Authors note: hello again! sorry this took so long, times have been tough lately and overall there were more important things going on that i had to deal with 8'D tw dark stuff ahead but;;; basically my mom was hospitalized for a suicide attempt about a month ago, she's all right and might even be returning home soon, but i'm definitely not used to this much time alone! It's been so quiet so ive been trying to keep myself busy with different projects (not to mention artfight just started!) and i feel really good about finally returning for this fourth chapter. dont wanna be sappy but its really keeping me afloat to be able to create for people right now and have so much support on this fic, so thank you all so much for reading. (150+ hits!) i hope you all enjoy what i have planned!

Trigger warnings for this chapter: none!

POV: Doyle

I sigh a breath of consciousness, gentle rays of sun peeking through the curtains and enveloping me in the light of morning.

Fuck, it's hot.

I force myself up and let the blankets slide haphazardly off the couch. My arms seem to weigh a thousand pounds as I peel my stupid turtleneck off of my stupid sweaty body. I feel like shit.

"I feel like shit." I groan to nobody in particular as I pinch the bridge of my nose, nausea welling in my stomach. My surroundings are a blur but I can tell I'm home, though I hardly remember how. The fireplace is going. Did Zak light it himself?

Oh, right.

Oh, right.

I involuntarily let out what Zak calls a 'dad sound' as I force myself to stand up, my body aching. At least it seems my legs can finally carry me again. They lead me towards the kitchen, where I can hear Zak and t̶h̶e̶ ̶s̶t̶r̶a̶n̶g̶e̶r̶ ̶w̶h̶o̶ ̶s̶h̶o̶u̶l̶d̶n̶'̶t̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶t̶r̶u̶s̶t̶e̶d̶ the mysterious woman conversing.

"-She's surprisingly tame."

"Yeah, probably only because you made her food."

Zak hands her t̶h̶e̶ ̶i̶m̶m̶i̶n̶e̶n̶t̶ ̶b̶e̶t̶r̶a̶y̶e̶r̶ a piece of a pancake, which she teases before tossing into the air. Zon catches it and downs it in one gulp.

"You gotta stop feeding her carbs, she still has to fly y'know."

He spins around to face me. Zon, despite being a bird, is giving me hardcore bitch face. I suppose it's deserved.

"Doyle! You're awake!"

My eyes instinctively go to t̶h̶e̶ ̶t̶h̶r̶e̶a̶t̶ and I shoot her a playful, but biting smile.

"Not the only one, apparently."

". . . I don't think we've been formally introduced."

She sticks her hand out in a display of pacifism, but her expression is as closed off as mine. At least we have one thing in common, neither of us trust each other.

"Ila, local healer, blasphemer for Kur."

I decide to give in, clasping her palm in mine, but keeping my shoulder cold. I should be thanking her for saving my life. I should be offering her something in return. But regardless, the world turned its back on us a long time ago, and I don't have the luxury of inviting people into my home like it's a sleepover.

"Doyle. Uncle of Kur. Chronic Dumbass."

Zak shuffles awkwardly. The air is tense. Not the kind you could cut with a butter knife. You'd at least need a power saw to get through this level of passive aggression.

"We're heading out soon to search for the Kushtaka, you should come along if you can keep up."

Eventually, I turn my back to her so I can start getting ready. Even though she's not in my line of sight, my guard is up.

"Yeah, believe it or not, I can handle myself."

". . . Well, since you gave me the 'or not' option, just try not to fall into a basin this time."

Before I can make a snappy comeback, Zak suddenly speaks up.

"Hey, wouldn't you say he made quite the ice-breaker?"

Ila and I shared our first moment of solidarity since I had awoken as we stared at the young comedian with pity. Zak lets out a fading chuckle, obviously disappointed with his audience, but moreso relieved to have stopped the bickering.

With my supplies together and my winter gear on, I head for the front door, my body now finally in tune with my mind. I nearly choke as it swings open and I'm met with a swarm of mosquitos. Goddamn. Alaskan. Bush.

"Ugh, hold on, hold on-" I back up and slam it shut to start a quick scavenge for some bug spray.

"Stand back, I'm gonna mace these bitches."

"Please be careful."

After a moment, my hand brushes cold metal. I grab the can and shake, my other hand reaching for the doorknob.

"Aren't I always?"

