Mike nodded looking a little serious, "It's not the people, its the atmosphere. If you pay attention, the whole planet's like this. Don't worry, bunny boy may not be one of mine but he's not like these others." The human suddenly made a shocked sound. Whixan lifted his head up, his eyes landing on empty space. A few people were glancing at the door, indicative of the human making a fast exit.

A voice faded into his hearing range, a familiar one, Johnny's, "What? Oh man, the kid." The rabbit and an adult coyote wearing a rather corny looking cowboy hat came charging in and over to whix. The rabbit grabbed him by the shoulders, checking him over. The coyote looked around feverishly, "We'd the bastard scamper off to this time? Dangit, why's Ken always so slow telling us this stuff."

John got eye level with Whixan, "You ok? Who was here?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`

Russell clamped his jaw down somewhat frustrated, the cat was hiding something. Breaking eye contact made it harder for the noble races to link words to feelings, obviously Vincent knew this.

He changed the subject as taking the direct approach had beena mistake. He tried again, this time with a more friendly tone. "We have something in common I see. It seems we both have been blessed with at least one overly rebellious child. My own seems to questioning not only our household rules, but his faith as well. It seems the older they get, the more serious their inner struggles, ay?" Though more light hearted; he still he watched Vincent carefully for the response.

"Indeed. My daughter is a very good example of that... there are times that I do not know what she's thinking. She has never listened to a word I say. The girl ought to be thankful she has a roof over her head and that I'm generous enough not to throw her back into the trash where she was born." Vincent paused for a moment to calm himself; he would always become a little irritated while mentioning Ryn, as it was his nature.

"Darlena and I adopted her when she was still an infant, but she was always far too noisy for me. She's never really learned proper etiquette, but I suppose it's to be expected of her kind. She's quite a bit since then, but she's still the same little pain she always has been... I have to admit though, she's quite the talented one. She's a tutor who comes by and instructs her in the Art. I don't know how much she has been taught, though... You'd think my sons would've be that good at her age." Vincent ended the last few sentences with in a jealous tone, just as Estella returned with the hot water kettle...

***

OOC: Vincent really can talk, can he? XD

Whix was clearly a little stunned by the Rabbit's sudden panicked state, having already had enough time for the bemusement of Mike's sudden disappearance to settle in first. The kit stumbled on his words for a few moments while he reassembled his wits, "Huh? I'm-I'm fine. What's with all the rushing?"

Russell's face turned to one of satisfaction, sometimes he didn't even need to depend on his training to get others to tell him what he wanted them, or they needed, to say. The fox looked up from his cup a little more serious this time, "I'm unsure what you mean by her kind. If she's undergone reparative treatments I don't think its pausible to consider her as burdened with the mark of the prey."

Johnny took a minute to shut his eyes and slow his breathing, force himself to slow down before continuing. The man in the cowboy hat was hanging around the room listen to conversations. After a few moments the rabbit took in a breath so he could try to explain some of this to Whixan, "Someone said that saw someone up here. Someone that's bad news. Unfortunately they didn't tell us until just a moment ago. I wanted to make sure they didn't do anything to ya. And ask if maybe you saw someone just now. If you've got a handle on that crazy sixth sense your race has, he'd feel weird, trust me."

"Well I didn't 'feel' anything," the kit mused, casting his mind back over the conversation and momentarily glancing at the door "But I was talking to someone, I probably was just too distracted so are they're gone now?"

More slums, more trash, more cities. In all actuality, the man looked like a bum, torn clothing, wearing a raggidy cloak around him like a pancho. It was ironic, how nearly two years ago he was working on a ship, making deliveries to planets around this system. And then, the crash happened.

He shook his head. The time for living in the past was over-he was hungry again. Not having a stable job led to constant times of near-starvation for him. This planet was still not as advanced as ol' Earth, so the need for a good mechanic was scarce. Sure, some time or another someone might need help with an engine(Most were old and outdated. Models that were knew when his dad was a little kid) and he'd fix it, but he was never too good at holding a steady job.

He persevered however, he wasn't going away any time soon. He had no money to afford a pass off the planet, and if he did, where would he go? His ID back on Earth was probably void by now, with everyone in the ship most likely thought as dead.

So, he wandered around these cities, helping out here or there, not really doing anything world changing. He didn't like begging nor did he believe in stealing. He'd go hungry for a while until he could get something to live off of for a week or so.

This was his life now, and he didn't expect it was going to change. Why would it?

He continued walking down the streets, his shoes making a light thumping sound on the ground in a rythmic pattern. It was the kind of sound you heard when there was nothing else around-or when people were being very quiet.

He just moved along, heading forward to an unknown destination.

Ryn had no sooner left her parents' bedroom behind when she spotted Nathaniel down the hall with Terald, second eldest of the five Sonata sons. A little shorter than Nathaniel in height, he was light gray, though the tip of his left ear and tail was a much darker shade. His spiky black hair was messy and untamed, and he seemed as if he didn't want to comb it today, so he let it cover one of his eyes.

