Author's Note: Hello again!
This weeks Tumblr post is a character bio for Charon. Personally, when I read, it helps me to be able to visualize characters, so I have included my reference photo. Follow me at Swarthy-Warthog.
In this chapter, Wyatt gets jealous, we learn some new information about Charon, and hear something unexpected from Bucky.
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It had been a long day.
Wyatt had been in the library when the z-alarm had gone off at school. He and Wynter, who had been studying with him, had stood instantly from their seats with enough force to knock the chairs to the floor. They had immediately broken into a run, following the distant sounds of screams and chaos. Unfortunately, the library was on the other end of the building, and it had taken some maneuvering through several retreating students and congested hallways to reach the source of the commotion.
By the time they got, there, though, the z-alarm was silent again, and the feral zombies had been subdued. Wyatt had skidded into the hall, staring shocked at the sight of his friends on the floor. Addison, hands bleeding, was next to Zed on the ground. He was clutching his injured shoulder, swearing vehemently in zombie tongue. Bucky seemed to have fainted, his limp hand being grasped tightly by a hysterical zombie cheerleader whose name he didn't know.
The floor was littered with small, glowing purple shards that he recognized immediately as broken pieces of moonstone. The floor was also splattered with small droplets of blood, apparently from Addison's and Bucky's hands. They still didn't know the full story, but it seemed as though someone had set up some kind of booby-trap outside the gym where the cheerleaders practiced. Wyatt wasn't certain, but he had a pretty good theory as to who had done it, and why. One of many subjects that they would have to discuss tonight.
Crunch.
Wyatt looked up from the fire as he heard the nearby shuffling of leaves and snapping of small sticks beneath feet. Willa, Wynter, and the others glanced up as well, hushed conversation ceasing altogether as three pale, long haired figures strode out of the trees and into the clearing surrounding the fire. They were all clothed in long sleeves with harem-style pants, and each one wore a large hood over their heads that partially obscured their faces. He felt his heartbeat pick up as Mayar's bright green eyes met his across the flames.
She looked almost ethereal.
She was wearing a small capelet of deep blue, with a blue top and dark grey pants. She wore dark leather moccasins, and a single, shimmering earring. He flinched as realized it was silver, but still couldn't help but admire her beauty. Despite being older than Addison, she was several inches shorter than her, and had those gorgeous, piercing green eyes. Her hair, which seemed to always look disheveled and messy, stuck out at adorable, frizzy angles from under her hood. Her green eyes widened slightly as she raised a hand to her earring, as though just having remembered it was there.
She can hear what you're thinking about, idiot. Wyatt's brain chastised him.
She must have heard his inner flinch at the silver. Mayar instantly removed the offending earring, and hastily stuck it in her back pocket.
Sorry. She mouthed earnestly.
He grinned and waved a dismissive hand, watching as she blushed in the light of the fire.
Unlike humans, zombies and wolves, it appeared that the Lunites did not blush in shades of pinks and reds. Her cheeks had filled with color, but rather than a warm tone, her cheeks turned a light, periwinkle shade. The effect was oddly beautiful.
But, Wyatt was starting to realized that he may have a biased opinion when it came to Mayar's beauty.
"Hello everyone!" Said a taller, grinning female Lunite with long, incredibly straight and smooth hair. Her voice wavered in that unusual way he had noticed when he first met Mayar. The girl looked like she was about to burst with excitement.
"Hello," Mayar echoed her friend, more clearly, looking around at the small group of young wolves who were loosely gathered around the circle.
"My name is Mayar, half-sister to your friend, Starl-, erm, Addison."
The wolves acknowledged her with kind, yipping barks and welcoming nods.
"And these are my dear friends, Aruna and Qamar."
It was at this point that Wyatt suddenly noticed that all three of the figures' arms were linked together, bodies close enough to be touching. He wasn't sure with the close contact was a cultural thing, or something else. Either way, he was completely surprised as a growl attempted to wriggle it's way up his throat. He tamped it down, inwardly scolding himself.
