Morningstar: The Malaise - 26. Chapter 26 Strength In Numbers

Morningstar: The Malaise

Chapter 26

Elinor approached her son with eyes welling, gripping both forearms as he stood uncertainly in her office, his back to one of the windows. Hazel eyes, so like his mother’s, were also shining with unshed tears. “I’m so sorry for what you had to do. It’s all right… I know it can’t be an easy thing to deal with, but you did nothing wrong.” It was a whisper that entranced Kellar as he stood alone and watched the effect her comforting words had on his mate. “I’m so proud of you, and the courage you've shown.”

Her voice returned to a more normal level. “I can’t help that I still think of you as a kid, but you’re not, are you. You never really were in a lot of ways… such a serious little boy my son was.” She smiled briefly as she reached up to touch his cheek, and Tobyn responded in kind, with just the hint of one. Kellar almost felt like an intruder on their intimate moment.

“Not many would have kept their heads the way you did, with your mate in so perilous a situation, especially at your young age. You’ve grown into a strong man, and a good man, Toby. Removing that despicable murderer from this earth is something that had to be done, so never beat yourself up over it. You saved Kellar, and removed a very real threat to our pack… to every shifter out there.” Moving her hand to the back of his head, she pulled it down and kissed his forehead before wrapping her arms around him. “Are you okay?”

“I am now, Mom. I guess I needed to hear that,” he murmured. His one shudder made Kellar wonder if he really was, but when that golden head rose to look at him, the smile bestowed was full and genuine. The wounded expression he’d carried into the room no longer inhabited his face. “Are you always going to be right about everything?”

Kellar laughed. “Yeah, probably. What can I tell you… it’s a curse.”

Elinor slowly released Tobyn from her tight embrace, dabbing at her eyes as she surveyed the two of them. “What are you boys talking about?”

“Just the typical stuff… like how he’s always right.” Tobyn wiped the corners of his eyes too. “Kellar told me exactly what you would do when I let you know about the hunter… I was kind of dreading telling you what I did… and he nailed it. I’m beginning to think he’s psychic.”

“Not psychic; just smart,” Kellar joked, but then became serious. “And deep down, you knew darn well what your mom would say. It’s hard to see through the trauma, though, isn’t it?”

Tobyn nodded at Kellar in understanding and agreement. “It was pretty traumatic… not gonna lie. But I’m feeling a lot better now, and Reznick is history… like he should be.”

It was the first time he’d heard Tobyn say the hunter’s name without that hesitant hitch in his voice. He’d finally let his inner turmoil go in this moment. What Kellar had just witnessed was the power of a mom, a good one, and he felt a tiny ache for the one he didn’t… could not remember. He would give anything to be able to picture her face… or his dad’s. It was something he used to wish for every night as a kid, before finally accepting the futility of it. There was a cruel irony in now having a photographic memory… for colors.

“I’m so glad to hear that, Toby,” Elinor said. ‘So, what happens now? Is the threat of hunters in our area over, do you think?”

Tobyn looked from his mother to Kellar. “It’s your turn, doc.”

“Okay,” he said, pushing away those melancholy thoughts and motioning for Elinor to sit at her desk, while he and his mate took seats across from her. “That nephew Tobyn mentioned when he told you what the hunter said? Yeah, he’s still around. I almost ran into him today, about ten or twelve miles south of my cabin.” Kellar proceeded to tell her about the visit to the truck hidden in the woods and what he had experienced, leaving nothing out. Elinor didn’t show any reaction other than a serious frown, or say a word, until he was finished. She had resumed her role as a pack leader.

“My goodness. Do you really think they can tell a shifter by smell? I’ve never heard of such a thing before, but it’s an interesting theory.”

“Honestly, I’m not sure. It doesn’t make complete sense, but how else would he know I was there, barring surveillance equipment. I’m no expert, but I highly doubt there was any set up in the woods, and if there was, how would he access it from such a distance away? Tobyn, could he have been able to do it with a phone?”