As she drew closer to them, Terald glanced at her with a slightly drunken look.

"What do you want, Squirt? We grown-ups are talking here."

"We've got company. Not that you care," said Ryn indifferently. "If you can relay that to your other brothers, then I won't have to go looking for them."

"Whatever, Ryn," Nathaniel spat angrily (apparently he was in a bad mood). "Don't you have a garbage pile to play in somewhere out in the city?"

"Hey, Nate, she already left." Terald pointed up the hall, to where the white cat had already proceeded to walk away towards the stairs. "Who do you think is here now, anyway?"

"Probably the bill collectors again. You know how we spend money around here." Nathaniel shrugged. "Not that it matters, anyway..."

---

"The poor kind, Master Underwood," Vincent responded. "Ryn was born in the world of the poor and the weak. I believe her birth mother was a rodent-feline mix, but I couldn't be sure. Either way, I never bothered to ask..." He took a sip of his tea before he continued.

"As for Ms. Estella, she already has her health benefits, but I simply cannot afford to spend such an... outrageous amount of money just so she get a few things corrected. Although, she's an excellent nanny to Ryn and to my sons while they were growing up, and a satisfactory housekeeper as well..."

The cat stared at his cup briefly, trying to find the right words to say to finish his sentence, but he couldn't.

Maybe... all these years... I've just been selfish for no real reason at all...

Johnny nodded, "Yeah, I think so." He looked around uneasily, wishing to himself he had the noble races ability to see emotion. It would make spotting whoever this guy was much easier.

The rabbit sighed and put a hand out, "Come on squirt, I'll show ya to the beds." Whix didn't move for a moment, but the promise of a real bed quickly over came his hesistation and he took the hand offered him and allowed himself to be lead through a dark corridor that opened into only slightly brighter area with a number of what looked like rusted frames with matresses that were probably drug out of the trash. Johnny twitched a little at the scene, he looked almost embarassed of the place as he spoke, "Sorry kiddo, its not much, but it's better than the street. Just pick an unused one."

Russell raised an eyebrow and stopped mid-sip to reply in a very stoic and serious tone, "Interesting, I'm sure you're aware that The Remembrance tells us that Warden follow the path of light. That we protect those that are weak, and those that are poor. Tell me, do any of your children attend the Schools of the Art?"

[To Drew who has yet to introduce his character]

Chay watched the fancy car pull up to yet another dilapadated building. This was the third one now, they were all the same. What was he keeping in these? The fox was now determined to find out.

He glanced over a noise and saw someone wandering past his hiding spot. The newcomer suddenly head a voice hiss out behind him. "Hey, Human, over here, quick, get outta sight!"

The kit wandered slowly down the rows of bedsits, eyeing the scene with an air that resembled the odd splicing of relief and a slight taint of revulsion for the acrid state of the makeshift halls. There was something else too, an uneasiness that he had felt many times before out in the streets, only here it was many times worse, its source as yet still unseen and unframed by his sleep deprived psyche. An empty bed to his left drew his attention. It was the same as all the others, alike in grime and rusting degeneracy. But with a light test of the springs, the cub sat down on the stained mattress and hummed a note of satisfaction. It may have been far from what he had once been used too, but it was also far from the horribly cramped conditions of his makeshift home, and just to have the prospect of a warm bed was enough to lighten his spirits slightly, drowning out the ground hum of foreboding that hung like a sigma in the air.
"This is grate." He said quietly, cracking a slight smile as he looked back at the rabbit still standing by the entrance way "Thankyou."

John nodded looking on from the entrance with a rather guilty air. He'd been around Rico too long, he almost didn't want to leave the guy in here. Finally he drew in a breath at exited saying, "Just yell if you need anything, squirt. I'll be down the hall."

"My three eldest did, but not anymore... They'd been expelled some time ago, I'm afraid. It was a school located a few miles from here. I don't know all of the details, but I know it involved another student who had nearly died because of them..." Vincent sighed. "I don't even think they care. Their instructor was highly cross with them."

"It is be quite difficult to deal with adolescents, isn't it, Master Underwood?"

Russell had a strange look on his face, a mixture of confusion and helplessness his words reflected it, "That's... Terrible. What is the this world coming to. Children misusing their gifts is normal, but to go completely against what they know is right? Richard is rebellious and angry but he's never done anything like that before, when he's broken rules he did it because he though it was right. What could have made your children think hurting others was right? Perhaps you should bring them in here, this is something you should ask them." Something in the Warden's voice made Vincent want to believe him and do what he was suggesting.

The man nearly jumped as he heard Chay whisper to him. "Huh?" he asked quietly, moving towards the fox.

"What is it?" the man asked, keeping his head down, and looking around. For the first time in a long while, Jack Walton was confused.

'You won't sleep you know.'

A mat gray ceiling dominated his view from the bunk, its irregular, near invisible patterns revealing its aged detail and past lives as the crooked springs of the mattress groaned beneath his slender weight.

'You never sleep in new places.'

