The ride to Fox's home was silent, well at least as silent as it could be considering this hover craft flying through the air as they all tried to say nothing. Some looked over Slippy, he was alive but must have been in quite a bit of pain. Krystal got the idea of finding the first aid kit on the craft, and found some pretty strong pain medicine for the toad. However he waved it off for now, until they were going to be in a truly safe area, he needed to be sharp and alert to the best of his ability.

Fox sat in the co-pilot's seat watching the she-wolf as she flew them through the air smoothly. "You sure know you're way around this thing. Good thing we ran into you, would have been much more dangerous to go out here in cars."

"I know what you mean. What was the school doing with something like that?" Luna multitasked as she fiddled around with some of the extra features this thing had, some features a school vehicle would never have any use for.

"What do you mean?"

"This thing has a 'Silent-Fly' Mode along with an active camouflage system!"

"Really?" Fox sounded interested, and with good reason. This craft was at first a tool to for escape in their plans for survival, however it could be much more valuable than that.

"Yea, it can also self-recharge, and there are all kinds of extra systems a school would never need. What the hell were they doing with this thing? It must have been grossly expensive."

"If I recall Jessie's dad Ash bought it for them, he usually donates a large sum of funds every year."

"That would explain it, anyway I'm going to engage both so we don't attract attention. Who knows what other kind of crazy lunatics are out here, after that teacher I want to take every means we can to keep everyone alive and safe."

"Go for it." Fox agreed as Luna engaged the systems, making the engine go nearly silent and turning the vehicle invisible to blend in with the sky almost perfectly. "You said this thing can self-recharge? Will it recharge even with the camouflage engaged?"

"It will to some extent. Not a lot, but over a long period of time it would eventually catch up and get a full battery."

"Perhaps we should do that. If we park this thing with no cover, it's going to attract a lot of attention to other survivors. We don't have the means to save everybody, and we certainly don't want to attract the attention of looters and other violent types of people."

"You're right, I'm going to keep the camouflage system activated, and we'll check it out later once we get the situation tonight settled."

"Thanks again." The two looked toward one another smiling for a split second, before Luna took her eyes back to the sky. Krystal noticed them from far away, as she didn't like how close the two were getting. It was understandable to be jealous in even a normal circumstance. But when virtually anybody she would meet in the future would be dead or crazy? Fox was that much more valuable.

"Makers." Fara let out as she grabbed everyone's attention. She was staring out the windows of the now nearly invisible ship. Everyone's eyes went wide as this was the first time they really paid any attention on what was happening on the outside of the school. Smoke rose high into the air from many different parts of the city. Fires were practically everywhere, and they could even see some people running in all sorts of different directions, along with multiple shots going off in all kinds of different areas of the scene.

"This is crazy." Falco was the first to verbally speak. "It's like a warzone down there, fighting and killing is everywhere!"

"And we're right in the middle of it all." Slippy spoke for the first time in quite a while, as he too looked outside the window. They even saw some scenes of people fighting and shooting amongst themselves, a common scene in a world where survival is only for the strongest. Those who can fight and defend themselves are the only ones who deserve to live.

"Makers people are even shooting at each other!" Katt noticed as there was a firefight between two parties somewhere down there in all that chaos.

"The world is insane." Fox came to all of them as he got their attention, he too looking down among all the chaos, all the anarchy taking place. "We are sure to run into more crazy beings as time goes by. Who knows who we can trust, perhaps we can only trust each other." He spoke before heading back to Luna leaving them all with his two cents. Perhaps he was right, this new world was filled with dangerous beings, and unpredictable people. Who knows they could trust, perhaps no one was left but themselves.

"We'll be there in just a minute." Luna called out to them as they were starting to approach the neighborhoods Fox's house resided in. Everybody mentally prepared themselves, as well as grabbed their things awaiting the eerie flight to his home. Luna touch-downed in Fox's backyard, as she shut off all unnecessary power and options, however keeping the active camo engaged and turning the self-recharge function on.

"Fox." Katt looked to her friend as he held a solemn look, it looked as though he was already preparing himself for what she was going to say. "I just wanted to say…"

"I know." He gave her as he looked to the ground. "I'm not expecting anything…I think I'm…prepared." Fox looked to his avian friend with a pleading look.

"Falco…Why don't you take the lead into my house?" Falco new what his friend was asking. If Fox's parents were here…and they had changed, the vulpine didn't want to be the first person to see how they were now. He didn't want to see it ever at all, and so Falco nodded as he took hold of their only gun.

"Okay."

"This is how we'll do it." Fox looked to his band of survivors as he spoke. "Let's scout the house first…make sure there isn't anyone here who isn't supposed to be, dead or alive. Once we've came to that conclusion, we'll make our way to my basement."

"What about Hedrick?" Miyu pointed out about the dead teacher, his body lying in the corner of the hovercraft. "Are we just going to leave him here?"

"Fox." Before the vulpine could answer, he looked back to his toad friend who struggled to stand. "We can't leave him here, it's too risky. We don't know anything about what's causing this, or if he won't turn in the future. He wasn't bit, but it's possible he's still infected, we could all be infected." Slippy's final words scared all of them as all the teens took a mental step back to soak it all in. If they were all infected and would turn when they die…Then what was the point in going on? It could possibly not matter at all how they died…They could all be walking dead in the end.

"We know nothing about what causes people to turn, we can't just leave him here in the hovercraft to surprise the next one of us who comes in."

"You're right, we'll put him in the corner near the shed for now." Fox walked over to carry the dead teacher, as they enacted upon his plan. At the count of three Falco lead them all out of the invisible craft, securing the perimeter while Fox went to place the deceased teacher in the shade by his toolshed. Once they made sure the backyard was clear, Luna closed the entrance to the hovercraft, and took the key with her. It would still self-charge even after the key is no longer in the ignition.

