The morning sun had finally risen after a freezing night chilled the devastated town. Not a bird or rodent made noise around the area, no animal would come close. Not even a crow. Silence surrounded and filled the town, only the wind blew past the surrounding trees.

Everyone had slept within the town boundries, but made sure to remain in buildings and stables; anything which had been empty of a former resident. Antonis and Debalora stayed within one of the stables at the very edge of town. Debalora wanted to stay away from the town as far as possible, but Antonis needed to be somewhere dark and she wanted to be with him.

Tamil had returned late in the night. He hadn't told the others of his return yet, he remained at the edge of the forest. Tamil couldn't push himself to tell the bad news to everyone else. He had lost the horsemen miles away from the town. He desperately searched for a scent or trace of them, but it appeared as if they disappeared completely. Tamil knew it was some kind of spell, it infuriated him that a magic user would even reveal themselves.

Voltrick was placed into one of the larger stables within the town. Aidan had stayed with him the entire night, much to Murdoc's complaint, but remained with him nonetheless. The beast had transformed back to his normal form in the middle of the night, but the tiger hadn't awaken. Aidan knew it was only a sleeping spell and Voltrick would eventually wake up, but he was still worried. It was Gordan who placed the spell on him in the first place.

Gordan remained in the carriage most the night. Everyone else had shown obvious signs of their disapproval of his actions, so all he could do was seclude himself from everyone. That... and the news of Brandon being taken. He wanted to mourn. Brandon was his only friend and the only person to listen to him when he needed to talk to someone. Brandon would have known what to say that night. After Aidan scorned Gordan for what he did to Voltrick, Gordan couldn't turn to anyone. Now, Gordan didn't even have Brandon to turn to.

Gordan had stayed up most of the night. He couldn't sleep with the thought of Brandon being taken and no one being able to stop the horsemen. And he also felt... regret. Regret for attacking Voltrick as he did. He wouldn't have felt anything if Aidan hadn't scorned him. But as Gordan thought over what Aidan said to him, Gordan couldn't feel more regrettful if he physically hurt his father. Because Aidan was right. Gordan still couldn't find himself to fully forgive Voltrick for what he's done, but maybe Gordan has been a bit hard on him... his father.

The young tiger wearily climbed out of the carriage as the morning sun barely touched the rooftops of the burnt buildings of the town. His eyes winced to the light and the cold wind brushing against his face. The half empty sleeve at his left shoulder lightly flapped behind him as he silently watched the lifeless, half burnt stable in front of himself. He knew Voltrick was inside and Aidan still with him. If he said the spell right, which he usually did, Voltrick should be waking soon. A few hesitant moments passed before Gordan finally stepped forward into the stable.

The sound of the creaky door opening riled Aidan. He had been barely awake, but was quick to jump on whoever entered. Seeing it was Gordan, a serious gaze appeared on Aidan's face before lowering to Voltrick on the ground in front of himself. "He's been asleep the entire time..." Aidan remarked, but Gordan quickly interrupted.

"I know."

Aidan's ear folded back to Gordan's response, and lowered his brow. "Then I'll leave you here until he wakes up."

Gordan's eyebrows rose and ears perked up innocently. He regretted his actions toward Voltrick and wanted to check up on him, but he didn't want to be left alone with him. How would he know what to say when he wakes up? Gordan put the spell on him, how can he talk to him after that? He would rather just see that he's okay and Aidan can be there for when he wakes up.

Aidan frowned to Gordan's reaction, but gave no sign of staying. Gordan needed to be here when Voltrick wakes up. He wasn't going to get in the way anymore and Gordan and Voltrick needed to talk. After a silent exchange of unsure gazes, Aidan walked around Gordan and left the stable.

Gordan's ears folded back and lowered his brow further. Voltrick was still asleep, but he could wake any moment. There wasn't any way of getting out of this now, he had to be here when Voltrick woke. At the least of things, he'll at least find out if Voltrick was okay.

