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This Forsaken World

By Mantrid Brizon

Episode Fifteen: No Place Like Home

Awakening the next morning, April opens her eyes. Yawning, she stretches her arms, her back arching and breasts shifting. One of her orbs bumps something. With a pleased sigh, April rests her clawed hands upon Grey's outstretched arm, which rests over her belly and just beneath her impressive globes. She turns her head, watching him sleep so peacefully beside her, still wearing only his t-shirt and underwear. Unable to resist, she leans in, giving him a gentle peck on the lips. He stirs, but doesn't wake up right away. She takes the opportunity to steal another kiss, this one more passionate.

Opening his eyes, Grey knows what she's done, feeling her lips upon his and pulling away. His faint smile reveals that he'd taken a modicum of pleasure in it, whether he'll admit it or not. He pulls his arm tighter, holding April closer. He rests his nose against the soft fur on her shoulder, content to hold her.

“You're so warm." He comments.

“I don't think anyone has ever said that to me before."

Stroking his cheek, April turns her head, looking toward the small window of Grey's room. It's past dawn, but not nearly noon.

“I should probably go."

“Okay..."

“It's nothing personal." April strokes his cheek.

“I promise I'll find a toothbrush." He grins.

April giggles as she reluctantly pulls away, climbing out of bed. Grey rolls over, watching her as she walks toward the door. Opening the door, she pokes her head out, looking to the left and the right before slipping into the hallway. Closing the door quietly, she walks down the hall, only to stop in her tracks, staring with wide eyes as Augustine hangs over the edge of the couch, watching her with a little smile. She'd hoped to avoid this conversation entirely, but realizing that it'll be impossible, April decides to own it. She walks past her daughter and into the kitchen, finding a small can of tuna.

Cracking open the can, she hums Grey's song, taking a fork from a drawer, her tail swaying gleefully. Soft footfalls approach, the clicking of claws drawing near. April glances over her shoulder, smiling as she sticks the fork into the can.

“Hey, sweetheart!"

“Hi... What happened?"

“It's not what you think." April replies.

“Oh?"

“We didn't fuck."

“Oh..." Augustine flushes.

“We talked. We talked a lot, and it was nice. I'd never shared so much with one person before, or in so little a time. I guess sex comes later, but I think I'm okay with that!" April smiles.

“Really?!" Augustine asks with surprise.

“... Maybe." April winks sinisterly.

Taking a seat on the couch, April scarfs down the tuna, being careful not to spill any water on the upholstery. Augustine sits beside her, returning to her book. As she sits and reads 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, April repeatedly glances toward Grey's door. She thinks back to all that he'd said, about how he felt and what had happened. Though she knows he's awake, he's yet to come out or even make a sound. Worried that Monica's death has left him damaged, April, fueled by her own desires as much as her concern over Grey's spirits, rises from the couch.

Setting the can down atop a kitchen counter, Augustine watches as her mother returns to Grey's room. Standing before his door, she lifts a hand. Preparing to knock, she hesitates, balling her fist before loosening it, only to ball it again. Grey knows her heart. Would this intrusion be too pushy of her? In the middle of thinking things through, her body reacts. Knock, knock, knock.

“Yeah?" He calls out.

Without saying another word, April turns the knob and steps inside. She pauses as she stands half in and half out of his room, looking at Grey's shirtless back. He wears only his underwear, which he slept in. A hand pulls away his bandage, revealing the reddened, sewn flesh from his gunshot wound.

“I was just checking my bandage." He says.

Stepping further inside, April closes the door behind her. As Grey slowly lifts the gauss crescent, readying to cover his wound, April reaches out a hand and stops him. She grabs his wrist, and also his attention. Looking over his right shoulder, he sees something strange in April's eyes. They share a pain. Taking her hand from his wrist, she grabs the edge of her baggy t-shirt and lifts it. Turning his eyes down, she bears a scar from a grazing gunshot on her right side, placed nearly identical to his own. Her white fur with black stripes slowly subdues the torn flesh, but it's still quite visible.

Turning to face her, Grey stares at the wound, reaching out and placing his left hand over it. He caresses her side, as if silently apologizing for what she's suffered. In response, April reaches out, placing her left hand over his, being careful not to cause him any pain by shifting his stitches or applying pressure.

