Chapter 7: More Friends of the Forest

"A global conspiracy?"

3 more days passed since Dandelion and I took our 1 way train ride out of Nothingtown. Given the severity of the situation, the only somewhat reasonable plan I could come up with was to pretend to my few connections around me that nothing had changed. That included Mr. Tusin who earlier this morning I emailed the first 3 chapters of my latest work too, and who currently I was on my phone with in a park near the hotel Dandelion and I stayed at. I made sure to put on another nature documentary on my laptop for Dandelion to keep her entertained as I talked to Mr. Tusin.

"That's correct Mr. Tusin," I responded over the phone, "The vagabond's secret, his parents were part of a global entity that organized crime in the modern world."

"Kane…"

"Yes Mr. Tusin?"

"That makes absolutely no sense; you realize you're breaking every rule of storytelling right?"

"How so?"

"This is supposed to be a wholesome romance tale isn't it, with a bit of comedy thrown in. What's with the tone change? If you're going to go that route, at least drop some hints beforehand."

"Life uhh… comes at you fast?"

"I get that this is just a fictional story, but even so, isn't that too sudden to be realistic?"

"The truth is stranger than fiction Mr. Tusin."

"…"

"…"

"Kane, what the hell are you talking about?"

"Sorry, being weird again."

"You've always been weird! But in any case, I suppose I shouldn't judge until you're finished. Your first 3 chapters though Kane, I did read through thoroughly and can very much judge,"

"What did you think?"

"Not bad Kane, not bad. Your rhetoric seems to have improved quite a bit. Or maybe it's because the flow's more natural. I really liked how you wrote Acorn as well."

"Yes, she's a treasure,"

"She?"

"Sorry, sorry, I mean he's a treasure."

"Right… only thing I have to say though Kane is what's up with Kate?"

"Kate? What's wrong with him?"

"Him?"

"Sorry sorry, I mean her, being weird again."

"Make sure you drink your coffee Kane. As I was saying though, Kate seems a bit… too feminine?"

"…"

"…"

"How so?"

"Just the way she describes Acorn. Jeez… I mentioned this before, but she really is just a damsel isn't she? What sort of 21st century woman is that infatuated by a man she just met? She'd hardly pass the Bechdel test if not for the brief conversations she had with her magazine publisher."

"…"

"Kane?"

"…"

"You there Kane?"

"Understood sir, I will make hi… her less feminine as the story progresses."

"Good. I'm pretty hard on you because I believe in your story Kane, in all honesty this is a solid start."

"Thank you sir, I'll keep working hard,"

"I'll be in the area Sunday next week by the way, are you free to discuss the next 3 chapters at the same coffee shop as last time?"

"Ah well…"

"Is there a problem Kane?"

"There may be a problem, I happen to be out of town next week."

"Out of town? You? You?!?!?! You're pulling my leg Kane, you haven't left town in months. At this point you might as well be a hermit."

"…"

"In any case where are you going then? Visiting the folks?"

"I'll be uhhh…"

"…"

"…"

"You're not just making this up to avoid seeing me are you Kane?"

"No no of course not, I'll be uhh… in the mountains? Yes, the mountains, I'll be in the mountains next week!"

"…"

"..."

"Okay… the mountains, where specifically in the mountains?"

"You know… the North mountains."

"The North mountains… Kane it's been a year, you can tell me if you don't want to…"

"No no, I'm in the mountains next week for a very good reason Mr. Tusin. I need to be somewhere that clears my head. You know, like one of those things monks do. I plan to bring my laptop and binge write the whole story"

"Interesting… so sort of an immersion exercise?"

"Exactly! An immersion exercise, some vagabonds are camping there too. I thought that maybe I could meet some of them."

"…"

"…"

"Kane,"

"Yes Mr. Tusin?"

"You're not joining a cult are you?"

"…"

"…"

"No I assure you that's not the case, if anything a cult's after me."

"What?"

"Just kidding, getting into the scene of the conspiracy in my story haha, method acting."

"Right… well whatever, you do you Kane, just have chapter 6 done by next Sunday then. You said the story will be 11 chapters in total right?"

"Give or take."

"Right on schedule then, take care Kane, beware of cults!"

"Yes Mr. Tusin."

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"The North American white wolf, one of the most mysterious creatures found in the dense forest plains."

When I returned to my hotel room door, I could hear the nature documentary from inside still playing.

"Although smaller than most of its prey, the white wolf nonetheless has a powerful tool to equalize itself in the battle of survival… AWHOOOOOOOOOOOOOO."

"Wow these sound effects are quite realistic."

"Awhoooooo,"

A much softer howling sound from a human girl also came from within the room.

"Ahhh… how adorable"

"With one howl, a white wolf scares its prey causing AWHOOOOOOOOOOOOO"

"Huh… what a weirdly placed sound effect…eh whatever, not my problem."

"Dandelion, I'm back!"

As I opened the door to reenter our hotel room however, I discovered the howling noise was very much my problem.

"Dandelion…"

"Yes Kane?"

"Why is there a white wolf in our room?"

"…"

"…"

"His name is Luther!"