"Is Jessie just going to be able to get away with all that?" Bill asked the large group of friends eating breakfast before the nature hike later today. "I mean damn what she did is just really, really bad. How could they let her get away with all of this?"

"I guess so." Krystal only batted her head as she picked at her scrambled eggs. "No one wants to get kicked out though this place is great and it's a really fun trip besides her."

"Yea but what she did to all of you guys, how come we can't just tell the teachers?"

"Because then Bill that would prove that we've all been breaking the rules, including Jessie and we would all just get kicked out."

"I still don't understand though, why us?"

"Well considering Katt knocked her block off and Falco lied I think that qualifies for breaking the rules." Fara answered as Bill thought about it.

"That's so stupid. She started it all."

"Just ignore her, the worst of it has passed I'm sure." Luna said while finishing her milk, though the other girls weren't as forgiving.

"Easy for you to say, the whole senior class didn't see your chest!" Fara threw her eatery items in frustration as she crossed her arms over her chest. "That was so scary! I thought a bunch of guys were going to see me totally naked." Just the mere thought of the scene that thankfully didn't occur made her shiver.

"Wait it wasn't just your top?"

"No our bottom parts also just came apart." A shiver ran up the blue vixen's spine as she and Fara shared the same thoughts to the same reactions. That was the one thing they didn't need to remember their senior year from.

"I hate to admit it but…" Falco stopped right dead in his tracks as all the girls were glaring him at this part.

"Don't. Even. Say. It." Krystal made sure to keep him from saying it, to even think about what he wanted to say. He just went back to his ham and eggs as he kept quiet for the duration of breakfast. Thankfully for the large group Jessie has left them alone ever since those incidents. There wasn't all that much time left on the trip, just a few days before they would be leaving and have to take the test. Then if Jessie ever did anything it would be back on school campus, and nobody would be afraid to throw a punch out.

"What's left on the trip exactly?" Fox asked as no one answered right away, all of them thinking. Just what was left for the trip?

"I think it's mainly just the nature hike. Once that's over and done with another class lecture and then our test."

"Damn guess we're almost done here."

"Let's make sure to have a good time while we're still here…Well a better time at least."

"Definitely." As Fox finished up his milk he excused himself to his room. "We have to change into our gym clothes for the hike so better hurry up. We gotta leave in about an hour." As Fox left the rest of the group alone did they leave one by one or in small groups, until it was down to Fara and Krystal left at the table.

"The hike should be a lot of fun right?"

"Yea I think there's a beautiful waterfall at the top of the hillside and it's also where they do the mountain biking course." Krystal answered as she was just waiting on the fennec to finish her meal.

"How come we haven't done that yet?" Krystal would have simply said it but let the fennec figure it out for herself. "Oh yea."

"The mega bitch is why."

"Well she can't ruin today. Let's get started." As the two girls cleaned up their mess did they head back to their own room, laughing and ready to enjoy the beautiful, warm tropical day.

X

As all the students stood together in a giant clump were they waiting for groups to be assigned by Hedrick and the tortoise biology teacher Ralston. The groups could only be in sizes of four so there would be no one giant group, and unfortunately for Bill everyone had to take their own notes for studying.

"Settle down kids." Mr. Ralston got everyone's attention as he came to the center, passing out papers to all the various group leaders that were pre-assigned. "There's plenty of routes to take so don't worry if more then one group takes the same route. You need to find a special plant substance of life and one example of insect life around the trails."

As Hedrick was passing out papers did he hand one to the young McCloud while explaining more to the students. "We started a bit later then we'd hope so you won't have that much time. It's around four now so be done with the trail hike by eight and meet back at the resort for dinner." With those final statements did everyone break away having to find their teammates and getting started right away. The sooner they were done the more free time they had to spend.

"Krystal, Fara." Fox called to the two vixens with a smile. "We're all grouped together."

"Awesome!"

"Who else Fox?" The vulpine read the last name though sadly Luna wasn't apart of his group. In fact it was probably one of the worst people they could have gotten to pair up with but it was none other then…

"Panther Caroso." Krystal's mouth dropped to the ground at hearing the name.

"You've got to be kidding."

"Oh no it's true we're all partners on this project." Speaking of the certain jungle cat he swinged an arm around Fox's shoulders. "It should be a lot of fun; I hear there's a good view."

"Right." Krystal placed her hands over her hips and gave it to him straight. "I'll tell you right now. Don't touch me, keep your hands to yourself and focus on your work. Or you'll have to explain to Hedrick how your hand was shoved up your ass."

"Whoa whoa whoa." Panther backed off putting his hands up defensively. "Why so hostile? Alright alright I understand. Let's just get this over with."

"I wanna check out the waterfall so let's head up that trail." Fox led the way with Panther by his side as the two ladies followed. It was a bit longer and steeper of a trail but it would be well worth the good hike.

"Wow check it out!" Fara pointed toward the cliff view of the resort miles away. "It looks so small from up here."

"It's really cool huh?" Fox asked as he looked to the vixen with a smirk.

"Yea it's really beautiful." They continued to walk as it just got to Panther. After ten minutes of debating to ask or not he just had to at this point.

"Do you guys hate me and Leon for what Wolf did to your lynx friend?" The question hid all three of the foxes in a strange way. They hated Wolf that much was clear. But did they really have the right or the idea to judge Panther or Leon for the friends they choose to hang out with?

"We don't hate you Panther by any means." Fox explained as they continued up the path. "But it's not like you can't blame us for being a little hostile when it comes to you hanging out with Wolf."

"I can honestly tell you guys I had no idea Wolf was gonna do what he did. For as long as I've known the guy he was pretty cool with it all. I mean I knew he could be a dick when he wanted to be but I never thought he would go that far."