"Sometimes there are too many coincidences to be discounted." He murmurs.

April nods her head. Turning his eyes toward hers, their gazes lock. Still broken from Monica's recent death, all he can do is take his hand away from her side before slowly wrapping both arms around her. April slides her arms around his body, holding him in kind. He grips her snugly, his nose buried in the fur at the nape of her neck. With her head tipping back and her chin on his shoulder, she softly pets his bare flesh, her claws gently raking his back. He takes a deep breath and slowly exhales before gradually pulling away. Looking up at him, April cannot help herself.

She hops up, stealing a kiss from him. Looking down at her, April's tail sways slowly behind her as she smiles wide, her brow softened and her sapphire eyes glistening; she has the most innocent of expressions. After a short pause, he leans in, startling her as he kisses her back. It's a soft, affectionate, but singular kiss. Taking his lips from hers, her heart beats nearly out of her chest. Her body screams for more, and if he asked, she'd be in bed with him in an instant. However, she knows that he isn't ready; he's said as much. She resists so as not to pressure him.

"I'm trying..." He speaks softly, giving her another hug.

"I know." She replies, resting her nose against the nape of his neck. “I am too."

Leaning against the couch as she stands, facing the hallway, Augustine wonders what Grey and her mother are doing. She doesn't hear any carnal noises. Her mother only used humans, but as few and far between as they were, she can't remember ever witnessing such things from April. Augustine's knowledge of sexual acts come from old magazine, and unfortunately, overhearing the adults of Coalton or witnessing the animalistic tribals and the brutish thugs who once worked for April. The black bunny girl's rape in Coalton's square was not the first the pre-teen girl had seen.

Growing more and more curious, her brow furls and head cocks to the side as she takes a step closer. No sooner than she does, however, the doorknob turns. Eager to mask her curiosity, Augustine spins around, grips the back of the couch, and vaults gracefully over it, swinging her legs out. Landing with a soft thud on her butt, she swiftly collects her book and opens it to the page she'd left off on, before her mother and the human even know she was standing there. Emerging from the room, Augustine sets her book aside, looking at the pair. Grey wears pants and socks, but holds his shirt; a bandage covers his side.

Her mother is clothed as she was when she exited and reentered his room. Slipping on his shirt, Augustine can't help but stare at the bandage, wondering about the injury beneath. Is it similar to the wound her mother received nearly three months earlier? April steps into her bedroom and closes the door, ostensibly to change clothes. Grey passes Augustine, smiling and waving hello to her. He steps into the kitchen.

“Did you eat yet?" Grey suddenly asks.

“Uh... No." Augustine replies.

“Good! I'll make you something."

“Okay!" She smiles. “Can I help?"

“Sure."

Setting her book aside, Augustine slides off the couch and joins Grey in the kitchen. Standing beside him, he passes her a few cans and the manual opener, tasking her with breaking into the cans while he prepares the simple, two-burner camp stove. Inside her bedroom, April stands nude, looking at two outfits placed atop her bed. Her bodysuit hugs her frame so well, showing off her form; she loves how it feels. However, turning her eyes, she looks upon her original clothes; dark pants that hug her legs and tuck into her boots, a tight-fitting, light blue tank top with a large and dramatic cut that clings to her bust replaces her old, seafoam sweater, and her dark teal vest.

Grey enjoys both outfits, as does she, however, he'd asked about her old clothes. In an attempt to please him, April folds her bodysuit and sets it aside. Taking fresh panties from a drawer, she slips her legs through and pulls them up, a faint smile forming. She sits atop the bed and extends a leg, curling her toes and hiding her claws. Slipping her pawlike feet through the pant-leg, she soon inserts the other. Her tank top clings to her frame as she pulls it down. April carefully adjusts her breasts within the clothing, stopping when her right-hand lowers, revealing her scar to her.

Shaking it off, she collects her vest and drapes it over her torso, and though it covers much, the scar still remains. A wash of self-doubt cascades over the woman. She looks toward the folded bodysuit, realizing one of its traits that she so appreciates; it conceals her scar, which has yet to be covered by her growing fur. Turning her head toward the door, she can hear the muffled voices of her daughter and the man she loves. Taking a deep breath, she prepares herself. Gripping the knob, she opens her bedroom door.

