Alice

The downstairs portion of Murucho's place was packed with people. I looked around at the massive room. It was like a second mansion underneath the actual one. I asked, "Why did you have this built, Murucho?" He pointed to a corner for Kato to put mine and Runo's things in. "My parents had it built a while back. It can handle anything nature can throw at it; snowstorms, hurricanes, earthquakes, and so on."

I walked around and inspected the area. The majority of the underground house was one large room like the main lobby. Bathrooms and sitting areas were also connected to it, but I didn't see any bedrooms. I asked, "Where do we sleep?" Murucho pushed up his glasses. "We have emergency cots to sleep on in the main part. We couldn't add rooms because we didn't know if we'd ever use this place, and if we did we didn't know how many rooms to put. So we just invested in a ton of sleeping cots. Don't worry though. They're really comfy."

I nodded and saw some of the cots were already being put out. A person walked past me and bumped my shoulder. It was much to crowded for me, no matter how big this place was. I started seeing if I recognized any faces amongst the crowd. I spotted a few people I knew only because of Dan or Runo and some that were regulars at the café.

There was also a decent amount of Fallens there as well. Many of them were from Shun's Clan, but I didn't know their names. I had only seen them either at the fight with Tristan, or occasionally in the tenement building. With so many of Shun's Clan mates, I started to think that he might have been somewhere in the building. I then saw Ebony, Thatch, and Adam walking into the main part of the underground building.

They saw me too, and we were running to greet each other. Ebony hugged me, and when I stepped back I said, "I'm so sorry about Bertha." Their eyes got wide. Adam looked at me and said, "What about Bertha?" I blinked in surprise. "You didn't know?"

They looked at each other. Ebony said, "Know what?" They needed to know. I explained about the news report I saw, and how I didn't think it was a lightning strike. Thatch had his hand clenched into a fist, and I thought for a moment he'd punch something. Right then he reminded me so much of Shun, and I felt an ache in my chest.

Ebony told me, "I agree with you on the fire not being caused by a lightning strike. There's so much crap going on that it isn't funny anymore. Did Shun, you know, tell you what happened?"

I looked down to the floor and nodded my head. Ebony put her hand on my shoulder and said, "He didn't have any control. You know that, right?" I nodded again and said, "Sadly, I do. But I wasn't thinking when he told me, and I told him I had to think about whether I forgave him or not. Then it seemed like the world started falling apart when he left."

I saw Ebony's eyes looked sad for me. I then asked her, "Is Shun with you? I need to talk with him." The three Fallens looked at each other. Adam said, "We don't have a clue where he is. We were hoping he'd be here." I shook my head. "He isn't." We were all silent for a few seconds.

I looked around, thinking that Shun would magically appear. Julie walked up behind me and said, "Murucho needs some extra hands in distributing blankets. Could you help?" I smiled sadly at her and said, "Yeah."

Shun

We were standing in front of Murucho's place. I told them, "This is the place. I'm sure somebody inside will take you where you need to be." The Clan that followed me filed inside, but me and Delilah stayed outside. She asked me, "What are you going to do now?"

I hadn't given my next move much thought. I used to always be a step ahead of myself, but it seemed like whenever I took a step forward I took three back. "Maybe go and see if any of my Clan are in there. If not, I might look around the city and see if I find any of them. I don't know what I'll do after that." Delilah gave me a sad smile, and nodded her head.

"Sounds like a good plan. I'd just like to thank you again, Shun. For getting us here." I nodded my head, and watched her walk inside of Murucho's. The rain was starting up again. I followed Delilah inside, and some staff members directed me and her downstairs into another building.

It looked just like the part above, just smaller scale. People from the area were standing around and sitting on cots. My name was then called out. "Shun!" I turned and saw Adam waving his hand. Ebony and Thatch were standing next to him. Soon, any of my other Clan mates that were in the building had their heads popped up and looking for me. But there was only one person that I immediately found. Alice.

She was looking right at me. I remembered how she told me to leave so she could think. Did she still not want me around? I walked over to my Clan mates that were gathering around in a small group. Adam said to me, "Where the hell have you been!"

I ignored him and turned to face Ebony. I asked, "Is all of our Clan here?" She looked around and said, "I think so. What were you doing with Paul's Clan?" I found them in a far corner, all talking to one another. Compared to us, they were small in numbers. I said, "I found them while walking around the city. Kiba killed Paul, and took out most of their Clan."

My three closest Clan mates had wide eyes. Adam said, "Kiba did that to them?" I nodded my head. "He also burned down their home, along with ours. And killed Bertha when he did." I couldn't stand hearing the drag in my voice. I sounded like I was giving up. And I felt like I was. Ebony said softly, "So Alice was right about it not being an accident."

