Siloh frowned at the kit still, not angry but wondering, he didn't like the way the kit's attitude had been leaning lately but didn't know what to do about it, seeing Contessa's face he nodded, "If you have any better ideas of fixing that attitude then go ahead, I've none better than threatening to or actually telling Nana May." He looked over to the old woman his sister was helping and sighed, looking almost sad as his gaze moved over to the window. Staring out at the light and the small bit of sky he could see. Nana May was the only reason he hadn't just run off when he realized the toll taken on their tribe. She had seen him debating, fretting, and had calmed him, gently reminding him of the things he'd forgotten to consider.

He barely heard Contessa's suggestion and frowned a moment more, lost in thought, before responding, slowly turning his head to look at her, "You can if you like, they'd probably love it but you'll have some serious convincing if you're to get them to leave without me. I barely managed to get them to stray far enough from me to search for survivors the other day. If it's not too much trouble though I'll ask you to take Nana May with you, she needs the fresh air and cheerful light, she's far older than you could begin to imagine and I'd rather she not waste any of the small amount of years he has left cooped up indoors. We're very fond of the outdoors, all of us. I would've probably slept outside last night if I was allowed." He realized he was starting to ramble a bit and stopped talking, "You're welcome to take anyone you want with you too since taking the children and Mayble with Sol will just leave two vixens behind. Sol will handle helping Mayble walk if you agree to take her along." he said with a slight smile as if to say, 'just a suggestion, no pressure' as he laid back again, tucking his arms behind his head and staring at the ceiling with a sigh. He knew if she took the kits then Nana May would insist on going with her and the other two vixens would follow Nana May's lead and go with her, leaving him by himself. HE wouldn't mention this to her but he knew it would happen, his tribe being predictable in the way the tended to stick closely together.

Hannah watched Wryn with a slight pout until the kit apologized and she smiled, "Okay!" she chirped and looked at Kristoff, "He's sorry so we can go!" grinning at him and looking over at Siloh.

Contessa watched Siloh as he spoke. She had forgotten that foxes were so fond of outdoors. Contessa knew that as soon as his leg was well enough for him to walk on it, she was going to take him outside. She smiled at his suggestion, seeing his point. "Well, I think that's a fine idea! The more comfortable everyone is the better." She said. She hadn't taken her hand off of the little kit's shoulder. She had plans for this one, nothing to scare the boy. She didn't want him to think badly about the panthers at all. She merely wanted to spend time with the young boy, teach him how to be kind. "If you need anything, you let the girls who check in on you to get you what you want." She said turning Wryn around. She walked the kit over to Solaire and Nana May. She asked them if they wanted to come outside with her and take the kits over to the schoolhouse to get them to play with the cubs.

Panther's idea of a school is letting the young cubs hunt and play with each other. As they grow older they are taught the finer points of hunting, controling their shifts, as well as a number of other things. Contessa knew that the kits would serve to be a good chanellge for the cubs to play with and for the kits to learn some more defensive moves to keep from being hunted. "So what do you two think? Taking the kits to the schoolhouse is fine with you both?" She asked them, hoping they would take her up on it and tag along.

Kristoff smiled at Hannah as he took her outside to find some food. "What do you feel like eating today, Hannah?" He asked her. He still didn't understand why they had grown so close to each other in such a sort amount of time. It was kind of scary to Kristoff. He suddenly had the urge to have cubs of his own. He hadn't found his own mate yet, it wasn't something one can do so easily. He had to protect Contessa and help his uncle care for the pack. Besides, he hadn't found any females of their pack interesting enough for him. None of them felt right and he had tried them all. All those thoughts sent Kristoff in a toward spiral. He suddenly felt depressed, until he looked at Hannah's cute face.

Siloh sighed, "I'll do that." as he watched her walk away, he was so restless but knew with the stress he'd put on his leg lately he couldn't disregard orders this time so obediently stayed where he was.

Solaire blinked and glanced over at her brother, scanning the tense lines and the stressed sideways ears, the agitated way his tail twitched, but nodded, "It sounds good to me, Nana May?" she asked but the old woman looked apprehensive, remembering the days when their tribes would rather tear each other apart rather than so much as acknowledge each other. "Vixen, I would rather discuss it with Elder Quinn." at this Solaire sighed, "Must you be so formal with him?" she asked as she gave Contessa a 'one moment' sign with her hand and hurried to help the old woman over to her twin.

