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Two hours later the pair was still

at it. Maggie had been caught in a loop of ever changing forms, from werewolf

to feral and then back to her winsome, pre-nubile self. Edward loved it all,

knowing that despite all of the hardships and heartbreaks, he had to be one of

the luckiest men in the world.

For now he had money; he had power;

and on top of that he had Maggie. Somewhere down the line they were going to

have to get married on paper, but it wasn't going to happen back home. He had a

feeling that the red tape involved in sorting their case out wasn't going to be

worth it. They had her birth certificate and all that now, so they were going

to have to slip through the legal cracks before anyone caught on.

Getting married by the pope was

only going to be ceremonial at best, assuming they went through with it now. At

this stage of the game, it seemed a rather moot point.

Maggie was under him now, they

having switched places several times over the past couple of hours. The bed was

in complete disarray. There wasn't a single pillow or sheet left on it.

"Husband?"

He nuzzled her neck. "Yes?"

"What will become of us?"

"What?" He was startled by her

question.

"I mean, sometimes I think like you

do and would rather just settle down, as in the idea you have for Wolf Creek.

But would you and I really be happy living in one place, doing only one thing?"

"I don't know. There is something

to be said for being on the move, and there is something to be said for being

staid in one place. I guess I would have to say that one is likely to follow

the other. At some point, we would find the need to settle back down."

"You know your old house?"

"Yes, of course I do."

"Do you realize that now, you'll outlive

anyone in your neighborhood probably by a few decades at the very least."

"So?"

"So, I don't think we'll ever be

able to go back. Mom had a house there too. Which made me wonder."

"About what?"

"Why you and I lived so close and

yet never met until we did."

"Hmmm. You have a point. But then,

why would we? There are thousands of people in that town that I've never met."

"True. But the saying that like

calls to like keeps coming up. I mean, the deeper into The Kind we seem to be

drawn, the more unlikely I find it that our meeting was chance."

"Maybe. But then, what else could

have drawn us together?"

"I don't know precisely, but I'm

beginning to think that this has been some sort of set up all along."

He considered her statement. "Maybe.

There is something to be said for chance. Your mom was hiding out from your

father. Me, I have no idea why my parents moved there. I really haven't had the

time to reconnect with them with everything that has been happening."

"Admit it; you're still a little

angry at them, aren't you?"

He sighed. "Maybe a little. Do we

really need to discuss that right now?"

"No. But I know I was mad at my mom

and grandma. I understand it all a little better now, but I think that I got a

raw deal...unless this was a set up. Then

who can say?"

"How could someone set us both up

so effectively? I mean, that would take a lot of foreknowledge and..."

"And?"

"Nothing. I was just thinking that

the only way someone could do all that was to be able to see the future far

more effectively than I have been able to do."

"That doesn't sound like much of a

trick. You really suck at it."

He ignored her jibe and thrust into

her with a solid push. She groaned a little but refused to fall back into their

pleasurable routine. He spoke a little tersely.

"Maybe I do. I see things, but they

either don't go the way I see it, or else it becomes some blurry version of it.

I wish I knew why."

"I think you said it before. Maybe

you can't see things you're going to affect. I mean, that seems pretty solid

along the lines of logic."

"I keep wondering that too. But why

else would seeing into the future be a useful talent if you can't do something

about the bad things you see?"

"Yeah, you've got a point there.

But we have managed some pretty remarkable things, or do I have to keep

reminding you?"

"No, I understand that. I just wish

I could see something solid. Everything seems so foreign and nebulous."

"Well, I for one am not nebulous. What

say we cut off thinking, which never does us much good, and return to more

pleasant dramas."

"Dramas? Like what?"

"Oh, I don't know. Maybe just how

far inside you can reach with that organ of yours, or how many changes I can

make in an hour, or..."

At that moment a clatter struck the

bedroom window. Since this was the second floor, that meant someone or

something was outside it.

That meant it needed investigating.

Maggie was pissed. "Who the hell

dares to interrupt us?"

