by Mel Todd
~Into the creek, then back track towards JD's. There’s that big drainage pipe running there towards his subdivision. We can get into it easy and it should hide us.~
~Us maybe, your white coat will act like a target. ~
She had a point. So as soon as they hit the creek he rolled in the mud. There wasn't much water, or mud, but enough to turn his white coat to a dingy brown.
~Better.~
Jamie's voice held reassurance, but the same stress Charley had heard in Jessi's voice echoed in his.
~Run! I can still hear them.~ Jessi ordered her brother, even as she glanced back at Charley who stood up and shook himself off.
~Ready. ~
~I run faster than you, so go. ~
Her black tail lashed and he knew at any other time she would have challenged him but today she just ran. Her black jaguar body low and lean, near the ground, and the three of them covered the distance to the pipe as fast as they could. The shouting faded about the same time McKenna's link went dark, then Toni's and JD's.
He heard and felt the whimpers from Jamie and Jessi, but none of them slowed down their pace until they had scrambled into the pipe. They crawled until it bent and even a light wouldn't show they were there.
They curled up in a pile, one cat on each side of him. They lay there panting and listening. Cats weren't made to run for as long as they had and while wolves could, they usually paced themselves, but not running flat out. All three of them were exhausted.
~Now what? I can't reach Mom. ~
Charley swallowed and thought over Mckenna’s last words.
~We stay here until we are sure they are gone. ~
~Are they dead? ~
The fear lacing Jamie's voice echoed his own fears but Charley refused to believe that.
~McKenna will always come back for us. We just need to give her time to get rid of the bad guys, like she did before. And if they took your mom and JD, those guys are gonna be sorry.~
~Yeah, Mom will kick their asses. ~
A hiss of reproach from Jamie at his sister’s word choice.
~What? She will, and she isn't here to hear me say that.~
~Both of you, stop it. ~
Charley laid his muzzle on top of Jessi's body, even as he curled his body to pull Jamie closer to him. They lay there in the pile of wolf and jaguar, taking comfort from each other even as he listened for every sound.
Part of his mind focused on the links for the adults in his life. Adults that he trusted. The new guy that had come over, he didn't know him. McKenna had already proved she'd die for them. Toni loved her kids but had accepted him without a blink and the twins were devoted to her. And JD was just cool. They were adults he liked and trusted. So, he'd trust them. Otherwise he would go crazy with worry and fear.
Charley shook his head and refused to go down that road. He'd trust. As far as he could tell two hours had passed since they ran away. Jamie had fallen into a light doze, but he could sense Jessi's mind racing around as well as her twitches with needing to do something.
The three of them had created their own mind links, something the adults couldn't see, or hear. It gave them their own private communication group. He figured McKenna suspected but she didn't seem to have an issue. Either way, it left them able to talk just fine with Wefor gone. But it also meant they talked to each other all day at school, him helping with words for the two younger kids and Jamie helping all of them with math. He could do multiplication and division in his head without thinking about it. Charley was pretty sure Toni didn't know. Jamie refused to show the teachers what he could do because he would never leave Jessi behind.
Charley nuzzled down a bit more into Jessi's thick warm fur. She had no patience for anything that required her to sit still, needing to run and do things. But she shone in the physical. Even with being a shifter Jamie would still trip or fumble, Jessi never did. She moved like a cat even as human.
Charley didn't read anymore into it other than the twins were his, and he was theirs. At least they weren't in this alone.
~I'm going to go check.~
The words had Jamie at full awareness and Jessi froze, her head tilted towards him but neither protested. He pulled himself up from their pile, missing the warmth as he stepped away from them. With slow cautious steps he moved towards the light, listening and sniffing to see if anyone waited for them.
Dirt, grass, sweat, and wet wolf invaded his nose and left but nothing that caused his hackles to rise, at least not any more than they already were. He reached the entrance and paused but heard no steps and the air had no smell of others. He took two steps into the light, body tensed, ready to spring at someone or back to the relative safety of the pipe. But no danger loomed.
