Morning soon arrived and Theo got up as he had to use the restroom. He could smell bacon being cooked and was able to find the restroom. After doing his biz, he managed to get back to his room and check on the dice he had. Luckily all three were there when an idea came to mind.

"Could Janet know Ted?", he thought to himself, "They have the same last name."

He came downstairs just as Janet was placing eggs on three plates as she noticed him.

"Hi Theo.", she said smiling, "How did you sleep?"

"Very well thank you.", Theo said warmly.

Thor was up also and came over to Janet's side while still watching Theo.

"Is Thor okay?", Theo asked, "He's kind of scaring me."

Brett came from the other room looking at ease.

"Thor's okay.", he said, "We've never had a houseguest in a while."

Brett took out the frisbee from yesterday and Thor looked more at ease. Janet looked firm.

"Brett, no playing til after breakfast."

Brett looked a bit embarrassed as he came over to the table as Janet was finished putting breakfast on the table. Theo then looked a bit curious.

"Hey Janet, would you mind if I whip up some pancakes?"

Janet looked curious but rolled her eyes comically.

"Only if you can whip up about twenty pancakes in three seconds."

Theo smiled.

"Twenty pancakes coming up."

Theo got out his four-sided dice and rolled it. Luckily it landed on a 4 which made several papers from a nearby printer fly out and shift into pancakes that landed on an open plate until twenty piled up. Luckily for Theo, Janet and Brett hadn't noticed anything as Theo put the pancakes on the table which were fresh and hot.

"Fresh off the grill.", Theo said.

Janet looked impressed.

"Wow, that was quick."

Thor looked at Theo for a moment, but then looked away as he went to his food bowl as the family settled to breakfast. Brett had started on the pancakes when a smile came to his face.

"Wow, these are great Mr. Theo.", he said after swallowing.

Theo carefully put the dice away taking care not to have Janet or Brett notice before he got started on his own share. Janet clearly was just as impressed.

"How did you do it?"

"I'm afraid that's a trade secret Janet.", Theo told her plainly, "Hopefully today will be fine."

/

After breakfast, Theo helped clean up by doing dishes while Janet did some housecleaning herself. Brett went outside with Thor to play.

"So, you live around these parts?", Theo asked hoping to get a conversation started.

"Yeah, pretty much.", she told him, "Moved here cause it's so quiet and safe here."

"I wouldn't be so sure.", Theo said trying to be calm, "Lots of things in this realm can show up when you don't know about it."

Janet looked curious again.

"Like what?", she asked.

Theo felt like he went a bit far so he quickly decided to end it.

"Nothing, just a word of caution."

Janet looked firm.

"You know, I wonder why you're in these parts."

"Like I said, I'm just passing through.", Theo said plainly.

Janet didn't look convinced.

"You know, people say that when they're not being honest about something."

Theo sighed.

"Okay. I'm just trying to find some-"

He was cut off when Brett came in from outside with a worried look on his face.

"Mom, Thor just ran off and he won't come back."

Janet looked at her son soothingly.

"Don't worry, Thor probably went out for a hike. I'm sure he's fine."

Then Thor came in a bit later which helped Brett feel much better.

"See?", Janet said, "He came back."

Theo looked Thor's way a bit curiously.

"Thor, I'm not sure if you understand me, but did you see anything out there?"

Thor didn't answer, but Theo then noticed something on his paw. He reached down and removed it to reveal what looked like a piece of paper with yet another riddle.

"One will shift in the rising moon and bring disaster. Find the item and please be faster.", Theo read mentally as the words on the paper vanished.

"Theo?", Janet asked snapping Theo out of his daze, "You okay?"

Theo slapped on a smile.

"Yeah, I just thought Thor was hurt or something."

/

Ted lumbered to his trailer still huffing. He had barely caught himself a deer that happened to be passing by and managed to eat for the night. His dogs had long gone for the day and he had shifted back into his human form.

