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Chapter 22: A New Generation

The months that followed were the most magical for Fox and Krystal. The crib in the nursery went on unused during the first few months Marcus' life. The telepathic maternal bond between Krystal and her son impelled upon her a powerful need to have their pup in physical contact at all times with either her or his father.

Consequently, their child never cried. His parents at all times sensed his needs and attended to them. If Marcus woke up hungry in the middle of the night, Krystal would almost immediately wake and let him nurse even before he had a chance to utter a whimper. Diapers were changed within minutes of being soiled. Tummy aches were quickly alleviated the moment they felt his discomfort. And every night, Krystal and Fox would play and sing a lullaby to their son.

The moment Marcus began to crawl, Fox absolutely doted over his son. He would spend mornings sprawled upon the living room carpet engaged with Marcus playing with various baby toys. Through his wife's telepathy, he experienced his child's interest in his surroundings, his joy at feeling his parent's love for him and for each other, and surprise at delightful stimulations of his developing mind. Negative emotions of sadness, anger, disgust, or fear were rare and very brief thanks to the mental bond he shared with his parents through Krystal.

It was not until Marcus was three months old that Krystal felt his telepathic development had progressed enough that he could be physically separated from his parents and have his first nap in the nursery. With their son sleeping peacefully in his crib, Krystal and Fox snuggled together on the living room couch. It had been months since they had made love, and while neither regretted the temporary cessation in their sex life, both welcomed the renewed physical and mental intimacy that naturally came with their joining.

It was a few days later that Fox's relationship with his son became more profound. He had just changed Marcus into a fresh diaper and was blowing raspberries on his belly, making the fox pup squeal and giggle. When Fox then picked him up and rested his forehead against his son's, a burst of childish glee pulsed into his mind, "Papa."

Fox was deeply shaken and moved to tears. He was not hearing his son's thoughts and emotions through his telepathic bond with Krystal. Marcus was for the first time mentally reaching out directly to his father. He felt his wife embrace him from behind, lay her chin on his shoulder, kiss him on the cheek. "Father once told me that my brother did the same thing to him."

Keeping his son held close to his chest, Fox turned around and embraced his wife. "But your father was a telepath, and I'm not."

"That may be the case, but it doesn't prevent me from mentally talking to you, and as you've just found out, it's not preventing Marcus either." Krystal thought to him. "He knows who you are and has felt your love for him and is responding to it as only a telepathic child can."

While he had no complaints, and took delight in hearing his son's mental prattling in his mind, it at times proved to be distracting. There were occasions when Krystal had to resort to putting up a mental barrier between Fox and Marcus to allow her husband to concentrate on a task, such as repairing an appliance in his workshop. This did not sit well with Marcus, who became frustrated when he could not sense his father, and Fox found himself aghast at being confronted by the idea of a telepathic tantrum.

Aside from such minor unpleasantness, the shared bond between Marcus and his parents had a positive effect. Their son could sense the love his parents had for each other and for him. Both discovered how much it benefited their child when he was six months old. Marcus had just been sung to sleep with a lullaby in the nursery. Fox had then quietly closed the door separating the nursery from the bedroom and joined his wife under the sheets.

They made love, partaking of each other's mind and body in a union that renewed and strengthened their love for each other. In their shared post-coital bliss, with Fox still deeply knotted inside his wife, they heard Marcus' voice in their minds call out to them, "Mama! Papa!" followed by a burst of childish laughter and happiness.

It left Fox feeling a mixture of embarrassment and love for his family. He mentally sighed,"It's going to take some getting used to, hearing him in our minds whenever we get intimate."

"He senses our love for each other and it makes him happy." Krystal assured him just before pulling him down to meld her muzzle with his while grinding up against him. Despite Marcus' mental presence, or perhaps because of it, Krystal was still sexually hungry for her lover and soulmate and would not be denied. She forcefully rolled them over so that she was now straddling Fox and began to ride his maleness before his knot had even subsided.

In the passion of the moment, Fox gripped his wife's hip and trusted back up into his wife. His feelings for her was without bound. "I love you, Kurisutaru." And once again, Marcus made his mental presence known, expressing that innocent, childish joy at experiencing his parents' love for each other. It took Fox some time to adjust to this new facet in his shared love live with his wife, but it eventually became the new normal for them.

When Marcus was six months old, they took him on his first outing. Being out in public with their son for the first time proved to be a challenge for Krystal, who had to mentally shield Marcus from the many minds around them. Fox looked around anxiously while lounging on the picnic blanket with his wife and son. "Your son can sense your nervousness, and is becoming agitated."

"Sorry, Kiddo." Fox thought to little Marcus, tweaking his nose playfully to make the pup squeal and laugh. He took a deep calming breath but kept scanning around. "I keep expecting to see tabloid photographers lurking somewhere nearby."

"I don't think we'll have to worry about them for a good while." Krystal thought back while glancing down at her tablet. It was then that Fox saw the headlines from Lylat News. 'Pricilla Kane arrested for trespassing at Phoenix Manor. Charles Phoenix launches lawsuit against tabloids for violation of privacy and defamation.'

"Wow! This must have something to do with that call from Kei this morning." Listening to Walter Kent's report only confirmed Fox's suspicion. Star Wolf Security and Investigations had apprehended Pricilla Kane lurking in the back garden of the Phoenix estate. But in an unexpected twist, it was Kei Phoenix who, while practicing with his sword, found Kane under a cloaking field and used his blade to destroy the cloaking emitter. "Ha! Serves that Kane bitch right to try to take pictures through their bedroom window."

Krystal laughed at what they heard Walter Kent say next. "Way to go Kei! Seems that scaring the piss out of paparazzi runs in your family, Fox."

With the tabloid no longer hounding Fox and his family, he and his wife felt free to enjoy a drama-free life for the next three years. Marcus had his first Birthday. Falco and Katt visited for the occasion. They were joined by Bill and Fay. Fara and Kei were also there with their 5-month old twins, Oswald and Katherine. A month later, Miyu Caruso had her first child, a daughter they named Jennifer. A week after that, Vanessa O'Donnell gave birth to a healthy folf pup she and her husband named Sean.

When Marcus turned two, Krystal began his telepathic training, teaching him to meditate every night before going to bed. It then progressed with basic telepathic exercises of putting up mental barriers and teaching him when it was permitted to read other minds and when it was not. By the time he was three, Krystal felt it safe to take her son on outings without having to mentally shield his mind from the random thoughts of others.

