FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

O//

The thylacine crept closer on all fours pressed close to the ground. There was plenty of growth around the cabin for her purposes all she had to do was keep quiet. Quistis had spent three days wondering through the trees. In her mind she was still trying to decide if this was a forest or jungle, it was definitely hot during the days which make her think jungle. Only the trees seemed spaced far enough apart that she didn't have to chop her way through, still there was a good deal of undergrowth and smaller trees blocking her way forward. The trouble was she only had stories and vague explanations to go on with out any real experience in such dense growth.

Now though she had come across a cabin in a large area that had been cleared out although the woods were now reclaiming it. To her it appeared to be abandoned but as a warrior in an unknown area, she would take every precaution treating the place as if it held enemies. Quistis slowly crept up to the wall and raised her body enough to peer through the window trying to see inside.

Little was visible in the dark shadows through the dirty glass but whatever was next to the wall near the window was covered in what seemed to be a white cloth. She was able to relax slightly she once again scanned her surroundings finding nothing. The only things she had found in the past three days had been a few birds, a couple of fast moving small animals, and several rodents she had to dig out of their dens for food.

No large creatures, no monsters, no humans, no anthros, no others. This in fact was the first sign she had that gave any indication that anything existed at all in this place. Sure no one was around she moved around the cabin to the front finding a path that was so overgrown she only knew it was one because the growth was limited in a line which ran to the trees.

To her the whole place spoke of abandonment, years at best possibly even a decade or more. Quistis suspicions proved correct with one glaring problem. After breaking her way through the front door and inspecting the cabins four rooms the white cloth on the square table had vanished and a canteen of water and a gray pouch were set on the edge. Picking them up she caught a glow of something underneath which vanished as it caught her eye. Running her hand over the smooth wood she felt a slight warmth that faded before she went back to the items she had set aside.

The canteen seemed safe enough with what she was sure was water after inspecting it and taking a few careful sips. The pouch gave her more of a problem. What ever was inside the strange material squished and moved back and forth as she pressed against it. One side had a black dotted line with a small indentation at the edge the other side had some form of symbols that were ones she didn't recognize but obviously held meaning.

The thylacine decided to try and open it pulling against the edge and tore along the top allowing the creamy white goop to spill over he paws. She quickly held the packet upright sniffing and licking some of the contents on her hands. Definitely edible, but the smell was far more appealing than the actual taste. Quistis had no reason to complain though as she made a bit of a mess trying to eat the stuff out of the pouch licking up most of what had spilled out before trying to squeeze out more of what was left. When she was done she licked her muzzle she and gently dribbled out some water on her fur and paws to cleaning up.

She spent the night at the cabin feeling secure, in the morning she found herself up and moving with the sunrise to the strange wacking of a bird that sounded from the trees. She found that the path widened to an overgrown road was a much easier way to travel with the exception that the further she traveled the less she could see. A thick fog began seeping through the trees as if heavy clouds were descending from above.

Less than ten minutes later the thylacine stopped, dropping into a crouch she swiveled her head and ears straining to pick out where and what the odd noise she had heard came from. Seconds later she heard what sounded like creaking or groaning that seemed to get closer but it skipped around. As her mind considered possibilities of a multitude of opponents she dove off the path and rolled behind a tree crouching. The fog was so thick it left her vision nearly impaired but she could hear the noises coming closer.

As the noise drew close she was looking for some kind of cover or weapon with one hand braced against the tree next to her which suddenly gave a pop as her paw felt nothing but air causing her to lose her balance. Before she could even topple her paw meet the tree again and her claws dug into the bark holding herself up. She spared a glance at the tree and the ground below before spinning around head and ears turning to follow more pops, creak, and groans that marched through the forest.

As the sound moved further away she was left with a startling and impossible possibility, trees Don't Move! Pushing that thought away she stood and tried to review what just happened, odd noises, skipping sounds, and remembering exactly how her body felt, coiled like a spring and ready to strike with no where to aim. When complete silence had returned the thylacine looked upwards finding the lowest branch hidden among the mist.

She crouched down before springing upward using her powerful hind legs to leap, clearing her own height, before her claws dug into the bark. Her hind legs scrabbled for purchase as she forced her body a few feet higher reaching our for the branch. Immediately she grabbed a hold dropping her full weight downward feeling a sharp snap as she dropped more than ten feet to the ground below.

Quistis gave every sense she had including biting into the wood and tasting the end of the break; normal, plain, wood. Before she could ponder further the ground rocked leaving her feeling like she on some moving log. With her claws again dug into the bark for balance she road out the rolling waves that left her breathless. A few heart skipping moments later one last jolt ran through the ground which left her trying to wiggle her claws out of the bark where it had actually penetrated to the wood.

It seemed today was to be one for firsts for her in this world, moving trees, moving ground not that earthquakes were unknown but she had never felt one. There was nothing but strangeness and oddities in this place. After several minutes, with little else to do, she started back on her way wondering what she might have to experience next.

The thylacine didn't have to wait long as over the next few minutes the thick mist seemed to not just lift but vanish amongst the trees allowing her to see much further ahead, that's when she noticed the break ahead. She didn't know what to call it and had nothing to compare it to, forward was the path which soon ended, and beyond was a field of grass shining in full sunlight. Quistis had stopped several feet from the gravel break which she could now see dividing the two. One foot of small round rocks separated the overgrown path she was on from the tall grass ahead that flowed along as a short breeze blew across it. The light haze that was still left in the distance was just enough to make her think that somehow the break might go on for miles dividing the forest from the field.

Her mind suddenly picked out the Nathek puzzles, thousands of small colored squares that would form a shape when finally assembled. She had seen several larger sand tables specifically made to hold the small painted Nathek pieces in place while it was constructed. Often times one would pour a sealant between the pieces causing the sand to harden, if done right you could barely see the small spaces between pieces. Although it also seemed completely impossible her mind brought together images of giant pieces of land that could lift up and move around set together at the owners whim.

Quistis spent several moments watching the grass that rippled with the light wind wondering where exactly she could be. She was almost considering turning around and going back if her eyes hadn't picked out some areas of the grass that seemed stuck in place as others brushed against them. The thylacine made sure to step over the gravel as she went forward to inspect the vegetation. The foot high grass did seem stuck in place creating a square that suddenly glowed with a light yellow light outlining a pattern with in the square. Ahead she could seen the same design repeated every few yard leading out over a small hill.

Suddenly she smiled realizing what this meant. Her path was chosen all she had to do was follow and she would be lead to her destination and her destiny.

+*//

Russ woke later in what seemed like morning light still disturbed by the snout in front of his eyes. The person or female that had found him had gotten him to a spot where he had curled up into a ball and tried to decide if he was still sane before he finally fell sleep. He had only spent short moments awake until now taking small sips of water out of a leaf cup or small bits of food that was put into his mouth spending a day trying to cope which what had happened before night had fallen again.

He had begun to understand the other creature that had been helping him was named Opal and was able to understand more of her slightly different speech as she continued to talk with him. He had assumed she was female from her soft voice and clothing but as to what she was he didn't have a clue. "Are you awake?" The other asked.

