Moses sat on the beach glaring. 'Damn Alex,' he kept thinking over again, 'comin' t' the Legacy to drag me back. She can't expect me t' go now that I know how Uncle died.' For the third time he grabbed a rock beside him and chucked it into the sea. The beautiful water hadn't changed since that day one year ago when they stopped the Cataclysm from happening and saving Shirley's life along with every other Orerines'. Yet it looked suddenly disgusting to him and he cried out in rage, standing up to kick sand into the ripples ocean.

"What's got you so uptight?" Moses halted at the voice and he spun around to glare at the familiar figure.

"Shut up." He muttered. He didn't need him of all people around. No offence to the boy or anything but he didn't exactly know how to help in emotional situations.

Jay raised a nearly non-visible eyebrow. He tucked his hands into his jacket pockets and stepped slowly over to the bandit. "Well?"

Moses glared. "Well, what?"

"Aren't you going to tell me?"

He couldn't resist. The tone Jay used was so light-hearted despite the low vocals that spoke it. It made the ice around his heart melt and he let out a heavy sigh, falling back onto the sand with a reassuring 'THUD'. "My little cousin's come from our homeland t' bring me back there for a tribal battle t' see who'll become the next head chief of our family." He leaned back on his arms, head tilting up to the bright blue sky. "I don't wanna go."

"Then don't." Jay said. He made himself comfy beside his teammate and gazed out at the water. "If you really don't want to he can't make you, right?"

"She." Moses corrected him with a chuckle. "Alex's a girl, oddly enough. Shoulda been born a boy though."

The younger male stayed quiet.

"S'not that simple," Moses went on, "See, it's gotta be the oldest kids of my Uncle's sibling's, so that's only three of us. Me, Alex's older sis and Antal. But... Everyone's gonna think I'll win 'cause I had such a strong pact with Giet and now... now that I let Giet go..."

Jay eyed him. His eyes were beginning to get teary and the purple clad teen rolled his violet orbs. 'Here we go again.' He jerked upright suddenly, a shiver going down his back. Someone was there! He jumped up off the ground and spun around to see none other than me standing there, a hand on my hip and a bored look on my face. "Who..?"

"Alex?" Moses stood too and he seemed scared to see me. "What're you doin' her—"

I tapped my temple. "Don't forget our tribes have different skills although we're one family. I could see you a mile away with that hair." My insult worked. I saw the fire burn in my cousin's eyes and inwardly I felt glad he wasn't too depressed. I glanced at the boy beside him, curious. "You are?"

He was my age and an inch or two taller with thick jet black hair tied high in a side ponytail. I squinted a little and made a face. He was wearing lip gloss. Or maybe it was just the fact his skin was so pale that his lips looked painted. Either way he was feminine. Very, very feminine. His voice was deep though. Deeper than I expected. "It's polite to give your own name first before asking others for theirs."

I grinned. Cocky little bastard. "I guess you're right. Fine. I'm Alex Sandor. You?"

He looked surprised. "Jay." He stated. "By Sandor, you mean this idiots Sandor?"

"Hey!" Moses cried, swinging his attention to Jay.

I laughed. "Yeah, but don't think I'm as retarded as him. The family isn't all like that. It's just him."

"That's a relief," I swore I saw the hint of a smile tug at that shiny mouth, "I'd be worried for humanities safety if it wasn't so."

Moses yelled at us, calling us traitors and every name in the book. When I kicked him in the stomach he finally calmed down enough for me to get serious.

I bit the inside of my lip, almost afraid to ask the question. "Hey... Did you... did you really let Giet go?"

His eyes saddened and I instantly regretted asking. The poor guy. Losing your beast, the one you were raised with, was a hard thing. I knew from experience. "I... I see. If that's the case then... I'm sor—"

"Don't say it." He cut me off. "Don't give me that bullshit, Alex. You know better than anyone I don't need yer pity! Giet... Giet's happy now. He don't gotta follow me around no more, y'know? He should be glad he's free and... and I'm fine with it! I don't need to hear about it anymore."

I turned my head away. 'You're right,' I wanted to say, 'I'm sorry for bringing it up. I won't do it again.' I wanted to apologize to him and wipe that sad look off his face but I couldn't. It wasn't my style. So instead I closed my eyes and rubbed my neck, grunting loudly. "Yeah, well, whatever. You're useless now, who cares? I still gotta bring you back home."

He glared down at me. "No. I ain't goin' back there."

I smirked. "You don't really have much of a choice, Moses."

He matched my face, reaching behind for a spear. "You wanna fight about it?"

"Bring it on."

