Welcome to Gaia! ::

At the fortress Dragon stood outside with a crossbow, watching as a target was thrown and he fired a special made bolt, watching the target explode and he smiled. "These were made fine and perfectly. I'm so glad I'm not surrounded by too many idiots."

He nodded and another target was thrown but higher and he hit it, testing out the batch of bolts forged for his soldiers to use on the field or for his own fun, either way worked for him. It wasn't like he was paying for it himself and who was going to stop one of the five people to save all these people's lives?

He fired off a third shot at a third target and aimed at the thrower. The man throwing the targets yelped and moved to get out of the line of fire which made Dragon chuckle with glee at seeing him run in fear. "Lord Dragon, Commander Sight and his soldier have returned and they came back with an arrest." A male servant stated, dressed in proper attire as he folded his hands behind his back.

"Really? So soon?" Dragon questioned as he turned to face the young man who then straightened his back more, avoiding eye contact with Dragon.

"Yes Sire, they have and they brought back a woman. They claimed she was found selling illegal substances." The young man explained.

"Ah, I do love when losers like that are brought in." Dragon cooed stepping towards the servant before shoving the crossbow into his arms. "Have that returned to the armory for me and go prepare me a relaxing bath. I'm feel extra tense and I feel I'm going to have company."

The servant blushed lightly but nodded with a small grunt. "Yes your Lordship, it will be done." He bowed at the waist as Dragon walked past him to return inside from the wide courtyard. The servant left to return the weapon to the armory immediately, not wanting shocked.

Dragon made his way through the fortress like palace and entered the throne room where stood the commander and the soldier. He strode past them and turned on his heel, sitting on his throne to look down at them as the throne sat up on four steps. "I was informed you have a criminal?" he began twirling one hand in the air for indicating he wanted this to move along after he had been enjoying himself.

"Of course, Lord Dragon." The commander said with a proper bow before the soldier pushed forward the young woman with her hands still cuffed behind her back. "We found this woman in an apartment and admitted guilt to selling an illegal substance from the home." The commander explained.

"What a pitty when such beauty goes to do such vile things." Lord Dragon said in a sad tone before standing and stepping down to approach the young woman who kept her face and head turned down to avoid looking at him. Her long hair fell around her shoulders, framing her face as she stared at the carpet that ran down the middle of the hard flooring. "Why do you keep your head down? Scared to look at your savior?" Dragon asked annoyed as she kept her face down, now staring at his shoes as he had come to stand in front of her.

He reached out frowning when she refused to look up and yanked her hair hard after getting a mat of it in his gauntlet fist. He looked to his eyes as he inspected her over. Slowly Dragon's frown crept into a smile as he eyed her body over then her beautiful face. "Let me guess, your father was making you sell things for him? Or was it a lover? A person known as your handler?" Dragon asked skeptically of her.

"No, Lord Dragon. All was done by me alone without aid or force from family, friends, or others who fall into neither group." She said firmly to him, her eyes set on his to show him he wasn't going to get any other answer but that so to not try asking multiple times the same thing.

"You're going to be fun to break." He cooed grinning wide before gently tracing her jawline with his free hand. Softly he traced his thumb across her bottom lip and grinned when her eyes narrowed dangerously on him. Dragon moved his face closer to hers while maintaining eye contact. "I can assure you, little mule, I'm not one that is ever told no. I'm sure you know this already." His voice was a soft whisper and a bit course with hot peppermint breath falling against her flesh.

"I will serve my time but I will preform nothing to please your arousal." She stated sternly in an equally as quiet voice.

"We'll see how you do serving your time." Dragon stated firmly, eyeing her over once more. "I've been in need of someone to tend to me, personally that had a good body to her."

"Perhaps she could be your new personal servant as her punishment for dealing such a nasty substance? I mean, just imagine what all those misbehaving men or women would do to such a gem in the prison cells." The commander suggested while withholding a chuckle.

"I think that sounds appropriate." Dragon said chuckling. "Have her taken to my chambers and tell the staff in there to change her into something more comfortable."

The commander nodded and left pulling and pushing the young woman out a side door to head to Lord Dragon's private chambers.



Outside the fortress Silver continued on his way before slipping inside the quaint little bakery. He kept to the back as people were lined up waiting on their order. It was quaint but also popular. Mainly being due to how kind and nice the owners were to anyone to come inside their business. He looked at the fresh baked goods in baskets and on shelves. They all looked delicious as always with fair prices as well under each one.

He would keep to the back, keep to himself and keep quiet, looking over the goods on display. Some goods were in cases if they weren't already individually wrapped in neat see through bags with the business logo hand painted on each bag. At the very least it looked hand painted, most likely not but since it was the only bakery he knew of that baked their own goods in store instead of ordering in goods from a factory or larger kitchen, it made it special on many different levels.

