Of Nightmares

[Rikugurl]

"Tch....aa-aahh...." Pained breathing came from the boy named Sai when the workers brought a stretcher, lifting him onto it carefully. The picked him up and slowly carried him back to the house where the door was already open and the owners of the mill looking out in concern.
"What has happened?" The man asked as he saw his son on the stretcher, moving out of the way so they could come in. Dinner was almost finished but it seemed like it would be spoiled from this event. "I am unsure, sire but his breathing is labored and it's best you not worry. I will tend to him." A green wing offered, watching the workers bring the boy to his room. When they disappeared into the small bedroom, the man had to turn when he heard someone else approach. "Aqua! My heaven, gods of Norn, what are you doing without attire!? What has happened to your brother?"

As the boy was brought back with care, the Atterian didn't receive the same treatment. It had been years since a monster attacked a worker and they all knew their guards were down. Now they were stricken with fear, worrying for themselves as they dragged the beast back to the stable. The barrier was broken and they opened the doors, seeing the others in their rightful cages but they all stood and looked through the bars to see their hurt brethren. Growls and hiss could be heard as they passed each door until the came to the last. He was placed inside and some workers hesitated to go in with him. They knew what had to be done. A pipe was taken from the wall with a dark and quickly, the needle was shot into his hide. The chemical worked fast and soon enough, there was a heavy thud.

He didn't know how long he was put under but when he came to, his head was pounding and his eye bandaged up. He could feel it pulse and swell and when he stood and looked around, the empty socket stung so bad he let out a whimper. Large paws carried him to the water bowl, seeing that there was hardly anything left and especially not enough to heal the swelling. He needed something cold, something to ease the pain. The Atterian knew he was getting weakened by the hospitality of the mill and did not remember this sort of pain. He was nothing more than a pet. He was still treated like scum, remembering the question of being eliminated. These two-legged might make one think they care but they were all the same.

All except her.

He grabbed a blanket from the corner of his cage and threw it over his back. He needed to get out of here. The panther walked to the back of his stable and with a leap, he was over the top with some held from his back claws. Since his perception was off due to his recent handicap, he stumbled when he jumped down but regained his balance before heading to the back. He had studied the works when they opened the lock and was easily able to open it himself by pulling a chain and pushing a bar when the slow was open. The door creaked open and he pushed through it, closing it behind him. Being a black creature was a blessing in the darkness of the wetlands as he was nothing more than a shadow while he snuck down towards the river. He had never done this before but he was already skilled to keep out of the eyes of the guards.

When he reached the river's shore, he noticed that the young woman's clothes were still hanging on the tree branch and the lantern still swinging in the night breeze. He made sure to stay out of the light so he headed down a ways, now only casting a small shadow on the rocks. There, much like his brother once did, changed. It was so quick, the sound of his bones cracking could hardly be heard over the sound of the mill. There, in all his glory, was a tanned male, his body lean but with new burns on his flank. His muscles were toned and his posture better than most two-legged. The blanket was wrapped around his nude body and he sat on a large rock before pulling away the crudely put bandages and soaking them in the water. He could see the blood that stained it and washed away, making the clear water stain with red.

Perfectly formed fleshy fingers reached down, cupping some of the cold water before splashing it on his face, getting some of his black hair wet. He did this a few times, trying not to touch his new stitches that replaced his eye. From the sound of the water being scooped and falling, he realized a sound was already too close before he could hear it coming. A golden eye glanced back and widened, only to see her grabbing her clothes from the tree. If he stayed still, she surely wouldn't notice him.


"Mmmmm~" The silverette boy swam effortlessly back to the dock and leaned up against the wood, leaving half of his body still under the water as he looked up at his friend. "Weeeeeeeell, I suppose so but you can't ask me for any more, ok?" When he got a nod, he smiled before he turned his head to look towards the island. "I'm named after where the land and the ocean meet. My mom said that is captured my true being well... something about being strong like the land but graceful like water.... whatever that means!" He giggled, smiling brightly up at his best friend. "So, another guess? You can't ask Latium for help on this one!"


"Ahh!!" The prince called as the monster suddenly charged the crate, making him fall back and the pieces of meat fell onto the bricks below. His blue eyes went side as he looked between his legs at the Atterian who looked almost fiendish. Now he realized how foolish it was for the people who dropped him off to place him in a wooden crate. Did they want him to escape!? However, his thoughts were shattered when he heard a voice invade his mind. He had heard it before but he thought it was just a higher voice, like his conscious or a god or goddess. Now he realized it was this beast speaking to him.

"W-w-hat do you mean? Why am I a coward?"
His Atterian still wasn't great since he had only started learning it two years prior so he knew a deep conversation wasn't going to be easy. That was, if this beast would talk to him.


The imp became uneasy as silence rang between them for an extended amount of time but he was quick to obey when he was given his first order. He made his way slowly to the large bed, slowly sitting down on it and almost thought he would fall as it was so plush. He reached up and pulled his hood from his head, revealing the tall spikes of red and back hair and those exotically curved eyes. He listened closely to the prince as if he was a dog listening to it's master. Then again, he was like a dog listening to his master as now he was nearly as low on this world as an Atterian. At least that was how he thought of it.

