Danners

The ability to shift silently is an adaptation I wouldn’t have expected but it certainly makes sense. Easier to slip away unnoticed. I wonder if young Cernunnos retain a fawn’s ability to hold perfectly, absolutely still. EDIT: Cyn is positively adorable and I love how much trust he puts in Sheamus. His emotions are pure and undiluted by the constant inner monologue most of us deal with. One of the perks of spending so much time as an animal and one I envy. Something tells me there’s a wellspring of passion somewhere deep inside Cyn, ready to wash over Shea when they’re finally at a point when they can give new meaning to the term “buckshot.” As always, Cyn’s delight was infectious and I happily devoured this chapter.

I’m surprised Fergus didn’t throw himself on the ground, kicking and screaming and whining about not getting his way. Someone needs his binky and his baba. His boys throw fewer tantrums. I can’t wait until the big baby gets spanked.

Aw, this brings me back to the Brass Rail and the Gay ‘90s. I spent the better part of my 20s at the Saloon, so going to one of the drag shows — or the odd burlesque show — was a welcome change from the usual debauchery. Sometimes the drag show took a backseat to spotting the unsuspecting straight guys dragged there by their girlfriends and watching their reactions. This was a fun chapter and a walk down memory lane.

Another new chapter, another new facet of life as a deer. “How lonely” was my first thought but then you had me considering Cyn’s way of thinking. They don’t know to be lonely because they live in the moment, which makes sense as prey animals. Their breeding is by necessity alone; no lasting couples. No reason to get attached when either of you could die at any moment. You’ve done a remarkable job communicating life as a herd animal and in ways many of us never considered before now. Keep it coming. When he gets through this time in his life, I hope Cyn (with Shea’s help) can begin to show his fellow Cernunnos how much more there is to life. He’d make a lovely ambassador. But I’m getting ahead of myself . . . Can’t wait to share in their exploration as a couple, Cyn and Shea. I do hope he doesn’t feel betrayed when he learns of his wolf’s initial mission and understands Shea’s desire to know Cyn is genuine.

Aw, Gus and Rick are the cutest. I choked on my coffee when Gus pulled a mass of used condoms out of Mrs. Doyle’s toilet. Wrap that mess up in tissue at the bottom of your garbage can. Like Rick thought, at least Gabe and his friend are being safe. (The kid gets points for his t-shirt though.) Something tells me Heinrich Senior invested in Rita’s scheme, maybe even going so far as putting the business up as collateral. Or allowed her to invest in the business. A contract was definitely signed at that lunch. More worrisome — to me at least — was Jerry’s statement about Caroline Lee: “I hope so. She’s a wonderful lady, but she sometimes hangs onto her money a little too hard.” I sure hope that isn’t a nail in her coffin. Despite the likelihood of her bequeathing her savings and assets to Rick in her will, I want the funny ole broad to stick around. Or, I suppose, the mention of her money could be a kernel of hope should Rick decide to start his own business. He’d have an investor in Caroline Lee, I bet. So much going on behind the scenes in this chapter and even more before our eyes.

Welp. Assuming Jada survives the change, she’ll make a helluva she-wolf. Bigger balls on her than Fergus, that’s for sure. Jada for pack Alpha!

Thank you for more insight into the lives of deer shifters. Assuming Cyn’s life so far is a cookie cutter example, they must live very solitary lives and spend most of their time wandering in beast form. Whether traveling with a herd or just his mother, our boy hasn’t experienced real — i.e., what we consider human — friendship due to eschewing most civilization and the predators therein. It’s fascinating. I love how you’ve captured Cyn’s innocence, which is almost childlike at times. By putting his trust in Shea, he’s opened himself to the commander’s unit-cum-friends, and it’s a joy to see Cyn appreciating their bond. I get the sense he didn’t know he was starved for friendship until now and he can’t quite fathom someone being interested in him as an individual, let alone those people being lycans. (Never mind Shea’s confession at the chapter’s end and the heart fluttering it’ll cause!) The easy camaraderie between Jaime and Shea will definitely make it easier for Cyn to accept his place among them. I found myself smiling stupidly throughout the chapter. When Cyn meets Kara, you’re gonna break my face.

