Exton

The door jingles as it opens and the young woman behind the counter looks up from the box she is wrapping. She tells the newcomer she will be with him in a few moments. Ringing out the customer she glances at the man as he wanders around the displays. His long coppery hair brushes along his shoulder as he cocks his head to examine a painting of an open plain. At first glance the animals look like horses, but if one looks closer, there are too many legs, wings, and what looks to be scales. He is grinning when he turns to inspect a case of jewelry created by a local artist.

"Can I help you find something?"

He stills and she backs up a step. Most people jump if they don't hear someone approach. His response is more like someone who is ready for a fight. She should know, she thinks, growing up as she has. Thanks to Tori, she had a place to stay if things at home got too bad. He turns slowly, replacing the stillness with a wary smile.

"Actually, I think he is looking for me." Tori leans against the counter. Her laptop is in its accustomed case, and she already has a leather jacket over her snug t-shirt.

His smile becomes more real and the clerk nods, "Yes ma'am. Do you need the register, or can I close out?"

"Close out Tiff. Are you going to the Tavern?" The girl nods. "We'll wait for you. Oh, and call home. Tell them we have inventory tonight. We don't, but I don't want you on the streets at all tonight. You'll sleep in your room upstairs."

The girl grins and picks up the phone. She is counting cash as Tori locks the doors and closes the drapes. Taking the bag into the office, Tori hears the tumblers spin as the money is locked away. As the clerk grabs her coat, Tori opens the door to the small sitting room. Tannr catches her smile as she walks past the couch, trailing her fingers along its back. Tori pauses and gives Tannr a knowing look. Tiff hides a smile and moves to the side door, waiting.

As they step outside, three figures drop to the ground around them. Tannr is instantly on guard, but Tiff reaches out a hand. She is instantly engulfed in black clad arms. The other two look Tannr up and down, their black lined eyes bright in their pale faces. Heads cock, identical movements. Tannr watches them as carefully as they watch him.

"We are coming in tonight." The voice is rough, almost a squawk, giving no clue to the speaker"s sex. "Can we roost in the space?"

"As long as you let the others sleep, yes."

Tori crosses her arms, waiting. The three look at each other, then back at Tori. The tallest nods once, then wraps an arm around Tiff's shoulders. They head down the sidewalk, one of the goth garbed kids taking point, Tori and Tannr taking rear guard.

Tannr glances at Tori, then at the doorways and alleys as they pass. "Who are they?"

Tori mimics his movements, watching across the street. "You saw the mural painted on the back of the Gallery?" When he nods, she smiles. "They painted it in Grace's honor. Those are her Crows. The painting of the three kids on a fence? Laughing at the scarecrow as they eat cobs of corn? They are her inspiration. No one knows how old they are, or where they came from."

The four wait for them at the corner. One watches the shadows, another watches the street. A boy steps from the shadows. He is tall, very lean. He rubs at his nose, like a nervous habit. A small girl follows, hand wrapped in the hem of his shirt. She looks around, spies Tori and takes a step as if to come closer. Spying Tannr as they come closer, she moves behind the tall boy.

Tori motions for Tannr to stand still. "These are more of my Others. They were Grace's street toughs. I guess I adopted them from her." She holds out her hand and the small girl moves around her friend, edging behind Tori to stare at Tannr with big eyes. It is only then that he can see the tips of her ears sticking out of her tangled mass of hair. "Wish, this is Tannr. He is a friend."

The waiflike fae blinks up at him, then looks to Tori. She looks around the street, then asks in a lilting chirp of a voice, "Do I have to go inside the Tavern? Can Mouse and I wait in the back where the Dark Hounds watch?"

Tori touches the wild mass of hair. A mouse peeks out and then scrambles beneath a tangled knot, out of sight. The tall youth moves close behind the fae. "I want to wait outside too. Too many inside." He takes Wish's hand. "I don't want to leave Wish alone."

Red eyes gleam from the shadows and Wish waves. She looks back at Tannr and wrinkles her nose. "You aren't Fae. Why do you smell like home?" Before he can answer she looks up at Tori. "Is he yours?"

Tori gives her a serious face and the Fae waits patiently. "He doesn't belong to me, but he is my friend. Remember how you followed something and you got stranded here?" The Fae nods, thinking. Tori sighs. "Tannr got stranded there."

An expression of understanding crosses the Fae's childlike face. "Your feet found the way home." She nods as if she has just said a very wise thing.

A Hell Hound emerges from the shadows across the street and Wish is suddenly gone. She wraps her arms around its scaly neck, hugging it. The others cross the street, joining the pair.

Tori smiles at Tannr as another Hound steps from the shadows. By the time they cross the street, only Tiff and one Crow waits on the Tavern's porch. The door opens and Stoney holds it wide. He grins at his sister as she ushers the two street kids inside.

"Food is being taken out to the group in the back. They are not alone. A few other street kids found their way to a Haven. Seems the Hounds are bringing in whoever they can. How'd you get Tiff to come?"

Tori frowns, anger colors her thoughts. Her dad is drunk again. I got word from one of her brothers. He doesn't touch the boys, just her and her mom. Mom is at a friend's. Dad is too sloshed to sniff after her. "Spread the word. Loft is open to any who want a place to spend the night."

Tannr leads the way to the bar. He slides a hand along Tori's arm as they take seats. Monty puts a beer before each of them as Ike moves past with dinner for the clerk and her friend.