“I’m working toward a degree in cultural anthropology,” Holly explained. “Myths and legends are woven into every culture. Studying those myths is a great way to gain insight. I’m no expert, but I have over ninety percent in all my classes. That has to count for something, right?”
“You never mentioned that before,” Keller said.
“I didn’t have time between jumping onto the back of a stranger’s motorcycle and learning I’m the second incarnation of a maiden who tames angry bear-men,” she replied.
“Fair point.” Keller laughed. “How did you fall into that?”
Holly opened her mouth to speak but faltered. “I’m not sure, actually,” she said. “It’s something that’s always interested me, and anthropology applies to more fields than people assume. It just made sense at the time. Plus, my parents were really putting the pressure on. They didn’t like the idea of my not having a degree.”
“I thought you worked as a secretary for a celebrity agent or something,” Johnny said, returning with a stack of at least ten volumes.
“I do,” Holly said. “If you think about it, the world of entertainers and celebrities is a sub-culture. There’s a surprising amount of overlap in my studies and dealing with the demands of my job.”
“Weird.” Johnny shrugged.
“You have no idea,” she replied. “My boss’s clients aren’t even in the big leagues and they still act like they rule this planet.”
“I wouldn’t last a week.” Keller laughed. “I’m not about that bubbly water, edible gold, limo life.”
“Me, either.” Johnny shook his head.
“I don’t think I am, either,” Holly said after a thoughtful pause. “I thought I was, but realizing I’m part of an ancient and suspiciously unclear prophecy has really put things into perspective.”
“At least you’re taking it in stride,” Johnny said.
“Oh, I’m not. At all. I’m debating whether or not it’s worth it to light this whole place on fire and go on the run,” Holly replied.
“Is she joking or not?” Keller asked Johnny.
“No idea.” Johnny took a seat at the desk and cracked open the first volume of his stack.
“I’m kidding,” Holly assured them. “Unless this somehow goes even more tits up than it already has, then I might not be kidding.”
“Keep her away from the matches,” Johnny said to Keller.
“Let’s not worry about my pyro tendencies right now,” Holly said, thoroughly enjoying their discomfort. After everything, she felt like she deserved a little entertainment at their expense. It was only fair. “Let's worry about filling in the blanks of this prophecy. Is it written down, in its completion, anywhere?”
“Not in a book,” Keller said. “It used to be recorded on standing stones like the circle we just left.”
“Is that not the case anymore?”
“It’s hard to say. The stones might still stand, but the location of them has been lost.”
“How lost can it be?” Holly asked. “The town of Silver Spruce isn’t that big. There’s a finite number of places a standing stone could hide.”
“There’s a big difference between the town of Silver Spruce and the territory of Silver Spruce. The prophecy predates the town, so it’s referring exclusively to the territory. The territory is massive. Most of it is untouched forest,” Johnny explained.
“You’re a bear,” Holly said. “Untouched forest should be your happy place.”
“Yeah, but I’m also a man with bills to pay and projects to complete.”
“You know, I’m still not clear on what it is you do,” Holly said.
“We’re going to keep it that way.” He offered a wry grin.
“He likes to shroud himself in mystery,” Keller said. “It’s what he has instead of a personality.”
“Damn! What did I ever do to you?” Johnny said through laughter.
Holly watched them, keeping her thoughts to herself. Keller glared at Johnny, but it wasn’t a true glare. There was no malice behind his eyes. Somehow, this turned into a game between them. Holly was more than happy to sit back and watch the match.
Ten bucks on Keller, she thought.
“Aside from muck things up so badly, I had to haul our asses up to the stones and go full bear?” he said.
“In all fairness, it was my truck. I hauled our asses up there.”
“I still had to go full bear. I liked the shirt I was wearing.”
“You still wear clothes you like? I learned not to do that after I had to transform in the tux I had rented for prom.”
“Is that why you look like you sleep in an abandoned train car?” Keller fired back, eliciting a laugh from Johnny.
Holly giggled into her hand.
“Maybe I do, but my whole wardrobe costs less than what you’re wearing now, so who’s the real winner here?”
“Still me because I don’t shift whenever I feel like proving a point.”
“You literally just shifted to prove a point.”
“I have a question,” Holly interrupted. “Well, I have many questions, but let’s cover just this one for now.”
“Ask away. We’re all about honesty here.” Johnny smiled.
“Why did we go to the stones? I saw Johnny shift that night when those other bears approached the house,” she said.
“It’s easier to shift inside the stone circle,” Keller explained. “It’s a draining process without the aid of external magic. Magic is contained within the stone circle. It helps us. There was a time where we only shifted for rituals. I guess that time’s over now.”
Holly looked at Johnny.
“You shifted in the middle of the woods,” she said.
“Yes, and it wore me out. I slept for ten hours when I shifted back,” he said. “I’m out of practice. I haven’t had a real reason to shift in a while.”
“I shift several times a week,” Keller volunteered. “It’s easier to go for a jog in the woods in bear form. Take notes, Johnny.”
“You’re the one who’s going to be spotted by hikers
