Autumn had come, bringing with it a chill  breeze and the fresh, crisp smell of newly fallen leaves. The trees had become alive with colors, the maples and birch trading their emerald green for the festive, blazing amber and cherry red of the new season. The park side forest of Fawkes Landing was vibrant with activity, families taking their children and pets through the winding trails, couples sitting together on the benches overlooking the numerous forest vistas that dotted the landscape. Humans were not the only ones enjoying the fall season, as the forest was alive with the sounds of birds chirping, squirrels skittering, and leaves being rustled by the gentle October wind.

In one particular section of the forest which had been strangely avoided by the public for some time, despite its beautiful fall scenery, a gust of cold wind swirled up a cloud of leaves and tossed them into the air as a murder of crows glided just over the tops of the trees, whining and squawking as they maneuvered over the forest and flew into the Synderia portal grounds. Alan lay on the ground, watching them soar over the meadow and land skillfully on the branches of some nearby trees. He studied them, watched them pick at their wings, nip at some grubs and watch him carefully. He had always liked crows. They were intelligent creatures, social and even good pets in some cases. It was also easy to see why some people would mistake them for a sign of bad luck or danger, for their midnight wings and cold penetrating eyes revealed little of their true intentions.

He sighed and returned his green eyes to the clouds that floated overhead, trying to relive the experience of being a child and watch as they morph into different funny shapes, like tigers, or cars, or buildings or spaceships. It was all to no avail, as all he could see were concentrations of water vapor being slowly pushed across the blue sky. He shivered as a cold breeze picked up, throwing leaves around him. He lifted himself up, the satisfying crunch of dead leaves sounding underfoot as he stood. The gust rippled though his jacket and rustled his brown hair as he looked towards the Synderia portal in the center of the meadow, the large spherical core of violet tinged darkness held securely in place by the two rings which levitated parallel to the ground and each other, solemnly standing sentinel while the grass withered at the colds leisure. Fingers of blue light traced their way through the structure, veins of pure energy, making Alan's gaze return to his left hand once again.   

The gauntlet was still there, the menacing claws were still there, the glowing lines of blue fluorescence were still there. It was not the first time that Alan had thought about how this was the very place his life had changed. Even though it looked so different now, with the area cleared of trees and dotted with cameras here and there, the dreams and memories had remained the same. It had only been a couple years but it seemed so much longer with all the hardship that seemed to drain the energy from him. He had gone from being a simple child to being one of the most scientifically important humans beings in the history of the planet. Well, planets technically. It was his duty to make sure that two usually docile races kept from killing each other. Only recently had laws been passed to allow dragonians to visit Earth without supervision of a Department of Dragonian Affairs security detail watching their every move. It was still recommended that a squad of armed soldiers keep watch over the portals, but Alan and other members of the DDA had confirmed that the dragonian military was a minimal threat at best, and the dragonains had volunteered to keep watch over their ends at all times. Alan knew they were honest with their intentions, but the human brass remained devout in their paranoia and keeps multiple squads guarding portals into all the major cities of Earth.

After so much time of negotiation between the country's of Earth and the lands of Synderia and even in more recent cases combat against some strange new terrorist group wielding weapons not unlike his gauntlet, human authorities had insisted that he take a break as he was becoming increasingly stressed during current situations with dragonian activists demanding that humans on Synderia immediately cease usage of gasoline based machines on Synderia or even close to the portals on Earth, as they believe the emissions are causing sickness in dragonians near human research centers. He was surprised when he was asked to take a rest for a while, he was one of the few people that held enough influence with the dragonains to request a meeting with Hass Phireen,who was the closest thing to a diplomat that the dragonians had. He relaxed slightly when other members of the DDA put up a fuss about who would take his place. There were many shifts in power that had occurred in the past and non of them ended well for anyone. The men and women whom he had worked with vivaciously all knew how determined he was to keep the peace flowing, which is why it touched him so much when they had demanded that his placement be chosen by him alone. He had ended up naming Garth as the right man for the job, knowing full well that the man he had once called teacher desired peace just as much as he did. Despite knowing that Garth was in control, without any work to occupy his time Alan found himself falling deeper and deeper into a depressive state. With his thought pattern's becoming darker and darker, he decided to catch up on some work that would most definitely take his full attention to accomplish. Which brought him here.

