Note! I thought this species up before I saw the previews for the new comic set! But I'm still gonna squee at puppy aliens! Parts of this were thought up before even season 3.

I spent the last day and a half after watching season 4 wanting to do a new chapter, this was already half written before then but Ive had bad problems with ear/sinus caused headaches the last week or so too.

The species of this planet, Camanians, were actually sort of pretty. Most only a head taller than Shiro. They had slim figures that portrayed a great deal of grace and fluidity in their movements. Faces ranged to wide but prim fox like features, mysterious eyes and soft smiles, to slender wolfish heads and mischievous grins. They obviously took pride in keeping well groomed, their fur clean and soft with just the right amount of healthy shine.

The more common folk towards the outer city were a little less brushed and dusty giving them a more wild look. But here self-care was important which earned a few points in Lance's book.

As Keith predicted the first few hours down here were downright boring. First some introductions, public thank you ceremonies, the princess doing the princess thing while the others occasionally chipped in with something smart or heroic sounding. Keith had learned it was best to not give much input if someone else wasn't near enough to keep him from saying something rude with his blunt observations. The only thing he could do was stand there and look prett- er tough! Do the stoic samurai bit as Lance called it and be intimidating!

That is until a rather distracting, and sharp, whistle sound tore right through his ears causing him to flinch back with a yelp and rub one while he looked around.

"What the hell was that?!" He wailed a bit louder than his normal volume. Drawing several pairs of eyes from the various Camanians in the room.

"What was what?" Shiro glanced to him in confusion.

"The whistle? You didn't hear it?" Allura replied.

The one they had been talking to, Revolus, a member of one of the many side families under the Alfas grins apologetically. "Ah that was the kitchens signaling dinner is being served. I apologize the alert is at a frequency that some species aren't able to hear, or apparently-" glancing to Keith curiously, "can cause mild pain."

The red paladin pouts while rubbing his ears, a halfhearted glare aimed at their hosts until a rather hearty elbow in the ribs from Allura focused him elsewhere. Namely getting air back in his lungs.

"I am curious though, the rest of your friends didn't hear it, how is it you could?"

"Uh.. That's a uh.." Keith was saved from answering by a large hand on his back pushing him down the hall.

"Ah that doesn't matter! Come on let's get some grub I'm starving!" Hunk easily steered the conversation away from Keith and towards his culinary experience, asking about what foods they made on this planet. Keith mentally gives Hunk a thanks barely keeping the surprise of his face when he felt an unexpected burst of yellow warmth in return. Its been getting more common, but the mind meld exercises have allowed the five of them to detect tiny bits of emotion from each other from time to time. Mostly if they were in physical contact though.

Hours trickled by, the dinner was more of a banquet with food topped tables set to the side and a large open room for guests to walk around and mingle. Shiro had been kept rather close to Allura's side as Coran had guilt tripped entrusted him as appointed chaperone/bodyguard, the rest of the team had drifted off a while ago slowly getting picked apart by curious on goers coming up and talking to them, asking questions.

The few glances he got of Lance and Keith together seemed tense. Keith had never been much of a party goer but usually stuck close to one of them when in public. Staying with Lance was here or there these days. He knew the flirting was just who the Cuban was and it also helped a lot during relation meetings but Keith still couldn't help that possessive streak. The fall out when Pidge tried to leave was part fear of losing them and part built up frustration over Shiro 'favoring' them since the mission to free Red.

When Shiro looked around again doing his umpteenth head count for the night he came up short. Frowning he checked a second time and came up with the same result. As politely as he could he weaseled away from the conversation Allura was having with a group of Caminians and weaved through the crowd towards where he last saw Lance.

The familiar chestnut colored hair came into view already in conversation. Waiting for a pause before interrupting, "Pardon me but Lance can I talk to you for a second?"

"Oh hey Shiro. Sure I was ready to get a refill anyway." The Blue paladin turned back to his audience with a smile, excusing himself before walking away with his team leader.

The smile dropped as soon as they found an empty corner, "So what did you need?" Lance never even made eye contact gazing over the room instead.

"I was going to ask if you knew where Keith went, but I get the feeling you haven't seen him either?"

A second of hesitation, a direct glance and a few bites of the lip before the younger sighs. "No, he took off almost twenty minutes ago, said something about fresh air. Looked close to having a sensory overload attack to me, but I couldn't get away from those guys fast enough to follow him.."

Shiro frowns softly patting his shoulder. "its ok, he's good at handling them alone when he needs to."

"Still.."

"I know, I know. Tell you what you're the better smooth talker, go keep an eye on Allura for me and I'll go hunt him down ok? I think they started trading hair tips when I left?"