My Clan mates were quiet as the truth soaked in to them. I suddenly felt weak. All of the events that had happened finally caught up with me, and rammed into me. I felt like I was hanging on my a thin string that would break at any moment. "Hey! Blood Rose!"

The room fell quiet, and people backed away to reveal that the new 'leader' of the Black Iris Clan was standing there. People were looking at each other, trying to figure out what was going on. I narrowed my eyes at the little punk that had been a pain in my side since I found their Clan.

I said harshly, "What do you want?" I had learned his name from Delilah while we were walking. It was Austin. He walked up right in front of me, and was getting too close for my liking. I could feel my body readying itself to fight. This little twerp was trying to pick a fight with me.

My Clan mates were behind me, as well as most of the injured Fallens that once belonged to Paul. They were getting ready to break us up if we did start fighting. But I noticed some of the glares of hate being directed at both sides. The Clan Wars may have been over long ago, but I could see plain as day that they still didn't like each other.

I saw Delilah had separated herself from the Clan behind Austin, and Ebony had done the same thing from my side. They were both standing next to Alice, who was looking back and forth trying to figure out what to do. I turned away from her and fixed my eyes back on Austin.

He started to circle me. I wasn't intimidated by him the least bit. Ebony then jumped between us and said, "Ok! That's enough! I was hoping one of you would be the bigger person and walk away, but I guess I was wrong. Now break it up!"

Ebony backed away slowly, and I turned back to look at Austin. He flashed an arrogant grin and said, "What kind of weak leader lets somebody like her tell you what to do?" I narrowed my eyes at him and caught him in the jaw.

Alice

I had thought Ebony broke up the fight before it started, but the peace was short lived when Shun caught Austin in his jaw with a right hand. The Fallen that had provoked Shun, was laying on the floor holding his jaw. Blood was also pouring from his nose. Shun snapped at him, "You complain about me being a leader when you're not even worthy of being one."

Shun started to back away, and I saw he felt like he had gotten his point across. But Austin jumped up and sucker punch Shun. They looked at each other for a moment, and were both hitting each other. The Fallens I had seen glaring at one another both went after each other and they were fighting as well.

People were yelling at screaming as a brawl started in front of them. They didn't understand what was going on. Dan and the others were the same way. Confusion was plain on their faces. Some of the Fallens who were trying to break up fights got hit, and joined in.

I hunted for Ebony, but she had vanished. She may have been trapped in the fight. The woman who walked up next to me that Shun at one point said was named Delilah, just stared at the two fighting Clans. I heard her say under her breath, "I thought we were all past this."

Tears were streaking down her face as she watched the two Clan who were once at peace, fighting again. I clenched my hands into fists and yelled, "Stop!" My voice carried an echo, and the room fell silent. The two Clans stopped fighting, and were looking at me. I found Shun in the middle of it all, holding the collar of Austin's shirt. There was blood falling around them, and I saw it was coming from Austin.

There was a large tear in his shirt. Shun had slashed him open with a wing. I didn't have to see it happen to know that's what happened. Angel wings were dangerous tools for combat. It was the equivalent of a sword to them. While eyes were still on me, I spoke.

"Look at you. This is just what Kiba wants you to do. He wants you to turn on each other when you should be standing by each other. But if you can't do that, then we might as well say Kiba's won." I didn't even know that tears were going down my face. The two Clans started to separate from each other, but kept eyes on each other. Delilah stepped forward, looking very regal.

"She's right. It pains me to see us go back to how we were months ago. We need to work together in this time or else Kiba is going to succeed in what he wants." She turned to Austin. "Austin, I'm taking over position as leader." He wiggled his way out of Shun's grip, and fell to the floor holding his stomach. "What! You can't do that! Paul chose me as his second in command!"

Delilah snapped at him, "And he died before he could teach you how to be a leader." Austin held his head down in defeat. Shun kept his eyes fixed on him though. People around us were still talking to each other as they tried to figure this out. I said to Delilah, "They need to know what's going on or else we might have some problems."

She smiled at me and said, "I have it covered." I wondered what she was planning on doing to them. I didn't question her, and only nodded. Delilah spoke again. "I want both Clans to go into separate rooms to ensure that there will be no more fighting tonight. You all can return back in here when it is time to sleep. But until then, I want no contact except between Clan leaders."

Shun nodded his head. He looked so tired, and like he'd collapse in on himself at any minute. Somebody dragged off Austin to get his wound patched up, and the Clans started to walk off into different directions.

They would be held in the sitting areas that were placed in the underground building. Delilah asked me, "Can you go and check on Shun's Clan? See what kind of injury they may have sustained?" I nodded my head, and followed them into the sitting room.

i. am. sleepy. -.- merry x-mas eve! it doesn't even feel like x-mas eve today. o.o strangeness. lol. well, read, review, and other things. ~Copperpelt~