If you're wondering why Melody didn't acknowledge the fact that Schion was the same cat who told her to run, well that's because of the situation they were in duh… Anyways, enjoy this chapter of shenanigans and snuggles.

Characters from Chapter 5:

Schion-Silver tom cat with dark patches and scars along his body

Chapter 6: Nightmares

Andratas

"I can't be seen."

Emilia sternly looked at me. She may have been a Perfected with the power of thousands of lives, yet her eyes glinted with a side of fear as if even she, could be afraid of the Sirens.

"How come?" I asked.

She sighed exasperatedly, rolling her eyes, "Because if I'm seen and caught, the Sirens will reprogram me and it'll be over, for you and me."

Seeing her eyes wide with fear, I realised this was something that she didn't want to happen. She did not want to lose these emotions or memories. These gifts from her creator, the ability to live by herself. Seeing this just strengthened my resolve and my hatred towards the Siren tyranny. If this was what they treated their own creations… They don't deserve them!

"I won't let them. I promise," Placing a paw on hers.

She stared away from me, looking towards the walls of the room, cracked and in need of desperate patches. Hanging on the walls were windows and paintings of a happy family. We were staying in Schion's house that his parents used to live in, for the night and he told us his story. His parents apparently went to the underground market on the day they were attacked and he never saw them again. He is just like me. My heart ached at the memories flowing back, how my sister and I used to run through the woodlands with our father and pick berries with our mother, finishing a basket before we got back, despite knowing of our impending scolding.

Sister…

I will get her out…

"We won't let them, you mean."

Melody's voice echoed out from the fireplace. She was tending to Schion's new wounds, the old scars couldn't be fixed but the new, from the raiding party today, could be. He had acquired them when he distracted the raiding party giving many, time to escape.

"We're not bad cats you know? You're our friend, my friend at least," Melody glared at me, signalling for my approval, "You saved stupid Andratas' life, so in my books, you're a friend."

Emilia shuffled her paws. Clearly embarrassed by her statement, she tried but failed, to hide her reddening blush and looked down at her paws.

"Didn't know Perfected could blush."

Schion wasn't much for conversation, but it seemed like he wanted to pipe up this time.

Emilia stared at him, eyes twinkling with new found resolve, "Well yes, every Perfected is given cat-like features to blend in, just in case, you know, we have to secretly neutralise a target."

"An assassin basically." I mewed.

Her eyes flickered with just a glare of humiliation as if something was hardwired in her that made her strongly against the use of direct, heavy words.

"You could say that I guess." She shrugged unsure of herself.

"Hmmm."

Schion, got up, much to the displeasure of Melody, and padded towards where we were standing. His eyes met Emilia's and they both stared at each other, analysing.

"It's interesting. I would have thought that I would have hated Perfected more." Schion stated, his eyes flaring for just a moment, "After all, they are a symbol of our oppression."

Schion circled around Emilia, scanning her whole body, while Emilia's eyes never left him from their sight. I coughed, unnerved at their behaviour while Melody stared from behind the couch, eyes filled with both curiosity and a hint of unsure fear.

"If you wish to make me an enemy…" She was cut off by the flustering paws of Schion.

"Of course not! However, it seems you are different. You seem to be capable of free will and you're friendly, capable of emotions." He cocked his head staring at her, a smile plastered on his face, "I won't hate you, no. But if you have any Perfected buddies…"

He flexed an unsheathed claw, reinforced with agnium, "I won't be able to resist breaking them down to their filthy mechanical core!"

He spat out acid as his eyes betrayed the amount of hatred he had for the Perfected. However, Emilia seemed to have calmed down, even sheathing her own claws and loosening her form, "That's fine by me."

Schion paused, looked at her directly, and nodded. The two may not get along at the moment, but at least they were willing to cooperate.

"Uh-hmm." Melody coughed, pointing a paw at the clock, stabbing it, "It's getting late, I think it's high time we get some rest, shall we?"

I coughed, unsure what to make of the situation I had just witnessed, "I'll get some rest…"

"I'll stay awake," Emilia answered, "It's not like I need it."

"No."

Schion's voice hit me directly as he pressed down on the bedding on the floor, "We all get some sleep and if we've never slept…"

His eyes twinkled with just a hint of amusement, "Then I guess it'll be their first time."

Emilia, on the other hand, was unsure, but she went to her own bedding and copied our behaviour, kneading the bedding to a comfortable state and laid down.