Minutes ticked by on the wall clock mounted behind the counter as he looked to see people being served and chatter going on. It was wonderful to see them so busy. Eventually when the last customer was helped and left the middle aged woman sighed wiping her brow and looked over, seeing a figure in dark clothing and chuckled. "Mind giving me your order, dear unique hair?" she asked with a bit of an Irish accent.

Silver turned chuckling and walked up to the counter. "Of course I don't mind. You don't mind taking it do you?" he asked with a charming smile as he removed his sunglasses.

"You know better than to ask that dear. Now what'cha needing this time?" she asked with a chuckle giving a light punch to one of his arms which brought him to smirk.

"The usual. You know how Fire likes your hot scones and the sweet rolls. Tool's missed your sugar savers and your lavender pies. I would also like some included carrot squares. Only way I get him to eat carrots." Silver said with a small snicker. "And Leaf has been asking for some rye bread and if you still make the stuffed roll bites."

"Got it and your usual?" She asked eyeing Silver who nodded with a pleased look, glad she remembered and found it also impressive she could remember so many orders from so many people.

She turned and headed into the back to get Silvers order together for him. One of the bakers daughters walked by, placing more bread on an empty self. "Hello Mr. Silver. How are you?" she asked in a chipper tone with the same accent as her mother.

"I'm doing very well today. How are you today?" Silver asked.

"Great! Your home didn't get damaged in the storm last night did it?" The daughter asked.

"Nope, we suffered no damage luckily. How did you and your parents home fair?" Silver asked watching as he waited on her mother.

"We faired good. The rod you gave us and the rod we got from Lord Dragon worked great to keep damage off our home and business. Thank you so much for that. How's your family doing?" she asked in reference to his rebel group.

"Pretty good as well. They still bicker but they are healthy." Silver smirked, not mentioning Fire's wounds to not worry the girl.

"Wonderful! Oh, here, I remember your daughter likes hot sweets so I made her something special." She said excited and pulled a wrapped roll out of her apron pocket. "I call it Icy Surprise!" she giggled and he took it as she handed it over.

"Oh I'm sure she'll love it. She adores your surprises for her." He thanked and put it away inside his coat. "I'll make sure she gets it the minute I arrive home."

The daughter clapped her hands together once, all grins. "Thank you! I hope she likes it and if she likes I'll make her more if she wants."

"I'm sure she will love that and I'll let you know if she does want more." He nodded waving back as she gave a wave disappearing back into the back of the store with the empty tray.

The baker woman returned after some minutes with two bags of good and an extra third stuck in the middle. "Here you are." She said in her Irish accent smiling to him as he accepted the bags.

"Oh? Extra?" Silver asked curiously.

"Just a little something." She whispered softly. "Mila saw your tattooed arm figit so I put together some first aid things for ya."

"Thank you kindly, you are too generous Shell." Silver whispered.

"Hey now wee don't go throwing a gift back into the givers face." She scolded and he sighed nodding.

"Alright, I won't give the gift back." Silver relented under her glare which made her smile as sweet as a flower.

"Good now best you get. We can't have your family worry about you." She stated as a few customers came in and he nodded.

"Take care." He told her with a small wave and stepped to the side and slipped out while the ones who entered looked at the goods before telling her their order.

Silver made his way out and down the street, adjusting his hold on the bags a bit as he walked. He felt his fingers on his tattooed arm twitch a little which brought him to glance down before replacing his sunglasses on his face. Sooner or later he'd need to make a visit and have that looked at but for now he hoped to maintain normalcy.

People passed him by, not paying much mind to him as he also kept to his own.



At the fortress Dragon was enjoying relaxing in a hot bath, loving the steam that fogged up the bathroom. He looked over and smirked as the young woman was pushed inside by a couple maids. "Ah, I'm so glad that outfit isn't wasted on you." He cooed with a low chuckle.

Her face was red as she was blushing from embarrassment in the revealing outfit that didn't cover as much skin as she'd prefer. The words of a belly dancer's top mixed with a bottom that was like a bikini that had attached to it veil like fabric attached for decoration on the sides that came just around the knees.

"You know this is inappropriate?" she asked him, her voice echoing off the hard walls some as he simply grinned at her.

"How so?" he asked beckoning her closer with a hand. When she didn't come he began to stand which caused her face to brighten more and her legs to quickly carry her body over to him. Dragon sat back down, pleased. "Good girl." He praised.

She glared coming to a stop. "I'm not some animal, Lord Dragon. I'm a human being."

"Oh and here I thought you were a criminal serving a judgment handed down against you." Dragon pointed out smugly.

She wanted to tell him to shut up but held her tongue on that. "What was the point in having me dress so...revealing?"