No words were needed next as they went on with the next part of the plan. Fox took a deep breath as he mentally prepared himself, for whatever lies inside.

"It'll be okay." Krystal tried to give the man to calm his nerves, as he smiled back to her trying to be positive.

"I'm sure."

"Let's go." Falco spoke as he led the way, entering the home slowly and quietly as everyone followed him one-by-one. Katt was the last to enter as she closed the door behind them, locking it and closing the blinds to keep intruder eyes out. They turned on all the lights, staying in the living room as Fox spoke quietly incase anything could hear them.

"Scout the house, stay close to one another. Slippy and Amanda stay here, Fay and Miyu guard them." Everyone did as they were told as everyone went down the hallway slowly. Some went to the side bathroom while others the laundry room attached to the garage. They went step-by-step, trying to be silent as they turned on all the lights. Falco held the doorknob leading to Fox's parent's bedroom, as he kicked the door open pointing the gun to anybody or anything that threatened him. After scanning the room, did he come to the conclusion it was empty.

Fox nodded as he looked to his friend, and they continued to scout the rest of the house. Fara and Krystal found the garage to be empty of any and all beings, while Fox scanned his own bedroom, the guest bedroom, and the rest of the side hallway in their one-story home. They all came back to the living room together again, as Fox spoke quietly.

"Looks like nobody is home…I don't know if that's a good or bad thing."

"Perhaps they're already in the bunker." Fara gave as Fox nodded.

"Everyone follow me, turn off all the lights. It's going to get dark soon and we don't want people to know we're here. Whether they mean us no harm, or not." Everyone did as Fox gave the command, and they followed him toward a door within the hallway that connected the garage to the rest of the home, in the middle of the laundry room. Fox pushed on a few hidden spots on the wall, as the wall slowly slid within inside itself, and the others watched in amazement.

At a first glance it looked as though nothing important was in here, just the hot water heater and a few shelves for extra storage. But then they all noticed a doorway in the back, and it seemed as though it had no way of opening the door. Fox pulled out a keycard tucked inside of the spaces of the shelving between the woodened board and the wall, as he presented it to the door for it to beep and accept the card, without even showing whatever kind of scanner needed to use the card.

One last test was needed as a small keypad slid out of the walling from the side, and presented itself to the vulpine. Fox pressed in the 10 digit code, not verbally announcing it to his friends as the keypad accepted his input, and the door slowly slid open.

"It's dark, meaning nobody should be inside." Fox quietly gave as he pulled out a flashlight from his bag and held it up, turning on the light that would shine the pathway before them. "I've never been in here, keep close and be prepared for anything."

"Okay." Falco was the only one to give a verbal response as one-by-one the teens descended down the stairwell into the hidden basement. Fox took the gun from Falco, just in case. They finally came to the end of the stairs as all the teens stood there in silent darkness, prepared for anything that might present themselves to them.

Suddenly all the lights began to stir awake, as one by one they illuminated the contents of this basement safe-house. The loud sounds of the lights coming on frightened the agitated teens as they all held a stance of defense. However no danger presented themselves to them. After several moments they all calmed down, noticing at the very end of this hidden facility a large screen started to blink on and off, waiting for an input command. The teens slowly started to walk toward it, as they took the entire site in.

This hidden basement was absolutely huge, over twice the size of the ground flooring of Fox's home. It had a huge shower accommodation area, similar to showers are in school locker rooms. There was a huge stockpile of food and other goods in one corner of the facility, as some of the teens eyed the military rations, but held off the hunger for now. Fox looked to his left to see many different types of weapons hanging along the walls, and some even presented in stands. Some were old, some were new, and some looked absolutely ancient as the vulpine remembered at one point his father collected ancient weapons. There was even a smaller living and sleeping quarter with a dozen rolled up sleeping bags, and perhaps stands to make makeshift beds as well. There would also be plenty of space to walk about, stretch their legs and alike for however long they decided to stay down here. As Fox looked to the supplies, it seemed as though they would have enough to last quite a while.

Fox finally arrived to the large screen, as he pressed a single button and an image of his father popped up, preparing for his message to give to his son, or whoever else found their way down here.

"Dad." Fox was almost amazed as he saw his father again.

"Fox, this is a pre-recorded message." James started killing the fire in Fox's eyes. He was so happy to see his father again, the way he was…He never thought James and him would cross paths again…at least not the way that he once was. James cleared his throat in the recording as he went on.

"If you have found your way to the bunker, then that means some kind of planetary, or even system wide conflict has started, and the lives you once knew are over." James took a pause as he imagined Fox and whoever he brought along with him needed to be told this here and now.

"Either a war…Or perhaps some kind of planet-wide epidemic has unfolded. If you remember from your studies, perhaps something like the Black Death has spread again, and is killing people off left and right. Either way, you have found your way to this basement shelter, and I'm proud of you for making it this far, saving yourself, and whoever you could bring along."

Fox let his head fall down as he was chocked back with emotion, Luna giving him comfort as she put a hand on his shoulder. The rest of the kids were just as blown away, looking to James as he went on.

"In this bunker Fox, you will find many things you'll need to keep on with your survival. I stocked this place with enough supplies to last a long time, as in my line of work. I knew something like this may happen. I trained you to use a weapon for a reason, as you will encounter the most dangerous people in this time. People will show their true colors, and do whatever necessary to survive. You must do the same. There is fresh water to drink, showers to use, first aid for those who need it, enough food and military rations to last a while, and of course: Weapons and ammunition to defend yourselves."

"Jeez Fox." Falco gave out as he took it all in. "Your dad was some kind of survival nut! But I mean he was right, look at this place." Falco called out to all their friends and took a look around, many smiling and shedding tears of joy. It seems after all they had been through, a safe haven was presented to them…For now.