"So close and enough so I can taste his bones in my teeth.", he chuckled.

He opened the door to reveal a common mobile home with many books and research equipment he recalled from his past life of exploring jungles and finding lost civilizations until the day he was in Peru and a werewolf attacked thus giving him the curse. But that was long past and he had wondered long and far hoping to avoid his loved ones he had left. Now he had come back and was at his mobile home by the lake which made him feel a little more at home.

"Guess I blew it with Theo.", he thought.

"On the contrary, you got Theo in a position where I intend for him to be."

Ted raised an eyebrow.

"I need Theo distracted with his errand so I can get things in order."

Ted felt a bit confused, but relieved that he wasn't in trouble yet.

"So, what should I be doing now?", he asked.

No answer came but Ted thought that he was on his own for now. He got his vest back on and managed to get his shoes on enough for his phone to ring.

"Hello?", he asked as he answered.

"Ted, you in town?"

Ted put on a humble tone before continuing.

"Janet, it's been a long time since I've seen you. I just got back a while ago."

"Well, I was just…looking for someone who isn't from around these parts."

There was a pause and Janet answered.

"Well, we have a houseguest who's name is Theo if that's what you mean."

Ted felt his heart skip a beat.

"Yeah, if he's around I guess that you can come over."

"Great, we'll be over in a minute."

Janet hung up and Ted did the same as a smile came to his face.

"Lambs to the slaughter.", he snickered.

/

Theo felt uneasy as Janet drove him, Brett and Thor into the woods and on the dirt path that looked like it wasn't used in ages.

"Janet are you sure this is a good idea?", Theo asked, "This Ted feels a bit funny to me. And I'm not talking about the "ha-ha" kind of funny."

Janet looked firm.

"Theo, he's my brother and he might need some help."

Brett looked like he agreed.

"Yeah, Uncle Ted is family."

Theo rolled his eyes.

"What can I say?", he thought to himself, "You're brother has been hounding me ever since I got into this realm of monsters and horror cause he's a werewolf who wants me for his latest dinner platter?"

He didn't have time to brood cause the car pulled into a curve that opened up to a large lake with a mobile home not far with an outdoor grill and fire pit not far from it. Janet parked and Brett got out with Thor following. Theo got out also, but his expression was one of concern and caution. Ted soon came out smiling warmly and walked over like he had won a contest.

"Hey Janet. Long time no see."

Janet gave him a hug and looked unsure.

"You're acting like we're supposed to be happy to see you after you vanish off the face of the Earth and just show up out of the blue?"

Ted rolled his eyes comically.

"Well, we didn't really have phone service where I went off to.", he said before looking Theo's way, "Oh, it's you again."

Janet looked more confused.

"You know each other?"

Theo sighed heavily.

"Unfortunately yes.", he answered, "He's been-"

"Following.", Ted interrupted chuckling, "We met a little less than a week ago when he just showed up in the realm. Been quite a ride trying to keep up with this guy."

Theo noticed that Thor was sniffing around as if he was on to something and Brett walked into the mobile home.

"I've kind of been going through a hard time since I got back.", Ted stated, "Would you mind if Theo stays out here with me so we can catch up?"

Theo looked unsure.

"Mr. Harrison I appreciate the offer, but I think I should-"

Thor's bark rang out drawing the trio's attention.

/

Ted watched the family drive off smiling, but Theo wasn't too thrilled.

"Janet do you think it was wise to invite Ted to live nearby?", he asked cautiously, "Something about him rubs me and Thor the wrong way."

Janet didn't look worried.

"Hey, if he's family than he is welcome."

Brett looked a bit unsure.

"Why did Thor bark?"

"He probably found something he didn't want us to see.", Theo guessed thinking Thor knew what Ted was like he did, "He's quite a guard dog."

Janet looked complimented.

"Thanks. Thor really looks out for us. Guess that's why we think of him as family."

Theo then looked a bit on board.

