Brandon walked the dirt path that bent around the Guardians house at a leisurely pace. The smell of pine needle and gravel soothed his mind. The walk out to Ezekiel’s Infirmary was beautiful and uneventful. And...despite Brandon’s earlier words to Mantilo....His body was heavier and more then once Brandon had to stop, and settle down next to a rock or a tree and catch his breath.

Mantilo was right...I guess I really was still fatigued...

Brandon admitted to himself as he stopped for the third time to rest his burning legs.

But excluding the weakness still holding over form the attack, as Brandon walked, everything from that morning and the last few weeks hit Brandon like a ton of bricks.

Brandon.....was going to stay here. He was going to be a member of this Clan. He was being asked by the Clan Heads to stay. And....he was going to do it.

Brandon knew....no matter what happened next between him and Ezekiel....that he simply didn’t want to just walk away from these Shifters. He didn’t want to throw their hospitality and affections and sacrifices back into their faces, by marching out into danger, marching out of their lives.

The fact that Brandon had come to this point....was unsettling, but also amazing to him. There was nothing about this that he deserved or should be receiving but for the sake of the Leopards he was willing to give this a try. He owned it to them to start trying to live his life.

Yes, there was still the danger of Hovel and Jacob. Yes, there were still a million questions that needed answers. But for now and for who knew how long?

Brandon realized that he was free of any obligation....but the responsibility to live his life.? A new life. But before he could do any of this....he had to truly decide if he was going to walk this new path beside Ezekiel.

Brandon soon came to the clearing where the Infirmary was located, emerging past a small crop of trees with a shallow sigh of relief and fear.

With a few soft pants Brandon simply took a moment to look the building over.

Blinking Brandon rubbed his shoulder and forced his legs to move closer, taking time to slowly pick off pine needles that had gotten stuck in the laces of his boot.

If Brandon was honest with himself he knew he was just stalling for time. But finally Brandon walked forwards, grasped the door knob and pulled the door open, before walking into the interior of the long building.

The first thing that touched Brandon was the soft scent of chemicals, and the dimmer interior. The long rectangular room was boarded on all three of its sides by tall counter tops built into the walls. The surfaces were filled with bottles and supplies neatly sequestered with labels and steel tops.

There were two open door on the sides of the rectangle each leading into the other rooms of the infirmary. Brandon glanced at one of the doors easily remembering that that particular door lead to the room where Ezekiel had placed him after he fell into a sickly coma.

Once he got deeper inside, the second thing Brandon noticed as he shut the front door behind himself, was the fact that the fourth wall, way at the other end of the infirmary....was completely missing somehow.

Beyond the missing wall, sharp sunlight glanced off of the endless fields beyond and the peerless blue sky sat at the peaks of the pine forest far out in the distance. At first Brandon was sure that the entire section of the wall had been cut away, but then he noticed that there were giant metal hinges built into the edge of the wall. Hinges that were attached to the missing slice of the building.

Its like a giant swinging door....Cool!

Brandon thought.

And suddenly a soft mummer fell across his ear, and Brandon noticed Ezekiel....and Lazlo standing at the back of the room, just in front of the swinging wall. Brandon was instantly surprised to see the stallion in side, but in seconds Brandon realized that the back wall was attached to hinges so that Ezekiel could care for the larger animals like the stallion inside.

Intrigued Brandon walked deeper into the Infirmary thinking that Ezekiel would be too engrossed in his work, but as soon as Brandon get closer; Ezekiel looked back, and sent him a wave to stand back. The Guardian was already smiling in greeting, perhaps having heard Brandon walking up long before a normal person would have.

The simple act of seeing Ezekiel was butterfly inducing, mostly because Brandon knew that his behavior towards the Shifter had been nothing short of childish the last few days. But...almost as if the last two weeks hadn’t been extremely awkward and uncomfortable for the both of them, Ezekiel simply greeted him with a nod and said. “Hey.”

“Hey.” Brandon mumbled back and stopped.

For a second the silence tried to ride, but Brandon was far too uneasy to sit in silence for too long, but he also wasn’t sure how to bring up the things he wanted to say...So like a chicken Brandon turned his eyes towards the Stallion and asked. “Um...What’s going on here? What’s Lazlo doing in your infirmary? Is there something wrong with the big fella?”

