After sleeping for a few hours, Adam woke to find Smoky curled up next to him. Feeling his mana slightly replenished, Adam got dressed and headed downstairs. With no one home, he helped himself to the pasta his mother had left for him.
Afterward, Adam spent his time idly. He read, exercised a bit, and did random things to pass the time. Noon wasn't the best time for a meeting with the Bone Gnawers, so he waited. Eventually, he called his mother to check in. Faith was busy handling some gang trouble, Jessy was involved with his supernatural social club and Lucy was out with friends. It seemed like no one would be home for a while.
Adam fed Smoky and played with him, the spirit cat occasionally throwing out cheeky remarks, but overall they got along. After cleaning up the dishes, Adam saw the sky begin to darken. It was the perfect time to visit the Bone Gnawers.
He dressed, collected his items, but left his weapons behind—he wanted to show respect when meeting the elders. As he stepped outside, the setting sun prompted him to pocket his sunglasses. Smoky trailed behind him and Adam, concerned for his safety, picked him up and continued walking.
As they moved through the streets, Smoky became alert, scanning different directions. At one point, he hissed and stared down an alley.
"What?" Adam asked, concerned.
"Wyrm-corrupted Garou," Smoky replied. "They're following a young Kinfolk. The Kinfolk has no idea he's being followed."
"Let's go help, I guess," Adam said, putting Smoky on the ground. Ignoring the strange looks from passersby who saw him talking to seemingly no one, Adam followed Smoky's lead.
Soon, Adam spotted the two Black Spiral Dancers a pair of strikingly beautiful Garou women, one blonde and the other brunette. They were fierce, seductive, and obviously corrupt. The blond one turned for a moment, and Adam noticed her unnatural beauty. He suspected they used Pentex products, one of the Wyrm's tools to enhance and corrupt its servants.
Adam moved carefully, focusing on the Garou gift, Milk of Blurry Eye to avoid detection. It was a battle of wills, but Adam's won out, allowing him to remain unseen by the Spiral Dancers. He trailed them, but as they moved faster, he lost sight of them in the maze of alleys in Mid-City, a part of north Santa Monica.
As he approached, the street became eerily quiet. People hurried away, but not in fear, it seemed like a gift had masked the danger. Adam knew something was wrong. He found a secluded spot and removed his shirt and pants, shifting into his Lupus form. His wolf senses kicked in, and he sniffed the air for traces of Wyrm corruption.
It didn't take long for Adam to spot a torn piece of clothing snagged on a jagged pipe. The fabric reeked of Wyrm corruption, a pungent, acrid scent that made his nose wrinkle. He crouched and sniffed it, locking onto the Spiral Dancer's scent trail. With a low growl rumbling in his throat, he followed the trail deeper into the twisting alleys.
The hunt didn't last long. Ahead, he caught sight of her—an agile form in Lupus shape, sniffing the air as she prowled the shadows. Her sleek, corrupted frame was a perversion of the natural beauty of a wolf, her presence making the surrounding area feel wrong.
Adam wasted no time. His muscles coiled as he surged forward, shifting effortlessly into Hispo form, the massive direwolf body closest to his birth form. The transformation came naturally, fluidly, and in this primal state, he felt the raw power of his kind thrumming through every fiber of his being. Stronger than his Lupus form and faster than the hulking Crinos, Hispo was perfect for the kill.
The Spiral Dancer's head snapped up, her glowing, unnatural eyes widening in surprise. She tried to shift, her body beginning to ripple and contort as she reached for the war form, but Adam was already upon her. He crashed into her with the force of a thunderclap, his claws raking across her ribs as his massive jaws clamped down on the back of her skull.
She snarled and bucked beneath him, but her struggles were futile. Adam's strength was overwhelming, his grip unyielding. As she desperately tried to complete her transformation, Adam shifted again, his form rippling into Crinos with terrifying speed. The transition was seamless.
