They stop walking when they reach the trailer with the huge barbecue pit in the front yard; it's nearly the size of the trailer itself, and Namon looks at it in awe. Then the door to the trailer opens and a big man around six feet two inches tall, steps out wearing shorts, a Hawaiian shirt, and flip flops. He appears to be in his twenties and he has a goatee, a muscular build, and a tan. He sees Namon, walks over to him, and embraces him in a bear hug. Namon struggles to breath.
“Good morning, brah,” he says with an obviously fake Hawaiian accent. “Or should I say good afternoon. Eh, it's close enough.”
“Brice, put him down, and what have I told you? You are not Hawaiian, you haven't even been to Hawaii.”
Brice lets go of Namon, allowing him to breathe again.
“I've been there in spirit, brah.”
Eric lets out an irritated sigh.
“Well, I'll leave you two to get better acquainted. Brice, our friend here is in desperate need of something to eat. Take care of him, all right?” Eric asks.
“Got it covered, top dog.”
Eric shakes his head, then turns around and walks away. Brice turns his attention back to Namon.
“Need something to eat? Brice-man got ya covered. Let's go.”
Namon follows him inside the trailer, and Brice leads him over to a walk in freezer. He can tell that it was added on to the trailer because the freezer fills up the entire area where a kitchen should be.
“So do you do all the cooking on the grill?” he asks.
“Yep, most of the time, I cook for the entire pack, the meat anyway. So did Eric tell you there is going to be a cookout tonight, and make it sound like a big deal?”
“Yes,” Namon responds.
Brice opens the freezer door, revealing a fully stocked freezer with just about any kind of meat imaginable. He grabs a few large slabs of ribs and places them on a table in what should be the dining room, but is instead a make shift prep area. Namon looks around, awe struck at the freezers supply.
“Wow, how do you pay for all of this?” He asks.
Brice looks at him and raises an eyebrow.
“You sure do ask a lot of questions. Well boss man owns a meat processing plant. He always gets our stock from there. Anyways, as I was about to say, he always talks about the cookouts as if it's a big event, but just an FYI, we do this every night just about. Even in the winter we grill out, although as big as my grill is, it puts out enough heat to the warm the county.” Brice nods his head with a grin. “We are really big on doing things together all the time like a family. Well, almost everything, I tried to take a shower with Sierra once and she slapped me. Can you believe that?”
Namon just gives him an odd look.
“Eh, no big deal, anyway it hurt her hand more than it did my face. The swelling took her three days to go down even with the accelerated healing. Back to the point, anyway I get side tracked often. None of us are related, but we still treat one another with respect. So do you like chili dogs?”
Namon's face then lights up with excitement.
“Oh man, yeah. I could eat four just by myself,” he responds enthusiastically.
“Good. That's what's for lunch, but I hope you eat more than four. Grab that case of hot dogs over there for me and put them on the table next to the grill.”
Namon steps into the open freezer, grabs the box of frozen hot dogs, and takes them outside, setting them on the table next to the grill as he was asked. Then he returns inside to see if Brice needs help with anything else. He hands Namon a box filled with bun, chips, and several condiments to take out to the picnic table a few feet away on the other side of the grill. Once he accomplishes this task, he turns around to see Brice not far behind him with a keg of beer on one shoulder and a large case of sodas on the other. He sets both of them down carefully, and doesn't even break a sweat.
“Damn, I forgot the can of chili on the counter. Can you get it for me, brah?”
“Sure,” Namon says, trying to hold back laughter from hearing the silly accent again.
When he gets inside, though, he is caught off guard at the size of the can. It's one of those large cans like restaurants use when they order in bulk. He lifts it up, and can feel the weight from it bear down on him.
“Damn, this is heavy,” He manages to bring it outside and set it on the prep table.
“So, how do you like it here so far?” Brice asks him.
“It is really nice, but I just...I can't believe Katrina is gone. First my parents and now her,” Namon says quietly.
