle Nathaniel is a bear, or Uncle Martin is some honking big sloth thing, or Uncle Oliver is a badger?"

"No, but whatever you're smoking, I'll have some."

Paul looked into her eyes. "No werewolves named Lewis and Tyler? No big yellow dog named Li Wei? Nothing?"

"Nope," she said dispassionately. "All I see is a husband..." she paused. "Who I can fool annnnytime I like," Sarah said, laughing. She grabbed her husband and kissed him. "Of course I see them. I've always seen them. Nathaniel may have cheated a bit at the start. But I learned to love them so long ago that seeing them has always been second nature to me."

Sarah looked at Nathaniel. "What about my patients? Will I still be able to see them without your help?"

"Your Uncle Max always did. I doubt you'll have a problem."

Paul looked at his children clinging to the temple dog. "Kids, what do your uncles look like?"

"Big sloth, big bear, tiny badger," Kristopher said as he pointed to each. "And their family is one big yellow dog standing up, one white wolf standing up, and one gray wolf standing up."

"I guess they're our family too," Paul said. He looked at the three. "If you'll have us."

Lewis smiled. "We tend to make our family up as we go along. I thought it strange at first, but after a while, it feels natural." He extended his arms. "Who wants the first hug?"

Sarah reached out and grabbed the white wolf. Tyler backed up a bit as Paul reached for him. "I'm a married man," Tyler said. "Can we hold off on the hug until Michael gets back home?"

"I assure you it's totally innocent," Paul said.

"Yeah, I'm sure that's true, but well... you are so Michael's type, and if I go hugging you without him around, I'm going to feel terrible that he didn't get a chance. I'm warning you now. You're buying into a very touchy-feely family. I hope you're good with that. We may be werewolves, but we're more like pigs about hugging. It might be innocent to you, but it may not be for us. Not the way you look. It's way easier to ask you to forgive us for holding on a bit too long than it is to ask if we can."

Paul looked at him. "Really? I didn't think I was anyone's type but Sarah's."

"Nah," Oliver said. "You's cute enough. And Sarah's right. You gotta ass worth biting into."

Paul smiled. "She said that?"

"Yep," Nathaniel replied.

Paul looked at his wife. "I will hold you to that."

Sarah smiled. "It might surprise you what I hold you to." She looked at Nathaniel. "So, can we find a family room for the night?"

"The Hargrove and McGowen Houses are both open. Both overlook the bay."

"Which one accommodates three kids?" Sarah asked.

"The Hargrove House has a bigger yard and a master bedroom with its own bath," Nathaniel said.

"Sold," the husband and wife said together.

Chapter 2

Paul looked out over the bay, watching the waves in the distance. Nathaniel walked up the path and pushed the picket fence gate open. "How did you sleep last night, Paul?"

"Very well, thank you. The kids were all wound up. Li Wei spent the evening with us and they ran him ragged. But we finally got them tucked in."

"Well, they had a lot of stimulation yesterday."

Paul laughed. "That's a conservative appraisal. I guess we all had more than our fair share. I was almost disappointed that Michael didn't turn out to be as lecherous as Tyler portrayed him. The guy was a total gentleman."

Nathaniel laughed. "He can be a handful sometimes. If you ever get a craving to have your butt groped, I'm sure he'd love to hear the news."

It was Paul's turn to laugh. "I guess that thought fits a general stereotype I have about gay men."

"Which is why we tease you about it. While Tyler and Michael find you attractive, Tyler held back so that your families could meet together. Family meeting family. That's what their late night dinner with you was all about. He wanted you to realize that he is as proud of his family as you are of yours."

Paul looked over at the bear as they leaned against the fence. "Thank you, Uncle. Thank you for trusting me to do right by you."

"I never had a doubt, Paul,"

"Oh, so it appears Changelings can lie."

"Yeah, we're not very good at it, but we try," Nathaniel said as he looked over at Paul and smiled. "Truth be told, we never lie. I honestly believe you are something special. Our kind has a very troubled history with humans. Even now, we struggle with the wars you're fighting again. We don't want any part of them, but we're in the line of fire."

"I'm sorry about that," Paul said sadly. "Then again, I'm always sorry for most of what we do. I sometimes think I'm not even human. I don't understand most of them. Maybe I'm some different animal that just looks like them."

"Convergent evolution?"

"Well, you look like us... sometimes."

"True, but you're not one of us. You'll have to take comfort that you're one of the good ones, Paul. You're human."

"Damn."

"So you're doing okay with the fact that we're not?"

Paul pushed back against the fence and stood upright. "Want to know the truth? I had a harder time with the fact that you're gay. I told you I have some stereotypes that I need to let go of."

Nathaniel laughed. "Really?"

"Yeah, really," Paul said, smiling. He looked down the path and saw the little badger walking toward the house. He waved, and the badger waved back.

"I like you guys. I mean, I really like you. It's easy for me to talk with you. Hugging you is great. I even enjoyed kissing Uncle Oliver yesterday."

"Twern't that bad for me either, Human," the badger said as he pushed open the gate.

"I enjoy making you smile, Uncle Oliver. It's like a challenge. But that's what I mean. I worry if I can like you that much, a part of me might be gay."

"Would that be a problem?" Nathaniel asked.

"I'm not sure. It could be. I love Sarah. I've always been comfortable being straight. It's not easy to think that a part of me might not be."

The badger looked up at the human. "You humans are seriously fucked up, you knows?"

Paul looked down. "Yeah, I know, Uncle Oliver. I'm sorry about that."

"You's left-handed, right?"

Paul shook his left hand. "Right... or left. You know what I mean."

"I likes you, Paul," the badger said. "In fact, I probably loves you the same way I does Sarah."

"Thanks."

"But just 'cause I loves you, and I likes it when you hugs me, don't means I'm gonna worry that I might turn left-handed because I spend time with you." The badger shoved the human in the leg. "You's straight, Paul. You's always gonna be straight. Just 'cause you don't got a problem that we's gay, don't make you gay. We appreciate you liking us, but it don't make you one of us."

Paul laughed. "I guess I never thought of it that way."

"That's why you's fucked up."

"Guess so."

"Also, that's why I'se never gonna bite your ass," the badger said with a sigh. "Pity about that."

Paul laughed. "Yeah, pity about that."

The three heard the screen door slam behind them and turned to see Sarah on the porch. "Morning, men. How goes your day?"

Nathaniel waved. "It goes well. And how about for you?"

"I slept in late, the kids are still asleep..." She paused. "It feels like heaven."

"It's close enough to heaven for me," the badger agreed.

"And me too," Paul said. "I even have a furry little guardian angel helping me deal with my life."

The badger looked up and smiled. "Well, I'se off for my training. Getting a late start, but Li Wei said I could 'cause of the kids and all. They kind of tuckered him out yesterday."

"He's quite the dog," Paul said.

"Yeah, he is," Oliver replied. "You all has a good day. I'll see you later. You going to the hospital today, Sarah?"

"Yeah, rounds with your husband in an hour. Tourist day. Get to wear the frigging skirt and nurse's cap." She came down the steps and started walking toward the threesome.

"You looks nice in anything," the badger said

"You should see her out of everything," Paul said with a snicker.

"Eww," the badger coughed, "Just eww. I don'ts mind you being straight, Paul. Long as you don't go acting all straight in public; throwing it in our faces. You straight folks and your special rights. You need to learn your place."

Paul laughed aloud. "Do I get a hug before you go, Uncle?"

The badger lifted his arms. "I suppose so. Try not to make me straight by hugging me too long."

Paul reached down and pulled the badger up into a warm hug. "You won't let me forget my comments, will you?"

"Might someday," the badger answered. "Kinda fun right now teasing you."

The badger felt a kiss on his cheek. "I'll stop kissing you if you stop teasing me," Paul said as he lowered the badger back to the ground.

The badger looked up at the human. "I ain't the one worried about what sex I like."

"Who has questions about their sexuality?" Sarah asked.

"Not me," the badger replied. "I likes men."

Sarah looked at the badger. "You like me, Uncle Oliver."

"Yeah, I does. But that ain't sex likes. That's family likes. Ain't gonna have sex with you ever."

Sarah laughed. "I'm crushed."

The badger turned and pushed open the garden gate. "You grows a pecker and we'll talk."

Sarah smiled. "I love you, Uncle Oliver."

The badger nodded and returned the smile. "I loves you too, Sarah." He stepped through the gate and shuffled down the pathway.

"Nice butt, Mister," Nathaniel yelled out.

The badger didn't slow his pace. "Thanks. It belongs to my husbands. Frankly, I don't thinks they uses it near enough."

Nathaniel smiled. "I promise to talk to them about that."

"That'd be much appreciated," the badger said. "I loves you, Bear."

"I love you, Badger," Nathaniel replied. He turned and looked at Sarah. "Can I walk you to the hospital?"

Sarah glanced at Paul. "You good, Babe?"

Paul waved his hand toward the gate. "Go. I'll take care of the kids."

Sarah kissed her husband. "Let's go, Uncle. Our patients await."

The two began walking up the pathway. At the top of the hill, Oliver stood waiting.

"Uncle Oliver?" Sarah said. "Aren't you and Li Wei supposed to be practicing meditation or something?"

"Yeah, we hoped to; until I heard the Bear's brain rattling around."

Nathaniel looked confused. "What?"

The head of the sloth crested the hill as he lumbered toward the badger. "You're worried about Sarah's kids. You were thinking about talking to her."

Nathaniel's brow furrowed. "How is it I finally figure out how to keep my fathers out of my head, and now my husbands have taken up residency?"

Martin laughed. "I'm sorry, Hon. We don't do it often, but Jessica and Kristopher are special. I'm not sure about Max."

Sarah folded her arms across her chest. "Really, Sloth?" she reprimanded.

Oliver looked up at Martin. "She called you Sloth, not Uncle. She's pissed."

"Damn right, I'm pissed," Sarah said. "You just told a mother to her face her child might not be special."

The sloth's face dropped. "That's because the sloth is an idiot. I'm sorry Sarah. What I meant is that we can tell Jessica and Kristopher recognize us, but we're not sure about Max because he's too young to tell us."

"He sees us, Beast," Oliver corrected.

Martin looked down at the badger. "You couldn't have told me that before I made an ass out of myself?"

"You didn't ask me." The badger said, grinning at the sloth. He looked at Sarah. "You's been bringing your baby to work since he was tiny. He's the only one in your family who's seen us before yesterday. He calls his teddy bear 'Uncle'."

Sarah's face brightened with recognition. "That's what he's saying."

Nathaniel watched the conversation. He reached up to his Com link and tapped it. "Hey, Tyler, sorry for this coming at you so late. Can you get someone to cover for Sarah and me? It's routine visits. I promise we'll be in later."

"No problem, Doc," the voice on the ComLink said. "I'll throw Darrin into the deep end and let him round with the students. It will be good for him."

"Thanks. Go easy on Darrin, though. We want to keep the good ones who graduate."

"Will do," Tyler said. "Say hello to the family."

Nathaniel looked at the group. "Paul needs to hear whatever it is we're going to talk about."

When the family walked back into the Hargrove House, they found Paul feeding Max as his siblings ate their cereal. Paul looked up. "Okay. I'm confused again. Why are you all here?"

Sarah came over and kissed him. "Our children came up in the conversation."

"Well then, thanks for coming back," Paul said as he looked at his children. "So, what about our kids?"

"I was thinking they might have inherited their gift of seeing us from Sarah," Nathaniel answered.

"Ain't that," the badger said with conviction. Nathaniel looked at him quizzically. The badger pointed to the children around the kitchen table. "They's got the Sight."

"Aren't they too young?" Sarah asked.

"Thoughts the old wolf was the youngest one given it until I mets them."

Martin looked unconvinced as he walked into the room wrapping a towel around his human waist. "How do you know they have the Sight? I can't say as I sense anything different in them."

"'Cause, it ain't the kinda Sight you sees," the badger replied. "You sees the Sight like the old wolf does. You sees it when it activates. I sees it even when it's quiet. The little one's Sight is thinking about waking up. And it's gonna be different from all of ours."

Nathaniel looked at the parents. "I'm not sure I understand any of what Oliver is saying, but I trust him. If he says your children have the Sight, then we can feel confident that's why they see us."

"I can explains, but it's not a pretty thing."

Paul looked at the badger. "Uncle, these are our children. If you know something, you need to tell us."

"I got the Sight when I was much older. But Martin and Will has the Sight because their lives was hard from early on. Not only hard, though. They was orphans. Will's entire family was killt when he was eight. Martin... well... he's got no reason to tell you."

"I was twelve," Martin said. "My dad was beating my mom in the kitchen like he always did, only this time he was doing it with a crowbar. I grabbed what was closest, and I tried to stop him. The knife went into his jugular. Mom didn't survive. Neither did Dad." Martin's head bowed. "I can't say I've ever been sorry for what I did; except that I didn't do it sooner to save my mom."

The pained look on both Paul's and Sarah's faces was the best they could do. There were no words to say how sorry they were for the horror of their uncle's lives.

"The ones I loves most has always had hard lives," the badger said as his foot drew four small circles across the wood floor. "We's a family that's seen things no one should ever have to see."

"Will and Martin was little ones out on their own, but the Sight kept them alive. It taught them to see what others didn't. It taught them to sense danger comin', to fear some folk, to see in the darkest parts of the awful. And it tried to teach them to know what's right. It tried to teach me the same things, but I turned from it. Will and Martin did right by the Sight. I am still hurting over how I didn't."

Nathaniel reached down and picked up Oliver and hugged him. "You've done right by it, Badger."

The bear put the badger onto an empty kitchen chair next to the children and Oliver continued. "The Sight protected us. It kept us from harm, but now it's moving different like. The Sight knows it can't do to others what it did to us. It knows it drived most of us crazy. Humans can't look into the awful for long without it driving us insane. The Sight tried to save us. It did the opposite for most. So now it's not waking up the fear. It's showing the humans where to go to be safe."

"It's finding little ones who already sees the werebeasts and it's teaching them to trust us. The Sight is telling little lost ones where they can goes to find sanctuary. It's telling them where to goes so that what they sees don'ts become a curse but a help."

Sarah looked at the badger. "Uncle Oliver, I don't understand. Our children aren't orphans. I swear we've never even laid a hand on them. They have a good life. Why would they need the Sight?"

"Because this is the generation that's gonna be the teachers of the next. It's time that the werebeasts stop hiding in the shadows. It's time we stops letting the humans kill us. We don't kill our enemies because it's not our way, but we can gets rid of them by making them our friends. Even humans don'ts drop bombs on the ones they loves. But it's time we stopped waiting for you to figure that out. There's no reason to hates as much as you do."

The badger leaned over and held the hands of the two oldest children. "Your babies already love us because they has parents who loves us. Them three little ones can teach other little ones to love us too. They can open their eyes to us without ever forcing the Sight on them. They can be like you two. Your babies sees us 'cause they loves us. We may not save humans from killing themselves, but we can teach a small group of you that love will survive long after the hate has killt itself."

Nathaniel looked at Oliver and Martin. "Are you sure about this? This is going against pretty much every rule on the books."

"Ain't going against some Changeling's rules," Oliver said gruffly.

Martin looked at him. "What are you saying, Oliver?"

"The Sight. It ain't an it. It's a they."

Martin looked at the shocked faces surrounding him and threw up his hands. "It's news to me."

"Not to me," the badger said.

"How do you know?" Nathaniel asked.

"Well, I knows they's Changelings 'cause they fucks up everything the first time around and spends all their time trying to fix it the next time." The badger paused. "Sort'a kiddin', but not a whole lot." He looked at Nathaniel. "Your people is as nice as they can be, and you know I loves you, but sometimes you's like oil and water when it comes to helping this planet. You wipes out the dinosaurs. You creates the Children of the Night. The Sight that drives people crazy is your doing. You fucks up so much. Then you spends way too much time trying to figure out how to un-fucks everything you fucks up in the first place."

The sadness spread across Nathaniel's face. "I'd be upset with you if you weren't right, Badger."

"I ain't bein' mean, Bear. For all that's gone wrong 'cause of you, much more has gone right. But when it comes to the Sight, you done it again. You fucked it up the first time, and now you's trying again to un-fuck it, but this time it might work."

"I still don't get it," Paul said. "How are you so sure that it's Changelings giving humans the Sight?"

"'Cause we talks. Not like we's doin' here. But we talks like I does with the dragon. We talks like Kris and me does with Gaia."

Nathaniel's eyebrow rose. "You talk with Gaia?"

"I does now."

"Why didn't you tell us?" Martin asked.

"'Cause until now there weren't no need to," the badger answered. "Look, Gaia is a quiet one, like me. She don't like being bothered unless it's needful. But when you went back to the highland, I talked to Gaia, 'cause I knew she loved Max like I did. She understood the hurt I was feeling without him, and without you. She understood the hurt of having you gone, Bear. So we talked, because she were missing both you and Max the same way as I was."

Nathaniel gave an understanding nod. "I'm sorry I was gone so long, and I'm sorry I didn't realize what Max meant to you until it was too late."

"It's okay bear. I ain't in that place anymore. So, now Gaia and I talk about other things. Including the Changelings. They's like anyone else. They don't wants everyone pointing fingers at all the things they's fucked up. I figures why make them suffer? It ain't like they's alive. They's been dead for all these years. Why bring back all that pain?"

"Dead?"

"Body dead. Not soul dead. Like Gaia, only maybe she never had no body to lose 'cause she were a spaceship."

"Well, I'm confused again," Paul said.

"The white bear had lots of brothers, Paul," the badger answered. "One by one, they got killt by the humans, until them last battles with the Children of the Night. That's when all hell broke loose and the old bear's brothers died by the handful. Ain't sure exactly what happened 'cause they wants it hid, and they ain't showing me.

"When they died, their souls moved into the earth like Gaia. Their wolf and bear bodies died, but their souls kept livin'. The earth has always lets souls rest inside her. And that's where they went. They hibernated for centuries, gaining back their strength. But not likes individuals. Likes a group. Likes all the dead Changelings came together and kept each other alive.

"When they woke up, they seen how much the world had changed. They seen how humans was still violent, but that we was way worse 'cause we gots even better at killing ourselves. They saw the little ones dying 'cause they had no one to protect them. And so, they trieds to protect them. They trieds to protect us. But they didn't know how. What they trieds made most of us lunatics. But at least we's a quiet insane. We ain't violent. We ain't like the Children of the Night was. And some of us, we's been lucky. We's survived pretty well.

"There ain't been no one given the Sight in years 'cause they learnt how it made most of us crazy." The badger leaned over and put his paw on Martin's. "Excepting the Beast. He was the turning point. He was a special one, testing a new idea. Beast sees the world different from the old wolf and me. He's different from all the rest who's got the Sight. We sees the hurt and pain, we sees the fear and everything we needs to stay away from. Beast sees that, but he sees a way out from the awful that the old wolf and I can't sees. We knows how to avoid the awful, but if we falls into it like I did, we don't see no way out. Beast does.

"So, they watched and waited. They wanted to see if the beast would go crazy or if he would be safe. They wanted to see if he could save the ones he loved." He looked at the sloth in his human form. "You can saves us when we can't saves ourselves. And when you does, we starts to see the world the way you does. I loves you Beast. I loves you forever."

Martin took the hand of the badger and squeezed it tight.

Sarah shifted in her seat. "It still seems risky to give children the Sight. After all, it's not worked all that well before. Why try it again now?"

"'Cause you humans are gonna kill yourselfs; and with you, most of this planet. So much is gonna die if you don't wake up. The Changelings has decided it's time to wake a few of you up. Your little ones is like Beast. They can sees a way out of the awful if they's given half a chance. But they's also different from Beast. They sees the creatures that will protects them instead of the ones who will kills them. The little ones don't look into the awful no more. They senses the danger, but they sees their protectors instead of the awful."

Oliver looked at the children and smiled. He waved his hand at them and they waved back. "And the Changelings gave your babies the Sight 'cause they knowed their momma and poppa loves us. You teach your babies to love humans and beasts alike."

Oliver leaned in closer to the children. "The Changelings gave you something that makes you special, but it's also scary from time to time. The older you gets, the more you's gonna see what I mean. But you ain't gotta be afraid. You gots family, and you knows we will protects you."

The children nodded. Paul shook his head, still confused by what he heard. "I'm grateful they think we're worthy of that gift, but aren't you still taking shots in the dark trying to find the other ones with the Sight?"

"Not no more. The Changelings sees the little ones that needs their help and they gives it knowing that the little ones will find their way to us. The same way you did."

Sarah looked confused. "I'm here because Nathaniel left the island when Uncle Max died and you needed a doctor," she said.

"That hospital is full of doctors, Sarah," Oliver pointed out. "And there are even more doctor werebeasts out there in the world if'n we had a need for them. Why does you think you gots the call and they didn't?"

"I guess I hadn't thought about it all that much. I mean, I knew Uncle Nathaniel. We're related. I figured that somehow..." Sarah's voice trailed off. She looked at the badger. "Did you know about this?"

"Ain't never liked humans. I was dead set against you. But then I was the caretaker, so my voice didn't count." The badger paused. "You go ask Tyler or anyone why they chose you and they's gonna say they gots no clue why. It don't make no sense. No sense at all. Sepptin' to the Changelings making a home for a human who loves beasts."

The badger leaned over and kissed Sarah on the cheek for the first time. "I was wrong, Sarah. You is good people. The Changelings is trying hard to un-fucks everything, and you's a part of that. So is I. So is the beast. And so is the bear."

Paul cleared his throat. "Anyone else?" he asked.

"You's included, Paul. And your little ones," the badger replied. "And soon there will be more, and we's got to start preparing for them."

"What do you mean?" Nathaniel asked.

"You knows how this island's got teachin' hospitals?"

"Yes."

"Well, we gots to make places for teaching the little ones about their gift," the badger pointed out the door. "And this is where we gots to build them places."

Nathaniel frowned. "I'm not sure that's what we should be doing. Again, Dad said we were supposed to leave the humans alone. They're supposed to fend for themselves."

Oliver nodded. "I knows, Husband. But them kids got something inside them that them other Changelings gave them. We can't just turn away from what's happening. I sees them, Bear. They is out there in some metal building. They needs our help to understand what your kind gave them. We don't turn from them that needs us. Especially if we's the one that made that need."

Paul looked at Sarah. "There are three Quonset huts in Nova Scotia right now that the government is using to house refugees. Those might be the metal buildings you see, Oliver. The final vetting process is being done by the IRCC, but what if we talked to the UNHCR about fast-tracking some orphans here to the island?"

"You does realize you's talking gobbledygook, don't you?" a vexed badger said.

Sarah smiled. "He's saying that because of the wars going on in Asia and South America, more refugees are fleeing to North America than ever before. The numbers are overwhelming the Canadian regional governments. They might let us foster some orphaned children here on the island if you're willing to sponsor them."

"They has to be the special ones," the badger said. "They's the ones that needs our help."

"Yes, but how do you find them?" Paul said.

"We uses your little ones to find other little ones like them," the badger replied.

"I can see about setting up a meeting. They bivouacked the orphaned children in their own area, so we could at least go visit and say hello." Paul looked at Nathaniel. "Do you think there's any chance we could have Li Wei come with us? It might help to have someone who speaks their language."

"He's huge, Paul. He has no human persona."

"Yeah, there is that."

Nathaniel leaned forward. "I speak over six thousand languages. Eight hundred and twenty-two are now no longer spoken because the humans that spoke them are extinct from your last war."

Paul looked at Nathaniel. "We're a violent species, Nathaniel. But there are still some of us trying to find a better way."

Nathaniel's eyes widened as he realized how his comments hurt the human. He put his paw on the human's hand. "I am so sorry, Paul. I didn't mean that to sound the way it came out. Sometimes when I feel an overwhelming sadness, it comes out sounding bitter. I mourn all the people who spoke those languages."

Paul smiled. "I know, Uncle. I have my days like that too. So, what say I get things in motion while our kids are still on summer break from school? Let's see if we can help a few kids find a home."

Martin looked at Nathaniel. "And no, you don't need to call your dads. This is our home and we decide what happens here. We stand by each other and our choices, or this grand experiment called Partridge Island isn't what it should be."

Nathaniel rolled his eyes. "I hate that mind-reading part sometimes."

"I know what you're going to be thinking later tonight when we're in bed," Martin said, smiling suggestively as his tongue slipped along his lips.

Paul looked at his watch. "We have a record here, people. The Bear and his husbands have gone almost half an hour without bringing up sex."

Nathaniel looked at Paul. "Are we that bad?"

"Yeah, but actually, I kind of like it. You guys are so much more affectionate than any family I've ever known."

Sarah nodded her head in agreement. "I learned a lot about how to love full-on by watching you, Uncles. And while I don't intend to break down a door when I'm with my husband, I will be there beside him the way you three are for each other. You men are fine the way you are."

Paul looked at the three. "So, would you be okay with me sending out some feelers here? If I can get an appointment, we can take the kids to Halifax Harbor and see what happens."

Nathaniel's paws tapped anxiously on the table. Martin stilled one paw by placing his hand on it. "We go as a family or we don't go at all."

The bear looked around the room. "We go."

Chapter 3

The sloth sat playing with the puddle of cum dripping onto Nathaniel's belly from the bear's spent cock. He took his finger, drew a happy face across the matted fur with the sticky fluid, and smiled. "You look good dressed in white," he said as he scooped up the cum with his claw and stuck it in his mouth. "Although your white outfit tastes too yummy to leave it there."

"We should shower," Nathaniel said, smiling.

The badger leaned over and scooped up a bit of the remaining cum and shoved it into his mouth. "Not's supposed to wastes your food, Beast."

"Sorry, Badger. I was taught to share."

"You gonna share some room in the shower today?"

"Sure, what did you have in mind?"

"I loves scrubbing your balls."

"I love that too. Wanna help with the top half, Bear?" Martin asked Nathaniel.

"How much time do we have before the ferry trip to Digby?"

"Three hours," the sloth responded.

"We could rush it, right?"

"Sure," the sloth answered.

"No problem," the badger said.

"We're going to be late, aren't we?"

"Probably," both answered together.

Three hours later, as the three dashed down the floating dock in their human forms, Paul was waiting patiently.

"We're sorry we're late, Paul."

Paul smiled. "That's okay. I gave you the wrong times. I know you're never on time for anything in the morning, so I bumped up the schedule an extra thirty minutes to make sure you actually made it on time."

"I could kiss you," Nathaniel said, smiling.

"You probably don't want to do that. You might catch the straight. There's a lot of it going around."

"Not on this island there ain't," the badger said brusquely.

Paul looked at the badger. "I never know whether you're serious or joking, Uncle Oliver."

"Pulls out your pecker and we can tests how many gays there is in the group. If we licks your pecker, we's most likely gay."

Paul shook his head. "Okay, you're joking."

"Could be," the badger said with a smile.

Sarah came rushing down the gangplank toward the group with her three children. "All right, you two," she said, fixing the oldest child's hair one last time, "everyone is on their best behavior today, right?"

"Right!" both Jessica and Kristopher said together. She handed Jessica's leash to Paul. "You don't let them out of your sight."

"Yes, Mom," Paul said as he leaned over and kissed his wife and the child in her arms. The children kissed their mother goodbye, boarded the skiff, and waved as the boat set off for Saint John.

Five hours later, the family was looking out across the Quonset hut. The Integration Services people were using a small paper map to explain the location of the orphaned children. The family walked out into the throng of people on their own.

Paul looked out, dismayed. "This is going to be like finding a needle in a haystack," he said, frowning at the milling mass of people.

"No it's not, Dad," Kristopher said smiling.

"You see the special children?" his father asked.

"No, but finding them isn't hard."

"What do you mean?" Nathaniel asked.

"Turn into a sloth," Jessica said, pointing to Martin.

"I would tear out all my clothes," Martin said, laughing. "I'd have to ride all the way home as a naked human."

"Well, you could take off your clothes and turn into a sloth. Then you can turn back into a human at the appropriate time, put your clothes back on, and the humans would be none the wiser," Nathaniel corrected.

Martin pointed at the children. "These kids would be."

"We've already seen you naked, Uncle Martin," Kristopher said.

"When?" Martin asked incredulously.

"When you visited the house last week. You walked into the house naked, remember?"

"That's because I'm too big to get into the Hargrove House as a sloth. But I put on a towel right away."

"Well, Kristopher has a point," Paul said, laughing. "They saw you naked for a bit. I don't see what all the fuss is about. You're hoping to teach these kids about life with werebeasts. If that's the goal, you better start with the fact you guys spend way more naked than most of us for all manner of reasons."

"So, why am I going to change?"

"Just change," Kristopher said. "You brought us here to help. We're helping. We both agree this is the way."

Martin shook his head. He slipped out of his shoes and pulled his shirt off, handing them to Nathaniel. "No comments, Bear," he said as he pulled off his pants.

As soon as he handed the pants to the redheaded Changeling, he shifted into the sloth. Rising far above the crowd, he looked down at the children. "Now what?"

"Find the kids that are pointing at you. They're the ones like us."

The sloth turned and counted seven small children mingling among the throng of people, pointing at him and waving to adults. "Looks like we've found our foster kids," Martin said, smiling.

Two hours later, Paul had completed the paperwork. He scheduled a time for a future meeting with the children to see Partridge Island. It would give them a chance to decide if they wanted to make the move to a new home and new foster parents.

By the time the family had returned to Saint John, the children were asleep. Mom and Dad slipped them into their safety seats.

"Thank you, Paul," Nathaniel said. "And thank the kids when they wake up tomorrow."

"Heading back to the island, or are you going to hit the bars?" Paul asked.

Martin laughed. "I don't think we're exactly bar people," he replied.

"Only humans in bars," the badger said as he shifted back to his little self. He crawled out of his clothes and started folding them. "Why goes to bars when I gots hot bear butt at home?" He looked over at the parents, realizing what he had said. "They's still asleep, right?"

Sarah laughed. "You're fine, Uncle Oliver. They already love you just the way you are."

Oliver put his clothes down and walked over to Sarah, putting his arms up into the air. She reached down and pulled him up into a hug. She kissed him on the cheek and waited. Shyly, the badger leaned forward and kissed her cheek. She passed him to Paul, who grabbed him with one arm and hefted him up. With his free hand, he tapped his cheek. "Right here, Badger."

"You coulds catch the gay," the badger said straight-faced.

"I'll take my chances."

The badger leaned forward and kissed the human. Paul squeezed Oliver and put him down. "Guess it's time I learned what it's like to be kissed by a bear and a sloth, he said, smiling. The husbands shook and leaned in on either side to kiss the human. He smiled. "Not so bad. Honey, you might have to grow a beard."

"Ow!" he yelled as his wife punched his arm.

Chapter 4

The werebadger looked up into the cloudy sky. "They's coming," he said.

"Stay focused, Little One," the temple dog said, pulling the werebadger closer and deeper inside him.

"How can I has sex if I knows the father bears is coming?"

"You still have much to learn, Little One. It's not about sex. As pleasurable as this activity may be, it's about staying in the moment. It's about letting nothing distract you from your chosen task. It's about controlling the voices and the Sight. Acknowledge the vision and return to the moment."

"I tries, Li Wei. I really tries," Oliver said as he renewed his thrusting into the dog.

"And you're doing remarkably well," the temple dog said as the werebadger found the spot Li Wei had guided him to. The Red Wolf appeared in the sky, coasting toward the helipad. "Slow down, Little One. This is not a race to see who can arrive faster; you or the airship."

"Buts the bears," Oliver said with frustration.

The temple dog lifted himself up onto his forearms and pulled the werebadger up to his lips. He kissed Oliver and said, "I am done here for the day. But your lessons aren't over, Badger. Remember what we are teaching you. Control the voices. Control the visions. You know the bears are here to help with the children moving in. Remember that the fear that pulls you from the moment is not real. The past is only the past. The Sight is what it is. If you do nothing, it will overwhelm you, but if you control it, it will be your ally."

The werebadger dropped the temple dog's legs. "We's stopping now? But I gots a boner. It ain't gonna quit, Li Wei. You knows it never quits when I'm with you until we's both drained dry."

"Then choose to find another path, Little One. The only constant in life is change. Learn to embrace change instead of fighting it. The man who tries to swim against the river's current will tire and drown. The man who swims with the current to return to shore saves himself. Do not fight the man you are becoming. Find your way back to shore, Badger."

The polar bear pushed past the bushes where the two lay in the shade of the forest trees. The moment the werebadger saw the white bear, he shifted back to the smaller badger. Eric watched the two separate. "I'm sorry. Am I interrupting something?" the bear asked.

"Not at all," the temple dog responded, fluffing his fur to hide his erection. "In fact, if the badger takes my advice, something new and beautiful is about to start." He stood up and smiled. "If you'll excuse me, Eric, I have my morning meditations to attend to."

The bear bowed to the temple dog as he walked by and flopped down next to the badger. "Hello, Son. How's it hanging?"

The badger looked at the bear with a stern face. "That's mean, Old Bear. You know it ain't hanging. It's poking up right there in front of your face."

"That's okay, I have always thought you look very nice aroused," the bear replied. He gave a casual nudge to the cock with his paw. "Although I've only seen it from a distance when you were playing with my other sons." He looked at the badger; noticing how Oliver winced each time he spoke the word son. "Does it bother you if I call you Son?"

"It mights. I don't knows if I can ever call you Papa, Old Bear," the badger replied.

"I understand, Oliver," the bear said, nodding in agreement. "Of all my sons, you and I have the most complicated history." He reached out and pulled the badger into a hug. "But our history doesn't determine our future unless we let it. You still have so much to let go of, Oliver."

The badger sniffled. "I knows, Old Bear. I knows."

The bear leaned in and gingerly bit the badger's chest. "You know I love you, right, Oliver?"

Oliver looked at his hand in the white bear's. "I struggles with why you would, but yeah, I knows."

"And because you mated with my son, you became, by a natural extension, my son as well. It means I have a sense of protective responsibility toward you. It doesn't matter what we call each other. Those feelings will not fade if you call me Eric or I call you Oliver."

"I'se always called you Old Bear."

"That works for me. Although, Kris might object because he's older than me. He can be sensitive when we refer to his age."

"Tells him if he bitches I'm callin' him Ancient One, like Lewis and Jean Pierre does."

The polar bear laughed out loud. "That should work." The polar bear squeezed the badger's paw. "And what do I call you?"

"I likes Badger... and I likes Oliver when the old wolf says it."

"Well then," the bear said, smiling, "how about we old animals call you Oliver?"

"Okay. Ain't never calling the old wolf Father, so you lets him know."

The bear smiled. "I'm sure that will come as a relief to him to hear that. Our family tree is more complicated than most."

"I likes my family."

"Me too." There was a quiet moment, and then the bear looked down at the badger's crotch. "And what about that, Oliver?"

"It ain't going down, Old Bear. Something happens to me when I'se trainin' with Li Wei. I just gots to live with it."

The bear stared at the bobbing erection and raised an eyebrow. "We could always learn to live with it together. Shared burdens are always easier." The bear rolled over, exposing the erect black pillar of flesh between his legs. "I could use some help living with mine."

The badger looked at the cock hungrily. "You has such a fine pecker, Old bear."

"Well, I have a beautiful badger in front of me with a hard-on. My other sons are at the hospital working, so I have you all to myself for the first time since I've known you. Oliver, you smell of desire and sex from your time with the temple dog. I would feel remiss if I didn't attend to your needs." The bear picked up the badger and rubbed his rump, playing with the stubby tail. "Change Oliver. Let's enjoy this moment together." The bear's other paw took a claw and scratched roughly over the badger's cock.

"Oh, gawd," the badger sighed. "I loves the way that feels." He kissed the polar bear. When the thick purple tongue slipped into the badger's mouth, he sighed. "Embrace the change," he thought. "Lets go of what was and be in the moment." The polar bear lowered the badger back to the ground and, with a gentle push, the badger toppled over onto his back. He looked at the smiling polar bear above him. He shifted into his werebadger form. "Take me bear. It's time we shared more than just an awful past."

The bear smiled, pushing up against the werebadger's spreading legs. "I couldn't agree more."

Nathaniel walked out of the hospital and stood at the top of the porch, staring into the morning sun. He sniffed the air. "Jeez, Dad? Do you and Lewis ever not do that the moment you touch ground here?" he asked. He sniffed the air again and shook his head. "Oliver? Papa?" He lumbered down the steps and waved hello to the sloth waiting at the bottom.

"Seems our welcoming crew for the children is getting a welcome of their own," Martin said with a laugh.

"I guess so."

"Husband, you know I see what Oliver and Will see, right?"

"Yeah."

"Well, I got blue balls that are turning purple from what your papa is doing with Oliver."

"That seems to be an awkward color for them to be."

"Yeah, that's a fine color for the polar bear, but not me. Do you think we could run home before the foster kids arrive and take care of what is bound to be socially awkward for me if we don't?"

The bear took the last step and grabbed the sloth, giving him a long kiss hello. "I think we can arrange that."

"Do you have room for one more?" the voice of Li Wei asked. They turned to see the temple dog rocking anxiously. "I let Oliver go before we completed our training. I'm afraid you all think I have more control over this body than I actually do. My balls are an equally disquieting shade of blue."

The two husbands came up on either side of the temple dog and put their arms around him. "The children are arriving on the two o'clock skiff. That gives us four hours," Nathaniel said, smiling. "Who's up for a quickie?" Both companions raised their hands. "Race you home," Nathaniel said, breaking away from the two. "Last one there bottoms," he said as he fell onto all fours and raced toward the museum.

The sloth looked at the temple dog. He extended his arm. "After you, Li Wei."

Li Wei smiled and shook his head. "No, I insist. After you."

Chapter 5

The arrival of the children to their new home was a big event on the island. Despite their eagerness to see the children, the island administration barred the media from attending. News crews had visited on the children's first visit, but the islanders insisted this was a day for the children, not for strangers gawking at them. Coming this time to settle into their new home, the children were excited to meet a more extended version of their new family.

The polar bear doctor Nathaniel had promised was there with his white lab coat stuffed with tongue depressors in one pocket. They laughed as the white bear stuck out his mottled purple tongue, asking them to say ah by showing them an example.

Each of the children laughed as they glowed green under Nathaniel's paw. To them, it was a magic trick. To the short-faced bear, it ensured that no pathogens remained in the children from their difficult life before.

While the Changelings were fluent in the languages of the children, the children could hear the accents that told them they were not native-born. In contrast, Li Wei spoke both Mandarin and Korean flawlessly and was a delight to the children because of his size and playful nature. The children cheered when they found out Hanuel and Kwan, two mated Tibetan wolves from Korea, were to be their foster parents.

And then there was Oliver. His small stature and confusing English made him an instant friend to all the children, despite his initial reluctance. He wasn't comfortable with greeting any new humans. So, despite his understanding of their need to be there, he couldn't imagine seven more of them on the island. That is until the children gang-hugged him as he was trying to make a quiet escape back to the museum's lower floor. Martin reached down into the midst of all the children with his huge paw and pulled up the little mammal. He smiled as he watched the badger's right foot spin about wildly and kissed him. There was a long ooouuu from the children, and the badger looked down at them. "S'okay, Little Ones. He's my husband," Oliver said, and the children laughed again.

After the children toured the island, Kwan and Hanuel took them to their new home at the reconstructed Doctor's Home near the boat docks. The location gave them easy access to the skiff when it came time to go to school on the mainland. The two wolves showed each child where their rooms were and the five bathrooms. They also showed them the bedroom where their guardians would sleep should nightmares ever be a problem.

While the children ate dinner at the hospital commissary, Oliver went to visit Li Wei. "I needs to talk to you," the badger said as Li Wei opened the front door. "I'se been thinking about my studies." Li Wei smiled and bowed. "I was thinkin' we coulds do tai chi tomorrow for my training."

"A very ancient and valuable tool in strengthening the mind and body," Li Wei said. "Tomorrow we will begin by learning the five elements."

The badger looked away shyly. "Would it be okay if I brought the little ones?"

"Of course, Oliver," Li Wei said with a smile. "With the addition of new studies and students, if you prefer, we could always pursue our individual studies in the afternoon."

"I cans do both?" the little badger asked with a wide smile.

"Of course."

"That would be right nice."

"For me as well," the temple dog said, giving the badger a quick kiss. "Shall we say eight tomorrow morning so that the little ones will have time to prepare for school on the mainland?"

"That woulds be wonderful," Oliver said, spinning around, "I'se gonna go tell Hanuel and Kwan."

As the little badger raced toward the hospital, the temple dog smiled. The fenghuang dropped from her perch atop the Radar Battery Observation Post and landed next to the temple dog. He looked at her and nodded. "You're right. The little badger is amazing." He looked at the dragon. "Are you okay with the little ones watching you feed your young tonight?" There was a pause and the temple dog smiled. "I agree. Fear leaves when we learn to love what we see. Tonight, the little ones will begin learning the world around them is so much greater than they ever imagined."

Hanuel and Kwan brought the children down to the cliff railing as the sun dropped below the horizon. They said their hellos to the family members who had already joined the fenghuang and her fledgling daughters. The flock waited on top of the steel rail for their father and brothers below to arrive. When the father and his sons breached the waves, the human children made the same ooouuu they had made when the sloth kissed the badger. Soon the dragon family was on the shore eating their dinner together.

Li Wei looked to the father bears and bowed. "I was told tonight's visit does not come without a price," he said.

"Oh?" Kris asked.

"The fenghuang has asked that the family of bears sing to her children tonight."