"Yes." Russ finally answered sitting up enough to look around. Last night she had helped him move into the lean-to she had made out of part of a broken tree, branches, and palm leaves. The little, whatever she was had been very kind to him, helping him however he asked or needed since he was barely able to stand and stumbled any time he moved forward. His entire body had been changed from the snout on his face to the tail which occasionally twitched behind him. Feet, legs, hands, body, nothing was close to what he was before and honestly the fact quickly overwhelmed him with fear if he wasn't able to force his mind to something else.

He took the fruit she passed over and gave her a questioning look when she handed him part of a candy bar as well before she backed out. Something suddenly clicked in his mind thinking back to his father's journal. "You're my companion aren't you?" he added.

"Me?" The soft voice spoke in surprise.

Russ' ears twitched zeroing in on the voice and noise she was making. Opal was doing something just outside the lean-to, out of his vision. "Do you breathe fire?"

The laugh had already told him what the answer would be. "Why would I do that?"

"Dad wrote about having a companion although," he paused watching the smaller creature move to stand in the sunlight in front of him. "He said it was a huge dog that breathed fire."

She was obviously thinking using one hand to absently scratch her shoulder. "I know several like that. What else did he write about?"

"Oh lots of things, an entire journal full." He spoke.

"Do you still have it? Oh sorry." She asked excited at first before she realized how foolish the question was that she had asked. He had nothing except the flashlight, not even clothes. That thought caused her to think a few thoughts which she quickly turned away, there might be time for that but later.

Opal had to stop wondering why he was looking around the small shelter. "There!" he called rolling onto his knees and crawling into the very back corner. She watched amazed as he pulled forward a flat sack that she knew hadn't been there an hour ago when she last checked in on him. She waited as he struggled and drug the sack into his lap that was nearly as big enough for him to hide behind. Did he use teleport, some kind of psychic? She wasn't sure he was really a pokemon or not but he must have some kind of gift.

She dropped her musing as he held out the leather bound journal towards her. She took the book and stepped out into the light only half listening to him talk about boats and trips. She quickly flipped thought the book passing the pages with numbers and slowing when it started to become mainly writing. When she saw the symbols she stopped flipping back and forth through the pages.

"So one is food and the other is direction." She stated quietly.

"Ya I'm tempted to ignore that one next time." Opal looked up surprised that he had crawled so close without her realizing, expecting him to make more noise than he did.

"This has happened before? To you father?" She asked.

"Yes, but I was stupid. I should have ignore those stupid glyphs and stayed in the cabin." He told her.

She kept watching him as he let out a sigh, "I don't want to stay here for four years."

Opal had several thoughts running through her mind the first being the journal the second was the odd furred creature next to her. Pokemon or not he did seem to need some help, well more than some, and she wanted to learn more. "I would like to read this before I make any decisions but maybe we can stay together for a while." In her mind she had already decided to stick close to him, especially if he was seeing symbols like she was.

Russ sighed in relief, he was lost, couldn't really stand or take care of himself, and had nothing left but what was left in his bag. "Can I ask a question? Who or what are you?"

Opal grinned, now maybe she could find out the same thing. "My name is Opal Rune and I'm a folf."

"A what?"

"F,O,L,F you know a fox wolf hybrid." She had barely finished when he jumped in.

"Those are just animals and they certainly can't walk or talk... Where the hell am I? What the hell happened to me!" Russ struggled to stand upright falling forward. If he hadn't reached out and grabbed Opal's shoulder as she moved to steady him he would have kept going forward until his face was planted in the sand. He squeezed hard digging his paw into her shoulder trying to steady himself but make her hiss in pain.

It was more of a reaction and she wasn't really thinking as she struck out at the others arm and pushed against his chest as she tried to get his claws off her shoulder. Russ was knocked away to the sand falling on his butt and once again feeling like his entire world was being tipped over.

"What about yourself? Your and animal and you talk." She challenged once he looked back at her. "I thought at first you sort of looked like an Eevee with that fluffy tail and long ears but, you're all wrong everywhere else. Who or what are you?"

"I am..." He stopped knowing it was somehow no longer true and he tried to keep going even as his brain clicked with her mention of an Eevee knowing that was some cute fluffy fox like thing out of a cartoon. "I was a human." Her scoff brought out a growl of frustration. "I AM a Human!! My name is Russ Canoll. I have a house and work as a fireman. I don't know where the hell I am or what happened to my body!" He took a deep breath and finally lowered his voice. "And I am going to kill my sister when I get my hands on her."

~!~

"Everything is set. Have each monitor make sure they have their reports in every twelve hours." The deeper voice stated loudly. The voice paused allowing for a response that wasn't heard. "Yes... Exactly, please inform T.R.I.C. that we should be bringing the Vaporeon in for alterations." Another several seconds later he responded again. "Thank you for the report and for the approval for the Vaporeon to join the program I believe it may end up very successful this time."

The silence stretched out for several minutes before the softer voice spoke. "I will be glad to get rid of her, not that she wasn't easy to train but perhaps next time you can find me something with a little more focus."

"If there is a next time." The deeper voice spoke with a great deal of irritation. "This maybe our final chance before they take more desperate measures. I was told there are other options being discussed."

"How far will they really go?" The other asked.

"I don't know, the last breeding device has failed and the hybrid project has more or less a fifty-fifty chance of survival and more than half of those are sterile. We really need..." *Clang Clang Clunk *

"Por Vapeon." With a splash the Vaporeon stood on the small deck opening and closing her mouth several times before shaking her head.

With a slide of metal on a rock surface the deeper voice spoke, "So this is the warriors sword. Here take it and have a copy made then have them send it to her with a binding. So, that must have been a hard trip pulling that all the way here."

"Vapp on."

"Alright Vaporeon this won't be easy for you but we are setting you free. You no longer will have access to the water tunnels and when you leave you won't be able to come back." As the deep voiced finished the little blue quadruped looked confused for a moment before starting a quite keening cry. "Vaeeeeeeeee..."

"Oh Quiet! You know this was coming, you can't keep interfering with the others." The softer voice cut in sharply.

"Relax!" The other spoke. "It's not all going to be bad if you want you can go back to the house."

"Eeeeon?" The creature perked up with the offer. "Eee on por Vapor."

"First we're going to make some small changes to your body and we will have to cancel the adjustments we made to you so you could control the water gates. You'll be a little more like the others so you can interact better but this is the second change, we won't be able to change you back."

Hours later she was trying to adjust her swimming technique. Her tail was shorter by nearly a foot making her work harder while her front and rear legs had grown and her paws had changed. She pulled them in front of her face again watching as her new thumbs curled into her paw. Vaporeon pushed her legs back into place causing her forward movement to be interrupted. Curious she pushed her forelegs forward and pulled them through the water.

The movement pushed her forward but also moved her closer to the surface. She slowed and spent several minutes swimming in circles and small patterns trying to learn her altered form. It seemed alternating her forepaws produced the best motion sort of how she would swim in shallow water walking through as apposed to using her tail to make herself a sleek torpedo like shape.

She had to wait until she felt the tug as the invisible water lock opened allowing her to slip through. Vaporeon had a moments thought as she was washed through the stream. This was the last time she would ever travel like this, once she got to the house she would be stuck. There was no way to fight the rush taking her towards that destination, besides there was a great deal of fun ahead. Maybe she could even get the special lady to find a poke-ball just for her.

Soon there would be others there as well, she gave a wiggle of anticipation thinking of the new things she would be able to do. Walk upright, grab things with her paws like never before. She couldn't wait to truly grab the house lady in all those special spots.

