"Lucas can't explain it." Jeremy said after he'd called the sorcerer. "It seems to me that you're breaking down that wall that seems to be blocking all these memories from your conscious mind."
I looked at Logan and smiled. I wanted to be closer to him but resisted the urge.
"This is thrilling to know. What was it that sparked the memory?"
"Uh… it just flooded into my mind. I don't know that it was something in particular that triggered it." I said, hiding my embarrassment with a small laugh.
"Let's hope you have moments like that more often." Katie said looking at me knowingly. How did she know everything?
"Elena and Clayton will be glad to hear we have good news on this end."
"Have they found anything?" Logan asked.
"No, nothing. They haven't picked up any scents in the airports so far. They started fresh this morning; I expect they'll be calling later this afternoon if there is any news."
"I would like to speak to them."
"Certainly." Jeremy nodded once. "In the mean time, I sense that it's about time for you to be Changing, Joslyn."
"Oh." I said a bit surprised but not at the same time that Jeremy could sense something like that. "Um…"
"We'll run after lunch." Logan said, looking at me.
"Yeah." I agreed.
"Katie will be taking me into town for a few hours." Jeremy said. "I'll remember to leave the door unlocked."
We walked into the woods at 12:30. Logan stripped in front of me, making me drift into my own world of fantasy. When he walked into the woods, not noticing that I hadn't moved an inch, I snapped back to reality and began undressing myself. He was Changed before I had my pants off. He waited in the brush while I took three times as long to Change and when I finally came out I couldn't see him but I could smell him. I sniffed at the air and was tackled to the ground, Logan on top of me. He was playing. It was apparent in the grin he had on his face. I nipped at his hind leg and he jumped off of me jetting into the woods. It was to be a game of tag then I guess. Following after his scent, I caught up with him fairly quickly. I snapped at his back legs and he weaved in and out of the trees in an attempt to allude me. It was fun. When I did finally tackle him (I think he may have been holding back a little bit) I could see mischief and happiness in his eyes. This time it was my turn to run from him. Of course, it only took fifteen seconds for him to have me pinned to the ground again. When he jumped off of me, not sprinting into the woods this time, his ears perked up and he sniffed the air. I mimicked and smelled something too; a human. Logan's whole demeanor changed. Instead of being playful he turned serious and dark with concern. Logan swept his head to motion for me to run the other way. Why? So he can have all the fun? But the look in his eye made me obey him and I trotted off back toward the deeper part of the woods to wait.
I paced, circled, jumped up and down; anything to pass the time. Humans being in the woods usually meant hunting and hunting meant guns. I began to worry. If Logan didn't show up or call me back or give me some sort of sign soon I was going back to see what was going on. I waited another fifteen minutes then began my trek back to where I last saw Logan. His scent was still there but only just lingering. I followed the trail for a mile until I saw his tail sweeping in front of me. He was lying under a bush. I inched silently toward him. He didn't seem at all surprised when I came up at his side. Then I saw what he was looking at. A boy and his father playing hide and seek in a meadow. Logan had a sweet look in his eyes. We stayed there silently watching the humans pass their day until the sun began to set and the father pulled the son into his nearby car and drove from the meadow. Logan didn't move for a few moments until I sneezed and he snapped out of whatever trance he'd been in. Then he led the way back to our Changing spots.
I came into the clearing still pulling on my shirt. Logan was already dressed and waiting for me.
"What was that all about?" I asked him.
"What?"
"Those people; why did you have to watch them?"
"Well, I couldn't just leave them there. I had to make sure they stayed out of the woods." He explained. "This is private property and humans rarely comply with boundaries."
"They were just having a picnic, Logan." I smiled. "Lighten up."
"We can't lighten up Joslyn. No one can slip through the cracks. If they came into the woods while we were Changing we would have…" He sighed heavily.
We would have had to kill them.
"I'm sorry."
"It's not like I enjoy killing people. Especially innocent people."
"I know." I nodded. "I wasn't thinking."
He looked at me for a few moments and strode toward the house. I stood in the shade of the trees a bit longer. Maybe Logan and I needed some time away from each other; or Logan needed time away from me. I didn't want to play the needy girlfriend, if that's what I was, so I kept my distance for the next few hours.
Jeremy and Kat came back while I was sitting in the study, reading. Kat came in weighed down with shopping bags full of what I could only assume to be more clothes for her wardrobe. But when she stood in front of me with a wide grin on her face I knew something else was up.
"Hey." I said looking up from the book in my hand.
"Come upstairs." She smiled.
"Why?" I asked skeptically.
"I got something for you while we were out. I want you to try it on."
"Kat, you really didn't--."
"Well, I did so move your ass."
The girl in my got all giddy and I followed after her. She practically giggled when I came into her room after her and she closed the door.
"Where's my brother?" She asked.
"I don't know." I shrugged uncomfortably and sat on her window seat. "I haven't seen him since after we ran."
"Uh-oh. Trouble in paradise?" She asked, plopping down on her bed.
