Phoenix: I donated blood for the first time today. I'm a bit bruised and can't move the crook of my elbow without pain but otherwise unscathed. So I hope you all like. And please review kindly.

Kisara ducked into the fridge as she searched for food.

"We got eggs, fruit, cereal, cold pizza... Any of this sound appetizing?" I shrugged and I could feel a smirk pulling at the corners of my mouth.

"Whatever's fine," I said, more focused on the part of Kisara facing my direction. As if she could sense my gaze, she straightened up and gave me a playful glare before ducking back into the fridge... Just as someone screamed upstairs. Kisara jumped and I winced at the loud THUNK that accompanied it.

"Ow!" she complained as she rubbed the abused spot and came out of the fridge, slamming the door shut as she did. "Joey! This better not be another I-lost-my-tail moment!" she warned up the stairs. Almost immediately, the sound of feet thumping on wood turned to paws and Joey in dog form trotted into the room and dropped a crumpled, slobber-covered paper onto my foot. "Gross," Kisara giggled as she extended a hand. A light blue glow surrounded it and then came forward and picked up the paper. A finger's twitch and the paper unfurled and the message floated off the page. "Leave. Pharaoh's orders."

"Found that on my bed when I woke up," Joey said as he turned human and faced a now strict-looking Kisara.

"Get the others and pack we leave in an hour," she said. Joey nodded and turned back into a dog before trotting up the stairs. Kisara clenched her hand into a fist and the paper turned into a bright ball of blue fire. "Last thing the Pharaoh would want is for Alpha to follow us," she said she glanced at me.

"I said nothing." Kisara nodded.

"When you're involved in as many people as I am, you learn to read people. All Humanals do. Its what keeps us safe from those who would exploit us." She became silent for a moment, glaring hard at the floor as if recalling something unpleasant before leaping out of the room, turning into her Egyptian Mau form before running up the railing of the stairs, leaving tiny claw marks in the wood.

I stepped out of the room a few minutes later and there was Alpha smirking up the stairs as if he'd done something quite impressive.

"How much did you hear?" I asked. Alpha glanced at me quizzically.

"Of what?" I shook my head.

"Nothing. Never mind." Alpha made his way over to me and gripped my shoulder; I could feel his fingernails turning into claws.

"If it was so much of a nothing then why does it sound like Kisara is making a go for a quick get-away?" I looked down at his hand, now resembling more of a paw now.

"I asked about her ex-mate," I said plainly. Alpha glared at me as he slowly released my arm.

"It's not really an ex-mate until he's been replaced. Preferably by someone who won't abandon her again," he growled as his bee-like eyes narrowed. I felt my own eyes narrow.

"Don't worry. If someone like that wants to try something to hurt her, I'll gladly send them to the hospital." Alpha glared at me for a moment before walking past me, knocking my shoulder as he did.

When I came upstairs, Kisara was pulling pieces of metal armor over her shoulder. The metal overlapped on itself like reptile scales and only went down in a single column down her arm, covering the back of her hand and knuckles and a leather strap held it on just under the pads of the fingers. Three more leather straps hung off as she righted the metal over her arm.

"Need some help?" I asked as I came in. Kisara smiled at me as I took hold of the metal. She pulled up her hair out of the way of her neck.

"Can you fasten that last strap please? The buckle's in front and they meet under the other arm," she instructed, handing me the buckle as she did. I checked to make sure the leather wasn't twisted anywhere before moving to the buckle, slowly feeding the strap through the bronze and righting the armor every now and then. "What is it?"

"Hm?" I reply, pausing my movements.

"You're quiet. No questions about what I'm doing or what I'm wearing or where we're going?"

"Figure I'll learn soon enough," I said as I continued to work the buckle. Kisara placed a hand on mine and looked over her shoulder sadly.

"You want to say something then please say it. You're starting to worry me," she said kindly.

"I had a talk with Alpha before you and Jack came in…" Kisara's eyes became blank and unreadable. "He mentioned your Mate…" Instantly, her eyes became hard as stones and began to smolder.

"What did he say?"

"Just about how he abandoned you and his sister to be human. And then there's the part I don't get, what exactly is so bad about being human?" Kisara shifted her shoulder a little and began to fasten the leather straps still hanging around her arm.

"I think that can wait until we leave. I can handle the rest myself, so thanks. Maybe you can help Belle pack or maybe get yourself dressed," she said flatly as she left the room. I stood there for a momentous staring stupidly at the door, half expecting to either hear her get upset or for her to come back, neither of which she did.