Edward kissed her before answering.

"I have a feeling it's the men from the bar. Reynard did mention that they were

going to show me tonight what a Kludde was."

As they turned to stare out the

window, a red pair of eyes became visible. They weren't motionless, but rather

bobbed slightly up and down, and a little side to side. Whatever it was was not

perched, but rather hovering just outside the window pane.

Maggie smiled and looked up at

Edward. "Kludde?"

"I guess so. I think we therefore need

to get dressed and go out and see."

"Dressed?   We'll likely just be changing into one form

or another. Clothing is just a drag then. We go down as we are."

And they did. Out on the street,

the lights were out in the area surrounding the inn. It was obviously not an

accidental thing. Overhead could be heard a distinct rustling. There were many

pairs of wings flapping, quiet but yet sounding very solid and real. Then, one

by one the group vacated the airspace and landed in front of the pair.

Each was a wolf; black as night.

Each had a pair of bat-like wings erupting from their shoulders. Maggie felt

suddenly overcome with emotion. She ran to the nearest one and gave it a big

hug. The face went from fierce defiance to confused humor. When she let go it

transformed into Reynard.

"Little lady, no one has ever

hugged old Reynard while he was looking his scariest."

"Scary! You're beautiful!"

The rest of the Kludde chuckled at

their former leader's discomfiture. "Beautiful? No one has ever called me that!"

"Just look at you! You have wings!

I wish I could use mine properly, but I couldn't get them back the way I

should."

"So you are one of the privileged

ones then?"

"I guess. I used them once to save

my husband, but then I couldn't get them to go back into place."

"Terribilis Forisfacturam."

"What?"

"Tis from the old Roman. It means

that in a moment of fear you gave up one thing for another. You will need to

find yourself before you can use all of what nature has given you."

"Find myself? I think I'm still

doing that. I had lost a part of me for a while that I'm still coming to grips

with."

"Yes, we all lose parts of

ourselves. Some of it is a good riddance. Other things you lose, if you don't remember

them, were they really important to begin with? Anything worthwhile has a habit

of sticking with you."

"If you say so. It sounds more like

you're talking in riddles."

"Maybe. But what's they fun in

being told everything? That would leave you nothing left to learn, and boredom

has killed more men than most wars."

"So, are you guys here to show me

how to use my wings?"

"No! This group is for males only. No

offense dear, but your husband has been placed in charge of the group, and as

such, he must run with us tonight. We promise to bring him back before dawn."

Edward was bemused. "I don't have

wings. What can I do for you that you can't do on your own?"

"Lead. Wings are only a method of

locomotion. We have good minds, but we have used up our allotment of

imagination. You are fresh blood and therefore a wellspring of innovations."

"And just what do you need

innovations for?"

"The future. We live in the present

and plan for the future."

"I see. Well, I am at your

disposal, for whatever good it will do you. So what do we do?"

"We? This is for you alone. The girl

is welcome to our clan, but she is not to be part of this group, at least not

yet."

Maggie rather figured she was going

to have a long night waiting for them to get back. She was still a little horny

and more than a bit perturbed that their late night intermission was going to

be permanent. Her reply was loaded with iciness.

"Go. I'll find something to do."

One by one the Kludde flew off,

leaving Edward standing there alone. "Are you sure you're ok with this?"

She smiled. "No, but I think that I'll

get over it. Go and have fun. But you owe me for another few hours of fun when

you get back. You had better save some energy for me."

He kissed her. "I'll do my best."

With that he morphed into his feral self and vanished into the dark.

She sighed and plunked down on the stone

street, heedless of the cold pavers against her bare backside. She wasn't there

more than a few minutes when she heard wings again. The sound was a mere

whisper, but she knew it for what it was. Wings had seemed so special to her,

and now it seemed like everyone had them!

She was expecting one of the guys

to have returned on some errand. She was mildly surprised when the red eyes

approached her. The wolf-like form ran and shifted into the semblance of the

barmaid from earlier.

