Oodle: Miss, I'm still not quite sure what's happening. I dont think I'm that badly hurt. *she jumped at the sudden contact. She began to feel suddenly afraid as this kind stranger ran from her. She didn't want to be alone. She started to run after her, but her legs quickly buckled from underneath her.*

"Thats- that's very kind of you, miss. Thank you. And, may I ask. Recover from what?" She stumbled along beside the fair maiden. Her mind felt foggy, and she felt slightly sick. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't quite remember what had happened to her.

Mild confusion shrouded her gaze. "Accident...... WAIT." She collapsed onto the ground right after Moon opened the door, suddenly unable to breathe. Water. Water everywhere... rocks. A ship. A crackle of lightning, followed by the booming of thunder. Sinking. Down... into the depths of the ocean. She screamed aloud.

She came to at the feeling of something touching her. Her dark eyes flew open, in a panic. "DONT LET ME DROWN!" She cried, as she fell onto the cushions. Silent tears streamed down her face, and she was shaking violently.

She flinched at Moon's touch, but didnt move away. Tears continued to fall, but the shaking lessened a bit. When he made eye contact with her, she quickly glanced away, and looked anywhere but at him. She stiffened, and the shaking worsened at the name, "Zeke."

"I.... I remember." She whispered, and more tears fell. "They... They threw me overboard. HE threw me overboard." She started sobbing uncontrollably. "Zamon told him to. Zamon told Zeke to throw me overboard." The shaking and sobs intensified as more memories of the event flew into her head.

"I dont know." She whispered as more sobs wracked her body.

"Okay." She forced herself to take deep breaths. After she had calmed herself a bit, she looked up at Moon. "I am so, so sorry, Miss. I don't mean to intrude on your household like this. I... I shouldnt have lost control like that." Her head suddenly started to pound, and something warm and sticky slid down her neck. She didnt think anything of it though. She was too focused on apologizing to this kind stranger.

"My apologies Miss. Er- I mean, M-Moon." Her ears slightly perked up at the mention of her son. "You have a child?" She sounded slightly excited. And she politely obliged, taking a sip of the tea. Her paws shook as she held onto the cup.

She looked a little less excited because he was older, but still excited all the same. "I believe I worked with young children, back wherever I come from." She struggled to remember exactly what her profession was. "Anyways, the royal guard? Wow! That must be quite scary for you though."

"Well, that's good!" She pondered the question for a bit before answering. "I believe I'm 17?" She sounded unsure. "And, no, thank you" She still felt sick. More warmth was running down the back of her head.

(I need to go to bed. Continue tomorrow?)

[IS HeRe]

She shrugged, and looked confused once more. "Hm! Maybe I'm not 17 then. Perhaps 15?" She looked at Moon. "What do you think, Miss?" She giggled at Moons confession of her love for chocolate, and watched as she sliced the cake. She turned towards the door as a stranger walked inside. She giggled at his bow, and replied, "Hello sir! I'm Oodle." She smiled. But, her smile faltered. My name IS Oodle..... Isnt it..?

She blushed slightly at the compliment. "Thank you!" Her smile faltered again. Are you positive that's your name..? Her mind whispered. She wasn't sure anymore. Doubt clouded her eyes. And then, she came back to the present, and she plastered her grin on again. "Honestly, I'm not quite sure! And, Miss, he's fine. I will answer as many questions as I can." She smiled a little.

She laughed and replied, "I'm sorry Mi...... Moon, er, it's just habit. I was raised this way!" She looked slightly embarrassed. At Flare's comment, she quickly looked over at Moon, shocked. "I am SO sorry, Mi-Moon. I didnt mean to offend you!" Without waiting for a reply, she turned back to Flare. She felt like her head was spinning with all the different side conversations. "I-Im not sure. All I know is that I washed up here after nearly drowning." She visibly flinched at the memory. More warm and sticky stuff flowed in a stream down the back of her head to her neck. But she was too absorbed with the conversation, that she didnt even notice.

She looked confused, and anxiety instantly sprang into her heart at Flares face. She allowed herself to be led away. "What's wrong with me?"

She felt like she was being lied to. "Are you sure? Because the look on your son's face tells me otherwise." She yelped at Moon's touch, but held her tongue the rest of the time. Strange. It appears I dont have much of a pain tolerance.

Oodle's fur spiked. Am I really that easy to read?! "Okay." She winced when the jell touched her wound that she had forgotten about. "Thank you, Miss." She shook her head. "Sorry. Moon." [You're fine!]

She suddenly felt like crying, at this gesture. She refused to let the tears fall. She hoped that Moom hadn't seen. Her fur spiked at the mention of Zeke again. "Thank you, Mi-Moon." She smiled, tears still in her eyes.

She curled up on the bed, and let her tears spill. She was what you would call a beautiful cryer.

Oodle jolted awake. Her entire dream was centered around the month of May, at a palace. Weird. "Y-yes." She stammered. She had tensed up at the mention of Zeke once again. She sat up. Her head throbbed at the quick motion.