Siloh sat up as he saw the old vixen coming toward him and looked patient as the woman asked him questions, nodding many times at the questions but once, only once, did he hesitate and slowly shake his head, looking very unsure as he spoke to defend his decisions. After quite a bit of discussion and stress added to Siloh's already heavy load the woman nodded and walked slowly back, "I think it would be fine so long as there are the same amount of cubs and kits and adult panthers as us there. I do not trust your kind yet but I am willing to lean with the benefit of the doubt." She said, not even noticing Solaire watching her brother with a concerned frown, "Wait." the younger girl said, "Would it be offensive for us to walk about in our ears and tail as we usually do?" she asked, looking at the kits and two other vixens. The vixens had their ears and tails out, skin smooth as a human's and over half the kits were the same way.

Hannah grinned and gave him the answer that always made Druin laugh, "Food!" Both arms shot into the air in a cheering motion, the fox doll dangling from her one hand but then she got serious, "I don't really mind. I kinda want a pancake.. or eggs." she said happily, looking around with big eyes and then to him, "Where's all the huts? It looks like we're in a human city." she said, her two ears fading back into her head, no tail having been out today.

Contessa let out a soft sigh as the two vixens went back to Siloh. Her eyes fluttered over to him, intensely watching his face and body. She was worried about him, more so than she should be. She didn't understand her ache to stay close to him, it was starting to drive her nuts. Something about him drew her to him, she wasn't sure what it was. She just told herself it was because she felt guilty for getting him injured. Contessa looked at Wryn, giving him a soft smile. "Are you hungry, Wryn?" She asked, noting to make sure all the children were fed first. She smiled back at the women as they neared again. Contessa gave Solaire a smile as she asked her question, shifiting her ears and tail out. "It won't be offensive at all, dear. In fact, I would encourage it." She said, her long panther tail flicking about in a lazy movement. Her left panther ear twitched at a sound in that direction, but she didn't look, it were merely a kit making some noise.

Contessa's golden amber eyes flittered back towards Siloh for a brief moment, just to see if he was watching. She wondered what he would think of her ears and tail. Her fave flushed as she got slightly embarassed at him seeing them. Now she wouldn't be able to shift them back until she calmed herself down. She pulled her attention back to Solaire and Nana May. "Shall we?" She asked, making sure the vixens were comfortable enough to venture outside their safe house.

Kristoff chuckled at Hannah. Contessa used to say the same thing to him when she was little. He remembered how made he got at her for that, in a playful way of course. "Pancakes and eggs it is." He said as he steered her towards the diner. Many of the panthers like to stay together in the forest, but they also liked the amenites of human life. So they combained them together, making their own little world. "Oh, well, we liked the way humans lived but we didn't like living with them for a long amount of time. So we thought to build our village in the likeness of the human city." He said after she had asked her question. He plopped her down in a booth after they had entered the diner, he slid across from her. He waved the waiter over, ordering pancakes and eggs for Hannah and a coffee and steak and eggs for him.

Wryn nodded, looking wary but more comfortable as he'd not been hurt yet, "Yus." he answered simply, looking up then over, watching the two women come back. Solaire and Nana May both seemed comforted by the fact that they didn't have to hide their ears and tail and Nanna May looked back at Siloh after the two vixens had answered that yes they were ready.

Siloh didn't want her to leave, finding her presence enjoyable and her interesting in herself but knew he had no good reason to make her stay so watched her closely. He was still sitting up, watching intently with his large black tipped ears perked up, smiling at her ears and tail, thinking she looked better that way. When he saw her look over he smiled wryly, ears going sideways a little like a happy dog. He looked silly like that but didn't notice as the tip of his tail wagged so slightly. All that stopped however as Nana May glanced back at him, his ears flattened against his head and his tail stilled, the smile fading a bit to an apologetic look. A guilty kit in the corner is what he looked like as he caught her gaze.

Hannah nodded as she heard and she smiled, "That's neat." she looked down at her doll, "We couldn't live with the humans or like the humans. We like the warmth in the winter and all that but we're very close to to the wild and stuff. We feel trapped when we can't smell the outside coming through the walls." she shivered, "Solaire opened a window last night to calm us all last night."