"Fox, the one thing I want you to be absolutely clear about, is don't worry about your mother and I." James took a pause as Fox looked to his father, tears threatening to break out of his eyes. After all his time of being strong for his friends, he wasn't able to keep it together and keep strong as James said the realest, and saddest of words.

"The world has gone to hell, and you can't be chasing after your mother and I. You can't be looking for anybody out there, wondering if we are still alive when the world is deadly to go outside of. Trust me on this, if you come here with any of your friends, their parents want the same as we do for you. We want you to live on, and take care of yourself. Don't worry about us, a parent's job is to sacrifice everything for their child's safety…Even our very lives." Many of the kids began to break down, the world was cruel and unfair. Of course they knew James was right to some extent, but that didn't make it any less painful. Some kids cherished their family over anything else, and with good reason. It was hard to be told that nobody else was as important as them, even their own parents. Fox wiped away his tears as James let one fall himself, wiping it away quickly.

"Please Fox…Stay in this bunker as long as you can. Don't go outside unless absolutely necessary. We, along with all your friends' parents can take care of ourselves. Don't go outside until you are trained, and prepared. If you go outside, with no proper training to hone your combat skills, some of you will die. You don't have enough supplies to last forever…But you should have enough to stay in here for several months. Until you are all trained and ready to face whatever is outside these walls. Stay as long as you can, and once the supplies run out, you'll be ready to survive in this world."

James' message was just about done, as he closed his eyes and let out a deep breath. He prepared to say the final words of this recorded message, along with perhaps the last words Fox will ever hear him speak. Whether it was a recorded message or not.

"This council is plugged into all the major media outlets across the planet. You'll be able to see the news on the situation as long as the broadcasts continue…You can do a lot of things with it, but you may not know how or what to do. Just stay in here Fox until you are ready. I would be quiet at all times, this bunker is supposed to be sound proof, but I've never had the luxury to test it out. I love you my son…Stay alive, and good luck."

The message ended, and the screen went to its main screen awaiting an input command. The teens gave the vulpine his space, as he was told a lot in little time. Fox wiped away his tears, as he looked to them all. Many of them wondered how he could be so composed, how he kept his spirits high despite being told to basically forget his parents. Perhaps the vulpine was born with some kind of undying spirit to keep moving forward, as James always told about them. Or perhaps…Over time James was conditioning Fox to act this way, in case a time ever came he would need to be a leader in a harsh world.

"Listen to me." Fox spoke looking out to his friends. "10 minutes that's it. Grab anything and everything we might find useful upstairs. The food, clothes, sheets and blankets, anything. Once we got everything we turn off all the lights, and conceal ourselves down here. If anybody or anything enters the house by force, we don't want to give them a reason to get cozy."

"What about Slippy." Falco spoke as they the two locked eyes. "We don't know anything about this…it's dangerous to leave him unguarded."

"Falco!" Fox was about to interject until his friend interfered.

"No Fox he's right…We don't know anything about this disease. Why I'm still alive or how it spreads…Until I show normal signs for an extended period amount of time…I need to be locked up so I can't hurt anybody." Those words stung the vulpine's heart, as he never would think his amphibian friend would attack them without reason. But when you turn…Their very existence was all the reason needed.

"Okay." Fox took the handcuffs from before and chained Slippy to a side-bar in a corner on his one hand, the toad getting comfortable as he took a seat. "I'm sorry Slip."

"Don't worry, I'm sure everything will be fine." Slippy tried to be positive, talking about his very life as Fox only gave a nod, and looked back to the rest of his friends as he stood up.

"Amanda watches over Slippy. The rest of us fan out and get whatever you think will be useful. Once that door closes, we won't be opening it again. Let's go." They all ran upstairs and turned on the lights for the final time. Some went to the bedrooms to grab blankets, sheets, and pillows while others went to the kitchen to grab any and all food. The teens made multiple trips, gathering everything they could in a stockpile in the center of the bunker. Fox and Falco went through the two bedrooms, grabbing all the clothes everybody could wear as the avian was a bit uncomfortable picking up his best friends' mom's night garments. But of course they had other things to worry about than his immaturity.

After gathering the clothes and the food did they branch to other parts of the house. A lot of the ladies grabbed fresh towels to take showers, along with other things from the guest bedroom while Fox and Falco went to the garage, looking for anything and everything they could find. The McCloud family had a second freezer in the garage, putting excess food to be frozen and keep good while they went through their pantries first. They grabbed the frozen foods of bread and meats to completely clear it out, as Fox went through the other things in his dad's garage. He always was angry when Fox came in here and messed up his organization, however James wouldn't care now.

Fox grabbed many things. Spare flashlights, extra batteries, some tools to be used for whatever purpose, and the like. He found extra roles of duct-tape, extra water bottles, and a few other things as he headed down the bunker. Once they took one last sweep around the house, now looking like it had been looted and pillaged with everything being bare, they headed down the stairs into the bunker once more. Fox turned off all the lights, and descended into the faint darkness once again.

"Oh my god real food and fresh, fluffy white towels." Katt let out almost a sexual moan as she reached for one of the towels in their huge stockpile. "I never thought I would smell clean linen again."

"Your dad said shower." Krystal perked up as she lifted all the women's spirits. "Oh Makers a hot shower? Sounds like heaven right now."

"I don't think I've ever felt dirtier in my life…" Luna agreed as she looked down to herself, and her ruined clothes stained with other's blood. Falco was about to perk up and crack a smart-ass remark, before Fox put his arm over his beak.

"Why don't you girls freshen up, Falco and I will take care of the sleeping area and try and make something with dinner."

"We're all going to shower at once…Don't you dare peek at us." Fara warned as she glared at the two men.