Shuffles and grunts during the night were common. Emilia couldn't sleep, perhaps she didn't know how to sleep. I to wasn't able to sleep, half due to her restlessness and half due to the impending dangers of tomorrow. Schion and Melody, despite the endless shuffles from next to them, managed to fall fast asleep, Schion was snoring loudly while, Melody just whimpered in her sleep, possibly in reminiscence of something.

I couldn't sleep well, anxiety filled me, what would happen tomorrow? Determined made me restless, I need to save her. But most importantly, an emotion, I had no prior knowledge to, began flaring deep inside my heart. I couldn't quite put a paw on it…

The budges of Emilia against me grew more fervently and I got up and looked down on her. Her eyes were forced close, squeezed tightly, while her eyelids squinted down. Her mouth formed a pained frown and constantly wheezed out whimpers. I sighed, she wasn't doing this right.

She slowly became aware of me, opening her eyes up to me, "I'm sorry." She whispered, careful not to awake the two others who were sleeping. Her eyes drooped, apology lingered in her eyes as well as sadness, "I'm not quite sure how to do this."

Her whimpers and frowns made me smile gently, "Well I can see that."

I padded down next to her curling up to her, "Look you're too tense and stressed. You have to loosen up, and don't force your eyes to close, gently let the drooping of your eyelids lull you to sleep."

She nodded, taking my advice, however, she was still frustrated by the emptiness of void, she was still restless. I sighed, it had been a long time since I had to use my voice to lull someone to sleep. Shelly had grown out of it a long time ago…

It was nothing special, just an ordinary lullaby I used to sing to Shelly, but it started working. Her eyes widened at first, to the voice of wind and sun rays, but started drooping to the sounds of butterfly wings on dew leaves. By the time I was done, as the stars splashed across the sky, giving meaning to the departure of loved ones to the stars and skies… She was sound asleep, eyes gently closed, fur plastered on her face as a sweet smile, expanded across it. She was cute in her sleep…

She was quite beautiful…

She lay there, her tail slapping gently to the rhythm of my song, as if she was replaying it in her dreams. Seeing this, such peacefulness… I couldn't help but feel my heart thumping on my chest, fulfilled and pleased. It strengthened me and for some reason, I felt that I would be able to save Shelly tomorrow. But moreover, I felt a pang of sadness, for all these years, this poor she-cat has been alone.

However now, she could finally find some happiness, knowing in the comfort of friends and my heart soar at this prospect.

She deserves this happiness…

I awoke to the brilliant dazzle of the sun's rays and a gentle heave of a sleeping Emilia next to me. I smiled gently, the sun ray shone through her pelt and flaring, vibrant gold shimmered, highlighting her pelt's beauty. With care, I slowly shuffled my way out of the blankets, scraping my fur against hers. Despite this, she just wiggled in happiness, relaxed and I sighed in relief.

I made my way to two awake and giggling cats, sitting around a low table. They saw me and exchanged glances, silently laughing between each other.

"What's so interesting?" I cocked my head, confused at them.

Melody smiled with an innocent and rose sweet smile, "Nooooooooootttttttttttttthhhhiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnggggggggg." She dragged on with a look of pure innocence in her eyes and a glint of amusement.

Schion smiled, amused as well, but without the childish innocence Melody possessed, "It seems you two managed to fall asleep as snuggle buddies, hmm?"

My face flared up with a blush and my pelt burnt up with embarrassment, "It was nothing! I swear! I just helped her to fall asleep!"

"Mhmm," Schion nodded, an amused smile plastered wide over his face, "'Helping'."

Melody just looked on innocently, with a not so hidden smile, both amused and excited.

"It was!" I protested, heat basically melting my fur, "We… we didn't do anything!"

"No really?" Schion cocked his head, "But your voice was quite the feat, it really did lull her to sleep, us too!"

That was it, my life was done. It was too embarrassing.

"You were awake?!" I screeched, melting into a puddle of hot goo on the floor, "You too Melody?!"

I stared at Melody, praying to the Stars she would shake her head, or say no or anything. But Melody just smiled and nodded, "Quite difficult to sleep when you have an android cat shuffling about the room, causing giant vibrations."

I just groaned and hit my head against the table, they wouldn't be forgetting this for a long time to come.

"Just end me now," I begged to them.

The two just exchanged glances and stared at me giggling.

I'm in for a long one…

A/N: Aww cute. Really an intermission chapter, not quite the prison break out just yet, next chapter will be it. But I just had to highlight this snuggly part of it. But they're still getting ready to bust Shelly out and wreck some Dynamics asses! Anyways, OCs still and bye bye!