Contessa saw Nana May looked back at Siloh as they headed outside. She shook her head, her long wavy black hair tossing about her head. She took in the scents of the day, enjoying the way the cool breeze tickled her nose. She waved to the few panthers about, they smiled at her and the group of foxes that were around her. Contessa smiled at Wryn as they walked. "What would you like to eat, Wryn?" She asked as she herded the group of foxes towards the small schoolhouse. It was tough for panthers to have cubs, and they didn't have a large litter. Usually only having one or two cubs, so they didn't have a big schoolhouse for them. Contessa lead them up the road that leads up to the schoolhouse, Contessa saw some cubs already outside. They all stopped doing what they were doing as they spied her coming up the road. Dropping everything, the six cubs came stroming down the road and swarmed Contessa. She laughed as the cubs grabbed at her and chattered away at her happily.

"Alright alright, cubs! I've got friends here who would like to play with you all." She said, touching all the cubs on their heads. They all stopped and looked up at her, then around to the kits and vixens. They smiled at them, some shy, some not so shy. Toby was the oldest of the six cubs, being seven years old, stepped forward with his arms behind him. "Hiya! I'm Toby! That's Mary," Tony said pointing to a blonde four year old girl who clung to Contessa's leg. "That's Scott," Toby pointed to a red headed little boy about six years old who smiled and waved at them. "There's the twins Cary and Gary and then Ariel." Toby finished up with the twin chocolate brown haired kids with pale skin and bright amber eyes and the seven year old raven haired girl who stood behind him. Contessa smiled at Toby, so proud at the way he treated the foxes like new friends.


Kristoff sipped his coffee as he watched Hannah. He had heard some whispering behind him about him taking care of a one arm fox kit. He knew it was one of the older panthers in the tribe, one that would wet himself if Kristoff just merely looked at the old crook. He shook it off and focused on Hannah giving her a smile as she spoke. "Well it was good that you all were calm last night. If you guys need anything, let us know." He said, not talking to her like she was a child. Kristoff never treated children like children, always like mini adults. He was rough around the edges, but he did care. He reached over and tussled the little girl's mane of red hair.

Siloh watched her leave and watched the door for a long while after that but eventually he laid back with a sigh and tried to get some sleep, resting while he could. He couldn't find a peaceful sleep though, the room being too quiet, too empty and large without the sounds of kits and vixens moving about. He was mostly alright though until someone closed the window and the air lost it's flowers and earth scent. It made him feel confined and secluded, cut off from everyone and plagued his fitful sleep with nightmares. The typical nightmares of a fox. Trapped in a stone dungeon, far from the sun and the breeze, only the damp and must there to assault his senses.

Wryn frowned, "Cheese and.. um... do you have pears?" he asked then thought more, "And honey?" asking for a very common breakfast of his kind, cheese and a type of fruit with honey on it.

The vixens were wary as they followed Contessa but relaxed as the cubs seemed to accept their kits, the kits however didn't come around so quickly and hid behind the vixens and stared out at the cubs fearfully. Finally a blonde haired, grey eyed girl around eight, the second oldest, stepped forward, wringing her delicate hands together and blushing fiercely as she couldn't look at Toby, ears flattened nervously against her head and tail tucked as she tried to be a small as possible, "I-I'm Sebe." pronouncing it as 'Seibah' "Th-that's my bubba, Cole.." she pointed to a boy identical to her then turned to the other side and pointed, "And that's my sissy, Menkie, and my other sissy, Tanga." it was clear they were all born at the same time, of the same mother, quadruplets being uncommon but not rare with the fox tribe. Two more pairs of twins were in the remaining ten and the girl looked over and continued to introduce them ending with, "And that's Wryn. He can be mean sometimes but not always."

Hanna grinned, "Can we take Siloh some food? He's real nice but he hasn't eaten anything yet. We were waiting for him to wake up but he wouldn't get up because he was sooo tired from saving us." She grinned at Siloh's seeming heroics still but her keen hearing picked up the whispers and her ears swiveled back, not flat but definitely not happy as she looked put down now, "They don't like me do they?" she asked quietly, looking down at her plate and sighing, saddened at the thought that there was someone who couldn't like her. She could hear bits and pieces of every conversation in the room with her fox ears but it didn't all make sense with it being jumbled and coming almost at once.

Contessa smiled as Toby took the little kit's hand and beamed at her. "Want to play with us? It's lots better with more kids here." He said to Sebe. Toby nodded to the other cubs who all had their ears and tails out. They all gathered near the kits happy smiles on their faces, even Mary, the shy one. Contessa frowned at the mention of Wryn being mean and looked down at the boy. "Wryn do you want to play now or get some food? Or I could bring all the food here for you." She asked little Wryn, hoping that her kind gesture would take root in his heart.


