Aidan walked down the furthest hall of the inn slowly with his eyes set ahead as he thought about the conversation he had had with Debalora that morning. He couldn't set this off any longer. Everything had to be said now if only to get the image of Murdoc's face out of his head.

The first time they met after a few years, Murdoc assaulted Aidan with threats of revenge for leaving. The wolf did well with that...but now?...now Murdoc had run after Aidan in hopes to calm him. What was going through that man's head?

He arrived before two of Draco's soldiers standing just outside the door where Murdoc was held. Antonis had ordered it...he didn't know whether Murdoc had gone willingly or not.

"I'd like to see him." Aidan spoke quietly, not exactly looking up to them.

One of them frowned while the other was heard sighing. "Sorry, but our orders were to--"

"I'd like to see him, please." Aidan interrupted, repeating his request with a stronger tone. The soldiers looked between themselves strangely before stepping to the side lightly.

"Fine. We'll give you half an hour."

Aidan nodded in understanding as a soldier unlocked the door with a key, opening it for Aidan. He stepped into the room until the door was shut behind him, hearing the lock click shut as he looked at the figure seated next to the bed, hands between his thighs and head dipped low as though in exhaustion.

A long silence settled between them, each finding something to say to the other in this strange moment. Aidan watched as Murdoc gripped his fingers together loosely, knowing his thoughts were difficult ones.

"Could you blame me for my decisions?" the wolf finally said, not bothering to look up, his voice quiet.

Aidan didn't answer, simply staring at Murdoc as he wondered about that question.

Murdoc considered continuing as the silence from Aidan went on. "I've had a lot of time to think...sitting here. I've done many terrible things to you, and I--"

"What about the things you've done to others?" Aidan put in quickly, lowering his brows gently. Murdoc looked up at him with a stern expression.

"...They don't matter to me. You are all I care about."

"They should matter. Because of you, their whole lives have changed for the worse. Including mine." Aidan added with a squint of his eyes. "You turned a good man into a monster. How is that forgivable?"

"Don't let this conversation go to Mundegard. Don't use him as an excuse when you don't want to talk about us."

"And what's to say about us?! We didn't know anything back then! How could I have known you felt that way towards me?"

Murdoc stood to that, clutching his fists at his side, "Don't lie about that! You knew! And like you always do when something unpleasant happens, you ran away!"

The accusation hit Aidan in his chest, feeling himself becoming angered in reaction, wanting to challenge it, "I can't love someone I hate!" he yelled, his ears flattening against his head.

This shocked Murdoc silent as he stared at Aidan dumbfounded. Aidan refused to acknowledge the hurt he saw in Murdoc's eye, shutting his own as he continued, "I-I used to look up to you! You were always there when I needed help. But now--now you're a completely different person! You used me to bring Voltrick down and for your own fucking pleasures! And here you say that you care about me? How...How...two-faced!!" Aidan pressed his teeth together in frustration, moving his hands to rub his face and through his hair, fighting off powerful emotions.

"...Aidan..." he heard a soft voice say, nearer to him than the last time. Aidan looked up to see Murdoc had taken a few steps towards him with his brows dipped over his eyes. He took a step back, glowering at him in response.

"You don't love me, Murdoc! Everything you've done just proves that you only want me for my body!" he snapped, realizing his body had been shaking. Aidan shrunk back until he pressed against the door helplessly as the next thing he said stung, "I'm...I'm not a whore." his voice broke, eyes sinking to the floor as he remembered the faces of those who claimed him as such.

He felt Murdoc's hands grip his shoulders, pulling him eye-to-eye, "I never thought of you like that, do you understand?!" Aidan was irritated by this denial, shaking Murdoc's hands off his shoulders.

"Get off me! I can't believe I--" he cut off, banging his knuckles against the door to be let out. Aidan could feel Murdoc's gaze boring through him as the door was opened, slipping past the two soldiers in a rush, leaving the two of them looking after him curiously.

Aidan stomped down the halls of the inn, stopping momentarily in his room for a jacket before turning and headed outside. He pulled on his jacket violently as the night air was harsh against his fur, keeping his angered pace as he went into town.

He couldn't believe that he had actually thought Murdoc could change. After seeing the man face to face, there was just such a significant difference between that and the younger one he knew from his youth.

Aidan found himself entering a busy bar, moving past patrons until he reached the bar area. He ignored the noise around him, as though he just shut it out as he ordered whiskey. The bartender gave him a strange look as Aidan took the whole bottle, digging his pockets for the payment. Afterward he took the glass offered to him and began to take drink after drink.

