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Mya is as purebred as they come, her family is all Coyote's stretching back over 7 generations. Though racism towards Coyotes was extraordinary in the days leading to the bombs, Mya's father was an accomplished and respected SWAT team member and her mother was a career lawyer. Her twin brothers were both US Navy Seals and fought alongside Zack in the Battle of Paris.

Mya awoke parched. Stretching out, the room was cold and quiet, the only sound was from the small space heater in the corner of her room on the third setting for the fan, while the heat was disengaged completely, she only had it for the white noise and preferred to bundle up under covers. She looked around. The room was completely empty accept for her bed, in the far left hand corner. The room was covered in a old brown carpet that had been there when her family had moved in, years before she was born. Yawning, she pushed aside the covers and rolled out of bed, walking across the room to the door. The house had been built for Southerns originally, and her Dad had modified it for Ferals when they had moved in. Though she was far too small to reach up to the normal door knob, she was just the right size to slink through the K9 door without making any undue noise. With as jumpy as Kyle had been lately from not feeling too well and a recent encounter with bandits, it was best not to wake either him or Rigby. She slunk through the door and padded down the hallway to the stair case. Descending into the first story of the house, the stairwell was carpeted in the same old brown carpet as the rest of their house. It lead down into a very small room with an even smaller closet near an exterior door that was locked and barred tightly. Even from the top of the stair case, she could hear the growls. Rabids, her brothers called them, Animals that had gotten sick from a disaster that had occurred years before she was born. Mya had never actually been outside the house, and according to her brother's she was lucky. Some of the the things Kyle had said he'd seen had kept him up at night with nightmares. Occasionally, even Rigby had woken up screaming. She padded down the long stair case and into the living room. The largest room in the house, the living room had the TV directly in front of the window that had been covered by several layers of bars and corrugated sheet metal, while the inside of the window had been covered with a piece of engineered lumber, one of the toughest things in the world to brake. Two small couches sat back against the wall with a glass table with a lamp on them between them. Another couch was placed a ways in front of the stairwell door and there was a single animal chair as well as Kyle's bed against the other.

Kyle didn't seem like he was sleeping too well. His entire body was shaking. Because the lamp was on, she could see that his skin was turning a disgusting yellow. His coat not two weeks ago had been snow white, now, it was a dirty gray, falling off in clumps. Sores covered his entire body and he was tossing and turning and rearranging the covers like he couldn't get warm despite having a space heater cranked all the way up blowing right on him as well as having every blanket from the living room couches on him. Mya quietly slinked behind the two couches and went to the kitchen to get her water bowl, which he wished her Mom would let her keep in her room. It was full, and she made a concerted effort to drink as quietly as she could. She knew Kyle wasn't feeling very well and he'd gone to bed insisting that he was going to eat the next animal to make the smallest bit of noise. She drank slowly, and once she wasn't feeling thirsty any more, she licked her lips and started back to her room, only to meet Kyle in the kitchen door way. His eyes had changed from their normal blue to a bloody yellow color that made Mya take a step back.

"Was that you I just heard in the kitchen Mya?", he asked. His voice was much deeper than normal, like he wasn't the same animal.

"Sorry Kyle", Mya said, her ears dropping, "I tried to be as quiet as I could, I know you're not feeling well."

He shook his head, pawing at his ear. A tuft of fur fell off, along with some skin, leaving a raw spot.

"Are you okay Kyle?", she asked.

"No", he whimpered, "no Mya...I'm not well. No matter what I do I can't get warm...my damn skin won't stop falling off."

He pawed at his ear again, scraping the spot even rawer, more skin falling to the floor with some if his coat, "just please try and be quiet...and do you have an extra blanket I can have?"

"I only have my comforter", she said, "but you can have it if you need it."

Kyle smiled weakly, "nah. I'm not gonna take your only one. I'll make do. Hopefully Rigby can find one on his run tomorrow. Get back to bed little sis, it's late."

