To think I would See him like this...

Things have been quiet ever since Evil has returned. I don't question it we all deserve a break from the madness now and again. It's given me time to meditate and ponder, but something feels different then before. One of our newest inhabitant seems more recluse. "C'mon man, let's spar!" Lech asked Fighter. He was carrying a dufflebag on his back. He was wearing arm wraps and a brown cap. "No" He gave a blank stare.

"What's the matter? Scared I'll whoop you?" Lech was being audacious today, no surprise. Fighter shook his head and began to walk away, earning an angry frown from him.

But curiously there are some days he doesn't even bother to leave, "I said I'm fine, Burnt or not I can to the toilet alone!" Evil scowled as he was being carried by Fighter, "I believe you, but the last time you tried to use the bathroom, you were stuck on the floor for an hour before I came back." Evil frowned but continued to squirm around in his hands. This scene would only bring me more curiosity considering he was doing this without prompt from Prozac. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised by the uncommon bit of kindnesses, but questions keep piling up, although his jokes haven't ceased.

"Lech, does everything have to be a sex thing with you?" Fighter rose an eyebrow knowingly, "Dude, anything can have it. It's not hard... yet." he smiled proudly. Fighter rubbed his chin, "That's where I disagree. Sometimes you have to a bit of wit."

Lech rolled his eyes, "I mean compared to you I have the largest wit here. Hehe."Fighter chuckled to himself softly.

"Whatever man."

Death shouldn't meddle in the affairs of others but I feel something needs to be done not out of fear, but worry. I believe the catalyst for this change is the past ordeal we all went through. Maybe I can talk to him, but first I need to find out where he goes.

It was the early morning usually I'd be asleep but the weather didn't cooperate with me. The morning breeze was cold even with my fur the air perforated my defenses leaving me to shiver as I find the only lead for his whereabouts. I made my way to the lesser exhibits. First was where the mongoose resides. To my surprise as I gaze over the railings I saw many little cubs playing around even digging around in the dirt and a large, yellow one overseeing them with a faint smile.

"Hello!" I shouted over the exhibit. The large one looked up and acknowledged my presence. She observed me for a moment, then walked closer to my location past the cubs and climbing the tree to me. "Hey, ah-" She looked at me perplexed "Death." I answered.

"A little on the nose don't you think?"

"Possibly, although it's funny you forget my name of all things?" She smirked while tilting her head. "We all forget about death don't we?"

"Hm hm hm." I chuckled. "Sorry if this is out of the blue but do you know where Fighter runs off to in the morning?"

She looked at me pensively as she narrowed her brow. I saw a faint glint of purple in her eyes. "Ask Clyde, he's the jackal with the crescent shaped scar on his forehead." I rose my eyebrow dubiously, she didn't even let me ask another question just dropped back in the exhibit. Odd. I hope my luck fares with this prairie dog. I felt an odd chill down my back as I left the exhibit. She seemed nice.

The trek wasn't too long it was nice to walk around the exhibit like this freely. Apparently the zoo closed temporarily due to the repairs and round up of some of the escape animals. They never seemed to find that rhino. Regardless I was greeted by loud howls echoing the grounds as entered the exhibit. It did not deter my approach, I looked over the exhibit to find the wolves and prairie dogs glaring at each other. Ahh, primal instincts at their finest. I inspected the area accordingly to find my lead, unfortunately I couldn't distinguish the dogs due to distance. I sighed as I lept into the grounds and into a stand off.

"Which one of you mutts dug up MY bone?" The wolf spoke up first for his pack (of three not including himself) they stood behind him giving menacing glares. "How should we know where you dug your precious bone?" The prairie dog responded, (He had two behind him none of which had a scar.) The other dogs turned their heads toward me. "Hello friends, do you know where I can find Clyde?" They both snorted in response and went back to glaring at each other. Rude. "You Fleabags should know where it is!" the wolf pointed left to the dug up hole on their side of the grounds. The prairie dog scoffed and turned up his nose. The wolf growled annoyed.

"Grr. That's it, I'll- " fzzt. I tapped the rowdy one on his face, it fell on the ground twitching. The others recoiled back. "Sorry about that, didn't want a fight to break out." I placed my hands behind my back. The prairie dog nodded as looked to the cave. "Hey scarface, get your butt out of the cave!" I heard an annoyed groan before he came out of the cave.

He stretched his body out and made his way over to me. "Sup, D?"

