hopefully the story should pick up a bit now - especially with the introduction of someone important
(if you are worrying about all the ocs, don't - they are filler characters that play a very minor role in the story)
"Now focus - you can do it Silver!" Fliss urged. Silver squeezed his eyes shut. The little porcelain cup in front of him twitched as he concentrated, reaching with his mind towards the little object. Lines creased onto his brow the longer he worked. Straining harder and harder…
"Ugh it's too big." Silver sniffed, opening his eyes and picking up the cup with his hand. "I can't do it…"
"You can, Silver." Fliss smiled picking up the last of the mess. "You'll see-"
An otherworldly howl echoed through the woods, carrying through the dense rain and sending shivers down everyone's spine. Silver's golden eyes shifted towards the hazy glass window. By the sound of it, a whole pack was in the woods tonight…
"Guys?" Lyre whimpered from the living room. "Isn't Branch supposed to be on his way back by now?"
The wave of panic that overcame the house was instant. Branch usually was on his way through there by now. If he was really out there, he could be hunted down and ripped to shreds by those horrible beasts. Silver could only hope he was working late…
"Fliss!" A young child called, running down the creaky stairs to the teen. "You have to fly up and see if he's out there!"
Before Fliss could take a step, a crash of thunder shook the house, lightning striking a nearby tree as the kids dropped to the floor. The howls and roars of the monsters echoed again - signifying that the hunt was on.
"Branch!" Silver cried, dashing up the stairs and into the bedroom. Young eyes frantically searched the surrounding woods for any sign of the teen. Fliss and several others were quick to follow.
"Do you see him?" Some asked, pushing and shoving to get a good look. "Where is he?"
All eyes found nothing. Only the occasional floating stone, or a fleeing animal. Whimpers and heavy breathing filled the air when nothing was seen. Quills, fur, and fabric all rubbed together as they continued looking, hoping that the cat was alright...
"AAAAAH!" A familiar voice screamed in the distance, sounding over the unholy noises of the hunting beasts. The chaos that ensued was devastating.
All at once, kids burst out of their places, running towards the closets and retrieving items in a hurry. Silver leapt out of his spot and dashed down the stairs himself, sliding into the kitchen and grabbing a little pocket knife for some semblance of defense. Children scrambled for weapons, trying to arm themselves against the inevitable attack. Boots were grabbed, cries were sounded, and the Mistress burst out of her office in a rage. She screamed and hollered, trying to control the unruly crowd with ultimate futility. Nobody paid her any mind. All they could think about was Branch.
The front door was flung open as Branch appeared over the hill, bolting at top speed from the pack. Well, being dragged more like it - a cloaked figure had grabbed his arm, pulling the teen along at a faster rate than Branch could run. Silver was hastily pushed to the back as everyone rushed over, shouting and screeching for him and his friend to run.
"Come on Branch! You can make it! Hurry!" They cheered, hollering as the frightened teen was dragged through the forest path with those horrible, snarling beasts on his tail. Their eyeless faces were opened wide, drool and blood dripping out of their toothy maws as the two ran on. Their dense black skin glistened in the rain and their horrible, sharp claws splashed in the puddles as they pounded after their prey. Silver retreated into the house, squeaking in terror as he huddled into a corner.
The pursued mobians broke through into the clearing as Branch yelled on, horrified eyes wide in terror and wet fur standing on end. The pack leader leapt forwards, clamping onto the teen's long tail with a roar of fury. Crying out in pain, Branch grabbed at his limb, trying to pull it back as the stranger dragged him on. Just when the kids could see the wrinkles in the monster's skin, the traps went off - catching the horrible beasts in nets of razor and bites of steel. The two runners burst into the house, children jumping out of the way just in time for the mistress to slam the door shut.
The screeches and roars of the angry beasts echoed through the woods, thrashing and digging as they fought their way out of the traps. Panting, Branch and the Stranger leaned over, trying to catch their breath as the cloaked figure angrily shoved the teen away.
"Oh Branch…" Fliss cried, running over and checking him over. "Your poor tail…"
"Cut it out Fliss." Branch snarled, snatching up his bloody appendage and looking it over. Scratches and roars at the door startled everyone, making the children jump back in terror. With a growl, the cloaked stranger thumped over to the door, kicking it with his heavy boots. The beast retreated with an angry hiss as the stranger shouted through the door. After a few seconds, the sound of paws hitting the ground echoed through - signifying that the pack was leaving. A sigh of relief settled through the room as everyone simultaneously slouched down.
