Years passed slowly for Serafin, but that would change soon. The world around her was closing in. Her cabin in the woods is no longer as safe as it once was. Her forest is now no bigger than a few miles wide in all directions. Too many times, she had nearly been seen by the humans. Their numbers are growing too fast. She had heard of a community where her kind and humans lived in peace, but it was just a whisper, a hint of hope that she feared to put her trust in. Even if she did try to head there, it was across the sea, in a small village deep inside the rain forest. She didn't know how she would get there. Traveling by plane was out of the question; her wolf would scratch to get free, to get to the ground where it belonged. A boat would be better, yet it would take too long. She wasn't sure she could control the shift for that long. She had lived for many moons, more than she cared to admit. Her young body was just an illusion of her true age. She had seen the world grow, villages that became towns, and the turn to cities. She saw the wars that man made and watched as they tried to stop them. It was true that humans had become more peaceful, war and hunger a thing of the past. Yet that too was their downfall. Without those things, their population exploded, and their life spans extended.

  She stepped outside of her cabin, looked across to where her friends once lived. She hadn't seen them in almost a century. Their cabin sat silent and aged, the chairs by the fire, once a warm and inviting place, now toppled and in disrepair. The forest was so thin now on that side of the lake that she could see the lights of the city closing in on her. Stepping off her deck, laying her old blanket on the car that hadn't run in decades, she stepped barefoot into the forest. The smell of the pine barley registered as the noise and smell of the city invaded her senses. Looking around one last time to make sure she wouldn't be seen, she let the shift take her. She ran in her dwindling forest, and the breeze ran along her fur. She heard something and came to a silent stop. Unsure what it was, she hid in a bramble; it was painful but safe. She watched, waited, then saw it. Loggers stepped out from behind the thinning trees. Marking them to be cut. It was time; she couldn't put it off any longer. She had to move. Had to find a safe place to roam.

  Once the men moved on, she quickly made her way back to her cabin. She ran up the stairs of the deck and through the front door. Her back fell against the door, her breath heavy, her cheeks wet. She had lived here the longest, had been the safest place she had ever known. In all her long life, she had only met a few of her kind, but never one just like her. Each wolf she met said that her color was unusual, and her ability to speak to them with her mind was unheard of if you were not in a pack. Maybe these things are why she never felt comfortable anywhere. Not with other wolves, humans, or other supernatural beings. She always wished to find others like herself; she even tried for a few hundred years, but gave up. Resigned to the fact that she was just an oddity.

  She stepped away from the door, wiped her eyes and wet cheeks, then made her way to her room. She would sleep for now, tomorrow she would begin to pack her life away, and then leave the cabin that had been her salvation for so long. Maybe one day she would return for her meager belongings, for now she would travel light. Only the clothes on her back and a small bag she would carry around her neck.

  When the morning came, she was out of time. She could hear the logging machines eating up the forest. She jumped from her bed, grabbed the small bag, and took a final look around the cabin, her hand skimming over the old crocheted blanket one last time. In the bag, she threw the small amount of money she had as well as some dried meats. She headed for the door. One last look over her shoulder, a single tear sliding down her cheek, she closed the door to her past and ran into the woods.

  Her wolf snapped free, and she ran, but she soon found that the sounds of machines surrounded her. She had nowhere to run; the way she had come was now blocked by falling trees, and the way ahead was the same. She shrank into herself, the first time in her life truly afraid. She heard a noise, a door slowly opening. Looking up, she worried that a human had finally spotted her, but what she saw was a door. It stood alone, not attached to a machine or even a building. She could smell the people within it, their smells strange. Slowly, she rose, her wolf taking one cautious step after another. Her nose twitched, smelling the air that came from the door. There was no fear, no hate, but there was curiosity, and the smell of fresh meat. How long had it been since she had fresh meat? Step by step, she got closer, her wolf stopping only when it reached the edge.

  “You may enter if you like. You will be safe within my domain,” a man spoke to her from near a bar.