Brice dumps the case of hot dogs onto the grill, and spreads them out after lighting it.
“Yeah, she was a good woman and she loved you very much. At least now she is in a better place.”
Namon's thoughts drift to the fact she is not in a better place now, but he decides to keep that information to himself. No need worrying someone else with what he knows.
Namon opens the huge can of chili for Brice. He picks it up with one hand and pours its contents into a pot on the grill. Minutes pass by, and the air is filled with the heavenly aroma of grilled hot dogs and chili. Namon breathes in and exhales, enjoying every scent.
“Brice, I do believe you are going to be my best friend.”
“That's good. Everyone deserves a friend like me,” he says as he pounds his chest with a balled-up fist. “I'm funny, and joke around a lot, but when it comes to family, you mess with them and Brice Smash,” he says as he crushes the huge chili can in his hands.
Namon watches him, and his eyes get wide.
“Well it's good to know you're on my side. I would rather my head not wind up like that can.”
He hears a whistle and turns his head to see a girl walking in their direction. She looks to be a few years older than Namon, definitely in her early twenties, standing about five feet four inches tall, and her blonde hair is shoulder length. She has deep green eyes, and her face has several freckles that give her a sort of farm girl Southern charm. She's wearing a pair of shorts, and a t-shirt that says “I run with the big dogs.” When she approaches, she extends her hand to Namon in greeting and he shakes it.
“Hi, I'm Sierra, and I will be showing you through the woods today, letting you get a feel for your wolf form, and get a hold on your instincts. Eric says you need to eat a lot to gain your strength, right?”
“Yeah, I thought it would be a cool benefit of all these gifts, but it's become rather annoying today,” he says while avoiding eye contact.
This is the first female he has had a conversation with other than the old ladies at church, and Katrina. The fact that Sierra is pretty close to his age makes him slightly uncomfortable, not being used to social interaction.
“So sorry to hear that, but I am sure there will be plenty of leftovers the way that maniac cooks. That way, you'll be covered in case you need to eat when we come back.”
Brice turns around and snatches his shorts down, showing a tattoo of a pair of lips, and he smacks it.
“Pucker up, baby,” Brice says before pulling his shorts back up.
“Great, its daylight, and I’m dealing with a full moon,” Sierra says while rolling her eyes.
“How about you and I have a run in the woods, after we eat?” she says with a smile to Namon.
“Sounds good,” he says back with a smile.
Brice watches the two of them with a chuckle to himself. He isn't sure about how Namon is seeing her, but he can see the sparkle in Sierra's eye. Sierra's got a boyfriend, Sierra's got a boyfriend, he thinks to himself. He laughs at the thought, and they turn facing him.
“What did we miss?” Sierra said.
“Um, I would tell you, but I would have to kill you,” Brice says as he returns his attention back to the hot dogs.
Half an hour passes by, and everyone is sitting around the massive picnic table. Namon is now surrounded by new friends, no a family, really. Everyone eats, enjoying their lunch and conversation. Namon doesn't say too much and keeps to himself, with his
thoughts wandering back to Katrina. Why hadn't they been around to help her? Why had she done so much alone? He looks at each of them. Brice takes his shirt off and starts yelling, “Brice Smash.” Crushing a full soda can on his forehead. Namon then notices a scar on Brice's shoulder. As soda sprays on everyone, they laugh at him, but this triggers a vision for Namon.
Brice head-butts a large bobcat that had to have weighed two hundred pounds, and blood spurts from the bobcats now smashed in head. Then he turns just in time for another one of them to bring its claws down, raking them over his shoulder, and cutting him deep. He continues fighting them in his human form, and there are now twenty of them surrounding. Eric, Kaya, Kieran, and Sierra can only watch them attacking Brice as they slowly shift into their wolf forms. Brice buys them time, keeping the bobcats from attacking his family.
