My mind was practically racing as I went over it again and again in my head. I brought my thumb up to my mouth and started to chew on my freshly grown nail. I tapped teeth against the stubborn nail once, twice, three times before biting down. 'Does Firedrake know? I would assume he would, why don't I ask him? He's literally right there looking at me.' I thought for a moment as I let my eyes wander up to look at the silver dragon before looking back down at the book. "Firedrake?" I questioned.

"Hm?" I felt Firedrake shift a little before crossing one paw over the other. He looked down at me. If he had an eyebrow he would have raised it. I looked away from his face quickly and focused down at my book.

"Did… Ben write this?" I finally asked him as I showed him the cover of the book. Firedrake lowered his head, looked at the cover for a few seconds before shrugging.

"Ben did mention writing a book… but I can't remember… I think Barnabas wrote a book as well." Firedrake informed after thinking about it.

I crossed my legs, and just stared at the cover of the book like it was going to tell me everything I needed to know. In a split second, I made a choice- "I'm going to talk to Barnabas." I went to stand up, but as soon as I got up to my feet, Firedrake grabbed the back of my jacket and pulled me back down.

"Tammy, leave them be. They can't afford to waste in more time right now. Okay?" Firedrake told me in a stern voice before nuzzling his snout against my neck.

"But-"

"No. No buts. Stay out of their way okay? I think it's for the best."

'Because… I mess up all the time, I bet…' I thought sadly almost instantly absorbing myself in my own self-pity.

"Besides!" Sorrel, quite suddenly, jumped into our conversation from Firedrake's back. She had her ears down low as she looked at me. "Who would want to go back out in the snow? I say we' just stay here. At least we'll be warm."

"Right. Right." I half-agreed but still felt a little annoyed that I was basically being treated like both a child and an idiot. (Okay, maybe the 'idiot' thing was my own mind telling me that- but still!) I was starting to get restless now. I never liked sitting still for too long and I wasn't tired enough to go back to sleep. I brought my right hand up and started to vigorously wave or flap it about, it was something that helped me calm down just a smidge.

"What… are you doing?" Sorrel suddenly asked me. "Why- stop that!" She tried to urge me obviously it was bugging her. I slowed my hand flapping down as I stared at her wide-eyed.

"Uh… sorry." I put my hand down and started to move my toes up and down, at least Sorrel couldn't see this. I was growing even more restless now. I picked up my book, but I couldn't be bothered to read, no, too restless. I shook my head before jumping up. "I can't! I'm sorry, Firedrake. I won't- wo- won't-won't bug the others but at least let my-me walk around-about. I don't like sitting still!" My nerves were shot, my anxiety was suddenly in the red and I was almost ready to start jumping up and down. "Please. Just for a little while? I'll come back!" I asked Firedrake.

Firedrake gave me a look before lowering his head to the ground. "Very well, please just stay out of trouble this time? Yeah?"

"Yeah."

And I was gone. Firedrake didn't need to tell me twice. Yeah, I didn't have an undershirt on under my jacket like normal, so I was just a tad more chilly this time around, but I didn't care. Stretching my legs felt so good right now. True to my word, I made sure to keep away from the tiny village and just walk the outskirts for a moment. Just a quick walk to calm my ever climbing nerves. "Oh, man." I breathed out once I was away and started to flap my hand about again. "Oh man, oh man. I was- god- I almost died!" The realization made me completely stop. "I… almost died… Oh… oh man…" My shoulders slumped a little and I grabbed my arm.

'Stay out of trouble this time? Yeah?' Firedrake's voice echoed in my head. I hung my head this time in shame. 'I'm… a fuck up.' I thought sadly as my self-pity came back full swing and practically smacked me in the head. 'In Florida, I was grabbed by an alligator, in Greece I had my stuff taken by the mermaids and royally pissed them off, and now… I got possessed by the Kikimora, freed her, and almost died- I almost died!' I went to grab the ends of my hair as I do normally do- but oh wait! I had to cut my hair as payment to the mermaids! 'Idiot! Idiot!'

