Come take a look at the life of this everyday, average human Veterinarian as he tries to live in the realm of Rhydin.

Cast so far:
Sean Walley -Veterinarian of Mundane and Mythical Pets. Owns the A.R.K. Veterinary Clinic, West Side, Rhydin City.

Calibri (Cali) Walley -Run away daughter who found dad in Rhydin. Sporting a surprise or two.

Lorelia - Something more precious than gold in the lives of Cali and Sean.

Ammy Spiritor - Considered a close friend, support, and use to be sort of a semi-wife when paperwork was signed a few years back for adoption of a Lupe pup now grown and off on his own. She often smiles and prides herself on saying, "Oh no, we are happily divorced."

Various People -You all know who you are when we rp. Just too many to name specifically.

Index:
Dawn Comes
Luck
Karma
Patch Up
Moving
Vet Case No 341. Perplexing Pup Woes
A Cozy Stranger
A Weekend of Bonding Part 1
A Weekend of Bonding Part 2

(Inspiration for this posting: This Afternoon - Nickelback)
Ever find yourself in one of those series of weeks were things start to go good, but somewhere in the back of your head a little voice starts nervously thinking it's all going too good? Yeah, that little voice is finally using a megaphone in my mind.

It all started out with me having to spend a few days using Ammy's horrid ATV. Don't get me wrong. ATV's are fun and all, but when it's bright pink and has red flames on it, a mans mojo just takes a hit equivalent to a knee to the jewels. A total system reset. Luck was with me though as I met one of the local minotaurs or Rhydin by the name of Andu. He's kind of on the small side for minotaurs, and when I mean small... I mean... Damn! he's big. What do you expect for a runt Minotaur? A dwarf with horns?

Andu asked me what I did for a living and almost gushed on me when he heard I was a veterinarian. I didn't know such a big guy had such a big heart for animals. Can't judge them all by their hide. Anyways, he heard me mention the plight of my old truck at the hands of the Lycans and mentioned that I needed an APC for protection. Well, hell, and APC is grand an all but I don't think someone with an APC would take a few chickens, a goat, and maybe some rhubarb for a machine like that. I told him I'd look into it and faced another week of shoving my manliness into a pink ATV.

In a day or two though Andu about gave me a heart attack. The big guy presented me with a white, modded Vet APC all decked for a mobile clinic. I mean, that kind of a gift will make any guy wonder if someone just killed him in a blink and was now in paradise. (Hey, it happens faster and a lot more often in Rhydin then most folks think.) Well I wasn't dead. I had an APC, and like all guys proud of their babies both living and mechanical I have pictures. Of both of course.

My daughter Calibri Walley: 11 Years Old
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/93832244/Calibri%20Pic.jpg

The Vet APC: Thank you Andu!
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/93832244/VetAPC.jpg

Of course, a few hours after I get the APC, Icer shows up to ask me to help uhm, unfix a fixed problem of hers. The APC is definitely mission capable as a mobile veterinary clinic now. I am proud of it.

The APC also has a wicked sound system to boot. Threw a nice birthday party for Fleet and Ammy's kid Myrlene, and their grandson, Calcifer. The Glen saw a large Wolf Clan reunion replete with fireworks and food. Street Wolf introduced me to something new. Chipotle Potato Salad. It's got a good kick and the Lupe makes some killer sushi.

Finally got a good steel door and five dead bolts put into the apartment. A different Lycan pack that's absorbed the remnants of the pack I took down decided to pay my place a visit. Luckily Cali and I were out on a call and only our things were trashed and not us. I need to find a better place to stay than West Side. No place to raise a kid, whether she's a Lycan or not. Though to do that I need money. The Vet business in Rhydin is booming, but most of the clientele are often hard up farmers who need the coin for food and supplies. So I take trade. Mostly produce, small livestock or equipment. But many say I need to take the coins and start gently insisting.

They are right. I have a kid now to feed again, silver ammunition to keep making to keep the Lycans at bay, and a clinic to run. Some days life is easier than others. Which brings me to the little voice and the megaphone. I had driven the APC to the Market Place to trade in as many things I had collected from clients over the years I'd been here. Time to get cash flow reestablished. But, I should have paid more attention to several people tailing me in the streets, clinging to alley way corners.

You see, that's the problem with driving an APC. You get comfy, cozy and lazy, then you get your clock cleaned. I stopped the APC outside Eddy's Pawn R Us store and took in all the items I wanted to trade in. After two hours of haggling, wheedling and maybe a few light touches of my fingers on my revolvers grip, I walked out of the store with 5,000 silver crowns, and a bank note for another 5,000 silver crowns. Seems my clients weren't giving out junk but priceless antiques.

Feeling happy about having finances once more, my day decided to stop handing out luck and level out Karma.

(Inspiration for the editing this Post: Travelling Man)

Something rattled in the alleyway. Maybe a trash can lid, or a beer can. It was hard to tell. All I could smell was garbage, lots and lots of garbage. My first thought was that if I was dead, man hell must be making a profit as a dumping ground.

Nebula landed on the ground and nudged the side of Garnets cheek with top of his beak, CLAW heard the noises on the other side of the building he was on alert for the moment, Garnet was laying with her back against the dumpster, her feet above her against the dumpster, back flat on the ground, she could hear the caw of the raven but it seemed so far off.

I felt pain all over my body, but that was very good thing, at least at the moment. Pain meant I was alive. I survived. I started to chuckle weakly. I had survived another freaking Lycan hunt. I was going to start stamping the side of the APC with marks showing Lycans killed if this kept up. Opening my eyes I found myself staring at a bewildered rat holding an apple core. It shrieked and scampered off. All hail Sean, vanquisher of rats. I let out a groan.

Garnet's eyes opened slowly, she felt pain. She couldn?t pinpoint where, her left arm...or was that her ribs? Her agate lensed goggles, the right lense was cracked, she tried to move to sit up, with no luck...at the moment she couldn?t figure out where the ground was, she closed her eyes and stayed still-

After a few minutes of waiting to see if any more crackling bolts of energy would come at me, I slowly sat up and regretted it. Injuries from the last fight with the Lycans hurt and more ribs were injured. I hissed, took in breath forcefully and steadied my nerves. I focused on being alive. Reaching up my hand grabbed a hold of the edge of a dumpster and pulled myself up and let out a scream of pain as several injuries lit up at once. I leaned against the dumpster breathing hard.