+//

"Your sister?" Opal asked.

Russ collapsed into the sand laying down. He hadn't even been up an hour and already he felt tired and drained in his new body. "She left me, dumped me on this tiny island."

'Island?' Opal thought. She had gone far enough to realize that the beach was probably enormous, possibly even a coastline. It might be an island but certainly not tiny. "Tell me about the island." She started sitting in the sand next tho him. After two hours Opal believed she had most of his story including the fact he seemed more than a little upset about both his body's change and the fact he was worried he would never get home for years.

She went around behind the small shelter to the basket of fruit she had found that morning. Picking out s few pieces she shared them with Russ before excusing herself with the journal to read while he laid back down.

It was only evening on the next day for Opal and Russ. One had spent the day memorizing parts of the journal while the other had been gaining more control over his body, enough so that he could walk around on his own without falling over. Opal had several times earlier deliberately distracted him before pointing out that he moved better when he wasn't paying attention. Her advice was to stop thinking so much and she watched closely as he tried to start a fire.

He had trouble at first keeping a rhythm spinning his stick with his paws but once they began chatting he was able to let his body find the motions it needed and in a short time had a small glowing coal. "You're really good with this stuff." she told him once he had flicked the coal into the small brush and had blown it to an actual fire.

Russ had been glad he had stuck the hatchet and knife into his duffel bag. "Ya, well it's just stuff I learned." He replied rubbing his sore pads.

"Listen I don't want you to get upset or be mad... I want to tell you, I think your sister was right. She was scared and worried, but she knew you could handle this just like your father. I decided I will be your companion if you want and we can see where all this will lead. Maybe together we can figure out how to get both of us home somehow. I know there are clues here Russ." She told him holding up the journal. "He likes to be deliberately vague and even goofy but there is still information. It's like he rambles on then adds something important before he goes off again."

Russ added a little more wood into his little tepee finally considering the flame to be a real fire. He pulled a few more pieces of wood closer before he moved off his knees allowing his back a rest as he sat down in the sand feeling his tail flick out of the way. "Well not everything is in the Journal. Dad told us a lot of stories as we grew up. Mom sometimes just laughed and told us how great of an imagination he had but she listened just as closely as Carol and I did as kids."

"What kind of stories?" Opal asked excitedly. It took a few more minutes for the folf to pester him into talking about half remembered stories. They spoke for hours as night crept in and the stars began to shine on the water. Finally Russ called a halt pulling his sore body under the protection of the lean-to when the fire burned down to just small coals. He gave a little sigh of relief allowing his body to relax on his side in the sandy hollow already feeling better being out of the light wind that constantly irritated him by picking and ruffling at his fur making him itch.

He heard Opal crawling in close but was too surprised to say anything as she pushed his arm up onto his body and curled up in front of his chest pressing close. "You..." he waited for a few seconds trying to decide what to say. "Are you going to sleep here?"

"Sure. It's not like there is somewhere else to sleep and if we're going to travel together we will have to sleep together at night. Tomorrow we can try to fix something for you to wear and maybe thread together some things for a blanket." Russ was suddenly struck by the fact that she had slipped off her dress and she wasn't wearing anything either.

He had driven himself to indecision with all the thoughts that ran through his head. The shadowed form in front of him didn't even reveal whether it had on some kind of under clothes. Was she making some subtle offer or was she simply trying to accustom them to the future. He wondered if she would be upset if he lowered his arm back down from his side.

"Russ?"

"Yes." he answered quietly.

"Are you going to have a heart attack just cause I laid down beside you?" He could hear her amusement as she spoke.

"It's just. Are you sure about this?" Russ asked.

Opal gave a snort and an elbow that was hard enough to hurt. "Don't be stupid. I did lay down right. We are just going to sleep, and I don't mind if you hold me." She spoke wiggling closer so that her back was pressed firmly against his chest. Opal fumbled for a second before grabbing his arm and allowing it to drape across her side. "Just try and sleep. I think the weather may get colder soon and we both are going to wish you had a warmer coat."

He laid there and tried to accept her words. It wasn't like he hadn't had some girlfriends whom he had slept with but this was far different. Cuddling together and dozing off after sex was easy compared to the awkward closeness to his body right now as she pressed against him especially since she had just told him they were just going to sleep.

Russ was up as soon as it was light enough to see more than a dozen feet. He quickly stretched trying to move muscles that still seemed sore from yesterday while also trying to ease the kinks from his stiff and unrestful fits of sleep.

He started by taking everything out of the duffel bag inventorying the contents. With that done he tried on every single pair of of shorts he had even after an unsuccessful first and second try. The one pair of pants was no longer an option, they were far to long and he had a horrible time even getting his paws through the legs. The shorts were only a little better, while the waist was far bigger now his thighs were much thicker and barely fit. The problem lay in his tail that stretched out the waist band if he tried to pull it up that far, otherwise he was left with the waist line that uncomfortably rode right over his sensitive butt hole making it impossible to pull on the drawstrings.

Of course things were made far worse when Opal started laughing at him giggling every now and then as he threw a garment away in frustration. Russ ended up sitting in the sand while Opal picked out a sewing kit, which he had not seen earlier, and grabbed his knife. It was a little crude but she crafted two pairs of shorts for him out of three. Taking the knife she cut open the backs down the seam resewing them with a wide gap that he could get his tail through. She helped him step into the shorts pulling them up and threading his tail through. His long night and her closeness had him fully embarrassed as his body reacted to her hand between his legs that was moving his tail.

The sight wasn't lost on Opal since she had been on her knees sitting back seeing the bulge that had started to grow in the front as she finished pulling them up. Since they were now on Russ quickly turned tugging on the drawstrings feeling the front half of the shorts tighten up since the backside had been reinforced with the extra pair of shorts. Just as he started to turn back though a paw had reached around and gripped his front getting a good feel and rub as Russ nearly jumped back out of his shorts in shock.

"You, ... you looked..." Was all Opal was able to get out laughing so hard she dropped to her side in the sand rocking with mirth. It was all Russ could do to control his anger as he walked away down the beach and tried to calm down. She quickly followed apologizing but still smirking before he turned on her nearly shouting.

"You really think it's funny? What you grab a guy and expect him not to grab you back?" He huffed.

"Honestly Russ I wouldn't mind that much if you grabbed me back." Her words ended up making his irritation vanish. "Listen from what you said we might be together for a long time and I don't want you to think this was all just some joke. It might seem strange but if you need some help I will help you. All I ask is that you do the same. If you're going to be my companion Russ then I would hope you're not going to spend the entire time hiding from me." He watched as she walked back to the lean-to cleaning up the mess they had made and placing things into piles.

//O

Quistis had spent two more days walking along only to wake up the next morning to a shock that left her again wondering what was and wasn't possible. Next to the ash remains of a small fire she had made the night before, to cook a small digging creature, sat not only its remains but a new tooled scabbard with what looked like the hilt of her sword at the end of it. It was a great relief when she dove forward gripping the hilt and drawing it forth. Out of everything that had happened the loss of her weapon was one thing that had haunted the back of her mind leaving her with more worry and doubt that she cared to admit.

The thylacine knew to much about her own weapon and knew right away that his wasn't her sword. Everything looked the same, felt the same, in every look and feel this was her sword, yet she knew the difference. This sword had never killed, for all its sharpened edge it had never drawn blood. She let the scabbard drop the to ground beside her feet before leaping forward with a long slash.