The stench of the various residents and the light ordure of mature filth on wool spiraled around the boys face, painting a picture of those who lived in this squalor against the various stains and blotchy patches of attempted maintenance. There were so many, and yet so few truly stood out from the crowd that must have come and gone every few days.

'You know what happens when you sleep in a strange place.'

The rodent that slept in the bunk opposite, Whix could smell his hunger, his need for simple contact with another. The badger that had paced up and down the long room like a mother ill with worry, Whix could smell his fear. Strange, how someone with his background fit in so easily with the degradation of society.

'You can already feel it creeping in at the edges.. how long will it be before it starts in earnest.'

None of them had a perpuse. They had no reason, nor rhyme with which to give their lives meaning. Those who dared to hope were the ones that truly stood out, those that tried to change were the differing colors from the original gray paint that permeated the corridors of the abode of the damned. So few had a lie. So many had it taken from them.

'They're gone. They can't save you anymore.'

"Shut up" The cub muttered quietly, twisting over in the bunk to face down the rows of beds that led to the door, pulling the covers along to form a cocoon of itchy woolen cloth around himself. He hadn't slept in over a week, not even he could go on resisting the temptation the soft overused covers provided. The air wasn't right here, there was something panicky about it.
But slowly, inevitably, the rows of endless rusted beds faded, their soiled mattresses lingering in their poignant aroma for a few moments before the floor of his reality gave way to spiraling, instant, darkness.

Vincent gave a simple nod of understanding. "Of course... please excuse me."

As the Felinoid looked towards the door, he sensed from nearby the presence of someone just outside the entrance to the study. Recognizing who it was immediately, he coughed a little, pretending to clear his throat.

"There's no need to be apprehensive... I know you're threre, Julius."

Vincent heard a noise that sounded almost like a nervous gulp as his second youngest son stepped into the doorway. He was barely older and barely taller than Ryn (who was about four feet three inches in height) and tan in color with short light brown hair.

It was obvious this kid was quite fidgety; it was especially noticeable in his light blue eyes as he stared blankly at his father.

"Come now," Vincent spoke, putting a hand on the boy's shoulder and frowned a little, "What's wrong, Julius? If it's serious, then I don't want to discuss this in front of company..."

"C-company...?"

Chay jabbed a finger at the man getting out of the car, "Been tracking this bastard. We caught him screwing around with a kid earlier. Wanna do something to better the planet?"

OOC: I'm going to guess you other guys wanna finish your scenes as there's nothing for me to write on them at the moment.

OOC: Resuming from where I left off in my last post... (I may not finish this how.)

----

IC:
-----

"Company?"

"Why, of course, son." Vincent looked back towards Russell when he spoke. "I--"

"It's an honor to finally meet you in person, Master Underwood," Julius interrupted (it wasn't intentional, though, he was really surprised to see a Warden in his home for the first time). "I've heard of you from my instructor at school."

"Ahem--" His father coughed a little, turning the youth's attention back to him.

"Oh... I apologize for that," he said sheepishly. "I know it's an excuse, but my excitement got the better of me..."

"It's nothing to worry about. I do have a favor to ask of you, however, Julius."

"Yes, Father?"

"Your older brothers-- Nathaniel, Terald, and Robert-- I would like to speak with them."

The smile that Julius had disappeared as the three names reached his ears. "Oh... okay..."

Russell smirked somewhat, as if he picked up something from the boy that made him smile. He spoke out loud enough for the departing Julius to hear, "We will speak again when you return, young master."

Julius paused in his tracks and turned to look at Russell one last time. "Yes, sir!"

As he left, Vincent looked on with a slightly amused look on his face.

That has to be the first time that boy has smiled in a while... I wonder what kept him so depressed?

---

Sonata Manor, Guest Bedroom

"So, is Dad gonna give us the money, Nate?"

"I told you, I don't know, Rob. Damn... how many times do I have to tell you..." Nathaniel impatiently tapped his foot on the bare floor, a sign that he was not in a good mood.

Terald and Robert sat on the two beds that were across the room from one another on opposite walls. Terald's face no longer had the usual slightly drunken look; it was one of near panic.

"We--we've got to pay 'im back somehow," he said, trying to keep his voice low. "Now I wish I hadn't quit that job..."

"Like that'd be enough," Robert snapped, his voice full of sarcasm.

"Well, you never had one, you little--"

"Shut it, the both of you." Nathaniel banged his fist on the wall, making the other two brothers jump. "We'll see what happens. If things don't work out, we'll have to find another way to get the money. You hear me, Ter, Rob?"

The other two nodded.

"Good."

---

Julius had just made his way into the second floor corridor when the door to the guest bedroom opened. He slowed his pace to a near standstill, sensing an intense feeling of anger and panic heading his way.

It's Nate... what's his problem now?

As if he had said that thought aloud, Julius saw Nathaniel's head and neck emerge from the other side of the door and turn to look right into his eyes. "What do you want, shrimp?" he spat.

