Ok; I know I have some explaining to do, but first of all - I'm back with another chapter! Yay!

My first month in Australia has been somwhat of a challenge, because I have missed home occasionally. However, I'm doing perfectly fine and keeping up with my studies.

And on a sidenote, I went for The Hunger Games this afternoon. It was a ride of freaking AWESOMENESS! XD

So I'm just taking a quick break to post this up, and as always, I hope you enjoy it. :)

Chapter 13: In the Spotlights

"Hurry up and finish your breakfast, boys! You don't want to be late for the talk show."

Dave was hastily scooping out the omelettes from the frying pan and putting them onto three separate plates each. He handed them to the boys, who tore straight into their breakfast with great gusto.

Theodore looked up from his meal. "Dave, can Phelan come with us for the interview? He's a part of the family now, right?"

"I don't know about that, Theodore. We'll have to see if he's feeling well enough," Dave said cautiously.

"Well, why don't we just ask him? It's not that hard to get him talking," Alvin pointed out.

Dave turned his back to put the pan in the sink, which gave Simon the opportunity to nudge Alvin in the ribs.

"Alvin, don't be ridiculous! How do you know Phelan's going to answer you straight away, unless he can teleport?" hissed the blue-clad chipmunk.

"Because here he comes right now."

They watched as Phelan came bouncing right into the kitchen. There was something different about the way he walked – skipped, perhaps – as though there were springs built inside of him. Every step he made was a little hop, his tail swished side to side as though it had a life of its own. Joy came off him in waves, so radiant that it could have filled the whole room.

"Morning," Phelan took his place in between Alvin and Theodore, while Dave handed him a plate of eggs.

"You look like your usual self today, Phelan. Feeling better already?" asked Dave.

Phelan was already wolfing down his breakfast, but looked up with a cheerful nod.

"Told you so," whispered Alvin to Simon.

Phelan didn't seem to notice his brother's playful bickering; instead he was lost in his own thoughts.

"Dave?"

"Mm?" Dave kept his eyes on Phelan as the wolf-like chipmunk grinned away.

"I never thought I'd say this, but cream is my new favourite colour."

"Well... okay. I can get some beige shirts for you the next time we go shopping," said Dave.

"And her eyes... wow. They're the prettiest – no, most dazzling eyes I've ever seen." Phelan's tongue lolled dreamily out of the corner of his mouth.

The other chipmunks were doing their best to hold back their laughter at the sight of their brother.

"Uh oh," said Alvin as though addressing an imaginary audience. "I think someone's been bitten by the love bug."

"So what if I am? I'm proud of it!" Phelan strutted out his chest. "Besides, I'm not the only one in the family with a girlfriend, you know."

"Yeah, so says the 'munk who got to kiss and sleep with his girl on their first night. Dude, you're a true Seville if you set that record!" Alvin punched the air.

"She only kept me company till I fell asleep. That's not exactly something to brag about," Phelan said as he went over to help Dave pull his head over his vest.

"Thanks, Phelan. Now that we're all here, I just wanted to remind you that I'll be leaving for the airport later. As you probably know, I have to sign that international deal that'll get us that tour in Asia, so I'll be gone for a couple of weeks."

There was a loud series of groans from the three Sevilles, especially Alvin.

"Can't we come along with you, Dave? We're old enough to be going on long-distance journeys, not cooped up like prisoners in our own home!"

"Absolutely not," Dave folded his arms. "I still haven't forgotten what happened when I left the three of you alone on my last business trip."

"Oh yeah," Alvin laughed. "That was fun!"

"What happened?"

"Let's just say it involved us and the Chipettes in a race around the world," Simon explained. "Turns out we were actually delivering diamonds to other buyers, but in the end the smugglers were apprehended and the rest is history."

"Wow, that must've been some adventure!" said Phelan. "I wonder why Hollywood didn't make a movie out of it?"

"Anyway," Dave spoke up, "I spoke to Miss Miller to see if she would look after you boys while I'm gone."

