— Day 2, Early Afternoon —
Palisade National Park

Previously...

"Hey, Candy," [Jenny] called, "how old are you?"

The little corgi replied with an enthusiastic flurry of barks, and Dan wondered what, if any, extra information his pet was offering beyond the fact that she was about eighteen months old. He realized that while they’d done their best to treat Candy kindly, they’d still treated her – well, like a dog. It would take some effort to remember that apparently she was actually a sentient being, rather than just a very smart puppy.

Dan and Angie looked at Jenny and Volt, curious if Candy had more questions, or if they had more questions for their pet.

Day 2, Early Afternoon, Palisade National Park

"She's older than she looks," thought Volt before telling Jenny that Candy was over a year old.

"That's all she said?" asked Jenny, somewhat surprised.

"Well, she missed the word 'year' and had to wait for it to cycle back around, so she..."

"Wait," Jenny interrupted, "what do you mean 'cycle back around'?"

"Her speech cycle, oh, that's right, humans don't use them. You see, us animals can't produce as many words as we have ideas, even when we use signs as well as sounds. To compensate, a single word can mean many different things, often times not related."

"Then how do you tell the difference?"

"The speech cycle. I don't know exactly how it works, but the meaning of a word changes every second or so in an exact order, so if you time it right your word means exactly what you want it to mean, and any animal who speaks the same language will get the same meaning. It is slower than human speech, and if you miss-time a word it can be confusing, but we make do."

"Okay, I think I get it. A little. That would explain why we've never been able to understand animals, we can't tap into the speech cycle, but you can produce enough sounds now that you don't need the speech cycle."

"Exactly," Volt said. "Anyway, while she waited for 'year' to come back she said she wanted to tell us something that happened after the supernova yesterday."

Turning back to Candy he barked, "Go ahead."

Day 2: Arida
Laney's house

"Of course, I have Pepsi! It's my favorite soda," said Laney, leading the way to the kitchen and pouring Allee a glass. "I always keep some in the house, no matter what." She leaned against the counter and asked, "So, when do we leave for the convent?"

"And I've got nothing to do tonight, so I can come with you," said Riah. "I'd rather do that than go home, anyways."

Day 2: Arida
Laney's house

"I think earlier is better than later," Xandria said quietly. "Its not a pretty part of town that we have to go through, and, besides," she glanced over at Allee, "sorry I didn't mention this earlier, Allee, but that house we visited earlier, where they refused to go? The mom wants us to come back when the dad is away and take her and the kids to the convent. So we need to stop by there sometime."

The Convent
Romano smiled.

"Pretty good. I made some dinner, so you wouldn't have to, and the Doctor is all settled doing his stuff."

Romano looked down, then back up at Julietta.

"I brought some out, if you're hungry. You've been out here for a while, now. It was a tough operation, I guess."

— 10 AM, Day 2 —
Parksville, Erbaine
Palisade National Park
Lui's Cabin

Lui caught Terra's look and closed her eyes for a second in response. She pulled every piece of her mind into concentration and tried to think of a plan. She had seconds to save herself and the two girls on the porch.

A shiver ran down her spine as she thought of a plan. It was dangerous and stupid, but it was the only one that might work. She looked at Terra and then at Loretta, her translator of sorts. "Run." She said through her mind, hoping Loretta would understand.

As soon as she gave the command, flames flared up around her, creating a curtain and hiding her figure.

Before the officers could recover from their shock, Lui lunged from the fiery wall and straight toward them, no longer a human, but now a wolf. Her jaws snapped as her powerful paws hit the ground with a thud. Her red orange eyes were narrowed and she didn't have any plans to show mercy.

— Day 2, Early Afternoon —
Palisade National Park

Previously...

"...[Candy] said she wanted to tell us something that happened after the supernova yesterday."

The Baxters were very curious as to what Candy might say about her own experiences with the supernova. The pup let out a few yips, and then the tone changed to excited barks as the group turned a corner in the path. Candy dashed down to the banks of a small but crystal-clear mountain stream.

The excited corgi began lapping up the cold refreshing liquid as Volt translated her latest thoughts: “We were…oooh, sparkly!”

“I guess puppies are easily distracted,” Dan chuckled.

“Mama, can I have a raspberry?” came Grace’s inquiry. This was the last thing her parents expected.

“Puppies aren’t the only ones,” Angie winked.

Dan crouched down to his daughter’s level. “Sorry, honey, it’s not quite the right season for raspberries. I don’t think we’ll find any.”

“But they’re right there,” the girl objected, pointing to a collection of bushes near the stream.

Dan stepped over, amazed to discover that despite the season, the berries were indeed ripe and ready for eating. “Okay, just a few, okay? You don’t want a tummy ache.”

In a moment Candy returned to her customary post at Grace’s feet, her thirst apparently slaked for the moment. The others waited for her to continue her earlier thoughts, but nothing more was forthcoming.

