.~*Chapter Thirty-Five*~.

"DEX!" The scream was barely out of her throat when she spotted an oddly-colored figure charging the wolves that had taken down her husband and bowling over the one that had its teeth embedded in his leg, and lashing out at another that had bit into his arm a split second later.

Roxi blinked and looked at the sparkling figure, confused. Who was that? She wanted to run to her husband, unsure if he was just playing or if he was severely hurt, as he wasn't getting up and moving.

"Don't move. There are still some down there," Roadie warned his daughter, glancing over at the two alpha wolves and one of their subordinates. He shifted his hold on Zak and Erik, wishing they would stop their squirming.

Roxi looked at the two cubs. "Stop it right now, you two! Don't think your cute squirming is going to prevent those wolves from gobbling you right up!"

Surprisingly, that stopped them, and they instead began to cry, angering the wolves. Tempting them.

Roxi stepped back, almost losing her footing, and glanced behind her with a startled yelp, finding another wolf trying to get up the other side of the tractor. "We're surrounded!"

Roadie glanced behind him, eyes wide. "Well, crap."

"Roadie, we're coming up by the fields. What's the situation?" Henry's voice rang out of the walkie-talkie, but Roadie had no hands to respond with. He then paused and glanced behind him again, realizing there was a tree. He might not be able to climb it, but the cubs could!

Moving carefully, he lifted Erik up first. "Climb, little one. Let your instincts guide you!" He pushed him up slightly and let nature take its course as Erik began climbing. He then did the same with Zak, sighing with relief when Erik climbed back down and grabbed the littler cub by the scruff and carry him up. "The magic of cubs," he sighed with relief once he saw that they got to a high, wide, thick branch several feet above them.

"That's all well and dandy, but what about these two?" Roxi whispered, holding the infants closer to herself.

"Henry will be here soon." He grabbed the radio and pressed the button on the side. "We've sent Zak and Erik up a tree, but we still have Kristina and Tempest with us on the tractor."

"Us? Who is with you?"

"Roxi." He glanced over at the fallen figure of his son-in-law. "Dex is down, and we don't know how badly he's hurt. We've got wolves on all sides, and there's some sparkly creature fighting two of them by Dex."

"Sparkly creature?"

"Yeah. Came out of nowhere!"

"I see… We're going to setup shop on the hill here. Can you see us?"

Roadie looked and gave a little wave, getting one in return. "Help's arrived."

Roxi breathed a sigh of relief and consoled her daughter and sister-in-law. She shifted position again and looked up at the cubs in the tree, making sure they were safe.

.~*~.

Henry looked through the scope, watching the wolves. "The ticket is to take out the alphas. You two stay up here, all right? I'll go down for a better target."

"But what about Dexter?!" Allison demanded.

"I'll get him." He looked through the scope, suddenly spotting the 'sparkly creature' he'd been told about. "Glory be… Is that…?" He put the scope down, eyes wide. "Hold on." He got on the radio. "Helen, where are you?"

"Flying badly above you."

Henry glanced up, and sure enough, the she-bear was flying haphazardly above them. Why could he see her? That made no sense! However… "Do you see that sparkle?"

"I do. It's him, Henry. It's our boy."

"That settles it." He picked up a case and began creeping down the hill after ordering the Barringtons to stay by the cart. He hid behind a bush near the tractor, studying the wolves and loading a dart into the tube. He took aim at the white wolf, Aiona, and fired, hitting her in the haunches. Knowing there was no time for a victory cheer, he took aim at the next wolf he could reach, a gray one with a black and white right forearm that he recognized as Aiona and Filtiarn's firstborn, Padfoot, one of the older wolves in the pack, but just as strong as his parents.

Just as he was about to pull the trigger, he heard a warning cry and opened his other eye in time to see Filtiarn charging. Quick as a flash, he shifted positions and fired, only to be stopped by a sudden crystal wall rising out of the ground inches from the end of the rifle. He squirmed backwards, eyes wide.