Perhaps happy to have a place to turn his attentions as well, Ezekiel chuckled looked to the horse, and replied. “Well....Yes and no.” He answered. “See, I was out tending to the Band when I realized that Lazlo was developing a mean case of plaque buildup on his teeth and that his left ear was crawling with ticks.”

Ezekiel shook his head and shrugged. “So I brought him in here for a little maintenance cleaning. I’ve already extracted all of the ticks. See?” Ezekiel finished as he pointed his hand towards a small silver table attached to wheels. The top of the table was covered with bloody cotton swabs, and a small metal bowel, that had streaks of more blood in it..

Brandon looked to the table and noticed that there was also a pair of tweezers, blacked burnt matches and multiple squirming bulbous bodies, swimming in a clear liquid.

Brandon frowned at the parasites and said. “Nasty. There’s like fifty of them....They all came off the big guy?”

Ezekiel nodded and replied.

“I couldn’t believe how many he had myself, but that should be all of them.” Ezekiel stopped, walked over to the table, and grabbed a hand brush, with thick black bristles. Then he walked back to Lazlo and started brushing his Maine, deftly pulling at the tangles and snares, and as he worked he finished speaking.

“After this I was going to take the old boy out into the field for a good long wash and some much needed teeth cleaning.” Ezekiel informed, before he delivered a sturdy rub to Lazlo’s flank, then he took a breath and cast Brandon an easy, but guarded smile. “But...uh what’s up Brandon?” The Guardian questioned obviously unsure what had made Brandon break the unspoken silence between them. “You just got back on your feet a little while ago. What made you come all the way out here? You should be resting now that everything’s calmed down.”

Catching the slight bossy lit to his question Brandon crossed his arms and shrugged. “I’m fine Blue boy. I didn’t even get tired walking out here. Trust me!” There was a pause as Brandon digested his own bullshit. Then Brandon continued. He wasn’t sure how to broach the subject, so he just spit it out.

“Anyway I was just coming out to see what you were doing. I...um just had a very interesting talk with your parents.”

“About what?” Ezekiel hedged looking back.

Brandon paused as his heartbeats jumped up and he had to steady himself before softly answering. “Mantilo and Glen want me to think about becoming a Clans Man.”

If Brandon was expecting Ezekiel to show great surprise, all he got was a smile and glance. “Yeah they told me they were going to ask you about that.” Ezekiel said, before he turned back to Lazlo and tossed over his shoulder. “I sort of encouraged them to talk with you about being sworn in to the Clan.”

The pulled Brandon up short. “You did? Well why didn’t you just tell me yourself?” Brandon questioned.

To that Ezekiel sent him a small hiss. “I was giving you space Brandon. Besides, I figured you needed to hear the proposal from a neutral party. I wanted you to understand that your welcome here.” He gently replied as he started to run a brush across Lazlo’s shoulder.

Brandon heard the sincerity in this and he glanced at the Shifter working.

I was giving you space Brandon....

Silently Brandon took in that sentence...and nodded his head. Then Brandon cleared his throat and softly admitted. “Well I need to tell you....I’m taking them up on the offer. I want Mantilo to swear me into the Clan. I want to be your Clansmen.”

Ezekiel was obviously happy with this decision because he turned to Brandon fully and laughed, but he tempered his joy with a slow smile and a gesture. “What really? That’s awesome. I’m sure it wasn’t easy for you to make that decision.”

Brandon thought about that, then he replied. “No...it wasn’t.” He admitted. Then he shrugged. “But truthfully I’ve known for a while now that there isn’t anywhere else for me to go Ezekiel. I....I don’t think I’ll be able to live in peace until Hovel stops coming after me.”

Ezekiel tilted his head and softly reassured. “It’s not going to be like that forever Brandon. One day....your past will be just that....in the past.”

“Maybe...” Brandon shrugged. Then he took a deep breath, shook his head and put forth a concession that he had been trying to hide. “But I want to make something clear. I’m not staying here because I expect your protection. I want to stay here. I want to live in this beautiful place.” Brandon dropped his eyes. “Besides....you and your family have treated me so well Ezekiel. Your generosity? I sure I won’t find people as good as you outside of this Clan....I....I don’t want to leave that behind.”