"You think with all of this going around you wouldn't threaten to kill me if I saw your chest."

"Still…Just don't please."

"Of course." Fox only agreed as he turned around. He headed over to Amanda as he kneeled down to their height. "Go ahead, I'll look over him."

"Thank you." Amanda gave a kiss onto Slippy's forehead as she joined the rest of the girls. Fox looked to Slippy as they both smiled.

"You did it Fox. You got us all here safely…"

"Who I could at least…Bill died but the rest of us are okay. Thank you Slippy, I could never have done it without your genius with the bombs and the guns."

"We all do our parts." The two smiled to one another. "Could you get me some water?"

"Of course." While Fox did that, Falco laid out all the sleeping bags, trying to not look as the girls were undressing for their group shower. It was hard though, the shower area was literally right next to their beds…And they were glass see-through walls. He laid out all the sleeping bags, assuming the girls would sleep together and the guys would as well. 10 sleeping bags in total. The avian then laid out all the clothes they could find, putting the women's…or Fox's mom's clothes on their sleeping bags, and James' on their own. They would have to find something to wear for Slippy and Amanda, as their amphibian bodies weren't close enough to share with Fox's vulpine parents like the rest of them.

Fox looked over the food they had found in the house first, a good chunk of it was raw meat and needed to be cooked up and eaten before it went bad, as there was no refrigerator or freezer units down here. They also had a gallon and a half of milk, along with some fresh veggies that would go bad soon. This bunker had an oven, a microwave, and other cooking appliances down here built into the wall, as the vulpine wondered what his dad was thinking needing these things. However James proved to be right regardless. Fox found the medical station next to the rations, as it was bigger and more sophisticated than what you would find in a school nurse's office. He took the aid kid to Slippy, and laid it out for the toad to look at.

"There, this is an anti-biotic." Slippy pointed to the syringe with a green liquid-like substance, as he looked to the toad for next instruction. Find the vain in my arm…And inject it into me.

"Okay I'll try…" Fox was nervous as he looked to Slippy's crippled arm.

"Don't worry Fox. I mean this was the worst pain I've ever experienced…Not like that should be a surprise. You chopping my damn arm off…"

"I'm sorry."

"Fox I was joking." The two shared a meek laugh. "You saved my life…For now at least."

"Here I go." Fox warned the toad as he stuck the needle in, slowing pushing down on the lever as Slippy barely felt a thing.

"See? Nothing to it."

"Anything else?"

"Yea…Give me some of those painkillers…" Slippy's face felt flushed as he could feel the liquid going to work in his arm.

"Okay." Fox handed him some of the blue colored, waxy pills and a bottle of water as he held it up to the toad's mouth, taking everything down in one large gulp.

"Thank you Fox."

"No problem Slippy. I'll grab a blanket and let you rest. I'll wake you up when I got dinner prepared." He smiled as Fox got up quickly, running to the center and grabbed a blanket to throw over Slippy.

"We'll be fine Fox." Slippy tried to calm the nerves in his friend, as Fox's posture and face still showed uncertainty. "Now that we've gotten here…We can stay here a long time. I'll do some math on the rations along with the power, but I'm sure we can stay in here for several months, train up, and be ready to fight on the outside surface."

"It's not staying in here that worries me Slippy." Fox admitted, trying to keep his voice quiet so his friends would not overhear them. "It's heading outside. We could stay in here a while, but who's to say we will? I'm sure everyone else is worried about their parent's as well."

"Hopefully we can come to some kind of agreement…Or perhaps everyone will realize staying in here is better than going out too soon. We have to put ourselves over anybody else."

"I know…I just hope everyone else can see it." The two left it at that as Fox went back to the rations area, and started preparing whatever for dinner.

In the shower the girls had their own conversation, however it wasn't over anything survival related. Most of them felt like they were taking a shower in heaven.

"Oh Makers this feels so good…" Krystal let the hot water drip down her naked body, as she never thought she would take a shower with soap and shampoo again to treat her blood stained fur and hair."

"I know…" Luna rinsed out the shampoo of her hair letting the soapy suds go down her light colored fur, her eyes closed as she spoke. "God this is amazing, so glad I lived long enough to take a shower again…"

"I don't know about you guys but…" Katt cut herself off as she got the attention of some of her friends…"A shower wouldn't be the only thing to feel so good right about now." She dared to say in an enticing tone, as the rest of the girls gave her a shocked yet sly look.

"You're really going to be thinking about that right now!?"

"Hey at least I'm mature enough to admit it." Katt let the water completely engulf her as she left it at that. All the girls were laughing until Miyu noticed Fay sitting in a corner shower head, simply letting the water fall upon her naked body as she sat there, arms across her knees in deep thought. Now that she finally had room to breathe, and to cry in peace was she letting her silent tears fall from her face.

"Fay…" Miyu gave quietly as her friend looked to her with such a despondent look. They were laughing about hot showers and sex, while Bill was dead at the school. He never got to share in this experience with them, he never had a chance to leave with them once he was bit. He gave up his life for their very survival, yet went practically unmentioned until now. Fay broke down crying as all the girls picked it up, it was obvious she was still very hurt from his passing. The girls huddled around in a support circle to try and lift her spirits, he was gone, but they still had each other. It would never be the same, and it would probably never be enough. But at least it was something, and not a welcoming from the dead.

Miyu picked up her friend as she helped her get clean, being mature enough to help her distraught friend washing her private and exposed parts as Fay found it difficult to do anything. The other girls only looked to one another, as they all nodded in silent agreement.

"Krystal, have you ever even had sex before?" The sudden question targeting the blue vixen as she looked back to her feline friend, her face lit ablaze as she instinctively covered her exposed breasts for some reason.

"I-I don't know why that is important to know right now!"