Kyle gave Mya a little kiss on the forehead and sent her back up stairs, going back to bed. Mya crawled under her covers and stretched out, quickly falling back to sleep. Later that night, she was jolted awake, by what, she didn't know. Then, she heard it again, it was just barely audible, sounding like snapping wood. It was coming from downstairs. She slunk out of bed and crept out the door, finding Rigby standing by the stair case. In the darkness of the hallway, his pitch black coat concealed him perfectly, she had almost stuck her head right up his hind quarters. He spun around quickly.

"Mya", he whispered, "go get Dad! I'm not waiting, I gotta go make sure Kyle's safe."

She nodded and darted down the hallway as Rigby went downstairs. She ran into her parents room with the door already open. She ran up to her Dad and shook his snout as quickly as she could.

"Dad, dad, dad!", she panicked, "wake up!"

"What, what?", he asked rising.

"There's an animal downstairs with Kyle!!", she squeaked, "he can barely stand up and I'm worried he might get hurt!"

"Where's your brother?", he asked quickly getting up.

"He went to make sure Kyle is safe", she said.

Mya's father darted from the room as she hid underneath her mother. A few long seconds passed before Mya heard Rigby from downstairs.

"Kyle what the hell are you doing?"

Mya could hear the conversation unfolding from upstairs. Her mother picked her up and went down stairs to join the rest of the family.

"I just....I needed salt...I need it", Kyle said stuttered, "I couldn't sleep...I...I had to get it."

Morgan and Rigby exchanged looks.

"That can't possibly be good for you bro, not in the state your in", Rigby said.

"I couldn't resist it any more", Kyle said, almost sounding like he was panicking, "I just had to get it, I felt like I would have died without it."

"Scared the crap outta your sister", Morgan said.

Kyle smiled weakly, "I'm sorry Mya."

"It's okay", Mya answered quietly.

"Want me to bunk down here with you bro?", Rigby asked, "I don't feel comfortable leaving you down here alone, as out of it as you've been."

"I mean if you don't want any sleep either", Kyle said, "with the way I've been tossing and turning I'd just keep you awake."

"Listen to your brother", their mother said, "it's not a good idea for you to be down here by yourself."

"I'm seven years old Mom", Kyle said braking into a coughing fit, "I...I can..take care of myself."

"Not in the state your in", their Dad said, "don't argue."

Kyle sighed, giving up and going to lay back in his bed. Their Dad went back upstairs to gather their beds and Mya went to go sit near him.

"Is it a good idea for you to be that close with as sick as I am?", he asked.

"If it were contagious I'd be infected by now", Rigby said, "as close as you and I have been over the years."

Kyle laughed, "I much prefer having my own bed, thank you."

Rigby grinned, "oh? And why is that?"

Kyle looked around to make sure his parents weren't around, he sighed and then grinned, "Rigby we both know you've been hiding her from Mom and Dad, so unless you want this information to become public I suggest you return with some chicken soup tomorrow."

"You wouldn't dare", Rigby growled.

"Try me", Kyle laughed putting his head down, "just wait till I'm better to kill me, that way I have a fighting chance."

"I don't doubt you bro", Rigby said laying down, "how do you feel?"

"I'm not well Rigby", Kyle said, "my damn skin is falling off and my heart's going at a thousand miles an hour, I feel like it's about to explode."

Mya pawed Kyle's head.

"What lil' sis?", Kyle asked.

"Mom keeps some knock out drops in the kitchen", she said, "maybe you should take some so you can sleep?"

"I don't think that's such a good idea", Kyle said.

"Are you sure?", she suggested, "it might help you sleep."

Kyle nodded, "I'm sure sis, it's not a good idea with my heart being the way it is."

Mya curled up next to Kyle and soon Morgan came back downstairs with everyone's beds. He arranged them in a circle around the space heater and settled back down, Rigby staying closest to Kyle. Mya rose and followed her mother into the kitchen, tugging on her tail.

"Mommy", she said.

"Yes sweetie?", Kayla asked.

"Do you think those knock out drops you gave Rigby when he hurt his head will help Kyle?"

Kayla pondered a moment. Being a Vet pre-war, she knew Kyle wasn't in great shape to be taking much medicine, not with his heart being affected the way it had been, but she was confident in her ability to correctly dose her own son. She nodded in agreement.