Despite Moon's words, alarm filled her chest, and her heart started to pound. It took all of her self control to not run away. She forced herself to smile at them. "Hello." Her voice was barely a whisper.

"N-nice to make both of your acquaintances." Oodle laughed at Zeke's excitement. She was beginning to feel a bit more at ease. "Uhm... how exactly do you calm people...?" She immediately felt terrified at the fact that Zeke could read emotions. And then she felt bad for feeling terrified, because she didnt want to offend him. And then she felt angry with herself for being unable to control her emotions better.

She nodded. "Yes. That... sounds fine."

She felt a little alarmed, by Zeke, but after his horns started to glow, she felt almost weightless. And a warm pressure seemed to wrap itself around her, feeling almost like a hug. The pressure strengthened, and she began to feel more safe. Her heart slowed, and her breathing was less ragged. Her head began to clear of all the worries and uncertainties. Her muscles relaxed.

She took a breath. She flinched slightly at Moon's touch. She nodded. "Yes, Miss. Moon. Sorry." She blushed.

She wasnt quite sure how she felt about someone rummaging through her head. But, she needed to remember everything. Most everything. She nodded. "Okay."

She glanced around, clearly beginning to feel afraid. At his sudden movement, she screamed, "Please dont hit me!" Before her body crumpled to the bed, and everything went dark.

A dark room. The smell of ash. Suddenly, a large, dark figure stormed into the room. He looked very angry. She immediately felt terrified. "You USELESS, UNRELIABLE, GOOD FOR NOTHING HAG!" Her master snarled. His fangs were bared. He crept forward, and tears sprang into her eyes. "I-Im sorry, Master Zamon." He chuckled angrily. "Do you really think an apology is going to fix what you've done?" He spat. "N-No, of c-course not, Master Z-Zamon." She flinched away from him. He flashed out a paw, and grabbed her face, forcing her to look at him. He dug his claws into her. She froze from fear. "If I EVER hear another word of you speaking to MY SON again, you will be SOLD away from your family. Do you understand?" His voice was cold. "Y-yes, Master Zamon." She whimpered. "Good." He dropped her face. She shrank against the wall, trying to get away from him. He nipped at her leg, before spinning around, and stalking out the door. He slammed it shut. Shaking, she fell to the stone cold floor, and cried.

"May?" A voice whispered into the darkness. She was outside the pavilion, washing dishes from that nights dinner. She smiled. "Zeke, is that you...?" A slim, dark figure approached her. His blue eyes shone, and he nuzzled her cheek affectionately. "Are you STILL washing our dishes?" His tone was teasing. "Well, it IS a lot of work. Theres a lot of you!" She huffed in mock annoyance. He smiled. "Here, let me help you with those." He took half the stack, and plunged them into the stream, scrubbing. He started humming a silly little tune he must have learned as a child. She giggled, and continued washing the plate she had in her paws. She smiled at him, and he smiled at her. She leaned on his shoulder, and twined her tail with his. "I wish we could always be like this." She murmured. "Me too, May. Me too."

She sat up violently, screaming. Sobs wracked her body, and she wrapped her tail around herself, trembling.

She continued to tremble as Moon hugged her. She was trying to make herself breathe slower, but the terror was still too strong, even after Zeke sent his waves. She was still hyperventilating. "He- he- it- my Master- May- Zeke- He-" Her words were lost to sobs once more.

She couldn't stop crying, although her breathing became more regular. "They took me away. He saved me. They were going to sell me. He was going to sell me. He saved me by pushing me off the ship. He saved me."

"Yes" she whispered. "I- I was a slave. And... my name is May." She continued to whisper. Tears continued to fall silently.

"Thank you." She whispered. She curled up on the bed, using the cloth as a blanket, and quickly fell into a deep sleep, filled with nightmares of her former life.... [I gtg to bed. Continue tomorrow?]

HERE

The sound of something shattering made her ears prick as she was folding laundry. Dread instantly filled her heart. This couldn't be good. She left the laundry room, and went to the next hallway over. She saw the broken China vase before she saw Peter and Adah. Her little brother and sister. Oh my God. What did they do? She could hear footsteps coming from the corridor. It had a slight limp. Master Zamon. Fear lit in her heart. She quickly grabbed Peter and Adah by the scruff's and dragged them out and into the garden. She then ran back by the vase, and started to act like she was trying to hide the evidence. And then, Mastor Zamon walked into the hallway. He inhaled sharply, and she froze, holding her breath. What he said next was barely audible, he was so quite. "You broke my vase! That vase has been in my family for generations. You.... you will be punished severely for this." Her heart started thumping quicker.

He bit down hard on her front, left leg, to the point blood started to trickle down her wrist, and started to drag her to the courtyard. She yelped, but didnt resist, knowing that her punishment would only be worse if she did that. He tugged harder, making it impossible to keep up with him. And then she saw the stage. And she suddenly knew what was to become of her. A public whipping. Her breath became short. She was going to be whipped. For something she didnt even do. Master Zamon threw her onto the stage, and fastened her neck to a chain there, so she couldn't run. And then he called for his son. Zeke. Zeke. No. It couldn't be Zeke. He knows. And then Zeke showed up. And he took the whip, studded with nails, and shards of glass. And whipped her until Master Zamon was satisfied and told him to stop. By this time, she was already unconscious.

