Dragon Mirror- Ties Between the Veil
Quality Control, the Interloper, and an Intrusion

“Gidget needs a fucking Xanax.”

Moon looked up from the soup he was eating to regard the supreme pack leader. The tiny dog was standing stiffly between the Boys, balefully staring at Zhao with one lip curled.

“While I would agree, Zhao won’t give respect to the pack leader. He deserves her strongest scrutiny.”

Tito blew out a laugh. The Boys had been rather laid back and friendly after introductions, but Gidget seemed to have a rage-on for Zhao.

Zhao uncovered his eyes from where he lounged on the pull out couch. He glanced at the alert dog and then placed his arm back over his eyes. “All honor to the pack mistress, honor to the Boys, long live the pack!”

The ancient man dressed in faded blue plaid chortled into his bowl as he tipped it back to finish drinking the broth. His white hair was in a single braid that was tucked into his front pocket while he ate. He stood, bumping the small table he and Tito sat at, and moved to the kitchenette.

“So I’m subpar at finer control, but a beast at forcing shit.” She scribbled on her notebook as she spoke out loud. “I can’t get the dogs to do shit, and I can’t nonchalantly peek into dreams, but I’m capable of throwing my ass full bodied into memories.”

Zhao made a deep groan in his chest.

She made a face at him, but inwardly winced. He and Kiishthwa were the only two besides the dogs that she had practiced on. The last experience had put her inside Zhao’s memories of Raina and Tito had not been able to backpedal fast enough without both of them being embarrassed.

The after effects had given Zhao a migraine and Moon had gently suggested practicing with him exclusively until they could gain a handle on her abilities.

“If I can learn how to pick the memories or even those weird dreams,” she rolled her eyes at another pained moan from Zhao and the responding growl from Gidget. “We could get a message to Raina, or maybe do some type of sci-fi gateway shit.”

“I’m not sure the Drakun Mirror can be called through someone’s dreams. Seems like my mother would have had that figured out.” Tito tilted her head back, ignoring Moon, drumming the table top in agitation.

“Yea well G’ma didn’t have a connection like Zhao seems to have.”

Moon made a choking noise, as if he had sucked saliva into the wrong hole. He turned from his cleaned dishes to stare at her incredulously.

“Do you really not pay attention to a damn word I say? Or just build your own landscapes.” Tito widened her eyes in surprise, and then narrowed them.

“Her Aya’Whatever. What did she do to it, to damage her connection so deeply?”

She watched the blood drain from Kiishthwa’s face. He knew. And she knew it. And she knew he wouldn’t tell her. It just infuriated her more.

“Ugh. Fucking fine. I’m stepping out for a smoke.”

The dogs rose to their feet as she stomped to the door and busted it open.

“Yehaaaay- don’t damage my ride!” Moon hollered after her, to which she responded with a raised finger over her shoulder, slamming the door after the dogs made their exit.

She was halfway through her cigarette as she walked when Gidget’s head came up in an alert posture. Tito slowly lowered her cigarette to watch curiously. The tiny alpha yipped and took off down the path with the Boys running after.

“Ey yo, let’s do this then.” She put the butt out on her heel and put it in her pocket, she picked up her pace as she could hear Gidget making soft yips as she ran.

It wasn’t hard to follow, while the Boys were silent, Gidget would pause to look back at her and yip.

“What we after, puta?” Tito was a little breathless, and stripped off her deadpool jacket and tied it around her waist. Her shoulders were exposed in a mesh spider web tank top that showed a bright red bra underneath. She was glad she hadn't worn her trip pants with their chains and straps.

Her pink and burgundy wig was annoying her scalp as she had begun to sweat. She sped up as the Boys disappeared around the path. She could hear Gidget yapping in excitement as a voice tried to calm the raging beast.

As Tito rounded a tree, her sneaker slipped and she slammed face first into the hard packed dirt and leaf litter.

“Heyooo- you ok?”

Tito pushed away the concerned muzzle of one of the Boys out of her face. Holy shitballs, that hurt!

She registered that someone had spoken to her.

Jerking to a sitting position, her hands immediately went to her hair, ensuring that her wig was on straight. When her eyes raised to look at who had spoken, her mouth opened in startlement. But then she noticed her arms were covered in dirt and blood.

“Fuck me!”

The voice chuckled. “You’re deadly, Auntie, but we just met.”

Tito scowled at the strange man, boy, really, and spat dirt out of her mouth.

“Ha. Ha.” She gingerly tried to scrub dirt off of her bleeding arm. “I assume you know Moon?”

She noticed a momentary surprise cross the young man's face, but was quickly replaced by a silly half smile as he watched her.

“That would be stereotyping, ey?”

He stood with the assurance of an older man, but didn’t look much older than her. His black hair was in two braids that fell across a gray Metallica T-Shirt partially tucked into faded jeans. He was undeniably attractive, with black almond shaped eyes and the hooked nose and high cheekbones common in North American First Nations peoples.