“I’m no expert either, but I don’t believe it would be possible without some sort of powerful wifi signal. The data signal sucks in a lot of these areas, and he was in deep woods. It’s why we need landlines to use the internet most of the time. So no, I don’t think that’s what was happening when he clued in to your presence. It had to be something else.”

“Good. Thanks. I actually understood that,” he said with a grin. “Okay then… so, we have highly developed noses, yet I could only sort through the elk scent because of the effects of our joining,” he said with a slight flush, trying, but unsuccessful in his attempt to not look at his mate. He did his best to ignore the amused expression of the man, and the one he noticed on Elinor. This conversation was too important to get flustered, because he had some possibly contentious points to get across. “Anyway, I guess it’s possible the younger Reznick could do it too. These killers are a mystery to us even though we know they’ve plagued our kind for centuries. Whatever the reason, it appears we can’t hide from them when we’re in their vicinity… probably never have been able to… and that would shed some light on how they get the better of us when a shifter leaves the protection of the compounds.”

Kellar stared thoughtfully at the Morningstar leader, trying to formulate his words carefully before continuing. “I would say having this new information changes everything… and I recommend we approach our safety differently from here on out.” Kellar hesitated, almost wishing she would say something, but she didn’t, so he swallowed and carried on. “Shifters can’t go out there blindly anymore. That’s what we’ve been doing, and it has cost us dearly. These hunters have to be what’s making us disappear without any trace. We suspected it, and now we know the truth. Reznick said they burn our bodies, for God’s sake. He was going to burn mine after he skinned it, and he would have if not for Tobyn.” Kellar took a deep breath and tried to calm the passionate anger that was spilling out. He had to remember not to overstep, so he met Elinor’s cool look of appraisal, and waited.

“Knowing about the silver-coated traps is a big help,” Elinor mused. “It explains why we’d be at their mercy when we should be stronger than them. So from now on, I do agree with your call for caution… we need to travel in pairs on any runs or outings in wolf form. Doing so would ensure there would always be one who could shift back and free a shifter caught in one of those hideous contraptions… I will be making that known to the pack. The scents they use poses another problem though. Most of our noses aren’t strong enough to pick up the danger signs.”

“They will be eventually, though, Mom, and in the meantime we should avoid any concentrated prey smells that don’t move around. My nose is already the best it’s ever been. I doubt I could have picked out the younger Reznick the way Kellar did, with all that concentrated elk scent in the area, but it’s improving every day.”

“Mine too. And Denver’s. So is our hearing.”

“So the joining has taken place?” An embarrassed grin appeared on Tobyn’s face.

“Not that it’s any of your business, but no, it hasn’t. He’s in the process of courting me,” she said with her own little grin.

“Did you know saliva can get it started, Elinor?”

“Denver and I had a good idea that was the case. I talked to Miss Sybil and she verified it was possible, so I guess you could say we’re on our way. She refreshed my memory about mates, and it can be different for each pair. So, back to the pack. How long do you think before overall health improves?”

“It’s only a guess, but I think a significant change will take months. I say that because it was such a slow deterioration… I think it’s cumulative.”

“In plain English, doc,” Tobyn teased.

“Okay… in mates, it happens fast, obviously, but for the rest, time is needed to build levels of the ‘magical’ energy back up. Even without earth mates being present, most members could still shift, however infrequently, which tells me it takes a long time to drain our… reserves is as good a word as any. So, it indicates to me it will take long-term exposure to true mates for levels to return to where they should be. Think of us as a bank where our energy is like money, and we make deposits and withdrawals. It takes time to build up our ‘savings.’ Of course the more pairs there are, the quicker it should happen since there would be more deposits made. That’s the real key to all this.”

“Okay. We thought that was what you were trying to get at when you told the pack about the malaise… and that’s why Ingram, Maynard, and I have decided to let pack members go off to look for their mates, just like the old days. Closing in on ourselves, as you have pointed out, has been our biggest mistake, and we took that warning to heart. Of course, we should now consider insisting they go in pairs, given all this new information.”