May's eyes flew open, and she sat up in her bed, screaming.

She started to shake violently at the sound of yelling, and something breaking. Is... is that my fault..? She ran her paw along her spine, feeling the scars.... she suddenly felt like puking. A year slid down her cheek. Adah and Peter. Her mother, Alice. Her father, Jude. All of them. They were all still there. With Master Zamon. And... and I still belong to him. The feeling that she was going to be sick intensified.

*tear

May nodded, and followed Moon out into the night. "Miss... I- I think I liked me better before I remembered." Her voice trembled, and she nervously looked into Moon's eyes.

Panic made her heart flutter as Moon walked away. She... she blames herself. The realization smacked her in the gut. Guilt flooded through her. "Miss, Miss, it's not your fault! I... I needed to know. I was just an empty shell of a person before." She called after her. Dammit. I wish I could read people better.

Her heart hurt at the last sentence. Someone had told her that once before. Who was it.... an image flew into her mind. It was her best friend, Samantha. Tears flew into her eyes once more. A sense of longing for her family, for her friends, for Zeke.... She turned away from the house, and looked out at the pond. She stood, and walked towards it, slowly. The moon and stars stood reflected in it. The trees whispered to her in the breeze. She thought for a second she could hear Jane, and Emmeline, and Samantha, and Rylee, and all of them. Calling out to her. And then the voices left. And her soul was filled with a loneliness and longing she couldn't explain.

She jumped at the sound of his voice, and whatever trance she was in was broken. She winced at his touch, but didnt pull away. She searched his eyes, and she felt sad for him, although she wasnt quite why. She longed for understanding. Instead of replying to what he had said before, she whispered, "I'm 15." She didnt know why, but she suddenly felt like crying. Maybe it was his apology, his concern for her, or his touch, but she didnt know what to say to him, or how she was feeling, and she just wanted to go to sleep and never wake up.

"Flare... I just... I dont even know what I need. I dont even know WHO exactly I am anymore." She looked out on the pond again. A shooting star flew past. She saw his wing out of the corner of her eye, and her heart skipped a beat. She kind of wanted him to hug her. No, you idiot, that isn't what he was doing. Stupid. She took a deep breath, and exhaled, sending ripples across the water. She smiled softly before looking back at him.

She jumped at his sudden touch, and after he let her go, she looked at him in confusion with a bewildered expression on her face. She had absolutely no clue what the heck THAT had been all about. And then she burt out laughing, and she threw her head back, laughing harder at just how awkward and weird that was. Still laughing a little she leaned over and hugged him back, but held on. After releasing him, she said, still giggling slightly. "That's how you hug someone, last time I checked."

*burst

She sighed happily, still looking at him. "I know. It was kind of cute." She chuckled a little, looking out at the pond once more. She took notice to how the pain in her chest had seemed to dial back a bit. She looked back at him, saying softly, "Hey, uhm... I really appreciate you coming out here, and your concern." She looked back out at the water. "Its... it's not your fault. Honestly, none of it is anyone's fault." She suddenly felt very weary.

A shiver went down her scarred up spine. She smiled. "Absolutely mortified, but, I AM one to love getting over my fears. Be warned though, I MAY have a bit of a panic attack. But I am TOTALLY down!" Her adrenaline started pumping through her veins already.

Her eyes widened, as fear coursed through her. Oh God, save me. She shook out her fur before climbing onto his back. She hoped he couldn't feel her tense muscles, and her pounding heart. "Let's go!"

She cried out in alarm as they escalated into the air, and solid ground was far beyond her reach. Her heart was pounding, and her breath was beginning to become short and quick. She dug her claws into his shoulders. Terror was I'm control of her now. A whimper escaped her. I'm going to die. I'm going to die. I am SO going to die.

"Flare, Flare, this is REALLY high. I cant... I-...." She was shaking, and the fact that she was unsteady scared her even more. "And... I do trust you, Flare." This realization seemed to smack May in the face. She shouldnt ever trust this easy. And she usually doesn't. She couldn't stop looking towards the ground. Her breathing continued to become shorter and quicker, and more terrified whimpers escaped her mouth.

"Please. Please take me down." She squeezed her eyes shut, and at this point she had almost stopped breathing all together. She was shaking so bad, it was likely for her to fall off his back. She gripped his shoulders harder.

She slid off his back, and onto the sand. Solid ground. She started crying from relief, and her muscles would tense up, and she would shake violently, before her body would relax. This continued for a while. She forced herself to take deep breaths, as her tears ran into the sand. "Its- f-fine. Y-you didnt k-know. I-I-its n-not your f-f-fault." Her face turned red at her stutter. Dammit. Why do I have to do that? She thought angrily to herself.

She sat up quickly, making her head spin. Her voice suddenly stopped shaking. "Flare, this isnt your fault. None of it is. And... I needed my memory back. AND I needed to feel afraid of something other than my life, so I could live in the moment, instead of in my head. And dont worry, I still enjoyed the view." And being close to you. Her mind whispered. She kind of wanted to hit him, punch him, and kiss him all at the same time.