Nathaniel smiled. "We would love to." His fathers both nodded in agreement.

"Gather around, little ones," the badger said. "The bears is going to sing." The rudimentary English of the children was adequate for them to understand the badger. They formed a half circle around the bears as they sat down in the grass. "They sings in a language no one understands, but it's beautiful."

Kwan translated Oliver's words first into Mandarin and then into Korean. All the children gave happy nods. The family of bears bowed their heads as the sound of wind moving along the cliff face heralded the return of the flying dragons. Slightly larger than most of the children, the fledglings crept up behind the humans and stood quietly. The older children tried not to stare at the winged creatures behind them, but they failed at their goal. The youngest of the group didn't even try to hide their staring.

When all the dragons settled, the bears raised their heads and began singing. As the night stars appeared across the sky, the voices of the Unity from across the galaxy joined in the chorus of bears. The family of man and the family of Changelings drew closer as the song of the Changelings filled the humans' hearts.

Oliver sat transfixed, listening to the song of the Changelings. His eyes closed and his smile was calm. When his little hand raised, Hanuel leaned over and nudged Martin. The little badger reminded the wolf of watching the Korean Wonsan Revival Movement in 1903. It was a time when thousands of Koreans converted to Christianity in meetings full of song and trance-like hand waving.

Martin watched Oliver. "I'm pretty sure the spirit isn't filling him tonight," the sloth said. "Although he had a spirited filling with one bear earlier."

Hanuel smiled. "Perhaps that's what I see. The little badger is in love with the bear. That is its own form of rapture."

"The little badger is in love with all three of the bears," the sloth whispered.

"Ah," the Tibetan wolf replied. "Now that would have me lost in their song as well."

The sloth nodded, and they returned to listening to the song as the badger swayed.

Chapter 6

Will was in Montana working on the books when the ComLink screen flashed on. He looked up at the werewolf and the young human looking at him. "Hi, Padre. Hi Alejandro. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"I wish this was a social call, old friend," the timber wolf said. "We desperately need help. We seem to find ourselves in the middle of a firefight between rebels and the current government du jour."

"Oh god, Padre," Will said. "What the hell are you doing down in South America?"

"I help with an orphanage here," the wolf replied. "These are special kids, Will. They recognize me the same way Alejandro does."

"Is that right, Kid?"

"Yes, Uncle Will. They have always seen dad as a werewolf."

"How many of you are there?" Will asked.

"There are eleven children. Alejandro and I make thirteen. The other adults fled when the shelling began." There was an explosion in the distance and the two flinched. "They're getting closer, Will. We have a boat on the river to get us to Manaus, and from there, we can petition for sanctuary in another country."

"Well, we can't be splitting up a batch of children with the Sight," Will said.

"Is that what this is?" the Padre asked.

"Alejandro, do you see things before they happen?"

"I don't, but the kids do. But when they're afraid like now, the only thing they see is my dad."

"Thanks for helping, Kid. You hang in there. We'll get you and your dad out of there safely." Will shook his head in thought. "Hold on, Padre. I'm going to call my son. I will pull some strings. Let's hope we can get your kids out of Brazil and into sanctuary in one trip."

"That would be a miracle, Will. Make the call."

Nathaniel became a part of the conversation as the ComLink added another screen within the screen. "Hello, Son. We have a bit of an emergency."

"What's up, Father?" Nathaniel asked. From behind, the polar bear came walking into the room with the badger poised on his shoulders. The bear passed the badger to the sloth, and the mated pair kissed.

"We have a bunch of kids that have been living in an orphanage with the Padre and his son. Seems they're in the middle of the war going on in Brazil, and it's hitting too close to home. They have a boat to get them to safety, but they need some help to move the kids a few kilometers through the jungle. They lost the locals when the shelling started. Can you help?"

"Sure, Father. Where are Tiff and Tuff?"

"They're already on their way to pick you up, Son. Are you sure about this? We have werewolf teams that can extract almost anyone. My only concern is the kids. They're going to need a place to stay. They're going to need sanctuary."

"Father, these are human kids, right?"

"They're human, Nathaniel. But I'm pretty sure they all have the Sight. They know Padre is a werewolf. They're going to need special help if they're ever going to have a normal life. Ask Oliver. He should be able to recognize if they're gifted but not yet woken."

"He's right, Bear. They's gonna need somewhere special. I tolds you they was gonna start gathering together. That orphanage is a gathering place because of the Padre."

"What about that whole prime directive thing about not interfering?" Nathaniel asked.

"These aren't your average humans, Son. Trust me. This is something we have to do. If you don't want to move on it, I understand, but remember your conversation with Sarah and Paul about the future? These kids are that future. You're not doing anything different from what you're already doing with your foster kids. The only difference is you're going to be doing it with more kids."

Nathaniel nodded his head. "We'll be there as soon as we can, Padre." Nathaniel brought up a map with a blinking red light near the Amazon River. "Keep your ComLink GPS on. We'll find you."

The screen went blank and Nathaniel looked at his father. "You okay with this?"

Eric smiled. "Oliver has been teaching me about embracing change. I suppose this is a pop quiz to find out how much I've learned."

Nathaniel reached out and hugged the polar bear. "Thank you, Papa."

The sloth pulled the badger up to his mouth, letting his tongue slip down along the little mammal's chest and belly. When the tongue slipped back in, the sloth smacked his lips and grinned. "Mmm... so we're calling that embracing change now, are we?" he said with a giggle.

"Yeah, Beast," the badger said sternly. "We's callin' that embracin' change. Now, how's about you help get me over to the helipad before the twins get here?"

"By your command," the sloth said in a calm British monotone.

"I hate that fuckin' TV show. Humans don't know jack-shit about aliens."

Finding the orphanage was easy. Finding a way out proved far more difficult.

"We can't land, Nathaniel," Tiff said. "There's not enough clearance for the Red Wolf. You three are going to have to do a controlled jump."

"Controlled jump?" Martin asked adjusting his flack jacket. "Why doesn't that sound reassuring?"

"It's not as bad as it sounds," Tiff said. "We're only going to be forty feet up. We'll drop the rear cargo door. That should get you about thirty feet off the jungle floor. That drop to the yard won't even stress your bodies. You're beasts. You'll be fine."

Tuff looked at Oliver. "Sorry to say this, Badger, but to keep you safe and sound, you're going to have to shift to human or werebeast. They see the Padre, so you being a werebadger shouldn't be anything too difficult for the kids to understand. Being a naked human might take a bit more explaining."

"S'okay," the badger said. He shifted, and the little badger became a bigger badger with a shortened muzzle and a more human shape. Tiff looked back and smiled. "Damn, you're cuter than ever, Oliver. We're heading down. Everyone buckle up."

The twins moved their paws over the controls. "Good luck, guys," they said in unison.

As soon as the three hit the ground, the Padre came running up. "We have a boat waiting at the river. We can make it down the Amazon and toward the ports in Manaus. If you are providing sanctuary for us, the Red Wolf can pick us up at Eduardo Gomes International Airport. Manaus is still relatively free of fighting for the time being. We just have to get out of here."

The Padre looked at the orphanage's children. "These are my family," he told them in Portuguese. "The redheaded one is normally a bear. Later, you'll see the Latino as a big sloth. And the little animal is a huge texugo. If anything happens to me, you listen to them. You do whatever they say. Do you understand?" The children all nodded. He turned to the three. "What do we do now?"

"We gets to the boat and we gets the hell out," Oliver said.

Nathaniel smiled. "He's right. Although he might have said it a bit more kid-friendly."

The badger looked up. "Oh fuck, I'm sorry," he said apologetically. "My language is terrible." He stomped his foot. "Fuck, I said fuck." A pause. "FUCK!"

The Padre reached over and patted the badger. "If there ever was a time to say fuck, now is that time. Come on, Oliver, let's get these kids to the boat."

The group hurried along the narrow path through the dense forest. What were once distant explosions were growing ever closer. The Padre sighed. "We're not even a worthwhile target, but because there is river access at the docks, the area is being fought over." The wolf picked up his pace. "Executar crianças. Estamos quase lá," he told the children, and all began running.

When they reached the docks, the boat was in flames. Craters dotted the area. What appeared to have once been a shed and gas storage was now smoldering boards and billowing black smoke. A large cargo container lay propped up on its side against the shattered light post of the dock. The scorch marks from a bomb blast covered the far side of the steel box.

Padre looked at the damage in frustration. "Mãe de Deus. What do we do now?" he said, pointing at the burning boat. "That was our ticket out of here."

The three were assessing the situation. "It's too much to think the cargo box will float, right?" Martin asked.

"It's solid steel. They use barges to move them in and out."

"How far to the next boat launch?"

"About four kilometers downstream. That might be our only option at this point."

Martin looked at the steel box. He shook himself into the Megatherium and with a shove righted the box back onto the ground. "I might be able to drag you all downstream in this if we can find some chain for the hitch. It would be easier than trying to herd these cats you call children through the water."

Padre smiled. "We do our best, Martin. But you might be right."

The sloth's eyes closed in a tight blink. "Entrar no caixa da carga. Agora!" Martin yelled. "Oliver, Nathaniel, get everyone into the cargo box."

All adults grabbed for children and began shepherding them toward the container. As Oliver carried two children into the cargo box, a look of realization came over his face, and he turned back toward Martin. "Beast, no!" he plead.

"Now Oliver! Don't argue. You know this is the only way."

Nathaniel looked confused as he handed the last child to the Padre back into the dark of the steel box. "Only way?"

Martin turned and gazed into the eyes of the young redhead. "I love you, Bear," he said. "I love you both so much." With a hefty shove, he pushed the young man into the box and threw the metal doors closed. He took two steps back and ran toward the box, slamming into it with the full force of his body. The box moved along the ground, gaining speed until it pushed out onto the dock. With one last shove, the sloth pushed the box over the side of the dock. The crate flew into the air and landed in the water thirty feet from the shoreline. It sank about three feet into the water before it hit a sandbar created by the dredging of the river to create access for the boats to dock.

Martin looked up and saw the smoking shell headed toward him. He closed his eyes and extended his arms to absorb as much of the blast as he could away from the container. The bomb landed where moments ago his family and the children had stood. He never saw the explosion. He only felt the intense heat tear through his body as the blast threw him out into the river.

Inside the box, water was pouring in from the doors as the children screamed. Oliver grabbed the loudest child and hugged her. "Be quiet, Little One. You gots nothing to fear." He looked toward Nathaniel, who was trying to right himself with three children on top of him. He saw the Padre helping a child up. "Speaks to them, Padre. Tell them they is okay. Tell them we can swim out of this box now."

The voice of the Padre yelled out to the children. "Seja calmo, Crianças. Estaremos seguros." The children grew quiet. The Padre's voice softened as he told them once more to be calm.

"Bear, you gots to change and open those doors," the badger said. "There's gonna be lots of water, but we's only three feet deep. We gots to get out and get the children on top of this crate, and we gots to get Beast out of the water."

Nathaniel pushed past his confusion and complied with everything the badger said. He looked at the children and told them to gather together. He explained he was going to change into a bear so he could help them all out. All the children heard the bear talking to them in their native tongue. The children smiled at the thought of the chubby redheaded man becoming a bear. They laughed when his clothes shredded as he shook himself into the short-faced bear.

As the children climbed or were lifted to the top of the box by the adults, Nathaniel looked across the water, looking for the Megatherium. He saw him floating a few feet past the crumpled dock. The bear leapt into the water, past floating debris and burning wood, and grabbed the immense body. Dragging the sloth toward the crate, Nathaniel watched the rise and fall of the beast's massive chest. One breath in, one breath out. "You keep breathing, Martin," the bear said. "You don't die on me." He pulled the sloth up against the box.

The Megatherium's seared body left only blackened skin on the front and burnt stubble on the back. As the bear leaned the bulky body against the shipping container, the sloth's eyes opened and he smiled. "Hi, Bear," he croaked.

"Hi, Sloth."

"I'm sorry I'm dying."

"I won't let you die."

"I know you won't want to, but you have to."

"I told you years ago that I couldn't let that happen."

"I know, Bear. But this isn't over yet. You will need your powers for more important things. You can't save me and save my family. Save what's important to me."

"He saves what's important to all of us," the badger said defiantly.

"Hi, Badger."

"Hi, Beast. You looks like hell."

"Thanks. I like to look like I feel."

The badger looked at Nathaniel. "Beast is right. He's dying and you can't save him. You can't use up all your power like your daddy did. It don't grow back if you use it all up."

A mortar shell blew up on the edge of the jungle, shattering the trees into chunks of splintered wood.

Nathaniel glowered, and his eyes glowed green. "I can end this now. I can save my family and end this once and for all."

The badger's hand reached out and touched the fluorescing paw. "No, Bear. You and your daddies is healers. You's protectors. Don't use that power to kill. You can't do that without killing the one I loves. You saves us, but you don't kill. Bear, don't never kill."

Padre looked up from herding his charges into an ever-smaller circle and moved toward the glowing green bear. The werebadger's free hand shot up, shimmering with a faint green light. His arm pushed forward toward the werewolf and the Padre slid back along the crate toward the children. The badger's other hand squeezed Nathaniel's paw even more tightly. "Trust me, Bear. You don't wants to live in the hell I lived in. The awful ain't no place for the one I love. Don't' go there. Stay with me. Be my mate. Be the bear I loves."

As Oliver's body became a bright incandescent green, he shook the bear's paw aggressively. "Come home, Nathaniel. We needs you, Bear... I needs you, Bear. Please, don't leave me."

The green light faded from the fur, and the warm brown eyes of the bear returned. Nathaniel picked up Oliver and hugged him. "For you, Oliver. Only for you," he said and kissed him. He looked at the Padre and saw the concern on his face. "I'm okay, Padre. I have family here to keep me in line."

"So, I see," the Padre said. "I am still at a loss about what we are going to do out here in the middle of a river. Walking along the river may be our only way out. But getting these kids back to shore won't be easy."

"That's not your only way out," came the static-filled voice of the twins over Nathaniel's wolf's head ComLink. "Your ComLink activated the minute the first shell hit. We're on our way back. You all hang in there. We're coming. This will be dicey, but we'll make it work." There was silence for a moment. "There appears to be a cargo container in the middle of the river with quite a crowd on it. Is that you?"

Nathaniel said yes as another mortar shell flew overhead, landing with a watery explosion in the river.

"Okay then," Tuff said. "You all stay there. Padre, we're going to need your strong arms there with Nathaniel at the end of the box nearest the middle of the river. Oliver, you get up here with us right away to help the kids stay calm. And oh, we're going to need the strength of a werebadger to pull this all off. Don't go changing back until you're all on board. We're going to need you at your peak."

Oliver nodded. "We gots work to do." The Padre spoke to the children, ushering them toward the raised end of the cargo container.

Oliver looked sadly at Nathaniel. "You gots to help Martin to change. He cant's do it all by himself. You gots power, but not as much as you think. Leave some there so it can come back in time. You can't saves the beast. He's too big. He'll drain you tryin' to save him, but you can saves the human. Help the beast change. Help him lets go of his life. Save Martin. Save the human. He's tiny. He won't take it all from you."

Oliver looked at the sloth floating in the water. "Beast, I will miss you. But I can let you die if it means we save the you I love. You's just a body and we can't save that. We save your soul inside the human body... and we save these children."

"Seems a fair trade."

"It ain't what I likes, Beast, but you sees it too. You will always be Beast to me. Nuthin' about our love changes; just your body. We save the human. We saves what we loves."

The sloth smiled. "We save what we love." He grimaced as he tried to change. "A little help here, Bear," he growled. The bear reached out and for a moment; the sloth glowed green and became human. "I'm pretty fucked up, Bear," the human said. "Only stabilize me enough to get me home, please. You will need all your powers soon enough."

Nathaniel's paw reached out and touched the human. The green glow spread across the naked man for only a moment and receded. "Thanks, Bear," Martin coughed. "You listen to everything Oliver tells you to do. Don't question anything he says. You just do it. You do that and all of us will make it home safe and sound." He coughed again, spitting up blood. He stared at his bloody hand and smiled. "I hear that's a good sign."

Martin looked at Oliver. "They're on their way. You can see it right?"

"I sees it. I knows what to do."

"Then I can pass out now and that won't piss you off?"

"Knock yourself out," the badger answered, smiling. "Seriously, you goes to sleep, Martin. I'll sees you later."

Oliver looked up at Nathaniel. "The twins are on their way. But so is that army with the bombs. Does you have the shield thing that your daddy had?"

"Yes."

"Okay, I'm going to tell you when to turn it on and turn it off. You get all our kids together and you tells them there's gonna be fireworks but not to be afraid 'cause you're gonna protect them. You cover us when I says so, and when you see the Red Wolf you covers them too."

There was a scratchy, garbled voice over the bear's ComLink. "We'll be fine, Badger. The Red Wolf has shields. We need Nathaniel to protect you and the children as you board."

"Shields up," the badger yelled. Nathaniel shoved his hands forward and an incoming shell vaporized over the trees. A second and third rocket exploded in the distance as they fell from the sky.

"Shields down. They's reloading. Get him up on this box, Bear."

As the bear raised Martin onto the cargo container, his eyes widened. "I can see them, Badger. I see the soldiers."

"You got the Sight Bear?"

"No, It's like I see them in your head. It's like we're linked."

"We always has been, Bear. I loves you. The Sight is reaching out to protect you the same way you does us." Oliver looked down. "Shields up!"

The bear turned back toward the jungle, and his green fists rose. The incoming rockets were no more.

"Shields down," the badger said after the firing stopped. "This ain't gonna work. Them soldiers is coming with guns. Red Wolf ain't gonna make it in time."

Nathaniel smiled wickedly. "We may have a way out of this yet." He closed his eyes and the fading light from his fists brightened. "Lunchtime," he growled.

The screams from the jungle were audible even from the distance.

Oliver looked at the bear. "What's you doing?" he said as he continued to move the children closer to the end of the cargo container.

"Eciton burchellii," Nathaniel said. "Army ants. I woke them up and told them their queen was being attacked. The scent leading to their attackers is now all over the soldiers walking through their nest. Don't cross me, humans. I promised I wouldn't kill you, but that doesn't mean I can't throw you right into the middle of the life surrounding you. I'm smarter than the average bear."

The badger laughed. "You is the smartest bear I've ever known." He hesitated. "Shields up!"

The green fists returned, and the missiles dissipated into the air.

"Shields down," the badger said. "They ain't done shelling, but them ants are keeping the foot soldiers occupied." Oliver looked up. "They're here." From the east, the Red Wolf appeared. It flew over the small group and lowered over the one clear area in the jungle. It was landing over the water.

The bright blue of the engines flared downward, and the water pushed to either side as the ship lowered. Directly around the Red Wolf was the muddy bottom of the river. The ship pivoted, pointing the rear toward the group. The cargo hatch opened and extended down. Tiff stepped out onto the deck and waved for them to come. "Okay, Padre, time to see if your pitching arm is any good."

Hovering about ten feet from the cargo box, the airship rocked a bit and then steadied. With the nose of the ship pointed up, the cargo deck was now parallel with the cargo container. "Throw them up here," Tiff yelled. "I'll catch them. Badger, I need you up here."

"Bear needs me down here, Wolf. He gots to know when the bombs is coming."

"Understood. Come on, Padre. Let's get your children up here."

The Padre closed his eyes and shook his head in disbelief. His eyes opened back up, he grabbed his son, and threw him into the air.

"Go," Nathaniel said to the children, each child hearing the command in their own tongue. "They are our family. They will protect you. Run to the wolves." The children raced toward the arms of the Padre and one by one, he threw them toward the ship and Tiff's waiting arms.

"Shield Up," the badger yelled. The bear thrust his hands into the air once more. "Shield down. Grab our husband and let's get the hell out of here," Oliver yelled.

"Shield up." Oliver stamped his feet. "Fuck it, Bear, Shields stay up. They're throwing everything they got this way. They seen something flying in." the badger looked down at the human. "I'll get our husband." Oliver looked down at his werebadger body. "First time in my life I'se glad I'm tiny," he said, lifting Martin onto his shoulders. He ran toward the Red Wolf. "Come on, Bear. We's going home." With a forceful kick, he jumped past the Padre and onto the cargo deck of the Red Wolf.

With one final push of his hands, a green dome of light surrounded the cargo box, and the bear turned toward the Red Wolf. The bear grabbed the Padre and, running at full speed, he leapt toward the opening, becoming human in mid-air as the two rolled into the ship. The twins, already in the cockpit, lifted the ship vertically into the air, throwing all unbelted passengers to the floor as the cargo door closed. Thanks to the internal gyroscope, the passengers remained safely pinned to the floor until the ship leveled out. The two wolves looked back at the dazed group. "Sorry for that rough take off."

Nathaniel smiled. "Understood."

A little girl looked at the Changeling and, in the indigenous language of Nheengatu, said, "You're naked. Where did your clothes go?"

"I lost them when I became the bear," Nathaniel said. The children smiled, hearing every word of the conversation in the language easiest for them to understand. "The bear was too big to get inside here. When we get home, I'll become the bear again and I won't look so funny."

The little girl smiled. "It's okay. Papa didn't wear many clothes when he was alive. He was a fisherman." She pushed toward the ginger lad and put her arms around him. Nathaniel smiled and returned the hug.

Chapter 7

The trauma team of the Second Class Hospital was there to meet the Red Wolf. Laying the human on the stretcher, the werewolves wheeled their fallen comrade toward the First Class Hospital. Once inside, they entered the elevator and headed toward the underground causeway leading to the ER.

"He will be fine," Nathaniel said reassuringly.

"I don't like to see Martin in his human form. It always means something is wrong," one werewolf said as he prepped the moving body for an IV.

"The human is all that survived, Darrin," Nathaniel replied.

The werewolf looked up. "I'm sorry Doctor. I'm sorry for both of you."

They pushed the gurney into the operating room. As the doors swung open wide, Nathaniel saw his papa standing already gowned and gloved. "Papa!" he said happily.

"The OR is ready. I'm here to help if you need me."

"Thank you, Papa. Can you prep Martin while I get cleaned up?"

"Of course. See you soon."

Nathaniel pivoted around and ran out of the operating room, almost slamming into his father.

"Slow down, Son," the old wolf said, holding onto the bear. "Relax. This is no time to hurry. You rush things, you overlook things. Your husband deserves every bit of you here with him today."

"Thanks, Father," Nathaniel said as he shifted to his human form.

"Come on," the old wolf said, grabbing the youth. "Let's get you scrubbed up."

The operation went well. It had been years since the father and son had worked together, but they read each other with the comfort of old partners. This time the son was the chief surgeon, and his father assisted. "Your skills eclipse anything I've ever done, Son," Eric said, smiling behind his mask.

"I had an excellent teacher, Papa," Nathaniel said, looking up. Without asking for it, his father placed the suture into his hands.

"He's badly burned. Even the thick fur of the sloth couldn't keep him safe from that explosion."

"I know, Papa," Nathaniel said as his hands tied off the suture. "I won't let him live liked this. What happens to my powers doesn't matter to me. He won't be scarred for life because of a heroic act of kindness."

"I understand, Son. But you need time to heal the same as he does. Wait until he has time to recuperate. Where you go from there is as much his choice as yours."

"You're right, Papa. I have to remember not to rush things. Father reminded me of that." Nathaniel looked up. "Let's close him up, Darrin," he said, looking to the once werewolf, now man, across the table.

"Yes Sir," Darrin said. "Give me a 4-0 Vicryl on a PS-2." A surgical assistant placed the suture and needle into his hands. "You sure you don't want to do this, Doctor? You're much better at closing than I am. I'm going to leave scars that won't look as nice as yours."

Nathaniel looked at Darrin. "This is a teaching hospital, Darrin. You're a surgical resident here for a reason. We're training you to take care of whatever comes through those doors out there. Today it's a human. Tomorrow it might be a wolf or a bear. It may seem scary, but one day you're going to have to handle these crisis days while your students are watching you. You're more than ready to close my husband. I wouldn't ask you to if I didn't have full confidence in you."

Darrin looked into the eyes of the Changeling. "Thank you, Doctor. You'll stay and watch, right?"

"Of course," Nathaniel said. "I might even teach you how to sign your work when you're done."

Darrin smiled and placed the first stitch.

Chapter 8

Martin woke to hear the telemetry beeping behind him. His eyes opened to the face of a black wolf smiling at him. "Hello, Papa Wolfy," he said hoarsely. "Where's Nathaniel? Where's Oliver?"

"Nathaniel's in the OR," Derrick replied. "We're getting a full hospital once more. Your father is right. These wars between the humans hurt too many of us." The black wolf's hand reached out and touched Martin's face. "They hurt my son."

"I'll be fine, Papa," Martin said, smiling.

Martin heard the voice of the old wolf. "Oliver and I went to get coffee." Will leaned over and kissed his son. He ran a hairy finger across Martin's lips. "I'm going to miss your tongue," the old wolf said, smiling.

"Me too. You guys have no clue how much I'm going to miss it." Martin's head nodded and then he woke again with a start. "So, is the entire gang here?"

"Not everyone, most of the pack is still in Montana," Derrick said. "They're taking in refugees again. There's more room there for the uninjured trying to get out of the blast zones. But, don't worry, they'll come up as soon as they know you're moving again. We take shifts. I apologize in advance if you need solitude to get better. With you the way you are, we're going to pester you until you're better. If you need to be alone to do that, you'll be in recovery for a very long time."

Martin laughed, fogging his breathing mask. "It's okay, Papa. I never tire of my family."

"Well, we's never getting' tired of you, Human," the little badger said. Martin looked down to see a small black hand reaching up toward Derrick with a tightly held cup.

"Hi, Badger," Martin said as Derrick took the cup from the hand.

"Hi, Human." There was a momentary silence. The badger cleared his throat. "I still loves you, you know. Beast or no beast. I will always love you."

"Good to know. Because I still love you."

"I guess I can get used to a human banging my butt. Sort of missed you not being able to do that when you was a beast." The badger paused. "Not all that sure a hairless ass is gonna do it for me, though."

"Well, I am Latino. We're not exactly famous for hairy asses."

"I guess I could tries to learn to like hairless butts then." The badger paused. "Nah, I already likes them. I forgot 'cause it's been so long since I seen one. Don't pay that much attention when you's walking in and out'a doors." The badger tried to reach up and touch the human. "You gets better so I can try chewing on yours for a bit. I'm pretty sure I'se gonna like it."

"That's nice to hear," Martin said as his eyes closed and his head nodded to the side.

"He's asleep, again, Oliver," Will said.

"He needs his sleep to heal."

"Yeah, he does," the old wolf agreed. "What say the three of us go get lunch and let Nathaniel know about this when he comes out of the OR?"

"Sounds good," the badger answered.

"Or we could find a broom closet and boink like bunnies," Derrick said, smiling.

The badger looked up at Will. "Pup's idea sounds better."

An hour later, the family stood by Martin's bedside, watching him sleep. Nathaniel reached out and touched the face of the human, and his eyes opened.

"Hi, Bear," Martin said, smiling past tubes, wires, and the plastic mask covering his nose and mouth. "How goes life?"

"Busy day, Hon," Nathaniel said, smiling back. "When you get to the First Class Hospital, you will have a lot of company."

"That happening soon?"

"Probably in about a week. Per your request, I'm letting you heal without too much intervention on my part."

Martin's head bobbed. He pushed past the morphine and opened his eyes. "That can't be easy for you. Thank you." He looked past Nathaniel to see his family looking on. He lifted his arm slightly and shook the hand. "Hi, guys."

Everyone said hello. One by one, the father bears and father wolves came up and greeted the human. He nodded in and out occasionally, but the family was patient, letting him drift through their visit. When he woke up from a nap, he saw them all again. But this time, the twins were by their side.

"Hi, Martin," Tiff and Tuff said in unison.

"Hi, Tiff. Hi, Tuff. Is it time for the family to leave?"

"We're afraid so," they answered. "They need Papa Bear back at the Montana infirmary."

"That's okay. I can't kiss you goodbye with this oxygen mask on. I'll let you go if you promise to come back soon."

The human drifted off, and Nathaniel leaned over, kissing his forehead. "We promise, Hon."

Outside Martin's room, the family prepared for departure. Will pulled Oliver to the side and kissed him. "I miss you, Oliver."

"I misses you too, Old Wolf. It felt good to have you inside me today. I forgots how good you is. You's my favorite wolf ever."

Will laughed. "You seemed to enjoy my husband."

"Well, he's a beauty, that one. When it comes to my favorite wolf, he mights be nippin' at your heels."

"I like when he does that to me," Will said as he ran his paw along the badger's chest.

The badger looked up at the wolf. "It's getting scary again, Old Wolf. Nathaniel almost killt the humans in that jungle for what they did to the beast. He's young... and strong. They's not always a good combination."

"That's why he has you, Oliver."

"Me? I ain't no good at controlling anyone. I'se a badger. I'se too small for that job."

"You're a giant, Oliver. You don't see it yet, but you hold your family together. Trust your instincts and speak when your heart tells you to." The wolf leaned in and kissed the badger again. "I have to go, but I promise I'll be back up as soon as possible. I love you, Oliver."

"I loves you, Old Wolf." The badger reached out and took the wolf's paw. "You takes care of your family. I'll do the same." Paw in paw, they returned to the group, and Tiff and Tuff whisked the family away to the Red Wolf.

Chapter 9

A week later, things were much different. The Padre and his son were helping the children adjust to the move into the gunnery tunnels as part of their grand adventure. Their housing was temporary until a facsimile of the Marine Officer's Hospital could be rebuilt. Once finished, the twelve children and their surrogate father would live inside the mock hospital. The outside would match the photos of a bygone era, allowing the new building to become a part of the historical display visitors would see.

For now, the children loved the winding hallways and skylights above their heads. They even enjoyed the haunting sound of the foghorn as it filtered through the halls at night. There were late-night tales of large fanged beasts breathing outside their doors and under their beds. It comforted them to think such benevolent protectors were hiding in the shadows. All too early, the children had learned that actual monsters came in the shape of humans.

Nathaniel had shown them the old, yellowed pictures of the Marine Officer's Hospital. Everyone agreed it had to be one of the most lackluster buildings on the entire island. They had taken to calling it "the hideous" because of its utilitarian design. But by making it boring on the outside, the bear suggested, they could make it even nicer on the inside. Thinking through the options, the children agreed the outside could remain dull.

As promised, Will had returned to the island, but in part because of business. As one of the financial managers of the family's resources, he was preparing to funnel funds to Partridge Island. It would help in the building of new outbuildings and infrastructure to keep pace with the growing population. It wasn't only the children arriving on the island to new homes. Werebeasts were also taking up residence. With new builders, artisans, and caregivers, the family on the island was blossoming. Will made sure the finances were there to support the recent growth.

Additional tutors for the children were arriving daily, as was extra medical staff. There were now liaisons to establish relationships with the mainland schools to integrate the children as quickly as possible. That included the island's first child psychiatrist to help the children with the complications of finding their way in a new world. Their changing world included not only learning a new language, but an awakening talent for seeing the unseen. For Canada, Dr. Zhang Tao Kong was a noted psychiatrist from New Mexico. He specialized in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder in children. For the family, it was a joyful reunion with Kong, the red Chow.

He spent his first night in the arms of Will and Nathaniel, reliving some of their most pleasurable moments. But early the next day he was rounding with the doctors, checking in on the children, and visiting Martin at Will's request.

Late in the evening of his second day on the island, the red Chow and the old wolf broke their kiss. They stood on the top deck of the newly constructed Battery Observation Post. Closer to the bay than the Radar Battery Observation Post, it had a smaller footprint to that of the home for Li Wei. As with so many buildings on the island, the outside of the concrete bunker had a historical accuracy. However, inside, the new building housed Dr. Kong's home on the second level and his office below. "This is a beautiful place, Will," the Chow said. "It's wonderful to see you again. Did you ever get over me not being a wolf?"

"I know you're doing well, Kong, but I have to admit that it still stings when I see you. I suck at turning werewolves."

"But, Will," the Chow said, smiling, "you don't suck at turning men into the creatures they have dreamed of becoming. Do you realize how much freedom you gave me to express myself in my turning? Even if I'm not what you thought I would be, I'm still exactly what I hoped to be."

Will smiled. "Thanks, Kong. You're one of the sexiest canines I've ever known. You're beautiful in so many ways. But I still worry that somehow I failed you. I guess I'm a vain old wolf."

"You're nothing of the kind. You want the ones you turned to be happy. That's what you're supposed to feel." The Chow reached over and pulled the wolf in close. "I met Oliver. I know he had a troubled past, but his turning was the catalyst for so many wonderful things that have come into his life these last few years. Had he become a werewolf, his healing might never have begun. He could have become a killer as violent as the Children of the Night. Now, instead of the Were Nation tasking you to hunt him down and kill him, you share the affections of one of the kindest creatures I have ever met. He became what he needed to be, even if the two of you never realized that when you turned him."

"I know two husbands who are very grateful that way Oliver is the way he is," Will said as he watched the lights beaming from the Artillery Searchlights. "So, about one of those husbands; how is Martin doing?"

"That is hard to say. He isn't aware of how much he's lost yet. But if you want my professional opinion, what he needs to get him through this isn't my help. He is already in the best hands I can imagine. You have a strong and very protective family, Will."

"That is true. I just wanted a second opinion."

"Oh, well, my second opinion is that you should let the Chow plow your ass."

Will looked over and smiled. "That's your professional opinion?"

"Twelve years of medical school and six Master's degrees. You should pay attention to my opinions." The Chow's paw came down and aggressively grabbed the wolf's butt.

The Chow pulled Will in close, and they kissed. The old wolf smiled and mumbled through the kiss, "who am I to argue with science?"

Chapter 10

Moving to the First Class Hospital was a thrill for Martin. He had a window where he could watch the tourists coming and going from the docks. When he asked the nurse if he could go to the first floor and visit with the human visitors soon, the werewolf stammered a bit and said he would get the doctor.

Moments later, Nathaniel blustered into the room with four students following him. "On rounds, Hon. What's up?"

"I have no clue. I asked the nurse if I could go downstairs and visit with the tourists and here you are."

Nathaniel frowned. "Oh."

"Oh?"

Nathaniel shrugged and sighed. "No time like the present." He motioned to two of the students. "Help me turn his bed toward the closet." As the bed turned, Martin saw the large mirror pinned to the closet door. For the first time, the human viewed what had happened when the sloth tried to block the explosion. "Fuck," he blurted out. He stared and the mirror and shook his head. "OK, students, pop quiz. Does your patient look like A: Vincent Price from House of Wax, B: Liam Neeson from Dark Man, or C: Ryan Reynolds in Deadpool? Did you guess D: all of the above? If not, no extra credit for today."

Nathaniel moved forward. "I wanted to wait until we could talk about this together. I can help, Hon. You don't have to live with this."

"It's okay, Hon. This was the right time for me to see this. I was raised with a sense of social propriety strong enough that I will take this with grace and charm instead of screaming at the top of my lungs. Having others in the room helps me with that."

"I'm sorry, Hon," Nathaniel said. "Nothing you see is permanent. We have options, including those where I glow green and you get better."

Martin looked at the bear and smiled. "It's okay, Hon. I need a bit of time alone. I need time to sort things out, and I'll do that better alone."

Nathaniel frowned. "I don't know if it's a good idea for you to be alone right now."

"It's probably not, but it's what I'm asking you to do. I need a bit of space right now so I can feel sorry for myself."

"Honey," Nathaniel said, with desperation in his voice.

"I'll be fine. Go... Get back to work."

Nathaniel ushered the students out the door and turned back to the human. Martin waved the bear away. "Go. I'm not going anywhere. We'll talk later."

Nathaniel turned and closed the door behind him. Martin looked back at the mirror and began crying. Through his sobbing, he didn't hear the door open again. The black and white spiked fur poking over the hospital bed startled him. "Why's you crying, Human?"

"Oh, I'm feeling sorry for myself, Oliver," he said, pointing toward the mirror.

"Oh. You seen what you look like."

"Yeah. I've seen."

"Not so bad really. Seen worse."

"Are you serious, Badger? I can't even stand to look at me."

"Seen a shaved Shar-Pei once," the badger said. "They's way worse than you." The bed moved as the badger pushed it back into its original position. "There. You don't gots to see yourself no more."

"That changes nothing, Badger."

"Nope, it don't change nothing. Don't matter what the mirror says. Because you still looks beautiful to me."

"You've got to be kidding me," Martin said.

"No, I ain't. You gots the Sight. You can sees I'm tellin' the truth. We can't lie to each other, remember?"

Martin stared at the badger. "How, Badger? How can you look at me and not see something grotesque?"

"The same way you seen me as somethin' beautiful when we first met."

"But you are, Badger. You're gorgeous."

"I looks like a skunk bear, remember? And take a gander at these," the badger said with a wide grin. The badger's sharp yellow teeth and long fangs dripped wet. "When I tries to smile I looks like some rabid critter about ready to rip your throat out." The badger closed his mouth. "You sees me as beautiful 'cause you loves me. No other reason in the world but that. I sees you as beautiful because I loves you. Don't need no other reason."

Martin smiled. "How was I ever lucky enough to have you in my life?"

"Don't know," Oliver replied. "I wonders the same thing every day I wakes up with you and the bear beside me."

"Hug me, Badger?"

"You got your doctor's permission for hugging?"

"I've slept with the doctor. I can blackmail him to let me do anything."

"Well, then blackmail him so you can pounds my butt. That's the therapy I needs," the little badger said as he climbed up onto the bed and hugged the human.

As the human squeezed tighter, he sighed. "I have missed your touch so much, Badger."

"You's getting better. You'll have plenty of touch soon enough." He pulled back enough to put his muzzle into the face of the human and he pressed his lips up against the human. When their lips finally parted and their tongues playfully touched one last time, the badger laughed. He thrust his hips out and pulled his belly up. "There you goes, Human. Proof I still thinks you's beautiful." Martin looked down at the badger's erection and smiled.

Martin grabbed Oliver and hugged him again. "Badger, I know you're trying to make me feel better by not bringing up the Megatherium. But when you say Human as my name, it seems wrong. It feels like a description, not a term of endearment. Can you please call me Beast? I miss who I once was. I miss being your beast. When I'm better, I promise I'll live up to that description."

The badger smiled. "Of course I cans. You's always gonna be my beast. I was only waitin' for you to be okay with it again." He leaned over and kissed his beast. Oliver laid his head on the beast's chest and closed his eyes. They lay napping together that way until Nathaniel entered the room at the end of his shift with a wheelchair.

The sunset was more than beautiful to Martin as he watched the waves from the cliff. He rolled back the wheelchair and looked up at Nathaniel. "Thanks for getting me out of the hospital."

Nathaniel smiled. "Well, we haven't had much family time together," he said.

"Ain't had none to speak of," Oliver said. "But I'se happy to have it now. We all's been too busy. Life comes at us fast sometimes."

Nathaniel reached back and grabbed the badger off his shoulder, and placed him on the ground. "As soon as Dá Lóng and the fenghuang have finished feeding the kids, you know she'll be up here to say hello."

"Yeah, she comes up bunches nowadays. She's teaching her babies and the little humans to play nice together."

"How are the new kids adjusting?" Martin asked.

"They is settlin' in right proper. They even asked to be part of the morning tai chi class. Them new kids knows lots of the moves already. They calls them different things, but they knows them. I worrys about them though."

"Why?"

"Because they's learnin' English from me. That ain't a good idea."

"They will be fine," Nathaniel said, rubbing the top of the badger's head. The badger rubbed back against the hand lovingly. "I'm sorry, Badger. It has been too long, hasn't it?"

"You's been busy 'cause you's a doctor. You save lives. I ain't complaining. You knows that, right?"

"I realize that, Husband. But I'm also aware that you've waited long enough for your mate to come home and share a night with you doing something other than sleeping."

Martin laughed. "Hey, I would go for even that."

Nathaniel looked at Martin. "Then how about we do that? How about the family spends the night together and we do anything but sleep?"

"Sounds good to me," Martin said.

"Me too," the badger said smiling. "Did I tell you that Beast gave me a boner today?"

Nathaniel grinned. "No, you did not."

"Yep, he didn't do nothing with it, so I figure's he's still sick, but ain't nothing wrong with me."

There was the sound of wind moving along the cliff and all heads turned toward the south as the fenghuang rose from below and landed next to the badger. Her head cocked, and she stared at Martin. She bounced over to the man in the wheelchair, studying his features. Martin looked back. "It's Martin, ma'am. I'm Oliver's husband. I've had an accident."

The badger reached out and petted the fenghuang from the side. "He got himself blowed up by a bomb. The sloth inside him died to save the little children. He's all burnt up, so he don't looks like he used to, but he's still the same beautiful creature you knows."

The fenghuang cocked her head again in curiosity, and then she bumped up against the chair, nearly knocking the human out of it. Martin laughed. "Okay, okay, I'll pet you. You've never been so pushy before."

His hand reached out and petted the top of the dragon and she flinched. "Oh, god, I'm sorry," Martin apologized. "Sometimes the images come back to me. I'm sorry you saw them." The fenghuang pushed her head back toward the human's hand. "Are you sure? I'm on medication and I don't always have control over my thoughts the way I normally do." The dragon pressed forward. Martin put his hand on top of the creature's head again and petted her.

The gentle stroking froze, and Martin began shaking. Nathaniel reached out to pull Martin away when the badger grabbed his leg and pulled back. "No, Bear," he commanded. "Leaves them be."

