Chapter 21Ezekiel had reluctantly returned to his room soon after returning from Patrol and visiting Crystal and her new foals.The black eyed brown coated foal that Ezekiel had named Mahogany shared a heavy vibrancy and quick step with her twin sister a foal he had named Bronze.They danced and frolicked in the glades about Crystal and Lazlo who all but bit Ezekiel’s fingers off when he tried to remove the foals from their pins for their first brush downs and hoof clippings. But after a few hours Ezekiel had left the horses behind with a few found caresses and went on to a slow day of patrols in the Village perimeters.While traveling the Southern village Ezekiel ran into a few friendly requests and simple complaints that he mentally catalogued for discussion with his father at a later time, but foremost in his mind was the one thing he wished he could forget doing.All throughout the day Ezekiel felt the hungry brush of lips against his own, the needy flex of Brandon’s hips against

Chapter 23Brandon closed his eyes and then opened them back up as a familiar chorus of snarls and growls ripped the night apart.The Guardians fell on the Ghouls like an avalanche of claws and fangs and testosterone.....but no body hit them as hard as Ezekiel. He was an unstoppable squall that blew in and slammed like a metal boulder into the Ghoul that was closest to Brandon. Bones cracked. Ghouls howled. Mantilo rushed in next, tackling one of the eight foot beasts into the forest floor like he was simply swatting down a fly. Claws rent flesh, talons swiped back and forth.Brandon stood back worried at what the outcome would be and was shocked a moment later to witness the unconditional surrender of the Ghouls. He was also surprised to see the black skinned Ghoul climb back to its feet. Having have a few minutes to recovers it strength, the Ghoul howled to the heavens,, hacked blood, turned and took off into the night. Under the fierce onslaught of the brothers and Mantilo the Ghou

Chapter 25The next two days were a blur of activity all across the Clans Lands for Ezekiel, his parents and his Brothers.The Clan Head and the Guardians were called on continuously to assist the various other families in the Villages or to move stands, tables, sheets and food out into the Northern fields just beyond the Mansion, where the Clan’s annual Celebration had been held for the last few decades.As the men in the family stayed busy, Ezekiels mother, Glen spent a lot of her time organizing the music, decorations and the various Leopards and Leopardess who would be running their crafting booths and food stands. He and his brother helped move merchandise about or clean out space.Ezekiel knew that many of the craftsmen in their villages made their living on the night of the Celebration, hocking various items from steel, to wools and leathers, all the way down to jewelry and honey.So he took his time to help many of the Craftsmen set up and transport their wares across the fiel

Chapter 27After that Brandon soon found himself separated from Ezekiel’s side, as he spent most of the afternoon and evening with Glen and Mantilo.While in the Leopards Mansion, and living with Ezekiel’s family....it was obvious to see the deference, and love....and adoration that Ezekiel and his brothers held for their father and mother.The brothers craved their guidance and leadership....and because Mantilo and Glen were good parents they gave it to them with full and open hearts.But as the night wore on Brandon was surprised to realize that the same devotion and openness that Mantilo and Glen showed their sons extended out wards to each of the Leopards in their Clan. Every Shifter that came up to speak with them...or to speak with Brandon gave them all of their attention or their respect. None of them made direct eye contact with Mantilo for long...or spoke in a brash or negative tone.And even though there was a definite air of distance and dominance around Glen and Mantilo...

Chapter 29The next three nights of the Celebration went smoothly enough, aside from one small fire breaking out.Brandon spent that time gathering his strength and his will for the travels ahead of him.All of the family members invited him to dance on various nights of the Celebration and even a few of the other Shifters sought him out and passed along a few pleasantries. But most of the nights he spent rehashing the steps of the dances that he had been taught and mingling on the dance floor with Ezekiel’s family.From Glen, to Nate, to Erin and eventually even Mantilo took a place opposite him on the dance floor, which was a shocking experience considering the fact that he couldn’t have imagined such a large and strict Shifter like Mantilo doing something as informal as dancing.But to Brandon’s surprise Mantilo easily out matched him step for step. The Clan head was graceful in all his strength, and surprisingly smooth even taking the time to tease Brandon for his faulty rhythm an