He learned this beautiful, wide and spacious room was his prison, finding it almost laughable as if he made it sound like a punishment. It was better than the one bed cave he called his home.
"I will make sure you are provided with adequate necessities and entertainment in my absences."
Entertainment? He was intrigued to find out and trickery was at the end of his tongue to try and find out just what it would be but he quickly remembered he had no voice as a slave. All he could do was answer Roxas's question. A snake-like tongue pushed through his lips, running over them to wet them from being chapped due to the temperature change but he also make them shiny and kissable. "Yes, master~" He purred and eye lids lowered, easily giving off a sensual vibe.

[Reno]

She would of checked up on him, really she would have because she was sure her orders were hardly being followed and it made her curse herself at being female. But instead she got a two-hour lecture by her mother about why it wasn't proper to go wandering around naked and to let the men handle the dealings with the beasts. Women should never associate with such disgusting creatures and blah, blah, blah.
And how dare she try to protect such a creature who hurt her brother in such a way - not like her mother actually CARED about Sai or anything - and more blah blah blah.

"Ladylike indeed." Aqua was grumbling, wearing only her silk pajamas as she went to fetch her forgotten clothes, cursing her mother for all she was worth under her breath, pulling her shirt and skirt from the branches and partially folding them before hesitating and reaching out, picking off another item from the branches.
Unseen, a yellow eye widened as he spotted the necklace he had given the young maiden but a morning ago.
She sighed, rubbing her thumb over the pearl before glancing back at the barn that held the Atterians, unable to see it well from here. Beyond her gaze though she caught something floating past in the river and made a noise of confusion.
The single yellow eye widened even more when she reached into the water and picked out something white and the male looked towards where he had left the bandages... which had been swept away by the stream.

And of course, the movement caught Aqua's attention and she looked up, noticing the form by the stream displaced from the long reeds. "Hey! What are you doing?!"


"Hmmm..." The brunette hummed, his eyes narrowing in deep thought, "Land and water... Well that would be something to encompass the two right...?" He grinned suddenly. "I know! Kairi!"
The boy shouted and pulled HIM into the water this time.
"ACK! Pf! Pf!" Sora spluttered as he flailed to the surface only to get bonked on the head and shouted at, teasingly, that he wasn't a girl!! "Ow! Ow! Okay no more guessing for today you get rather violent about it!" Sora laughed only to be dunked and forced to flail about some more.
Well, at least he had a big enough heart to try.


"Look at me, I'm in a cage and still you shout and shiver like a frightened bunny." He threw his head back positively howling with laughter. "What a warrior you are. You must feel like such a strong little thing, having others come and lock me in a cage so you can show off to all the other little birdies just what you caught."

The dog scoffed, tail flicking in obvious agitation, ears flipping back unpleasantly now. All traces of humor were gone just as quickly as they had come. "I may be the one in the cage but I know who the true monsters are. Blessed INDEED." He snarled out the disgusting word.


"Ah well... good... very good..." Roxas hesitated at the other end of the room, his gaze very obviously running over the imp as he started to feel that spark of arousal again. But it was also tampered by his inexperience; he knew better than to show his nervousness though - he would not appear weaker than his slave!

He slowly approached the other, his blue eyes darkening in shade and though he was shorter, his wide wings made him appear grander in some way. The sin of what he was about to do made the white of his wings try to force off the black, but it was futile as he gripped his shoulders and slowly forcing him to lay over the bed, their lips sealing together in a hard kiss.

[Rikugurl]

Teeth clenched together as he heard his call and though he was sure it would do nothing for him, his pulled the blanket over his head to act as a hood before pushing off the rock and ran off. He would know any other woman would cry and order their guards to fetch the mystery figure but again, this two-legged one wasn't like most women. Still, he had to hope she wouldn't follow in her attire but quickly remembered that she had saved him in the nude. That's when it was confirmed. He could hear her call from behind him, telling him to stop but he did the opposite. He pushed his calves harder, not use to running in this form and found out why humans were so slow. They lacked such important muscles.

Unfortunately for him, he reached his line as he came to a waterfall a half mile away. A golden eye peered through the darkness, seeing that no one was behind him. His muscles relaxed some, not worried about returning by dawn as it would be much easier in his true form. As he headed to the mouth of the fall, he paused and turned his head again, knowing he heard something from the woods and easily saw the young woman, carefully maneuvering herself down the river path. She had really fallowed him all this way? He no longer had anywhere to run and it was futile to try and swim back downstream. He quickly forgot about himself though because as she carefully came closer, he could see the rips in her clothes and some red staining them. She had gotten hurt.

A growl came from under the darkness of the blanket, warning her from getting any closer. He didn't want her to see him like this. Not because it was illegal but this form was so weak...


"WHAT!?" Twilight called in shock before grabbing a foot and pulling Soran in the ocean with him. He frowned as the prince came up and bonked him. "Don't you know Kairi is a girl's name!?" He pouted more before pushing on that empty skull of his friends, keeping him under water some. When he pulled back up, he still managed to chuckle, seeing the deflated brown spikes. "Even though you were horrible wrong, Soran... you were close. It's the same language you used. Maybe drowning you made you smarter!" He was pushed gently and he laughed before plunging into the water again and swam off towards the shore, hearing Sora following him.

He trudged through the wet sand, over to where they kept some towels and as his pale hand reached out, he stopped.
"Riku?"
"UT!" Unnatural ocean eyes widened as if he was hit in the back with an arrow. Slowly he turned around, seeing Sora still by the shore, looking at him. "What did you say?"


