A/n:
Warning this chapter will be going through both Garretts and Ryan's perspective.

Ryan:

The trip to the cabin did not take long. What took the longest is he decided to camp outside till dark. He has staked the house out for a while and could not tell who all were inside. He just knew if he walks up and started asking questions he would spook or alert Garrett his presence. Ryan would have to go breaking into the cottage when the night was its darkest and spook the snitch to gain the upper hand. The best plan would be for him to catch Bret off guard and rough him up a bit, but being in an enclosed setting with Chris, and he knows back in the day Bret had his own companion he keeps around to help with the locks and safes. He was not sure if she was still around. Bret's agreement with Ryan to be his informant in exchange for staying out of jail extended to her too.

Once the day ended, and the moon was at its highest Ryan approached the cabin in fay form. He wanted to leave Chris behind, but that would be just as dangerous with him being so defenseless and all the creatures hanging around. Ryan slunk to the door with Chris tucked away in one of his pockets. He pressed his head as close to the door as possible to hear the sounds and feel the vibrations with his cat-like ears. He could not make out one word and could not detect any movement. Ryan always brought multiple tools with him, so he grabbed at his lock picking kit with a multiple adjustable to fit each lock he knew of. He moved to tiny jagged end slowly until he hit the bearing just right until he heard a soft clicking sound. The door swung open only a bit leaving a crack. Ryan got into a low standing stance like a huge cat and crept in.

Garrett

They have been at Bret's house for only a day now. For once in a long time, he felt a little at ease and at home. It felt like the days of him only stealing what he needed, so the authorities were not after him. He would steal things here and there, then return with Sam to the campsite. Bret would be waiting, and they would enjoy a meal and socialize by the fire. Those were the days he missed now. Garrett had barely seen Sam since she went off with Aaron. Those two were even close back in the day. Sam would show Aaron her now skills and Aaron was always a natural climber. They would have tenements when they were younger to see who was best. He just smirked at the old memories of young Sam. They were so competitive. It's nice she does once in a while have someone her species and size to talk too sometimes. Garrett knew she never really told him everything she was thinking.

" It's been a while since I've seen you this content." Bret and Garrett were in the living room just sitting down while Bret was sipping dark herbal tea. " If slowing down makes you this happy, why not retire?" Bret asked appearing over his cup at Garrett.

" I couldn't do that. I'm content now, but I would stir crazy not going out getting into trouble and snatching objects. This life isn't for me. There is no excitement or accomplishment. I would feel trapped in a house eventually. My heart is out there in the woods and the stress pumping through my veins."

" What about Sam?"

" What about here?" Garrett gave him a stern look to say watch what you say.

" Do you know why I " retired" and became a snitch as you call it." Bret was leaving his seat and started walking away. Ryan got the hint he wanted him to follow.

Bret came to a room that Bret did not go into. He noticed the balcony Bret built-in his home. " That right there is why I became the person you and I despise." Aaron and Sam were hanging out on the balcony. They were talking and laughing. Sam pushed Aaron away from her playfully. Aaron threw a book at her, not hitting Sam. Ryan could tell they were roughhousing and letting their cares free. He could not tell what they were talking about, but Sam had a smile on her face. It's been a while since he saw her like this, not on edge and training.

Bret and Garrett walked out of the room. " She deserves to be a normal kid."

" You never really mentioned but how did this whole thing start between you two? You always avoided the question." Garrett asked.

Bret went to the stove and poured some tea.

" Like most fay. Found an unwanted child. At first, it was just as a convenience. To have someone pick locks and sneak in easier. Told her she helps me I help her."

It was obvious over the years Bret has mellowed out and this was not just an exchange anymore, but Garrett wasn't going to say anything to make Bret upset or uncomfortable. He remembers when he was just as ruthless and craved whatever was shiny like a crow.

Bret leaned against the counter, but Garrett started to hear soft sounds. His ears were pitched straight up in reaction to the unnatural sound. He looked towards the calm and collected Bret. He didn't think he heard it.

" I know, I hear it too. Someone's downstairs, just stay calm." he acted nonchalantly just in case the intruder had eyes on them and did not expect anything. " I'll try to distract them, you go out the back. Aaron already knows what to do." Bret stated quietly right before taking a drink.

