The Path Of Destiny

The next day Corin helped Hank get the children ready and they talked as they did. The first thing Hank said to Corin that morning was “you’re still pale Corin, are you sure you’re alright? If you want we can wait until…”

“No, I’m fine. Let’s do it.” So now as they prepared the children they spoke, Corin asking softly “what is your source of income?”
“What?” Hank asked, distracted for a second and Corin went on “how do you pay for food, clothes and that sort of stuff for all the children?”

“Well donations from the neighbors, friends and family-what we have left that is. My pay check among other things although that isn’t much as it is, we got more on the Witness Protection Program when we took care of your brother and his adopted brother. We get by and the children are no problem, the only time we need worry is Christmas, Easter and birthdays. Although the Fire religion doesn’t celebrate Christmas or Easter, eggs and candy have sugar that most of the kids can't eat because of you races allergy to it, we made do with other things.”

“So noone pays you to take care of them, like in an human orphanage?”
“No.” Corin frowned at this for a few seconds then spoke “I need to make a call, can you get the children in the bus while I do?”

“Sure, what’s the problem?”

“No problem, I just thought of something.” He left Hank and went back into the kitchen while the man bustled the children outside. Then, leaving Red in charge, he went to get the hybrid.

He was leaning up against the pantry, black clad legs crossed casually, phone receiver against his ear and mouth, one hand holding it and the other one minute picking at his leather jacket, the next running back through his hair. He was speaking in their tongue “yes, well I know, young one. Ghost will you let me say why! I want you to tell him that because I am busy. Besides, he’s your grandfather-in-law. Yes I know that…fine don’t then!” Corin hung up, slamming the receiver down angrily. “What’s wrong?” Hank asked.

“Nothing” Corin said, calming quickly “just my nephew being stubborn.”
“Ghost…wasn’t that Speed and his wife’s son?”

“Star, yeah right. I asked him to take a message to Richard for me but he kept saying “he’s your best friend, tell him yourself!”


“Oh” was all Hank said and Corin sighed “Look let’s just go, I’ll call and talk to Richard later, and while I’m there I’ll see Star about her son! Sometimes I think that boy is no Son Of Hauleric!”

“But he is” Hank said and Corin sighed again, nodding “He is, are you ready?”
“Are YOU?” Hank asked him “for we are.”
“I am” Corin nodded and sighed gruffly “let’s go.”

While Hank drove Corin and Red talked in low tones, suddenly interrupted not far from their destination with Corin calling out “can you stop at an ATM for a minute please Hank?”


“Which one?” Hank called back and was startled when the Fire Idar replied with a casual “Any.” He started to question him further, changed his mind and just shook his head slowly to himself after a murmured “Alright.”

Stopping at the nearest ATM Corin went over to it, placing his palm against the ID panel and it accessed his bank file.

Hank watched him withdraw a lot of money, how much he couldn’t tell exactly but he knew it was a lot because when he came back on board his jacket pockets were bulging.

Just before they arrived at the Zoo he stood and walked up and down the bus, handing each child some money and then coming back to his seat after saying loudly to them “this is to spend at the Zoo. Remember, no candy or junk food of any kind, it could kill you.”

“What about toys and balloons Corin?” Paytan asked and the Fire Idar smiled “yes that is fine, young one.”

When they parked outside and Hank had locked the bus up Corin turned to him “how much does the entrance fee cost?” The man-witch shook his head and answered with “the Zoo is letting us in for free. Some sort of business act so they can get publicity as compassionate for letting a group of poor orphans in without taking what little money we have left.”

“I understand and here” Corin pushed a lot of money into Hank’s hands, the man gasping when he realized he held at least five thousand. The boy Idar frowned “it’s not enough?” but Hank quickly put in “no, it’s plenty. Where did you get so much money? You must had cleared out your account,” this thought upset him and he started to push it back “I can’t accept it…”

Corin pushed it back as he explained, “in three of the Idar caves we discovered a huge source of priceless gems. They were all dug out and sold and each Idar received a share of the money, those that have lives outside that is. The rest Richard and the Protectors have just in case it’s needed. This is only change compared to the rest in my account. Think of it as my contribution towards the kids not only having fun for a change, but their welfare and well being. Use the rest for clothes and food you need.” When Hank went to protest again he pushed it back towards him further and said firmly “take it.”

“Alright” Hank sighed then nodded “if you’re sure.”
This time the Fire Idar nodded.


Throughout the day Hank noticed Corin’s attention on certain people that he saw over and over again, people that seemed to be following them, two males and one female, all teenagers as well. These, he guessed, were the Idars sent to protect the children. That meant Jason must be guarding Amanda back at the house, he didn’t see him anywhere-or sense him. For some reason he felt safer that JASON was there with her than any other.

They were just about to leave, going past the wolf pen when there came a terrified cry of “JUSTIN! OH MY GOD! He fell in! Someone help him! Someone help him please!”

Corin spun, crying to them “Stay back!” as he ran in a flash of black and red for the pen. There he found a young seven year old boy in a corner, three male wolves facing him and crouched to spring, growling low and lips peeled back from the long sharp and pointed teeth.