Nathaniel looked at the badger in disbelief. The badger shook his head. "Martin has talked lots to the dragon, but tonight, the dragon is talking to Martin. It's the way she talks to us with the Sight." The badger sat down on the ground. "Best to have a seat. This could take a while."

Nathaniel sat down by Oliver and put his paw close to the badger's smaller hand. The little hand reached out and grabbed the bear's nearest claw. "This could takes hours."

"I guess then we wait."

"We coulds kiss while we wait."

"She won't mind?"

"She seems nice enough; only one way to find out."

The bear pulled the badger in close, and their lips pressed together. Nathaniel smiled when he heard the badger sigh as their tongues played. The little badger shifted into the werebadger and reached for the bear's genital sheath. His paw dug in aggressively as he pulled the expanding cock from its hiding place. "Didn't mention everythin' I wants to kiss," the werebadger said smiling. His head bobbed down and engulfed the cock. Nathaniel leaned back and closed his eyes as the memory of what he had missed for weeks came flowing back into his life.

As Nathaniel was taking the badger for his second time, the fenghuang bumped up against his backside. Nathaniel turned. "Oh, I'm sorry," he said, smiling. "We got lost in our own world. How is my husband?"

"He's fine," Martin said. Nathaniel looked out into the darkness to the silhouette of the man in the wheelchair. "I hope you two brought enough of that for everyone," he said cheerfully.

"As a matter of fact, we dids," Oliver said, pushing his belly and hardened cock forward. "You can has as much of me as you wants."

Martin smiled. "Can I get you two to take me home?"

"Sure," Nathaniel said as he stood up and reached for the wheelchair's handgrips. He looked over to the badger and the fenghuang as they rubbed beak and muzzle lovingly.

"Thank you for taking the time to be with my husband," the werebadger whispered. "You knows how important he is to me, and his life has been rough of late." The shoulder of the fenghuang's wings pushed forward into a small hug for the little mammal as he squeezed her tightly. He pushed back. "I'll sees you in the morning with our little ones." The dragon nodded. With a push off from the ground, her wings spread, and she was airborne, flying into the night.

The walk home along the lit pathways was slow and easy. As they neared the museum, curiosity got the better of Nathaniel. "So, what did you two talk about?"

"This and that," Martin said casually. "What about the two of you?"

"We didn't talks much," Oliver replied. "We sucked dicks. It was heaven."

Martin laughed. "I'm sure it was." The human was quiet for a while. "Actually, when we get home, I need to talk to you two about something she brought up."

"Oh?" Nathaniel asked.

Martin smiled. "When we get home."

"He has made the challenge, Badger," Nathaniel yelled. "To the barn, and don't spare the horses."

Oliver watched the Bear grab the wheelchair with the human in it and place it on his shoulder as he ran toward the opening garage door. "Glad I gots longer legs tonight," the werebadger said as he struggled to keep up with the racing bear.

Inside their home, Nathaniel lowered the human onto the bed. The bear fell next to him and they kissed. When the human saw the werebadger playing with his cock from the corner of his eye, he laughed. "Oliver, not now."

"But you both promised."

"I know, but this is important, and it involves both of you."

Oliver looked up and set the human's cock free. "Okay. If it's important to you, it's important to me."

"First I want a kiss from you both," Martin demanded.

"Beast, you make no sense sometimes," the badger griped. "First you says, 'no, don'ts play with my pecker', 'cause you want me to listen to you. Then you says 'kiss me' and you knows I'se gonna get a boner, 'cause I always does when you kisses me. But then, you wants me to listen to you when I gots a boner. Like that's ever happened. Humans make no sense."

"Okay, I'll wait on the kiss," Martin chortled. "But help me, Nathaniel. I need to understand a few things better to make sure what the fenghuang and I were talking about is correct."

"Okay," Nathaniel said hesitantly.

"First, am I anything else but a human right now?"

"No, you're human. The sloth has died. That part of you sacrificed itself so the rest could live."

"That's good. No leftover hidden anything, right?"

Nathaniel rolled his eyes. "One hundred percent human. Our DNA is gone from you. But you're sounding really specist."

"I'm sorry. That did sound insensitive. I miss him. I'm grateful for what he did... what I did. That part is totally confusing. But I know I can't sense that part of me anymore." Martin heisted, thinking through his next words. "But if I am only a human, it changes everything." The human rolled over onto his back on the bed and extended his arms. "Turn me, Bear."

"What?"

"Turn me the way you did all those years ago when we were kids."

"I can't do that."

"Why not? I'm a human, the same as I was back then. Way uglier, but that's my problem because you two seem fine with that." Martin looked over at the bear. "You fuck me and you don't hold back, especially your DNA. I become a werebeast again. Easy-peasy except for all that 'hurts like hell bone shifting' crap. I become a beast again that can mate with the bear and badger he loves."

Martin pushed up on his arms. "And, I heal; I heal because I'm a werebeast. I know this body is smoking hot... well, it was smoking hot a couple of weeks ago. In flames, actually. But I miss my old body. I miss feeling your touch."

Martin slapped his chest hard. "Bear, I've lost so much sensation. I can move my limbs, but I don't feel them. I saw Oliver playing with me, but..." his hand thumped his dick, "... nothing. The damage to me is much more than skin deep. You turn me and the damage begins healing. In time, I get my old body back. The Changeling DNA rewrites me back to original specs."

The human leaned over and kissed the bear's chest. "And you let yourself heal. You let me do the work while your powers regenerate for something far more important, like your patients."

Oliver jumped up and began dancing on the bed. "Turn him, Bear. Fuck the human." The badger stopped his dance and paused. "Okay, saying 'fuck the human' sounds meaner than I wants. But you knows what I mean. Turn Martin back to the beast we loves. Put your seed in him and make him animal again."

Nathaniel looked up in thought and smiled. "It should work."

"The dragon has been alive longer on this planet than any of us. Since the First Born, she has lived with the results of Changelings and humans having sex. She knows more of how we mate than any of us can imagine, and then some. She says it will work." Martin rolled over on his stomach and spanked his butt. "Take me bear. Turn me back into a beast."

"But you're barely out of ICU."

"Exactly. I'm on Dilaudid right now. Between the nerve damage from the fire and the meds in full gear, you can plow my ass with that huge bear cock of yours and I won't feel it for hours. By then, I'll already be healing." The human reached out and grabbed the badger, pulling him close to his face. "And you... you come down my throat right the same time the bear comes to make sure it takes the first time."

The badger looked up at Nathaniel. "Turn the human, Bear. Let us has our family back together again."

Nathaniel's smile widened. "What the heck, I can't imagine us not doing this sooner or later; it might as well be tonight."

"That's the spirit, Bear," Martin laughed. His face turned serious. "Turn me, Hon. I want to come home."

The bear looked down at the burnt skin spread out over the human's back. "Okay, if this hurts, you'll let me know, right?"

"We've been down this road before, Bear. You ignore the screams. You ignore whatever I say about stopping. Turn me, Bear. Just like all those years ago. And if that means we mate again tonight to make it happen, then we mate again tonight."

Nathaniel pushed himself off the bed and stood above the human, slowly rocking back and forth as his cock swelled. Martin pulled the badger closer and licked his cock. "I'm not sucking you until after he's inside me. Don't want to go biting anything off accidentally if I grit my teeth."

The badger laughed. "No. Don't want that."

The bear's rocking motion increased. With one eager thrust, the bear fell onto the bed and onto the human, stressing the limits of both the human's body and the bed's memory foam.

From the lighthouse, Lewis's keen ears could hear the muffled sounds of the bear's roar and the human's scream even past the soundproofing. He moved along the lighthouse gallery two steps in front of the light until the museum became visible. The white wolf's ears perked up. "What the hell are you three doing tonight?" he said aloud.

"That's what we were wondering," Tyler yelled from down below.

Lewis looked down to see the werewolf and his husband, Michael. "Come on up. There's plenty of room. From here you can watch the whole museum rocking." The two shifted into their human forms and dashed inside the lighthouse. Lewis pulled up screens that blocked the light from a two-panel section of the lighthouse overlooking the museum. Without the glare of the passing light, the three could watch what was happening below with greater ease. Once on top, Tyler and Michael shifted back into werewolves and said their hellos to the lighthouse keeper.

As the hour passed, the wolves stood leaning against the gallery railing, trying to interpret the noises coming from the museum. "Whatever it is those three are up to, it's going to require some serious renovation before this night is through," Michael said with a laugh.

As soon as his mate spoke the words, Tyler had a revelation. "No, it can't be... I know where I've heard those sounds before." He slapped the back of his husband. "They're mating. The three of them are mating."

His husband looked confused. "Mon Dieu. C'est impossible. They can't be. The human was on his deathbed a week ago."

They heard the roar of the bear again, followed by the high pitch cry of the badger as he came. Lewis smiled. "No, he's right. That's what they're doing," he said laughing. "Exhibit A," he said pointing below. There outside the closed garage door, the forlorn temple dog rocked anxiously.

The garage door began rolling up. When the door was less than halfway up, the bear ran out, his hard-on slapping against his gut. He grabbed the temple dog and dragged him inside. The door slammed shut. "Yikes," Tyler said. "They're getting a new track and motor for that thing tomorrow."

"They've already turned the human," Lewis said. "The traditions say their family shares the newly turned if you're interested. They've allowed Li Wei in. I'm sure they'll welcome you."

"Ca va bien," Michael said, smiling. "I love them, but tonight should be theirs. The poor temple dog can't help himself, but I can wait to taste Martin's new lips."

"I'm good, too," Tyler said. "I've seen the bear in action. We have to go to work tomorrow. The two of us aren't getting between him and his mates."

The white wolf grinned. "I agree on both accounts. Li Wei needs to be there with them, but he will be one sore puppy tomorrow." The white wolf paused as his nostrils flared. "Oh hell no," he said; a look of shock spreading across his face. "Martin, you are in for a world of shit when your father finds out."

"What did he do?" Tyler asked. "What did Martin do?" He sniffed the air, trying to discern what only Lewis seemed to know. There was a fresh scent on the wind, and Lewis knew all too well what it was.

In the distance, a roar came from the museum. Not that of a bear or a badger. It wasn't a temple dog. And it wasn't a Megatherium.

Chapter 11

The old wolf growled unhappily. "Haven't we been here before, Son? What the hell were you thinking? First, you're some extinct ground sloth, and now you're a cat? Your family is full of wolves and dogs, and you choose to be a cat that looks like an overweight snow leopard on steroids?"

"Well, I'm still extinct," Martin said with a shrug. "I'm a Smilodon populator,"

Kris looked at him askance. "Is that so? Then why are your fangs barely showing?"

Martin smiled, showing a six-inch set of enlarged canines. "They're there. I willed them to be smaller. I have two husbands with incredible cocks and I love oral sex. I can't let twelve-inch teeth impede all our fun. For that matter, I can't have serrated teeth either, or a barbed dick and tongue. I fudged a few details. Seems if you're on the right meds, you can change all sorts of things and the new body doesn't care."

Will looked at Kris. "What the hell is he?"

"I guess you could think of him as a customized version of a saber-toothed cat."

The saber-toothed cat rose into his Were body and stepped toward the old wolf. "Look, Father, I know you're upset. You didn't expect a cat. But did you even expect me to survive that bomb blast?"

Will looked at the saber-toothed cat with his traditional frown. He reached out and pulled the animal into a tight hug. "I don't care what you are, Son. You're here, you're alive, and I love you. Give your old man time. I'll adjust."

Martin pushed back and kissed the old wolf. The family's smiles widened as they could sense the wolf yielding to the advances of the cat. Until, with a shove, the wolf pushed him back. "What the hell?" the old wolf asked, staring at the cat.

Slowly receding back into the mouth of the cat was an all too familiar tongue that had no place on a cat. "I told you I was on meds," Martin laughed. "I knew I had to become an animal that could stand up to the short-faced bear, but this time it had to be small enough to mate with the badger. The saber-toothed cat was one of the few animals to fit those criteria."

Oliver looked at Will and pointed to the cat, "Look at them rear legs of his, Old wolf. They's nuthin' but muscle. He fucks like nuthin' you've ever known." The badger let out a long sigh. "It's wuuuunderful."

Martin leaned close to the old wolf. "The moment I was turning, I remembered how much I loved my tongue on you." The thick, flexible tongue slid out of the cat's mouth. "No nasty sandpaper cat tongue here. Only the happy memory of taking the old wolf where only a Megatherium's tongue could."

The tongue slipped all the way down and rolled back up with all the dexterity of the sloth. "And now it's inside a head that has a jaw that opens wider than anyone else's in this room. I can swallow your cock and balls at the same time and still have room to tongue you till you cum."

Will hugged the cat again. "I still don't care. My son is back and safe. That's all that matters."

"That's all that matters, Father?"

"Well, okay, we can try out your new and improved beast, but that's just because I am who I am."

Martin hugged back. "I wouldn't want it any other way."

The polar bear watched the scene and turned to his bear son. "How long can you stay with us?"

"Only a couple of days, I'm afraid, Papa," Nathaniel answered. "Oliver and Li Wei have Mei-hui teaching tai chi class with the kids. She's great, but if we don't return soon, I'm pretty sure the fenghuang will show up on your doorstep looking for him. Oliver explained the trip to her, but she's pretty headstrong about what she wants."

"And, of course, Dr. Templeton has his practice," Martin said, turning to the white bear. "Sarah and Darrin are both rounding and there are others on call. But if you were a patient and found out that gorgeous bear's ass was going to go missing for days, wouldn't you complain?"

"I would," Derrick said shyly. "But then I would complain about missing the badger's butt, too." The black wolf looked at the badger. "Which I'm kind of complaining about missing right now."

Oliver looked at the black wolf and drew a small circle in the Montana red clay. "I misses your butt too, Pup," he replied.

"Well, if two days is all we have, I guess we best let the ranch hands know we're indisposed for the next forty-eight hours," the polar bear said with a grin. "Pup, can you see if Tiff and Tuff can bring the temple dogs back from the highland for a visit? The wolves are up there delivering supplies. Let them know Li Wei is here and the scent of newly mated werebeasts hasn't faded from our sons yet. But we best get moving. We'll have to load them into the cargo hold, and once they catch the scent of the boys, they're going to be rocking that ship."

Derrick smiled and pressed the ComLink curved around his ear. "I'm on it." He stepped away from the group as he said hello to the twins.

Jean Pierre stepped forward. "If I understand your current status," he said, looking at Lewis, Tyler, and Michael, "you have no pack. If you wish, we would love to have you join us."

Lewis knelt before Jean Pierre and looked down. "There is history here, alpha; horrible, horrible history."

Lewis felt the paw on his shoulder and looked up into the eyes of the alpha. "And there is horrible history here, too, Wolf. We cannot change our past, but we can be something more going forward. There is a hand extended. Take it."

Lewis grabbed the paw of the French wolf and let it pull him up. Tyler and Michael stared at the pack, their eyes darting back and forth between the two remaining red wolves and the fox. Tyler smiled. "It would be nice to run with a pack again."

Michael's eyebrows raised. "This is a large pack, Mon chou. We may not walk straight for days after our initiation."

Jean Pierre looked at Michael. "Nous pouvons aller doucement avec vous."

Michael smiled. "Il n'y a pas besoin d'être doux." The Labrador wolf looked at his mate.

Tyler smiled and held his mate's hand. "My husband is right. There is no reason to be gentle with us. We will heal, Sir. Don't change for us. We are learning to accept family for who they are."

Kris reached out and grabbed the badger, pulling him into a tight hug. "And you, Little One. I've heard you enjoy listening to your bear relatives sing. Before you go, will you let your fathers sing for you?"

"You wants to do that?"

"Almost as much as I want to mount you right here and now. As my husband said, you smell like a newly mated beast, and that's very distracting."

Oliver shifted into the werebadger. "I can be distracted with you just fine now, Bear. You can sing later. I'd like that."

Nathaniel leaned over and kissed the badger, and then the Kodiak. "I would like that too."

Two days later, the family slowed as their run through the Montana pines ended. Dawn was cresting on the eastern mountains, and all knew that their time together was short.

Never in the history of werewolves had a cat run with the pack, but as always, the family lived to break traditions. The temple dogs lumbered alongside the wolves and bears. The three had enjoyed their first time copulating with the old wolf where they didn't walk away with fresh scars. But the memories the dogs and wolf now shared were beyond what they had imagined when the run first began.

The black wolf lifted the little badger from his shoulders and kissed him one last time before transferring him to the ground. The two sat in the cool grass of the backyard and watched as the three great bruins pushed together playfully. Their heads bowed and when they rose back up, the Changelings sang to the universe and to their family. The little badger's hand rose, and he swayed with the music. Derrick watched Oliver and smiled. For a moment it seemed as if the little mammal's hand glowed a faint green, but Derrick shook his head and it was gone. Perhaps it was only a trick of the morning sunlight reflecting off the grass.

All too soon, the song ended, and the family hugged and kissed as they said their goodbyes. The day would begin soon. Li Wei would be home in time to discuss how classes went with Mei-hui. Oliver would visit with the fenghuang and her family. Dr. Templeton would share his rounds with his niece and Darrin, the hospital's newest doctor.

The Montana family would go about their chores, taking care of the refugees who had found their way to the plains. The days to come would be happier as they reflected on the days past.

The cat would give thanks to the spirits of all who came before and all who would ever be that his life continued on the island. But for now, the saber-tooth cat quietly cried as he said goodbye to his closest friend, the Megatherium. He thanked the beast that had given up his life so that his life could go on and promised he would not forget the sacrifice.

The short-faced bear sat beside the saber-toothed cat and wiped the feline's tears with a paw. The little badger grabbed the cat's short tail and pulled himself up onto the beast's large back. He lay in the deep fur and rubbed the cat. "Let's go home," the cat begged.

As the cat stood upright, the little badger adjusted himself. The Red Wolf shone in the morning sun as the three walked toward the aircraft. The badger clung to the neck of the cat. "As long as we's together, Beast, we's always home."

The cat smiled and leaned his head into the badger as he took the hand of the bear. "You have a funny way of looking at things, Badger," he said.

The badger smiled. "Yeah, I hears that a lot from people."

Chapter 12

The Were Nation met the birth of the saber-tooth cat and the return of Martin to the family of beasts with a grand celebration. Out on the lawn of the Hargrove House, the Partridge Island family was picnicking. The saber-toothed cat was tending the barbecue. The family pretended not to notice as he would take the raw, formed hamburger patties, toss them into the air, and catch them in his mouth like popcorn.

Paul and Sarah were setting the tables and putting out salads and desserts as the werewolves brought in their pot-luck offerings. Oliver sat at one of the far picnic tables when Greg and his husband Trevor waved to him.

The two had caused quite the stir months before as the first werebeast/human couple to take up residence on the island. They were not the only interspecies couple in the Were Nation. But they were also known as the architect and general contractor that continued Max Templeton's work after his passing. For years, Greg had worked as a supervisor for projects on the island. The family had watched his architect husband go from jet-black hair to gray, smooth-faced to bearded. He had also gone from a trim young man to an older one that had put on more than a few pounds. But he still was a handsome human and one of the few that Oliver enjoyed seeing. Now, they lived full-time on the island instead of commuting from Saint John.

"Hi, Oliver," Greg said, smiling as he sat down next to the badger and grabbed an olive on the badger's plate.

"Hi, Greg, Hi Trevor."

"It's been a long time since we've seen you."

"Yeah, you two has been busy that's for sure. What's with you moving here and lots of things needing fixin' on this island of late."

"Yeah, including that house of yours. Honestly, you three. Show a bit of control," Greg said with a laugh.

"That was the temple dog's doing. We hardly broke anything."

"I see, well, whatever happened that night, your husband is kicking that new look of his."

Oliver looked up and smiled. "He's a handsome one, that's for sure."

"Still, bear butts are the best," Greg said with a laugh.

"Yep. I'se lucky to have both of them in my life."

The badger took a bite of his meal, and Greg smiled. "Badger, can I have a bite of your wiener?"

Oliver looked up. "I'se eatin' a hamburger, wolf."

"Yeah, I'm aware of that., but it doesn't answer my question," Greg said, leering at the tiny mammal.

Oliver looked at the human. "He always this horny, Trevor?"

"Pretty much. But face it, Oliver, you're a cutie. You're going to get propositioned by most of the werewolves on this island sooner or later... and probably their human husbands too."

"I ain't cute," the badger said as he bared his teeth and growled.

Trevor looked at Greg. "Didn't scare me off."

"Me either," his werewolf husband agreed. "Still cute."

"Okay, then. Yes," Oliver said as he took another bite of his meal.

"Yes, what?" Greg asked.

"Yes, you can has a bite of my wiener."

"Really?"

"Not here at the picnic, but if you twos got nuthin' better to do on your days off, I'se sure we could figure out somethin'."

Greg smiled and leaned over, kissing the badger. "I have waited twenty-two years to hear you say that."

"Shoulda asked sooner."

The temple dog came running over the top of the hill with a throng of children in hot pursuit. "Grab his ears and scritch them!" Kristopher yelled. The children leapt onto the dog and scurried toward his ears. "His leg will twitch and he won't be able to run. Our team will win. He's got the last flag hidden somewhere in all his fur, I'm sure of it."

"No fair," the temple dog said, braking to a sudden stop that sent most of the kids flying into the grass. "Kristopher, you swore you would tell no one about that."

His mother looked up from the picnic table. "KRISTOPHER!" she yelled. "Did you promise never to tell the children about Master Li Wei's ears?"

"He pinkie swore!" the Temple dog screamed as the children assaulted his ears and his leg began shaking in the air.

Sarah's face turned even sterner. "KRISTOPHER DERRICK CARVER! YOU PINKIE SWORE, YOUNG MAN!?!"

Kristopher's face blanched pale. "Oh, no... all three names."

Jessica looked at him and laughed. "You are in so much trouble."

Kristopher's head bowed. "Yes, ma'am."

"The MOST sacred of all earth oaths and you broke it with a monk?"

"Yes ma'am."

"You are so grounded. No TV until you're eighteen."

"But Mom. I'm only ten."

"You're lucky I didn't go with my original idea of twenty-one," Sarah said dispassionately. "Unless Master Li Wei wants to offer you an out."

"I could use help sweeping the tunnel rooms on the weekends. I enjoy giving the children a break from their chores on the weekends. And then there is the move in a few weeks to their new home in the Marine Officer's Hospital. We can use all the help we can get for that. Perhaps chores for the summer?"

"Well, Mr. Carver, do we have a deal?"

Kristopher's head remained bowed. "Yes, ma'am."

"And no TV for two weeks."

"Yes, ma'am."

"And you read two books of my choosing."

"Jeez, mom. It's gonna be easier to wait until I'm 18 if you keep this up."

"With great secrets come great responsibilities."

"Yes ma'am. I know."

"Book of Spider-man, first issue, fifteenth page, verse 7."

"Mom, you're making that up."

"Of course I am. But it is true. You should know better than to break a confidence. Now go apologize to Master Li Wei and then come eat your lunch."

"Yes ma'am," the depressed youth sighed.

Jessica looked up at her brother. "I can help you sweep if you like. I get more vacation than you do."

The children were slowly climbing off of the temple dog and one by one they offered to help as well. The guilt was communal. They would share the punishment as well. Sarah smiled and looked at Paul. "You know, Oliver's idea might work after all."

Paul leaned in and kissed her. "Well, he has the best enforcer on the planet. It's bound to work."

Later, as the shadows became longer, the children were trying to see if they could get down one more piece of pie. Oliver and Nathaniel sat quietly together on top of the Gun Shelter which acted as the emergency landing pad for the Red Wolf. Nathaniel leaned over and kissed the badger. "You're worried about me, aren't you?"

"Yeah."

"The jungle. You had to pull me back."

"I loves you, Bear. You don'ts got no idea how much I loves you. But you gots so much power. It only takes one act to ruin your life. Hell ain't no home for a bear. It weren't no home for a badger."

Nathaniel put his arm around his mate. "I have been thinking about that a great deal, Badger."

"I says it 'cause I love you. You knows that, right?"

Nathaniel smiled. "I know that." Nathaniel looked at Oliver. "I'm old, but that doesn't mean I know everything. This world is new to me, and so is this body. I need you in my life, Badger. I need you to tell me when I'm wrong, and there will be times when I am wrong. But it's like you said. The whole Changeling family is powerful and our smallest of wrong steps can do so much damage. You've seen the other side of where we must never go. You've seen the awful."

"I seen it. Don't want the bears I loves to see it."

"I realize it's a lot to ask, Badger. Stand by me. Help me so that I don't fall."

The badger looked up at the bear. "I'se always gonna be by your side, Bear. It's where I belongs. I walks with my husbands, and I walks with my family. I won't never walks away from any of you ever again."

The bear grabbed the badger and hugged him tightly. "Is you cryin', Bear?"

"Maybe."

"Is that happy cryin'"

"Yeah."

"That's okay, I guess. We can both happy cry together."

Chapter 13

A cool breeze blew across the island as the afternoon fog began rolling in. Oliver sat by himself on top of the gunnery tunnels, humming a tune he couldn't seem to get right. He kept repeating portions of the song with only slight variations until he would smile and move on to the next bit of the chorus.

The Padre watched the badger from behind. He had convinced himself not to interrupt the little mammal's revelry when the badger turned around and said, "Hi, Padre. How are the little ones adjusting to their new home?"

"Very well indeed, Oliver," Padre replied. "They seem to be incredibly gifted in languages. The children are listening to Li Wei this afternoon. He's reading from a Mandarin storybook, and they all understand, even the children from the orphanage. It's almost scary how quickly they're learning."

"It's the Sight. They's getting help from the ones who understand every language we speaks."

"I suppose it makes sense to gift the children with the ability to learn languages. One day, they will be the link between our kind and the humans. Communication will be a key to making it all work." The Padre sat next to Oliver. "Is that what you were doing? The singing. It was beautiful. It sounds an awful lot like the Changelings when they sing. Are you learning their language?"

"I'se trying to. Ain't coming easy for me. The Changelings don't give me much help."

"I'm not sure that's altogether accurate, Oliver," the werewolf said. "What happened in the jungle?"

"I'se sorry about that, Padre. I didn't mean to shove you."

"It was warranted, Oliver. I was stepping into a situation you had well under control."

"Just glad the bear didn't see it."

"The children did."

Oliver's face dropped. "Damn. I'se so sorry, Padre. I didn't never mean for them to see me hurt you."

"You didn't hurt me. You pushed me out of harm's way," the werewolf corrected. "They saw you protect me, and they saw you protect your husbands. That's why they are so comfortable around you. They know you are a protector. You're one of the safe ones they can turn to."

Oliver smiled. "I tries to be that. For them, and for my family."

"Are we going to discuss how you pushed me back without touching me?"

"I'd rather not."

"You will be okay, won't you, Oliver?"

"I will be fine."

"Oliver, I have little good to say about my time as a priest," the Padre said quietly. "But one thing I still believe in is that it's good for us to have a place where we can go to confess. Not our sins, per se, but our fears, our desires, and the things that still haunt us. Talking them out with someone close, someone we know will lock those sacred thoughts safely away in his heart; that kind of confession is good for the soul."

"You did that, Padre?"

"It was my calling. It still is. I may have left the church. I never left my responsibility."

"You gots a name, Padre?"

The Padre smiled. "It's Jim. Jim Fitzgerald."

"Then why the hell do they call you Padre?"

"Blame the old wolf for that. We met when I was in living in Mexico at a monastery run by werewolves. We appeared to be a church, but like this island, it was merely a refuge for our kind to find ourselves again. It's so easy to get lost along the way. We were there to help others before they returned to the real world. He started calling me Padre. It stuck. Folks have been calling me Padre for over a hundred years."

"Bastard wolf."

"I love him, too, Oliver."

"I don't thinks I can confess to a Padre. I mights like talking to a Jim."

The werewolf leaned over and hugged the badger. "Then call me Jim. I'm comfortable with any name that lets you have somewhere to turn when you need to talk."

"You gots any time today?" the badger asked.

"Why do you think I'm here?"

"You gots the Sight, Jim?"

"No, but I have a knack for seeing souls struggling with challenges that are overwhelming them."

"That'd be me."

"Would you like to talk about it?"

"Yeah... Yeah, I think I woulds," the badger said. "Ain't gotta say any 'Father forgives me' stuff, do I?"

"Why would you say something like that to a friend?"

"Don't know why. Just thought I might have to."

"How about I give you a kiss as a friend, and you tell me about your day?" Jim asked. "If we get around to what's troubling you, fine; if not, I got to kiss a handsome badger."

"I ain't gonna kiss no priest."

"Well, I'm glad I left the priesthood all those years ago. Today appears to be my lucky day." The wolf leaned in and kissed the badger.

When the kiss ended, the badger looked up at the wolf. "We gots to keep those kisses shorter, or I ain't gonna just wanna talk to you."

The wolf smiled. "There are far worse things than spending an afternoon fornicating with a friend."

"You's lucky I grew up in a whorehouse. Fornicatin' is one of the few big words I knows. Heard it often enough from the temperance league. They didn't like nothin' fun."

"Really, I didn't know."

"Yeah, it was a long time ago, but it's just one of them things that... like you said... haunts me."

"You've had a rough life, Oliver. And I have a sense it's still difficult. The world is asking a lot of you, and while you're strong, those shoulders can't always carry the burden alone."

"I gots family."

"Family who you can't talk to about what happened between you and me that day."

"You's family," the badger said, looking at the werewolf.

"Well then," the Padre replied. "Would you rather talk with your family or fornicate with them today?"

"Is talk okay?"

"Absolutely."

"But we might think about that fornicatin' another day, right?"

"Absolutely."

"I worries about what happened that day. Ain't right for a badger to have that much power."

"And why not? You seemed to use it wisely."

"I ain't sure... It's just new... and scary... and I don't knows if I even understands what's happenin'."

The werewolf leaned in close to the badger and put his arm around him. "Let's go for a walk and you can tell me all about it."

The badger looked up. "That'd be nice, Jim. I'd like that."

Together, the two stood up, jumped off the gun shelter, and walked along the path toward the cemeteries. When they neared the chapel, they stopped for a moment outside the gate. They stared at the old-fashioned whitewashed siding and little steeple. The two looked at each other and shrugged. They pushed open the garden gate and stepped inside the chapel.

Chapter 14

The morning sun rose over the Bay of Fundy as the temple dog and badger began their training. Close beside them, twenty-one children moved their hands in the flowing circular motions of tai chi. "Arms up, breathe in... Arms down... breathe out... Horse stance... Keep your circles wide but controlled, little ones," the temple dog said. "Lower your legs and remain in the stance. And that goes for you, Little Badger."

The children laughed as they worked to control their stance.

"I ain't little. I is the right size for a badger. You humans are the tiny ones," Oliver said as he lowered himself into the seventh posture. "And you, Master Li Wei, you should know better than to disrupt our chi by makin' jokes about us animals."

The temple dog rose from the stance and all followed. "The badger is right, little ones. I apologize to him and to you." His arms rotated. "Deflect, breathe in." His arms shifted outward. "Push and breathe out." The motions continued uninterrupted. "And I want you all to know that later in the day when the badger and I train together, I will make sure he feels how deep my apology goes." The dog turned his head toward the badger and smiled. The badger smiled back as his foot turned outward.

"Today little ones, we have a special surprise for all our class," the temple dog announced. "We have a new student who is joining us today. As this is his first day, I will turn your training over to Oliver while I go get him."

The badger followed the temple dog and the children as they took a step behind and pushed out their arms. "Watch your foots work, little ones, keep your knees bent right," he said as he took over the remaining positions and smiled at the dog. "Don'ts forget to breathe. Lets loose of everything but your love and breathe. Circle... lift your knee... left arm extend... breath in..."

Li Wei approached Lewis and Oliver's husbands as they walked over the crest of the hill. The four watched as the children followed the movements of the little mammal. His short leg extended, and he reached out, turning on his pivoting foot. He looked up and saw his husbands and smiled. "Crane stance, children. We is welcoming a new pupil."

In unison, the children and the badger balanced on one leg while lifting the other, slowly bending at the knee. Their arms extended outward and up, and finally, the hands drooped.

"It is not actually crane stance," Li Wei told the three. "I believe it is a movement he learned while watching The Karate Kid with his husbands. It is, of course, a ridiculously indefensible stance. but it is one of the children's favorite postures, and held for special occasions such as today."

Nathaniel, Martin, and Lewis laughed. With a gentle bow, the badger lowered the stance and moved all the children back into their practice. "You gotta love the guy," the saber-toothed cat said.

"Indeed I do," the temple dog said with a nod. "I welcome you to the class, Nathaniel. Although I suspect that this is only the beginning of what you hope to find."

"You're right, Master Li Wei. The temple dogs have lived for centuries in peace. I'm hoping to learn to be at peace with powers I have never asked for, but must learn to control."

"We rarely ask for that which life gives us. Learning to accept what is given is the first step in learning gratitude. With gratitude comes the strength and desire to learn how to use what life gives us. That is the essence of control. To be one with the gifts that life offers."

"I hope you can help me accept what life offered me. Most days, it feels as if I didn't have a choice."

The temple dog bowed. "Let us start by teaching you to greater appreciate one of the most precious gifts life has given you, Ancient One." Li Wei pointed toward the badger. "Class is nearing an end. As he moves into the last stances, he will begin singing. The children always look forward to it."

"He sings?" Nathaniel asked.

"While my Changeling is weak, it sounds as if Oliver is developing quite a vocabulary. Sometimes the tune changes. It's as if he's struggling with finding the right words. I'm not sure what you Changelings call it, speech, or singing. But we hear it as a song when you speak it. He seems to be happier with the way it goes of late. Whatever it is, it's beautiful. He's quite gifted."

"I never knew," Nathaniel said.

"Then today is the day your ears will be open to something quite amazing. Your first day of practice and already you're learning. This bodes well."

On the wind came a sound that only the Changeling understood. It was distant, almost like a flute mingling with the deep bass of a didgeridoo, and yet unlike anything either husband or Lewis had heard. It was the words of the Changelings sung in the baritone voice of the badger.

The cat sat back on his haunches and smiled. "Way to go, Beautiful. I knew you had it in you."

Nathaniel looked at the temple dog. "Where did he learn Changeling?"

The temple dog looked back, confused by the question. "From you, Ancient One. He has listened and learned every time you and your fathers sing from the first night he heard you."

"But my family has heard our songs for years. No one else has ever learned our tongue. Poor Oliver can barely speak his own language. How could he learn ours?"

"Perhaps to the badger the language of humans is not as important as the language of the one he loves. He knows his family understands him when he speaks English. For him, that is good enough. But he has struggled endlessly to ensure you understand him when he speaks to you. This is his gift to you and to your fathers."

Nathaniel stared, transfixed. "It's beautiful. He understands every word, every intonation."

The temple dog nodded once more. "I do not know how he could even begin to understand so complex a language, let alone speak it, but the little badger never ceases to amaze me."

"He amazes me as well," the white wolf said, leaning in to hear the little mammal sing as the group continued their flowing movements to the sound.

The Temple dog smiled. "I believe he is the first of our kind to sing your songs."

Nathaniel smiled. "He's not singing our songs, Li Wei. He is singing his own song. The badger is singing to us. He is thanking us for forgiveness. He is thanking us for sanctuary."

The words were unknown to all but the Changeling. Even so, as the song of the badger flowed out into the air, all clearly heard the word Megatherium sung. They knew the badger was saying goodbye to his dearest friend. It was the friend who pulled him from hell. The friend whose name he could only now pronounce in song. The badger sang of his gratitude for the beast's sacrifice and his sorrow for the beast's death. He sang of all that he had lost and all that he had found. He sang of his joy in the rebirth of Martin as beast.

Nathaniel bowed his head. "It is time we listened. It is time he knew we hear him."

The temple dog pointed toward the badger and the children as they moved in unison. "The badger was never meant to sing alone. Why don't you join your husband?"

The bear watched the badger lovingly. "I think I will," Nathaniel said as he walked toward the practicing group and stood by the badger. He bowed and as the little mammal lifted his leg and stretched it out, the bear followed. Turning deep into the bend, the bear lowered his head and when he rose, he sang.

The children's heads turned at the sound of the bear's voice. "Hold your stance, little ones. Keeps your focus," Oliver said. The little badger extended his small leg and pivoted his body toward the bear. He smiled as he resumed his song of unending love and gratitude of lost souls searching for redemption. The bear moved in tandem with the badger, and as their arms swirled around in graceful circles, they sang their duet.

The saber-toothed cat and the white wolf watched in amazement. "Do you have room for one more in your class, Li Wei?" the cat asked.

"Two more," Lewis interjected.

"We may need to find a bigger field soon, but for now, there is room enough for two more."

The three looked back at the husbands. As their movements became a dance with the children, they continued their song of life on the island.

In Montana, the father bears looked at each other in surprise. "Son?" both said, looking at each other. "Sons!" they both corrected. Their heads lowered, and when they looked upward, they joined in the song. Across the galaxy, the Unity lifted their voices in response. They sang the song of the badger and felt what it meant to be small and happy.

Chapter 15

Nathaniel and Paul sat outside in the opulent waiting room, fidgeting. Nathaniel looked at Paul and sighed. "You look as nervous as I do."

"We're talking about a big move here, Uncle. Opening a home for orphaned children on the island is a big step. And that the ones making the suggestion are all gay will cause a furor in parts of the community."

"That's altogether unfair."

"I agree, especially since I know the gay guys suggesting it. But you know it will be a problem. Gays are scary. And they make most straight guys bitter at times."

"Bitter?"

"They're never going to admit it, but you gay guys piss off a lot of straight guys."

"What? Because of our fashion sense or how we decorate a place?"

"Worse. Because you can pretty much get laid anytime you want. You guys are pigs. So are straight guys. But only you get to stay pigs for most of your lives. We get married and swap out the pig for domestic life. A lot of us think it's a fair trade, but over fifty percent of marriages fail, and mostly because of infidelity. That shows there are a lot of straight guys not able to make that change to monogamy."

"Well, gay guys don't do any better with monogamy than you guys."

"I know. But so many of you guys will play fast and loose with marriage. Some of you never get married or you live in open relationships. Others of you marry two guys and don't bat an eye when a temple dog is sticking it to your badger husband."

"We don't bat an eye because, to use your words, the dog is sticking it to the rest of us just as often. Why get upset because Oliver is having a bit of fun with one of his closest friends?"

"You see what I mean? Straight guys can't do that. And it pisses us off you can."

"Because it's not fair?"

"Absolutely," Paul said with a laugh. "There's something about your promiscuity that both enthralls and terrifies us. All those years ago, we changed our laws to let you get married. We thought it would bind you down like it does us, and you still ignore that tradition whenever it suits you. You are the men we want to be if we could only be those men without having to do it with other men."

Nathaniel laughed. "You straight guys are seriously messed up."

"Well, of course we are. We're married to women. What did you expect?"

"Do you ever regret it, Paul?"

Paul looked at Nathaniel. "Not for a moment, Uncle. I have a beautiful wife, a house full of kids, and everything I dreamed of."

"And here we go, trying to fill up our island with kids," Nathaniel said with a sigh. "I trust my husbands, but I admit it scares me. That's a lot of responsibility."

"You three will be great. Your whole furry tribe will be great. Look how well Alejandro has turned out. Jim is a wonderful dad. It doesn't matter to Alejandro that his father is gay. Hell, it doesn't even matter to him that his dad is a werewolf. Those kids need only one thing. There is enough love on that island to turn back the horror they've seen. There's all the love they need to help them find the family they never had."

"Mr. Carver, Dr. Templeton," the receptionist said. "The council will see you now."

Inside the council chambers, things went very much as Paul predicted. But for each objection a select group of council members raised, there were forms and paperwork already filled out. Paul had all the calm of a lawyer and his answers at the ready.

Paul threw down a paper with a headline about the refugee crisis. "Canada has promised to find homes for twenty-two thousand refugees. Our country doesn't have a lot of options right now for taking in the orphaned children sitting at our doorstep. Most outsiders would see turning away a reasonable offer as callous and unfeeling. Some would call it criminal. I agree with you that these children are a most delicate responsibility placed in our stewardship. That's why they need resources and care above and beyond simple relocation."

Paul leaned forward toward the microphone. "Dr. Templeton and the Partridge Island staff are already providing shelter for seven at-risk children and they are thriving. They excel in their classes at school. They are happy in their life. And they are becoming strong new citizens for Canada's future. But now, it is time to go beyond providing temporary care. It is time to let that care become a permanent feature of Partridge Island. The island has enough room for the refugees. All the children that are living there in foster care wish to make it their home.

"Eighteen children need a home now, not in the future The community of Partridge Island has shown its capability to address those needs, and we can expand to help even more children. These are special children from war-torn countries. Some struggle with PTSD, and no one is more qualified to help them than the staff at the Partridge Island hospitals. Dr. Zhang Tao Kong has a reputation worldwide for his care of children with PTSD. Pastor Fitzgerald already has a nurturing relationship with everyone from the Brazilian orphanage."

The magistrate sighed. "We need to consider the safety of the children."

"And exactly where does your concern for these children stem from? What is it exactly that you feel might jeopardize their welfare?"

An older man coughed. "Well, there's a certain understanding that a group of men could be problematic in the care of impressionable youth."

Paul felt the hair on the back of his neck raise. "Really, gentleman? Do you want to pursue this road of reasoning? I am reluctant to stress the finances of our local government to any greater degree. However, your recorded comments raise an actionable course for me to take should you not approve these permits, and that will be what I do."