Namon blinks and understands why it's important for him to know how to fight in both forms in case something like that happens again. His speed phasing will allow him to start fighting to buy time, and that way, they are all less likely to be hurt.
“What are they? I mean the cat creatures that gave you that scar,” he says while pointing to Brice's shoulder.
They all look at him, surprised and wondering how he knows about that battle, especially when Katrina hadn't even known about it.
“That scar you have on your shoulder,” Namon tried to explain. “I saw how it happened as if it were happening right in front of me. I don't know how this happens, but sometimes when I see something happening it triggers a vision of things that have happened.”
Eric places his hands together as he props his elbows on the table.
“Katrina didn't just call us to Macon a few years ago in case you needed us. As you know, she went out in the night, and protected the city from vampires, and other creatures that would harm the human population. The city, though, isn't the only place with dangerous creatures. Those large bobcats are skin walkers like us, and actually originate from the Ocmulgee tribe. They do not share the same respect for humanity that we do; they resent anyone or anything that's not part of their tribe. So you see, Katrina handled things in the city the best that she could, and we handle all the bad things that are in the wild,” Eric explains.
“The wild is no place for wimps. In the wild, if you act like a pussy you get eaten like one,” Brice says.
Sierra kicks his ankle.
“Pig!” she calls him.
Brice places his fingers in the shape of a V in front of his face, and flicks his tongue in a vulgar gesture. Sierra rolls her eyes and looks at Namon. He is not used to behavior and comments like that except on television, so his face flushes. She is not used to someone seemingly so innocent, and she definitely isn't used to creatures like Oz, who stands on the table beside Namon, and has inhaled a chili dog.
“I think we finally have a mascot,” Brice says as he gestures toward Oz.
Oz suddenly belches louder than his tiny body should be able to. Everyone claps, and Oz bows. Namon cannot help but laugh at the act.
Kaya looks over at Sierra and notices that she has taken an interest in Namon.
“Excuse me for a moment I forgot something in the trailer,” she says, standing up. Then she looks over at Sierra. “Sierra, would you mind coming along to give me a hand?”
“Sure, no problem.”
Sierra stands up and walks with Kaya over to the trailer. When inside, she starts to bite her nails, which is something that she tends to do when she's nervous or anxious. Sierra notices Kaya's behavior pretty easily even though they have not known each other for very long.
“What's wrong? Is everything all right?” Sierra asks her.
“I saw the way you were looking at Namon. I just want you to be very careful with him. Okay? He has been through a lot in his life time.”
Sierra's gaze shifts from Kaya to the ground.
“I think he is cute, and all, but that's it.”
Kaya puts her hands on her hips and just looks at her.
“Okay, okay, you got me. He's cute, polite, and charming. We don't get that combination a lot around here, you know.”
“Just be careful. I do not want to see you, or him get hurt. He has a destiny ahead of him that is bigger than all of us. That is a lot to put on someone, and you may wind up getting hurt because of it.”
“I understand,” Sierra says with a pouty expression on her face. “Is there anything else that you need? I better get ready for the run now.”
“No, that was all, sweetie. I am sorry if I upset you,” Kaya says with concern.
“It's okay I know that you mean well.”
As Sierra leaves the trailer, her thoughts drift to Kaya's words and she wonders if she could handle it in the first place. Being with someone who is supposed to be a big deal is a lot, especially when he is the last of his kind. Once she gets closer to everyone's view at the picnic table, she puts on a fake smile so that they don't notice she has a lot on her mind. She walks over to Namon, and gently punches him in the arm.
“So you ready for that run?”
“Sure,” he answers with a smile.
He stands up, and follows her into the direction of the woods.
“Call us if you run into trouble, Sierra,” Eric says.
“You're the boss,” she says while giving him a salute.
Oz remains on the table, still eating chili dogs while Brice encourages him on. Looks like he feels accepted as well now, all they had to do was win him over with food. Namon and Sierra walk into the woods, and as soon as they are away from everyone, Sierra pulls her T-shirt up, and over her head, and throws it to the ground.