These thoughts echoed in his mind as a rumble descended on the meadow, growing from a growl to a snarl. The rings on the portal sped up, sparks flew from bolts of energy being cast off the pulsating core of darkness. The sounds grew and grew until finally a bolt snapped to life and cracked the ground, resonating on the chill air. A figure stood where the bolt had impacted, wearing what seemed a cross between a cloak and a trench coat, buckles open and resembling the ribs of some half decayed corpse. Had he not known who it was he would have mistaken it for a walking shadow due to the pitch black scales and clothing. The only trace of life were the sharp yellow eyes which seemed to glow in comparison to the midnight black that surrounded them. Her tail whipped the air as she made her way towards Alan. He folded his arms and tapped a metallic finger.

"You're late." He projected with annoyance. Blacktail was unmoved. She shrugged.

"You were the one who wanted to meet me here if I recall correctly." She replied casually, examining her clothing for damage from the jump to Earth. Black mist tumbled from the inside of her cloak and was swept away by the breeze. Alan unfolded his arms, his voice grew shrill.

"After we both decided to meet here days ago. I can't work around you're schedule all the time,  even though I know for a fact that the only work you were doing was counting the dust particles on your pillows." Blacktail smiled mockingly, teeth like razors peeking out from behind her lips.

"So I like to sleep. I need my energy if I'm going to keep you out of the trouble I know you'll get in." Blacktail smiled mockingly, teeth like razors peeking out from behind her lips. An inkling of a grin touched at Alan's face. Partly because he thought that the retort was funny, partly because it might be true.

"I'll be sure to wake you up personally one day." He chuckled.

They turned to leave the meadow and Alan's eyes once again caught the crows. They all stared at the two creatures making their departure. One of them gave a cry, leaped out of the branches, spread its wings and started soaring over the trees.The rest followed immediately. Alan watched the sight absently. Blacktails sharp ears twitched and she glanced slightly towards the noise, but didn't pay much attention otherwise.

"So what's the deal? Why am I here?" She spoke through a yawn. It was easy to forget the differences in time from earth to Synderia, as when it is midday on earth it is the middle of the night on the dragonian home world. Alan nodded his head.

"Phireen wanted me to teach you more about humanity remember. We both had a lot to deal with in the past few months, so I figured that since we are going through a lull in the action, now might be a good time to catch up on that." Alan looked over at her. "I have something special in mind that I think your going to enjoy." Blacktail slumped her shoulders and let out a disappointed groan.

"This is going to be another episode of you messing around with that white board again, isn't it?" Alan rounded on her and pointed a finger under her snout.

"Never again! I found out that day just how far you'll go to alleviate your boredom." A deviant smile found Blacktail.

"That was a good day." She reminisced dreamily. Alan snorted.

"I hope so, because that's not happening again. The damage alone-"

"Yeah, yeah I get it, just stop nagging about my fun." She interjected, rolling her eyes and returning them to the trail ahead of them. "You humans and your rules suck the fun out of everything." Alan made a slight upwards motion with the gauntlet, causing a flurry of leaves to spiral around Blacktail, pummeling her face. She swatted them away, giving an audible hiss of annoyance. Alan chuckled to himself as Blacktail glowered at him.

"You better sleep with your light on tonight." She spat.

"I know you well enough to know that that wouldn't stop you." He retorted. Blacktail held her head high.

"Damn right." After a moment they both looked at each other and gave appreciative, smug smiles. This banter would would have seemed impossible only a year earlier. Alan had been frightfully terrified of the dragonian, and for good reason. She would most likely have torn him to pieces long ago if Phireen had not have intervened. It was just another thing that he owed to the cheerful leader of the dragonian city Dragon Crest. Yet, even after all their disagreements, which consisted of about eighty percent of their relationship, there was something about how the two interact with each other that drew the attention to the developing Human-Dragonian peacekeepers. They worked together magnificently despite their flaws, one picking up after the weakness of the other.  Even if they didn't usually get along, just having someone that could relate to Alan's situation made him feel much better, and he knew better than most that Blacktail could relate to him.

The trail back to Fawkes Landing was vivid with color and the sounds of wildlife, which forced a light twitch from Blacktail every now and then. Just another reaction from the difference's between Earth and Synderia. The forests of the latter had learned to keep quiet. Alan caught her scanning the trees, a habit she learned well. He kept his eyes forward.