One of the oldest city council members rose, glaring at the two visitors. "Are you threatening us?"

Paul leaned back in his chair. "Of course not. Lawyers never threaten. We sue." The lawyer leaned forward. "But before this conversation gets heated, I'm going to suggest Dr. Templeton and I step out of this room for a bit, and let you discuss your options. I believe there are a few of you savvy enough to realize everything about this venture is above board, transparent, and completely legal.

"If that isn't enough for you, I trust these men enough to live on the island with my wife and three children. In the five years we have lived there, not one scandal, not one whisper of any sexual impropriety, or a hint of misused funding. They have had, in fact, an unimpeachable history for over two decades. Can this august body say the same? Do I need to bring out other newspaper headlines? No one, but no one, deserves your respect and trust more than these men."

Paul reached into his briefcase and pulled out several envelopes. "Form 4001: Articles of incorporation. Form 4002: Initial Registered Office Address and First Board of Directors. A Nuans Name Search Report for the proposed foster home. And last, a copy of the letter from Corporations Canada approving our name along with our copy of the Nuans Name Search Report. We've jumped all the hoops. Corporations Canada has already granted us non-profit status. If you allow anyone's prejudices to factor into your decision, then the next step will be over your heads." Paul stood up from his chair. "You will find life with the provincial government covering their asses by stepping all over your heads most unpleasant." Paul looked at the Changeling. "Dr. Templeton. Why don't we get a coffee?" Nathaniel and Paul left the room together.

Once outside, Paul began laughing. "Well, it's going to go one way or the other, but I'm betting that in less than ten minutes, we get those permits."

"I've never actually said it, but thank you for living on the island with us, Paul," Nathaniel said.

Paul looked at the young Changeling. "Thank you for letting us stay. Uncle, my children see you in a way I never have. They are a generation whose love for the Were Nation is built into their DNA. They need to live with their family. And our family lives on Partridge Island."

Nathaniel grabbed the human and hugged him as he kissed him on the lips. He looked shocked when he pulled back. "Oh god, you're straight. I forgot about that. I probably shouldn't have kissed you. Do you think that straight stuff is catching?"

Paul shoved the young man playfully. "I told you I'm new to this. If you're going to make me feel bad every time I stick my foot in my mouth, I may have to reconsider who I call Uncle."

"Are you threatening me?"

"I'm a lawyer. I don't threaten."

"I know, I know," Nathaniel said, laughing. "You sue."

"Well, it sounded good to me at the time."

Nathaniel hugged the human one more time. "It sounded good to me, too."

"Mr. Carver? Dr. Templeton? The council has decided," the receptionist said. She pulled the envelopes Paul left with the council members from behind her, along with other folded papers. "They have asked me to deliver these to you," she said with a smile. "Congratulations. I'm sure they gave me this task so you couldn't go back in and gloat. Frankly, you deserve gloating privileges for what you're about to do." She handed them a card. "If you ever need volunteers, please call me. I would be happy to help."

Nathaniel smiled. "Thank you," he looked at the card, "Thank you, Nancy. We will be in touch."

"You both have a good day." Nancy looked at a man in the corner. "Mr. Crenshaw, the council will see you now."

Paul breathed a sigh of relief as the two left the government building. "Well, that's done. We have a home for the children. We still have a long road ahead of us. There's getting them to school every day, making sure they get..." Paul paused. "Oh, to hell with it. We can worry about this all tomorrow. How about I buy you a beer?"

Nathaniel waved to his husbands across the street as they waited for the light to change. "I don't drink beer."

"You gay people and your weird abstinence rituals," Paul said with a laugh. He looked up, waiting for the pedestrian light to change. The walking-man light turned on. "Well, how about a soda?" he said, stepping into the street.

The drunk driver's car never even slowed as it slammed into the human.

Chapter 16

Nathaniel followed the gurney as they pushed it through the Saint John Regional Hospital Emergency entrance. He held up his lanyard with his ID and credentials so that all could see he was a licensed surgeon. The paramedics had tried twice to shock him back and each time, the human held on for a few moments and coded again. The third time had lasted long enough for them to put him on life support as they added the IV fluids ordered by the attending physician.

Sarah came running in from one of the hospital's other wings to see her bloody husband. He lay between machines ventilating, and lines pumping liquids through tubes. The emergency crew had attached wires all over to monitor telemetry. "How is he?" she cried out.

The doctor looked up. "I'm sorry Dr. Carver. He's not going to make it. We have barely been able to keep him alive this long. The internal damage is too great. He has multiple organ failures. There's no way we can find transplants on this short notice, let alone place them into such a badly damaged body."

Sarah looked into the face of the Changeling. "Do something!" she yelled at him.

"The damage is too great, Sarah. I can't operate on something that's no longer there."

Sarah looked at the attending physician. "Get the hell out of here, now!" she ordered.

"Doctor, he's my patient."

"And he's my husband. If I say get the hell out, you get the hell out."

Nathaniel looked at the doctor. "I will be here, Doctor. I recommend you do as she says."

The doctor stepped out of the room, closing the glass doors behind him.

Nathaniel looked at Sarah. "I'm so sorry, Sarah. There's nothing we can do."

Sarah stared at Nathaniel angrily. "Then turn him," she yelled. "Turn him and save his life."

"I can't, Sarah," Nathaniel said. "I can't without his consent. We have rules."

"I don't give a damn about your rules. That's my husband in that bed. You turn him."

"Sarah, he would watch you die one day, and his children and their children. It would leave here him in a world of animals with no one to share his life the way he does with you. Can you honestly ask me to do that to him?"

"I don't care about the future, I care about now." Sarah's fists pounded on the redhead's chest. "To hell with your rules. What good are they if this is what they leave us with?" She screamed out in pain as she hammered her fist into Nathaniel and the young man bore each blow like a lash to his soul.

When the beating stopped, Sarah crumpled to the ground, crying. Nathaniel felt a sharp tug at his suit and looked back. Oliver was looking up at him. "Oliver, you can't be here," Nathaniel said. "They don't allow civilians in this room."

"But here I is," the badger said defiantly. "And I ain't going 'till you hear me out." The badger pointed up at the hospital bed. "Fix him, Bear. You knows you ain't gotta turn him. Fix him like you and Gaia did Max. Fix him like you did Martin. Saves him just enough so you can fix him by doctoring."

"But I promised not to interfere in the lives of humans. We all promised."

"Paul ain't human, Bear. He's family. I was deader than Paul when you met me. Not my body, but my soul. And the Beast saved me. He didn't hesitate. The Beast used his gift. He did what he was born to do." The badger shoved the bear toward the bed. "Now you do what you was born to do. You save Paul. You save him 'cause he's family. There is somethin' greater than the rules. That's somethin' the old wolf taught us all. We never stop loving. We never stop trying. The day we stops trying is the day we stops being family. Today you don't stop trying, Bear. You don't stop being family."

"You don't stop, Bear," the voice said. Nathaniel looked up and saw the cat standing in front of the glass door as the feline pulled the privacy curtains closed. "We don't ever stop. You broke the rules for me when I was human," Martin said. "You never gave it a second thought. The only thought you had was to save your family. Sarah is right. To hell with the rules when they stand between you and our family."

With tears streaming down his face, Nathaniel began pulling off his jacket, but as his body grew larger, he tore through his clothes. With a final shake, the short-faced bear reached down to the human and cradled him in his arms. "To hell with the rules," he said as the bruin's fur fluoresced a bright green. "Sarah, get up," he commanded. "Get the trauma surgery team together and have them free up an operating room. I have work to do." Sarah looked up from the floor and toward the Changeling. He looked at his husbands. "I'll be there as soon as I can to scrub up. You two help Sarah. There will be paperwork to sign and she has to do that now. We need to get the hospital to step back and let me attend to his care."

Martin and Oliver helped Sarah to her feet and left the room. Nathaniel wiped Paul's brow. "Lucky you aren't a human, Paul. I'm glad someone pointed that out. It's always nice to have loopholes when explaining to my fathers why I'm saving the life of a lawyer."

Six hours later, a young woman in scrubs came out to the waiting threesome. She extended her hand. "Hi, I'm Aadhya. I was the assisting surgeon for Dr. Templeton. He's spending a bit of time in recovery alone with the patient, but he will be out shortly. He wanted me to let you know that the patient is doing very well."

Sarah broke down into tears, and Martin and Oliver put their arms around her. Oliver looked up. "Thank you, ma'am. That's good to hear."

Aadhya stared at her extended hand, realizing no one was going to shake it and put it back into her white coat. She looked at the youth who had spoken. "Your father is a gifted surgeon," she said. Then she shook her head in disbelief. "No, not just gifted. What he did was amazing. He never misses a beat. It's as if his mind is working two steps ahead of where his hands are. I've never seen another like him. He did things with tissue and organs that I have never seen before. He saved Mr. Carver's life. There's not another surgeon I know that could have done what he did."

Oliver shook his head. "Yeah, Dad's a great guy. Almost makes me wish I was married to him instead of his fucking son."

Sarah looked up from her tears and smiled. She shoved Oliver playfully. "This is the doctor's husband, Aadhya."

Aadhya took another look at the middle-aged man in front of her. "I'm so sorry, Mr. Templeton. It's been a very long day. I didn't see."

"S'okay," the badger said. "I'se a short one. People are always making that mistake."

Aadhya looked at Sarah with sudden recognition. "Dr. Carver?"

"That's me," Sarah said, wiping her eyes. "That's my husband you were working on. And the doctor is my Uncle."

Aadhya hesitated and then asked, "Why is he sitting out on that island pretending to be a doctor when he has that gift? A nurse's aide could do what you need to do out there. A few bandages for bruised knees, a bit of fluid for someone out in the sun too long. Why is he there and not here?"

Sarah smiled. "He's on call twenty-four-seven for a very select group of patients. Ones often in worse shape than my husband."

"Pardon me, doctor," Aadhya protested, "but patients in worse shape than your husband are only found in the morgue. I saw his chart. Your husband coded three times. He was on life support that was doing everything, and I mean everything, for him. The only reason we left him on life support was so his family could say goodbye while he was still technically alive. None of us thought this would turn out the way it did."

Sarah pulled the two on either side of her close. "Well, I have more confidence in my family than this hospital does."

"He's on his way," Martin said, turning his head to the hallway. A moment later, Dr. Templeton rounded the corner in a pressed white coat and scrubs. At least that's what Aadhya saw. To the others, he was a short, rotund, naked man with red hair and a beard. He shook himself back into a bear as soon as the higher ceiling of the waiting room gave him room to do so.

The bear walked over to Sarah and kissed her. "I'm sorry, Sarah. I should have never hesitated to do what needed doing. Please, forgive me."

"How's he doing?"

"Very well, as a matter of fact. His broken bones are all set. He'll have scars on his belly and chest to remind him of this day, but we did our best to make sure they're not too distracting. He's furry enough. You'll hardly be able to see them once his hair grows back."

"Then you're forgiven." Sarah reached out and hugged the bear. "Thank you, Uncle Nathaniel."

"Would you like to go see him?"

"Is he awake?"

Nathaniel shook his head. "Really? You're a doctor and you ask that question? He just came out of six hours of surgery. Do you want him to be awake?"

Sarah laughed. "No."

Nathaniel helped his niece up. "Give him a few days. He'll be back soon. We'll transfer him as soon as he's stable to the island via Life Flight so he can recuperate with his family."

"So you're finally going to let me see that spaceship of yours?"

Nathaniel smiled. "I'm pretty sure you're going to see a helicopter. You're not in love with the Red Wolf."

"Damn," Sarah said as she and the bear walked toward the hallway.

Aadhya looked at the remaining two. "You have a wonderful family. Half of what you say makes no sense, but I live with parents who worship Vishnu and Ganesh. I'm used to weird." She smiled. "Your version of weird works. You be good to each other." She lifted her hand in a slight wave and left the waiting room.

Oliver looked at Martin. "You heard what she said. We shoulds be good to each other."

Martin smiled. "That's what she said."

"You know whats would be good to me? You poking a badger in the butt."

"Yeah. That would be good to me, too."

"Well, let's go find us an empty room somewhere. You tells everyone you's a doctor with a patient they can't disturb. Then we does our best not to scream too much."

"Sarah and Nathaniel are going to wonder where we've gone when they come back."

"We can leaves a note."

When the human and bear returned to the empty waiting room, Nathaniel picked up the small piece of paper sitting on the chair. He read the short scribble and smiled. His nostrils flared as he sniffed the air and his head turned right. He looked back at Sarah. "You good here? Should I call you a cab?"

Sarah laughed. "Really? Are you telling me they're screwing somewhere in this building?"

Nathaniel looked embarrassed. "Kinda. Well... actually, I'm saying that I want to be somewhere in this building screwing with them. You wouldn't believe how much it helps me unwind."

"Promise no broken walls?"

The bear pushed out his paw. "Pinkie swear."

Sarah took the claw with her smallest finger and shook it.

Chapter 17

On the eighth day, Paul woke up. He instantly recognized the overweight doctor with a bright red beard. "Hi, Uncle," he said in a raspy whisper. "How am I doing?"

Nathaniel stared at the chart. "Looks like you're coming along fine, Paul," he said, giving his voice as much conviction as he could muster.

Paul tried to turn his head and realized how immobile he was and why. "I appear to be encased in fiberglass, Uncle. It doesn't appear that I'm coming along anywhere. I'm stuck right here."

Nathaniel took off his lab coat and shifted into the short-faced bear. He put his paw on the fiberglass-covered leg of the human and the paw glowed a warm green. "I'm helping speed things up a bit, but I can't do too much until you're over on the island. The doctors can't see too speedy a recovery. It would help if you pretend to be out of it most of the time. You shouldn't even be conscious for at least another week, let alone up and talking."

"I don't mind keeping my eyes closed when the doctors come visiting. You have no clue how boring your conversations with them are."

"Yeah, I do," Nathaniel said with a smile. "You're the lucky one. You get to close your eyes and avoid most of them. I have to run interference daily. They're all eager to write papers about you."

"Is that a bad thing?"

"Not if you love getting poked and prodded by them twelve times a day to check your progress. I have put a kibosh on them going that route. You're my family. I won't subject my family to curious doctors trying to get published. For now, we lie low and let you heal. Once you're home, we can do almost anything we want."

"Can you make my body hair grow back faster?"

"Really? Four failed organs, thirty-two broken bones, two missing teeth that we're never going to find, and you're worried about chest hair?"

"I live with werewolves. It's kind of embarrassing that they shaved me smooth."

"I'll see what I can do," Nathaniel said with a smile. He leaned over and kissed the human's forehead. "Don't worry. With all that fiberglass, we can't see much of your body anyway. I'll be back tomorrow, Paul. Don't go anywhere."

"I thought Changelings were supposed to be kind. That's just cruel."

Nathaniel laughed. "We are kind, but we have odd senses of humor sometimes. No human filters to tell us what's funny and what's..."

"Ahh, crap," Paul blurted out. "Itch."

"Where?" Nathaniel asked.

"Back. Between the shoulder blades."

Nathaniel raised his paw, and one claw glowed green. He began making circles in the air, and Paul sighed.

"Lower... yeah... right there... oh yeah... that's it... thanks." Paul looked at him. "Can that thing..." he shook his head. "No. Not going to go there. I may be horny, but I'm not asking my uncle to scratch that itch."

Nathaniel laughed again. "Well, let's see if we can help with that, too. The hospital allows only one visitor at a time, but your wife is out there with my husbands. Why don't we let her in and the three of us can block the door until she comes back out?"

Paul had a look of concern. "Is it in a cast?"

"Nope. It's about the only thing that isn't. We removed the Foley catheter yesterday." Nathaniel thought for a moment. "It's only been a day, Paul, so you're going to have to take it easy. No actual sex. You can't scratch the itch, but you can at least rub it a bit."

"Really? You guys would run interference for me?"

"Sure, you're our nephew. And a pig. We pigs have to look out for each other."

Paul laughed. "OW... really not good. Have to rethink laughing."

"So, should we send Sarah in?"

"Could you please? I'll owe you one," Paul said.

"Well, we don't keep track of those things in this family. You have fun, but be careful. I don't want to be setting any more bones tonight."

Outside, Nathaniel did his best to describe delicately Paul's predicament. He told Sarah it was a good sign that he was healing. Oliver looked at Sarah. "Does you know how to suck dick?"

Sarah shook her head in disbelief. "Yes, Uncle Oliver, I know what oral sex is."

"Is that sucking dick in doctor-speak?"

"Yes," Sarah said with a laugh.

"Okay. Just checking. 'Cause if you didn't knows, I could always show you on Paul's pecker. You knows. Until you figures out how it works."

Sarah laughed out loud. "Uncle Oliver, you're a pervert."

"Yeah, you know that already. Besides, I made you laugh," the badger said, smiling. "You ain't laughed near enough in days."

"You did that to make me laugh?"

"Sure. I ain't never gonna suck your husband's dick."

"That's nice to know."

"Yeah, don't wants to make it tough on you by raisin' the bar too high."

Sarah laughed again. "So you're still joking?"

"Might be," the badger said with a smile. "Go on in and loves on your husband. We'll stand guard out here."

Sarah kissed her uncles and slipped into the room. After the door closed, the cat looked down at the badger. "So, you think you're the best cocksucker in the family?"

"Might be."

"I'm willing to put a meal on the line that says I'm better."

"Our favorite restaurant meal or a cook-at-home meal?"

"Your choice."

"If I win, will you cook me breakfast at home with that cute little apron you wear that shows off your butt?"

"Sure."

"Deal," the badger agreed. He looked up at Nathaniel.

"Oh hell, no. I am not even going to touch this one. You find someone else willing to judge."

"Now?" both husbands asked.

"No, not now. We wait for Sarah to come back out."

"Okay," the two said with a frown.

Chapter 18

Two weeks later, the morning light filtered through the upper windows of Nathaniel, Martin, and Oliver's home. The home had no windows at eye level to help maintain the family's privacy. However, the upper windows that lay below the second story ran the length of the museum, allowing light in. The badger blinked back the sun as it shone in his eyes and he began moving. "Where do you think you're going?" the cat said as he grabbed the badger. "I believe it was my night for cuddling privileges, and they aren't over yet."

"It's morning, Beast. I gots things to do."

"It's Saturday, Badger. No classes with the children or Lie Wei today," the saber-toothed tiger pointed out. "Stay with me. I have a hard-on that needs the skills of a badger."

"So, you gots a dick that only wants a badger suckin' it? You addmitin' I'm the best cocksucker?"

"I'm a cat. I could do it myself, but that takes all the fun out of it."

The badger sighed. "You's got such a nice pecker, Beast. Glad it ain't like a cat's. Human peckers are way better'n cat peckers."

"How many cat peckers have you had, Badger?"

"Ain't had none. Seen pictures though. The Internet's got everything. Spiky awful things they is." Oliver paused. "By the way, I gots a big pecker for a badger. Just saying."

The cat laughed. "Okay, so one of us is going to blow the other. You decide."

"You's already hard. I gets first dibs."

"Suck him off already, Badger," the bear said, shoving the badger back in the cat's direction. "I thought I was going to get to sleep in late."

The badger walked over and shoved the bear's tummy. "You gots a boner too, Bear. Ain't easy deciding who to do first in this family."

"I agree with the bear, just do someone, Badger," the white wolf said, rising from behind the bear. "Do you guys talk like this every morning?"

"Sometimes," the badger said, shyly looking away.

"Well, I might have to rethink staying over when things go long into the night."

"It was nice having you over," Martin said, looking up.

"Thanks. It was fun being here. But the morning chatter... wow."

The bear growled. "I'm hearing a lot of wolf chatter this morning. And he's got his hard-on shoved right up against my butt. You'd think for someone who tells everyone to just do someone, he'd lead by example."

The wolf looked down at the bear and grinned. "You'd bottom for me, Bear?"

"I hear talking. No doing."

The wolf reached down and rubbed the bear's butt. Without another word, he mounted the bear. The badger looked at the rutting pair and dove onto the cat's cock. When he felt the cat's long, flexible tongue playing along the crack of his butt, he said the only other words spoken for the next three hours. "This is gonna be a great day."

Later, Oliver watched the saber-tooth tiger making breakfast in his apron. Lewis and Nathaniel showered together. "That's not a shower brush," the bear said as the wolf rubbed up against his back.

"It's soapy, it's in the shower, and it's brushing you, so it's a shower brush."

"I might need a bit more soap between the crack, wolf. You know how furry asses need extra scrubbing."

Lewis pulled Nathaniel in closer. "Thank you, Bear."

"For what?"

"For family. For a reason to smile when I'm on top of the lighthouse working and I watch one of you walking below."

"Thanks for saying yes to the request," Nathaniel said as he pushed back against the wolf shoving him into the corner. "Now about that brush."

The wolf bit the bear's shoulder. His hips pushed forward, and he felt fur become flesh as he embedded himself back inside the bear. "You know that the only proper way to tell if a bear's butt is clean is with a taste test, right?"

"Yeah, I've been told that," the bear said with a grunt. "I've been told that goes for their balls as well."

The wolf let go of his bite on the shoulder. "We'll have to find out for ourselves, Bear."

The glass shower door slid back, seemingly on its own. "I'll checks the balls, Wolf," the badger said. "Breakfast is taking way too long to cook, and I'm hungry now."

The cat pushed past the door and leaned in, kissing the wolf. "I hear the only way to tell if a wolf butt is clean is with a taste test."

The wolf stared at the cat. "With that tongue of yours?"

"The only one I got, Wolf."

"Are you going to burn breakfast?" the wolf asked.

"Probably," the badger and bear said in unison.

"I turned the stove off," the cat said. "If you want breakfast, find it in this shower. I intend to."

The wolf shoved the bear forward. "Move everyone. The cat needs space behind me." With one accord, the family began sidestepping to accommodate the wolf's request.

The recirculation filters and solar water heater were being put to the test for the second hour when Nathaniel's ComLink chimed. "What? This is Saturday. Who calls on a Saturday?"

"We do," Tiff and Tuff answered. "Bear, are you forgetting what day it is today? We're loading Paul on board and we'll be landing there in about twenty minutes. We thought someone sidetracked you when you didn't show up here to make the transfer."

"Oh, crap," Nathaniel said, pushing back against the wet cat behind him. "I forgot all about the transfer. I'm sorry, men."

Lewis laughed and tapped his ComLink. "Blame me, you two. I've been distracting the family from their chores today."

Tuff laughed aloud. "Well, then I can't say as I would be any different. But you still have to shake a leg there, Bear. Sarah is already at the helipad waiting for us. Best be by her side when we land."

"I'm on it, Tuff. Again, I'm really sorry," Nathaniel said apologetically. He turned to Martin and frowned. "You going to be okay? I know you were just getting started."

"He's gonna be fine, Bear," Oliver said as he pulled Nathaniel away from the saber-toothed cat. "He's got the best cocksucker in the family to finish him off." The badger gave the bear a shove toward the sliding glass door. "Go takes care of your family. Tell them we'll visit them later this afternoon."

Nathaniel looked back at the three as he stepped from the shower. Bear-human-bear. The dry bear's longing was clear in his eyes. Martin smiled. "Go, Bear. We're not done here. We have tonight."

The bear gave the cat a kiss and leaned down to kiss the badger. When he rose back up, he grinned at the wolf. "You're welcome to stay."

Lewis smiled. "Promise no chatter Sunday morning?"

Nathaniel laughed. "We'll all sleep in late. Promise."

"Then go, Bear. I'll be here later this evening."

Nathaniel leaned past the cat and kissed the white wolf. "God, I love you all." He turned and dashed out the garage door.

Sarah and Nathaniel watched the Red Wolf break through the clouds and head toward the helipad. "You made it, Uncle," Sarah said with a smile. "How close did you cut this one?"

"Tiff and Tuff had to remind me."

Sarah laughed. "I thought as much. As a surgeon, you're brilliant, but you can't keep an appointment inside that head of yours."

"I guess it's filled up with other things," Nathaniel said guiltily.

"That's okay, Uncle," Sarah replied. "I knew a Saturday transfer was going to be tough, but at least this way the doctors are all at home instead of hovering around the patient."

"I'm still surprised that they let Paul go without me there."

Sarah grinned. "I am good at seeing what needs doing before it needs doing, Uncle. I snagged your lanyard from your hospital locker as soon as you told me Lewis was coming over for dinner. Tiff picked up your credentials last night when they dropped by with two werewolves that are thinking about opening up a diner here on the island. He wore them this morning with a lab coat at Saint John Regional. The hospital saw you at the transfer. Everything will be fine."

Nathaniel looked at the woman next to him. "You're sort of devious. Remind me never to get on your bad side." Sarah laughed and watched as the Red Wolf pivoted and dropped onto the helipad. "So, what do you see?" Nathaniel asked as the glare of the ship's blue flames made him shade his eyes.

Sarah sighed. "A helicopter. This totally sucks. Why can't you uncloud my mind with whatever it is you do?"

"Sorry, Sarah," Nathaniel replied. "I have to save what little I have in reserve for healing your husband."

"Why is it every time you tell me I have to suck it up and live with it, you throw patient protection into the mix?"

"I don't think I do that," Nathaniel said with a look of concern.

"Why do I wear the most god-awful nurse's outfit in the world?"

"To protect the patients from the human visitors," Nathaniel replied.

"Why can't I see the Red Wolf?"

"Because humans can't see the ship to protect the werebeasts."

"Why can't I slap Tyler's butt anymore?"

"Because his husband gets jealous?"

"No, because I got angry and told him as long as I wore that damned nurse's outfit, I wouldn't slap his butt. But regardless, you're still making me sacrifice things I enjoy."

"I brought you a picture of the Red Wolf."

Sarah's face brightened. "Really?"

"Yep," the bear said, reaching up under his arm. "Kind of wrinkly... sorry... It's been on our fridge," he said, unfolding it. He held out the picture. "Ta-da!"

Sarah stared at the line drawing of a rocket ship with two wolves sitting in the cockpit. Bright blue flames shot from the engines in waxy crayon stripes. "Uncle? That looks like a ten-year-old drew it."

"Max did it. I think it looks great. And he's only seven, so you agree it's pretty impressive for his age."

"My son can see the Red Wolf, but I can't?" Sarah sputtered.

"Well, he has the Sight. It's not like I make up the rules for that. He sees the things that will protect him, and the Red Wolf is a protector for the children."

"That's the best you can do?"

"Until Max gets better at drawing, I suppose so."

The two heard a voice clearing with a cough and looked up at two orderlies holding a gurney with Paul on it. "Do you suppose I could get a room before you kids go at it with boxing gloves?" Paul asked.

"Sorry, Babe," Sarah said as she rushed over and kissed her husband.

"Sorry, Paul," Nathaniel said as he pointed to the First Class Hospital. "You gents know the way. Let's get him inside."

Once inside the hospital, staff detained Nathaniel for a moment, but once free, he worked to catch up with the Carvers.

"All, I'm saying, Babe," the bear listened to Paul's voice say as he walked toward the human's room, "is that I see a helicopter too, and it's not that big a deal."

"Everyone else on this island sees it, but we don't?" Sarah rebutted.

"None of the other humans working here see it either. It's an airplane, Babe. What difference does it make?"

"Says the guy who doesn't have to wear a frigging skirt to work."

"I can buy a kilt if it makes you happy."

Nathaniel burst into the room, making as much noise as he could with his clipboard. "Now I would like that, Paul. You have some nice legs underneath all those fiberglass casts."

"Oh no, if I don't get to see the Red Wolf, you don't get to gawk at my husband's legs."

"Really?" Paul asked. "You're holding my legs hostage?"

Nathaniel leaned over and kissed Sarah's head. "Look, I'll talk to Dad. Maybe it's an oversight that it's not visible to you." He sat down on the chair next to Paul's bed. "So, why don't you and I spend a bit of time together and do something about getting you out of those casts?"

Paul let out a sigh of relief. "I would soooo appreciate that."

Nathaniel looked up at Sarah. "I'm pretty weak, still. This will take a while."

"I'm good," she replied, waving her hand for the bear to start.

"I was hoping to trash-talk the Lifetime TV channel and Oprah."

"The Lifetime TV channel hasn't existed for twenty years, and Oprah is what, one hundred twenty or something?" Sarah rebutted. "You have never watched TV. All you know is what you have seen in books. You still talk like Star Trek is something people actually care about."

"They don't?"

"No."

"Well, there goes my next idea to get you out of the room."

Sarah looked at Nathaniel. "I'm sorry, Uncle. Am I being that much of a bitch?"

"No, it's that difficult to get you away from your husband to plan your birthday party when he's in traction."

"What?"

"Just don't tell Paul's wife because it's a secret," Nathaniel whispered to Sarah.

"Oh, now I feel terrible."

"Well, you know now. Have a seat. You might as well help plan it. All I know is that it needs cake. Father is going to be there. There has to be cake." Nathaniel patted the chair beside him. "Unless you five accept my offer."

Paul looked over. "What offer is that, Uncle?"

"Take the Red Wolf to the highland. Spend the week with the family. The kids will have the temple dogs who love them. You two will have a place where not one soul is requiring medical care or legal aid. And your husband can let Gaia help finish his healing. She would like that."

"Really, Uncle Nathaniel?" Sarah exclaimed.

"Consider it a gift from your aunt and uncles." Nathaniel smiled at the two. "Your birthday is three weeks away. If we're going to pull this off, your husband and I are going to have to see more of each other than most wives might feel comfortable with."

"Then that's because most wives don't know their uncle like I do."

"Damn, I thought you were going to say that," Nathaniel said. "Sometimes I wish I had a bit of a scandalous reputation, like my father."

Paul laughed out loud. "Ow... still hurts." He swung his tethered cast and poked the bear with his index finger. "You, my dear uncle, have a seriously scandalous reputation. All three of you do. So do most of the werewolves on this island. At least in the eyes of the Carver family."

"Really?" Nathaniel said happily.

"Really," Paul answered. "We see you as three of the most lecherous guys we have ever met. Will might be the most brazen of your family, but we see you every day. The kids say you kiss more than their mommy and daddy kiss, and they're probably right if we count everyone you kiss."

"Oh, dear," Nathaniel said. "I don't want to be a bad example for your children."

"If we thought you were a bad example, do you think we would live on this island?" Sarah asked.

"I guess we could be more discreet."

"Nonsense," Sarah retorted. "You are about the best example of a happy beast family that I know. Our children know that you're affectionate and loving. They're even beginning to understand that you spend time behind locked doors for the same reasons their mommy and daddy do. They see you as perfectly normal. That was the goal, wasn't it?"

"Well, yes."

"Then you have succeeded. The day you start to self-censor yourselves is the day that they question how truthful you are to them about everything." Sarah leaned over and kissed the bear on the cheek. "You owe it to our family to go on being the horny animals that you've always been. We love who you are, and we love what you are. Stop worrying about it."

Nathaniel looked at them, confused. "But that will never happen. I will always worry about it. You're my family. Part of that involves worrying about how we interact, doesn't it?"

Paul tried to reach out to the bear and found his way blocked by the casts on his arms tethered to supports. "This is going to sound like a lawyer, but there's a difference between worry and concern. You need to care about your family. You need to express concern. But worrying about every detail to the point you police your actions isn't good. It eats away at you inside because you sacrifice who you are to appease someone else. That won't serve any of you."

"So you don't mind if we're," the bear struggled for the word, "playful?"

"You three are a delight," Sarah said. "The werewolves are wonderful. Although I have to admit, Martin can get loud when you're out in the forest. But he's a cat, and that's sort of what they do. At least you had enough foresight to soundproof your house." Sarah laughed. "Although when you three really go at it, there's nothing that completely blocks that noise from getting out."

Nathaniel smiled shyly. "Thank you, you two. Our family means everything to us. We want you to be happy."

"We are, Uncle," Paul said. "So, about that trip?"

Sarah smiled. "Yeah, about that trip?"

Chapter 19

As the carillon bells struck eight o'clock, a lone figure stood hesitating in the doorway of Paul's room. Paul looked up when the light of the opening door woke him. He saw the figure in the doorway and tried to place it. "Alejandro?"

"Yes, Sir, Mr. Carver. Is it okay if I come in?"

"Sure, what brings you here?"

"I was hoping we could talk."

"Sure, about what?"

"You know I'm dating a girl at school, right?"

Paul hesitated. "If this is going to be one of those birds and bees talks you should have with your dad, Alejandro..."

"Oh, no, that's not it," the young man interjected. "We've had those talks. And Dad is cool with me being straight. He's okay I'm never going to follow in his paw steps," the lad said with a laugh. "It's about something I can't talk to him about. At least not yet."

Paul shifted upright as best he could. "I tell you what, if you're okay with me telling you that talking to him is still your best choice anywhere along the line, I'm willing to listen."

"Fair enough," Alejandro said. He pulled up a chair and sat in it. "I worry about my dad. For the first time in my life, I'm dating someone who I really care about. I'm eighteen and next year I'm off to college. I have a home and a family that surrounds me." He paused. "I'm setting down roots, Mr. Carver, and I like the way it feels."

"I agree with you there. I set down roots a long time ago, and I like how it feels, too."

"Some day, I'm going to meet a girl... I may have already... and I'm going to bring her home to meet dad. I'm okay with the fact he's gay. I'm okay with the fact he's a werewolf. I figure one day I'll find a girl who is okay with that as well. You found one."

Paul nodded. "I did that. She's a keeper."

"Your kids are wonderful. You are doing all the things I hope to do one day. And you're doing it surrounded by a family of werebeasts and Changelings."

"True."

"How do you live knowing that your uncles will watch you die, and your children, and their children? How do I live knowing my dad will bury me one day? That one day he'll bury so many of those who follow me? How do I live knowing I'm going to cause him that much pain?"

Paul sat quietly for minutes. "I don't think we can live with it, Alejandro. There are things that we need to look away from to make it through our days. What you're thinking about is one of them for me. I realize that one day I'll die. Statistics say I'll go before my wife and leave her to mourn my death. She will die and our kids will mourn her and me both. But if I ruminate about how much pain that will cause the ones I love, I don't think that I could go on."

Paul shifted awkwardly in his body cast. "So, I don't let my thoughts linger about that pain. I try not to fixate on anything that far into the future. What I think about is right now. This is my moment in time, Alejandro. This tiny speck of time is where I live. I try to plan how much I can fill my family's days with love. Each day I try to go to bed knowing that the ones I love know I love them." Paul chuckled. "I try to make sure that when I'm gone, they miss me like crazy."

Alejandro looked at him and smiled. "Really?"

"Yeah, really," Paul replied. "When Max died, I was at such a loss trying to deal with all our grief. His death crushed Sarah. And Nathaniel... Nathaniel was gone for a year, dealing with the hurt he held inside him. But I realize the greater you love someone, the greater you're going to grieve when they're gone."

"That's what I worry about. I don't want dad to suffer that way."

"It can't be helped, Son," Paul said. "But here's the key for those of us who lose someone we love. If we store up enough memories of them, then one day we can make it through the pain of losing them. Those memories soften the pain. We remember the good times, and there comes a day when we think of them and it doesn't hurt. We still miss them. The longing for them to be by our side never goes away. But our grief changes. We stop hurting over what we don't have because they're gone, and we experience gratitude for what we had when they were here in our lives. The pain never totally goes away. There's always the occasional tug at our heartstrings that hurts. But mostly, we are happy that they were in our lives."

"I guess I can see that happening."

"My parents broke up when I was young. I watched mom marry one deadbeat after another until I was eighteen and could leave home. I hate to admit it, but when my parents died, and I attended their funerals, I tried to feel something, but the only thing I found was a sense of loss. It was a yearning for what might have been if only..." Paul shook his head. "They were strangers. I was sorry they died, but that fear you have about dying before your dad... that comes because you love him so much. We don't grieve over people we're indifferent about. We grieve over those we love."

"Max was the first person in my life who was like that for me," Paul said. "I will never comprehend how much Nathaniel suffered when Max died, but I recognize how much joy he has inside him because Max was in his life. I see it when his husbands are roughhousing out in the fields or walking hand in hand down the pathways. It's there when they try to sneak a kiss or cop a feel with those bulky bodies of theirs acting like a beacon to everyone around them."

Alejandro laughed. "Yeah, it is funny. But you're right. It's nice to see. I like the way everyone kisses around here. I enjoy seeing my dad kissing other werewolves because it tells me he has family."

"And it's that family that will see him through the dark time of grieving when you're gone, Alejandro. That and the memories that you leave with him. Max and Nathaniel taught each other how to love, and in return, Nathaniel taught Oliver. Max's legacy is there in the lives of the bear and the badger. In the same way, one day, you and your wife will teach your children how to love, and your dad's legacy will go on. That love never dies. It gets shared with the next generation, and it grows. Your family will be lucky that their grandfather and great-grandfather, all those great-greats to come, will be the same loving man you know as Dad."

Paul tried again to adjust the casts but gave up after a time. "I get a great deal of comfort knowing that Nathaniel, Oliver, and Martin will be here when my descendants don't even remember a thing about me. I will be dead, but they'll have the best uncles in the world. Your children will have the best granddad ever. And he will be there for so many generations to come."

"So, the things I give him are memories?"

"Pretty much all we can give an immortal, Alejandro. The rest fades or falls apart in time."

"I guess that makes sense. I suppose I should start trying."

Paul laughed. "He already has twelve years of memories since the day he adopted you. You are his pride and joy. He brags about you all the time."

"Oh, god, no."

"Sorry, Kid. It's what we proud parents do. We're totally obnoxious. You're lucky my arms are in a cast, or I would have had the family photos out of my wallet half an hour ago."

Alejandro laughed. "Thanks, Mr. Carver. You've been a big help."

Paul smiled. "Oh, I mentioned this in the beginning. I think it's time you talked to your dad about this."

Alejandro nodded his head. "I will, Mr. Carver. I'll bring it up tonight before bedtime."

"I'm sure it will go well."

Alejandro smiled. "Yeah, me too." He paused a moment. "Can I give you a hug?"

Paul laughed and shook his tethered arms. "Sure, but I won't be able to return it."

Alejandro grabbed Paul around his body cast and hugged him. "That's okay. When you're out of the casts, you can give it back to me."

Paul turned his head and kissed the lad on the cheek. "I'll look forward to it."

As Alejandro stepped into the night, he looked up toward the full moon and the creeping fog along the ground. The fangs of the darkened shadow on the hospital porch gleamed white in the moonlight. Alejandro jumped back toward the door with a scream. He leaned over and tried to catch his breath. "Jesus, Uncle Will, don't do that."

Will laughed. "I'm standing here on the porch waiting for you, and I smile when you come out. What did I do wrong?"

"You scared the crap out of me."

"It's a full moon. I'm a werewolf. That's part of my job description."

"You don't scare me, Uncle Will. The things in the shadows I can't see do."

"Yeah, me too," the wolf agreed. "Can I walk you back home?"

"Sure. Did you want to talk to me about something?"

"About the Sight."

"I don't have it, Uncle Will."

"But you see us all."

"Sure, the same way Dr. and Mr. Carver do. I love you. I grew up with you as my uncle and, well, Dad has been Dad since... since I was six. For a kid, that's practically forever."

"But did you see him as a wolf from the start?"

Alejandro thought for a moment. "I don't think so. He was visiting the orphanage where I lived. He stopped a kid from bullying me. I remember he picked me up and asked me if I was all right. That's when he changed. I told him I was fine, but that he was a wolf."

Will laughed. "I would have loved to have seen his face."

"Yeah, it was funny. But all the rest of you, I never saw you as anything but what you were. I think that's because Dad taught me all about you before I ever met you. Somewhere along the line, I started seeing everyone the way they are. It's like it is for Mr. Carver. It makes me feel good. I'm more secure this way."

The two paused their walk as they neared the Marine Officer's Hospital. Will put his arm around the boy. "You're going to be one of the first generations of humans that sees us again after your Uncle Kris put the protections in place." He hugged the boy in a sideways grip. "Before too many more years, we'll ask you to become a part of the pack."

"Uncle Will, you know I'm straight."

"Sure, we all do. No one's perfect," Will said with a grin.

Alejandro laughed. "I know it's a tradition thing. I'm honored that you'll ask. But I'm already thinking about how to say thanks but no thanks. I don't want to hurt any of you."

Will smiled, the fangs glowing in the night again. "You won't hurt any of us, Alejandro. We expect you to say no. We only want you to know that you will always be a part of our family. The offer is our way of saying as much. I figure somewhere along the line all the family is going to try and tell you the same thing in their own way."

"I'm glad you will," the lad said. "Uncle Will," Alejandro said with an unspoken question at the end.

"Yeah, Kid?"

"You will ask my dad, won't you? I worry about him being alone. He has a full life, but I want him to have a pack watching over him. I'm old enough that I don't need him by my side all the time. He needs to run with a pack again."

"We will ask him as soon as the pack is together. I'll do my best to make sure he says yes."

Alejandro laughed. "I've heard rumors of how you encourage other werebeasts. I don't want to know anything about what happens except that Dad says yes." He began walking again and Will followed.

The boy looked up at the full moon. "It will be nice to know he's out on a night like this with a pack again."

"Yeah, it will be nice when things settle enough that we can all run again," Will said, looking up at the moon. "Those are good times." He paused as the two reached the outer door of the Marine Officer's Hospital. "Who knows? Our pack is the first that runs with our extended family from time-to-time. Maybe one day we'll have a human and his family running alongside his dad through the night. It's good to shake up traditions."