Dan was thoughtful a moment, then said, “I think Candy had the right idea. Everyone’s going to have a ‘this is what I was doing when the supernova struck’ story; perhaps we could trade our own stories.”

Jenny nodded and Dan went on, “I suppose we can start, but ours really isn’t that exciting. We were in our campsite. I was talking to Angie about my job when the sky lit up. I happened to be looking up, but my first response was to remind them not to look at it.” He paused, not yet ready to share the fact that he’d had advance knowledge – no matter how vague the details – of the supernova.

“And I was playing my dice game,” Grace piped up. At Jenny’s puzzled expression she held out the little dice bag with its colored cubes. “Everyone at school plays it,” she added.

“But the oddest thing happened a few minutes later.” Angie went on to describe the terrifying moment when a pair of deer had run through the campsite, almost hitting Grace. She included Candy’s protective actions – the dog had been dozing under the picnic table when the supernova appeared but had been quick to dash to the girl’s defense.

“Maybe that’s what Candy was going to mention,” Angie concluded. She glanced at their pet, hoping this hint might inspire a response from the dog, but her attention was on a large deerfly buzzing nearby.

“How about you?” Dan prompted with a glance at Volt and Jenny. “Any exciting tales to tell?”

Day 2, Early Afternoon, Palisade National Park

"Yes," said Jenny as she swallowed a few raspberries, "we do have a story, don't we boy?"

"And how!" Volt agreed with a grin, gulping the last of his raspberries. They explained how they had fallen behind the other hikers and a pack of wolves ambushed them.

"Fortunately, Volt received his powers just before he started to fight them." Jenny paused and turned to said dog. "What was it like?"

"Getting the powers? I can't say I've ever felt anything like it. I could feel raw energy and power passing through me, and some of it stayed behind in my body. It felt like my body was going to explode! That feeling took a while to subside, and I can still feel it a little bit. I don't think it will completely go away, but I guess I'll get used to it."

"I hope so. Anyway, he was able to fight off the wolves, he started talking, and we decided to give up on trying to catch up, head back to camp, and accept the punishment we would get. We ended up with garbage duty, which was what we were doing when you showed up."

The two of them took a drink from the stream, Volt lapping the water up with his tongue and Jenny scooping the water with her hands. "So, that's our story," finished Jenny. "We ready to keep going?"

Day 2: Arida
Laney's house

Allee sipped the Pepsi slowly at first, then downed the entire glass. "I agree with you all. Earlier is better. In fact, I think we should get packed and leave as soon as possible. We still have to go pick up that family, and it's getting dark." She raised her eyebrows at them. "Whenever you're ready to leave is fine with me."

The Convent

"Thanks for the dinner." Julietta took the plate from his outstretched hands. "Yeah, it was pretty draining, though I guess I can't say much. The doctor likes to pick on you for some reason." She sighed and her voice lowered to a whisper. "Sorry you had to go through that."

— 10 AM, Day 2 —
Parksville, Erbaine
Palisade National Park
Lui's Cabin

Loretta's unease had been growing rapidly, and her fear and panic were gripping at her heart like the claws of an eagle on the back of mouse. It was clear the officers didn't have good intentions; she had felt it before. Lui's entrance hadn't helped, despite the appearance of her friend bringing some comfort to her in the slowly worsening situation.

When it was clear that the government agents weren't going to leave or back down from their resolution of taking them all away, and were becoming more hostile especially to Lui, the silence was torn and Loretta took a small step a little farther out on the porch as a word, faint, ripped through her mind. Run. It wasn't the pup terrified at her legs, it was Lui. All of a sudden the ground around their friend burst into flames and flew up around her.

Loretta snatched up the young wolf and then grabbed Terra's arm as gently as possibly, jumping off the side of the porch, attempting to flee in the distraction that Lui had created for them. If only she could speak! If only she could tell Terra that Lui wanted them to leave! She hated, yes hated, down deep in her heart, leaving her friend to face the officers alone, but stealing a glance over her shoulder it appear that Lui was once again a wolf, large, snarling, and ready to fight. Loretta knew she wasn't strong enough to fight the men...so she continued to run.

— Day 2, Early Afternoon —
Palisade National Park

Previously...

"So, that's our story," finished Jenny. "We ready to keep going?"

At the mention of wolves, Grace, shivering in fear, immediately latched on to the adult nearest her, which happened to be Dan. He crouched down to her eye level and let her hug him. In a moment her whimpering subsided and he was able to comfort her with a reminder that he and Mama and Candy – not to mention Volt with his new powers – would keep her safe, and that of all the times they’d camped in the woods they’d never seen anything dangerous.

Once certain she was all right, he stood up and addressed their new friends. “That’s an incredible story! Much more exciting than ours.” Then he glanced at Angie. “Ready to go?”

