I hum to myself as I methodically spread out the oats out onto the snow. I have also hung some carrots and the birdseed. I wasn't able to do this last night with Mother Nature demanding that everyone help me put my stores away and there was just so much that it took nearly all day.
By the end, my back and arms were sore but it has been nice not having to search the woods for sources of food. Mother Nature even gave me apples! I almost squealed when she did so.
I didn't, but I almost did. I even ate one for breakfast. Wasn't as good as the one that Vita gave me but it was still really delicious.
I toss some more oaks down, Wind zooming by to help scatter them around.
Closing the bag, I carry it back inside and put it with the other bags. I should probably go and make some flurries happen but after what I found two days ago, I'm a little leery on leaving my house. I know I shouldn't be but I am. What if I find another poor animal in the same situation as the fox with wires and cameras?
I shake my head as a knot forms in my stomach.
No. I really don't think I can handle something like that again.
I stretch my arms as I glance around the living room. Well, if I don't make some flurries happen everywhere, I can at least cause one here while looking for some more furniture.
"Wind!" I call out. "I'm gonna go fly around town a little bit. Cause some flurries and such."
Wind zips into the house, spinning around me. I giggle as they ruffle my hair and whistle at me. My lips quirk up slightly.
"No, it's okay if you don't want to come. I just want to see if I can possibly find some more chairs and a couple more blankets. Seeing as I only had enough chairs for everyone two days ago, I should probably find more."
Wind spins around me once more and I grin.
"If you want to go cause cold winds over in Europe, I won't stop you. I promise I'll be okay while you're gone."
Wind spins around me one more time, nudging my cheek, before flying out the door. I watch for a second then roll my eyes with a fond smile.
Honestly.
They are acting as though I'm going to be gone for days on end without telling them. Huffing out a laugh, I run a hand through my hair as I step out of my house and into the crisp air. My eyes flicker across my handy work.
"Hopefully the deer and his friends can smell all of this." Smiling, I launch myself up into the air, breathing deeply as the chill in the air washing over my face. It feels wonderful and it reminds me why I enjoy flying way more than walking.
I twirl myself a little as I fly over the forest, sparing a glance here and there toward the road and the ditch. This road almost always has stuff dumped on it, since it is so far away from the town. I haven't had any luck with the blankets dumped here, but the furniture is usually decent enough that I can fix it no problem.
Something glitters off on the side of the road as I finish my spins. Interest spikes within me and I slow my pace, veering off to investigate.
Landing near the tree line, I quickly scan the road for cars, I really don't want to be sprayed by slush and salt. Deeming it safe, I work my way over to the ditch and start digging out the small brown reflective piece that is sticking out above the snow. Scooping the snow away, a smile widens on my face.
A dresser! And so far it looks to be in some pretty good shape too. A giddy feeling enters my stomach. Did I finally find something I can put in my bedroom?
Wiggling happily, I start digging a little faster.
I have the dresser halfway uncovered when my ears pick up on movement from behind me. Tensing, I glance over my shoulder at the tree line.
Not this again. I'm sure it's just going to be another deer or maybe even a coyote. Frowning, I turn back to the dresser and continue digging.
SNAP!
My heart leaps into my throat and I twirl around just in time to see something grey dart by a gap in the trees. Swallowing thickly, I tense as I glance around. What was that? That was not an animal, that's for sure.
My stomach drops.
Are there humans here? No, there shouldn't be! It's far too late in the day for hunters and way too cold for anyone else to be out. There is just no way that there is a human out here.
Cautiously, I walk toward the trees, keeping my steps light and quiet. I just make it to the tree line when a tall brown-haired human male bursts from the trees. His long grey jacket has the collar up, with a grey scarf tucked safely inside. Black gloves cover his hands as he holds a small cell phone-sized device. Cream earmuffs cover his ears and dark black sports sunglasses cover his eyes.
I press my back against the tree as I stare at the human with wide eyes. Place my hand over my mouth, I watch as the man frantically looks around.
"I'm telling you, Sof, the signal was super strong here!" The man says excitedly and my heart drops as he starts toward the dresser I half dugout. "Wait! Someone was here."
The man sinks a little as he walks toward the ditch. "No, someone was digging out this dresser." He studies the snow top as I bite my knuckle. "But...I don't see any footprints. No, wait, there are some, but...on top of the snow? How is that possible?" The man squats down and traces one of my footprints. "I don't know, Sof, the snow here really isn't that hard. If anything it's super soft." The man hums, nodding to no one in particular. "Yeah, yeah, yeah, Sof. I'll just keep looking around. See if I can find what's making my device go crazy. I'll call you if I find anything else. Talk to ya later. Bye."