"Watch out for bunny rabbits. They're dangerous this time of year." He mocked. She threw a sneer at him.

"Your one to talk, I can remember when I first saw you in the Dead Forest. You were scared of your own shadow." She smugly replied. Alan raised an eyebrow.

"That was a long time ago."

"Yet I still laugh about it. Anyway, you still haven't told me exactly what I'm doing here. What are we trying to do?" Alan looked sideways at her.

"I did tell you. It's something that I think you'll enjoy. It seems right up your alley. But before we get to that I forgot to ask you, where's Sarella going to be for the next few days?"Blacktail rolled her eyes.

"She said she was going to spend some time at the Dragon Crest Academy Archives. Something about costumes. I don't know, she was so excited she ran out of the house mid sentence." Alan clapped his hands together, a wide smile spreading across his face.

"Perfect! The timing couldn't have been better!" A puzzled look crossed Blacktails face as she examined Alan's features.

"What are you going on about? Just stop ignoring my question and tell me already!" It felt so good to string her along that Alan couldn't help but allow a smile to form on his lips. The trail had come to an opening where a clearing overlooked a chromatic landscape brimming with fall colors spreading into the distance over rolling hills. There was a park table and bench near the edge of the drop off overlooking the vista. The bench was currently occupied by a couple gazing off into the distance. Alan examined the table. Now might be a good time for some theatrical stagecraft.     

"Very well." Alan agreed, and made for the table, leaping onto the wooden boards and spinning on his heel to face her, much to the surprise of the couple on the bench, who's eyes widened when they noticed who was standing on the table as well as who his audience was. Blacktail gave pause and gawked at him. He spoke evenly. "What I'm about to tell you may frighten and disturb you. So come closer and listen...if you dare." The couple on the bench seemed intrigued by the sudden change in atmosphere, but Blacktail crossed her arms and licked her teeth.

"I'm fine with listening from right here." Alan inclined his head slightly towards her, overlapping his hands. A breeze picked up, sending a flurry of leaves over the table top. He felt a combination of embarrassment and  childish joy welling up inside him as he continued on. His voice grew low.

"Many, many years ago, when humans were but young, when we toiled in the dirt for the food we depended on for survival, there grew fear and worry around the time of fall. For fall was a time of change. A transition from life giving spring, to cold, unforgiving winter.The leaves would wither and die, the days would grow shorter and the night longer. The frost would root itself deep into the ground, turning even the most fertile soil into a crust as hard as any rock. The people would fret over their crops, for without them winter was a death sentence. Indeed, it was during the time of the harvest that life was at it's most frightening.  But there was something more to this than a simple seasonal transition. Something much more." He started slowly walking towards the end of the table. "The time of the harvest, Samhain, marked a time where the veil between our world and the next grew to its weakest point and sometimes energy would past through. Things that were never to be seen by our eyes may become a stark reality.

"They have been called many things over the years. Apparitions, abominations, monsters but call them what you will, they are not of this plane. They wreck havoc at their own discretion, so why should it matter. The people of the time would lock and bar their doors, feed their fires bright all night long and pray for the souls of the lost." He paused, aligning his body to Blacktail, who had taken a step forward, now listening intently. Alan raised his voice. "We believe ourselves to be above such superstitions today, when even our own technology betrays us to the truth. The day is nearing once again, and once again we will light our fires bright when other worldly forces venture into our realm. This day when death and life converge." He gave pause for a moment, making Blacktail take a step forward. "This night..." He threw his arms up and tossed his head back.    

"Halloween!"

An explosion of leaves were propelled into the sky around them. The listening couple let out a conjoined scream and fell over the bench. Blacktail stood still and watched the leaves twist and roll on their decent. One with a deep blood red skin landed on the end of her nose, making her violently shake her head to be rid of it. Alan, still in the moment, hopped off the table. "Ah, Halloween, a time for giving tricks or treats, for watching the scariest of scary movies, putting up horrifying decor, and my personal favorite." He held up his gauntlet and opened his fingers. A torrent of leaves were swept into his open palm, they twisted and contorted and mingled and curled until they formed an almost circular object. He gave the mass a flick of his metallic finger and a face on it lit up with rows of teeth and sharp, horrible eyes. Alan turned towards the couple, now staring slack jawed at his creation, and said. "Pumpkin carving."  He tossed the ornament towards the bench where it landed softly.