Scared blue eyes slowly transformed into angry and hurt ones, becoming a shade darker as he slowly collected himself and stood. He looked down at the Atterian who still seemed to be amused by his own whit but the prince was far from amused. "Don't think you're so clever with what you can understand with your eyes and ears." Ventus's voice was different now. He was not so caring or cautious. "Anyone can do that. I have a reputation I must keep in the eyes and the ears of my people but what I am really doing is only for an intelligent creature to understand. Of course I had to make them bring you to me like this but it wasn't for my amusement. And being smart and a coward are two different things, Atterian. If you did not call me a coward for keeping you caged, you would call me a fool for letting you lose."

He knew the Atterian must have understood Common as it was what the master spoke. He wasn't going to fight this battle and sound like an idiot in this creature's language.
"I brought you here because of your eye color is none like any other Atterian that I have ever seen or learned of. I am hoping it was not just your eyes that are different. I know what damage has been done can not be undone but I wish to help you. Ever since I saw you when we were young, I wanted to help you."


The slave's lips parted as his master walked closer, their eyes never breaking unless the blue was looking over his body. He was taught that his eyes were only to look at his master unless he was ordered to look away. When the prince came close, the imp slowly pulled the edges of his cloak open, revealing his naked body underneath to tease the blonde's conscience. He wasn't sure if it was that or anything else that worked but when his shoulders were grabbed and was laid onto the bed, he did resist at all, welcoming this young boy's warmth. The orange cloak spread out against the bed which made the prince's cloak and underclothes to rub against the imp's nude body while their tongue's twisted around each other's.

"Mmmmnnn..." A groan escaped the slave's lips as their lips parted for a moment before the kiss continued. Slowly, his long nailed fingers ran up his master's chest and then back down before running over his abs and sides, trying to make him feel good.

[Reno]

"Hey! HEY!" She yelled and as the other ran, she knew this was not a man that worked for them. A thief?! She didn't know but she was determined to find out, her feet pattering after him, discovering to give chase without shoes was possibly not the best of ideas but too stubborn to give in.

She had no weapons either and if the thief had a knife, she was probably done for. Oh wouldn't her mother be thrilled. After a lecture of dressing properly, they find her the next morning dead in her knickers. Haha!

She ran out of breath easily, her steps slowing some but she continued to trudge on, knowing the path he was on only led one way, and soon enough she started to approach the water-falls edge the thief turning to face her. She heard what might of been a growl, but the roaring of the waterfall might of just been playing tricks with her. She eyes studied the area before she picked up a fallen branch, brandishing it like it was a sword.

"Now tell me what you were doing on my land! What were you after? Food? Money? Speak already!"


It was the same language? But what could it possibly be if not the horizon? He swam after the other, his eyes focused on the....
The shore.
Of course! By boat the shore looked between sky sand land and held in water as well. "Riku?" He called questioningly and then he saw the way Twilight responded as he stood on the bank, the waves rippling against his ankles. Wide eyes stared back at him. Reminding him of a name that complimented 'Riku'.
"Come on Sora! We're going to be late for the - what is it?"
"You called me Sora."
"Yeah it's a good nickname! And it makes us alike!"
"....Huh?"
"you'll understand one day~"
"No fair Twilight, tell me!"
"No way!" The elder laughed and started off down the beach.
"TELL MEEEEEEEEEE!"
"All this time..." Soran shook his head and smiled. "You've been givng me the hint I needed all along. Sora" he pointed to himself, then slowly pointed to the other, "and Riku. Right?"


"Help me? HELP ME?!" Now the wolf was cajoling with laughter once more rolling on his back some. "The only think a butterfly like you would ever help ME with is a swifter death to have me out of your presence."
There was a shout from the other that made him pause as the other proved he had saved his life! If he had not come, he would be dead!

"Oh yes of course, I am so grateful to you." He pulled himself to his paws suddenly, mockingly bowing. "You saved me from leaving this hell of life to death. Thank you master you are in my debt I will forever be your slave, is that it then?" His tail flickered angrily, batting against his cage with a loud noise as he started to pace in circles in his little cage. "Selfish little cretins aren't you? Haven't you taken enough from us?! You want to HELP US? No, You just want to help yourselves, ALL OF YOU."

[Rikugurl]

A stick? If he were a canine Atterian he would have been insulted. Her demands were useless though because he could not speak Common. At least he had never tried to. His tongue did not work the way the two legged did, only used for growling, snarling and roaring and drinking. His lips didn't move either. They only helped to rip food or pull something from the gutters. Still, he knew she would try and attack him with the branch which wasn't very frightening, though it could be with her, and it would still not free him from being cornered. He really had no choice other than to reveal himself but would she understand?

He shifted, not liking the feeling of the jagged rocks under his fleshy feet. She came closer but paused when his tanned hands shifted and the blanket fell from his head. What the girl before him saw, thanks to the moonlight reflecting off the waterfall, was a tanned skin man with semi long black hair that stuck around his face from the dampness. Poking through the blackness were pointed ears that seemed rather unnatural. The biggest detail was his face, or rather his eyes, that made the stick in her hand drop. A socket had been freshly stitched and still bleeding, being puffy and irritated from lack of care. The other eye was golden.

He was panting some, still from the chase, and his sharpened canines were easy to see. Still, he tried to use his tongue and lips to settle any doubt she had.
"A......ku......wa....." His voice was raspy and he was even shocked at how it sounded. His voice. He could speak!