She spent minutes working through forms imagining enemies before she started filling the air with pleasured rumbles and swishes as she cut the air about her. After a while she stopped feeling just a little tired putting the sword away and strapping it to her belt. Had she not simply accepted the grip as being so familiar she would have notice the addition of a symbol under the hilt and its twin near the top of the scabbard as well.

Quistis started out again in the late morning feeling empowered and ready for the trials that she was sure were coming. Surely there were great deeds to come soon and she had now been given all she needed to succeed.

^^//

Avery had gotten the house ready for guests while she continually watched out for her new charge. The young boy never spoke nor did he allow himself to be touched if he could help it. At least she could get him to sit on the same couch as her to watch the television that kept a great deal of his attention.

When she had first found the boy she had thought it was some animal hiding amongst the bushes at the back edge of the patio. After a little chase she had lept in landing on a squealing young child which was much smaller than he was now. She hadn't known what it was at first and she could have sworn she saw a darker shadowed shape moving through the brush, but when she finally pulled the struggling form out it was lighter with near cream colored fur.

That was what it seemed like at first but as she spent more time with him she began to notice the small changes that happened here and there. Thinking back she should have known then that a boy his size wouldn't have slipped so easily through the bushes. She had held the crying form until it called down, and then had struggled to get him into a bed but when she returned with food he seemed to finally accept she wasn't trying to hurt him.

Sitting on the couch she was able to see the clothes she had chosen barely even fit him anymore and she would have to find him something larger with more room if he kept growing. Todays differences also were something she had noticed right away as she handed him a small plate of crackers and cheese. The hand that had taken the dish and transferred the food to his mouth only had three fingers like her hands instead of the four he had always had before.

She tried to ignore the little additions after the first few times she mentioned them since it had sent him dashing away to lock himself inside the room she had set him up in. She waited beside the couch this time covertly watching him as he snacked and watched the TV. show. He was fascinated by animal programs and the human reality shows. She knew he now mimicked certain show people and how they acted or walked but besides the strange little squeals which seemed to be his laugh or the cries of fear, he had yet to utter any kind of verbal language.

When he was done with his snack Avery knelt just in front of him catching his attention. He shyly handed back the place and returned the smile when she gave one. She had made sure to be close enough that it would be difficult for him to try and run out the door as she set down the dish and held up one hand up between them.

"I like your hands." She watched as he tried to stuff them into the cushions behind his back. "They look just like mine, can I please see them." Avery held up her other hand waiting as he watched her looking like she was trying to entice him to a game of patty-cake. She stayed still until he slowly pulled his hands back out holding them up inches from her own.

She moved her paws pointing her index fingers until both touched the center of his palms gently pushing the hands apart so she could stare at him. "I thought the ears were cute a few days ago as well." She could feel him tense up and could imagine him suddenly trying to cover the more normal human ones he had now. "Never forget. I promised you could stay here as long as you like. It doesn't matter how you look. Remember that okay." She told him quietly.

Avery gave him the kindest smile she had dropping her hand to gently pat his knee twice before pulling it away. The Neko couldn't help but feel a little surge of happiness, she had touched him and he hadn't flinched or pulled away. She almost wanted to curse when the blue form thumped in the hall stumbling into the doorway leaning against it.

"Aye..va por." The Vaporeon spoke taking a few more unsteady steps into the room with a paw against the wall. Avery stayed crouched down to stunned to move as the morphed pokemon started at her. "Aye va Vaporeeeon!"

She still didn't move as her mind raced thoughts, what had happened, what where they doing, and WAIT! Did she just say my name? "Vaporeon is that you? What happened?" As she dropped to a knee and turned ready to stand a growl issued from the couch drawing her attention back to a black furred canine that was slowly backing down the couch.

Avery immediately shoved her arm out trying to block the others vision as she gave him a good once over. The Zorua still had little of it's cub features although she wasn't sure of the exact stats on that pokemon although she now knew where his abilities came from. "Wait! You can go to your room if you wish just walk around her. Vaporeon step forward and give him some room." Avery studied the little canine watching as he crawled to the edge of the couch, she was sure the soft black fur spoke of youth while the body looked to be full grown.

The blue pokemon did as asked taking a few steps forward but falling over onto her front paws getting even closer to the couch. This caused the Zorua to leap off and rush to the far wall with a yip of fear cowering against the other side of the room. Avery had moved forward to help the Vaporeon and the little dog quickly dashed further away making its way to the door. The last few feet was a sprint out into the hall crashing into the door jam in its haste. Seconds later the black and red head popped back inside issuing a flurry of yaps and barks before vanishing again.

With the other off Avery concentrated on the Vaporeon helping her back to her feet, "What happened?"

"Aye va." Moving one of her paws to the Neko's shoulder she stood up as straight as she could giving a little head tilt as she stared straight into her eyes.

"My name is Avery are you trying to say my name?"

"Aye va reee. Por por ree eeeon." The pokemon finished by thrusting her shorter muzzle against the feline's gripping with her paw to pull them closer together. The Neko did jump when the other paw meet with her crotch and squeezed like it never had before.

She broke the kiss and took a full step back. "Well it seems you have several new tricks don't you." Giving a sudden purr of anticipation.

"Vaporeee yaaa eeon. Aye va reee." The feline lifted a hand gently touching the others nose.

"We can figure out all that later, right now why don't we look at your new body on the couch." She barely finished speaking before the Vaporeon tackled her to the floor starting with another kiss while her new paw tried to figure out the clasp holding up the soft pair of pants. 'Oh well.' Avery thought, 'The floor will work too.'

O//

It was several days later when Quistis got her first grumble of unpleasantness over her current situation and at those who had chosen for her to be here. She had passed into two new areas each separated by the same line of gravel that went into the distance in a straight line. The grassy hills had changed into a flat near barren place and she covered leagues using her loping stride keeping watch for the glowing markers that pointed the way. A day later she had passed into this new area and things had become far more difficult.

The ground was broken and jagged, littered with deep rents and canyons that she was forced to climb down and then back out. What was worse was she hadn't seen one marker since she had passed into the new area. Either they were allowing her to chose her own path or she had somehow missed the correct way. The only thing she was sure of was sure of was the fact her canteen had somehow been filled along the way and when she finally quit for the night in a rocky shallow another one of those silver pouches had appeared.

The next morning it was her curiosity that made her choose a slightly difference course believing she had seen a creature with six legs. When the animal had lept up startled and slipped right over the edge of the canyon and Quistis was quick to follow. By the time she got to the edge it had already reached the bottom and scurried behind a pile of rocks.

After a short chase she was considering turning back, the critter seemed one step ahead of her at all times and with several other branches leading into the growing canyon it had deepened and she could no longer see an easy way to climb back up the now higher cliffs. A few moments later when she did decide to it was time to leave she saw a flash several yards away drawing her attention.

Her first thought was 'Finally!' when she saw the glow of another marker before she realized it was not the same one she had been following. There were two small red squares with a line between them and perched on top of the line was a green half circle. Looking around she saw a second identical marking that was on the closest stone face a few feet away. Quistis searched the area scanning the high cliff like sides, the V shaped paths behind her, and the sharp turn ahead that prevented her from seeing more than two dozen yards.