After the fifth glass or so, Aidan had calmed down as he sat at the bar, staring at the wooden table as happy noises sounded behind him. Hearing it compared to his own miserable feelings, only made Aidan feel worse. He used to come to the bar for fun, socializing with the other customers without a care. Now...now he held his head in a palm, feeling his eyes bore holes through the table.

He never gave Murdoc the chance to speak openly, so sure of the idea that the wolf really didn't care about him. What about him? Did he feel anything for Murdoc? After everything that happened back at the dungeon, Aidan felt very confused and...out of place. Just like he was here in the bar.

For now he drank everything away, hoping alcohol would give him some peace. He didn't want to think, not about himself or anyone. They weren't real right now...he wasn't really here.

A while passed before Aidan ordered another bottle, swaying in his seat a bit as he reached for money with a lowered brow. The bartender had placed the bottle just out of Aidan's reach, looking at the younger cat silently. He was a rather plump bear, having seen many things with those golden eyes.

Aidan laid down the money onto the table before looking up to the bartender with a lifted brow, noticing the bear still had his hand around the bottle neck.

"You look a little thin to be drinking this much." the bear said in a concerned tone. Aidan felt that he could see right through him, seeing the core of his own despair. Almost angered by this imagined intrusion of privacy, Aidan reached for the bottle on his own accord, "I'll remember to be fatter the next time I come in." he grumbled.

Even as Aidan took hold of the bottle, the bartender held on, "I think you should get some rest. You don't look very well."

Aidan couldn't imagine what he looked like to the bear, and in his drunkenness, only cared about having another bottle. "Well excuse me! I didn't know this was a high-class bar! What else do I have to do? Brush my fucking teeth?!"

His voice had escalated into a yell, causing some of the other patrons to turn their heads curiously. One of them came from behind, gripping Aidan's shoulder. He was a middle-aged dog who rose a brow to the cat. "I think you've had enough."

Aidan tried to shake the grip away, "Get off me!" he snapped, turning around a bit to glare up at the dog with glazed eyes.

"Take him outside, Richard." the bear requested in a grumble.

He felt another pair of hands grip the back of his shirt, pulling him away from the table and off his seat. Aidan kicked, struggling as his hands fumbled back to pry off the hands that held him. "You bastards! Let go of me!!" He shouted as he felt the two men pull him across the room, all the others staring at them, some snickering.

When they reached the swinging doors, one kicked them open and together threw Aidan outside. He landed on his stomach with a grunt until he felt dirt kicked into his eyes by one of them.

"Little shit. Go back to where you came from! Don't bother the rest of us with your problems!"

He left Aidan, going back into the bar with the other man as the cat tried to rub the dirt from his eyes. After a few minutes, Aidan unsteadily rose himself off the ground, turning first to spit towards the bar before his eyes looked in the direction of the inn. He didn't want to go there...all his problems were in there.

Murdoc.

Aidan frowned, lowering his head sorrowfully as he remembered just why he had come here. He turned the opposite direction of the inn, swaying as he stepped through the dark town. Finally he crept into an empty alley where he plopped himself against the ground in the darkest corner, curling in on himself for warmth. It was cold outside, but he only felt his body shiver from it, the whiskey helping to ignore it. He thought about the dungeon...it was cold and dark like this too. He remembered that he had curled near Voltrick for warmth, feeling so frightened.

He was alone now, doubting any of his 'friends' would find him here, wondering if they would even go look for him. Somewhere Aidan hoped they wouldn't. Maybe he was destined to end up like this...kicked out like a worthless thing. Antonis did it...so did Jonas and his guards. Murdoc only abused him and Voltrick had gone away.

Aidan's eyes closed slowly as the liquor got to his head. He fell asleep to the painful feeling of loneliness, knowing the others wouldn't find him in an alleyway.

Voltrick crouched himself down; adjustings his hands and feet to balance himself. His features hardened as he watched Aidan in the alley from the roof of the tall building infront of Aidan. He had followed Aidan ever since the cat stormed out of the inn.

Voltrick's features hardened further as he looked up and turned his head into the direction of the inn. From what he saw, none of the others followed him. Not even toward the tavern. Did they not care that Aidan was alone in the middle of the night? In a dark alley after being kicked out of a tavern?

Voltrick turned his gaze back down to Aidan. Maybe they didn't know he was gone.. Voltrick's eyes narrowed a bit. ...Or they're still fighting. Regardless, Aidan was here now. Alone in a cold, dark alley where anyone unfriendly could find him. But maybe Aidan wanted to be alone. If there was a fight, it would give him good reason to storm out and demand solitude. This made Voltrick stay his ground on top of the roof.