"Um... it's Father." Julius spoke in a small voice, his fear of his eldest brother getting the better of him. "He wants to see you, Terald, and Robert downstairs--"

Before he could finish, the boy felt Nathaniel's large hand grab his shirt and pin him to the wall, knocking a portrait of their mother to the floor. His eyes widened in terror as Natheniel glared darkly at him.

"You told him, didn't you?! About the human we have to pay back?" he growled.

"N-no, I didn't, I swear!"

"You'd better not have, or you'd be in a world of hurt, shrimp."

The grip was loosened, and Nathaniel walked away with Terald and Robert following behind him. Julius slumped to the floor, panic-striken and trembling violently.

His heartbeat still racing, he shakily tried to get a hold of himself and stand; he still needed to return downstairs as well...

"Julius?"

It was his mother's voice. Darlena came almost running down the hall to his side,holding her the bottom of her dress about a half from the floor (so it wouldn't drag) as her heels were making tapping noises on the floor.

"M-mother?"

"Julius, are you alright? You look pale as a ghost! Was Nate bullying you again?"

The boy was about to open his mouth to speak, but Darlena interrupted him. "Okay, then, I've got to run downstairs to the kitchen... I've had the strangest cravings lately... it must be because of the baby..."

Laughing haughtily to herself, she stood upright and walked away.

Julius looked on briefly and sighed. Darlena had always been a piece of work...

Especially before Junior was born...

"Need a hand, J?"

Julius jumped back in surprise, nearly losing his balance. He was relieved to find that it was only Ryn standing a few feet away.

"I-i'm fine thanks... uh, Ryn--"

"I already know," his adopted sister replied with a grin. "Estella and I met him in the market today..."

---

OOC: Nate's a meanie.

"I seem to be causing quite the commotion among your children." Russell stated plainly, he looked over at his host questioningly. "There quite a large amount of fear and panic around here now."

"Well," replied Vincent, a hint of sadness in his voice, "This actually the first time a Warden has ever come to the manor. They're a little overwhelmed, is all."

Just as he lifted his cup to his lips to take another sip of tea, a gruff voice rudely shattered the already uneasy silence.

"You wanted to see us, Dad?"

---

"So... that's it... what happened, anyway... I wish I could've taught those idiots a lesson, though..."

Ryn and Julius had been strolling down the stairs as Ryn recounted the incident in the market place earlier. Julius was astounded at what he heard, which all the more made him wish he were as strong-willed as his adoptive sister.

"Ryn," he asked, bringing his pace to a stop as he looked at the ground. "Ryn, am I weak?"

"Huh?" The white cat turned around. "What are you talking about, J?"

"Am I weak?"

"Why are you asking me that, you dummy? I don't know what goes on through your head."

Julius looked straight into Ryn's eyes when she said that. "Because... Nate... he almost beat me up again today... I was really scared... Mother came by after he left with Robert and Terald, but she didn't do a thing..."

He stopped there, allowing Ryn to absorb the words. When he saw her turn her back to him, his heart sank. She's gonna lecture me for sure, even though I'm the older one...

"Stop asking me dumb questions," Ryn told him. "If you want answers, talk to Master Underwood instead. Maybe then you'll find out what you're looking for."

Russell eyed each of the three seperately. Eye contact, facial features, posture, and feelings all roll in his mind to obtain a semblence of who he was looking at. He said nothing waiting for their father to speak first and introduce him.

Vincent stared blankly at the three older teenagers standing in the doorway, setting his half-empty cup back onto the tray.

"Well, Dad?" Nathaniel spoke up, ignoring the fact that Russell had his eyes on him, "What is it?"

"I would appreciate it if you wouldn't be so rude in front of our guest, Nathaniel," said Vincent, his voice cold, almost lacking in emotion.

He stood up from his chair once again. "I apologize for my eldest son, Master Underwood. I had raised him to behave better than this."

He motioned to Terald, standing upright just outside the door, who was moving his hair from in front of his eye with little success. "This is my second eldest son, Terald," Vincent continued. "And--" He spotted his third oldest (a taller, darker version of Julius) to the left of Nathaniel.

"-- lastly, Robert."

Terald quit trying to fix his hair and moved into the study. "Pleased to meet you, sir," he said, scratching his head.

Robert bowed slightly and said ,"It's an honor to have you in our home, Master."

Nathaniel said nothing. He still had his eyes on his father, something that Vincent didn't take lightly...

Russel gave each of the two a slight nod, "Nathaniel seems to have something on his mind. Perhaps you two have something to discuss?"

"Yes, as a matter of fact." Vincent kept his eyes on Nathaniel as he spoke. "Please excuse me, Master Underwood, while I resolve this unfinished matter."

"Um... Dad--" Terald started to say.

"I will speak with you in a few minutes."

"Uh... um..." Terald started scratching his head. "Okay."

Russell has a rather smirky look on his face watching the two exit, then locked eyes on Terald. "I assume you can speak without your leader present. Tell me what you know about Warden." The voice was less forgiving them he thought it would be. It was almost an order, but one he was inclined to follow.

OOC: FYI, Ast is waiting for nighttime to continue. I have no idea what Drew's waiting on.