"I'll take that as a 'no.'" Katt looked to their fennec friend as she gave her a quirked brow. "Fara?"

"Well…No." Fara for some reason felt almost ashamed to admit it, however why did she feel this way?

"See at least Fara isn't afraid to admit it Krystal, there's no shame in it." Katt said as she looked to the last woman in this line. Katt and Luna gave each other a sly look and both smiled, then looked away.

"Wait you aren't going to ask Luna if she has or not?" Krystal questioned, wondering why the she-wolf was spared from such embarrassment. However after a moment the answer was obvious…

"Why bother when I already know the answer?" The two vixen's looked to their she-wolf friend, as Luna merely shrugged her shoulders and continued to treat her fur.

"With Fox!?" Krystal sounded almost offended as she caught Luna off-guard.

"What no!? With my old boyfriend before I moved here…"

"Oh…Sorry." Krystal gave as they all went back to their own business. After a few more moments all the women stepped from their shower, wrapping themselves in whatever towels they could find and went to the living area to find all the clothes already spread out. Although some found a few garments to where, some weren't as lucky. Either they weren't the same cup size as Vixy, or weren't close enough to try and pass it off anyway. Of course not…The mom was older, more experienced in life…And had the perks that come with it, such as larger breasts than teen girls or at least ones that weren't gifted with genes to give them to them, like Luna was...

"You know that would have been pretty hot to watch." Falco admitted disrupting the vulpine from cooking as he gave his friend a harsh glare.

"Falco get your mind out of the gutter man, we got other things to worry about then staring at our friends…naked."

"Yea they're our friends Fox…But think about it for a moment." Falco got the vulpine's attention as he started to make a stew out of all the ingredients needed to be eaten up before they went bad. Stew not only made a lot, it was filling and could be eaten for the next few days…Or however long they decided to stay here.

"How long is it going to stay that way? If you take Slippy and Amanda out of the equation…There are eight of us left. There are six women, and two men…How long do you think it's going to stay like that, like everybody is single when there is a pandemic going on outside, killing off 'potential' mates?"

"I would hope people could keep it in their pants." Fox hinted toward the avian as Falco let out a small chuckle.

"No promises man…And I'll be willing to bet it isn't just me. We're all in that strange time of our lives with urges we can't control…So Mrs. Jackson said in Health class. I've already seen how Katt looks at you." Fox's face heated up as that look confirmed the avian's suspicion.

"Nothing happened and nothing is going to happen between us Falco."

"Fox I don't care, I'm not mad alright? I mean yea I get kind of jealous when I think about it…But hey there are other women who might need companionship too…"

"Why are we talking about this Falco?" Fox tried to end the conversation abruptly in anger as he looked away.

"Because Fox it's a real possibility…The world has gone to hell, we are all confused and scared with these anxious hormones in our bodies and minds. Anything would be worth having to live with the consequences to get away from this reality for even just a little while…I'm not saying it's going to happen, all I'm saying is it could. And if it could, that means we have to be mindful and make responsible decisions."

"I know Falco…" Fox only rolled his eyes as his avian friend walked away. Fox tried to play it off cool, but deep down he was worried. It could cause internal turmoil with his friends and fellow survivors. If they were going to live much longer outside this safe haven of a bunker, they would have to learn to have the upmost trust and confidence within one another. And that would be difficult if people were arguing who would get to sleep with who. Falco was right, they were all lonely, alone, and separated during this time. Anything and everything could happen with tensions rising and urges and wants becoming harder and harder to fight off.

Fox soon banished those thoughts in his mind, as his stew was starting to become ready to eat. He looked away for a mere moment, as his friends found a large yet portable heater in the garage to set up. It generating warmth as his friends took blankets over their half-naked bodies, still wet and cold from the showers. Down here it would be impossible to tell what time it is, and if it was light or dark underground without the assistance of the screen to use to check up on the situation outside. There were disposable bowls, plates, spoons, and forks within the rations, however Fox knew they wouldn't be disposable anymore.

"Everyone, come get some dinner. There is plenty to go around." Fox could see their smiles brighten up as one-by-one his friends lined up for some stew. He was happy to say there was plenty, as his friends deserved full bellies that were beyond empty after such a long and hard day of surviving and killing. Many of them gave him thankful eyes, as he filled their bowls to the brim and gave them the proper silverware to eat with. Amanda was last as Fox took a bowl in his own hands.

"Don't worry, I'll go give him some."

"Thank you." Amanda nodded as she took her own. Fox filled the bowl as he went to Slippy still sitting in the corner.

"Oh my God this is good." Katt said aloud as she took another large helping, gulping it down letting out a pleasant moan. "I never thought I would eat home-cooked meals again…Much better than I thought it would be."

"Has any of us ever had some of Fox's cooking? He always bragged about it, yet I never had any for myself." Krystal admitted as she too really enjoyed the stew.

"I have." Fara admitted as she was pleasantly surprised as well, despite having cooked with Fox. "When we were dating we cooked together sometimes…It was a lot of fun." She let down her head a bit saddened, those simplistic days were now over. And that wasn't the only problem…if Fara wanted Fox, she would have to go through a lot of her friends to do so.

"I can't believe he stayed so strong this entire time." Katt looked to her vulpine friend who was hand-feeding the toad, as the two were smiling and even laughing despite this dark and deadly circumstance. "Guy must be exhausted, let alone hungry, and sad."

"He's always put others before himself."

"Yea…" Katt looked to him with desiring, low eyes as she tried to hide it from the rest. After Slippy was full did he make a bowl for himself, and joined the rest of his friends around the space heater. Krystal knew what the feline was getting at, as she held her sights low not wishing to argue right now and enjoy her meal in peace. The rest of the time they ate in silence, some going back for multiple bowls more, until the entire stew was eaten to the bottom, and everyone let out their filled stomachs stretching. It was so good, a great reward for surviving this far.