"Hello."

Maggie grinned. "A female? I

thought this whole Kludde thing was male only."

"Kludde? What's in a name dear? Some

humans are white, others black, others yellow, but they all can breed with one another,

so they are all the same in that aspect."

"So then you're just like them?"

"I am just like me, just as you are

just like you. Quit worrying so much about defining everything. You can create

a category for everything without actually defining it. Sometimes it just

better to be instead of attempting to fit in."

"You mean like them leaving without

me?"

"No, but I guess you can think of

it that way. Let the men have their fun. I'm sure no harm will come of it. They

have reputations to uphold around here, so they'll not get into too much mischief."

"So what am I supposed to do in the

meantime?"

"Well, if you don't mind my company,

I thought maybe I could open the tavern and we could talk over a few drinks.

The men fail to understand the viewpoint of a female, one of the things that

has kept them tied down to their old habits. But who am I to argue with the

likes of them? They have wings and fierce teeth and old age behind them!"

"Are they really that old?"

"They are, but I think that doesn't

surprise you. Come on in and we can talk. I'll answer your questions as I best

see fit."

The door seemed to be already

unlocked and Maggie had a creeping feeling that again, this was all foreseen.

She wished Edward hadn't run off. She could handle her own, but she felt more

comfortable knowing he had her back when necessary.

"What do you care for? Jenever is

popular, but perhaps you would prefer something less traditional?"

"The beer you were serving earlier

is fine."

"As you wish." She drew two large

mugs and sat down across from her. It didn't seem as odd as it should that they

were both naked. "So young lady, tell me about yourself? It seems that your

errand is a fool's one.  I understand

that you seek the Lady Lily. Everyone knows the rule. No one seeks her; she

seeks them."

"So I have been told more than once

since we've landed on this continent. But if she didn't want us to find her,

then why did she tell us to search her out?"

"That is a good question. Have you

any thoughts on that?"

"No. I mean, if someone wants to

talk to you, you normally just call them on the phone or something like that.  While she did seem to save us from floating

around on the sea, since then it has been a little odd."

"Odd? How so?"

"Well, she did set us up to get

healed after everything we had been through."

"That doesn't sound so bad."

"Well no, it's not."

"So then, what happened next?"

"We ended up here."

"And this place is so bad?"

"I didn't say it was bad. But how

is it that we ended up with a group of people a bit like us? I mean, there have

to be hundreds of towns around here that aren't populated by members of The Kind."

"Kludde. The men have grown fond of

the old name. But I digress. Yes, it would seem impossible. So you didn't plan

on stopping?"

"No. Honestly we didn't even know

about this place. I just wanted to talk with my husband. He has been a little

preoccupied since we had our encounter."

"Yes, with the only true monster

among us. If you truly killed him, then you did him and the rest of the world a

favor. His evil was very deep, even if he was occasionally able to turn his dark

side to good works."

"You know about him then?"

"Many of us do. The younger folks

tend to dismiss the old lore, but Hyde, he was not so old to many of us. "

"And no one tried to stop him?"

"What was there to stop? Robert managed

his inner beast quite well. It was known that something would happen that would

draw it to a head. From there the result was difficult to predict. The future

can be funny at times."

Maggie nodded. "Like Edward. He

sees things but they seem to have little meaning for him. We were just talking

about that."

"Foresight? Yes, it can be

difficult to manage from what I understand of it. The more you involve yourself

with what you see, the less it comes true."

"Can you see the future?"

The woman shrugged. "Better than

some I guess I would say. Men are often more apt to try and place their own interpretations

on it. It is far better to let it unfold."

"But what if you see something

terrible?"

"What if?"

"Doesn't that mean you're committed

to try and stop it?"

"A moral question? The future flows

like a stream. There are times when the water is muddy and you cannot see what

lies beneath the surface. Even when the stream is clear, you are best to peer

over the side and see what you can see. The moment you enter the stream, you

create eddies. The more you flounder, the more you disturb the flow, raising

sediments and silt. Everything upstream from you remains intact, while the flow

downstream becomes cloudy and hard to penetrate. "

"So you're saying what Edward was

thinking. That the only way to see the future is to stay out of it?"