The young boy smiled and nodded, his eyes closing for a moment to make it sincere. He reached back, grabbing two towels before heading over to his friend who was slowly coming onto the shore. "Yea. I was giving you a big hint already, I didn't think you would need much more." He chuckled, handing a yellow towel over to his friend. He wrapped his own yellow towel around himself and sat down on the sand, slowly looking up at the sky. The sun was setting, knowing they only had a few more hours left. "Destiny really is confusing." He said as the prince sat down next to him. When he got a look, he chuckled. "Well... come on.... your name is Soran.... my name is Riku. We both love the color yellow and you visit me everyday while you're really sleeping."

He turned, looking at the brunette Shee who did not have his wings in this world. "My day is your night and your night is my day. It's the Balance, isn't it? Every time we see each other, it's twilight and every time you have to go, it's twilight. It's just.... weird. It's like something outta a book."


"You would have died if I had not intervened!" He cried, knowing his voice was becoming too loud and he would have to keep in his passion, as much as it may want to burst out. He had the balance inside him, he would keep his wings inside! Still, his wing color couldn't lie and as he heard the cruel mockery, tears started to burn his eyes and leak down his cheek.
"I'm sorry..... you feel that way." He finally spoke, his voice not faltered by the tears. "I wanted to help you get to Makatza, so you could be free but if you do not even want to try and trust me, I will return you to the breedery. What I am doing, what we would be doing, is illegal and even I would be brought to trial for my treason. We certainly have no time to bicker, Atterian. You have the right not to believe in me but I believe that you aren't really the monster they turned you into. I saw it in your eyes."

[Reno]

She paused more out of defense, unsure if he was going to pull out a knife on her but not daring enough to find out in close range. Instead, he pulled off his hood, surprising her. But that wasn't even compared to the shock that ran through her, like a splash of winter-cold water to the face, when she saw his features.

Those eyes - well, that eye - she recognized it. She had seen them every morning of every day since she was but five years old.

There had been stories when she was a kid. Things she thought nothing of because she knew they were just stories to scare her away - and one of them was about how the monsters could turn human. They could trick them, like imps tricked everyone, making them appear just like them... and then when you least expected it, you were there dinner.
But no, what she was thinking, it was absurd. It was preposterous. It was IMPOSSIBLE.
But the shade. And that injury. Maybe it was just a coincidence. Maybe it was-
"A......ku......wa....."
"A...kuwa...?" Her eyes widened. "Aqua. My name. You... You... You know my name..."
That was... This was...
"....Xigbar...?" She whispered, feeling stupid to even utter it and was beginning to wonder if this was just some crazy dream.



Beside Riku, there was suddenly a giggle, and the poor guardian had to yelp when he was suddenly pounced on, Sora hugging him tight and pulling them onto the sand, the elder flat on his back. "It's a fairy tale!" The see-through reflection of his wings could be seen for just an instant, as if a remembrance that they existed, before they disappeared serving their purpose as the part of Sora's dorky joke.

The other humored him by laughing, making a comment about that, but Sora only continued to grin, laying his head on the other's chest. "Well, it was a fairytale that made me believe in you..."


The wolf sat there for a small time, before snorting very softly and shaking his head. "You speak in circles and or fairy tales Shee. Makatza..." He shook his head and chcukled bitterly. "What a haven that would be. And havens here don't exist. Not for us."
The other started to speak but the other interrupted him cold, his voice biting.
"Who created Makatza?"

"Black-winged Shee that-" He never finished, The Wolf standing and growling again.
"Precisely. SHEE. You creatures did! When I was young my mother would tell me of Makatza... of a place where we were free. It was only a story though, to make us strong as we recovered. But I grew up, and learned the truth of that place - if it even actually exists. It is a haven... for SHEE. Maybe even for humans. But there is no haven for us. They would never accept us."
The other, once again started to argue but Terra was quick to shout another question. He was quite quick-witted for an animal, asking all the right questions and making all the right points.
"Have you ever even BEEN there? No? Then how can you be sure of that? It's as simple as cat and mouse, one is prey and the other is predator, and they can never get along because they are forever enemies. You feel it too. That instinctive hate, making your wings tremble and your adrenalin rush. These 'black-wings' may not agree to your laws, but I guarantee... they will agree on the view of us. It was half a black wing who put us here!"

[Rikugurl]

His weight was still awkward in this form, making him sway some and feeling a phantom limb try and catch him but it wasn't there. The sound of the waterfall began to hurt his ears and in this shape, he could not turn his ears away or focus on what he really wanted to hear. Still, he heard the name that was given to him many years ago, one that he learned to accept and even like. He hardly forgot the name his parents gave him. Maybe it was because she called him this that made it settle. She didn't call him a monster, or a beast, or Atterian. She called him Xigbar.

He wasn't going to try any more Common, knowing he would look and sound like an idiot if he did. So, he did what he knew how. He pushed air through his throat to make positive answer. "Mmmmm...." It was accompanied by a faint nod, seeing the two-legged doing that when they were confirming something. Still she seemed struck by what she was seeing until her feet slowly brought her closer. It was as if she had totally forgotten how to walk because he never saw her stumble like that. It was also possible that because the rocks were jagged here, it pained her to come closer.

Either way, she didn't get much closer because he stepped on a large, flat rock that was loose and from her weight, easily slide from the sand. She gave a yelp of alarm and her balance was ruined, about to head into the river again. Like she was five all over again, the woman felt a strong pull around her waist and she was tugged up and gently placed back onto the river bed. She was intent on drowning it seemed. This time she didn't have lips to pull or a nose to bonk. Instead, she looked up at her savior who had brought her close, seeing his wounded face better. Slowly, tanned fingers ran up, hesitantly pushing her blue strands away from her face. It was weird, the feeling of their skin touching, feeling so different from when she would groom and run her fingers through his fur but he enjoyed the sensation.


