Page 21 of Ascendant Moon
After grabbing a shower, Scooter shoved the negative thoughts away and headed to the packhouse for lunch. The food was always good, and he couldn’t wait to fill his poor rumbly stomach. Based on what his nose told him, they were serving roast pork sandwiches and chocolate cake for dessert. Scooter honestly didn’t carewhatit was at the moment since he was hungry enough to eat his shoe.
He came through the doors to friendly catcalls and greetings, and made a beeline for the serving window. Perdy and Michelle were busy refilling the stainless steel serving pans, and he shared his appreciation while they loaded up his tray.
“I just want to say that you do a great job in the kitchen. I like everything you cook, so thanks.”
Both of them smiled, and Michelle replied.
“Aren’t you a sweet one! Thank you, Scooter.”
Finding a place to sit looked like a challenge, but he found an open spot next to the Calhouns and plunked down his tray. Lance and Roman were trying to feed their boys, who were now eating solid foods. He spoke to Lance, who had two hungry babies on his lap at the moment.
“Want me to take one so you can eat, too?”
Lance gave him a relieved smile.
“Would you? I’ll give you Logan. He’s pretty mellow and will eat whatever you offer him. Just small bites, though.”
Logan didn’t seem bothered by the transfer and Scooter managed to get a consistent rhythm going of two big bites for himself and one small bite for the little one. After a while, he looked up to find Alastair and Quinn staring at him while still accepting food from their dads. Roman chuckled at the man’s confused expression.
“Don’t mind them! They haven’t spent a lot of time with you, and you smell interesting. You’re a natural, Scoot. I can just see you with pups of your own.”
Predictably, Scooter blushed and looked down.
“Not sure I’d make a good dad. Uncle maybe.”
Lance wasn’t having it.
“Roman is right. You’ve grown a lot in the last few years, and you have the makings of a terrific mate and father. Trust me.”
Scooter wanted to believe him, but didn’t, and said nothing more while feeding himself and Logan. He found life easier if he could focus on one thing at a time. Right now, that was acing his interview and becoming a deputy sheriff. Finding a mate? That wasn’t even on his list.
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That same evening, Missoula
Jack made an incredible discovery on the first day of the full moon. Most of the attending True Elders knew nothing about the Afterworld, nor were they aware of who their mentor might have been. With limited time to guide the new brothers through the experience, Jack needed a way to streamline the process, and consulted Hezekiah as soon as the moon was up on Saturday night. After a warm greeting and an explanation of what was happening in Montana, Jack asked an intriguing question.
“What would happen if I were to call for all those who reside here? Is it possible to meet with everyone at the same time?”
Delighted by the odd inquiry, Hezekiah pondered it for a moment before responding.
“I honestly do not know. By calling out specific names, I am able to meet with more than one brother at a time, but whether you could do so is unknown. Perhaps a general request, if worded properly, would do the trick. I encourage you to try. If it works, I will be there along with everyone else, and will know you have succeeded.”
Jack bade his mentor goodbye for now and withdrew from the teaching dream state. Alone outside, except for Shane and Milo, he needed to hurry or the others would be left waiting for him. The request had to leave no doubt as to who was being summoned. The worst outcome would be that nothing happened, but if it worked, this could open up an entirely new avenue of information and memory sharing amongst them. Jack entered the dream state again and called out into the void.
“All True Elder brothers of the Afterworld. Are you there?”
Thick, roiling mists quickly evaporated to reveal an amazing panorama. Jack found himself in an enormous, lush, sunlit valley with thick woodlands on two sides, bisected by a wide stream. Opposite the forest, he spied low rocky foothills that grew in size as they led to a misty mountain range in the distance. The entire area was alive with the sounds and scents of wildlife and prey—the perfect environment for shifters in either form.
Jack had little time to ponder the scene, as hundreds of True Elders suddenly appeared in the valley, most looking somewhat confused. Had his unusual request prompted Luna to create the perfect meeting place here in the Afterworld? Had they never communed with one another in this way before? Someone called Jack’s name and he turned to find Hezekiah, Owen Mott, and Virgil Grant heading his way. Hezekiah appeared to be as gobsmacked as everyone else, and wrapped his protégé in a cheery hug.
“You did it! The three of us were uncertain Luna would honor the request, but here we are. What a delightful place, and one we did not know existed. My wolf is eager to run and hunt, but tell us what you have planned, and we will explain it to the others.”
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Sunday, August 22nd, Missoula
As they had last night, all True Elders two human years or older gathered in a gently sloping, grassy vale near the conference ground buildings. Under Luna’s energizing beams, folded blankets were arranged in a tight circle for each of the fourteen participants, surrounded by vigilant bodyguards. If teaching dreams had a downside, it was that they left the TrueElder unaware of his physical surroundings or the presence of a potential threat. This need for protection was part of the training, not only for the brothers themselves, but for their mates, families, and packs.