"Stay out of it? You can't stay out

of it. We are all part of it. But your point is that the more you try to

interfere, the more you mess things up?"

"I guess that's what I mean."

"Then that is correct. So if you

see that someone is going to be killed by getting hit by an automobile, you

could save them, but what would the result be?"

"I don't understand."

"I don't suppose you do. If you

managed to distract the driver, and thus he somehow misses the person you saw

getting hit, what is to say your actions might then not precipitate a worse accident

involving a busload of people? Would one life be worth twenty?"

"Well..."

"Your thought is; what if that one

person was important?"

"I guess so."

"How do you weigh such a thing?"

"I can't."

"Correct. This thing would happen

regardless of your knowledge of it. But upon gaining that knowledge, you are

then stuck into the quandary of what to do with that information."

Maggie was quiet. "So why does

Edward have that talent if it has no real use?"

"Your husband isn't the only one.

As I said, it works better in the female side. We have more sense to begin with.

So the use of it is in what you do with your life. You should interfere in

other's existences as little as possible unless they invite you."

"Sounds pretty useless to me. I

mean, I know that using it for things like lottery numbers and such is sort of

unethical, but it's like having a tool and being told you can't use it."

The woman drank a pull from her

glass. "Can you perform surgery?"

"No."

"But there are those who can. The difference

is not talent nor ability, but training and dedication. Your husband must learn

to control himself. He has much to be feared in him. His power seems to me to

be great, and there are things about him that the men do not understand. I

think that he himself loathes what he might become."

"And you do understand?"

She smiled over the rim of her

glass. "I am a woman. He is a man. It has always been that the female knows the

man better than the man knows himself. Even you should know this."

"Are you trying to make a move on

him?" Maggie felt her hackles rise.

"No! Such talk! As one girl to

another, I am telling you this. Follow your hunches like I think you used to

do. You have as much about yourself as he does to himself. You know this, and

he knows this, but you have yet to know it all. You both have youth. And before

you tell me how mature you are, I don't want to hear it. Age is relative. Experience

is not. You must trust in each other explicitly, or not at all."

"Is that so? Do you have any idea

of everything I've been through? That we've been through?"

"I take it you're going to tell me."

And she did. For the next few hours

she spilled it all out. She hadn't had a chance to unload to anyone since she

had met Edward. She was still trying to sort it all out, from her original

memories to her present partnering. She finally broke down crying.

The woman came around the table and

sat down next to her. "Life can be hard dear. You have been lucky to live

through a few skirmishes. Try a fully fledged war. Or several. You have

troubles now because you have weathered through these things and come out alive.

Not everyone does.  But these things are

in the past. They have brought you here, but they do not dictate where you will

go. The future, seen or unseen, is not written until you write it."

Maggie wiped her nose on the back

of her hand in a childlike manner that made her feel more in tune with her

feelings. She had so much fear inside that she had no idea how much it had been

driving her. She maintained her immature form because she was afraid that Edward

would ignore her if she wasn't somehow a taboo item for his pleasures. She

loved him, and she knew he loved her and though her act had once been real, now

it was simply a holdover.

"I scared to grow up. It works for

me being the little girl, even though I know I'm not."

"I was young once too you know. Men

are not so different now than they have been all along. An individual may have

different tastes from his fellows, but they are all hardwired for the same

thing. Your Edward needs you as much as you need him. You both know this and

yet you still have uncertainties. In this you are acting human. At some point I

would suggest you find a place out of sight and spend time together as

werewolves. It is that portion of your being that makes you who you are."

"You mean, like just running wild?"

"Yes, just like that. No rules to

follow, only your nose when it catches the scent of prey, or staying up to

watch a full moon and to feel its pull on your soul. To feel the raindrops on

your fur.  Things only the wild side can

truly appreciate."