"Um..." The teen was taken aback at first, but when he spoke, it was obvious he hadn't bothered to remember much of what he was taught, a result of years of following whatever his older brother said to him. "...something about there being more than one of it and stuff... er..."

Robert glared at Terald, as though in disbelief at his lack of understanding. Even he was fully aware of the different branches of religion (though he didn't care for that); it was burned into his mind since he was a kid.

Terald, you idiot...

---

"You've got some nerve coming in there with a rude attitude like that Nathaniel. I'm going to assume it's from the unfinished conversation from earlier."

Vincent kept his eyes on his eldest son, his voice low and nearly void of emotion.

"I would like an answer to my question," Nathaniel stated plainly. "Can I get the money or not?"

Vincent stayed silent for a moment, considering the question. Considering the conversation he had with Russell.
Finally arriving at his answer, he closed his eyes and told him in a calm and collected voice...

"No."

Nathaniel exploded in anger. "Why not?!"

"You think I don't know what's going on with you?" Vincent maintained his calm demeanor. "You've managed to get into debt and drag your brothers in with you, am I wrong?

"H-how did you know?"

"It doesn't take a genius to figure it out, Nathaniel... your mother found the evidence in your bedroom and relayed it to me... I figured I'd try an help you, but it seems that you'd just continue to ask for more and more money each time, knowing there's another child on the way.

"So I've decided... no more, son. You'll be an adult in less than a month. It's time for you to grow up."

---

Ryn and Julius had stopped just down the hall from where the father and son where talking. Even though it was completely unintended, they ended up listening in to the conversation.

"Father," Julius spoke softly. "He's not his usual self anymore."

"So you sense it, too, huh?" Ryn smirked, fully aware of what was going on. "It's baffling to you, isn't it?"

Russell shook his head, "I'm not speaking of the political face of it. I'm speaking of its ideals."

"Um..." Terald scratched his head, trying to think of right words to say. It was evident that he had never really thought anything of it, and it seemed to make him a bit frustrated at this.

"It's like, trying to keep on the right track... I think..."

Russell smirked, "An obvious generalization that could be said of all people, don't you think? Do you believe in such ideals?"

Terald scratched his head again. "I guess so, sir.

At first reality seemed to hold its stead, the same grey ceiling greeting his eyes as they flicked open to the whimsy of unseen stimuli. Yet there was something different, the world seeming unstable, resisting his focus as became obscured by a sheet of crawling flames. Panic set into his thoughts, but the kit remained still, body intertwined with the sheets as though sleeping through the mind's unrest, paralyzed by some poison coursing though the bloodstream. His hart quickened as the heat around his limbs began to sear at immobile flesh on his arms and feet, still watching the creeping flames through his closed eyelids. What was this, a dream? But the pain was vivid and infallible, the scorching air rasping the back of his throat. Suddenly he was awake, relief from the petrifaction coming with a scream of agony. But the moment of reanimation came too late, and all the kit could do was writhe in pain, watching as his hands lifted themselves into view, the flesh charred and dripping away from the end of his fingers, the cloth from his clothing still alight and aflame. The distance of the screaming was replaced by a single word, emanating from his own blackened vocal cords as a last pitiful plea for life.
"Cassie!"

Whixan sat bolt up right on the bunk, breath stolen from his lungs and head throbbing from the intensity of the nightmare. For a moment or two he sat there, shaking uncontrollably, though knowing that now at least he was in charge of his body. But now recovering, something else caught his attention. Suddenly no longer seated on the hardy mattress, curled inward to hide from the world, he was now standing just to the side of his bed, eyes surveying the cinder colored boards of a room that now stood decimated and empty. The light of day was pouring in through the hole at the far end of the dorm, the fire damaged roof having collapsed inward leaving nothing but shattered charred timbers. Everything was wrong. The beds were twisted and warped from the searing heat that had engulfed them, not a smitten of paint remained on the black walls, the entire room boasting an absence of color in its ruin... All except the bed beside his, upon which was laid a white cloth, pure and unblemished by the flames.
He reached out for the sheet, unquestioning as to why he was drawn too it so, just knowing that he needed to see what was beneath. In a single motion he pulled back the sheet, and the sound of screams once again beset his ears as the twisted feline corpse looked up at him with questioning blue eyes.

People were used to waking up to some strange, even shocking things since their first arrival to the shelter. It simply came with the territory that one would be occasionally be the victim of a night time prank and such. But the teen who had just been roused, this was something new. A young kit, not much older then eight or so was standing next to his bed, holding back his covers and looking down upon him with true horror scrawled across his features. Before the teen could even ask what the child was doing, the boy's high pitch scream over took his words. Like a taught rubberband that had been suddenly released, the vulpine shot backward, striking the opposite bunk and tumbling over it to vanish into the darkness. Stedily, the startled eyes tracked the boy's desperate scrambling across the room until it came to a halt in the firthest corner, from which the quiet whimpering began to seep outward across the now roused dorm.
"its not real. its not real. it'll go away. its not real..."