It was around that time that the young fox pup began to get an inkling of how unique his ability to read minds was. They were kneeling together in her meditation alcove going through his mental exercises when the question formed in Marcus' mind. "Mama, how come Ozzy, Katy, Jenny, and Sean never notice what I'm thinking? Did their mamas also teach them not to read minds?"

"No Makasu." Krystal explained. "It's because they can't."

Marcus, in his innocence, was horrified. "But why, Mama? Did they become mind deaf? Will that happen to me?"

Fox, who had been listening in on the mental conversation, walked in and joined his wife and son, sitting on the floor and leaning against the curved wall of the circular meditation alcove. Krystal sent a wave of love through her son's mind to calm and reassure him. "They are perfectly fine, Sweety, and no, you will not become mind deaf." She then got up from where she was kneeling, sat down next to Fox, and beckoned her son to sit with them.

When he did, she explained, "Makasu, in all of Lylat, you and I are the only ones who can read minds and sense the feelings of others around us." This revelation troubled Marcus, but Krystal reassured him. "It's quite normal for everyone here in Lylat to not be able to read minds. The people in these worlds have all been able to do just fine without telepathy. It's always been like that for them."

Marcus looked back to his father and frowned. "But Papa can read minds..."

Fox smiled to his son and shook his head. _"Only your mama's, and that's because she's linked my mind to hers when we got married. I can hear your thoughts, but only because you are thinking to me, Son." _ When he saw his son frown, he drew Marcus into his arms and let his love for him fill his heart, knowing that he would sense his emotions. "And I find it really special when you think to me and send your love into my head. It makes me feel like the luckiest dad in all of Lylat."

Hearing Marcus giggle in his mind filled Fox's heart with joy, though he sighed when his son mentally asked the question he knew he would ask one day. _ "But why is it that only Mama and I can read minds and feelings?"_

"It's because I'm not from Lylat, Makasu." Krystal mentally answered. "I am from a planet that was called Cerinia." She then drew Marcus into her arms, facing him, and leaned down to lay her forehead against his. "Close your eyes and clear your mind like I taught you..." When he did, she projected into his mind memories of her youth. Marcus for the first time saw mental images of his mother's home world, a world populated by blue-furred foxes, covered in lush, tropical forests in shades of blue and green that he had never seen or known of before, a world with deep blue oceans. He saw his mother's memories of her family, of her mother and father, of her brother and sister, and of her aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.

He then felt his mother's melancholy and sniffled, overcome with sadness. Fox took it upon himself to take over. With Krystal sitting between his legs for him to embrace her from behind while Marcus sat between her legs, Fox thought to his son. "Your mother is feeling sad because some time before I met her, a very bad person named Andross destroyed Cerinia. Everyone on her home planet, including her mother, father, and all her relatives and friends died."

The sun had set some time ago, and the windows in the circular meditation room reflected inwardly like mirrors. Fox swallowed a lump in his throat when he saw in his son's reflection tears well up in his eyes. It was heart-breaking to see the young fox pup's lower lip quiver, but he prepared to comfort him. Together, they held their son while he cried in their arms. "That's it. Let it all out." Fox consoled Marcus.

It went on for a quarter hour, but he eventually become worn out emotionally. When Marcus had no more tears to shed, Fox and Krystal each kissed their son on the forehead. "Feel better?" Fox asked.

Marcus nodded mutely.

"Your mother and I are sad too. Even before Andross killed everyone on Cerinia, he killed my own mom and dad. I cried a lot too, and while I'm still sad sometimes, I know they would want me to be happy." Fox consoled his son. "And they would want you to be happy too."

"Will this bad person kill everyone here too?" Marcus asked, sounding like the frightened little fox pup that he was.

Fox gave his son's shoulder a squeeze and reassured him, "No. Just around the time I met your mom, I beat Andross once and for all and killed him. He is gone for good and will never hurt anybody else."

Marcus leaned into his mother's embrace. The little fox pup's heart ached, and he thought to his mother, "I wish I could have seen Cerinia, and met other blue foxes like us, Mama."

"I know, Sweety, and for a long time, I thought I was the last Cerinian left alive."

Marcus, already showing himself to be the precocious boy that he was turning out to be, picked up on the past tense his mother used._ "Did you find other Cerinians? Where are they?"_

"We don't know yet." Fox thought back. "You see, just before I married your mother, she shared her memories of Cerinia with me like she just did with you. And like you, she needed to have a good cry, to let all her sadness out." Fox's throat tightened as he recalled the emotional memory of that night before their bonding. "And I cried with her." He could feel the tears run down through his cheek fur, his voice going hoarse. "We cried ourselves so much that we became tired and fell asleep."

Marcus could feel the tears well up in his eyes from sensing his parent's sorrow. But before he could break down and weep again, he was startled to sense joy from both his mother and father. He then saw a vision projected into his mind that was strangely familiar while his mother thought to him, "But then, something wonderful happened. The spirits of my mama and papa, my sister, my brother, and your father's mama and papa visited us in a dream."

The young fox pup turned around in his mother's embrace and gazed up to her with eyes wide in wonder. "They did? Really?"

"Yes." The image of the family of Cerinian and Lylatian foxes on the beach near the town of Nara came into sharp focus and Marcus gasped, suddenly recognizing where he had seen it.

Fox smiled down knowingly to his son, having sensed that epiphany through his mother. "Yes, that is what that painting is." He stood up, helping Krystal to her feet, and the two led their son through their bedroom to the ball room outside where they stood together in front of the mural. "When your mother was pregnant with you, we were sad that you'd never get to know your grandmothers, grandfathers, aunt, and uncle. So we decided to paint this huge mural of our time with them when they visited us in our dream."

Fox then led Marcus over to the mural and introduced him to his grandmothers. "Sitting behind me is you grandmother, Onisiku." Fox indicated the vixen sitting in the sand behind his left shoulder while she caressed him in a motherly way. He then pointed to the other vixen who was his own mother. "And that is your other grandmother, Vixy.

Marcus' eyes were then drawn to the small vixen sitting between his father's legs. "Who is that?"

"That would be your mom's younger sister, your Aunt Shinju." Fox's heart was filled with fondness for the vixen who had melted his heart. Marcus immediately picked up on the happy emotions and giggled when he saw his father's memory of the little vixen with the cheerful disposition.

