Fox McCloud
Immigrant
"Landmaster is wave of future! Everyone having one!"[A1i:6]
Posts: 82
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Post by Fox McCloud on Sept 6, 2010 0:56:16 GMT -5
I know there’s something out there; I think I hear it move. I’ve never felt like this before. I wish you never told me, I wish I never knew; I wake up screaming! It’s all because of you...
So real, these voices in my head... The door was ajar.
That was the first sign that something was off, the first thing that threw a blow to Fox's mind. Neither he nor Krystal ever left the door open, not even when there were at home; it was too dangerous, this neighborhood, so it was always closed with the door lock being locked at the very least, the padlock locked as well in most cases. The scent of rust and salt, and someone... [/isomething unfamiliar was the second sign, and after a moment of standing on his stoop, almost too afraid to move, the anthro shoved the door open the rest of the way, noting the way it seemed to be coming off the hinge, and stepped into his living room.
He was nearly sick. It was all he could do to hold back the bile in his throat as he looked upon the scene.
There was blood everywhere, but... there was almost nothing left. Bits of internal organs, yes, but nothing like a limb or even a tooth. It took him a full five minutes of staring to realize that this mess had been Krystal... had been Krystal , his loving wife and mate, and by this time he was already shaking uncontrolably with a mixture of pure and utter fear and rage. The realization simply added a crushing sadness on top of that.
Fox hugged Marissa and Jeremy to him, glowing eyes shifting back and forth every few seconds for any hints of trouble. After he had found the children hiding in the bathroom, he had taken them and gotten away from the house, finding the only sanctuary he could in the alleyway he and his comrades frequented often. He couldn't shake the fear from him, and the stench... the stink of blood still hadn't washed itself from his nostrils. At that point, he was so overwhelmed he hadn't realized he was nearly sobbing. He didn't know what he was going to do. But he couldn't go back to that house. The Cannibal was on the loose... and he had gotten to his wife. The canine let out a low whine.
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Tori Ashwood
Criminal
Black Thorns Leader
"Crave my heart, and it's bleeding in your hand. I can't say no to you."
Posts: 107
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Post by Tori Ashwood on Sept 6, 2010 1:22:18 GMT -5
So if you're ever lost and Find yourself all alone I'd search forever Just to bring you home Here and now, it's a vow [/color][/center] Tori was running ten minutes behind schedule. Normally, she didn't have to worry about a schedule; she wasn't that busy of a person. But today, apparently, life had decided to screw her over and give her enough shit to do in one day that she had no choice but to have a schedule. Thank you, Life. With half the coins in her purse, the woman paid the informant - who had been nearly six minutes late to the meeting and put her way off schedule. Now she was running towards Fox's usual hangout, the alleyway where they had met nearly two years before. She had to give him some random person, get information on them, and then pay him so she could make sure he and his family had enough to eat for the night. Granted, Fox didn't know about the reasoning beneath her needing so much information. He probably thought she was planning an ambush on the other gangs or something, when really she just wanted to make sure he and the kids were well taken care of. Fox was doing his best, but sometimes a little help could go a long way. But as soon as she stepped into the alleyway, Tori knew something was wrong. Instead of the normal aura surrounding Fox and Falco and Wolf's normal hide out, there was a feeling of terror and pain; it was enough to put her completely on edge. As if her nerves weren't frayed enough from everything that had been going on. And then she spotted them. Fox, Jeremy and Marissa were all sitting against the wall, with Fox sitting between the two kits and hugging them close. That was enough to alert Tori to the severity of...whateverhadhappened. Something had happened; something that had caused Fox to take his kits out of their home and bring them a very dangerous neighborhood. "Fox?" She asked, her voice's delicate trembling betraying the confidence she normally tried to fake. Tori walked over, kneeling down so she was in front of him. Her eyes flicked to Marissa, then Jeremy, and then back to Fox, "What happened?"
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Fox McCloud
Immigrant
"Landmaster is wave of future! Everyone having one!"[A1i:6]
Posts: 82
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Post by Fox McCloud on Sept 6, 2010 1:52:04 GMT -5
The moment he heard someone entering the alley, he let out a low growl of warning, two kits immitating their father to their best abilities-- though all Marissa could do was yip, and Jeremy almost sounded like a pomeranian with what could only be called a "motorboat" noise. It would have been adorable, had the situation not been so... dramatic.