Voltrick's slumber was finally roused by the pain coursing through his head. Lowered brows twitched up as the aching made itself known more profoundly. As he woke, he found his entire body hurt as if it had been pushed to its limited and then all of his strength being drained out of him. Both ears folded back as he desperately tried to keep his eyes closed. Maybe if he falls back asleep, the pain will go away.

But the pain kept him awake and the effort woke Voltrick up further. Heavy lids barely opened. His eyesight was blurred, but he could tell he was in one of the stables. And from the looks of things and the smell of burnt wood, he was quickly reminded of the devastated town and knew he was in one of its buildings. He groaned lowly.

Heavy arms soon shifted and weakly pushed his upper body up from the ground. He never realized it could be so hard to simply push himself up. His arms shakily pushed against the ground until Voltrick sat upon the ground. It felt as if all of his strength had been sucked out of him and this headache... Voltrick lowered his head and cupped each hand against his forehead as his head throbbed. Was this because of the spell Gordan forced onto him? He guessed the spell was to knock him out, but was he supposed to feel so weak and have such a horrible headache?

"The headache will pass soon enough..." Gordan stated as calmly as possible. "And youre weak because the spell was meant to take away all of your strength and force you to fall asleep."

Voltrick jumped lightly to the voice and looked up. He thought he was alone, but how could he tell since he had just woke up? After finding who spoke, Voltrick's entire form tensed. Unfortunately, it made his head feel worse.

Voltrick felt incredibly uncomfortable. The only thing Gordan had said to him was a brief 'thank you' the day before. He had always turned him away and even put that spell on him! How would he know what to say now? In fact, why would Gordan be here now?

"If you keep your head up, the headache will pass soo--"

"Why did you put that spell on me?" Voltrick interrupted in his low, rumbling tone, still keeping his head down and his forehead in his hands. The pain was excruciating, but his need to know outweighed his discomfort. He would have rather asked why Gordan was talking to him in the first place, but he felt awkward enough asking anything at all.

Gordan's ears immediately folded back and could only stare at Voltrick when he interrupted. Gordan knew why he put the spell on him, but Aidan made it very clear it was wrong. Everyone else made it known to him to, by refusing to talk to him. His brow lowered as he sneered to himself, looking away. "I had my reasons." he said lowly. It was more intimidation now, that and the mixed regret he felt for doing it. If he told Voltrick why he did it, Voltrick would react to it. Should he lie and say it was a misunderstanding? Or should he say exactly what happened?

Voltrick groaned lowly, keeping his head down. "Right." he responded in an annoyed tone. Voltrick took Gordan's response negatively. There are few reasons why Gordan would put the spell on him AND respond with only 'i had my reasons'. And Voltrick only thought of one. Gordan had every right to hate his father, he didn't speak to him or even respond. Gordan hated Voltrick and that was the reason he did it.

Gordan's eyes narrowed. He knew it was a bad idea to come in here, especially when Aidan left him alone with Voltrick. He didn't want to be around his father and he knew this would be brought up. How can Gordan explain himself? "You were... attacking. And I felt it was right to stop you."

"Hmph" Voltrick emitted, only turning his head slightly toward Gordan. "Did I hurt anyone?" Voltrick finally asked before lowering his hands and raising his head a bit.

Gordan hesitated with Voltrick's question. He knew no one was seriously hurt, but he couldn't help but be reminded of how Voltrick hurt him in the past. Voltrick worries about hurting people now, but what about from what he's done before? "No." Gordan finally said and sat down against the wall in front of Voltrick.

"Good." Voltrick gave a relieved sigh and lowered his head. Both hands had raised to first rub his face, then rub back to the back of his neck. His headache had dulled slightly, but it was still burdening.

There was a long silence between the both of them, neither one of them wanting to speak to one another. Voltrick felt too ashamed and awkward to bring anything up, especially about last night. Gordan felt awkward as well. He didn't know what to say to the father, who he still felt ruined his life, but felt regrettful for attacking him. Both equally wanted to leave the room, but knew they shouldn't.

The silence of the room and the tense feelings between the both of them bothered Gordan. He wanted to leave, but he knew this was the only chance to 'express' what he's been feeling to his father. Gordan has been avoiding talking to Voltrick to avoid the confrontation, but he knew he couldn't avoid it any longer. And in a way, he knew Voltrick felt the same way.