Krystal smiled and rubbed her son between his ears, "Yes, my sister was like that and she called your father her second big brother." She then drew Marcus' attention to the other half of the painting. "And sitting behind me are your two grandfathers. This orange-brown-furred tod is your grandfather James McCloud, and this is your grandfather, Shiokaze. And sitting between my legs is my older brother, your Uncle Sanshain."

"You see, Son." Fox went on to say. "Your mother and I both missed our families. That was one of the reasons their spirits visited us in our dream. They also wanted to tell us something important. Until that dream, your mother thought she was the last Cerinian, but they told us that others got away before everyone on Cerinia died." Fox raised his hand to forestall any questions. "We don't know where they are, only that one day we would find them, but we don't know when."

"Wow...and they can read minds and feelings too?"

"Yes, all Cerinians can." Fox assured his son.

Marcus again gazed at the mural of his family, tracing his fingers along the image of his aunt and uncle. "I wish I could have had a baby sister or baby brother."

Krystal and Fox giggled at their son's comment. "Funny you should say that, Sweety." Krystal thought to her pup. "You see, your mom and dad here have been wanting to have another baby."

Fox laughed at his son's wide-eyed astonishment. "Looks like you might get your wish before your next birthday."

Though Fox was somewhat nervous about once again experiencing his wife's pregnancy and labor pains, both felt the strong desire for more children in their family. So when Krystal went into heat, Marcus was brought to the play room, where all of his toys lay strewn about. His mother made for him sandwiches and snacks. Fox turned on the small media center with Marcus' favorite children's shows.

"Now Marcus, your mom and dad want to spend some time alone together so that you'll have a baby brother or baby sister before your fourth birthday. So you stay here and play with your toys. Okay?"

"Yes, Papa. Are you going to make Mama feel good and happy?" Fox could feel the heat rise to his face at his son's innocent question regarding his parent's sexuality. Fortunately, Krystal came to his rescue. "Yes, he will, and I will make him feel good and happy too. You've sensed the love your papa and I have for each other. It's a very special kind of love that once in a while makes a baby. It is how we made you, Makasu. So this week, we want you to be a good little boy and let your mother and father love each other so that you'll have a baby brother or sister later this year."

"Yes Mama. I will." Marcus thought back and began playing with his toys.

Fox was thankful that he had had time to become accustomed to his son's presence in his mind, even when he made love to Krystal. It allowed him to devout all his love to his vixen and rejoice in their shared pleasures through their telepathic bond. When they cried out together in orgasmic bliss that echoed back and forth through their mental link, they heard a burst of childish happiness in their minds. It was once again as Krystal had foretold. Marcus, in his youthful innocence, only understood that his mother and father loved each other, which made the young fox happy in turn.

A week and a half later, Krystal was able to confirm that she was once again pregnant. Bill and Fay came to visit, joined by Falco and Katt, and were the first to learn the news that Fox and Krystal would be adding to their family. Bill shook his head, unable to believe that his long-time friend was going to put himself again through the experience of giving birth.

Fox guessing the bulldog's unasked question, answered him. "Yeah, I'm a bit nervous, but I'm going through with it again for the same reason Krystal and all other mothers do. Holding your newborn in your arms is such a beautiful experience that it makes all the pain worth it."

Bill exhaled and shook his head in admiration. "Wow. If you say so." His attention, along with those of the others, was then drawn to the small, blue-furred fox with the striking green eyes. "He's grown quite a bit since we last saw him." Bill noted.

Falco knelt in front of the Marcus and tickled the pup's nose. "Hi there, Squirt."

With a giggle, he returned the greeting. "Hi, Uncle Falco." Marcus then grasped Falco's finger and scrutinized the blue feathers of his hand. "You're blue like Mama. Can you read minds too?"

"Uh-mm....Ah..." Fox's former wingmate quickly became flustered and nervous when he felt the little pup probe his mind. The avian could feel that childish inquisitiveness and felt completely lost, unable to decide how to react.

"Marcus, remember what I told you." Krystal admonished.

"Sorry, Mama...." He quickly stamped down his curiosity and broke eye contact with the avian. "Sorry, Uncle Falco."

Fox patted his friend on the shoulder. "He's just learned a few weeks ago that he and his mother are the only telepaths around."

Krystal went on to explain to the others. "I started teaching him to control his telepathy a few months ago." She knelt down next to her son. "Okay. Look up into your Uncle Falco's eyes."

When Falco became nervous again, Fox reassured him. "Don't worry. Krystal's guiding him in his control."

"Uh...sure..." he murmured, feeling unsure of what to do.

"Okay Sweety, now very gently touch the top of his mind....That's it."

Falco had at that moment been desperately trying not to think about the night of passion he had with Katt the prior day and began to panic.

"Can you feel his nervousness when you touch the edge of that first thought?" Krystal asked her son.

"Yeah...."

"So what do you do?"

"I don't read that thought. Right Mama?"

"That's right, and why is that?"

"Because I mustn't read people's thoughts without their permission." He then turned around to face his mother and asked, "But shouldn't I just not touch Uncle Falco's mind?"

"It's better to never read a stranger's mind, but your Uncle Falco and the others here are not strangers. It's okay to read surface thoughts of friends that they don't mind you hearing."

Falco watched the exchange between Krystal and Marcus and could not help but find it adorable. These were feelings that Krystal picked up on. She directed her son's attention back to the avian. "Take a look at your Uncle Falco again."

Marcus did as his mother told him, and saw the avian looking back at him with interest. His mother then asked, "What feelings do you sense from him now? Is he nervous?"

"No Mama. He's feeling....happy....friendly."

Krystal laid her chin on her son's shoulder and gently tapped into Falco's mind to make sure he was thinking positive thoughts. Seeing that he was at ease with being the focus of the telepathic exercise, she smiled at what she saw. "That's right. So now, focus on his eyes and look just past them to what's behind, but no farther."

Marcus gazed into the bird's large eyes and immediately picked up on the thought behind them. "Cute kid..." The pup giggled and said, "Uncle Falco thinks I'm cute."

Falco laughed, "That's right, Kiddo, and yes, you may read my mind when I'm feeling friendly and happy."