Russell eyed him, "Scratching your head and an unsure questioning tone. My boy one thing you cannot be questioning is your convictions. Never forgot we, the strong, are here to teach and train the weak so they can live without fear, like us. Noone should have to be weak, just as Kenji said to his with his words." He stood up and faced them, "Your father is worried about all of you, as if he knows what trouble you're in."

"Crud" Johnny cursed to himself watching smug looks and knowing smirks watching him from across the table. Each face partially obscured by their fanned cards, which johnny could only image held five aces apiece. He looked back at his own anoxerically meager looking hand of a pair of tres and could feel himself sweating.

Suddenly the high pitched scream from the adjacent sleeping area rocked the poker tables ear drums. "@#%$!" This time the rabbit visibally lurched hitting the table and sending card and pokerchip alike slipping everywhere. Taking the opportunity to escape he yelped something about Kane killing him if anything happened to the kid, then prompted excused himself from the table by flinging his cards to the wind and hurdling his our chair in his flight out the door.

As he entered the darkened room he slowed his pace and kept low. Everything had fallen silent now, he suddenly became uneasy, as if he felt something more was wrong than a kid having a nightmare. The light glinted off a fairly large handgun he'd suddenly produced from his waistband as he moved between the beds hissing quietly, "Whixan, hey, kid, where are you?"

Terald and Robert nodded in understanding, neither of them uttering a single word. All was silent now with the exception of the crackling sound of wood burning in the fireplace on the far side of the study and muffled voices from the hall.

It was suddenly shattered when something that sounded like a punch connecting with something and a thud came from the hall.

Panicked, Terald and Robert rushed to the doorway to find their father on the floor, holding his jaw and fur slightly singed, and Nathaniel standing above him, his right fist clenched. The air around him was a lot warmer than the rest of the home, but he didn't seem to care.

"Nate, what did you do?!" Robert was the first to speak, running to help Vincent to his feet.

"Dad and I were simply talking, Rob. Is there a problem?"

"Now, now, calm down, there's no need to be alarmed," interjected Vincent, still surprisingly calm. "The last thing I need is you boys to fight amongst yourselves."

"But, Dad, didn't Nate..." Terald piped up this time.

"Strike me, yes he did. But I assure you, it won't be happening again."

Vincent glared at Nathaniel, with a look that hadn't been seen by Terald for a long time. It was a cold, nearly merciless stare, one seemed to strike fear at whoever gazed directly in his direction.

Nathaniel's eyes widened for a moment, and he took a step away from his father, as though he were about to turn and run away.

"Don't go anywhere," Vincent told him. "I'm not finished with you yet."

---

"What was that just now?" Estella looked up from the counter, on which sat different platters of various food dishes, all covered in wide metal lids.

The near tangible darkness barred the rabbit's vision from the extremities of the dorm. But as he passed the hastily deserted bunk the kit had been in, a gentle whisper reached his ears from the far corner of the pitch black room. The sound of a tiny scared voice echoed down the rows of steel beds, muttering to itself repetitively, each word followed by sharp iregular breaths.
"its not real. its not real. gods just stop. stop it. leave me alone. why won't they stop..."

OOC: Starting from where I left off last...

IC:
----

"Don't go anywhere. I'm not finished with you yet. That goes for the both of you as well, Robert and Terald."

Vincent set his sights on the other two behind him, who had slowly taken a step back.

"On the day you were expelled-- I don't believe I was given all the details about what led the instructor to dismiss you from your lessons in the middle of the day. I do recall it involving a fellow student..."

Terald caved almost immediately, despite the fact that Nathaniel gave him an angry glare as soon as he opened his mouth to speak.

"Nate dragged us into it. He had gotten in trouble with the instructor the day before about pestering and bullying another kid, so he was mad. He said he was gonna get revenge on the kid."

"That's not true and you know it!" Nathaniel snapped. "You were there with me and Rob! You'd even had the kid pinned as I punched him!"

Vincent held up his hand, silencing the quarreling brothers.
"I've heard enough... I'm livid with the three of you, and you have lost my trust. You've dishonored yourselves and this family, and that is unforgiveable."

Kinnear moved toward the voice talking to himself lowly, "Dammit, begining to wish I woulda let Ricky have this one. This babysitting stuff ain't my style." He groaned and then called out again, "Whix? Come on, stop whimpering and get over here."

Russell folded his arms and smirked, it was unclear if he was using whatever strange powers he had to cause this or whether his appearance alone had given Vincent the courage to confront them. Either way things were obviously moving the Warden's way.

There was a slight dip in the cub's distant whimpering, John straining his hearing to keep a definite tab on the source while watching the shadows for any sign of intruders. About to call out again, the rabbit stopped short as he approached the far end of the bunks. The kit whimpering wasn't merely gibberish anymore, he was singing to himself, reciting a haunting lullaby beneath his near silent breath, a sound that sent a trickling chill down the bunny's spine.
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"Lay your head down,
And sleep on my shoulder,
Lay your head down,
And start a new dream
And for tonight the moment is over
Drift in a lullaby,
Here where the stars reside,
And angels are always seen."