Her heart dropped. Your fault, your fault, your fault. Her head screamed. "Flare, what's going on..?" She knew it would be a long walk back. She trotted to catch up with him.

"Something is definitely going on, Flare." She searched his face, and after a moment with no response she whispered, "Flare, please look at me." You done messed things up this time, May. Her mind whispered. Shut the Hell up! She screamed back in her head.

[Dude, this rp tho? I'm like... actually feeling May's emotions rn]

She laughed uneasily. She felt like he was lying to her. He had definitely closed off after they touched the ground. She felt oddly guilty. She looked ahead of them, dropping the subject. She didnt know what she had been thinking. As she looked forward, she saw a port, leading into a large building. Different creatures of all shapes and sizes were being unloaded from ships, and into the building. And then, she recognized one of the boats. She stopped dead in her tracks, trying to process what she was seeing. "Oh my God." She whispered aloud.

[Bro, I'm fine. Just shows how hard core of a theatre kid I really am ;)]

Her heart started to race. It was him. Master Zamon. He's here. Which means... Zeke must be here too. Mastor Zamon... who else was on that ship? Someone else had definitely been there with her. But she couldn't remember who. She leaped forward hoping she would get there in time. She passed a clump of trees, much closer to the port. When someone leaped onto her back, taking her down to the ground. And before she could scream for help, or open her eyes, her attacker pressed a pressure point in her chest so hard it made her faint.

[😂]

Zeke felt deeply afraid, but he forced himself to out on a brave face. He had no clue what his father was doing, but he had told him to pretend to be him, so that's what he was doing. "I will do nothing of the sort. This is my property, and there's absolutely nothing you can do about that" Zeke spat in the guards face. He ordered his father's guards to shove the 5 other slaves they had brought, apart from May, back into the slave hold in the ship. They did so, and he slammed the door shut, locking it. "We will depart when my fath- excuse me, my sons, return." He gave the guard a toothy, hopefully malicious, grin. Please, please, please buy it and leave. Please. Zeke's blue eyes glittered with uncertainty, but covered it up with anger and hatred quickly. I just hope my voice is deep enough. He thought. May awoke to being dragged on the leafy and sandy ground, her legs and mouth bound. She looked up to see a black figure. Fear paralyzed her. It was Master Zamon.

Zeke's heart skipped a beat, and his paws started to shake ever so slightly. "You are NOT in charge of me. And if you want to fight, I'll give you one." He snarled, feigning agression and confidence. He ignored the last comment, suddenly feeling very cold. He started to sweat a bit. May struggled in her bindings, her heart thudding in her chest. Master Zamon looked down at her and grinned. "Dont worry, May. We're going to take you home. And punish you properly for running from me." He looked genuinely excited. And for good measure, he bent down, and sank his fangs into her neck. Not enough to kill, but enough to send a dizzying amount of pain. She would've cried out if her mouth hadn't been bound. "Now. Let's carry on without any struggling, shall we?" And he continued on, dragging her body behind him.

Zeke yelped in surprise, and immediately regretted the noise. His father wouldnt have done that. He hit a pole hard, knocking the wind out of him. He struggled to his feet, and he disappeared into the shadows of the night. A perk of being part of the Shadow-Folk. When he positioned himself right, he leaped onto Flare's back, raking his spine, and he swung his lithe body at an angle, and lunged at his throat. Not wanting to kill the guy, he intentionally missed and bit deep into his chest opposite shoulder instead.

Because his head was close to the ground, when Flare threw him, his head hit the port extremely hard. His vision was immediately blurred, and he struggled to get back off the ground. Fear struck him when he realized he was in the light again, fully visible.

He yelped against his will at the pressure on his head. His vision was starting to go black around the edges. His head hurt so much he couldn't even reply. He looked up at the guard in dismay. "You know." He whispered, his voice shaking. The black took over more of his vision. He dropped the act. "Sir, please. Please kill me. I- I dont want to be a part of this anymore. And... now that she's gone... there's no reason in staying. I'm just glad I could save one of them." His voice shook, and sounded weak. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a dark shape enter the ship, dragging a lighter one behind him. The ship started pulling out of the port. "He's leaving me." Zeke whispered under his breath.

HERE

At the sudden release of the guard's pressure on his head, the blackness completely took over, and he didnt fight it. His body went limp, as he blacked out on the pier. May reached for Flare at the sound of his voice, and Master Zamon pulled on her ropes sharply. Her body flew to him, and she wouldnt yelped if her mouth hadn't been bound. If her mouth hadn't been bound, she would've called out to Flare. Blood spewed from the bite mark on her neck, and it spewed on the planks of the boat. Master Zamon flung her body into one of the cells they used to hold slaves, and shut and locked the door with his Keys. He laughed at her as she struggled to back away into the corner farthest from the door, and fear filled her eyes. "Time to go back home, May." He smiled a toothy, sincere smile. And the fact that it was sincere made it so much worse.