Two markers that showed.. nothing? She looked back and realized the half circle had shifted to the front. Waiting Quistis could see the marker slightly pulse every dozen seconds leaving the half circle in a different position like it was rocking or balancing on the line between the squares. Balance? With a little shiver her hand moved to her sword carefully taking a step away from the mark. Instincts told her something was up; ears swiveled, nose twitched, and even her mouth hung open trying to taste the air around her; nothing.

Her mind worked out possibilities picking out the facts she thought out. This must be some test or spot she was meant to be in. The markers hadn't shown up until she had decided to leave, so they must be urging her on but cautioning balance. The thylacine drew her sword testing its balance and her stance. She was ready.

+//

They stayed one more day on the beach before deciding to leave. Russ had silently balked at leaving all the way up until the they were set to leave and the direction glyph appeared before him in the sand. He forced himself to remain still and quiet when Opal came over to question him then inspected the glyph. "The first direction glyph is a little different than the rest. Maybe we should call it a decision glyph." She waited watching his face an muzzle scrunch in pain as he slightly shifted his weight. "Russ if we're going to be companions then we have to do this together. I don't want to just stand here waiting. Will you come with me?"

"Okay." Was his strained answer as he finally stepped forward.

Opal had moved them first to the archway spending the rest of the day there trying to puzzle things out. The next morning he had to again be talked into leaving because he thought the gateway would be his best chance for getting back. Opal though was sure that however he got here he might still be waiting years later with no clue how to get back. Since he couldn't remember, or maybe wasn't told, how his father returned she felt they would have a better chance if they were able to figure out how he got here and if there were any other arches or structures around. Since then when Opal started in the morning leading them out, he followed.

Russ still seemed to had trouble the next few days having to lean against a tree or bend his knees and place his paws on the ground to either steady himself or catch his breath. Another thing that kept their pace slow was Opal who insisted at times to stop and inspect some plant or area. Russ spent his free time racking his brain for any story or tale his father had told him. Opal had been quick to point out his fathers journal might span seven or eight months of the four years or so that he was gone. During their travels he related all he could and discussed different ideas and theories while she told him all she knew of the Rideram Forest and what had happened to her. Silently she laminated the loss of her own pack and books but keeping a hold on to the journal gave her some comfort.

Both had been slowly learning each other sharing life, thoughts, and feelings as they traveled or cuddled together as darkness fell waiting for sleep. Although she might wish for something more Opal could tell Russ still was uncomfortable about something each time they lay down together and even though she had suggested otherwise he had kept his shorts on every night. For Russ it wasn't so much as embarrassment over her as it was over his own privates which seemed not only different but small as well. He had only grown partly stiff a few times and although he did grow filling out beyond what seemed like a partial sheath he now worried that he might be a lot smaller than average. Not that he knew what average was, he kept trying to telling himself that this might be normal.

The glyphs were not prevalent as they traveled, usually only one direction in the morning as they left or the occasional food glyph with something to eat or drink. "Do you think we will find anything?" Russ finally asked that night as he adjusted the windbreaker over them as she wiggled closer. Their shelter that night was a pile of brush and bushes against his back and a few extra clothes they used as a blanket to keep them warm through the early morning chill.

"Don't be foolish of course we will find something, otherwise we wouldn't have been brought here." She answered.

"Well it's just that dad had so much stuff happen when he first got here."

"You're looking at this all wrong." She told him. "Lots of stuff has happened, the difference is we're expecting it because of your father. Also you don't have a hyperactive Arcanine tearing across the forest and staring fires."

"I suppose." He said quietly. "What's wrong?" Russ asked feeling her shiver and stiffen.

"It's nothing... well not nothing. I was just wondering about my father." She responded.

"And?"

"Later Russ let's get some sleep." She stated firmly pulling away slightly.

"Russ what do you think this is?" Opal came back dragging thick gray plastic crate. She had both hands on one of the handles and was struggling to pull it around some brush. "I think there was a glyph under it but I'm not sure. There's definitely no boundary mark."

"Well let's open it." He stated grabbing a hold of the other end and helping to bring it to the middle of the clearing where there was more space. Popping several clamps he peeled open the air tight seal recognizing right off the read cross sign of a medical chest.

Russ began unpacking the crate taking the med kit off the top and removing the inflatable splits that were next to it. Underneath was a couple allergy pens, a brown box, several thin gray blankets, and what looked like a shiny silver tarp. He was all for digging in farther if Opal wasn't poking his shoulder finally getting his attention and pointing.

He had been so intent on what was in the crate he had failed to notice the envelope taped to the bottom of the lid with his name on it. Russ was surprised at how steady his hand moved considering the quaking that was going on inside. He could barely contain both his fear and wonder as he yanked the letter off and ripped it open.

3/5

Russ,

I can only hope that somehow someway this finds you.

This is the third of five.... Second Update.

I have written out five letters and so far none of them have been taken. I have attached each of them to some item I hoped might disappear.

The island was gone but then I believed that was going to happen, however things still occasionally disappear but thankfully the noises and some of the other things have stopped. If any of these letters find you please know that I will NEVER-EVER stop looking for you. No matter what you believe I know I could never have lived through or survived what you're probably going to have to do.

I send you my hope, my love, my best wishes, and hopefully items that will help you if you ever need them. I tried to choose things that would be useful if things got bad, not because I want them to but I hope it will make one of these letters more likely to find you.

Please stay safe, Please come home, I am sorry.

Russ handed the letter over to Opal allowing her to read it, when she was finished she went over and slipped it inside the journal. He just watched as she unpacked more than half of the duffel bag and then took the knife and pointed to one of the blankets. He had expected some kind of comment or even maybe and argument about his sister but she started cutting out several strips off the blanket. After another minute he pulled the last few items out of the crate and began stacking everything in to separate piles: Medical, Clothing, Blankets, Tools, Others.

"What do you want to take?" He asked.

"That's your decision, you know what we will need but, we might be able to take most of it." She told him. When she stood up she claimed the large first aid kit and most of the medical stuff but with his advice she tossed some of the extra stuff like the inflatable splints and extra gauze packs. Opal wrapped the rest in the blanket and tied the bundle to the first aid box using another strip of cloth to make a shoulder strap.

Russ had already taken on of the longer strips she had made and used the second blanket taking the windbreaker, the hatchet and tools, and anything else he could find that had some length binding them together in a roll that could easily held or slipped over his shoulder. In the end the duffel bag was bulging and heavier than either of them could easily carry, not that they had been carrying it.

After the second day of dragging it along he decided to believe the glyph would work for one days walk since it had gone across worlds it seemed. Later that afternoon when they first stopped he only had to look around to find it waiting for him. Since then they had begun hiding the bag every morning just in case before they started out for the day.

"So what about Carol?" Russ finally asked as they went back to looking for firewood to burn.

"What do you want me to say. That she was wrong, selfish, and betrayed you, or do you want me to tell you that she loves you, she was terrified, and that she felt she no longer had a choice. She made a decision Russ. One which she is going to agonize over until you return, but tell me one thing. All this stuff she bought, is it cheap?" It didn't even take a second of thought to see the amount she must have spent getting the items together. "How much money has she put out just in the hope you might need something and the smallest chance she could apologize. I can't tell you anything about your sister that you don't already know. I know you think she should have stayed with you and not dumped you but from what I can guess she would have made everything were doing harder and an even bigger problem. So why don't you tell me which answer you want to hear?"

