Caspar stalks away from the farmhouse, Malakai trailing behind.

“You good, man?” Malakai asks, running up to walk beside him.

“I’m fine.”

“You sure?”

Caspar steps to the side of the van, opening a storage compartment on the side of the van. Inside is an orderly collection of weapons, traps, and various other monster-hunting tools. “Yeah. It’s just not what I was expecting to hear. I was really hoping we’d find my mom and uncle here already. I can’t imagine where they ended up, otherwise.”

“Are you going to stay? We can leave since they’re not here.”

“Well, we can’t now. We have a hunt.”

“But we could. That asshole ignored a coven for who knows how long, and now he wants us to fix his problem for him? Plus, you’re still hurt and this Ruth situation is ongoing. Maybe we should hold off.”

Caspar pulls out a large snare, coiling it in his hands. It’s not a terrible idea. “It’s not like I'm planning to tango with a monster tonight. I’m just doing some prep work. Trying to confirm my suspicions.”

“Aren’t you worried about your mom and uncle?”

“You said it yourself that I shouldn’t be alone right now, right? I can’t just leave you in Redpine and wait for that demon to get me.”

“Well, obviously, I’d go too. I wouldn’t just let you fend for yourself.”

That makes Caspar pause. The quiet stretches on for just a few beats too long, and he can tell Malakai notices. 

The suggestion that Malakai wouldn't leave evokes a warm feeling in Casapar’s chest, but he suppresses it. There's no use being sentimental right now. Especially when he’s almost definitely reading into things.

He clears his throat. “I’m more worried about my uncle than my mom. She goes no contact all the time. But I’ll stay. I don’t leave a case till it’s closed. Besides, I’m not eager to leave when Duncan intentionally didn’t tell me where he was going.”

“Why not?”

Caspar sighs. “We were fighting. He told me not to come back this time. So, yeah. They can wait. I’m not going to go on a wild goose chase and leave people to die.”

Despite his conviction, guilt bubbles in his stomach. Family should always come first. But lately they haven't been feeling like much of anything. 

“You’re sure?”

“They’re capable, they’ve gotten out of tighter spots before. Besides, chupacabras are easy to kill. Won’t take us more than a night or two.”

“Alright. Let’s catch this bogey then.”

“Right,” Caspar agrees, pulling his mind back to the task at hand. 

They spend the next few hours setting up the snares, placing trail cams, and searching the property for clues. He’s hopeful they might find some shed skin or footprints, but as they traverse the ranch more and more, it becomes clear that whatever these monsters are, they’re tidy. Still, Caspar and Malakai comb over every inch, starting at the chicken coop and ending with the horse paddock on the other side. 

Caspar is panting by now. His neck is killing him, and everything feels shaky. “I need a break,” he grunts.

Malakai nods, wiping his brow. “Me too. Let's take a breather.”

Caspar looks up. The sun has dipped considerably lower now, turning the sky into an ever-long ceiling of lavender and pink, interrupted only by the occasional lazy cloud. Still, the heat has yet to dissipate. Sweat rolls down his back, leaving an ugly wet spot on his undershirt. 

Leaning against an old fence post, he looks out at the pasture with his flannel tied around his waist. There are a few horses grazing, a few who are laying on their sides under a large oak tree, and a small group wandering around. Caspar goes still as a large black gelding approaches. 

He offers his hand slowly. The horse brushes its velvety lip against his hand as it studies his scent. After it gets a good sniff, he moves to pat the horse’s chest. 

“Good boy,” Caspar whispers. 

The horse knickers, brushing its snout against Caspar’s head. He can’t help a laugh as it nibbles delicately at his hair. 

Malakai slowly approaches. He reaches out quick for the horse’s snout—

Caspar jolts as the horse immediately shies away, ears pinned and eyes wide. Caspar raises a hand placatingly, keeping his voice soft and steady. “It’s okay, hey, it's okay. He didn’t mean it.” 

“Shit. Sorry, I didn’t mean to spook it,” Malakai curses.

“It’s okay. It was an accident, he didn’t mean to scare you,” Caspar continues whispering to the horse. 

The gelding is tense, pawing at the ground anxiously. With Caspar’s coaxing, it warily approaches again. 

When it lowers its nose to his palm, Caspar moves carefully. He grabs Malakai by the wrist, guiding their hands to trade places. “The nose is sensitive. They need to get to know you first before you go grabbing them.”

Malakai nods. His face is oddly blank as he stares at where the horse is pressing its nose to his palm. He cocks his head owlishly as it moves up his arm until it’s nibbling at the lapels of his flannel. 

Caspar grins at the expression. “You’re not used to being around animals, are you?”

Malakai seems to come back to himself. “No. You seem to have a lot of experience, though.”

“Not really. Animals are just easy to read if you know what to look for. ”

“Naturally talented, then.”

“Maybe.”

The horse finally gets bored. It pulls away, trotting back to its herd. Malakai smiles at Caspar, brushing dark hair off his shirt. “Well. Now that the petting zoo is closed, you feel like heading back? I kinda want to get inside before the monsters smell the horse on me.”

Caspar chuckles. “Yeah. Let's go.”

After they return to the RV, Caspar groans with relief as they step into the cool chill of the AC. He flops onto his bed with a sigh, relishing the comforting way the cool side of the pillow soothes the mild sunburn manifesting on his cheeks.

