... one footstep... a second one... the sound of a man in pain... a heartbeat... and more footsteps. "Help me Karax... They're coming... I wont live much longer... hurry...please..." Screams of pain... blood-red vision... howls of wild and untamed beasts...

--

I awoke slowly, sitting on something comfy as I was embraced. Jeyfx's arms were around me, holding me close as I sat in his lap, my back to his chest. I looked to him, turning my head to the side to see he was asleep. We were both still under the tree, and I shifted a small amount, which acidentally woke him up.

"Mmm..? Karax?" He was sleepy... It wasn't hard to tell. I smiled to him.

"Sleep well?"

"Did you?" He smiled back and we kissed. "I guess we both dozed off."

I nodded to him and moved off of his lap, standing. "Jeyfx. I had a dream... We have to get to the Pride Lands." All he did was look into my eyes, seeing my determination flare. I had to get there, and I didn't want to go alone. If I had to, I would bring Xytrel, who was sick, sadly... (He had a fever and a stomach ache... go figure...) "I'm asking this as a favor... not as your wife. Come on." I opened a portal to my right, hearing it as it swirled. I took one last look at him and stepped through, relaizing I was in the air once I emerged on the other side...in the Pride Lands.

A hefty laugh came from behind me. "You know, you still look beautiful, as small as you are now."

Jeyfx had been turned into a lion... a lion. I was red... and had feathers. I was a bird! What the hell!? Why am I a bird, let alone a RED bird!? I sighed as best a bird could, and set myself down on his back. "Just head out to the plains and wide open space." I...cawed? Yeah...cawed. Crap... I even sounded like a bird! Anyways, I kept watching the surroundings as he moved foreward. We were getting closer, bit by bit. I was being pulled by it...drawn. "We're almost there..."

He huffed...or sneezed... but continued on. He didn't like the situation, and didn't care for my ability to sense things. Plus, he had started to lose his faith in me. That didn't matter now. Growls and yelps were carried on the wind, as where howls of an animal in pain. Jeyfx had picked up his pace, and I had begun to fly.

"I can see something!" It was true. On the horizon, I could see what looked to be hyenas and a lone zebra, and the closer we got, the more certain I was. Last time Nox had come here... He had transformed into a zebra. Was this Nox?

Loud snarls became apparent, as did Jeyfx's long roar in an attempt to scare them off, which, by the way, had worked. The hyena's scampered off, and we moved in. Another lion was there as well, which happened to be Xytrel. What the... wasn't he sick? He growled at us as we got close.

"Xy, stop." He understood as soon as I spoke, and let down his guard. "It's Nox... isn't it?" We all leaned over the Zebra. It was still alive, but was terribly wounded. There were several lacerations and toothmarks all along the neck, and savage claw marks along the side and stomach. Blood was flowing from it profusely. I kept my gaze fixed on Xy, curious about why he was here. Had he sensed this as well?

"Yeah.." He coughed. "It's Noxer... We need to move him back to the manor." His left forepaw was sitting near Noxers neck, slowly getting covered in his blood. "Wanna help me, Jeyfx?"

I hovered above them both, wondering how or why this had happened in the first place. We hadn't been attacked by countless Nobodies or clones of ourselves again... We weren't under attack at all, let alone even being close to abandonning our home. What had made Noxer come to this place? It confused the hell out of me, and I wasn't close to figuring this out.

Jeyfx was growling yet again. "Karax! Come on! You're the one who has to get us out of here!" His mane bristled as he spoke, and the tone of his voice snapped me out of my daze.

"I'm coming!" I made a small turn and flew towards the three of them, opening a portal. Why is it always me...? I was the last to go through, as the dragged Noxers limp body. Upon returning, we had all changed back, and Nox was bleeding worse than before. Fortunately for us, Gaxon and Methuselah were waiting. Xytrel had fallen due to Noxers weight (and Noxer wasn't that heavy, even for me) and Gax had caught him. I had no idea why, but I found it funny and laughed, realizing that several pairs of eyes were now on me. I coughed. "Sorry..." By that time, Gaxon and Jeyfx had disappeared to the infirmary, and I was left with Meth and Xy, as well as Zoax and Naylex (with Joey) who had just shown up. Youxani was there as well. Odin... was behind all of them.