Alejandro smiled. "That would be nice." He leaned over and kissed the old wolf on the cheek. "I love you, Uncle Will."

Will smiled. "I love you, too, Kid."

Chapter 20

Morning came, and Oliver didn't budge. Nathaniel shook him again. "Badger, it's time to get up. I round at the hospital this morning."

"I knows, but I'm off today, so I wanted to spend more time with you." The little mammal pushed back into the bear's fur and gave a contented sigh.

The bear felt the cat push in close from behind, and a thick forearm pulled him closer. "Sounds good to me too," purred the cat.

Nathaniel giggled. "Oh sure, when you boys need to be somewhere, it's all, 'Husband, I have to go.' But when I have to be somewhere to be, it's 'that's okay, you can be late.'"

"That sounds about right," the cat said, letting his tongue lick up alongside the bear's ear.

"Well, I can't be late today. Sarah is off with her family at the highlands, remember?"

"Oh, that's right," the cat said, the disappointment clear in his voice. "Do you have enough time for me to make you breakfast?"

"Sure. And while I'm waiting, I'll nibble on some badger ears," Nathaniel said, grabbing the badger and placing Oliver's entire ear into his mouth.

"AAAAAaaaaa.... Noooo..." screamed the badger, "You knows my ears are ticklish."

"I will release you only if you promise to make mad, passionate love to me later this evening."

"I promises... I promises," the badger yelled.

Nathaniel freed Oliver and kissed him. "Are you coming to visit patients today? You know they love seeing you, and so do I."

"Sure. I can comes." The badger looked at the bear. "Can I walks with you later? I seems to find it's easier to talk about important things that way."

"You want to walk with me now?"

"Don't want to mess up Beast's breakfast."

"Hey, Cat," the bear called out. "Have you started breakfast?"

"Not yet. I'm getting stuff together."

"Is the cat coming with us?"

"That would be nice. Saves me repeating everythin' to him."

"We're going for a walk instead. Want to come with us?"

"Of course. Are you finally getting around to telling us what's bothering you, Badger?" the cat asked.

"I hates the Sight," the badger groused.

"Yeah, me too," the cat said, sweeping into the room and grabbing the badger. He kissed the little mammal on the lips and swung him up onto his shoulder. "But I love the badger that has the Sight, so it's a draw. I'm willing to live with it."

"I loves the cat with the Sight... and the wolf... so I guess you's right about living with it."

"Whatever it is, Badger," the bear said, "We'll find a way to deal with it."

"Not so sure about this one, Bear," Oliver said.

Nathaniel reached up to the badger on the cat's shoulder and rubbed his cheek. "We will find a way," he said confidently.

Oliver waited to speak until they reached the far side of the island. "Can you puts me down here, Beast?"

"Sure," Martin said flipping his arms up and grabbing the badger. He placed him down on the ground.

"Gots somethin' to show you," Oliver said. He stuck out his hand, and it glowed a faint green.

"I thought that's what I saw back in Brazil," the cat said. "I figured I was hallucinating. That wasn't my best day ever."

"Tweren't nobody's best day, Beast, but I'se glad you made it through." He looked at Nathaniel. "That's the day I gots this," he said, shaking his hand. "They gaves it to me in case I had to stop you, Bear. I didn't want it. They forced it on me. They tolds me I couldn't let you kill nobody no matter what else happened."

"Wow," Nathaniel said, shaking his head. "They certainly gave it to the right man."

"No, they didn't, Bear. I don't wants it. Badgers shouldn't have no power. I'm happy being a little badger for the first time in my life. I like that life's small for me. All I wants to do is love my husbands and my family. I don't wants no power that stops you from killing, 'cause it means I got a power that can kill too. I don't wants it, but they won't take it away."

"Maybe they think you're too important in my life exactly as you are, Badger," the bear said. "I'm inclined to agree with them. I trust that whatever happens in my life, finding my way back to you will always bring me home."

"But what if we both sees the awful one day? What if the awful is so big that it turns us both? What if we both say's 'fuck it, kill them all'?"

"Then you rely on a husband who will bring you both back," the cat answered. "The Sight gave me a single gift; to see a way clear for both of you. I won't let you fall. You are my life, and I will not lose that life to power unchecked."

"But how's you ever gonna stop us if we's determined, Beast?"

"The same way you stopped the bear. You didn't use the power against him. You stopped him the way the beasts have always stopped Changelings. The same way the old wolf did, you reminded him of what he had to lose if he sought vengeance. You reminded him of who he was and what he loved." Martin knelt down and put his hand on Oliver's temple and closed his eyes.

Oliver's eyes closed too, and they were both silent. It lasted long enough that Nathaniel began to wonder what was going on.

Oliver's voice was a whisper. "You sees it all. You sees everything. How does you do that and not go insane, Beast?"

"Because I love you two. Now, do you understand? I can't let either of you ever fall. You fall and all this..." he said, waving his hands around him, "... all this comes crashing down around me."

Nathaniel looked on as the cat kissed the badger. "I will always find a way out, Badger," the feline said. "Even if it means we walk through hell together. I'm not afraid of hell. You and I have clawed our way out of there before. The thought of losing you two in my life... that I'm afraid of."

Oliver looked up at Nathaniel. "Everything will be okay, Bear. We're gonna be alright because we gots each other."

"I trust you both," the bear sighed. "Let's hope we never need to test the limits of our power."

"Bear," the cat said, "Badger is afraid because he thinks he has your power. It glows green the way you do. But I'm not sure that's what it is." Martin reached out and pulled Oliver in close. "You don't realize it, Badger, but your power is an extension of who you are. What's inside you differs from the bear. I can't quite put my finger on it, but you two are not the same."

"Nathaniel's power is as a healer, but we know he can redirect that power to something far more deadly. But you, Badger, it's as if your power is wired directly into your soul. It's like you. The power wants to be left alone. It wants to stay small and protect your family. It has no greater goal than to nurture and heal." He looked up at Nathaniel. "I don't think Oliver will ever kill, because it is no longer in his nature."

Oliver shook his head. "You don'ts know me very well, Beast. I ain't got no regrets killing anything that means to hurt thems that I love."

"That's true, Oliver. But I think your glowing paw feels differently. It's there to buffer you as much as it is to watch over Nathaniel. It's what you want to be when your temper doesn't get the best of you. Our family has another healer in it. Three healers and a bear who spent everything he had to save the wolves he loved. The odds are in our favor that we'll be fine."

Nathaniel hugged Martin. "And you see all that? You can promise me we'll be all right?"

"He sees it all, Bear," the badger said before the cat could answer. "He sees it from the first great light to the last breath of the universe. They gave him the Sight, but like lots of gifts we give others, what becomes of that gift ain't ours to say. The cat sees it all. That's why he can always find a path back because he sees every path. They's all unfoldin' in his brain every second of every day."

Nathaniel looked at Martin. "Is that true?"

"Pretty much. It's not playing out like a movie or anything, but I see way more in this life than I care to." He paused. "But that's where you two come in. You keep me grounded, the same way I ground you. We are lifelines to each other. Together, we are stronger than the sum of our individuality."

The badger looked at the bear. "You gots patients to visit, Bear. I can walks you to the hospital if you'd like."

"I'd like that a great deal."

The cat smiled at the two. "Mind if I tag along?"

Nathaniel smiled back. "That would be wonderful."

As they started walking back up the pathways toward the hospital, the cat made a low, contemplative, grumbling purr. "Badger, should I tell him about the Changelings returning?"

"It's up to you. You's the one who saw it, not me. I only saw it 'cause you showed me."

Nathaniel let out an exasperated moan. "Really, you two? Why is it you wait until I'm off to work or off to bed before the big announcements?"

"Dramatic effect?" the cat said with a laugh. "It can wait until you're home tonight. I'll make something nice and we can talk about it over dinner."

"So, no end of the earth, apocalyptic Changeling weirdness happening in the next twelve hours?" the bear asked.

"Nope. It shouldn't happen for a while. But they've been waiting for so long. I'm sure they want to come home."

"Can they, though?" Nathaniel asked. "Their bodies must be decomposed by now. It might be rather disconcerting to have zombie Changelings wandering about."

"Silly, ol' bear," the cat said in his best Christopher Robin voice, "Your species regenerates by recombining elements. I suspect there is more than enough of what you need on this planet to pull that off."

"I guess so. Papa was the first to try, but he was still in possession of his body that did the recombination. Dad helped him along. What would Papa's brothers have to work with?"

"I don't think you'd like the answer," the cat replied. "Although, I'm guessing about that part."

"Oh, no, you're not saying the three of us would create the bodies for their spirits to go into?" Nathaniel said as they walked by the lighthouse.

"You three have the only bodies that understand how."

"We can reproduce, but you're talking about some kind of soul transfer into a body; not a creation of a new life complete with its own new soul."

"All I know is there is a path for them to come home and it involves you and your fathers. If we pursue this, Badger and I might be alone on this island for a very long time without our bear."

"Is that going to be a problem?" Nathaniel asked.

"Oh hell, yeah," the badger said. "I only now got used to your size in me, Bear. You go running off and become a rock and all that work gets wasted."

"Well, he has a point there, Bear," the saber-toothed cat said with a smile. "You and your dads are the best-endowed members of our family."

Nathaniel looked at the two. "You're forgetting the temple dogs. They're as big as us."

The cat and the badger stopped dead in their tracks for a moment, contemplating. The feline looked at the badger and both smiled. "Okay, we solved one problem. You see? We can always find a path. We always bring family home. What I know is that it all starts on the highland and the day it starts, everything changes. We need to remember that whatever's coming, we bring family home, Bear."

The badger nodded his head. "We brings them home, Bear. We would miss you, but we gots a long life together. You knows if it takes you making them a place to be reborn, we gots to do it."

The three stopped in front of the First Class Hospital. Nathaniel leaned over and kissed Oliver and then righted himself and kissed Martin. "I guess when the twins go to pick up the Carvers, we best tag along for the ride."

"Lewis and Jean Pierre need to join us, Bear," the cat said. "They're the last remaining of the First Born. There is a possibility that the ones who turned them might be in this mix of souls the badger talks to."

"But assassins killed Anubis centuries before the battle with the Children of the Night," Nathaniel said.

"I know. But your kind didn't even know about death until they arrived here on this planet. None of you may have actually ever died. They may have given up their bodies hoping to return one day to the ones they love. If you think about your Papa, that was his default course of action."

"Anubis and Lewis have a very complicated history. Perhaps we should wait before telling Lewis."

"And maybe it's time they let bygones be bygones like the wolf and me," Oliver interjected. "They loves each other, but they don'ts know how to express it yet. I bet there's a cat in our family who can show them the way if they needs it."

Martin leaned down, grabbed the badger, and threw him up on his shoulder. "There are many paths that lead us back to our family, Bear. We need to discuss them with the family we have now."

"Can one of you call our fathers?" Nathaniel said as he moved up the steps. "Let them know we're dropping by for a visit. They're up at the highland now visiting with the kids."

"No problem, Bear," the cat answered. Martin looked up at the badger on his shoulder. "So, our father bears who are father and son, and their son who's our husband, are going to help the old bear's brothers be reborn. All while his wolf husbands, who are both our fathers, and your once and future lovers, sit back and wait with us to see what comes of all this. Or not. There's still a lot of this unfolding in my head."

"What do you means by my 'once and future lovers'," the badger asked.

"Oh that. Sometimes you have to wait, Badger. Telling you what happens in the middle would ruin the ending."

"We's got one fucked up family," the badger said, shaking his head.

"Yeah, I hear that a lot from people," the cat said with a smile as the three walked into the hospital.

Chapter 21

A brief conversation with Tiff and Tuff helped them to reschedule their flights. It was soon evident that they were to provide transport for a growing number of people. Tiff looked at the map as he connected the dots to the various trips. "Let me make sure I have this correct, okay, Martin?"

"Go for it, Tiff."

"Okay, we bring Jean Pierre with us tomorrow afternoon at one o'clock."

"Check."

"We're picking up you, your husbands, and Lewis on the island thirty or forty minutes later, around four-thirty your time."

"Check."

"We're going to drop everyone off on the highland about twenty minutes later, pick up the Carver family, and take them home to the island."

"Check."

"They get home about six o'clock, if we leave time for loading the luggage and corralling the kids."

"Check."

"And then we head back to Montana, where we wait for a call to pick you up on the highland."

"Check."

"And how many bodies will we be taking back to Partridge Island?"

"I don't know. That's a variable I haven't figured out yet."

"Okay, we'll try to stay flexible," Tuff said, leaning into the ComLink's picture.

"As I recall, you boys are both very flexible," Martin said with a grin.

"Well, Cat, we haven't proved that to you for some time. We hope you can visit on a day when whatever's going on doesn't preoccupy your time," Tuff said.

"He's right," Tiff said, nodding. "We'd like to preoccupy your time for a while. I know our husbands would agree."

"We'll try to make the time, guys. I love you both. Say hi to Damien and Darius. See you tomorrow," the cat said with a wave.

"Bye for now," the two said, waving back.

As Martin was putting down the dinner plates in front of the family, he tried to be as comforting as possible. "I realize there are a lot of unknowns going into this. The Sight isn't an exact science as much as it is a feeling. That makes it tough to know what's going to happen."

"But you're saying Anubis might be one of those you're talking to?" Lewis asked.

"Can't say, Wolf," the badger replied, stabbing his fork into the casserole on his plate. "I hears them all as one, even though I knows they ain't."

"You don't have to make the trip if you don't want to," Nathaniel said, looking at Lewis.

"To say I'm sorry after two thousand years, Nathaniel?" Lewis said. "If there's a chance, I will be there."

"You could's always sleep over tonights if you wanted," the badger said with a wicked grin.

"Not tonight, Badger," Lewis said, rubbing the badger's top. "I would like to get out of here on time for a change."

The badger smiled. "I guess not stayin's a good idea then."

The wolf grabbed his plate. He swallowed the casserole in one bite. "I hate to eat and run, but I'm nervous about all this."

"We understand, Lewis," Nathaniel said. "If you need us for anything, we'll be here."

"No we ain't," said the badger.

Martin laughed. "Well, Husband, he is right. We're going for a walk after dinner."

"It's already ten o'clock," Nathaniel said. "Why are we walking so late at night?"

"'Cause tomorrow is a busy day for all of us no matter what comes of it, and Badger and I want to spend some time with you," the cat replied. He grabbed his plate and slid it up to his mouth, swallowing the entire contents as it tipped into his mouth. "Done, Badger. How about you?"

The badger looked up and put another forkful of food into his mouth. "I'se fine. You guys eats like animals. Don't know where you got your manners."

"Well, the far side of the island is empty this time of night. I suspect if there was someone who enjoyed outdoor sex, now would be the time to snag a spot behind a bush. Any later, and he would have to go to bed," Nathaniel said as he poured his plate into his mouth.

Oliver grabbed his plate and began gobbling his food. "Damn big-mouthed beasts. You go on aheads and I'll catch up with you."

"Nope," said the bear as he reached down and grabbed the badger. "I've got a taste for badger tonight, and this dinner won't end until I've had him for dessert." The little badger laughed as Nathaniel ran out of the door with Oliver cradled in his arms.

Lewis stared at the open door. He sighed and looked at Martin. "Maybe a late-night walk would help me sleep."

"They say that's the case," the cat said with a smile. "Come on, Wolf," Martin said as he pulled on Lewis's arm. "It's going to be a busy day tomorrow. Relax a bit with your family instead of sitting up all night worrying."

"Promise we won't be late?"

"I promise."

As the hour of midnight sounded from the carillon bells of the museum, the four lay in the grass listening to the ocean and the mournful call of the foghorn. The bear was lapping his tongue over the badger's belly who was giggling uncontrollably. "Stop it, Bear," he begged. "You knows I'se ticklish after I'se come."

"And you know I don't stop until I've cleaned up my messes," the bear said putting the badger's cock back into his mouth.

Oliver screamed, "Please, Bear... take pity on a little beast."

Nathaniel looked up. "I'll stop if you'll sing with me."

"I promise... just stop."

Nathaniel stopped his licking. "You heard him, you two. He promised to sing with me tonight."

Martin smiled. "I heard him, Bear. I love hearing you two sing. You made the best trade I can think of, and licking the badger's belly is very high on my list."

Lewis lifted himself from off the grass. "I agree with the cat. You have made an excellent deal. I have a favor to ask of you, Oliver."

"I'll do what I cans, Wolf."

"Give me a few minutes to get to the lighthouse before you start. I have my chores to do before bed, but I would love to listen to you sing tonight. Give me twenty minutes to finish my chores and make my way up to the gallery. The sound up there is breathtaking."

"Sure, I can waits. I gots my bear and cat to keep me occupied."

Martin moved toward the badger. "Well, then there appears to be a belly that still needs cleaning while we wait."

Oliver flipped over and scurried away. "You stays away, Beast. We made a deal. Ain't nobody licks my belly if'n you want me to sing."

The cat stopped in his tracks. "Oh, bother. Apparently, I didn't see that clause in the contract."

The badger raised his paws, flashing his thick, long claws. "These here is the claws that's gonna stop you if you get too close, Beast."

"You wouldn't."

The badger looked away. "No, I wouldn'ts. Can't do nothin' that would hurt my beast." The badger's foot drew a circle matting the surrounding grass. "I loves him too much. But you could at least pretends that I is fierce."

The cat grabbed the badger and pulled him in close. "You are fierce, Badger. You strike fear in my heart every time I see you." Martin kissed the little mammal. "I am afraid of how much I love you."

Lewis laughed. "You three. How was I lucky enough to find my way here?"

"Ain't no luck," Oliver said. "You's here because you's supposed to be here."

The wolf leaned over and kissed the badger. "I believe you're right, Oliver." He kissed the other two beasts. "Sleep well, family. It will do me good to think someone is sleeping well tonight."

Martin smiled. "It will all work out, Lewis. We have to have faith."

The three watched Lewis walk toward the lighthouse in the distance. Martin shook his head. "There is a man whose life still tortures him."

Oliver looked up. "That's why he is family. We all gots ghosts we deals with. It's easier to deal with them when we gots someone to help."

Nathaniel nodded. "Much easier. Although his ghosts have haunted him for so much longer than any of us."

The three were quiet for a time. They toyed with each other's favorite body parts and kissed pathways through their fur. Their heads lifted when the carillon bells struck the half-hour.

The saber-toothed cat rolled over on his stomach. "Sing to Lewis, husbands. Let him realize he's not alone tonight. Raise the voices of his family telling him we will always be there for him."

The badger looked at the saber-toothed cat. "Sing with us tonight, Beast."

"I can't, Badger," Martin replied tapping his chest. "Saber-toothed cat, remember? I roar and I hiss, and when you're close to me I purr, but when I try to sing it sounds like the Banshee you complain about when the wind howls. I wail, Badger, I don't sing."

"'Cause you try to sing with your cat voice. Sing with your husband voice. When you sings with us, you will be beautiful. You's always beautiful to us."

"You will regret this," the cat said.

The bear looked at the cat. "I have a family that has never left me with regrets. Sing with us, Husband."

"Okay, you two start. I'll try."

Nathaniel and Oliver lowered their heads. The sounds welled up inside, and when their heads lifted they began singing. Martin's eyes clouded with tears as they did each time his husbands sang. He struggled with the idea of his awful voice ruining such a beautiful sound. Martin looked down. "It's now or never, Changelings," he whispered. "You gave me the Sight, now give me the voice. Let me sing with my family. Let us be one tonight."

The cat's head rose and he sang. The voice of the saber-toothed cat was the low hum of temple singing bowls and thick steel wind chimes blowing gently in the rain. It was the sound of ocean waves cresting on the shore and the wind moving across the face of the cliff as the fenghuang rose in the evening sun. It was all life on Partridge Island. There in the darkness, the three sang of the quiet memory of the fallen sloth and Max Templeton, whose name they took as their own in his honor. The song that filled the air was that of the Templetons sung by the entire family for the first time.

In the mountains of British Columbia, the father bears looked up from their play with their husbands and the temple dogs. "Our sons are singing," they said, smiling. "All our sons are singing."

The old wolf looked at his husbands. "All of them?"

"All three," Kris said, smiling.

"Go, sing husbands. Go be with them," Will said. "We can stay here with the temple dogs until you return." The temple dogs closed their eyes. "Listen wolves. Listen. They are not singing to the father bears alone. Their song is to all their family."

Derrick closed his eyes and concentrated. "Listen, Old Wolf. It's there barely on the wind."

Will closed his eyes and listened. From inside his head, and moving out to his ears, he felt the song more than heard it. The song was that of the waterfall that fell from the crag. It was the sound of the wind in the red cedar and flowing through the grass. It was the life surrounding him infused with love as sung by the three beasts a continent away.

"Why have them sing alone when we can join them?" the temple dogs asked. "Our bodies will be here when we have finished our songs. There is time for both pleasures." The dogs' eyes closed, and they began a deep chant.

"Well, they have a point," Will said, slapping his erection. "This puppy comes back at the drop of a hat."

The black wolf leaned over and kissed his husband. "So, does this puppy," he said with a smile. "Come on, Husband, sing with me to our sons."

"And Oliver," the wolf added. "Never going to call him Son."

Derrick smiled. "And Oliver. The badger we both love."

"Okay animals," the voice of Paul yelled from the cave. "The whole Carver family is about to come out in their PJs. I would really appreciate it if you uncoupled any combinations you might have dreamt up, and put away any engorged body parts for a moment. The kids say their uncles are singing and they want to listen."

Will laughed as the last bit of his cock slipped back into his sheath. "We're family safe, Paul. Bring them out."

The family stepped out onto the glade, watching as the grass moved in the wind. The late-setting summer sun lit up the forest tops in bright yellows and gold. "So what is it our children are talking about? The temple dogs are chanting, but that's nothing like Oliver and Nathaniel when they sing," Sarah said.

"Our sons are singing back home on Partridge Island. All three of them for their first time," Kris said happily.

"I told you, Mom," Jessica said with the same headstrong attitude Sarah remembered in herself as a child.

"How can you possibly hear that from across the continent?"

Derrick waved his hand. "I know this one," he said with a small, joyful bark. "They're speaking Changeling. It's wired to transmit across the universe to anyone who speaks it. Our husbands talk with their family on the other side of the galaxy that way."

"Our children speak Changeling?" Paul asked.

"Well, not yet, but I expect one day they will," Eric said. "For now, they hear what we hear because their ears understand Changeling when it's spoken."

Sarah frowned. "But we don't?"

The polar bear thought for a moment. "To a degree, you all hear Changeling. But you recognize it as whatever language you need to understand when we're talking directly to you. The same way people see us as humans, no matter what we might be."

"You're not speaking English?" Paul asked.

"Nope," Kris said. "We rarely do. But you hear what you need to hear so we can communicate. Sometimes we focus on what language we think you speak, as I did when I first met my wolf husbands so many years ago. Once I realized Pup didn't speak French, I let their brains figure out what language they needed to hear for our conversation to continue."

The brown bear extended his paws. "I suspect our voices are different for each of you based on your expectations. The little children hear our Mandarin and Cantonese with a bit of an accent because they know we're not from China. Li Wei perceives it as flawless because he knows how long we have been alive."

Paul scratched his head. "So, you don't sound like Santa?"

Kris smiled. "I suspect I do. But what Santa?"

Paul thought for a moment. "You know; like Edmund Gwenn in Miracle on Thirty-Fourth Street."

Sarah shook her head. "No, he has a much deeper bass voice, Babe. He's the guy who can say 'ho-ho-ho' and give you those happy goosebumps."

"You hear what your mind expects to hear. What you call our songs are different, though. Those are when we talk to each other, Changeling to Changeling. What you often call a song is what we truly sound like when we speak. To us, we are telling our stories to each other. We are communing with the very essence of who we are. We call it the Unity. It is what and who we really are beyond these bodies you see."

Sarah sighed. "So, we're out of the loop again. Oh, we love the Carver parents; we just don't let them see or hear anything their kids do."

The Kodiak walked over and hugged the human female. "An oversight we should have corrected long ago." The brown bear backed away. "Come on, Husband. I know you're reluctant to use the power, but these are your family. You don't have to bring it all back. Only enough to let to communicate with their family. I would do it, but you know," Kris said, raising his hand, "PFFFffftttt. All gone."

The polar bear sighed. "You're right. It's me or no one." He reached out and hugged Sarah. The warm green glow flowed from the polar bear's fur across the hug and into Sarah. "I love you, Sarah Carver. Welcome to the family. Our whole family."

He placed her down, and she shook her head as if shaking out water in her ear. "I hear them," she said, smiling. "It's beautiful."

Paul looked at the white bear. He extended his arms out, preparing for the hug. "I'm ready, Great Uncle Eric."

The bear approached him and at the last minute, he mumbled, "Oh god, you are so cute. I can't pass up a chance like this." He looked at the human. "Please?"

Paul laughed. "Really?"

"I swear I'm harmless," the bear said.

Paul smiled, and pushed his hands out further, "Go for it, Bear. Just remember you're being critiqued by my wife over there."

Eric looked at Sarah. "I'm sorry, but you know... ass worth biting and all." He grabbed the human male and kissed him on the mouth. There wasn't even a struggle from the human as he placed his arms around the bear and kissed back. The green glow spread from their lips across the human body.

When the kiss broke, Paul was laughing. "Okay, so now I know why you guys do that all the time."

Sarah looked at him. "Really?"

"Sorry, Babe," Paul said. "You're still the best, but damn, that bear can kiss."

Sarah slugged his arm playfully. "Do you hear them?"

"Yeah, yeah I do."

Derrick smiled. "If you'll excuse us, we were going to join our sons."

"Please do," Paul said.

"Sing for us," Jessica said happily, as her brothers nodded in agreement.

The wolves raised their voices in harmony with the temple dogs. The husband bears smiled. Lifting their heads, they let the song of the Changeling fathers find a voice.

As the sun was setting on the Pacific Ocean, Jean Pierre looked up into a star-filled Montana sky. He lowered his head and closed his eyes. The pack followed. There was a sound like the wind as it moved through the prairie grass. It was the sound of rain on the dry Montana clay; it was the sound of the bison as they moved as one across the open plain. "From both sides of the continent, they sing," the alpha said to the pack. "Who says we join them in their song?" In one accord, the wolves and fox sang.

The knock on Hanuel and Kwan's bedroom door woke them with a jolt. Kwan got up and opened the door. Three children were standing in the doorway with Alejandro. "Hi, little ones. What's going on?"

"They're singing," Alejandro said.

"Who's singing?" Hanuel asked.

"Oliver, Nathaniel, and Martin. And others. More all the time."

"And you hear them?"

"You don't?"

"Not a thing," Kwan said.

"Maybe that's why dad is still asleep."

"Would you like to go to them?"

"Is that okay?"

"Of course it is. Go wake your dad."

"Is it okay if we all come?" the teenager asked, stepping back into the hallway filled with children.

Kwan smiled. "Well, we best get used to sleepless nights, Husband."

Hanuel grinned. "Everyone puts on slippers and your robes before you walk out the door."

When the group finally found the threesome singing, they sat beside Li Wei and the dragon females. Hanuel wrapped his arm around Kwan and kissed him. "I don't know what they're saying, but I understand love in any language." The two lifted their heads and joined in the song. With their first note, their minds opened, and the songs of all the voices in the chorus filled their ears. Li Wei smiled and began his chant.

Alejandro nudged his father. "Go on and sing, Dad."

"You won't be embarrassed if I do?"

"Not tonight," his son said, smiling. "I can't promise what I'll say when you do it in the shower tomorrow. You're kind of loud, and the kids laugh."

The Padre leaned over and kissed Alejandro's cheek. "I love you, Son." He closed his eyes and sang to the voices that soon filled his ears.

From the lighthouse gallery, Lewis stood listening, his wolfen ears picking up the song of his family. He wondered what miracle was happening as the light moved over the island, beckoning the lost and fallen of the Were Nation. Staring out into the cosmos with tears in his eyes, he joined his family in their song. He stopped when he felt an arm reach around his shoulder and pull him into a warm sideways embrace. Tyler and Michael were by his side. Tyler leaned in and kissed the white wolf. The three bowed their heads, listening to the song float on the wind, and when it moved through them, they raised their voices in response.

From every point on the continent, the family melded their voices into one harmony that spoke of their love. They sang of all that they had lost and all that they had found. It was the song of every Changeling and the song of every Were. It was the song of souls once lost and now found. From across the galaxy, heard by all for the first time, were the voices of the Unity responding to their family; a song they now shared with the Terrans.

Chapter 22

The flight to the highlands was speedy. Martin had scarcely enough time to explain to Jean Pierre and Lewis what was happening at the mountain retreat. When they landed, the Carver family was waiting at the landing site, holding their luggage. When the three husbands, Jean Pierre, and Lewis came down the gangplank, the Carvers looked confused. "What's going on?" Paul asked.

Martin grabbed the largest suitcase and threw it into the air. Before it reached the cargo door, Tuff had appeared and grabbed the ballistic nylon bag. "You said there were only clothes in the larger bags, right?"

"Yeah, thanks for the warm welcome, Uncle," Paul griped.

Martin leaned in and hugged the human. "I'm sorry Paul. We're on a bit of a deadline and things might get crazy here quickly. You and the kids need to be off this highland ASAP."

Sarah's look of concern was obvious. "You're all going to be safe, right?"

Nathaniel hugged her. "That's our intent, but we need to get you out of the way. You're more fragile than we are."

A stressed badger walked by. "Gaia is trying to bring them back. They don't wants none of it. They's fighting her."

Nathaniel hugged the three Carver children. "The three of you scoot. Up onto the rocket ship. Go."

The three children ran up the gangplank. Sarah and Paul hesitated. "Uncles?" Paul asked.

"Go, please," Martin said. "We'll be home as soon as we're able."

The two humans ran up the gangplank and turned to catch one last look at their family as the Red Wolf's cargo door locked into place. Within moments, the craft was airborne and beyond the reach of the highland.

Martin looked at Oliver. "What do you mean, they're fighting it?"

"Don't knows. She only says they ain't coming back willingly."

Kris looked at the cat. "I'm getting the same feeling. They're blocking her attempts to help, and she's concerned about it."

The polar bear frowned. "I thought you said they were trying to regenerate."

"They were. But something's changed," the saber-toothed cat growled. "It's like I'm getting yesterday's news. We're on top of something happening now that's completely different."

Martin closed his eyes and shook his head. "I've been all wrong about this. What I was feeling was from the highland, from Gaia. She has been preparing this place for their regeneration since the first day she was here. This is where their souls came to rest. They came to where the beacon was. This is where you all eventually come. Same as you, Papa, only hundreds of years earlier. They sensed the marker left behind. This was to be the gathering place for you all."

"Then what happened? If they were here..." the brown bear paused. "... if they are here, why wouldn't they be eager to come back?"

Martin closed his eyes in deep thought, trying to see what was now becoming clear. "When they found their way here and called out to their family, no one heard them. It's been six hundred years of darkness for them. Six hundred years of living with the shared pain."

"What pain?"

"I don't know, but it's intense, it's unrelenting..." Martin frowned. "No, wrong word. It's unforgiving. What is it, Oliver? What happened?"

"I don't know, Beast. They's not talking about it, but they's dying all over again because of it."

The cat stumbled forward. "It's not that they want to be reborn. They're letting go of their lives. Your brothers want to die." He paused, his head lowering in thought. "Most already have. We're learning about what's been happening here much too late." The cat shook his head in disbelief. "I didn't know until we were here where they're gathered. Oliver opened the door to the remaining few that would talk. But the others left this existence long before they ever contacted the badger."

Oliver fell to his knees and put his hands on the ground. "That's 'cause they gots no reason to live. They's been hangin' on for so many centuries waiting to comes back to their loves. But when the temple dogs' monastery got blowed up, them lovers all died. They's lost all hope. The children on the island... they ain't just the Changelings' dream of helpin' this world find peace. They is their legacy. Them children are being given their inheritance from the dying Changelings. They's gifting all they are to the children in the hopes the little ones can finds the peace the Changelings never done."

Martin looked up at the bears with tears in his eyes. "All they know of this world is death. Every time they reached out to love, life tore it away from them. Every time they tried to help, it came crashing down around them. They can't deal with the pain. They can't find an end to the hurt. You're not here to help them be reborn, Changelings. You're here to prevent them from committing suicide."

Eric looked at the saber-toothed cat. "How do we do that? How can we stop them?"

Martin shook his head in confusion. "They don't hear you anymore. They don't hear your songs. All they have is their hurt. All they have is their pain. We need to let them know there is life at the end of all their loss." Martin looked up at Nathaniel and Eric. "Teach them what life has taught the two of you. They need you. They need to hear the Changeling survivors of this world. Share with them your story. Let them know of loves as deep as theirs. They need to see that some have lost the ones they love to death, and yet they still live on."

"But if they can't hear us, how do we speak to them?" the polar bear asked in desperation.

"You uses me, Old Bear," the badger said. "You shove whatever it is you need to tell them inside my head and I will tells them. They hears me. We still talks."

Nathaniel and Eric looked confused. Kris grabbed a paw of each. "This is no time for hesitation, you two. Trust the badger. He has always done what he says he can do." The Kodiak took the paws of the two and put them to the temples of the badger. "Talk to them. Let Oliver act as your interpreter."

Martin nodded in agreement. "Tell them how you survived. Tell them how you made it through the dark times. Let them sense all the pain you felt. They need to know others have suffered great losses and survived. Tell them what you feel for your husbands, both past and present. Above anything else, let them know that there is still love to be found. Let them know we want them to come home."

The two bears sat quietly for only a moment and they began singing. Oliver joined his voice with the two and his eyes closed. The white fur of his back stripes glowed a warm green.

The cat looked at Lewis and Jean Pierre. "You two; you tell them you're here. We have to come at them from all sides. We have to veer them from the path that they see as inevitable. Tell your Changelings that their mates are waiting for them."

Lewis stepped back, "But we never... he hated me."

"Damn it, Wolf," the cat roared. "He loved you. There was only one way to save you from yourself, and that was to exorcise the demon you had become. He had to let you fall hard enough to force your eyes open to see what you had done. Don't blame him for your pain. Those are of your own making. All he did was break down the walls you had put up to blind yourself from what you were. He never left your side. He never deserted you. And in the end, he died to save your life."

The white wolf's eyes widened. "He died for me?"

"That assassin's dagger was meant for the god of war, not the guardian of the dead," Martin growled. "He was wearing your cloak. Remember how he insisted on the trade that night? Think, Wolf. Remember. He gave all for you, now you do the same for him."

The cat reached out and grabbed the white wolf. "Tell him. Tell him of the nights when you look at the stars and beg his forgiveness. Let him know there is one who wants him to come home. Show him the wolf with a love too late learned. Let him know there is one who waits."

The cat looked over at Jean Pierre. "And you, Alpha. Let your love know that your memory of him is still strong. Tell him you never forgot him, that the yearning never quieted. Let him know it's time for him to come home. Tell him to bring his brothers. We wait. We all wait for them to come home."

The two wolves closed their eyes and sang as they placed their hands on the badger's head. Oliver's glowing hand rose and his song changed. The badger's back took on new colors as the stripes flowed through a rainbow of colors. The cat watched. "No one stop. Don't let them go. Hold on to them. Bring them home. Let them know there is a home to come back to, and it is here with their family."

The cat looked up at the sky. "And you, you sing as you have never done before. These are your children. These are your precious babies. You bring them back here. Don't let them slip away. You fight for every inch. Drag them back if you must, but you don't let them go."

Oliver was by now emanating a kaleidoscope of colors across his body and shaking violently. The two bears loosened their grip on the badger, but Martin would have none of it. "You stay where you are. You don't back down. The badger is all in until this plays out. You are too. We never stop loving. We never stop trying."

"And you two," the cat said, looking at the wolf husbands. "You do what you must do. You save the little one you love. He's bringing them out from the abyss. You bring him home from there."

Will and Derrick didn't hesitate. They reached down and grabbed the badger's back with their hands. Will was trying to steady Oliver when he saw the light from the badger flow into the black wolf, turning his fur into a luminescent blue. As the light moved from one mammal to the next, the badger steadied. All the while, the badger's song continued uninterrupted.

Martin looked off into the distance as the pagoda glowed. "It's beginning," he said, falling to his knees and reaching out to his little mate in front of him. "Bring them home, Badger... see the path. It's there in front of you. Follow my voice."

The little mammal's eyes opened, shining a bright white. He smiled at the cat. "They's coming home, Beast. They's coming to where they feel the love. And Gaia is making a doorway for them."

The temple bells in the pagoda began ringing as if someone was taking a sledgehammer to them. The cacophony caused everyone to look across the glade toward the shrine. It was glowing with the same myriad of colors as the back of the badger. All saw a pulse of red light expand from the pagoda. It hurtled toward the group like a large, glowing ball of flame. It sped past the family, pushing into Oliver, and then through to the old wolf, throwing him backward through the air when it hit him. He slammed into a tree forty feet away.

Martin kept everyone focused on their tasks. "The old wolf is fine. He had the wind knocked out of him." He pointed to the pagoda. "That's how they find their way back," the cat said. "Gaia has been creating their regeneration portal since the first day the temple dogs came to the highland."

Will came stumbling back. "No wonder we pissed her off when we knocked down the first one."

Martin laughed. "Now you know, Old Wolf. It is their guide back to this world. It is all they need to reform their bodies. It's the same as the rock chrysalis was for your husbands and mine."

"So we're going to be waiting another forty years for this?" Will asked.

"No, they've been working on this return for centuries. We're here to make sure they follow through instead of giving up."

The pagoda crystallized at the base, while the top began spilling over like a waterfall of liquid light. As the pagoda melted toward the earth, five mounds of crystal rose from the liquid. Each glowed a unique color as, one by one, they took shape. One yellow, one green, and two red. In the center, one rose, taking on the shape of a wolf as all the colors swirled around it. The colors of the waterfall melded at the point of the wolf's feet, becoming a bright white light. When the wolf's eyes opened, they shone the same bright white as Oliver's eyes.

The bears let Oliver go, and the badger staggered forward toward the glowing mass as the shapes coalesced. His family followed as three more became recognizable as wolves. But the fifth yellow form was bulky and large, stretching as it struggled to find form. When it was clear the yellow beast was a bear, the family speculated who it might be. Only three of the Changelings ever chose to be bears.

Soon they realized the bear was unlike any bear that lived centuries ago. As the rainbow of lights faded from both wolf and bear, the colors of their fur showed through. As soon as the markings began settling, Jean Pierre and Eric both gasped in recognition. They raced toward the newly formed werewolves.

The meetings were more than passionate. Kris stood with the others and pointed first to the wolf Jean Pierre now hugged, and said, "That is Lothair, a Eurasian wolf and mate of Jean Pierre." He pushed his other paw out toward Eric and the wolf he clung to. "He is the eldest. The first Changeling to take the form of a beast. He is an Armbruster's wolf. A beast born before what we call man even walked the earth. At the time of his death, they called him Donovan. He is Eric's mate chosen by the Unity at their birth."

"Chosen at birth?" Will asked skeptically.

"They seemed more than happy with the arrangement growing up."

"So he was the one that almost got all of humanity killed, right?" Will said, eyeing the two.

"No, Donovan was the greatest warrior in the final battle at Osogovo. The last of the Changelings to die at the human's hands would be Ivan, the white Tundra wolf coming toward us. He died in Siberia trying to save his mate from a Russian gulag. The Eurasian wolf next to him is Francisco, from Spain. He is another of the fallen in battle at Osogovo. I really have no clue who the bear is. But his coloration is rather remarkable."

Lewis paced anxiously, not seeing Anubis among the newly born, but the bear headed straight toward the white wolf. "Wepwawet, my love. It is good to see you," the bear said, extending his arms for a hug.

"Anubis?" the confused white wolf asked.

"The badger told me you were fond of big bears. As I had a choice in regeneration, I followed his advice."

"He's a grolar bear," Oliver said, beaming a self-satisfied smile.

"A what, Oliver?" Will asked.

"Half grizzly bear, half polar bear," the badger replied. "They's a whole new breed 'cause of global warming. Don't you reads the Internet?"

"So that's why he looks like a white grizzly with brown leggings?"

"Yeah. Gots to make it easy for the old wolf to tell him apart from his husbands," the badger said smugly.

The white wolf and grolar bear broke their hug. "Does it meet with your approval?" the bear asked.

"You're beautiful, Anubis," the white wolf responded. "You've always been beautiful."

"Perhaps it is time, Wepwawet, that I have a new name. The god of the underworld is long dead and I am happy to see him gone."

"The god of war is dead as well, and I am grateful for his demise," the white wolf agreed. "I'm called Lewis; Lewis Green."

"Then if you will have me, I will be a Green as well."

"No... no... it is I who should take your name."

"I have no name, Lewis. And the life I have now is entirely because you asked me to return. Would you deny a dying man the name that he returned to share?"

The wolf reached out and kissed the bear. The kiss seemed destined to be a prolonged one.

Ivan and Francisco began making their introductions to the group. Apart from the others, Nathaniel made his way toward the emptiness where the shrine for his husband once stood. He knelt at the space and closed his eyes. "I want you to know, Gaia, that when I first saw the pagoda fading away, my heart felt like it was going to break. It was all I had left of Max and it was disappearing. You did right by my husband more than I ever could. You took what I clung to as a symbol of his death and created life from it. When I see those wolves and the bear, I will remember all that Max helped to create. Thank you for your gift."