I felt tears start to emerge as my emotions were boiling over. I couldn't stop it, I know I couldn't stop it. My breath hitched, I clenched my teeth and sucked in a tight breath. I needed to get my emotions under control right now, this isn't about me, I shouldn't be crying. I shouldn't be crying. I…

Sinking down into the snow I let out a sniffle before feeling tears start to fall down my cheeks. 'You're such a crybaby!' My mind taunted. 'I know!' I rested my elbows on my knees and planted my hands firmly against my eyes. I could feel tears almost immediately start to freeze against my face as the inside of my nose began to burn from the cold. Soft pitiful sobs continued to leave my mouth for a few moments- before I suddenly felt something brush against my leg. Still breathing uneven and heavily I peeked through my fingers to see a cat. A gray and white one. The cat continued to mew and rub itself against my leg. I sniffled pitifully then reached out to pet the cat's soft fur. 'I've… seen this cat.' It was such a stupid thing to think really. Even I knew it was stupid to think that. I mean how many cats have I seen over the years that look the same? Yet, the more I looked at this cat them for I was sure I've seen this cat. It was enough to take my mind off of my sorrows for the moment. This cat looked average enough. Mostly grey with a white stomach and paws, broad-shouldered, short coat and fur-

No, I've seen this cat before. "Hi, kitty." I greeted the cat. I started to scratch the cat under the chin earning a soft purr from the cat. The cat rubbed against my hand before suddenly darting off- only about ten feet before the cat looked back at me and mewed again. "... Me?" I sniffled again. And I swear to Christ the cat nodded. "What?" I thought out loud and stood up from my spot on the ground. The cat then started to trot away only stopping to look at me and very obviously urge me on forward. I took a few steps after the cat but stopped when Firedrake's warning rang through my head.

'Stay out of trouble this time, yeah?'

So, I backed up a little and stayed put. I cupped my hands together behind my back and started to rock back and forth on my heels. I then heard a soft mew by my feet and looked down at the cat. "No, not this time, sorry kitty." I simply nudged the cat away with my foot. "I should be getting back to Firedrake-"

"I see-"

"The fuck!?" I jumped a good five feet back and slipped on the slick snow falling horribly on my thigh. The cat talked. I'm sure I shouldn't be too surprised by this point in my life but… I know that voice! "... Mister?!" Once the voice fully registered in my mind and I realized that it was indeed my attacker's voice coming out of that cats mouth it just… It blew my mind.

"Well, I was going to reveal myself to you in a more private matter-" The cat got closer. "-But you suddenly seem to have lacked your sense of unorthodox adventure for the time being."

"... What?"

"You must hear the phrase 'You look cute when you think' a lot."

"Believe it or not-... I've never really been called cute."

"Hmph." The cat jumped up on to my chest and proceeded to sit there and look down at me with judging eyes. Those cold eyes made a shiver go down my spine- either that or it was my lack of an undershirt and the snow seeping down under my collar and down my back.

"So… you're a shapeshifter?" I finally asked him actually feeling a bit nervous as he just sat there. "That's how you got away from the Kikimora?"

He let out a sigh. "No, and yes. I am not a shapeshifter. I am a Nagual-"

"A narwhal?"

"No!" He actually swatted at me before hissing his fur rising. "A Nagual! I am a being who is able to transform into my spiritual animal at heart." He seemed proud of that as he wiggled his shoulders and sat up straighter.

"..."

"What?"

"Your spirit animal at heart is… a cat?"

"You were all over me on that island! Hugging me and kissing me- ugh! The kissing! And that horrible name-"

"Beanie!? Aw! Gross!" I pushed him off of my chest and felt that chill start to keep back up my spine. "I kissed you so much…" I could stop my shuddering. "That kind of explains how you've gotten around so quickly- you've been stowing away on ships and stuff haven't you?"

"If you want to put it crudely, yes." He scratched his ear with his hind leg as he spoke.

I watched him for a few seconds before crouching down so we were at the level. "Okay, answer this then. Beanie is a calico, you are currently gray and white."

"I can change my fur color I see fit. It helps me hide if I need to."

"Okay… why are you hiding now, being a cat and all? I mean I could have used you earlier."

"And I helped you. I was the cat that showed you to your… satyr friend so you wouldn't freeze to death, for your next question. I'm not hiding… I'm… stuck."