Katt smiled at her partner, thinking that Falco had the potential of being a good father. She had a feeling though that matrimony was the farthest thing from his mind. And yet, even if they became more than just dating partners, children would be unlikely for them. Even with the advances in genetics, a feline/avian hybrid would be a challenge to conceive. Would such a child even be a live birth, or would she be laying an egg?

The idea of her doing such a thing seemed ludicrous. She snickered to herself and shook her head. No, being a mother was not in the cards for her. Things were better between herself and Falco as they were. Neither of them had any interest in retiring and raising a family like Fox and Krystal, and raising a child aboard the Great Falcon was not a good idea, given the dangers of mercenary flying.

Bill and Fay though had no such doubts. Both knelt to be at eye level with the little vulpine, thinking silly thoughts to make Marcus laugh and squeal with delight. Fay was completely smitten with Fox's son. She encircled the pup in her arms and picked him up when she stood again. "Oh my stars, you are such a handsome little boy!"

She began to give Marcus wet dog kisses, making the pup squeal and giggle. Then, she laid her forehead against his. Krystal saw this and started to caution her bubbly friend, "Fay, careful. Marcus is still learning to control..." but she was not quick enough.

Affectionate emotions and thoughts flooded into Marcus' mind. He really liked his Aunt Fay. She was so friendly and loving towards him. He wanted to play with her. Before she could do or think anything, Fay's mind was suddenly filled with a flood of childish thoughts. "Want to play with me? I have lots of toys." Images of his favorite toys and games that he played with his father flashed across her mind. "We have a pool. Let's go swimming downstairs!"

Marcus' thoughts of the family swimming pool in the basement invariably led her to think of River Rapids and its water slides, and the pup immediately picked up on the recollection. "Wow! That looks like fun! Can we go Aunt Fay? Please! Can you take me sliding? I want to build sand castles!"

Fay pulled back and stumbled. "Woah...I...need to sit down..." Krystal extricated Marcus from her while Fox led Fay to one of the living room sofas. Seeing her sit while cradling her head, Marcus quickly sensed that the nice she-dog was shaken and began to whimper. "I'm sorry, Aunt Fay."

Before the others could ask what happened, Fox turned to a concerned Bill and explained. "Marcus has taken a real liking to Fay, and when she rested her forehead against his, he started flooding her mind with thoughts of toys and games and wanting her to play with him."

Krystal consoled her son. "Shhhh. It's okay. You didn't know that your aunty was not used to all your happy thoughts going into her head." She then pointed to Fay who looked up to meet the pup's eyes with a lopsided smile.

"I'm okay, Cutie. You just surprised me with all your ideas tumbling into my head at once." She took a breath and slowly exhaled. She then turned to Fox. "I don't know how you cope with all that."

Fox walked over to his wife and rested his forehead against his son's. "Eh. When you've lived with telepaths as long as I have, you get used to it. I've learned to sort through Marcus' thoughts when he gets enthusiastic like this." Fox explained while letting his son read his thoughts and soak up the emotions of love he had for him. He then addressed Marcus. "So you understand, Son?"

Falco, Katt, Bill, and Fay watched with interest the pup scrunch up his face in deep thought while he slowly spoke. "Aunty Fay can't read minds like Mama and I can and is not used to mind speaking. I should only think to her one thought at a time when we touch foreheads." He then stretched out his arm towards Fay. Krystal set her son down on the sofa next to the white-furred canid.

Marcus scooted up to Fay and stretched out his hands to her. Fay took him in her arms again and set the pup on her lap. "He's so precocious and articulate for a three-year-old." she commented to Krystal.

"Telepathic children tend to be like that. His being in almost constant mental contact with Fox and me has accelerated his mental development. It was like that for myself and my siblings with our parents too, and was typical for Cerinian children."

Marcus drew Fay's attention back to her and he shyly asked, "May I touch your head, Aunty?"

Seeing the hopeful expression in his eyes, Fay did not have the heart to refuse him, and though she was slightly nervous, she nonetheless leaned forward. When their forehead met, a single thought flowed into Fay's mind. "I love you, Aunty Fay."

Fay blinked the tears forming in her eyes, already deeply moved by such an earnest, innocent expression of affection. "I love you too, Marcus."

"Could we go to the park with the water slides?"

Fay laughed and drew back, ruffling the little fox's head fur. "Only if your mom and dad say it's okay."

"What did he ask?" Bill inquired.

Krystal, who naturally was reading Marcus' and Fay's thoughts, answered for her son. "He picked up on Fay's memory of River Rapids and wants to go water sliding."

Bill's tail wagged at the idea. "Well, I'd be up for it. We haven't been sliding together since before Marcus was born." Fay's tail also thumped upon the sofa.

Fox also liked the idea, but sensed that his wife was hesitant. "Mmm. I don't know." she said. Before her son could protest and plead with her, she cautioned him. "There will be many people there, Marcus. That will be many minds that you'll have to block out."

"But you can help me block them, Mama. Can't you?" he asked hopefully.

"I could, but if you don't work hard on keeping yourself from hearing the thoughts of strangers, you'll give your mama a really bad headache if she has to do all the work for you."

"But Mama, I wouldn't be reading their minds."

"Yes, but with that many people all feeling strong emotions, their thoughts will reach you if you don't block them."

No longer sure of himself, he bit his lower lip and asked, "What if my head gets tired?"

Bill then spoke up. "What about one of the secluded picnic areas? Would it be far enough from the crowds?"

Krystal focused on the canine and mentally asked, "Which area are you talking about? Let me see your memory of them." When she saw his recollection, she nodded and said. "Yes, that would be secluded enough to give Marcus a place to mentally rest."

Fox grinned. It had been almost four years since they had enjoyed River Rapids, and he liked the idea of taking his son there. "Well, I'm game if you guys are." He turned to Falco and Katt. "How about you two? I know you don't care for getting wet, but there are the beaches and picnic areas too. You could relax in the shade or go for walks along the trails around the park."

Falco glanced to his partner. "What do you think?"

Katt pondered the idea. "It's not our usual speed, but I suppose we could give it a try. We should take our own ground car though, in case we felt like leaving early to do something else."

"That works for me." Fox chimed in. "My car will be full enough with Bill and Fay riding with us."

"Sounds like a plan." Krystal declared. "We'll leave early tomorrow morning, and if Marcus does well, we'll get six-month passes. I'll have a good five months before I get big again with the new baby that's coming."