I tried to grasp at what had happened. I had left the pawn shop, was attacked by Lycans. A Lupe named Garnet started flinging spells to help me, then some Lycan from the middle ages showed up in a tin suit with a glow stick. Biff, boom, light show and now I hurt like hell. I felt something warm trickle down the corner of his mouth and he wiped away blood. This day was just getting better and better.

A name I remember just struck and made my eyes widened. Garnet was helping. I pushed away from the dumpster, stumbled and leaned against the alley wall. I moved for the street as fast as the aching legs would allow.

Garnet opened her eyes and looked around hearing the screams coming from somewhere nearby, she blinked, , she held her left arm to her side and then pain shot through her side and she yipped softly in pain, blood was tricking from the sling bullet wound, from cuts and scrapes, she had bumps and bruises..all over and blood trickling through her black hair, she tried to sit up and couldn?t get out of the position she was in.

Reaching the street I caught sight of the tangle Garnet was in. Dear God. I hoped she was still alive. If she was dead I would hold myself to blame. I saw her move and breathed as deeply as hurt ribs would allow in relief. I limped to the downed Lupe and found my revolver, picked it up and holstered it slowly and then continued once more in slow painful steps for Garnet. "Eh! You alive?" I croaked.

Garnet swallowed some. "uh huh.." Her head aching badly, she muttered something in Dwarven, holding her left arm close to her side she stayed pretty still, everything hurt..she couldn?t really tell what hurt worse.

I leaned against the dumpster looking quite...well how would you describe a human blasted by a mage bolt? Shreddy? Blasted? Demolotion Suave? I looked at Garnet for a moment. "You're upside down. Need a hand?"

Garnet nodded and would take what help he could offer, sitting up slowly, she leaned against the dumpster. "Thank ye" She winced and looked around as she could focus..she reached up and pulled the goggles off.

I looked at the chaos around them for a moment. "Did we win?"

"We be alive...I guess that means yes" She slowly pulled the leather coat off and saw the damage the heavy steel bullet had done, the wound was nasty and bloody halfway up to her shoulder, she had broken ribs on her left side too..and a nasty bump on the back of her head-

I nodded and regretted that action. Offering her a hand up, "At least... we don't have to walk to a hospital. I have one on wheels. Just gotta walk a few steps."

Garnet reached up with her right paw and got to her feet, it took her a moment to take a few steps, she was looking at the bloody mess they had been part of. "Feel like I let a hydra get a hold of me..." She cringed as she ran that right paw through her hair and it came down bloody-

"Uhm, wouldn't know about that." I tried to sound funny. It came out pained and tired. I would help her along though I was as steady as a reed in the wind myself and lead us to the APC. I opened the back hatch and the mobile vet clinic came to life, all clean and ready for medical assistance.

Garnet got to the APC with him and as he opened the back she would look inside, then moving inside she sat down removing the leather coat laying it aside, then she loosened the apron and work belt with one paw laying them aside too, now she was in a very bloody sleeve and sided grey shirt and leather black pants. "...ye been having problems with Lycanthropes??

Once in I closed the hatch and sealed the APC. The ceiling was slightly bowed inside. "Aw, he bent an armored roof? I'm gonna die one of these days." I said bleakly. Hearing Garnet I nodded to her. "Can you get your shirt off? I'd rather not cut up your gear if I don't have to, and yeah, the Lycans keep gunning for me."

Garnet pulled the shirt off, it made a little bit if a gross wet peeling sound when the bloodied shirt pulled from the bloodied fur, pain flared through her as she lowered her arms and she closed her eyes. "They are a nasty race to have against ye."

"Yeah, tell me about it. Come on, sit on the exam table. It'll help keep the blood drained to the right areas in the APC." I smiled.

Garnet moved over and sat down on the exam table, her head was aching, but she knew Sean had a good reputation as a vet. "..I met a turned Lycan...but he was hundreds of times more timid than those brutes ye be fighting"

I filled a large metal buck with cold water and set it on the exam table and plopped her shirt into it. I shrugged out of my own mired and mucked up jacket and was bleeding from a few of my own cuts. "Great, Cali is going go nuts when she sees me hurt like this." I pulled out a trauma kit as well as a wound kit and sat them on the table. As I moved I noted my leg hurt like hell and my lip was worse. The old horse kick injury must have been cracked again.

Garnet nodded. "Vuu isn't gonna be ver' happy seeing me banged up...but I do nae mind helping a friend" Blood was trickling from the wound in her arm slowly, she stayed still with her eyes closed, her head throbbing. "just glad we both..made it out o' that"

"I reckon what keeps hunting me are actual packs that have been around for a long time." From the table I took up a small hose with a nozzle and then let some warm water wash out over my filthy hands and washed up in a sink built next to the table. My consciousness waivered a bit and I took deep breaths. I would have to get Garnet patched up fast before I collapsed or could help myself. I wasn?t sure if she knew any first aid. "Garnet, you have any medical training?"

Garnet shook her head. "nae..Sean..I ne'er trained in any..."

This was going to be a long day indeed. "Okay." I said shakily. I hoped I didn't have anything internal that was going to kill me soon. Hands cleaned and sanitized I held up a mask to Garnets muzzle. "Hold this and just breath normally. It's a gas anesthetic and pain reliever. It won?t knock you out but it'll take the edge off the pain while I look at what?s been done to you and see what I can fix. Okay?"

Garnet nodded and held the mask to her muzzle taking normal breaths, letting Sean work, the pain slowly started to become less and less noticeable, she breathed normally.

I took the hose and gently flushed the blood out of her arm fur. Taking a metal probe I quickly found the nasty metal slug buried in her arm. Using forceps, I removed the slug and let it clank to the stainless steel table. Flushing the wound more I checked for further damage. "You are a lucky girl. Didn't break bone. Tore some muscle and did tissue damage, but you'll heal up fine with little to no nerve problems." I sat the hose down and then picked up the one thing most Lupes hated.

