Newly redone. After this point, all chapters will be new material.

Kasu enjoyed Firefang's company. The big female Persian was highly intelligent, defying the stereotype for Persians easily. She found out why as they walked through the forest, attempting to locate the stream Kasu had been by earlier.

"Ah used to live with a human."

"You did?" Kasu was shocked. Tenebrae had spent the better part of the journey denouncing humans in general. Archimedes, usually so forgiving and nonjudgmental, had remained silent on the subject. La'Shanke and all the other Eons had told her humans were dangerous and unpredictable. "Was he mean to you? I always heard such bad things about humans..."

"Don' believe everythin' ya hear. Sure, some humans are jerks, but not all of 'em are bad. Mah human was a great man."

"Really?" Kasu was fascinated. "How did it all happen?"

"It's a bit long a story to tell now, but Ah promise Ah'll tell ya someday, ya just remind me."

"All right." Kasu padded along beside her, bursting with questions she held back with difficulty. One slipped out. "Did you see many types of 'mons?"

"Sure Ah did. Ah was on a team with some o' the best."

"Team?"

"It's the custom. Humans callin' themselves 'trainers' raise and care for a few 'mons. They care for us, and some of them raise us for battle."

"Battle?"

"A strictly guided combat. We don't fight to the death, only until one yields."

"Like a sparring match?"

"Exactly." Firefang smiled at her. "It's not always pleasant, but it grows on ya after a while. Some humans work ya too hard, and some don't work ya at all, but just want the company."

"You were one of the battlers?"

"Yeah. It's not like livin' out in the wild, where ya belong, but it's not a bad life neither. Ah liked it. Ah probably wouldn't'a liked it if mah human wasn't such a good 'un."

"What 'mons were you on a team with?"

"Hmm." Firefang was lost in thought. "Ya ever heard o' a Blastoise?"

"Yeah... wait, you knew one!" Kasu stared at her. No one she knew had ever seen a Blastoise - the mighty turtle 'mons were almost like legends to the pack.

"Yeah. He was one o' mah best friends - a nicer 'mon ya couldn't find. Had a Flareon friend, too - she was a real piece o' work, but tough as nails."

"A Flareon friend? Really?"

"Yeah." Firefang grinned at Kasu. "Not like ya, though - bright red and awful small for a Flareon. Ah liked her, though."

"Wow." Kasu was stunned. "Tenebrae's been telling me so many bad things about humans and their world..."

"Bitter, perhaps. Ah'm sure he has a reason."

"He was talking about a 'mon friend of his who was captured a while back..." Kasu recalled.

"That could be part o' it," Firefang agreed. "But it's probably not the whole deal."

"No, probably not. Hey - I remember this tree!" Kasu turned abruptly. "I know where we are now!"

"Careful, hon!" Firefang called, but the young Eevee was already far ahead. Firefang sighed, then trotted off after her, eyes searching the undergrowth.

"I ought to rip your brain out since you obviously have no use for it!"

"Archimedes, you need some new insults. You're repeating yourself," Tenebrae said resignedly. "You've been yelling at me from sunrise to sunset."

"No kidding!" Archimedes clacked his beak irritably. "And we still haven't found Kasu!"

"How is that my fault! I don't know where she is any more than you do!"

"It's your fault because you are the moron who left a defenseless Eevee to be attacked by whatever happened across that place first!"

"You're repeating yourself again."

"You, my friend, are about to be ripped apart quite painfully and with much screaming."

"I'm a ghost-type. Ripping doesn't really apply to us."

"We'll see..."

THUNK!

"Ow! Hey, easy with the wing, pal!"

"See? You're solid, at least, and you feel pain. I think ripping you apart is quite possible."

"Eff." Tenebrae edged away from his Noctowl friend. "I'll just be over here."

"Scared?" Archimedes glared at the Sableye.

"Actually, now that you mention it - do you hear something?"

"Don't try to change the subject!"

"No, really! Sounds like a 'mon coming this way..."

As soon as Kasu recognized the two 'mons, she leapt out of the underbrush with a yell.

"Hi guys!"

Unfortunately, Tenebrae's first instinct when he saw something flying at him was to duck. Thus, Archimedes got the full force of the flying tackle.