*****

After an evening of catching up on events in their respective lives and watching Marcus in his antics before his bedtime, they were the following morning on the road. He glanced to his wife sleeping next to him after a night of vigorous love-making and a dream shared with him and their son. Glancing at the rear few mirror, he smiled, seeing his son who was sitting between Bill and Fay in the back seat. The pup was animatedly telling them about his friends and the games they played the last time they came to visit.

Bill in turn regaled the young pup with stories of his adventures in Space, exploring worlds far from Lylat. His thought naturally drifted to the secondary mission that he was on of searching for the 49 Cerinian survivors, and was startled when Marcus asked him. "Did you find the Cerinians yet, Uncle Bill?"

Bill glanced up nervously to Fox in the front. His friend answered. "When we explained to Marcus that he and Krystal were the only telepaths in Lylat, it inevitably led to telling him about Cerinia and what had happened to it. The empath that he is, he felt our sadness and cried. We then told him about our dream where the spirits of our families visited us, and that led us to telling him about the survivors. We hadn't mentioned your involvement until now though."

With thoughts of the Shards of Cerinia on his mind, he glanced down at the pup sitting between himself and his girlfriend, and felt his mind briefly touch his, but quickly pull back when Bill became nervous. The last thing he wanted to have was for such a young, innocent child to see the horrors the he witnessed in that graveyard. "You didn't see that, did you?" he asked anxiously.

"No, Uncle Bill. You were nervous. So I did not read what you were thinking like Mama told me. Why are you sad?" he asked.

Bill closed his eyes and leaned back in his seat. "Your mom and dad told you about what happened to Cerinia?"

"Yeah..." Marcus acknowledged, looking down at his hands, his own sadness compounding upon the sorrow he could sense from Bill.

"When your mom and dad told me about the survivors, I went looking for them where your mother's home used to be...." He took a deep breath and fought down the sorrow that threatened to engulf him. "I saw terrible things there, Marcus....That's why I got nervous just now. I don't want you to see in my mind what I saw." He chanced a glance down to Fox's son, and saw the pup looking down at his hands. "Please don't be sad."

"I'll try...Mama and Papa did say that my grandpas and grandmas spirits would not want me to be sad, and Mama is happy to know that she's not the only Cerinian left." He looked up to Bill and asked in a hopeful voice. "Do you know where they are?"

"Not yet...but I did find out which way to look." Bill reached around and pulled Marcus to him in a heartfelt, sideways hug. "And I'll keep looking until I find them. Promise."

"Thanks, Uncle Bill."

The moment of sadness in the ground car had started to induce a bad dream in Krystal's sleeping mind, and Fox was not going to allow it. He reached over and gently shook her awake. The vixen blinked and glanced to her husband. A quick telepathic exchange later, and Krystal turned around in her seat. "Thanks Bill, for everything you've done for and said to our son."

Fox's heart was buoyed by the renewed positive feelings around him and decided to add to it. "We're just twenty minutes away." He then activated his comm and soon heard the receptionist answer.

"River Rapids, how may I help you?"

"This is Fox McCloud. May I speak with Kelly?"

"Yes sir! Connecting you now."

After a brief pause, an exuberant otter answered. "Mister McCloud, what a delightful surprise! It's been too long."

"It has indeed, my friend. We are less than 20 minutes away now. Can the usual arrangements be made for our entry into the park?"

"Most certainly, Fox. I'll let the parking attendant know to direct you to the VIP parking as usual. How many will there be in your party?"

"Six adults, and one three-year-old."

At his desk, Kelly quivered with excitement. Like many in Lylat, he knew that Fox McCloud was now a father. The idea that he was now bringing his son to River Rapids had the middle-aged otter swooning with joy. "Oh wonderful! I do hope the little fellow loves the place. Is there anything else?"

Fox glanced to Krystal and nodded at her mental suggestion. "Actually, there is one other thing we'd like. Could you reserve for us your most secluded picnic area?"

"Consider it done, Fox." Kelly assured him.

"Thank you. I'll see you in 15 minutes then." Fox replied before closing the connection. He then placed a call to Falco, who was following them several car lengths behind.

"Yo!"

"Just a heads up, Falco. When we arrive, follow us through to the VIP parking area."

"Roger that."

They were gathered together at their vehicles, unloading coolers, towels, and bags. Falco looked around, seeing few ground cars near them and only one other family. He then glanced at the main parking and whistled. "Ooof. Quite a turnout. Nice that they give you the royal treatment, Fox."

"Yeah, it's been an arrangement we've had with the owner of the park since we started coming here, and it will be good for Marcus to start slow with the crowds." He glanced down at his son, who was looking around wide-eyed with that youthful exuberance all children had, even precocious ones like his. "Excited?" he asked rhetorically.

His gleeful smile was all the answer Fox needed. Krystal took the moment to draw her son's attention. "Alright Makasu. Ready to have fun?"

"Yes Mama!" Marcus thought back excitedly. He then looked where his mother was pointing.

"Okay. See all those people over there? When we enter the park, they'll be all around us. This is why you need to become good at mentally blocking them, or you'll start to hear all their thoughts jumbled together. So before we go in, I want you to close your eyes and take, slow deep breaths and meditate like I taught you."

"What's going on, Fox?" Falco quietly whispered. He, Katt, Bill, and Fay were all observing Krystal kneeling in front of Marcus where mother and son were mutely looking at each other.

"Krystal is helping him mentally prepare before we go in." Fox then noticed Kelly Rivers waiting for them at the VIP entrance. "Let's buy our admission passes while they get ready."

Kelly's whiskers quivered in excitement upon seeing his most famous return customer and his guests approach. He strode forward and shook hands with them. "Welcome back, all of you." He was practically bouncing on his feet when he greeting his newest customers. "Mister Lombardi, Miss Monroe, I am most honored and thrilled to welcome you as well." He then glanced past them to see Krystal McCloud a short distance away kneeling in front of a small blue-furred vulpine. "Is everything alright?"

Fox replied. "My son, like his mother, is a telepath. This will be his first big outing with many people around us. My wife is helping him mentally prepare himself. It is also why I requested a private, seclude picnic area that we can take Marcus to if he starts feeling overwhelmed."

"Goodness. I cannot even begin to imagine what the little fellow must be going through, but you'll be happy to know that all the arrangements have been made as you have requested."