Omelets are a bitch when you’re impatient. I can’t wait for them to be done so I force myself to wait and by then I’ve waited too long . . . Greg is absolutely correct: it takes practice and experience. Next on the lesson plan: French omelets? It was comforting to watch Greg lean into Lee’s cooking skills. Discovering you have a knack for something is one thing, but having a mentor who encourages you is perfection. Helping Lee feel good about himself and arming him with an employable skill — one he’s serious about and enjoys! — will do wonders for the guy. Plus he gets to spend more time with Avery, whose friendship is genuine and who could eventually give Lee a taste of a relationship not based on services rendered. Not that Lee is ready for that, and I think he [Lee] knows that. For a guy who didn’t want to stick around, I’m pleased he’s setting down roots. More and more each day. Eddie better not cock it up. Last but not least, the scene in the squad car had me cackling out loud. That’s a partnership right there. (Please don’t shoot one of them.)

Now that’s a proper reunion. Nothing breaks down barriers between people like a good piss — and I mean that. It’s universal. Maybe now that Cyn recognizes Shea as the wolf who saved his life, he’ll be able to let his guard down more. Maybe even shift. I’m curious about the shapeshifters’ government in this setting. How long have the predators known that some of their prey were shifters? More importantly, how long have they known said shifters were capable of human intelligence? Don’t they go hand in hand? Or are there human form chipmunks chittering in trees with a mouthful of acorns and operating on mostly instinct? Love the story so far!

They kissed again. They were less urgent now; Rick noted how Gus smelled of sun and exertion; how he tasted of pepper and something else he couldn’t define. He reveled in the other man’s touch, even in the clunky embrace of the cast rubbing on his back. Damn it, Joey. Nobody likes a tattletale. Go play Hide & Seek in the basement or something. Experiment with a book of matches. Run with scissors. Anything! Just do it somewhere else!

I can’t hang all my hopes on Doris having the answer because, knowing our dear author, it won’t be an easy fix. It’ll hurt. In this case, all roads seem to lead to Fergus or, more likely, to an alpha’s moon-given dominance over other wolves. If that’s the case, and the bite of an alpha is necessary to stabilize a feral, then Jimmy may have to reach for that carrot and cornhole himself with it. What I’m hoping is for there to be something to Sawyer’s inner vision and the sixth sense he has about silver threads and the malevolent knot in his stomach. That presence — if it represents a wounded and angry (not stillborn) wolf — is something he needs to connect with and explore in order to discover a way to heal it or mend their bond. Then there’s the part of me gunning for option three: Sawyer unlocking the power of his wolf in an effort to rip Fergus’s dick out of Jimmy’s ass and instead tearing the man’s head from his shoulders. Ah, sweet dreams are made of these . . . Anyway, throughout all that’s transpired, Jimmy and Sawyer refuse to give up on each other and that’s truly heartwarming. It’s telling that Sawyer drew strength from Jimmy in order to be strong for Jimmy and vice versa. As long as they believe there’s a future together, they’ll fight for it.

Paranoia is as ugly a color on Fergus as jealousy is. He needs more than a shower and a good servicing (between his ears) to set him right. I can’t tell if Granger is really the lapdog Fergus makes him out to be. He’s ambitious and eager to please, and that’s something a man like Fergus should be wary of. Ah well. I look forward to when his true feelings are revealed. And Doris . . . You gotta love someone who speaks their mind regardless of to whom they are speaking. She knows her station and her worth, and she puts the pack’s best interests first — unlike Fergus. It was delightful to read. I wish she’d meet Jimmy and/or Sawyer. I think she’d be able to help. Her pack used to allow humans and werewolves to mingle for breeding and in that time there had to be cases of accidental bites. Or purposeful ones for that matter. Might explain the cage in the basement of Jimmy’s cabin, especially if it belonged to the previous Alpha, Doris’ husband. I applaud you for sticking to your schedule, Mister Mann, but how about a treat to tide us over until next week? Phases of the Moon: Pound Puppies Edition? Eh? Eh?