Gordan opened his mouth to speak, but hesitated and looked down frustratedly toward the ground. He couldn't tell if it was his pride stopping him or the intimidation from the monster... from Voltrick in front of him. Regardless, Gordan knew he had to say something. "I'm... Why...." he hesitated with a groan. "How's your headache?"

Voltrick arched a brow and looked back up towards Gordan. Both ears folded back frustratedly. "Still throbbing... but nothing worse than what I've already been through."

"Good... I guess." Gordan kept his gaze down. This conversation was going no where. He stayed up all night thinking about how he's been treating Voltrick, but when he gets the chance to talk to him he cant even say what's on his mind.

"If you want to say something, say it." Voltrick interrupted Gordan's thoughts. He then looked up to Gordan with a lowered brow.

Gordan quickly looked up with a surprised gaze, but soon lowered his brow and folded his ears back again. He knew Voltrick could tell he was stalling, was he that obvious that he needed to talk to him? But, why did he need to talk to him? He hasn't spoken to him since their arguement back at the inn. Before, he didn't want to. He hated Voltrick above anyone else. But since last night, after Aidan scolded him, Gordan has been forced to think a bit differently. "I'm... sorry... I put the spell on you."

Voltrick arched a brow and lowered his forehead to his hands again. "You do not need to apologize, you said it was to stop me from hurting anyone and it worked." He groaned after speaking and sneered to himself. "I'm the one who should apologize for losing control again."

Gordan's features scrunched lightly as his frustration grew. "You were calming down after Murdoc spoke to you. There wasn't any need for me to put the spell on you. I saw you as your beast and I.." Gordan sighed loudly and turned away with a frown. Why was he trying to be open with Voltrick?! It didn't matter what Voltrick knew, he would just do it again later as he loses control of himself.

Voltrick kept his head lowered, but raised his gaze enough to see Gordan speak and then look away irritated. Both ears folded back again with his brow remaining lowered. After watching Gordan turn silent, Voltrick's gaze softened a bit before lowering toward the ground. "I understand."

The younger tiger suddenly turned back to Voltrick with a sneer. "No, you don't understand." he said with a sharp tone. "I deliberately knocked you out. I didn't care to notice what was happening or what was being said. I ran into that town square and attacked you and used your beast as an excuse to do it!"

Voltrick looked up briefly to watch Gordan become riled up, but lowered his head to look toward to ground again with a scowl. Everything Voltrick had been suspecting and had been saying to Aidan all this time has been confirmed just now. His son hated him and there was nothing he could do to stop it. Voltrick made his choices, and he lost his son because of it.

Gordan continued. "I cant stand you, Voltrick." He said slowly to put emphasis on it. "I don't even know why I'm in here talking to you. You've ruined my life and everyone else's!"

Voltrick's brow rose sadly as his ears tightened back further. He couldn't say anything to that. Everything was true and that fact has been eating him inside ever since he came to that inn. It was harder to hear now, especially after his son called him by his first name instead of 'dad' or 'father'. How many times will it take for voltrick to hear all of this before he realizes he has no chance at ever getting anyone back.

"But..." Gordan hesitated and focused on Voltrick. "After I put the spell on you, I thought I would feel better for doing it." He paused as he watched Voltrick's head raise up again. The sorrowful look on his face made him hesitate again, but he had to continue. "I don't. Everyone retaliated towards me as if I was the one to blame for everything. Especially Aidan... He even scolded me for doing it. Saying how he couldn't believe I would do such a thing to my own father. ...He also said everyone had given you a second chance except for me." he looked down slightly.

Voltrick raised his eyebrows slightly. "Aidan?"

Gordan looked up to the large tiger irritatedly. "Yes, Aidan." He paused to raise his hand and point towards Voltrick. "I know you would rather spend your time with him. You may feel protective of him, but he's not your son." Gordan abruptly stopped and took a heavy breath. He couldn't allow himself to get too emotional about this. He didn't care about his father or what he felt, ...at least that's what he keeps trying to convince himself.

