Yellow Pages i don't know what to think

Harrison was still mulling on that encounter with Hazel. He knew one person who might help him unpack this better than he could on his own. Bree, help!

I had a weird day and I'm wondering if I can think about some of it at you. Supernatural? Maybe?

Harrison

Think awayyyyyy. Call? Want me to come over?

Bree

Harrison was absolutely on her 'call if she needed help hiding a body' list. He didn't know this. But she'd sure as fuck drive to Hollowstone for him.

Give me a call when you have a minute. I'm off for the evening but it's not worth making you drive all the way out.

Harrison

If you ever need in-person, you tell me. You're always worth it.

Bree

But she wouldn't be mad at getting a few extra hours of sleep and saving the drive.

Incoming...

Bree

She was the sweetest, you know? But really, it wasn't like he was traumatized by what had happened, just... thoughtful. And a lot out of his depth.

So.

Why helllllooo there, how are ya?

Practising my monster growls to terrorize local citizens! Did you hear Liam and Cat are doing this scary farm night thing?

Bree

And she'd called Cat right away to put her name down for an evening of HORROR.

You bet I did! Already talked to Liam--gonna be helping with the cart rides one night per week. But you're going to have to teach me some of your scary growl tricks cause I'll be joining you in the spooky scene, too.

Oh fuck YES. Look out, small children and teens! Brace yourself for NIGHTMARES.

Bree

Plus, with Harrison around, it would be easier to pretend SHE wasn't scared of whatever devious spooky shit Cat had in mind. She wouldn't put anything past that woman's terror-loving brain.

And cart rides too? She'd have to check that out one of these days!

Before we start growl training...what's on your mind?

Bree

Right, right... to business. It was easy to get swept up in just talking with Bree.

Okay so... prefacing this with all is well with me, I got home and I'm good and safe and literally only just feeling out of my element, but... I was driving earlier and I saw a woman on the side of the road? And she was like... hurt. And naked. Thumb out to hitchhike.

Bless him for that preface. Given the types of conversations she'd had lately, it was beyond appreciated. She breathed out, quiet, and settled into a cross-legged seat to listen.

And what Harrison described sounded horrifyingly familiar. It was almost word-for-word how she'd met Myla.

Holy shit.

Another woman alone and stuck and so fucking vulnerable.

Did you stop?

Bree

An unnecessary question. She knew Harrison.

Yeah. I mean, seemed worse to ignore her? Weird, though. I had a bag in the back with a blanket and some clothes and stuff. You know, like we talked about ages ago just in case.

He couldn't even really remember what they'd joked about calling themselves. Were Rescue League or something.

Offered her those and a ride. She said she just needed back to her car.

Oh gosh...bud...

Her voice all admiration and gratitude. That he'd listened, taken it to heart. Helped someone who needed it, even though it was scary as fuck to take a chance on a stranger. And plenty took advantage of those chances. And...shit. She didn't like that the world was becoming a place where you might second-guess helping someone.

That's huge. That was so fucking decent of you. You two talk at all?

Was this woman newly changed? Did she have a group?

Briefly, she thought of the foxes, and her throat clenched.

Sort of? I got her name. Hazel. I asked her if she wanted a hospital, she was in a bad way. But she insisted she'd be fine, just a stray dog...

The undercurrent of disbelief was in his voice, but surely Bree would know why he wasn't so sure. But maybe she also would understand his next point.

I didn't push. I was a little afraid to know... anything, really.

Oh wait that opened up a whole host of questions.

Did she—Hazel—not know? Or was she lying to protect the truth of her situation?

Whichever the case, she needed to tell Harrison. At least flag this was a strong possibility. It sounded like he already had a strong inkling.

Well...it made my brain jump to a conclusion, that's for sure... But, if you'd rather not delve too deep, that's fine. We can leave it at 'you did good'. Cuz you did. You were exactly who she needed.

Like Matti'd been. That night.

Yeah, he was pretty worried that the conclusion they were both coming to was the obvious one. Which meant it was probably true.