I quickly dressed in jeans and a dark shirt before a little yawn reminded me that I wasn't alone. O turned back to my bed where the little lump that was Belle started squirming until her little head popped out the top. She made herself stand up by gripping the headboard in her chubby little hands as her legs wobbled.

"Ten cuidado," I said instinctively as I walked over and picked her up.

"Yo se," she said as I set her down. "A donde es Hermana?" I bent down so I was nearly eye level with her and didn't speak, partially in amazement that even a three-year-old could speak Spanish so fluently even if she was Mexican by heritage. "Where is Hermana?" she repeated, this time in English without a trace of a Spanish accent. I blinked.

"She's a little busy right now," I said. Belle looked me over before nudging my arm.

"Yo neccesito vestirse."

"Yes you do. Kisara says we're leaving soon. Something about the Pharaoh." Instantly, Belle's face began to glow like a Christmas tree.

"Primo!" she squealed as she jumped around in a little circle. Her shoulder blades grew an instant point when she faced me but then the bumps vanished. She turned back to me and tugged on my sleeve. "Are you dressing me?" she asked as she continued to tug.

"Sure," I said. Belle beamed again before darting towards the door.

"Vamanos, a mi dormitorio!" I pushed myself off the floor and followed the toddler to her own room just across the hall. Aside from the crib it wasn't all that different from my own room. Belle immediately began to reach for the doors to the closet but the knobs were a few inches above her reach.

"Kept closed so you don't make a mess?" I joked as I took hold of the cold brass. Belle stuck her tongue out at me and blew a raspberry as I opened the door. All of Belle's clothes –which came to a grand total of six shirts, five pants, one skirt and a little red dress with white lace- were kept on probably seven hangars, and three other onesies were folded up on the floor. Sitting neatly beside them were two pairs of shoes; a pair of black dress ones and black sneakers, each with two pairs of socks sticking out of them. A box had been shoved in the farthest back corner from the sight and a diaper bag sat in front of it, as if to hide it.

Belle began to pull down her clothes, leaving the dress and skirt set up while dumping the others in the box. She repeated the procedure with her sneakers and a pair of socks from her black shoes and her onesies.

Once she was done with that she tugged on the skirt set then pointed to herself. I took hold of the clothes, just a little purple shirt and a blue denim skirt then looked back down at Belle.

"This is what you want to wear today?" I asked. Belle nodded and I pulled down the clothes and put the dress on top of the box.

"And tomorrow I wear the dress por mi primo," she said as she turned around and pointed at the zipper of her onesie.

"You've got this all planned out don't you?" Belle nodded rapidly.

"And once I get there, I'll change and play con mi hermano." I paused in the middle of unzipping her onesie.

"Your brother?" I repeated. Belle nodded again.

"My twin. I don't see him a lot but when we are together we have lots of fun!" she said as she slipped her arms out of the clothing, followed by her legs and she began tugging on her choice clothing. Still surprised me that she had the kind of thinking as a kid nearly twice her age.

She picked up her onesie and rolled it into a bundle and put it into the box with her other clothes and pulled on her socks and shoes. Then she unzipped her diaper bag, dug around a little before darting over to her bed, knocking over the bag as she did. She started tugging on the bars, trying to lift them so she could get in.

I let out a small sigh as I set the bag back up, seeing the inside only had a red plastic bag, a green box and a few small toys and dolls inside. I pushed myself up and walked over to Belle.

"What are you trying to get?" I asked. Belle stopped tugging and looked at me with wide eyes.

"The last of my things," she said plainly, pointing in between the bars. Inside the crib was a little blue pillow, a pink baby blanket and a few stuffed animals. I bent down and picked up the girl, setting her inside the crib and went back to get her bag.

"Here, you can put your things in here and we'll keep it in your seat with you okay?" I said as I handed Belle the little plaid satchel. She nodded as she began stuffing the animals in -a little white cat with blue eyes, a golden puppy with big brown eyes, a jackal, a fox, a stuffed snowflake and... "Is that a dragon?" I asked as Belle picked up her last toy. Belle looked back at me and showed me the stuffed Blue-Eyes White Dragon as she wrapped it up in her blanket. She nodded at me as she handed me her pillow.

"Hermana made it special for my second birthday," she said as she slung the bag's strap over her little shoulder and reached up for me. I picked her up and we left the room. Just down the stairs, Jack was leaning against the wall with a backpack slung on his shoulder. He looked at us as if the sight was painful for him.

