Sherlock's POV

The hairs on the back of his neck stand up as they race through the the streets on the way to the pack meeting. Closing his eyes, he presses as close as he can to John's warm wolf form, focusing internally.

The pack link is shifting. Changing and merging, the different lines solidifying into one. It doesn't feel sudden, only final, as if he missed most of the morphing. Originally he could feel each of the subpacks individually. Now though, they are blending and blurring, becoming one.

Later, when he's not riding on his love's back, he'll try his hand with his memory gift to see if he can see what caused the packs to merge. Mostly out of curiosity since it's something new. Instinct tells him that today will be a catalyst for another change. He doesn't know how or why he feels that way.

The pack meeting goes smoothly. He tunes out most of it, as it's all things that he's heard plenty of times. Besides, John will update him on anything he needs to know. Instead his attention is on getting a feel for the new connections between pack.

The links and how they flow from person to person, each slightly different and yet bound close together. He can feel how they twine and twirl around each other, stretching between individuals and groups creating family and friend units. Is that why the pack bonds are changing? The pack members are connecting with each other, and as they do so, it creates new paths between them? That would make sense as it is much like a massive network.

He's drawn from his mind as people start standing, even though it's not time to leave. It takes him only a moment to realize that it is the older pack pups and those with medical training. While he knows what's going on with the healer types, he doesn't with the pups.

John? He queries, what's going on with the pups?

His bondmate stops beside him as he leaves the front of the room, They're going to be speaking with Aunt Sandra, we'll be having the birthday celebrations following the conversations.

He nods, smiling slightly and switching his focus to Mouse, If you have a moment, I would like to ask you something.

Notta problem, we can talk in one of the smaller sitting rooms if you'd like? She replies a breath later.

Standing, he heads towards the smaller sitting room off of the library that's used for study as far as he has seen.

He's barely through the door when she joins him, taking a seat and inquiring what he'd like to discuss. As much as he hates to admit to being embarrassed, he definitely is as he explains his earlier thought process and the fact Eric suggested that they speak.

Mouse smiles, listening carefully paying attention and not speaking until he's done. When she does, she's got plenty of advice, most of which is even useful for him. As the only prey animal in a group of predators she apparently needed to improve her ability to handle her emotions, senses and reactions. She even promises to do some research because the topic interests her. Not that that's surprising, she tends to be detail oriented, which is probably how she managed to work special ops as the smallest one in the group.

"Thank you," he murmurs as he stands and leaves, heading back to the meeting room.

As he enters the room, his eyes sweep over it, noticing that the other two groups haven't returned yet. Really, how long does it take to discuss a clinic and whatever Aunt Sandra needed the pups for?

Weaving his way through the room to his normal seat, he reaches for John on their private link. He doesn't actually say anything, listening in to a brush of thoughts instead, checking to see about where they are in the conversation. It seems that they are almost done.

When he comes out of his mind, Sofia is sitting beside him, bright eyes dancing merrily. "I wanted to join the apprenticeship conversation but Chare said no," she comments with a playful smile. "I think it's cause I'm not old enough yet."

He chuckles, nodding as he murmurs, "I remember being in the 'too young but knows too much' stage."

"Exactly," she hums, playful expression fading into something thoughtful. "It's okay. I enjoy all my classes and life activities. I'm fairly certain I'm gonna be a Tracker as an adult."

"Why?" So far he's only met Trackers who became one due to loss or having to make a deal with one of the Old Gods. Those that have no other choice. Why would she wish to be a Tracker as a child?

Sofia glances at him and looks away, answering, "Jackal Trackers are rare. Maybe if there were more of them, she wouldn't have had a chance to harm our family the way she did." There's a fierceness to her voice, a quiet hiss of fury that reminds him of Eric's icy tones.

He nods, not saying anything. Nothing needs to be said. After all, he thought about it before making a deal with the Dusk Daughter. If he was in that sort of situation again, he'd do it again. Probably. Maybe. Though maybe not if he actually thought about the unique talent set within the pack.

Sofia's one of the most like him within the pack, outside his brother and the elder cobra. In a lot of ways they are a great deal a like at that age. The biggest difference being that she has a protective streak, not a trait he developed as a child. Maybe she has because she's closer to her siblings than he was his.

They sit in companionable silence until the others enter the room once more and the birthday celebrations begin. After that she only sticks around through the food and gift opening, then she's gone, heading to the library if he knows her. She's not close to anyone except her sisters within the pack.

John hopes that she will befriend Anna but he's uncertain it'll work. Sofia is blunt in a way that makes others her age uncomfortable, her mind often working too fast for them to keep up, giving her a bit of an edge. On the other hand, perhaps the fact that they're both outsiders to the pack pups will be the trait that brings them together as friends.

He smiles at the way the different pack members interact. The ease between the original Watson wolves and the rest of the shifters. He still remembers how divided they were when he first joined the pack. How uneasy and at odds the multiple packs were. The way the wolves of the Watson pack didn't know how to take having a human alpha-second or all the different species that that became part of the pack when John blended them.

Eventually the celebration dies down, people start leaving, many bidding him goodnight before they do so.

Ready? His bondmate queries, I've spoken to the healers about the clinic, wished all those who have a birthday a pleasant month, and got the journals from Aunt Sandra.

Yes, he answers as he stands, arching his back and twisting around a bit. I'll meet you by the door.

There's a brief pause, Good idea. Our cab's already on the way.

Heading towards the door, he nods at those he passes. He's just pulled his coat back on when John joins him.

"What's in the journals exactly?" He asks motioning to the box.

"They're work journals," his wolf answers, "from my training."

That's a good idea, his bondmate can see what order he learned in, and use it to adapt plans for Anna. "Does every healer in your family have a set?"

"Yeah, Aunt Sandra spoke today with the younger generation to see who may wish to become a chronicler or historian for the pack. We have one who wishes to be a general historian, but that's not the exact same." John opens the door with his empty hand.

He nods, stepping through and grinning when he sees which crow has pulled up to the front of the house to pick them up. He'd ask if he could do it, but really, he doesn't want to use his gift that way. He might like learning and experimenting, but recording the history of just the pack doesn't appeal to him.

Besides, he's much more interested in the future. The changes that he saw tonight and knows are coming. He's looking forward to seeing what comes next.

That's it for this part, stay tuned, there will be a direct sequel! Sherlock & John, and the rest of the pack are no where near done with their story.

Hopefully life will even out, with everything going better than it has been, so that it can get started and posted.

I want to let all of you know how thankful I am for you, you are wonderful for still being around years later, and those of who left comments are amazing, you kept me writing even when there was long pauses between. Thank you.