There was a quiet rumbling in the grass, and a small headstone appeared with the name Maxwell Liam Templeton carved into it. Below the name were the words, "When one lives in memory, one never dies."

Nathaniel reached out and touched the stone, drawing careful lines through the letters of Max's name. "I miss you, Human. I miss you every day." The bear wiped his eyes. "I will always love you. You were my first. You taught me how to love. And now, we have a whole new family of Changelings we need to teach as well. Pretty amazing, isn't it? You're gone, but your life continues here and on the island. We didn't do so bad for a couple of novices, did we?"

"No, you didn't," he heard the cat say.

Nathaniel looked behind him. Martin smiled. "I don't want to rush you saying goodbye to one husband, but your other husband took two steps and passed out from what took place here. He's reviving, but he won't let his fathers touch him. He says if anyone is going to glow green all over him, it will be his husband."

Nathaniel smiled. "Well, he has a point there."

"I agree," the cat said, extending his hand. "So, what say we go help our husband get back on his feet?" The cat extended his hand and helped pull the bear up. The two watched as branches and vines rose from the ground and formed a small fence around the place where Max lay. A small blue flower appeared in front of the stone. Nathaniel smiled and turned toward the cave.

When the two entered the antechamber of the cavern, they saw a cool blue light coming from one of the back bedrooms. "I blame the bear for this," they heard Will yell.

"It's not that big a deal, Old Wolf," Derrick's voice said, trying to calm things.

"There is a hell of a big difference between having blue highlights in your fur and glowing blue, Pup. This IS a big deal."

Nathaniel turned the corner and stared at the little badger lying in the black wolf's arms while the wolf gently stroked the badger's head. The paw of the wolf shone a bright blue.

"You, Son, this is your doing," Will said, fuming.

Nathaniel put up his green, flaring hands. "Green father, remember? No blue in me."

"Then where?"

"A final gift from one of my brothers who will never return," Donovan said soberly.

"What?" Will said as the words calmed him down.

"Mason did not make the trip back," Donovan replied. "All that he once was, he has gifted to those he deemed best qualified to use the power he possessed. Mason entrusted the pup with his power because he's an artist. It is in his nature to use the power already inside him to create beauty. What you see is an extension of that power already latent in him."

Derrick looked up at the Armbruster's wolf. "You mean this is permanent? I just thought it was some sort of residual power from Oliver."

"It's yours, Pup," Donovan said.

"You's gonna be fine with it, Pup," the badger said. "You gots a caring soul built right into you. It's gonna teach you how to use what you gots. That Changeling done right by you. You'se one of the good ones."

"Like you?" the black wolf asked as he leaned in and kissed the badger.

The badger smiled when the kiss broke. He pointed to his erection. "See, Pup? I'se better already. You does good work."

Will stared at the aroused badger and then at the black wolf. Derrick nodded. "No time like the present."

Will looked at Nathaniel and Martin. "I think you kids should stay here for this." Nathaniel and Martin looked confused as Will knelt before the badger. "Oliver, before today... well, for some time... Pup and I have been having a discussion about something. It involves you."

Oliver looked up. "I'll try to help if I cans."

"Over two hundred years ago, I bit your neck."

"I knows Old Wolf. I'm sorry I ran away. But you don't needs to worry. I don't holds you to that bite."

"But I want you to, Oliver. And I want to hold you to your promise to bite mine. The Pup and I both want to..." the wolf paused. "... we both want to bite your neck and for you to bite ours."

"You asking me to marry yous?"

"Yes, Oliver. We're asking you to marry us."

"I already gots me two husbands, and they's a handful."

"We have two husbands as well, and they keep us busy too," Derrick said, rubbing the forehead of the badger. "Marry us anyway."

"We don'ts even live in the same place, wolves. I loves you both. You knows that. But how could we ever make something like four husbands work?"

"Because we love each other. We won't always be together, we know that," Will answered. "But when we are, we want it to be as husbands, not just friends. You live in a home that has a bed big enough to fit a giant ground sloth. That's plenty big enough to fit a couple of extra wolf husbands now and then, isn't it?"

The badger thought a moment. "Yeah, it is." He looked at his bear and cat husbands. "What's I supposed to do?"

"You follow your heart, Badger," the cat said, smiling.

"He's right," the short-faced bear agreed. "Follow your heart. Father is right. Our bed is plenty big for the two of them. And my guess is that the folks in Montana would love to see you a bit more often."

"And there's them temple dogs here in the mountains thats you visits," the badger said looking at Will.

"True, we make frequent visits," the old wolf agreed.

"So, what's this gonna mean, Old Wolf?"

"It means we're mated for life. When you cross my mind, I never have to wonder what it might have been like if we hadn't messed things up so badly in the first place. It means you never have to wonder if I still love you. And it means the Pup, who has loved you since day one, won't have to hold back because he's too shy around someone who's not his husband."

The badger looked up at the black wolf looking down. "That's you when you's shy? Is I even gonna survive the honeymoon when you's not shy?"

"I can be gentle," the wolf said, smiling.

"You best not be, or I ain't saying yes to this idea."

"I love you, Oliver. You and I are two of a kind," the black wolf said. "We're the shy ones in the family. We like sitting in the back and watching. But I have more fun when I do that with you beside me. Whenever I see you, I realize how much I want you in my life. I started off so many years ago searching to find the One. All those years thinking love was going to stop at one and only one. I realize now that I found the One. And while I was waiting for that One to be reborn, I fell in love with another One. And then another One landed at my feet from outer space. My life has kept branching out in ways I never thought possible. And now, I want you to be the One, too, Oliver."

The badger continued staring up at the black wolf. "And I wants to be your One, Pup. I will marry you. I'll marrys you both."

Will leaned in and kissed the badger. "I don't have to bite your neck again if you don't want to, Oliver."

"Oh yes you does, Old Wolf. You be biting my neck or this is a no-go. I need to have your fang marks right next to the bear's and the cat's," the badger insisted. "And I wants rings. Like the ones you two wears, 'cause I'm always gonna wear mine right next to this one," the badger said, pulling his fur back to show his mating band wrapped around his cock.

"We'll have double mating bands then," Will said happily. "Our family tradition of living in sin will be unbroken."

"Got's to have traditions, Old Wolf. They's important."

Nathaniel leaned over and kissed the top of the old wolf's head. "You realize how much this is going to screw up Damien and Darius's family tree chart, don't you?"

Will looked up at the realization. "Oh fuck, I never thought about that. They're going to have to redraw the whole thing. We have another father marrying his son."

"Ain't never calling you Father, Old Wolf," the badger said.

"I'm never calling you Son, Oliver," the wolf replied.

"Good. As long as we's clear on that."

"Crystal clear, Oliver. I may call you Husband from time to time, because I enjoy looking at you and thinking that, but you'll always be Oliver in my heart."

"And you's never gonna be anything but the old wolf to me. 'Cause that's who I loved when we met, and that's who I loves now." Oliver looked back up at Derrick, "And what do I call you, Pup?"

"Pup is fine. All my husbands call me Pup. I like Husband, too."

"I likes both, but Husband is special. Didn't think I'd ever have four of them when I was a little one," the badger said with a smile. He thought a moment and added, "I guess I still is a little one, but you knows what I mean."

The black wolf kissed the badger. "I know what you mean."

There was quiet in the room as the three ruminated over the logistics of the family extending out yet again into unfamiliar territory. "So, what's we gonna do with my boner?" the badger asked.

Nathaniel grinned and dropped to the floor. "I believe that comes under your current husband's responsibilities." He slipped his mouth over the badger's cock and swirled his tongue around the shaft. He paused for a moment and looked back up toward the cat. "Oh, and so we're clear about this, I'm the best cocksucker in the family."

The cat looked back. "Is that so?"

"I'm the oldest. Seniority has its privileges."

"By a technicality, Bear," the cat complained. "You're also technically the youngest."

"He wins, Beast, 'cause he's got my cock in his mouth," the badger said. "Today, whoever is sucking me is the best cocksucker in the family."

"Okay, as long as I get to be the best cocksucker in the family later," the cat consented.

Nathaniel went down on his mate once again and there was a happy quiet in the room, listening to the badger's breathing grow louder.

"So," the cat said nonchalantly, looking at the two wolves, "Which of you is going to tell our niece and nephew?"

Chapter 23

"You're going to do what, Oliver?" Paul said in disbelief as he bolted from the Hargrove House porch swing.

Sarah broke into uncontrolled laughter. "I win!" she yelled. "I told you the moment I saw those two on the dance floor at the mating ceremony. There was no way they wouldn't mate again. And Derrick, well, you only have to watch him and his puppy dog eyes every time Oliver walks by."

Martin looked at the humans. "You had a bet on whether these two were going to marry Oliver?"

Sarah made a guilty smile. "Sort of. I said the three of them were going to get married before the year was over. Paul didn't think they would ever marry since they were already shtupping each other every visit, anyway."

Will looked at Paul. "There's more to marriage than cheap, sleazy sex, Paul. I'm shocked at your attitude."

Paul bowed his head. "I know. I'm sorry."

The old wolf nudged the human. "But cheap, sleazy sex is definitely in the top two, right?"

Paul looked back up and smiled at the old wolf. Sarah grabbed the badger and kissed him. "I love you, Uncle Oliver. And I'm happy for you. You're going to make such a wonderful trio on top of the trio you already are."

Paul stood contemplating the three. "I hope Damien and Darius took this well. I imagine it messed up their family tree chart." The entire crowd nodded in agreement. "So, when do we meet the new arrivals? Five new Changelings on our planet won't go unnoticed by the Were Nation for long."

"No, it won't," Martin said. "Nathaniel is with them over at the hospital, running some tests to make sure their transformations are firming up according to specs. I didn't know, but apparently, they're not exactly solid for a few hours. They're more like their original form before they created their bodies. So we get an image of them on the outside that's more fluid on the inside until they sort out all the internal organs."

Will looked at the cat. "Really? Our husbands seemed pretty solid when they returned with our son."

"Different regeneration," Martin responded. "But for now, we know where they are. So, who's up for going to visit them?"

All hands went up as the family headed for the door.

The return of the Templetons to Partridge Island brought glad reunions with the family that had stayed behind. The newborn Changelings struggled with the amount of attention they received but were happy to cope. Anubis announced to all that he was changing his name to Anders. With the start of a new life on the island, Anders was eager to move into the Keeper's House with Lewis and away from his life as a god of Egypt. Lewis and Anders thought the idea of a marriage on the mainland with a justice of the peace was romantic. But they also enjoyed the forbidden nature of living in sin like the Templetons and the father bears with their wolf husbands. As they said goodnight, they told everyone their decision could wait until the morning. They were going to sleep on it; which left the family hoping the Keeper's House had walls that were thick and soundproof.

The twin twins stayed for a time but opted to return home as the evening grew late. Their visit was brief, as obligations forced Damien and Darius's return to manage the ranch in the absence of Will and Jean Pierre. However, the offer to the Padre of initiation into the pack had to be unanimous, and they were happy to be present to make the plea official. The Padre gave a tearful acceptance, and the pack made initiation plans for the next full moon in Montana.

Before the Red Wolf lifted off the helipad, Tiff and Tuff promised to return the next day with their husbands and Chet. But for now, spending a night with their husbands was the most pressing piece of business they wanted to attend to. As the four walked up the stairs of the aircraft, Damien and Darius conferred back and forth one last time. With a few extra scribbles, they smiled and closed their little notebook. They were content that they had finally sorted the family's genealogy.

Jean Pierre and Jason opted to stay behind to be with Lothair. Jason never mentioned the return of Jean Pierre's long-ago love. But the time he spent talking to Derrick was a clear sign he worried about where he fit into the changing dynamic of his family.

The day ended with the new arrivals walking the island after the tourists had left for the day. They stopped at sunset near the cliffs where the dragons gathered to feed. Oliver walked away quietly after the fenghuang had left the cliff. The family sensed in him a quietness that wasn't his normal mood. When he left, they let him go without question; the same as they had done when the black wolf had declined their invitation to watch the dragons.

Oliver walked toward the battery and the solitude of the gunnery tunnels. The tunnels had become the place of short-term residents on the island. The current refugees all had lodging top-side, so the bunkers were dormant, waiting for crowding the family hoped would never come.

While comfortable enough, the tunnel apartments suffered at night by being so close to the foghorn. The retrofitting of the apartments left them well-insulated and nearly soundproof. One couldn't hear the foghorn inside the apartments. However, it created a low moan inside the hallways that was disquieting to almost everyone who visited. When Oliver climbed down the steps and entered the empty hallways, the call of the foghorn haunted the building. He found the open door and knocked.

"Come in," he heard Derrick say.

"I can comes back another time if I'm disturbin' you," Oliver said.

"Not at all, Oliver, I was hoping you would come." The wolf turned and smiled at the badger. "This Sight thingy isn't very easy to deal with."

"I'm sorry they gaves it to you, Pup. The others don't sense it yet, but I does. You'se just now wakin' up."

Derrick patted the bed he sat on. "Come on, future husband, sit with me, and tell me what I'm in for."

The badger crawled up onto the bed and sat next to the wolf. "Don't rightly knows, Pup. Never seen nothing like you before. You fools even Martin and he sees us all."

"Why do you see me then?"

"Maybe 'cause of the other thing they gave you."

The wolf picked up his hand and it flared into blue light. "You mean this?"

"Yeah, that."

The wolf leaned into the badger. "Oliver, I don't want this. I am happy being the pup in my family."

"I knows how you feel, Pup," the badger said with a sigh. "I don't wants all them colors no more than you do the blue. But it's what we's got. I thinks it's 'cause we is who we is."

"And who is that?"

"Martin thinks we's healers like Nathaniel and the old bear. We ain't that, Pup. You and me is protectors. We's like guards who defends and watches over the family."

"But why us, Oliver? Why the two in the family most likely to fade into the background of any situation? Why pick the wall flowers?"

"'Cause we don't enter into nuthin' without thinking first. You, 'cause it's your nature to watch and figure, and me 'cause I'm afraid of ever becoming the awful again." The badger shifted closer to the wolf and put his hand on the wolf's leg. "You's the best of us, Pup. You's got the kindest heart. It ain't fair, but they's asking you to help me keep our husbands in line."

"But I don't have a husband with any power, Oliver. You're the one married to Nathaniel."

"And you's married to the old bear."

"Eric?"

"He's the most powerful of us all. But the old bear don't never shows it. He's seen too much of what hurt it brings. So it sits inside him and he don't never use it unless he has to. He didn't even wants to use it on Sarah and Paul, and that's a happy use." There was a pause. "But the old wolf has seen it turn awful, and he knows what's the old bear can do. He's gots powers that makes the Kodiak look like a baby."

"I never knew. I thought Nathaniel got his powers from Kris."

"Kris ain't got no powers. He spent them all on you and Will. The bear could have killed the humans and all he done was make them not see us. He could have been a god, and instead he saved the two he loved. I'se sorry he never got back what he had, but there's somethin' comin' I can't see, and I knows it's gonna change everything."

Derrick looked at him. "I feel it too. Tomorrow night... tomorrow night, the changes start. And they don't end until..." the black wolf hesitated, trying to find the words.

"All hell breaks loose," the badger said.

"Yeah, that's what I was trying to think of," Derrick said with a sad laugh. "Tomorrow is going to feel like a hurricane, and just when we think it's all over, it will be calm. But calm, like the eye of a hurricane passing over. Then the real storm follows."

"You sees what it is, Pup?"

"No, Oliver. How about you?"

"Ain't gotta clue. Sees the part we knows about already. We's only following orders and telling the Changelings what the Were Nation has decided. But that ain't what is there beyond my sight."

"Yeah, that's what it feels like to me. It's like I should see it, but I don't."

"Only knows changes is comin'," Oliver said as he edged closer to Derrick and looked up. "Could be we start some changes now." He stood up on the bed and leaned over to kiss the black wolf. By the time they separated, their arousal was obvious, but the two shy beasts fumbled over where to take it from there. Before, Will had always been with them. The instigator of so much sexual mayhem in the family, he happily dragged the two into places where their inhibitions finally melted away. But tonight, alone, the two hesitated, trying to find their own pace.

"You kisses real nice, Pup," the badger said with a smile.

"You have a pleasant set of lips for mine to press against. That makes all the difference in how good a job I do."

"You is such a beauty, too. Don't think I've ever seen such a beautiful werewolf as you."

Derrick rubbed his chest. "That was Will's doing. He practically forced me into this body."

"You don't likes it?"

The black wolf shook his head. "No, no. I love this body. It's everything I ever dreamed of. It's just... just..." the werewolf shook himself into his human form. "This is who I am. I could never escape how I feel about myself in this body."

The badger stared at the rotund man in front of him. His eyes moved down from the round, bearded face, across the broad, soft chest with a sparse mat of hair in the middle. The badger's gaze stopped at the rounded gut covering everything else but the legs that jutted out over the side of the bed. "You's beautiful, Pup. How comes your wolf ain't chubby like you is?"

Derrick frowned. "Because I didn't want to be chubby. I wanted to be handsome and strong." He grabbed his gut and shook it. "Anything but this."

"But you's beautiful, Pup. You's a beauty no matter what you is. Human or beast, you's easy on the eyes."

The badger shook himself into his human form. "Look at me. I'se chubby too. But we ain't ugly, Pup. We's a different kind of beautiful. We's chubby beautiful. Ain't muscle beautiful, but it's still beautiful. And sometimes it takes a different kind of man to see us that way. You gots the old bear who seen you as a beauty right from the day he met you. You gots Will and Kris. And you gots me. We all sees you as beautiful. Maybe we sees the truth you can't."

Derrick smiled. "Well, you're as cute a human as you are a badger."

"And I'se a fat one. I'se five foot four and weighs two hundred and forty pounds." Oliver rubbed his thickly furred chest. "Might be ten pounds of it is hair, but I'se a fat one for sure."

"I'm five foot nine and weigh three hundred and forty pounds," Derrick said with a frown. "I have you beat by a hundred pounds."

Oliver's hand reached out and touched Derrick's chest. He lovingly played with the hair in the middle and rubbed across the tightening nipples. When Oliver's hands slipped over his belly, Derrick pulled back.

Oliver grabbed Derrick and pulled him close, letting his free hand rub the belly even more aggressively. "Don't you shy away from this, Pup. This is who you is. Who you will always be. Let's me love you just the way you is. Don't you makes me feel bad for loving this body of yours. I ain't wrong. You is beautiful and you needs to learn badgers is always right when it comes to beautiful men. Take a good look at the ones I married." The furry human leaned in and kissed the smooth human. "Takes a good look at the ones I'se gonna marry."

Derrick smiled. "I'll try to be a bit more positive about my self-image," he said.

"You knows what does a world of good for your self-image, Pup?"

"What's that?"

"Fuckin' a short, little, hairy guy who loves you."

Derrick leaned in and kissed the short, little, hairy guy. "You know you're marrying two bottoms, right?"

"Yeah, I knows," Oliver answered. "I'se gonna love poundin' me some wolf butt. But you both gots peckers and you gots to use them or they'll drop off. I figure my ass gets an itch every now and thens that you two can scratch to keep everything attached."

Derrick reached around Oliver and pulled him in until their bellies flattened against each other. His hands reached around and massaged Oliver's round cheeks as the two kissed. "You've got a fuzzy butt, Oliver."

"Is that gonna be a problem?"

"I looove fuzzy butts."

"Well, that's good for me. I gots a fuzzy butt no matter what I is." Oliver reached up to the young man in front of him and played with his beard. "Fucks me, Pup. Just like you is. Just like I is. Make me human again. I have lived so long hating this part of me. And you has hated your human side too. We gots to let go of the hate one day. Ain't no way we can be whole if there's a part of us we can't stand to look at. We gots to start loving this part of us again. I loves you, Human, and I trusts you. I know you would never love something evil, something awful. If I sees you loves the human me, maybe I can begins to find my way back to loving what you love."

Derrick pushed Oliver back onto the bed and rolled over on top of him. "And I love you, Human." He leaned down and kissed the furry man. "You're right. It's time we started loving who we are. If you can see me as beautiful, maybe I can believe it too."

Derrick's head bobbed as he took a nipple of the man below into his mouth. Oliver took a deep breath in. "I'se forgotten how good those feels as a human," he said happily. "Go slow, Pup. Becoming human agains might take us some time."

With his tongue making slow circles around the nipple, Derrick said, "I'm okay with that, Oliver. We'll both go slow. No need to rush something so important."

Chapter 24

With the feeding of the dragons done, the Carvers were gathering up their children and preparing to head back to the Hargrove House. Nathaniel and Martin had invited the newly reborn Changelings to join them for dinner, and they had accepted. As the Changelings walked toward the museum, Nathaniel and Martin approached Will. "Are you going to join us, Father?" the short-faced bear asked the old wolf.

"I think not, Son. If it's okay with you, I'll sit and enjoy watching the fog roll in for a while."

"Okay," Nathaniel said, leaning over and kissing the old wolf. "You three will be fine, Father."

Will looked up at the bear. "I know, Son. We just have a few wrinkles to smooth out before the big day."

"Well, we'll keep dinner warm for the three of you."

"Don't hold it for us, Son. We'll see you tomorrow."

The saber-toothed cat walked over to the two. "Big day tomorrow, Father. When should we gather the clan together?"

"Let's not move on this until evening. Let them have a day to slip back into their bodies before this... this whatever is going to happen, happens." The old wolf looked at the cat. "Do you have any idea what's going to happen beyond the invitation?"

"Not really," Martin said as he hugged Will. "We're like pieces of a puzzle, aren't we? Each of us sees a bit of the puzzle, but never all of it. Even for me, there are gaps. This is one of those puzzles where someone else holds the missing piece. I see what you see, but there's so much more that's missing."

Nathaniel stood confused. He had grown to realize that loving men with the Sight often left him in the middle of confusing conversations. Will smiled at the bear over the cat's shoulder. "It's okay, Son. It will all make sense before long." He held the hug on the cat and whispered. "It might be safer if we tell Tyler and Michael to keep a close watch on Sarah and Paul. We don't want any humans caught in the crossfire if something goes wrong."

"That sounds like a good idea," Martin agreed.

Will hugged Martin tighter. "You have the tough job, Son. You see that puzzle put together in so many ways. It's your job to mix up the pieces again if that big picture goes all wrong. And then we try again to piece it back into something beautiful."

The cat kissed the wolf and pushed back away from the hug. "None of our jobs are easy, Father. So many of us are hurting now as we try to come to grips with our changing lives. I'm glad you asked Oliver to be your mate. I know it means a lot to him." Martin looked out across the bay as the beam from the lighthouse washed over them. "He needs to know he's not alone. We both need to know we're not alone."

"I can marry you, too, Son, but don't you think we've already fucked up the family tree bad enough as it is?"

Martin laughed. "I have family. I have fathers who love me, husbands who I'm crazy about, and so many more. Oliver needed to know you didn't just forgive him. He needed to know that the one he has loved from the start still loves him."

"I never stopped loving him, Son," Will said. "I only let him go free long enough for the two of us to find our way back to each other."

"You're a good man, Father."

"Thank you, Son. I try to be."

"Funny," Martin said with a pause. "You didn't object to me calling you a man."

"It's a family project. We're all working on making peace with a part of ourselves that we haven't been at peace with for a very long time."

Martin smiled. "The kids will be grateful. They need to know that none of us turns away from our human sides." Martin let go of the hug and turned toward Nathaniel. "Time to go home, Husband," he said, taking Nathaniel's hand. "Let's leave this side of the island in peace for a bit." The cat's brow furrowed. "Before the coming storm."

Nathaniel took his husband's hand and turned toward home. Will watched until they crested the hill and he was once again alone. Will's nostrils flared. He sniffed the air and smiled. "Really, you two? You couldn't even wait for me?"

Will leaned onto the railing, looking over the bay. "I'm glad you two found a way back. I miss being human with you. Maybe now you'll show me how." He closed his eyes. "I love you, boys," he whispered. He pushed back from the railing and sat down on a bench as he watched the white mist heading toward shore.

An hour later, Li Wei came and stood by the wolf. After a while of silence, with a small sigh, he said, "It's beautiful, isn't it? The way the fog moves across the waters?"

Will smiled and looked up at the temple dog. "It is that. I thought you would be home preparing for bed."

"No, I have work to do tonight, William."

"It's going to be a busy night."

"Indeed. And for the two of us, it begins now."

Will looked confused. "What?"

"For too long, the temple dogs have enjoyed your company without restraint. You are a force of nature, William Gentry. And we have let that force go unchecked because you are such a joy in our lives. But tonight we begin your education. Tonight, we begin your education in control."

"You can try," the wolf said, smiling.

The temple dog leaned over and kissed the wolf. It was gentle, but unmistakably forward in where it was heading. The wolf yielded and kissed back. The temple dog's paw moved up along the chest of the wolf and rubbed a nipple. Will sighed. "Are you trying to seduce me, Dog?" he asked.

"No, I am not trying, Old Wolf. I am succeeding at seducing you. Your education has begun. Tonight we teach the nature of control. We do so by introducing you to an ancient Asian practice. It teaches us to let go of expectations, to let control dictate desire, to realize the journey is as important as the destination." The dog's other paw reached down to the wolf's genital sheath. "Before the night is over, you will understand what great pleasure and joy you can find in holding back and controlling your passions."

The wolf yielded to the dog. Li Wei grabbed the old wolf and pulled him away from the railing. Without ever letting their lips separate, the canine walked him over to the lawn and laid Will on the grass below. When the old wolf fell on his back, the thick paw of the temple dog pinned him to the ground. Will felt the unmistakable skill of the dog as he went down on the wolf's swollen cock. With every effort to move on Will's part, the dog met him with an equal restraining force. He realized there was nothing he could do, save yield to the advances of the yellow beast.

When the sense of his impending orgasm pushed to the forefront, Will began panting, happy to know what was to come. But the moment his guttural growl foretold the inevitable, the dog let the cock slip from his mouth, and a paw clamped down tightly on the erection. The dog smiled at the huffing wolf. He paused a moment and then sucked on his cock again; building him back to the orgasm that had slipped away only moments before. At the moment of release, the mouth was gone and the pressure of the dog's paw clamping on his cock was all the wolf could feel as the pleasure ebbed.

"What do they call this martial art?" the wolf asked with a dissatisfied groan.

"It's called edging," Li Wei said with a grin. "And it will teach you all you need to know about the benefits of control before this night ends. You will trade a short-term pleasure for one lasting much longer by controlling your body. I'm helping you tonight, but in time, you will do this yourself without the need of something as clumsy as the paw of a friend assisting. And where your body goes, in time your mind will go as well."

The education of William Gentry lasted for hours. The once aggressive wolf became a submissive pup begging for release and yet somehow wanting the temple dog to deny his request. His hand reached down onto the bobbing head of the canine and played with the wavy fur. As the paw buried deep into the yellow fur, a red glow radiated from the roving paw. Eyes closed, the wolf didn't see it until it was burning a bright red. His eyes fluttered open at the invading light and he saw his paw on fire. "What the hell?" he screamed as he pulled back from the temple dog.

"That would be your power, William," the temple dog said, looking up with his slobbery grin still in place. "Did you think that the badger and the pup were the only two to be so affected?"

The wolf stared at the red glow that had once been his paw. "I don't want this, Dog. They can't give this to me. Oliver and the pup are good and decent werebeasts. I'm a bitter old wolf who has seen too much to be given this."

"But the gift is given," the temple dog said calmly. "Martin said the power is from the warrior class. Therefore, it was imperative that your education began tonight. You have always been a warrior, William. In you most noble moments, you have fought for what you believed in and protected your charges from the first day when you stood between your abusive father and your sister."

"But she died, Li Wei," the wolf said, backing away. "She died and I couldn't save her."

"And now you have the power to save the next child in harm's way, or your family, or a total stranger. You need to learn how to control it, William. This is a power beyond anything you have seen so far. You need to be in control of yourself before you can control your gift." The temple dog's paw reached out. "Come back to your training, Old Wolf," the dog said with a smile as he wiped the slobber off his muzzle. "There is time enough to learn all you need to learn."

The old wolf stared down at his still pulsing cock and shook his head in disbelief. He scooted forward, and the temple dog resumed his fellatio. The wolf rubbed the gold fur once more, watching the red flame recede as he willed it away. He let the sensations of the dog's mouth reclaim his passions. "I guess I can wait until later to deal with this," he said, looking at his paw. "Fuck it," the wolf said, lying back.

The temple dog looked up. "That would be lesson two," he said with a smile. His head bobbed back down as he resumed the wolf's training.

Chapter 25

When the morning light crested the top of the lighthouse, Will lay in the grass breathing heavily. "Okay, I will admit that is the best orgasm I can remember, and I remember more than a few," he said, clinging to Li Wei's paw.

"You controlled the path. There will always be days when the William Gentry we know can run free and be the rogue wolf. It is as much a joy for us as it is for you, William. But there will be other days when you must use all the wisdom you learned over the last four hundred years to wield a power beyond our comprehension. On those days, you must control the path again."

"That was an orgasm, Li Wei. Not some earth-shaking power."

Li Wei smiled. "My world shook when I came."

The wolf hugged the temple dog. "Mine too. You know what I mean."

"Look out along the bay and watch the waves, William. The Moon controls every body of water on this planet from over three hundred and eighty-four thousand kilometers away. The Moon controls the tides and the tides control the ocean, but we are aware the oceans are unstoppable. Whatever we place in their way will one day yield to the endless force of their waves. Even this island will one day be no more.

"How is it that the Moon from such a distance can control such an overwhelming force of nature?" Li Wei asked. "If you watch a single drop of water throughout the day, the tide will rise and fall, even on something so small. The oceans of the world are only single drops of water building on one another. And therein, is the key to the Moon's success."

"If you see the tides as trying to control a massive ocean, it is not unsurprising to believe the ocean is uncontrollable chaos. But if you see the tides controlling tiny drops of water in unison, suddenly there is power with order, with direction, with containment. Your orgasm, my orgasm... they were like the tiny drops of water in the ocean of what we can control. Your task is to see the ocean in front of you and break it down in your mind until you can control each drop. The ocean will overwhelm you. The drops of water will not."

Will squeezed the paw of the temple dog. "Thank you, Li Wei. I never had a teacher quite like you."

The dog lifted himself up. "And I never had a pupil like you. You are my own overwhelming force of nature; one that I never sought to control and one that I never will." He leaned over and kissed the wolf. "It's morning. Your husbands will be stirring. Time to join them. The lessons you must teach each other are about to begin."

"Do you think I can control this?" Will asked, waving a glowing red paw. "Do you think I can make it work, Li Wei?"

"No, Little One," the temple dog answered. "You alone will fail. Any of us alone will fail. But I have total faith that you and our family together will succeed. There is an interesting analogy using thin reeds that, when separated, break with no effort. But when we bind them together, their union becomes unbreakable. I find the lesson can be quite pleasant to learn if I tie you and your husband's erections together with silk cord, but that is for another day."

Will laughed. "I'm glad you're a part of my family, Li Wei."

"As am I. Now, off you go. There are two who will sleep through the day without a wake-up call."

Will shook himself into a human. "How do I look, Dog?"

"Beautiful, William. I have always thought you looked very fetching in your ape skin."

"Thanks. Wish me luck."

"You have family. You don't need luck," the temple dog said as he turned and walked back toward his home.

As Will walked along the path toward the gunnery tunnels, he paused, watching a werewolf groundskeeper weeding a flowerbed. He smiled at the bright red sweatpants he was wearing, wondering why he willingly inconvenienced himself with clothes. Then the wolf shifted into human. Reaching back, he grabbed a stubborn weed and yanked it from the earth. Will took a step forward, and the human looked up. "I'm sorry Sir, but the island isn't open today..." He paused, realizing the human wore no clothes. His nostrils flared as he sniffed the air. "Will?" he asked, shifting back into his werewolf form.

"In the flesh," Will said, smiling. "No need to change on my behalf, Kyle."

"But you hate humans," Kyle said.

"I hate what humans do, Kyle. I have never hated them."

"Well, you could have fooled me."

"I realize that, and I'm sorry. That all changes today."

"That would be nice," Kyle said, shifting back to human. "Sometimes it's easier to do things in this form. I mean, our paws have way more dexterity than regular wolf's paws, but human opposable thumbs... they're killer for pulling weeds."

"And it makes more sense why you're wearing sweats today."

"Do you like them? My husband made them for me. Nice and stretchy. I call them my Hulk pants because they fit me no matter what I turn into."

Will laughed. "They look fine."

"I wear them for the kids. They wake up early sometimes and sneak out here to help me when Jim, Hanuel, and Kwan are asleep. I don't mind if they see me naked as a werewolf, but I still think humans are best clothed around each other for the time being. Besides, our ape skins can get kind of chilly this early in the morning."

Will looked down at his naked body. "I have to agree with you there."

Kyle looked away and pulled another weed. "I voted, Old Wolf."

"You're not alone. The Were Nation has spoken."

"Do we know the outcome?"

"Of the voting, yes. The votes were counted days ago. Where it goes from there, I'm not sure. We'll find out tonight."

"Are we going to get involved again?"

"Yes."

Kyle looked back up at the tall human. "I'm glad. We've been away too long."

"I agree, Kyle. So does the entire Were Nation it appears. I'm off to wake up Derrick and Oliver. They're snoozing in their ape skins this morning."

Kyle smiled. "Oh, then the outfit you're in is perfect for the occasion. Enjoy waking them up."

Will walked by Kyle, stopping long enough for the two to kiss. "I intend to."

Will stood at the open door watching his husband sleeping next to the man he loved long before the husband was even born. Curled up tightly together, they were everything Will wanted to see in the morning. When Derrick rolled over onto his back, his morning hard-on jutted out from under his gut. Will sighed. "Ahh, fuck, Pup, why did you do that? I was having fun watching you two. But you know I can't just watch that."

He knelt down by the side of the bed and carefully took the cock into his mouth. He kept the motions slow and gentle, letting the shaft grow even tighter as it turned into a wet pillar of flesh. Derrick gave a quiet moan as he woke up. Will felt a hard shove from the side. He looked to the left and saw Oliver smiling at him. "Out of the way, Human. I worked on that all last night, so it would be that way this morning. It's mine."

Will released the cock from his mouth. "Fine. Did anyone claim yours?"

"Nope, savin' that pecker for my other future husband. Thought he was gonna be a wolf, but kinda like he's a human today."

"It's been a long time since I was comfortable in this body, Oliver."

"Time we all was comfortable being human again, Old Wolf. They's voted. We's the messengers 'cause they's pretty sure our husbands won't let them shoot us."

"You going to help me with that? I understand what we have to do today, but I admit, it's a big leap even for me."

"Each of us only knows a bit, Old Wolf. Things is gonna come at us fast. But we's got to be good with who we is or it's all gonna fall apart."

"So, you can help me?"

"I gots a human pecker there between my legs, Old Wolf. Help yourself. Ain't nothin' to make a man feel good about being human like having a human pecker in his mouth."

"Then someone give me one," Derrick said, mumbling. "Or one of you go back to sucking mine. I'm feeling pretty good about this whole human body thing today."

Oliver shoved Will again. "Like I said, out of the way, Human, I gots work to do." The furry little man pushed his way past the larger one and fell face-first into Derrick's crotch.

Will looked at the two humans as they rolled into a comfortable position. Oliver's body rolled to the side and his hard-on popped out, slapping up against his belly. Without letting his prize go, Oliver pointed down to his cock. "Your head goes right there, Human," he mumbled with a mouth full of ball sack slipping in and out.

Will smiled and dove into Oliver's crotch, swallowing the swollen dick. He realized Oliver was right. Nothing made him feel so human as being human with the ones he loved.

The husband's morning revelry ended far too soon for any of the three. Soon enough, they realized events were in motion that they could not ignore when Derrick's ComLink alarm began beeping. Oliver looked up from the furry butt of the tallest in bed and sighed. "Fuck, I was getting' this loosed up to right where I wanted it."

"That's my first alarm, Oliver," Derrick said. "We still have hours. I figured we might need a countdown."

Will made a happy groan as the short man took a few last licks with his tongue. "I enjoyed it, Oliver. I'm okay with you starting up again." He rolled over and grabbed the little human and kissed him.

"Akk," Oliver said objecting. "You's gonna has ass beard if'n you goes kissing me like that."

"You've got ass beard, why can't I?"

"Come on, you two," Derrick said. "We need to get cleaned up. No ass beard today." He looked at the two and smiled. "Maybe a lot of ass beard later tonight, though."

Oliver laughed. "I likes you, Pup. We thinks alike."

Derrick looked at the two. "Does it always keep intruding like this?"

"It's different for each of us, Pup," Will replied, putting his arm around the soft-skinned human. "Remember when you turned?"

Derrick looked up at Will. "I remember," he said, smiling.

"It was awkward, and horrible, and painful, and halfway through it you thought, what the hell am I doing?"

"Yeah," Derrick frowned, remembering the part of his turning he tried hard to forget.

"Your first days with the Sight are going to be like that. You're going to have to learn to live with it. Oliver and I will help you. Just know that it gets better. None of us see it the same, but we all get better with it."

Derrick sighed. "Okay, I keep seeing flashes of the Changelings as naked humans at the most inopportune times. Well, that, and the three of us later tonight, which is making it tough getting my hard-on to go down."

Oliver smiled. "You sees the good things, Pup. You's gonna be fine. There's a lot of awful gonna happen today. It's what I sees. It's what Martin knows is comin'. But you is here to help us through. You sees that it ain't all dark. You sees the light at the end of the tunnel. I can stays focused today 'cause I knows you and me and the old wolf is going to be together later tonight."

"He's right, Pup," Will agreed. "Sometimes the hardest thing is not knowing the outcome of what we're going to do. Nothing is ever set in stone. But if you see us in each other's arms tonight, I'm going forward today with a lot more confidence."

Derrick smiled. "Would it help to get our butts in gear if I lied and said I see us in the shower together in five minutes?"

Oliver frowned. "No, Pup. There's been too many lies already."

Derrick's smile faded. "I'm sorry, Oliver."

"Ain't you, Pup. Ain't any of us." Oliver shrugged. "But I kinds of likes the idea of a shower," he said, smiling back at Derrick. "You ever seen Will's scrub brush?"

Derrick laughed. "We've been mated for over half a century, Oliver. Yes, I've seen Will's scrub brush."

"Okay. Dibs on it."

"You can't dibs that any more than he can dibs the bottom bunk. That's not right."

"Still, I done it, so you's gonna have to live with it."

The arguing humans stopped when they were yanked from the bed by two muscular arms. "It's my brush. I get to use it as I see fit," Will said, carrying them both toward the shower.

Derrick giggled. "So, where are you going to fit it?"

"It's sturdy. I figure you both can have dibs on it today."

"Works for me," Oliver said, reaching down to play with the swollen brush.

Derrick was toweling off Oliver with an oversized bath towel when the little human suddenly reached out and pulled the chubby man in close. He playfully bit along the other's neck and shoulders. Derrick groaned when Oliver bit deep into his flesh. Pain... pleasure. "Bite my neck, Pup," Oliver said between his clenched teeth.

Derrick smiled. "I'm going to, Oliver. Just as soon as all this craziness settles down a bit."

"No, Pup. Bites me now. Make your mate forever. Bites me and fucks me."

"You want to change back to werebeasts now? Do we even have the time?"

"Not as beast, Pup. Take me as a human."

Will looked over to the two. "Oliver, what are you saying?"

"You too, Old Wolf. Bites my neck and fucks me. Make me yours forever."

"Why this sudden urge, Oliver?" Will said. "Do you know something that we don't?"

"It ain't what's coming up that's drivin' this urge, Old Wolf. It's what's been."

"You lost me, Oliver," the tall human said, rubbing his hairy belly.

"When you bit my neck all those years ago, Old Wolf, I hid who I was from you. But you knows me now. You seen the human standing in front of you. I knows you loves the badger. I knows Pup loves the badger. I gots to know you both love the human, too. I gots to feel your teeth on my neck and you as deep inside me as you can go."

Will shook his head. "Human teeth don't leave scars, Oliver. You okay with a mating that you have to hold only in memory?"

"You's still giving me a ring right? We's gonna wear rings?"

"Of course," Derrick said, smiling.

"Then I'se fine with you not leaving no scars." Oliver looked at the two with pleading eyes. "Please, husbands-to-be. I gots to believe you loves the little human as much as you loves the little badger."

Derrick reached out and pulled Oliver in close. "Bite my neck, Human. I will bite yours, but only after you show me you love this overweight guy in front of you. I'm tired of being the one to make the first bite. You're marrying a sub. It's time you started letting me be submissive. Take me first and I will do whatever you ask."

Oliver shoved Derrick onto the bed. "Roll over, Pup, I'se about to make you my husband for life." The smooth, chubby man that Oliver loved rolled over and rubbed his butt cheeks seductively. "Ah, Pup. I love that ass," Oliver said with a groan. He jumped up on Derrick's back and shoved his cock between the cheeks. He pushed until he sensed himself slipping into the warmth of the hairless hole.

Once embedded, he leaned forward, trying to reach the neck. "I can'ts reach your neck, Pup," Oliver said despondently. Derrick pushed up onto his elbows, forcing his head back. It was enough for Oliver to bite into the soft flesh.

"Harder," the pup begged. The man on top of him bit down deeper.