"What is it?" I asked. Jack shook his head.

"Mana's got the car ready. Everyone's down there already. Joey packed some food so there shouldn't be many delays. Kisara said she just needed to make sure Alpha doesn't know we're leaving before we go," he informed before starting down the stairs.

"So this goes...how the heck?" Belle giggled at my frustrations with her car seat straps. I gave her a teasing smirk. "You wanna try this little lady?" Belle giggled and shook her head as her fastenings finally came together, securing her in place. "There we go. These things are supposed to be simple but to operate one, you need a stinking Master's degree," I sighed exasperated as Belle pulled her little dragon into her lap, stuffed her pillow behind her head and lay her blanket on her lap.

I moved to shut the door just as a vixen leapt in and curled up in a tiny orange ball at Belle's feet.

"Ready?" Kisara asked as she appeared behind the car with two bags slung over her shoulders. Without a word, she slipped the two into the car and smiled at Belle before reaching into her little bag and pulling out the green box. "Did you forget something honey?" she asked as she opened the box and pulled out an amethyst jewel about the size od Belle's palm and stuck it in the middle of her forehead. She ruffled Belle's hair before turning to Mahad in the driver's seat. "Let's go," she said as she turned into a cat and rested in between Belle's car seat and the door wall.

I shut the door and climbed into the shotgun seat and the car began down the road.

For a moment, everyone was silent save for Belle, who was trying to make little dragon noises. But soon she stopped playing with the toy and sighed.

"Yo tengo hambre!" she complained. I chuckled as Kisara leapt past Mana and starting padding back towards where Joey and Mokuba were sitting.

"Is there something you want Belle?" Kisara asked. Belle shook her head and Kisara leapt into the empty seat between the two boys. One more jump and she was on top of the seat and digging around in the back until she pulled out a small baggie of cereal. Without a word, she leapt back to the headrest of Belle's seat and dropped the baggie into her lap.

Belle squeaked a little in surprise before opening the bag and starting to eat.

The car was quiet again for a few more moments.

Then the back of the car took a hit, and we were all jolted forward.

"What was that?!" Mana asked.

"Shadow magic," Kisara hissed as her hair stood on end. "Mahad, open the skylight." Mahad did as instructed and Kisara leapt out the top, turning back into her human form with knives drawn. "Come on out!" she ordered.

"What are you doing?" I asked. Kisara glared at me out of the corner of her eye as a howl broke through the air.

"My job." She threw a knife at the retreating roadway and it shot back into her hand as another howl came, this time closer. The blade was red. "Wolves!" She threw the other blade. This time a blue aura surrounded the metal, making the air sing as the tip of the blade shot through it and the forest around us light up. Another howl sounded as Kisara pulled the on the chain, just as the light from the blade disappeared. The blade returned, this time with black fur clinging to it. Kisara grimaced at the fur for a second before another jolt to the back sent us all flying again, the car went forward but Kisara flew backwards.

"KISARA!" I yelled as I snapped around. Kisara was a black and white flash past the glass before she reappeared in a tangled heap on the road, knives and their respective chains laying in a similar manner around her. "Stop the car!" Mahad's teeth grit as I watched him move his leg and stomp on where the brakes were, only for us to speed up, not slow down. The teen grabbed hold of the shifter and tried moving into park but the machine wouldn't move.

I grabbed the handle of my door and tried to open it, even slamming my shoulder against it but it still wouldn't open.

"She sealed us in," Mahad growled. "Mana can you-" He froze.

"What is it?" I asked as I looked at Belle's feet, only to see Belle's bag but no Mana. I looked back out the window and to my horror saw her running towards Kisara, now on her back with a massive black wolf with blood-red eyes stood over her and a paw holding her down.

Mahad pressed a hand to his window and started muttering words under his breath for a minute before he stopped. He tensed and gripped the steering wheel as resignation crossed his face.

"What are you doing?! We have to go back for the girls!" I yelled. Mahad fixed me with a pointed glare before returning to the road.

"Go. Mahad will explain everything," I heard. I looked around. No one else seemed to have heard it. Jack, Mokuba and Joey were all watching out the window horrified as the girls and the wolf became smudges in the background. Belle and stuffed her cereal in a pouch on the side of her car seat. I felt horrible, like I was going to be sick and was already rotting away on the inside.

Phoenix: How was that?! I wanna know your opinions, so please leave a review! Happy Valentine's Day by the way.