They waited several minutes, watching the young vulpine take slow, measured breaths while he stood there with his eyes closed. He then open them and smiled to his mother and said. "I'm ready, Mama. Can we go inside now?"

"Yes, Sweety."

"What is that language?" Kelly asked. "It's such a beautiful tongue."

"That would be Cerinian." Fox replied and then called out to his son. "Ready to go have fun, Makasu?"

"Yes Papa!" Marcus replied while running into his kneeling father's arms.

"My goodness! You speak their language too?" Kelly exclaimed. "You never cease to amaze me."

It was then that Marcus noticed the large otter standing next to them. Overcome with a sudden bout of shyness, he tried to hide behind his father. Fox though coaxed his progeny forward. "Well, aren't you going to say Hello to the nice otter?"

"Hello." he said in a quiet voice.

Kelly was immediately enamored with the little fox. There could be no doubt in his mind as to who his parents were. He had his mother azure fur and his father's muzzle fur pattern and eyes. "Hello there. I hope you have a good time in my park, my young fellow."

Fox took the moment to make the introductions. "This is Kelly Rivers, Marcus. This water park is his."

The revelation made the little boy perk up. "Really?" He asked, looking to the large mustelid with wide eyes. "All of it?"

Kelly laughed, his whiskers twitching in mirth. "Yes. All of it." He then withdrew from his pocket a small souvenir sea shell and gave it to him. "And this is for you."

Marcus took the gift in his small hands and turned it over and over, taking in its different hues and swirling patterns. It was the most beautiful object he had ever seen, as far as he was concerned._ "What do you say to the nice otter?"_ he heard his mother mentally remind him.

All bashfulness gone, Marcus smiled at the otter in front of him and said, "Thank you, Mister Kelly."

"You are quite welcome, Marcus." Kelly replied before standing up. He then addressed them all. "Now, off with you, and have a wonderful day."

The moment they entered, Marcus could immediately sense the multitude of emotions around them, mostly happiness and joy, though here and there he sensed sad or angry minds. There were also a few other emotions that he did not understand. His face scrunched up in concentration as he tried to completely block them all out until his mother advised. "You don't need to block out all emotions, Makasu. If you tried, your head would start to hurt, and you'd be miserable."

Marcus relaxed his concentration and mentally asked, "Like this, Mama?"

"Yes. Like that. Now, you'll once in a while hear a thought from someone who is having some really strong feelings. If that happens, don't worry about it. You just ignore it and go on having fun."

After going through the changing rooms where they got into their swimming suits, they made their way through the park. It was all Fox could do to keep his excited son from running off and play in the children's area of the park, but they needed to find their corner of seclusion before anything else. "Hold on there, Kiddo. We need to find that quiet spot where you can rest if your head starts to hurt."

"But I feel fine, Papa." he pleaded.

"That's good, but we'll set up your quiet spot first just in case you don't feel fine later."

"Okay Papa." he groaned while looking forlornly at the wonderful slides, pools, and fountains that the other children were running around in, screaming and laughing.

At the far corner, away from all the commotion, they found the picnic area in question, with a number 7 posted on a gate with the words, 'Reserved - Private.' "There it is. Let's check it out."

Within this secluded alcove was a picnic table, several hammocks, and lounge chairs facing the beach overlooking the ocean. After they had unpacked and set up camp, Falco claimed one of the hammocks, with Katt joining him. "Not a bad park, but I'm still not going to get my feathers wet. This little oasis is a nice place for a snooze though. Go on, Fox, before your kid launches into orbit."

"We'll keep an eye on your things." Katt assured them.

While Bill and Fay ran off towards the adult slides, Fox and Krystal lounged in the children's pool and happily watched their son play. Marcus squealed and laughed running around through water jets and fountains or sliding down small water flumes while at the same time playing with other children near his age. As was often the case, Krystal and Fox were soon recognized, and many saw among the playing children the three-year-old pup with bright blue fur that stood out among the rest.

Other mothers and fathers watching over their own children soon gathered nearby and struck up conversations with the McCloud parents. "How old is he? Is this his first time at the park? He's so adorable. He has such a wonderful laugh." were among the many questions and comments from the other adults around them.

Marcus then chose to jump into the children's pool and lunge into his father's arms. "Hi there, Kiddo. Having a good time?"

"Yes Papa."

Then one serious and stern-looking vixen posed the one question Krystal and Fox knew was only a matter of time before someone asked it. "He's not reading the other children's minds, is he?"

Krystal had carefully rehearsed to answer this question, but Marcus answered it in the simplest, and best possible way. "I can't."

The subtle tension from the vixen and some of the other parents nearby suddenly dissipated upon overhearing Marcus' reply. Krystal and Fox knew that their son meant to say that he was not allowed to read minds. So when a quite murmur of "He's not a telepath" went through the gathering of concerned parents, neither Krystal nor Fox chose to correct them.

By late morning, they noticed Marcus seemed to be looking for areas away from other children and adults. Fox glanced to his wife, who nodded at the thought he was having. "He's actually been doing well, but yes, he's starting to get mentally tired and picking up more random thoughts."

Krystal stood up and walked over to her son. Bending a knee, she whispered in his ear. "Want to go to our quiet spot?" The relief in the pup's eyes was all the answer she needed. Picking him up in her arms, she mentally told him. "Okay Sweety. You can rest your mind. Let Mama block out all those loud thoughts."

Marcus closed his eyes and let his mental barrier fall, taking comfort in his mother's protective telepathic embrace while she carried him away towards their private picnic area. They found the others all sitting around the picnic table eating lunch when they arrived. Krystal dropped her mental shield around herself and her son and set him down. "There you go, Marcus. Just our emotions and thoughts here."

"Aww, the little guy's head is tired?" Katt asked sympathetically.

"Not quite, but he was getting there." Krystal replied. "Marcus did really good all morning until just a while ago."

Katt withdrew a chicken sandwich from the cooler and handed it to Marcus. "Here you go."

Taking a bite into the bread and meat, the pup leaned against Katt, who to her surprise felt his mind gently touch hers. "Aww, he's opened himself up empathically to his Aunty." Krystal gushed.

"Uhhh. Ah. Hooboy." Katt looked to Krystal feeling at a loss. She had no idea how to deal with the unexpected telepathic interaction with the little fox.