Well, damn, what a sweet note to end on. My poor heart is a puddle at my feet. Until we read the epilogue, we may never know if the future together they envisioned comes true. I’d like to think it does and that they’re at each other’s side and in each other’s arms until the end of their days. Maybe with a couple strays also cut from the same cloth, living in the safety of conjoined farms where being different isn’t cause for alarm. Someone or other to inherit the love of the land and the spirit of Boone and Coy, someone to keep their memory alive by offering refuge where no venomous sidewinder is welcome. A beautiful tale, Gary, from your beautiful mind. Now . . . when’s the next one coming?

Timothy makes a good point. Since a Rabid is essentially the result of a war between man and wolf souls, finding a way to bring peace between them might allow for the true union within a natural werewolf. With the human intellect subsumed by rage at having been invaded by another, it stands to reason the answer lies with Sawyer’s wolf and its instincts. Who better to guide a wolf than another wolf? Its mate no less. Or perhaps it can create something different, this synthesis. A coherent, intelligent partial transformation — the war form made popular in movies and stories and the hallmark of some Alphas. If it doesn’t work, I guess the silver lining is that Sawyer’s wolf seems like it trusts Jimmy’s and can be calmed by it. It’s something. A way to keep Sawyer from rampaging every month is better than nothing. Right? This situation is just so tragic and cruel that grasping at straws is all we can do. Sawyer deserves better, Jimmy too. They deserve happiness and a long life together as mates, not one shackled with the dread of the full moon and other wolves. I have a little hope left, Mann. Please don’t crush it.

Corker is a hoot! He also seems to be the anti-Lemon and someone whose honesty the boys can rely on. Please tell me he pops up again later on. It’s great to see Boone and Coy communicating so well and so freely now that their feelings were made clear. And their plans — their plans keep growing and evolving every chapter, in ways that bind them more tightly. Organically too, with the purchase of the horses and cart leading to talk of how to clear and harvest the land, the livestock they can comfortably support, etc (Not to mention the plowing, both in and out of the tent.) They’re truly invested in their future together. Keep ‘em coming, Gary. EDIT: As for Finny Ass, I think they hit the nail on the head when the mentioned he was probably trying to launder land. It’s a good thing the folks around Larkspur seem to be an honest bunch and won’t give Lemon aid.

I also love Lee’s prickliness in that it demonstrates how raw he is right now, and not only because of the withdrawal. He isn’t used to kindness being just that. Kindness as currency isn’t worth much in his line of work and he certainly wasn’t afforded any. So, I get why he’s trying to protect himself. That, and we know Lee doesn’t expect to be there long enough to connect with anyone, so why bother? Avery, though . . . man, Lee’s in over his head with that pokey little puppy and he doesn’t even know it. There’s nothing like pathological earnestness (and I mean that in a good way) to cut through a lifetime of cynicism. I mean, not overnight, but still . . . look at what the boy has accomplished in a couple days. Oh, and yeah, total surrender. You got me again, Wayne.

Dare I predict guilt in Lee’s future? Not to mention the . . . hmm, not confusion but him being unnerved by actually feeling something for Avery, caring what the young man thinks of him. Could be more of a milestone than him being turned in or caught red handed by Greg. You're drawing me in, damn it. *shakes fist*

Definitely worthy of a side story post. Phases of the Moon: Behind Bars (or, for we children of the 80s, Phases of the Moon: Pound Puppies).

