Chương 17: Stratification

Ximena observes her group, four hunters arranged a circle like a self-help meeting. They're in a half-empty spare room, one of few remaining in the building that haven't been cannibalized by MBR for other purposes, as repairs from the Refraction are still ongoing. Besides a few stored boxes, the only things here are metal folding chairs with cushioned seats that house four magical beasts. Isopod R. A gargoyle, originally sculpted and consecrated hundreds of years ago to guard a cathedral.

Around a decade back, the cathedral was torn down to make space for a shopping mall that went out of business after a single year. Hates demons, hates capitalism, made of rock. His partner. Woodlouse R, is mostly a tactician who narrows down locations for Isopod to guard. An effective, though non-traditional team. Damselfly E. She is a small, flying haltija: a protective spirit bonded to her partner, Dragonfly E. She's always optimistic, to the point that it can be a little unnerving.

There isn't much else to say about her, besides that she's very good at protecting Dragonfly. Probably the most normal of the four. Shrike C. A kynde, reliant on high temperatures but capable of incredibly destructive light projections. Seems more concerned with her romantic and hunting partner Martin C than about anything else, including her job. Shrike was also the catalyst for destroying part of the building, but that should go without saying. Caribou Z.

A shapeshifting ijiraq from the far north of the continent, wearing mirrored sunglasses atop a t-shirt and shorts despite the frigid weather outside. Unpredictable, vicious, and alien, but extremely effective. Looking into its unchanging red eyes makes memories of it start to fade. Its sideways mouth, like that of a hagfish, grinds against itself impatiently. Its partner, Deer Z, is blind. The only reasonable human partner for a monster whose eyes burn away memories, according to her predecessor.

Ximena picks at a loose nail. These four have high success rates, but they're all a little off in their own ways. Like most hunters, admittedly, but still...

"Hey, everyone. Most of you know me, though I can't remember if I spoke with Caribou yet," she starts.

"You have. You will again, too." The ijiraq speaks with a churning voice, sounding faintly mocking.

"Very funny, Caribou. On to business, I thought it would be good for everyone here to get to know each other. It can be isolating to think you're the only one out there." A groan like sliding rock comes from Isopod.

"I'm still the only one like me here. We're not all that similar."

"I meant in terms of experiences. You're all existing in a world that wasn't made for you. Take a few minutes, introduce yourselves to each other." The gargoyle stays completely still, perching on the metal chair in his most comfortable position.

"I'm Isopod. I am as I was made. Rock, with a hatred of the demonic, and a living reminder to humans to not stray from a righteous path. Being a hunter made perfect sense." The haltija is next, smiling nervously as she sits on the back of the folding chair. She's about the size of an apple, but seems even smaller when compared to the gargoyle next to her.

"Hello everyone! I'm Damselfly, the guardian spirit of my friend Dragonfly. I'm happy to be here, let me know if you need anything!" Shrike looks around awkwardly.

"I am Shrike. I am a kynde. I... like pelicans? I am unsure what I am expected to reveal here." The ijiraq sharply cranes its next out, joints popping and snapping as its neck extends slightly to get a better look at Shrike.

"You are strange." Its neck returns into its normal position, as it starts its own introduction.

"I am ijiraq. I am called Caribou. I loathe much of humanity, and enjoy punishing those who disrupt either of my worlds."

"I can get behind that," the gargoyle affirms.

"It's the damn presumption, right?" Caribou laughs in hoarse expulsions.

"When I find a particularly detestable human, I take them into the north and east mountains, and release them mostly naked to see how far they make it on their own merit. It is never far." Ximena awkwardly laughs.

"Umm... you mean-""I mean what I have said, human. Have you forgotten I am not a hunter of my kin? I prey only on the humans and former humans who disrupt the fabric."

"Right. So you're only doing that to the ones you're hired to deal with..?" Ximona asks weakly. She heard Caribou was a complex case, but that is bordering on downright evil. Another strangling laugh.

"I remain aligned with this institution. Your effectiveness at finding the most wretched of humanity is unmatched." Isopod's grotesque smile seems more earnest.

"I think I have a new best friend. Once, when I was standing watch for a few days outside an office building while waiting for some kind of owl demon to show up, I saw this guy literally rob an old woman at gunpoint. Like in a movie. I dropped down a few hundred feet directly onto his leg. Bastard still can't walk right."

"His leg?" Caribou asks.

