by Terra Wolf
Slowly I crept down the side of the mountain and when I reached camp for some reason I had this moment where I thought that it would be like the movies. My mother would run up to me and throw her arms around me, telling me how sorry she was and how much she missed me. Everyone would stop working and turn in my direction. But instead no one even noticed my presence. I crossed into the camp and no one even nodded in my direction. I knew what this was.
I was an outsider.
I had never felt this way before, but I had seen the clan do it to other people. Other shifters went out on their own, those who married humans and diluted the bloodline, people who wanted to make changes. I knew what we did with those people. Shunned them. No one spoke about them like they ever existed. And those who sympathized with them? Sometimes their fate was even worse. Eventually they would wander off and join another camp or some of them even moved to the city and lived among the humans. I wasn't sure I was ready for either of those two options. I held my head high and slung my bag over my shoulder as I walked through the camp. Occasionally people would raise their noses but not in a snobbish way, they were allowing their bear to pick up my scent. I realized I didn't even recognize some of the faces anymore. People who were new to the camp. They didn't know who I was, or where I had been. Finally, I passed the stream and waterwheel that we used to create some electricity and I came upon my family's cabin. It was only one story, built out of logs, and it was simple, but it was home. For a moment I thought that I would just fling open the door and continue my walk of pride, but then I realized that these were my parents. And this was a completely different situation than it was with the strangers I had just passed.
I ran my fingers over the claw marks on the front door before knocking. I took the string of the bell that was located next to it and ringing it. I took a step back and a deep breath but no one came to the door. Surely my parents wouldn't shun me.
I waited another moment but still no one came. I felt the weight of my lack of family suddenly crashing into me when I heard my name behind me, “Maggie? Is that you?”
I turned around to see Zane standing in front of me. Tall with rippling muscles under a dark navy T-shirt his hair had grown longer but he still had the same clear blue eyes I remembered. I've been looking into those baby blues since I was a child.
“It’s me.”
His mouth was slightly open like he was surprised to see me. “What are you doing here?”
“I guess you didn't hear. The police raided the hospital I was in, but let us all go. I’m home Zane.”
Zane reached out but instead of it being in a friendly way his fingers gripped my bicep as he pulled me away from the cabin. “Hey! What are you doing?”
He put his finger up to his lips, “Shush. Be quiet.” He looked back and forth like he was worried someone would see us. He continued to pull me so that we were behind the waterwheel, out of sight of the rest of the camp. “Who saw you?”
I shook my head confused. “Saw me? Everybody. I just walked through camp. What the hell is going on?”
He rubbed his eyes. “Your parents told everyone you were dead. No one was expecting you to return here, not after living with the humans for so long.”
“This is my home Zane. Why wouldn't I come back? I have nowhere else to go!”
“You better find someplace; this isn’t your home anymore. I'm sorry Maggie, you have to go.”
“Go?”
He nodded at me solemnly.
I clutched the strap around my shoulder, suddenly the toothbrush and the underwear felt like everything I owned.
Maybe that's because it was.
“But where?”
He shook his head. “I dunno Maggie. But you can’t stay here. I’m sorry.”
“But my parents.” I craned my neck towards their cabin.
“Are with the elders, the same people who will lose their minds if they see you. That would mean your parents lied. They could lose their position in The Clan, or worse. Don’t put them through anything more Maggie.”
“Put them!?! Are you kidding? Zane, I was in a coma! People were testing me. I nearly died, and now you want me to just lose everything all over again?”
“I just don’t see any other way Maggie. I know it’s unfair, but it’s the only way to keep everyone safe. You have to stay away.”
I felt the tears welling up in my eyes and I turned away from him.
“Maggie I…”
He didn’t say anything further, just watched me cry as my world continued to fall apart.
LOGAN
I checked my watch, 6:45 PM. Just enough time to get over to the community building for the support group. Ever since we did manage to help the forty or so shifters escape from the hospital providing a support group meeting for them once a week set up by the county. Social workers and cops both attended on a rotating basis, it helped us keep the shifters safe while we continued to build a case against the hospital. I hadn't taken a turn yet, so I wasn't really sure what to expect. I had very little interaction with the shifters that had been liberated. Honestly the whole situation made me uneasy. They were my kind, sure, but they all had this crazy experience in common. And I just didn't share that with them. Not to mention many of them were full-blooded shifters, I was half-and-half. My mother was a shifter and my father was a human. Some of those people I just didn't see eye to eye.
My phone rang and I looked at the caller ID to see Marco's name pop up. “What's up buddy?”
“You're on duty tonight right? I lost my schedule. I swear since Lydia moved in with Shane, I can keep anything straight in this house.”
“Are you telling me that your little sister is more organized than you are? Let's be serious she's a bit of a live wire that one.”
“Hey! I can make jokes about my little sister and my shortcomings, you can't bro.”
“Understood.” I looked in the mirror and fixed my tie. I hadn't been in uniform in ages. The detectives didn't wear them around the office, and I missed my street clothes.
