Bram's Hollow

After a good hour of walking about town, Tobias and Isabelle made their way back to Rotigan’s where they promised to meet up after breakfast the next day. Tobias knocked on the front door and was greeted by Rotigan who told him he could come and go out of the house as he pleased. He walked into the parlor where he saw his mother sitting in the exact spot he left her in over an hour ago. Her face looked grim though she did her best to put on a smile for her son.

Tobias told her about his walk with Isabelle and the honey cakes and about Sloan asking about her. “Mr. Sloan still runs that bakery?” Vivian asked. “He was getting on in years when I was a girl.”

As morning turned to afternoon, Tobias found himself napping on Rotigan’s couch in the den. He had a long night with only a little rest and it had finally caught up with him. The couch was old and the padding worn down but it made for a better bed that the moving van. He slept decently threw the remainder of the morning before being awakened by his mother for the prospect of a late lunch. Rotigan had cooked up some sort of light soup with small meatballs floating along inside it. Like before it did little to nothing to quell his appetite. He poked and prodded the meatballs as Rotigan and Vivian talked of old times.

After lunch Tobias made his way out to the moving van to gather up some of his clothes since they would be staying with Rotigan for at least a week before they could move into their house, wherever it happened to be. Tobias collected his things and headed in the house and took a shower. The hot streaming water defiantly helped his drowsiness fade away. As he exited the upstairs bathroom he heard a muffled conversation downstairs. Two of the voices he recognized as his mother and Rotigan, the third voice was deep and guttural like a articulated growl. Tobias crept to the stairs hoping to catch a glimpse of the third speaker. He carefully peeked around the corner.

He had to be at least eight feet tall, Tobias thought. Brown hair covered almost his entire body save for the hands and face. He wore black dress pants and a white dress shirt but no shoes. His feet were quite large, Tobias figured that he either didn’t need shoes or they just couldn’t make them that large. The bestial appearance aside the creature was actually well kempt. He was conversing with Vivian and Rotigan.

“It’s good to have you back in the Hollow Vivian.” The beast man said.

“I suppose it was long overdue.” She replied. “I’m not sure how well Toby is adjusting to everything.”

“It shouldn’t be too much of an adjustment.” Rotigan added. “After all this is where the lad was born, he’ll love it I’m sure.”

Tobias’s eyes widened. So he was born in Bram’s Hollow, it was something that caught him off guard.

“I hope your son finds happiness here too Vivian. But I am afraid that I am here on guild business.” The large Sasquatch said. “The Arcane Chamber is calling a meeting and Lycos would like to see both of you there.”

“Is this about break in at the tomb?” Vivian asked.

“I see Rotigan took the liberty of filling you in.”

“I saw no harm in it Byron.” Rotigan said. “She had the right to know, all things considered.”

Byron, the hair covered creature, looked at the two Wolfkin for a moment before saying. “The meeting will be at nightfall in the castle courtyard.”

“What about Toby?” Vivian asked.

“There is still much to understand about the situation.” Byron sounded authoritative. “This meeting is not for his ears.” He walked to the door, having to crouch down to fit thru.

“Until nightfall then.” Byron said before closing the door behind him.

Tobias waited a couple of minutes to not lead on that he heard anything then he ventured down stairs. Not Vivian or Rotigan mentioned anything about the meeting until after dinner. It was a meal that Tobias was able to get down but not with any fulfillment or satisfaction. The curiosity about the meeting and the incident that that led to it was starting to make his stomach feel uneasy. His mother was oddly silent ever since Byron’s visit, which only proved to Tobias that the secret was something of some importance. Finally, after the meal was finished and the dishes washed, his mother pulled him aside.

“Rotigan and I have to head out for a while.” She told him.

“Where you heading?” Tobias knew they were going to the castle, but wanted to see if she would tell him the truth.

“Well, we have to talk some things over up at the castle.” The answer reassured Tobias. At least she wasn’t lying about the meeting.

It seemed pointless to try to pull any more information out of his mother and dropped the subject promising to stay out of trouble while she and Rotigan were out. As the sun set both Vivian and Rotigan said their goodbyes and walked down the street. Tobias watched them walk until they turned the corner and drifted out of sight. He closed the door and turned around, finding himself face to face with Isabelle who was standing in the living room.

“What you doing?” She asked, startling Tobias causing him to jump back against the front door.

“Do you get some sick pleasure in scaring me?” He asked frustrated.

“Just a little.” She smiled at Tobias. “I snuck in as a chipmunk while you were watching Rotigan and the woman leave.”

“That’s my mom.” Tobias said.

“Oh, she’s pretty.” Isabelle looked around the living room at the wood furniture and assorted tapestries. “I’ve never been in Rotigan’s house before. It’s rather simple, don’t you think?”