With a guttural snarl, Adam bit down harder, his teeth sinking deep into her skull. The sickening crunch of bone shattered the alley's eerie silence as he pulled back, ripping free a chunk of her cranium. Her snarls turned to gurgling cries, her half-formed Crinos body convulsing. Adam didn't hesitate. He drove his claws into the exposed wound, feeling the unnatural heat of her corrupted flesh beneath his fingers. With a savage yank, he tore her skull apart, gore and brain matter splattering the filthy ground.
The fight was over. The Spiral Dancer's body trembled, her unnatural vitality fading. As her rage and Gnosis failed her, she reverted to her human form, a naked, lifeless woman lying broken in the grime. Adam stared at her for a moment, his breathing heavy, the taste of blood sharp on his tongue.
He turned his head, ears swiveling as he searched for the second Spiral Dancer. A flash of blonde caught his eye just as the corrupted Garou vanished into the spirit world. She had escaped, her cowardice ensuring her survival.
Adam huffed in frustration but took a steadying breath. His fur bristled as he willed himself back into Homid form. The transformation left him standing bare-chested in the cold night air, his clothes nearby where he'd dropped them. He quickly dressed, the familiar feeling of fabric grounding him as he pulled his phone from his pocket.
"Mom," Adam said when the call connected, his voice calm but with an edge. "I need a cleanup crew. One Spiral Dancer down, one escaped into the Umbra. I'll send you the location."
Faith's voice on the other end was steady, businesslike. "Understood. Are you hurt?"
"No," Adam replied. "I'm fine. Just killed a spiral dancer that's all." He then gave her the address.
"Good. Stay put. I'll send a team your way," Faith said before ending the call.
With the cleanup crew on the way, Adam turned his attention to the Kinfolk. His sharp senses told him the young man was nearby—he could feel his presence like a flicker of light in the darkness—but every alley he searched came up empty. It was as if the Kinfolk didn't want to be found.
Once the clean-up was done and the revenants left, Adam resumed his search, determined to find the hidden kinfolk. He could sense the presence faintly but had no luck tracking them down. After a while, his patience ran thin.
Frustration gnawed at him. Adam ran a hand through his white hair, his hazel eyes glinting silver in the dim light. "Alright, I get it. You don't want to be found," he muttered to the shadows. "Stay safe, I guess. But before I go, just so you know, I wasn't raised by Garou."
"You said you weren't raised by Garou?" a soft, slightly trembling voice called out.
Adam turned, spotting the source of the voice. A young man, probably eighteen or nineteen, stood a few meters away. He was slender, standing about 170 cm (5'6"), his body hidden beneath a loose sweater. His features were gentle, with shaggy sandy blonde hair and blue eyes that appeared almost purple in the faint light. His hands trembled slightly as he faced Adam, but the defiance in his gaze was clear. Despite the tension, Adam found himself noting how attractive the guy was.
"Hey, you okay? Did they hurt you?" Adam asked, taking a step toward him.
The boy's voice wavered as he asked, "What do you think of kinfolk?"
It was an odd question, and Adam could sense the attempt at bravery despite the fear in his voice. "I don't really have strong opinions," Adam admitted. "I know you guys have Garou blood but aren't Garou. Some of you have abilities and a connection to spirits. Basically, you're family with... less powers."
Smoky chimed in, "Some Garou see them as family, sure. But some just see them as tools."
The boy's lip twitched as Adam added, "Did you run away because your pack treated you like crap?"
"Adam, you're being an asshole," Smoky scolded.
But the boy shook his head. "No, it's fine. Yes, that's why I ran. They were Black Furies, at first, they were great, protective, but over time, they changed. Their hatred for men grew darker. I don't know if they fell to the Wyrm or what, but even my mother, who used to love me, threw me out. She said if I ever came back, she'd kill me."
Adam frowned. "That's... messed up. I'm sorry." He paused for a moment. "You know, the Bone Gnawers might be able to help you. They're generally good people."
"There are good Black Furies too," the guy said, "but I'm not risking it, not after what happened."