Voltrick's gaze lowered again and felt heavy. It felt ironic as he remembered the conversation between him and Aidan before they arrived at the town. Aidan was right about Gordan feeling as if he was more protective of him. Voltrick remained silent for a moment before sitting up and leaning his back against the wall behind himself. The pain in his head wasn't as strong, but what pain was left was ignored now. Voltrick's face tensed up, appearing angered. But he wasn't. If he felt that way it was toward himself. "I'm sorry... I haven't been there for you. And for what I've done to you." he paused and kept his gaze lowered from looking towards Gordan. "I know there isn't anything I can do to make up for what has happened..."

Gordan's brow remained lowered as he sternly watched Voltrick. "You cant..."

Voltrick quickly interrupted by continuing and looked back up to Gordan sternly. "But I ask you.. here, now. ...To at least give me the chance to make up for what I've done."

Gordan scowled and turned away; narrowing his eyes as he felt them swell up. He couldn't just push away all that has happened and welcome Voltrick back. How can he give him another chance when he knows that its only a matter of time before Voltrick 'loses control again'. Too much has happened. A low groan emitted before he stood himself up, making sure to face the doorway. "How can you expect me to give you another chance? You cant even control yourself, how can you expect to make up for everything when you know there isn't anything you can do?" Gordan said quickly, keeping his gaze away from Voltrick. He wouldn't allow Voltrick the pleasure of seeing him get emotional about this. He had to appear stronger and couldn't allow his father the upper hand.

Voltrick watched Gordan stand with risen eyebrows, but as he heard Gordan reject him he looked down sadly. This was Voltrick's only chance to talk to Gordan and try to somehow get him back. And when he tried, Gordan rejected him. How can anyone give him a second chance when his own son wouldn't? Voltrick has done too much to him... Why should he be given another chance?

A silent moment passed before Voltrick's features hardened. He couldn't give up this easily. Gordan stood in front of him at the brink of tears because of Voltrick, how can he just sit here and let Gordan fall completely from his grasp? This WAS his chance. Voltrick's teeth grit as he weakly pushed himself to a stand; groaning frustratedly.

Gordan's brow lowered and ears folded back as he heard Voltrick. He wouldn't face him completely, but he would turn his head towards him and give him a confused look.

His legs shook a bit, but Voltrick stood as quickly as he could to stand in front of Gordan. "There may be nothing I can do to make up for the past, Gordan." Voltrick stated sternly. "But that does not mean I will turn away from trying." he ended his sentence with a grunt. "I have lost everything because of the choices I have made, there is not a day that passes I don't regret it. If I had to give or do anything to get back what I've destroyed, I would do it without hesitation." Voltrick's features softened as he noticed Gordan's scowl fade to an emotionless gaze. "You may not want to give me another chance, you have every right not to, But know that I will never give up on you... You are my son, and I will love you as a father should love his son... Even if it meant giving up my own life to prove it to you."

Gordan's forehead wrinkled as his eyebrows raised emotionally. His head lowered slightly as his chin trembled. "You don't need to give up your life..." the younger tiger barely said before he sniffed loudly, his eyes swelling up uncontrollably. Gordan wanted to hate everything about the man infront of him. If Voltrick had died just days before, Gordan wouldn't regret it. Yesterday, Voltrick was a man who deserved to be hated and treated as a monster. But now... after hearing Voltrick speak to him, it was like he was a different person. This wasn't a monster in front of him, it was his father.

Voltrick's eyebrows rose emotionally as he watched Gordan silently express everything to him. His ears unfolded and he relaxed his form. "Gordan, ..I'm sorr.."

Gordan forced his right hand forward to grab hold onto Voltrick's shirt. Without hesitation, the younger tiger pulled Voltrick toward himself and wrapped his one arm around Voltrick's back to embrace him.

Voltrick was quick to respond by wrapping his arms around Gordan's shoulders to complete the hug. His eyes closed tightly with his eyebrows lowering as tears began to wet along his eyes. ...He had his son back.