This time, Phelan joined in the chorus of groaning. "Aw, Dave!"

"However," Dave went on, "Miss Miller is joining a seminar for seniors and won't be back until the end of the month. So I have no choice but to leave you boys and the Chipettes on your own. Phelan, you and Simon are in charge."

"What about the girls?" Phelan asked, when the doorbell rang just in time.

"Why not ask them in person?" said Alvin as he ran to open the door. Sure enough, the Chipettes were already there, and they were thrilled to greet their counterparts.

But no one was especially happier than a certain creamy-white chipette.

Maia let out a squeal of joy as she threw her arms around Phelan. "You're feeling better already?"

"I am now, thanks to you." They paused for a moment to share a kiss.

"Phelan, stop it..." Maia giggled as the wolf-like chipmunk took a step forward, nuzzling his nose deep into her sweet-scented fur. "You're embarrassing me!"

"Embarrassed that we're in love?" "Aw, you look so cute when you care."

Behind them, Alvin was making gagging faces.

"Alright everyone, get in the car. We're running late and I have to be in the airport in an hour."

Usually, Phelan would race Alvin to the door to call shotgun, but this time, Phelan took Maia by the hand and escorted her gracefully out to the porch.

"What? No one else wants to call shotgun?" The red-clad chipmunk looked genuinely surprised.

Dave sighed as he held the door open for the others. "Just get in the car, Alvin. The rest of you will have to squeeze in a little at the back."

"Well, at least I'll get the front row to myself. "Hey Dave, do you think they'll provide you with movies on the plane? Because I've got a good source of entertainment provided in case you get bored!"

"Nice try, Alvin, but you're still not going with me to Asia, and that's final."

"Aw, come on, Dave! I promise I'll be good! You won't even know I'm there."

"Alvin..."

"What if I stayed for just a few days?"

"ALVIN!"

The couch was as comfy as a bed, with a velvet material and wide enough to seat all four of them, yet Phelan found it hard to resist an urge to pick at his claws or twitch his legs every once in a while.

"Remember, just smile, relax and have fun," Simon had told him minutes before they were on air. "Don't show the world you're afraid, because they'll know if you are from every little thing you do."

Easy for you to say. You've been doing this your whole life!

Phelan felt a huge disappointment weighing down in his guts. Perhaps it was the bright, glaring light from somewhere in the studio that shone harshly on him.

He shot an envious look at Alvin, who seemed to have no trouble answering almost all the questions addressed to them.

It didn't occur to him that the host was calling his name several times until he snapped back to focus.

"Phelan, I see you've been quiet the whole time. Are you feeling alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. It's just... I've never done this before," he mumbled sheepishly.

"Well, there's always a first time for everything. Don't worry about it too much, Phelan; you'll get used to being thrown into the spotlight soon enough!"

There was a cue of laughter from the audience, and though Phelan felt his ears flushing with embarrassment, he joined in along with the others.

"So, the world first heard about you when you performed at your brothers' Halloween school party last year. And is it true that you left immediately after making your debut appearance?"

"He was-"

Simon immediately clasped a paw over Alvin's mouth. "Ssh! Give Phelan a chance to speak!"

Phelan didn't need another chance for the host to press him further.

"Yes, I did leave. But I didn't know where my calling really was, at least for a while. That's why I did a bit of... backpack travelling. I... just needed to get away from everything – the paparazzi, the rumours and the gossip. Of course, I had my family's blessings, and I wouldn't be here if not for their support."

"What made you decide to come back?"

"A lot of things, really. I missed home, I missed being with my brothers. And that's when I realized I did the right thing – by being closer to family."

A brief 'Aw' came up from around the audience.

"What about your friends? Anyone special in particular?"

"Well..."

"You have a best friend? Someone more than that? A girlfriend, perhaps?"

The host seemed to be enjoying this gentle form of torture, as poor Phelan wouldn't even look up from rubbing his paws together and shuffling his toes.

"I'm going to take that as a 'yes'?"