Aquamarine eyes blinked, feeling his best friend lay his head on his chest. He wasn't use to this kind of intimacy, at least not for a long time. A smile ran over his lips though and he wrapped his arms around the boy's waist. He was glad he had such a friend. One that believed in fairy tales. How could one not with all that they knew? All the worlds, all the different kinds of species? All the magic? Still, it was slowly becoming a bit awkward and he knew he would have to do something. "Uh.... hey!" He called, slowly getting up against the brunette so he would get off and look at him in question. "You know that place over there?" He asked, pointing out to the horizon to see the main land that was not always there.

"I use to live there with my mom. I don't think she's there anymore but maybe I can still show you my house." The look on Sora's face was hilarious, never seeing a smile that big for a long time! "How about tomorrow, he start trying to make a raft to get over there?"


"Well you certainly know a lot about something you've never seen before either! If you don't believe, what's the point of living? If you don't try something, you can never justify it." The prince snapped, nearly fed up with all the negative talk. It was beginning to sound like a conversation with his....his.... Volken. He would never call him his grandfather, ever! "Of course we tremble from the sights of you. We've seen what you did when we tried to help you before. Your ancestors almost killed us all. We're not stupid, Atterian. It would be foolish for us to try and do that again... My mother and I are trying to make you as free as possible so we can all be safe."

His eyes darkened, this feeling making him frown. "But now I'm waiting to hear you say it's not good enough. What? Do you want me to feel sorry for you? That you didn't deserve this kind of life? That you're poor, misunderstood creatures? I didn't think Atterians wanted any pity. I thought you thieved on honor and power and yet you're bantering in your cage about how we're monsters to you. We may be the monsters now, but your kind have been monsters all along. But you're right. We should definitely base our future from the past. Things will really improve that way." It didn't seem like the Atterian like the taste of his own medicine.

He suddenly got close to the cage, not caring what reaction he got. "So tell me, since you know everything about everything, tell me if I am a coward... or a fool." His eyes met the other's before taking the dried meat that was on the bricks below, placed them in his palm and pushed his hand through the bars to offer the wolf.

[Reno]

It would be the second time in her life that she was saved from her favorite element - although this time she would not of really been in danger, since at least she could swim and the waterfall wasn't THAT high. But, she really didn't think of any of this, as she found herself in the arms of another man - no, not another. He was the same one who saved her before.

She just never knew he could become a man.

She looked at him, and so close, even with a wound so ugly he himself was kind of... handsome and - WHAT WAS SHE THINKING?! Her cheeks flushed, stuttering some, "T-Thank you."


"A raft?! WHOOPEE!" Sora jumped up, grabbing Riku's arms. "Why wait until tomorrow?! We have some time! Let's get stuff now! Logs and rope and and and errr....... a sail! Yeah we need a sail! And some fish!"
...Fish?
"Yeah, if we get hungry!" The brunette nodded, giggling some and rushing off down the beach. "I'm gonna get to see Riku's home!!"


Ears flipped back looking for a time at the long hand that was now in his cage. He looked at it before long before raising his paw, looking like he was going to bat him away. Instead there was a sharp gasp and the meat had to be caught as it was dropped when they sound of bones snapped... and the Atterain changed.

Wings made a loud flap as Ven backed up some, his eyes wide as blue eyes peered through the slabs of wood at him. "Maybe you'll understand if I speak in your tongue." He spoke in perfect Nornian, making those eyes widen further. How had he learned it? Now he was seeing more of his lessons come true... but saw that again they were untrue. Atterians didn't look so like humans they could be mistaken. Furry, wolf ears were perched on the top of his head, meshing with the strands of untamed brunette hair. Claws gleamed in the moonlight as he tore up see meat, fangs flashing as he tore off a bite.
And there was something... slinking behind h- oh Norn, it was his TAIL.

"I don't want your pity, no. But your sympathy would be nice. Because if you sympathize with me, sympathize with my kind, maybe you really would help us." He continued to speak, not even minded by his lack of clothes, or those wide eyes trying NOT to stare. "Why should I even listen to you? Believe you? You're a prince, you have the power to change things, but are you really going to try? Help us indeed. Ha! If any of you really wanted to help us, you would of done it already."
That earned him another argument. He was helping him, wasn't he?
"Only to clear your conscience. A collection of blue-eyed Atterains, haha! Oh what frivolity that is. You're just disturbed I have a trait that is identical to yours so you hope by helping me you've helped the world or something. And somehow this little trait of mine, this thing only my mother's family had, somehow raises me above my kind. Goody for me, shouldn't I be thrilled?"

He gripped the wood in his hands, claws digging into the wood as he leaned closer. "But you see I'm not. Because even if I escape, I know my family, my brethren on this world are still suffering. You say you want to help... but how can you help if you don't even know the first thing about helping? And even if you do get me to Makatza or wherever, how can I be content with that? I would be betraying my kind... by being safe and not lifting a finger to make sure it happened to them too."