Russ was left considering his sister. It wasn't that she was girly at least not since they were kids but she had never had a problem voicing her opinions or standing up to what came along. If she thought something was wrong or that he had screwed up she didn't bother holding back or with anyone else she knew for that matter. It was the fact that she had dumped him, actually doomed him without any thought or care but for herself. It was so unlike his sister to be so... self centered.

The problem was he could no longer keep telling himself that lie. It must have taken a great deal to make his sister believe that it was basically survival of the fittest and that he was more fit. She must have gone through quite a bit to believe everything that happened to her father was going to happen to her while he still was believing that it was nothing but fairy tales. It also must be tearing her apart to know that she did abandon her brother to an unknown fate beyond what could be gleamed from an old journal and stories.

Dad had been gone for four years and the book didn't cover much. Even with every bit he could remember both he and Opal agreed they still knew so little, especially on how to get home. One thing Russ had realized with her help is that every question that lead to how he got home or even some concerning more stories about some of his later companions was: 'That is a story for another time.' And that time had never come.

"Let's see if there's something to eat." He told Opal choosing not to reply to her question. She nodded helping him move the duffel bag out of the way so he could start a fire.

O//

Quistis growled as pain shot up her leg from putting a little to much weight on it. The incident in the canyon had left her upset and wondering if she had failed in some way. She had walked several hundred yards further down the canyon nearly being caught as the creatures attacked. Her hearing had alerted her to the movement as a mass began moving, pulling itself out of a shallow cleft in the cliff wall.

At first she had thought it was one big creature until it broke apart into three lizard looking creatures each as big as she was in body. They swiftly crawled down the wall on six legs surrounding her on three sides as she backed away. The center one braced on four legs lifting its head and upper arms several feet hissing and swiping out with two clawed paws as it shuffled to the side.

The fight had been swift and deadly, and ended with Quistis driving the third one back over the bodies of the others, watching as it fled but not with out several injuries to herself. One had bitten deep into the back of her upper leg and had several gashes against her back and side along with a deep score that nearly ran the length of her fore arm. She had patched up her leg, side, and arm as best she could but now two days later and on another area she could tell her leg was infected and needed more than just the cloth she had covered it with when she finally found some water to wash her wounds.

The thylacine knew there had to be herbs or plants that would help but once again she was in an entirely new and unknown environment. There were mountains in the distance and short stretches and areas of trees which she slowly hobbled by. In between the ground was mostly covered by short vegetation and scrubby brush. She was even sure there were some kind of grazers in the area seeing shapes move off in the distance when she first stepped across the boundary.

Her stomach grumbled at the thought of real meat, not that she would actually be able to hunt though. The unpleasant feeling of emptiness was a near constant reminder that no markers had appeared. No gifts of food or water, no guidance, no communication, had she done something wrong, or worse had she failed some crucial test.

Quistis took her time struggling up one of the taller hills looking out on a large forested area in front of her when she reached its top. There was no point in trying to go around but maybe hope of some small rodent meal head.

Evening came with a great deal of scrambling through undergrowth and digging out some kind of rodent from its den but the events had left her exhausted and feeling sick in the dimming light. She found the break in the trees ahead by following the scent of water that drove Quistis' body forward. She tumbled over the grass collapsing on the hard mud packed area as she crawled forward to the shallow stream. Slowly the thylacine tilted her head forward pressing her forehead against the rocky bottom submerging most of her head before coming back up shocked from the chill.

Following her basic need she rolled onto her side sliding into the water soaking her side and back but more importantly chilling the fiery throb of her leg. She laid there half propped on one elbow amongst the rocky stream bed shivering from the chill before she finally pulled herself back out. Looking back up at the now star speckled sky above she made a promise to herself she was not going to allow her end to be here.

+*O//

Quistis was hot, too hot. So hot that it was keeping her from real sleep but her body was so exhausted she could no longer keep full consciousness. The thylacine laid on the cool mud pack baking in her fur as the noises around her tried to get her attention. When she was finally half rolled over onto her side and then onto her back she forced her way back to alertness.

"What are you going to do?" - A voice, female, young sounding.

"I'm not sure yet. I need to get her pants off." - Male, and right over her. Quistis reacted thrusting her arm and paw up towards where the voice had come from glad when the connection brought a cry of pain. She rolled away but wasn't able to make it to her feet before her knees dropped her back down falling backwards. With a splash she was back in the water, taking a rock solid grip on both her body and pain she crouched on her knees sliding her blade out and holding it in front of her.

The thylacine squinted against the afternoon light trying to stop the trembling of her body that kept her sword wavering between her and the male that was huddled down clutching his muzzle with both paws whimpering quietly. She was unable to respond with her normal wit or threat keeping her own mouth tightly sealed fighting off waves of dizziness that left her more ill by the second.

"What are you going to do now?" She spared just a glance back at the other creature seeing the smaller canine form. She was far enough away that Quistis didn't bother with her and barely called her a threat in a dainty dress. No the male would be the threat slightly larger and obviously willing to try and take what ever he wanted from her.

"Nothing, I think she nearly broke my jaw and I'm have no wish to get my arms cut off." The male responded.

"She won't hurt you she can can't even stand so what are you worried about. I thought you said you were brave, rushing forward to help others no matter the danger." There was no bite to the words but there was a tiny hint of mocking.

"Well I don't...." His words stopped seeing a small flash around him. He looked towards Opal who now carried two small swords that seemed to fit her size perfectly.

"Stay Back!" Quistis trying growling but ended up finishing with a gasp her body dropping to her knees. She swiped towards the male trying to make a point but the smaller female stepped in front of him. She blocked the slow swing that came her way nearly knocking her to the side with the block making her curse her weakness.

Russ held his nose as it throbbed watching as Opal stepped in front of him with a few experimental swings after she had blocked the first swipe. This was the first time he had seen the weapons she claimed to be able to summon. Several times she had assured him that she was very capable of protecting him, but this was the first time she had the opportunity to prove it.

"You don't look so well. Are you sure you don't want him to help you?" Opal asked making sure to stand just out of reach of the others sword.

"Go...go, away." there was little force behind the words the thylacine spoke and Opal almost felt foolish bringing her swords to play when it was obvious she didn't need them.

"We are only trying to help."

"Don't need his help." She answered through gritted teeth.

"Yes you DO! He's a healer and a fire fighter." Quistis would have scoffed is she could have. Males ideas of healing were to cut out what ever was wrong and hope the person survived. She swallowed hard keeping a sudden rise from her stomach down and dropping to her hands into the water almost losing her sword among the rocks in the stream.

Russ had actually caught himself just before he put a foot in the water feeling foolish a such a rookie mistake. She needed help but with a sword she was still to dangerous. "I can help you. My name is Russ and I'm a paramedic." He waited as she dropped her rear struggling to sit back lifting the sword out of the water again. "I promise I won't hurt you." He stated taking a step back.

"Cut... you in half." She half growled back at him.

"Don't be stupid!" Opal stated finally having enough. She stepped around Russ and knocked the sword away jarring it from the others hand. The folf had to pull her arm back fast to avoid the jaws that snapped at where her arm was but the action left Quistis in the water.

Russ came forward and the two struggled to get the thylacine out of the water. Frustrated Opal finally knocked the female senseless with a blow to the head.