The crowd screamed their approval, and as Phelan gathered the courage to look up, all those faces were smiling back, urging him to spill his deepest secrets. He caught a quick glimpse of Brittany and her sisters seated somewhere in the front row, but what would she think?

There was only one way to find out.

Thinking of himself as a wolf and not a chipmunk, Phelan took a stand.

"She's in the audience today, and I just wanted to let her know that I love her very much."

After the talk show had ended and the chipmunks went backstage, there was a knock on the stage door and a voice telling them they had visitors.

The Chipettes were already crowding around their counterparts, but Maia pulled Phelan into a corner of the room. The two love-struck chipmunks embraced each other.

"You know you didn't have to do this for me," Maia's lips parted in a warm smile.

"But I did. I want you to know that I'll be willing to do anything for you. Anything at all."

"Then... there's something I have to tell you. Please, you've got to hear me out this time."

"Oh, you're not going to tell me you have a secret boyfriend, are you?"

Maia shook her head, but she looked behind her to make sure her sisters were fully occupied before bending over to whisper in Phelan's ear.

"I haven't been Marked yet."

It happened the following afternoon.

An uncomfortable silence washed over Phelan as he watched Soron sipping calmly from the steaming mug of hot cocoa prepared specially for his visit.

How do I get him to talk without smelling like a rat? Either way, it's now or never!

"I heard about your interview yesterday," Soron broke the ice. "Congratulations on a job well done, I thought the scourge of the Darkness would be scared stiff by the entertainment press."

"Th-thanks." Phelan cleared his throat. "Soron, can I ask you something?"

The hazel-brown chipmunk put down his mug, but not before wagging a suspicious finger at Phelan.

"You've never asked me for anything before. And you've made me a drink. What's in it for you?"

"Nothing!" Phelan added hastily, before remembering to keep his composure. "It's just… you're my brother and all, but I don't know anything about the Order of Light, or what they've done to keep us safe."

"You don't have to know," came Soron's brusque reply, and a change was settling on his face, which suggested he didn't want anything else to do with the people who took him in. "But sure, ask away."

Phelan kept his contact with Soron while he chose his next words carefully.

"Were there any rites of passage you had to go through to become a member? Any initiation ceremonies for newbies?"

"Now that you've mentioned it, there is one."

"What is it?" Phelan pulled his best curious face.

"It's called the Marking. To put it simply, an apprentice is given a mark somewhere on their body by somebody else, usually a more experienced member of the Order."

"When you said 'somewhere on their body', do you mean…?" Phelan's voice trailed off, his eyes widening at the thought of –

His response was a thump on the head from Soron.

"You idiot, I'm trying to keep it rated PG here! They don't bare their whole bodies – just the place where they wish to be Marked."

"Oh. Sorry about that. How big is this 'Mark'?"

"It all depends. Sometimes it's just a symbol, while others want to make it look like a huge tattoo."

The hazel-brown chipmunk got up and pulled down his trousers, revealing an inky-black swirl in the shape of a dragon just above his thigh.

"Serenity chose this for me during my Marking ceremony. She was in the Order for about a year when I first joined. So it was only fair that I should be the one to Mark her in return."

"You did a Marking ceremony for Serenity?"

"As my way of returning the favour, yes." He paused, shaking his head as though to clear the memories away. "Boy, did I learn a couple of things about her during her Marking."

"What's that?"

"One: Serenity is extremely ticklish, especially below the belly. Two, she packs a hell of a roundhouse kick, especially with her right hind leg."

Phelan was dumbfounded. "She attacked you? Isn't that supposed to be against the rules?"

"Not in this case. I was going to Mark her somewhere above her leg, but I must've stood too close to her. Next thing I knew, I had the wind knocked out of me and I was ten feet away from Serenity staring up at the ceiling."

"Ouch. Talk about getting a kick out of your job," Phelan guffawed, and even Soron had to admit it was funny as he suppressed a chuckle.