“I don’t think that would be a smart move right now.” Kellar spoke with a warning tone. “You could be jumping the gun, Elinor. As long as the remaining Reznick is still operating, it’s a hell of a risk to travel, even if you do send them out two at a time.”

“I don’t understand… you said yourself more mates were a necessity?”

“And they are.” He shot a nervous look to Tobyn, who was watching and listening intently. The conversation had gotten around to the crucial part, and he could finally make his biggest point. “There’s another way to do this, ma’am. I already know all the signature patterns of the pack… well, there’s still some I haven’t met, but we can rectify that easily enough. So what I’m trying to say is that I...."

"And me," Tobyn said sharply.

"Yes, and Tobyn of course... could go looking for other packs, and if we find them, I’d be able to tell immediately if there were any matches.” Kellar took in Tobyn's smug expression before concentrating on Elinor.

“You would do that? It puts you in the same danger you’re warning about. And my son too.” It wasn’t accusatory, but Kellar heard the underlying fear. He was expecting it, but didn’t get a chance to reply.

“Mom, I know what you’re thinking, but I was already started on my journey to find answers… to search out other packs and try to make contact. Now, I wouldn’t be doing it alone. I’d have my big, strong, smart, he-man wolf with me, and we already know about Reznick Junior, so we’d be on guard.” He reached over and took Kellar’s hand in his as a now scowling Elinor stared at the two of them. “We’d travel with a couple of the pack hunting rifles, and you know I’m a good shot.”

“Yes, you are… very good, but I don’t want to chance losing either one of you. You make it sound like you’re invincible, and that is in no way the case. I’m not sure endangering my son and the first healer to come along in maybe centuries is a responsible risk to take. Kellar and you would be sitting ducks out there for this other hunter, and God knows how many more. I have no intention of being the one who allows such a dangerous undertaking, and you shouldn’t expect me to.”

“But, I’m the only one who can do this, ma’am.” Elinor held up her hand, but Kellar ignored it. “Think about it. You could send six, eight, ten people out, in pairs, and maybe none will find their mate. From what I understand, it’s always been a crapshoot, and individual searches have gone on for years with no results. And the longer shifters are out there, the longer they are sitting ducks, not to mention the pack is already shorthanded. I go, and no mates would be missed. And… the fact is, I’m not a pack member… yet.” Kellar felt strongly about this, and wouldn’t back down, no matter how uncomfortable he was with challenging Elinor’s position. Thankfully, he felt Tobyn’s support through their clasped hands.

Elinor raised her eyebrows at his show of independence, and then sighed, the resolute expression beginning to leave her face. “I have a feeling you two are going to be a formidable pair for anyone to deal with. And just so we’re clear, as Tobyn’s mate, you are a member of Morningstar, so I’m just going to ignore this attempt to circumvent my authority to get your own way.” A twitch occurred at the corner of her mouth. “Okay, let’s say I agree… when would you plan on doing this?”

“I wasn’t trying to… okay, well, first we have to… oh shoot, there’s something else I should tell you because it affects a bunch of stuff… like when we can start our search. It’s about those travel plans I was making.”

“I did wonder where you might be heading off to.”

“Oh, they weren’t for me. They’re for my brother… my foster-brother.” Oh God. Here we go again. He wasn’t used to talking so damn much, and looked at Tobyn beseechingly. “Could you…?”

Tobyn smiled sympathetically and cleared his throat as he faced his mother. “Funny thing, this. Kellar’s brother is human, hopefully a reformed drug addict, and, it just so happens, Adelin’s earth mate.”

Elinor had leaned back in her chair, but immediately sat upright. “Well, that is interesting. You boys are full of surprises. Drug addict?”

Kellar took over. “Yes, but he’s gone through rehab and is being released tomorrow morning… in Moncton, New Brunswick. I, ah, I just sent him a ticket… a train ticket.”

“To here?”