Ezekiel opened his mouth to speak, but Brandon still had more to say so he pressed over him.

“And yet before I ask Mantilo to turn me into a Clans men, I sort of wanted to talk to you. Because I didn’t just talk with your parents....I also...had a chat with Walter.” Brandon, stopped and cast Ezekiel a pointed look after he said this, hoping that Ezekiel would catch his meaning.

He did. A small flash of guilt crossed Ezekiel’s face and the Guardian ducked his eyes.

“Damn it. He came to you?” Ezekiel mumbled, then he sighed and looked up. The guilt was gone, but there was some heat in his eyes. “Look, I swear I didn’t tell Walter to do that. I don’t know what he said to you but....”

“Look, it doesn’t matter what Walter said to me.” Brandon softly interrupted. He couldn’t quite bring himself to look at Ezekiel so he toyed with the sleeve of his right handed glove. “Talking to him sort of made me realizes that I’m not exactly being fair to you. I was acting like a child and at this point I just think it’s time I stopped running from the situation. I wanna talk to you....I wanna talk about...US.”

“I ...Wait...” Ezekiel started then shook his head and smiled gently. “Really?”

At this point Brandon looked up from his cuff and nodded seriously “Yes. We need to talk. I can’t keep being childish about this.” He said. Then he raised his hands and stretched slightly. “But before we talk I’m sure Lazlo would appreciate a good rub down...Can I watch you until you finish? Or can I help you bathe him?”

Ezekiel chuckled and smiled again. “Sure...as long as you don’t mind getting wet. This old boy never did like water.” Ezekiel easily joked as he set about untying Lazlo from the pole, and leading the large beast out through the back of the clinic and out into a wide grassy field. The area was just as lush and beautiful as every other area of the Leopard Clans home.

There was a dim line of Pine trees bordering the area far out across the field. Grass that smelled of sweetened water and clean earth and gleamed in various shades of emeralds danced in the soft breeze and the warm sunlight from above kissed the canopy of the forests that stretched out across the horizon form miles and miles.

For a second Brandon was truly in awe that such a beautiful land was now something he had a real connection to. This....was soon to be his home. As Brandon looked about Ezekiel pressed the wall back into place, and after fishing around in his pocket he pulled out a small pad lock. In seconds the Guardian had placed the lock on the wall, and aside of a thin seam around the area, it would have been impossible to see the opening if you weren’t already aware that it existed.

And just next to the back of the Clinic was a sparse grouping of more pine trees, a few bushes, and next that there was a long hose, leading from a pipe protruding from the outer wall.

They took Lazlo out towards the hose and pine trees. Ezekiel then tied up the black stallion, turned on the cool water, and lathered him up with a thick soapy liquid that smelled of pine sap. Ezekiel gushed a generous supply into Brandon’s hands, the liquid dribbled across the surface of his gloves, before Ezekiel directed Brandon to apply the soap to the Stallions glorious coal colored mane.

Brandon was both happy, but anxious to be allowed to help. Considering that Lazlo had all but taken his head off when they had first interacted Brandon was happy to be able to touch the powerful stallion without any incident. And even thought the hunger of the flame knew no end, the energy that Ezekiel had given him ensured that Brandon wasn’t weak or in pain, so he was able to touch the horse without any fear of losing control or in desperate need to feed.

So in companionable silence both Ezekiel and Brandon worked to get Lazlo washed off.

There was an understandable air of tension around them. The situation still had to be resolved, but neither Brandon nor Ezekiel seemed inclined to jump back into the muddy waters that had driven them apart. For now they would just be together.

Soon enough all of the suds had been washed off the glistening twitching body of Lazlo who stamped his large hooves and blew various raspberries of annoyance and frustration. The large male swished his tail, often flinging buckets of water into their clothes or giving his body a massive shake that sent curtains of soapy water out across Brandon and Ezekiel. For the most part Brandon got off lightly, often dodging the watery slaps of Lazlo’s tail, but Ezekiel was not so lucky. Soon enough the Guardian was a soggy mess and yet for all Ezekiel seemed to care he just let Lazlo be unruly and wild.

Until finally it was time to switch over and clean Lazlo’s teeth.

Ezekiel pulled out a few strange looking items that he explained were used to hinge open Lazlo’s jaw and for scraping off build up on the stallions teeth.