"Oh, whoops!" Kasu grinned ruefully as she scrambled off Archimedes. "Sorry."

"Good to see ya!" Tenebrae cheered, buffeting Kasu's shoulder in a friendly way. Archimedes dusted himself off and smiled at her to show he wasn't upset.

"Good to see you too," Kasu replied, playfully knocking the Sableye off his feet onto his back. He just laughed.

"What happened, anyway?" Archimedes wanted to know.

"Well -"

Then all hell broke loose.

Archimedes screeched as a Persian landed on his back. More came from every direction, all screeching in rage - seven in all, four of which Kasu recognized as her playmates from before.

"Oh boy." Kasu darted in and out, avoiding claws. "Firefang? Firefang!"

Not a single Persian knew what hit them.

The lithe Firefang attacked from behind, claws and teeth much in evidence. She cut through the surprised Persians with the ease of a carving knife through melted butter. She broke through to the Doom Patrol without any problems.

"Ah told ya they'd be back, hon - and they brought a coupla friends, Ah suppose," she mused, looking around her.

"Who the heck are you?" Tenebrae snapped.

"Later, Tenebrae," Archimedes said sharply. "We have other problems."

"Not for long," Firefang grinned. "Ya three up for it?"

"Wait a minute," the owl objected. "Three? Kasu's just a little Eevee!"

Firefang spoke before Kasu could object.

"No better time ta learn. But hold back for a minute - lemme try something."

"Hold back!" Kasu yelped. "They're closing in!"

And so they were, slowly, paw by paw. The Doom Patrol and Firefang had their backs to the river, but on every other side there were Persians - ugly, deadly, hissing Persians. Firefang growled.

"Back up, you three. Give me room ta try this." The jewel on her head glowed oddly.

And, without warning, lightning struck.

Literally.

BZZZZZAP!

"MRRRROWWWWWWWWWWWWW!"

One Persian turned tail and fled after the Thunderbolt ended. Two others lay smoking on the ground, unconscious. The other four were definitely hesitant about moving forward. Firefang flashed a grin at the Doom Patrol.

"Now, we advance, threatening-like, and they'll run, Ah'm sure o' it."

"After that display, I'd run too," Archimedes chuckled.

"Who wouldn't?" Kasu laughed. "That was way cool."

As it turned out, the group barely moved one pace forward before the remaining Persians broke and ran, yowling, back into the trees. Firefang laughed delightedly.

"Ah've never known Thunderbolt ta fail me before!"

"Impressive," Archimedes noted. "I didn't know Persians could use lightning attacks."

"One of the few advantages to living with humans, hon," Firefang winked.

"You lived with humans?" Archimedes said, startled.

"Sure did. Wasn't a bad way ta live, actually - what're ya starin' at me like that for?"

Tenebrae's mouth was agape as he stared at her.

"Did I just hear you right? You liked living with humans?"

"Obviously you heard just fine," Firefang shrugged.

"Bu - Wha -"

"What's'a matter with him?" the cat asked Archimedes in an undertone.

"He's a bit closeminded about humans." Archimedes smiled.

"Ah. So he's the one called Tenebrae. And you're Archimedes?" Firefang fixed her gaze on him.

"That's what my mother named me."

"Smart-alec. So, what's y'all's plan? Where ya headed?"

"West," Kasu piped up, "toward the mountains."

"West, huh? Y'all are headed for Queen Emeria's range, then."

"Queen Emeria?" Tenebrae seemed to come out of his shock.

"Ostentaneous, huh? Ah've never met her myself, but mah Blastoise friend, he lives up that way nowadays. If y'all don't mind, Ah'll tag along with ya 'til Ah find him."

"What? But -" Tenebrae began, but Archimedes cut him off.

"We can always use the extra help," he said, glaring at his best friend, "and I, personally, am interested in hearing your story."

"Ah'll tell it if y'all wanna hear it, but right now Ah suggest we get out of Persian lands. Might not get any sleep before midnight, but it'll be worth it not ta be attacked anymore."

"Point. Let's go, then," Archimedes said decisively, pointedly ignoring Tenebrae's grumbling.

Kasu fell in beside Firefang, feeling much happier. Never mind that the sun was setting and she still hadn't got any sleep. It was worth it.