But then he focused, and he was able to smell just enough to know that this was no threat; this was Tori, quite possibly the only person other then Falco he would be willing to see at that point in time.
"Fox? What happened?"
The anthro shuddered, shaking his head quickly. Jeremy buried his head in his father's shoulder, while Marissa had to hold herself back from running to Tori.
"It is..." Fox swallowed. "It is Krystal. She..."
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Tori Ashwood
Criminal
Black Thorns Leader
"Crave my heart, and it's bleeding in your hand. I can't say no to you."
Posts: 107
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Post by Tori Ashwood on Sept 6, 2010 2:01:00 GMT -5
"It is... It is Krystal. She..."
That was all Tori needed to hear; at the moment, anyways. She would get the full story later, when the children weren't around. Judging by the way they were clinging to their father, they already knew what happened, and would not need a refresher.
Her eyes caught Marissa's movement. She glanced over at Fox, silently asking if she could hold the young kit, and then opened her arms to the child. The little kit dashed over, wrapping her arms around Tori's neck and her legs around her lower chest; she buried her face in Tori's shoulder.
"It's okay, Rissa," she whispered, nuzzling the young kit. She reached over, placing a hand of comfort on Jeremy's head before glancing back at Fox again. She lowered her voice, so no one other than the three anthros could hear her.
"C'mon, Fox. Let's... let's get out of here. The kits need to rest, and you... you look like shit, old buddy." Her lips curved into a weak smile, and she prayed that he would forgive her minor cursing. It seemed as if the time called for it.
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Fox McCloud
Immigrant
"Landmaster is wave of future! Everyone having one!"[A1i:6]
Posts: 82
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Post by Fox McCloud on Sept 6, 2010 2:57:34 GMT -5
Fox shuddered again, though he nodded this time. She was right, and on top of all that, this wasn't a safe neighborhood. It may have felt safe, due to familiarity, but...
Well, he wasn't quite sure anywhere was safe any more.
"Violation", he thought, was the right term for exactly what he was feeling at the point, but he couldn't really be sure. He didn't even know half of spoken English, really, and picked up a lot of it through context clues. Violation was close enough, at least... no one was supposed to mess with your home. It made him feel as if almost nothing could be trusted; something which was not healthy for anyone's mental state.
The anthro stood, picking his son up, then glanced over to Tori. He wanted to know just where, exactly, she would be taking him, but felt it would be impolite to ask out loud. He hoped she could read the question in his eyes.
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Tori Ashwood
Criminal
Black Thorns Leader
"Crave my heart, and it's bleeding in your hand. I can't say no to you."
Posts: 107
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Post by Tori Ashwood on Sept 6, 2010 3:09:26 GMT -5
Tori could tell that whatever trust her old friend had was gone, destroyed by...whatever had taken his mate. She wasn't too sure about the details, as he had not said a word, but she had a feeling it had taken place in his own home. That would explain why the kits were out in this part of town, and not in the safety of their home.
Someone had violated that safety; someone had shattered one of the Rules of the Underground.
She saw the question in his eyes, and smiled lightly. "Don't worry, Foxxy," she murmured, beginning to gently rub circles in Marissa's back. The young kit was starting to go limp, signalling she was starting to falling asleep. "We're heading to midtown; my place is on the boarder. The kits can rest there."
And you can, maybe, relax a bit.
Over her shoulder, Tori glanced back at the fox, hoping her answer to the unasked question would be enough. Fox had never been to her home before; Tori had thought it would be inappropriate to ask a married man over. She could visit him, because Krystal was always there, and there would be no chance for breach of trust. (It was more of a comfort thing to Krystal; Tori wasn't a homewrecker.) Plus, Krystal had never let those kits out of her sight.
And Tori really loved playing with the kits.
"That sound all right?"
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Fox McCloud
Immigrant
"Landmaster is wave of future! Everyone having one!"[A1i:6]
Posts: 82
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Post by Fox McCloud on Sept 6, 2010 12:27:42 GMT -5
Fox gave a ghost of a smile, a smile which tried to reach his eyes but just couldn't, and nodded to Tori. His tail swished half-heartedly, and one ear pricked forwards. He was trying to show her he was at least partially alright... though it probably wasn't working. His eyes still had that haunted look about him, as if he'd seen a million ghosts and now was too afraid to venture into the darkness he had once practically owned.
