Chapter 8: Search

After making sure Veronica was okay, Riku went to go look for Nyx. However, after 30 minutes, he couldn't find her. Maybe she got on the bus and went home. He left to see if that was a correct assumption. He boarded his Gummi ship and headed to his temporary home. Once getting there, he was greeted by Shadow and Starlette who was home by this time.

"Hi Riku, how was school," Starlette asks.

Riku not paying attention to her greeting simply asks, "Is Nyx home?"

"Didn't you see her off to practice? Did something happen at school?" Starlette starts to visibly worry.

Riku sighs deeply as he sits on the sofa in the living room. "She and a girl named Veronica got into it right after school. They were going back and forth and then Nyx snapped. She punched Veronica with these dark flames and she went flying. She also started to change a bit. Almost…, feral. And Veronica said that it happened before."

Starlette's face is of shock and horror. "Oh no," she starts, "It happened again."

"So it's true then? She's done this before?" Riku pauses. "I think it's time that I start learning about what you guys are about."

"Alright then, it is overdue. I'll start today, but after we find Nyx. Let's go."

At those words, Shadow looked at his master with big puppy eyes and started whimpering. Starlette, not being able to take his face at the moment, decided to take the dog with them. They went to the Gummi ship hanger to board Starlette's ship. And thus the search began.

For about a few hours, Starlette, Riku, and Shadow searched for Nyx. They started at the school, and concluded that she somehow was able to leave the floating school. Then they looked in local places that she could have walked to, such as the convenience store or the video game store nearby. However, those places were a dead-end in finding Nyx. After multiple no-shows, the sun was starting to set and turn into night. This gave Starlette an idea on where her daughter might be. There's a reason why the world is called Twilight Town. It's beauty shines brightly at the cusp of day and night. Knowing how much her daughter loves watching the sunset from a high place, she knew exactly where she was.

She takes the Gummi ship back to the hanger much to Riku's confusion. They disembark and start walking, with Riku and Shadow following Starlette. After a few minutes, they come across a bridge that connects the suburban areas of Twilight Town to downtown. Sure enough, there is Nyx, resting on the ledge and gazing out towards the sunset. She appears more feral, and for the first time, Riku gets to see her wolf ears and tail. They were a deep black color, as deep as the night. Her right ear twitches as the group approaches her, with Shadow running ahead and colliding into Nyx.

She pats him on the head softly as he wags his tail. Starlette and Riku join Shadow and walk up to Nyx. Her ears go close to her head as she lowers her head. "I guess I owe you an explanation.." she says, trailing off.

"Well," her mother replies, "start talking." And so she did. She explained what happened at school, from start to finish. Wherever her account faltered in detail, Riku would say a thing or two to clarify. Now knowing what happened, Starlette let out a sigh of exasperation. "This is going to be a pain. It's time for some damage control. I'm going to have to call and have a talk with Veronica and her family, for she did instigate the incident."

She turns to Riku. "We should start going over the history of the Lycans once we get home. I also have a favor to ask of you." Riku nods in acknowledgment.

"As for you," Starlette turns to Nyx, "you need to start controlling your powers. It's not enough that you're emotions are neutral most of the time. So, you'll start training tomorrow at home after all your extracurriculars." Starlette starts to walk back home, Shadow in tow.

At this Nyx perks back up with a shocked but overjoyed expression. "You mean it? I can start training, after all these years?"

"I think your ready now. Oh and one more thing, starting today you're grounded for your anger getting the best of you and flame punching a student outside of class. So no video games or hangouts. You come straight home after your afterschool activities." With that, Nyx puts her head down in defeat and Riku snickers at her plight. 'Guess she wasn't off the hook.'

Finally, after a short walk they make it back home. Nyx was made to cough up her handheld game and was sent to her room after dinner. Then Starlette sat down in the living room inviting Riku to do the same. Once he sat down Starlette was ready to talk.

"Okay, where should I start?"