Maggie brightened. "That does sound

like fun."

"It is. I've done it alone and I've

done it with a partner many times in my lifetime. There is a time for acting

the part of the hero and heroine, and then there is a time to live for

yourself."

"Well, we were having some time to

ourselves when that crew broke it up."

"Sex? You're weres dear. You can

have sex whenever and wherever you wish. But have you thought to the future?"

"How do you mean?"

"You are old enough to look adult,

but you have a ways to go before you will be ready for breeding. Have you any

idea what that encompasses?"

Maggie twisted up her lip in a

grin. "Sadly, yes. Edward is presently the pending father to an undetermined

number of children."

The woman nodded. "Then you

understand the urge to breed is very strong. Is this part of the reason you

have doubts? Because if he were to meet a female in heat that he might throw

you over to be with her?"

"Maybe."

"He is young too. The separate sides

of what you are still have some barriers in place. Time will erode them until

he is fully capable of understanding his actions in any of his forms."

"He did for one of them. He was

going to marry her."

"Was he now? And what held his

hand?"

"Me I guess. And her. I don't think

she was really interested in marrying him. It was just her time and she had

found no other to mate with."

"That does happen. So in the end,

are they both happy?"

"I think Edward is. Verona has

hooked up with my Uncle Alexei and he plans on caring for the baby as if it

were his own."

"He sounds like a good man."

"He is, for a mobster."

The woman let out a laugh. "Never judge

a were by what they do in the real world. We have been placed in positions of

power, and we have lived the lowliest lives there are. It is what they do to others

of The Kind that really matters. We treat regular people no better or no worse

than they treat themselves."

"I guess so. So in the end, you're

trying to tell me what? To relax and go with the flow?"

"Not exactly. You seem very bright

and resourceful. That is inherent to who you are. There are dull people out

there, even among those we count as our own. There is as much variety and disparity

among us as there is in the general population."

"I am beginning to see that. When I

was alone, I thought I was the only one. I did some terrible things, but I did

them to terrible people. I didn't like killing for..."

She looked up to the woman. "Do you

know anything about needing to kill and eat people?"

"Ahhh, you had the curse?"

"Curse?"

"Oh, it's not a curse. A disease.

Again, never assume your abilities make you invulnerable. Silver is the big

one, but you have that ring. Your husband has one too."

Maggie thought about mentioning the

mass of it in his head, but felt that maybe she shouldn't. "What sort of

disease?"

"What else? An infection. It takes

hold of you, but your system is too strong to be overrun, but not so complex as

to be rid of it. It was very common hundreds of years ago, and was rather

restricted to our lands here in Europe."

"But how did I get it?"

"From your parents dear, one or

both. Did Edward have it?"

"No. But then he didn't do his transformation

until late in his life. I sort of thought that might have protected him."

"It's possible. I can't say that I

have devoted a lot of thought or time to such matters. It's difficult to worry

about matters that don't directly affect you."

"I suppose not. But hasn't there

been anyone who has investigated a disease that can affect us?"

"You would have to find that old

scribe they call Brother Carcharoth. They say he records everything he can get

his hands on."

Maggie threw up her arms in dismay.

"But we just came from him!"

"Then you either have to retrace

your steps or give up your inquiry until another time. That is often the way

life treats you. Your only means of fighting fate is to keep a hold of your

need to learn until such time as the opportunity presents itself. Then you must

ask the right questions to receive the proper answers."

Maggie wrinkled her nose and sat

silent for a moment. "What if you don't like the answers you get when you get

them?"

"What then? One mustn't allow

personal feelings to cloud their judgment when it comes to learning the facts.

Living your life while turning away from the reality that surrounds us is very

dangerous. Many people, ordinary or otherwise, die every day because they

choose improperly. I for one have lived my life on the edge more than once, but

I did so with the full knowledge that I might not escape the predicament I

placed myself into. From what you have told me, you have used your wits wisely

more than once."