The ship was pulling out of the harbor. Master Zamon locked and barred the door to the stronghold shut from the inside, and he decided to entertain himself by beating a small child in front of his mother. May felt sick, but she forced herself to watch the beating, the child's face. She made herself listen to the screams of pain from the child, and the screams of despair and pleading from the mother. A single year trickled down her bloody cheek. She forced herself to feel again, so she could numb herself again. This is how it was going to be for forever once more.

Master Zamon stopped beating the child at the thud at the door. He smiled, grabbed the child, which screamed, and threw him in a cell. He then ran into May's cell, and unbound her mouth before grabbing the child again, and positioned himself with the little boy between May and the door. Waiting. May didnt respond to Flare's shouts. From fear. Not for herself, but for the small boy.

Master Zamon didnt even flinch as dust and bits of wood flew into the hold. Instead, he smiled wide, holding the little boy in front of him. He extracted his talons, and grabbed the child's throat. "If you touch any of my property, I'll kill him." The little boy immediately started to cry, and gasp with shock and terror. His mother started to shake on the bars of her cell, screaming for Master Zamon to let her son go. May just looked at Flare, putting all of her pleading into her expression. Please dont, Flare. My rescue isnt worth the child's life.

Master Zamen laughed, big and loud. After a moment, he suddenly stopped. He tightened his grip on the child's throat, drawing blood, and the kid started to sob. The sound absolutely broke May's heart. "Leave." Master Zamon said, his voice filled with ice. "Or I will kill him." May looked at Flare desperately. She mouthed one word, and one word only. "Go."

*Zamon

May suddenly felt so alone. She looked back over at Master Zamon. He had decided to kill the child anyways. The mother screamed, and crumpled to the ground as if she had been struck physically. May burst into silent tears, mourning the life that was just lost. Master Zamon tossed the body aside, thinking nothing of the deed he had just committed. Before leaving the hold, he looked back at May, and smirked. By the time Zeke came back into consciousness, the ship was already on the horizon, barely visible. "My father actually left me." He murmured. And then he saw a figure flying closer and closer at full throttle. It was the guard.

Zeke barely had enough time to respond as he was flung against a pole by the guard. The air was knocked of his chest, and he struggled to breathe once more so he could answer him. After he could breathe again, he responded with, "I- I'm not completely sure. I'd have to have a map to show you..." His words broke off with a yelp as blood began to trickle down his neck and onto the dock.

Zeke rubbed sleep out of eyes, clearly not understanding this was a hostage situation. He ears perked up at the mention of May. "Wait. M-May? My FATHER has MAY?!?" His voice grew to a panicked shout as the guard walked into the house.

Zeke's head was pounding, and his vision seemed to be blurring once again. He felt like puking. "Shit- I think I have a concussion..." He yelped as he touched his paw to his head. He waited for the guard to come back outside. Blood continued to pool from the multiple wounds in his throat. The white spot on his chest was starting to be stained with red. All he could think of was May. I cant believe my father has her...

"Thank you, ma'am." He said quietly to the purple cat before turning to the guard. He took a breath. "The kingdom we are from is the Kingdom of Umbra, ruled under King Ferrum and his council. I come from a family of nobles." He paused before adding under his breath, "Although, my father doesnt deserve the title." He continued speaking to the guard. "We live on a 20,000 acre estate, and my father has over 100 servants. I only really know the ones that work in the house, and in the family gardens and farm." He looked the guard right in the eye. "I heard you mentioned a May earlier..?" He hoped and prayed they weren't the same May.

Zeke leaped to his paws. "May?!? My-my father has May?! No! The ****ing bastard!" He spat out the last sentence. "I tried to save her from him! And... and now he has her back, and there's nothing I can do to stop it." Zeke crumpled to the ground at this, clutching his head, ignoring the throbbing.

Zeke nodded, and looked up at the guard. "Yes. Yes, I know her. We're.... best friends." He decided to not reveal the whole truth about their relationship. It had always been complicated anyways. She sat up once more. "I pushed her off the damn boat, feigning that I was punishing her for something. In reality, I was trying to save her from being sold into trafficking. Sex trafficking. That's what my father had planned for her. And I wasnt about to let that happen to May. Shes... she's already been through so much. Me, being the oldest son, I'm supposed to inherit my father's estate. And once I do, all the slaves are being set free. All of them." His voice shook with emotion.

Zeke shook his head, which instantly brought on a throbbing headache. "No, I don't have a map. I told you that if you could give me a map, that I could show you where I'm from." He felt like throwing up.

"I'm Zeke. Of the Periculo Estate." He watched Moon leave, and yelped in pain when Flare grabbed his ear. His head throbbed harder. He yelped once more as he was thrown aside like a ragdoll, and anger festered in his heart at Flare's final sentence. He guessed that Flare hadn't the slightest idea that May was his girlfriend.

Zeke curled up on the ground beside the bush, trying to ease the pounding headache he had. He felt like puking, and his vision went in and out of focus. He only hoped that these two strangers saw him as anything but his father.

