"On Sunday, a Creature-poaching gang known as the Serpentines attacked yet another Creature sanctuary. So far they've attacked seven in this month alone, kidnapping both the Creatures and the sanctuary owners. It is not clear what their motives are, or why they've suddenly increased in activity."

Jay rolled his eyes and groaned. "Ugh, do we have to watch the NEWS? That's so boring."

"It's not boring," Cole argued. "It's informative."

"Face it. The news is just plain depressing, rock-face."

Cole, who did indeed have a face of rocks, crossed his arms. "I resent that nickname."

Kai floated into the room, reddish-pink wings fluttering behind. His pointy Fairy fingers tapped away on his phone. His earbuds were plugged in, but he pushed them in deeper to drown out the sounds of Jay and Cole bickering again.

"Would you both cut it out?" hollered a blonde-haired voice from the kitchen. "I'm trying to do homework. And why are you all even in my place anyway? Don't you all have your own living quarters?"

Jay slouched in his chair. "I dunno, man. Your place just seems to be the main meeting area for our group. And you don't seem to have a problem letting the Visionayr stay in your freezer at all hours."

The blonde boy storms into the room. "His NAME is Zane. And he needs to a cold environment and constant supervision for basic survival."

"So...he's like your pet."

"No, he's a Creature just like the rest of us."

Jay scoffed. "You say 'us' as if you're a Creature too." All eyes fell to the human in the room, waiting for a reaction. Even Kai, for once, looked up from his screen.

Lloyd's face contorted into an expression of frustration. He would have opposed to that allegation, and really any statement questioning his validity as a Creature, but always kept shut. He didn't want to open a can of worms regarding the matter. They didn't need to know about his problems, or his species.

"Well if you're all just going to stare at me," Lloyd huffed. "I'm going to go back and keep doing my work."

He sauntered back to the kitchen counter, and sat down on the rickety wooden stool. It creaked and cracked under his weight. He picked up his pencil and put it to the paper.

Thomp! Thomp! Thomp!

Cole walked in, the whole house rattling with his every step. He kept a book under the crook of his rock arm, and adjusted his white scarf. Lloyd cringed as the huge rock-monster wandered into the kitchen, jostling the contents of his humble home as he went.

Lloyd pulled some of his hair out of his face so that everyone could see his scowling face. "Can you all just NOT be in my house all the time?"

"But your house is more fun," Jay whined as he strolled up to the refrigerator. "You've got ice pops. Your uncle doesn't let me have ice pops, says the sugar isn't good for me."

Lloyd rolled his eyes. "I wonder why."

With that, Jay pulled open the freezer door. Inside, a boy made of ice sat inside. He had spiky hair, blue eyes like stars in a sea of cold, and a delicate frame. He waved his ice-shard hand, not saying a word.

"Hey Zane," Jay said in an empty tone. "What flavour should I have today? Grape or cherry?"

As expected, Zane said nothing. He shrugged, and just kept grinning. No one ever knew what was going through his mind, since Visionayrs don't talk.

Jay snickered. "Cherry it is. You always know what I want, Zane."

"He CAN see the future," Kai mumbled, half-listening.

Cole held up a hand in protest. "Actually, I read an article that said that scientists believe Visionayrs ARE time. Like, their souls are small fragments of the space-time continuum."

"That must be why he doesn't talk," Jay offered, mouth full of sugary frozen goodness.

"Explain."

He paused, to let the suspense build as he licked the red juices from his cheeks, before speaking. "Have you ever heard space talk to you."

"Sometimes," Kai said. "Sometimes when I get on my roof and look at the stars, they'll talk to me and tell me the secrets of the universe."

"Are you stoned right now, Kai?"

"Nooo, but I was last night."

Lloyd buried his face into his hands. Why did he have to live with these people? Why did his dad and uncle have to run a Creature sanctuary? Couldn't they have just opened the tea shop like they wanted to BEFORE...

Never mind. He shook the memory out of his head. He couldn't let himself think of that. To painful. Plus, all of that was in the past. It was over now.

