Page 49 of Glow

“Most of the shifters in Fox Hollow just turn into house pets or regular wild animals,” Quinn agreed. “No one thinks much of seeing a wolf or a bear or a fox. I don’t think they’ve had to deal with anything too exotic like a polar bear or a tiger. I’m sure there are shifters somewhere like that. I wonder how they handle it?”

“If they live in the same area where their other side is native, then it’s not going to attract attention,” Dan pointed out. “Cryptids are a one-off.”

“And I’m sure it was all easier before security cameras, drone surveillance, and live feeds,” Quinn agreed. “Word of mouth might start a legend or get a posse called out, but it’s different than having actual proof.”

“Doesn’t change that we’re here and we still need to wander,” Dan said. “I’ll put it off as long as I can, but I get twitchy if I don’t shift for too long, and after that, I get sick. Headaches, low-grade fever, feeling crummy. I think there’s something about my cryptid and human sides that heal each other, but I’ve never seen anything official about that.”

“Makes sense,” Quinn replied with a shrug. “I’ve heard regular shifters say the same thing. You can’t deny your essential nature. Until we get this all sorted out, you’re welcome to shift in the house. No one else is nearby to see inside.”

“Thank you for offering. Maybe when you go to work tomorrow, I can go with you,” Dan suggested. “Stay close enough for safety and far enough to give you plausible deniability. For some reason, shifting inside, even in a big gym or warehouse, doesn’t satisfy the need.”

“I’d guess Wally is closer to the animal side of nature than regular humans are,” Quinn speculated. “It’s like how taking a walk outdoors feels different for people than going the same distance around an indoor track. We’re just farther away from our instincts.”

“I’m game for you to come with me. Madden’s squirrel army is keeping their whiskers out for Harrison. Birds, too. Until he’s in custody, there’s not going to be a truly safe solution.” Quinn didn’t like the risk, but he understood that the need to shift was innate and out of Dan’s control.

A knock at the door interrupted their conversation. “That’s Amy. I asked her to stop by.” Quinn stood and moved to the front door, opening it wide. “Come on in. Would you like some tea?”

“I’d love a cup.” Amy gave Quinn a hug and then paused to look Dan over from head to toe before hugging him as well.

They chatted about the weather and upcoming local events while Quinn put the kettle on, then the three of them settled around the table with fragrant, steaming cups.

“I asked Amy to stop in to do a magical check-up on you and also strengthen the wards,” Quinn told Dan. “It wouldn’t hurt to ward my truck and your car and see if your amulets need recharging.”

“I love the phrasing,” Amy replied. “It’s totally right, but not the usual witchy terms.” She paused for a sip. “Where do you want to start?”

“I figured you’d probably do the wards last,” Quinn replied. “So go ahead and start with Dan, if that’s okay.” He glanced toward his partner, who nodded.

“I’ll take all the help I can get,” Dan admitted. “I’m in over my head. Everyone here has been so wonderful. I don’t think I’d have survived without you all.”

Quinn put his hand on Dan’s shoulder. “We’re your pack. It’s what family does.”

Amy sipped her tea again and then set the cup aside. “Give me a moment to tune in. Let me see what I can pick up from your energy, from both of you.” She reached out and took their hands.

Quinn focused on his own nature spirit connection, suspecting that it interacted with his energy in a similar way to how Dan and his daemon did.

“You’re both stressed, which is to be expected,” Amy said. “Dan is under strain because he’s overdue to shift, but the worry about danger is taking a toll.”

Dan nodded in acknowledgment.

“Quinn’s worried about the danger to Dan, but he’s also concerned about the impact on the park with a crazy hunter and the Tatzelwurm on the loose.” Amy’s comments weren’t anything they didn’t already know, but it helped to hear them validated.

“There’s something else that I don’t think most people realize, even in the shifter community,” Amy said. “The Tatzelwurm is awake for the first time in a long while, and he brings a different, ancient energy. That’s throwing everything a little off, even if we don’t realize it’s affecting us.”

It hadn’t occurred to Quinn that the wurm could be affecting them even at a distance. “I guess that makes sense. When you read the old myths, those people back then seemed much more attuned to everything around them than we are.”

“Not as many distractions,” Amy agreed. “And our modern world messes with the natural electromagnetic fields, which affect us more than we think. We can’t fix everything, but we can screen out some of the noise and draw from energy that heals and strengthens us.”

She looked to Dan. “I can recharge and power up the protections I gave you the last time to make you easier to ignore.”

“I never thought of that as a good thing, but I’ll take it,” he replied with a smile.

“Remember, people will still see you. But unless they know you, their attention will slip off, and they won’t notice,” she said. “It should make it easier to shift in the woods without being noticed by most people.”

“Thank you.”

“What about cameras? Does it affect them?” Quinn asked.

Amy frowned, thinking. “Not completely. But it should blur the image to make it harder to identify. Sorry, it’s the best I can do.”