“There you are! Breakfast is-"

Grey suddenly pauses. Augustine turns her head toward the human she stands beside, a half-full plate in her hands. Seeing his gaze, she follows his vision, her sapphire eyes landing on April. With her arms angled inward, her hands hovering over her groin and with her fingers gripping a wrist, her head is turned down but eyes up. It's an innocent pose, an image that any of her victims would fear. Grey, however, seems enamored.

“Well, someone's looking pretty today." He says with a smile.

April's lips curl into a pleased grin.

“What about me?!" Augustine whimpers.

“Okay! Two people are looking pretty today... You're alright." He teases the girl.

“Jerk..." Augustine smirks.

Collecting a plate, Grey holds it toward April, only to grab a second. Following Augustine, the trio meet at the dinner table, where Grey sets a plate for April, beside the one that he's claimed for himself. Standing beside him, he even pulls back her chair for her. While sitting at the table and eating their breakfast, Grey retrieves a small bottle, taking his antibiotic pill.

“How's your side feeling?" April asks.

“It's getting better, but I definitely notice it." He replies.

April had planned to take Grey out into Searchlight, but hearing his answer, she decides that he isn't ready. With all the food and water they need, and Tyson to carry out her commands, April decides that today isn't the day. After eating, she sits back, watching Grey and Augustine as they clean the dishes with a damp rag and a dry one. It warms her heart to see her daughter growing so attached to human, her tail swishing with delight as he agrees to continue reading Treasure Island with her. No sooner than they finish cleaning the dishes, Augustine darts away, fetching the book. Sitting on the couch beside April, Grey turns to her and smiles.

“Thank you." He suddenly speaks.

“For?"

“For visiting me last night... For staying with me... I needed that."

“Oh, Grey..." She reaches out, stroking his cheek. “I was glad to be there."

“It was the first real comfort I've had in a long time." Grey continues, resting his hand over hers. “It meant a lot to me."

“Me too." April grins.

Thudding footpads and a closing door draw their attention. Augustine emerges from her room, the book clutched tightly to her chest. She dashes down the hall, her claws clicking on the floor and her pigtails swaying behind her as races back to the couch. Leaping upon the furniture with startling vigor, she swirls around and mashes her side against Grey, leaning into him as she elevates the book. April can't help but giggle at the girl's exuberance. Taking the book, Grey starts first, dramatically reading from the tome. After a while, he passes the book to April, who takes a turn before passing the book to Augustine, who then returns it to Grey.

They spend all morning and part of the afternoon doing this, until they're interrupted by a knock at the door. Reluctantly rising from the couch, April's brow furls and she grumbles angrily. Who dares interrupt her and her time with her little family? Using his key, Tyson barges in.

“April?!" He calls out. “Hey, April!"

“What the fuck do you want?!" She snarls, standing beside the couch.

“We've got-"

He suddenly pauses, seeing the human and Augustine sitting on the couch behind his leader.

“Oh... Is this a bad time?"

“That's putting it mildly..." She growls.

“Well, it's just that we have a problem." Tyson begins, nervously scratching the back of his head.

“What kind of problem?" Grey asks.

Turning back, April watches as Grey rises from the couch. He hands Augustine the book, using a palm to push himself from the soft, red cushion.

“Did you need some help?" He asks.

“Rest, little bear!" April urges Grey.

“I'm alright." He assures her. “So?" He asks Tyson.

“Well, yes, we do. That is why I came up here." Tyson smirks.

“You don't need to worry about this." April interjects, turning toward Grey, looking to him with concern.

“Nonsense. I've been a burden long enough."

“You're not a burden, little bear!" April swiftly exclaims.

“You're such a sweet liar." Grey grins. “But I want to help. Consider it physical therapy."

“Okay..." April smiles back. “If that's what you want."

Watching as she steps closer to Grey, Tyson is floored. He's never seen April act so... Gentle. She submits to Grey, something she doesn't do to anyone else. If Tyson dared to oppose her will, even suggesting another course of action, he'd be looking at the business end of her Micro-Uzi.

“So, what's this problem you have?" Grey asks.

“Er... Well, it's about the solar farm..."

“Oh, for fucks sake!" April grumbles. “Can't anyone do one job without me holding their hand?!"

“It's alright." Grey speaks softly, resting a hand on her shoulder and giving her a little squeeze. “Whatever's wrong, we can handle it."

