Aidan flew fast. As fast as he had ever flown before. Normally he and Flame took nearly a week to reach Stonewood, the village where Shauna and Damien lived. He'd made the trip once in only four days. But this time he didn't stop for anything until he was almost there, and it took him only three days. Tired and very hungry, he landed a few miles outside of town with still several hours of darkness left. He hunted first, hunger demanding that he do so. He didn't take the time to find anything large though, he just took the first prey he found, in this case a rabbit, and left it for the scavengers. It wasn't much, but it was enough for the time being. He fixed his internal clock in his mind, and told himself to wake at sunrise. Then he curled up under a tree and slept.

When the first rays of sunlight hit the mountains to the west he woke. It was still dim down among the trees, the sun hadn't yet risen high enough to reach through the leaves. Aidan was still tired, but he didn't want to delay any further. He went to the clearing where he'd landed and took to the air. It was time to find out what was going on.

He landed in the town square. There were a few people there at this hour, preparing for the market day ahead. A few gave him fearful glances, most ignored him completely. He strode across the square to the town hall. It was a very small building, and it proved to be locked and empty. There town council was apparently not in session at this hour. Well! He could do something about that. He corralled the nearest passer-by by the simple expedient of grabbing him by the shirt-collar. "Where is the mayor's house?"

"Hey! What? Let go!"

"Where is the mayor's house?" Aidan let some of his anger slip lose, and showed his fangs. The man went white and pointed.

"R-right there, the one with the yellow trim."

"Thank you." Aidan let him go and walked back across the square to the house. None of the houses in the village were very large, but this one was larger than most. Aidan walked up and banged on the door. He wanted to just kick it in, and was perfectly capable of doing so, but he restrained himself. Best to stay at least slightly calm until he found out what was going on. When nobody answered right away he banged on it again. Inside somebody shouted "I'm coming already!" and a moment later the door flew open. Aidan had never dealt with the mayor of Stonewood directly, but he'd seen the man in passing. He was middle-aged, of average height, a little portly, and seemed somewhat full of himself. His hair was thick and white and he cultivated a carefully groomed mustache. He looked down at Aidan and he didn't seem happy to see him.

"What are you doing here?"

"Looking for my son."

"Looking for who?"

Aidan glared at him. "You know perfectly well. This whole damned town knows. I am looking for Damien. Where is he?"

"It's none of your concern where the child is."

"None of my concern where my son is?" Aidan had been angry before he arrived at the thought of what was probably going on. Now that he could see it in person he was nearly incandescent with it. He held back the urge to punch the man in the face. If he did, as angry as he was, he'd probably kill him.

"I don't know why Shauna insisted that you were the child's father, given what you are, and I certainly don't know why she insisted on letting you come here. We allowed it because of all she'd done for this town, but she is gone now and a creature like yourself is not welcome here."

Aidan clenched his teeth. If he acted with violence it would only make everyone all the more certain that he was a monster. "She 'insisted' that I'm Damien's father because I am. Now I ask you once more, and I will not ask it again, where is my son?"

"Not here. And where he's gone is no concern of yours."

Aidan took a step forward, standing on the threshold. The mayor stepped back, looking suddenly fearful. "Very well," Aidan snarled. "If I were the 'creature' you think I am I'd kill you here and now. I could, and easily. But I'm not, so I'll merely warn you. He is my son, and I will find him, and if so much as a hair on his head has been harmed, I will take it out tenfold on you."