Russ looked around the at the forest that seemed to surround the glade they were in. He sat near the edge of the stream that seemed to part the area in half finally reaching down to pull the rags he had cleaned from the water. It had taken him three days of hard unappreciated work to finally get the infection under control. He had been bitten at least a dozen times and several of them now needed to be dressed and cleaned just like her wounds. He had no choice but to stare into those rage filled eyes quietly beg her to let go of his arm when she woke up the first time.

In truth though the harder part had been watching her suffer waiting to see if she survived. Always before it had been, patch them up and send them off or on occasion stay with a person for their final few moments. He had no real experience with prolonged suffering and the agony of being entirely helpless to ease someones pain.

Opal handed him a piece of square plastic, which was the lid to the small medical kit, with some food that she had found. "See if she wants to eat. Quit staring and go." She added giving a nudge to his rear. Russ had backed off that morning after checking her wounds and she woke up politely telling him she no longer needed his help. The two had spent the rest of the morning staring at each other on and off, well in her case glaring at him.

Quistis continued to watch the brown furred male as he approached. He was weak, from his down turned ears to that fluffy tail that constantly waved behind him, useless. Yet, he kept coming back no matter how hard she had tried to drive him away.

"It's food." He stated holding out something for her to take. She easily heard his quiet sigh after she had taken the plastic and taken a bite. "Are you feeling better? I have some more medication if the pain's bad... Opal fixed your clothes as well, kinda. Do you need some more water?"

"No. Now would you shut up." She growled at him. Quistis had expected him to back away again but instead he still stood there.

"I could help you more if you would just cooperate a little."

She almost choked on her food. "Help?!"

"Yes. You would have died. You're still to weak to even stand, how do you think you're going to be able to feed or care for yourself?"

"I'd manage." Even as Quistis said it she knew it was a lie. He had obviously helped her to heal and with no food, no markers, and no direction she knew she had failed and been abandoned for her weakness. "Or I die." She added.

"My names Russ." She heard him state yet again as he sat down.

"So I heard." The thylacine finally replied going back to her food trying to ignore him. Time continued to pass by as she concentrated on her food while he patiently waited.

"I have just one question that I was really hoping you would answer. You see I didn't come to this world because I wanted to and I'm looking for a way home... so, could you please tell me how you got here and if you come through and archway or something." Russ continued to describe the structure he was pulled through and the arch he had been pushed our of when transported here.

"So you think you were chosen too." Quistis responded shaking her head. "You are far to weak, so am I." She muttered quietly at herself.

"Is that why you got hurt?" Once again the folf had appeared silently and Quistis had to again mentally upgrade her abilities, especially since she had heard her as well.

"I failed the test. It's obvious they no longer want me."

"Who?" Russ questioned. Had they finally found the connection they needed? "How do we talk to them."

She stared at the pair giving a gruff bark of laughter. "Talk? They show you the way or make help appear if you need it, and I've seen nothing since the fight. They don't want me anymore."

Opal moved over until she was between them brushing the ground flat before finding a small stick scraping out two small squares with a line between them. As she drew a line the thylacine got to her knees and crawled forward. "How do you know THAT!"

"The danger glyph. It's a warning to stay away. We haven't seen one yet."

The rest of the day and part of the night was filled with explanations and revelations, especially for Quistis when she saw the journal. Russ felt left out next few days being left to prepare food and tend to wounds and even new bruises. The two females began training just enough to push the thylacine, ignoring Russ when he tried to stop them from sparing. During their rests, meals, and the evening the two spoke about their experiences so far and the journal. The problem was not that Russ didn't have anything to say but the Quistis basically tried to ignore him beyond what was needed to interact.

~!~

That would not only be stupid but a loss of one of this projects best chances." The quiet voice spoke to the screen that was mounted on a wall barely giving enough light to show it was in the wall.

One of the six females seated on the screen moved leaning forward as her voice came back slightly warped by static. "We can waste no more time on your project. The genetic defects are advancing faster now and we have lost nearly fifteen percent fertility in the past two years."

"One of our subjects is K921's brother. I have the results here. You all stated how hopeful you were when you believed the daughter of a previous project success was going to be involved. It turns out we drew in _ his _ son which means K921 had both a half brother and a half sister. Surely you have enough time for me to try one more time." The deep voice stated. "There are three females, two males, and Avery. Surely there will be a successful pairing."

The news had the effect he hoped for leaving the six females darting darting glances at each other and left them unsure who should speak. "Could we bring him here now?" One suddenly asked.

"Currently no and I would recommend we do nothing now. The project has been set up to help maximize potential pairings." He told them as the women whispered, a sound that came back as half mumbles and hissing through the speaker.

The quieter voice came up with another option. "We could always speed up the process." His voice brought silence all around. "Since this is the last time, it wouldn't mean much if we interfered telling them what we needed, then give them the option to leave if they mate successfully."

"LEAVE?!!" The speaker hissed and popped which echoed in the dark. It took several moments of adjustments before they gave up and tried using a different speaker finally restoring communication. "We can not allow a potential way to save our race to leave!"

"You know we can't bring him hear. He would die with in a few months." Another argued.

"Yes but think of how many we could mate in that time! Perhaps hundreds!"

"Females! You are forgetting the nature of this project. I would not permanently remove a subject from its environment especially if it meant the subject died. However, we do have the capability to harvest a subject. We should be able to fertilize all the hybrids currently available. In a decade we should have over a hundred fertile beings who should be able to live above or below." The deeper voice reasoned.

"We will have to discuss this fully, including ALL options. Please have all your current data sent to us, along with time projections on how fast we could accelerate the project."

"The data has already been sent." The softer voice replied. "I could have the projections done by tomorrow. I assume we have the females approval to continue?"

"Yes." Three of them spoke out while one continued. "If what you say is true then we might truly have hope again." after several moments of silence the screen clicked and went dark.

"I see why you had me hold that information back." The softer voice said.

"Ever since K921 died they have grown more desperate. Twenty three fully functioning offspring that can reproduce and are capable of being topside. He was this projects greatest success... Think of what a hundred K921s could do."

+//

"Opal, OPAL!" Russ called out sounding worried. She was already racing towards him sliding up next to him looking to where he pointed. His eyes were glued to a glowing glyph on the ground. "We're not ready." He stated shifting his feet back and forth in discomfort.

"Russ calm down and follow the glyphs." She told him glancing up at the afternoon sun. "We'll pack up now and follow behind you." She overrode his argument before it started. He took a step forward and let out a slight sigh of relief.

"I'll walk slow." He stated waiting several seconds before taking another step.

Twenty minutes later found them all walking together back among the trees. Russ had been surprised at how well Quistis had recovered in just over a week. The thylacine seemed pleased when she found his father had been in a situation twice that required his father and his companion to flee while she had conquered her foes, the fact she would have ended up dead didn't seem to matter much. There was one thing though Russ was pleased about was the small amount of respect he had finally gotten out of the warrior.

Opal had told her how many years he had studied and stated that he had made his entire life one of healing and helping. His battles were not against enemies or weapons but against sickness, pain, and death. What Quistis had first viewed as weakness, washing bandages and cleaning up messes was changed as Opal had him explain the exact procedures of purging a wound, fighting infections, understanding what tissues could be saved, and how to sew it all back together. He spent an afternoon going though what he had done then continued by showing her all the medical supplies they had and what he could do with them.

