Lucifer smiled and tried to stay awake. His eyes kept flickering as he opened and closed them, desperately trying to stay awake. He looked at Scarlett and kissed the side of her neck, smiling more. Slowly, he let himself slip to sleep, but this time, a softer sleep. He wanted to be aware of what was going on around him, but also wake and have that well-rested feeling. He was asleep, and all he saw was blackness, a sign that he was well aware of Scarlett, and everyone else.

~

Mellie took her hand away and unwrapped it, revealing a hand with no cuts from the broken glass. "I am fine. Our wounds always heal in a matter of hours, so Don't worry ..." She lifted up her nightgown and showed Rythen her side, where the arrow hit. Moving the bandage, she ran her fingers over her pale side, which wasn't even bruised. "I just don't want another person taken away from me," she smiled softly, then looked at Rythen. Leaning her face close to his, she gave him another soft kiss on the corner of his mouth, closing her eyes as she left her lips there for a few seconds. She moved her hands to his, covering them slightly.

Rythen stayed still for a moment to enjoy the kiss then leaned back smiling at this new knowledge and the kiss. "No one wants that. I will not leave you and two different groups of hunters haven't killed me yet. I will not die. And now we have this family. We all protect each other." He leaned back and looked at the fallen trees that were laying around them. "But I do have something to tell you. I would apperciate it if you didn't take your anger out on the defensless trees."

Finally when Scarlett fell asleep she mumbled a few words from her nightmare. Her nightmare was of the high wire. On one side her mother hung by one hand, screaming for help and on the other hung Lucifer. Then in the middle of the wire was her younger brother crying for his sister to save him. She stood still on her high wire platform at a loss of who to save. "Lucifer?" She asked, not only in her dream but in a mumble in her sleep as well. That's when her mother fell.. screaming until she fell into the dark abyss of the never ending darkness around them. Scarlett ran to save Joshua but was alas to late. His small childish hand fell from the wire and he went falling as well. Tears rolled down on her pale face, making actual tears as she slept and then Lucifer fell. She looked off the edge to see them but all of them were gone, she leaped off the side when she heard Joshua's cries and then felt her body hit the ground and her bones snap in multiple places.

She didn't sleep often, and when she did it was usually of bad things so this dream was nothing to make her wake up from. She simply laid on the ground in her dream and called out for help so someone could somehow piece her fragile body back together. But no one ever came. Around her was nothing but darkness and all that could be heard was circus music.

A bright smile flew across Melony's face. "I would love to be friends!" An idea popped into her head, it was crazy and insane. It was all based around a myth, a story. "Have you ever heard of a mythical creature becoming human? There's this one book called The Last Unicorn by Peter S, Beagle , the unicorn becomes human or is turned into a human, in order to escape the Red Bull. I wonder if any of it is true. " She was musing about it, when she noticed a large felled tree. There seemed to be a slew of them lying around. A look of shock crossed Melony's face as she stopped dead in her tracks.

Mellie looked down at her hands. "I didn't mean die ... I meant I don't want that woman to take you away from me," she said, quietly. After a minute, she bit her lip and giggled softly, a bit ashamed. "How about we set them in a neat pile, so when they decompose, the little bugs have somewhere to live?" she asked, standing up and tugging at his hand. Hearing a twig snap, she looked over and saw the huntress. She dropped Rythen's hand almost instantly, and stared at her, her sword flying up into her hand. She didn't mean for this to seem like a threat, she honestly didn't want to be angry. Realizing it might look like she was going to attack, Mellie bent down and picked up her sword's sheath. She didn't want to be soppy with the human, so she simply called out, "Sorry for earlier. I have decided that I'd much rather be happy, and make Rythen happy." She smiled down to Rythen, who wasn't too far down, and stroked his cheek. His head. even when he was kneeling, reached her lowest rib, which was slightly shameful. Taller women were always more beautiful, women like the huntress. "My name is Mellie, and I will agree to be acquaintances."

"Good good," Azra said with a smile. "I cannot say that I have ever heard of a mythical creature becoming human unless they have that form. Like my sister and I. But what you're talking about I have no idea. I would ask Zalia or Cire." Looking around she winced at all of the trees that now laid on the ground. This was the forest of the circus and it made her sad to see it's trees cut down. She hoped that Zalia didn't see it or else she would be mad. Hearing Mellie she turned and looked at her with a smile. Good! Azra wanted everyone to get along, it would make things so much eaiser.

