Title: Howls in the Distance
Author: A. Magiluna Stormwriter
Feedback address: stormwriter@shatterstorm.net
Date in Calendar: 21 December 2017
Fandom: Poltergeist: the Legacy / Light, Water, Muses
Pairing: Alex/Rachel
Rating: G
Word Count: 830
Summary: Observing the Winter Solstice out in the desert, Rachel and Alex make an unexpected wildlife connection.
Spoilers: This is a canon-divergent post-series AU, so just consider the entire series up for grabs.
Warnings: No standard warnings apply.
Advertisement: Part of the FSAC:DW16

Disclaimer: This story is an original work of amateur fiction, and is written purely for the private entertainment of P:TL fans. This story is no way affiliated with Trilogy, MGM Worldwide Television or the Sci-Fi Channel. The characters are their property, and this story is not meant to infringe upon the copyrights of MGM, Trilogy, or anybody else who owns an interest in "Poltergeist: the Legacy".

Note: Author's Notes: I always try to find something fascinating to write for these ladies each calendar. This is the most forward in time of the entire LWM series. I even checked out AccuWeather for tonight's weather in Las Vegas, which is just above freezing for the low. I'm nothing if not thorough in my research. I'd originally had an idea for Rachel to get visitations from different desert animals, kind of like happened to Jesus in The Last Temptation of Christ, but that just didn't happen here.

Dedication: My muses, as usual…

Beta: Shatterpath is my best PtL beta around…

(11-21-2017)

Settling on the ground behind my wife is getting harder and harder to do as the years go by. Not that I plan to stop anytime soon, mind you, but I do happen to like how she pampers me after I've done it. Especially on a night like tonight. I love living in the desert for the most part. The worst of the heat is mitigated by fantastic air conditioning in every single building, both here on the Ranch and in the spaces we occupy in town.

But it's the frigidly bitter winter nights that I could do without. They make San Francisco's winters feel almost tame by comparison. They are why I'm still standing here, wrapped in a warm comforter from the insanely decadent bed.

Alex is sitting in a lotus position out on the sand several yards from the RV I don't want to step out of just yet. Her back is ramrod straight, long curly hair ruffling lightly in the wind. I can't see her upturned face, but I know her eyes are closed, her expression faintly amused.

"Are you ever going to get your sexy butt over here?" she asks softly, her voice carrying across the distance between us. "Or will you finally admit that you're too old for this?"

"I am not too o--" Her delighted laughter cuts off my words, making my eyes narrow and my lips purse. "I am not old, Alexandra Moreau."

"So you keep saying, but you're still not sitting out here communing with nature with me."

Snorting softly, I set aside the comforter around my shoulders and step down to the ground. The fact that there's no frost or snow on the sand startles me, even after all of these years of living in this place. Shivering slightly, I try to put the temperature out of my mind as I settle next to my wife. It takes a moment or two to get my legs pretzeled up in the lotus position like she has. I refuse to admit that I'm just competitive enough with her to try this. The hot tub at the compound will help with that tomorrow when we get back. Maybe I can even get Tessa to give me a massage.

"I don't plan to be out here much longer," Alex says softly. "I may not be as old as you are, but my bones aren't happy with these near freezing temps either."

"Are you saying--"

"Nothing of the sort. Besides, there's a pair of coyotes skulking about out there. They're staying away for now, but I've a feeling that may change soon."

Squinting in an attempt to see into the darkness around us, I internally curse the barely past new moon for my inability to see the coyotes that Alex can sense. She reaches over to squeeze my hand, the touch automatically soothing my nerves in ways that I still can't explain after over twenty years of being in each other's back pockets, as it were. She squeezes it a second time and I know without looking at her that she's smiling.

"They're gone again. They keep doing this. I think they're curious and drawn to the magic."

"Should I be worried about your sudden ability to sense animals and their motives? Are you spending too much time with Dace again?"

Alex chuckles. "Perish the thought. I've been in touch with this particular pair of coyotes for a while now. And our three resident Sentinels that aren't the monkey twins, too. I think they're drawn to the pack energy we emanate out from the Ranch. They won't approach us, at least not in an aggressive manner. We're safe."

Somehow that eases enough of my fears to let me drift into a low level meditative state next to her. The next several minutes pass by in companionable silence until Alex lets out a low sigh. It's enough to pull me from my thoughts, eyes blinking open to stare out into the night briefly.

"Rachel, I told you they're not out there." She shifts and gets up carefully, stretching her arms up over her head. "I'm gonna head inside and get the kettle going for tea. Don't stay out here too long, okay? I don't want to be sleeping next to an icicle."

"Ha-ha, very funny. I'll be right in."

"I'll hold you to that," she replies as she kisses my cheek and heads inside.

I sit there for a few more minutes, tapping into the magic that is still frightening to me. It takes a moment or so, but I finally recognize the coyotes' presence. "Thank you for watching over her tonight," I whisper. "No matter how safe she thinks she is, I still worry, and I'd be lost without her."

The eerie howls echo just seconds later, as if in response to my words. They're enough to send me back into the RV and my wife's comforting arms.

That's enough of the wild for tonight.