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Lambert doesn’t have many memories of his life with his birth family. He can’t remember his father’s face or his mother's voice as if they were lost in the fire as well. A fire that burned his home and parents one faithless night, only himself and his baby sister Lurel survived, how? Even he doesn’t know, the report Lambert found later in his life told the story of how 5yr Lambert carried his baby sister out of the house because his older sister told him to. The older sister Sedine died from ‘mysterious circumstances’ before Lambert was even an idea. The authorities on the scene chalked it up to a ‘child’s imagination’ and the fire was ruled an ‘accident’ but Lambert knew better even then.
With no family to take them in the two siblings were put in the system and separated, Lurel was placed quickly given her young age and cute face, the young couple that adopted Lurel didn’t look once at Lambert as they took the last of his family from him. Even changing her name makes it harder for Lambert to find her.
Lambert had just turned 8, in the summer. His unruly mop of red hair was chopped short by the social worker after some boy stuck large gunks of gum in his hair. He gave up crying a year ago after the last foster father beat it out of him. It wasn’t his fault strange things keep happening around him, no one believed him when he swore up and down that the families’ dog wasn’t a dog. It was some kind of monster that almost hurt Katie-4yrs old-not him. Family and family gave him back after every round of ‘bad behavior’ and ‘property damage’.
It is only when the car pulls in from Wolfe’s family home did he feels not at ease but not on guard. There were an old mutt almost as big as him asleep on the porch and a few farm animals outback, as they were outside the town city limits. There were two older boys-13ish in age saddling up two horses when the car pulled in. An older man walked out of the farmhouse white hair pulled half back, he stood tall and walked down the small stairs to meet with the social worker Lambert refused to get out of the car.
“This him then?” The man asked, sparing a moment to look that the boy thru the window.
“Yes, this is Lambert. Mr. Wolfe, I believe it would be best if we spoke in private. I have some paperwork and such that will need to be signed.” Lambert’s social worker stats.
“Very well. Come in.” He allows her to enter the house firsts. Lambert stayed in the car, they were going to have to drag him out.
The two older boys had tied their horse to the post and walked over at this point, both more interested in what their father and the social worker were up to than the new boy. One had stark white hair and was a bit taller than the other sandy-haired teen. A good ten minutes passed and then both boys booked it away from the window as Mr. Wolfe and the social worker came out of the houses.
“Remember what I told you Mr. Wolfe the state is not-
“Responsible for property damages, or loss of animal life I know.” The man almost growled out in warning catching the social worker off.
“yes right” She tugged on the bottom of her shirt with a huff and opened the door to the back seat only it was locked and she had not locked it. She tugged again, and after the third time, she banged on the door.
“YOUNG MAN!” She yelled. “Open this door.”
Lambert turned his head away.
“Why I ought to.” She growled herself, a hand on her shoulder stopped her. Mr. Wolfe gently pushed her aside so he could stand before the window.
“Lambert, now Ms. Ralph as many places to be. I think she would appreciate it if you would unlock the car for us.” Mr. Wofle spoke softly after a gentle rap against the window. “Now son.”
Thinking better of it, Lambert unlocked the car. Mr. Wolfe opened the door, tilted his head in a ‘get out’ kind of way so Lamber did jumping out of the car, and stepped away from Mr. Wofle’s reach. With a satirized humph the door was closed and Ms. Ralph handed off Lambert’s trash bag of belongings.
“He is all yours.” She states and no more words were exchanged but the two watch the social worker peal out of the driveway.
“Now wants she a ray of sunshine.” Mr. Wolfe deadpanned joke got a surprised laugh out of Lambert. Mr. Wolfe's large scared hand landed on Lambert’s shoulder hearing him inside. “Come on, let's get you fed and settled in.”
The old man’s name turns out to be Vesemir, the teens were Geralt and Eskel. They were Lambert’s age when they came to stay with Vesemir, they laid out the rules while Vesemir cooked. Most of the rules were self-explanatory, the teens weren’t allowed out past dark while Lambert had a 7:30 Bedtime. They all had chores around the farm and the house.
Located in the middle of nowhere on hundreds of acres of land was the old farmhouse. There were tons of rooms scratched that beds, tons of beds placed everywhere, some cots shoved in corners, and three or four more in empty rooms. Two beds were placed in the second-largest bedroom on the second floor, where Geralt and Eskel shared. Vesemir had the master bedroom on the first floor, while Lambert found a nice size bedroom farthest away from everyone else.
The first night there was strange, Lambert has laid on mattresses worse than this one with ratty blankets but no the blanket was soft and warm the mattress comfortable he just couldn't sleep. Eskel and Geralt were up in their shared room. Lamber couldn't hear what they were doing being on opposite sides of the house but he could hear Vesemire as he was on the floor below him. Even better if he placed his ear next to the air vent.
"Ah Sven, strange to hear from you so soon." Vesemir greets whoever was on the other side of the phone call. "Yes, he's settled in, arrived not too long ago.....Younger than we are used to but if what we've heard is true then...yes. Yes, Family died a few years back no one else claimed him."
There was a long pause. "No no Sven he's too young, 13 that's the age we all agreed on...Meet him? Sven I don't think.....Bastard."
Lambert pulled back as he heard quick footsteps heading up the stairs. Ducking under the heavy blankets trying to steal his breathing trying his best to pretend to be asleep. Only the footsteps stopped at the top of the stairs…they turned right, right into Geralt and Eskel’s room.