Swinging the door open for the second time, I let loose. What I hear is not the buzzing of insects, but a pained old man cough.

Followed by angry, Russian swearing.

"Hoooooly SHIT."

Zak and Ila peek around on either side of me to catch a glimpse at the man before me, now dying of Raid poisoning, as he attempts to straighten himself up.

"Van rook?! What the hell are you doing here?"

"I heard you've been. . ." He clears his throat one last time. "needing assistance."

"Yeah, for like, 6 months. What made you think to come here?"

"I was here when you bought this decrepit cabin, dummy."

"Uhuh, And, if I remember correctly, you made fun of me the entire time for spending unnecessary money."

"Ah, yes, yes, let's save the I-Told-You-So's for later."

"So. . . who is this, exactly?" Ila finally says, her voice thickly coated in distaste.

"Oh, This is my grandpa."

"OH, shut the fuck up."

"'Shuht theh fahk ap'. C'mon gramps, hit me with another one of your old timey sayings."

". . . If you are done, Are you going to let me in or not? In case you haven't noticed, it's freezing."

"Uh, no, actually."

"Wow, That's fine, I'll just go home-"

"I mean, we were just leaving. We gotta go hunt down an otter."

"An otter? What, are you downsizing?"

Ila steps past me, standing forcefully in the doorframe.

"This otter is responsible for at least 4 missing persons and countless injuries. And it's 8 feet tall."

"Now THAT sounds like the Saturdays I know. Count me in."

"Sorry, only room for 3." I look at Zak. "Well, 2 and a half."

"Oy, smart guy, how you think I got here?"

I turn my attention to the vehicle parked near mine and exhale jealousy in breath form, like a bitter fucking dragon. This bastard wouldn't pay for my bus fares on missions, but he went and bought a snowmobile. Specifically a better one than I have. Fucker.

"I can drive Zak." Ila interjects, not being very subtle that she doesn't want to get stuck with him. I have to admit, she's smart. I oblige, waving goodbye to zon and shutting the door tight before climbing on the back of Van Rook's s̶t̶u̶p̶i̶d̶ snowmobile.

"So. . . no offense, but did you really come all this way for free?"

He half sighs, half groans.

"These times are crazy. Money isn't as reliable anymore. If you knew what I had gone through to get the snowmobile. . ."

I watch as Ila brings the engine to life, despite having only rode it once she seems to have a firm understanding of the controls.

"So what, are you just bored?"

"Hah, yeah, I guess."

I catch her eye, launching an unintentional stare down before she takes off.

I guess I'm bored too.

Before Van Rook can sit down, I slide to the front seat.

"What are-"

"Get in the back."

"No, Nooo way, you are not racing in this-"

"Get in the back or I'm taking off and leaving you here."

He gives in, albeit with a dismayed look on his face.

"Doyle, I'm not fucking around, you break it-"

"Yeah yeah, I buy it."

My stomach coils up into my chest as we launch forward. The damn thing has twice the speed and power that mine does. This'll be over fast.

I quickly catch up to her and hold our pace for a moment. Before I can taunt to get her going, she makes a violent swerve left, forcing me to quickly pull back. Zak lets out an excited whoop.

Leaning as hard as I can, I start a hot pursuit after her. Van Rook's yelling something. Even if the wind wasn't pounding at my eardrums, I wouldn't be able to hear it. I haven't felt anything like this in a long time. I've missed danger, not that we don't have plenty of it these days. I missed the kind that I knew I could get out of as fast as I got into it. I have to be the adult now, a caretaker, and a protector. I'd never complain, but I've been missing this kind of rush. I missed safe danger.

I blink the accumulating snow off my eyelashes and notice a nicely formed snowbank up ahead on my side. I hit the gas so hard we almost fall into a backflip. Van Rook's definitely yelling something now. My lungs flutter as we glide into the air, the zero-g feeling making my heart pound. It's incredible how heavy I felt this morning, and now I feel practically weightless.

Slam.

My chest pounds into the hood as we land cockeyed, tip to ground, and end up stuck on our side. I see Ila fly past, if only for a moment, before the snow she's trailing blinds me.

"Congratulations apprentice, now you've bought yourself two snowmobiles."

Without meaning to, I smile. I still feel weightless.

{POV SWITCH: Zak.}

"Should we go back and help them?"