He saw a bright flash of light, followed by what appeared to be the Northern Lights dance across the skies, but knew that was impossible. For one reason, they were in Tennessee. For another, it was daytime! Then what was it?!

The pepper-furred bear stood and walked up the hill to Allison and Norbert, both who were staring at the sky, listening to a strange voice speak in a language they could not understand. He looked down at where the wolves were, and watched as all but the knocked-out Aiona venture back into the direction of the forest. He pulled the scope off the rifle and watched in shock as they disappeared. "What on…"

The light disappeared, as did the colors and the crystal wall that had saved him, disappearing like dust in the wind.

Henry glanced at Allison and Norbert for a moment, before they moved towards the tractor, Allison and Norbert racing for their fallen son.

Roxi, however, beat them to him, leaving her father on the tractor, knowing Henry'd go to help him out. She knelt next to Dex, checking him over for injuries, finding the only ones being a bloodied leg and bite on his arm. "Dex?!"

"Is the danger over yet?" he asked, turning his head to look at her a moment before forcing himself up, wincing in pain. "Well, that hurts." He looked at his bloodied arm and let out a yelp when he was suddenly pulled into her arms, being held tightly against her chest, which turned his face a bright red. "Aw, Rox, I'm okay. I've been hurt worse by both Beary and a gun." He squirmed his un-injured arm free and wrapped it around her waist.

"Don't you scare me like that, Dexter Wolfe Barrington! I swear that next time you do, I'm going to put hot sauce in your pop!"

"You wouldn't dare."

She pulled away and lifted his chin up. "Try me."

"I don't think I shall." He pecked her cheek and grinned before looking down at his arm. "Wow. That's actually not that much blood… As for my leg, I guess I won't be doing any skateboarding for a while, eh?"

She laughed. "Oh, I know you don't want to, anyway. You think I don't know you only took up the sport because I loved it, and that's how you wanted to get to know me?"

He blushed, fully embarrassed. "How long have you known?"

"Since the moment we met," she laughed, running a hand through his hair. She looked up as his parents arrived and smiled. "Looks like he got ruffed up."

Allison scowled a little, before doing her own examinations. "Isn't that panda a doctor?"

Norbert nodded and went to grab Henry's radio.

Allison glared at her son, gripped his ear, and began to softly speak words of anger in a calm tone, scaring him far more than yelling would.

"Yes, okay. I won't ever do that again," he responded, eyes wide.

"Good boy." She released him and looked at his leg again. "Good thing you were wearing jeans. Otherwise this could have been nasty."

Dex nodded, and then blinked when a shadow fell over them. He looked up, let out a startled yelp, and watched as the mighty winged bear landed a little ways off next to a fallen form. "Is that…?"

Allison frowned. "Why is she visible? Her wings are all bloody, too. Dex, stay here." She got up, not paying attention to her son's muttering of not being able to go anywhere anyway. She walked carefully over to the she-bear, frowning at the labored breathing she could hear. "Helen?" Green eyes widened when the she-bear collapsed on her side, still breathing heavily.

"Mama… Mama… Mom… hurts… it hurts…"

Allison blinked. That wasn't Helen's voice! She looked past the she-bear's form and stared in shock at a crystalized figure to the other side of her. She watched as the sparkles disappeared back into the body stained red, and was in shock when the red turned back into light brown with a white face and whitening ear and hair. "Beary?"

His face was scrunched up in pain, and he gasped, whining. "Hurts… But… less now…" His face began to relax, and his eyes opened after a few minutes.

Allison wasted no time in gathering his big form up in her arms and rocking him back and forth, gently stroking his head. "Shh… Everything will be all right…"

.~*~.

As the light faded from the windows of the treehouse, Jade was left on the deck, visibly shaking and staring at her arm, where her fur had hardened into what appeared to be scales. Her eyes were a bright silver, and they shifted direction into the way the wolf had disappeared, yipping and whining in pain.

