The alarm clock screams like some fucking rabid banshee forcing Nathan to reach his night stand and punch the ever loving shit out of it. As his sixth alarm clock this year falls to the ground in a loud crash, Nathan higher brain functions finally kick in and he realizes that the infernal sound is, in fact, coming from his cellphone.

Nathan debates with himself for only a couple of second before having to admit that he will not be able to propel the noisy thingie through his bedroom window. He manages to punch the answer symbol with a vengeful thumb, barely noticing the fact that the caller ID is hidden.

“Mmmnfrgyea?”

“Mr Turner? This is detective Henkel.”

“Do you know what time it is?”

“Yes, it is currently 1PM.”

Huh.

Nathan checks the time. It is, in fact, 1PM. He curbs his desire to uncork the good detective’s head from his body and use his intestines as Christmas decorations, since calling him in the afternoon is perfectly normal. Yes, perfectly normal. And he is on sick leave, so, no pressure.

“What do you want?”

“Did I really wake you up? Because I can hear a car engine in the background and I know you live in the countryside.”

“That’s my cat purring you hear.”

Detective Henkel knows where Nathan lives. Well that’s to be expected. What is also to be expected is that authorities will have some further embarrassing questions such as how come the kidnapper’s bodies look like horror props that had been used as target practice by an artillery battalion.

“Ok, listen, I’m not good at this sort of things. I’m not supposed to contact you, but we really need to talk, it’s also in your interest, trust me.”

“You have my attention.”

“Ok so you are most likely under surveillance by now and for obvious reasons. You know you are deep in it right?”

“… Yeah.”

“So we need to talk. Is there a back entrance to your house?”

“Well you can park on the other side and cross the forest it shouldn’t be too hard. “

“Right. I’ll do that. Today?”

“Yeah today. I’m not going anywhere.”

“Right, see you then.”

Nathan raises from the pile of paperwork and wonders how can Gwahin get in his house without making any noise. He is reasonably sure she cannot go through walls. He turns his head around and catches her entering the living room.

Gwahin has two sets of smiles. The first one is very human and comes into several category: cute, peevish, pouty, sensual. The second one shows her teeth and is definitely PG 16 material. The one on her face right now is definitely a category two. It falls off when she realizes his eyes are on her.

“I thought my presence was well hidden. I must be getting rusty in my old age. “

Nathan lifts an eyebrow. She currently looks like someone who can’t decide between dwarfism and puberty.

“And to what do I owe the pleasure?”

“I wanted to notify you that someone is spying on your property from the front, however they are outside and I am not bound to intervene.”

“Are they human?”

“Yes.”

“Then do not, that’s the police.”

“Fine. Next! There is also someone currently sneaking up from the back.”

“Human?”

“Yes”

That’s also the police, but that one is on my side. He’s my guest.”

“Aaawwwww really?! Really?”

“Yes.”

“Awwww. I dont know how I can comfort myself. Unless… You still have some meat yes?”

“You can get jerky, there is also leftover bacon in the fridge.”

Gwahin is already through the door.

Nathan sighs and stares at forms. He can finish later. Or tomorrow. Ah tomorrow, where most of mankind’s productivity is stored. No. Enough procrastination.

“By zhe way can ashk you a questhion?”

Oh well it’s not procrastination he is just entertaining his guest. It’s his responsibility. Really.

“Can you finish chewing first?”

Gwahin swallows the equivalent of a burger steak in a single gulp and licks her lips, showing just a hint of teeth. Nathan wonders if one way he will get used to her strange mix of humanity and alienness. Probably not.

“I am familiar with the role of the police. Do you intend to use them to seek the Varogs?”

“Yes, I do. It will probably be unofficial though I don’t think getting too much attention would be healthy right now.”

“Why?”

“Hum even if they believed me, I don't think authorities are comfortable with not understanding and controlling stuff.”

“No I mean why do you intend to hunt the Varogs?”

Gwahin’s face looks calm and attentive but there is an immobility to her that gives a curious weight to the question. Nathan deduces that she cares about the answer.

“Why do you hunt the Varogs? Why did you save Sarah? You are not a true altruist Nathan Mordred Turner, you are a loner. You live alone in a house away from your kind, you do not invite people over and you do not provide shelter and food even though you could. Yet you go to help someone you have no feelings for. I felt it yesterday. You do not care about that Sarah of yours like a lover would, nor like a brother would. So why?”

“Wow hey I actually give to charities you know?”

“Does this represent a sizable portion of your income? Do you also spend time helping others?”

“No. “

“Then you helped someone that you had not helped before, and you will probably not help afterward. Sarah…”

“Is in good hands.”

“Is at a hospital, defenseless and you have not checked on her since you left.”

“I assume you have a point?”

“Yes. Do you not think that you are being hypocritical? You care yet you care not? You are preparing to hunt Varogs yet do not protect their likely victim?”

“Well Gwahin, you see, you are taking this the wrong way. You are judging me, saying that I have done little before this rescue and will probably do little after, a point which I am unwilling to debate. But at least I did something! Contrary to what you seem to imply, I do not have any real obligation to do good, but I still do it sometimes. I pick my fights, however modest they are and I make things better at my scale and if I can. And finally please do remember that I agreed to accompany Sarah home at first, and maybe if I hadn’t she would already be dead, and secondly, let me remind you that your tree is currently rooted in MY garden hmmm? Do not try to guilt trip me. I know I’m not Ghandi and will never be, but I still care for a few people and will actually act on it.”

“That does not answer my question.”

“Alright here is an answer: I do not relate to people easily but if I do, I will be there for them when they need me. Sarah is one of them. And she’s as safe as she is going to get at the hospital, it’s a super public place and the police is keeping an eye on her.”

Gwahin stays silent for a few seconds, then a small (category one) smile slowly emerges on her face.

“This does answer my question Mordred Nathan Turner, and several others too.”

“Can I ask the reason for those questions? I mean, would it not have been better to ask all of this before you took roots on my turf?”

“Beggars cannot be choosers, but knowing one’s host is always valuable. Also! I really like to tease mortals and have them face their own contradictions. I never tire of it.”

“So you did interact with mortals before. I thought you were hidden.”

“It happens sometimes, mostly when hunters come and think to “purge” the woods from our presence.”

“Do I really want to know?”

“Did I ever mention my skull collections?”

“You seem really interested in principles for someone who doesn’t sound like they have any.”

“Sarcasm! Insults! You are a terrible host Nathan.”

Nathan stares up. Gwahin is just being playful. He doesn’t really know how to take her. Sometimes she is just funny and teasing but sometimes he looks at her and is reminded that she is something else. She could have manipulated him or done something to him and yet she has been helpful. No, more than helpful. Essential. Without her, he would never have found Sarah. She reminds him of those videos of lions being kind to their caretakers, then you see the same lions take down a buffalo. He just hopes that she remains on his side because he is certain that he is no longer able to stop her.

“And now I do believe your guest is about ready to deposit several pounds of mud on your floor.”

Ah yes.