Seems like Rick has hit an invaluable turning point in denouncing Willy Kohler — at long last — and I hope he meant what he said/thought to himself about ignoring the expectations put upon him by Rita and his father. Ridding himself of that baggage will take guts we know he has, along with determination he’s kept buried for so long. After all, the self hatred, the self doubt, his low self esteem, and the shame of being gay — at their core is his rape by Willy Kohler and those feelings being exacerbated by living under Heinrich Senior’s thumb his whole life. Being taken advantage of. Snip the core and the rest of the knot is easier to unravel. He can do it though. Maybe not by himself, but he does have people — friends — helping him already, and he has Gus (or aspirations for a relationship with Gus) as a catalyst for making him feel good about himself for once. Please, Rick, give up no ground; keep moving forward. And speaking of friends . . . I couldn’t help notice this: “Let me finish,” Jerry insisted. “I just want you to know I think you’d make a helluva husband. Someone’s gonna be damn lucky whenever they get around to finding you. You’re too good a man to stay on the shelf forever.” Jerry didn’t assign a gender to Rick’s potential spouse. I hope I’m not giving the man too much credit, but the aforementioned and other statements he’s made seem to indicate he’s aware Rick isn’t entirely heterosexual. In his own way, maybe he’s encouraging it. Kudos to him. Can’t wait for the concert next week!

You sure know how to keep a guy in suspense. Sawyer’s attitude about the change and its uncertainty is admirable. He’s really trying to stay positive, not only for himself but for his mate as well. If ole Lady Luna doesn’t see what a wonderful wolf he’d make, she’s truly a dim bulb. And Jimmy the Perv. Can’t say I blame the guy. When you’ve got someone as attractive as Sawyer prowling about, your eye is naturally gonna follow the bouncing ball(s). Keeps the mind from dwelling on less pleasant matters.

Color me satisfied. If that’s just the beginning of Boone’s lesson plan, Coy’s in for a wild ride. Pun intended. Again and again. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got some studying to do . . .

Well, since that was a double negative about the gunfight or any such thing, I’ll take that to mean Coy won’t be shootin’ blanks when he unloads into Boone or vice versa. How’s that for fireworks? As for love or drama ...

Okay, fine. I hope there is drama or sabotage because of the satisfaction we’ll get from Coone (or Boy, the ship name is up for grabs) overcoming it. That and the following smack down. There’s lots of room to bury their enemies between those two plots of land. Whatever happens, we’ll be counting down the days between chapters . . . unless, y’know, you decide to post early?

That about sums up my reaction. I can barely string two words together, I’m so happy. Sloppy drunk with happy for the boys being on the same page and openly professing their love. As friends they made a formidable team; as life partners, I pity the miller who tries to cross them. In exchange for the inevitable drama and sabotage by the bureaucratic government weasel (because you torture all of your protagonists), how about giving us a demonstration of one of Boone’s lessons? Coy’s a quick study, so even a pop quiz would suffice. The tent practically pitches itself . . . so to speak.

What an excellent chapter. Jimmy’s past is a tragedy but his telling of it, his admission, was beautiful and I’m glad it lessened his burden of guilt. You can’t control how others react, but Jimmy took his chances for the right reasons. It really wasn’t his fault; he was in love. For all the racism and fire and brimstone teachings drilled in to Mitchell’s head, no one else made the decision for him to gather a lynch mob. He let fear and anger dictate his actions, and he chose to betray Jimmy’s trust in the worst way. He picked up a rifle; he took the shot. Sawyer’s reaction proves he is the mate Jimmy needs and the mate he deserves. He is molded to Jimmy in a way that bolsters him, shoring up where and when he feels weak. The trials Sawyer has gone through in life seem tailored to make him Jimmy’s other half, as I’m sure is also the case with Jimmy for Sawyer. It’s gonna be thrilling to watch their two halves become whole. I do hope Jimmy fully claims Sawyer before the full moon — y’know, with a bite mark and all. I have a feeling it’ll improve his chances. Anyway, yeah, this chapter is a personal fave. So, so good.