"Stuck?"

"Like this."

I reached down and picked him up by his midsection before holding him in my arms like I would any other cat. "Stuck? How are you stuck?"

"That spirit, that Kikimora… I looked at her in her eyes and fled in this form to get away from her… while shrinking down any clothes I have are usually… discarded… I'm nude and I can't change back until I have clothes... This is all I have to keep me warm." I had to stop everything in my power to not laugh at him. Poor guy.

"Where are your clothes?" I asked him and shifted him in my arms so he was now laying lazing on my arm.

"...In the house…" He sounded so sheepish and I watched in amusement as his ears lowered. My eyes widened a little as I realized what he was trying to do earlier.

"You wanted me to go back to that place!"

"Yes, and retrieve my clothes." I narrowed my eyes at him and he just gave me a shrug. "I need my clothes, Tammy."

"Do you have a name?" I finally asked him. "I can't keep calling you 'My attacker' you know."

"One: You call me that? I didn't harm you physically, and two:... It's Bao."

"Bao… what a pretty name."

"Pretty? It means protection."

"Yes… and my name means 'palm tree.' What's your point?"

"You didn't win big in the name drawing did you?"

"It's better than the name my mom wanted to give me."

"Which was?"

"Miley Kay." Both of us shuddered at the thought. "I would have been so made fun of in school… I mean I was made fun of but at least not for my name."

"Tam-..." I looked over my shoulder to see Sheldon come walking on over. He noticed the cat in my arms and just shook his head before chuckling at me. "-You and cats, man. You have 'future cat lady' written all over you." I knew I was giving him a look because I felt my eyebrow raise up. That's something I'm good at is being expressed in my emotions. "Oh Tammy, don't give me that look." Sheldon reached over and started to scratch the cat behind its ears. "I'm only playing."

"'Only playing', if I had a dollar every time I was told that." I couldn't help but grumble at him.

"So, I heard you talking about being made fun of? Did you vent to this cat?" Sheldon chuckled again and then reached over and scratched Bao behind his ears.

"Yes, and our conversation was actually interesting-" Bao suddenly answered Sheldon.

"Whoa!" Sheldon yanked his hand back and even took a startled step back in fear. "That's… That's unusual."

"Hey man, when he spoke to me, I literally fell back in fear." I shrugged at Sheldon. "Anyway. Sheldon, this is Bao… he's a Narwhal-"

"Nargual, Tammy, nargual!"

"Yeah, that."

"Bao… Alright, I'll bite. What do you want with us?"

"To help my daughter."

"Help your-" Sheldon's brow went all the way up his forehead for a moment before his eyes went wide at the realization. "Aw! It's you!" Sheldon took another step back and pointed at Bao accusingly. "You attacked Guinevere and Tammy!" Before I could stop him, Sheldon, he had snatched Bao up by his scruff.

"Put me down!" Bao demanded and he started to kick his hind legs. I watched as his toes extended out and pearly white claws emerged. He was trying to claw at Sheldon but was failing to do so. Out of instinct, I went to reach for Bao to try and get him back but Sheldon took a step back, stopping me.

"Sheldon, please. He's not that bad." I tried to reason with him.

"Then why isn't he being a human right now? Tammy, he's obviously been watching you. He knows you love cats. You'll listen to a cat, and I can't believe that sentence just left my mouth… No, I say we take this little weasel to Firedrake directly…" Sheldon growled in Bao's face.

"If that's how you feel, Halfling, then do so!" Bao challenged his ears back and heckles raised as he fluffed his tail out. I watched as Sheldon's eyes narrowed and I just had a feeling he was going to do something- and do something he did. Sheldon suddenly, and rather viciously, started to shake Bao up and down as he still held him tightly by the scruff.

"Stop it!" Bao demanded- though it came out more like "S-Sto-oop ii-ii-t!"

"Sheldon! Knock it off!" I cut in quickly; almost in shock at Sheldon's sudden and brash behavior. I never knew he could act like this but he was starting to look less attractive the more he acted like this. Maybe it was because I yelled at him or maybe it was because he saw the (probably) horrified look on my face, but he stopped with a bitter 'tsk' leaving his mouth. "Right. Let's just get this pest to Firedrake." While still holding Bao by his scruff Sheldon started to make his way towards in an angry march.