“Whoa, wait a minute,” Namon says while covering his eyes.
“What's the problem?” she says while she unbuttons her shorts, slides them down over her knees, and to her ankles. She kicks them off toward the area her shirt lies, and she kicks her sandals off as well.
“We just met, and, um, I just don't think I am ready for. You know for,” he stammers nervously.
“Ready for what? We do this all the time.”
“You guys have sex all the time?” he manages to say.
“Sex?” She laughs aloud as she realizes that he thinks she is trying to seduce him. “That is too cute! You think I am trying to take advantage of you? We have to take our clothes off before we phase, or we get tangled up in our clothes.”
Namon is now turning a very deep shade of red, embarrassed by misreading the situation. His body glows white as he shifts into his wolf form.
“We aren't all blessed with that gift. You can turn around if that would make you more comfortable,” she says.
She reaches behind her back to unhook her bra, and he turns the other direction. Sierra slowly changes, her bones shifting, and popping. Namon tucks his tail beneath his legs, cringing at the sounds he hears as her body changes. Minutes later, she nudges him with her snout and starts running. Her wolf form is very beautiful and slender with a light, and dark brown coloration to her fur. He starts running as well, following her. As he runs, he gets lost in the experience. This is the first time he has had a chance to enjoy being able to do anything in his wolf form. The wind blows through his fur as he runs at high speed, and he eagerly breathes in the scent of the pine trees and the local wild life. He gets so lost in the feeling, he doesn't notice Sierra as she rams into him, knocking the breath out of him. She's trying to teach him to always pay attention and be in tune with his senses.
“What did you do that for,” he demands to her using his mind.
She jumps and then slowly crawls backwards at the surprise of hearing his voice.
“How the hell are you talking to me,” she thinks to herself.
“That's another one of my special gifts. I can communicate my thoughts telepathically, and I can hear your thoughts as you think them.”
“Umm, can you do that, at all times? What about past memories? Those are pretty private, you know.”
“No. Only when I am in my wolf form can
I communicate telepathically. I can only hear your present thoughts while you're thinking them. Not anything from before,” he clarifies.
“Then how did you know about our battle with the Ocmulgee Skin Walkers?” she asks.
“Well, that is hard to explain, and that is something I do not understand fully, or can control. Sometimes when I look at someone or something, I get visions of things that have happened in the past, but none of them have ever been anything inappropriate or private.”
“Oh, wow. Okay, well that's good to know. Wait a minute, then how did you not know I was about to attack you then?”
“It only works when I am directing my thoughts at the person. If I didn't see you, then I couldn't direct it to you. I don't know all the specifics. I am still pretty much trying to learn it all.”
“Wow. It's all still way cool. I wish I was like you. Anyway, back to work. I got to whip that wolf butt into fighting shape.”
The remainder of the afternoon was spent with just the two of them training, playing, and talking in the woods, enjoying one another’s company. Sierra knows that she shouldn't, but she can feel herself developing a soft spot for him, but she just can't help herself. He is so innocent and uncorrupted. Even though he has been kept sheltered away from everything, he is holding on pretty well considering everything that is going on. What is he thinking in there? She wonders. That night during the cook out, she sits next to him and they continued to talk and laugh. Oz has even taken a liking to her as he sits on her lap.
Namon looks around at everyone, and realizes he has gained a lot. He has lost just as equally though, and even though these new friends are treating him well, they are still strangers to him. He feels that he shouldn't let them in completely and that he should still keep his distance emotionally. People that he loves tend to wind up being taken away from him, and he doesn't think his heart can bear the pain of any more loss. He can tell that Sierra likes him, but he knows that he cannot fully let her in. It's not fair to her because even as beautiful as she is, his heart doesn't want to take the chance to get close to someone.
Blood Stained Lives (The Blood Stained Saga Book 1) Page 13