Adam nodded. "Okay, what about Jessy's social club? My adoptive brother, he's psychic, and he runs a group of other psychics and a guy who sees dead people. It's like a supernatural social club... wait, why am I telling you all this?"
Smoky chuckled. "Instinct. You found a kinfolk with no pack and now you feel like you need to protect him."
Adam blinked, processing that. "Huh. Weird, but... yeah, I guess that's what's happening. Anyway, I'm Adam. No tribe or pack."
"I'm Isaiah," the boy said, his voice steadier now. "I saw you fight that Spiral Dancer, or kill her to be more specific, that wasn't a fight. It was... impressive. And I think you have Silent Strider blood."
Adam nodded. "Yeah. I've got Silent Strider blood, but their tribe's totem didn't accept me… yet."
"Silent Striders would probably accept you if they saw your Crinos form," Isaiah mused. "You are a pure blood silent strider. It is just weird that you aren't part of the tribe yet."
Adam sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Maybe they haven't found me yet. But for now, can we get out of here? There's always a chance another Spiral Dancer could show up, and I'd rather not shred my clothes."
Isaiah gave a small nod. "Good idea. Let's go."
Adam scooped up Smoky, the little black cat spirit, as they walked side by side down the quiet street. Isaiah kept a noticeable distance, still wary, which Adam understood. To break the tension, he held Smoky out toward Isaiah.
"Want to hold him? He's a lesser cat spirit but still a cat. Might help with your nerves," Adam offered with a gentle smile.
Isaiah hesitated, then accepted with a nod. "Oh… sure, thank you."
Before Smoky could protest, Isaiah's hands gently cradled him, and the moment Isaiah's fingers started to pet him, Smoky's grumbling stopped abruptly. "Oh, by Anubis. This kid has soft hands. Lower, under the chin, please," Smoky purred.
Isaiah chuckled softly and obeyed, continuing to scratch the content cat's neck.
"Just a heads-up," Adam said, watching them. "Normal people can't hear Smoky, so when we're in public, best not talk to him directly."
Isaiah's expression softened. "It's nice… it reminds me of when my family was still good. We had spirits that talked to me and my sister."
There was a silence before Adam asked, "Do you have somewhere safe to stay? Or… do you need a place?"
"I do," Isaiah answered hesitantly. "But I don't trust you enough to show it to you."
"That's fair," Adam said easily. "I'm actually heading to meet a Bone Gnawer pack in Santa Monica. If you're going that way, we can walk together for a while."
Isaiah's brow furrowed. "Why are you meeting with the Bone Gnawers?"
Before Adam could answer, Smoky chimed in, "People found out he's connected to Anubis."
"Wait, what?" Isaiah's voice wavered, eyes wide in shock.
"Thanks, Smoky," Adam muttered, annoyed.
"What? Everyone already knows," Smoky retorted. "People would be more afraid of a Garou connected to Anubis who wields a grand klaive. It would make others think twice before messing with him."
Isaiah's shock deepened. "I'm sorry… you have a what?"
Adam shot Smoky a look. "Stop talking."
Isaiah seemed uneasy now, but there was also curiosity. "Do you have any... plans for me?"
Adam blinked. "Plans? What do you mean?"
"Well… I'm a kinfolk, and you're a powerful Garou," Isaiah said, his voice trembling again. "The ones like you use people like me or..."
Adam clenched his fists, his frustration clear. "Okay, whoever hurt you? Fuck them. I don't want to harm you or control you. I only came because you were in danger. That's it. If you want me to leave, I will. But honestly? I'd like to be your friend. Someone who gets the supernatural world. And I think my brother Jessy would want you in his club, too."
Isaiah's tense posture relaxed a little, and he smiled slightly. "I… I'd like to have a Garou friend. But I'm serious, if you show any signs of changing your behavior, I'll run."
"Deal," Adam said, his tone reassuring.
"You said you're meeting the Bone Gnawers?" Isaiah asked, and Adam nodded. "If I come with you, what if they want to keep me?"