Just as one wolf launched itself at the child Corin landed between them, back handing the wolf with such strength it went flying and he crouched between the other two and boy, growling low, deep and threateningly. Another wolf came for them, Corin grabbing it and ignoring it’s sharp claws he grabbed it’s jaw and held it closed, throwing it at the other one. They collided and Corin turned to pick the boy up.

Just as he was standing there came a cry from Hank of “Corin! Look out behind you!” as the first wolf, allowed time to recover, jumped at him. Holding the boy with one arm he spun around, the animal landing on his back, claws and teeth tearing at him, ripping his shirt open and before Hank could say or do anything the huge folded wings flashed open, knocking the wolf away before closing and Corin was able to used his free hand to hold the back closed to hide them.

The three wolves by now were confused and uncertain of what to do. There were two other males in THEIR territory but they could sense how unusual Corin was, feel his unnatural taint and yet there was a strong sense of kinship with him somehow as a beast of the wild and nature. But there was also the ease at how he had beaten them that made them nervous.

While they were off balance and confused Corin spoke urgently to the child “what is your name boy?” Frightened beyond thought but responding to something in his voice the boy managed to stutter “J…J…Justin.”

“Well Justin I’m Corin and I’ll get you out of here, but I need you to do as I say, Alright? You must listen and do as I say exactly, understand?” The boy nodded quickly in fear.

“Good. Now I want you to climb onto my back and hang on, arms around my neck and legs around my waist, alright?” The boy nodded nervously and Corin helped the boy slowly move around onto his back, his body hiding the wings, Corin then calling up “throw me down a rope someone and hurry before the wolves decided what to do.”

To Hank’s surprise one of the three Idars who had been following them did so, the gray skinned male. He threw down one end of the rope and with the help of the other two they held the other end, the gray skinned boy anchoring himself against the cement wall, the other two planting themselves with their legs apart.

“Pull!” The lead Idar said thickly and slowly the three started to pull, obviously only using a fraction of their strength to avoid suspicion. It was just as well they all wore gloves, Hank mussed. Slowly Corin and the boy rose and they noticed that the hybrid kept his eyes on the male wolves closely. Not far up one wolf crouched, growled throatily and jumped at them. Corin saw it and spun so the boy was out of the way, drawing his legs up to himself tightly.

Everyone gasped as the wolf flew closer and one or two people cried out in horror as the animals clawed paw managed to tear a large jagged wound in his left leg before it landed back on the ground, yelping loudly as the trickle of Corins’ blood that had splashed it’s paw burnt the sensitive pad. Without a cry or even a gasp-only a wince and grimace-Corin gripped the rope tighter, however when he saw how the wolf’s leg shook under it in agony and the way the wolf was in pain something beautiful and pure came into his eyes that suddenly reminded Hank of a childhood Jason, but then he suddenly remembered something else, another memory. This one wasn’t Jason but Jellina, if Amanda was right, Corin’s mother.

Corin looked almost exactly like his mother just now as he looked at the wolf, the same compassionate eyes and look as the young woman had got every time she had looked at the damaged young man, Corin’s father. As a Son Of Hauleric, and perhaps a creature of nature himself Corin was regretting hurting the wolf, even though he hadn’t even done it.

As Hank watched he drew his own Fire blood back inside the wound, plowing his brow to call back the little from the animals paw.

When they reached the top Corin handed the child to its mother who took him, sobbing in relief and joy so bad she could barely see while he immediately clamped both hands over his leg, covering the wound from all’s sight. Hank cried his name and the children crowded around him enough to hide him from sight-whether out of concern or to help hide the Fire blood Hank didn’t know-and Hank noticed one of the Idars, the gray skinned boy, come towards them but Corin grimaced at him and he stopped, concerned but uncertain if he should come to help.

One more glare from Corin sent him and his and companions slipping away in the crowd. “Out of the way!” someone called “I’m a doctor! Let me in!” Hank saw Corins lips moving in a spell to hide his fire part and by the time the man reached him his fire blood was normal human blood just like with Jason and Joel when they had first got them from the orphanage and didn’t know what they were.

Right now Corins’ hands were almost completely covered as he fought to stop the flow by holding the wound tightly closed, pressing the edges together hard. The doctor reached him, got everyone to move back and he examined it until an official of the Zoo arrived with a first-aid kit.

While the man bound the wound as best he could to stop the blood flow temporarily Corin gritted his teeth in pain and Hank swore he heard him murmur under his breathe “no father stay there with Amanda, I’ll be fine. Stay there.” The doctor then addressed him softly “who are you here with son? Anyone?”

Hank stepped forward and spoke out “he’s with us. I’m Hank Anderson and this is my grandson Corin Tallawa. He’s staying with us for a while.”

“Well Corin we’re going to have to move you. This is going to hurt but we have to get you to the nearest medical room until we can call an ambulance. You may go into shock but don’t worry because we will take care of you, you are safe, understand?”