Clippers. I started clipping fur from her arm around the wound, flushed it more, put a strip of latex tubing in the wound and stapled it closed. "I'm putting a drain in the wound Garnet. Don't know what nasty things a Lycan projectile might have on it. It'll allow the deep tissue to heal up and the fluids to leak. I'll take it out in a weak and see how it does then." I then went on to her other wounds.

Garnet was relieved that her arm wasn?t broken, she had been through that once and it wasn't fun, she looked at the metal slug and then the clipped away fur, she was used to having to re-grow fur sometimes...once that wound was taken care of he would find she had two very sore ribs from where she had hit the dumpster and a nasty gash on the side of her head with a bit of a knot...the other stuff was cut and scrapes..burns from where the mage fire had hit but they weren't too bad.

I set about the head wound next. She lost some of her long hair if it was near the wound. She got it cleaned and stitched and I put a numbing gel on the bump that also made the area fill very cold. The minor cuts were flushed and the burns salved. I didn't trim the fur for them; they weren't serious enough for it. The ribs though. Hmm.

Garnet let him work, knowing that it had to be done, she closed her eyes thinking about her child hood and the few times she would be placed under a clerics care for a week after a mishap or a fight gone bad, she opened her eyes and watched him tend the burns and scratches.

Well, I did my best to make sure the rest of her hair would cover the patches missing if need be. "You've got two cracked ribs Garnet. We can either use medical tape that'll hold them together really well and tight or I can use vet wrap and it'll hold them well enough but you'll be a bit more sore. The difference is the vet wrap we can do now. The other... I'd have to shave most of the fur around your upper torso."

"I guess the vet wrap..will have tae do..ye need tae take are o' yerself too...and i dun wish tae lose anymore fur" she grinned a little.

I nodded. "Figure I'd offer you a choice in modesty. Sure this Vuu you speak of would like his little fluffy honey to have something fuzzy left on her." I chuckled and opened a bin, my legs wobbled a bit more. Focus man. "Next tough choice. You want Neon Green, Neon Pink, Purple, or Bright Yellow with Paw Prints on it?"

Garnet laughed a little at him, she thought a moment. "I believe the purple will be alright" She nodded and tried to relax there.

I had her hold one end and of the roll and used four rolls to tape up her ribs. "Too tight?"

Garnet sat there for the moment in a relaxed posture, she shook her head. "I don't think so....don't think I'll be doing much in the forge for a while.." She chuckled.

"Forge, ah, thought I heard you mutter something in Dwarvish. Ever work with dragon scales?" I started cleaning up the blood on the table and then took off my own shirt that was a bit stuck on by now with dried blood. I wasn't exactly a hot looking guy, but wasn't a slouch or a slob either. Several gashes from debris in the garbage were on my body and my right leg was a bloody mess. "Okay, we trade places little lady. You're gonna have to help me we a few things, okay?"

"Have nae worked with dragon scales..but i do have a full dragon mech." She grinned, slowly standing up she nodded, she looked at his bloody wounds and nodded. "Alright...I'll help ye."

I handed her some bandage scissors and indicated the right pant leg. "Cut the material and follow the seam. I have no desire to drop my pants in front of a lady if I can help it." I took off the now mangled leg brace that Ammy had made me. Aw man, she was gonna kill me for wrecking it. I pulled over the kits with supplies.

Garnet took the scissors and cut the pant leg near the seam up along his leg opening the pants so they could see the wounds, she was quick but careful as she worked-

Several small holes were in my right leg. "Was affraid of that. Buckshot got me too. Okay, hold the hose over my leg and I'll start picking the silver out." Picking forceps and a metal feeler and gritting my teeth I started removing the buck shot from my right leg. The anesthetic I gave Garnet, sadly was not geared for humans.

Garnet would hold the hose over his leg, letting the water drift along cleaning the wounds as he worked, she was watching him work, keeping the blood and debris cleaned away from the wounds.

Little round silver pellets clicked to the metal table and soon the leg was free of the buckshot and bled freely. Not much I could do about it. The wounds were too small to suture. I toweled the leg off and instructed Garnet on how to wrap it. My ribs were hurting like hell. They?d be next soon.

Garnet cleaned and wrapped the wounds with his instruction, then she waited for more instruction. "We sure did get beat up today.."

"Yeah." I had her flush the wounds on my chest and since I couldn?t do sutures on myself that close up, I handed her a tube of liquid flesh surgical skin glue. It was basically medical grade super glue and would seal the wounds shut. I had her seal the wounds and bit as many screams back as I could.

Garnet would work with him to clean and stitch up the wounds on his torso, she was really good at following instructions and might have even been a good cleric or nurse at some point, but her heart and training still was deep into knowledge and magic.

I decided to talk about things to get my mind off of the pain. "They attack me cause.. I know about the war they are planning. I didn't realize they were planning a war. I was a good little vet and patched up Lycans getting hurt in missions without realizing the wounds they were getting. Didn't know this till they found my daughter Cali, who came to find me. She ran away from my ex-wife to live with me. They found her lost in Rhydin..." my voice turned bitter. I handed her medical tape.

Then instructed her on how to tape up ribs; having done it to her, it shouldn't be too hard. I held one end for her and held up my other arm. "They bit her, turned her into a Lycan, but I found her before she had her first full turning. She's a full Lycan, but she's... not a monster like them... she can't be and they want her for a breeding a female." my voice went cold and harsh saying that.

Garnet would work and listen to him. "I am sorry ye are both caught up in the middle of all this" She nodded as she worked, to tape his ribs, just copying what he had done to wrap hers.

I felt her work and nodded that the ribs were good. I tapped my head next. "Check to make sure my head is all here. Shave what you need to. Won?t be the first time I've lost the pony tail. If there's a wound, glue it up. But yeah, that's why I am being hunted by Lycans. Also, I kind of blew the head off of one of the head ring leaders in the war and well..." I looked at the closed hatch and where the armored dead Lycan lay. "We just killed a second one. Betting they are going to be even more pissed."

Thinking on what she said I then asked, "How do you know about Lycans? You say you met one?"