"You can let him down-" I started.

"-I can walk." Bao finished.

"Yes, I'm aware, and I'm not dumb. Every time you've come in contact with us you managed to evade us, well not this time." Sheldon humphed at the both of us and just kept on walking forward. I'm a little amazed that Bao hadn't transformed back into a human, but I knew that this weather was brutal. I wouldn't want to be nude right now either. I followed behind Sheldon and looked up at the sky. The snow was falling now I could feel the snowflakes attach themselves to my face and eyelashes and for just a second I felt at peace. The second was fleeting with us making our way to Firedrake.

" A… cat?" Sorrel had questioned as she peered down from atop Firedrake's head and leered at Bao curiously. The look on Bao's face told me if he could cross his arms he would be right now.

"Alright-" Sheldon rudely dropped Bao to the ground. True to his nature Bao landed on his feet gracefully. "-Talk."

Firedrake looked at the cat, then at Sheldon and I. I awkwardly clutched my arm and stared at him for only a few moments before darting my eyes to the ground. I tried to shrink myself the best I could. Firedrake then looked down at the cat. Bao lowered his ears and then looked back at me. I could see that he was thinking of something, I wondered if he was debating of running off, I mean Sheldon didn't have a hold on him anymore and to my surprise, Bao sighed and looked at Firedrake.

"I am the one who threatened all of your friends as of late."

I watched as Sorrel's eyes went wide and her fur started to heckle. Firedrake's ear twitched and he lifted his head off of the ground. The air around us turned tense and I suddenly attached myself to Sheldon's right arm. My breath turned shallow and panic-stricken. I felt Sheldon turn his head to look at me but he didn't do anything else after that. I feared that Firedrake was going to lose his temper for the first time and start attacking Bao out of rage.

"You-" Firedrake paused, tilted his head, and then spoke again. "-Are a cat."

"I am Bao. I'm a nargual, right now I am in my animal form as we speak."

A hum left Firedrake's throat and I wanted nothing more than to flee now more than ever. The air was turning so heavy that I was sure you could cut it with a knife. "Nargual?" Barnabas's voice suddenly cut in and the elder man came walking up to our circle. "Why, I haven't seen a nargual in decades." Barnabas looked down at Bao for a moment and then crossed his arms. 'Oh goodness, the two people who probably want him dead are here, he's surrounded. Run Bao!'

Bao didn't run, Bao stood proud and strong in front of Firedrake and Barnabas. I watched as his tail twitched as he watched Barnabas for several seconds. "So, if I heard right, you're the one who attacked my daughter?-" I expected to grimace an explosion of anger from both Firedrake and Barnabas but... "-May I ask why?"

I… was aghast at Barnabas's calm nature. It was just so shocking to see him being so calm. If it were my dad in this situation I'm sure poor Bao would currently be no more Bao let out a low sigh and looked up almost sadly at Barnabas. "Because my six-year-old daughter is currently in the same state as your son and I wanted nothing more than to see my child well again."

Barnabas then proceeded to sit down on the snowy ground so he was level with Bao. I slowly let go of Sheldon and when he looked at me I felt my face flush and quickly looked at the ground. "Do you think maybe we could come to a compromise?" Barnabas spoke suddenly making me look back up at him. He had his hand extended out towards Bao. "We can help you get the antidote too. No more attacking one another? Hm?" Bao paused looking up at Barnabas then he brought his tiny paw up and placed it on top of Barnabas's palm.

"How? The white apple-"

"-If we can't get you an apple… then we will… split the apple in half if we have to."

"But that won't give us-" Sorrel suddenly and very angrily snapped. She was now completely puffed out and looked completely pissed.

"-Sorrel." It was Firedrake that silenced her. "..." I can see his own face, he looked so sad. His eyes downcast. "If we help you… will you please stop attacking my friends?"

"... if it means saving my daughter… yes."

"Great, because we're going to need all the help we can get. We've come up with a plan on how to catch this Kikimora. Tonight."