"Anyways, once the victim – I mean, apprentice receives a Mark of their own, he or she will be acknowledged as a true member of the Order, receive the blessings of the Light, blah blah blah, and have their powers enhanced to their full potential."

"What became of Serenity after… you left?"

"Right now, I think she's the acting head of the Order. Serenity was always into politics – up until her Marking, she never really had any time for me." Soron's eyes were clouded as he forced the bitterness out of his voice. "So much for a ceremony that was supposed to bring us together."

"What d'you mean by that?"

"There's more to the Marking than just getting a permanent tattoo – it's a ritual which carries a far deeper meaning. But I don't expect you to know anything; you're not exactly Order material yourself."

"Oh yeah? Try me," Phelan challenged.

For a moment, he thought he was about to push the wrong buttons, when Soron let out a defeated sigh.

"When a member of the Order finally decides who to Mark, it's a sign that he's imprinted onto her, and she'll be expected to Mark him in return. An apprentice usually doesn't know until he's gone through it, but the Marking is, in reality, a ceremony that binds two individuals together for eternity."

"You mean, like soulmates?"

Soron nodded, then threw himself back on the couch as he massaged his temples.

"So that's why you Marked Serenity!" Phelan said. "You were in love with her?"

But Soron didn't seem to be paying any attention.

"I'm up to my neck in trouble with the Order as it is, but they'll have my head on a plate if they found out I told you about their sacred traditions."

"Hey," said Phelan, sitting himself next to his brother and putting an arm around his shoulder. "You know I'm not a snitch, right? Trust me, I won't tell a soul – not even my brothers."

He was surprised to hear a harsh laughter rise from the depths of Soron's belly.

"Ah, forget about it! Let them do what they want with me. I couldn't give a horse's ass about what the Order thinks."

Phelan smiled as he handed Soron his mug of cocoa. "So let me get this straight. The Marking's done by someone who's already in the Order?"

"That's the way it's always been, and always will be."

"But what if, let's say, an apprentice wants to be Marked by someone who's not from the Order?"

The mug shattered to the floor with a deafening clang.

Soron whipped around to face Phelan, his voice growing dangerously soft. "She told you all about it, didn't she?"

Even in his silence, Phelan's pursed lips were a sign that got Soron to pound his paws together. "I knew it! That prissy little princess! Wait 'till I get my paws on her!"

"Soron, that's enough. We haven't even agreed to do the Marking yet."

"So that's why she came to you? Because nobody would do it for her? Stuck-up little brat, that's what she is!"

Phelan clenched his fists, but kept his breathing even.

"I said I would be happy to do it for her. I just don't know how. Come on Soron, you know your way around the Order. I need you to tell me what to do for a Marking ceremony."

"You're blinded by your feelings for her, but thankfully you're not stupid enough," spat Soron. "The Marking is a lie; you're only going to make a fool out of yourself, and your actions will get Maia expelled from the Order." He paused, scratching his chin thoughtfully. "Although I have to admit it, I'd like to see you try."

Phelan crossed his arms. "You're not the boss of me, Soron Andrews."

"Oh yeah? Well, you're not a member of the Order! And since I'm the voice of experience, I'm telling you, you'll be making a huge mistake if you choose to Mark her."

And then Phelan did something he'd never done before. Right in front of Soron, he fell to his knees.

"Soron, I'm begging you, please. I've never loved anyone like Maia before. This could be my chance to show how much I care for her." The wolf-like chipmunk was now close to tears.

While he might have been full of ego and hot air, there was no mistaking the edge of sympathy in Soron's voice as he helped Phelan up.

"Even if I wanted to, it's out of my hands. I'm sorry, Phelan, but I can't help you. And that's final."

Rather than let a defeated Phelan show him to the door, the hazel-brown chipmunk made his way out, leaving behind the empty shell of a fuming and dejected brother.

Tonight's dinner was mashed potatoes with broccoli and cauliflower in cheese; Phelan's favourite, but the longer he stared at it, he thought of what Soron's face would look like after he'd knock some sense into his brother.

