Note: The character Diablo mentioned in this chapter appears in my fanfics 'Oh Sister, Where Art Thou?' 'Falling Inside The Black' 'United by Fate' 'My Saviour' and 'Little Geisha Lost'.

Chapter Eighteen

Back in the medical room, Samuel and Alexandra were still holding each other upset and trying to come to terms with their situation, but it wasn't easy.

Alexandra had calmed down a little to try and think clearly, yet Samuel was still on edge and angry.

Alexandra looked up from her boyfriend's shoulder, his new whiskers tickled her slightly as she did.

Samuel at the same time looked back at her.

"We should give them a chance Samuel." Alexandra said, "After all, they did help us."

Samuel glowered but looking at the pleading look in his girlfriend's eyes he sighed.

It was true, these mutants did help them, and if it wasn't for them, they'd be dead.

"Alright..." he said "Fine..."

Alexandra squeezed his paw then turned to the doors of the Medical room where she saw the Chimpanzee appear at the window and knock.

Alexandra gave him the permission to enter, and he walked in.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

Alexandra looked at the floor then at Samuel who was still glowering.

"Still in shock, but...we're okay."

James nodded.

"I'd like to introduce you to our friends as well as leader of Mutopia."

"Leader?" Samuel asked.

James nodded.

"Leader, Chief, Guardian." James said then turned to the door.

"You can come in guys!" he said.

As he said that, Sephie entered first followed by Tyroth and both the tiger and wolf were shocked to see them, especially Tyroth given how tall and threatening he was, not to mention the fact he was a dragon!

"Gordon Bennet!" Alexandra cried.

"What the...?!" Samuel exclaimed and held Alexandra close.

Tyroth wasn't surprised at their reactions as almost everyone he had met, whether they be friend or foe would be scared by him, as well as amazed since his mutant form was supposed to be only myth.

Alexandra, once she had gotten over her shock, she patted Samuel's paws to loosen up on her which he did, and she looked at the couple.

"Sorry," she said "We didn't mean to..."

Sephie meanwhile just smiled sympathetically.

"It's alright." She said looking at her husband and Tyroth just shrugged.

"Used to it." He said, "I don't blame you for your reactions."

"Are you, really a dragon?" Alexandra asked cocking her head "I thought Dragons were only in fairy tales."

"Well, we're looking at one..." Samuel muttered.

"He's a rare mutant." Sephie said "But anyway, more to the point, we came to meet you, and see how you're feeling?"

Samuel narrowed his eyes as he heard that, and Alexandra just looked at the floor.

"Look, I know this is hard, and new to you..." Sephie started.

"You think?" Alexandra asked.

"We can only understand what you're going through..." Tyroth chimed in, yet he was cut off by Samuel.

"Can you? Can you really?" he snapped and Alexandra looked over at him in surprise.

"So you know the feeling of completely having everything taken from you? From having...!" he took a breath trying to calm himself as he remembered what George had said about how those in front weren't to blame for what befell them yet he couldn't help but feel the need to vent his frustrations.

"I do Tiger, Trust me I do!" Tyroth said, his face serious yet sympathetic.

"Many of us here were in the same boat when we came here, and we can understand."

"Everyone has been saying that," Alexandra replied "But what good can it do? This is us now." She looked at her white paws and the black claws that topped them.

Samuel meanwhile was finding it very difficult not to jump up and lash out yet he kept it together as he didn't want to upset Alexandra, and he also saw given tyroth's size the Dragon could overpower him no matter how good he was in his fighting skills.

"Believe me, I'm not trying to blame this on you, I'm not" he said in a strangled voice "...It's just, everything we had planned, our future together, our families..."

"We do belive you." Sephie said gently "and we understand, all of us had families left behind."

"I'm not trying to be difficult..." Samuel huffed "This is just too much..."

Sephie chewed her lip as she observed the tiger's demeaner, he really was angry, and she knew only too well being in his shoes, yet her reaction was more upset and heartbroken more than angry.

"Can you tell me your names?" she asked deciding to try and get to know them rather than just keep offering sympathies that made her sound like a broken record.