Garnet nodded and looked at his head, taking a close look through his hair, she was able to patch most of the cuts after she cleaned them..others she just made sure were cleaned and they would heal on their own. "Looks like yer heads alright...just cuts and scraps...but i think none o' yer hair needs to be lost" She listened to him while she worked. "..met one on twilight island...he had just been bit... i killed off the one who had bit him..." She nodded. "...his name was Harold...i took him .. to the den to stay in my home fer a few nights....he was changing and against my words he ran off"

"Probably for the best." I started packing away the clean equipment and putting dirty equipment in soak bins for later sterilization. I stood and almost sat down again. Both legs hurt now. "We should get out of here. Did you leave anything behind?"

"My familiar and construct lion...have both headed back home....there?s nothing else I left..." She was sore and aching, but she would make it now. "I was headed back to the den before i saw ye were in trouble"

"Alright." I said tiredly. "Walk with me up forward and I'll drive us to the Den. Then I need to check on Cali at Ammy's house.?

Garnet nodded and moved up to the cab and set in the passenger seat buckling in.. she was ready to go home and to bed for a while. She smiled. "If Cali is with Ammy...I know she?s been watched after."

I dropped into the seat and fired up the electric engines and APC moved off for the Den. "Oh I know, but the last time I left Cali with Ammy, she got spooked and tossed a couch through the living room window a good 50 feet. Ammy's a sweet girl and all, but even she has her limits when her house get's wrecked. Hey, you?re a mage Garnet. Is there such a spell as Smite Husband?"

Garnet nodded softly. "Aye...I know a lot about Ammy and her family...they are becoming like family tae me..." She had to stop and laugh, then she cringed a bit at a slight pain that shot up her side. "um..no Sean...but don't tell anyone i said that" She grinned.

I blinked. "Uhm, is it a secret spell then? Ammy starts swearing by it when I do something to irk her."

Garnet started laughing even more at him. "Well maybe...I mean Ammy can write spells...and her alchemy is some o' the best I have ever seen....it might not be a spell but I?m sure she could if she tried hard enough." She grinned at him.

(Musical inspiration to edit this posting: Dr. Jones - By Aqua)

A few days after Cali and Sean had settled into the house, his usual house calls picked up again. One such case was remembered and Sean found himself up during the night at the A.R.K. Clinic, in the West Side of Rhydin verbally recording what had happened during a unique emergency.

Pup looked up at mamma, "Where we going mamma?"

Wanda had the puppy all cleaned up and resting at the moment. "No where." She didn't say that she had plans either way.

Pup looked at her and whined, feeling ill he yawned and said "Me no want vet" he said whining.

"Yes, and they want Ice in hell too." Wanda murmured quietly.

Pup heard mamma and said "But me no want vet" He whined again at mamma.

Wanda leveled a look on the puppy. "That decision is out of your paws."

Hearing mamma pup whined "Why..." he said, "I okay"

"No you are not OK." Wanda crossed her arms to reiterate two nights ago. Want Stubborn, See Wanda.

"Yes, me good" Pup said trying to stand up, only to fall back on his own weight, he whined.

Andu taps at his upper arm. "Gaia, can you find the Number for the Sean, the guy I gave the APC to, please." And the Sentience that is Andu's hut dials Sean's cell number and connects the call to Andu's Communicatior.

A blue light flickered on the APC dashboard and Sean hit the call button. "ARK Mobile Vet Center. DVM Walley speaking."

"Hey, Sean. It's Andu. I have a sick pup that needs some help. Are you available for an emergency visit?"

"Sure Andu. Where did you need me?"

"My hut near the RTS Main Station in the Temple district. Do you need directions?

A few button clicks would be heard. "No need. I have you here on GPS. Be there in 5 minutes."

"Ok. Just drive right at the front opening of the Hut, it will allow you to drive right in. We will meet you there.

"Will do."

Pup whined and looked down, and looked up at mommy with those cute puppy eyes.

"We should head down to the entrance to meet him."

Wanda picked up the puppy and took along the plushie.

Andu nods and leads the way down to the "ground" level of the Gaia the Hut, and the entrance.

Pup had a bad feeling. He was on mammas arms and started to shake clinging to the plushie "No vet...no vet" he said about to cry.

"Hush, little one, it'll be alright."

Pup was clinging to mamma and said, "But me scared of vet..." He said now crying.

Outside of Andu's Hut the soft hum and whine of electric motors wafts along the wind as a white APC with red veterinary symbols painted on it. The lights and sirens were off today. It pulled slowly into the huts entry and stopped. Sean stepped out of the APC and shut the driver side door softly. He was softly whistling how much is the doggy in the window. Sean leaned against the closed hatch of the back of the ATV. He was dressed in jeans, boots, and blue shirt that said "Fuzzy on the inside." His duster was inside the vehicle.

"Hey, Sean. This is Wanda, the puppy is... well.. Pup." Grins wryly, a bit embarrassed at the rather simple name. "He's a stray that found me, and Wanda has adopted.

Wanda shrugged, "He claimed it." Still the Witch nodded, "Thank you for coming so quickly."

The tiny Maltese was looking at Sean and whined hiding his face behind the plushie shaking.

"Not a problem. Thank Andu for giving me a means for getting around easily, and there's nothing wrong with a simple name. I have plenty of clients who have dogs named dog." He chuckled and stepped closer to look at the hiding Pup. "Well, someone has a case of Scared of the Vet." Another small smile, Sean produce a peanut butter cookie just the right size for Pup. "How about a treat first Pup?" He offered it to Pup.

"Don't worry, Pup. Sean is very very good at what he does, and a good friend of mine as well." Of course the second may be stretching the truth, for Pup's sake.

Pup looked at the cookie and watched it, he tilted his head and said "cookie" before nibbling it contently. Then hearing friend of Andu, Pup nodded, "Okay..." but still he was cared, Pup was scared of many things.

Wanda handed the puppy package over to Sean.

When Pup was handed over he whined scared again clinging to mamma. "Mamma no!" he said whining agian.

"Ah, so Pup can speak a bit." Sean gently took the Pup package. "Hmm. A bit lightweight. How about we all step into my office." He backed up, and nudged the entry panel and the hatch opened. "It's okay. They are coming with you." He walked into the APC that was roomy enough even for Andu. He would set Pup on a very warm blanket laid out on a metal exam table.

The blanket was warm but he still was scared, unable to walk he felt even more scared, he was shaking and looking at Andu and Wanda. He was about to...if Sean touches him he will release all of his fear.