"A shame you missed." The two share a sinister laugh together, grating stone against choking gasps.

"Would you enjoy hearing of the event that caused Dr. Stolatz to be fired?" Shrike offers, likely trying to ease the tone a bit. Caribou shudders, a short hissing roar released from its mouth.

"I certainly would. Dr. Stolatz is a despicable animal." A murmur of agreement from Damselfly, even. Ximena bites her lip. Maybe this was a bad idea... -"Sooooo..." Deer says, only a hint of a frown on his weathered face.

"What do you all think they're talking about in there?" He taps his extending cane in the small lunchroom the four hunters were put in. He's older, maybe 50, and doesn't take any measures to hide the patchwork of scar tissue that sneaks out around his black sunglasses. There's a certain magic that leaks off of him, like he's aware of everything happening around him at once, always turning his head a split second before someone starts talking.

To top it off, Martin gets the distinct impression the cane isn't only for navigation. Martin thinks for a moment.

"If I had to guess... probably MBR, right? That's what I'd be talking about."

"Maybe." Deer says.

"Caribou is less about institutions and more about individuals, though. My money is on Stolatz specifically." Woodlouse agrees, talking through the video feed of a laptop with a tired smile.

"Gotta be, Stolatz was a menace. It's nice to talk to other hunters with sapient partners. A shame I couldn't make it in person." He's right around Martin's age, and even looks fairly similar, with black hair and a short beard. It's a bit hard to make out eye color on the cheap laptop they set up, but it hardly matters.

"We should meet up like this again, honestly," Dragonfly adds. He's barely over 20, and seems younger than he is based on the unmaintained vestiges of a mohawk and noticeably oily skin. Compared to Martin, they could pass for father and son.

"I'm sure Damselfly appreciates having people other than me to talk to, and frankly I could use a few more friends."

"Maybe a monthly thing. A good excuse if I want to sluff a dumb job." Deer adds, passively scratching near his eyes.

"Damn, you guys get to turn down work? What rank are you?" Dragonfly asks Deer earnestly.

"I think... four? I'm not really keeping track. I make Caribou go to all the ceremonies instead of me."

"I'm three-star, and usually at home anyway. The upshot is an exemption for going to those stupid things. Isopod goes for me," Woodlouse adds, tapping the arm of his wheelchair for emphasis.

"Even if I have to exaggerate about how bad a day I'm having." He winks, which is barely picked up by the poor connection of the video feed.

"Three-star here, too, and Shrike does mine. Mostly because I simply refuse to do it. You'd be amazed how much you can bullshit your way out of."

"I guess we all do it. What do you guys offer your partners in exchange for it? Damselfly makes me do cardio and avoid carbs. She's a guardian spirit, so her health is tied to mine."

"Shrike loves saunas, like, three hour long sauna trips. She gets drunk off of them, I'm not joking. It's the funniest thing."

"Okay, this requires explanation," Deer says.

"So Caribou and I aren't magical beast hunters, we're magical people hunters. You know, rogue magicians, sorcerers, occasionally brainrazes who still have some humanity left. Kind of like bounty hunters. Usually it'd be under Counter-Magic's jurisdiction, but apparently they don't want magical beasts in the military. Anyway, don't judge me, but whenever Caribou does a favor for me, I pay it back by letting Caribou decide a karmic punishment for someone particularly nasty we're supposed to 'take care' of."

"God damn, a sadistic people-hunting monster, but on our side? That's a trip," Martin says.

"You gotta give us an example, don't leave it to our imaginations," Woodlouse asks, to murmured agreement.

"Okay, okay... so this one guy, real piece of work, started making drugs that were highly addictive, and also sapped the energy out of whoever used them and transferred it to him. The thing about ijirait is that they are half-physical, half-spirit, so they have a really strong understanding of that kind of magic. We got the guy pretty easy since Caribou, in its typical fashion, just took the drugs itself and traced where its energy was being sent. So what would the karmic punishment be here?"

He smirks, waiting for an answer. Dragonfly offers the obvious.

"Make the guy take a ton of his own drugs, but change where the life force was going?"

"No, Caribou decided to make him 'understand the effect' of what draining someone's energy is by chaining him in place, and spending forty-eight hours straight doing nothing but scaring the absolute shit out of the guy, staring into his eyes until the guy forgot Caribou existed, and then repeating the process. No sleep, no food, only a tiny cup of water every eight hours.