Jonathon shook his head a little and focused his attention on direction from which the sound was coming. Gradually, as he crept forward, he picked out a slowly rocking shape against the black of the dorm walls, scrunched up as far into the corner as physically possible, paws firmly clamped over its head as though trying to keep some dreadful sound at bay.

All was quiet in the corridor of the Manor. It was as though time were frozen.

Ryn and Julius stood their ground down the hall and around the corner. If they moved now, they'd be found out.

"I've never seen Father like this before... Ryn, do you know what's going on?"

Ryn smirked and stifled a laugh. She wasn't going to say. To her, it was hilarious that her brothers were finally getting their just desserts. Now, if her father would just hurry on and pay for Estella's surgery...

---

"Are-- are we going to get punished?" Terald asked shakily, speaking up for the first time in several minutes.

Vincent turned his head to look at the broken adolescent, staring right into his eyes. "All of you... must live with your dishonor... and you'd better work harder than you ever have before and earn back my trust and prove to me that nothing like that will ever happen again... You are also all old enough and fully capable of seeking jobs; it is imperative that you find one best suited to your abilities.

Furthermore, I will not tolerate 'teasing' or 'pranks' of any kind anymore directed at anyone in this family, whether related by blood..."

The cat turned around to look down the corridor, right to where he knew his daughter and second youngest son were hiding.

"... or adopted."

"Man, this is Ricky's kinda junk not mine. I hate kids..." The rabbit muttered wandered over and kneeling down. For a while he just glared at the twitching cub as if trying to shake him awake by scowling alone.