~It's safe, or at least they didn't follow us back this far. Let's head back and see what happened. ~
The padding of two sets of paws filtered through the tunnel until both kids were next to him, their tails slapping against his legs. His wolf form stood about five inches taller than their cats, but they were longer. The twins weighed about thirty pounds less than he did, yet they moved with lethal grace. Young jaguars are more than capable of taking down a deer but right now they just needed to get to safety and they couldn’t do that without a phone. Which meant going back to the house.
~I guess it's safe. Just be careful.~ He told them as he moved out quietly.
Normally Jessi would have snapped back at him. It indicated her stress that she just hummed in agreement in his mind and let him go ahead, then they started to follow. It felt like he had twin shadows behind him, both moving as silently as they could.
The entire way back to the house he stopped constantly, sniffing, listening, his heart pounding in his ears, but Charley never scented the gun oil or other smells until they got much closer to house. Even there the smells were old. They crouched in the bushes near the house, looking. The expected cars were there, with the new one from that adult they hadn't met but nothing else.
~I guess we go in. I can't sense anyone.~ He left the thought with a questioning tone.
~Me neither.~ Jessi said and Jamie just twitched a tail. Their silence ate at him. Normally Jessi chattered in his mind, while Jamie didn't as much but still this silence stressed him.
I want McKenna back.
Dealing with Reality
On a popular website, an entire thread has been devoted to dealing with children shifters. Among the common complaints are that the parents can’t control their children. They are running wild and acting like animals. These are from god-fearing, loving parents. And you ask why I say the presence of these animals are but demons in habiting us and must be exorcised. Not through torture or drugs but by not repenting of their sins that invited these demons into our hearts and souls. ~Popular local TV Evangelist.
He pushed back the wail before it could become more than a thought.
~I'm going to go change and go in. You two stay here. Let me know if you see or hear anything.~
He felt the annoyance in Jessi even as she narrowed her green cat eyes at him but she didn’t say anything. Jamie just gave him support.
He moved up onto the deck, practicing the silence and stealth they'd tried to cultivate. Experience told him it would be needed someday. Still nothing. The doors were firmly closed and trying to open them in wolf form would be a pain. He slipped into the little changing area and shifted, a wave of hunger and dizziness hitting him.
~Remind me we need to eat when it's safe.~
~Will do.~ Jamie responded. He did much better with that sort of stuff; Jessi never remembered if it didn't interest her.
Charley pulled on clothes and hesitated over his sandals.
Better to be wearing them if I need to run. I'd have to strip anyhow.
With that thought, he pulled them on and then stood there in the protection of the changing area, as flimsy as it was. Fear swamped him. He wanted to run and hide. What if McKenna lay in the house dead? What if she could have been saved if he hadn't waited so lon
g?
~Charley? You okay?~ Jessie voice broke through the spiral of fear than had him blinking back tears.
~Yeah. I'm okay. Going in now.~ He wiped his nose with the back of his hand and stepped out. ~Tell me if you hear anything, my ears and nose aren't as good now.~
~Always.~ Her absolute assurance helped as he pulled open the door. Even before he stepped inside he knew the place was empty. The only sounds were from the fridge and air conditioner, and his own harsh breathing. He wandered through and stood looking at the gun safe. It held McKenna's gun and he knew the code. They'd had a long talk about it. With everything that had happened, she said she trusted him with the information.
Should I open it and get the gun?
~Charley? You find anything? Is it safe?~ The level of stress in Jessi's voice decided for him. Besides he didn't know how to shoot the gun.
I won't tell anyone I know how to get in there. Then if I need it, it's there for me.
~Come on in and tell me if you smell anything?~
Before the words had been completed two furred bodies pressed against his legs. The house just felt empty but he moved in with the jaguars at his side. McKenna's phone lay on the counter in the kitchen. They stood listening, but no one sensed anyone there. He picked up the phone and paused, glancing down at the cats.