Krystal could tell by reading the jungle cat's mind that he was telling the truth, she didn't need the tone of his voice or his walking style to tell apart truths from the lies. But it didn't justify as to why Panther was friends with Wolf either.

"How do you even know Wolf?" Fox asked as they continued walking up the hill.

"I've known Wolf for a few years now, since about eighth grade but I lived in a different part of the city and didn't see him that often. He was a nice guy until he fell in with the bad crowd but that's what friends are for right?" Panther stuck to his word as they continued up the trail, taking a small break once the path reached a leveled surface again.

"I should also mention that Wolf was drunk the night of the dance. I don't know the whole story but he was feeling extremely bad that night but didn't want to blow off Miyu at the last minute. Something to do with his mom disowning him or something. I honestly feel bad for the guy."

When Panther talked about Wolf's past childhood everyone took it a bit differently. They all felt sorry for him, almost did at least. It was just strange to hear more of an already past story. Though Fox wished he did hear this part when it was going on at the time. It could have prevented a lot of other…actions and promises from happening.

"I feel bad for the guy I admit." Fox was the first to talk. "But that doesn't give him the justification to be trying to dice me up."

"I know I hear you Fox. Like I said he was drunk and I guess he saw you as a threat to being with Miyu. He never wanted to hurt her."

"Well he did Panther, and because of that a lot of other bad things happened." As they continued on the jungle cat wasn't sure if he should continue talking on. But he figured Fox should know so it wouldn't be a surprise later.

"Just so you know Fox, Wolf wanted to actually apologize to you." The vulpine stopped dead in his tracks as he quirked a brow.

"Apologize? For what nearly killing me."

"Well…Yea." Panther rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly.

"Forgive me Panther but I'll never talk or be around Wolf again, let alone accept his apology. He hurt my best friend and nearly killed me. You don't really expect for me to accept his apology and we just let it all pass on do you?"

"Not really but he does want to try and apologize Fox. He's trying to turn his life around and he sees this as another block he's needs to overcome."

"Not to cut in but some things just don't add up." Fara walked up to the two as she looked at Panther. "If Wolf never intended to hurt Miyu then why did he act so smug about it?"

"That's just his personality. Haven't you ever known somebody who just thought they were better then anyone else?"

"Definitely." Fara stated. "I can think of someone right now." The fennec said as she thought of the mega bitch Jessie again. What she wouldn't give to just…

"Well that's just how Wolf is but he's getting better at it."

"Look I don't want to hear anymore about this Panther, I haven't even see Wolf at all during this trip let alone hardly at school. I just want to get this done and rest up a bit before dinner." Fox made sure to make his point clear as Panther backed off again.

"Okay sorry Fox. I was just trying to make sure you guys didn't hate me for something Wolf did."

"We know." They all walked passed and left Panther alone for the moment as he caught up. As they weren't so far from the waterfall they decided to take a small break and think of the next plan.

"Let's split up so we can get our samples faster." Fox suggested as everyone seemed to agree.

"Sounds good, Krystal and I will head this way and try to find our plant sample." Panther suggested as he pointed toward a side path that led into the trees and bushes on the mountain side. Though Krystal wasn't so happy about being alone with Panther, she wasn't arguing either.

"Okay me and Fara will head up toward the waterfall then and try to find some insects or so."

"Right do you wanna meet back here or just back at the resort?"

"Whatever works. Let's meet here first but if one of us is gone longer then thirty minutes just head back."

"Sure okay then." Panther looked toward the vixen as he batted his head toward their intended path. "Let's go."

"Just remember what I said Panther." Krystal flicked her tail as she went first and the jungle cat followed. After they were out of earshot did Fara start to laugh.

"I swear I know Krystal isn't too fond of the guy but damn she's really making it clear isn't she?"

"Tell me about it." Fox joined in on the laughing as they went up the trail. It didn't take long to reach the mouth of the waterfall as a dark cave was placed behind the falls.

"Should we go inside?"

"I think so we might find something cool." Fara answered the vulpine's question as they each drew their flashlights. The cave was deep but straight forward as there wasn't any twists or turns to try and follow. As they reached the end of the cave did a glimmer of light catch their eyes.

"Wait what was that?" Fara pointed her flash light in the direction of the glow but found nothing.

"Wait turn off your flashlight." The vulpine suggested as he turned his off first as Fara followed. They stood there in the dark for a moment until a glow started to appear. As the seconds passed it got brighter and brighter until more light shinned then their flashlights.

"Oh wow!" Fox seemed excited as he ran up toward the wall. The insects stuck toward the wall glowed when in the dark.

"This will get us an 'A' for sure." The two worked fast as they collected bugs for samples and took notes. They made sure to grab a single picture of the bugs glowing before turning their flashlights back on. Within minutes the two foxes reached the mouth of the cave as a big smile formed across the fennecs face.

"That was awesome I bet we scored a way greater find then Panther and Krystal."

"Probably, let's head back and wait on them we haven't been gone very long."

"Right." The two started down the path back toward the spot they all split off from. They made sure to be extra careful going down a steep path then heading up.

"Let's go I am so done with this hike-"Fara walked forward but stepped on a weak corner of the path. The stone gave way as the fennec started to fall down the cliff side right in front of the vulpine's eyes.

"Watch out!" Fox reached out for her hand but missed it by a hair as Fara screamed while she headed down the side of the path. As he watched her go down the rocky cliff Fox jumped after her with no fear to assist the fennec.

"Fara!" He yelled her name as Fox went after the girl falling down the mountain path.

Author's Note

Damn three chapters in a 24 hour period! A new record for me xD

Enjoy!