"Sam... Samuel Ray Henry." Samuel answered.

"And I'm Alexandra Rose Brown, Alex for short." Alexandra volunteered.

"I see." Tyroth said "Well now that you're here in Mutopia, we have this tradition that when you're mutated, you change your names."

Alexandra and Samuel looked up at Tyroth with wide eyes.

"You mean, we must abandon all we know? Including our names?" Samuel asked.

Sephie nodded.

"Tyroth and Sephie weren't our names to begin with," Sephie explained "I was Elizabeth, and he was Raymond, yet when we mutated, we decided since we weren't who were before, in an instance, we were reborn as mutants, so we decided to take new names."

"I see." Alexandra said contemplating what they said.

"But it wasn't just that." Tyroth said "We changed our names to protect our families, as we feared that our enemies would make a connection to our old names and trace our families."

The Dragon looked uncomfortable when he said that and Alexandra picked up on it, and she felt curious to know what these enemies the Dragon spoke about were.

"We have to think up new names now?" Samuel demanded.

"Not now Tiger." Sephie said "You can take all the time you need to think about what to call yourselves, but for now, if you're ready, we'll show you to your room."

"Our room?" Samuel asked.

"Cam, Barry, Leona and Tania told us it was ready for you both, so you've got somewhere comfortable to stay." Sephie said.

Samuel opened his mouth, but Alexandra cut him off.

"Thank you." She said in a grateful tone "We're ready to see it."

"Follow us." Tyroth said walking towards the door, Sephie smiled and followed him.

Alexandra got off the bed and took Samuel's hand prompting him to follow her.

Samuel was still tense, but he silently agreed to go with Alexandra to look at their new room.

As they left the medical room, they were soon greeted by the sight of the Underground Village as well as its occupants.

They gazed at the high cave roofs as well as the canals running through it with benches and bridges as well as the caverns around the place which led to different areas in the sanctuary.

Upon seeing Samuel and Alexandra many residents went over to see them.

"Stone me! Must be the Newcomers!"

"Check them out!"

"Another Wolf! Jack's gonna be pleased!"

Samuel and Alexandra soon saw the female badger Patch in green overalls walking over along with Chloe the butterfly, Bill the Duck, Vincent the Owl, and Rose the Lynx.

"Check on the tiger!" the butterfly purred looking at Samuel's stripes.

"Never thought we'd get another wolf, and a female at that!" The duck exclaimed.

"Alright, alright everyone!" Tyroth clapped his paws getting their attention "That's enough! I know you're excited and curious about our newest additions, but they are still getting used to their new bodies and lives."

"Once they've settled in, then you can ask them questions." Sephie joined in then stood close to the couple.

"Sorry about them." She said, "We've never actually had any new arrivals in Mutopia since Diablo."

"Who?" Samuel and Alexandra asked together to which Sephie looked annoyed with herself as she had uttered the name of the Mutopian Traitor.

"Me and my Big Mouth." She scolded then shook her head "I'll tell you later, anyway, let's get you to your new living quarters."

Samuel glared and he looked over at the mutants who were still bombarding Tyroth with questions as well as talking amongst themselves.

"How long have they been here?" the owl asked.

"A few Hours according to Tania, James just discharged them." Patch reported.

"You gotta admit the tiger's kinda cute!" Chloe said to which Rose agreed.

"Hate to burst your bubble, Chloe." The Bill said before pointing at how Alexandra was holding Samuel's arm "I think he's taken!"

"Darn!" the butterfly groaned disappointed.

"Tough luck." The lynx laughed "Looks like another couple joined us!"

Alexandra looked at the mutants then back at Samuel.

"I think the ladies were checking you out." She whispered to which Samuel looked rather appalled and held Alexandra's arm tighter.

"That's nice to see that ladies are checking you out as a mutant at least?" Sephie offered helpfully yet Samuel still looked angry to which she bit her lip awkwardly.

"Um...anyway, we're almost at your new quarters."

They walked through some caverns until they approached a hallway of rooms with doors.