"Who do we call?" The sound of his voice echoing in the house made him cringe and he flipped to mental. ~All the people I'd call immediately are gone.~
~Carina or Anne? Is that who is Kenna’s friend in the department?~ Jamie offered.
Charley entered the unlock code, McKenna had told him that his first day, and flipped through the phone. ~I have a number for a Sergeant Ann Holich in here. I don't see a Carina, but your home number is here.~
The three of them all stood for a minute, then Jessi spoke up. ~Call the Sergeant first. Carina will panic a bit and want to call 911 first.~
Charley nodded, and with hands that shook no matter how hard he tried to hold them still, he clicked her name on the contact list.
The phone rang twice, then picked up. "McKenna, why in the world are you calling me at home, on a Saturday, and at five in the evening?"
"Um, Miss, I mean Sergeant Holich. This is Charley Davis." His voice cracked with stress and he coughed trying to control it. A cat pressed up tight to him and he leaned in a bit, trying to be strong. He could be strong.
"Charley?" Her voice sharpened and heard movement in the background. "What's wrong?" Her voice cracked out and he swore he heard the jangle of keys in the background.
He tried to speak but a hitch caught in his chest. Coughing relieved it, and he started to talk, well babble. "Some men came, took McKenna, she told us to run, hide. We did. They're gone, but they took everyone."
"Who's everyone? I'm headed there now. Talk to me Charley, tell me everything." He heard a siren start up and he sank to the floor leaning against the bar in the kitchen. Jamie and Jessi pressed against him, and he sank the fingers of his free hand into fur, petting and stroking. Normally they never treated each other like animals, but right now he needed the mindless activity and Jamie seemed to know it. Jessi laid her chin on his shoulder, pressing against his side.
The word flowed out. "They took McKenna, shot her with something. I can't reach her. She went dark. I can feel her even in dreams but I can't now at all. They took Toni, Mrs. Diaz. Jamie and Jessi are here with me." He swallowed a sob as Jamie keened at bit at his mom's name.
"Where's JD? Did you call him?"
"They took him too. And another man. I don't know who he was but his car is still here. They screamed at us to run, to hide. So, we did. I'm don't know where they are." Another sob slipped out and he scrubbed at his face with the back of his hand, surprised when it came away wet. With a growl of frustration he wiped his eyes dry, then dried his hand on his shorts.
Stupid. Crying never fixed anything. Suck it up. You need to be calm for the twins.
"Charley, listen to me. You did the right thing. Hiding was exactly what you should have done. And calling me was the best thing. Are you okay for a few minutes? I need to call people. I should be there in ten minutes. Don't let anyone else in until I get there. Can you do that?"
He swallowed hard, pushing down the thick, slimy lump that had formed in his throat. "Yeah. I can do that. "
"Okay. Keep the phone close. I'll be there soon." She hung up and Charley let his hand drop.
"You guys hear all that."
~Yes.~
"Why don't you two go change, and I'll find us some food. We bought sandwich meat. I can make sandwiches."
Jessi tilted her head looking at him nodding. With a flick of her tail, she turned and stalked towards the open door. Jamie didn't move, staying with Charley.
Yeah, I don't want to be alone right now.
Charley sniffed hard, then slowly stood. "I'll start in the kitchen, we all need food."
Jamie rose along with him, pacing around the bar into the kitchen. Charley carefully washed his hands and started pulling out stuff.
"What do you want me to do?" Jessi's voice made him flinch, even in human form she moved quietly.
"Can you get glasses and plates for me?"
She nodded going to grab the step stool. They worked in silence, Jamie helping after he changed. They had made six large sandwiches piled with meat, cheese, veggies, and other stuff by the time they heard the car drive up.
They all flinched. "Stay here, out of sight. I'll check." Charley knew it was probably Sergeant Holich but they didn’t assume anything, not anymore.
He walked to the door and peeked through the windows to the side. A sigh slipped out as he saw her walking up, her brisk stride conveying purpose and confidence. Charley pulled open the door, nodding at her.