Looking back, April's angry scowl instantly changes, her brow softening as her eyes shift from his hand and toward his face. The dramatic and startling shift leaves Tyson in shock.

“What's going on, buddy?" Grey asks with a pleasant tone.

“Uh... They're having a hard time with the power box."

“Power box, huh?" Grey murmurs.

“We were looking through town for a book that would explain how it works and where hoping you might have one." Tyson continues.

“Fucking figures..." April grumbles.

April turns to Grey, who stares beyond them and at the floor. She pauses, looking him over slowly. He appears deep in thought.

“Maybe I should take a look at it." He suddenly suggests.

“You know about power boxes?!" Tyson asks with surprise.

“Well, it couldn't hurt for me to check."

“Are you sure you're up for it?" April asks again, with worry in her voice.

“I'll be alright." He assures her.

With her lips curling around her snout in a little smile, she turns back to Tyson, giving him an affirming head nod.

“We'll be down in a minute."

“Excellent!" He chirps.

With a wave of her hand, she sends him away. Heading toward the door, Grey collects his boots. Augustine soon joins him, but April disappears. Sitting on the floor and tying his laces, Grey notices her absence, looking around for her.

“... April?"

Emerging from her bedroom, April now wears her custom harness and holster, which bears her Micro-Uzi. In her clawed hands, she holds something wrapped in fuchsia fabric. Slowly rising to his feet, Grey looks down as April silently presents him with the package. Taking hold of the artifact, he opens the cloth, stunned to see the Kahr CT9 pistol and his spare magazines. For so many years he carried that weapon that was rumored to belong to his father. He'd be lying if he denied an attachment to the sidearm, though he handed it over to April months earlier and continued without it.

“You... You kept it." He murmurs, his eyes watering.

“I just... I really wanted to give it back to you." She replies.

Augustine listens as her mother downplays the importance of the weapon to the man; she knows that April hasn't gone a night without looking at Grey's pistol.

“You took good care of it. I can tell."

“Of course!"

After holding the pistol and the spare magazines, he rewraps them in the fuchsia cloth, before carefully handing them back to a stunned April.

“You don't want it?!"

“I do... I'm just not ready for it yet. The only thing I really want back right now is my gear belt and pack." He replies.

Nodding her head, she takes the bundle back and returns it to her room. Rejoining the human and her daughter, April slips her digitigrade feet into her special boots, lacing them tightly before all three march slowly down the staircase. Opening the front doors to the lobby, they step outside and Grey takes a moment to smell the air. Walking at a comfortable pace, they make their way through Searchlight. All of the denizens greet April by name, nodding or bowing their heads in reverence as she passes by. Most greet her daughter as well, while only a handful even bother to acknowledge Grey.

Grey doesn't seem to notice the citizen's apprehension at the sight of the strange human, something which bothers April. Glancing back, she silently chuckles at the sight of a visibly amazed Grey, who is taken by the pristine condition of the town. He doesn't seem to notice the stares or the forced greetings of her tribesmen and women. Eventually making their way to the outskirts of the town, just over a mile away, they reach the edge of the solar farm. Grey's eyes grow wide as they near the many, undamaged solar panels. Never has he seen so much pre-collapse tech in one place.

In the distance, a group of Voeldahn stand around a central pylon made of cylindrical concrete. Tyson, looks away from the group, spotting April, Grey, and Augustine. Waving them over, he darts up to the trio, explaining the problem. The power box was still being wired, and many of the lines are not properly attached. They don't know what plugs into where. Joining the others, Carol stands with her brothers, Sam and Max. The three, blonde haired and white furred minks argue over the proper arrangement, fearful of improperly wiring the box and destroying it upon activating the power.

“It's alright! They're here!" Tyson calls out.

Turning, Carol and her brothers immediately pause at the sight of the pale skinned, male human with flowing hair, a rare sight to behold.

“Grey says he can help." Tyson continues.

“Grey, huh..." Sam eyes him suspiciously. “That's a funny name."

“I'm a funny guy." Grey retorts.