Will stared at the two. "Oh, crap, how can I say no to that furry little ass?" he said as he climbed up onto the bed. With one smooth move of his hips, Will embedded himself deep into the fuzzy little one below. "Oliver, I have loved you for over two hundred years. Nothing has ever changed that. Nothing ever will." The burly mountain man leaned forward and bit into Oliver's neck. Their mating had begun.

Hours later, when the alarm on Derrick's ComLink went off for the second time, he looked up from his place on top of Oliver. Oliver took a deep breath. "Don't pull it out, Pup. I likes it there."

"I came ten minutes ago, Oliver. And that's the third time," Derrick said with a laugh. "I believe we are as officially mated as we're ever going to be."

"Nope," the little man said, wiggling his butt back against the still-firm cock inside him. "We's gonna mate as beasts, too. Gots to cover all our bases. I wants to make sure we's married for good."

Oliver felt Will's thick beard press against his neck and the teeth bite into him deep. "We will mate as beasts later, Husband. Time to move. We have an appointment with the Changelings."

"I knows, Old Wolf," the little human said as Derrick slipped off from on top of him. Oliver rolled over and smiled. "But nows I am greetin' them as your husband. I gots way more courage as that than I'se ever had as only me."

Derrick laughed. "You are already married to Nathaniel and Martin. They're plenty courageous."

"That's true. But it don't hurt to have another couple of husbands to help get me through this day."

"Glad to be of help, Oliver," Will said. He pulled both of his husbands up into his arms and squeezed them tight. "I'm glad we did this," the hairy giant said as he rubbed the back of his neck. "You were right, Oliver. I needed to know you loved my human side, too." He grabbed the little human and dragged him toward the shower. "As for the pup, he bit my neck for the first time when I was a human, so I already knew he loved my human. But it was nice to feel his bite again. And his human teeth are easier on the neck than his wolf canines."

As the three were drying off from their first quick shower in decades, Derrick rubbed his chest. He casually played with the sparse hair that covered the center. "I don't see anything anymore. I only see you two in the dark."

"The Sight is telling you we's going into dark territory soon, Pup. It's showing you who to turn to should things go bad. You's seeing your protectors."

Derrick laughed. "Well, this is about the stupidest power ever. I didn't need the Sight to figure that out." He pushed past the hairy giant in front of him. "No clothes for me today. I'm going commando extreme."

Will laughed. "I like that outfit on you, Pup. Let's get going, Oliver. Be prepared to catch flack for this choice," He said as reached out and grabbed the furry little man's hand. "You both know I love you far beyond what a simple bite can say, right?"

Oliver looked up at the man holding his hand. "I does. You knows it, too, right?"

"I do."

"Well," Derrick said with a grin as they walked up out of the tunnels. "We all know the same thing." The three naked men began their walk to the southwest side of the island.

Chapter 26

At the appointed hour, a rare event happened on the far side of the Island. All the inhabitants were gathering. There were none left behind, save those few needed at the hospital to attend to the needs of the patients and those watching over the children.

The werebeasts and the humans waited patiently for the Changelings' arrival. Greg stood with his human husband, Trevor, and he was next to Sarah and Paul. The three weren't the only representatives of the human race, though. Tyler and Michael stood together with their six-month-old adopted human son in Tyler's arms. The young boy's eyes darted back and forth as if taking in everything. Some found the child disquieting, as he never cried for food or to have his fathers change his diaper. Instead, he asked for what he needed in a few words. Still, his fathers loved him. and he only delighted them all the more because of his unique nature.

The twin twins made a rare appearance in their human forms so that Chet would feel more at home, having made the trip without flying in as a red-tailed hawk.

When the three naked humans came around the bend of the pathway, Tyler and Michael's son laughed aloud. "Naked Uncles!" he yelled.

Michael looked at his son and smiled. "oncles nus, Fils," he said as the little boy nodded his understanding.

All present at the gathering could hear Greg's frustrated sigh. "Honestly, guys? Naked ape skins? We have Sarah and Paul here."

"Sorry, Greg," Will said. "My apologies, Sarah. Sorry, Paul. But you'll understand why soon enough." He looked at Greg and Trevor. "And you know what this is about. So, don't go getting too uppity, because if you think this through, you know where we're headed."

Greg thought for a moment, and his eyes widened. "Oh hell, no, Old Wolf," he muttered. "This had better be worth it."

Sarah bumped into Greg. "It's okay, Greg. We're used to it. Weird is the normal on this island. If Uncle Will says there's a reason for him to be naked, we all know it will make sense in the end." Paul nodded his agreement, and no one spoke more of the matter.

The gathering of the Changelings at the far end of the island took some doing. Tracking down the two having their physical in the hospital was easy. The other three had taken to the day milling about with the other permanent residents on the island. While they liked to think they were all unique, from a distance, most of the werewolves could not rely on sight alone to identify each other. Their other skills of smell and touch were indispensable. It was one reason that kissing and nipping became such a popular pastime in the werewolf community. As most would say, it was better than sniffing butts and accomplished much the same task.

Changelings, however, carried their own scent, and for most werebeasts, it was distracting. As the afternoon wore long, Li Wei left to find the last of the stragglers. Oliver was anxious to get things moving before sunset. Yet he was finding corralling the Changelings almost as bad as gathering the children together for tai chi class. When Lewis and Anders finally came running over the hill, the last of the newborn Changelings were in one place.

"You'd think since you was the ones that gave us humans the Sight, you'd be better about knowing when we was meeting," Oliver said as they grouped.

"There's only one of us remaining has that gift, Oliver," Francisco said. "We thought it would be helpful to you. We are already of one mind. It's not an environmental pressure to know what's about to happen. Only Anub..." Francisco paused. "Only Anders has the power. For him, it's important. His clan is the only one that requires the Sight, as you call it. The rest of us have gifted ours to your people."

"Well, that explains why you's late Anders. You'se gots a psychic link to my cat husband. He's always late."

"Late for what?" Martin asked as he came up over the hill holding paws with the short-faced bear. He stared at his free paw giving off a yellow glow. He shook it a few times as if trying to dislodge the color and it faded.

"Just about everythin', Beast. Between you and the Bear, we don't get to many things on time," Oliver said. "Nots that I'se complaining. Most of the time it's 'cause you's having sex with me."

The group laughed and Nathaniel shook his head as he grabbed the naked human and kissed him. "What's with the ape suit, Oliver?" he asked.

"We humans has got something important to talk about with you Changelings," Oliver said calmly.

"Humans?" Kris asked. "I thought you were werebeasts."

"Before we was werebeasts, we was humans. We was Earthlings. We weren't the best things this planet ever saw, but until recently, we weren't the worst neither."

The white bear stood back, watching. "I sense we're going to figure into this conversation soon, Oliver."

"Yeah, you is," Oliver said looking at the Changelings. "Your group has fucked up a lot on this planet. And mosts of the times it's because you chose to do somethin' that affected us humans without making us a part of it." He waved at his human body. "This is who we is, Changelings. We is flesh and blood and we don't gets to come back when we die. We is frail, and we ain't got no billion years to figure out how to un-fuck the shit we get into, let alone un-fucking what you do to us.

"Makes no mistake, we loves you. We loves you as deep as it goes," the furry human said. "And we's grateful that you try to help. But you can'ts go about changing our world without our say no more. We ain't no experiment you can watch from the side. You either join us, and make us a part of all you does, or you gets the hell off of this planet."

Oliver raised his head and looked into the eyes of the newborn Changelings. "I knows what I wants, but I'se here to speak for the others. The Were Nation has taken a vote. We's decided two things. We's not turning away from our human side no more. And we's asking you Changelings to step up and become a part of who we is." The human smiled at the Changelings through his thick beard. "I wants you in my life. I wants Changelings I love and trust standing beside me."

Will put his arm around the man beside him. The difference of a foot in height made them look comical, but their faces said they were serious. "Oliver is right. We are humans. This is what we started with," he said, looking down at his body. "At our core, this is what we will always be." The mountain man shook into wolf and the disparity between Oliver and him grew even greater. "Even if we look like this, there is a part of us that will always be human. I will not deny my birthright any longer. A vote among the Were Nation has decided we are going to become an active part in the lives of humans again. Beyond the temple dogs who have taken a sacred vow, none of us will deny our birthright. We will not step away from who we are."

Li Wei's bowed head rose. "Old Wolf, the temple dogs stand with you. We no longer take human form, but we have not left this world. We love the humans of this island, and we love our Were brothers. Our choice to leave our human bodies behind was to transcend their limitations. But our love of all that inhabits this world has never faltered. Our desire for peace has never faded. The hope for unity with the children of man, the children of beasts, and our mother earth is still strong. We stand with the humans. We stand with the Were Nation's vote."

The old wolf stood tall. "Changeling brothers, you have reached out to our children, and now we reach out to you. Share our world, but be a part of this earth. Take us as your own. Beyond mating, beyond our loving bonds as werebeasts and Changelings, see us as your kin. Protect us, allow us to protect you, and help us grow to be better than we are now. No more sitting back on the sidelines. See us as who we are. Humans or Changelings, we share this tiny speck of dust in the universe. Don't see this earth as a layover on some great cosmic journey of yours. Make this world your home."

The wolf reached out his hands. "If you must, fight beside us as you have in the past to keep us safe. We will do the same for you. Work with us to keep us strong. Nurture and love us as we struggle to find peace. Sing to the Unity at night, if you will. But sing to us as well." The wolf shook and became human again. "Sing to all the Terrans in this world. Give us ears to hear, and one day we will rise to sing with you as a world united instead of this meager group of outcasts."

Derrick stepped forward. "We are creatures of greed, anger, and self-loathing. But humans are also creatures of beauty, charity, and imagination. We can become something greater, or we can destroy ourselves. But you have sat back for too long and waited to see the outcome. And we of the Were Nation have become complacent, sitting back and watching as well. No more. We will not..." The human paused, and looking down, rubbed his belly, "... I will not hate this body that I was born into." He looked back up. "I will be a part of the family of humankind. I will do all I can to save us from ourselves. And that means I will be a protector of the family of beasts and the Changelings I love. I will not let my planet fall without all that I am first given to save her."

The chubby man with a bald top and thick beard continued. "We have a hospital on this island that would be the envy of any community. Inside its doors are skilled doctors and nurses unequaled anywhere in the world. It's time we started treating anyone who requires the remarkable care this island can offer. It shouldn't matter if we are human, werebeast, or Changeling. We are Terrans. There may be generations upon generations before our human brothers and sisters can see us again. But it will never happen until we reach out and give them a reason to love us. We need to learn from our history as gay men. We cannot survive hiding in a closet forever. The darkness will consume us. We need to push back against the hate. Not with hate in return, but with courage and love."

Derrick looked at his Changeling husbands. "I will rise to protect my family and, like my human husbands beside me, I want you by my side. We love you all. But today you need to decide if you will become more than a family with these few who surround you. You need to decide if you will embrace this planet as your home forever."

Nathaniel looked at Martin. "And you?"

The cat looked at the bear. He shook himself into human. "Have to agree with them. Love you all. Want you in my life. Never want you to stop being Changelings. But we need you to become Terrans as well."

Nathaniel hugged the human who had once been a cat. "This is my home. It has been all that I have ever known. I stand with the children of men." The bear shifted into his human form. "I am proud to be a Changeling, but I am and always will be a Terran." He looked at his fathers.

Kris smiled and became the Santa doppelgänger. "I guess I'm applying for citizenship. I stand beside my sons and my husbands. This is my home forever."

The polar bear put his arm around Kris's shoulder. The gray-haired man with the trimmed beard appeared. "I was born here. I'm in."

One by one, the werebeasts in the crowd shifted to human. Everyone heard Greg's sigh again. "Well, I guess you're waiting for me."

Trevor took off his shirt and handed it to Greg. "Here, husband. This might cover up most of the stuff you want to hide." The frustrated wolf looked at the shirt. "No, Hon, the old wolf is right. It's time I stopped being ashamed of who I am." The wolf shifted, and in his place, Trevor's eternally youthful human husband appeared.

Trevor took a deep breath. "I have spent so many nights with you as you are, never realizing that there was a part of you embarrassed to be what you are now. They're right. You shouldn't hide any part of who you are." He pulled his husband in close. "Okay, you three, we're in, too."

The Padre shifted into his human form. "Hanuel and Kwan are watching the children. But I speak for all the foster fathers. We tend to those children knowing we are kin even when covered in fur. We are with the Were Nation. It is time we all embraced our human sides again."

The badger looked at the reborn Changelings. The Sight pushed forward, and it became clear to Oliver what Derrick meant about being in the storm's eye. This was the quiet in the eye of the storm. But it wasn't to last for long. "Before the rest of you Changelings answer, you decide how much you want to live here. It means we stop hiding our secrets. It means we tells the truth to each others. We goes into this as brothers, or we don'ts do it. I am a man who hesitated in one horrible moment of my life. And then I made it worser by trying to bury it inside me. I never spoke the truth, and I dug my own way to hell."

The badger pointed to the Changelings. "I has lived in hell far too long to let you do the same. That hell we makes comes when we let the truth be silent. It eats away at us. It digs a pit so deep that we never sees a way out. And when we can't sees, the darkness comes, and it kills us. We all dies likes your brothers died, but we ain't gonna let no more of you die without fighting for you."

The badger drew a little circle in the grass with his foot. "Today I start lovin' you enough to drag you through hell so you can be at peace on the other side. I does what Beast did for me. It's time we hears your confession. You starts becoming Terrans today by telling the truth abouts the Great Battle." The badger pointed to his husbands and the other beasts. "You tells the humans why you doing for us without our knowin' is gonna stop today."

Jean Pierre looked at the badger. "Oliver, no," the wolf blurted out.

The badger stared at Jean Pierre. " I don'ts know what has to be told, Gray One, but I know it needs telling. Don't you go digging yourself a hell you can't get out of, Jean Pierre. Ain't no reason for the truth to stay buried 'cepting pride, and I knows you's better'n that."

"What difference does it make, Badger? They are all dead. My brothers. Their brothers. They're all dead. Can't we leave them to rest in peace?"

"A truth not told becomes a lie when it should be spoke but ain't. Let them rest in peace with the truth covering their bones. We knows the story we tells. They did what they had to, but there is a cost we don't know. Don't lets their sacrifice be a half-truth." He pointed to the Changelings, who stood pale and mute. "If they can't speaks the words, Jean Pierre, you speaks the words for them. We don't start this life of theirs with a lie. We starts with the truth."

Lothair reached out to Jean Pierre. "What truth, Husband?"

The little red fox looked up at his mate. "Nothing will ever change the way I feel about you, Husband. If there is a truth that needs telling, tell it. My alpha has never turned from the truth."

Jean Pierre fell to his knees and rubbed his paws in the dirt. "I am sorry, brothers, but those who don't know our history may one day repeat it. If the words must be spoken, let them be from one who loved you."

The wolf looked up. "The battle between the Children of the Night and their fathers is a story told of great sacrifice to save this world. But we have never counted the number of all who gave their lives." The alpha looked away from the group and toward Oliver. "Is this truly necessary?"

The little human grabbed the werewolf and hugged him tightly. "I wouldn't never ask of you so much if it weren't needful. I hurts in my heart worse than you's ever gonna know. But we have childrens who's growing up with the Sight. One day they's gonna touch the hand of them Changelings and see whatever is hid. They will see all the truth. Ain't no way for a child to learn what they should'a learnt from their protectors. Today you tells the truth, and Jim goes home and tells his little ones. Time we all knowed the truth, Gray One."

The alpha felt a paw on his shoulder and turned to see Martin and Jim standing above him. Martin motioned over to a park bench overlooking the bay. The cool fog of twilight was creeping over the top of the cliff and spreading across the ground. "Come walk with us, Jean Pierre."

Jean Pierre stood up and walked with them to the bench. "Sit here, Gray One," Jim implored. Jean Pierre obeyed. The two humans shifted. The cat and the werewolf knelt before him. "Let us hear your story, Gray One," the Padre said. "Tell it to one who has already seen it unfold, and another who has sworn to keep such stories sacred in his heart forever. Tell it to two who hear the worst of who we are and find a way back to peace."

The alpha looked at the two. "Thank you, both. I don't think I could tell this story with so many eyes looking into mine, but I can tell it to the two of you."

Martin's hand reached out and rubbed the Eurasian wolf's chest. "The pieces of a puzzle that will affect our lives for years to come are falling into place, Gray One. When it all comes together, the picture will be clear to you, but for now, know that this story needs telling. It is the linchpin of all the rest that will happen tonight and for so many, many years in the future."

Jean Pierre's head bowed. "The Children of the Night were a violent force beyond imagination. The Brotherhood was a group of werebeasts who had fathered the children. Our only goal was to track them down and end their lives. In the beginning, it was one beast at a time. But they caught on quickly and banded together to protect themselves. All the while, they continued to turn the worst of humanity into their rampage. The battles grew larger and bloodier. Our numbers were dwindling faster than theirs. But over the centuries, we drove them out of the cities of Europe and toward the mountains."

"Eventually the battles pushed back into Bulgaria. It was then that the Changelings joined in the battle. All who know the history of the Were Nation know of the Battle of Osogovo. The death of the Children of the Night brought an end to their violence and rage against all the creatures of Earth. But that was not because all the Children of the Night were in the mountains of Bulgaria. Nor were all the werebeasts who died that day killed in the battle. There were great armies of hundreds on both sides, but as with any battle, there were those who were too far away to be a part of that Great War.

"The battles were close-quarter skirmishes, and the body count on both sides was high, but there were far more of them than there were of us. Inside the border of Bulgaria, a battle raged on for hours. Our losses were staggering, and many of us thought it would be our last day on earth. It was then that thirty-two remaining Changelings joined in the battle. They fought beside us when they realized the tide of battle was turning in favor of the Children of the Night.

"Donovan championed the battle and when we thought it couldn't get worse, the wolf fell down to his knees. We all thought that the Children of the Night hit him with a mortal blow, but then we saw the burning. It was not the red color of his clan, but bright white. He howled in pain, and with clenched fists, he rose. I don't remember what happened next save the white light that enveloped everything.

"When we woke, the Children of the night had retreated leaving their fallen behind. Donovan had returned to normal, or so we thought. We regrouped and moved up into the mountains. There we thought we could find a better position to defend ourselves. But within moments the Children of the Night followed. Crawling over the bodies of their dead, the monsters attacked again. They never stood down; they never broke ranks. We knew there on Mount Osogovo we would either end the Children of the Night or die trying.

"The battle was bloody beyond belief. The Children of the Night took no quarter. We were losing. There was nothing we could throw at them that they didn't tear through. All tooth and claw, a rage inside them pushed them beyond the limits of any living creature. They were already past death, but they fought on long after organs and limbs had failed them. We were out-manned and outnumbered by a ruthlessness that took no quarter and left nothing alive in its wake."

"My husband had already fallen at their hands. He had no reason to be in the fight. The Nation tasked me to kill my son. But he stayed by my side throughout all my encounters with the Children of the Night. When I saw his lifeless body at the bottom of the ravine, my rage equaled that of our enemy. I turned and with one blow, cut off the head of my son with my longsword."

The wolf fell silent. No words were there for the pain. Paul squeezed Sarah's hand tightly as they stood silent. Their faces matched all in the group. Their eyes showed sympathy for the wolf who had endured so much.

After a pause, Jean Pierre took up the story again. "His severed head continued to bite at me, trying even in death to kill the one who sired him. Driving my sword through his skull finally killed the beast that my love for a woman and hope for a better world had created." He looked up at Martin and Jim. "Please no," he begged.

"It is time, Gray One," Martin said. He put his paw on Jean Pierre's leg. The yellow glow returned to the paw, but this time Martin let it be.

"You have held your secret too long. It is time we shared the burden with you."

Jean Pierre's head dropped. "One by one, we fell. Their attacks drove us back into a corner of the mountain from which there was no escape. The Changelings were still young by their standards. They were unskilled and inconsistent in using their powers. As soon as it would manifest, and the Changeling tried to use it against the Children of the Night, the terror was on them rending their bodies into pieces. So many had fallen; so few remained.

"And then one of his brothers backed up against Donovan. The blue light of his clan powers surged into Donovan, and he glowed bright white again. As the Children of the Night turned to attack him, his arm pushed out and the light that came from his paw killed every charging beast. It was at that moment that Donovan realized what he had become and what he had to do. One moment of horrifying clarity and the wolf accepted his calling without hesitation.

"The other brothers realized intuitively what they had to do. All who were there saw their role in the path they would have to follow, and none flinched. The last of the Changelings grouped together behind Donovan and put their paws on his shoulders. They bowed their heads and their bodies glowed. Each was a different color according to their power. Red was the color of the warrior class, blue was the builder class, and yellow was the color of the judgment class. They were the colors of the stars from whence they were born. All the clans were represented, save one. One color was missing."

Jean Pierre turned back toward the group and looked at Eric standing with tears in his eyes. "Only the green clan was missing. Before the Changelings joined our efforts, Donovan had commanded two of his brothers to leave their ranks. When the battle began, the white bear was on the other side of the world, exiled by his brothers to the ice flows of Alaska. The Tundra wolf found himself in northwest Siberia. Donovan knew that the frigid cold would impair the link between the two and their brothers. He relied on the two finding out too late what they intended to do."

"Ivan and Eric were the last of the healer class and Donovan had forced them to the ends of the earth. The only two who stood in the way of what the wolf had to do were now far from the battle. The death of the Children of the Night was to come at a horrendous price." He looked into Eric's eyes. "I am sorry, Old Bear. Donovan knew you would never let it happen. They never let either of you know the truth. None of the Brotherhood knew the truth. Forgive me, but had I known what they knew, I would have exiled you as well."

The gray-bearded man nodded. "Turn from me, Jean Pierre. Don't tell this story while you look into my eyes. We have seen too much you and I. Look away from everything but that day. Do not make me a part of your pain."

Jean Pierre looked back at the saber-toothed cat and timber wolf. "What was to become their regeneration and their return to their home world was now focused into an unimaginable power. The Changelings channeled all their energy into one pivotal brother. Donovan became the point of convergence for the entirety of the Changelings' power. When he released it, a bright white light exploded across the mountain. The backlash killed them all. But the white light of the Changeling's aim was true. It killed the Children of the Night as well. Not just in the mountains, but across the globe. None survived."

The wolf lowered his head again, looking away from even the two in front of him. "But the deaths of all the Changelings showed such power was not easily focused. Donovan had to make a choice. Destroy the Children of the Night at all costs or die in a futile fight against them and leave the world open to their carnage."

"Gray One, stop," Donovan interrupted. "You knew nothing of our decision before we took action. It should not be you who speaks what comes next."

Eric turned to his chosen mate and the Armbruster's wolf put out his hand to silence any objection. "This was our decision, Lee. We will not let the gray one suffer in the retelling."

"Lee?" Will asked, turning to Kris.

"It means healer," Kris answered. "Just like the name of Armbruster's wolf's Donovan means dark warrior. Their calling chose their names."

"So what does Eric mean?" Will asked.

"Mostly that Eric hated the name Lee."

Will nodded his understanding, and his attention reverted to the Armbruster's wolf that had taken up the story.

The Armbruster's wolf hesitated for a moment before he spoke. "We knew of only one way to rid the world of all the Children of the Night. Their DNA was too mixed ever to act as a locator. Only one attribute claimed them all. They were werebeasts that had all killed humans. When we realized I had the gift to combine all our powers into one, my brothers and I joined those powers and sent them out into the void. It searched out and destroyed every werebeast that had ever killed a human." Jean Pierre began sobbing. Donovan looked at him and shook his head sadly. "In one massive surge, every Child of the Night was dead." The Armbruster's wolf's head bowed. "But with them also died the Eastern wolf pack. Their only crime was trying to save the Pequot babies from the guns of the Puritan annihilation in sixteen thirty-six." The wolf's voice choked. "The beautiful werewhales who sank whaling ships to protect their ocean kin were no more. There were so many others whose acts of valor became their death sentence. So much waste of precious life."

Oliver looked at Derrick. "They fucks-up everything, Pup. I woulds have been dead if I lived then. I'se killed humans to save the werebeasts." Derrick grabbed Oliver and held him tight as both shifted back to their animal avatars.

The Armbruster's wolf knelt beside the alpha. "Our choice was to end the Children of the Night or leave the world defenseless in their path. We realized the act would take us too, but that was inconsequential compared to the lives of innocent werebeasts. There were so many sacrifices made to end the plague. But they were the ones we had to make. I regret only that so many of our children did not know what was happening when their end came."

Jean Pierre looked up. "They would have made the sacrifice willingly had they known; every one of them. But to suddenly be no more. To never know why they died. To leave behind so many wondering what they had done wrong for the ones that protected them to disappear forever. Our silence asked too great a price from them all."

"They gave more than anyone should have to give, Gray One," Ivan, the Tundra wolf, said. "There are wounds even I and the white bear cannot heal. We all wear scars across our souls that will never fade. Our hearts have been broken in ways that will be forever painful. They made the ultimate sacrifice for the ones they protected without ever knowing. For that, for all the fallen, the memory of that day will haunt us. There is no joy for us in knowing that the Children of the Night are no more."

The little badger nodded in agreement with the wolf. "There is no joy for us humans, either. But we knows you did what was needful. Now your brothers can rest knowing that we knows the truth and there ain't no bitterness toward them."

"If we could impose upon Gaia to help us find the names of our fallen," Martin said, looking at Kris, "we will create a memorial for all who died that day. No one should go unremembered." Kris bowed his head in acknowledgment.

"There ain't no hate knowing the truth," the badger said. "So now you knows if you makes this world your home, we will be there with open arms. We only wished for you to tell us the truth. For you to say the words that we was there with you. That we died to save our world, same as you. And you needs to know our losses cuts us deep the same way they cuts you."

Donovan stood up, reaching out to hold Eric's hand. "Then there is more to the story I should tell. Three hundred years ago, when we became self-aware again, we realized that there was a viable path to regeneration if we sought it out. That is when we began a search to find our mates. We didn't realize how many had died in the battle. The Brotherhood's losses were unfathomable. And all but a handful of the rest were driven insane by what they saw and the realization of all who had died that day.

"We vowed to return to help our fallen mates and to help the innocents who had no one to turn to after the death of their protectors. We could still channel our powers as they grew stronger, but now we worked to help all those whose protectors died that day. Where once the werebeasts stood by your side, we now tried to keep you safe. We had hoped that we could create a group of children with knowledge and insight to bring peace to their planet. But at every turn, we watched our hopes of helping turn into dismal failure for so many. And we mourned as one by one our lovers died at the hands of the humans we tried to save.

"There is a breaking point in any life where the hurt of loss can be too great to bear. With the fall of the Tibetan monastery, my brothers reached that point. Only two of our werewolf mates survived and my chosen mate for the merging had already merged with his father. For hundreds of years, we had tried to reach out, to let others know we were here. All we found was silence. And in that silence, the deaths of so many weighed on our consciences.

"In time, my brothers released themselves from this world and the pain that had grown unendurable. They gave up the will to exist. Hearts frozen by the darkness that surrounded us beat no more. The last measure of who they were went out into the void." Donovan paused. "We were the last five, and the darkness took its toll on us as well. We were ready to end it all until we heard the badger trying to speak to us."

"I was tryin' to speak to the bears. I was learning Changeling, so I could tells them how I feels about them," Oliver said. "You's nice folk and all, but I loves the bears."

Donovan smiled. "We know that now. But in that moment, your voice was the first we had heard in over six hundred years. And that is when we spoke to you. I don't know why we heard you, or why you heard us, but you were our salvation. We had given up hope of regenerating. We were saying goodbye to you, Oliver. To let one soul know that we had tried, that we had tried so hard to do right by you. We wanted to leave this world having told you how sorry we were for all that we had done. You and Martin found a way for us to return from where there is no return. We are grateful beyond measure."

"You coulds take back your powers. That'd be thanks enough."

Ivan shook his head. "We never gave you your powers, Oliver. You are what we call a Channeler. Like Donovan, the power you hold is not of us. Forces unknown gave the power to him the same way it gave it to you. You both act as a conduit of other's powers. The two of you channel powers from other sources and transfer that power as you see fit. You are a locus; a point in the universe around which power finds expression. We never created it. It has always been."

"Well, I don't wants it, Wolf. So, take it away."

"We can't take away what we never gave, Oliver," the Tundra wolf replied. "We may take away the Sight, but given that you have this other gift, I think you're better served holding onto the Sight as well."

Donovan knelt down in front of the black wolf, clutching the badger. "I'm sorry for your gifts, Badger. I truly am. You and I are destined to be at the apex of so many moments in time where what we do changes all history. It is a burden that exists on our shoulders not because we sought this power, but because the universe has seen fit to force it on us."

"It ain't fair, Wolf," the badger yelled. "I don't asks for no power. I don't wants it. All I wants is to be a little badger in love with his bears and his wolves and his cat. I just wants to be left alone."

"I dream of that day as well, Badger," Donovan replied. "But there are things we must do that keep this world in balance. Sometimes horrible things tear at our souls, and sometimes one simple thing saves that world you want to live in."

The Armbruster's wolf stroked the badger's arm. "When you were rescuing the children in Brazil, we told you that you had to protect Nathaniel from hurting others. But how you protected him from himself was your doing, not ours. You pulled only enough power away from Nathaniel to free him from the surge that was overwhelming him. He is too new to his power to understand how to wield it properly under all circumstances. But he is learning. What you did let him find his way back from where he must never go."

The Armbruster's wolf put his paw on the badger's shoulder. "This thing you see as a curse let you bring him home. You saved him by using what the universe gave you. You saved the children and your family by leaving enough energy behind so that he could protect you all. Your instincts are why the universe chose you, Oliver. You find balance. What you see as a curse is an amazing gift."

Martin stood up. "He has a point, Badger. You may not like it, but you're always going to be who you are. And that includes powers you don't like and don't want." The cat walked over to the badger and lifted him from the black wolf's arms. "On the plus side, that means you already knew I was going to kiss you." He pressed his lips against the badger's and the little mammal's right foot moved in a circle.

"You's gonna have to promise to be with me forever, Beast. I can lives with this if I knows you're gonna be with me at the end of every day."

"Except for when you visit your other husbands and I can't get out of my obligations, I promise."

"And you, Bear? You promises?"

"By your side every night unless those two spirit you away," Nathaniel said, pointing to the husband wolves.

Oliver looked at Derrick and Will. "And you two's promise to be with me on those off days? 'Cause I ain't gonna live with this crap alone."

Will smiled. "Oliver, I will never leave you. I thought we had an understanding about that. I don't leave you. You don't leave me."

"You best get used to having me around as well," Derrick added. "Between the four of us, you will never sleep alone."

"And never with fewer than two husbands," Nathaniel said with a smile. "But I am looking forward to four now and then."

"Okay, we's got a deal." The badger looked over at Jean Pierre. "Now we gots to do something about the gray one. He's hurting way worse than any of us."

"That would be my job," Lothair said. He knelt in front of the alpha. "You have held our confidence for so long, Gray One. Forgive us for asking so much of you."

"It was not my story to tell," Jean Pierre said, looking up.

"Perhaps not. But your silence still exacted a toll that I am unwilling to ask of you again." Lothair looked up. "Where is the little fox? Jason, your husband needs the solace only one he loves intimately can give."

The little fox peered out from behind Kris, clinging to the bear's thick leg. "But he has you," he said shyly.

The wolf made a sad, disbelieving laugh. "I am a memory, Jason. I am what once was. You are who he loves in this moment. Take your place by your husband's side and let no one ever ask you to step aside; even me." He stood up and grabbed the little fox as he stepped forward and kissed him. "One day, I hope we can look into each other's eyes and find forgiveness for all that happened that day. But for now, he needs the comfort only you can give him, Little Fox."

Jason smiled. He knelt next to the alpha and placed his paw on the wolf's knee. "Come husband. Let's go home. We will find time to sort this all out another day. The battle is over, the truth is known, and as I promised, nothing has changed my love for you."

Jean Pierre looked up and smiled. "I love you, Husband."

"And I love you, Husband. Lucky us."

Jean Pierre rose and grabbed the fox's hand. "Lucky us."

Jason turned to Lothair. "Come, Ancient One. You need a bed tonight. You might as well share ours." The Eurasian wolf looked at the two and smiled. The little fox extended his hand, and the wolf took it.

Before the wolves and fox took their first step, Kris's deep voice thundered through the fog. "Before we part ways, there is still a call from the humans to the Changelings. We have told them our darkest day here on Earth and still, they look at us with love in their eyes. Brothers, do we let go of our hope of returning home, or do we realize we are already home? Do we accept that this is our home and these are our people? Tonight, do we become Terrans?"

The Changelings, in one accord, made a fist of their paws and beat it against their hearts. At the moment the fists hit, they took on human form. Donovan looked at the badger and his husbands. "The family of man is our family. The beasts of the Were Nation are our kin. Earth is our home. We give our allegiance and our last breath of loyalty to where we stand. Tonight and forever forward we are Terrans."

Martin smiled. "Well, this turned out better than I hoped," he said. "Husbands, what say we call it a night? Our family has had a few very rough days." He looked to the Terran Changelings. "All our family."

The cat extended his paw. "Come on, gentlemen. Let's find you places to sleep. Oh, and men, as attractive as you are, please shift back into your animal avatars. We have quite a few impressionable children on this island who don't need to see genitalia that large on a human." He took a few steps and paused. "Oh, and there's also the old wolf. He's impressionable as well. Let's do our part to keep him in check tonight, shall we?" With a smile, the Terran Changelings shifted back into beasts.

The werebeasts followed, shifting back into their animal avatars. The werebeast family surrounded Sarah, Paul, and Trevor once again. Sarah reached out and hugged Ivan. Trevor followed and hugged Francisco. Paul extended his arms toward the Armbruster's wolf. "We welcome our family with hugs when they come home," he said, squeezing the wolf tight. "Welcome home. We hope you will be happy here."

In their restored bodies, the Changelings found many things unfamiliar, but crying was not one of them. Six hundred years of sadness for the wolves and an even longer stretch of centuries for Anders made tears flow for so many reasons. However, it was a new sensation for them to feel them flow across their cheeks from happiness. They closed their eyes and let a love they had forgotten how to feel flow over them.

"Nathaniel, we'll be heading back to the highland," Eric said as he shifted into the polar bear. "The temple dogs will need to know of this night. It's always best for them to hear such news in person. It's still early there. If we hurry, we can make it before sundown." The white bear looked at the Armbruster's wolf. "Donovan, come with us tonight. We have much to talk about you and me."

"Can it wait until morning, Old Bear?"

"Of course. But it would still be nice to have you sleeping next to me. For old time's sake."

Donovan nodded in agreement. "With your husbands' permission."

"None needed," Kris said with a smile. "You are welcome to share our bed anytime."

"We's gonna tell the Were Nation about tonight's vote and you accepting our offer," Oliver said to the newborn Changelings. "But the Old Bear is right. We can'ts be telling your story on a ComLink. With your okay, we's gonna send out representatives to talk to all the werebeasts and tells them of what has happened here tonight. They deserves to know."

Ivan put down the dangling female human he was hugging. "Of course, Oliver. We all need to know our family's history. Even the uncomfortable parts."

Will walked over to the fox that stood between two Eurasian wolves. He smiled, and the fox smiled back. "Here, Jason, a little something for you," he said, grabbing one of his hands and putting a small piece of paper into it. "Read it when you get home." The fox leaned up on his tiptoes and the wolf lowered his head for a kiss on the cheek.

The white bear reached out and hugged his son. "We'll return soon, Nathaniel. But for now, I believe our families are best served spending time together with those closest to them." He looked at Will and Derrick. "You two stay here for a few days. The three of you smell of mating, so I suspect Oliver has done it again. You may be mated, but there is a ceremony and reception that still needs planning. And you, Oliver; you have a knack for jumping the gun. I'm not sure the old wolf is going to take kindly when he realizes he has no cake for his big day."

"I am fine, Old Bear," the old wolf said with a smile. "I got what I wanted from this day. Tonight Derrick and I sleep together with Oliver as husbands."

"I ain't sure either of you's gonna sleep tonight," the badger said shyly, his foot drawing circles in the grass.

Martin stared at Oliver. "Well, you three are sleeping with us tonight. I hope if you intend on keeping them up all night, you brought enough to share with everyone."

The badger looked up in thought, placing one claw under his chin. "Yep. I'se pretty sure I'se bringing more than enough for everyone." He looked to Li Wei, who was rocking nervously, as was the way of all temple dogs in the company of newly mated beasts. "Maybe we's gonna have to make room for a temple dog tonight. Can't go having him in such a state."

Kris laughed aloud. "Come, give us a hug," he said, extending his arms toward the badger. Oliver ran to his arms and jumped up into a bear hug. "I hope this doesn't mean our days of lunches together are over, Badger," the Kodiak said with a frown.

"Of course nots," the badger replied. "You's a part of my balanced diet. Gots to make sure I get plenty of bears mixed up with my wolves and cat."

"That's good to hear. I will feel much better making the trip to the highland now," The brown bear said as he kissed the badger. "You take good care of my husbands, Badger. I love them both very much."

"I does too, Bear. That's why they's my husbands now." The badger paused. He lifted his hand, and it glowed a faint green. He shoved it up against the chest of the Brown Bear and the green light became blinding. When his hand's color returned to the black paw of a badger, Oliver smiled. "There... You gots it back, Bear, and I don't has to deal with it."

Kris looked down at his glowing green chest as the light faded. "You sure about this, Badger?"

"You's the first Changeling who didn't fuck up what he done, Bear," the badger said as he pushed up and kissed the Kodiak. "You protected us and you protected all the humans. I'se sure about this. You's meant to be a healer like your husband and your son. But you heals our world differently. What the old wolf did for me, you's done for the humans. You's given us time apart so that one day we can comes back together in love again."

The Kodiak hugged Oliver. "I love you, Badger."

"And I loves you Bear. Can you pass me to your mate so I can hugs him goodbye too?" The Kodiak passed the badger to the polar bear, and they kissed. "I'm glad you's in my life, Old Bear."

"I am glad of that as well," the polar bear said with a smile. He pulled the badger in close and whispered in his ear. "I know you don't care for the powers you possess. But they are in the hands of the right man. Trust the universe to bring you peace with who you are becoming. We need you, Oliver. Me, my Sons, our husbands... all our family; we need you."

The badger kissed the cheek of the bear. "I knows, Old Bear. Don't like it, but I knows. I will try to be a good husband to my family."

"Then, I, too, will feel much better making the trip to the highland," the polar bear said, pulling back from his hug. He looked back at the group. "Who wants the badger?" he asked in a loud voice.

Four hands raised up; a bear, a cat, and two wolves. "Well, this presents a quandary," the bear said with a smile. He turned his back on the group and threw the badger into the air. "Whoever catches you gets first rights to matrimonial bliss," he yelled.

When the polar bear turned back, Will was holding onto the badger. Oliver glowered at the polar bear. "I ain't no bridal bouquet, Old Bear."

"No. But you're in the hands of a wolf that loves you, and I didn't show any favoritism. I'm pretty happy with the result."

Will kissed the top of the badger's head. "So am I, Oliver."

"Fine. Toss the badger in the air likes a bunch of flowers. But that badger's gonna fuck someone tonight, and it ain't gonna be pretty. It's gonna be revenge fuckin'."

The same four hands rose into the air again.

Chapter 27

Jason looked out on the buffalo herd moving across the plain in the morning sun. He sensed a Eurasian wolf walking up, but recognized it wasn't his mate. He turned to see Lothair, and he waved. "Do I get a hug, Fox?" the wolf asked.

"Of course," Jason said, jumping off the split-rail fence and jumping up into the arms of the werewolf.

"Did you sleep well?" the fox asked the wolf.

"Very well, thank you. The night light kept the darkness from seeming too oppressive."

"I'm sorry you declined our invitation. You were welcome to share our bed."

The two hugged, and the kiss that followed was a natural extension of their affectionate nature. The wolf put the fox down when the kiss had ended. "I realize that I'm a bit of a problem, Jason. I'm sorry about that."

"Our family and our pack both seem to find ways of coupling that aren't the norm, Lothair," the fox said with a smile. "You and Jean Pierre will find what's right for you both."

"I suspect that was decided centuries ago," the wolf replied. "What I am more concerned about is finding my way with you."

"Me?"

"Fox, from the moment I saw you, I understood why Jean Pierre loved you." The wolf looked down at the ground. "Do you know what Lothair means?"

"No," Jason answered.

"It means fighter, the soldier of the people. Everything I have hated about myself for so long. And then there's you. Kind, shy, loving. Everything I wanted to be. But the universe never let me live that dream. When I mated with Jean Pierre, I thought I had found that life. He had a wife. I was aware of that. It didn't matter to me. It never upset me to share his affections or his love. She, too, was willing to let Jean Pierre's heart go where it willed. He has always had more than enough love to give."

Jason nodded his head. "I agree. He is so loving toward the entire pack, but never once have I felt it was at the expense of the love he shows to me."

"He is a most unusual alpha. You were fortunate to meet him," the wolf said. Jason nodded in agreement again.

The wolf sighed. "When his child was born, it was such a joyous moment. Life was good until the child's third birthday. The family found him in the chicken coop. All the chickens were dead. Their heads and wings were torn from their bodies. Not for food, but for the sheer delight of watching something die. The parents were hopeful they could teach their child right from wrong, that they could control the child. They didn't comprehend the madness that lurked behind those innocent eyes."