“Of course” he sounded remarkably calm although there was an edge of pain in his voice. He laughed shortly “I won’t go into shock, don’t worry about it. Of course I’m safe. I am no stranger to pain and injuries such as this I assure you. I do this for a living-so to speak.”

“You’re some sort of animal handler?” and at this Corin laughed again “yes sort of. I just need to be stitched up and get some blood to replace the loss I have.”

“I will” Red came to his side, lying a hand on his shoulder “we have the same blood type.”

Two men came forward, sliding hands and arms under him and lifting him in a four-handed seating position now called a fireman’s carry, his legs out straight, Corin’s hand sliding into hers and his lips moving slightly, the disguise spell again to hide Red’s this time.

Hank and the children, followed by the child and his parents, followed them away.


A few hours later the group of them were seated or standing around the waiting room of the nearest hospital, the boy playing with the children while his parents spoke to Hank. “There has to be some way we can thank you for your grandson rescuing our son” the mother was saying to him “any way, just name it. We already lost our oldest son –Justin’s brother-in a car accident and we wouldn’t have been able to live if we lost him too. Please, tell us any way we can repay you.”

“Corin rescued him, see him, not me.”

“But it was your influence that helped him grow up into the hero he is. You are partly responsible!” the woman protested. Hank could hardly tell her that as an Son Of Hauleric, Corins’ very nature was to put others before himself so just said gruffly “I had no hand it his growing up, Mrs Oxford, I didn’t even know he existed until a few weeks ago, hell I didn’t even know his father was still alive, I haven’t see or heard from him since he left us many, many years ago.”

The mother was about to speak when Red and Corin appeared, Corins leg bandaged tightly and leaning on a crutch and a band aid on Reds’ inner elbow. Corin’s skin was paler then that first day they had met and he lent heavily on the crutch but somehow Hank knew it was just an act, his way of acting human.

While Hank kept the children back so they wouldn’t knock or annoy him the boy and parents came to him. The child stepped forward and spoke softly with reverence and awe “How are you feeling, sir?” Corin smiled at him and said gently “better Justin.”

“I’m sorry you got hurt sir, I couldn’t see them so I lent over to look closer, even though mom told me not to and I knew it was dangerous. If I hadn’t of lent so far…”

“It was an accident” Corin interrupted him “you didn’t know you were going to lose your balance, don’t blame yourself, I am use to injuries like this. Did you know I am not only an animal handler but an rescue worker?”

“No” the boy said “do you get hurt a lot?”

“Enough to be use to it, enough so you shouldn’t blame yourself for one little accident, alright, understand?” The boy, Justin, nodded and before his parents could speak a doctor appeared “there you are!” he handed a small plastic bottle of pills to Corin “these will kill your pain. I want you to stay off that leg as much as possible and come back and see me if there is any problems and a check up in a fortnight, alright?”

Corin looked about to protest, changed his mind and nodded, after a deep sigh he spoke “fine, alright, I will.” He looked at Hank “can we go now, hospitals make me nervous.”

Hank nodded, gave the parents their address and they started to leave. However near the exit two things happened at once, one was the red headed Idar appeared again-locking eyes with Corin for a few long seconds then left, after asking a nearby nurse about where to find the doctor who had attended to Corin. The second was a large group of hospital security and orderlies joined them, claiming that there was news teams and reporters outside waiting for them, to see Corin.

“Oh great!” he exclaimed, “just the publicity I need! It’d be great for the orphanage but ME! Damn it, so much for secrecy! Once they discover WHO and WHAT I am there’ll be fanatics and needers galore and the children and I will be exposed to danger! Great, just bloody great!”

“I have an idea” Red said softly “but we’ll need the help of some of the hospital staff.”

* * * *

“Here he comes!” someone called and the reporters turned to see a figure hidden by a rug leaning on a crutch, the children and a man and young woman. As question after question was shot at them they fought to get to the parking lot where a bus waited. As the crowd closed in around them the rug was suddenly yanked off and the figure was revealed, tall teenager with short black hair and brown eyes.

“That’s not him!” someone else called and the reporters and news crew all turned and started moving away from them, back to the front doors. The group however continued around the corner where another bus pulled up, Hank behind the wheel “get in kids, quick kids, before they realize they’ve been tricked and come-a-running” the boy who had been masquerading as Corin said quickly.

Obediently the children all piled on board, Red following and the boy and man, a patient and doctor watched the door close and the bus started off. Red stuck her head out the window and called out a thank you to them, the boy smiling and answering with an “anytime beautiful” which made her blush and smile back as they went past.

The reporters and news crews met them at the gate, Corin sinking low in his seat and hiding his face and head from all with his leather jacket, mumbling what sounded like swearing in Idar and the children obeyed Hank’s earlier order by pulling faces when they took photos or film of the bus, totally wrecking it so they would have nothing to show. They broke out of the crowd quickly and started off home, Corin still swearing under his breath.

“We’re clear” Hank said but was cut off by Paytan “they’re following us, Mr Anderson!” Sure enough three news vans were following them, determined to get a story. The children moved to go down the back and all look but Hank called back “stay in your seats, this calls for some evasive action.”