"Yeah, I guess so. I hated to do

it, but it seemed that if people thought I was dead, then the problem might get

solved."

"A wise ploy, but not always the

best one. I think that at some point in time you will need to go back and face

up to those matters that you have shunted to the side. Your father, for

example, might have had other plans for you, but the fact remains, he is your

father. But this is for you to decide at such a time as you see fit."

"And what of your parents? Did you

have problems with them when you were my age?"

The woman found it was her turn to

pause. "Yes, I suppose you could say that. But that is a story which requires

time to tell, and I think that today is all about you."

"If you say so. I just can't help

feeling a little uneasy about where we're heading."

"And where is that?"

"I don't know."

"Then, like most people, you are

living your life one day at a time. You have no idea how tedious it would be if

you really did know everything ahead of time."

"I guess so. But it seems that each

little adventure has been one step higher on the rung in regards to the level

of danger we have to face."

"So, fear still has a grip on you,

just as you said. What would you rather have? Unlimited confidence?"

"I used to feel that way."

"Me too. Life does tend to temper

you. Fear is no bad thing. I believe your feelings on the matter are more

related to your other half. "

"Edward? I gave him my heart you

know."

"And he has given you his. What else

do you want? Assurances? Life doesn't give us any. I suppose if you still have

that question on your mind should you ever find the Lady Lily, you can ask her."

"And will she answer me?"

"I guess time will tell. You have

to find she-that -can't-be-found first."

Maggie shook her head. "Yeah. That.

All we have to go on is her words and a key."

"A key? To what?"

"I wish I knew. She didn't say."

"Then don't fail to fit it in wherever

you might think it will work. If she gave it to you, it does something, I'm

sure of that."

"I think so too. But these little

mysteries are just part of some bigger enigma that we keep finding ourselves

tangled in."

"Then maybe this will help you to

free yourselves from it. "

"Hmph! I doubt it. This is just one

big conspiracy!"

The woman laughed. "So could be

said for life in general. Everyone is throwing nets trying to catch themselves

some trophy or another, and then someone else does the same, taking it away

from them. People are always scheming, and it is rare that their plans come to

fruition. But what they have child, is a plan. You and your husband might want

to consider figuring out what it is you seek, both from life and from each

other. Set it in your heart like it is set in stone. Tie your fears to it. Then

you will be free."

"Sounds a little lame to me."

"Perhaps it does. But if you can

find another way, then by all means use it. I am talking from experience. And forgive

me for being smug, but I think I have a few years over you."

Maggie yawned. "Yeah, I suppose you

do. And look, the sky is beginning to lighten up. Can we expect the boys back

soon?"

"Very soon. They don't make an

appearance in the sky when they can be seen by mortal eyes. And walking in the

streets naked is only acceptable on those occasions when they can blame it on a

night of heavy drinking. Your husband will return a bit wiser to their ways,

and maybe you two will have a few things to discuss when he does. But don't be

too hasty. Some things can't be forced. They need to be felt; they need to be

learned."

"Now that is something I already

know."

"Then you are off to a good start.

But as you say, it is getting light out. We had both better find our clothing,

or else a place where our nakedness will draw no attention. Even here, where

the people tolerate a little oddity now and again, they might get up in arms

about a group of naturists springing up in their midst."

Maggie giggled. "I suppose you're

right. I was going to jump him when he came back, but I'm feeling very tired

right now."

"Then go and sleep. Even the

strongest among us need to sleep. We might seem unnatural to many people, but

we are as natural as the rest of the life on this planet. We're just different."

"That's an understatement."

"Is it? I think not. Never assume

that what you know is all there is to know about something. Always look deeper."

"I'll do that later. Right now I'm

heading to bed."

The woman kissed her on the

forehead. "Rest well. I'll see you again."

Maggie smiled and made her way to

the inn. The bed was still in disarray, but she didn't care. She could still

smell Edward's sweat and other scents on the sheets and snuggled up to wait for

him. She fell asleep soundly within minutes.