  Looking at her, his expression flat while he rubbed a rag over a mug that already sparkled. She tilted her head to the side, looking at the man; his smell was odd, not human, and yet something familiar. Almost something she had once dreamed of. With a few more steps, she was inside, and the door slammed shut behind her. She jumped to the side, a growl threatening to come out but stuck in her throat, making her cough.

  “I’m sorry, but thoughts of violence must be left at the door. If that is a problem, then you may return to where you came from, but I do hope you will stay for a time,” the man said, placing the mug down and the rag now on his shoulder.

  She looked at the door again and then walked over to the man at the bar.

  “If you would prefer, we can talk like this, or you could take your other form, and we can talk that way. Your choice?” his voice soft and gentle in her mind.

  “What is this place?” she looked around at the patrons. Unsure what some of them were, and others smell similar to her friends. Fey came in many forms, but they always had a slight earthy scent.

  “This,” he spread his arms wide, “is my inn. A place that exists nowhere and everywhere all at once.”

  “And I am safe here? Can no one harm me? Not even you?” she asked.

  “Yes, you are safe here,” he said

  “And what is the price of this safety? I have lived too long to know that nothing is free,” she asked, her ears laid back.

  “I ask only for your story. I would ask most what their first memory was, but I think that may be too long ago for you to be clear now.” he smiled, his eyes bright with wonder. “So any story you wish will do. Once you tell me it a door will open and you may leave, where you go will be up to you.”

  “But I can't…I can't go back to that place. It isn't safe anymore,” her voice cracked, her tears shining silver on the lower lids of her frost blue eyes. “I fear that nowhere is safe for my kind anymore.”

  “There are safe places, although I agree that the world you came from will soon be too dangerous. So for now, relax. If you would like, you can use that room to bathe and change your form. I understand that it has been a very long time since you have allowed anyone to see the transformation,” he pointed to a door, which opened, and she could see the large tub within.

  “Thank you. I will take you up on the offer and think about what you have said,” she dipped her head to him, then padded through the door, kicking it shut with her hind leg.

  Chapter ???

  Once the door was closed, my wolf fell away. Stripped out of my clothing and stepped into the large tub. It was large enough that her wolf could have fit into it with her, if they existed apart from one another. She relaxed, and the water eased her. Calming her in a way that she had not felt in centuries. Her eyes closed, and she sank under the water. When she came up for air, she opened her eyes, calm and rested.

  After getting out of the tub, she redressed and opened the door. “Thank you, that was rather relaxing,” she said, walking up to the man behind the bar.

  “I’m glad you enjoyed yourself. It's been a while since you truly felt safe, hasn’t it?” he asked her, but it sounded more like a statement.

  “Why do I get the feeling you know more about me than you are letting on?” her brow dipping in question.

  “I know a little. Many beings walk through my doors. It could be possible that you were once a part of their stories,” he said with a shrug, once again lifting the clean mug and rubbing the rag over it.

  She just stared at him for a long moment. Wondering what he could mean. Shaking the thought from her mind, she took a seat at the bar.

  “So what would you like to eat? Name it, and I’ll have it made for you,” he said as he replaced the mug on the counter.

  “I smelled fresh meat when I first saw your door. I'll have that if possible, cooked please, but as rare as you can,” she said, her mouth watering at the thought and a growl of approval coming from her wolf.

  “Sorry, I haven't had any in a long time, and my wolf is a bit excited,” she said, her blush washing over her cheeks.

  He chuckled, “No worries, I’ll be back in a moment.”

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  Once the man disappeared into the backroom, she took some time to look around. All manner of alcohol lined the shelves behind the bar, but amongst the wine was an urn. Odd place for an urn, she thought. Turning on her stool, she glanced around the room. Confused why there were so many doors and corners. This had to be the strangest place she had ever been. The one thing she did notice was that all the patrons were gone. Before her bath, the room was filled with all manner of beings. Now it was empty.

  “Here you are. As rare as you wanted, the center red and bloody at just the right temperature,” the man said, setting the plate down.

  She flinched at his words. Shocked that she never heard him return. Turning, she was going to say something, but the food distracted her thoughts.