Fox decided to come to her rescue. Placing a hand on her shoulder, he explained. "Within Cerinian families, all mental barriers are completely dropped. They derive comfort in feeling each other's presence, thoughts, and emotions. And right now, he considers his Aunt Katt family."

"Yes, and I can tell all of you now that Marcus feels safe and at ease with each one of you." Krystal affirmed while nodding to Falco, Bill, and Fay.

It was in this oasis, away from the frolicking throngs of River Rapids that they enjoyed each other's company and relaxed. Marcus chased after waves washing upon the shore of the beach while his parents sat in the shallows. They watched their son collect sea shells and build sand castles with Bill and Fay. All laughed when Marcus climbed into the hammock, startling Falco awake. The avian rolled his eyes and ruffled the little fox's head fur.

When they knew he was rested enough, Fox and Krystal took their son for a stroll along the less-frequented paths around the park while Bill and Fay went back to the main water flumes. Krystal took the opportunity to guide her son in more telepathic exercises as they walked by others who were also seeking less frenetic outlets of enjoyment. As the afternoon wore on, the crowds around the children's area of the water park began to thin, and Marcus decided he wanted to play in the refreshing waters some more.

With fewer pups, cubs, and kittens around, Fox took on a more active role, playing in the fountains and ridding the children's slides with his son. Krystal was wading in the shallow pool and smiled fondly watching her husband and son frolic. Marcus was no longer consciously focusing on his mental barrier. It had become second nature to him. Sensing his telepathic development brought back fond memories of her childhood. She was barely older than Marcus when her parents took her out on her first public outing with her mother coaching her in her telepathy.

By early afternoon, they retreated back to their private picnic area. Fox and Krystal were sleeping together on a beach towel under a tree overlooking the beach. Bill had dug a hole in the soft sand and was laying back in said hole. With Fay helping, Marcus was filling in the sand up to the bulldog's neck, with all three giggling. "Help, I'm being buried alive!" said a melodramatic Bill, eliciting childish laughter from Marcus and a nose lick from Fay.

The little Fox leaned forward and rubbed his cheek against the half-buried dog. "I love you, Uncle Bill." He thought, and was rewarded with an affectionate nuzzle from Bill and hearing him think back. "Luv you too, Kiddo."

It was a pleasant afternoon that should have gone on with no strife. It should have been a carefree day without worries. It should have gone on with the McCloud family and their friends relaxing and watching the sun set over the ocean before packing their things. Most of all, it should have been a happy day for Marcus with no fear of strangers.

It was Fay who saw them first. Initially, she thought they were just other park attendees who had wandered near their private area and not noticed the 'Reserved - Private' sign on the gate. There were five of them: a beagle, a gray fox, a calico cat, a spotted cat, and a falcon with brown feathers instead of blue like Falco. She waved to the new arrivals. "Hi!"

As they approached closer, Fay stood up. "Are you guys looking for someone?" She was suddenly distracted by a tug on her tail. When she turned around, her eye met Marcus' and a sense of fearful unease filled her mind, which she immediately realized was coming from the little fox.

By this time, Bill had grown suspicious and roused himself out of the loose sand. Brushing his fur off, he politely confronted the interlopers. "Okay folks. Now I suppose none of you saw the sign that this is a private, reserved picnic area, but I must ask that you leave us to enjoy the rest of our day here." When they each reached into their beach bag, Bill felt a moment of panic until he saw each of them withdrawing cameras. "Oh for the love of....Really?!?"

When the tabloid photographers began to spread out to encircle them, Bill urgently said to his girlfriend, "Take Marcus. Run back to the others." Scooping up the agitated three-year-old, Fay attempted to make a run for it, but her escape was blocked by three of the photographers where were each avidly recording their every action.

"Look this way! Hey. Want a cookie? Raarrr!" Each called out one after the other to try and get a reaction from the now frightened child in the white she-dog's arms. Normally, Fay would have had no problem giving these vultures a thrashing, but she found herself deeply affected by the fear emanating from telepathic pup clinging to her.

When Bill saw his girlfriend being harassed by the two cats and the fox, he became enraged and charged at them. He was almost upon them when the beagle jumped in front of him and threw sand into his face. Bill cried out, blinded by the sand in his eyes. Marcus screamed. What happened next was something that neither the paparazzi, nor Fay, Falco, or Katt would have ever imagined.

Fox and Krystal were in the middle of a shared dream. It was a natural dream, one not controlled by the telepathic vixen because she had not meditated since the previous night. They were back home, but it was filled with many Cerinian foxes. There were twins who had an uncanny resemblance to Krystal's late siblings, Sanshain and Shinju. There was a vixen who resembled Fox's mother Vixy except for the dark blue fur. There were also a younger tod and an even younger vixen, neither having reached adolescence.

Most striking though was the oldest among them. He was a young adult tod whose fur was the same azure shade as Krystal's, but with Fox's facial markings, muzzle, and eyes. Fox knew he should be able to recognize this tod. He was about to think to him when both he and Krystal saw his expression turn to one of terror. Then this adult Cerinian whimpered and cried out. "Mama! Papa! I'm scared!"

_ "Marcus?..." _ they started to ask, but suddenly felt fear bloom in their minds... and woke up with a start. Gasping, they looked around. Their eyes met. Krystal could sense that something was amiss. Suddenly, their minds were assailed by that same fear that had awakened them from their dream. As once, they cried out. "Marcus!"

Falco and Katt were sitting at the picnic table and heard Fox and Krystal. They turned around to see them run past, shouting, "It's Marcus! He's in trouble!" In an instant, both sprung to their feet and ran after the agitated parents.

The sight that greeted them filled Katt and Falco with outrage. For the parents of the screaming little fox, a fire of protective rage burst in their hearts and minds. "GET AWAY FROM OUR SON!!!" Three of the photographers turned around and managed to each snap one photo of the McClouds before they were struck by an unseen force. The wind was knocked out of their lungs just as they were lifted into the air and catapulted 300 meters out into the sea beyond the breaking waves.

The fourth photographer, the falcon, was struck by a different force, delivered by Falco Lombardi. The blue-feathered avian, who rarely saw anyone of his kind, was angry on many levels. He was furious that the little fox pup who he considered his nephew would be subjected to such harassment. And he was outraged that a member of his own species would debase themselves by becoming a stalking paparazzo. Said tabloid photographer had seen his compatriots being sent flying into the air towards the sea and did not notice Falco until the last moment when his face was struck by a two-handed blow, fracturing his beak.