Loud scratches sounded as the Atterain's grip strengthened, making indentions in the wood. "I remember you prince. We saw each other, that day in the breedery. Did you know, did you see, what was beyond the second door? That hell we grow up in? Do you understand ANYTHING?"
He snarled, not waiting for an answer, "THEY TAKE AWAY OUR PRIDE! They... they torture us, to make us change from our human visages into our bestial forms. Pups and kits, the lot of us, with our mother's watching and being tortured mentally to watch their kin be hurt and whipped and beaten without being able to help. Fathers being forced to work harder and longer just for the chance to see his family at the end of the day! Tiny females being touched, in ways that ANYWHERE ELSE would be a crime. FOR ANYONE ELSE their would be help." The brunette was shaking now, overcome by his emotions, "And then when we change, they cut out anything that they deem harmful. I was awake for half the procedure... when they took away my horns." He pulled back the bangs of his hair, showing off the peach-colored scars against his temples. "My mother she... she had twice the spikes down her spine that I did. They cut off her tail even. My father he... he was forced to be crippled, to never run again, because he had a sixth claw."

Blue eyes shut, grimacing some, "So yes... maybe Atterains did hurt in the past. Who really knows what the true history is anymore. Not everything is true in your little fact books. You call us Renki... but I loved my mother. I loved my father. And I love my people." He looked up at him now and it was Ven's surprise... when he saw the 'monster's' eyes were shining with unshed tears. "So do we really deserve that? Do they? 'We've been monsters all along', is that really right?"

[Rikugurl]

Muscles pulled, making his eye squint a bit. The sides of his mouth twitched, not use to using it so much but they still pulled up in a shaky smile, revealing his sharp teeth that would do no harm to her. Slowly he moved away from her and in the corner of her eye, she saw it happen. A change. It was only a second and the sound of the bones cracking almost instant before she jumped, feeling fur rub up against her leg as a black tail wrapped around it loosely. When she looked down, a familiar looking panther who was now lapping at her small cuts. It was nothing serious but he still did not like seeing the blood on her.

When he looked up at her blue eyes, he whimpered some, his ears pulling down. "Thank you for saving me..."


"Wha! HEY! WAIT UP!" The boy laughed as he quickly got up and ran after his friend. "There's really no need for fish, Sora! It doesn't take THAT long to get over there!" He laughed, easily catching up to the brunette who was looking around the abandoned tree house. He pulled some curtains from the windows, saying that they would be great for sails but in all his excitement, he paused, seeing the silverette looking around the house with a frown on his face. When he inquired, Twilight snapped out of it some.

"Oh, nothing. I just realized... how lonely it was here before you came." Their eyes met and the elder smiled. "I'm really glad we became friends."


Now guilt ran over his young body, never feeling so low in his life. It wasn't easily being so passionate. Sometimes, it really wasn't a good thing. How could he say all that stuff with a straight face? Maybe because he wasn't use to being so cornered. He had wings but there was no escaping. He was spoiled at a prince or either his mother had to help him with his wings. Now though, it was nothing but him and the wolf who he really needed to appologize to.
"I... am sorry. I didn't mean all those things I said. I think we can agree to disagree that neither one of us knows about the other. The truth has been become sludge that is too deep to discover unless we truly work hard on it. But I must correct you... I am trying and so is my mother. However, just because I am a prince, doesn't mean I can change the world. I have no power under the king and he makes the final decision."

He slowly sat down again, his heart sinking when he saw the tears drop down the other's cheek. He was probably only a few years older. "I'm not planning on collecting anything. If I had told them because blue eyes were rare, I would hate to know what he would do to future ones.... And your eye color is important. In the books of Shee... no where does it mention Atterians with blue eyes. They only have golden, red, black and brown. It was when I saw you, I started to question all the facts about your kind."
He looked up at the creature, sighing some with defeat. He knew this was a bad idea. Slowly he looked back down at the bricks, his blonde swirls covering his face. "I can't start a revolution... but I want to make a change.... even if it's one Atterian at a time."

[Reno]

Oh Norn she just heard his voice... in her head!!! Her legs shook a bit, unable to hold her weight and she slowly slipped to her knees, watching him as he licked her cuts and said softly, "This isn't a dream, is it?"
She had always found it utterly disgusting when men claimed women were weak of heart - or, basically, that they would faint at any big shock. She certain never believed that to be true... but then why she was feeling a little light-headed?

"Have you ALWAYS been able to change like that?! C-Can all of you?!" Everything she thought she knew and understood... everything she had lived by since she was little... it felt like such a lie all of a sudden. It was the blessed that told them these were just animals... but what had that just been?! He could be a human! What kind of magic was that?!


The prince hesitated from folding up the curtains, looking back at Riku curiously, before finally smiling. "Yeah? Well, then I'm glad too, Ri." He finished folding and walked past the other, tugging some of the silver strands playfully. "You're my best friend after all! I wouldn't be doing my job right if I wasn't making you happy."


There was silence from the cage for a time, the Atterian regaining his bearings as he regarded his mortal enemy unsure whether to believe him or not. But he knew one way to learn whether he even could trust this Shee.
"Well, if you really want to help then... sometimes you just need to right key." His words almost seemed like a metaphor, but when the wolf reached his hand out and poked the lock that caged him in, the Shee realized with a start he was asking to be let out. The question was, would he?

[Rikugurl]

The Atterian became concerned when he saw the woman fall to her knees and he walked around her to face her as she began to question the world around her. She looked so distressed, making him worry. "It is against the laws on this world to change." Xigbar suddenly explained. "They made it this way so no one could feel sorry for us or be able to blend in with others." He looked away from her, his eye narrowing as images started to flash in his head. "And if we do change, it's not enough for our appearance to change. If we don't change regularly, he begin keeping our beastly accessories such as ears, fangs, claws and tails. We could never escape like that. We are monsters, even when we tried to fit in."

