Imogene curled her lip, watching the fragmented memory once more.

"Stupid bitch," she muttered under her breath. How was she doing it? No one had been able to direct the device before, all it should have taken was the mention of 'Vienna' and the images should have been immediately accessible.

How was she doing it?


"This is pointless," John whispered softly from somewhere behind her but Helen ignored it. So they'd been searching for nearly an hour? Wasn't it worth it if they managed to track down the creature before it froze to death? It may have been only early autumn but the night air was chilling, even through her layers Helen felt colder than she had in a very long time.

"We cannot leave her out here to die," Helen whispered back, not taking her eyes from the small pool of light her lantern cast. "Perhaps we should try the pond again?"

"We've checked the pond three times already Helen," James said evenly.

"What if she's left the property though?" Nikola asked, sounding concerned.

"We checked the fences," James replied quietly. "There weren't any indicators of a break and we already know it cannot climb up that high."

"That's not technically true," Helen put in as they rounded another tree. "She could very well climb that high if something scared her enough."

"You could have mentioned that earlier," James said, sounding exasperated but Helen didn't let it put her off.

"There is nothing out here to scare her that badly," she bit back. "I'd have told you about it if I felt it was pertine- Nikola, what are you doing?"

She frowned, turning around to glare but, before she could shake off the hand that landed on her hip, he put a finger to her lips, the heat of the lantern almost scorching through her leather coat. He shot her a look of warning and she had to fight against the flash of disappointment she felt at not being able to suck his finger into her mouth because of their audience. Not that she was certain he'd enjoy such an action but, with his hand on her hip and his scent invading her nostrils, getting somehow closer to him was quickly becoming something of a priority for her.

He had his head cocked, listening to the sounds of the night so she did the same, halting her breathing until she heard that telltale rustle in the bushes just behind them. She and Nikola spun at the same time, eyeing the bush with matching looks of fear.

All her desire fell away at the noise, her body instead realising that Nikola could be in danger. She hadn't been kidding when she'd spoken of the problems their cologne could cause. The Raxacoricofallapatorius had a highly developed olfactory sense and was terribly sensitive to strong odours.

Thankfully the soap and perfume Helen had used for most of her life appeared to have no effect on the little darling, in fact it seemed to thoroughly enjoy nuzzling into the exact spot she placed her perfume every morning.

"Is it-," James started but Helen held up a hand to silence him but it was too late, the creature sprang into action and out of the bushes and it was only Nikola's quick thinking in pushing her to the side that saved them from being bowled over by it.

As it was, she did end up with her front pressed firmly to an old, gnarled tree but any discomfort she felt from the position melted away at the sensation of Nikola pressed against her back. He was panting against the side of her neck, arms around her and, despite the adrenaline and need to race after the creature, all Helen truly wanted to do was turn in his embrace and wrap her arms around him but Nikola was too quick, pulling away before the position could get any more compromising.

"Thank you," she breathed, barely looking at him before hurrying off in the direction she'd seen the Raxacoricofallapatorius dash.

"Helen!" James called out in surprise as she hurried past him but she didn't stop, clinging to her lantern. Soon enough though, she came to a stop, listening intently for any more sounds but, too soon the crunch of boots on grass caught up with her. Holding up a hand, she silently prayed for silence, pleased when the others came to a silent stop behind her. They all waited for a few seconds, listening to the sounds of the night but, for a time it seemed only their breathing punctuated the air. Then she heard it. Another rustle. Biting her lip, Helen slowly stepped towards the bush, placing her lantern on the ground before sinking down beside it. Internally she cringed at what she was about to do but she knew she had no choice.

"Nikki," she crooned softly, leaning forwards to peer into the darkness. "Nikki I promise it's alright, just come out." The bush rustled once more and she held her breath until a pair of bright green eyes poked out from the shrubbery.

"Sit down," she murmured, turning her head ever so slightly to instruct the others. There was a pause before she heard three bodies slowly sink to the ground. Smiling, she turned back to the scared Raxacoricofallapatorius, shuffling forward slowly.