“Do I really have to wear my uniform? I haven’t worn this thing in forever.”
I heard Marcos laugh on the other end of the line. “Doesn't fit quite like to use to there buddy?”
“Is that a joke? If anything you know that I filled out more than you have in muscle. What are you benching these days?”
“Fine fine. I know you've got me beat at the gym. So yeah the captain says uniform is mandatory. Don't want any of those victims to say anything to screw up the case. Protect the privacy and all that. Besides it lets the bad guys know that there's a police presence there. Keeps them away, at least that's our hope. You know Lydia went to one of those meetings?”
I shook my head as I got my car keys. “No. She's not really a victim. If anything Shane is more than she has been. She was the one to help those people.”
“Yeah I guess she felt like she needed to meet them face-to-face. Sad stories man. A lot of these people have no family to go back to. Some of those crazy woods people? They straight out shunned some family members. Just because they lived among the humans for a while. Can you believe that crazy shit?”
No was the answer. My parents would never do anything to jeopardize our relationship, I couldn’t imagine that someone being thrown into a coma against their will would make you abandon them as a family member. But then again, people are crazy.
“No man. That's crazy. I'm getting my Jeep, see you at the office tomorrow. Do you have the night off?”
“Yeah see you then.”
I drove with music blaring, only turning it down as I got closer to the community center parking lot. I had to keep up appearances. I wasn't in a patrol car anything, I had to use my own vehicle, though I was still in uniform. I was being held to a higher standard than I was used to. I watched as people filed into the center, some of them still hobbling or keeping their head down as they continued to relive insane experience in the hospital. Finally, I saw the social worker, Liz, waving to me from the sid
ewalk. I got out of the car and strapped my gun in its holster. I wouldn't need it tonight, at least I hoped not.
According to the other guys no one had shown up to any of these meetings that weren't welcome. Captain was worried about protesters just as much as he was about hospital personnel trying to convince these people not to testify. But it had been quiet. Ten weeks had past, and nothing had gone down yet. I was hoping that maybe after this rotation of posted officers, which ended in another month, none of us would have to come back. We could all just move on from this horrific experience.
“Logan?”
I reached out and shook her hand. She was older than me, and maybe a foot shorter than I was. She pushed glasses up on her nose and held folders with papers sticking out at all ends in her arms.
“Can I help you with that?”
“Oh no no. Just trying to help some of these people get some community services. You would be surprised as to how many of them are homeless after the situation.” She clucked her tongue disapprovingly.
“Marco mentioned that some of the families aren’t willing to take them back. It's really sad.”
She nodded understandingly. “Experiences like this change people. You just never know in what ways. So you'll be out here for about an hour, there's a bottle of water and a stool next to the door. I don't expect there to be any issues. And then when we’re done the guys usually help me put away the chairs, is that all right?”
I nodded. “Of course. You just let me know when you're ready.”
She gave me a small nod and then turned on her heel walking through the glass doors that opened in front of her. I grabbed the water bottle and took a slow swig of it as I watched the horizon. There was really nothing to see. My bear paced protectively under my skin but even he knew that nothing was coming. We were safe.
After about forty-five minutes of waiting I was tossing the water bottle from hand-to-hand when the automatic doors opened and people started filing out. A couple chatted amongst each other but most of the group avoided eye contact with me. Finally, I watched as Liz walked out talking in a hurried voice about some potential group homes with an older gentleman. They stopped on the sidewalk underneath a streetlamp and continued their conversation but I figured I could get a head start on putting the chairs away. I might even be able to get it done all on my own, Liz looked like she could use a break.
I walked into the building and turned right into the conference room, about sixty or so people could fit in here so I understood why they hosted the meetings here. Marco had said that maybe only five of the survivors didn't come to the meetings, everyone else did. Mostly I think they wanted information about how the court case was going, but others just needed to have that group of people to hold onto. Other people who shared in their experience. I started stacking chairs without even scanning the room, which was stupid. I'd only gotten about a third way down the first row when I heard sniffling from the back corner. There was a woman with bright red hair tied up in a tight bun dabbing her eyes with a Kleenex. Shit.
“Ma’am? Are you all right?”
She then lifted her head. I set the chairs down and popped my head out the door looking for Liz but she didn't appear, probably still talking with the other guy about a group home. I walked back in the room and approached the woman slowly, I didn't want to freak her out even more.
“Ma’am? The meeting’s over, but I'm sure I can go get Liz for you. I mean if you need someone to talk to.”
She raised her eyes and looked at me, we were only a few feet apart and suddenly I recognized her.
“Maggie?” It was the girl from the bar. The one I had spent an amazing night with and then never heard from again. The wild spirit I had once seen in the forward sexy woman had been taken out of this girl. She was a shell of her former self. And if I hadn't recognized the eyes and the striking red hair, I wouldn't even believe it was her.
“You know my name?”