Voltrick would watch him for now, in case any trouble were to come by. But he wouldn't attempt to make contact with him, or any one of them for that matter. Voltrick's done enough against them to even think about it.

Aidan was troubled enough, he didn't need the monster who hurt him before to trouble him even more. Even if Voltrick wanted to apologize, Aidan would be too upset to listen. Let alone forgive him.

-----

Darcia had lost Antonis and his pack for a long time since their last meeting. And that accursed thing stopped him from taking that feline's life in the mountains. But he was on a familiar scent, leading him to a hidden town. He stood overlooking it on a distant hill, his long feral form loose as both shoulders pointed, head sinking lowly as golden eyes glowered at the town. A predator watching it's prey.

The strong scent of Aidan Hart's blood was what he used to get to this point on the hill. He had been here...He was very close. The wolf twitched his tail in anticipation as his paws crept lightly against the grass leading himself towards town. Soundlessly he walked, passing the first buildings of the town as he kept himself in the shadows, well hidden from passersby. It wasn't much of a problem. It was the dead of night where even the smallest of creatures didn't make a cry.

His nose sniffed suddenly as the scent grew stronger even, causing him to stop and survey the surroundings. The feline was...close. Very close. Ears pointed up on his head, Darcia taking a few steps until he peered through a darkened alleyway. He saw a bulge on the floor in it, near the middle between the two ends of the alley. Eyes adjusting, he found it was a person sleeping, the smell pinpointing towards it.

It was the cat Murdoc and Antonis were obsessed over. Darcia had to keep his lips from forming into a grin, finding him so vulnerable and easy. However, another scent had caught his attention, ducking back to a dark corner of the building as he looked around him. Someone else was near. Perhaps watching Aidan? He couldn't risk letting the cat fall out of his grasp by an intruder as it had happened on the mountain.

Though he sensed a presence, he couldn't find where they were. As frustrating as it was, Darcia lowered himself to the ground, laying there patiently as he kept his eyes on Aidan.

The sounds of swinging doors were heard from the tavern, along with loud chatter. Two men, dressed in dirty attire, barged out of the inn. One could guess they were both intoxicated, but were sober enough to know where they were going without topling over.

"He was more than willing to pay for ANOTHER bottle! He has the money!" The brown furred rabbit shouted toward the other.

"Shhhh shh..shhhhhhh..." The black and white furred badger quickly replied. "shh.. You don't want everyone 'round town to hear ya." He finished in a lower tone and warily looked around to any on lookers. "This is how we do it." A dagger was quickly pulled up to be revealed to the rabbit. "We grabbed 'em. I threaten him with this here dagger. And he gives us the money."

"And we'll kill him if he doesn't give it to us!" The rabbit shouted happily.

"SHHHH!! Shut up, you fool! He's nearby, I'm sure. And he'll hear you blabbering if you don't shut up." The badger prodded at his partner with an index finger.

"Right right.."

"Now, lets hurry and find him before someone sees us." The badger urged as he quickened his pace; hunched over to avoid being seen as much as possible. As they approached an alley way between two buildings, the badger aligned his back with the corner of the building and peered around the corner and into the alley. The rabbit was right behind him and waited for the badger to see what was in the alley.

A cruel smile appeared on the badger's face as he saw the one they were looking for down the alley. "This will be easy." he said before motioning the rabbit to follow him down the alley.

Voltrick sat a bit more comfortably a top the roof of the tall building as more time passed, but he remained alert. At this late of hour anyone should be tired, but Voltrick couldn't sleep if he wanted to. He had to watch Aidan... even though he was sure Aidan would reject any help from him. Voltrick knew he had a lot to make up for and wanted to talk to Aidan badly. He wanted to apologize, he wanted to know more about the others and if Antonis... if Antonis died or not. A sour look crossed his face as the thought crossed his mind. He still hated Antonis, but he knew he shouldn't. Years of hate doesn't diminish in one thoughtful sitting. But that doesn't mean he wanted Antonis dead...

A familiar, but threatening scent faintly made itself known as a short gust of wind blew by and triggered Voltrick to sit up straight and tense up. A short moment passed before his features hardened into a fierce snarl as he searched around the surrounding area; keeping sure to stay hidden from anyone below. Someone is here... and it was familiar enough to recognize it wasn't anyone friendly.

Another quick moment passed before he narrowed his gaze upon two males who carelessly entered the alley. He held back a growl as he watched the both of them walk straight towards Aidan.