"You're not property," Adam said firmly. "No one's keeping you."
Isaiah hesitated. "And what if they attack us?"
Adam glanced at Smoky, then back to Isaiah. "Smoky's connected to the Shadowlands. If it comes to that, I think I can use that connection to get us both there for a bit. Enough to escape."
"Yeah, I can help with that," Smoky agreed. "But I'd lose this cat form. I'd have to find another one."
"They won't attack us, though," Adam reassured. "The Bone Gnawers are pretty chill."
After a moment of thought, Isaiah asked, "Would you mind if I came with you guys? I know I said I wanted to avoid Garou, but I think avoiding them forever is impossible. The Bone Gnawers are nice most of the time, so maybe they can help."
Adam smiled. "Sure, sounds great. Let's go."
Adam hailed a cab, and they silently rode toward the area he remembered. He had the urge to ask Isaiah if he was single but held back, too wary of scaring him off. Adam wasn't just concerned for Isaiah's comfort—he was shy himself, never really having the courage to talk to the people he had crushes on, whether they were guys or girls back in school.
The atmosphere in the car was thick with awkwardness. They both sat in silence, sneaking glances at each other while pretending to focus on other things. Isaiah tried to distract himself by petting Smoky, but even he couldn't resist stealing a few looks at Adam.
After what felt like an eternity of awkward silence, the cab dropped them off near the beach. Adam could feel the subtle hum of Garou shamanism in the air, guiding him toward their destination. Isaiah followed closely behind, unsure but curious. It didn't take long for Adam to locate what he was searching for—an abandoned street, forgotten by most people.
At the center of the street stood a massive, derelict mall, its crumbling walls covered in graffiti. Faded banners advertised stores that had long since ceased to exist, while rats, stray dogs, and birds made the area their home. The aura of Garou magic was palpable here, keeping the place hidden from mortal eyes.
As they got closer, they noticed groups of people loitering around. Some were huddled near a fire, sharing drinks and conversation. A rowdy group of punk kids in one corner was playing a drinking game, with a few of them making out. Street artists were practicing their craft while, in one of the alleyways, a couple was going at it without a care.
A figure broke away from the crowd and approached them. The guy looked like he was trying hard to act tough. He couldn't have been much older than his twenties, with a punk-rock vibe—leather jacket, ripped jeans, and no shirt underneath. He was skinny but had some visible abs. His hair was shaved on the sides but long and unruly on top, dyed a neon green that only added to his rebellious look. He radiated a Garou presence.
Isaiah hesitated, gently placing Smoky on the ground before stepping behind Adam. Adam, however, remained unfazed, locking eyes with the guy.
"What are you two pretty boys doing here?" the punk asked, his voice dripping with disdain. "You're too clean and well-dressed for this part of town."
Adam raised a brow, glancing at Isaiah. "Wait, I'm well-dressed?" he asked with genuine confusion.
"Don't fucking ignore me, you little shit," the guy growled, grabbing a fistful of Adam's shirt.
Adam's body tensed, his inner beast snarling to be unleashed, to tear this guy apart for daring to touch him. But he held it back, staying calm. With a subtle channeling of his gnosis, blue flames flickered to life in his hand.
"Let go," Adam said coldly, "or I'll roast you before you even get a chance to shift."
The fire was enough to make the punk back off quickly, his bravado shattered. But before anything could escalate, a voice cut through the tension.
"Trey! Back off!"
Both Adam and Isaiah looked toward the source. A chubby guy, with a clean-shaven face and curly black hair, was approaching. His hands were casually stuffed in his jacket pockets, but his eyes darted between Adam and the punk, Trey.
"Fuck, Dex, what is this freak?" Trey muttered, now visibly on edge.
"That's a Garou, dumbass," Dex said, glaring at Trey. Then, turning to Adam, he added, "And you must be the guy who's been making things complicated in the spirit world."
"Complicated?" Adam echoed, narrowing his eyes.