How had this happened?

The brown wolf had been trying to get into the treehouse, so Jade had gone out to try and get it away, a foolish thing, but something had driven her to do so. The wolf leapt, and then there was a bright flash of light and color, and the wolf was running off, frightened and in pain, and Jade was left with furry scales.

"Jade?! Jade!"

"Méngméng!"

The black she-bear immediately covered up her arms and pulled her oversized hood up, hiding this new development from prying eyes. She had no sooner finished than did she hear the pounding footsteps and gasping of an out-of-shape Theodore Bedderhead.

Sighing a little, Jade turned her head as she fixed her ears into the earholes in her hoodie. "Ted? Where have you been?"

"Up a tree," he gasped, kneeling on the last step, trying to catch his breath.

Zeb, meanwhile, rushed past them both in an effort to get to Méngméng.

"A… tree? Where in the blue blazes did you find a tree big enough for your fat butt?"

He shot her a look. "Glad to see your humor is still intact, jerk."

"Bitch."

"Oh, come on!"

She laughed and went over to him, helping him up, but making sure her sleeves stayed down. What would he say if he saw her fur in such a state?

"Thanks. Are you girls okay? I know that wolves can be tough."

"At least we weren't hiding in a tree from them." She raised an eyebrow.

"You were in a treehouse!"

"That's different!"

"Oh? How?"

"Because I was already in the treehouse, and I came down to help shoo the wolves away, whereas you hid."

"I'm no warrior, Jade. I could never fight one of them." His ears flattened. "I'm… I'm just Ted. I wasn't trained to fight."

"Aw, Teddy." She hugged him. "You're just a teddy bear, and that's why I love you. Sure, I'd like it if we could spar, but I have Beary and Méngméng for that now."

"Beary?"

"Kid can hold his own."

"I… what?"

She shook her head.

"Are you okay, though? Were there any injuries?"

"Other than the bite on Jewel's shoulder from Beary? No."

Ted frowned. "So he did hurt her."

"Not intentionally. If anything, it scared him. It is a bad bite, but… Ted, did you find him?"

"Kinda. He was in the tree across from me. After the wolves cleared us, though, he took off after them. We thought he was going to the treehouse. Isn't he here?"

She shook her head. "No." She frowned and glanced in the direction of the fields thoughtfully. That had been where the light and colors had come from. Could it be possible?

Méngméng suddenly exited with Zeb in tow, obviously in a hurry.

Jade normally would have asked if she and Zeb were going to go have a wild time, but noticing the serious expression on her face, she held her witty tongue. "What happened?"

"A lot. Dex got bit by a wolf. Not bad, thankfully, from what I hear, but both Helen and Beary are down as well."

"Wait, what? How'd Dex get hurt?"

"Apparently the idiot tried to draw the wolves away from the tractor where he, Roadie, Roxi, and the little ones were held up."

Jade's eyes widened as she thought about Erik. Méngméng hadn't said anything, but she had to see for herself that he was okay! "I'm coming, too!"

"Me, too!" Jewel cried, hobbling out of the treehouse, pulling on Beary's gray jacket, and was already wearing pants.

Méngméng shot her a glare. "You need to rest."

"Beary is my mate. Dex is my brother-in-law. Helen is my mother-in-law. They are family, and I will be there!" the golden cub snarled, walking past them.

Ted blinked. "She's as feisty as her mother. Yeesh."

Jade scowled at the mention of Trixie, but held her tongue. "Let's just get going. Obviously she's not going to be stopped."

Méngméng sighed and followed the golden cub, the others in tow. "Alec, I need you to run to the cabin and gather what medical supplies I have there. You know I like to be prepared. Ted, go with him."

Zeb nodded and left in a different direction, Ted in tow.

Méngméng looked at Jade. "Okay, spill. What injuries do you have? I heard you let out a cry of pain."