"I'm fine do you know where I can find Fighter?" He gave me the same look as the mongoose, Tali gave me. "Go into the forest and find Mike man, although..." he paused. "Y'know what? Don't worry about it just go, tell him hi for me." I nodded as I walked away from the group. I heard a faint discussion I recognized one word: "Freak"

He muttered. I kept walking till I heard large thud and turned my head. Clyde stood over an unconscious wolf. "Shut yer trap we're nothing special." He glared at the others. That felt...oddly reassuring. I climbed up a tree out of the exhibit, my next destination was clear.

"He ain't here man." The mouse watched Jimmy pulling a small tire across the dirt, struggling as he barely moved the it an inch. "I told him he needed to heal, heck I told him to take an extra two weeks if he felt he needed too. Although it is harder to reach him now that the humans decided to have the talkies use a new frequency." He rolled his eyes.

"I'm working on finding the code for the frequency or least breaking in and making our own." Jimmy responded as he scratched his head. "Just keep pulling the tire you need a little more muscle." Mike ordered. "But I'm fine just the way I am." Jimmy smiled. "True, but won't stop me from pushing you." The raccoon frowned as he continued. I sighed, "Thank you for the time."

I walked back through the dense forest feeling a bit disappointed. Where could he have gone? Thawk! Thawk! Crack! I heard the sounds of something hitting wood? I put two and two together and followed the noise, this was my chance.

It was there he saw the animal he was looking for immersed in his own routine of pummeling a tree in front of him. He was still wearing his arm wraps and the brown cap now on closer inspection I remember that cap, it seems he's 'borrowed' Gay's cap. "One! Two!" He said as hit the tree suddenly and audible thud echoed in the forest, Odd. I'm surprised the mouse hadn't found him on his own. The sound should be familiar to him. I observed the bear's form he seemed relaxed as he took quick breaths between his blows, his gaze fixed on the imaginary opponent he had chosen to spar with. And then in an instant he began his flurry.

"One, two, three!" With a flick of the wrist his first blow was quick; as he retracted his lead hand is and tucked against the his face. Another straight was added with his rear head. I noticed something small his torso and hips rotated as the straight was thrown. I noticed because the next blow was in a circular did the same as he switch hands. The hook was circular motion with his elbow left outward. The tree it self had bark striped from it leaving a brighter spot in the tree. Then he saw something different from the calm posture he saw was…

THAWK!

A sudden powerful blow, his fist left a small indent. His breath became turbulent, irregular and his head was hung down. The cap fell to the ground. "Hah ah ha ack." I stepped forward but stepped on a branch his head turned immediately. Then he sighed.

And that is how I found him.

We locked eyes for a moment he looked at me pensively, then chuckled there was nothing that could be done to sway my inquiry now we both knew. "Death comes unexpectedly guess it's true." He said. I smiled but it was brought with a dull silence. "Please, Fighter something is troubling you. Tell me." He gave me a look, for once I couldn't tell what was on his mind, he'd be an excellent poker player although, he gave a tired sigh. "Thinking too much about something stupid."

"Well I don't think it's stupid considering your outburst. I Pointed to the tree. "Your performance was almost as 'wooden' as your friend." He snorted. "Please stop, I'm the one who makes terrible jokes." "And you can't share?" He smiled jovially. Again silence. I started again. "It was the incident wasn't it?" He looked at me as if was inspecting me. Then nodded and gave a closed smile. "We're all a bit rattled up by the chaos, don't let it hang over your head." "I-I'm over that." I rose my brow and gave an understanding look. He looked weary. "Don't hesitate. Its affecting you nothing good comes from bottling it in." He gave me a stern look, I expected him to speak up maybe tell another joke. but a resounding silence.

No words just silence...

Only a few words, so small, so vague can only lead to so many questions...

"What I am to you?" Fighter broke silence. "Am I just- nothing?"

He looked at me seriously for a moment. I didn't hesitate. "You're family. Never forget that." I held those words closely and it seemed he did as well. I sighed and walked up to him, suppress it. I walked up to him and held him close, he was stiff for a moment then returned it, Bzzzt. Fzzt. Poof. His fur puffed outward, I did my best. He laughed, "Evil wasn't messing with me, he was referring to my powers. 'Although I had my suspicions about it." "Believe me you're lucky." He chuckled. Now stop brooding and come back with me, it doesn't suit you."

"Heh, heh right. I should leave the brooding and solitude to you, right?" I gave him a stern look as he paused and realized his error. I still had him in my embrace.

"I mean that in the nicest of- Please don't shock me."

"I'll consider it."