Lance chuckles with a soft grin, "Sir, yes sir. Just… tell me if you find him?" that professional public mask was firmly in place but Shiro could see the wisps of concern hidden in his eyes and voice.

"I will." Shiro pats his shoulder again. "Get going before Coran skins me for leaving her unguarded too long."

Lance gives one last grateful smile before joining the Princess. The Black paladin proceeded to give the room a thorough sweep before looking elsewhere. Halfway through he received some help in his quest.

Shiro tensed slightly, a rumbling in the back of his head calling to him. He gets a brief view of the hanger. The lions would often drift together on lazy days, or when the team needed to go on planet without them for diplomacy meetings. All five gathering in Black's hanger since it was big enough to hold them all and set right in the middle of the ship between the other four.

BlackShiro watched on as Red paced irritably, obviously upset. But every time she made for the airlock a sharp call from ShiroBlack would send her back and the pacing would start again.

Shiro blinks as he settled back into his physical self. His brows furrowed, instinctively looking around for Keith. Black leading him on with Red's directions.

Red has been overly protective of him since they had tried to attack Zarkon on their own. No doubt that had earned Keith points to let her get a shot in at the madman that caged her for who knew how long. Especially if the charged particle canon they unlocked had anything to say. But Black had also given him hints that she was more upset about after the wormhole. Laying useless, unconscious, while Keith ended up needing to beg for Black's help instead. Red didn't want a repeat of that… Sure as hell explained why she kept running off to play 'fetch the hothead' so much lately.

The Red paladin turned out to be a ways off from the ballroom, sitting on a bench in an empty balcony and watching the sunset. Shiro wouldn't have thought anything about it would have been enough to set Red off, if it weren't for the fact that Keith's ears where showing. The still new tail lain out slack behind him.

Coming around to sit by his side Shiro noted that wasn't all that seemed off with his adopted little brother. Keith hardly noticed he came over. His eyes seemed glazed staring off into the distance. He wasn't even fully Galra, just some halfway point. His eyes stayed their normal shade of violet, the corneas only a faint hint of the vibrant glowing gold that marked most of the race. The gold wasn't ever strong enough to drown out Keith's violet iris' unless it was dark. Pupils dilated into thin slits in the harsh light. The claws and fangs where there but his skin had only turned in a few places making his face sort of stylishly framed and his arms getting 'socks' to just before his elbows.

Shiro frowns softly, nudging his shoulder. "Keith? Bud, you okay?"

Keith blinks a few times, making a sound that seemed halfway between a hum and a mewl. "Kashi..? Sorry, did'ja need me for something..?"

"…no you're fine. Are you feeling alright? You sound tired."

"Mmm.. a'lil.."

"Maybe you should hit bed early. It's been a long day."

Keith shrugs, his head drooping a bit, "J's smells weird here, I'll be fine." Even as he said that the half Galra slumped towards the taller till he was leaning comfortably against him and his eyes slipped closed. Shiro shifted slightly, putting an arm around Keith in a comforting hug.

In his head though, all of Shiro's alarm bells where ringing. Keith hadn't called him by that name since he turned twelve. The few times he did, it was always when he was seriously sick. (Like that time Shiro had to watch over him during his second year at the Garrison after Keith had to get his wisdom teeth removed. Escorting home a Keith on pain killers had been an amusing memory.) Not to mention the half transformation and lack of lucidity.

Shiro waited a good ten minutes to be sure he was asleep, scratching Keith's scalp lightly. It was always an effective way to calm him down, it only worked better once the ears came in. He would even purr sometimes, it was adorable. Eventually the elder gathered Keith up to take him back to their assigned rooms. The only stirring he got was a low grumble and a hand fisting his shirt.

He didn't really want to leave Keith alone. But taking him back to the ballroom room in this state would most likely cause trouble. So Shiro settled him on the bed, pulled off his boots and jacket and pulled the sheets over him. After searching the hidden pockets of the jacket Shiro slipped his Blade and Bayard in their customary place under the pillow. (Keith would throw a fit if he didn't find them there when he woke up. Luckily the Marmora had shown him how to shrink it back into knife form.)

Shiro stood for another minute smoothing Keith's hair back, getting a low purr in return, before finally stepping away to the door and turning off the lights after him. He'd report to the others and come back as soon as he could.

About Keith calling Shiro Kashi, I kinda wanted a more cutesy name for lil Keith to latch onto, and I can also kinda see Keith being into Naruto at some point perhaps? He had to learn some knife/sword skills from somewhere even if he could be mostly self-taught so anime is a good bet. Shiro having a close enough name and it's easier to pronounce ;) Is Takashi his first or last name..? I know Japanese cultured people prefer being called by their last name by people who aren't close, and their last names are written first on documents and things but with Shiro and the show being written here in the US I'm kind of confused…