"Yeah, complicated," Dexter replied, his tone flat. "You've been going around with that blue flame of yours, burning down Wyrm Nexuses while the Weaver's forces are already locked in war with them. It's causing... ripples."
"Huh. Didn't realize blue flames were that unique," Adam said with a shrug. "But yeah, I've burned a few Nexuses. What's the issue? They're Wyrm-tainted."
Dexter raised an eyebrow. "The issue is, that kind of activity draws attention. A lot of it. Not just from the Wyrm, but the Weaver, too. And the Weaver? Not exactly a celestial spirit we want getting more power around here. Unless, of course, you've already pledged allegiance to the Weaver."
Adam shook his head, his voice calm but firm. "I don't serve the Weaver."
"I hope that's true," Dexter said, his gaze narrowing. "It'd be a shame if someone with your connection to Anubis ended up tangled with Weaver threads."
"Oh, you know me?" Adam asked, surprised.
"What now?" Trey cut in, looking confused.
Dex sighed. "Trey, just fuck off. Go try to impress the girls with something less dangerous."
Trey hesitated, clearly unnerved by the whole exchange, but masked it poorly. After a final glance at Adam, Isaiah, and Smoky, he skulked off.
"I'm Dexter but people call me Dex around here." Dex said. "You must be Adam right. Unless there is another albino Garou in town."
"Nope, only me. I'm Adam." Adam said, then gestured toward Isaiah. "And this is Isaiah, a friend. The cat here? Spirit companion. We call him Smoky."
Isaiah offered a polite nod. "Nice to meet you, sir."
Smoky chimed in, his voice smooth, "How's it going?"
Dexter blinked, unimpressed. "Great. Another talking spirit. Listen, buddy, some of the rats around here are spirits too, so no eating them."
Smoky looked ready to pounce at the mention of rats, but quickly caught himself. "Don't worry, I won't... Oh look, a rat…oh, right. Sorry, instincts. I'll behave."
Dex smirked faintly. "Good. Now, kid," he said, turning back to Adam, "I'm one of the elders of the pack. I had Calvin and his crew spy on you. Apologies for that, but we have families here, and we're big on keeping them safe."
"No harm done," Adam said.
Dex nodded, then glanced at Isaiah. "Speaking of families, we treat our kin like family. You got any problems with how this guy's treating you?" His eyes narrowed slightly, sizing up Isaiah. "Because if your brother is giving you shit, you're welcome to stay here."
"I'm not his brother," Adam interjected quickly.
Isaiah chuckled softly. "No, I'm good. Adam's actually been decent. I was just curious about the kinfolk around here."
Dexter studied Isaiah for a moment longer, before his expression softened. "You're kinfolk yourself, right? Let me guess, your own family didn't treat you well?"
"They were... good for a while. But I think they fell to the Wyrm," Isaiah admitted, his voice tinged with sadness.
"Sorry to hear that." Dexter's tone was genuinely sympathetic. "Look, if you ever need a place to crash, you're welcome here. This mall's huge. Most of us have turned it into homes, and there are plenty of furnished rooms to claim. We try to provide two meals a day, sometimes three if things aren't too rough."
"I appreciate that," Isaiah said, nodding. "But I've got a place. I'll stop by occasionally, though. I've got some Gnosis and healing rituals. I can help out with injuries and sickness."
Dex's eyes lit up at the offer. "That'd be a big help. We could use that."
As they continued walking, Adam couldn't help but notice all the eyes on them. They entered the mall, and the interior was lit with a patchwork of random lights, some flickering, others steady. The shops had been repurposed into workshops, living spaces, and hangouts for the people here. It felt like a strange, makeshift community thriving in the ruins.
Dex led them up to the second floor of the sprawling four-story mall, finally arriving at a former store now converted into what looked like an office space.
"So," Adam said, leaning against a wall. "What do you want to talk about?"
"I'll get down to business," Dex said, his tone direct. "I don't know much about you, aside from the whispers. Old-timers like Stone Horn have been talking you up, impressed as hell. And while I respect the old guy, I've got my own people to worry about."