"Damn that hit the spot." Falco took off his shirt as he laid down against the cool tiling floor of the bunker. It was so dark in here he could almost fall asleep. And with good reason…It had only been the first day in this new world.

"I think we should shower now." Fox got up as he looked to Falco, the avian standing up with his friend. "Get yourselves comfortable…After such a long day we should sleep what we can. We'll take turns keeping watch just in case something happens."

"Alright." Everyone agreed as the two men went to the shower, and the ladies cleaned up the mess from dinner. They both stripped down and entered it quickly, not comfortable with the idea of being naked and vulnerable as the girls could simply watch. Now Falco knew how they felt as the water poured down his body, a mixture of anxious fear yet heavenly relief.

"Damn man…Never thought I would feel a shower again."

"I know what you mean." Fox carried on with the conversation as they both just went to work cleaning their bodies.

"Fox I never said it…But thank you. You did probably the best any of us would have been able to do to get out of the school alive…And as together as possible."

"Thanks Falco." Is all the vulpine gave back as they didn't look to one another. The girls were all getting situated, trying to decide who should sleep wear in this crazy slumber party they were all about to have. Katt was about to place her bag on the outside part of the group, until a threatened voice called to her.

"Why do you want to sleep over there Katt?" Krystal asked crossing her arms over the top of her breasts not covered by the baggy shirt she wore. Katt had planted herself right next to Fox's and Falco's beds…

"Come on Krystal, I know you are jealous but jeez no need to be downright hostile about it."

"Who says I'm jealous?" Krystal tried to defend herself as the feline didn't buy it.

"It couldn't be more obvious, it's all over your face."

"I just want to know why you chose to sleep there of all places."

"Maybe because I'm still a bit scared on the inside? Maybe because I would feel safer around the two men who risked their lives to save us…Or maybe because I damn well please. What does it matter?"

"Fine…I guess." Krystal just turned her body trying to find a place herself. As the feline shrugged it off and laying her bag next to Fox's…Very soon the order had been set. Fay and Miyu slept on the very outside, while Fara and Krystal slept on the beginning of the inside. Katt laid her bag next to the top of this semi-circle yet liner line that Fox and Falco were the head of, and it ended with Luna on the other side and Amanda as well.

Fox and Falco did not take as long to shower as they walked out, stealing a few pieces of clothing to go change in the corner. Making sure to get the women to turn around to not peak at their exposed bodies. They both wore only boxers and sweat pants, leaving their top halves exposed and joined the rest of their friends. Fox rushed over to Slippy bringing another blanket and a pillow to the toad who still sat chained against the wall.

"If you need anything Slippy, just call out to us." Fox's eyes held a solemn apology as the toad only smiled, to try and brighten up his friend's spirit.

"It's okay Fox, it has to be done. Don't worry about me."

"I know, good night Slip." Fox left the toad to get comfortable throughout the night as the rest of his friends looked at him. Fox only got into his own sleeping bag, cracking his joints as he noticed everybody was looking at him.

"Well…You can go to sleep whenever you guys want. But try and get as much rest as you can. We have a lot to discuss when we wake up." Nobody said anything, they all just turned in for the night, or at least most of them did as everybody kept to themselves.

"We'll take turns keeping watch. I'll take the first shift." Fox got out of his bag as Krystal only looked to him. Fox went to the screen taking a water bottle and a blanket to wrap around his form while the rest closed their eyes, and rested their minds. She let out her held breath and tried to relax, however not much effort was needed. It had been such a long, exhausting day. Her eyelids soon felt heavy as she went into a gentle slumber, one she believed would never happen again.

X

Many hours later it was the dead of night, however you couldn't tell being underground, down here in the bunker. All was quiet through the vulpine's house, an almost eerie silence as he looked to the screen that went about all kinds of news media stories on live broadcasting, however he didn't wish to hear any of it right now. His mind was too distracted on the thoughts of his parents. There was a good chance Fox would never see them again…As he tried to keep his spirits up, and his strength and energy high. As much as he missed them, there were others depending on them for their survival.

"How come you never woke anybody else up?" The vulpine turned to see Katt slowly approaching him, wrapping her body in a type of housecoat as she took a seat next to him.

"I guess I just wasn't tired. Everyone needed their sleep…Why are you up?"

"It's hard to sleep…Thinking back to everything that happened today." Katt admitted in a quiet tone, letting her head fall as she tried to keep it together. "We did…terrible things to get out of the school. And it's only been the first day."

"But we're safe now." Fox tried to brighten her spirits as she looked to him with thankful eyes. "We can stay here for quite a while."

"I want to stay, but I don't know about anybody else." Katt scooted closer to the man, snuggling up against his body heat as Fox merely let her. She, like any of them had been through much. Any kind of comfort was needed to escape this harsh reality for even a moment.

"We'll have to talk about it tomorrow."

"What do you think we should do?" Katt looked up to the vulpine as he let go of his breath, trying to think clearly and logically. His decision would very much cost someone's life if he wasn't careful.

"I think the best idea is to stay. We can survive a long time down here. We can train up, learn to use some of those weapons over there, and be ready when it comes time we have to leave."

"That sounds like a logical plan." Katt admitted as she continued to use Fox's shoulder as a headrest.

"But I don't know what everyone else will think, that would mean to forget and forsake our families…And by the time we leave here, there's a good chance most if not all of them will be dead."

"It's one sacrifice for another." Katt admitted. "Either we go out there when we're ready and be prepared to sacrifice our loved ones…Or we go out there when we aren't, and be ready to sacrifice some of ourselves."