"Well, since Pup here gained the collar he is wearing, he has gained the ability to talk, teleport and climb trees... and in the last 48 hrs has shown signs of increasing weakness."

As Pup was put on the blanket Sean was a bit warm and wet on his shirt. Yep. Pee'd on. He rolled with it. "So this collar he's wearing is not mundane then. Have you tried taking it off to see if the weakness goes away?"

"Not yet.."

Yes, Pup peed on himself, mostly of fear, the coward/brave pup was looking at Wanda and a little embarrassed covered his face with his little paws.

"To be honest. I hadn't thought of that. I know pup was badly hurt when we first met. And we have never been able to get him fully healed from that."

"He was doing better. He has regressed within the last 48 hours."

Andu nods.

Pup just kept looking at them whining shifting from Andu to mamma.

"Hmm. Okay, well let's get a baseline scan on you first Pup, then we'll see what happens when we take the collar off." From a center console on the ceiling of the APC, Sean opened a large panel and swung it open and out of the way. He moved an expandable ring of segmented metal panels on an articulated arm down and left it in the air for the moment. "Okay, Pup, you're just going to lay here and rest and I am going to put this metal ring around you. You can still see everyone over it and nothing bad is going to happen. In fact..." He pulled out some spiffy doggy goggles out and placed them on Pups canine head. "You get to be cool while we do this. Now just relax while I get the scanners adjusted."

Pup whined and when the goggles were put he giggled. "Okay" He stopped shaking and looked at mamma and Andu. "Mamma, Andu me are pilot!" He giggled.

Wanda chuckled.

Andu grins wryly.. Half wondering if Pup will actually manage that trick as well. "If you are nice for Sean, I will see about getting you a plane bed."

"That good!" He giggled then laying his head on the blanked and looked at mamma. "Mamma, me be okay?"

"Yes, you will be fine." She waited for the word to undo the collar.

Pup swung his little tail a bit then he yawned "Mamma...me remember, one day a man threw spell on me" he said whining "Then he ran. Me sneezed and then me started walking bad." He said.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because me afraid of you leaving me on street" He whined sadly.

Andu sighs. "Pup, you never have to worry about being left on the street again. But you do need to tell Mama or me 'every time' something like that happens."

Pup looked at both of them and nodded. "Okay..." He says, not getting bored. At the distance a little bug "MAMMA, ANDU BUG!!!!" he said starting to move on the machine. "Bug! Bug! Bug! me chase it!"

"Sit, Stay." Wanda said firmly.

Pup whined and looked at mom "But..."

"Sit on your but..." Wanda murmured.

Never question mamma he thought so he just lay there.

Andu chuckles at Wanda's adamant play on words. Looks at Wanda. "You know. When we get him completely healed, he is going to seriously impact the local but population."

Wanda chuckled a bit at that.

Pup was deeply sleeping, while his little ears twitched

Sean listened to Pup, Wanda and Andu as he calibrated the scanners. Seeing Pup fast asleep he quietly lowered the metal ring around the puppy and flipped a few toggle switches. A few lights danced across the read out panels attached to the arm and Sean watched them for a moment.

Andu looks a bit worried, but confident in Sean's abilities.

Soon the scan was done, and he lifted the metal ring away. The whole test made no noise. Turning he took up a thin, transparent pane material that looked like glass and held it. The results streamed along as well as a full 3d model of Pup, full body MRI and blood panel as well.

While everything happened, pup was sunk in a deeeeep sleep

Wanda looked very serious, "I find who did this to the pup... Welp, The Thing won't be able to pull me off of him."

Andu looks at Wanda, and "almost" feels sorry for the fool who messed with Pup, then thinks a moment, and snorts. "I suspect that, if anything, he is more likely to hold them down for you."

"Hmm. Electrolytes are normal, hormones are on track for a puppy of his skeletal age. Blood levels are looking fine though he appears a little anemic. No bone fractures, muscle mass is looking good, growth plates are all intact." he gave the report softly. He sat the slim panel down and lifted a small handheld unit that looked like a cell phone. "Okay. Is that collar warded?"

"No. It is minimally intelligent."

"Yes, well there is that."

Sean nodded. "I'm just a bit touchy when messing with anything magical. Ever since a Lycan mage smacked me with a mage bolt in the streets I get jumpy around enchantments." He carefully took off the collar and sat it on the blanket. He began scanning Pup with the cellphone like device. "Did you guys get him the collar or did he find it?"

"I gave it to him. I had it checked first by some experts I know. He did just mention to having a spell cast on him by some one in the street."

The pup whined and moved a little on his sleep

"Just covering all the bases Andu." Sean smiled. The scan was done and he compared the two on that slim panel again. "Hmm. Nothing's changed. So we have definitely ruled out the collar and as you and Pup have pointed out a third part is at work here." Sean set the panel down and put the collar back on Pup gently. "I can try one more diagnostic item." He turned to a row of bins behind and pulled out a pair of odd looking goggles with red ruby lenses. He put the goggles on.

Andu nods, and smiles in appreciation of the attitude. "Good."

Pup yawned and woke up a bit "What happen?" he asked sleepy.

Sean adjusted the ruby lenses and took a look at Pup and the collar through the goggles of True Seeing that Garnet had made him. He could see the spells laid into the collar and they glowed a healthy green with an orderly weave. Something a few of his magical friends told him was non-harmful in magical spells. As he looked at Pup though, nasty purple tendrils were pulsing slowly from a little knot of black energy around the puppies key Heart Meridians. They were slowly expanding over time. Sean took off the goggles and put them back in the bin. He wore a bit of a thin, thoughtful look on his worn face.

Andu gets a worried look at Sean's reaction to what ever he has seen through the goggles.

The Witch crosses her arms.

"Well, his physical fatigue is being caused by something magical." Sean said after a moment or two of thought. "It appears to be what a few of my magical colleagues would describe as a curse. What type is beyond me. I am not familiar enough with magic to tell what kind of curse it is but it is slowly spreading tendrils through the pups chi meridians and sapping his bodies own energy and feeding on it."

"What are the odds that I can break the curse?" Wanda said with a grim smile.