Adam nodded, understanding. "I get it. I'm not here to bring trouble to your family. I just want to live my life and make the Wyrm suffer along the way."
Dex raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, Stone Horn said you were clean. My issue isn't you; it's the chaos you're stirring up in the spirit world. The Wyrm doesn't take kindly to losing ground, and if they start sending nightmares like the First Team here, my family's at risk."
"A squad of the First Team's already in L.A.," Adam said flatly. "That's why I started burning those Nexuses. It's a distraction."
Dex blinked, taken aback. "Fuck me sideways."
"Why are they here?" Isaiah asked, his voice laced with concern.
"A group of psychics escaped from Psy-Tech," Adam explained. "Psy-Tech's tied to Pentex, and these psychics caused enough headaches for Pentex to send in the First Team. I used the war between the Wyrm and the Weaver as cover, hoping mess with the Wyrm's attention."
Dex rubbed the back of his neck, his face tight with stress. "Any chance I could meet these psychics?"
"I'll have to ask them," Adam replied.
Isaiah piped up. "Could I meet them? I've got psychic powers too, and you mentioned something about a social club."
Adam shook his head. "That's different. Some of them are connected to it, but it's not the same. Still, I think both groups would accept you."
Dex let out a long sigh. "This is gonna complicate things... Look, can you come to the caern meeting and explain all this to the other tribes?"
Adam's response was immediate. "No, thanks. I'm not big on social gatherings, especially with a room full of old Garou who probably hate me for being Metis."
Dex chuckled dryly. "Yeah, you're not wrong. Children of Gaia, Bone Gnawers, and Glass Walkers are chill with Metis, but we've got Silver Fangs, Shadow Lords, Fianna, and the Get of Fenris rolling in. They'll be... less understanding."
"Any Silent Striders around?" Adam asked, hopeful.
"None that I've seen."
"Damn. That's a shame." Adam straightened. "It was nice meeting you, but we've got to get going."
Dex gave a nod, understanding. "Alright, I'll walk you out. Might as well show you around in case you ever want to drop by."
As they made their way out, Dex gave them a mini-tour of the mall. It was a strange but functional space. There was a pub, small gardens scattered around where light could stream in and an empty ritual area. The food court had been transformed into an animal holding area, with chickens clucking about. Isaiah seemed fascinated by the place, soaking in the homey vibe. Adam, on the other hand, found himself oddly amused by a single chicken that glared at him with inexplicable fury, its tiny body radiating a weird, simmering rage.
Adam couldn't help but chuckle. "That chicken's got some serious anger issues."
Dex smirked. "Yeah, we avoid that one. Keep your distance."
"Weird but okay." Adam said.
As Adam, Isaiah, and Dex continued their walk, Adam couldn't shake the strange sensation creeping at the back of his mind. It felt like potent sorcery, more powerful than anything he'd encountered before. At first, Adam dismissed it, assuming it was just the presence of Garou shamanism around him, but when his focus wavered for a moment, the feeling intensified, and something attempted to pierce his mind. He managed to block it, but the nature of the attack concerned him, this wasn't Garou magic.
Just as Adam regained his composure, the others noticed the strange sensation too. Isaiah glanced around, unsettled. "What is this?"
"I have some ideas," Adam replied, his voice tense. He turned to Dex. "Do you know any Garou nearby? Any Theurges would be better."
Dex looked around, noticing that the kinfolk in the area were fleeing. The only ones remaining were Cait and Calvin, who were in the middle of an argument but quickly refocused on the shifting energy around them. As the strange feeling began to fade, Dex, Isaiah, Cait, and Calvin all breathed a sigh of relief. Adam, however, remained on edge.
"What the hell was that?" Cait demanded as she stormed over.
"Felt like we were being watched," Calvin added, walking beside his sister.
"We were," Adam confirmed grimly. "They were looking for me. They probably would've attacked if there were fewer Garou around. I think the spiral dancer I killed caused some problem."