Reaching out, Grey swipes the wire cutters from Sam without speaking another word. Pushing gently between Carol and Max, Grey examines the box. He cannot help but shake his head and smile; it's nearly identical in form and function to another he'd seen. So many years ago, after saving the electrician from being beaten to death by raiders, he'd viewed his homemade power plant, built upon his roof. He'd even helped the injured man install a final piece of equipment and work on his power box. The man was eager to explain its secrets to Grey, just before showing him music for the first time in his life.

One of only a handful of fond memories he has from before meeting Monica, the image of that power box and the puzzle of wires it held never left his mind, even after several years. Making sure that the power is off beforehand, Grey removes each and every wire, carefully organizing them by color.

“Hey, I don't think you should be doing that." Max remarks.

A hand roughly grips his shoulder, drawing his attention.

“Shut the fuck up, and let him work." A glaring April instructs.

“R-right. I'm sorry."

“No harm done! I can show you how this all works, if you'd like!" Grey chirps.

“Where'd you learn about this stuff?" Carol asks.

“From a nice man I met on the road." Grey replies.

As Grey shows them the internals of the box, April suddenly excuses herself. Leaving Augustine with Grey, Tyson and the others, she walks back to town. Normally, she would never pull herself from Grey's side, but there's something she wants to do. After a brisk walk, she abruptly enters the clinic, startling Havana who sits at the desk and reads a medical journal.

“April! What're you doing here?"

“When Grey came in, where did you put his things?"

“Hm... Dr. Shaw probably put everything in the main storage room."

Rising from her seat and leaving the manual behind, Havana leads April through the clinic and toward a room that's not only locked, but guarded by one of her armed soldiers. Inside of this windowless room is where the clinic stores all of the dated medication in their possession. Entering the room, April and Havana look for anything resembling a belt of gear. Havana soon finds a filthy, brown canvas pack and a black military web belt, laden with pouches, a butt pack and a holstered pistol.

“Is this it?"

April dashes across the room, her lips curling with delight as she nods. Claiming the heavy pack and belt, she and Havana return to the lobby, locking the storage room on their way out. Overcome with curiosity, April sets the pack and belt atop a table, taking a seat in one of the clinic's old lobby chairs. Inside the M1936 musette bag, she finds only a half dozen unopened cans of food, and a single box with a handful of 9x19mm Parabellum ammunition. Switching to his belt, she eagerly examines his things. The two-toned Bersa Thunder 9 Pro immediately draws her attention.

Handling the weapon, she swiftly ejects the magazine, finding it fully loaded. Pulling back and locking the slide, a live cartridge tumbles down the magazine well, which she swiftly collects. She pauses to examine the form of the firearm, her sapphire eyes scanning every line and curve. With a black frame and a matte silver slide, she wonders if Grey has a particular preference for duotone sidearms. Setting the firearm aside, she continues to search through his things. On his belt she finds a pouch with a tiny but functioning flashlight. With a nearly dead battery, the LED only barely illuminates.

Opening a pouch, she retrieves a strange artifact. Made of chain links, she immediately recognizes it as Grey's whip. April flashes back to her second encounter with the human. Smiling wide, she reflects fondly on how he so skillfully ensnared her wrist with the metal links, preventing her escape. The memory of his dominance somewhat arouses her. Setting that aside as well, she unzips his military issue butt pack. Filled with the usual accoutrements of the typical survivor, she finds two books. One is a thick paperback, the cover depicting horrifying creatures that look vaguely humanoid. Spines and tendrils emit from their bodies and geometric holes decorate their flesh.

Returning the book to his pack, a collection of stories penned by someone called “H.P. Lovecraft", she examines the second. Far smaller and even more perplexing, it's bound in leather, with thin, fragile pages. The books title and author are long since missing, with the golden print rubbed off of the black hide cover. However, a shape is stitched into the leather. At a glance, the icon reminds her of a sword, with a rectangular blade and missing a tip. Satisfied with her search, which only served to make her feel more connected to Grey, she returns things to their proper place.

Slipping on the dirty backpack, she carries the belt and swiftly departs, rushing home to Searchlight Tower. Climbing the stairs and racing inside, she sets to work, eager to surprise her would-be lover. After finishing her mission, she races back down the stairs, through the lobby, outside of Searchlight Tower and into the streets. Jogging back to the solar farm, she finds everyone right where she left them. Standing just behind Sam and Max, who examine the box, Grey speaks to Carol and points at several of the solar panels. He appears to be explaining a technical aspect of their functioning to her. Seeing her mother racing toward them, Augustine turns.

