Running Wild

this time with less humor. “This was my grandfather’s attempt at matchmaking if you haven’t picked that up.”
Seamus’s jaw went slack, which told Ri how much he thought of Ri in that way.
“Okay, look, Ri.”
Ri wished Seamus would stop saying his name so often. It didn’t bode well.
Seamus continued. “If I went to a doctor with you, would that help?”
“I don’t need doctors,” Ri insisted, trying not to get impatient with this side issue. “When I shift, I get healed, you see. A diagnosis is not going to change that.”
Something strange happened then. Seamus went still, as if what Ri had described meant something to him. “You heal when you shift? And live a long, healthy life?”
“Not always long. Horses run too much. Most horses,” Ri amended, since he seemed stuck in his territory, haunting his grandfather and now poor Seamus. “But in theory, yes.”
They stared at each other, like they were at a stalemate, although Seamus seemed to have some doubts about his disbelief and maybe Ri could work on them. After all, he needed to bring up Pete and the danger he posed to Seamus’s well-being.
“Look, I know you think I’m crazy, but I am a horse.” He gestured to the bulletin board. “There I am in both my forms.”
Seamus looked over and observed, “There are two boys in the pictures, as well as two horses.”
It had been a long time since Ri had said these words and it hurt. “My brother.”
“Where is he?”
“I don’t know. I don’t know if he’s alive.” Ri liked to think Zach was alive, despite the odds for horse shifters, because after all Ri had made it this far and they came from the same breeding stock, had been raised together. He just didn’t know why Zach had never come back. Surely Zach would miss Ri as much as Ri missed Zach.
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Seamus said softly.
“There’s something else I need to tell you.” Ri felt uncomfortable towering over Seamus as he sat on the cot, mind obviously whirring as it took in all of Ri’s information—or didn’t take it in. So Ri eased to the floor and wrapped arms around his legs.
“Go ahead,” said Seamus, looking down at him, shoulders relaxing a little.
Ri toyed with mentioning the night he’d brought Seamus to Grandfather, but decided not quite yet. Instead he said, “Pete is a wolf.”
This time Seamus didn’t scoff. “You mean to tell me Pete’s a werewolf?”
Ri frowned. “Why are wolves more believable than horses?”
“Because werewolves exist, Ri, though not in Manitoba. We found that out a few years ago when it was announced to the world, remember? No one could have missed that news.”
“They announced it to the world?” Ri responded, aghast. Shifters hid, that’s what they did. They didn’t broadcast their existence and start witch-hunts. How soon would everyone know about horse shifters, about him ? Or Zach, if he was making his way in the world? Surely, surely this wasn’t what had happened.
Ri’s surprise seemed to gall Seamus, and he shot up to standing, making Ri lean back as Seamus gestured in frustration. “For God’s sake, do you not follow any news whatsoever?”
“No.” Grandfather hadn’t had a TV, and the only station he’d played on the radio was classical music of some kind which he’d always turned off at news time. “How would I?”
“Like everyone else!” Seamus was missing a crucial piece of Ri’s confession.
“I’m not like everyone else. I spend a lot of time as…” it was still hard to say, even a second time, but he had to, “…a horse.”
Seamus heaved a breath then held up a hand. “Okay, you’re not like everyone else. Didn’t mean to say otherwise, believe me.”
Ri’s hurt must have shown, because Seamus’s expression shifted, from plain exasperation to an exasperated fondness.
“Hey, I’ll have you know there is also the occasional cat shifter, according to my reading, not that I’ve met any. But there was no mention of horses . Mostly I haven’t thought about it much after the first shock of shifters coming out.” He added, “Wasn’t much point when I had nothing to do with them.”
“You did. Pete.”
Seamus shook his head emphatically. “They’re not in Manitoba.”
Ri didn’t know why Seamus kept repeating this falsehood about wolves. It sat oddly with the fact he knew about shifters.
Seamus continued to explain. “Ontario, that’s where the werewolves live. In a town. Wolf Town, I believe. So, Pete’s not a