Zeke's heart rate sped up, as everything suddenly became more and more real. My father left me here. Alone. Passed out on the dock. I may hate him, but he's still my father! Tears suddenly threatened to spill, but he blinked them away. He already appeared weak to these two. "My-my father would kill me I take you to him." His voice shook. He was clearly afraid. He suddenly seemed like a little boy, lost and helpless, and confused.

Zeke shook his head. "My father won't do anything to inflict physical pain on her. He knows that that wont take him very far. If he really wants to hurt her, he's going to kill... one of her... family members..." This realization struck Zeke in the gut, and he quickly took the quill from Moon, and drew a line from the island to the Kingdom of Umbra. It was at least half a months journey by boat. He decided to ignore Flare's final comment. He just wished that someone else could understand him. So far, it was just May.

Zeke didnt say anything. He felt like he shouldn't be here, and was an outcast. Which is exactly what he was. May sobbed quietly in her corner of her cell, unable to watch the mother cradle her sons broken body any longer.

After a long, long time of silence, Zeke finally whispered loud enough only for Flare to hear, "I know you hate me. And... you have every right to. I just... please, give me a chance? A chance to.. to prove that I'm NOT like my father." He hoped that he could be friends with Flare. He.. hadn't ever had a true friend, apart from May. And, he kind of liked Flare.

Zeke sighed. "Isnt that what I've been doing this whole time? Even in the first fight we had. I could've killed you. But I chose not to. Because I decided I didn't want to be like him. If I didnt kill you then, I'm definitely not planning on killing you now." He whispered under his breath, "I didn't think my father abandoning was apart of the plan. Trust me."

Zeke ignored his comment, but tucked away that piece of information about Flare away for later. He seems to either be very arrogant, or overly confident. Noted. He slid off of Flare's back, and followed his... captors? He wasnt super sure what their relationship was. He shrugged, and followed them anyways. May was unloaded from the ship, right behind the grieving mother. Master Zamon smiled down at her, clearly having something in mind for her. Instead of having her follow the rest of the slaves to the slave yard for retagging, he had her led to the courtyard. And right in front of the stage. And then, after a few moments, a face she recognized but hadn't seen in a long time was shoved up there. It was her mother, Alice. [K, I gtg to bed. Love ya!]

Here!

Zeke looked around him, clearly unnerved by the hustle and bustle of the town. He inched a little closer to Moon and Flare. May's heart thumped in her chest. What's my mother up there for..? And then Master Zamon appeared. "I have called you all together today for the punishment of a slave. She ran away from me, and you all know that this requires the worst punishment I can give." His menacing pale yellow eyes pierced hers. "She will watch the death of a family member." May's eyes widened with realization, and screamed bloody murder for Master Zamon to not do it. Her mother looked at her with tears in her eyes, and mouthed the words, "I love you" just before the executioner began to slowly bite away chunks of her mother's throat. May struggled against the chains that bound her, but she refused to look away. She had done this. She had done this to her mother. As her mother lay there, quite literally bleeding her guts out, Master Zamon spoke once more. "Dearest May, I do hope you have learned your lesson."

Zeke sat in silence, wondering what exactly they were here for. The guards unchained her, and May ran up onto the stage, refusing to believe that her mother was truly dead. She desperately put pressure on her mother's mangled neck. She was going to try anything to save her. "Mom... Mom, I am so, so sorry. This is all my fault... please, please still be alive. PLEASE!" She screamed, sobbing.

Zeke silently followed the conversation. He jumped and looked extremely paranoid when the cats attention was suddenly all on him. She looked into her mother's empty face, unsure of what to do with herself. She wanted to scream, punch someone, something, just... do SOMETHING!! Instead she just sat there, blaming herself.

Zeke looked at the floor as he murmured, "I'm Zeke. Zeke of Periculo." He never wanted his father's estate to be associated with him, but it was required in this situation.

[K, I gtg to bed. Love you bb ♡]

Here bb ♡ Btw, so sorry, uhm, if I just, stop responding its bc I've fallen asleep?

Zeke's sharp ears flattened against his head. Of course she was going to judge him for his father's actions. He didnt know why he had expected any different. "I know. I dont like it much either. Trust me." He murmured. He stood with everyone else without a word to head down to the docks. May had bottled everything up inside of her. Everything. She wasnt going to let anyone see how much they got to her ever again. She was like talking to a statue, just as stony faced and untalkative. She scrubbed the floor with such bitter intensity it seemed to glitter after she was done. My fault, my fault, my fault. Her mind whispered.

Zeke's paws slipped out from underneath him as the boat hurtled forward. She stumbled to his paws, and took a seat next to a pole, so he could lean against it and keep himself upright. He refused to look at Flare.

Zeke immediately felt nervous. This was the kind of thing he had been schooled on, but he had never left the estate before now. He wasnt quite sure what to do with himself. "Uhm... could you tell me what direction we're headed in?" He whispered.

Zeke nodded, and studied the map closer. They needed to head north. He looked up at Flare, and said, "We need to be heading north. Its basically a straight shot. And once we pull into the harbor, it'll be about a day and a half journey to the estate." Chills went up his spine at the thought of facing it once again.