Don't wolf out; she can hold hands with whoever she wants. Why would I care?
He ignored his own inner question as Willa spoke up in a projected, authoritative voice.
"We are all honored by your presence, Lunites. As the pack leader, I hope that our two peoples will become great friends and allies."
Mayar and the other two figures smiled happily towards Willa.
"That is precisely our wish as well, pack leader." Mayar replied.
"Excellent."
Then Willa grinned, relaxing a bit from her formal tone and posture.
"Now that formalities are out of the way, come have a seat, guys! Our human and zombie friends should be showing up momentarily."
As if on cue, Zed, Eliza, Bonzo and Bree strode out of the treeline, as the Lunites sat on the timber benches that surrounded the fire pit. The four were followed closely by Addison and Bucky. Wyatt involuntarily wrinkled his nose. He knew that Bucky was trying very hard to be a better person. He had even seen himself that Bucky had made progress. But, that still didn't change the face that Wyatt found him annoying, shallow and rude at best. Looking to the Lunites, he noticed that Qamar was also staring at Bucky with a look of distain.
Wyatt watched as Mayar stood, grinning broadly towards the approaching humans and zombies. Addison broke from her group to walk over and embrace her sister. They seemed to be silently speaking with one another, Mayar nodding and Addison staring back at her. It was a little fascinating to see Lunites "talk" to one another. Though they didn't make a sound, their facial expressions fluctuated and changed just as they would in a normal, verbal conversation.
Mayar's expression grew serious, as did the other Lunites, as they seemed to be hearing something from either Addison or the rest of the group.
"We knew that there was an incident at the school today, thanks to the scouts, but we hadn't been able to get any details. The glitches were caused by shards of moonstone?"
The entire group nodded or dipped their heads in agreement as everyone took a seat.
"Yeah," Zed said, "but we have no idea how or why. I mean, it sounds like something that Charon guy would do, but why attack zombie students? What purpose would it serve?"
Absentmindedly, he loosely wrapped his good arm around Addison, who also looked puzzled.
"I think I know why." Wyatt stated, cheeks coloring mildly as the entire group, including his sister, turned to him in surprise.
"And why would that be, Wyatt?" Willa asked, arching an eyebrow. Eliza had taken a seat next to her, and he noticed that they were sitting extremely close to one another.
"Ah, well," he cleared his throat, "think about it. The other day, when we found each other outside the Crater, Zed was basically weaponized to attack us." Wyatt watched as Zed's eyebrows dipped down in anger, and could tell that his friend hated the idea that he'd been used in such a way.
"But he didn't attack the rest of us. He only attacked Mayar. Why did you go for her, specifically, Zed?"
Zed blinked, as though that particular thought hadn't occurred to him until this moment.
"I..." He started, glancing from Wyatt to Addison to Mayar.
"I mean, I wasn't exactly thinking clearly, but... When I was running out of the car, after Charon took my z-band, I remember an image of her in my head. But she didn't look like she does now., She looked big, mean, and evil."
Zed suddenly gasped.
"Oh jeez, he totally manipulated me! He was probably putting that image in my head, right? To make me think Mayar was the bad guy." He looked to her again.
"I'm so sorry, Mayar."
Mayar shook her head, reaching out to grasp his hand. Boy, the Lunites were a very touchy-feely group.
"It wasn't your fault, Zed. It was my father's. But, that also tells us that he was specifically targeting... Me." Mayar flinched at her own comment, and the flinch was immediately echoed by Addison, Aruna and Qamar as they experienced her pain second-hand. Wyatt wished he could comfort her in some way, but he tried to focus on the topic at hand.
"Right," Wyatt cut in.
"So, we know that Charon essentially attacked his daughter by way of a rogue zombie. Then, today, a trap was set up right outside the cheerleader's gymnasium. Which means he was probably trying to hurt someone who is a cheerleader. Someone who hangs out with zombies, and would potentially be injured by the blast and then attacked by the rogues."
Wyatt looked directly at Addison, who's mouth dropped open.