"You said you knew what that was," Isaiah pressed.
Adam nodded. "Yeah, they're true mages. But they reeked of the Wyrm, so I'm guessing Malfean."
"What's that?" Cait asked, her brows furrowed in confusion.
"Trouble," Dex sighed heavily, his face tightening with concern.
Adam looked at Dex, surprised. "You know them?"
Dex nodded curtly. "Yeah, and that's why I want you the hell out of here." He turned to Calvin. "Gather every Theurge we have. We need to strengthen the wards—now."
"Hey, can you guys help Isaiah?" Adam asked, his tone serious. "The moment I leave here, they're going to come for me. I don't want him getting caught up in that."
Dex shook his head. "Sorry, but my kin come first."
"Wait, what?" Cait snapped. "You're really going to kick out a kinfolk when there's an unknown danger out there?"
"He might be the target," Dex countered.
"Then we better fucking protect him," Cait shot back, her eyes blazing with anger.
"From Malfean," Dex clarified, his voice tight. "They can be weak or terrifyingly strong. Could be some young punks who stumbled into power or seasoned mages with the ability to warp reality or more probably spiral dancers using Malfean to attack. Either way, they're trouble for our pack."
Calvin, concerned, spoke up. "What kind of mages are we talking about here? We have sorcery in our own ranks, sorcerer kinfolk even."
Adam shook his head. "True mages are on another level. Don't worry about Isaiah, I've got people who can take care of him. But you need to listen carefully, Isaiah."
Isaiah nodded, his expression serious. "I can do that."
"Sorry you got dragged into this mess," Adam said, giving Isaiah a sympathetic look before turning to Dex. "It was good meeting you."
With that, Adam grabbed Isaiah's hand and pulled out his phone, dialing his mother. He was moving fast, his focus already shifting to the next steps.
"Hey, hold up, I'm coming with you," Cait said, running after them.
Dex tried to stop her. "No, Cait, it's too dangerous. You don't understand what you're dealing with here, you'll get yourself killed."
"Go fuck yourself, Dex," Cait shot back, defiant.
Adam glanced over his shoulder, shaking his head. "He's right, Cait. Stay back." He didn't stop moving, rushing out of the mall as the phone rang in his hand, not caring if she followed or not.
Behind them, Cait was ready to follow, but Calvin stepped in her path, halting her. The two siblings quickly fell into an argument as Adam disappeared from sight.
Adam kept running as Isaiah tried to keep up. "How can I help?!" Isaiah asked, clearly anxious.
"Just stay out of the fight in a safe place," Adam replied, glancing back to make sure Isaiah was keeping pace. His mind was racing as he waited for his mother to pick up the phone. Finally, her familiar voice came through the line.
"Hello?"
"Mom, I think some Malfean mages are hunting me," Adam said quickly. "And I've got a Kinfolk with me, Isaiah. There will probably come with spiral dancers. We need help."
There was a brief pause on the other end of the line. Then his mother's voice became more serious. "Malfean mages? Damn it. Where are you now?"
"We're outside the old mall. I think they're waiting to ambush me once I'm out in the open," Adam explained, keeping his voice low and steady. He glanced around, scanning for any sign of magical threats.
"Alright, stay put for now," his mother instructed. "I'll send someone to meet you and help get both of you somewhere safe."
"Got it," Adam said. "Any advice on dealing with them?"
"Be ruthless." Faith said. "They have powerful mind and souls but most of them are still human. They bleed like a human."
"Got it."
"Stay safe, Adam. I'll be in touch soon."
As the call ended, Adam turned to Isaiah, who was still very scared. "We're going to wait here for backup. My mom is sending help to get you somewhere safe."
Isaiah looked worried but nodded. "Okay… I trust you. Just tell me what to do."
"Stay close, keep your head down, and if anything happens, run. Don't look back, just run." Adam's eyes scanned the surroundings again, his senses heightened. He could feel the tension in the air, the calm before the storm.