IM HERE AAAAA

May resoaked the rag she was using, and angrily scrubbed the windows till they shone.

Zeke yelped in alarm, as he had been asleep. "You okay? You seem tense."

Zeke acknowledged his apology with a slight nod, looked Flare in the eyes with confidence for the first time. "Because she wouldnt let me. We've helped so many others escape together, and she wanted to be around for it. To help me help them. I had to respect that."

Zeke flinched as the door slammed, and worry and concern ate at his heart. Both for Flare, and for May. She watched her family grieve from afar. She was forbidden from seeing them.

Zeke sighed, quickly realizing Flare wouldnt be coming back for a while, a fell asleep. May clenched her teeth, refusing to let a single sound escape her as Master Zamon tore into her shoulder. He went deeper and deeper, looking for a reaction, but he found none. He left her to bleed. She cleaned her wound.

Zeke mumbled in his sleep, and woke at Moon's voice M. He felt warm, and he groggily opened his eyes to see her looking at the sky. "Moon..?"

He looked at her sadly, his gaze full of longing. "Do you hate me..?" His voice shook with emotion, and his chest felt heavy with sadness.

"Because of him. Everyone hates me because of him!" He angrily shrugged off her wing before standing up and walking over to the railing of the boat. Tears silently fell into the ocean. He didnt want her to see him cry. Images of his father hitting him for crying flashed in his mind. A sob escaped, but he quickly silenced himself, instinctively feeling afraid.

He visibly flinched when she grabbed his face, although her touch was kind. More tears fell. "I'm sorry."

He took a shuddering breath, before going back to the pole and falling asleep once more. May suddenly had such a strong urge to hurt herself. Everything she loved was taken from her. Her mother is dead, she's forbidden from her family, Zeke is gone, and she was taken from Flare and Moon. She picked up a cooking knife, preparing to slice open her arm, when the door to the kitchen opened, and a familiar voice sounded. "May! ...May? What are you doing?!" She turned around to find her best friend, Samantha, standing in the doorway. She quickly responded with, "Getting ready to wash this knife." Samantha ran down the steps and hugged May so hard she couldn't breathe. And May cried for the first time in a long time.

Zeke continued to sleep. He had an aura of peace around him. The rising sun shone on his black pelt, highlighting his features. He's very handsome and regal looking in this moment. May continued to sob in Sam's arms. Sam rubbed her back, saying softly, "I know baby, I know."

Zeke woke immediately from shock and the cold, screaming some gibberish about how he was going to get those unjust squirrels one day if it was the last thing he did. He sat there, sopping wet, and breathing heavily from alarm, although his eyes were already starting to droop from tiredness.

He chuckled a little, immediately remembering everything from last night. He tried to dismiss the anxious twinge in his chest. He started laughing with Reese but obviously uncomfortable. "I slept... okay." His teeth chattered, as he was drenched and the wind was blowing. "Howd you sleep?"

He took the blanket and wrapped himself up burrito style. "I was thinking I could take you guys in as a couple looking to buy some slaves. My father... sells them. A lot." He got quieter as he spoke, and he looked at the ground nervously. He knew Flare didnt like him that much. He was probably just happy about getting May back, which is understandable. She's the best.

Zeke looked at him, obviously putting the pieces together in his head. Moon definitely talked to him. "No, we shouldn't have to. I cam get her out." I'll have to stay though. He didn't add the last bit.

Alarm filled his face. "You've met him?!" No wonder he hates me so much.

Zeke visibly flinched at his violence towards the wood. "I'm sorry you had to meet him, and go through that." His voice shook as rage continued to build in his heart.

"Its fine." He mumbled. His heart skipped a beat at Flare's comment, and he peered out to sea.

Zeke ran over to the rail, peering out. "What the hell.." He murmured.

(R I P LMFAOOO Yeah, I was like, wait, WTF) "I-Im not sure. I've never seen this place before." He stammered, averting his eyes. He braced himself, waiting to be struck.

Fear immediately struck him and he called to her, "WAIT!! IVE NEVER STEERED A SHIP BEFORE!!" He remained at the edge, hoping for a response.

Heart hammering, and ran to the steering wheel, and turned it in the direction of the land. He continued to steer the ship in the right direction, even though the fog was so thick he could barely see the wheel itself. Then suddenly, an explosion of shattered wood filled the air. Zeke was thrown forwards, hitting his chin hard on the wheel. The taste of blood filled his mouth. "****."

*he

His ears pricked at the sound of vigorously flapping wings, and Moon's shouts. Blood dropping from his mouth, he crouched in a dark corner, hoping his black fur would help him to blend into the fog. He waited for whatever was tracking them to show up.

The blood was still coming in a steady stream. He felt his chin, and had to bite back a yelp. From what he could tell without seeing the wound, it was busted open to the bone. He had nothing to wrap it in. No one had appeared on the ship, and he hadn't heard anything from Moon, or Flare. Worry gnawed at his heart. I'm going to look for them. He decided.

Zeke stumbled off the side of the ship, crashing to the ground with a loud thud. He gasped at the impact and had to take a moment to catch his breath.