Unlike the other four photographers, Jack Conley knew how dangerous Fox McCloud could be. The beagle did not understand how three of his fellow paparazzi were sent flying into the ocean. All he knew was that Fox had seen him. He immediately turned to run from the angry vulpine, only to hit an invisible wall blocking his path of escape. He staggered back and turned around. In the next instant, his lower jaw and muzzle exploded in a flash of pain.

Fox McCloud had recognized the photographer who had previously stalked him and his wife, and now his son. Born of a protective paternal fury and outrage, Fox leapt into the air and delivered a roundhouse kick that connected with the beagle's muzzle. He was ready to pounce Jack and pound him into oblivion when he heard his son's plaintive voice in his mind. "Papa..."

All rage in him evaporated in that instant. Fox McCloud lost interest in any of the paparazzi around them and no longer cared what state they were in. He rushed to where his wife was cradling Marcus in her arms and embracing Fay at the same time. Embracing his wife, son, and Bill's girlfriend all at once, gratitude, relief, and love poured out from his muzzle and mind. "Thank you so much for protecting our son." he said to Fay while at the same time thinking and saying to Marcus. _"Papa is here. _ Papa will protect you, Makasu."

The altercation having quickly come to an end, Katt retrieved a water bottle and was pouring its contents into Bill's face to wash the sand from the blinded dog's eyes. With his vision restored to a semblance of normalcy, Bill looked around frantically. "Is Marcus alright?" In reply, a burst of Krystal's affection and gratitude bloomed into his mind that left him staggered.

Fox himself fervently wished he could have done the same to Bill, but settled to voicing how grateful he was himself. "Thank you, Bill, for doing all you could to protect our son." He then turned to Fay and leaned in to nuzzle her. "Thank you too, for watching over Marcus."

Basking in the love and affection from both Krystal and Marcus, Fay nodded wordlessly to Fox. After feeling the little fox's paralyzing fear, their now soothing presence in her mind was a mental balm to the she-dog.

By then, several burly dogs and otters in park security uniforms had arrived, taking in the scene. Testimony from Bill and Fay alone were enough to have the injured and bleeding beagle and falcon arrested and taken away on stretchers. Jack Conley tried to deny any wrongdoing, but was unable to speak anything more than protesting whimpers through his broken teeth, muzzle, and jaw. The two feline paparazzi were pulled out of the water by lifeguards, coughing up water, barely able to breathe within their fractured ribs. A search for the gray fox did not turn him up until a half hour later when he washed up dead, having drowned after being knock unconscious by Krystal's telekinetic blow.

Neither Fox nor Krystal felt any remorse for the vulpine's demise. All that mattered to them was that these tabloid photographers had sought to exploit their son for their own personal gain with no concern for his feelings or safety. Kelly Rivers soon thereafter made an appearance. The owner of River Rapids looked distraught. "I am so sorry that these awful paparazzi got past our security."

Fox gave the otter a wane smile. "It's alright, Kelly. You did warn us once that they might sneak in disguised as park attendees. Looks like they finally did so, despite your best efforts to keep them out."

Emotionally wrung out, Kelly nodded. "Well, at least these four will never bother you here again. Their identities have been recorded and they are now banned for life from ever entering River Rapids again. I'm also going to call Lylat News and give a press conference to raise up the biggest shit storm I can against the tabloids. It's a shame there were no security cameras pointed in your direction."

"Yes, thank you for everything, Kelly." Krystal replied, though she inwardly shivered and counted her blessings that there were no recordings of what she had done. Once the owner of the water park and the security officers had departed, Fox, his wife, his son, and all their friends retreated to their private picnic area.

Sitting together on the picnic table, Krystal saw the question in Falco, Katt, and Fay's eyes. Bill, having been blinded by the sand, had not witnessed what she had done. She closed her eyes and mentally scanned their surroundings, but sensed no eavesdropper. "I guess some explanations are in order."

Opening her eyes again, she glanced down at her hands placed flat upon the table. "I've apparently developed the ability to do telekinesis. It is very rare among my people, and until Marcus was born, I had never been able to move anything with my mind." She paused to gather her thoughts and then went on. "It was in fact while I was in labor for Marcus' birth that it first happened. The hospital administrator had brought two security guards and was wanting to force Fox to leave the birthing room. Feeling his fear, and even that of Marcus inside me, enraged me. I was not going to allow them to take Fox away from me and his son who was being born. This incredibly strong desire to drive them away from us welled up inside me, and I, for want of a better word, shoved Porcos and his two goons out of the birthing room."

Krystal picked up a bottle of water and placed it in front of her. Fox and his friends all watched the vixen focus intently upon it, but it would not move. "And I still don't know how I did it." She glanced back towards the beach where the altercation at taken place. "Even after shoving those photographers into the sea, I still don't know how I did it again."

"You also stopped that beagle's escape." Fox observed. "It looked like he hit an invisible wall just before I kicked him."

Krystal blinked. "I did not even realize I did that."

Fay added to the conversation and said, "I also felt a strong gust of wind blow past me on each side when you sent those photographers flying by me."

"That's what my obstetrician, Doctor Phoenix, also said when I shoved Porcos and his two security guards out." Krystal said to Fay. "My best guess is that she, like you, felt the air being disturbed by my telekinetic blast going by you." Krystal then focused on the cooler with the remains of their food and drinks, and tried to push it with her mind, but it also remained unmoving. "Nothing. My telekinesis seems to come out only when I'm under duress."

"Especially when Fox and Marcus are concerned." Katt pointed out.

Falco laughed. "I best never get you mad."

Krystal could sense the friendly mirth from Falco, and was warmed the neither he nor any of their friends feared her in any way. Sensing this from his wife, Fox grinned to Falco, "I'd be worried more for the poor fool who threatens you, or any of us, in front of Krystal."

They all glanced at Marcus then as he crammed a small cake into his mouth. "Look at that." Fox said. "He's already forgotten about the unpleasantness earlier."

"Children can be resilient like that." Fay observed sagely.

The remainder of their day went by without incident. On their way out, Kelly Rivers offered them a refund on their admission to the water park, and would not be dissuaded, despite any protest from Fox. The McClouds though did purchase a half-year pass as an affirmation that despite the trouble with the paparazzi, they did have an enjoyable day.