Shapeshifter's Struggle

Chapter 20: Going Back Home

"Strength is born in the deep silence of long-suffering hearts; not amid joy." ~Sir Arthur Helps, English writer

The trip back to Silver City was quite interesting. David drove my convertible and Roy drove our eleven passenger van. Since there were now 21 of us, Adam kept the rented mini-van for our trip home. I've never driven for so long with five children in tow. Of course, no one would actually let me drive. Rachel took a turn behind the wheel of my convertible while Amy, Kevin, and Josh all helped drive the vans.

When we finally made it home, it was extremely late. All five of the children were asleep as well as some of the adults. The guys carried the little ones inside. We didn't really have enough space for all of them, but they would not be separated. We put them in the empty upstairs room, some of them on the floor. The adults separated. The married couple went to Wes's. The other two woman went to Jennifer's and Thomas to Adam's. Everyone was very accommodating. Logan moved in with David so that Riley and Dustin could have his room.

It wasn't permanent, but it gave everyone somewhere to collapse for the night. And sleep we did. Most of us didn't get up before noon the next day. I sure didn't.

*~*~*~*

When everyone did finally crawl from various dream laden slumber, Adam called a council meeting. Which meant that everyone piled into the living room. I stayed on the stairs. I can see into the living room while sitting on the stairs, but I don't have to be cramped onto a couch made for two seating five.

Logan, Riley, and Dustin all chose seats on various step levels around me. The children, including Charlie and Shawn, were sprawled over the floor. The adults either sat on the couch, the recliner, brought in kitchen chairs, or just leaned against the wall. It was all very familiar, nothing surprising.

What did surprised me was that when David leaned against the wall in the living room, Rachel leaned against him. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close to him. They stood like that, watching Adam. Okay, how long had that been going on?

Adam called everyone to attention. It took him a few minutes to get to the part where he sent us to Cain territory. Then I got to talk. I stood up from my perch on the stairs and went to stand next to him. My story took the over half an hour. I didn't give them a blow-by-blow, I just gave them the overview. I left out most of the fighting. And the passing out. Twice. I just told them what they had to know about what the Cains were doing, who the extra twelve people crammed into the living room were, and how we all got there.

When I was done, I went back to sit on the stairs. No one said anything for a long time.

"Crap." Wes pretty much summed it up in one word.

"What are you going to do with us?" one of the women asked.

"That is what we need to figure out," Adam said. "You're welcome to stay with us, but I'm not sure what race most of you are. We'll have to call an Interracial Council meeting, and you may attend. Then, if you wish, you may go with your own kind. Or you may leave anytime. It is mostly up to you."

"Most of us are half-breeds," the other woman said.

"You may choose to live with the race you are most comfortable with or apart," Jennifer stepped in. "It really is your decision." Adam must have met with the council members earlier.

"And the children?" the first woman asked.

"We will find homes for them," Adam assured her. They discussed for another few minutes before deciding not to make a permanent decision until the Interracial Council meeting. Adam was going to call Kelly and Rusty after this meeting and set a time.