"You may be on to something there", she stood on her hind legs and grabbed the bottle, bringing it into the living room, taking less than a quarter of a tea spoon from the bottle. She nudged Kyle.

"Yeah Mom?", he asked rolling over.

"Take this, it'll help you get some meaningful rest", she said.

"I can't take any more medicine Mom", Kyle whimpered, "my heart feels like it's going to explode."

"It's only a little bit son", Kayla reassured, "just enough to help you sleep."

"Did Mya put you up to this?", Rigby asked.

"What's it matter?", she asked.

"Mom, it's not a good idea", Rigby said, "what if he doesn't wake up?"

"Yeah, thanks for the reassurance there bro", Kyle growled.

"You'll be fine Kyle", Kayla smiled, "I promise you it'll help."

"Okay", Kyle said worryingly, "I'm trusting you."

He took the medicine and lay back down with no further arguing. Mya noticed him settle down considerably, and she could feel his heart beat was no where near what it was. He didn't seem to be in pain any more and for the first time in a few days, finally looked at ease. Mya wasn't sure when she fell asleep, but she woke up at about one in the morning, parched again. The entire family, Kyle included, were asleep with light snores. She could hear the incessant scratching and moaning of the animals outside, sick with the same disease that was afflicting her brother. She sneered at those diseased vermin lurking right outside her home.

"Not only can you not get in, but you can't take Kyle either", she snickered, "you're too weak."

Smiling proudly, she got her water and went back to bed. The next morning she was stirred by Rigby and the smell of breakfast cooking in the kitchen.

"Morning sleeping beauty", he playfully mocked as he rolled her around on the bed.

Mya pretended to still be asleep.

"Oh come on now, don't be like that", Rigby said.

Mya lashed out suddenly, sinking her teeth into her brother's paw. He didn't feel much due to her being so small, and he lifted her right up, she looked at him and growled playfully as he started shaking her off.

"Smelly let go", he joked, "let go...smelly let go!"

He shook her off his paw and she landed on Kyle's side, bouncing off and landing back in bed. Kyle didn't even move at the impact.

"Damn, Kyle's out of it", Rigby said nudging him, "or are you awake and about to attack me?"

Kyle stayed completely still.

"Bruh, we got bacon for breakfast", Rigby said.

Kyle made no attempt to respond.

"Damn...", Rigby said, "he's out of it."

He gave Kyle a little nudge, Mya saw the look in his eyes..change.

"Kyle", Rigby asked, "Kyle?"

"Dude!", Kyle groaned, "the fuck do you want?"

Rigby breathed a sigh of relief, "scared the shit out of me there brother."

"I haven't slept in like three weeks, what you expect?", Kyle stretched out, the bones in his chest and back cracking.

"That sounded painful", Mya cringed.

"Felt good actually smelly", Kyle laughed.

"Stop calling me smelly!", Mya demanded, trying to sound intimidating when she growled, but she was never as good at it as her brothers.

"That was horrible", Rigby laughed.

"She is not ready to use intimidation tactics", Kyle agreed with a grin.

"Boys stop torturing your sister", Morgan called form the kitchen, "come get something to eat."

Rigby helped Kyle to stand and then walked into the kitchen with Mya following closely. The pickings for breakfast for excellent, thanks to all of the work that Kyle and Rigby had been putting in lately. Though just about everything on the table was an MRE or freeze dried, that didn't change how enticing the smells were. Kyle and Mya got first pickings, then Kayla and then Morgan and Rigby. The family sat down at the table, said a quick prayer and then tore into breakfast for the first time since Kyle had gotten sick.

"Feeling better son?', Morgan asked.

"Not really", Kyle said wiping his mouth, "getting some sleep helped, but my heart still feels like it's about to explode and I can't get the taste for salt out of my mouth. I hate being like this, I think I caught whatever that guy had when he bit me. Rabies or something, hell I don't know."

"You should have seen some of those freaks outside last night.", Rigby stated, "lots of them looked way worse than you do. Somehow I don't think it's something that goes away brother."

"Dammit", Kyle growled, "I'm a US Navy SEAL and I'm about to be done in by Rabies of all things. How did I even catch this shit? I've had all my shots!"