While Cole scolded his Fairy friend for his consistently stoned state of being, with Jay eating his cherry ice pop in the background, Lloyd did what he could to focus on his homework. Why did these people have to be his friends? He hardly even liked them. Cole was nice, but really big and cumbersome. It would be rude to blame him for that, though, considering he was a Golem. Jay was just a whiny, entitled brat in Lloyd's eyes. He couldn't see what Nya saw in him. Kai was the classic bad boy. Being arrogant, taking selfies, collecting a huge internet following, and getting stoned seemed to be the extent of his repertoire of talent. And being over-protective of his sister.

Speak of the devil, there she was at the door. Looking for her brother and boyfriend, no doubt. "Kai, I know you're in there," she hummed with a knock. "I can FEEL your stupidity from all the way out here."

The brother in question tossed his head back with a growl, and flew in the direction of the door. "Seeya later, boys. I promised Nya I'd help her paint her living room."

Jay's dark navy wings twitched at the sound of his lover's name. He glided over the counter, landing at Kai's side. "Oh! I'm good at painting. Would it be alright if I helped?"

Kai shrugged. "I can't see why not." He gripped the doorknob, twisted, and gestured for Nya to come in.

She had one light blue wing and one deep maroon wing, and each of them pattered at hummingbird speed as she entered the house.

Lloyd slammed his head into the counter top. One more person and his house would reach maximum capacity, there was no doubt about that.

Nya Smith, the overachieving Water Fairy that Lloyd figured was the only other sane Creature in this whole facility, made sure to stop by the kitchen to say hi to everyone else before stealing two of their own.

The blonde boy gave a half-wave, distracted by the stress brought on by Cole holding a glass of water (Cole had already broken twelve others and Lloyd was certain it was the Golem's fault his laptop keyboard got smashed in).

Cole waved, and the glass shattered in his hand. Water spilled over his fist, dribbling onto the linoleum floor. Everyone cringed unanimously.

Nya went over to the fridge, and waved at Zane. "How's the future, friend?"

Zane simply nodded, his cute and innocent smile of ice not fading in the slightest. For someone made of ice, he sure knew how to melt a heart. Just a smile, and his overwhelming adorable persona could shatter you in a million pieces. Most people figured that the cuteness level of most Visionayrs was some kind of defense mechanism or weapon.

The three Fairies, Water, Fire, and Lightning, flew out the front door after making small talk. They headed to the apartment in the Fairy Wing, room B440. They got out the paint and went to town on her walls, although they did a much more efficient job at painting one another.

Cole was next to go back to his home in the Golem Wing, almost breaking the door with his size and strength on his way out.

Zane never left. He wasn't supposed to. Lloyd's dad had put Zane in HIS care, figuring it would teach him responsibility. Most boys his age got dogs or extra chores. Maybe even a car, in the luckiest of cases. But a Visionayr? A creepy but cute endangered species made of ice that can see time itself that lives in your freezer and doesn't speak? That wasn't what most parents had in mind, and part of Lloyd wished the idea hadn't had come to his dad either.

It wasn't like Zane was a BAD roommate. He gave great advice-to those who could decipher his complex language of gestures and the occasional chirp, that is. It was just that Lloyd would have preferred something along the lines of a St. Bernard. Maybe even a Mastiff. A Chihuahua, if he got desperate enough.

Finally. He had the house to himself.

All the peace and quiet in the world. Just him, his music, his homework, and his thoughts-

Ring, ring. Ring, ring.

Ugh. Who wanted to talk to him NOW?

He picked up his phone. The caller ID read, 'Father'. What did Dad want?

"Hey Dad."

"Hello? Lloyd? I can't talk much. Get Zane and leave the sanctuary as fast as you can."

"Dad? What's going on?"

"The Serpentine, they're here! Let all the Creatures know!"

Lloyd almost dropped his phone. Thankfully he didn't. Shaking, he pulled it up to his ear. "Dad?" he croaked.

"Listen to me Lloyd. I love you, but you need to get out of here now. Take Zane, and get as far away from the sanctuary as you can. I-"

Then it all went silent. The line was cut.

As he moved around the house, collecting the basic necessities of food, water, weapons, and Zane's ice box, his father's words echoed in his mind.

Leave the sanctuary as fast as you can.

The Serpentine, they're here.

I love you.