Sean gave Pup a few gentle pets. "You would have better knowledge on that subject than I." He picked up the thin panel tapped a glowing key and a colored picture printed out. He handed it to Wanda. It was a photo of the magical imprint the goggles picked up from Pup, showing the black curse mass with tentacles taking over the meridians.

"Personally I would sooner bet on the entire city becoming law abiding than bet against you."

"I can offer some oral medications that will keep him from getting weaker at the least, help him get stronger at the most, but it will offer you time to take the curse out." Sean offered helpfully.

Wanda nodded a bit, "Well, when your power is probability manipulation..." Her hands started glowing as she started doing the math, with the Healing aid from Bloom. She wore the Myriad on her ear as a rose ear-cuff and she drew on the healing magics to help her break this curse.

Andu quietly watches Wanda work.

Sean gave Wanda space to work and retrieved the goggles putting them back on to observe the curse. He muttered to Andu quietly. "I always feel like a useless brick when it comes to the magical end of this realm."

Andu mutters back equally quietly. "About how I feel when I see Wanda and the others fighting the bad guys I don't even dare face. So we each do what we can, the best we can."

"Where I come from, I am called a mutant... Born with an extre gene and reviled for it." She murmured as she concentrated the combined power into shattering the curse. Her magic acting as anti-bodies against the foreign substance. "And My father was an expert at genetics."

Andu winced a bit as he inwardly adds two and two. "Huh."

"Tendrils are starting to retreat Wanda. Keep it up." Sean confirmed.

Pup whined feeling something on his body, he moved a bit, and look at that. One of his legs moved!

"Shhh, Pup." Speaking soothingly. "Stay still for bit more, please."

The aura surrounded them both. Wanda was able to help Ben return to his human form, she would be damned if some cut rate magician was going to beat her.

After a few moments, Pup started whining, his legs began to move while he felt uncomfortable now that he was laying there for a long time, and so the little pup moved all of his four legs.

"Just about there Wanda. You've got it down to it's core. The tendrils are gone."

Andu grinned as Pup moves. "Wait for Wanda to say you can move, Pup."

There was that grim smile. "(vq) Got you, you son of a..." She sent a surge of power through the core of the curse.

Pup whined and moved just a bit

"Mph.." Sean turned away and peeled off the goggles. They plunked to the ground, the lenses smoking. He rubbed his eyes for a bit. That last bit from Wanda made a glare that was like watching lights through infrared goggles. The after image he was seeing though confirmed something though. "You got it Wanda."

Wanda pulled back the power slowly. She was definitely not happy.

Pup looked at mamma and stretched "Mamma! friend Andu! Mister Vet!" He said happily. "Me feel legs now!" he giggled.

"Good." She was holding Mr Hyperactive.

Andu watched Wanda carefully. Very very glad he wasn't the one she wasn't happy with.

Able to see clearly again, Sean just gave a content sigh seeing and hearing another patient on the mend. He picked up the goggles and noted the lenses were already mending from the repair enchantment Garnet had placed on them. "Well then. I guess the mystery case is solved." he said with a smile.

Mamma was holding him, he licked her chin "Me good now, me good now!" he said moving on her arms playfully "Thank you mister vetorinary!"

"Pup. You need to be more careful. I don't want you leaving Gaia with out Me or Wanda with you. And I am setting Gaia to enforce that."

Pup looked at Andu and whined "Okay..." he said looking down.

Andu looked at Sean. "If you ever need anything, call me. Gaia knows how to reach me any where, any time. And if you just need a place to rest or hide, you are welcome here any time."

Pup smiled and rested on mamma's arms "Mamma...can pup go and play?" he asked behaving like a good puppy. A good...but hyperactive puppy

Wanda started to move from the APC. "Come up let's get you some exercise."

Sean chuckled. "Glad to see him well. I'll have in my system for any future visits you need. Oh, and he can keep the goggles. I have a whole bunch of them. Seem really popular with the anthros lately." He smiled. "Everything good?" He asked Wanda.

"Okay" Pup said happily at mom, licking her cheek The pup had a nice look with his little goggles "Mommy can me has goggles?" He asked cutely.

"Yeah. Should be fine. I catch the flat-scan that did this." She smiled at the pup, "Yes."

"Alright. I'll button up everything and leave you all in peace. I have a cute woman to go bug at the Inn." The vet gave a hug grin as he began storing equipment.

Pup was looking around with his new goggles while giggling, he indeed looked funny like a little fluffy Hyperactive Pilot. "Mamma, we go exercise now?"

Andu smiled and steps out of the APC, slapping the side lightly as he goes by. "You be well, Sean, and thank you, again."

"Wait till Sean leaves, then you can play."

The pup nodded and said "Okay for mommy" he said curling on her arms "Thank you mister puppy doctor" he said innocently "Thank you for fixing pup...or else, who would take care of mommy?" He giggled

Soon the gear was stored and the hatch closed, Sean walked out by Andu and offered a handshake. "I'll be well. You take care of the Pup. Call me anytime you need me." He headed to the driver side door, opened it, hopped in and the hum and purr of electric motors filled the air. Checking mirrors, he back out and pulled away, heading back into Rhydin proper.

Andu accepts the handshake carefully, then waves as Sean leaves the Hut.

(Inspirational music for editing all parts of A Weekend of Bonding: The Last Night - Bon Jovi

Lorelia woke up rather early to find that Sean had camped out with her on the living room floor. Mink had curled to the small of her back and Sean....hazel eyes shimmered at seeing his hand just short of her hair. Wiggling out of the sleeping bag to let them keep resting she made her way across the wooden floor. Slinking away to the kitchen, she brushed her hair, pulling it back into a ponytail. What to start on first? Finding a little radio, she turned it to a jazz station; Coltrane drifting out fun and playful. She just couldn't help it. The beat had her hips swinging to and from, feet sliding in socks on the floor while she mixed up pancakes, sausage in the frying pan next to bacon and oh why the hell not. She took the time to make toast in the oven with fresh herbs that had been found last night while unpacking and the olive oil.

Maybe after she got the scrambled eggs going she would work on that other project. The grumble of the coffee maker caught her attention as she set it to keep the French roast warm. Now where was the ....ah! Fishing out the nice plates from a small box cast in the corner, it didn't take her long to get everything plated up and set in the oven to keep warm till Sean woke up. Hands wrapped around a mug of coffee as Lorelia wore nothing more than a pair of black boy shorts in satin that laced up the sides, matching black bra and a zip up jacket with a hood pulled up over her hair. Even in a ponytail she thought looked bad.