Kristoff's ears perked up at her idea and smiled at her. "Yes, I think he would love that. What kind of food do you think he would like?" He asked her, setting his mug down. His own ears laid back in anger, not at her but at the useless old fools would hung out at the diner. He glared at everyone who had said something bad about Hannah, much like a father panther guarding his cub. All of them shut up the moment he laid his blazing amber eyes on them. He perked his ears back and looked at Hannah. "Don't worry about them, Hannah, they're old farts who don't know nothing about anything." He said in a soft toned voice. "Besides, I like ya and that's all that matters." He said with a wink.

At the cub's offer Sebe nodded vigorously and smiled, her laid back ears sideways in aprehension but not fear. She didn't know how to play with them, having never played with anyone other than another fox before. The kits seemed more comfortable after Sebe was accepted and moved from where they were hiding, smiling and happy again, comfortable with playing. They were nice but hesitant seeing what the cubs wanted of them before joining full on in playing.

Wryn looked up at Contessa and sighed, "I don't mind, they won't let me play with them anyway." he said, pointing at the kits, it was clear that all he really needed was a good friend, on who could correct him when he got bossy or mean.

Hannah nodded, listening to Kristoff and giggling as he insults the other panthers, grinning again as he said he liked her, nodding. A moment later she answered his question from before, "Well, normally there'd be pastries, eggs, cheese, biskets and fruit with honey and acorn spread if you wanted it on the morning table no matter who's house you were at. Some of that maybe then? I don't know anyone who likes meat though."

Contessa frowned at what he had to say. She looked up at the two vixens, Nana May and Solaire. "Will you two mind watching the cubs? Ms. Mint is here, she can help you watch them as well, I want to take Wryn here to get something to eat." She asked the two women. She wanted to spend some alone time with Wryn, try to be his friend. She knew that he needed someone to care for him, and her brother had taken Hannah under his wing, and Wryn reminded her so much of her brother when he was younger. She ached with the urge to help the young kit. Contessa moved closer to the kit, putting her hands on his shoulders. Her hands were rather small for a panther's. She was actually considered very different that most panthers, her body was thin and delicate, most of her was, and she wasn't as tall as most panthers. She only stood at 5'5", where as most panther females stood anywhere between 5'7" to six foot. A lot of panthers who live among normal people turn out to be supermodels due to their tall stature and exotic good looks. Contessa smiled down at the young kit again, hoping he was willing to be her friend.

Kristoff smiled at the small kit as he chewed on his steak he had ordered, it was his favorite meal for breakfast. He was a real meat kind of man. "Well finish up your breakfast and we'll bring him a plate of whatever you think he'll like." Kristoff said between mouthfuls of food. He gobbled up the rest of his eggs and finished off his sterak. He rubbed his stomach as he sipped his coffee again and watched her as she ate.

The two vixens agreed, watching the other two vixens sit and look out at the children playing. They were relaxing now seeing their kits so happy to have more friends but Solaire was still troubled by something and sighed as she shook her head, looking at Contessa and the boy, "I'm going back to the village to look for more people but can you make sure Siloh doesn't find out and possibly have someone come and look for me if I'm not back by the end of the day?" she asked, genuinely worried about her brother finding out. Solaire waited for Contessa, really looking at her for the first time and noticing they were about the same height, but of course Solaire was tall for a vixen of her tribe, normal fox vixens being aroud five feet and the reynards around 5 1/2 feet.

Hannah finished eating soon after him and wiped her face off with a napkin, smiling, she'd been thinking this whole time and finally decided what she thought he'd like, "How about cheese with some biskets and honey?" she frowned, "But I don't know what he'd want to drink." she said, suddenly confused.

Contessa noticed their height were just about the same. She wondered if that was usual for foxes. "Oh, sure. I'll have Kristoff go look for you if you don't come bacj before sundown." Contessa said. With that she smiled at Solaire then took Wryn by the hand and walked him back down the road. She was happy that the cubs didn't whine nor cry when she left. It meant that they had taken a shine to the kits of the Fox Tribe. "We'll go to the store and get whatever you want and then take it back to your building and eat there. Sound good, Wryn?" Contessa asked as she looked at the boy. In truth, Contessa really wanted to see Siloh again. It was strange, he had been the first thought as she woke up that morning and he was always floating around in her head, at the back of her thoughts. It started to worry her a little bit, but she couldn't help herself.