Apparently, the dude is being held in prison with no idea who caught him, but he has nightmares every time he falls asleep about being trapped in a frozen sea of bright red blood."

"Jesus Christ..." Martin says in disbelief, pushing his hair back. The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. Deer shrugs at the response.

"Caribou's usual method is taking the quarry, dropping them off in the mountains, and seeing how far they get before collapsing. The deal is it can't actually let them die, though they get pretty close sometimes."

"And you're... okay with that?" Woodlouse asks.

"That sounds really fucked up."

"Ehh. You have to remember Caribou only does this to the really bad people out there. We don't get assigned to every magician conman. Also, Caribou has never, not even once, killed someone. Never maimed someone either, and it even makes sure they don't get frostbite. Caribou even does search and rescue in its off time, just flying around as a bird in the mountains to find lost people." Deer's explanation does little to comfort the other hunters, as a silence comes over the room.

The tension remains firmly taunt, until Woodlouse breaks it with a deep breath.

"I just buy geodes for Isopod when he does me a favor. He says they taste good." -"You have relations with a human?" Caribou asks, jaws flexing. Isopod and Damselfly closely follow the unexpected conversation.

"I am in a romantic relationship with my partner, though I am unsure what 'relations' implies," Shrike replies nonchalantly. Caribou lifts its mirrored glasses, studying Shrike in more detail. Caribou's eyes are entirely one shade of bright red, with a small black pupil in the center. Its eyelids are vertical, like its mouth.

"Interesting. Is your Martin a source of joy?" Shrike nods.

"Yes... one of few I have found. He appreciates my oddities, is trustworthy beyond doubt, and is not ashamed of our relationship. I feel as though his understanding of a relationship is different from mine, but he respects my approach regardless." Caribou puts its glasses back on, huffing.

"You are fortunate. I have found few humans worth tolerating, let alone engaging with so intimately. Treasure him." - After the meeting, Caribou enters the driver's seat, having taken on a human form, though the sunglasses remain. Deer sits next to him with an exaggerated sigh.

"How was it, monster?" Deer asks, mostly out of obligation.

"My original protests were proven wrong. I enjoyed the experience. Very enlightening to speak with others who also view humans through a different lens. One of them is even romantically entangled with their human partner." Deer half-gags in his mouth.

"That's... ugh. That's disgusting."

"On the contrary. It seemed to bring mutual happiness." Caribou says, pulling the truck out of the lot.

"Since when does the magical beast who hates humans messing with the natural order approve of that kind of messing around?" Caribou grunts in irritation.

"We have worked together for some time, yet you still do not comprehend my purpose and goals. I detest violations against the fabric of the two worlds, not violations of human social standards. Explain to me how this can cause distress for individuals, ecology, or otherwise."

"It's causing this individual some distress."

"You are causing yourself distress. You are not a fool, yet you seem to enjoy pretending to be one."

"Just drive, ijiraq. I'm not going to be lectured on societal standards by the monster that tortures people for kicks." -"Huh. Martin never mentioned that." Woodlouse rolls back to his desk, triple checking various density maps he's made before sending Isopod off.

"Weird, but whatever." Isopod perches on a windowsill, ready to leave.

"Yeah. Definitely gonna be a bit awkward at the next meetup. Anyway, you're all set, just finished checking my math. See you in a few days. Oh, you're gonna be by that new age shop that just popped up, so feel free to take my credit card. I already called ahead and explained about you, just use the back door."

"Mmm... Selenite." After taking Woodlouse's credit card with surprising gentleness, he takes off with a powerful flap of stone wings, flying into the night. -"Don't lay down at that angle. It's bad for your neck. You'll get a tension headache." Damselfly nags, as Dragonfly rests comfortably on the couch.

"Do I have to get the butterfly net again?" he replies in mock irritation.

"That's such a mean thing to say. Oh! Shrike and Martin are doing things together. Things like hand-holding, or even kissing..."

"I didn't need to know that. Wait, is Shrike okay?"

"She seems happy..."

"Then I didn't need to know that." - Martin plays with Shrike's hair as she struggles not to nod off on his chest.

"Oh, tell me about Caribou. Deer made it sound... disturbing."

"Perhaps without context," Shrike says, eyes heavy.

"It is a nuanced creature, that thinks in difficult to articulate ways. Half within the world. Similar in that sense to me, though the motivations it possess remain foreign."