"Thank goodness they're gone." The Mistress huffed. "I don't want to lose another twenty kids today."
"You almost lost one." The stranger growled, turning towards Branch. "I caught this one antagonizing a Stalker. He would have lost his life if I didn't show up."
Sulking, Branch plopped down. Fliss was quick to grab her medical kit.
"I didn't know there were nine of them" Branch hissed, cussing softly as Fliss began treating his tail. "And it was a little one."
"Whether it is little or not doesn't matter." The Mistress shouted. "You are a stupid boy who only knows how to pick fights! If you perhaps grew some brains in that empty skull, then maybe I would consider letting you do more."
"Ma'am…" The stranger sighed, grabbing her shoulder slightly. "He's just a kid. He will make mistakes."
"Ugh, enough is enough." She growled, pointing at Silver. "Make our guest some tea."
Before the young hedgehog could respond, the Mistress disappeared into her office - no doubt to drink more "adult juice". The stranger pulled a chair up to the table and sat down, pulling a knife out of his cloak and cleaning the black blood off of its shiny metal. Silver wondered who the guest was. Clearly Branch had never met him before, so it seemed that this guy had turned up by sheer necessity. Sure, it was storming out, but his cloak seemed to be thick and heavy enough to keep the rain out. The hood looked dense and warm, keeping out the light with well crafted leather. The monsters definitely chased him into this house. But he was just wandering the woods? He looked like a ranger.
"Here you go sir." Silver squeaked, standing on his tip-toes to push the cup onto the table. The stranger was quick to seize it and drink the soothing warm liquid. With a satisfied sigh, the cup was set back down.
"Ah… Thank you-" The guest stopped short, looking Silver over with obscured eyes. The large hand froze, leather gloves still gripping the mug with a harsh grasp.
"Is… is everything okay?" Silver asked, looking the figure over with concern.
"Ss...Ss… Yes." The stranger sighed. "I'm alright."
"Sir! I'm so thankful you're here!" Fliss piped up, speaking over Branch's crude language. "You saved his life, and I am so grateful for it. If there's anything I can do-"
"Just keep out of trouble, and you will be fine." The figure interupted, sipping more tea. "As long as you're safe, I'm happy."
"Are you a Ranger?" Silver blurted, clambering onto the chair next to the obscured figure. All eyes turned towards the two, expecting an answer.
"I...I never thought about it…" The figure pondered, setting his knife down. "I suppose I might be… but not really."
"You look like one." Branch grumbled. "I've only seen Rangers carry that many weapons."
The "Ranger" paid no mind to the teen. The darkened eyes only looked to the hoglet, studying the young hedgehog with an uncanny fascination. One that made Silver very uncomfortable.
"You look like you've never seen a hedgehog before." Silver nervously pressed, trying to study the stranger back.
"Silver." Lyre hissed, whispering into the hoglet's ear. "He is a hedgehog."
"But why is he looking at me like that?" Silver loudly responded, causing the lynx to grow red with embarrassment.
"Well… I ..um… well…"
The stranger sighed, bringing a gloved hand up to the obscured brow and muttering indecipherably. The little knife was sheathed, and the cleaning cloth was stowed as the figure shuffled around in his seat. Before he could stand, the Mistress re-emerged from her den; carrying a bottle of some liquid or something.
"You l-look like you could use a drink." She slurred, handing the other adult the bottle. "As...as payment for the - the rescue back there."
"I don't drink ma'am." The stranger responded, taking the bottle and producing a cloth from a place in his cloak. "But your charge might need a little."
"What? Why?" Branch exclaimed, backing into Fliss a bit.
"Hold still."
Before anyone could say anything, the "Ranger" had wrapped the now alcohol soaked rag and wrapped it around the teen's injured tail; inducing a stream of profanities and flailing arms. The cloth was soon knotted, and Fliss took that time to wrap her own bandage around the first one.
"What the F-"
Silver found his ears covered by Lyre as Branch shouted, quickly standing and sizing up to the figure. It wasn't like Silver minded, after all. Nobody enjoyed hearing Branch's outbursts. After a short while, the commotion died down.
"- and get him a room for the night." The Mistress hiccuped, only the last part registering in Silver's tiny ears as Lyre uncovered them. Fliss stood up and ushered the hoglet out of the room, goading him upstairs and into the common bedroom.
"It's time for bed Silver." She sighed, tucking a few other children into their sleeping bags.
"How long do you think the Ranger is going to be here?" Silver yawned, rubbing his eyes.
"Probably just the night, Silver." Fliss cooed.
"Goodnight."
"Goodnight."