Kristoff smiled at the little girl. "Don't worry, we'll pick up some water and juices, just in case." He said as he paid for their meal. He slid out the booth and held his hand out to her. "Ready to go? The store is right across the street." He said. They had a general store that had fresh fruits, vegtables, grain and everything else they grew or collected from their various farms. Some things they had to have delivered to the store from the human world, but it was fine. Most people thought the little town was a strange little place for the weirdos to live. A lot of people thought they were freaks of sorts, which Kristoff used to think was true.

Solaire nodded and after thanking her she shifted and was gone in a blink, leaving the other vixens to watch the kits and cubs while she checked on things. Aside from checking to see if anyone had returned she was gathering any clothes and such that might've survived the fires. She stopped to check on Siloh first and found him still trapped in his nightmare, a cold sweat sticking to his skin as he frowned and muttered. Instead of waking him she simply opened the window again and left several pillows and blankets used last night scattered around his bed. She knew it would only partially work as the sound was absent but the scent would seep into his dreams.

Wryn nodded silently then looked up and smiled a little before sighing and looking around, watching the people around him. "Do you have any special kinds of fruits?" he asked curiously, knowing that the foxes had had a fruit unheard of anywhere else in the world. It was his favorite but all the plants that grew it had burned with the village.

Hannah grinned, taking his hand with a few fingers, her doll clutched in the others. She was adapting incredibly well to her handicap, being as young as she was. "Will it be fresh?" she asked, meaning would the bread be warm when they got it. It didn't matter as a fact of would he eat it but it mattered to in a fact of him getting warm food to eat.

"What kind of fruit did you have in mine?" Contessa asked when she saw his frown. She was delighted to see him smile at her, even it if it was only for a short moment. They reached the store, Contessa seeing Kristoff with Hannah across the street at the diner. She smiled at how her brother looked with the kit, so much like a father. She wished he would find his mate soon and start having kids. She would love to have a little nephew and/or niece to play with. It would make her so happy and if he's happy that would be even better. Contessa lead Wryn inside the somewhat medium sized general store. It had a large produce section, the panthers were good at collecting various fruit and vegtable plants in the local area and bringing it to the farms so they could also grow them. They used their goods to trade with other tribes and some humans. It had been their way for centeries. Contessa went over to the fruit area, picking some fruit she would like to eat herself, her favorite were mangos, kiwis and starfruits. She naturally picked what she liked, eyeing Wryn to see if he would do the same.

Kristoff grinned at her as he lead her out of the diner and across the street to the store. "Always fresh!" He said as they entered the store. He saw Contessa at the fruit section with the little brat that had upset everyone early that morning. He bruied the urge to growl at the kid. He was just a kid, and he must be hurting if he was acting out that way. His sister would striaghten the kid out, she did him. "There's the fresh bakery and there's the fruit section." He said to her, pointed out the different areas.

Wryn looked at her and shrugged, "We called it blood gourd. It was all red and juicy inside and grew like a gourd." he said, looking through all the fruits and not finding what he wanted. He started to reach for several things but changed his mind, finally turning to her and looking a bit timid, "What're those?" he asked, pointing at the fruits, never having seen them before.

Hannah smiled as she listened to him but as he pointed over to the fruit she sighed and looked at him again before walking over to the fruit, timidly moving around Wryn, who ignored her, to get to the apples. She knew she wouldn't have been able to go near the boy if Kristoff hadn't been with her. As she reached for the apples she glanced back at Kristoff questioningly to see if he'd help her carry them. She wanted four but couldn't even carry one very well when she had her doll.

Solaire was running, running top speed when she tried to stop too quickly and stumbled, falling as a family came into veiw. It was a man, a teenage and toddler boy with a girl standing with them. Her eyes passed over the males and focused on the girl. It was her sister. The girl had a large wound on her head, dried blood down her face and neck, into her shirt. Solaire shifted and ran to her, scooping her up and hugging her. Saddened that her mother was nowhere in sight but incredibly happy to see the girl she smiled at the males, "Come with me, the panthers have taken us in during our time of need." she said, still hugging her sister tightly as the girl began crying.

Contessa thought for a moment, wondering if they had such a fruit. She doubted it because if he didn't find it there, then they didn't have it. She pouted a bit, wishing they had it so she could see the pleasure on the small boy's face. Her jet black panther ears perked up at his mention of her fruits. "Oh this one is called a mango," She said showing him the orangish red fruit that had a bit of green at the end of it. "This one is called a kiwi," She swtiched out the mango for a small egg sized furry fruit. "And my personal favorite is this one, a star fruit." She held out the last fruit. "When you cut it, it looks like a star. It's how it got its name. Would you like to share them with me?" She asked as she bagged about twelve of each of the fruits.