"That explains why it rubs me the wrong way. You, I understand. You have motivations that are more or less similar to humans. It? Not even remotely. I love you, but Caribou scares me a little."

"Mhmm... Love you too..." Shrike drifts off on his shoulder. Martin remains astounded by how she falls asleep so quickly. Of all her abilities, that's the one he's the most jealous of. - Shrike is in a forest. One very familiar, covered in snow and endless frozen pines. Where she usually is in her dreams. Only, someone else is there too. Caribou, the ijiraq. Caribou and Shrike make eye contact, both taking a half step back in confusion. They say nothing, until they each take a step forward, in perfect unison.

They hold out a hand to touch the other's. And then Shrike is awake. She jerks up, panting, warm but with frozen nerves. There has never been another person visible in her dreams before. Not even an animal. Never. She holds her chest, checking the time. It's two in the morning. Martin's phone starts ringing quietly. She, gets out of bed as gently as she can, and checks the caller.

'Deer.' She takes his phone, answering it as she gently goes down the stairs and into the backyard.

"Caribou?"

"Did you see me?"

"Yes."

"Something is strange. Something I do not understand."

"In my dreams, I am invariably alone, yet you were there despite the surroundings remaining the same." She hears its powerful breaths start to hasten.

"Is this your doing?"

"No. It frightened me."

"We must speak. Tomorrow. Where are you residing?" - Just as Shrike and Martin finish preparing a few types of food, the doorbell rings. Shrike speedwalks to it, her nervous hand twisting the knob to reveal two men in sunglasses, one pair dark, one pair mirrored. Deer makes an annoyed huff.

"We're here, though it still won't tell me why beyond 'I saw her in a dream' as if that means literally anything." Martin leaves the kitchen, still drying his hands on an old towel.

"Hey, Deer. And hey, Caribou..." He appraises the very normal looking man in front of him. Not what he expected. Caribou shuts the door, and its form starts to shift. Something twists around the eyes, hidden behind the mirrors. Its jaws pop out like a goblin shark's with a crack and a rip, rotating ninety degrees with slick crunching before retracting back into its face, human teeth sharpening and extending into a more suitable arrangement.

"This is my form, Martin." Caribou states plainly.

"I can see that." That was more what he expected.

"Shrike said you showed up in one of her dreams. She's never had another person in one of her dreams before, and she's had a few variations on it... sorry, I should let her explain. I'm done with lunch, if either of you are hungry."

"Lunch must wait, though I appreciate the offer, and further appreciate your nonchalance at my appearance." Caribou approaches Shrike, its mandibles gently flexing.

"Shrike. How old are you?"

"I... do not know. I know I am over thirteen thousand."

"You are not certain?" it asks in disbelief.

"Do you not keep track?"

"I hibernate for extended periods, and my memories fade during my sleep," Shrike says, failing to make eye contact with the mirrored glasses in front of her. It chews the air, theorizing for a few seconds.

"You are immortal."

"I have not noticeably aged, I believe. I do not feel mortal, though I believe that may change."

"Do you know where our dreams take place?"

"No... do you?" Shrike sits down on the couch, following Caribou's eyes. Caribou scratches its neck.

"It is interesting we both know so little." It shifts its eyes and jaw back to a human shape, before returning to the car. Deer sighs.

"Such a rude bastard. Gotta go, because it absolutely will leave without me. I'll catch you later, cohabitators." He makes his way back to the car, and Caribou drives them both away. Martin forlornly walks to the kitchen, looking at the expansive spread he and Shrike made.

"Hope you wanted leftovers for our next few meals." -"You're an asshole." Deer says as Caribou drives.

"Making me come for a thirty second visit where nothing happened."

"Quiet. Much happened. Try listening to conversations instead of only hearing them."

"Don't start with your tacky folk wisdom. I know what you're doing, by the way. You love to lie by omission."

"Why must you test the limits of my patience daily, when I do nothing but succeed in everything you ask of me?"

"Because you're always up to something, always scheming, always creeping around. Always. It's never just a quiet day or a quick hello. What aren't you telling the kynde?"

"I am not telling Shrike where she is in her dreams. It would only serve to distress her, especially given our proximity. Ijirait are creatures of life and death simultaneously. Humans are not. She is not. There is more happening here than I yet understand, so I will ascertain her exact nature instead of leaving her to flounder in the dark with partial information."