"Ahem..." Odin had coughed into his hand. "Looks like we'll have to have a meeting about this." He came towards me and placed a hand on my shoulder, smiling. "At least ya found him, Miss Karax!" With that he walked off, placing a hand on Meth's shoulder for a moment while whispering something to him. I was left alone once again to the criticism of the others. Joey was hissing at me, Naylex stared, Xy coughed a few times, and Youxani just stood there. Meth... said nothing, and his eyes were locked with mine.I'll admit I was scared of him, even if it was just slightly. He was a Superior-In-Training, as was Odin. In my mind, I had a good enough reason to fear him.

"Odin's right Karax. You, Xytrel and Jeyfx will have to explain this to the others." Such a firm voice... I thought. Even Odin wasn't like this when he was serious... Meth coughed again and asked for Xy and I to come with him, so we did. He led us through several halls, passing by the kitchen (which was where I caught a glimpse of Trax... go figure) as well as the lounge (which was where Daraix, Zelix, and Zoax were playing Rock Band... again, go figure). I sighed, arriving at the Council Chamber.

"Why are we here?" I had to ask. "Xy isn't on the council." It was true. Xy crossed his arms as to say 'yeah, yeah, so what? Meth brought us here, so I ain't leaving!' or spmething along those lines.

"That may be true, but he was there." Methuselah had sat in his chair, and I did the same. Xytrel had taken a seat beside me. "Noxer is back home, but severely wounded... Xytrel, Karax, and Jeyfx found him like that...or did they attack him? I'm sure you can understand."

Xytrel bolted up with fury. "WHAT!? How can you say that, Meth!? We would never attack Nox! N-E-V-E-R!"

"Calm down." I said, sighing. "I can see your point Methuselah, but I wouldn't attack my superior and friend. Besides. In the Pride Lands, I was a bird, not something with teeth and claws. You saw the lacerations on his body." I was going somewhere with this. He knew I was right, and I had cleared my name. Why are you accusing us of this? We would'nt do it Meth... It still confused me to Hell. I looked at him as any member of the council would. "You know I'm right."

A scoff came from his lips and he leaned back in his chair. "You're clear. But what about Xy?" His tone had grow a hint darker... more.. violent? No that's not the word... More... accusing... We'll go with that.

"I can't speak for him. Xy was there when Jeyfx and I had arrived." I can't believe it... I just...slammed my friend... Now he would recieve the blame. Meth had moved his gaze from me to Xy as well, but there wasn't rage or questioning there anymore. He was calm...collected. Xytrel had also taken a seat once more, pacing his arms on the table, and his head on his arms. I wanted to do something for him, but I didn't know what. Glancing for a moment, I moved my icy gaze back to Methy. "So what now?"

He grinned and looked down. "We tell Outcasts that Noxer has been found and will recover from his wounds."

"Wait." I had to say something. "We do that, and the whole council will be swarmed by the others asking what actually happened. They'll know we arent telling them something and ask about it." Yet again, I was right. I like being right! Then again, who doesn't? Anyways, I kept my eyes focused on Meth. He wasn't in a good mood, Xytrel was pissed, but had let Meth's accusation go, and I just sat there, twittling my thumbs. That...was when Odin walked in...

--

Karax (c) Riakui
Jeyfx (c) WandOfEternity
Xytrel (c) cloud61587
Noxer (c) Roku-Chan-the-Great
Gaxon (c) shukri-the-prodigy
Methuselah (c) Dumbmuse
Zoaxusinu (c) Akrilothman
Naylex + Joey the Heartless (c) SasuNaruHeart
Youxani (c) OokamiAniyou
Odin (c) ODlN
Trax (c) heavyscrolls
Daraix (c) g4r3th
Zelix (c) VelocityTH