Jade scowled. "I'm not hurt."

"Oh really? That's why you're hiding your arms and face under that hood."

"I'm fine, Myst."

"Oh, fèihuà. I don't believe that for a minute!"

"Don't you swear at me, panda."

"Wait." Méngméng's ears twitched, and she crouched down on the porch, dragging Jade down with her. "Wolves. Many of them."

Jade's eyes widened. Jewel had gone off in that direction alone! She watched as a massive black wolf lead the pack through the trees back in the direction of the fence. A few minutes later, there was a bright shining, and no wolves came back. Had they been fenced back in? How?

Méngméng frowned. "They didn't even notice us…"

Jade frowned and began thinking. The lights, the colors… "Beary…" she whispered. Somehow, she just knew he was at the heart of this.

"What about Beary?"

"Nothing. I'm just worried about him."

"Right now, I'm more worried about you. Jade, let me look you over for injuries."

"No!"

Méngméng's eyes narrowed. "Jade Starr Falco! You let me examine you, or so help me, I will actually get serious about my fighting with you!"

Jade looked at her skeptically. "I've seen you fight. You can't even keep up wi-oof!" She was suddenly on the floor of the porch, looking very surprised. "What in the hell?!"

"I've told you, I've trained with the very best. Military style is fine and dandy, but there are other forms. I hold back for a reason, because I was trained to be lethal," Méngméng responded, eyes dark, her heel at Jade's throat. "Now then. Let me examine you."

Jade grumped a little, scowled, and glared at her. She couldn't believe she'd been taken down so easily. How did Méngméng, who was shorter, manage that?! It was probably because she'd been distracted. Yeah, that had to be it. There was no way Méngméng was stronger than her.

The she-panda sighed, but kept her guard up. "Jade, you are my friend. Please, let me help you. What you hiding?"

The black bear frowned and shook her head before shifting her sleeves back, expecting to see the scales, only to find nothing but her regular fur. "I… See? I told you I wasn't injured."

Méngméng frowned. "But I heard you…" She shook her head and backed away, holding up a paw to help up her friend, which Jade allowed. "Sorry. I was wrong."

"It's fine. You were just concerned." Jade rubbed her arms, very confused. Had the scales just been a figment of her imagination? "Let's… Let's get going. We need to catch up to Jewel and make sure she's all right."

Méngméng nodded.

.~*~.

By the time the duo caught up to Jewel, made sure she was okay, and met with Zeb and Ted at the fields, Trixie - who had left to find her husband - and Tennessee had already arrived, and were trying to get Zak and Erik out of the tree.

Past them, Norbert was consoling his daughter, and Roadie was holding his granddaughter. Henry was holding a bloody form in his arms, and Allison was past all of them, holding Beary in her arms. Roxi was talking softly to her husband.

Jade blinked, not sure where to go next. Hearing Erik, though, drew her attention to the tree, and she went that way, only to nearly be bowled over by Jewel, who made an attempt to climb the tree, despite the pain in her shoulder. Jade stepped back and had to remind herself that she was not Erik's mother. Instead, she went over to where Méngméng was bandaging up Dex. "So, I hear you decided to take on a wolf pack."

He glanced up at her, wincing at the cleaning alcohol put on his injuries by the she-panda. "Not one of my brightest ideas, but it worked," he grinned.

"You're an idiot."

"Oh, I know. But my family was safe, and that's what I needed. If something had happened to Roxi, Tempest, or Kristina… I'd never forgive myself."

Roxi nodded. "I already gave him an earful, and tonight, I'll give him something sweet to commemorate the occasion." She kissed his cheek. "Down boy."

His eyes widened, horrified, and he crossed his legs, face a deep red. "Damn you, Roxi."

Jade burst into loud laughter. "It's a good thing your mother did not hear that."

"Tell me about it."

