Part one
Ani sat on his bed, in the dark, after months of being deathly ill. It was just as the vision described, Oto was still checking on him every couple of hours. He'd gotten sick because of all the work he'd been doing around the house had stressed him out. He was still quizzical as to who Rocky really was. The shape shifter could tell he was keeping something from him. "Ani, why don't you turn the light on?" Oto went to flip the switch.
"DON'T TOUCH IT. I like it in the dark." Ani snapped.
"Alright, well dinner's in ten."
"I'll be down." Ani heard him leaving, "And Oto, stop checking on me. I'm fine."
"I'm just worried about you."
"Well stop, it's annoying."
As soon as Ani heard the television go on in the den he let out a sigh. He hadn't heard anything from Rocky since the night at the tournament. It was like he didn't exist. Ani couldn't decide whether the lanky daemon had really been there or if he was just losing his mind. "Did you miss me?" a figure was sitting in his windowsill.
"Who are you?" Ani trembled.
"Relax, it's me Rocky." The two colored eyes looked back at him.
"You scared me, what's going on?"
"I need to tell you something. I'm terrified Ani."
"Of what, you're a daemon?"
"The new immortal is your father. He's free."
"How do you know?"
"I'm your hound, I was your faithful companion. But now I'm just a beaten hound who's heart aches from lying for so long."
"Roland?"
"That was my name, I had to change to hide from your father."
"Stay here for the night, it'll be safer here."
"I can't Claw will be alone."
"I will always be at your side." A figure replaced Rocky in the window.
"Claw, I told you to stay at the apartment."
"I wanted to meet your former master."
"Master, when was this decided?" Ani looked confused.
"ANI, dinner." Oto called up the stairs.
"I'll be down in a moment. You two stay here, I'll slip you something when they go to bed."
Ani closed the door behind him and went down stairs, he didn't want to tell the others about Rocky. He ate silently, letting the others talk about whatever they were talking about. "Don't you think so Ani?" Isabella asked.
"Hm, I'm sorry what?" he looked up.
"Is something wrong?"
"No, I'm just not up to talking."
"Karasu was just telling us that Nexus was asking him to stay with her for awhile so he can be properly trained. Izzy asked if it was nice." Oto clued him in.
"Yeah, it's great." Ani sighed.
"Aren't you happy for me?" Karasu asked, crestfallen.
"I'm thrilled, it's just that I'm still a bit under the weather is all. I'm really thrilled for you crow, have you to Kurama yet." Ani rubbed his eyes.
"No, but I'm going to tomorrow." Karasu was beaming.
After the others went to sleep Ani slipped down the stairs and took some of the leftovers. He returned to see Rocky was sitting in Claw's lap and nuzzling his neck. He cleared his throat, getting the two K-9s' attention. "Food! Gods I'm starving. Thanks so much." Rocky leaped up.