Contessa smiled as her brother as he followed Hannah to the fruit. "Hey there, Hannah!" She said in her usual cheerily bright voice. She watched as Hannah looked up at Kristoff as she tried to grab some apples. Contessa was impressed with how well she had adapted to her handicap. Contessa looked down at Wryn, wondering why he would pick on Hannah. "Would like to go grab the honey, Wryn?" She asked him.

Kristoff stalked over to Hannah, in his usual manner, helping her grab some apples. "How many do you want, squirt?" He asked in a friendly tone that Contessa hadn't heard him use since their parents had passed. He smiled at his sister when she looked at him in a surprise way, her golden amber eyes wide with shock. He shrugged at her as he went back to helping Hannah with what she wanted. He reached over and pulled a bag from the stand for the produce. He shook it open and held it towards her so she can put as many in as she wanted.

Wryn nodded, listening and looked at her before nodding again, "Yeah, I'd like to share, can we get a honeydew melon though in case I don't like them?" he asked and when she suggested they go get honey he nodded, "Sure, if you've never tried it on honeydew melon then you should. It's really good." He nodded, smiling at his feet at a memory and sighing. He seemed depressed and subdued most of the time as time went on.

Hannah turned and smiled brightly, "Hi!" she said, after the moment it too to focus on her face. She reached up and hugged Contessa before looking at Kristoff, "I only need four but we can get more if you want some too." she said smiling and picking out four, putting them in the bag and looking up with a bright grin, the doll still in her grip.

Solaire was back at the panther borders and trying to coax the other foxes to follow her over the border. They were terrified to cross the boundary and were trying to get her to come back off the panther land, shivering, the youngest boy starting to cry as they heard a rustling in the bushes.

Contessa smiled at Wryn as he took off to get the honey. She picked up a honeydew melon and stuck it in a bag. Contessa was glad he had shared a little bit with her, she hoped he was starting to open up to her. To her, Wryn seemed like a sad child, which could be why he acted out against others. Contessa turned her attention back to her brother and his kit. "What are you guys up today?" She asked as she put the fruits they had picked out in her bag.

Kristoff smiled at Hannah as she put the four in the bag. "I'm not much of a fruit guy." He said. Kristoff looked at her sister for a moment, feeling she wanted to ask him something. He could always read her better than anyone else, they almost had a twin connection. "What's up, Tessa?" He asked her. Her eyes snapped up to his quickly and he knew she was worried about something.

"Well..it's getting late and Solaire wanted to look for more people from their village..and well, I need you to go see if she's ok. But we can't tell Siloh." She said in a timid voice. Kristoff sighed, he didn't want to go play babysitter to the vixen. He understood how Tessa was feeling though and he nodded. Bending down to Hannah, he handed her the bag. "Do you mind going with Contessa back to Siloh? I need to go check on Solaire." He said with a soft smile.

Hannah nodded smiling at him, "That's okay." she said smiling and hugged Contessa in greeting, "Hi." she grinned though, "We're taking Siloh some breakfast." she said cheerfully. She smiled until Kristoff mentioned he was going to leave but nodded as she took the bag and slowly lowered it to the floor when it was too heavy for the few fingers she was using to grab things with, "I'll go with her." She'd seen something in his face when Contessa had asked him to check on Solaire, she didn't know what it was but felt like defending her elder's sister before he could leave, "She's really tough so it's probably nothing. She's probably being.. um.. Stubborn." She made a face, hoping she'd used the right word.

Wryn wasn't gone very long and when he came back he frowned at Hannah for a second, frowning more when she glanced nervously at him and scooted away a little. He had started feeling bad for picking on her and looked at Contessa to see if he was right as he took the apples from the little girl, trying to be helpful. He was unsure if he'd been right to do it though when she grasped for the bag and sighed, holding her doll to her chest.

Solaire was still trying to convince the other foxes to come with her when a lynx burst from the bushes and she screamed, along with her sister, turning to run deeper into the panther lands, the males finally following her. She dropped her sister when the girl shifted, shifting herself and glancing behind to see the other foxes had done the same with the lynx a little behind them. She'd been smelling something but had been putting it off as paranoia and was realizing her mistake now as she fell back to get behind the males and urge them forward before spinning and attacking the lunx, slowing it down significantly, being a rather big fox, weighing over 15lbs.