Two things woke Sean up. Something very warm and fuzzy wedged up against his back, coffee, or was that sausage and eggs he smelled with toast? Okay maybe four things. Sean slowly got up a little stiff and was wondering why he was on the floor, and why he wasn't smelling smoke from burned food. Cali was a horrible cook usually. He blinked his eyes open a little and noticed he was in a sleeping bag. Did he have a sick patient he brought home?

A slight turn confirmed the source of warmth at his back. A fuzzy puppy... Oh, that was Mink. Wait, a minute, Mink is usually with Lorelia at her room at the Red Dragon Inn, but I'm at home... which means... he looked over to the couch and saw her in what was left and blinked a few more times with a bit of a shocked look.

Making a soft noise, Mink wiggled from head to toe. Lorelia was calling her! Trying her best to get her mouth around the large ball, she was bound to bring it with her. Dropping it every few steps, Mink resorted to pushing it to the kitchen. Lorelia chuckled and bent down to get the ball. "You goofy, minion. Don't wake up, Sean. He needs his rest." Scratching between her ears she soon flipped to her stomach and wanted more rubbing, bringing a bigger smile to Lorelia's face. "Maybe we should sneak upstairs and build that bed of his. That way he can stop sleeping on that fold up cot."

Hmm, Lorelia didn't realize he was awake yet. Sean had a sneaky smirk grow on his face. He laid back down, kept one eye cracked open and just watched Lorelia in a brand new light; a light of very little clothing.

Lorelia was not shy about what she was wearing. It wasn't like any young boy except for those living in Amish country hadn't seen a Victoria?s Secret catalogue so she continued to dance around the kitchen with a cup of coffee and Mink on her heels. Whimpering every now and again for a piece of bacon, still pushing her new toy around too. Lorelia put her hands on her lips and chuckled. "Just once." Picking up the ball she rolled it along the floor. Mink darted after it only to lose her traction on the wooden floor. All four paws scrambling to gain control, but too late. Mink ran right into Sean's pillow. Lorelia cringed and stood still waiting to see if he would stay asleep. Mink on the other hand licked his forehead to say sorry before going after her ball again.

Sean tried really hard and did his best acting not to budge. He even threw in a light snore. This was too priceless to give up watching Lorelia be casual, though if she kept twirling around much more he may have to get up for other reasons.

"Mink!" Lorelia slid her way across the wood floor to scoop her up. "We got lucky." Kissing the puppy and scratching her ears. "I think it is time we started that project." Doing a little spin on the floor to the music, she wrinkled her nose in that smile. Mink just happy to get some loving and have her ball at the same time! Glancing down to check on Sean, Lorelia just couldn't help it. Crouching over him, she pulled on the sleeping bag to keep him covered and warm. "Come on, Mink. We have a bed to build." Picking up a tool box before heading for the stairs. It should only take her an hour to build the bed.

Well, Sean was going to watch her go up the stairs and maybe sneak up and watch her, but he was warm and cozy in the sleeping bag. Months of little sleep and his body working to repair and heal from all the Lycan attacks forced his hand. Sean was out again and this was no act. Ah well, he took her cute form to his dreams though for a while.

An hour later and lots of cursing, Lorelia had managed to put the queen size bed together, box springs, mattress and dress the bed. It wasn't half bad, looking at the sleigh bed with wonder over the craftsmanship. Mink yipped at her and wiggled at the top of the stairs. She was hungry and there was someone down there who would pay her more attention than whatever Lorelia was working on. Getting everything back into the tool box, Lorelia scooped up Mink again and came down the stairs. A glance at the clock told her it was almost 11. Well breakfast was now brunch, but what the hay. Flopping down on the floor next to Sean, she gently rubbed his back. "Hey sleepy head. You going to make me eat alone?"

Snerk, snort, "Huh." Sean rose stiffly again and sat back on his knees and legs. He arched his back and it popped from head to hips in a avalanche of crunches. A glance to the clock. Oh geez, 11 already? He wasn't used to days off. "Eating?" he said a bit groggily. He was having some nice dreams with her, a field of flowers, a horse ride and somehow Twinkies were worked in there. Don't ask. Then his eyes focused on what she was still not wearing. "Well, this definitely a.. uhm.. Prettier sight than a cold nose and the smoke alarm going off."

?Yeah. I made breakfast and worked on a few things. Come on sleepy." Kissing his cheek she rose from the floor with Mink chasing her. Lorelia still was dressed as he had last seen her. Not one bit shy and a blush on her cheeks. "Thanks. By the way Mink and I might have built your bed for you." Grinning over her shoulder at him.

Sean got up, got untangled and a few things registered first. He had a headache from the wine and nature was calling. He moved to the bathroom and his voice was muffled through the door. "I thought it's supposed to be you waking up in my bed and I am making breakfast, not you building my bed and making breakfast. Feel a little odd now." his chuckle boomed from the closed door. Soon he was out again, a bit more awake after washing up some. He was in a black shirt with white lettering and a print of two Amish people racing carts and fighting each other with brooms. The shirt read Grand Theft Amish. He was wearing plaid boxers and currently aware that his pants were missing in action somewhere. "Just what was in the wine?"

"Hmm?" Spinning to face him with her hands full of their plates she had kept warm in the oven. "I have never been much of a traditional girl." Chuckling over his comment about her waking up in his bed. "Besides that I don't know if you can cook or not so I took the safe route." Mink raced round the table and took her spot underneath hoping to at least catch a piece of bacon. Lorelia went back to the oven to pull out the other plates. "The wine was a merlot. Meeker winery makes it. The bottle is still on the floor." Pointing to the black bottle with the rainbow handprints.

"Okay.. then." Sean chuckled. "I can cook. I have too or Cali ensures my daily ingestion of carbon is 200% more than the daily recommended value." He walked over to the table and pulled out a chair for her. "You really didn't have to build the bed on your own Lorelia." he felt some Mink hair in his mouth and vaguely remembered the pup colliding into his head. "Was I really out of it?"