He screamed as something grabbed him from behind, and failed wildly in their grasp, before hearing Moon's voice. He immediately relaxed, and sank into her hug. His fur was still spiked. He winced, but didn't say a word when she patched up his chin. He was shaking when she pulled him into another hug. "Where are we?" His voice shook..

After thinking about it, he blurted out, "We're on the Isle of Kako." He paused, averting his eyes. "At least, I think so." He added, before quickly changing the subject. "What happened to you anyways?"

He strategically ignored her question, instead asking, "Are you sure you're okay? That net could've shattered one of the bones in your wing."

He avoided any eye contact with her, and flinched when she grabbed him. "Uhm... my father... left me here.. so the tribes could teach me how to kill, poison, and drug enemies, and how to defend myself. My father... wasn't very pleased with the results." He paused, then continued. "He killed a child from each tribe as punishment for their failure." He looked away, and whispered, "I'm not... welcome here."

He looked away, and began to rebuild his inner walls. "Whatever. Its fine. Can't change it anymore. Anyways, these people are dangerous. He's probably been drugged or something." He watched her think, wondering what she was planning.

He laughed. He genuinely laughed, took the mask, laughed again, and put it on. He then said, "How do I look, mom?" His breath caught in his throat. He hadn't meant to call her "mom." He was technically her hostage. He quickly said, "Sorry." And started to walk away quickly.

"I didn't mean to call you that." He replied, refusing to make eye contact with Moon. He felt embarrassed, and sad.

Tears began to silently pour down his face. I don't deserve this, he thought. He followed Moon towards the fog forest.

"Barely." He replied. He stopped crying. God, I'm so emotional, he thought. He stepped closer to her, the wood blocking his peripheral vision. "You're going to have to alert me of everything, because I can only see straight ahead."

He wrapped Moon's tail around his neck like a scarf, and shuddered at how creepy the forest was. He immediately recognized her voice, and his face grew pale, although it was hidden by the mask. He whispered, "Thats Amber. We were supposed to get married."

He looked away from her, his fur bristling. He took a breath before speaking. "So my father would stop taking slaves from here, he agreed to arrange a marriage with someone from one of the tribes if they would teach me how to be a killer. They agreed, and,, I was arranged to marry Amber. We're.... technically still engaged." He shuddered, growing more faint. He whispered so lightly it was barely audible, "I really shouldn't be here."

He sat down, trying to regain control of his breathing. "Okay." He was still a good distance from Moon. He didn't know what to say, and he quickly grew uncomfortable with the silence.

Zeke was exhausted from keeping watch. Moon had fallen asleep. But, he knew what he had to do. He shook Moon awake. "Come on, its time. We have to hurry if we want to save Flare."

Without stopping to explain to Moon what was happening, he tore off the mask, fixed is fur as nicely as he could, and started sprinting straight to the alter. He was sure-footed and swift. He arrived quickly, bursting past the guards and into the hall, right as Amber reached Flare and the priest. He yelled, "STOP!" He was barely out of breath from the run.

Zeke ran down the aisle to stand in front of Amber. He took her paws in his, and with tears in his eyes, said, "Amber, I know you're REALLY pissed with me, and you have every right to be. I ran away from you and what we had instead of fighting for you. Fighting for us. And.." He paused, the emotion clear in his voice and on his face, before continuing. "And, even if you decide you don't want anything to do with me, you CANNOT marry this man. He's in love with someone else, okay? They're in love with each other, and we were on our way to rescue her from,,,," He paused again, "From my father. We can still make things right, Amber. We're still engaged. If you marry me, instead of him, then my father can't come and steal your people anymore. Please." He paused before adding, "And... I still love you, Amber. I love you so so so so SO much. I'm sorry it took me this long to figure that out."

Zeke hugged her tightly, rubbing her back softly. He breathed in her scent deeply. She still smelled the same. Like warm vanilla. Zeke smiled back at Flare. And then burst into laughter at Moon's sobbing.

Zeke laughed, but when Flare pulled him to the side, the entire situation slammed into him like a train, and he looked at Flare, no extremely nervous. "I'm not ready for this." He whispered, anxiety now clawing at his stomach. "I don't even know the vows!"

Zeke stepped up and stood in his place by the priest. They went over the proper vows, and then they started the wedding.

Zeke gingerly touched her face after they kissed. The ring felt strange, but nice on his paw. He smiled at Amber. My wife, he thought. He laughed and danced with her, loving every moment. He fell in love with her even more deeply with every second. He kissed her again, whispering, "I've missed you, so much, Amber. I promise to never leave you like that again."

Zeke touched her face lovingly before they resumed dancing. He had never felt so free or joyful, and he wanted to stay in this moment forever.

He laughed and said, "I dunno,, I might have to brag about that one, love." He winked back at Flare. Amber had gone to change out of her dress when Flare came over. "Oh! Well, I accidentally crashed the ship,, so,,, Uh, wait, you WANT me to come?!" He was shocked. He thought Flare hated him.

"Yes, of course!!" He laughed. "Maybe Amber will want to come." He smiled.

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