"Might be a different strain", Kayla said, "we would need a Vi..."

Kayla was cut off the sound of a large turbocharged diesel vehicle pulling into their driveway rattled through the wooden walls of their home. Glancing out the window, Morgan spied a bright orange Ford F350 Estate Bed on aggressive truck tires and wheels covered in bright lights come to a stop in the driveway. An old friend of his he hadn't seen in some time

"Hey check that out", Morgan grinned, "Jacob's here."

Morgan got up from the table and went to the door, unbarring it as Jacob stepped from his Estate Bed with a tin foil cover baking pan in his paws. From the table, Mya watched the skinny, yellow colored hairless fox walk to the door.

"He's got it too...", Kyle said nervously.

The kids could hear the door open.

"Hey there old dog", Morgan laughed.

"You're one to talk", Jacob returned, "I know it's rude to show up unannounced, but I brought a big cookie. Hows the family?"

Jacob stepped into the house, the old floor broads creaking under his boots.

"Not well brother", Morgan said as they stepped into the kitchen, "Kyle's not in that great a shape."

Jacob took a look at Kyle and set his cookie down on the counter, "gone Rabid have you?"

"So it is Rabies?", Kyle asked.

Jacob nodded, "yeah, and it doesn't go away."

"That's what I was afraid of", Kyle sighed.

"But it does get easier to live with", Jacob reassured, "if you can make it through the first month without losing your mind, you're safe, and learning to fight with what the disease can actually give you will make you ten times the fighter the SEALS could brother."

"What it can give me?", Kyle asked.

"Eventually you'll notice your senses start to improve. Things 'll get a bit clearer, you'll hear things you never have before, food will taste better, etcetera. Dealing with the salt cravings will drive you mad at first, but eventually you discover salt lick and that more or less gives you whatever you need."

"Like what they used for livestock?". Kyle asked.

Jacob nodded, "I know, I know, it's demeaning, but it's that or smoke, and I don't think you wanna do that."

"Neither option is very appealing", Kyle sighed.

"You have to pick one", Jacob said, "do it quick, because if you fail to control your mind in the first month there's no coming back. You made it through UDT training so I think you'll be okay. You've already showed your mind is more powerful than your body once."

"This is nothing compared to UDT", Kyle smiled.

"Just wait", Jacob smiled back, "it'll get worse, but then it'll get better."

Jacob sat down and joined the family for breakfast. He helped Morgan with some things around the house for an hour or so and then he, Morgan and Rigby began to get ready for a scouting run. Much to their surprise, Kyle did as well.

"What do you think you're doing son?", Morgan asked.

"I need some fresh air", Kyle said, "my headaches gone away, so I wanna get back out there."

"That's not a good idea", Rigby cautioned.

'Sure it is",Kyle grinned, "Dad I would like to tell you something that Rigby is keeping secret."

"I will kill you right here right now", Rigby said.

"Well then let me come", Kyle smiled.

Rigby growled.

"I don't think it's a good idea either", Dad said, "but it's up to you."

"I think it's a good idea", Jacob said, holstering the giant SW 500 he carried as his primary weapon, "Kyle needs to learn how to fight like a Rabid, but not make the same mistakes that they commonly make. Long as he stays close to me he'll be fine."

"Well, I guess that's that", Morgan said, "we'll be back in a few hours girls."

Kayla laughed, "stay safe boys."

"You know we..."

Morgan was cut off as a second vehicle pulled into the drive way, six animals spilled out of it. Morgan glanced through the window.

"Oh shit...."

"Hey dogs!", the raccoon shouted, "why don't you come on out and make this easy on yourselves!"

"Good, my trigger finger was getting' itchy", Jacob growled pulling out his revolver, "it'll be just like old times 'eh boys?"

"Won't it just", Kyle grinned, baring his teeth.

"I'm coming out", Morgan shouted dropping his vest on the floor. As he stepped outside the door, the raccoon grinned.

"Well lookie here!", he sneered, "if it aint the mutt that cost me 17 years of my life."

"Shouldn't go around killing people then", Morgan said.