"Hey, Sergeant Holich."
"Charley," relief sounded in her voice and she pulled him into an unexpected hug. He let himself sink into it for just a moment before he pulled back. "You okay? Where are the other kids?"
He nodded inside and let her enter before shutting and locking the door behind her. Following her in, he saw her kneeling in front of Jessi and Jamie.
"You two okay? You didn't get hurt?"
"No. Mom told us to run, hide with Charley. So, we did." Jessi said, as Jamie didn't quite hide behind her. Strangers were not his favorite thing.
"Good." Her sharp eyes swept across all of them. "You did the right thing. Now tell me what happened." She glanced up at the food on the counter. "While you eat. You're all probably hungry."
The sergeant helped the twins get settled and waved at them to eat. Between bites of food Charley explained.
"We were having a barbeque, and JD had brought over a guy he wanted us, well McKenna, to meet. He had just gotten here and all of them were on the deck talking, when men came running around the corner holding guns. They shot everyone but it wasn't a shot like a gun. They sounded weird. I came running towards McKenna and she and Toni, their mom, yelled at us in our heads to run and hide. The men yelled at us and he shot at me. It was a needly dart thing, almost hit me. We ran and hid." He shrugged stuffing the last bite of a sandwich into his mouth. "We waited for a long time, then came back here and called you."
"Can you describe any of the men?"
Charley shook his head. "No. Men. Adults? Black outfits, like what the swat teams wear. Most of them had helmets and goggles on." Guilt swamped him and he ducked his head trying not to throw up everything he just ate.
"Charley, listen to me. That is okay. These sound like professionals. You did exactly what you were told and because of that, you're safe." She took a deep breath looking at them. "The question is, what to do with you?" She shook her head walking over to the counter.
"We should call Carina. She can watch us, she usually does." Jessi said, glaring at Ann, defiance in her voice.
~Why are you being so prickly?~ Charley asked, focusing on his second sandwich.
~Why do you trust her? And who is she?~ Jessi shot back glaring at him.<
br />
Charley blinked at her and grinned. A bit of stress flowed away as the reason for Jessi's grumpiness and prickly mind flavor made sense.
~Oh, that's right. You've never met her. She's McKenna's boss. She came over the night McKenna got us out of that place. She's funny drunk. Then she watched me while McKenna talked to the psychologist lady. She knows about the blood and talking mind to mind.~
"Oh," the word echoed a bit and Anne looked up from where she was making herself some coffee.
"Is something wrong? And I'll call Carina. You said she can watch you?"
"She's our nanny or something like that. Mom works nights, so she watches us." Jamie offered.
Charley really didn't know how to think of her, so he stuck with Sergeant. It seemed safer than anything else. She narrowed her eyes and nodded.
"Good. Would it be better if I called her or you?"
Jessi and Jamie exchanged looks.
"I should call her." Jessi said, a sigh in her voice. Charley unlocked the phone and slid it over it her. Jessi took a minute to work through the phone. "Mom's is different. Oh, here it is."
With hesitant jabs, she hit Toni Diaz on the screen, then the speaker button.
"This is Carina, what's up McKenna?" the cheerful voice asked from the other end, a fast beat pop music playing in the background. Charley recognized what she played when she was working on research papers.
"Carina, this is Jessi. Can you come over here?" Jessi's voice wobbled, and Charley reached over, putting his hand on her shoulder as Jamie leaned towards her.
"Jessi? Baby what's wrong?" Anxiety spiked in her voice and the music shut off.
"Miss Carina, my name is Anne Holich. I work with McKenna. There has been an incident. Can you come over here?"
"I need the address," her voice tight and controlled. Jessi sagged a bit, her lower lip trembling.
Anne gave the address to her then hung up, looking at the kids. "You all look worn out. You get enough to eat?" Their plates were all clean and Charley really didn't want any more to eat. He just wanted McKenna back.
"No, thank you." He shook his head and slipped off the stool at the counter.