Exton

Tannr explains quickly, telling Erik that he should stay with Star for now, in case this is part of some strategy to get to Star or the baby.

“The timing is just odd. It could be nothing more than an awful coincidence, I dont know. But you should stay with her and Mera. Dont let them out of your sight. And dont let her go riding unless one of us can go with her. She should understand now....”

Erik nods, “I am sure she does after seeing all this.” Erik glances out over the crowd in the tavern.

Nodding Tannr stand. “I'm going to help Tori with her... group...” he smiles. “I'll be back in the morning to check on things with you. Raina says she will have Dragon watch from the sky. Bear is in the woods with Tiger. Keep Wolf and Lobo with Star...” Tannr words trail off. “I'm sorry, like I need to tell you anything...”

“No, its fine.” Erik smiles. His little brother had grown into a strong, intelligent yet compassionate man and he was very proud of him, but didnt feel now was the time to tell him so. Instead he grasped Tannrs hand, “May Thor grant us victory over our enemies..”

Tannr grins, “We will grind them to bits...” and he heads out the back door.

He meets Tori in the alley and takes her hand. “Lets go Red.”

As they move down the alley towards the gallery the kids move around them like smoke drifting in a breeze. Tori pauses in front of an old warehouse building behind the gallery. At Tannrs look Tori explains.

“I bought this shortly after Grace passed. I can keep the art for the website in here and any surplus for the gallery. Plus there are lofts on either side, originally for storage but now...” She unlocks and opens the door letting the kids in. “But now the lofts serve as bunks instead.”

Tannr takes it in, covered paintings and sculpture, a few boxes here and there. He smiles at the kids moving up the stairs, calling for dibs on which bunks they want. An office area is set up in one corner, a computer sits on a desk next to what appears to be an old intercom system. He smiles and glances at Tori.

“The computer is for the kids. The intercom was here and we rigged it up to work from here to the gallery. So if theres a problem...”

Tannr nods, “Good idea.”

“Let me make sure everyone is here and then we can order pizza or something....”

Tannr laughs as he hears a faint voice from up in the loft. “Dude, did ya hear that? She's getting us pizza.”