Méngméng shook her head and finished with him. "Keep the wounds clean, and you should be all healed in a few weeks. Check in with me or your family doctor in a few days. I've given you a shot to stave off infection."

Dex glanced at her. "Are you actually legal to practice medicine?"

Her ears shot back. "At this time, I do not have a license as a doctor, but… I am still a nurse. I can help you. I plan on becoming a fully fledged doctor in America. I am one in China, though."

He frowned. "I didn't mean to upset you. Sorry." He blinked. "Wait, you're not a doctor here, but you are one in China?"

"Yeah. It's complicated. My license is invalid here, sadly, so I need to take some classes to prove that I know what I'm doing. Right now, though, I can't afford all of them."

Jade frowned. "Why didn't you say so? I could have loaned you the money."

Méngméng shook her head. "I need to check on Helen. Jade, could you please help me?"

The black bear gave her a warning growl. "You know I don't-"

"Oh, just suck up your pride and help me. Look at her! She's in pain and covered in blood!" The she-panda scowled, gathered her supplies back in her bag, and walked over to Helen.

Dex frowned at Jade. "What's up with you lately?"

"Nothing. I just don't like Ms. Wings." She got up and went to help Méngméng.

Dex and Roxi glanced at each other after she left and sighed.

Jade knelt down next to Henry, ear flickering as she listened to him whispered to this strange creature, asking her not to leave him again. She rolled her eyes at this statement. Of course the she-bear would leave. She was a bitch like that. She wasn't even real! How could she be? Bears did not have wings. This was such BS.

"Beary… Beary… Help Beary…" Helen whimpered, reaching an arm out to her son.

"He's all right, Helen," Allison responded. "He has no injuries. He's just sleeping."

Jade's eyes narrowed. How could such a practical being believe this BS?! Helen was not here! If she was, it was because she was, in reality, alive, and had abandoned her family, and no one was angry at her! Tueri did not exist! Had everyone gone mad?!

Henry was gently nuzzling his wife, trying to comfort her as Méngméng began her examination, studying the wings.

"How did this happen?" the panda asked, confused. "It's like you're in between forms."

"I… I was… too tired… to do full… transformation…" Helen whispered.

Jade scoffed.

Henry's eyes narrowed at her. "Jade, knock it off."

"This is bullshit, Henry, and you know it. You really must be foolish if you think she's not putting on an act! She's just fine! This is one of her tricks!"

"That is enough!"

Jade rolled her eyes and grabbed a fistful of feathers, yanking hard, fully expecting this mirage to vanish. To her surprise, she came away with bloody feathers, and a pained cry from Helen. And then Henry was upon her, lifting her up by the front of her hoodie.

"Get out of here! You are banned from the Hall until further notice! I've had enough of your attitude! You disrespect so many, and act like you are above it all! Well, you are not! I've had it with you and this attitude of yours! And now you've hurt Helen?! GO!" He set her down and turned his back to her.

Méngméng's eyes went wide, but she didn't say anything in Jade's defense.

Jade scowled at Henry, curling her lip in a snarl as she contemplated slugging him, her fist already clenched and ready to go. "You know what? F*ck you. F*ck all of you. Just because you can't see the truth!"

"No, Jade… It's you who cannot see the truth."

She paused and turned around, staring at Ted, who had just arrived with his arms crossed. "Oh, not you, too!"

"You know that I believe in the Ursinya culture, Jade. I can see what's before me. I believe what I see. I see a Tueri. I know Helen was buried years ago. Henry would not lie about that sort of thing. Helen would not fake her death and run away. She died and became a Tueri, and the only one who doesn't believe that is you. You think this is all a conspiracy. Do you think we are not in shock of her arrival? Do you think we welcomed her immediately? Surprisingly, it took us a few days to realize that she was back with us for real, though this time will be short.