Darcia glared as he saw two strangers head into the alley, creeping further behind the building until just his eye peered around to find them heading towards Aidan. Filthy beasts! They were approaching Aidan in some attempt at his life...something Darcia wanted for himself. He pondered the idea of attacking them, but his previous sensation of another presence stopped him from doing that, knowing whoever was around Aidan would surely emerge themselves eventually.

On the ground, Aidan frowned in his sleep, stretching his legs against the floor with a light groan. He was beginning to come around after an hours sleep as though he were knocked out. The bottle of whiskey must have been quite strong. For now, he laid there, in and out of consciousness.

The badger tensed up and held out an arm to stop the rabbit behind him and stopped immediately as he saw Aidan moving. The rabbit carelessly ran into his arm and gave a silent 'oof' as he was stopped suddenly. He would have given a protest, but after seeing the badger's face the rabbit arched a brow and looked toward Aidan.

Aidan was moving, but he quickly appeared as if he was falling back asleep. "Come on, then. Move it, will you?" The rabbit urged as he shoved the badger forward.

A quick snarl appeared from the shoved badger before stepping forward. "If you wake him up with your badgering, I swear this dagger will be stabbed in your throat." He threatened and walked forward.

The rabbit followed close behind but quickly formed a smirk. A finger poked the badgers back before whispering. "Hey Leon..." He continued before the badger could respond. "You just said I'm badgering.... and you're a badger." A chuckle erupted as he pressed forward.

Leon halted again and whirled around to grab the rabbit by his collar. "If you don't shut yer mouth I'm going to kill you." he desperately held his tone down from yelling before turning back and walking closer to Aidan.

"Heh heh.. its still funny..." The rabbit chuckled as he followed.

Once the two of them finally approached Aidan, Leon quickly glanced back toward the rabbit before bending down and harshly grabbing Aidan's shirt to raise him up. "Time to awaken, my drunken' little friend!" Leon shouted with a smile.

"Yeah! Time to pay up!" The rabbit added.


Voltrick tensed further with his snarl growing more fierce. Drunk muggers, ignorant ones at that. If they think they can attack Aidan, they have something coming to them. Voltrick watched them a bit before shifting back and away from the edge. He stopped himself, though, for a moment. That same familiar scent was still near, but it wasn't the two down in the alley... Regardless, the two muggers were attacking Aidan. The intruder will reveal themselves sooner or later.

Aidan was shaken awake, his eyes at first half-lidded until his mind was caught up in surprise to find a fist clutching his shirt. He quickly looked up to the one holding him, seeing a cruel smile on a badger's face with an accomplice just behind him.

"Wh-What?!" he sputtered, both hands moving to grab the wrist of the one who held him. He was still intoxicated and his mind couldn't even place where he was. But he heard the rabbit's comment and shifted his eyes from and back to the badger. "Pay?" Aidan asked in confusion, moving his head away in hopes to figure himself out.

Leon shifted his head closer to Aidan's as he replied with a malicious smirk. "We know you've got money, You little bastard. You were flashing it around back in the tavern. We watched your little show back there, you were trying to spend it all on more drink. But we couldn't allow you to waste it all on your own sorry and pitiful life."

The rabbit was quick to add. "Yeah! We're going to take your wasted life and spend it for ourselves!"

Leon groaned loudly and snarled. "We're going to take your money and spend it for ourselves... Carl, you stupid bastard."

"What? I cant help myself.." The rabbit protested. "I've had a few drinks, cant a man enjoy himself?"

"Shut up!" The badger yelled before bringing up the dagger into Aidan's view. "Empty your pockets before I empty you."

Aidan held his breath as the badger drew out a dagger, looking at it's edge tensely. They would kill him if he didn't give them something! But at the bar, he pulled the last of his money from his pockets and put it on the table (from what he remembered). He didn't think of picking it up before he was kicked out.

He felt a drop of sweat drip down from his brow through his fur, cautiously looking at the badger with his unfortunate news. "But I...I left it at the bar." he said meekly, his ears dipping against his head. "I don't have anything..."

Leon growled and pressed the dagger's tip against Aidan's cheek. "Don't lie to me, boy! You wouldn't flash it around like that if you didn't have more. Now empty your pockets! I will cut you!" He threated, he narrowed an eye and widened the other at Aidan.

Carl quickly hopped a bit and stood closer to Aidan and next to Leon. "He'll do it! He's crazy! Don't mess with him he will gut you like a fisherman guts a fish after a fresh catch!"

"Shut up, Carl!" Leon shouted before shaking Aidan a bit. "Empty your pockets!"

Voltrick couldn't handle holding himself any further. They were morons, but they continued to threaten Aidan with that dagger. He could easily jump down there and fight them off, most likely kill them in the process. As much as they derserved it, Aidan was still down there infront of them. And he could hurt him in the process. Plus,... he didn't really want to.