I nodded, sitting down next to her. “I'm Logan. We met at the…”
“Bar. Oh my God we met at the bar. Before I went into the hospital I'm sorry, I should go.”
She started to collect her tissues and the bag that I recognized helping to load with personal items at the station. This was all she had?
“Wait. What’s going on? I didn't even realize that you were one of the shifters in the hospital.”
“Well that’s some detective work.” She said, her words dripping with sarcasm. But she didn’t smile like I expected her to.
“We weren't allowed to know all your names. Each one of us was assigned to five or six of you, you aren’t my rotation. What happened to you?”
She licked her lips and crossed arms. “That's the thing, I don't know.”
“But we can help you. Where are you saying? With your family?”
She looked down at her shoes. “Not anymore. And to be honest I don't know where I'm staying tonight. They gave us vouchers to stay in public housing, but the landlord didn't really like the fact that a bear was saying in his apartment complex when I had an accident the other day.”
My heart broke for her, she was so ashamed.
“So where are you sleeping?”
“At a friend’s house. But I can't stay there much longer. I need someplace else to go. I was waiting for Liz, I thought that maybe she would have an idea.”
“You know that landlord can't discriminate against you. It's illegal.”
“So was being held against my will in a hospital in a drug-induced coma. But here we are.” She said flailing her hands out at her sides. I still couldn't get over how different she looked, how sad. I was falling apart just watching her, and my bear wasn't happy about it either. We had to help her.
“The Jeep is out in the parking lot, it's gold. I know hideous, but it is what it is. It's mine. Head out there, I'll finish cleaning up in here and meet you at my Jeep. I'll take you somewhere safe for the night, I promise.”
“But Liz is not going to go for that.”
“That's why we're not going to tell her. You can stay with my friend and his wife, or with me, I don't really care. You are not going to sleep on the streets tonight. No one does that to a friend.”
“A friend? You don’t even know me.”
“You're right. We slept together. And if I remember correctly, you used to be a really cool girl. And if I can help you get back to her at all, I'm going to try.”
She chewed on her lower lip for a moment considering the proposition. “Fine. A gold Jeep though? You're right, it's an ugly color.”
I laughed. It felt good to see her joke even if it was only for second. Just then Liz walked back in.
“Maggie? Were you waiting to speak with me? I'm sorry didn't even realize you were still in here! I hope our officer friend here could lend you a caring ear instead. Or do we still need to speak?”
Her eyes met mine for a moment before she shook her head. “No, thanks Liz. I'm fine for now. I'll see you next week.”
She nodded to me and walked out of the room. I began stacking chairs again avoiding eye contact with Liz. I didn't want her to see the truth in my eyes. I knew what I was doing was against protocol, but I didn't care. I couldn't just let Maggie go back to the streets. None of this was her fault.
“That poor girl. I know I'm not supposed to tell you this, privacy and all that, but I have to ask, did she mention her family? They live up in the woods on a private farm. But they wouldn't take her back! Said she’s spent too much time with humans. Blamed her for going to the hospital at all. The girl was septic. She almost died.”
“No Liz, she didn't mention them.”
“I hope that I can help her. She has real potential that one. Really nice girl.”
“She seems to be.” I stacked the last of the chairs and bid her good night. When I got out to my Jeep Maggie was leaning against the passenger side door.
“I guess you ditched the parent?”
I nodded smiling. “Yep, wasn’t problem. You ready to go?”
>
“I have to be.”
LOGAN
We stopped at a local store and I gave her some money to buy new clothes. She argued with me about it for fifteen minutes but finally she gave in.
“I’ll only be gone a few minutes. Thanks again Logan.” Her cheeks were red, either from arguing or embarrassment I wasn’t sure.
I dipped my head to her and after she disappeared into the store I pulled out my cell phone. Shane was not going to like this.
“Hey it’s me, I need a favor.”
“What's up?”
“Remember that girl? The one that I met at the bar?”
“One night stand wild child? You haven’t talked about her in months.”
“Oh yeah that's because she never called me. Turns out she couldn't. Shane she was one of the people in the hospital.”
“So she's a shifter? Weird, you usually have a thing for normal girls.”
I heard Lydia yell at him in the background. “It's not that you're not normal babe… Jesus, women, man. So anyway, what's the favor?”
“She needs a place to say. And I just thought that maybe her being around another shifter like herself, might be better for her. If she can crash with you and Lydia for a couple nights. Just until I figure out what to do with her.”
“Yeah, I mean I guess it goes without saying that this stays between us right? The captain won't be too happy interfering in what he still considers an open investigation.”
“No I know, but I figure he avoids Lydia at all costs, so he won’t notice that Maggie is there. Her family abandoned her, I just got to figure out a way to help her before I cut her loose, you know?”
“I got your back bro. But let’s be serious you have no intention of cutting her loose.”
That was true. “I mean, I gotta see where this goes first I guess.”
“Uh-huh. When is she coming over here?”