"Shut the trap trog", the raccoon sneered, "whatca gonna do without your SWAT buddies this time?"

"This time I'm just gonna kill you", Morgan said ducking to the ground and covering his eyes. Jacob pulled the pin off a nine bang and tossed it from the door way, it landing right at the foot of the raccoon, instantly detonating. As soon as the cylinder had fired off it's last charge, Morgan sprung up and grabbed the stunned Raccoon by the arm, wrestling him to the ground and ripping his throat out as Kyle and Rigby sprinted from the house, instantly taking a target each. At this point, the three remaining bandits had recovered. Jacob stepped out of the house, and with a single shot from his revolver, blew the head off one of the three remaining bandits.

It was at this point that things went far south for Mya's family. Both of the remaining Southern opossums had now recovered from the nine bang. One, who was closer to the house, managed to kick Rigby in the nuts and bash him off, and though Rigby was able to mostly ignore the pain and come right back for the kill, the one Kyle was trying to kill had managed to get a wicked looking serrated blade off of his belt, while simultaneously holding Kyle's savagely snapping maw at bay. Jacob saw the sun glint off the blade and shifted his aim.

"KYLE! KNIFE!", Jacob shouted, putting the sight of his weapon on the bandit's head and pulling the trigger. The disconnect tripped, letting the hammer go. It struck the firing pin with five hundred pounds of pressure, setting off the .50 BMG primer Jacob used in his 700 grain Super 500 custom loads. In the fractions of a second it took for the powder to ignite, Jacob felt a twinge of pain in his arms, and then the sights of his revolver were in the sky as the bullet left the chamber. Fighting the shaking in his hands, he pulled the hammer back and struggled to get his sights back on target, but before he could pull the trigger, a massive cramp in his hand forced his grip to fail and his revolver to tumble to the dust below. In that time, the bandit dealt Kyle a lethal strike. Putting his knife clean through Kyle's neck and yanking it downward, severing every blood vessel in his neck as well as his trachea. Blood ran from his neck like a garden hose as the bandit laughed and pushed him off.

"There's one inbred trog dead", he joked standing up, "who wants the blade next?"

"I'll do you one", Jacob shouted rushing from the door way and quicker than could be tracked by eye, he buried and equally wicked blade in the opossum's chest as Rigby finished the last of the bandits with a bone gutting decapitation, ripping a good portion of the bandit's spine out with it.

Silence fell over the air as Rigby and Morgan went to Kyle's side. His throat had been shredded, he was laying there with a look of shock on his face.

"Oh son", Morgan's voice quivered as he lay down beside him. Mya had never heard her father whimper like a hurt animal. Kayla, with a tear in her eye, went to comfort her mate, while Rigby almost completely lost it.

"Kyle...Kyle wake up!", He said, tears pouring out of his eyes and dripping off the coat on his face like he'd been sprayed with the garden hose, "Kyle you can't leave! There's too much to do!"

"Rigby...", Morgan said,

"Kyle come back!", Rigby demanded, shaking his brother's body, "KYLE WAKE UP!"

"RIGBY!", Morgan shouted.

"GET THE FUCK OFF ME!", Rigby shouted snapping at his Dad, drawing blood on his snout. Morgan recoiled, not out of anger, but of pure shock. Even Jacob was slightly concerned with the level of anger Rigby displayed.

Rigby fell to the ground at his brother's side, reached into his vest and set his tags on his side, picking himself up and heading back into the house. Mya watched, speechless, from the window. Jacob stood there, still trying to contain the shaking in his hands, falling to his knees next to her Dad.

"Your shakes?", Morgan asked solemnly, he reached out to close his son's eyes.

Jacob sighed, "if it'd hit a second later...."

"It's not your fault", Morgan said, "we dodge death every day, but it gets us all sooner or later."

Kayla wiped a tear from her eye and stroked Kyle's head, "my foolish, brave boys."

Mya felt someone else beside her, she turned to see Rigby standing there. The two of them spoke no words, she just stood there looking at him. After a moment or two, Rigby lay down and Mya leaned into him. He held her tightly, her body shaking as she exploding into a sobbing mess.