First Eclipse

By the time she caught up to him, he was in the house. The door was open, so she went inside. Sitting beside the door were his boots. Fauna hadn't expected that. Taking hers off, she set them on the mat and went in. Tim stood at a counter that resembled a restaurant kitchen window. She looked at the dining area and saw a wooden table that looked hand-made. She loved that.

Tim tapped the screen of his phone and set it down.

"Tim. Victor just called me. How is she?" It sounded like Prince Rafael.

"The pain stopped as soon as we left Interealm, sir." Tim glanced at her and motioned for her to come further in.

"Good. Don't tell me where you are. Just stay there until you hear otherwise."

Tim nodded. "Yes, sir. Are they looking? That had to leave a trace."

"Aireese and Reagan went over as soon as Victor called."

"Please let me know if they find anything."

"I will." There was talking in the background for a second. "We need to figure out why they want her so much, Tim. So suddenly, too, they've known where she was, so why now?"

Tim nodded. "I know. I've been trying to think of why they would I just keep coming back to what Princess Cristy said, sir. The animals rush away but come back. It's something they're planning that involves animals." "That's not much to go on."

"I know."

The hair on the back of Fauna's neck tingled. She turned around to see a cat walking out of the next room. It was grey, and she could see patches of hair missing. One eye was sewn shut and it was missing one ear. She squatted down. "Look at you. You're a survivor." She kept her voice soft and sent feelings of warmth so it would know she was a friend.

It came closer and opened its mouth; a hoarse mew came out. Pausing a few feet from her, it sniffed and then walked straight at her. Butting its head against her hand, she took that as a sign that petting was allowed. When she ran her hand down its back, she could feel the scars under the patchy fur. "I'm not sure who you picked a fight with, but I hope it's a, you should see the other guy moment."

Fauna sensed contentment from him as he hopped up onto her knees and rubbed his body against her. She turned to see Tim off the phone and standing there with his hands on his hips. "That's Rocco."

"Do I want to know what happened to him?"

Tim sighed. "He's got more brawn than brain, is what happened." Coming over, he leaned down and rubbed the top of the cat's head. "Don't you, bud?"

Rocco butt his head against Tim's hand. "As for the other guy-" He jerked his head toward a door. "I'll show you."

Putting the cat down, she got up.

"You stay, bud. I don't need you upsetting him again."

Fauna watched the cat eye Tim for a second and then he walked into the kitchen. She followed him through a sitting room to a door at the back.

"I keep him in here because he does better without all the furniture. He seems happy with it." Tim opened a door, ducked down, and went inside.

As soon as she was in the room, he closed the door. "Rocco will come in and upset Charlie if the door is open."

Fauna looked around. There was a tunnel like you'd get for a cat and a few low-to-the-ground towers. She heard hissing and turned around to see a ferret hiding behind a small cat's bed. "Hey, it's just me." Tim looked at her. "And a friend." He squatted down. "I know you can find me."

Fauna sent feelings of warmth toward the animal. She softly sucked in a breath when he moved out from behind the bed. Both eyes were sewn shut.

"I found them after their fight. Both were hissing and sending out threats, but neither could do anything because of their injuries."

The animal zig-zagged until it found Tim. He picked him up and held him in one arm. Charlie rubbed up against him.

"So you brought them home." She smiled at how gently he handled the animal.

Tim nodded. "I couldn't leave them there to die. The vet stitched them up, and I brought them back here. Mac's family lives nearby, and someone checks on them when I'm not here."

Fauna reached toward the animal and held her hand where it would smell her. Charlie stopped moving and stretched toward her hand. Tim leaned and let the animal climb into her lap. She'd never been this close to a ferret before and was in awe of how soft he was. "You're so soft and pretty." The animal rubbed into her. She glanced at Tim to see him smiling. "You're a big softy."

He shrugged, "only with animals."

She looked back down at Charlie, "That's the only time to be that way." Her phone ringing startled Charlie. He hopped down and ran toward the bed, running into it, he then climbed in and curled up.

Fauna pulled out her phone as she stood up.

"Fawn, where are you? Are you okay?" It was Flora.

"Yes. I'm fine. Tim brought me to-" Tim shook his head. "Alterealm, and the pain stopped."

"Oh good." There were many other voices in the background. "Hang on, I'm putting you on speaker. She's okay, the pain is gone."