  Wiping her mouth, sure she was drooling, “That smells amazing, thank you.” She reached for the bag around her neck, “What do I owe you?”

  “For now, just enjoy it. We can talk about the price once you're done.”

  She looked up and tilted her head, wondering what he meant, but the smell of the meat once again distracted her. She dug into the meal, and the meat was tender and juicy. Melting in her mouth, she moaned. It took her no time at all to finish it; a purr of satisfaction tickled her mind. It was odd to hear her wolf purr, but when she was perfectly sated, she did it.

  “So what is the price of all this? You mentioned something about my story before I took my bath,” she asked him as she leaned on the bar.

  “Yes, stories are how you pay for my hospitality. A story from your life freely given, then once your tab is settled, I will help you find a new home, one that is safe for your kind,” he told her.

  She laughed, “A story from my life, really? My life has been long, so long that I could not possibly remember all of it.”

  It was the man's turn to laugh, the sound sweet and full of possibilities. Reminding her of dreams long forgotten and things not yet dreamt of. It was a strange thing to feel from a laugh.

  “I think I may make you a regular here at my inn.” his smile was wide, showing all his teeth and reaching his eyes.

  “A what? No, I don't think I like the sound of that.” She stood, looking for the door that brought her here.

  “Sorry,” he took in a deep breath, calming his laughter, “you misunderstood. What I meant is that I will leave my door open to you. That way, if you wish to drop by, you can come and go freely, but every time, I will ask for another story from your life.”

  “Oh,” she let out a nervous huff.

  “I can not remember the last time someone was able to make me laugh. It felt good. So thank you for that,” he bowed his head to her.

  Still a little nervous, “you're welcome…I think.”

  “So you can just leave the doors open? Then why have I never heard of this place before?” she asked him, once again taking a seat at the bar.

  “Well, this place is like a dream, and not everyone remembers their dreams. Some only remember it once they step back in. Some remember it but keep it a secret. And as for keeping the door open, I have only done that for a few others. Most only see the door once, at the end of their story. Then I offer them a chance to start a new story. A few have decided to stay here, never returning to their lives. I try to convince them to go on, but I can not force them to leave as long as they follow the rules of hospitality. Does this help you to understand me and the inn?”

  Her elbows on the bar, chin resting on her hands, “a little. So all I need to do is give you a story, then I can be on my way?”

  “Exactly, so have you chosen one?” he asked her while leaning against the shelves behind him.

  “Yes, I think so, but could I rest for a bit. Then, when I wake, I will tell you my tale,” she chuckled at her little joke.

  Once again, he laughed, “Oh, I am definitely going to make you a regular, and yes, there is a room just up those stairs. The third door on the left. Sleep well, and I will await your tale in the morning.” he winked at her and chuckled softly.

  She stood and made her way to her room. The bed was large and soft. But on the end of the bed was a very familiar crocheted blanket. She picked it up, and it smelled of home. She wrapped it around her, lay down, and quickly fell asleep.

  Chapter ???

  When she woke the next time, she sat pulling the blanket to her. She folded it and carried it out of the room with her.

  The man called up to her, “Well, good morning. Did you sleep well? Come have a seat at one of the tables, and I'll bring you some food.

  She walked down the stairs and settled at a table near the multiple doors. Placing the blanket on the chair nearest her, she waited for him to return.

  “Here you go, I had a feeling you are more of a meat than veggie type, so I have bacon, eggs, ham, and some sausage for you. Eat up, and then we can talk about your story,” he turned after setting the plate in front of her.

  “Wait, sorry, but how did you get this? I know I left it behind, I didn’t want to, but I had to move quickly. It would have been too cumbersome to carry.” Her hand brushed along the soft yarn it was made of.

  “Oh, that isn't yours, but the inn may have felt that you needed a bit of home. Was it important to you?” he asked her, looking down at the colorful blanket as she unfolded it.

  It was not square, having six edges like a hexagon. At the center was a bright yellow star, followed by pale blue, the blues darkening with each row till it ended in deep purples and dark navy blue. Around the edges, it was trimmed in yellow gold, with stars of the same color placed amongst the other colors, making the blanket look like the night sky.