Siloh still slept, sleeping fitful despite all Solaire had done to try comforting him. It was too quite in the room and his ears twitched this way and that as they searched for any noise other than the screams of his new dream. He now dreamed of the village burning but this time he was trapped and trying to get through the flames. There was someone on the other side, someone he needed to save and finally he made it through but caught just a glimpse of long black hair before his mind whisked the dream away and threw his father's death at him.

Contessa beamed at Wryn when he took the bag from Hannah. She placed her hand on the young girl's shoulder. "It's alright, let Wryn take it." Contessa said as the young girl reached for the bag. "We should go see if Siloh is up and hungry. Kristoff will be back with Solaire in no time." She smiled at the two kits as she lead them out of the store. Being the daughter of the former leader, she was treated differently. She didn't have to pay for the food she wanted, though she did work at the stores when she was needed. Contessa led the kids outside towards the building that housed them. She had a bad feeling in her gut and she couldn't shake that something happened with Solaire.

As they entered the building, Siloh came into sight and Contessa's breath caught in her throat. He looked like a mess, his ears were twitching and he was soaked in sweat. She urged the kits towards him, as she set the food down on a near by table. "Poor Siloh. He doesn't look like he rested at all." She said, worry working her face into a frown. She pulled up a chair, sitting down, her ears laid back on her head. She gently put a hand on his arm, watching him toss in his sleep.

Kristoff had shifted to his panther form. He was on Solaire's trail, her scent wasn't too hard for him to find. For some reason he was able to pick it up rather quickly. Her scent was sweet, like honey and sugar. He never smelt anything like it before, it made him feel something in his gut and he didn't like that. He had pushed those thoughts out of his head as he heard someone scream. Racing towards the sound he came across a lynx attacking a rather large fox. Kristoff figured it must be Solaire. The bastards really wanted to have their clan wiped out. Kristoff pounced on the lynx, biting into the soft flesh of its neck. He shook his head in a violent nature, breaking the lynx's neck. He dropped the beast and shifted back to his humanoid form, his black panther ears and tail still out. "Solaire, are you ok?" He asked, standing a bit away from her. He didn't want to scare her anymore than she already was. He looked around and saw more foxes scattered about, hidden. His golden amber eyes turned back to Solaire, peering into her. It was the first time he really looked at her, and he like what he saw. He licked his bottom lip absent-mindly, soaking in all of her. His mind becoming a slight haze of vague thoughts, he had forgotten what he was doing there.

Hannah looked up and nodded as she ran to get a few rolls from the bakery before they left and moved with Contessa and Wryn. When she saw Siloh she moved right over to him, trying to crawl up on the bed beside him and finally making it, sitting where she wouldn't get knocked off but the dent her weight put on the bed influenced him, she wasn't watching him though, she was wondering why Wryn was standing so far back.

Siloh flinched at the touch, stilling slightly only to bolt up right too quickly, his arm flinging out in a useless motion, "Not her!" he yelled before he realized what had happened. He felt worse than when he'd woken that morning, much worse but he was so glad to be freed from the hell his mind was mashing together for him the image of his mother hanging before him for so long that he couldn't help but let out a silent sob. He had to calm himself, compose himself but it was hard when he was so unused to it. Finally composed, he looked around with squinted eyes and smiled sadly as Hannah crawled and sat right next to him, the man then looked over to Contessa and looked away quickly, remembering the very last segment of nightmare he'd been having.

Solaire backed away, back arched like a cat until she saw who it was and shifted, ears and tail flicking this way and that as her agitated mood simmered forward. She looked at him closely but not too closely, already having studied him when he was dealing with Hanna. She liked him and it scared her because she'd never liked anyone before, not even the male her parents were going to make her marry. She studied his face closely for any signs of sarcasm and finding none she lifted her hand to wipe the blood away from the many shallow scratches in her skin, one that stung particularly badly ran across her cheeks, "I'm fine, thank you." she replied as she squatted to the ground holding her hands out, "Come here, Wriley." she said and the little girl shifted and tottered over to her, sucking her thumb as she squinted against the obvious pain in her head. "I'm sorry it took so long. I found two reynards." she explained, motioning toward the foxes who'd yet to shift.

