It was the crisp morning breeze outside the small cave that woke me from a dreamless sleep. I wasn't tired, I felt like I had slept a thousand years in a night. But the thing that actually woke me was the sound of chattering children in the air. A smile took place on my face.

I ran to the opening and searched. Nothing. Then I looked towards Anne's mansion of a house. Most of the sound came from the house- they might've just woken up too. The clanking of plates against each other reminded me of our old house in the woods- away from the School.

The School.

I didn't know what, but the School now sounded like a kid's fable now. We hadn't spotted any Erasers coming over here or at night. There was a quiet bliss that scared me since those creatures weren't clawing at my face anymore. And everyone was happy with that. I can't say I hate this life, but it doesn't feel comfortable and I'm gonna keep my guard up.

"So you're awake too, huh. Darn Angel and Gazzy. How can they wake up this early after everything they've been through?" I was so deep in thought I didn't notice Fang fly over and land beside me with short aches of pain here and there.

"Are you feeling better?"

"Better than yesterday, and better than being that stupid hospital- gives me the freakin' creeps." he squatted and rubbed his side. "How about you? I saw your scars." I gulped. I didn't know he'd seen them.

"Bast it. I thought you were unconscious." I said.

"I was. I caught a glimpse as you snuck in though." he stated. We looked to the area around the mansion. The sun slowly rose from the horizon of hills and dips. "What do you think of this? And where did you hide your Pack?"

"Oh yeah. I decided to hide them in here for a while and in my room at night so she won't see them. I don't trust her though. Something's off, beside the fact of her being a FBI agent and stuff." There was a long pause before anyone spoke. I wanted to leave this place and think and find Jeb, find Jeb and show him what I thought of him. I couldn't until Max left, sadly.

"I'm going in. Do you think she'll find a pack of rapid Eraser in your room before next week?"

"I bet she won't. I'm just that good." I smiled. He took off with a smirk towards the home. Walking to the back of the cave, I announced to the others,

"Okay, guys. Get up. I want a group recon- anything weird or suspicious, and you tell me okay? Let's go. I'll bring something to eat before noon."

"Are you okay, Piers? Did you have a nice first-night sleep?" Anne asked as soon as I climbed down the stairs, following the smell of bacon grease and eggs on toast. "Take a seat. Breakfast will be done shortly." I felt bags form underneath my eyes and the tiredness return. I sat across from Max and layed my arm on my shoulder.

"You look beautiful," she taunted. "where did you get the mascara?" She commented on the expanded bags under my eyes.

"Ha-ha. Very funny, Max. After I answer, you just have to tell me where you got that coat of dirt and scum. Oh, and fill me in on those torn clothes upstairs." I replied. She punched me in the shoulder hard and turned away as I smirked. Anne turned around and started placing plates all around the table.

"Okay, so who's going to give grace?" We all sat down, forks and spoons in hand, ready to gobble down the entire plate. No one said anything. I hadn't actually said it at the table before, but I knew how to give thanks- still I kept quiet. "Fine. Since no one here knows how to show their thankfulness, I will demonstrate for a couple days. Oh Lord..." She began to pray. When she finished, the table was cleared of food except Anne's platter. "Oh my. Do you want more?" she said, amazed. My pockets were full of bacon and bread and eggs as I pondered on the orange juice. She wasn't a bad cook, despite the fact that granola bars and a cup of milk was her idea of a healthy breakfast.

The next couple days were full of study and playtime. Anne would study them fly as I walked along the perimeter of the land. There wasn't a trace of Erasers or the School. There wasn't any fighting. The boredom tortured me. Even as Gazzy and Angel splashed water from the pond on me from above through toys guns and wet sponges, I was filled with boredom. A couple times, even, Anne tried to get me to fly alongside the others. I told her I didn't feel well flying at the moment and that I would rather watch. I didn't care how much it hurt her feelings or damaged her study, in fact I could care more- yet I don't. Anne is nothing more than a suspect to me. The kids see her as the mother they never had. I see Max get annoyed that she takes care of them as though she has known them her entire life. It bothered me too, seeing their trust in a stranger grow into a great relationship.

Max got ready the day Fang was able to fly.

"Please, Max? Just until Thanksgiving? Anne says she's gonna bake a huge turkey with mashed potatoes and veggies and gravy and stuffing and even sweet potatoes!" they begged repeatedly.

"Those sweet potatoes better be good." she grumbled. I trusted her word. A week after Thanksgiving, we'd finally be outta here and far from this madhouse of oblivious terror.

"I can't wait." I told them all.

Except Anne of course.

Time passed quickly. Before I knew it, we were a couple days from the holiday and going grocery shopping for turkeys and appetizers. I did win the bet between Fang and I with Anne finding out about my Pack. I still didn't fully think of Anne as an ally. I think I troubled her most- I kept to myself around her and didn't speak much when she was in the room. If she wasn't buying me fresh fried chicken- my weakness in food- she was giving me new tough, thick leather clothing like jackets and pants with dark boots. I almost had a reason to stay in my room after the fifth time this happened. She always checked up on me, nearly ruining me by coming in at the dead of night after her studies were complete. More and more I was prone to having to sleep in the room with my claustrophobic phobia. I often awoke suddenly, feeling the room- bigger than a hotel room alone- tighten around me and remover all oxygen so I couldn't breathe. Then I would see Jeb standing beside the bed like he would at the School looking down at the cage I was placed in. It was madness.

"Finally, it's here!" I cheered happily down the stairway. "Can you guys believe it? After everything I had to got through to get here!" Everyone except Anne was in a chair or on the floor in the living room watching the Saturday morning cartoons. They turned with cheerful smiles and laughs.

"Haven't seen you this happy in forever." They said.

"What's the fuss about?" Anne came down the stairs in her uniform. "I can't make breakfast today, fellas, sorry. You're going to have to have cereal and milk today, guys. And no making Iggy cook this time because I'm not here to. This is my house and my rules will be followed- got it? See you all at five." she walked out the door still speaking and rummaging through her purse for her keys.

"Then watch her return after we have a holiday party and say to the mess, 'Oh, this is your house too, you have to clean it.'" Gazzy imitated Anne wonderfully.

"Yeah. Hey, Iggy, you up for an omelet or two?" I patted the Igster's shoulder.

"Let me finish this episode first, okay. I think the roadrunner might get caught this time."

"You don't even have eyes to see it!" Max screamed.

"Yeah, but I can hear a bunch of trucks running over a broken dog. At least, I thought so."

Everyone laughed.