Tyroth lead the way until he came to one door, and he pushed it open.

"Here we are." He announced to which Samuel and Alexandra walked in and took in how it was made up.

It was a large room which was around the same size if not slightly bigger than their hotel room back in Chicago.

There was a king size bed with white linen sheets and a bedside cabinet on each side with a lamp, there was a dressing table and mirror as well as full size one next to it.

There was also a chest of drawers and a wardrobe.

"Wow." Alexandra breathed "Not bad digs!"

"It's rather basic now." Sephie said "But once you've settled you can decorate it the way you wish it."

Samuel again said nothing but folded his arms and looked around the room.

"Thanks." Alexandra said looking at the gecko and dragon "We're very grateful." She looked at Samuel and gave him a sideways look.

Samuel, despite his anger knew his manners and he looked at Tyroth and Sephie.

"Thanks." He said, "It looks fine, again we are grateful."

"We'll leave you to get settled in." Sephie said then looked at a watch she had on her wrist.

"It's Three AM now, and dinner will be served at six thirty in the mess hall, but the kitchens usually open if you want some snacks or drinks, Louie and Patch will be happy to serve you."

"Thanks." Alexandra said.

"Also, there's showers and toilets in this area, they're halfway down the hallway if you turn left." Tyroth offered gesturing with his thumb.

"That's helpful." Alexandra said with a weak smile "Thanks."

"Remember, we're here to listen if you have any questions." Sephie said then looked at Tyroth and they began to leave the room, yet Samuel spoke up.

"Before you both leave." He said, "I do have a question."

Sephie and Tyroth stopped and looked to the tiger and Alexandra looked worried wondering what he was going to ask their hosts.

"When you told us of how things go here...including that we're to cut off all ties of our previous life, including our families...were you the ones who decided that?" he demanded to which Alexandra looked shocked.

Tyroth sighed.

"We didn't make the rules here Samuel," he replied "But this is how it's to be if we want to keep our home safe, and our families. If one was to tell of Mutopia, it could mean our safety is compromised..."

Alexandra nodded understanding.

"I remember what they used to say during the years of the Second World War." She said quietly "Careless Talk..."

"Costs Lives, yes." Sephie added and she instantly thought of how Mutopia was already compromised because of Diablo and his Disciples.

Even though it had been seven years and despite the Raven's antics, they still hadn't been discovered, they still lived in fear.

"It's funny you say that..." Samuel said "What about our families who are miles away and have no idea about what happened to us? Families and friends who we love, how can we be expected to just completely have nothing to do with them or see them again? Or not even hear from us?

"I'm so sorry," Sephie replied "But it's what it is...I didn't want it to be this way, but I had to, my family have no idea what happened to me."

Alexandra sighed sadly.

"We'll leave you to get comfortable." Tyroth said "When you're ready, we'll see that a tour is arranged so you can see your new home."

"Thank you." Alexandra said in a serious voice as well as looked at Samuel "We'll come and find you when we're ready."

Tyroth and Sephie nodded then left the room, exchanging a few words between them as they left.

"They're really upset I can tell." Sephie said.

"Don't blame them." Tyroth replied.

"The wolf seems to be taking it in her stride, but the tiger is really angry."

"I remember feeling like he did when we first mutated."

"Do you think Hugh might provide us with answers on what might have happened topside?" Sephie asked "Maybe Cam and Barry, as well as the newcomers if they wish to speak about it?"

"I hope so." Tyroth replied "I was aware that Mafia was brought up a few times."

Sephie looked worried when she heard that.

"That's really serious." She said, "Should we inform the Knights?"

Tyroth nodded.

"We'll have a meeting once we've gotten more information from Hugh, in the meantime, we'll have to see what we can do to make our newcomers feel welcome as well as feel heard when they speak about their sudden change."

Sephie thought for a moment.

"I think I might know a way." She said with a small smile, and she winked at Tyroth who gave her a confident look back.

Tyroth and Sephie have met Samuel and Alexandra and have shown them their new accomodations, also some other residents have seen them and are curious to know them.

Tune in for more soon!