We turn into a hard stop at the edge of the basin.

"I'm sure they'll be fine. . . . . . Allright, if they aren't, I brought a first aid kit."

I watch her eyes glide over the perimeter, surveying as much water and ice as possible.

"So, wanna call our little friend over?"

"Yeah, I'll try."

I pull the claw out from the back of the snowmobile, giving it a tap before shooting it open to get a stronger connection. The feeling that I'm being watched washes over me rather fast. Got him. Focusing my thoughts, I try to lure him closer. I can't completely explain the moments I spend trying to make them understand. It's a lot like holding your hand out invitingly, or smiling at a stranger, inside a person's head.

When I see two large black eyes peering at me curiously from the edge of the ice, I smile. It's pupils are as round as marbles, it's somewhat reminiscent of a cat that wants to play. I can tell that he remembers me, and my promise to help him.

"What's that over there?"

The startling sound of two fishermen approaching makes my heart skip a beat. Maybe a couple beats. Honestly, it might have just stopped all together. I frantically shove the claw under my coat and zip it tight, adjusting my hood in the same motion. The Kushtaka has a largely opposite reaction to it's new audience, rearing itself up into a defensive snarl.

"Stand back-"

"No!" Ila and I scream in unison as one of them brandishes their spear. My hearts beating again for sure, at probably 100 miles per hour. I know in the back of my mind, I could just pull the claw back out. I could calm it down, save the fishermen and the cryptid, but odds are, they'd turn their spears towards me.

"I said, stand back!"

My hands feel stiff. I can't figure out which is worse, letting humans kill a cryptid, or letting a cryptid kill a human. I never had to think about it before. I wanna think they're the same. They're equal, right? They both just want to exist, and will do anything to ensure that. So what do I choose? Or do I sacrifice myself, after everything everyone's done to protect me?

"We have it under control." Ila says sternly while putting her arms out.

"Please, step away from it!"

Okay, I'm kur. That's a fact that I've been trying to deny for months. But if I let anyone die for my sake today, then there's really no denying it. Shakily, I take a deep inhale and reach for my zipper, my eyes taking on that familiar dusty orange hue. They meet the olive eyes of the Kushtaka, the glow barely starting to reflect. Without even needing a full connection yet, we can tell in our gaze how scared the other one is. Inside of my jacket, my hand reaches the claw.

Bang!

A cloud of smoke rushes over the icey waters, blinding everyone in the area. By the time it's dissipated, my connection, and the cryptid, is long gone. I turn and see Van Rook and Doyle standing there, looking just as frazzled as we are.

"Incredible. . . He scared the Kushtaka off!"

Ila steps forward, gently pulling me with her, I sense so not as to leave me with strangers. Funny, considering we were strangers yesterday.

"Yes yes, three cheers for the white guy," Her sentence ends under her breath.

"Let's go."

"Right." Doyle turns to the fishermen. "You guys uh. . . have fun. . . . . fishing. We'll take care of it from here."

Before they cant protest again, we start walking the border of the basin and get as far away as possible.

"So, what's the plan?"

"It's heading further inland, It'll most likely stop at Mary's Igloo."

I squint.

". . . Who's Mary?"

She pats my shoulder warmly.

"It's just the name of the area."

"Oh. . . "

"There used to be villages surrounding it, but it's mostly abandoned now, occasionally used as a fishing camp. After Alaska got colonized-Thank you, Van Rook-Everyone moved up to Teller or Nome."

"Okay, just because I'm from russia doesn't mean I personally colonized Alaska."

Doyle suddenly leans forward, cutting between them.

"Sorry, just overheard that last bit, you personally colonized Alaska?"

I take the opportunity to join in on the joke, shaking my head with faux disappointment.

"You shouldn't have done that."

"I hate you all. Especially this new one." Hes says, pointing a finger towards Ila.

"Wow, that hurts all five of my feelings. Anyways, if we can get back to the snowmobiles and head northeast, we should make it within the hour."

"Just remember, we can't let it get away this time." Doyle interjects. "We've been dealing with this thing for way too long anyways. Last thing we need is another cryptid pet."

"Aw, what, you don't think mom would go for a giant otter?"

We share a quick laugh, short enough that I don't realize till after we stop, that was the first time in months that one of us has brought up mom with a smile.

We silently mount the snowmobile.