He looked back at Aqua, seeing her look still shocked. "My brother and I... we would change in the oddest times of night to keep our bodies use to the process. I made sure I changed every week at least one when the others were sleeping. I changed before as palms are more useful with water." He turned his large body to completely face her, his tail dipping in the water some. "I'm sorry if I frightened you~"


"Hehehe..." Riku giggled slightly, watching Sora walk over the wooden bridge that was obviously old and worn from age. "Oh, Sora?" He questioned, seeing his friend look back. "How come you took the curtains? There's perfectly fine sails in this chest" He pointed into the room, making Sora's eyebrow pull as nothing had been in the tree house when he went in. Still, curiosity got the best of him and when the prince came over, the once neatly folded curtains fell onto the wood as he looked into the room. It was no longer empty but full of all sorts of goods like chests, boxes with toys and even some books.

Riku laughed when he got the most dumbfounded look on his face when he turned to him. "What?" He played stupid for a moment but when Sora's face started to twist. "I thought you were smart, Sora~" He smiled, his hands slowly being put on the back of his head. "Then again, it did take you all this time to find out my name." He laughed as Sora gave him an award winning pout. "Sora... every time you bring back memories... this world turns back to the way it once was..." The silverette look back inside the tree house. "This was where me and my friends would play when I was younger."


The prince glanced at the padlock that kept the beast inside his cage. He knew what the other was indicating and he wasn't sure how that was going to help the situation any. Maybe... to feel equal. They were equals, right? He closed his eyes and sighed before getting up and stepping back. He walked away a few feet and close his eyes again, trying to concentrate before his arms reached up towards the sky and slowly pushed them away. A shimmering field came around him and stretched out, pushing through the cage and he was sure the Atterian inside taste the strong magic it had. It was a light barrier.

When it game them quite a bit of space, he wrapped his arms around his waist and the barrier stopped, holding still and in place. Slowly, his right hand reached out and he concentrated hard on it, as if something was going to appear. But nothing did and he sighed in defeat before plopping his way back to the cage. He grabbed a rock and slapped it against the pad, making it break instantly. The red wing then slowly backed away, letting the door creak open.

[Reno]

Aqua was so in shock, just listening to the voice roll over in her head, but having trouble really responding to it all. But there was one word that snapped her out of it and made her back straighten some.
"-If I frightened-"
"I was not frightened!" She crossed her arms, looking proud, and it only appeared to make him amused. Or at least, she assumed he was amused.

Okay she could handle this. Xigbar was an Atterian who could change between animal and human and he can speak to her mentally. And she had inadvertently been treating this man as a... house pet. Not too much to handle, really. She frowned some as she heard his voice chuckling in her head before looking at him carefully, "But I don't understand. If you've been making sure that you can look normal as a human... why haven't you run away?"


Blue eyes blinked at him curiously for a few moments, before Sora finally turned around and looked across the ocean to the mainland, still remembering when it appeared all those years ago. He had caused that to happen?

Back then it hadn't really mattered to them at all. They were just carefree kids, playing the days away. An extended vacation on some paradise. But he was fourteen now, growing up with a heavy responsibility laying it's weight on his shoulders, and he understood more than he had before. Suddenly everything was much grander, much more important. Little things he never really though about before - like Riku's name, or his life - suddenly seemed to consume him with curiosity.
He turned looking about the tree house again, noticing the knick-knacks of what must of been many children - because he was certain Riku didn't play with dolls. Life must of been so simple here; if only his was destined to be the same.

"Oh!" He laughed reached out behind the toy chest and pulled out... a wooden sword, still recalling when they had carved out their own wooden swords and practiced with them when he was littler. "Why am I not surprised?" He joked, grinning at the silverette.


The sound of metal giving way his those ears perk up and Terra shifted some, before the gate was shifted open by the swipe of a paw and the wolf stepped out, having changed back because, to be honest, he didn't know how to walk as a twolegged. He saw the way the prince stared at him, knowing he expected an attack, but at the moment he had a more - ahem - pressing matter.
His nose twitched, smelling his surroundings curiously. He ignored the prince's eyes watching him so very carefully, probably expecting him to do some evil deed, as he walked about the small courtyard. And then the blonde gave a shout when the wolf stopped at a tree and, quite crudely, whittled on it.

Hey, he had to go. BAD. And he was not peeing in a little box hardly big enough for a house cat!
"Give me a break will ya? I've been needing to piss since moon high. So unless you want it on your SHOES next time..."

[Rikugurl]

A toothy, more natural grin appeared on the panther's lips as he saw her cross her arms, looking strong as usual. She was quite a woman. She would have made such a perfect Atterian. Oh, what was he thinking. Like she would ever deserve a life like his. She would have been ruined like the rest. His ears perked though before his eye slowly rolled to look up at her.
"Why haven't you run away?"
A growl rumbled though his throat and he heard a soft gasp when he stood on all four legs and walked away some, stopping at the edge of the river. The breeze it made shifted through his black fur, feeling good on his burns but that was the only relief he felt as his mind started to cloud.

"Run away? To where? I would eventually be found, hunted down and captured. Then what? Would they bring me back and tighten my chains? Would they bring me back to the breeders? Or would they send me to the death mine where I would work until I collapsed? What is the point of running...." He paused, his head hanging down a little low. "...if I'll never see you again?"