"Then I'll tell her. She should know."

"Rethink that. I abide much, but this falls into the domain of the spirit world, in which you would be an interloper. Leave this be, or I will leave you." - Shrike checks her phone. Not even a text from Cain. Dull. With a final scoop, she finishes plowing the block with her projections.

"I am bored," she says to herself.

"I have rarely been bored." She lets the projections fade, and looks up at the cloudy gray sky. So long spent gathering light and heat, being active, hunting, but now...

"I wonder what there is to entertain me." Shrike walks slowly back to the house, passively listening to instrumental folk in her earbuds. She politely smiles at a neighbor who she assumes is thanking her for doing everyone's driveways and walks. Maybe there's something in town to do? She removes her boots, unplugging them from her pants.

"Martin! I may be taking your vehicle later!" There's a grumbling acknowledgement from up the stairs. It's 8: 30, she thinks. What is there to do at 8: 30 on a Tuesday? An idea slowly creeps into her head. She has phone numbers of each of the other magical beasts... Yes. A simple idea. She starts a group text chat, including Cain. Immediately, a '???' comes from Damselfly. It's followed by an 'obnoxious' from Caribou. A small picture of a moai is sent by Isopod. Despite the complaints, no one leaves.

She reads the slow stream of texts. DE: Oh, it's a group message! CZ: too early IR: cool but who the hell is the fifth person She quickly replies, explaining Cain is a kynde. After mild pushback from Isopod, she explains that Cain makes humans lose memories of him, which extends to text. CZ: interesting IR: yo cain welcome to the freakshow CA: What's happening, Shrike? SC: You are in a multiple person texting group with the other hunters of magical origin I have messaged you regarding. CA: Hey everyone! I'm Cain!

Scrolling up it seems I'm here as a shield. Sign me up. CZ: tested with partner. it works even in text to speech. any watching eyes will be unable to grasp this CA: I'm so happy to meet everyone! I get super lonely since humans can't talk to me. Sorry in advance if I spam the chat! DE: That's okay! Happy to have you! IR: hello Shrike smiles watching everyone talking over the chat. Martin tromps down the steps, shirtless in his pajama bottoms.

"Morning, Shrike. Laundry day." It's the first time Shrike has seen his chest exposed like this. Usually, he prefers to keep it covered. There's more hair than she expected, two large scars along the bottom of his pectoral muscles, inward belly button...

"Like what you see?" Martin jokingly raises an eyebrow in an exaggerated seductive tone, waiting by the staircase.

"Yes." She assumes he means specifically his torso. Strong. Reliable. Healthy. The ideal body for their line of work. Martin's other eyebrow joins the first.

"Really?"

"It is very functional. And visually appealing." She nods approvingly.

"Huh. Damn..." He's suddenly shy, holding one arm along his stomach.

"I didn't know you found anyone hot." He doesn't mean it literally, she thinks, but as synonym for physically attractive.

"I do, you foremost among them." Martin awkwardly thanks her for the compliment, before passing her on his way down to the basement. Shrike goes back to check the group chat. CZ: deer is angry he cannot listen in to the messages DE: Aww, that's hard for him. IR: lol tell him we're talking about him CA: That's amazingly funny! IR: dude chill"Shrike?" She jumps, dropping her phone and readying a few needles of light at Martin, who is amused by the deadly projections pointed at him.

She quickly dismisses them, picking up her phone.

"My apologies, I did not intend to threaten you. I was absorbed."

"In what?"

"I created a group text for the sapient non-humans Ximena assembled, plus Cain. You cannot study it."

"Why?"

"Cain's magic." Martin thinks on the explanation.

"Cain's the guy with the texts I can only kind of read, and can't ever remember. I guess if he were in a group text, that would extend to everyone there." Shrike does not confirm or deny. She looks back to her new chat. CZ: i am selling my partner deer. slightly used. 12 cents. IR: whats he doing CZ: insisting i go to the store to get him specific fruit when i have already made him breakfast. i am increasingly close to cracking his skull with a club. IR: dude thats absurd DE: Goodness, that's awful of him!

CA: Not a hunter here, but can't you just change your partner? CZ: he is the only one allowed for me. unless one of you wants to blind an available agent for me DE: I hope you are joking! CZ: obviously IR: darn there go my plans for the day lol Shrike cradles the phone in her hands like a child as it shines outwards at her. A comfortable little world of her own making, she thinks.