“There you are!" Augustine calls out to her.

“Hey! Where'd you go?!" Grey asks.

“I said I'd be right back." April cheerfully replies, a little smile on her face.

“Yeah, hours ago! I thought that meant you had to pee or something." Augustine remarks.

“We were getting a little worried." Grey adds.

Touched by his words, she steps closer, resting a clawed hand on the bare flesh of his forearm.

“I'm fine." She coos.

“Good."

“So are we, apparently." Tyson interjects.

“Oh?" She turns to him. “Did you figure out what was wrong?"

“We didn't know what we were doing, but Grey set us straight." Carol answers.

“Yeah. With his help, we rewired the box and it should work now." Sam continues.

“Pull the switch! Let's check it out!" Max urges his brother.

Gripping the handle apprehensively, Sam winces in anticipation as he pulls the lever. Power flows through the box from the various panels and their subterranean wiring.

“Huh... It's humming." Max comments.

“... Did it work?" Sam asks.

“How would we know?" Carol looks to Grey.

“Was there anything else that didn't look finished?" Grey asks.

“No. The power station has intact transformers and everything is untouched; there's old locks on all of the boxes." Tyson answers.

“From what we can tell, they already hooked it up to the substation, and we already pulled the switch to send power to it from the solar farm." Max adds.

“That's all we had to do, actually. It was easy until now." Carol interjects.

“Then I guess we take a walk through town and see if anyone has lights." Grey suggests.

Collecting their tools and closing the box, the mink siblings dart away, followed closely by Tyson, with April, Augustine and Grey not far behind. Reaching the outskirts of town, none of the citizens act as if there's anything strange going on. The group are disheartened, with the two brothers and their sister wondering what they could've done wrong. Tyson, steeling himself for disappointment, doesn't act upset or confused, suggesting that they persevere until they inevitably succeed. Suddenly, Grey heads for a random building. April and Augustine are quick to follow him as he steps into the old shop.

“Hi!" Grey greets the occupants.

“Uh, can I help you?!" A young man asks.

His angry expression suddenly changes upon seeing April and her daughter entering behind the man.

“I'm sorry to barge in. I just needed to do something."

Walking past the man, who holds his tongue as he stares nervously at April, Grey finds a light switch, flipping the plastic lever with a finger. Looking toward the ceiling, the florescent lights flicker and glow, brightening to the amazement of the people inside.

“Maybe 'The Ending' happened during daytime?" Grey shrugs.

“Good job, little bear!" April exclaims.

The stunned occupants don't pay any attention as April throws her arms around the human, hugging him tightly. Neither do they notice when Augustine joins the pair, inserting herself into their hug. Leaving the building, others soon notice the glowing shop sign, finding switches nearby and marveling at their own lights.

“Of course, when it gets dark, the lights are going to go out again." Grey reminds Tyson.

“And we're still working on the windmills." Carol remarks.

“We should focus our efforts on charging and maintaining batteries, especially once we have the windmills working." Grey suggests.

“Could you help us with those, too?" Sam asks.

“Why not." Grey replies.

“For now, you should take a break. Enjoy this victory." April instructs.

“Thanks, April!" The others chirp.

Taking Grey and Augustine by the hand, April walks between them, eagerly leading them back to Searchlight Tower.

“You don't want to keep working?" Grey asks.

“We've done enough for today. Let's go home, little bear."

“Is that my new nickname?" He chuckles.

April stops in her tracks, releasing Augustine's hand and turning toward Grey.

“You don't like it?! I just think it's cute, but I can call you something else!" She swiftly replies, a worried look on her face.

“It's fine. It is cute." He replies. “It's just that I'm taller than you."

“Well..." April steps closer, her eyes examining his form. “I could always call you big bear." She coos.

“Careful. That's suggestive, and there are children around." He warns, looking to Augustine.

“It's fine. I already know what she means." Augustine admits.

“I was talking about me!" Grey chuckles.

April giggles, her thumb stroking the back of his hand.

“Little bear it is, then." She remarks.

Continuing their walk, April collects Augustine's hand and leads them back into Searchlight Tower. The lobby lights glow a lovely amber hue, emitted from sconces mounted high on the walls. Climbing the stairs, they enter the penthouse apartment to strange sounds coming from the study. With their curiosity piqued, they all forget to remove their footwear, heading down the hall and opening the study door.