"Who, me?" Bucky suddenly interrupted, standing from his seated position next to Bonzo and Eliza.
Qamar, the male Lunite, leveled him with an impressive glare.
"No, you idiot." Qamar warbled as he spoke. "He's talking about Starlight. Addison."
Addison closed her eyes briefly.
"Me." She stated. "He hurt those zombies to try and attack me."
Her guilt was palpable as she sat in quiet shock.
Wyatt nodded.
"Yes, which means that for some reason, Charon is trying to kill or incapacitate his own daughters."
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Zed felt Addison grow instantly tense as she absorbed this new information.
He leaned in, offering her a gentle, comforting squeeze.
"Why would he do that?" Zed asked, turning to Mayar, who looked similarly stricken.
"Why would he attack you both now, after a lifetime of never attempting to contact you?"
Mayar gazed pensively towards the fire, her head tilted to the side.
"It's always hard to tell with Charon, but I believe it must have something to do with the moonstone. Perhaps he considers his children to be his largest threat. Family members can hear each other's thoughts more clearly, so he's probably concerned that Starlight and I will be able to figure out his plan before he has a chance to implement it."
"He should be worried." Addison cut in, causing Zed to whip his head down to face her.
The light from the flames danced along her cheekbones as her hair glowed faintly. She looked brave and beautiful and determined.
"Because that's exactly what we're going to do."
Zed stared down at her, almost feeling her determination bleeding into him, making him feel braver himself. Actually, maybe that was exactly what was happening. She grinned up at him, looking radiant. They maintained eye contact briefly, as he heard the sounds of a few wolves yipping and barking in agreement with her statement. His girlfriend was amazing.
"Okay," Eliza said, nodding firmly.
"So how to we get to him? He's on the city council, right? We could crash the weekly meeting. It's tomorrow evening. Or we could use your tunnels to get to his house?"
"There are no tunnels leading to Charon's house." Aruna replied. "He filled them in when he purchased his estate, and our elders didn't think it was wise to rebuild them. We stay as far from him as possible, and he stays away from us."
"But this meeting," Quamar cut in. "that could actually work. He won't be able to do anything dangerous, because it would out him as not being human. You would both be able to get relatively close to him."
"That's... That could work." Mayar said, grasping her friends' hands as she considered it.
They all seemed to constantly be touching, in some way. Zed wondered if physical contact increased their ability to speak with one another.
"That's correct, Zed." Mayar nodded, causing looks of confusion from most of the group as she continued. "Though we need to use caution. We can't cause a scene. Not to mention, he can do pretty extensive damage without being violent."
Bucky suddenly cut in, waving jazz hands towards the center of the circle, to draw the attention of the rest.
"Hey. Bucky here. President. Hero. Cheer Expert. I could go on," he stated with a flourish, of his arms.
"But, no time. I have a question." Bucky stated clearly, wide eyes looking from person to person.
"By the moon," grumbled Qamar, "What?"
Bucky glared back at him, the two young men locking eyes as they stared at one another.
"As I was about to ask, before being so rudely interrupted, can anyone tell me what he looks like? I mean, I know he has long white hair, and is on the couns... Wait."
Bucky looked like someone had slapped the back of his head.
"Wait. Are you guys talking about Charles Moon?"
The entire group was silent, looking at him with mild confusion and annoyance.
"Who?" Zed asked, voicing everyone else's reaction to the question.
"Charles Moon. He's low-key, but like, a huge deal in Seabrook. He's super rich, drives a fancy black car, wears his hair in a braid."
"That's him!" Addison jumped in, enthusiastic.
"How do you know him?" Eliza asked.
"Well, for one thing," Bucky replied, "he was the one who donated all of the funds for the new Cheer Pavillion."
Woah, Zed thought.
That isn't just rich. That's filthy, stinking rich.
Addison snorted out a short laugh at Zed, causing him to grin at her.
Bucky, looking annoyed at the interruption, continued.
"And for another thing, I talked to him yesterday evening at school."
Zed felt his mouth pop open.
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