Chapter Fourteen: The Guard, Lowered

Despite her quirkyness, Lysette had to admit that Ember was an amazing help to have around the cabin. Within the same day, Ember had managed to fix the pipes under the house, which restored water back to it.

She had also managed to help organize all the food and supplies, whilst also setting out some traps in the surrounding area in case anyone should venture onto the property. Most of the traps consisted of tripwire's and were made from small metal trinkets dangling from fishing line. This would alert the group and would give them ample time to prepare. Ember had also been keeping a close eye on Penny to monitor her condition and had even managed to do some other minor repairs on the house. It was impressive how quickly Ember was able to work, leaving Lysette with almost nothing to do.

" I did manage to wash some laundry, just so you know" Ember smiled as she took a much needed rest in the lounge area. Penny had Been moved carefully up to her room where she would be able to have peace and quiet. Lysette, was already sitting down in a recliner, and was reading a small book.

" Thank you, Ember" Lysette approved as she continued to read.

" Whatcha reading? " Ember asked, finding the book in Lysette's hand to be slightly strange as it had no name or label on it.

" I'm reading something my nephew wrote long ago" Lysette answered.

" Is it his journal? It isn't polite to go snooping through people's things" Ember explained though Lysette continued reading.

" He is no longer with us. He died when Penny was very young" Lysette told Ember who seemed saddened by the news.

" I'm sorry for your loss. I'm sure he was a good man" Ember offered her condolences and Lysette smiled, even if only for a small second. " He was. He wasn't perfect but he was a good man. He tried to do the right thing" the conversation had begun to make Lysette feel uncomfortable and so she closed the book and leaned her head back against the headrest.

" Well, I'm sure that wherever he is now, he is happy" Ember suspected though Lysette knew the truth was far harsher than the positive assurance.

" I wish that were true.." She sighed as she glanced over at Penny who was Watching Lysette, almost in a nurturing way.

" Why are you so positive all the time? " Lysette asked, finally deciding to take this time to figure out exactly what made Ember tick.

After thinking for a moment, Ember finally responded " Because I've been sad before. I've been mad and I've been angry. But that didn't make my life better. It didn't fix my problems. At least happiness, or an open mind can change the outcome of things in a positive way..sometimes" She smiled, her logic only intriguing Lysette even more.

" Well, If you had seen half of what I have...you more than likely would not be so cheerful" the Lycan explained, though this had not detoured Ember whatsoever.

" Everyone has different lives, and everyone has different struggles.. I'm sure you've been through a lot, but so have I. It's just that the way we ended up seeing things and the paths we took are different" there was wisdom in the young ones words, even if Lysette had not wanted to admit it at the time.

" I can tell that you like to be alone" Embers points out.

" You do love Penny, but you love being on your own. It seems like you have a big heart. To go against something that you need, for the sake of love or maybe obligation" Ember added.

" I would have to say that you are stronger than most people. You don't need people to survive but you choose to have them around. That's pretty strong" Penny leans back on the couch and relaxes her body a little.

" Well, you don't seem to need anyone either, you seem perfectly capable of taking care of yourself" Lysette had brought up a good point but Penny shook her head in disagreement.

" I have had to be alone so I had to learn how to survive. It wasn't my choice. If I had a choice, I'd have a life full of people. But, sometimes that is not how life shakes out, ya know? " Penny again, had surprised Lysette.

" I do know.." the Lycan answered. She knew all to well about the choices that had to be made and the choices that were made for her. And despite, trying to correct things, it still wouldn't pan out the way she had hoped for. And alot of those choices, led her to her mindset now. Which for most of her life, had seemed to always be where she would end up the most. The same conclusion every single time. But despite those instincts, she had to press forward with this choice. Because things had to be different, this time.

" So what are you..if you don't mind me asking? " Ember broke the small silence with a question that Lysette was not quite sure how to answer.

" I know you aren't human..and you don't seem like a vampire to me. You haven't tried killing me yet so thats a plus. But what are you? " She asked again as Lysette tried to collect her thoughts and any amount of words that would make sense so that she could answer the question.

" I'm a..kind of like a..well, you call them werewolves here" Lysette confessed. Normally, she wouldn't reveal that information so freely but something about this girl made Lysette feel as though she could trust her.

" Oh..so you change under the full moon or something? " Ember asked, intrigued that she was talking a real life werewolf.

" No. I'm a Lycan. We have wolf forms but we can change whenever we want too. I don't see what the point of changing under a full moon would be. Seems like it would be rather inconvenient" Lysette smiled. She had heard so many earth stories about werewolves and Vampires and had always found them to be quite entertaining but highly impractical. She had assumed that because these were beings of great power, they would have to have limits. But, mistakes could always be made, even by the most powerful.