My heart leaps into my throat as the man stands, sinking further into the snow. He starts waving this device around, high pitch beeping interchanging between slow and then fast. I press my hand harder against my mouth as my chest heaves. The beeping increases in pace whenever he starts turning toward me.
Shoot. Shoot. Shoot. I need to leave and I need to leave now.
My body trembles as I slowly start scooting around the tree my back is pressing against. As long as I go slowly enough, he shouldn't know I'm here besides what the device is telling him.
My breathing accelerates as the man fully turns toward me, me just barely on the side of the tree. He reaches up and pushes his sunglasses up as he stares at the device as it goes crazy. The blinking light goes from red to a rapid green and I quickly shrink back behind the tree as the man pulls his glasses back down and looks at me. Or rather, the tree.
"Hello?" He calls out, pausing seven steps from me.
I pause, peeking my head out around the tree. I really should be leaving but, well, he's spiking my curiosity. And didn't we want more information on the humans tracking us?
I remain silent but I stare at him warily from my spot behind the tree. The man's lips quirk up into a smile as he tilts his head toward the tree.
"Hello there, Darlin'," He says again. "My name is Conroy Ignosi. I'm not here to hurt you. Actually, I'm a scientist and a myths and legends professor at the college here in town." Conroy smiles and shuffles a step closer. "My whole life I have been interested in the things that the human mind has created and why some legends and myths seem to stay around longer than others. Because there is always some truths behind them, isn't there. And that's what I am merely trying to prove here today. To prove that you are the reason behind the myths and legends and that there is a living reason behind them staying around for so long." The scientist tilts his head toward the device. "And according to my little device and well, to yourself, I can see and prove that you do."
Prove? Who does he have to prove my existence to? Most humans could care less about what us, the Protectors, do or if we even exist.
CRUNCH!
I flinch and shrink further behind the tree as Conroy takes another step.
"No, no, no," Conroy quickly pleads, stopping where he is, hands up in surrender. "I'm sorry, Darlin'. I didn't mean to scare you. I won't approach again, promise. I just want to talk, if that's alright?"
My eyes narrow.
I'm not going to say a word to this stranger. No matter how curious I am to see what he has to say. Conroy smiles as I shift a little further out from behind the tree.
He chuckles. "Well, I might not be able to hear anything you say, but with these," Conroy taps his sunglasses. "I can see you. Well, your signature reading at least. Which, is quite cool for a living being." He tilts his head. "It's all blue, telling me that you run much colder than a human does. Is that normal for you, Darlin'? Running colder than the average human?"
The scientist stares at me expectantly. Should I answer him? I mean, that's a pretty harmless question, right? And it's only about myself? Wiggling my nose, I scoot further around the tree and pause. He said he could see my signature reading right?
I put my left arm out to the side and sign 'Yes'.
Conroy tenses before a large grin splits his face.
"Wait, you know American sign language?"
Again, I sign 'Yes'.
Conroy claps his hands together. A small smile tugs at my face at the glee on the human's face. Sometimes humans are so easy to make happy. My shoulder presses against the tree but I keep my hand out.
"All right, all right. So, you do run colder than normal humans. That's good to know. Is there a reason why?"
I sign 'Yes'.
Conroy tilts his head to the left, smirking. "Would you tell me what that reason is, Darlin'?"
I pause. Should I tell him why? I bring my hand close to my chest, frowning. I don't think the others would appreciate that.
As if sensing my change in mood, Conroy holds up a hand.
"All right, all right. Too personal. Sorry about that, Darlin'," Conroy hums, looking me up and down when his gaze stays on my feet. "Are you walking on TOP of the snow?"
Amusement hits me as I cautiously extend my hand and sign 'Yes'.
Conroy looks up at my face then back down at my feet. He whistles.
"Geez, Darlin'. What do you weigh? 2 pounds? This snow is incredibly soft." For emphasis, the human gestures down at his own feet, which are completely hidden within the snow with only the top of his boots on his shins is poking out. I'm pretty sure on solid ground, I would only come up to his shoulder.
Huffing out a laugh, I quickly sign 'No'.
Conroy pauses for a moment, just staring at me for a beat before he shakes his head and chuckles.
"No, of course you're not 2 pounds. That would just be silly. Do you live around here?"
I quickly pull my hand back. That is one thing I am definitely not admitting to either. Conroy holds up a hand at the change in my mood once again.
"Okay, so questions about home are a no-go either. Good to know." Conroy rubs his chin. "How about this, have you been in the area long? And will you be here for a while?"
I tug on my sweatshirt sleeve, frowning. How to answer this without making Conroy annoyed and upsetting any of the other protectors when they find out about this.
Holding out my hand, I put out one finger.
Conroy nods. "Okay, so my first question."
I quickly sign 'Yes'. Then I quickly pull my hand back and hide it against my chest, telling him I won't answer the second one.