"Come on, Phelan, eat up!" Theodore was already digging into his second helping. "You don't want your food to get cold, do you?"

"I'm not hungry," said Phelan, and rather than to be bombarded with more questions, he stormed up the stairs, ignoring his brothers' calls.

Phelan climbed into bed, pummelling his pillow as the thought of Soron continuously poked through his mind. It only made him angrier, but eventually he gave up and closed his eyes, though he was certain there would be no sleep for him tonight.

Hours later, he heard the light flicker back to life. Phelan didn't budge an inch, pretending he was still asleep while Alvin and the others came into the room and got themselves ready for bed. It took a few more agonizing moments, but darkness penetrated through Phelan's eyelids and the only sounds he could hear were his brothers' gentle snoring.

Careful not to let his paws make the slightest squeak, Phelan made his way to the window, where he could see the streetlamps, the clear night sky, and most of all, the tree which he climbed not only to escape the Darkness, but the first step into finding a way into his newfound family.

Did all of this really happen a year ago? he thought, watching the branches swaying slightly to the breeze. I can't believe how much things have changed since then.

From the reflected panes, there was nothing else in sight, except the strange dark figure who appeared in the bedside mirror. With fear rising in his chest, Phelan inched his way back to the glass, knowing what he was about to see.

He threw himself in front of the mirror, rooted to the spot.

The glass-like chipmunk who stared back at him was the same old Phelan himself; all mahogany-brown fur, green eyes, and the tiniest glint that appeared from the edge of his wolf-like fangs.

Then a flash of darkness appeared out of the corner of his eye, and he turned sharply about, hoping to detect its source.

In his panic, he stumbled about like a blind man, and a sharp pain ran up his body as he trod on his own foot and nearly crashed to the floor. Phelan fought the urge to swear out loud as he hopped around the room on one foot, holding the other in both paws while he blew gingerly on it.

But nothing frustrated him more than the fact that he'd just been frightened of his own shadow – a chipmunk in black.

This is stupid! How can I expect to protect my family when I'm jumping at shadows?

Burning with anger, Phelan dug deep into his pockets, channelling his thoughts onto the first thing he could get his paws on. He was just about to hurl it when he realized what it was, and he paused to take a closer look.

The obsidian glowered faintly against the pale light of the windowpane. Holding it like a tiny heart, Phelan could almost hear Aaron's voice whispering to him from its polished surface.

"I'm sure you have a burning curiosity about the powers bestowed upon you. And with the prospect of an unknown and far greater purpose lying before you, you want to know how to use and control your gifts for the better."

Phelan's gaze shifted from the black rock to his sweaty paws.

My powers? My powers were what almost got Scar killed in the first place! How am I going to control them if the Darkness comes back again?

He thought about Soron, and the pain he caused the hazel-brown chipmunk. Was this his own way of retaliation against a grudge he'd harboured for so long?

Even my own brother won't help me. He can hide it all he wants, but there hasn't been a day when he doesn't stop thinking about that stupid Order of Light!

And then it hit him, just as sudden and chilling as a single beam of moonlight.

What if the Order – no, what if everything Maia and Soron stood for was a lie?

"The world needs to understand that darkness is just as fundamental as its bright opposite, and we intend to spread the word."

Whatever the consequences, there would be no turning back at this point. But Phelan's mind was made up.

He twirled the obsidian in his paw and rubbed it three times, just as he noticed someone lurking within the branches of the tree.

To Be Continued...

So, now I've left you wondering how Phelan will get to conduct Maia's Marking ceremony - and a bit of Soron's past. And how exactly is The Black Arch going to help Phelan?

A bit of a spoiler for the next chapter: it's going to be another entirely OC-based one, but please keep an eye out for it and don't forget to leave your reviews and comments. Thank you very much! :)

P.S: This is going to sound like I'm setting off an idea, but if anyone is doing a Hunger Games - Chipmunk crossover (I probably won't, due to my studies and this project), I'd like to volunteer Phelan as a tribute - maybe even as a Career too. :P

Ta!

~ Wind