“Well, no, not here exactly. The closest we could get by passenger train is about a four, maybe five hour drive away. We’re going to meet him forty-eight hours from tomorrow morning, in Cochrane.”

“Oh, Cochrane. I haven’t been there since I was a young girl. Is he a good person, Kellar?”

Kellar swallowed under the scrutiny, but he had no intention of being anything but honest. “He didn’t used to be when we were foster-brothers… we lived in the same house for about six years, but we were kids then. He’s been through a lot, and….”

“He’s trying to turn a corner, Mom. And he’s Adelin’s mate. Shouldn’t she have the same chance we do?" Tobyn didn't give her a chance to answer. "It’ll be good for the pack if it works out, and plus, it’ll improve our gene pool… him being human and all.” He glanced sideways at an open-mouthed Kellar and smirked.

Man, when he bought in, he bought in. Kellar once again thanked the earth mother for her gift of this loyal and beautiful shifter as his mate. “We won’t bring him anywhere near here or Adelin if we don’t think we can trust him.” Kellar swallowed nervously again, waiting for his mate’s mother to respond.

Elinor switched her gaze from one to the other. “You two are like a tag team.” Her eyes were twinkling with amusement. “I don’t have any problem with him being human. He was chosen for a reason, and only the earth mother knows what that is. I trust you both, and it sounds like you have it covered, except for one thing.”

“What’s that?” Tobyn asked.

“You’re planning on doing this without Adelin? Don’t you think she deserves to know she has an earth mate, and shouldn’t she have a say in how you handle something that affects her future?” She hesitated while Kellar and Tobyn exchanged uncertain glances. “It sounds like you’re talking about deciding whether to give her the option of meeting her mate. Do you think that’s fair, even if you deem him unworthy?” Elinor’s smile softened the question.

“Ah, we haven’t got that far yet, but you’re right. I think we need to talk to her and see what she thinks, and what she wants to do. I wanted to protect her, but I guess we really can’t, not completely anyway.” Kellar looked to Tobyn for validation, and received an affirmative nod in return.

Elinor appeared to be watching their silent interaction with interest. “This gift of yours, Kellar, is proving to be the answer to our prayers. You are proof to me the earth mother is watching out for us. You’ve worked out the cause of the malaise, you found my mate, and Adelin’s mate happens to be your foster-brother. You keep giving us hope we haven’t had for many decades. Inadvertently, you and Toby even managed to rid us of a scourge against shifters everywhere, and now we know enough to be on the lookout for the younger one. I don’t believe this is just co-incidence. You, my new son, are truly a blessing. I think someone has sent you to us at a time when we needed you most.”

“I’ve thought the same thing, Mom, but I admit to being biased.” Tobyn got up from his chair and stood behind the big man. “This has been a tough day. My furiously blushing mate hates it when he gets compliments, so I’m going to take him home so we can unpack. “Does that sound good to you?” he murmured to the slowly-relaxing but still awkward-feeling man.

Kellar managed a croaking chuckle. “You’re being bossy again.”

“Are you complaining?”

The exchange got a snicker from Elinor.

“Nope. Just stating a fact. I should get my herbs out of the truck anyway.”

“Do you want to have dinner at our place?”

Kellar experienced a flutter of joy at the mention of ‘our place'. “I would prefer that, yes, but we really should eat with everyone else so they can benefit from our energy boost.”

“Oh yeah. There you go again… always ahead of me. You’re making me look bad, mountain man.”

Kellar grimaced at the nickname being said in front of Elinor, praying it wouldn’t catch on with anyone else.

Tobyn chuckled as he squeezed his neck gently. “Okay, we’ll be back for supper in the dining room, Mom.”

“Good. You realize you guys are adorable together, don’t you? It does your mother’s heart good to see the closeness you share.” She laughed at their matching groans. “Denver and I will see you there.”

“And we will talk to Adelin, if not today, then tomorrow. Do we agree, doc?”

“We agree.” Kellar answered, smirking. “You’re the boss.”

“And you, my mate, are always right.”