She nodded, then looked up at the sun as if orienting herself. “I think we can get to town before dark.”

They crossed the little stream and continued descending toward Parksville. Grace and Jenny made small talk – Grace had gotten over her concern about wolves and was fascinated with Jenny and Volt’s story – but Dan was silent, seemingly introspective.

“Penny for them,” Angie prompted during a lull in the kids’ conversation.

“Huh? Oh, I was just thinking that if the military has managed to get our description down to their counterparts in town, we could have trouble.”

“Surely they have bigger fish to fry, with the supernova and all,” she objected. “And wouldn’t all the radios have been fried?”

“Probably, but I don’t want to take chances with some top secret thing they may have that still works. And even if we’re not be that important to them in the big scheme of things, your safety, and Grace’s, has to come first.”

She nodded again, thrilled at her husband’s loving desire to protect his family, but remained quiet until he went on.

“They know that we live on the east side of town. They may have already checked out our house and even talked to the Norwoods about us. We could try coming into town from the west side instead, and taking an indirect route to the Kingsleys’ house. It might buy us a little time, at least.”

“What if they’re watching the Kingsleys too?”

“I don’t know. But our connection to them is rather obscure; I’m hoping that will be good enough.”

“Maybe a disguise!” Grace giggled. “Then they wouldn’t know us.”

“Hey, that’s a good idea,” Angie replied. “Not exactly sure how we’d do it, though.”

Day 2, Early Afternoon, Palisade National Park

Jenny remembered her makeup kit in her backpack. "I may have something to help with that." She pulled off her backpack and reexamined it's contents. "Let's see, this makeup kit might do for some minor cosmetic alterations. We can use this rain coat as a hood, that might help. Oh, and if I remove the lenses of these sunglasses we can pretend they're eyeglasses." She frowned. "But none of these will help with the dogs. Let's see, what else can we do?"

Suddenly, she brightened up. "Maybe next time we find a stream we could cover them in mud! No one could tell what color they actually are, especially in the dark!"

"I'm not sure that's a good idea," said Volt hurriedly.

"Why not?"

"Come on Volt, think, THINK!" he thought. "Uh, the Kingsleys probably wouldn't like us getting their house dirty, right?" he said, turning to the Baxters.

— 10 AM, Day 2 —
Parksville, Erbaine
Palisade National Park
Lui's Cabin
"Aaah!" Terra gasped sharply in pain, gripping her wrist.

Loretta, in her haste to get past the men—who were staring in shock at the flames and the wolf that emerged from them—had grabbed Terra's bandaged arm. Like a hot coil pressed against her skin, the strange injury winding around her forearm flooded with agony.

For a second she couldn't move, and in that second one of the men in black moved, blocking the door. Another disappeared behind him, running after the mute girl who had fled.

Run, Loretta!

The man blocking the door moved towards her, the gun in his hand aimed directly at her heart. This was it.

Terra didn't know if it was the throbbing of her wrist or the desperation of the situation or what, but she felt something shift deep within her. All of a sudden she trembled as if the ground was shaking—or was it? The wooden floor of the cabin almost seemed to be rippling. She closed her eyes, and pulled at this inner feeling—making a fist and drawing back her bandaged arm as she did so, almost instinctively, as if she were threading an arrow on a bow.

The sensation that the entire earth was trembling abruptly stopped, but a series of loud cracks filled the air and Terra found herself almost falling as the floor seemed to be buckling beneath her feet.

She opened her eyes, and saw that thick tree roots were piercing the hardwood floor of the cabin, splintering the planks like toothpicks. They wrapped themselves around the man in black's ankles, mirroring the coil of green on her own arm, and pulled him down.

— 10 AM, Day 2 —
Parksville, Erbaine
Palisade National Park
Lui's Cabin

Loretta whipped her head around to see the man running after her, face like steal and expression one of hard judgement. His gun was raised and his finger solid on the trigger, intent of gunning her down if he could not capture and claim her for the government. A scream tore at her throat, but she only choked over a rush of air instead of the sound, and was shocked by the harsh explosive noise of a bullet leaving a gun.

The lethal projectile left the barrel and slammed into a near by tree, wood splintering near by as Loretta entered the tree line, stumbling and grasping the baby wolf desperately in panic. Hot tears burned lines down her cheeks as she ran farther into the forest not having a path, numb with fear as another shot was heard and dangerously close to her leg, a log was pierced.

She didn't know how far she had run when she made a leap over a fallen tree, losing her grip on the wolf puppy as she did so. Panicking, her jump was cut short and her legs hit the tree and she went falling onto the grass. Instead of getting back up she grabbed a hunk full of grass and just laid there crying into the earth. A fierce growl awakened her from her daze, and she looked up to see a mountain lion perched in the branches of a massive oak. It's fire filled eyes stared at her in fear and anger, and with a growl it came down, padded feet pounding into the ground.