?Yeah you were. I thought for sure Mink would wake you up chasing her ball, but you were just out." There was more in her mind as she took the seat he offered, her hand gliding down his arm softly as she sat. It was clear that there had to have been several Lycan attacks before the one she saw not to mention the sometimes rough days at work and then add Cali to the mix.....So she spoiled him for a weekend. He needed it.

Oh, that hand slide would find several scars from said attacks and the rough work of being a vet of both mundane and mythical animals. Being pant-less, he was also brace-less and she'd have a good look at his left leg that had a slight crooked angle to it. He limped a bit as he walked to his own chair and sat. White pinkish scars on his right calf told a tail of how silver buckshot still hurts a human when fired too close. At least his shirt wasn't off. He started to eat and sighed in wonder. "Dear me you are a good cook."

"I don't know about that. I just do what I can. Still can't seem to make meatloaf though. Comes out like a brick." Chuckling to keep the mood light between them, her eyes had glanced at his leg and taken it for what it was. Every mark on him told a story of what a good man he is, what he had faced by choice and it warmed her heart. In her case she was lucky. Sean couldn't see her scar thanks to her hair. Mink curled up on her feet and waited for something to drop, gray eyes darting between them. "I had a great time last night and I sure today will be the same." Smiling at him as she ate away, a healthy hunger as her grandmother had put it.

Between bites to eat Sean spoke. "Meat loaf is easy. Just need to add in a bit of oatmeal, fresh onion and a little carrot. Helps moisten it up. I can show you how to make a killer meatloaf with jalape?os if you're interested." He smiled and ate more. He was feeling that Lorelia was a very good person as well. She wasn't judgmental like many he's met in this realm over the years, and so far she hasn't fled in terror from his problems. She's even a little risqu? and calm. He could get used to that.

Wrinkling her nose a bit. "Leave out the jalape?os and we have a deal." Lorelia laughed and tossed a piece of bacon to Mink. She had taken her time going through boxes to help out last night and found many to contain interesting information about Sean. The house was amazing and she couldn't wait to get a better look at some of the less renovated sections. "You know, the little enclosed side porch would make a great training area if you plan on working with your swords anytime soon. Keep you from getting sun burned and if you move the clinic here, it would keep you from having to worry about a stray animal coming up out of curiosity." Lorelia had more thoughts, but let's just throw out the one and see how it goes.

"Oh, you found the swords?" he smirked and looked at the huge house. "Yes, the place is huge enough to move the clinic in and still have plenty of room to live comfortably. Plenty of room too for another office say for an art hunter?" he gave her a wink and sipped his coffee. "I would have to speak with my friend first about doing any renovations or moving the clinic. So far I am just buying this a little piece at a time and don't want him to think I am going to tear the place apart. But I would like to get out of West End. Keep feeling like I am going to either get mugged or shot one day for my boots."

Oh he had done it now. Lorelia stopped mid bite blushing at the idea of moving in, but the smile just couldn't be taken from her face. "I rather like you alive and in one piece so how about we see if we can get that clinic moved her asap. I am sure it would put Cali's mind at ease too. Plus you would be easy for her to get to if she wanted to talk. " Her heart was in her throat and she wasn't sure exactly what to say, but best start at the beginning. "Sean, if I moved in I would pay for my rent. Dating or not, I will pay my fair share and.....I went to the clinic and got checked out. It came with good and bad news. Bad being I do have some muscle damage and from time to time might see the world spin, but I have been cleared to be recruited again."

"Well that's why I mentioned an office. Knew you would like to keep working... recruited again? By the army? From where?" He asked a bit concerned and starting to feel that maybe he had been in a dream and he'll wake up and poof back on the floor again, curled up alone. Easy boy, hear her out.

"I had submitted my latest paper to the local college and one thing leading to another the marines want me to start up a new team and get back to work. The doctor told them it would be another couple of months before I could go rushing off to a hot zone again, but I haven't given them an answer yet." Lorelia looked at Sean and gave a bashful smile. "It was nice to travel all over, but it leaves you feeling so alone. I don't want to feel that way again."

Her going off into a hot zone again. Sean almost dropped the forked. He took another sip of coffee and his hand betrayed him with a little shake. Damn. He was getting feelings for her and she may wind up dead by some bullet. Double damn. Oh, you're one to talk vet boy, you've got 200 plus pound Lycans trying to kill you. Not much room to talk. Sean chewed on his lower lip and he may have looked like he aged just a little. "I..." he looked at his coffee. Words at these times were never his strong point. "I would be... worried about you... being in a warzone again. I've seen enough of them and what they do from my life in the Philippines." His hand shook some more and he put it together with his other hand. "I don't know what I would do if I heard you were shot and killed."

"Hey now." Lorelia stood and moved to his side. "Sean, it is just an offer. I haven't said yes or no because..." She sighed and ran a hand through her hair. Feeling the deep scar that ran along her right side. She looked into his eyes and smiled. Taking his hand and running it along the scar hidden by her hair. It was at least 5 inches long and the deep groove of healed bone was evident. "I worry about you too. Which is why I am not going to give them an answer till the doctor gives me the okay. I want us to have time. Time to figure out what is between us without pressure. Okay?" Her fingers laced with his in her hair and she smiled standing next to him.

Feeling that groove he knew a close call when he felt it. Sean pulled her into a nearly crushing hug. "Thank you. I know it sounds selfish, but thank you." he shoved the memories he had from the Philippines to the back of his mind to stay in the dark again. Sean didn't want to tell her off all the friends he'd seen lost in bombings, the nights with machine gun fire and grenades. For now, it was just them enjoying the weekend.

Lorelia's body formed to his easily in that hug. Pulled into his lap so he could hold her closer, her arms wrapped around his neck and gently pulled him to her. She was aware of the bruises still from the Lycan attack and was not about to make this painful for him. "It's not selfish at all. It is what I want to Sean. I want to see what develops between us no strings attached or demands made. Just you and me, and Cali." Her voice was warm and filled with the care she had for him. Even when hot zones were deemed secure anything could go wrong and she couldn't do that to him. Make him worry like that with little communication till she returned.

The rest of the meal they didn't worry about war time, past horrors or separation. Just enjoyed the time together and then slipped out for the day to conquer the market one shop at a time.