The Aparoid war had caused a great uproar to the entire Lylat system. Many cities lay in shambles from the works of the Aparoid army, but the bravery of many had saved them all. The Starfox team had fought the queen, and eventually beaten them, but they couldn't have done it without the Starwolf team. This information was unknown to the public. The Starfox team soaked up the glory and triumph of beating the evil queen, while the Starwolf team was given no thought. No one even noticed when they failed to reappear to the Lylat System after the successful attack, except for Fox McCloud. Soon after the ceremony of his brave triumph, he had begun to feel the guilt. It was like no other guilt he had ever had. It couldn't compare. This guilt was a dark force inside him that was taking over his mind to where he couldn't bear the thought of these poor villains who had tried to redeem their status of regular, civilized people, and had been given no recognition whatsoever. Now, they were nowhere to be found; not a thought in anyone's mind. Well, Fox would have to change that.

Fox McCloud stirred restlessly in his cozy bed in a bright morning. He had once again awoken from a dreamless, restless night. His mind told him to get up, but he fought to push it away. He wanted to lie in bed all day, just like yesterday, and the day before, and the day before that. He feared, however, that he might not get that wish today. The jumble of noise coming from the middle floor of the house foreshadowed that someone would be coming in to turn on the lights and open the shades to wake him up, and attempt to shake him from his cave-like living habits.

The sound of soft footsteps called through the door of his room. The vixen glanced to the right side of his bed and noticed that his wife, Krystal, had risen early from bed due to her absence. She hadn't smiled since she had been noticing his change in mood and personality. He felt guilty about that, too. She didn't deserve to grieve with him; she deserved better than that. He hoped that she had at least had at least a few hours of sleep, but that was too much to ask for.

The footsteps receded and a soft knock on his bedroom door followed them. A beautiful vixen appeared in the doorway with a tray of assorted goods. She moved quietly as if to not disturb him, but when he removed his arms from the warmth of the blankets, she could see that he was wide awake.

Her violet eyes were full of concern when she saw him, and she had reached out to touch his shoulder after she rested the tray of food on Fox's bedside drawer. He raised her hand and kissed it, then released it to let it fall by her side.

"Good morning, Fox," Krystal spoke, almost in a murmur. Fox nodded in return. The vixen picked up the tray and told Fox to sit up so he could eat in bed. But he wasn't hungry, not anymore. His refusal made his wife's knuckles turn white around the edges of the tray.

"Fox, for goodness sake, can't you just eat a bite," Krystal started to rant, "You haven't eaten in three days. This is unhealthy!"

Fox bowed his head and ignored her harsh tone. He looked at all the awards in his room that he had been given; the biggest was the one that had been handed to him the day after his battle against the Aparoid Queen. Fox sighed and sunk under his bed sheets, covering his face.

Krystal watched his curl up under the covers and rested her forehead in her palm. She placed a hand on the lump that was her husband, and rubbed his back, and left, leaving the tray behind for Fox. He heard her footsteps retreat down the stairs, leaving him in silence.

The silence didn't stay for long, though. From downstairs, Fox heard a slam and a yell that could only come from one man on this entire planet: Falco. The bird raced up the stairs, skipped three steps in his strides with his lengthy frame. He shoved the door open, the door knob leaving a permanent dent in the white pastel wall.

Falco took one look at Fox and dug his hands under Fox's body. He lifted Fox out of the bed, the comforter still stuck on Fox's struggling body. Fox, now on Falco's shoulder, was brought downstairs and into a wooden chair in their kitchen. The vixen held his head with his head, suddenly feeling the dizziness after his ambush from Falco.

"There," Falco grunted throwing his cooking towel on the kitchen table, "Now will you eat for once? You are freaking us all out with this little reclusive show that you are acting out. And I ain't taking no for an answer, you hear me Fox?"

After getting no reply from Fox, Falco grunted and went to the counter to grab a plate. Krystal appeared behind the wall leading into the kitchen with her ears down, but passed him up, following Falco. The two of them appeared seconds later with plates full of food, and silverware. Falco set the dishes on the table, while Krystal set the table for five. When it was finished, Falco took a step back and slammed his hands together, causing a loud clap to echo through the room.

"Done," Falco said triumphantly, "Now where's my favorite toad…"

Falco snuck out of the room to the hanger, leaving Krystal and Fox alone in the kitchen. Fox looked up at her, knowing that she had something to say to him.

"Promise me you'll eat something," Krystal pleaded, "Please?"

Her husband nodded in response, with a small smile on his sorrowful face. The gesture made Krystal relieved and joyous at the same time. And she wrapped her arms around her husband, squishing her face into his cheek happily. The two stayed like this for a while until footsteps sounded in the hallway.

"Why, good morning Fox McCloud. It is good to see you up and well."

The two turned around to see Peppy Hare in the doorway, with a smile on his face. Fox nodded to his as Peppy approached the head of the table.

"Where is everybody," Peppy exclaimed once he got settled in his chair, "I thought we were all eating together this time, to toast."

"A toast for what," Fox replied raising his gaze from his feet to Peppy.

"For what else, or have you already forgotten? Our victory in the Aparoid war," Peppy finished and raised his glass of water at the empty chairs, and set it down without taking a sip. Fox sighed and kept his face hidden, while pulling the comforter from his bed around his shoulders.