The praise was probably what he needed to hear, still too shocked by it all to have processed his own part in it.

I hope so. I kind of tried to get her... to... admit? I guess? Because she was so damn calm for someone who'd been literally attacked. Said she used to work with dogs, used to getting bit.

Did he believe that? He wanted to, but he knew he didn't actually.

Weres...

She'd just say it. They were both thinking it.

...they have a totally different relationship to violence. Or they can, I guess. They're impacted by the animal side. For some, it's an outlet. For others, fight or flight instincts kick in. For others, it's just become super normalized.

She hoped Harrison, working with animals as much as he did, might understand how difficult it would be to grapple with those instincts.

All this to say...that could explain the calm. It's more normal for them than it is for us. To be honest, that still throws me for a loop. How casual some can be about violence. But it might be how she survives.

All this was speculation, assuming the woman was indeed a were.

Some are more forthcoming about their situation, but others are keen on secrecy. I'm always trying to find a balance of suggesting I know about weres, but backing the fuck off if they don't wanna come clean. It's...I dunno. Ever-evolving conversation tactics, I guess.

And there were still people like Henry's old mentor around, who would take great pains to ensure their secrets never got out. She needed to protect Harrison from that. Couldn't have him hurt for trying to help.

He was glad for Bree to break the barrier on saying it, so he didn't have to. Was Hazel a were? He had a hard time imagining the reality of it. Beyond the calm she had just seemed like a normal gal? Just in a bad time. Nothing furry or animal about her.

I did kind of get... 'don't ask too much' vibes off of her. But that might have been me trying very hard to not be too smart.

Did that make sense?

I feel like I don't know near enough. Even if she'd just told me I don't know what I would have done with that information.

He didn't have the knowledge, experience, or connections Bree had. He didn't know the right questions to ask, or what answers would be for any of hers. So it was easier to just be the vessel that had taken her from one point to another and send her on her way.

Info's good, don't get me wrong. Helps us be prepped for different scenarios and keep open minds.

She felt this so hard. What Harrison was dealing with. Thinking back on interactions and wishing you'd done it better, been better. It was also easier to give pep talks to someone who wasn't herself.

But sometimes the best we can do is right in front of us, in the form of another person, yeah? She needed a lift, she didn't wanna talk. You gave her that. Figuring out how we can help an individual should supersede what we already know about their, like, group. Or species. Or whatever.

It sounded like he'd done a pretty good job reading the vibes and not pushing too hard. They'd probably never know how well or badly the interaction had gone from the other perspective, unless she ran into Hazel someday.

Say she'd told you. Say, she'd said, 'I'm a were...wolf.'

Original!

What do you think you woulda done?

No pressure. All hypotheticals.

A good point about meeting someone where they were at. Help was all he'd wanted to give. Being a busy body really didn't suit him, and he didn't want to make anyone feel threatened--for his own sake as much as anything.

Bree asked a... good but difficult question.

Still would have taken her to her car, for one. Unless things got dicey for some reason. Maybe tell her I had a friend who turned, that I couldn't imagine how different it was...? I guess I don't feel experienced enough to say anything helpful. I guess outcome wouldn't be much different as long as that confession didn't come with threat.

In short, he would have responded in a way that was textbook Harrison. Barely a single penstroke of difference between reality and the hypothetical. Smart and kind. She smiled when he mentioned his friend who turned, though it was tinged with some regret. The two of them sounded like they woulda been hella cute together.

I find knowing things is helpful when it comes to keeping myself safe. Not sharing drinking glasses. Extra caution after dark. Wearing gloves if you gotta, say, stitch up a friend's leg from a bite.

Where did THAT example come from???

And it can help. Trying to put myself in someone else's shoes. But ultimately? The basics, in my view, are the same. Someone needs help and we try to help. Just, now we know enough to carry a change of clothes and some jerky in our cars.

Didn't do to lump folks into different columns and keep them there without an open mind. That was a slippery slope towards deeming some people superior to others.