Deep in her meditation and completely connected with the magic of the circus, Zalia felt each tree that was cut down. Wincing her eyes flew open and she rushed to her feet, grabbing her staff. Furious she started running through the forest until she saw Azra and Melony ahead. "What happened.." she said her tone loud. Looking down she saw trees lying cut down and a tear ran down her face.

A tiny lift of her lips was all Melony could manage, she was still looking at all those trees. "Acquaintances then. Next time anyone feels like cutting something down, they should come find me." She demonstrated by taking out the collapsed rapier from her pocket, and extending it into it's solidly built battle ready self. "A fencing match is much better then taking out your anger on tress, at least you have someone to yell at then." It was a lot better then destroying trees, mused Melony. Seeing Rythen, and Mellie together she felt a little sad. She had known though, that things where very unlikely to change between the two. She wanted to go running to Day, to pet him and tell him everything.

Looking up, she saw Zalia and gasped. She was done for. This woman would kick her out, and send her away. She knew her rude attitude and untamed ways would lead to her downfall. 'I haven't even performed ... I'll have to leave!' she thought, then fell to her knees, her hands clenched into fists as they crossed over her chest. "Please!" she called out to Zalia "I will work on my anger! I will go into town and collect trees so they can be planted!" Her eyes were squeezed shut, her face flushed as she plead. Slowly, she looked up to Zalia, tears streaming down her face. 'Don't send me away like she did ...' she thought, her mind flashing back to the other female succubi who treated her so terribly. "I'll move all these trees to a decomposition pile, so worms and others can have a new home!" She felt weak, and stupid. More stupid than weak, but she still shook. She imagined what went through the huntress's mind after seeing this. She was probably going to use it against Mellie for ages, and was also probably going to make fun of the small woman.

Melony felt sorry for the young woman with a name so similar to her own. Quietly she went to her and bent down. Reaching out a hand she put it on her shoulder and smiled gently. "Zalia is very understanding and fair. She's letting hated hunters stay in the Circus after all." Melony laughed a little at her own words." So I'm pretty sure you have nothing to worry about, and to control your anger... I know from personal experience that when you find something you are completely passionate about it will help you control it. It was fencing that did that for me, every time I pick up my sword I calm right down and relax." Kneeling down beside the younger woman now, she began rubbing her hand on her back in a sisterly way, trying to sooth her.

Rythen stood up and walked in front of Mellie.. "That is enough. She has been yelled at enough. She has learned her mistake. If you wish to punish someone then it will be me. She knows what she did was wrong. You should remember that of anyone here she is the one with the most to be angry about. She was shot with an arrow. She very nearly died." He was so angry at everyone. This was no matter for anyone but him and Mellie. He would make sure that she knew what she had done wrong. They needed to leave.

He turned to Melony. "Thank you for being kind."

Hearing Mellie plead with her made another tear leak out of her eye. Walking over to her Zalia went around Rythen and fell to her knees and hugged the girl hard. "I know Rythen," she said softly then spoke to Mellie. It's ok! Everyone get's angry and strikes out." Leaning back she grabbed her face in her hands and looked at her. "Don't worry sweetie it's ok. I was only upset because I was connected to the circus completely at the time, otherwise I wouldn't have been mad. The magic will make new trees. Everything is ok I promise." Looking down she noticed Mellie's hand and she tisked at her. "You need to have that hand fixed." Moving her staff over her hand it healed up completely. "There we go all better." She smiled at Mellie to tell her it was truly all right. Gods know she had broken and cut down a few things in her rage at times.

Azra stood quietly and watched everything happen with interest.