He was nonchalantly holding Gidget under one arm and scratching behind the ear of one of the Boys. She had been momentarily taken aback by his good looks, but now she was annoyed with embarrassment.

“I know Great Uncle.” He set Gidget down and walked up to her, offering his hand. “I’d like to know you.” He grinned at her with slightly crooked teeth, a small gap lending him a quirky charm. It only made him look more boyish.

“Great Uncle.” She stated flatly. She took his hand and bleated in surprise when he pulled her to her feet in one fluid motion and minimal effort. The fucker was good looking and strong.

“Haatawi Kiishthwa is the honored Uncle of the Appalachian mountain ridge where my family lives. They say he is the son of the Grandmother of the people.” He chuckled, and continued holding her hand, smiling.

Tito became self conscious and pulled her hand free.

“The man is an insufferable prick.” He threw his head back and hooted, laughing. He bent and ruffled the rump of the closest of the dogs.

“Can you take me to him? I’ve been looking for the past week.”

She took a hurried step back. “How the fuck did you end up here?” Did this guy have some kind of magic bullshit, too?

The smile didn’t diminish, but the grin became lopsided. “The old man’s mail comes to my mom’s cabin since he doesn’t live off of a main road. He mentioned Zhao Wong last time there was a gathering of elders, that guy that’s a suspect in the disappearance case that's been the talk of our area.”

She sucked in a breath, “You little stalker.” He again threw his head back and laughed. It was sexy, Tito scowled.

“He ran a red light an hour from here. They mailed the ticket to my house, and when I went up the mountain to bring his mail, I found his dogs and the RV gone and his shed locked up. I opened the letter and put two and two together.”

“But why the fuck are you here?”

He looked down, shuffling his feet in the leaf litter self consciously. A hand ran over the back of his head and down to tug at one of his braids.

“LongShadow been on that mountainside a long time. He’s always been there for me when my Da died. He didn’t say nothin’ to me. Just left.”

She raised her eyebrows and he looked down at her with sad dark eyes. She hadn’t realized he was so close.

“You walked?” She looked meaningfully around. Anything to look away.

He laughed. “No, I’ve been riding my bike around the property, looking. That lady that answered the door seemed pretty annoyed that I was bothering her.”

“Your bike?” Then she had a moment. “Oh my god you knocked on Mrs. Wong’s door?!”

He held up his hands in a defensive posture. “Mean lady. But yea, my bike.” Then he turned his hands as if holding handlebars. “Vroom vroom.”

Tito let a grin split her face. “Gimme a ride and I’ll show you where he’s parked.”

They took longer to get back than anticipated, since her enthusiasm for the motorcycle encouraged him to take her back out to the main road for a brief joy ride.

When they pulled up to the camper on his Honda Shadow, Moon and Zhao were standing by his car. Zhao looked concerned, but Moon’s face lit up with amusement.

“Little Bear, did you track me?” The ancient man's voice was suspiciously prideful.

“Little Bear?” Tito choked out as she dismounted his bike and took off his helmet. He cast a wry glance her way. He kicked out the stand to park the bike, taking the helmet from her to place on the seat.

“My name is Bear, the elders always call me that.” He mumbled to Tito. He took a step towards Moon and seemed to lose himself as he stared at the older man.

Tito pulled the traffic ticket from his back pocket as she walked past him and waved it combatively. “How are you gonna skip town without telling your relatives, and then run a fucking red light on your way here?” Bear turned to look at her in surprise.

Kiishthwa seemed taken aback. And as she watched his face, she had the minute revelation that he obviously did not have the same regard for Bear that Bear had for him.

Seems like a family trait. She rolled her eyes away from Moon as she had the nasty thought. She didn’t exactly blame him, she’d be a hypocrite if she did.

Zhao held out his hand, “I’m Zhao Wong, this is my parents property.” Tito had to choke back another laugh at the man's tone.

Bear crossed the last few steps to clasp his hand, smiling disarmingly. “Bear Clearwater, or cousin Little Bear to Elder Moon.” His eyes cut over to Kiishthwa and the ancient had the grace to look uncomfortable.

They dropped their hands and spent a moment staring at each other in an awkward silence until Moon cleared his throat.

“I’m impressed you made it out here. Did your momma know where you were going?”

Bear made a face. “Ma is tied up with her new man, I told her I was going camping.” Moon nodded sagely, as if that explained everything.

“Well, now that you’re here, did you find what you wanted?” Bear looked at him crossly.

“Why did you leave, Uncle? You didn’t say a word. And why are you here?” He looked meaningfully at Zhao. Zhao had a sour look on his face but remained silent.

“That is exactly what I would like to know.”

Everyone turned in surprise to see Mrs. Wong step out from around the back of the RV. Her son’s face drained of color, and Tito softly swore.

The woman’s eyes were unforgiving and flinty.

“Fuck, indeed.”

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