"Well, if you think we should let your brother in, I'll keep an eye on him."

Janet soon arrived in town and the group stopped at a diner for some lunch. The place looked nicer than the one Theo had seen in Sierra Vista and there was more room as they got to their table.

"So, we getting anything for Thor?", Theo guessed, "Or does he get leftovers?"

Janet chuckled lightly.

"We usually give him our leftovers.", she told him.

Theo shrugged as the waitress came over to take their order. Once they did and she left for the kitchen, Janet looked thoughtful.

"So Theo, has Ted really been following you?"

Theo sighed.

"Yeah. He chased me on to a ship, somehow got back on shore and has been on my tail ever since."

Brett looked impressed as Janet continued.

"What were you doing out there?", she asked.

"You probably wouldn't believe me if I told you.", Theo answered.

Janet frowned as if to show she didn't believe him.

"Try me.", she told him.

Luckily for Theo, the waitress returned with the food they ordered and Janet dropped the subject.

"Well, let's just have our lunch before we continue."

"Sounds good to me.", Theo said as he observed his hamburger and fries.

Before long, they had finished and paid the tab before they got back and Thor was eagerly waiting for them. Brett let him out and Theo gave Thor some ground up meat he pulled out of his pocket which Thor ate eagerly.

"Theo, is there anything about you that's not surprising?"

Theo smiled her way.

"Maybe."

/

Ted was feeling pretty bummed that Theo had gotten away from him, but then a thought came to mind which made a wicked smile stretch over his face. Why try and kill Theo in broad daylight when he could be near Theo and get an extra meal or two?

"So it seems your prey is in your reach."

Ted turned as he noticed in the shadows a gate had started opening as the dogs that he worked with came steadily out. Soon he would be shifting and the hunt would begin again.

"Hide all you like Theo.", he snickered, "I'll be chomping you before the sun's first light."

"Just be sure that Theo doesn't die so fast."

Ted sighed annoyed.

"Fine, but it better be worth the calories I burned for the last few nights."

"Oh, it will be."

Ted then felt the transformation happening and managed to get off his vest and sandals before his feral side began to emerge.

"Go now my friend. Go to your prey."

Ted didn't have to be told twice cause he was soon a werewolf and running into the shadows with the dogs alongside him. His wolf nose soon picked up prey not far ahead, but as he darted past, Thor (who had been out for a while) darted back to the house just in time for Janet to come out looking for him with Theo alongside her.

"Thor, where did you go?", Janet asked as Thor followed them back inside.

Theo tensed as a wolf howl faintly rang in his ears signaling that something was lurking nearby and took out his twelve-sided dice and rolled it on the floor quick. It landed on a 10 and a familiar flash happened, but Janet looked confused as Theo hid the dice in his pocket.

"What was that?", she asked.

"Light shorted out for a moment?", Theo guessed thinking fast.

Janet shrugged and accepted that as she and Thor went upstairs with Theo following. As they got to Brett's room, he was already in bed, but looking a bit scared.

"Mom, could you leave the door open?"

Janet rolled her eyes comically.

"Brett, there's nothing to be afraid of."

"Janet, I think Thor should sleep with Brett.", Theo suggested, "Just in case he has trouble sleeping."

Thor seemed on board as he got on to Brett's bed and Janet went to her own room leaving the door open a little for her son's sake. Theo returned to his own room and thought about the dice he used.

"So this one hides me or something for a time limit I think.", he pondered as he got into bed and put the dice back in the box alongside the other two, "No wonder Visitor disappeared when he first revealed himself to me."

He slipped into bed and was soon having his head on his pillow, but a feeling of dread came over him as the lights went out. Ted was out there and those dogs were too.

"I better find those final four dice fast.", he thought, "Something wicked is lurking around this realm, and I have a feeling that it knows what I'm after."

He turned his head away from the window to try and sleep, but after the riddle showing up and Ted's interaction, it wouldn't be easy.