Alan watched the remaining leaves slowly tumble back to earth. He spoke in a much softer voice. "Halloween is the best time of the year." Blacktail gave a scoff.

"Please, I don't know if you've forgotten or not but I am pretty much the representation of the night. It's kinda my thing." Alan leveled his eyes to hers.

"That's what great about Halloween though. No matter how brave or strong or powerful you are, everyone has permission to be afraid. Even you." Blacktail grunted.

"Right." She started down the path again, forcing Alan into a jog to catch up. He gave a simple wave to the couple, who were examining his pumpkin, and they returned it in stunned silence. Once he had caught up to Blacktail she turned and continued her point. "Whats so great about a holiday that revolves around being afraid. Fear is a reaction to danger, which is something that we, humans and dragonians alike, have had hardwired into us for a reason. To recognize threats and act accordingly. What to you get from spreading fear like its a bottle of Shroud Moor?"

"I thought I was the analytic downer. Stop stealing my thing." Alan pouted, cracking his jaw while they walked.  Blacktail huffed and ran a hand through her messy jet hair, obviously irritated.

"So, this...hallopeen thing. It starts today, yes?" She probed. Alan lowered his head.

"Well...no. It's two days from now." He admitted. Blacktails eyes went wide and her jaw dropped.

"Two days? You expect me to stay on this planet for two whole days? Are you crazy?" Her voice grew higher as she bit back a building outburst of aggression. Alan knew this was coming. He locked her hard yellow eyes.

"Look, I know you don't like being on earth for too long, but I think it would be nice to get you to stay for a bit, get a feel for the people around here. After all, these are the people that we are trying to convince of your, and I mean the dragonians when I say this, peaceful intentions. Most of the people around here trust me enough to take my word for it, but it would be nice to get some proof to back up my words." He trailed off for a moment, then added. "Plus, it sounds like Sarella already knows about Halloween. I don't know how, but it sounds like she's enthusiastic for it." He leaned in close to Blacktail. "We could pick her up and have a fun time together. You wouldn't want her to miss out on that, would you?" Blacktail blew a small cloud of darkness into Alan's face, forcing a fit of coughing. After the fit had passed he looked back at her, eyes narrowed. He frowned and lowered his head again.

"Sorry. That was wrong of me to say." They walked a distance without talking, only the sounds of the forest occupied the air for the long walk back to the parks main area. The sun had started to lower and cast an orange glow over the tree tops. A few people milled about the tables dotting the park, but they were busy setting up decorations through the area to notice them.

"So what will we be doing" Blacktails voice cut the silence and gave Alan a slight surprise.

"I haven't decided yet. I was waiting for you."

"Well, here I am."She said, not looking at him. Alan glanced at her, her features hard, eyes forward as they marched for the parking lot. He sighed heavily

"I know that you don't like it when I mention making Sarella disappointed, it just slip-"            

"You better get to explaining some of the rituals of this thing if were going to get anything done Tims."  She interrupted him, but when Alan glanced at her again, he saw that the fainted trace of a smile touched her lips. Alan was perplexed at the sudden change in mood. As well as the name.

They had made it to the parking lot, gravel crunching under foot and were approaching Alan's sleek cruiser, looking much like a cross between a hornet and shark.
"I thought you were sulking. And whats with the name?" He asked, the perplexity he felt worming into his tone. She had reached the door of Alan's skorpeon and gripped the handle.

"If I'm going to be here I might as well know what I'm up against." She opened the door. "As for the name, your making being a thorn in my side a full time job." She cocked her head at the statement. Alan took a moment to analyze the comment. Something about it was strangely stirring. Not the comment itself, but the idea that it was Blacktail who had said it. It made him feel happy, but it was an innocent happiness. It was almost as if Blacktail was coming to grips with who he was. This thought danced in his head a moment, with both of them not saying a word. Then Alan made a smile and place a hand over his heart.

"Aww, is that a pet name for me? I didn't know you cared so much." Blacktail gave an amused laugh.

"Only because it's my job, literally." she climbed into the car but before she closed the door she shouted. "Are you getting in today, or do we have to push this thing?" Then slammed the door. Alan made for the car, the grin on his face genuine.

He forgot to be depressed.

----

As they drove the path around the park that would take them onto the main road that would lead to the small coastal town of Fawkes Landing, neither of them noticed the horde of crows that had lined the branches of the outlying trees. Watching them. Hiding.