“You want some food?” Malakai asks.

“Just give me a minute. I’ll make us something.”

Malakai crouches in the kitchen, opening a cabinet. “Just lie down. You look pale.”

Caspar would usually fight, but he feels everything spinning. His mouth feels dry. Ugh. He’s got heat exhaustion, doesn’t he?

He closes his eyes, focusing his ears on their surroundings. Hunts in the country are his favorite specifically for this part, hearing the vivid sounds of nature around him. It doesn’t help his paranoia late at night hearing a sudden snap of a twig nearby, but he still always feels safer in nature. There are monsters here too, but they are more likely to play by the rules of survival. They don’t make the messy, complicated, incomprehensible choices that people do. Caspar rarely understands people. 

Out of nowhere, he jumps as his arm is lightly tapped. He looks up to find Malakai standing over him. “Shit, sorry. I brought you a wet compress. You should try to cool down.”

Caspar accepts the wet towel, draping it across his neck. “You’re fine. I was just starting to drift off.” 

“Do you want beef soup or ramen?”

“Ugh. I'm so over soup.”

“Maybe I can try to cook us something else. Do you have any spices?”

“I think so. Should be in the back. Pretty sure they’re as old as me though.”

“What about bread or tortillas?”

“Think we have some Fritos. Does that count?”

Malakai snorts. “I’ll make do.”

He walks away, back to the kitchen. Caspar listens to him in the kitchen until a buzz of his phone interrupts. He picks it up, the screen illuminating his face with a sickly pale glow. He takes a deep breath before he answers. “Hey, Jake.”

“Caspar. Was beginning to worry about you. You done with your hunt yet?”

“Yeah. Sorry, I meant to call. I forgot,” he lies. 

“So? How’d it go?”

Caspar sighs. Does he want to tell Jacob the truth? 

He massages his sore neck. No, he decides. Caspar can’t handle being berated right now. “It was vampires. Doesn’t look like Mom or Duncan got anywhere near them though.”

“Damn. So where are you headed next?”

“I guess Duncan’s cabin to look for clues. Before that, though, I’m working on another case here in Redpine. A pack of chupacabras found their way up here somehow. Do you have time to help me out, or are you still dealing with the lamia?”

“chupacabras? You really can’t handle them by yourself?”

Caspar can’t help but feel a little wounded. They only ever see each other on cases these days. Does Jacob really see through him that easily?

“It’s not about that. It’s safer in a group.”

“I kill them by myself all the time—”

Jacob’s voice gets cut short by Malakai’s. “Caspar, are you okay with spicy food?”

“Yeah. As long as it’s mild,” says Caspar.

“Who’s that?” Jacob asks. 

“Another hunter. He was investigating the vampires.”

“Why are you asking me for help, then? Looks like you got things sorted.”

Caspar lowers his voice. “Never mind, okay? I get it, you’re busy. I won’t—”

“Is he in your RV? What’s he doing?”

“He’s cooking, dude. So what?”

Jacob laughs. “He’s staying with you?”

“Yeah?”

“What, did you pick up some hobo? He doesn’t have his own place to stay?”

Caspar feels an ugly heat rise in his face. “Why are you acting like you don’t set up camp with Melissa all the time?”

“Because Melissa is my girlfriend. What, you been out of the game so long you don’t remember that concept?”

“Sorry if I don’t want to choose between dating a normie who I have to lie to constantly or a sociopathic hunter girl.” 

“Better than letting some guy shack up with you.”

“Jake, are you fucked in the head? You forget all the times we went hunting together, sleeping in the back of your damn pickup?”

“Yeah, as kids.”

Caspar pinches the bridge of his nose in annoyance. “Imply whatever you want. I’m not going to die in my sleep if I can help it.”

Jacob laughs again. “Damn. Caspar, I’m just fucking with you. Why are you taking it so seriously?”

“I’m not really in a joking mood right now.”

“Since when are you ever lately, shit. Always got a stick up your ass these days.”

“I’m going now.”

“Have fun! Use protection!”

Caspar ends the call, throwing his phone to the foot of his bed. If he was feeling warm before, he feels completely overheated with anger and frustration. “Fucking prick,” he growls.

He fusses with the towel around his neck. It’s doing nothing to cool him down now. “Malakai. I’m taking a shower first. You cool with that?”

Malakai looks up from the spoon he’s sipping from. “I don’t mind. Don’t overheat in there.”

Caspar digs through his overhead space. He retrieves his bag, scooting past Malakai and stepping inside the shower. It’s right in front of the small kitchen area, so it’s a bit awkward. But Caspar refuses to let Jacob get in his head. 

He shuts off the shower, starting to undress. Once he’s bare, he puts his clothes on the rack above him and turns the nozzle to hot. 

He sighs in relief as the grit and grime of the day is washed away by the sudden spray of water. With such limited space, the toilet is also in here with him. He takes a seat on the lid, too tired to stand through this. 

He glances at the door, watching Malakai move around on the other side of the frosted glass. He’s opening something. Caspar wipes water out of his eyes, turning his gaze down to his hand. It’s rough, with callouses marring his palm. 

He wonders if Malakai’s are the same.