Conroy sighs. "All right. Fair enough. You're quite the secretive little guy, you know that?" He tugs off his earmuffs and runs a hand through his hair as he huffs out a quiet laugh. "Sorry, I'm sure this is awkward for you. You're probably not used to humans seeing you and here I am drilling you with insensitive questions." Conroy hides his face with his hand, a smile peeking out around his palm. "If I seem a little flustered, it's because I am. I really didn't expect anything from my little walk through the woods. School was canceled due to the cold spell happening right now and I just wanted to see if I could pick up the same energy signature that we caught a few nights ago."
A cold pit forms in my stomach. Oh. Oh no. He-He was one of the humans who did that to the fox? Who took her body and used it for their own means? I take a step backward. The human's head snaps up in my direction.
"Whoa, wait, where are you going? Is everything all right? Am I scaring you?" Conroy takes another step back. "I'm sorry, I know this is all new for you. I don't mean to scare you. Can I at least get your name?"
Biting my lip, I shake my head as I sign 'No'. I shrink back as Conroy's face pinches in annoyance.
Uh oh. I've made him angry. And angry humans are some of the most dangerous.
Just because humans can't see us doesn't mean they can't feel us. I've had more than enough of my fair shares of elbows to the cheek or the shoulder because a human turns and didn't see me behind them. I've also had arrows and rocks thrown at me when humans COULD see me. And I really am not eager to return to those days. Especially since humans have created weapons that do far more damage than mere rocks and arrows can do.
My lips purse.
I remember the first time an arrow pierced my shoulder. It had hurt so bad and was the first time I ever saw my blood. It also didn't help that my body kept trying to freeze the wound over. Mother Nature nearly had a conniption when she saw me and I couldn't use my arm for days.
Shaking my head, I refocus on the human scientist just as he sighs.
"All right, Darlin', I'm getting too personal, I get that. We only just met. Don't worry about it. I'm not mad, so don't worry about that."
My head snaps up at that, eyes wide in surprise. How did he know I was worried about that?
Conroy laughs, seeing my little jerk of shock.
"I don't need to see your face to know that you were getting defensive, Darlin'. It's all in your body language and unlike your face, that IS something I can see. And I really don't blame you. I'm a stranger asking personal questions that even other humans would be hesitant to answer. Stranger danger and all that. So, don't worry about it. But may I ask you one last thing before you leave, Darlin'?"
I pause. I really need to leave and tell the others about what happened today, but what's one more question? I don't have to answer if I don't want to.
Hesitantly, I sigh 'Yes'.
Conroy smiles. "Thank you, Darlin'. All I wanted to ask is if we could meet again?"
My shoulders tense and my nose scrunches. Of course he would ask that.
"I have a lot more questions that I would deeply appreciate being able to ask you," Conroy says quickly, sensing my dilemma with the question. "And it can be like today. I don't expect you to actually answer any, just let me ask them and it doesn't even have to be outside. But it can be if that makes you more comfortable." Conroy runs a hand through his hair before quickly digging into his pocket, pulling out his wallet. He pulls out a small square card. "This is my business card. It has my hours on it when I will be on BSU's campus. So, if you would prefer comin' to me, I have a window facing the lake on the second floor. It'll be the fifth window in the Hagg-Sauer building. Just throw a snowball or something at it and I'll know that it's you. I'll even keep my sunglasses nearby so that I can see you."
I rub my arms and bite the inside of my cheek. Oh, oh dear. I have never had a human actually want to interact with me. They all tend to keep their distance from me, especially when they find out what exactly I stand for.
But, it is kinda nice. And if it means I can maybe figure out more about why these humans are researching us about us. If I can find that out for everyone, maybe it can help ease some nerves. Conroy doesn't seem all that bad. Although, I'm still not sure about what he did to that poor fox was ethical and it leaves a bitter taste in my mouth, but I might as well try to learn more information.
Conroy turns and tucks the card into a small space on the dresser. "I'll just leave it here for you, darlin', and if you want to meet up again. Just come to my office." Conroy smiles at me. "My door is always open for you, Darlin'. It was nice meeting you."
I tense as the human starts walking back into the forest, waddling through the snow as he sinks with each step. I wait until he is hidden within the trees once more. I push myself away from the tree, throwing glances over my shoulder, a little scared that he might come back out. When he doesn't, I lean down and pick up the card.
Professor Conroy Ignosi - Department Head of History
Email: [email protected]
Office Hours: Monday - Thursday: 8am - 5pm, Friday: 9am - 3pm
Fax: 3345
Cell: 333-888-9933
Office Phone: 3344
Please email to set up an appointment but walk-ins are welcome.
I frown as I turn the glossy card over before re-reading the words. Shaking my head, I shove the card into my sweatshirt's pouch pocket. I'll sit on this, maybe see what the others think about it.