Jay shook his head and sighed. 'Despite what she says, I get the feeling they're a lot more alike than they think.' He gave the sea a final glance and extended a hand towards us. "Moses, I'm going to go find Will. I have some information to give him." He was going to ask if they wanted him to tell about their squabble but he held it back. It didn't seem like the right time.

Moses nodded, watching me grasp my right hand and the claws shot out of their sheath. With my left hand I reached around to my backside and grasped the rod I had hanging on my belt. "Yeah, yeah. You do what'cha want, Lil' bro'. I'll settle this out with my cuz'."

Once more, Jay sighed. He glanced at me a final time and disappeared in a blur, running over the sand and rocks faster than I ever hoped I could move.

I whistled. "Fast little bugger."

"Yeah. You should see 'im in battle. He's sneaky."

"Not bad looking either."

"You kiddin'?! He looks like a freakin' chick!"

Those being our final words we attacked. I moved first, my feet sinking into the sand less than Moses due to what little weight I had.

We met closer to his starting point then mine. His spear came down against me and I used my claws to block it while I pressed a switch on my rod. It clicked and from both ends it extended about five feet, becoming taller than me. He cried out as I jabbed the one end roughly into his stomach, pushing him away to make room between us. Skilfully I leaped back, landing on my feet and skidding.

He grinned. "Not bad, Cuz'. I thought you had two sets of claws under those sleeves of yours."

I waved my finger at him teasingly. "Ah, ah. Didn't Sis' tell you not to judge people by their looks?"

"True." Like a pro he twirled his spear for a second, distracting my attention from the battle and flung it so quickly at me I didn't have time to dodge. I grimaced as it dug into my shoulder. The burning pain flared in my upper torso yet I didn't fall into it. I could take a lot more than a simple stab.

Reaching up, I grabbed the weapon and dislodged it from my body. I smirked through the throbbing, not letting him see the reflection of pain in my eyes. "Heh, not bad." I complimented. "But not good enough, of course." I placed the one end of the spear in the ground and raised my foot. With a loud snap the wood broke and I watched a wave of anger flash over my cousin's face.

"Hey! That was six hundred gald! Money don't come cheap y'know!"

"Too bad so sad." I laughed. He grabbed another spear and I jumped forwards. I wouldn't let him use the same trick on me twice. I lowered my claws towards the ground, aiming to slice across his chest. He saw the move at the last minute and leaned back just in time to miss being cut open.

I swore. He was sharper than last time. Not finished, I positioned my rod to jab him in the face, wanting to make him back off again, but he had other plans it seemed. He grabbed my left hand with his right and I jolted. I tried pulling it back and found it was useless. He was way stronger than me physically. Gripping his spear he brought it down towards me from above and I glanced up. Immediately I flew my right hand up, letting the tip go between the claws.

Barely a moment before the blade would have pierced my chest I twisted my wrist, praying to the gods above that the metal would hold. In my favour they did, and the force snapped yet another one of Moses' spears in two.

He cried out in disbelief, nearly in tears at the sight of another one of his precious weapons were broken. I took the opportunity to get the winning move and kneed him hard in the chest at the same time I smacked him hard in the face with my rod.

He yelped, falling backwards over into the sand. He only opened his eyes when I put my foot on his chest, hands on my hips. "I win." I stated happily.

Moses groaned. He raised his head and let it fall back down, too much effort to even move. His arms were lying out and in my eyes he appeared a star fish. A very... strange looking starfish.

I grinned. We hadn't fought like that in years. It felt good to be with close family again. Cheerfully I plunked myself down beside him, his arm on my side as I faced his chest.

He turned his head towards me. "You've gotten a lot better, Al."

I smiled at the old nickname. "You too, Moe."

There was silence. Just the two of us resting. All that was heard was the heavy breathing coming from both of us and the gentle tide that had begun to come. The waves were soft, soothing. I felt myself lulled by their quiet crashing.

A hand on my shoulder startled me. I snapped open my eyes to meet Moses' gaze. "Al... don't make me go back... I don't want to. Really... really don't."

If I had a choice I would have nodded and agreed. I wanted to so badly. Those eyes were sad. Sadder than I ever saw. He hated seeing his mother in pain, and going back would make it all go downhill. Losing Giet was the worst thing that could ever have happened to him.

I placed my hand on his, feeling his rough skin under my slightly softer flesh. He understood without the words and closed his eyes, letting his body go lax. I couldn't stop. I had to do everything in my power to bring him back. There wasn't any other option. So to make us both feel better he squeezed my shoulder and we stayed that way for a long time.