"Lead the way" means more "drag me through thickets of weeds and bushes and thorns to get to your angry Ma" in this context. He's so thrilled.

"Are we almost there?"

"No. Shut it, and don't be so noisy. They're gonna hear us coming from a mile away already, please don't make it ten? She's probably gonna be mad enough already, don't you dare make it worse. And let me do all the talking, alright?"

He nods. "Ok. Got it. Zipping my lips." He mimes zipping his lips and locking them, then... burying a key and drawing a square with a triangle on it on top of the "hole".

This boy sure is strange. But hey, I talked sternly again and it worked! I love being so empowering and scary. It's like being a mother, except easier. I think. Dear readers, ask your mother what it was like? She might say annoying. She probably won't match it to this description but let me have my moment.

Viktor hums a tune, then mutters words that sound something like "jingle bells... jingle... all the way..."

"Shut up."

"Sorry."

We continue on in silence, me clearing the way and him clumsily following him. Sometime before we go on our quest he needs lessons in silent movement and, yknow, not letting everyone within 100 miles know of our presence.

Sure enough, once we get to the clearing in front of our den, we're welcomed by a committee consisting of Ma, with a glare that could start a forest fire, and my brother and sister, looking like they were just along for the ride.

Surprise surprise, Ma seems angry. Very angry. Like she actually would set that forest fire. I'm sure it doesn't help that Viktor is a human.

What in the name of Exris caused me to a bring a human of all people to the den? I would've been better off bringing an elf! Or a Zeceron! (Small, furry little nocturnal things that have slanted eyes, a hidden nose, and small hanging ears. And small heads, they're quite funny to look at.)

"Raven Nightfang. Get over here right now," Ma says, in a tone I'll never forget. It was like ice, but colder and deadly. She felt like she had a hooked nose, slitted pupils, and poison leaking out of her towards me. Her words were quiet but no less threatening.

"Y-yes Ma," I stammer, walking over. I motion to Viktor to stay, for Gods' sakes. Well, more of just a "stay" since I pointed at him and then the ground where he stood but I think the connotations got my point across.

"Raven, where on Earth have you been, what have you been doing, and who is that foul human standing right there?" she hisses.

"I- well- you see..." I stutter. "I kinda went into the day-forest and helped a fawn, and followed it to make sure it was safe and then some hunters cornered us but I got away Ma! Viktor helped me get away!"

I gesture helplessly at Viktor, knowing I'm fighting a losing battle here.

"Viktor? Who names their child Viktor? Such an unnatural name..." she mutters under her breath. "This thing, even if he has helped you, is not welcome here, as you very well know. It's hard enough raising you and your siblings, you think I can handle a human? Honestly, Raven, I thought I could trust you! You promised, and you broke it. You used to be a good kid, I don't know what happened," she says coldly.

Viktor steps forward. "With all due respect ma'am..."

Oh gods no. Please don't talk back to Ma, it won't earn either of us any favors. Please I'm begging you Viktor.

"... Raven's a good child. She's kind, and compassionate, and brave. The only reason my father caught her was because she was protecting a fawn as it made its way back to its mother. And she fell forty feet from the sky after talking to a moon goddess, then led me here to talk to her mom despite knowing this would be your reaction. She's amazing and you know it!" he finishes loudly, pumping his fist to harden the effect.

Oh no. Oh no, oh no, oh no. He did not just say that... she isn't gonna take kindly to that at all.

And yep, she's positively seething, glowering at him, yet he isn't wilting under her glare. He's standing strong, like a scarred tree trunk that's been through more in its life than yours 10 times, looking back at her with a steel in his eyes that makes me believe it will actually work.

Finally, Ma steps back. She looks him up and down, her gaze flickering over the worn jacket, the scuffed and muddy shoes, and the tousled hair that was once so perfectly styled.

"What is your name, child?"

"Viktor Solomon ma'am," he says quietly, though not meekly. He's showing deference to her, I realize.

"Well, Viktor Solomon, you must think very highly of my daughter," she turns to look at me, then at my siblings, then at our den. "I will hear you out, and may let you stay, but it depends on what you have to say. Now, what is this about Dreadea?"

I suck in a breath. She knows about Dreadea? But then, I suppose that's logical. She is kind of our mother, after all.

"Well, I collapsed near a pond and got teleported to a strange field with wolves, birds, people, and a goddess. Why don't we go inside and talk?" I suggest.

"That sounds like a good idea," Ma agrees. "Let's go."

Fangs and Fates, a Wattpad story.

Word count, 943