"When the cattle and sheep mutilations began in the child's teens, they realized the child was beyond their control. They put their child into an asylum for the insane."

"No," the fox said with a look of horror.

"Yes. They thought they were protecting him from himself. Instead, they threw him into a cage with the most violent of all humankind. And this was not only Jean Pierre and Elise. Werebeasts all over Europe were doing the same thing as their children became unmanageable and violent. Thrown into a cage created by the most backward of medieval medicine, the Children of the Night found themselves once again alone in the darkness. Their madness became entrenched by the very act the humans hoped would save them.

"Inside prisons containing the most violent and mad of all humanity, they plotted a course of revenge. The Children of the Night turned the insane humans with a recklessness never seen in all our years. Their army was forming. For decades, they created hundreds of murdering wolves and beasts in those asylums. And then they waited... waiting for the day that they broke free from their cages and poured their terror over all of Europe."

The wolf sighed. "It was then that the Were Nation voted to hunt down and kill the Children of the Night. They tasked the fathers to destroy their offspring. The rest of the story, you know now. But you never saw the beautiful wolf who died a bit more each time he drew his musket and sword. I cannot tell you how sorry I am that I ever turned him. I loved him more than my life, but I took his life from him."

"I'm sorry for you, Lothair. I'm sorry for you both."

"It has been six hundred years, Fox," the wolf sighed. "six hundred years, and only now can I see the wolf I once loved returning. I have you to thank for that. You are what we dreamed of becoming. You are his guiding light back to what he once was. There is so much more about that man that you will find in the years to come. You are going to be amazed."

"I already am," the fox said. "He saved me, Lothair. My history is one that we don't repeat at my request. I hoped that moving forward past those days would grant us happiness. For now, I am grateful that it does."

"I am too, Fox," Lothair said. "You make such a beautiful pair. I want to wish you all the happiness in the world. I can't bear to tell Jean Pierre goodbye. Will you please do it for me?"

Jason looked up, surprised. "You're leaving?"

"I need to. I need to find another path. This one hurts too much like the old one. I spent so many years on the outside looking into Jean Pierre's home, wondering what it would be like to share his bed for more than a visit. I can't do that again."

"It doesn't need to be that way, Lothair. There is more than enough love in the alpha for the two of us to share."

"I couldn't ask that of you," the wolf said, bowing his head.

The little fox's paw reached up and rubbed the chest of the wolf. "There is more than enough love in my heart for two as well, Wolf. You have come so far. Come home now. Come home to your mate, the one who has waited for centuries to feel you again by his side. Don't break the heart that you see opening up again by leaving him."

"But you're married to the gray one."

"As are you," the fox countered. "The only real problem I see with this working is that you and I aren't married. That is an easy fix. Marry me, Wolf. Take me as your mate for life. I am more than willing to take you."

"How could you?"

"I trust my husband's judgment. After all that you two have been through, he loves you. That alone is good enough for me."

"But to put so much trust in an unknown."

"I know you, Lothair. When others fled from the fight, you were there beside him. You fought beside him, hoping to give him back the peaceful world of his family. You died trying to save his life. How could I not love someone who did that for the one I love?"

"But Fox, there is so much you don't know about me. I am not of your world."

"Yesterday, that might have been true. But today we are both Terrans. We already love what we know about each other. Can't you have a little faith that we will learn to love what we don't know?" Jason unwrapped a small note. "Look at this, Lothair," he said as he handed the note to the werewolf.

Lothair looked down at the little fox. "It only says, 'follow your heart'."

"It's from the old wolf. The one you gave the Sight to. The one who sees what we don't. I have known him for over a hundred years, and I trust him to help me see what I might miss." The fox reached out and grabbed the wolf and held him tight. "My heart says don't let you go. Don't let yourself make the mistake of walking away. Don't move from this spot without knowing who loves you."

The wolf hugged back. "And Jean Pierre? How does he feel about this?"

"Let's ask him. He's doing the books in Will's office."

There was a quiet knock on the door. "Come," the voice of the alpha said. The door pushed open, and the fox entered, holding the hand of the wolf.

"Ahh... my two favorite canids in the world. What brings you here?"

"You know, husband. You always know," the fox said with a smile.

"Jean Pierre, you have the Sight?" Lothair asked.

Jason laughed. "No, he can read minds. And mine, he reads like an open book from ungodly distances."

"Well, it comes in handy," the French wolf said, standing up. "So, Fox, how will you deal with two Eurasian wolves as mates? That would confuse the old wolf."

"The old wolf pretends to be confused. We all love him for it, but he knows each of us, including the twin twins."

Jean Pierre smiled. "Apparently, I'm not the only one who reads minds."

"I've seen his nostrils flare as he greets each of us. He knows us by scent more than sight, but he knows who's in front of him regardless of his complaints."

"And what of you, young fox? Will this confuse anything in our relationship?" Jean Pierre asked.

"Nothing in our relationship confuses me, Husband. Nothing will change because we add another to our family that we love."

The fox grabbed Lothair's paw. "And should you worry, Lothair, you can see that I'm attracted to Eurasian wolves. So, if you wonder what a fox can do to keep you up at night, you need only bite my neck to find out."

"You realize we can't be legally married?"

The fox smiled. "That's fine. I'm thinking the Templeton family has the right idea. Living in sin is far more convenient."

Jean Pierre came around the large desk and leaned back against it. "So, when is this mating to take place?"

"I was thinking of right now," the fox said, looking up at Lothair. "If you're willing."

Lothair looked at the French wolf. "Jean Pierre?" he asked, pleading for guidance.

"Marry him, Lothair. Accept his offer." Jean Pierre paused, and then extending his arms he said, "And marry me again. This is the life we dreamed of, only better, because the fox will be a part of it. Don't let it slip from your hands. Don't make us live a life without you."

Lothair looked at Jason. He bowed his head, exposing his neck. "Take me, Fox. Be my mate."

In a single bound, the fox jumped on the back of the wolf and bit into his neck. Jean Pierre gave the huge desk a shove, and it slid across the room, bunching up a large rug that stopped it before it slammed into the wall. "Try not to break the old wolf's furniture. He gets testy if anyone but him does that," he said. He grabbed the two Canidae and pulled them to the floor as they became a pile of fur, clamped jaws, and swelling genitals.

Chapter 28

The polar bear and the Armbruster's wolf's lips parted. The wolf stared into the eyes of the bear and smiled. "Eric... I like it... It suits you."

"And what of Donovan?" the bear asked.

"Sadly, it still suits me, Bear. I am what I am. If the day comes, my brothers will throw me into the fray without a moment's thought, because it is who I am."

"Then we will have to do all that we can to keep that day from coming. You and the badger both deserve a little peace in this life."

"I would like that, Bear," the Armbruster's wolf said with a sigh. "And what of us? You have already merged and I have only now been reborn. It would seem almost anticlimactic to wind up a lump of crystal because of a four billion-year-old tradition."

The white bear nodded. "I agree. One day, a few hundred years from now, I would like to think we would find our way back together for the merging. But for now, our lives are just beginning. The urge doesn't seem to be there. No need to rush things."

"Thank you. I would prefer to take this one day at a time. Let's not pencil in the big date for now," the wolf said with a smile. "Your family is beautiful, Eric. I am envious."

"You can stay with us for a time if you'd like, Donovan. Arms are willing to hold you and hearts are already open to your affections."

The Armbruster's wolf stood up. "If I can return another day, I may take you up on the offer. But for now, the three of us are going to adopt your son's idea of a walkabout."

"The three of you?"

"The unaffiliated Changelings as we are calling ourselves. We returned without mates, but we don't perceive that as a downside. We are free from the darkness. It's time to spend a bit of time in the light."

The polar bear frowned. "There are wars in many parts of the world again. You will be careful, won't you?"

The wolf leaned over and kissed the bear. "There is always a war on, Bear. This is not our doing, so I am going to take solace in the fact that for once I am not responsible. I'm a warrior who is going out into the world with the strongest desire to avoid every war."

"A warrior in search of peace? Sounds a bit like Lewis."

The Armbruster's wolf looked up. "It does, doesn't it? Perhaps I will visit him and... and... what is Anubis calling himself nowadays?"

"Anders."

"That's right. Anders. I like it. Sounds very much alive, don't you think?" the wolf said with a smile.

"I am going to miss you, Donovan."

"And I will miss you, Eric. But I promise we will not be strangers. We are Changelings. We long for our family before we even take our first step away from them."

The white bear laughed. "I suspect you three will bite each other's necks before the year is out."

The wolf returned the laugh. "You are probably right. We have lived for six hundred years together. We certainly know we can get along." The wolf grabbed the polar bear from his chair and pulled him up into a hug. "Thank you, Eric. Thank you all." He kissed the bear. The kiss lingered. And continued until finally, the wolf groaned. "I had forgotten what a body feels like, Bear. Do you think you and your father husband might have a bit of time to educate an old wolf on some basics?"

"Like what?"

"Like what to do with this," the wolf said, backing away and thumping his erection with a paw.

"Sure, but you know three Changelings having sex will drive the temple dogs crazy," the polar bear said with a smile.

"That's fine. I'm free for a while. I was told they are teachers as well."

"You have three days?"

"Really?"

"Temple dogs, Donovan. Three days is asking them to rush things."

"Maybe I should check with Ivan and Francisco," the wolf said contemplatively. "Or I could invite them here if that's not a problem."

"Three temple dogs, three newborn Changelings. I see the start of some beautiful friendships." The bear leaned over and brought the ComLink online. "They're at Partridge Island, right?"

"Yes. Nathaniel was showing Ivan the hospitals. I think Ivan would like to start something similar in Europe. As for Francisco, I'm hoping that he isn't already ahead of me in this... this..." he thumped his erection again. "Will seems to be an inordinately friendly wolf."

Eric laughed out loud. "He is that. Let's go check. I'm sure one way or another we can get the family together." The screen lit up. "Hi Papa Bear," Martin said. His smile turned into a grin when he saw the wolf's erection. "Oh my, you've been naughty boys."

"No, but we intend to be. Are Ivan and Francisco there?"

"Yeah, they are, Papa. But we can get them there as soon as we talk to the twins."

"Thanks. I would appreciate that."

"Oh, Donovan?" the cat asked.

"Yes, Martin," came the reply.

"When you meet the temple dogs, remember the name Katashi. I know you guys are into that whole 'names have meanings' stuff, and his name means firmness." The cat stretched out his hands. "Like really, really firm."

The wolf laughed. "Are you all this easy with your affections?"

"Is that a problem, Ancient One?" the cat asked. "We can slow down if you need us to."

The wolf smiled. "We will adjust. I'm looking forward to it."

"Then bye for now. Let me get to work on getting you three back together." Martin waved, and the screen went black.

Chapter 29

Lewis and Anders relaxed on the floor of the lighthouse. Lewis rubbed the chest of the bear. "I'm sorry. I couldn't wait to get back to the house. Some chores need doing here during the night. I thought I could get them done, and we'd be off to the Keeper's House. And then you turned around to pick up the wrench with that beautiful bear butt..." the white wolf's voice trailed off and the two kissed again.

The bear grinned. "This floor wasn't so bad. It's surprisingly soft."

"It's made of old rubber tires. We put it down to help buffer the rambunctious kids who visit from the mainland."

Anders smiled as he looked up through the spiraling staircase. "It was worth the wait, Lewis."

Lewis laughed. "It's been twenty-two hundred years, Anders. I'd love to think I'm good, but nobody is that good."

"I'm not talking about the sex," Anders replied, "which, by the way, was fantastic. I was talking about waiting to be loved by the man I have loved all these years."

The white wolf looked into the bear's eyes. "But why, Anders? What would make you want to wait? Why did you even care about a man with so much hatred toward you?"

"All Changelings are born with gifts. It is the nature of our people to share those gifts with the Unity. While I hate to admit it, we are much like bees." The grolar bear paused. "Only without a queen. We all have our obligation to the Unity. We all give our part. And we all know our place in the grand scheme of our civilization."

"Some have gifts of power to build or protect, and some have the power of healing. Mine was the gift of discernment. We send my clan out into the universe to make first contact. We refine our senses to identify what is safe and what is not. I see past the facade that humans build trying to make themselves appear something other than what they are. In you, I saw someone who one day could cast away his warring and violence for something greater. I only wish I had survived long enough to guide you to that place."

"And here I am on Partridge Island with you two thousand years later."

The bear smiled. "You found your way here without me, Lewis. It has been a long road for both of us, but I want to believe we both have finally come home. I am grateful to be by your side once more."

"As am I," the white wolf said. His ears perked up. "We have a landing outside on the helipad." The two ran to the door of the lighthouse in time to watch Ivan and Francisco herded into the Red Wolf by Martin and Nathaniel. They waved as the hatch closed, and watch until moments later the aircraft disappeared into the sky.

Martin looked toward the lighthouse from the helipad observation deck and waved to the wolf and bear at the lighthouse door. He leaned into Nathaniel, talking for a bit, and then kissed the bear as he leapt over the railing and ran toward the lighthouse. When the cat reached the wolf and bear, Anders took the cat into a warm hug. "I'm sorry, Martin," he said.

Martin pushed back. "Why is it that all Changelings apologize for their powers?"

"Perhaps it is because we have brought so many calamities to your world because of them. It seems unfair to give them to you before we died, hoping you might do something better with them than we did."

"Laws of thermodynamics, Bear. You neither create nor destroy energy. That power had to go somewhere. Leaving it with individuals you hoped would use it wisely is at least acknowledging it could have gone somewhere far worse." The Cat smiled at the wolf and bear. "Race you to the top of the lighthouse!" he yelled, dashing past the two and toward the spiral staircase as he became human.

Anders looked at Lewis. "Are they all just big children?"

Lewis smiled. "Pretty much. We're very lucky they turned out so well."

Anders kissed his mate. "The race is on," he said, giving the white wolf a shove as he turned into a smaller version of his bulky bear before running toward the stairs.

At the top of the lighthouse, the three looked out over the bay. "You know another name for the Gallery, Martin?" Lewis asked, tapping the metal railing.

Martin looked down at the steel bars and grate that formed the balcony around the lighthouse. "Not really. I had forgotten you called it a gallery until you mentioned it."

"They call it a catwalk."

Martin laughed as his short tail flipped back and forth.

Anders put his arm around him. "We both agree. This is your catwalk, Martin. Come here anytime you need to find a place to get away from it all. If you want company, we will join you. If you need space, we will both make sure you find it here."

Martin put his arm around Anders and leaned in for a kiss. When it ended he said, "Anders, I saw it last night. The yellow glow from the downstairs lighthouse windows."

"I was excited. I'll be better at controlling it soon. This body is taking a bit of adjusting to, as you can imagine."

Martin laughed. "So, you and I, we're two of a kind?"

"Yes. The Yellow clan's gift is the power of discernment. We are the judges in our civilization. You are a member of the Yellow clan."

"You were the one who gave me this power?" the cat said as his paw became a yellow ball of light.

"No. There were three of us. There are always three of us. We form a single unit that uses the wisdom and personality of the three to buffer decisions. Three of the gifted are less likely to make the mistake of one."

"So, when you died early on..." Martin said, letting the thought trail off.

"The Changelings didn't always make the best choices. But hindsight is... I hope I have this right... twenty/twenty."

"That's true, Wise One," Martin said. He paused as the three watched the waves out on the bay. "So, is there a third now?"

"If the power is in force, there is always a third. My not truly dying threw off our balance. That is now corrected. Somewhere out there, there is another member of the Yellow clan."

"So, there is someone who shares this power with us?"

"Or something. I can't say what my brother did before he gave up his life."

"Is it possible that it is a human?"

Anders looked off in thought. "I don't think so. Humans are rather frail creatures. That you carry our DNA in your bodies protects you from the stresses caused by the powers you possess."

"But you gave us the Sight when we were human children," the saber-toothed cat protested.

"The difference between playing with a toy rocket and flying the Red Wolf," Anders replied. "We were trying to help protect your people in the absence of the werebeasts that died that horrible day. But when we couldn't be there to help guide you in any physical way, even that small amount of power hurt so many of you beyond ever healing."

Martin nodded in agreement. "I can't say I do all that well with it on any given day. I don't know how you deal with the multiverse spinning around in your brain, but one day it would be nice if you told me how to do it."

Ander's face dropped. "The multiverse? As far as we know, it doesn't exist."

The cat looked confused. "I see my world unfolding as a set of infinite possibilities. I take a step to the left and the world changes forever from the one where I take a step to the right. It's how I do what I do. It's how I brought back Oliver. I could see every step he ever took from that day on the plains and every potential outcome of our intervention to save him from his past. I simply kept pushing toward the outcomes that led him back to us."

The grolar bear shook his head. "I don't know what to tell you. I'm with you right up to where I see what's in front of me as a series of potentialities. But I don't see the outcomes. Martin, that's unique to you. I am like everyone else here. I have to take my best guess and wait to see how things turn out."

"Not me," Martin said. "Not when it's the ones I love on the line. I see it all. The bigger picture is still pretty much a jumble, but you throw anyone I love into the mix and it all crystallizes. It's why I knew Lewis had to come with us to the highland. It's why I don't worry about you two finding your way together." He paused. "And it's why I know we have to soundproof the Keeper's House a lot better than it is right now."

"Thanks for the warning," Lewis said with a smile. "We'll try to be quieter until we can get Greg and his crew to upgrade our home." Lewis rubbed the cat's back. "You know, Martin, you wouldn't be the first student to go far beyond the world of his teacher."

"No, he wouldn't," Anders agreed. "But he is also a student already far beyond me, who is only now awakening to the powers my brother gave him after the fall of the monastery. This is the... what is the colloquialism... tip of the iceberg? I will do my best to help you, Martin. In a way, it's in my job description. We are two of the three, but you are venturing into uncharted territory for me. You will teach me as much as anything I will teach you."

"And what about the third in our little tripod?"

"I hesitate to say. Eventually, we will find each other. We are drawn to each other and that urge for unity will not be denied. But how that will happen I don't know, because the possibilities at this point are as unlimited as those pathways you see."

"I was thinking the same thing. Or that the remaining Changeling didn't divvy it up to one individual. Maybe he gave it to five."

Anders smiled. "You're thinking about the Carver family?"

"It would make sense why their gifts are leaps and bounds above any of the other children."

"Oh, it makes perfect sense. But the Carver family isn't Yellow clan. They're Blue."

Martin laughed out loud. "Really? I guessed right? I mean, not the color, but I guessed why they're so close to us? They're not your average Canadian family?"

"No, but don't go telling them. They're going to have to grow into who and what they are becoming. Donovan gave each of them a bit of Mason's power, but the division wasn't equal. They all have to learn how to deal with their individual gifts."

Anders looked out on the bay. "They were a typical family at the start. It was Sarah's ability to love our children unconditionally that made us think she might be a choice to save the powers from flowing out into the void. Her husband's love of Nathaniel made others believe they could be the first human family to share in the greater powers of the clans.

"I have always been against giving any human the powers we possess without turning them first. They are too fragile. Donovan agreed. But Mason was the last of the Blue clan. He insisted one of the Carvers would need the power. His version of precognition differed from ours, and we couldn't ignore his vision. But Donovan would have no part in destroying another innocent. We reached a compromise. Donovan held Mason's power after he died, and when we realized all the Carver children had been born, he spread it across six, not five. Without the black wolf to house most of the power, the Carvers would have died on the day of the transfer.

"When Mason let go of his life, we lost forever whatever he believed about the Carver family. But we honored his wishes. The six share the powers of the builder class. They create unity from chaos. When Mason's life ended, we stepped in to further protect the family until we understood why he would have been so insistent that they gain his power. We still don't know why to this day."

Anders pointed to the Hargrove House. "Donovan put a block in place to keep all their powers dormant. Your Papa Wolfy's powers remained quiet as well. We had learned from our mistakes. We would not let the powers manifest until we returned and could help them with their newly gained powers. But I'm afraid a part of the children's gifts woke up when Oliver appeared naked in front of them. As for the parents, they're going to find things changing now thanks to Eric giving them the ability to hear us sing. Derrick's powers, like Will's, revived upon our return."

"So the children don't have the Sight?" Martin asked.

"You're attaching different words to the same power. What the Changelings gave is a part of our energy that we can focus and use for different purposes. We are born into the powers, but it is more than genetics. Our parents gifted us the powers through our birth. They are an extension of who they are, mingled with an understanding of the child being born. Each clan can manifest its power in very similar ways. It is, after all, the same power. But unique to every clan is the ability to manipulate the power in ways that make the clans stand apart."

The Children and Derrick have the Blue clan equivalent of the Sight. Will has the same power gifted from the Red Clan. And yours is from the Yellow. Oliver is special. His power to act as a locus of our powers is not from our world. It is a gift from the universe. However, his fellow Channeler, Donovan, gave him his Sight. He hoped his Sight would guide Oliver. Donovan was initially one of the warrior class, as Will is now. But as you learned just days before the ending battles at Mount Osogovo, something happened. The ability to blend our powers into a white light of incredible power manifested in the middle of a fight with the Children of the Night."

Anders looked out over the bay. "It was the first time they ever retreated. They had never seen a power quite like what Donovan wielded. No one ever had. Donovan's Sight was the same as his powers. It was incredibly powerful. Oliver is unique among you. Donovan gave Oliver the Sight so many years ago to save Eric, but the flow of that power, the Sight as it evolved in Donovan, found a new host in Oliver. His Sight is a mix of all our clans' psychic powers; and like your gifts, Martin, Oliver's are growing in ways we never imagined."

Martin leaned into the railing of the gallery. "Our badger is special. I see him and the old wolf in ways that make me realize that love can show up in the strangest places and be the most amazing thing." The cat was quiet for a moment and then sighed. "And they're both fucking their brains out with the pup right now out in the forest. It is driving me nuts!"

Lewis laughed. "Do you need a bit of distraction, Cat?"

Martin groaned. "Oh, gawd, do I ever."

Lewis shifted into the lighthouse keeper and raced to the gallery stairwell. "Last one to the Museum House has to bottom," he said as he bounded down the stairs.

Martin looked at Anders. "After you," he said politely, gesturing to the stairwell.

The grolar bear shifted back into his smaller form. "I think it would be best if someone explained to Nathaniel what he was in for before we all walk through that garage door. That someone should be his husband, don't you think?"

Martin frowned. "I hate losing on a technicality."

As the cat became human, Anders put his arm around him. "Not to worry, Cat. You're still going to bottom for me regardless of when you walk through that door." Martin smiled and raced down the steps.

Chapter 30

Eight days later, the Red Wolf arrived with the highland contingent ready to attend the mating reception of the three husbands. The three unaffiliated Changelings stepped off the ship with wide smiles. They had learned the meaning of Katashi, and all were glad for their education. Noboru, Katashi, and Zhuang lumbered off the ship together, followed by the father bears.

Many of the Were Nation from overseas had already arrived and filled all the spaces in the vacant homes on the island. The beasts crowded the gunnery apartments, more than happy to share a room with old friends that they hadn't seen in years. Once the island housing was full, the surplus of visiting beasts flowed out into Saint John.

With the last of the human tourists leaving the island, the island pressed the skiffs into service yet again. This time they acted as transport for the visiting werebeasts staying on the mainland. As each skiff arrived full of happy beasts, hosts guided them to the wharf-side Power Plant. The Power Plant was a new false-fronted building. It appeared to be the old two-story power plant, complete with a blackened smoke stack on the outside. But inside it was an opulent ballroom and convention center. There were various rooms for gatherings, both large and small. The facilities rivaled anything the mainland could provide. It became a popular destination for Saint John residents with a wedding in their future. Tonight, the reservation was for the three husbands, their families, and friends.

As late afternoon turned into evening, guests moved into the ballroom. They waited for seven o'clock and for the festivities to begin, mingling and snacking on trays of food surrounding the wedding cake.

Oliver glanced around the room and noticed a missing guest. He kissed his husbands and waddled away from the ballroom. Nathaniel watched and began following, but stopped when he saw Will and Derrick shake their head no. Outside, the badger adjusted his collar and tie. "Damn suit. At least I don'ts got to wear pants," he said as he ran down the path. Outside, the sun still had three more hours of summer before it would dip below the city of Saint John. Oliver knew where he was going, and the pathway there was one he had walked many times before.

When he arrived at the cemetery, he found Donovan kneeling at the new memorial. There, etched in green stone, were the names of all the fallen at the Battle of Osogovo. Included were the names of the werebeasts that died that day, never knowing of the battle, yet losing their lives to stop the Children of the Night. "So many names," he muttered to himself. "So many names." He looked up and saw the badger. "Hello, Oliver. I suspect I will regret ever giving you the Sight."

"You gaves it to me?"

"I choose to give you my Sight against the objections of my brothers when you were tracking my intended mate. I was hoping you would save Eric. He was my only link to this world, and the darkness terrified me. I'm sorry that I put so much responsibility on your shoulders so soon."

"You's pretty much a bastard, that's for sure."

"I thought it would be a one-time gift to you. I didn't realize one day the universe would give you the same power to channel that I have. You have taken on so much of who I am. I'm sorry."

Donovan was mute for a time, and then he whispered, "But I wasn't wrong in my judgment, Oliver. The guide hired to kill my mate stayed his hand. He never took a shot, and the young native boys survived. Without even knowing, you have saved so many lives because of what I did that day. You turned from what they hired you to do. You didn't kill. You kept Nathaniel from killing in the jungle. You fought to bring the children with the Sight to this island to protect them. You have done with your gifts things I never could. It is the one thing I've done that softens the guilt I have over how many lives are no more because of me." His paw traced over the names on the monument once more.

"I never meants to be hard on you, Donovan. I knowed you was the only one who could tell your story. Francisco weren't strong enough to speak the words. He's Warrior class like you. You ain't ones to talk. But, the others needed to hear what you hads to do."

"You're pretty much a bastard as well, aren't you?"

"Yeah, that would be me. You and me is two of a kind."

Donovan looked at the badger. "No, Oliver. We're nothing alike. I am a warrior. My job is to defeat the enemy in front of me. You are a Channeler, like me, but you guide your power toward resolutions that I don't even see. You find a way around the war. Me, I have lived too long. I have seen too much of death. The day will come when the brothers call me to their side in battle and when they do, I will not come back. I will die on that battlefield, as I should have done on Mount Osogovo. I should never have come back."

The badger reached out and petted the back of the wolf. "I knows it hurts, Wolf." He pointed to the smaller monument in the cemetery's corner. "Thems the names of the wolves I didn't save. We both hurts. Me 'cause of what I didn'ts do and you 'cause of what you dids." Oliver sat down beside the Armbruster's wolf. "We gots to find a way to forgives ourselves for what we dids and didn't do. There ain't no one alive who is pointing at us no more for what happened."

"I hear them, Oliver. I hear their screams inside my head. It is all that's left of the Sight in me. The screams of everyone I killed."

"I does too," the badger sighed. "We probably always will when the nights get long."

"What am I supposed to do?"

The badger stood up and reached for the wolf. "Come here. Gives me a kiss."

"What?"

"Damn it. Do you Changelings gots to question everything? Just kiss me."

The wolf leaned down and pressed his lips against the badger. The badger grabbed the face of the wolf and pressed closer. When his tongue slipped into the wolf's mouth, he found a willing partner. When at last the kiss ended, the wolf took a deep breath. "Well, you do that well, don't you, Oliver?" he said with a grin.

"You notice? No voices. They's gone, ain't they?"

"Yeah, they are," the wolf answered. "But that won't last."

"I knows it won't. I said the same thing when Martin kissed me to stop all the whirling in my head. But it's a step. You just gots to keep taking one step at a time, and one day the voices will tell you that you's forgiven. They'll let you know they understands how come you hads to do such a horrible thing."

"I doubt that day will ever come, Oliver."

"Stay here on the island, Donovan. Let them other two wolves go wandering. Stay here with one who understands and lets me help you." The badger grabbed the paws of the Armbruster's wolf. "Li Wei can help. Martin can help. You says you wants to die. We can kill the warrior without killing the beast. We kills the warrior by making no need for him."

"A warrior without a war, Oliver?"

"Help make it happen like Max did." The badger moved between the wolf and the memorial and pointed back to the stone. "Them names are the past. You don'ts never forget them. But you don'ts let them die in vain neither. You lives for them, and for what they stood for. You protects the innocents by making their world safe. We spends our lives makin' a world where we can be at peace you and me. We does it for them, but we does it for us too."

The badger reached up and rubbed the wolf's chest. "And you has fun. You kisses them gigantic bears, and you loves on them wolves. And now and then, maybe you kisses a badger. Go out and watches sunrises after making love all night. Sings your songs of the good stuff instead of only the sorrowful. Laughs, dance, and eat more dessert than you shoulds. Gives those who died the chance to watch you live the life they dreamed of living. You let them live through you."

"I would like that," Donovan said. "I would like to think there is forgiveness out there to be found." He shook his head not believing the thoughts that sped around in his mind. "I would like to think one day I might look out on this world and smile."

"Come backs with me to the party. Be with the ones who loves you. Don't stay out here in the darkness."

"I don't know if I'm up for a party, Oliver," the wolf said.

"And that's why you should go, Wolf," the badger countered. "You fights for your life now. Go out there and dance with the Old Bear. Kisses him and tells him you was wrong. You lets him know you loves him. You ain't gotta merge, Wolf. But you might mate one day. Them Changeling bears gots so much love to give you. They can free you from the hell you's in. This family is more than kin. They is life, Wolf, and they is waiting for you to come home. We is all waiting for you. You gots to take the first step, but we will be there beside you the whole way."

"And that first step is a party?"

"The first step is you putting me on your shoulders and taking me backs to my husbands. You watches one of your own who's on the path you has to walk. You sees a Channeler who found love and forgiveness. I needs you, Donovan. I gots a power I don't understand, and you understands it. You needs me because I'se found a way out of your hell where you's still struggling. We needs each other, Wolf. Time to come home. Your home is back there in the light. Takes me home, Wolf. Takes us both home."

The wolf picked up the badger and kissed him. He placed him on his shoulders, wrapping the little feet around his neck. He took his first step. A small smile came to his lips. "Oliver, if I have to stop along the way for another kiss, that won't be a problem, will it?"

"Nope, I likes kissing you, Wolf."

"That's good to know." Donovan took a second step and then a third. Before long, he walked through the front door of the Power Plant and into the welcoming arms of his family.

Chapter 31

Attendees flocked to the mating party on the island. As before, Sarah brought forth the mating rings wearing a flowing white gown. But this time her whole family was there to laugh as the badger put the rings on his husbands' genitals. Oliver beamed again with pride as the two wolves fitted him with his second mating band.

Unlike the first wedding ceremony on the island, this one included far more humans. It included all the children of the Marine Officer's Hospital, who begged not to go to bed until the cutting of the cake. Their foster parents didn't realize that the Sight showed them the cake-cutting ritual was the last ceremony before the end of the evening. But their guardian wolves took the subterfuge in stride as they always did with the little ones who saw more than they ever would.

Greg and Trevor had dressed to the nines in matching three-piece suits, one fitted for a human and one for a werewolf. Their fashionable display was for the benefit of two young girls alone. Dressed in beautiful gowns of lace and sparkle, the young twins danced with their adoptive fathers across the ballroom floor. Each father was doing his best to remember the steps their daughters had taught them.

Tyler and Michael's adopted six-month-old baby boy never cried the entire night. His eyes darted back and forth, watching everything. When Nathaniel walked by he reached out and said, "étreindre, mon oncle".

Michael smiled. "Comment dis-tu cela en anglais, Jean Pierre?" he asked the boy in his arms.

"Hug me, Uncle," the child responded, laughing as the bear swooped in to grab the boy in a hug and kiss on the cheek.

Lewis and Anders spent much of the night talking with Kendal Tucker, a young Canadian Coast Guard cadet with a great love of lighthouses. The lad had visited the island's lighthouse museum months ago. He wound up in the infirmary with a doctor bear, trying to explain to him how an island populated with werewolves could be safe. Kendal took to the explanations well once Nathanial introduced Lewis. Kendal made frequent apologies as he stared at the werewolf that helped design and build the Lighthouse of Alexandria.

Kendal lived at the residence in the Canadian Coast Guard Officer Training Program, but he came back from school to the island every weekend. Lewis secured a special leave pass for the young man to be with his mentor and work the lighthouse. Tonight, he was meeting the wolf's husband for the first time. Having never seen a grolar bear, it was exciting for the young lad on many levels. The human also showed a fondness for a young werewolf named Steve who lived on the island as a secondary supervisor in charge of utilities. The island inhabitants smiled and looked the other way, allowing nature to take its winding course wherever it led the two.

The cutting of the cake was as messy an affair as one would guess, with three children trapped inside bodies hundreds of years old. But enough cake survived the food fight between the badger and the wolves to allow everyone to have a piece. Some had a bit more. As Will ate his eighth piece of cake, Li Wei came up to the old wolf. Will shoved the piece of cake into his mouth and gulped it down. "I suppose this is going to be one of those control lessons where I stop eating cake, right?" he asked the dog.

Li Wei laughed. "Of course not, Will. I came to congratulate you on your mating. You have a beautiful family. Besides, a cake is no fun when done in moderation. Enjoy your cake, but realize that tomorrow you're back in practice, and I am a hard taskmaster."

Will leaned in and kissed the temple dog. "I know you are. Your being hard is one of my favorite things about training under you."

"Well, I may switch things up a bit and let you train on top tomorrow. We'll have to see."

Will smiled. "I love you, Li Wei."

"And I love you, Will," the dog replied. He looked out onto the ballroom floor, watching Greg and Trevor dancing with their daughters. As the white bear and Armbruster's wolf waltzed by, the temple dog smiled. "Such festivity is quite unknown in the temple dog community. We should get out more."

"I agree, Dog," the wolf said, patting the temple dog's broad shoulders. "Song's ending. Would you excuse me? I have to go talk to my bear husbands."

"Of course, William," the temple dog answered. "I would suggest you go with the fucking idea. It will have better results than the truth."

Will looked at Li Wei. "You swear you don't have the Sight?"

"I swear," said the dog, putting up one paw while the other crossed his heart. "I have known you longer than we both care to admit. That provides me an edge, so to speak. Go, be with your family."

The wolf gave the dog a quick kiss and turned toward his husbands.

Across the island, Oliver reached out and touched Max's memorial. It was one of many across Canada. Some had brass statues of the fallen hero; others were far simpler. On Partridge Island, it was a replica of the highland headstone where Max was buried. "I misses you, Human. I misses you so much. There are days when things happen here and I turn to say 'what the fuck' to you and I realize all-of-a-sudden you ain't here. But I still feels sometimes as if you's here. I hopes you is somewhere nice. But I wishes you was here instead."

The little mammal fidgeted. "You probably knows all about the mating. We's living in sin the way we should have been with you, Human. I would have liked to feel you inside me; to knows what it's like to let a human be that much a part of me again. Ain't never been another human I wanted so much as I wanted you. I wish we had more time."

The badger paused. "But I gots lots of beasts that love me now, and my life is good. We's gonna be letting ourselves be humans again. We gots to take back who we is besides our beasts. I gots you to thanks for that in large part. You taughts me that humans can be good. And you and Nathaniel taughts me how to love again. I won't never forget that, I promise."

The badger rubbed the stone around the carved name. "We's got powers, Human. We's like that stupid robot you was always nattering about. Martin, Will, and Derrick -- they's all got powers. Fierce and awesome powers like you wouldn't believes. And they's like Nathaniel's power. They even comes in colors like them beast robots. And me, I gots nothing 'cepting I can pull them all together. They forms the feet and legs. They forms arms and torso. And me I gives them head."

Oliver began crying. "I never wanted this, Human. All I ever wanted to do was give you head like you used to joke. I was hoping one day you would say yes. I wanted to be a little badger with you and the bear. But we's changed forever, and I guess the temple dog says change is good if we lets it be. Still, would be nice to just be little in your arms again."

"You will always be our little badger in my eyes," Nathaniel said as he stepped beside the badger. "You will be the little one I loved from the moment I took a towel to you and saw you all fuzzy with your hard-on poking out." The bear sat beside the badger. "Funny how we both thought of being here on the one night we're supposed to be with everyone else."

"I didn't wants him to be alone tonight."

"Me either," the two heard the cat say.

"Well, looks like the whole family is going to show up, Max," Nathaniel said, looking back at the cat with a sad smile. His paw reached out and touched the memorial. "I know you're not here, Human. You're not even back on the highland anymore. I'm pretty sure I feel you when the wind comes up from the south on sunny days, but I miss your touch. Our bed is so full, yet there are nights when it seems empty without you. I miss having the human in my life whose moral compass pointed true. I wish Oliver could have known what it felt like to have you as his husband." The bear rubbed the gold wedding band carved into his left ring claw. "I'll always wear it, Max," he whispered.

"And I wish I could have met you, Max," the cat said as he sat beside the badger. "You were my hero. I have tried to be the man you would have called a friend. I hope you think I'm taking good care of your family."

"He knows you are, Son," said the voice of the old wolf from behind the three. "Max was a good man. I miss him. There aren't many humans I can say that about. I think if Oliver had a bit more time, we would have had a wedding to shake the rafters of heaven. A human that married two beasts. That would have rocked."

Oliver looked up and smiled. "I woulds have liked that."

"Max would have too," Derrick said as he pushed himself up behind the badger. "You meant so much to him, Oliver. His days on this earth were so much happier because of you. You need to know that he was always grateful for that. From the first time he kissed you, you were a part of his family that he never let go of." He leaned in and bit the back of the Badger's neck. "Finally, the Sight showed me something worth telling my family."

Martin chuckled. "And here we are with him, making sure he realizes how much a part of this family he still is."

"I suppose the rest of the clan is going to wonder where we've gone," Nathaniel said.

"Nah," the old wolf said. "I told them we were going down to the tunnels to fuck each other senseless. I warned them they better not be coming to this side of the island anytime soon." The wolf reached out and touched the memorial. "If I told them we were going to do this, they would want to be supportive and all. I'm not sure I could deal with that. So, for the record, to make sure I didn't tell a lie, you know what we need to do after we leave here." The old wolf smiled. "Just saying."

"Wise idea," said the cat. The feline bumped up against the badger. "Sing for us, Oliver. Sing for Max. He should hear how beautiful you sound."

"I could sings if the bear sang with me," the badger replied.

"I could do that if the cat sang with me," Nathaniel said shyly.

The cat lowered his head. In his mind he saw the voice of the cat fade away, leaving only the voice of the Changeling who gifted himself to the cat. A soft yellow glow covered his fur for an instant and then vanished as he lifted his head and sang. The cat sang of the Megatherium who could not be with them on this night of all nights to watch his mate meld his life with old and new loves. He sang of the joy of being reborn as a saber-toothed cat that could carry on the love of the Megatherium for the bear and badger. He sang of all that he had lost and all that he had found.

And with his song, the voice of the bear rose to greet the words of the cat. Nathaniel sang of Max, and the world the human helped create. He sang of the heartache shared by all that Max was not there to share in the miracle that the island had become. The bear sang of his joy and love for the badger and the cat. He sang of his love for the wolves that were now husbands to his husband. He sang of all that he had lost and all that he found.

The little badger looked up and sang in his warm baritone. The words were clear and in English. Oliver was singing to his beloved Max in the language the human understood. He sang of the longing he felt so far removed from the human he loved. He sang of the joy that his island home gave him. The badger sang of sanctuary and forgiveness. He sang of his gratitude for all Max had taught him. He thanked the human for all that he had meant to the ones he loved.

The words in English flowed into the language of the Native American tongue of the red wolves as he sang of his sadness and grief at their deaths. Oliver sang of how their valor had taught him how to protect the defenseless and stand guard over those he loved. He begged their forgiveness and offered gratitude that they were in his life, no matter how difficult that life had been. He sang to them of memory and how he would not forget them as long as he breathed.

With an easy blend, the badger sang with his husbands in the language of the Changelings. He sang of all that he had lost, and all that he had found. And with his voice came the songs of the two wolves behind him. Their plaintive notes melded with the ethereal sound of the Changelings. They too sang of all that they had lost, but more so of all that they had found on this special night. The little family sang of love, redemption, sacrifice, and growth.

On the other side of the island, with the first note of the cat's song, the father bears looked up from the party and smiled. The white bear looked to the Terran Changelings and shook his head no. The tradition of adding their voices would not be happening tonight. Breaking yet again with tradition, the crowd remained silent.

With a wave of Kris's hand, the music stopped playing and heads turned toward the Changeling fathers. Kris smiled and held his husband. In his booming voice, he spoke. "This is their song, Terrans. Tonight, we let them sing together as one. Little children of men, listen to your protectors. Listen to their songs. Hear their pride for their mates. Listen to what undying love sounds like. Listen and learn what it means to be family."

All within the great hall bowed their heads and listened. Dá Lóng breached the bay and swam with his boys to the edge of the shore where his mate and her young girls waited. The dragon family listened to the voices from their nest on the beach. The pack in Montana bowed their heads and fell to one knee. Around the planet, werebeasts stirred by the song found their way outside and looked toward the sky. In the dark, in the morning light, in the full sun, the werebeasts listened quietly. All were content to let the five give voice to their feelings and hopes for their changing world. Across the galaxy, the Unity heard the song and was silent in awe of the moment. As the voices from the family of five merged into one, they sang to all the families of man, werebeasts, Changelings, and dragons. For one moment in time, all felt what it was to be one great family and to be at peace.

The little badger smiled. His hand reached upward, glowing a bright white as he pulled his family into the moment and held them there.