Ryan

There was very little light in the cellar. Ryan peered around to make sure there was nothing in his way or on the floor that could make noise. He stuck to all the shadows and slowed his breathing. He noticed the stairs and walk up them keeping to using the palms of his feet to silence his movements. Ryan noticed the door was closed, so he placed his ears to the door one last time to see if he could decipher how far away from the door Bret was. The room was mistakenly quiet. Ryan tossed the doorknob, but it actually opened, this one was not locked.

Odd

Ryan slipped through the door with caution. To the untrained eye, the place looked abandoned, but he knew the little hints to look for. He even noticed the traces of a human.

Great that just made it more complicated. Aaron was still present in Bret's life.

" Do you see anything up there?" Chris asked in a concerned voice.

" I don't like this situation. It's too quiet." Ryan took Chris out and placed him on the floor. " Get somewhere safe. I'll find you afterward."

As Ryan was in the process of standing back up he felt his body slammed into. Next thing he felt was a body on top of his and his face against the wall. A knife was up against his back puncturing through his clothing, but not yet breaking the skin.

" Can I help you?"

The voice was recognized as Bret's.

Once he noticed Chris was out of eye shot his instincts kicked in. He radiated a surge of electric energy around his body. The surge ran up the blade and made Bret drop the blade.

Bret jumped back while cradling the hand that the knife was in.

" I figured you were here. I did not come to make trouble for you and Aaron."

Ryan noticed Bret's face twitched with anger for a short time when he said the human's name.

" I just came here for Garrett."

Bret stared down Ryan without saying a word.

Chris

He was thrown to the floor with carelessness. He looked up and saw the two giants squabble. Chris looked around and noticed an entrance and ran. Once inside he could hear the distant yells and movement. He decided to move with haste. When the sounds started to become quieter he actually peered around at his surroundings. He was in a tunnel-like area. There were small engravings on the wall made by a delicate hand. Up ahead was a dark hallowed out room.

This area was made with care and patience.

He enters the room but was not paying attention. He ran smack into someone. His body slammed into the floor and was dazed by the abrupt movement. Above him was a girl his age and size. She had bright orange-red hair. She was just as startled as he was. The girl extended a hand out to him and pulled him up to his first. She was wearing normal clothing, like a city dweller. Once on his feet, he saw she was extending a knife out to him. He jumped back looking for his own knife for protection.

" You dropped this."

He grabbed the object from her and stared at her for a moment.

" We don't have time for this. We got to go."

She grabbed his hand and started to run.

This had to be Aaron.

" ok ok slow down. Where do you think you are taking me." He yanked his hand free.

" Do you not hear that upstairs. I got to go to the spot and wait for Bret, and unless you want to be left behind you are coming."

" and why are you trying to drag a strange with you?"

He could tell she was getting aggravated. " Look I know you came with Ryan, but if you want to stay here be my guest."

In the corner of his eye, he saw someone else running in the opposite direction. He could tell it was a young woman with black hair.

He was too curious about where she was going and took off after her. " No tho can't." His hand was grabbed. Whoever that person was he figured she wasn't supposed to be seen. He ruled out of the grip and ran after her.

She ran out of the whole into the main rooms of the house where the fay were.

​Garrett

Before the hunter even entered the house he went to the very back and waited for his chance to escape. He hated retreating, but he knew this was not the time to argue or place his life in danger. He also did not know where Sam was. Garrett knew now was the time to remain safe, find her, and escape. He heard the loud commotion in the other room between the hunter and Bret. The fay peered around the corner and noticed Sam running in his direction, but Ryan and Bret were in their own world to notice a human. He had to do something and fast. Garrett grabbed his now and arrow that he always had by his side and settled into place. He peered down his " scope" and shot a clean precise shot. The arrow went right through Ryans uniform pinning him to the wall. Before he could reach up and take out the arrow Garrett released two more arrows. One going through his sleeve the other through his shirt collar. This obviously would not stop him but slowed him. Bret noticed the shots and traced his eyes to where Sam was. He moved gracefully to the opposite side of the room she was, this way all eye contact was on him.

Garrett turned human and shot towards Sam. He grabbed her hand and lead her to the other side of the room. He peered behind him and noticed another human besides Aaron. This young brown haired man was staring at him and Sam. He prayed if this boy was with Ryan he would not tell him about the existence of Sam. Garrett did not have time to think about it. He closed the tiny door behind him and followed Sam down the hallway that leads to the outside.

Once out Garrett turned fay and grabbed his horse. The exit was not that far from the tree Garrett located the key from. Within seconds, he jumped on and rode off, with Sam on his shoulder. He did not care what he left behind or which way he went. He just needed some distance between him and the cabin.