That evening he had told stories of how he and others fought fires and some of the worst car accidents he had seen. Although she had not at first believed his tale of vehicles that ran on fuel and carried humans about at high speeds or the fact Russ claimed to be a human himself, her arguments about truth had ended with Opal.

"There are strange and powerful forces at work and our lives are very different. Who in your world is going to believe you if you told them you fell into a pool of water and was swept over a waterfall. Wouldn't they laugh if you told them food appeared out of nowhere. It does no good calling him a liar just because you don't understand his world. We have to accept what we tell each other as the truth otherwise we'll spend our time mistrusting each other."

It was evening and dark was quickly turning more things to shadows of dusk when the forest began groaning. When the sounds drew closer and creaking and popping could be heard Quistis pulled them away from any trees. This time her eyes focused on the edges of trees seeing several a ways off that seemed to lean or sway only there was no rebound.

"Quiet!" She barked trying to stop their questions as she watched the process happen. Each tree seemed to be moving the exact same amount, just a fingers length towards what she thought was the south. It was an advancing line that seemed to have a tree in one place, then in another accompanied by groans or creaks with an occasional snap or pop that made her think something overhead might have been broken.

As the phenomenon passed Opal seemed to have picked up on what was happening while Russ stared out amongst the trees and tree tops confused. Quistis grabbed the back of his head aiming it in the right direction as the folf claimed. "They're moving!" It was a few seconds later when Russ opened his mouth only to stop finally seeing what was happening. It was still partway open as he looked back at the other two in disbelief.

^^//

"Avaarey. Fuuud?" Came the question.

"Alright we'll be along in just a few minutes." She answered. Avery was currently outside on the side of the house tending to the garden and green house with a young two tailed male Neko. The Zorua spent most of his day trailing behind her and spent the evenings hidden in his room, all to try and keep away from the Vaporeon. The past few weeks had been insane at times trying to keep the aqua pokemon's desires met while trying to encourage the young male to take an interest but he had totally refused if it involved the other female.

She had even tried a few times to tempt or entice the young Zorua herself but it was obvious he thought of her as a mother figure and her attempts had him snuggling at her side and falling asleep. Besides for once Avery felt it was almost like gaining back one of her own kits as he followed in her wake. Twice she had become pregnant during the course of the grouping and both times the cub had been taken away along with the others.

"Come along Shadow, why don't you take the basket inside." She told him sitting on her heels sliding it in his direction. He did bend over and pick up the basket he refused to take more than two steps towards the house waiting for her. Avery stood dusting off her gloves as she lead the way, looking over the expansive back yard she wondered how long it would be before more guests showed up. She glanced back at Shadow with a little worry, if there wasn't another male coming she needed to get him involved physically or it was going to be rough especially for her.

+//

Things were becoming difficult for the group as they were literally driven forward. Each of them woke in the morning with a glyph only feet away and they appeared through out the day until they finally stopped walking as dusk came. It had even gotten to the point where they found a glyph every time they rested for more than a few minutes feeling their feet itch then burn until they moved forward. Meals seemed to be ready for them often times something that could be eaten while on the move and by the time they stopped at night they were mostly to tired to do much more than have a small conversation and curl up to sleep. Whatever their guiding force was it wanted them on the move as much as possible.

Although Russ and Opal mainly stayed together and carried all of their possessions, Quistis often went off freely loping ahead or off to the side, often ignoring the direction glyph that tried to steer her back on course. She had come to realize that the reason she had been brought here was different than she had first assumed and that her swordsmanship might actually be for nothing. She concentrated on getting back into shape and defying the glyphs on the way seemed to give her a sense of pleasure. She was no longer going to just come at their call.

Late that afternoon saw them climbing a steeper slope leaving them in shadow until they reached the top. Of course Quistis was the first up staring out at a long valley, several dozen feet down the slope was the start of a large section of trees but what had drawn her attention was the large roof top that stood above the trees a ways off. She had concocted several ideas by the time the other two joined him from going around to a possible stealthy approach after dark.

The three stared for several moments before Opal announced, "We're here!" As to prove her point she waved at the ground in front of them. "No glyphs."

~!~

"Avery still hasn't tried to contact us."

"No, nor would she know we needed her to because we don't have Vaporeon to tell her." The deeper voice stated.

"But you're the one who..."

"We WAIT!" The voice stated loudly. "Tell control to step up their monitoring and find some help so we have communication as soon as possible.

"What do we tell the females?" The softer voice asked.

"Nothing. We already bumped the group ahead by months. They should have arrived when it was to cold to travel forcing them to depend on each other. We lost valuable bonding time on those cold nights." There was a small sigh from the male. "We tell the females nothing until we have something to report. Without Avery we really can't speed the project up any faster."

+//

It was dark as they walked up to the mansion. The trees had tuned out to be fruit trees, several different types, growing together well on their way to bearing produce. The orchard was separated from the house by a large section of flat grass that ran up to what they were realizing was the back side of the huge house. Russ made the suggestion that they should go back and try the other side after they climbed the staircase and stepped on to a large terrace area filled with pillars and benched areas with trees.

As Quistis tried to question Russ why he lost focus and moved as if in a daze. The moon was already up adding the the long twilight showing him a colonnade of pillars leading right to an elegant set of doors. In each corner of the huge patio was a tree but what had taken his attention was the cross planter areas they grew out of. Russ had tried to dream up images of some of his fathers words as he remembered them and this seen suddenly jumped out at him. A grand patio with pillars showing a huge lawn and the orchard beyond. The only thing missing was the lady, a special cat girl. He could remember the story more vividly now something told to him by his father, not something that was written in the journal.

Quistis's growl brought him back around staring at a young boy who had just opened the door and stepped outside. Opal stepped forward, "Hello. Sorry we came up here but we were wondering if we could ask some questions."

With a squeal that ended in a yelp the other vanished or at least that's what it looked like. The thylacine though was staring off to one side of the pillars as she crept forward edging around one of the pillars. Another cry and a small black mass broke away from the shadows and raced back into the safety of the house as it's shrill cries continued.

"Maybe we should leave." Opal suggested.

"NO! This IS where we have to be. This is one of the places dad told me about." Russ replied.

"They're coming." Quistis warned drawing her blade while Russ begged her to put it away. With several small pops the overhead lights on the pillars came on lighting up the area with a half dozen colors of soft blues, light greens, and other pastels. Both doors swung open and out walked a female in a long silvery dress with two tails held gently bent over each shoulder.

She stepped forward with her arms open wide ignoring the raised weapon closing more than half the distance before speaking. "Welcome my guests. I'm sure your travels here have been long and hard so I invite you inside for food and a long rest." While the thylacine and folf exchanged quick glances they both failed to get Russ' attention.

Again as if wandering in some dream he stepped forward eyes taking in each aspect; ears, body, tails, even presence were echoes of his father's description. His mind didn't question how decades later she could be here looking exactly as described but he could see the beauty his father had carefully crafted, "Avery?"

"Yes I..." She stopped staring at the brown furred male. "Who are you?"

"Russ. My father was Daniel." He replied stopping in front of her to hold out his paw. His vision did not include the seconds of shock and horror that ran across her face before she gained control. With a heavy ache in her heart and worry filling her soul she accepted his hand.

"I am pleased to meet you." She stated automatically.