The animal roared at her, teeth showing, until to both of their ears came the heavy breathing of a her pursuer. Trapped and scared, Loretta did the only thing she could do. Reaching out with her mind she touched the Mountain Lion's, speaking to it through the connection she pleaded. Help me, please! I'm your friend...I'd never hurt you. But there is a man who would destroy both of us coming; he'll kill you and me if you don't help. Please, trust me. Please...

The large cat stopped it's snarling and stared into the forest where the agent was emerging. At first it seemed like it would take no action, but then it lowered itself and gave out a fierce and terrifying screech. Don't fear me. I shall help you, friend! it cried to her, then sprang forward clawing and coming upon the man before he could react.

Loretta covered her eyes to the screams and the fighting, scrambling up and crawling over to where the wolf puppy lay. It had been knocked out in the fall and she scooped it up, hugging it gently, hoping it was alright despite the tumble it took. Finally the noise stopped and the feline could be heard purring as it hopped over the fallen tree and came to her. She was hesitant at first, but it touched it's nose to her cheek. Friend...

Thank you so very much. Loretta spoke to it silently, using, though still not completely understanding, her strange ability. She stroked the Mountain Lion's fur for a moment, then smiled very slightly.

It continued to purr, but turned away and trotted into the trees.

— Day 2, Early Afternoon —
Palisade National Park

Previously...

"Come on Volt, think, THINK!" he thought. "Uh, the Kingsleys probably wouldn't like us getting their house dirty, right?" he said, turning to the Baxters.

They were silent a moment, then Angie said, “I’m sure Lauryn wouldn’t be happy about muddy dogs on that new white carpet. But once Dan and I tell her some of the things we’ve seen since the supernova” – she quickly turned to Jenny and Volt – “I mean things like the military taking our car and chasing us, not Volt’s powers. Anyway, I think they’ll understand that these aren’t normal times. A little mud on the carpet might be a pretty small thing.”

Dan agreed. “The Kingsleys are good friends; they’ll understand. But you know, mud might not be the best way to disguise the dogs. It’ll get all clumpy on their fur and might even call attention to them. How about a good roll in the dirt instead? That’ll still color their fur, and it’ll look like we just have some dirty dogs with us.”

Angie added, “If we do that, maybe we should wait until we’re close to town, so the dust doesn’t come off too soon, like if it rains or if we have to cross more streams.” She looked at Jenny and Volt. “I guess it’s up to you two to decide what you want to do. In the meantime…”

She crouched before Grace and put a ball cap on her head; tucking her braid under it. This, combined with her child’s tee-shirt and shorts, went a long way toward creating an unremarkable, even forgettable appearance, at least from a distance or to a casual observer. “This should help, especially if they’re expecting a little girl with long hair.”

— 12 am, Day 1 —
Outside of Burg,
Santiago Manor

Viktor stood in his disorderly study, tossed and shattered things littering the floor and the paper from his desk lying about, around him and other elaborate pieces of furniture. The bookshelf was where it had fallen only moments before, and he continued to stare at it with wide and fiery eyes, amazed, astonished, and enthralled by what he had witnessed. He could bend time...the very thing he thought he would have to be slave to until his death, he now could twist, only slightly for now, to his will.

His gaze flicked briefly to his open palms, then swept around the room some dangerous thoughts racing through his devilishly keen mind. He bit back a laugh of satisfaction at the revelation of his new power, instead choosing more of the way of action. He stalked over to the window, and looked out upon the distance and at the despised city of Burg, which had plagued his view since childhood. Smoke pillars billowed from it and something inside of him rejoiced. So, the mysterious force had also brought damage to that industrial eye-sore. The Baron chuckled, turning and striding toward the door, crunching over broken glass and paper, caring little about it. He stopped though before exiting, glancing briefly at the sheath for his precious rapier...

****

"Sir! Sir Vike!" Allend, Viktor's butler knocked at his master's door. Startled and shaken at the rumbling and pitching of the Supernova, he sought his Master's well-being.

The door was then flung open, making the older man jump and take a step back as he started and stare, crossed eyed, at the tip of Viktor's rapier. It didn't frighten him as much as it did surprise him, for this was not the common greeting, though his master often toyed with the sword. "Sir...." he trailed off, wondering of the mental health of his employer.

"Allend!" Baron Vike said sharply, lowering his weapon and looking at him with raised brow. "Has there been any damage to the manor!?"

"No, Baron besides the things that might had fallen inside - oh and the windows! All of them have shattered, sir."

"As I expected. That is little compared to what has really happened though." Viktor gave a short laugh, then calmed striding into the hall and moving int he direction of his front door. "I'm going out briefly; start tidying up the petty messes and await my return."