Contessa pulled her hand away when Siloh woke. She was scared for him, worried that he had been having nightmares. Contessa watched him a moment, trying to keep herself from attacking with a bunch of questions. She tilted her head to the left, her ear twitching slightly. "Siloh, are you alright? You don't look like you're resting well enough." Contessa said, trying not to huff. Contessa motioned for Wryn to sit next to them in a chair near her. She was growing quite fond of the boy, happy to see that he wasn't acting out as much. Contessa continued to stare at Siloh, her mounting worry visible on her face.

Kristoff snapped out of his haze, mentally slapping himself for letting a vixen get into his head. He surpressed the urge to growl back at her. He looked over the other foxes she had found, his eyes returning to her. He had the urge to lick her wounds for her, he turned away from her. He didn't understand what had gotten into him. "I'm glad you found more. Let's bring them back. Siloh will be glad to see them safe, as well as Contessa." He said in a husky voice. He began walking back towards the heart of the village, hoping they would follow. He was confused at his sudden attraction to the vixen, he hadn't like anyone before. Nor had any female's scent aroused him so much as hers did. He rubbed his thick hands over his face, confused and aroused. He tried to shake the thoughts and feelings from his head, but they wouldn't budge.

Siloh shook his head, sighing, "I'll be finee." he said, shaking his head and looking at her for a long moment. Just watching her as he thought about things, finally deciding that she wouldn't think him weak if he told her the issue, "If you'd seen the things I have.. It's disturbing and gorey and horrific and you.." he just shook his head and trailed off, trying to smile kindly as Hannah moved and handed him a roll. He took it gladly and politely ate it before she held the honey and an apple out to him.

Solaire frowned watching him before skipping a head a few steps to walk near him, "Hey, I'm sorry." she said, fearing she might've made him angry by being so rude, "You aren't angry are you?" she asked, walking level with him but not too close as she rubbed the blood from her sister's face. She wouldn't get too close to him because a scent, something she couldn't place, rolled off him, a very alluring scent that tried to draw her closer. Soon enough she began angling in towards him without even realizing it.

Contessa's face soften as he spoke. She knew what he was talking about. She was haunted as a child by horrid nightmares when she saw her parents murdered. They were torned apart from limb to limb by rabid wolves, she shuddered at the memory. She looked away, putting a pale hand to her mouth. "I-I can understand." She whispered, her eyes watery as she continued to look away from him and the kits. It wasn't something they should talk about in front of the kids. She rapidly blinked away the tears that threaten to spill from her eyes. She took a shaky breath and looked back at him. She smiled as she watch him eat the food Hanna held out to him. "My Aunt can make you something that'll help you sleep without nightmares. She did it for me when I was young." She said, tucking her hands in her lap.

Kristoff felt her near him. The urge to scoop her up in his arms was almost too much to bare. He didn't look at her, not wanting to touch her. "I'm fine. I'm not mad." Kristoff said, his long black hair in his face. Her scent filled his nose again and it was all he could smell. He looked back, looking at the others she had found. He wondered what it would be like to take a vixen as a mate. He was shocked at his own thoughts, taking Solaire as a mate? What was he thinking, he was sure she rather have a fox as a mate than a panther. Her tribe was still afraid of the panthers, even when they helped the foxes in their time of need. Half-bloods aren't looked upon with very good light anyways, no matter the tribe.

Siloh watched her and frowned, sighing, "I'm sorry." he said as he absently rubbed his leg, the pain still definitely present. He looked over at her, an odd expression on his face as he watched her, he felt guilty for bringing up those memories, however accidental it was. "That would be nice." he replied, badly needing good sleep." A few moments later he decided a change of subject would be best and he smiled slightly, "So how did the cubs and kits get along?" he asked lightly, eating off his apple.

Solaire watched his face until Wriley patted her cheek, getting her attention, "Where's Papa and Tommy?" she asked quetly and Solaire cringed, shaking her head, "They're.. sleeping." she half lied, they were indeed sleeping, but it was an eternal slumber. The little girl was too confused to remember that she'd seen them die, head trauma addling her mind a little as she looked at the other foxes with red, black tipped ears, her own white, red tipped ears going back, "What about the other troops?" She was worried about the other half of their family, their mother's half of their family, the fennec branch of their family. Solaire sighed, "I'll explain later." she said as she fell back and checked the three males over, finding them in good shape and hugging the oldest male with a bit of a smile. Apparently one of the vixens was paired with this man and had been distraught since they'd been separated. When they got to the village, she handed her sister to the man's eldest son and started leading the older male faster ahead, passing Kristoff and saying, "I'm taking him to his wife, I'll meet you back at the housing."