It's amazing how much junk you can accumulate in a couple of centuries. Okay, it wasn't all junk. I've had...encounters with a number of interesting people over the years. And have mementos from many of them.
"Are you sure we can make this in one trip?" Daniel asked.
We had been packing for a good two weeks. Would have gotten further, but having to take care of young Daniel's needs every hour or so didn't help.
Not that I minded, of course.
"I'll be getting a rental van," I explained. "We won't be cramming everything in our vehicles."
"What about...?" he began, jerking my head toward the front of the house.
"I've got a tow bar for the extra vehicle. Don't worry. We won't be leaving your Jeep behind. Besides, it's not like we'll be taking everything."
"Why not?" he asked.
"Well, my buddy, Jeff, will be moving in when we leave. He and his romp will love this area."
"So he's...like us?" he asked.
"He's a were, but not a bear," I chuckled.
I heard a vehicle pulling up out front.
"I'm betting that's him," I said, glancing out the window. "Looks like he's got a couple of his pups with him."
I wasn't sure what I was expecting. Probably more guys like Tucker and Josh, but these guys were anything but.
"Jimmy!" cried the one in front when the door opened.
He was maybe a bit over five foot tall and the other two with him were about the same, give or take. They all had light brown hair and thick beards with wisps of fur escaping the collars of their shirts.
"Hey, Jeff," Jim said. "Looks like you've been busy."
"Comes with the territory," he shrugged. "This is Freddy and Timmy."
"Do all your pups' names end with -y?" Jim laughed.
"You know the answer to that," Jeff grimaced.
"This is my new cub, Daniel," Jim said, obviously changing the subject.
"Daniel? Not Danny?" Jeff said with a grin and a wink.
"Just Daniel," Jim shrugged. "He hasn't given me permission to call him Danny."
"You can call me anything you want," I said hesitantly.
"Dunno," Jim said. "I like calling you Daniel. After Mikey, it's nice to have one that's a little more mature."
"I was actually wondering if I'd hear from you," Jeff said as we ushered them into the house. "I'm guessing that was you I heard about a while back?"
Jim laughed, then glanced at me, taking in my confusion.
"Was in the news about a grizzly being spotted in this area. Probably Mikey, but can't guarantee it wasn't me," he said sheepishly.
"So what's the story?" Jeff asked, looking me up and down.
"What makes you think there's a story?" Jim smirked, plopping down on the couch.
"Wouldn't think a little bear sighting would get you to move," Jeff said as he and the boys sat down.
"Moving to be closer to one of my brothers," said, gesturing me to sit next to him.
"He lonely?" Jeff asked, wangling his eyes brow.
"No," Jim laughed. "You heard me talk about Paul, haven't you?"
"Paul, Paul...," Jeff mused, rubbing his stubbly chin. "Your second Papa?"
"That's him," Jeff said, pulling me close to him. "He just became a papa for the first time a couple months ago."
"Really?" Jeff grinned. "So where are they at?"
"They've got a place in Southern Wisconsin, but Mike's renting Paul's cub's place in Rockford."
Jeff tensed, sitting upright.
"Rockford?" he said, his face freezing.
"Yeah, why?" Jim asked casually, but I could feel him trying to contain his mirth.
"No reason. Boys? I think I left my phone in the car. Could you go look for it?"
"Sure, Pops," they chorused and headed outside.
"You know why," Jeff snarled after the door closed behind them.
Jim's face worked to hide his smile.
"What?" I asked.
"I lived in that area not too long ago. One of my pups still lives there," Jeff said softly, dropping his eyes.
"He get his own...pup?" I asked.
"No," Jeff scowled.
"Wonder if Vince knows Brian," Jim mused.
"Brian?" Jeff asked, sitting upright. "Brian who?"
"Paul's cub," Jim said. "Brian's lived there most of his life. Though from what he says, he hadn't been out in a while."
"His name wouldn't be Torkelson, would it?" Jeff asked a little too casually.
"You know him?" I asked.
"Well, knew him," Jeff shrugged, then gave me a pained smirk. "Not the way I would have liked, unfortunately. Didn't think he'd ever leave Joe."
He turned a questioning look at Jim.
"He didn't. I'm afraid Joe is not...strictly speaking, among the living any more," Jim said.
Jeff sat back, looking crestfallen. He glanced at me with a sad smile.
"That's one of the drawbacks to our kind," he said softly. "Especially among those of us who are not so...withdrawn from the real world. It's not easy watching friends grow old and pass away."
"That happens to everyone," I pointed out.
"But it's different seeing a child and knowing that one day, he'll die an old man, yet you'll be the same," Jeff said wistfully.
I hadn't really considered that, but I suppose I could see what he meant.
"I have a question for you," I stated.
"Yes?" Jeff said with a smirk.
"Why did you send your...pups out for your phone when it's right there?" I asked, pointing at his belt.
He laughed bitterly.
"Well, I don't like to talk about Vince in front of them," he said with a sigh. "Don't know how it is for you guys, but we sometimes find a pup we think will be forever."
"Kind of like Paul and Rick," Jim agreed.
"Well," Jeff said, looking downcast, "I thought I had one, but...."
"What happened?" I asked.
"He couldn't deal with sharing me," Jeff said sheepishly.
"So he's still there?" I asked.
"Last I heard, he still had the tailor shop," Jeff said, then grimaced as the door opened.
"We couldn't find it," Freddie said.
"It'll turn up," Jeff shrugged. "So what makes you think your brother needs your help?"
"Well, Brian can be a bit of a handful," Jim said. "It's possible you felt him change a couple of months ago."
"What do you mean?" Jeff said casually, but the boys stared at him wide eyed.
"Somehow," Jim said carefully, "When he changed, his mind connected to us all. And I do mean all."
The three of them exchanged glances and Jeff nodded.
"We had wondered what it was," he said softly. "It was welcoming, though not entirely reassuring."
"Why not?" I bristled at the implication.
"It makes sense, actually," Jeff said placatingly. "You all are higher on the food chain than we are."
"What...so what are you?" I said uncertainly.
"Why, we're otters," Jeff grinned. "Quite literally."