"It's alright Nikki," she soothed, holding a hand out, wishing she'd had the foresight to bring some food while, at the same time, listening for any signs of laughter.

The name had come about accidentally, her father insisting on something easier to pronounce. They'd deliberated over it for a few days but finally, when she'd been part way through writing one of Nikola's letter, the Raxacoricofallapatorius on her lap they'd found a name it appeared to respond to. It had jumped up, making Helen spill her bottle of ink and she'd chastised it, telling the creature that Nikola wouldn't be happy at that.

The Raxacoricofallapatorius had looked up to her at the mention of her friends name, batting its eyelashes prettily and, while she refused to call it Nikola, she reacted in kind to Nikki and the name had stuck.

"Come on," she coaxed as it began to emerge from the bush. It paused for a second, regarding the group with what Helen could only term reluctance before it bounded into her lap, burrowing into her skirts as if the leather could shield it. Helen laughed softly at the creature's antics but tightened her arms around it, bring it up to rest against her chest. It squirmed a little, its muscular body settling in close before it began to hum, a high pitched little noise Helen had come to learn meant it was worried.

"Everything is fine," she whispered, stroking its coarse hair for a moment before she turned slowly, allowing the others to see that all was well. The Raxacoricofallapatorius mewled at that, snuggling closer but, after shushing it for a moment, it relaxed in her arms, looking around the enraptured group before looking back up to Helen in askance.

"They won't hurt you," she soothed. "I promise." It mewled again but settled and Helen slowly lowered her to her lap. "Nikola?" she asked, looking up beckon him closer. He looked taken aback before but did as she asked, shifting until their knees were almost touching. The Raxacoricofallapatorius's eyes widened and it shrunk back but, as Helen chuckled, it seemed to relax, sensing that it was not in danger.

"She's beautiful," Nikola whispered, almost reverently, reaching out with one shaking hand. He paused midway between them, looking to Helen in question but before she could respond, the creature sat up, bumping the top of its head against Nikola's hand. He started, withdrawing his hand quickly and startling the Raxacoricofallapatorius but, after reaching out with one slender, three toed paw to prod his knee, it sat up again, padding happily from Helen's lap straight into Nikola's. She chuckled at the action but Nikola spluttered, leaning back as if afraid.

"She's just curious," Helen soothed, reaching over to rub behind the huge ears standing straight up from its head. Nikola relaxed a little, reaching out cautiously to run his hand over its back. The Raxacoricofallapatorius closed its eyes, enjoying Nikola's caress for a moment before it launched up on its hind legs, pressing its front paws to his chest, regarding Nikola. For a moment, no one moved but then its small blue tongue appeared, licking Nikola's chin and Helen couldn't help but laugh.

The Raxacoricofallapatorius looked to her, confused at her reaction before licking Nikola's face one more time, making Nikola laugh too despite the aversion Helen knew he suffered to germs. At that, the creature pulled back, turning about to look at the others.

Without a second thought it left Nikola, heading towards James. It nuzzled his knee for a moment, enjoying his scratches behind the ear for a moment before twisting to look over at John. Slowly, cautiously, it padded towards him only to stop several feet away, hissing like mad for a moment but, before Helen could reach out to grab the creature, she stopped, sprinting back to Nikola's lap. Quickly it made itself comfortable, laying its head and paws on his knee, peering at John. It hissed softly once more before seating itself more firmly in Nikola's lap.

With what Helen could only call a smug grin, Nikola petted the creature softly before smirking at her. Laughing softly, Helen shook her head before reaching out to pat the creature too. After a moment, John and James moved closer but the Raxacoricofallapatorius hissed at John. Helen tutted, tapping it on the top of the head.

"It's alright," Nikola drawled to the creature, fingers still running over its glossy coat. "John won't hurt you, he's only a lawyer."


So, a couple of people picked up on the fact that Helen's memory-sucker device bears a resemblance to the To'kra memory device so read into that what you will :P

xx