"You're ultimately right. It's either our loved ones, or ourselves…" Fox's heart was heavy on this decision approaching them. He wondered just who would decide to stay…And who would decide to ultimately leave. Now that they were in this safe haven, they didn't necessarily need to stay together anymore. People could branch out themselves if they wished, it wouldn't be the smartest thing, but we often forsake logic in desperate situations.

Katt opened her eyes a moment later, noticing the vulpine was lost in thought as she slowly moved her hand from around the blanket. Part of her wanted to try her way with him now…They were alone for the moment, just the two of them as everyone else was passed out after such a long day. She said nothing as she reached her hand around near his lap…However Fox caught her as he grabbed her hand with his own, giving her a half-hearted look as he put her hand down in her own lap.

"I'm flattered Katt." Fox admitted in a quiet voice as the two looked toward one another. "But now isn't the time for that."

"Fox…There will never be a good time for it. But…We're alone, you want it as bad as I do don't you?"

"I just want to keep us all alive." Fox didn't even try to cover his words, not caring if he offended the feline or not. It's not that he didn't find her attractive, she had a very curvaceous body that could subdue most men if she wished. But he had other things on his mind, keeping his friends alive. They had lost one already, and another permanently crippled. And as time went by…Their friends would die one by one.

"Just…Sit with me please." Fox asked as he let out another breath, the feline continuing to do just that. They sat together, alone in the dark trying to calm their breaths as she didn't try any further. Fox knew this would be a normal thing, Katt, like any of their friends was probably desperate for any kind of physical affection. Anything that could numb the pain of this world for even just a little while. They heard nothing from their family, committed horrible acts against others for their own survival. And they were expected to just wipe it off and move on? It would never happen. They needed anything to feel alive again, despite not having joined the dead just yet. It was clear in this new world, the death would never stop happening around them.

Fox was the same, he needed physical and emotional comfort just like the rest of them. He tried to be strong, to have a tough exterior that couldn't be penetrated by anything. But he had his weaknesses, and his emotional feelings just like any of them. However the only difference was, for some reason he was shouldered with the responsibility of keeping them alive. If he made a mistake, his friends could pay the price. Just like Bill did.

"I'll stay awake, you go get some rest." Katt looked up to the vulpine, only to find that he was already sleeping letting out gentle snores. Even Fox had his physical limits, as his body ached and yearned for the restoration and rejuvenated feeling that came with a deep slumber. Katt thought it was cute, as she put on a small smile, and kissed him lovingly on his forehead.

"Sleep well hero."

X

A few hours later Fox awoke slowly from his sleeping bag, careful not to disturb anyone else who may have still been sleeping. He didn't even remember how he got from his position on the floor last night to his bag, but it didn't matter. Fox looked to see that some of the bags were empty, while a few of his friends were still asleep. Fay and Miyu still slumbered, but the rest seemed to be awake. Fox looked to his side, to be freaked out a second later as Krystal was sleeping on his side, slightly under his body as he looked around quickly. He didn't know how or when Krystal got so close to him, dressed in only under garments and a baggy shirt too big for her, but she was still sound asleep as she rolled onto her side closer to him.

Fox only picked himself up quietly, allowing the weary girl to sleep a bit longer and tip-toed through the other sleeping teens. He let out a quiet yawn, popping his neck joining the rest of his friends along the heater having breakfast. Some of them were dressed in different clothing, some were not.

"Good morning." Fara turned to see the vulpine approaching them, as she handed him a bowl of cereal with more than enough milk to use it all up before it went to waste. "Did you sleep alright?"

"For what I did yea, thanks." He smiled as they gathered around, not really speaking to one another. Fox encouraged them to eat more, there was no telling when their next meal would be if they left…Besides the milk needed to be used up before it went bad. Fox went toward Slippy, noticing some of his friends stirring awake as one by one they came to get some food.

"Did you sleep okay Slippy?" Fox kneeled down to inspect his friend, as the toad was still a bit tired.

"Yea I think so…I feel alright Fox." He was happy to give as Fox gave him a smile to match his own.

"Just alright or what?"

"Well considering my arm still hurts like hell…Yea for the most part okay. I don't feel ill or dehydrated, I don't feel like there is some kind of sickness in me. But it's probably best to keep me like this, at least for a bit longer."

"Okay Slippy, I trust your judgment." Fox got up as he went to the rest of his friends, as everybody stirred awake now. He was a bit nervous around Krystal as she looked to him with sleepy eyes, unaware as to why he was giving her that funny face. Krystal used her telepath to look through his mind, and what she found shocked her awake almost immediately. She held an embarrassing gaze to him as Krystal didn't ever remember leaving her own bed to join his…It was the closest has ever been to one another.

They looked toward one another as it all became clear. And avoided a conversation as well as probably an argument about it, as Krystal went to get herself some breakfast. About an hour after everyone was awake, and had eaten their fill. Fox got all of their attention.

"Everyone, we have something to discuss."

"About what we're going to do?" Miyu asked aloud as the two locked eyes.

"Yes…We have to decide if we are going to stay in here until the supplies run out, or if we are going to leave prematurely to try and find our parents or anyone else."

"Does anyone really think leaving is a good idea?" Luna asked aloud as all their friends looked toward one another. No one wanted to be the odd man or woman out, but healthy debate was always encouraged in this democracy…For as long as it would stay that way.

"This is how I look at it." Fara was brave as she was the first, and currently the only one to disagree about staying here. "The longer we stay in here, the less likely we are to find our parents. Not only just that…But the less likely we'll be able to join up with any other groups to help survive this."

"You mean like the military?"

"Yes. Think about it. They might be able to control this thing for now…But over time they'll eventually get overturned. And if that happens we will be on our own entirely. I think we should leave to join up with them now, the longer we wait the less likely any kind of organization or civilization is going to survive."