  “Can I take it with me when I leave?” she asked him as she refolded the blanket with care.

  “Sorry, but no. It is part of the inn. It would fade away after some time if it were to leave here.”

  “Oh” was all she said, turning to her plate.

  “But maybe… yes, I think I may have seen it somewhere. Sit tight, I will be right back,” He walked quickly away.

  She waited and ate. He was an odd man. Now and then, she heard a noise from the backroom. Then the man returned.

  “Here it is. This was left long ago, or maybe years from now,” he handed her a bag.

  When she opened it, there sat the blanket, the exact one that she had left behind. It was older, with a few new holes in it, but it smelled just like she remembered it.

  Her eyes wide, “How?” was all she could ask.

  “Time is an odd thing here. It flows in both directions. So I can not be sure when it showed up. I only remember that it did, and I think that is because you would need it. Is it important to you?” he sat across from her.

  “Yes,” she said as she closed the bag, “I got it from someone who cared for me deeply; they handmade it just for me. I don't remember who they were, or why they loved me, but I feel it when I am wrapped in it. I’m glad it wasn't lost.”

  “Serafin, it must be hard to live so long. Losing parts of yourself to make room for new memories.”

  “It is sometimes, but things like this blanket bring back glimpses and feelings of those forgotten memories. So thank you,” she hugged the bag to her chest for a moment, then set it aside, not even noticing that the other blanket had disappeared.

  “You need to hear a story, so I will tell you one. The world I come from is mostly at peace, which is a good thing. Yet it also has its downfalls. They still fear the unknown, beings like me. Perhaps that is not entirely their fault, though. If the supernatural world had maybe tried harder to show they did not need to be afraid, the humans might have found friendship in us. But that would have needed to happen many, many, many years ago. But then it just became the way of things, I guess. We kept away from the humans; if one found out, they were silenced in one way or another. Not killed, of course, we had other ways to make them forget.

  Yet the human population grew fast and spread. Slowly at first, our once safe lands were being overrun by mankind. Villages, towns, and cities sprang up around the supernatural, causing them to move deeper and deeper into the forests and mountains. Our population never grew quickly, but with the decrease in safe spaces for us, it began to shrink. Clans and packs thinned, often going off in simple pairs. Some tried living among the humans, and it worked for a time.

  When humans finally found peace with each other, solving pollution and world hunger, it got even worse for my kind and others like me. Without war and hunger, they started living longer, breeding more, and with no war, all that bent up energy was now aimed at us. They finally understood what we were and that all the myths had been real, but they didn't want to share their peace with us. We were the new invaders, even though we had been around long before they even knew what fire was.

  My home was one of the last little safe havens. A place where I could run free and be me without fear. Then they came, cut down my trees, and closed in on my home. I waited too long to run, too long to find a new place, and found myself panicked, trapped, and for the first time in my long life, scared I was going to die. That's when I saw your door. Out of nowhere, nothing supporting it. I smelled no fear, hate, or anger. I only smelled curiosity and fresh meat. So I walked in, and from there you know the rest.”

  She sat back in her chair, breathing a sigh and letting it all go.

  “Serafin, your life has been long, and you have no doubt been through more than most. So I give you this choice. Would you like to return to your world? I would leave you in a place that is still safe, but I can not promise how long it will remain that way. Or I can open a new door for you. A place that accepts you and your kind. I believe they call you a star wolf there. It isn't a place of peace, but it is safe. What you make of your life once you get there will be up to you,” he said, pointing to two of the doors.

  Her choice was to return to what she knew or go on to the unknown. It was a simple choice; she would take the new life.

  She picked up the bag, ate the last slice of bacon, and stood, “I’ll trust you, strange innkeeper. I think I would like to try this world where I am a star wolf. Who knows, maybe that is where I came from all those many, many moons ago.”

  “Very well, enjoy your new life, and I hope to see you again,” he said, and the door in the middle opened for her.

  Serafin walked into the woods, which smelled of pine and maple, and it felt like home.