“I guess.” Tobias looked quizzically at Isabelle. “What are you doing here?”

“My dad got called to a guild meeting or something.” She said as she gazed at one of the tapestries.

“That’s where my mom and Rotigan were going.”

“I figured as much.” Her eyes never left the tapestry depicting a Wolfkin transformation. “Have you ever tried to change into your wolf form?”

“It never occurred to me that I could.” Tobias tried to steer the conversation back. “Do you know what the meeting is about?”

“Not really, but my dad is called to them all the time.”

“At the castle?”

“No usually they meet at-” Isabelle finally turned to Tobias. “Are they meeting in the castle?”

“I overheard a guy talking to my mom.” Tobias thought for a minute. “Are they called Bigfoot?”

“Sasquatch, bigfoot is considered kind of insulting to them.”

“Well a Sasquatch named Byron told them to meet at the castle courtyard to meet with the Arcane Chamber.”

Isabelle became suddenly excited by the news. “The Arcane Chamber? Wow, it must be something really important.”

“Something about a tomb getting broken into. You know anything about it?”

Isabelle looked as confused as Tobias did. “No, nothing.”

Tobias seemed frustrated by all the secrecy. About Bram’s Hollow, about his father, about everything and he was ready for some answers. “I wish I could go to the meeting, see what all the fuss is about.”

Isabelle’s almost constant smiley faded slightly as the thought but then, she had an idea. “Let’s just go then.”

“I don’t think it’s as easy as all that.” Tobias said.

Isabelle started to pace in Rotigan’s living room. “You said the meeting was in the castle courtyard right?”

“That’s what I heard Byron say.” Tobias said quizzically.

“Well, that’s out in the open. We wouldn’t have to sneak into the castle itself.” Isabelle said with a hopeful look on her face. “All we would need to do is get up the castle wall.”

Tobias looked confused by Isabelle’s hopefulness. “That might be fine for you. You can just turn into a bird or something.”

“Hey.” Isabelle objected. “It took a lot of practice to chance into a robin.”

“My point is I can’t fly.” Tobias continued. “How can I climb up a castle wall?”

Isabelle thought a bit longer. She bit her lower lip as she paced back and forth. “Are you sure you can’t change to a wolf form?”

“I’m pretty sure Isabelle.” Tobias smirked.

“I got it.” Isabelle snapped her fingers as the idea came to her. She quickly grabbed Tobias by the hand and started to pull him toward the door. “Come on, I know what we can do.” Isabelle pulled Tobias by the arm out the door and down the street.

It was a clear night like it was the night before. Isabelle and Tobias scurried down the smooth cobblestone road though Tobias had no clue where they were going.

“You plan on telling me where we are headed?” He asked.

“Derek’s house.” Isabelle answered as they turned into a grassy front yard heading to a tall wooden house.

“Who’s Derek?” Tobias asked just as Isabelle knocked on the door. She said nothing and just waited for the inevitable shock of Tobias coming face to face with Derek. Heavy footsteps approached the door, the doorknob turned hard and the door was pulled open fast. He was just as tall as Tobias but far bulkier, his skin was a pale yellowish green and his bottom teeth protruded in front of his others. But his eyes were gentle and though he looked like an intimidating hulking presence, he seemed a kind sort.

Isabelle started the introductions. “Derek this is Tobias, the new kid.”

“Hi.” Derek seemed shy and had a hard time looking Tobias in the face when he talked.

“We were heading over to the castle and we need your help.” Isabelle gently tugged on the sleeve of Derek’s shirt.

“I gotta ask momma.” Derek abruptly slammed the door leaving Isabelle and Tobias outside.

Tobias looked at Isabelle confused. “He always like that?”

“He can’t help it.” Isabelle said. “Ogres aren’t much on the finer points of politeness. He’s really a tender guy.”

“You wouldn’t think it to look at him.”

Isabelle playfully smacked Tobias on the shoulder. “He can’t help what he is any more than you or I can. He’s a sweetie once you get to know him.”

The sound of heavy footsteps came to the door once again. Derek opened it and walked outside. “Where we going?”

“To the castle, Tobias here wants to listen in on the big meeting.”

The green eyes of Derek peered over to Tobias momentarily as he sniffed the air loudly. “He smells different than us.”

Not sure if he should feel insulted, Tobias checked for clarification. “What do you mean I smell different?”

“You don’t smell like Isabelle or any of the other kids.”

“Well he’s new Derek.” Isabelle said in Tobias’s defense. “He’s a Wolfkin.”

“I’m not sure that I am.” Tobias said.

“How could you not be? These things are passed down.”

“He’s no Wolfkin.” Derek said as he sniffed in Tobias’s direction once again. “He smells like the night walkers.”