I had fun picking what Tera knew and didn't know regarding words ;)
Tera curses because Connor is very bad at censoring himself, and because nothing amuses me more than thinking of a two year old saying fuck.
Guess who's been officially writing for ten years? This guy! Asters, I'm old.
36. Τζαρεδ συναντεί Τερα
Tera thinks the world is a scary place outside of her first nest, there are a lot more loud noises here than back there, a lot more scents which indicated a lot more people; and though Tera missed hunting, she was glad not to have to go outside too often.
The world is also oddly pretty, there are colors here that she didn't have back there, also her sleeping pile's been replaced by the softest rectangle ever, with soft blankets and pillows! There's also the bright box that tells her stories with pictures.
This nest is smaller than her first one, and it doesn't smell as strongly of her dad; but her first nest had become a lot scarier than the world outside it.
Tera knows Vanhan is aware of her remembering the first time danger came to the place he called 'orchard', and she is very glad when he doesn't ask about it, because she does not like remembering. She's learned that the men that caused her mom to go away were something called 'betas', she's learned that not all 'betas' are bad, like Heidi, for example; she's learned that she's something called an 'alpha' like her dad, which makes her very happy, and that Vanhan is something called an 'omega'
Apparently, the 'omega' thing makes Vanhan smell so nice, and Heidi thinks that's why she liked him, which is not true, because Tera likes Vanhan because he feels safe, because he came to help her before they got to know each other, and because she could tell he was like her from that very moment. Tera is not stupid, she knows Heidi won't believe her if she tries to explain, so she doesn't; Vanhan knows the truth anyways, Tera can tell he does, and that's all that matters.
Tera has also learned that her dad likes Vanhan a lot, but in a different way from how Tera likes Vanhan, and Vanhan likes him back; Tera is really happy about it because now she can cuddle with both of them at the same time frequently. Also, also; her dad gets really red when she calls him 'dad', and Vanhan says he's 'embarrassed', she doesn't really get what that means, but she trusts Vanhan to be telling the truth.
The food is different here, kept cold by the magic humming box, but not to be eaten cold; her dad says it's so Tera learns to use her flames without burning things to crisp, Vanhan says she's getting real good at it, Tera thinks the food would taste the same cold, but she's also very proud. Sometimes she does go out, generally with her dad and Vanhan, but sometimes her dad can't come and it's just Vanhan; today is one of those days.
Tera misses the white thing that used to cover Vanhan's arm, she had wanted to draw on it but her dad had taken over the whole thing; apparently he had it because he felt of a tree, which is hard to believe because Tera has climbed trees with him lots of times! Maybe that particular tree was jealous because Vanhan was a prettier tree, Tera thinks he's the prettiest dragon tree and now her dad agrees so that has to be it!
Sometimes, when she's feeling particularly brave, she'll rush in front of him during these walks; this is why she's alone when it happens.
Tera collides into something soft and what feels like a hand stops her from falling, she notices the smell of soap and that itchy thing she's been told is called 'pepper' first thing, then she pries herself from the stranger to see a boy with thingies in his eyes; she also realizes that he's an alpha by his smell. The alpha boy frowns at her, and she takes another step backwards, before the air is tinted with Vanhan's familiar scent.
Vanhan reaches her faster than any other time, but doesn't immediately acknowledge her when she turns to him; eyes focused on the boy alpha. Tera tugs at him, wanting to be gone, there's lots she doesn't know, but she's sure this alpha boy means danger.
Vanhan finally turns to her, but it isn't to chase the fear she now feels away; instead she gives her the rectangle thingy she's seen her dad talking to, she knows it lets you talk to people who aren't there, and as he holds it out for her, she sees a bunch of numbers on the screen.
"Tera, I need you to press the green button in this screen and start walking home, hold the phone to your ear, ok?"
Tera nods quickly, taking the box thingy - a 'phone' apparently - from Vanhan and rushing back in the direction they came from, she presses the green button as soon as she's made enough distance not to understand what the two boys are saying, and puts the box close to her ear.
"Hello?"
Tera is so glad at the voice she feels tears falling through her cheeks.
"Dad!"
There's a beat and then her dad's voice comes back more worried.
"Tera? Did something happen?"
Tera sniffles and swallows, she needs him to come.
"Vanhan is- there was a boy and- he told me to go back home"
"OK, are you alone?"
Tera hums a yes, she can make the sound of keys and that almost-growl sound that her dad's car makes
"I'm on my way, do you know where to go?"
Tera always pays attention, because she likes knowing how close her new nest is, it makes her feel a little safer.
"Yes"
"That's my firefly, I'll be there in a minute, ok?"
Tera sniffles again, more tears running down her cheeks.
"Please hurry"
-.. . ..-. / -.. - .. -. -. / - ... .- - / .- -. .- .. -. / ... - - . - .. - . / ... - - -.
Evan feels his canines becoming sharper, and his eyesight follows along, pupils most likely slitting as his eyes take on their dragon form. As a forest drake he produces a much less deadly version of his acidic breath when angry, in the form of yellow-ish colored smoke-like mist; it leaves him a bitter taste in his mouth whenever he does, but oh well.
Evan likes to think he's perfectly justified in his anger, good old fight or flight reflexes picking fight and all that. Jared does take a step back, eying his mouth wearily, and Evan takes a deep breath, forcing himself to reel that in, because he's in the middle of the street, and he's done too much to be caught like this; particularly now.
Jared gets angry too, but the wolf features aren't going to get him killed, and Evan supposes he's a lot less threatening when not half-shifted.
"You had his fucking child?!"
Internally, Evan is the 'boy' meme, externally he just stays put, acting as a barrier between the maddened alpha and Tera.
"Is that why you're suddenly all over each other? Because you gave him a pup?"
On the one hand, Evan should probably correct Jared's misguided assumption of Tera being his; emotionally speaking Tera is very much so Connor's. On the other hand, he's getting really fucking tired of Jared Kleinman.
"What is wrong with you? Do you hate me so much that you can't stand someone liking me for me?"
Jared has the gall to act offended, like, confusion would've been more acceptable, since Evan is pretty sure Jared thought Connor and him were brain-washed a week ago.
"I like you for you!"
The amount of self-control that it takes Evan not to shift in order to rip him apart is unmeasurable; Evan is really good at this. He does allow himself to be bitter, because he thinks it's understandable.
"No, you don't, you like the fact that I'm bigger and can give you pups now"
"You think Murphy is different? He's probably only sticking around for the kid"
Evan hates that a part of him, piping up with a tone that sounds dangerously close to his own voice while also being distorted beyond recognition, reminds him that the last part of the sentence is absolutely feasible; so he snaps.
"Tera is my sister you impossible asshole, and even if she was mine, I don't owe you explanations"
Jared flinches, face paling, Evan decides to take that as his cue to leave; he's half expecting Jared to try and stop him, pulling another messed up reason why Connor is pretending to like Evan - which Evan already does himself, thank you very much -, and is extremely glad when it doesn't happen.
When he gets home he sees Connor's car parked by the sidewalk, and two familiar figures sitting on the porch. He finds himself smiling softly as he gets within their field of view.
Tera jumps up and runs to him, almost tackling Evan; Connor is slower, and when he gets close enough it's clear he's worried. Evan reaches out to him, inviting him to join the hug, the alpha smiles in relief as he does just that.
They stay like that for a good while, before Evan pries himself away, pecking Connor and kissing Tera on the forehead, before tugging them towards the house.
"Come on, let's get inside"