" That is so freaking cool...so like..could you turn me into one? Not that I'm asking you too but..could you? " Penny's eagerness did seem to lighten the mood a little so Lysette allowed the conversation to continue.

" Not exactly. Most Lycans are just born with it. It runs through the blood and is passed on" She explains as Ember listens intently.

" Lycan blood can be used however to poison someone if enough of its injested. Though, I would not recommend doing that, seeing as how that has never exactly turned anyone into anything other than dead" She chuckled.

" Okay so, in your wolf form..can you understand English? And if so...can you speak it? " Ember had brought up another good question, one Lysette never thought she would have to answer.

" Yes, in the wolf form, we can understand English. And yes, we could speak it if we so chose. But it would take alot of practice and most Lycans don't take the time to do that " Ember was fascinated by the knowledge that Lysette was sharing. Never in her wildest dreams did she imagine she would be talking to a Lycan.

" Okay, and so, because you are a Lycan..can you also speak wolf? Would you be able to communicate with another wolf? " Another good question that Lysette would have to think on for a few moments.

" You know, I don't believe I've ever tried that. Huh, in all my years, I don't think I've ever communicated with an actual wolf. Might be something I have to try" Lysette chuckled to herself at the prospect of having a conversation with a wolf. What would have to say? What would it's name be? Now she had her own questions.

" I'm sorry for all the questions, I've just never met a Lycan before" Ember explains and Lysette smiles back.

" Its okay, you are trying to learn and I guess, much like Penny, you are still growing" Lysette looked down at her book and sighed again. The thought of her nephew Gabriel would always bring back painful memories no matter how much time had passed.

" I'm fine guys " Penny grumbled as she slowly made her way down the staircase, whincing in pain with every single step.

" You need to take it easy! " Lysette and Ember left from their seats and ran over to help Penny down the stairs, escorting her to the couch where Ember and Lysette sat on either side of her.

" I see you two are getting along" Penny said as she tried to adjust herself to get more comfortable.

" Something like that" Lysette answers and glances over to Ember who brandished a small smile.

" You shouldn't have gotten up, you could have hurt yourself even more" Lysette points out as she tries to help Penny adjust who smacks away her hand.

" I'm not dying, I'll be fine" Penny assured them both.

" Well Ember is only staying with us until you are better, and then it's just you and me again, kiddo " Lysette explains, typing to steer the conversation away from Penny's mild temper.

" Yeah, I heard you telling her alot of things. I guess you trust her, huh? " Penny called out Lysette who was a little shocked at first but nodded.

" She has proven herself trustworthy" Lysette explained as Penny turned to Ember.

" She might be a Lycan and that might seem cool and all, but I can promise you, if you mess up once, she won't let you live it down" Penny groaned in pain as her sides began to ache.

" I hit you too hard.." Lysette felt horrible for how hard she had attacked Penny, but there was little she could do to change it now.

" I asked you to come at me. And you did. I got what I wanted" Penny groaned as she finally got herself where she wanted to be.

Lysette noticed that Penny's eyes had changed back to normal which more than likely meant, something had taken over during the battle. She made a mental note of this before continuing.

" Yes well, you got me pretty good too" the guardian confessed as she leaned back against the couch and allowed Penny some space.

" I don't remember most of it. I just remember getting mad and then blacking out..kind of" Penny tried her best to remember everything that happened but found it nigh on impossible to do so.

" Well, it's not important right now, all that matters is that you are safe" Lysette changed the subject as Ember decided to step in. " You are one tough girl..are you also a Lycan?" Ember asked bluntly which made Penny turn to Lysette, confused, who answered on Penny's behalf.

" Penny is not a Lycan by any means. She is something I promise you that you've never heard of" Lysette responded.

" Something that is none of your concern" Penny added, having hoped that Lysette would have cut the question off.

Ember took the hint of resistance as a sign that she should back off and so that is what she did. Standing up, and heading into another part of the Cabin so that she could give some alone time for Lysette and Penny.

After she was gone, Penny immediatly condemned Lysettes actions.

" What the hell are you thinking? You have given her so much information! What if she is playing you?" Penny had somehow now become the cautious one in her own eyes and Lysette, the blissfully unaware fool.

" I know what my instincts tell me, and I'm telling you, she is safe. If anything, she has been a major help. And also, I don't appreciate your tone" Lysette fired back which had Penny rethinking her next words carefully.

" If you trust her then fine. But if it does come back and bite us in the ass, don't say I didn't warn you" Penny had wanted the interaction with people for a while. Someone new to talk with and hang out with. But those were pleasures she had never been afforded for most of her life. Pleasures that were always hampered by Lysettes paranoia. And so, for Lysette to be comfortable all of sudden with someone who is completely a stranger, it did not make sense.

" Noted" Lysette hissed back.