"But you said it yourself." Krystal spoke as the two looked to one another. "Eventually they'll get swarmed as well…Why bother with it when we can take care of ourselves?"

"But we also have to remember that the longer we stay, the harder it's going to be to escape the planet. Maybe there are other places that aren't effected by all of this." Amanda gave out loud as the rest thought about it. It was a good guess and a good reason to think about. If they could somehow escape the planet, like how the military was surely dispatching people off the planet for safety…Then could they reach somewhere not affected by this devastation and destruction?

"We don't know anything though." Falco gave his words. "We don't know what's going on, or how bad this thing really is…What if it's all over the system, then what?"

"I don't know…But staying here we're sitting ducks, just waiting for those things to find us." Fara gave aloud as she was scared to stay in one place for any length of time.

"But we have access to basically everything here." Fox peered around the large room as they all did as well. "We could train up, learn how to use these weapons. So when we leave, we'll be ready."

"Let's see what the media says." They all turned toward the screen as Fox went to hit some commands into the control panel, and flicker the screen to life. A moment later it switched to one of the news broadcasts still playing, live from the studio of course as nobody risked going outside. At least those who came back alive from the outside.

"We will be giving nonstop broadcasts as long as we can, until either the situation is maintained under control, or we run out of personnel to maintain the station." The feline reporter seemed very nervous as she spoke, continuing to look into the camera. Everyone was silent as they listened.

"This killing pandemic has quickly spread throughout the planet, and within the matter of a day we are seeing similar activity happening all across the system. We have lost communication with most parts of Fortuna, while other planets are struggling to maintain order. Scientists and researchers have not yet uncovered where this disease came from, and are working around the clock to come up with a solution to battle the infestation and keep it from spreading. It's been estimated that the amount of beings from satellite pictures already infected, have reached into the hundreds of thousands…The four governors of Corneria have already declared a State of Emergency as police and military alike struggle to keep the numbers of this disease under control. Do not leave your homes unless absolutely necessary."

Fox paused the screen after such statements, and the teens slowly took it all in. This wasn't just in their city, or even the planet…This epidemic was happening all across the system. Nowhere they went would be safe.

"So they're literally everywhere…More than you could ever count." Fox said aloud for them all to hear, as some of them struggled to keep it together.

"Everything was normal…Everything was just fine until yesterday!" Krystal began to freak out as tears ran down her face. These things weren't just around them, they were everywhere, and there would be no escape from them in time.

"This is happening all over the system." Luna gave quietly as slowly but surely, everyone was piecing it together their own way. No one was going to come help them, not their friends, family, or even the military. Unless they went to them, the teens were on their own.

"Then we definitely shouldn't stay here. It's only a matter of time before we run out of supplies, and the longer we wait the less likely we'll be able to find some kind of protection." Miyu gave as she shivered violently, not because she was cold, but the pure fear embedded in her mind.

"That's the point. We have to depend on ourselves, not anybody else. Let's think of it this way." Fay argued as they looked toward one another. "How long will it take before the walls come crashing down around the military, and we are trapped inside? What if the same thing happens inside the military? We would never get out then. We need to stay, and defend ourselves over anything else."

"We have enough supplies to last literally months, maybe even longer if we spread out meals and limited the use of water." Fox gave trying to give them some comfort, but what hope was there? It doesn't matter how much time they spent using these supplies. It wouldn't last forever…

"They can stop it right?" Fara tried to be hopeful as she gave a small smile, to a false, dying hope. "The military can stop this thing…Can't they?"

"No." Falco gave plainly as Fox gave him an angered look.

"Why did you have to be so blunt about it?"

"Because we can't sugarcoat and fantasize about things Fox. This thing is too big for the military and you know that." Falco looked to his fennec friend as she threatened to crumble and give to this overwhelming emotion taking control of her fears.

"I'm sorry Fara, but there isn't much we can do except survive. The entire system is experiencing the same thing. Nowhere we go is going to be free of these things. We have to carry on and survive, that's all we can do."

"What about heat?" Amanda brought up the strange question as everyone looked to her. "Is it possible we can eventually outlast these things?"

"I wouldn't count on it. This thing isn't going to end like past diseases and plagues in the past. These things don't follow traditional medical logic. We can't count on anything to slow them down other them destroying their brains." Slippy gave his two cents still chained up way in the back corner. It was the 10 of them against a lifetime filled with these things. "We don't know anything about these things, we don't know if they can see, if they feel, how strong an individual zombie is, or anything like that. All we really know is that they react to sound, and that getting bit and dying while bit, turns you into one of them."

"So what should we do?" Krystal gave the question out loud as Fox thought.

"It's too risky to go outside just yet…Not when we aren't trained, and we don't know anything about these things. We can leave in time…We'll have to. But for now I think we should hunker down and protect ourselves until we are ready. We have to seclude ourselves." Fox gave out loud, however the debate was still very much alive.

"I don't like it. I don't like hiding in the dark waiting for those freaks to come barging in." Miyu let a few tears fall as she let aloud.

"We can talk about it in a bit…For now let's all try and get ahold of our families. One at a time." Fox gave as everyone just agreed in silence. He turned toward the screen letting Falco go first, to see if he could get ahold of his mother or anyone in his family for that matter. Another big decision was in front of them, and another decision that could be costly if they made the wrong choice. To stay, and outlast the supplies, or to go out unprepared in the hopes of finding a loved one alive, or to join up with the military and a hope of getting out of here by some means.

While his friends did that, Fox went to go look at some of the weapons. Familiarity with these tools could mean the different of life and death.

All that remained is how long they would stay hunkered down here in the dark…

Author's Notes

Another big decision. They got to supplies and a safe haven for now, but how long would it last?

Take care! Have fun and talk over it!

Until next time

Zythxx