“Let me enlighten you. This is the way I pray. Living just isn't hard enough. Burn me alive, inside. Living my life's not hard enough. Take everything away!" A man's voice sings melodically through the speakers.

Approaching the MP3 player, Grey presses a button, starting the song over and turning the volume down so that it doesn't hurt their ears, which are not accustomed to the loud noises of the world before. Standing beside him, their tails swaying, April and Augustine listen to the music, something neither has ever heard before.

“Was this like that other song you heard? The one I've heard you sing?" April asks.

“No." Grey shakes his head. “It's more... Aggressive... I like it." He replies.

“Me too."

Augustine bobs her head, eyes closed as she seems taken by the tune. Once the song finishes, however, they turn off the device. Returning to the stairwell door, they remove their footwear and walk throughout the penthouse, examining all of the things that now work. The electric stove grows warm and the coils glow, a blender spins and startles Augustine, and the black screen of the wall mounted TV lights up, awakened by the press of a bright red button on its side, which April had noticed. Staring at the blank screen in awe, April approaches her daughter, whose eyes shift toward Grey, standing in the kitchen.

“So, I guess it does show pictures." April remarks.

“I thought it was just a dream." Augustine murmurs.

“Apparently not."

Sliding an arm around her daughter, the pair share an embrace. Curious about his room, Grey heads for the door and April takes notice. Releasing her daughter, she follows Grey at a distance as he turns the knob. Pushing it open and standing in the doorway, Grey stares with watery eyes at the pack sitting near the foot of his bed. The grime has been cleaned from the bag and it looks as new as the day he'd found it. Atop his bed, with every pouch in its proper place, his belt waits for him. His Bersa pistol, still holstered, lay against the military butt pack.

Everything was very obviously arranged this way, and lovingly so. Turning, he looks toward April, who now stands beside him, her arms crossed beneath her breasts as she looks inside his room.

“I brought your things for you." She gleefully remarks.

“I see that." He speaks softly.

“I wanted to do something ni-"

Grey steps closer, interrupting her by wrapping his arms around her body and pulling her into a surprise hug. Augustine watches from the living room, a little smile on her face as her mother's tail swishes so happily. Throwing her arms around the human, she nuzzles him, smooshing her body firmly against his.

“You're too good to me." He finally speaks.

“Impossible." April retorts. “But I know that feeling."

“Not from me, I hope."

“... Yeah." She nods.

“You're a great person, April. I see it in you. I could never be too good to someone so beautiful."

Pulling back, they share a gaze, breaking it only for their eyes to scan the face of the other. April's heart pounds, beating violently in her ribcage as Grey slowly leans in, tilting his head. Acting of his own volition, he gives her a kiss. It's far more passionate than the one he'd given her earlier. She feels herself melting in his arms, a fire growing within her. His lips hover over hers, their flesh caressing. He steals another, his arms pulling her tighter. Growing excited, April grips his clothing in her fists, waiting for the right moment. Feeling her tongue caressing his, he responds in kind, no longer attempting to stop her advances.

Augustine's brow raises and she brings a hand up to her face, covering her feline nose and mouth as she silently giggles. With a soft pull, Grey inches her toward the bedroom. April takes this and runs with it, pushing him inside and swiftly slamming the bedroom door closed. Augustine can hear the click of the lock and a thump as something heavy is pushed onto the floor. Walking slowly down the hall, she can hear the faint gasps and coos of her mother, and Grey's heavy breathing. While the young girl already adores Grey, she's uninterested in hearing her mother and the man having sex.

Walking away from the door, she reenters the study, closing the door behind her and heading for the desk. Taking a seat in the chair, she turns it around, facing the smaller table behind it. Leaning forward, she fiddles with the controls of the MP3 player.

“Alright... How did he make this thing work?" She speaks to herself.

Returning to a familiar looking page, she sees a button shaped like a triangle resting on its right side. Her finger hovers over the button; she pauses, waiting for something. Augustine's ear shifts as she hears a muffled moan. It's her mother. With a little smile on her face, the pre-teen girl shakes her head.

“I knew they would..." She giggles.

Pressing the button, the song plays, drowning out her mother and the human as they make love for the first time.