Minutes later, Falco reappeared from the hanger door with a pudgy green frog wearing a red cap and an oil stained T-shirt standing behind him.

"Why, heya Fox," Slippy said, bursting with joy. Slippy was Fox's best friend. They had known each other for so long…

Slippy ran right through Falco to go wrap his arms around his pal. He let out a playful laugh.

"Hey, Slip," Fox replied quietly.

"Alright, alright," Falco said while regaining himself from Slippy's shove, "Everyone settle down so we can eat."

All five members sat down at the table to eat: Falco and Peppy at the two heads of the table Fox and Krystal on one side, and Slippy on the other. The food looked amazing; despite Falco's well-known sour abilities in the kitchen.

I wonder the last time Starwolf had a decent meal like this. If they're even still alive…, Fox thought as he looked at the abundant meal.

The last part of Fox's thought made him shudder and he sighed to himself. Moments later, Peppy rose at the head of the table with his glass in hand, tapping his fork to the side of it quietly. Slippy dove for the bacon, but was pushed back by Falco and was delivered a harsh look.

"I would first like to make a toast to Fox McCloud," Peppy began, and Fox moved his gaze up to the hare standing at the head, "For leading us in the battle of the Aparoid Queen and for putting Starwolf into a better place. Here is for a strong, successful future."

Everyone clapped at Peppy's speech, except Fox. He sat there, grieving in his mind. What was his stupid obsession with the Starwolf team? Why did care so much? They were his enemies; they were always his enemies. His heart beat faster and faster. Was it because Wolf knew his father, and he didn't want him to leave with all the things he knew about his father, that Fox had no clue about?

Everything was blurring around him, and his head was beginning to throb. Slippy stood up at the other end of the table to make a toast, but Fox couldn't hear what he was saying. He was trapped in his mind. Like Starwolf… Wait, what? He could almost hear Wolf calling his name.

"Fox…!"

"Fox…!"

"Fox!"

The canine tensed in his chair at the sound of Falco's voice rushing through his brain. He grunted and held his head. The table was silent; all eyes were on him. He glanced at Krystal, who's normally sweet bright eyes were now glowed with massive depression, and, was that… disappointment?

"Why don't you make a toast Fox," Peppy said, fixing his collar on his suit. Fox rose out of his seat, everyone's eyes were still glued to him, especially Krystal's.

"Uhhh, cheers to Starwolf for saving our butts in the Aparoid war," Fox laughed to himself a little, in a creepy sort of way, "and good luck to them on finding their way home from wherever they are." Fox sat down in his chair and sipped the water from his glass.

The room was even more silent than before. Everyone in the room was flabbergasted, and Fox could feel Falco's anger boiling up next to him, but Peppy's quiet clapping soon settled his friend's nerves a little.

"Perhaps you're correct, Fox," Peppy began looking at him from a few seats down, "That team did save us in the battle of the Aparoid Queen. Cheers to them." Peppy sipped his glass, and observed the food on the table.

The rest of the breakfast was eerie. Nobody said a word. Fox's toast had left everyone on edge, and uncomfortable, but he didn't care. He thought that it needed to be said.

After breakfast, Fox went upstairs to his room again to think some more on his feelings, but Falco followed close behind.

"Fox, wait," Falco insisted halfway up the staircase.

Fox stopped in his tracks and looks at Falco who was a few steps down.

"Fox, please tell me what the heck that was all about," Falco pleaded. Fox gave him a puzzled look and turned around to walk again to his room.

"Fox, you know damn right what I am talking about," the avian spat at his friend, "Why don't you want to celebrate? That fool of a team did help us, but we could have done it without them. You don't have to worry about them. I'm sure they're having a good time elsewhere. They mean nothing."

Fox just stared at his friend as if waiting for him to finish so he could move on with his life.

"Fox listen to me!"

Krystal peeked out from the railings of the stairs and then stalked up them. She placed a calming hand on Falco's shoulder, to which to Fox's surprise, actually worked. Falco stopped his right foot in protest and then turned around and left. His yelling continued in the kitchen.

"Fox," Krystal began, ignoring the shouts from the kitchen, "I thought that team meant nothing to you? Why are you so worried about them all of a sudden?"

"Are you telling me that you don't miss them," Fox said, "I thought you still had feelings for Panther…" Krystal roller eyes and let out a puff of air.

"That man… is a lost cause," Krystal started and approached Fox while taking hold of both of his hands, "Besides; I am married to you now. Nothing will ever change that."

Fox smiled at his wife. He looked into her eyes. They were no longer filled with sadness and depression. They were like they used to be; filled with eagerness, and love for him. Maybe things were finally getting back to normal.

"Krystal," Fox started, "I have to find Starwolf. I can't live like this anymore."

"I agree," said Krystal, "But I want to know that if we don't find them, that you won't be more hurt than you are now. We could just be throwing ourselves into a race with no end, you know."

"Yes I am aware of that risk, but I have to do what is right. And I have to do it alone."

"No Fox," the violet colored canine pleaded, "Not one of these again. I won't let you go alone. You need a team. What if you come across something you can't handle, and you are miles away where we can't find you? There is too much risk in this. I won't let you go, at least not alone."

"Krystal, you saw Falco, they are not up for this. We all need a break anyway. Plus, if I get into trouble, it won't cost the whole team. But you don't need to worry about that right now. I will tell Slippy to get my ship ready. I'm leaving first thing tomorrow."