Looking from Melony to Rythen, then finally to Zalia, she blinked and looked down at her hand. "It would have healed with time ..." she whispered and avoided eye contact. "I do not want you to use magic ... I wish to fix my mistake ..." She was in awe at everything. Melony was being kind, Rythen was going to try to take the blame, and Zalia didn't even strike her. Her duty was to please people, not let her pesky rage get the best of her. Slowly, she wiped her face off, and stood up, shaking softly. She still feared being pushed away and out of the circus, but looking to Rythen, she felt even more safe. She then bowed to Zalia and shut her eyes. "Please let me fix this, on my own." Before the circus, when she worked in the brothel, she always fixed what she did. Whether it was cleaning up spilled water, or boiling soup being spilled down the front of her, onto the ground. 'I bet that burn mark is still on that wooden floor ...' she thought. That burn nearly killed her, but the healing started immediately. She wasn't immortal, but she was going to live forever. Wounds were always healed, and she was going to protect herself from the instant-death wounds. But for now, she was going to focus on pleasing anyone and everyone she could.

Getting to her feet Zalia took a step back and nodded. "If you really wish to I'll leave you to it. But please don't worry about planting new trees. The magic of the circus is already growing new ones out of the trunks of the old. I would stop it if I could." She took another step back and smiled. "Mellie? You're not going to be kicked out of the circus, ever." She hadn't read the girls mind, that wasn't a power of hers. But she was very adapt at reading people's faces and that thought was clearly written all over her face. "I'll leave you to it. Azra I need to council with you could you please follow me? Melony if you could also follow me I wish to speak with you." Turning she began walking away not checking to see if the two followed after her.

Nodding her head Azra followed after Zalia. As she walked by she glanced at Melony to see if she would come with.

With smile for Mellie she stood, before leaving she turned to Rythen. "Thanks aren't necessary. No one should ever cry like that." Walking away she followed Zalia and Azra while wondering what exactly was going on. She had no idea why the Ringmaster wanted to speak with her, she only hoped it wasn't anything she'd done wrong, but then Azra wouldn't have been there too.

Zalia walked the whole way to her tent in silence. She was thinking the whole way and didn't want to speak yet. When she entered her tent she waited until they both got in and then she spoke. "I really wanted to thank you for being so nice to Mellie." She said to Melony with a smile. "I also wanted to thank you for helping her when she was struck with that arrow." She wanted to get her thanks out of the way before she sat down to discuss with Azra. There hadn't really been a big reason to call the two away but she knew that Mellie and Rythen needed time alone and she wanted to give it to them.

Melony blushed at the thanks. "I just did what I would have wanted someone to do for me. It's only right, don't you think? Anyway, I can tell you probably have things to do without me here so just point me towards the animal's tent and I'll be on my way." She was eager to go see Day again, and she wanted to give Ash the apple she'd grabbed just before leaving the mess tent. Then she remembered what she and Azra had been discussing. "Do you think a unicorn or pegasus could turn into a human, into a humanoid form? I was just wondering because of this book I read..." Melony trailed off weakly, not quite sure what to say after that.

Mellie watched the three walk away, and looked over to Rythen. Immediately, she looked away, embarrassed. She knew Melony saw she and Rythen, and it was slightly awkward to her. Slowly, she walked over to a nearby fallen tree, and picked it up. Being a rope-walker, she had to be able to support herself, and other objects. She set the tree down neatly, and started piling trees. When she was done, she was panting heavily. She didn't want Rythen helping, because he deserved to do this herself. Taking her sword, she swung it, and cut cleanly through the wood, cutting them in half so they would break down easier. She then turned back to Rythen, and smiled softly.

Rythen watched as everyone talked to Mellie. He was glad to see that everyone had calmed down. When they had all left he sat on the ground and watched Mellie stack the wood. He would have helped but he knew she needed to do this. As he sat there his eyes grew heavy. It has been such a long day. I need to check on Ahanna and go to bed soon. He forced himself to wake back up and took the apples, bread, and cheese out of the pouch he had put them in. He carefully cut up the cheese and bread. When Mellie was done with the wood he patted the spot next to him. "I know you must be hungry. Come have some food."

Stepping forward Zalia gave Melony a tight hug then released her. Opening her hand she held out a ring for Melony. "The circus has made you a ring, you'll will forever be accepted here." Thinking about her question she pursed her lips. "I think it could be possible. I have heard rumors about it but I am not certain. But yes I think that could be entirely possible. The animal tent is right behind mine and to the right. You'll know which one it is when you see it."

Azra sat down in a chair and watched Melony and her talk to each other. When Zalia held out a ring for her Azra couldn't help but feel happy.

