Eric was on edge. Of course, he’d been on edge for the past few hours, but now that most of the adrenaline from the earlier scrape had left his system, the fact that he was on edge had become more apparent. He observed his surroundings. A room filled with lush, ornate decorations. The three people standing at attention at the back of the room. The one who had been in the room when they arrived was Black with a swimmer’s build, black eyes and shoulder-length black hair framing his face. The girl standing next to him looked so similar that they had to be related. The only difference he could see was her hair, which was dyed a dark auburn color, and shaved on one side, while on the other side it hit right below her ear. She looked like she was trying not to laugh, as evidenced by the grin on her face. The girl standing next to her looked much more stoic, for all that she was dressed in a white tank top and a bubblegum pink skirt that hit just above the ankle. She had olive skin, short dark hair and brown eyes that hadn’t left him and his brothers since she and the other girl had entered the room; a bright white scar circled her neck that was set off by her red bead necklace. The white charm at the end of the necklace hung over her chest. Then there was her.

Eric pulled his gaze back to the elderly woman who was apparently the High-Mother (whatever that meant) sitting across from them at the table. Except… was she an old woman? Her hair, pulled back into a low ponytail, was a blinding shade of white, and she carried a cane at her side, yet… her face. She had no wrinkles, no laugh or frown lines, no markings of age at all. Underneath her left eye, she had a black tattoo of a diamond-shaped star that stood out against her pale skin. It gave her an ethereal quality that was at odds with the sedate powder-blue skirt and suit jacket she wore. It made Eric uncomfortable looking at her.

“So,” the woman spoke, startling Eric and his brothers. “I understand thanks are in order.” The stranger, who’s name was Alkaid apparently, had escorted them through what they said was called “Sanctuary” (which sounded ominous to Eric, and his brothers, judging by the looks on their faces when told this) which was what appeared to be an underground communal living space made up of stone architecture, greenery and flora, and windows that opened up to let in the piercing Houston sunlight. It was bustling with people, who appeared to be startled to see them there. Whenever they passed more than two people at a time, whispers broke out behind them. After Alkaid guided them deeper through “Sanctuary” which had so many stone passages it might as well have been a labyrinth, they came upon this room. Upon entering, they saw the woman and the… siblings?(Eric was going to assume they were twins unless told otherwise) who were extremely alarmed until Alkaid explained what had happened. The woman, or High-Mother, Eric supposed was her proper title even if he didn’t understand what it meant, told the girl to go get someone named Estrella, who he supposed was the girl now standing next to the other two. Once she had arrived, High-Mother had dismissed Alkaid, and then had just sat in silence. Until now.

Always the first to speak up in a conversation, Hwan piped up. “Oh yeah, sure ma’am, no problem!” Slinging an arm around Tatsuo, he continued “Me and my bros are just happy to help!”

High-Mother smiled gently. “I see. Well, I shall thank you anyway, as it would be rude not to. Especially since afterward I’m going to have to ask you some personal questions.”

“What kind of questions?” Tatsuo asked, his tone betraying his suspicion. Tatsuo didn’t much like strangers in general, and these were no ordinary strangers.

If High-Mother sensed it, she didn’t mention it. What she did say was “You can turn into a bear.” Tatsuo stiffened as she turned her gaze to Hwan. “You can make things that aren’t there appear as if they are.” Daichi. “You can control water.” Then her gaze turned to Eric, looking him dead in the eye. He wished she wouldn’t. “I don’t know about you yet, but I sense you also have some kind of ability yes?” Silence. All four of them had now become transfixed by the pattern in the rug. “And yet you know nothing about where you are, who I am, or the events that have just transpired. Hmm. Estrella?” High-Mother said, gaze momentarily turning towards the girl in pink. Without any further instruction, the girl, Estrella, went into an adjoining room, and a few moments later returned with a tray holding a teapot, cups, spoons, saucers, sugar, cream, and a plate of Pepperidge Farm cookies. Setting the tray down on the table, she began to pour the tea in what was clearly a practiced motion. Placing the delicate teacup on an equally delicate saucer, she handed it to High-Mother, who added cream and a spoonful of sugar. The boys stared. The cream and sugar had been poured into the cup without Estrella or High-Mother lifting a finger. Catching Eric’s eye again, after taking a sip of tea, High-Mother said “Please help yourselves. We may be here for awhile yet. I have a feeling we have much to discuss.”