DAN #4
“I’m going to be working with Liam for research and the rest of the Fox Institute team to come up with how to bind the wurm again and head off your bounty hunter.
There are a lot of us in Fox Hollow who have reason to want to avoid the notice of a hunter.
We’ve managed to stay off the radar this long and dealt with the rare cases where they’ve come here, so trust that we’ll figure something out,” Jeffries said in an encouraging tone.
“Let me know how I can help,” Dan said. “I’m grateful to everyone, and I want to pull my weight, since I’m the one bringing the hunter to your door.”
“You’ll be part of it every step of the way,” Jeffries promised. “Now go eat and get some rest. You’ll need it.”
Dan pulled his hood up when he left and kept a close eye on his surroundings. He didn’t see anyone that raised his hackles or alerted Wally, but that didn’t mean someone good at surveillance hadn’t managed to avoid being seen.
He breathed a sigh of relief when he got back to the hotel and stopped at the coffee bar to get a calming cup of hot tea. Just as he was ready to return to his room, his phone rang, and he saw it was Lisa from the rental agency.
“Hi, Dan, I need to let you know there’s been a problem with the house,” Lisa told him. “Water leak. Of course, we want to get that taken care of before you move in, so can you stay where you are for another couple of days while we fix the leak?”
“I’m at the hotel, so as long as they still have a room for me, I’ve got a place to stay, but it gets expensive fast,” he replied.
“I understand, and I’m so sorry for the inconvenience. I will talk to the owner to see if we can make an adjustment to the first month’s rent, but I can’t promise that until we discuss it,” Lisa said.
“Just let me know how things are going,” he requested, and she promised regular updates. Next, Dan called the front desk and held his breath while the clerk checked to make sure they could extend his reservation. When it was done, he let out a long sigh.
You’ve been quiet, he told Wally. His lack of participation had surprised Dan, and he wondered if he had somehow offended his daemon.
We need friends. Allies. They have abilities. We’ll be safer with their help, Wally responded. There was nothing for me to add. Good job.
Dan felt chuffed that his other side approved of what he had done, since he had felt out of his depth. Thanks. So much of this is new. It’s one thing to read about magic, and another to have it going on around us.
Coming here was a good thing, Wally said. Quinn will help take care of us.
Dan struggled a bit knowing that Quinn and Liam had been investigating both the bounty hunter and the wurm without him, even if they were doing so with the help of Dr. Jeffries.
He’s probably trying not to overwhelm me until he has a plan, Dan told himself. Quinn’s been here longer, so he knows Liam and Jeffries better. I’m sure it was meant as a kindness, not to exclude me, since I’m the reason the hunter is on the prowl.
He is our mate, Wally pointed out. He can probably feel it too. He’ll do everything he can to protect us.
Trust is hard, Dan said. Before you joined me, there were some bad experiences. People let me down. I learned to be cautious, maybe a little too much so.
This is not the first time there has been a threat, Wally said.
Not with your grandfather, but several times over the years, we have faced a hunter, a dark witch, or an evil spirit.
There were dangers, but we have overcome them.
It’s possible that one of our abilities is bringing people together at a time like this, Wally went on. Even if they don’t realize it.
Thanks, Dan replied, appreciating Wally’s support. I’m glad you’ve faced down threats in the past, but this is my first time around.
Rest. We’ll be okay, Wally assured him.
Dan made more tea with the in-room pot, ate the leftovers, and grabbed a bag of chips out of his travel snack bag. He didn’t realize how hungry he was until his stomach growled.
I guess fighting off the forces of evil raises an appetite. Who knew? He eagerly polished off the food and added a candy bar from the vending machine down the hall to finish it off.
Eager to keep himself occupied while Quinn was at work, Dan answered emails, worked on his daily reports that needed to be submitted, and paid bills. He ordered a fresh pot of coffee from room service and felt better after a couple of cups.
Dan’s computer binged, and he saw a message in the private Monster chat.
Do you have time for a video call? Boone typed. I think I found out some information about your dragon.
Sure, Dan replied, and moments later found himself face-to-face with Bigfoot.
“What’s up?” he asked.
“I have been asking around, and I think I have found some information on your dragon, most likely a Tatzelwurm,” Boone replied in a voice as deep and gruff as Dan had always imagined for a Bigfoot.
“Thank you, that’s what the people here think too.” Dan breathed a sigh of relief. “So far, I haven’t gotten a lot of specifics, especially if I’m supposed to help stop it.”
“Maybe I can help,” Boone said. “Aim for the head, the most vulnerable part. Its body has scales, so anything you shoot at it needs to be heavy-duty. Steer clear of the claws, some stories say they are poisoned, as is its bite.”
“Lovely,” Dan muttered.
“Do not lose hope,” Boone replied. “I was not able to find anyone who had actually seen or fought one, apparently they are pretty rare, but the stories make it clear they can be overcome even if they cannot be killed.”
“Which is why it was probably locked in a cave before someone let it out,” Dan supplied.
“You think that is what happened?” Boone paused a moment, perhaps thinking.
“That would make sense. It is supposed to be susceptible to magic, so maybe you and your friends have one team that corrals and weakens it and the other that forces it into a cave or a mine, somewhere you can lock it up for good.”
“That helps,” Dan told him. “Thank you.”
“Of course,” Boone replied. “Researching such a fascinating project was interesting. Just let me know if you need anything else.”
Dan said goodbye and ended the video call, thinking about what he had heard. He sipped his tea and knew he was going to need to find a way to tell Quinn.
We have allies, Wally pointed out. We will figure it out.
I feel bad about attracting trouble to Fox Hollow, but then again, I don’t think we could fight off either the bounty hunter or the wurm alone, Dan said.
Then we are where we’re supposed to be. It will work out, Wally said with more certainty than Dan felt, but he didn’t argue.
He glanced at his phone and found texts from Quinn, then double-checked the time and realized it was closer to dinner than he had thought.
Quinn: I’m heading to town. Lots to tell you. I’ll pick up food on my way. How does rotisserie chicken with all the fixings sound?
Dan’s stomach rumbled.
Dan: Fine with me. I’ve got a lot to fill you in on too. See you soon.
His thoughts spun, and while he still felt in over his head, knowing that he had allies—and magic—on his side kept him from having a panicked meltdown.
We will figure it out, Wally reminded him. We have before, and we’ll do it again.