Mikhail was glad to be near Chenol as she had showed him around the circus grounds. The tour went a bit longer than he had anticipated and before he knew it his stomach was groaning in protest to not having been fed in quite awhile. "So Azra should be done with dinner, you think?" He asked looking at Chenol then glancing in the direction of the mess tent. "Let's head over there." He began to walk forward in the direction of the mess tent when he had noticed there was a group of females walking to Zalia's tent. "Looks like something happened with Zalia, Azra and that other hunter. What do you think went on?" Not that he was trying to pry. Just curious as to how things went on about here. "Looks like it's important if she's taking the two of them to her own private space. Eh, whatever. Sooo, food? Unless there was something else that you'd like to do." Mikhail turned his attention back onto Chenol wanting to coax her into talking more. "Hey, maybe we'll have to mess tent to ourselves. Seems as if everyone had cleared out to go elsewhere. Ah, maybe there isn't any food left then." He mumbled the final sentence feeling disappointment sinking in.

Mellie smiled and sat in front of Rythen, waiting. "Yeah, I have been for hours ..." she giggled and then sighed, falling backwards. She currently didn't care if she flashed the man, because she was too tired to notice. Her stomach grumbled and gurgled, causing Mellie to grip it and shush it. "Shhh!" she yelled and laughed at herself. Looking up at the sky, she sighed once more and stretched out. "I'm so happy I didn't get booted ..." she said, mainly to herself.

Rythen kept his eyes forward till she had laid back then he turned to her. "You wouldn't have been booted. I told you we are a family here. And if she had asked you to leave I would have gone with you and Ahanna would have gone with me. We would have still been together. And five is still a pretty nice family." He held out the bread as he bit into his own thick slice.

Chenol laughed when she heard Mikhail's stomach rumble with hunger. She herself was starving and she nodded when he said they should go eat. "She was done awhile ago, sent me a message." Watching her sister go into the tent she tapped into her mind. "Zalia want's my sisters counsel, she has yet to say what on and she wanted to thank Melony for being nice to Mellie? Huh. Oh Mellie had a freak out and Melony said encouraging words to her." Looking up to Mikhail's face she wondered if she freaked him out. "Don't worry Azra saved us some, she made sure of it. Come on." Grabbing his hand she pulled him forward and into the mess tent. Letting go of his hand she went into the kitchen and pulled everything out that her sister had hid in the over and fridge. Making up their bowls and plated she brought out everything on a tray. "Here we go. Homemade soup, a family secret and cesar salad."

((I'm going to do a time skip soon to the next morning. I'll give it a little bit longer and then I'll do it))

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Ok time skip to the next morning! I'm updating the first page now.

Scarlett's emerald eyes fluttered open and looked around the dark tent. She could see a bit of light coming in and was thankful it was morning. She sat up and stretched her arms, noticing how Lucifer still clung to her waist and chest. She grinned and looked down at him, running her hand through his hair. She kissed him softly and pryed his arm off of her so she could sit on her knees. She sat on her knees and looked around Lucifer's room, then towards the tent exit. Her dream hadn't been a nice one but Lucifer was still here so at least it hadn't been a real one.

Melony's eyes widened when Zalia gave her the ring marking her as part of the circus. Gently she took it, and placed it on the fourth finger of her right hand. "Thank you, this means a lot to me." Turning with a smile after hugging her two friends she went towards the entrance of the tent to leave. Over her shoulder Melony said, "Goodnight you two!" Following Zalia's directions she found the animal tent easily.

Melony walked in to find both Ash and Day. Seeing the unicorn first, she placed the apple she'd brought onto the ground in front of her. Then Melony found some curry combs, and a hoof pick, and brought them to where Day was. She began brushing his soft coat and started telling him about her day. "At first I was panicking, Mellie got shot by an arrow! I couldn't understand why she didn't like me when I'd done what I could to help her. Then of course I started developing a crush on Rythen, now don't snort at me, because I thought he was incredibly kind. Mellie ended up having a break down, and surprisingly enough I found myself comforting her. And now.."

She stopped brushing Day to show him her new ring. "I'm part of the circus now, and this question keeps popping into my head.." Melony trailed off with a yawn. Looking around, she saw that the straw covered ground was impeccably clean so she lay down and curled up. "I wish you where human..." mumbled the young woman before drifting off into her dreams.