"Thanking you, bro," he murmured, licking his lips. He had long ago learned the difference between "bro" and "sis", but called her bro still in a mixture of trying to bug her and because it just sounded right. "You are good friend."
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Tori Ashwood
Criminal
Black Thorns Leader
"Crave my heart, and it's bleeding in your hand. I can't say no to you."
Posts: 107
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Post by Tori Ashwood on Sept 6, 2010 12:48:12 GMT -5
Tori smiled lightly, though the look in her eyes showed how utterly pained the action was. Seeing Fox like that, so wounded and broken, was enough to break her heart. Her friend - her brother - was destroyed, shattered by the monster that had dared to enter his home and take his wife. It was going to take a lot to get him back on his feet, and that haunted look out of his eyes.
It was a good thing she loved him as much as she did.
Like a brother, of course. At least that was what Tori tried to tell herself, and had been doing so for the past couple of months. He was a brother to her; she loved and treated him like one. His kits were her niece and nephew. There was nothing she wouldn't do for them, and him. Especially now that Krystal was gone, she knew he would be needing help.
Ten minutes later, they had arrived at Tori's house. It was slightly larger than Fox's, though that was more or less due to the fact that she was on a (only minute) better side of town than him. Grabbing the key from her pocket, she unlocked the door and allowed Fox and Jeremy to enter before she did so herself. Then, she locked the door behind her.
"I'm sorry it's a mess," she murmured, grabbing up pillows from the floor and throwing them onto her couch, "I really didn't expect to have company. But my home is your home; especially now." Her green eyes gave him a gentle look.
Carefully, she placed the sleeping Marissa on her couch, tucking a pillow under her head, and rested a blanket over the curled up kit. Tori kissed her forehead, then glanced over at Jeremy.
"Should we put him down, too?"
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Fox McCloud
Immigrant
"Landmaster is wave of future! Everyone having one!"[A1i:6]
Posts: 82
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Post by Fox McCloud on Sept 6, 2010 13:12:01 GMT -5
Fox couldn't help but look around the room from where he stood in a mixture of curiosity and the knowledge that, should anything bad happen there, it would be best to know the layout of the place. It wasn't that he didn't trust Tori (he trusted her with his own kits, so much more then just trusting her with his life), he just... didn't trust other people. Though he knew, as a gang leader, her home was probably well protected.
Still...
". . .Should we put him down, too?"
His emerald green eyes flicked back over to her, and, after looking over at the half-asleep Jeremy in his arms, he gave a small nod. He pressed his forehead to his son's in an affectionate gesture before moving to place him on the couch, as well. Jeremy was quick to curl up and wrap his tail around himself.
"Thanking you, again, Tori."
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Tori Ashwood
Criminal
Black Thorns Leader
"Crave my heart, and it's bleeding in your hand. I can't say no to you."
Posts: 107
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Post by Tori Ashwood on Sept 6, 2010 13:22:48 GMT -5
When Fox placed Jeremy down, Tori grabbed the blanket off the edge of the couch, the one she normally curled up with, and placed it down on top of the kit. She ran her fingers through his headfur, her eyes soft, and then kissed his forehead as well.
"Oíche mhaith, codladh sámh," she murmured, repeating the phrase her mother use to tell her and her siblings every night before bed. She then, just for their benefit, repeated it in English. "Good night and sleep well, you fluffballs." Her eyes twinkled gently, and Tori stood from the couch.
She turned to Fox, her actions almost hesitant now. She wasn't sure how to act around him. sh edidn't know what was off limits now that... Now that everything had gone wrong. Normally, she would have reached for his arm or wrapped her own around his soulders. But now everything was wrong; now, she wasn't so sure anymore.
Motioning vaugely to the kitchen, she offered, "You want something to drink? The kits'll be okay in here, and I think... I think we need to talk." She bit her lip, feeling almost like a child trying to bribe her way to the truth.
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Fox McCloud
Immigrant
"Landmaster is wave of future! Everyone having one!"[A1i:6]
Posts: 82
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Post by Fox McCloud on Sept 6, 2010 15:21:22 GMT -5
Fox glanced over to her, then back to his kits. He almost refused, the fatherly instincts in him clinging with every force of will they had to the two children. He didn't want to leave them alone, even in a place he knew they were safe. Or... thought they were safe. He didn't know anything.