There was another alternative, fear.

"LET HIM GO OR I'LL TEAR YOUR FLESH FROM YOUR BONES!!" Voltrick roared out, using his beastly tone partially, but not entirely. Just enough to intimidate foolish muggers.

The roar startled Aidan, widening his eyes as his body tensed up. For him it came out of nowhere, but he heard the faint indications of the beast's way of speaking in it.

Was it Voltrick?

Darcia was surprised as well as a complex expression possessed him, looking around him almost wildly until he noticed the voice came from above. That would explain why he couldn't locate a certain someone. His eyes raised towards the rooftops, hoping to catch a glimpse of the one who yelled out.

Leon's firm grip instantly tightened as his form jumped and tensed uncontrollably, his gaze looking around wildly as to whom or what may have roared out. Carl held the same reaction, except a hand instinctively felt around to reach and hit Leon's shoulder repeatedly as panic filled his face.

"Leon..." Carl prodded and continually hit the badger's shoulder. "Leon Leon Leon LEON!" Carl paniked and pulled at Leon's sleeve. "Let's go! I don't like this at all!"

Leon attempted to sum up as much courage as possibe as he aimed his gaze up toward the rooftops, shifting his head to look to each building. "Y..You cant tell us what to do! You wont even show your face! We're not afraid of you!"

Carl scrunched up and hunched with his shoulders raising. "I'm afraid.." the rabbit whispered.

Voltrick growled as his eyes began to fad to black. "I WILL TEAR YOU LIMB FROM LIMB!" he roared out again before forcing out a actual roar as loud as his normal form would allow. It was nearly as fierce as his beast's and echoed throughout the alley like thunder after lightening.

This sent Carl into complete horrific fright with a horrified shout to follow the monster's roar. Carl's care for Leon instantly left him as he swung himself around ran as fast as his stumbling feet allowed him to.

Leon tensed up further, but slowly released Aidan's shirt. Fear filled him to the core as he stared wide eyed at whatever shifted toward the edge of the tall building. He couldn't tell what it was, but it was big enough to be some kind of beast.

Voltrick's patience in scaring the muggers away quickly fled and Voltrick forced himself over the edge of the building. He first used his claws to dig into the wall to slow his fall, but he soon let go and dropped hard onto the ground. "Leave.. NOW!" Voltrick roared out again; keeping to the shadow of the building.

Aidan watched a large figure jump down from the top of the building, ears flat against his head from the roar. Anyone in town who heard that must be locking themselves indoors. As Leon released his hold, Aidan stumbled away from them, clutching his fists together. There wasn't a doubt that it was Voltrick...here to help him from muggers. But, did Aidan want to see him? His mind was in a fog, staring dumbly to the scene before him, not helping the thought that Voltrick could really rip the badger apart.

He's seen it done before...

Leon's lack of fleeing tried Voltrick's anger further. "LEAVE!!" he roared out again as he stepped more into view. His eyes were completely black with his orange mane partially grown out. His sabre teeth had grown in half way as well. He wasn't entirely changed, but Leon was horrified enough to drop his dagger and run back down the all as fast as the badger could.

Before, Voltrick could have easily attacked the both of them and it would have been over a lot sooner. But Voltrick's inability to control himself in recent events forced him to reconsider ever attacking anyone. He wouldn't attack out of rage. He couldn't. He can not allow himself to lose control and hurt someone else... like he did Aidan.

A loud grunting huff erupted spitefully down the alley before he hesitantly looked back to Aidan; quickly changing his features back to normal. These next moments, Voltrick was hesitant to approach. Aidan was obviously freaked out by Voltrick's actions. And he would most likely turn him away because of what happened before. Because of EVERYTHING that had happened before. He wanted to apologize, but Aidan had every right to deny him that.

Voltrick's ears folded back silently as a more sorrowful demeanor came over him. He didn't want Aidan riled further, and honestly didn't want the rejection.. So Voltrick continued to turn and silently began walking down the opposite way the muggers had fled.

Aidan took a step back as Voltrick changed back to his normal self, his brow lowering sternly as he watched in silence. His fingers loosened, holding them to his sides while the rest of his body calmed.

He saw the rejected look in Voltrick's eyes as the man turned, frowning as he considered the difference in his actions. He didn't attack those two...very different from what he would have done earlier. Had Voltrick really changed the whole time..even with Antonis?

"You could have killed them." Aidan called out, moving his head to look at the wall in front of him, keeping his gaze from wandering towards Voltrick.