"I am grateful for her to have risked so much to come home. She is our Mama Taylor, and she cared for us all. She raised Zeb into the bear he is today, and though he faltered, she never gave up on him. She never gave up on me. She always wrote me letters of encouragement after the band broke up and I went off on my own before she died, and though I never responded, I cherish her words. I keep them locked in a safe.

"Jade, you think you are the alpha female of this place, and you're making sure the other she-bears know it. You want to be top dog, in a sense. You fight with Trixie and always put her down because she gave Jewel a better life. You don't care that her depression because of that is what caused her own singing career to go down the tubes. You get along with Méngméng, but only because she doesn't challenge you.

"Hell, at times, you even criticize Jewel's decision to keep Erik instead of giving him to you! She's tried so hard to please you, and you won't even hear her words because you want Erik. I know that you want to help her out, but that is not the way to do it! She's told me that she's scared of you taking him from her, and never giving him back. She shouldn't be scared of that! I don't know exactly what you did to give her that fear, and perhaps it's unbiased, but you need to straighten things out before you lose her forever.

"Jade, I love you to death, but if you can't figure out what you want, and how to treat all of us with the same love you give me, then you're no better than Esmeralda before what she did to Beary. And I'm not talking about her being a sex addict. I'm talking about her personality, and her attitude towards the others, and especially Helen. I don't want another Esmeralda here. I know you're better than that. When she first came here, she tried to seize control from Helen. Tried to denounce her. She wanted to be top dog. She didn't want to share that power with anyone. She refused to admit that she was wrong. She refused to get along with Trixie and Helen, or even Fred's girlfriend at the time. She just wanted total control, and I sat back and let her do it. Never again."

He took a deep breath. "Jade, if you can't comply with this, and be friends with all of us, and let us be your family, then… Then we can't be together." He looked away, ears back, and tears in his eyes. "I don't want to lose you, but I don't want another rift in this family. Beary was right… We are a family, and family supports each other, even if they dislike one another, or don't approve of them. I do not say these words because I hate you, but because I love you, and I want to be with you… but not like this."

Jade's eyes narrowed, and she pulled the ring from her finger and dropped it in front of him before turning around and storming away.

Ted sighed, watching her leave. "Goodbye, Jade." He didn't pick up the ring, but turned in the opposite direction and left as well.

Méngméng muttered in Chinese, and Zeb turned to look between the duo.

"Well… Great." The auburn bear took off after Ted.

Méngméng sighed. "Jade needs to cool off. I will speak to her later, though I have a feeling she won't speak to me. I will merely make sure she doesn't drink herself to death."

Henry sighed and knelt down. "I shouldn't have lost my temper. I'll speak to Ted later and apologize, and if I can get ahold of Jade, apologize to her as well, but damn it! I've had enough! Ever since Helen came back, she's been acting so damn emotional!"

Méngméng nodded in agreement, knowing his words were true. "Calm yourself, Henry. Things will work as they should. Now, I've finished bandaging Helen up the best I can, but I do not know how well I did, as this is way out of my league. She needs bed rest, and lots of it."

Henry nodded and glanced around, spotting Fred walking over. "Can you give me a paw?" When he wasn't looking, Helen had grabbed the fallen ring in her paw and kept it safe.

Fred nodded, and together, they carried the winged bear to the golf cart and Henry took her back to the Hall.

The she-panda then went to look over Beary, examining the slight sparkle in his fur, and the colorful ground around him. "So… Do I want to know about this?"

Allison gave a small chuckle, still shaken up about what had just taken place. "It's a long story, and I think it'd be best told later."

Méngméng nodded and began her work, making sure he checked out. She did eventually find that he was merely sleeping, and had no injuries.

By that time, Jewel had returned down the tree with Erik and Zak, and was now comforting her son, licking his head and making sure he wasn't injured. She was thankful for the strength given to him to save Zak and be able to climb the tree to safety.

Slowly, everyone dispersed, with Fred and Tennessee going to check the fences, and the grounds fell silent.

Reviews are welcome! Thanks for reading!