But another part of him still wanted to put on the facade that he was okay, for God knows what reason; it was obvious even to him that he wasn't. Still, after a minute of debating with himself, he looked back to Tori and nodded shakily. "Is sounding good."
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Tori Ashwood
Criminal
Black Thorns Leader
"Crave my heart, and it's bleeding in your hand. I can't say no to you."
Posts: 107
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Post by Tori Ashwood on Sept 6, 2010 15:40:48 GMT -5
She saw the way he glanced at his kits, saw the way hesitance flickered over his face, and knew she had made a mistake. Of course Fox would have wanted to stay with his children. He was a good father; a loving father. He was so much better than the expectations the world - and her own father - had set for her.
"You can stay there, here, if you want. I didn't mean to..." Tori trailed off, glancing over at the sleeping kits, unwilling to meet Fox's eyes. She couldn't believe how rude and inconsiderate she had just been, and it was obvious on her face. "I'll be getting-- I'm going to get you guys something to drink. You can just stay here with them."
She started towards her kitchen, trying to keep from backing away, but unwilling to turn her back onto Fox. It wasn't that she didn't trust him; she just wanted to make sure he was okay. She really did care for him, and after all that had happened, she wanted to make sure he was okay. He wasn't being Fox.
As soon as she was in her kitchen, Tori put on a pot of coffee, poured a glass for each of the kits for when they woke up, and then searched through her cabinets for something for Fox to drink. She wasn't sure what he wanted, or needed, at the moment. The young woman rested her forehead against the cold tile of her counter.
"Needing to watch mouth." She muttered, not caring too much that Fox's dialect was escaping her again. That was what she got for hanging around him.
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Fox McCloud
Immigrant
"Landmaster is wave of future! Everyone having one!"[A1i:6]
Posts: 82
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Post by Fox McCloud on Sept 6, 2010 17:11:40 GMT -5
"Water is being fine."
Fox's quieted voice came from the doorway to the kitchen. After a minute of watching over his children, he had made his way after Tori and just stood there, watching her as she poured two glasses of milk and started making coffee. It was somewhat refreshing, to see someone working in a kitchen like that again; he and his family hadn't really had anything to work with in their kitchen for a long time.
"It is not being your fault, Tori," he murmured after a minute or so, moving so he was standing beside her. "Fox is just needing... time. I will be fine, promising."
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Tori Ashwood
Criminal
Black Thorns Leader
"Crave my heart, and it's bleeding in your hand. I can't say no to you."
Posts: 107
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Post by Tori Ashwood on Sept 6, 2010 17:40:51 GMT -5
"Water is being fine."
Tori tensed when Fox's voice drifted into her kitchen. She jerked up straight, turning her head just enough so she could glance over her shoulder. Her stomach twisted nervously.
"I'm sorry." She said, her voice little more than a bare whisper. The young woman turned, so she was actually facing him, and watched as he walked over to her. Ever instinct in her body was screaming for her to pull him him into a hug, but she doubted it would be very welcomed.
Still...
Tori couldn't stop herself from reaching over and wrapping her arms around his upper abdomen, hands crossing over his shoulderblades. She gave him a warm squeeze, trying to offer comfort without making him feel uncomfortable.
"My place is yours now, Fox. You and Jeremy and Marissa are welcomed here for as long as you need to stay. I'm so sorry." She hoped he understood that she wasn't offering him pity.
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Fox McCloud
Immigrant
"Landmaster is wave of future! Everyone having one!"[A1i:6]
Posts: 82
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Post by Fox McCloud on Sept 6, 2010 21:49:15 GMT -5
Fox stiffened-- but in surprise, not nonacceptance. After a split second, he relaxed and hugged her back, tail swishing back and forth in the closest thing to a wag he could really give.
"Thanking you," he murmured, for what felt like the twelve hundredth time that night, as he started to pull away from the embrace. "I am not wanting to... impose, though. Fox is promising he'll be out as soon as he can make possible."
Here, his eyes shimmered slightly. It wasn't that he didn't like Tori; far from it. In fact, she was quite possibly the only friend he'd made, bar MAYBE Kazooie, since he had left his home, and he trusted her with everything he had. But he didn't like owing people anything. Whenever he had a debt, he repayed it.
And at this point, he nearly owed Tori his own life, and the life of his children.
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