The school day was nearing its end, the time approaching 15:30. The teachers waited patiently with the children of their class as the parents began to arrive. Celica stood with Caelum near the back of their group, and the young rabbit took the time provided to them in an attempt to make idle conversation with the young fox, but he appeared pre-occupied with his thoughts. The small grey lapin had noticed Caelum's anxiousness and nervousness when the time for school's end drew near - yet he thought it was something simple - like his caring parent's actions once they learn of the assault inflicted upon him during playtime.

One by one the parents arrived to collect their children, who were dismissed once the teacher laid eyes of their parents. Celica noticed that many of the parents would make short conversation with the teacher, before bidding them a polite goodbye - and the friendliness brought a smile to his young eyes, though he didn't understand it much.

It had been a few agonizing seconds of silence between them when Celica finally laid eyes on his parents approaching, with a large dull brown furred fox behind them. He instantly presumed that the fox was Caelum's dad, but he saw no sign of the mother, yet his innocent mind made the assumption his mom was working, and unable to collect her son. He noticed the expression Caelum's father bore was pure happiness and love, but that soon changed to one of concern upon seeing his son and the expression the teacher's face held.

Celica ran up to her parents, and was soon in their loving and warm embrace. His father spoke a few words to the teacher, who responded in kindness, before addressing the adult fox in a tone of a more serious nature. The family of rabbits left to allow the conversation between the fox parent and teacher. As they got into their small bunny car, his mother spoke to him in a tone of gentleness and natural curiousity. "So how was your first day of school? Did you make any new friends?"

Celica responded in a tone of childish giddyness "It was fun, and I made a new friend"

The new revealation naturally aroused her parents curiousity, and his mother asked "Oh, and who might that be?"

"Caelum" Celica replied.

"And who is this Caelum?" His father questioned.

"The light grey fox I was standing next to" He responded innocently.

Both of Celica's parents felt a flood of natural fear for predators flood through their small forms, but they shook it off. It had been decades now since that time... Decades now since peace returned again to predators and prey - but many kinds of the former were still prejudiced based on the actions of their ancestors. Celica's father opened his mouth to speak, but there were no words uttered. Celica ignored his parents silence as they strapped him in, before driving off towards their house.

...

Caelum stood in silence as he listened to the words exchanged between the teacher and his 'father'. The young fox was shifting uncomfortably - and his nervousness did not go unnoticed by either adult.

"Don't worry son - I'll keep you safe. I promise you... I love you too much to let anyone hurt you and get away with it" Caelum heard his father lie.

The young fox soon felt his dad take hid paw with his own, before he was lifted onto his dads shoulders as the two adults finished their conversation. The group parted their seperate ways, and Caelum soon laid eyes on the grey car that had been the transport between the two nests of abuse. His father was acting kind, protective and loving infront of others - but behind the scenes - he was a horrid monster. The two foxes were soon in the car, and they were making their way back home.

The trip back home was silent, for Caelum dared not speak a single word. His small form shivered softly beneath the thick clothing that surrounded his body - helping prevent the cold, but only so far before it began to attack him through his light grey fur.

...

Celica laughed at a joke his dad had just made, before he shivered a little as the crisp cool air brushed against his fur.

"Cold son?" His father asked as he noticed the small lapin shiver, and turned on the radiator to dissipate the cold air from the car. The small young lapin gazed out the window at the scenery - the flowers, their petals tainted with many different bright colours as they swayed in the gentle breeze. The heavenly glow of the sun had fallen across the ground - making the small spots of snow that had at some point occured in the cold weather, glisten.

The family of rabbits soon pulled up outside their house, a small burrow that housed the three spaciously. The front garden was well kept, and the interior was just as clean. The three entered, and Celica instantly found himself swept up onto his dads shoulders with a laugh. The two boys ran inside the living room, before they began laughing and playing around - while his mom went ahead to get changed out of her work uniform. Celica pushed his fathers paws away as he used them to ticke his stomach - earning breathless giggles of pure joy from his son in reward. The time had passed rather rapidly, and soon the family was eating their dinner infront of the small fireplace in the burrow.

...

Caelum entered the house with his father close behind. The house was dull in colour and empty of vibrance. The landing lights flickered non-stop on and off with sparks and sizzling sounds - but it was ignored. Caelum looked into the living room, and gazed for a split second at the image paused on the screen before he turned away with a horrified yelp, but the actions of the young kit helped increase the boiling venom of abuse that coursed throughout his veins.

"Go to your room" was all Caelum heard uttered,and he instantly retired up the stairs into his room at the end of the hall as the TV below resumed the movie it was playing. The young grey kit sealed the door shut behind him in a partly successful attempt to block out all the dull dark sounds coming from the TV screen.

AN: Hey guys! Yea as you probably guessed from this update that I'm starting to feel better - granted I'm not 100% my normal self, but I'm more than well enough to handle my stories. Also I wanna give anyone and everyone a massive thank you for wishing me to get better, and also those of you who have been reading my stories from start to finish.

Anyone, onto review responses

thewildeside: Thanks for your kind comment - I've been constantly trying to improve my writing skills since the day I first started FanFiction - and I'm glad your enjoying the story so far

That lil Fox: Agreed my friend - Poor Caelum. He really doesn't have it good for such a young boy does he? And as for whether Celica is going to be Caelum's friend or not - you'll have to bwait and find out that one won't you :)

Guest: Yes, Celica does seem nice - after all it is his introductory chapter - yet I have to say, I don't understand so much where the *wink wink* thing came from.