"I wouldn't exactly call it paradise." I said. "I don't even know what we are…"
"Well, you told him you love him."
I looked at her quickly with shock.
"It's a twin thing… we tell each other everything." She shrugged, wearing a smile. "Logan never stopped loving you. You don't know what it did to him when you went missing… both times."
"Both?"
"The first time you were kidnapped and bitten. Logan went crazy. He actually broke up with you to try to protect you but… I told him it wouldn't work and that he should just keep you close but he was already convinced. My dad can be very persuasive."
"Clayton told him to dump me?" that brought up some other issues. "It doesn't even matter. I don't remember it."
"But you will." She assured me. "And when you do you should kick his ass and my dad's. They both deserve it."
"I don't think that'll be happening any time soon." I smiled.
"Oh! I almost forgot." She rummaged through a bag and pulled out a spring dress the color of a bright red tulip. "Don't you love it?"
"Kat…" I didn't know what to say. "You didn't have to buy me anything… I have enough here--."
"Actually, I did have to buy you something." She smiled. "We have a meeting to go to and seeing as you're now part of the Pack, you have to dress the part too."
"A meeting? What kind of meeting?"
"Pack." She repeated. "I got two more the same style, different colors."
She went on but I stopped listening. I heard footfalls in the hallway and zeroed in on them, trying to match the sound to the ones I was familiar with. It didn't sound familiar at all.
"Kat!" a voice boomed and a loud pounding reverbed through the door. "Come out here please?"
"Who is that?" I asked quietly.
"Uncle Nick." Kat rolled her eyes. "What do you want?!"
"I need to talk to Joslyn."
That was surprising. I stood up and walked to the door, swinging it open. He was leaning against the door frame with a crooked smile on his face.
"Hey, Jos."
"Hi, Nick. What's up?"
"Come take a walk with me." He started back down the hall.
I looked back at Kat who shrugged, and then I followed him outside. He led me halfway down the driveway before saying anything.
"I want to talk to you about my son."
"Your son?"
"Drew."
Oh. "What about him?"
"I just… I'm having trouble wrapping my mind around him wanting out." He stopped walking and turned to me. "What did he say exactly?"
"I don't remember." I said slowly.
"How can you even be sure it was him if you can't remember anything?"
His tone was accusing. I guess I couldn't blame him. If it were my own son betraying me and my entire family I would be searching for some evidence that it wasn't true. I felt bad for him.
"I can remember Drew talking about it…"
"Well I don't believe it." He spat out. "My son would never betray his family."
He started walking back toward the house. I didn't follow after him. His confrontation got me thinking. Who else in the pack doesn't believe me? Should I even believe myself? A sudden feeling of doubt poured over me. How reliable was anything that I said?
"Joslyn?" I heard Logan call from the front door.
I pretended like I didn't hear and continued down the driveway. Soon his footsteps followed close behind me.
"What's wrong?" He asked coming up on my left.
"Nothing," I said quickly.
"Nick looked kind of pissed after he came in, is everything alright?"
"It's fine. He was just asking about Drew."
"Yeah… he's taking that pretty hard. It was surprising to say the least."
"Do you believe me?" I asked after a few moments of contemplating whether or not to ask.
"You do remember it don't you?"
I nodded.
"Then of course I believe you. You have no reason to lie."
"I'm not talking about lying. I'm talking about reliability. How can I be sure that it actually was Drew? My memory still isn't fully recovered; maybe I'm getting mixed up."
"What did Nick say to you?"
"It makes sense Logan. I might be wrong. Maybe you're looking for the wrong person again."
"You're memory of it is fine. Ortiz confirmed it; he said Drew wanted it."
"But he might just be playing along, what if something bad happened to Drew and Ortiz doesn't want to take the blame?"
"A mutt who doesn't want to take the blame for the death of a pack member has to be pretty stupid. It's like a badge of honor to kill pack."
"Well, maybe he has hidden morals."
"Joslyn, you remember it perfectly. There's no reason why we should doubt you." He said. "C'mon inside."
"No. I want to go home." I said quickly.
"What?"
"I just need some time to think about things. Maybe it'll help me remember."
"Yeah, whatever you want. I'll take you home now."
"Can I drive myself?" I asked. "If you don't want me to take the Jeep I'll ask Kat if I can borrow her car."
"No, take the Jeep." He said. "Just call me when you get to Syracuse, OK?"
I nodded, took the keys from Logan and walked past him.
"Joslyn?" He called back to me, I stopped but didn't turn to him. "If you need me, all you have to do is call."
I nodded again and continued on, tearing down the driveway and hitting the pavement so fast the tires squealed.
I wasn't any more comfortable at home in Syracuse. I spent most of the night tossing and turning, unable to shut my mind off. At three in the morning I gave up and got dressed for a run. Aside from the occasional drunk and staggering college student, I didn't see anyone on the streets. I decided it was safe to take a real run and headed for the park.