After a few minutes he cupped his hands over his mouth and let loose a yelping, "WAKE UP YA DAMN KID!"

~~~~~~

Russel quietly stood, "Perhaps its time for me to go, its begining to get very late."

Whixan sat up with a bolt, wide eyes rigidly fixating on the rabbit before him. However, quickly recovering from Johnny's rude awakening, the kit's fear quickly slid into confusion, his eyes wanding around the dark as though looking for something that had simply vanished into fin air. Then, after a few moments of this, relief came, and the boy consciously took control of his breathing to steady his over ventilation as he rested his head back against the wall.
"no screaming? ... they're gone" he whispered, as though reassuring himself. His small eyes once again focused on John, the welling tears ceasing before they could fall again.
"I should not have come here." Muttered the cub slowly, pushing himself up to his feet with an apologetic look on his features "I'm sorry, Johnny, I didn't meen too wake you..."

"Wait!"

Ryn and Julius finally had emerged from their hiding place and ran down the hall.

"Don't you want to stay longer?" Julius spoke. "I heard from Ryn that Estella was making dinner... Terald, what time is it?"

"Huh?" Terald was taken aback by the question. "It's um... almost 9."

"Don't worry about it, J." Ryn smirked. "Come on, I'll tell you some of the stories he told me on the way back here with Estella..." The two of them headed off towards the kitchen.

Vincent watched as they walked by, then motioned to Nathaniel and the others. "I'm finished with you three now. Go on back to your rooms."

Russell's smirk widened, he folded his arms watching them leave and spoke, though his head was still watching the caravan of children the words were obviously directed at Vincent, "You're youngest just then. Did you notice it? When he spoke the energy around him was effected. Without some sort of training events like that indicate very high talent in using The Art. My Richard was the same way."

"Indeed." Vincent smiled a bit. "Julius does show a lot of potential. He often tells me he wants to go the Earth School next year. He doesn't want Ryn to be stronger than him.

"Well, I shan't keep you any longer, Master Underwood. You have my gratitude for showing me the error of my ways. Hopefully my children have also learned their lessons as well... If you like someone can escort you to the door?"

---

"You've always been lucky Ryn," Julius remarked as he and his sister arrived in the kitchen, attracted by the aromas of the evening meal Estella was almost done preparing. "You've never had to study real hard or anything to be able to do so well."

Ryn stopped in the doorway. "What did you say?"

Julius stopped as well. "I just said you're lucky."

The tan cat tensed up as he saw Ryn's right hand start to crackle with electricity, a sign that she wasn't in a good mood.

Johnny shrugged it off, "Don't worry about it, I don't sleep much anymore. Mind telling me whats going on with you?" He lowered himself eye to eye with the cub glaring him down, "Or are you gonna get all weepy and whine about how you don't want help and its your problem like a selfish little brat?"

Russell gave a half shrug, "It's up to you. I should get going though, I have a speech to ready for later in the week."

The cubs ears visibly folded back, as though the 'brat' comment had taken him by surprise, boarding up his common escape from such a conversation. For a moment it looked as though he were about to look away, but in the end head won though and he managed to relatively keep eye contact with his Rabbit host.
"It's nothing," He muttered, dryly "I just get nightmares when I sleep somewhere new. Sometimes they linger when I wake up. It won't happen again though."
This last part at least was true and the cub spoke with a far leveler tone, his conscious mind already deciding that from here on he would avoid this room like the plague.

"Oh, all right then. You are welcome anytime, Master Underwood." Vincent bowed slightly. "I wish you a pleasant evening."

---

Estella looked up from the small cake she had been decorating, quickly noticing the presence of the two pre-adolescents.

"Lady Ryn!" she shouted. "Calm yourself! You're dimming the lights!"

Ryn did as she was told, but she was still bitter. How dare he have the audacity to say that to her! Julius knew that she hated being labelled. She couldn't stand it. The white cat simply gave him an angry glare before she stormed out of the kitchen.

"You know you should watch what you say to her," Estella spoke up. "I've already told you at a certain age girls start to get scary."

Kinnear looked like he wanted to say more, or that wanted slap the kid until he came clean, but something else seemed to grab his attention. The young rabbit grunted, "Fine, you'll tell me when you're ready. Get some sleep."

The rabbit walked anxiously out of the room and skidded to a halt, "Get out of here. There are kids in here you perverted piece of trash."

Behind him came a familiar gruff voice, "You mean like... you?" The boy winced, even without looking he could see the knowing smirk on Mike's face. Johnny felt his eye twitch as he stammered lowly, "You sadistic bastard." Then the rabbit yelped, spinning around with firearm in hand, Get the hell away from him you...!" He stared at the empty wall for a moment as several people came out to see what the ruckus was. The rabbit winced, Again? Another hallucination? Dammit Kinnear get it together.

Thinking quickly he rubbed his forehead sleepily, "I thought I heard something, guess I was jus tired." The gun seemed to have vanished from his hands as the young rabbit continued his wandering path down the hallway.

Meanwhile Russell had left the nicely furnished home and was walking through the familiar market district, the same one he'd met Ryn and Estella in earlier, but this time it was dimly lit and deserted. The fox continued for a while then stopped and looked frustrated calling out. "You may as well come out and walk with me."

There was a pause, then the grey furred tiger stepped out. The same one that Kane had told to follow Russell. He smirked, "I never was any good at stealth."

The fox looked at him curiously, "You're the one they call Ix'Silwan, aren't you. The demon tiger of Mesric." The hybrid chuckled, "I don't think I could have asked for a more flattering introduction Master Warden." Russell nodded, "Indeed, your reputation proceeds you. Tell me, have my enemies decided to make the first move by sending you to kill me?" The tiger shook his head, "Nothing so inane. A simple reconnaissance assignment."

The spiritual leader nodded, "I'll save you time, I'm going home and going to bed." The tiger shrugged, "I get paid reguardless, I have other things I'd rather be doing anyway." He waved the fox off and stalked off into the night. Russell shook his head and continued on his way thinking to himself. He's here, that must mean there's some kind of organization to these terrorist attacks. To gain aid from someone like Ix'Silwan? Their leader MUST be a one of us, and someone powerful at that. This doesn't bold well for our safety. Will my family be next?

The few citizens still out soon crawled into bed till morning. Estella was already up making breakfast when there was a panicked banging on the door, the rabbit scurried over but the persistant guest still got in three more raucous rounds of beating on the mansion door before she could pull the large object open.

A small blur of orange and blue whizzed in and slammed itself into the door, shoving it closed and jamming the lock over. The blur finally slowed down and seemed to become a small foxboy wearing a blue t-shirt. He slid down the door and came to a rest on the floor panting. She was about to ask what was wrong when a second pounding hit the door, followed by Nathaniel's voice growling behind it, "Get outta there you little piece of street trash! Thats MY house."

The small fox peered through the peephole for a moment then yelled back, "Not a chance you aristocratic lummox! Get outta here before I trounce your high and mighty ass AGAIN!"

*WHAM* Nathan rammed the door with his full weight, sending the foxboy flying to the ground. "EsTELLA! Open this door, father will not abide you letting slumtrash in our house!"

"Oh dear..." Estella opened the door only ever so slightly before a burst of flame blew it the rest of the way open.

"You damned little bastard!" Nathaniel lunged at the fox, only to collide with the hard wood floors of the manor. "Get back here!"

"What's going on?" came a voice from the far side of the large front hall.

Estella, still completely taken by surprise at the sudden commotion, looked up to finally see another familiar face.

A large wolf, almost twice the size of Vincent, came strolled his way towards the commotion, followed by a frustrated Ryn.

The fox scrambled back up seeing all the adults around, "Come on, I'll take ya on ya big ape." The vulpine suddenly charged his larger opponent and tried to ram him, only to see him move aside at the last moment and feel the older boy's leg hit his own, sending him to the ground again.

Again and he scrambled back up and stared down Nathan; who folded his arms, "This little creep attacked me in the street. They should just lock filth like this," He pointed at the smaller fox, "Up with the rest of criminals."

The fox only growled and seemed to get even madder. "You, you damn bully, if you have something to say to me; say it to my face." She turned back hearing the small fox speak again, this time his words weren't panicked or taunting anymore. They were spoken as someone enraged, the cub literally shaking with anger.