"Fawn. They're out hunting down whoever did that to you." Crystal said.

Tim motioned to the door. She turned and went out when he opened it. "Prince Rafael told Tim that." She went over to the window into the kitchen, which was very tidy.

"You need to stay where you are until they find them," Flora informed her.

"I'm going to. You guys be careful, okay?"

Someone snorted. "Capri told us all to stay in, so I don't think we have a choice."

Fauna cringed. That wasn't going to go over well.

"When Ava gets back..."

"Where's Ava?"

"She took off with Firo when he went looking for magic."

Fauna watched Tim go into the kitchen and open the fridge. He pulled out a few items and set them on the counter. She didn't like the idea that Ava was out there, but if anyone would keep her safe, it was the very pretty Firo. "Listen-" She watched Tim put something in the garbage. "We need to figure out why they're after me. It has to do with animals, that much we know—but what are some possibilities? Ask Firo, ask any of them if they have ideas."

"They want to take over a zoo." That was Karma's suggestion.

Fauna shrugged. "I don't know, but if we can figure out why, then maybe we can do something about it."

"I'll search. Wildlife rescues, domesticated shelters or reserves..." Em's voice faded, and Fauna knew without being there that she had wandered out of the room, her mind already processing the task.

"Are you going to be okay where you are for a little while?" Crystal's concern was evident in her voice.

Fauna looked to see Tim getting out a frying pan. Her stomach reminded her she hadn't eaten yet. "I'll be fine here." Rocco came around the corner and started weaving around her legs, rubbing against her. She smiled. "Let me know if anyone finds out anything, please and look after Moxy; she's going to be worried."

"Moxy is napping in the window right now; she's fine," Sym said.

"What are they doing?" Sparx said.

"Who?"

"Reagan and Aireese," Sym answered. "They're out in the alley. Oh wait-I think Aireese is showing her what fae magic is like so she can differentiate it from the other kinds." She snorted. "Who knew there were so many kinds of magic." Fauna nodded. "So many kinds of everything." She sighed and turned to see Tim getting out two plates.

"Reagan's nodding, so I guess they've sorted it out," Sym told her. "Oh, more of them are back. I'm going to see what's going on."

Fauna tensed. "Call me back and let me know."

"We will. Be safe." The line went quiet.

"Any news?" Tim glanced at her over his shoulder.

"Aireese was showing Reagan what fae magic looked like."

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He nodded. "She can see traces left behind. Mage is green, white is white" He paused. "I think."

"It's neat that she can see it." She frowned. "Crissy said green light is bad, white is good. Do you think she meant magic?"

He turned back to the stove. "I'll mention it to the captain and see if his brother has found out anymore." "Prince Victor?"

"Yes."

She leaned on the counter. "I don't know how he understands Crissy at all, but he's so good with her."

"She was meant for him."

Fauna watched his back as he continued. Now was probably the time to ask a bunch of mate questions. "Em is going to research any animal shelters, zoos, and anything related to animals." "She has a scientist's mind." He glanced at her. "Which I don't understand but do appreciate."

Fauna smiled. "No one understands Em's mind. It's way too busy to try to."

Tim turned off the stove and turned around. "I need to get groceries, but I did have enough to make some omelets." He divided it onto the plates. "I'll get a hold of Mac's sister. She'll do a run for me." He opened the fridge and got out some juice. "My truck is over at their place." He shrugged. "I let her use it, and she gets groceries and checks on the animals for me."

Fauna raised an eyebrow. "Charlie and Rocco."

Tim grinned. "I'll show you after we eat." He patted his stomach. "I'm starving."

She looked at the eggs on the plates and knew it wasn't going to satisfy a man his size. When he went over to the table, she followed him and sat down. The chair was quite large. "Did you make this set?"

He brought in the juice and two glasses. "I helped with the finishing. Mac's uncle made it."

"It's beautiful."

He sat down. "And made for tall people, not like those chairs that are made for midgets."

Fauna leaned back and smiled. Most chairs reached her shoulder blades, making sitting back awkward and uncomfortable; this one went beyond the top of her shoulders.

"See. Tall chairs." He poured some juice into the glasses.

She watched him and noticed the crease along his forehead. He wasn't saying something or was more worried than he was letting on. What more could there possibly be in all of this?