Riku smiled, blushing some and looked astray like he never saw a sword before in his life. "Nooooot me!" He chuckled and walked in, looking around the room some more. "A boy and I use to play fight. He was really no good at it, not like you." He picked up another sword, seeing all the notches in it. "But he had to go away... back to the mainland. I never saw him again after that." He turned the sword some, frowning when he saw a crack mark through it. "I can't even remember his name. I can't remember anyone's name. I guess because it was so long ago." He placed the sword down and looked back at Sora, seeing how fascinated he was. "Names are kinda important though, aren't they Sora?"


A blush swept over the young Shee's face, quickly looking away and trying to block out the obvious sound of liquid hitting the grass below. He supposed it was better than on his shoes, or rather feet as he was barefoot. When the wolf was done with his personal business, he looked back, only to step a few feet backwards as the Atterian came close. "So, now that you are out of your cage..." He started to say before clumsily tripping over another small box, falling flat on his butt. "WAA!" He cried, wincing as he hit the brick floor hard. He quickly looked up as a shadow spread over him only to see blue eyes looking down at him.

[Reno]

Aqua's mouth was already open, ready to shout the obvious - to Makatza of course! - but her words faltered as he finished his speech, her mouth opening and closing in a good imitation of sea life.
What...?
Okay, rewind.

Now, the panther who had saved her life when she was a kid could be a human. He could speak to her in her mind. Everything she knew was a lie. And oh yeah, and let's not forget this guy LIKED HER enough not to run away from prison!

"Holy fuck, you're an idiot."
Xigbar looked back at her suddenly, because that certainly wasn't a normal response to such an admission. But then again Aqua never did anything that was correct.
"What the hell is wrong with you?! Then why didn't you like... kidnap me in the middle of the night and take me off into the forest instead of just watching me through your cage bars for years on end?! Why would you... subject yourself to a life like this?!"


"Mhmm... our names set us all apart. Makes us all feel special and noticed and... less lonely." Sora said with a nod and smiled, "Why do you think I guessed.... seven-hundred and fifty-six different names just trying to get yours right?"

He walked across the little room, leaning his palms on the window sill, looking down the mountain side at the palm trees and vibrant foliage. So beautiful and unique; nothing like the plants at Norn. "One day, I'll be King Soran. Everyone is going to know MY name... but you know what I want to do? I want to know every single person's name in my kingdom too. I want to know them all so I can know their joys and their pains; I want to help everyone I can. And I want them to know I'm there for them."


"Now that I'm out of my cage..." Came the deep rumble, a cruel chuckle in the tone, blue eyes going wide as a heavy paw was laid on his chest. His tongue snaked out, licking along his lips, looking down at the other, gleaming teeth catching the moonlight with vicious purpose.

And then his ears perked up.

"Shall we play tag, or fetch?"

....What?

He snorted at the other's look of pure disbelief and confusion and smirked. "You were afraid of me right then. You're not going to get anywhere if you don't trust me." He got off of the other and walked around the Shee like a predator would. "It's not going to be easy to change the world you know. My kind would rather take your throat than give you the time of day. You sure you're up to that? I'm not going to waste my hope on a coward."

[Rikugurl]

Xigbar's eyes closed before he turned back to her, walking up to her slowly. "For a such a woman, you sure are not graceful, especially not on your feet~" He taunted lightly, a cheer in his voice. However, it quickly changed when he spoke again. "I fear you do don't remember how I do not have freedom like you, Aqua. Your brother took my eye just by looking at you. What do you think he would do if I snatched you away? It woulda been foolish for me anyway. You were still a child and for my age, you still are." He sat down beside her, his golden eyes close to her face. "I couldn't risk assuming. I am already a dead man, because if I screw up one more time, not even you can save me from death. I already lucked out with luck."

His tail slowly wrapped around her backside, twitching some. "It seemed like I was just a pet and if you liked me like that, why ruin it? This life isn't so bad.... much better than my last. But when you spoke about running away with Makatza with me.... I wasn't sure what to think. Tch... I've turned into such a coward..." He shook his large head. "Now that you know... is running away still in your thoughts?"


Riku smiled, his large, almost Sora like feet, walked over, making the board below him creak. "You're going to be a great king someday, Sora. I can't wait." He too looked out the window, seeing the world that was getting larger by the day. "I bet all of the others will be happy too." When he got another look, he laughed. "You know? The other guardians? I know they can't wait for you to rule. I'm sure.... the Balance will regain some strength."


He was glad he up the barrier. He wasn't going to jeopardize the palace because he was being a fool. At least if this Atterian killed him and tried to escape, the barrier would sound an alarm and the guards would quickly come and... and... kill him.
Ventus's teeth clenched as the wolf's snout came closer, his whole body starting to tremble and he was doing everything in his power not to wet his cloak from fear. He would die an embarrassed man! "uut?" He blinked, feeling the heavy weight suddenly off him and he quickly scrambled to his feet. Blue eyes narrowed hard, watching the wolf as he walked around him. "I would have an easier time believing you if you stop acting so nefarious."

The wolf stopped his pacing, replying with another 'witty' remark but the prince pushed it off his shoulder. "My name is Ventus but you can all me Ven for short." He suddenly introduced himself, already sure the beast knew his name but it was a good way to start a neutral conversation, just like his mother thought him. It also opened a gate of learning the other's name and finding out some more about him to make their future conversation sound more personal.