"Simply for my enjoyment." Dragon responded reaching out a damp hand and gently traced her smooth belly. She shivered and started to step a barefoot step back only to be yanked closer to the elegant tub by his hand snaking his arm around her waist. "I wouldn't do that and make me mad." He sang sweetly before starting to trace and feel her side up and down.

She shivered and trembled under his touch as he continued this smirking pleased by her reaction. He pulled her closer nearly into the tub before kissing her belly and up, starting to stand and then forced her to kiss his lips. He was loving her fighting him on this move.

Outside of the washroom the workers of the castle did their duties. "Poor girl, I feel bad for her." A female servant said looking away from her window cleaning.

"I know, poor thing. She looked like such a nice girl." Another female servant said while sweeping up the floor into a dustpan held by another female who nodded.

"She was so nice and seemed scared but brave at the same time. I hope he doesn't hurt her." She signed with one hand as the other two shook their heads.

"You know he won't 'hurt' her but he'll do worse. You know how he is around women, especially good looking ones." The one at the window said. The other two sighed nodding, knowing what she was talking about. "Then it's just a matter of time before he kills her because she bores him or does something to make him mad."

The other two shivered with that thought and nodded in agreement again. "But that doesn't mean we can't feel bad for the dear." The sweeping female said getting the dirt into the dustpan.

The one doing the window sighed nodding. "Yea, be nice if we could do something." She said quietly and hurriedly got back to work as did the one sweeping and taking up the dirt as walking past was one of the handlers.

He eyed the three and walked over, stomping his feet hard to knock off fresh mud and dirt onto the hard floor and rug area's with a grin as he made his way over to the window. "Hmmm not bad. The glass is so well polished." He praised before making a noise in his throat and spat on the window in three spots before chuckling. "Too bad you are so stupid you missed a few spots." He grinned and walked off, stepping on the foot of the mute one to make her make a odd noise and show no tongue. "Stupid women." He sneered and walked off chuckling, glad to give them more to do.

The one with a missing tongue had tears in the corner of her eyes, reaching back to rub her foot that had a red mark from his boot. The one with the broom glared at his back and moved over to the mute one and hugged her after the one at the window took the broom. "It's okay." She said softly getting a return hug.

The three finished their work in that small part of the fortress before moving on to another area, the one at the window getting the fresh saliva cleaned up off the glass so it was spotless. She was not going to get punished because of a mean handler.



Outside the fortress, Silver wormed his way down the street, slipping down a side street carefully out of the people and took a breath, looking about and continued on his way. He spotted two people hanging around chatting outside a door to a apartment building complex or was a business. Either way, he didn't need problems.

He made his way past them without much notice. He turned down another side street and once down some ways from them he went another way before finally teleporting himself below ground.

Making his way down the tunnels he would come to the main room and start to unload the food putting it away before going to where the medical supplies were kept and putting those away as well. "Hey! Silvers back!" Tool exclaimed grinning excited. "What you bring back?" he asked quickly.

Silver smirked pointing over at the fresh supply and the teen went over and helped himself to a treat. Silver looked to Fire as she came over to him. "Oh, here you are. The bakers daughter came up with a new recipe for you." He explained and handed her the roll.

Fire smiled liking the smell that came off it in its heat. "That smells wonderful. I bet she's done an awesome job. I love her concoctions." Fire said and held onto it.

"I bet she did a fine job as well. I'm also glad to see you moving around. You are taking it easy, aren't you?" Silver asked.

Fire sighed rolling her eyes as she stepped back from him. "Yea, yea, I'm taking it easy." She said sighing.

"Good, I wanted to make sure you didn't forget you need to let yourself heal up." Silver said with some humor in his tone. Fire groaned with an eye roll before turning on her heel and moving away from him to store the roll for later in her room to keep both boys away from her heat packed treat. Silver looked at Leaf who was getting getting some items put into his pocket after he changed shirts. "You going somewhere?"

Leaf looked over to Silver. "Yea, going to go and work at the floral shop. They managed to grow some new plants and wanted me to come in to watch the place while they go and see if they can transplant some outside the city. They are hoping to add some more life outside the city bounds." He explained as he brushed his hair put and made sure it was nice.

"Alright be careful." Silver stated.

"I will, like always I will. I'm not as stupid as Fire." Leaf explained. "I'm more intelligent to know about a low profile."

"Hey!" Fire snapped as Leaf shrugged and grabbed his wallet and put it away before his jacket and left, heading down to a ladder to climb up and move to the surface. He knew about the bakery and another store having a tab for their little group and someone who wasn't on any radar had to earn some dough to pay off the bills.

He peeked out, looking around before climbing up and put the manhole cover back in place. Straightening out his jacket he took a breath and sighed, continuing now out of the alleyway and made his way to the floral shop so they could go and try transplanting some flowers while leaving their store open to make their own money.

Leaf made his way down the street, locating a safe spot and came out before continuing on his way casually like any other citizen pleased by how Lord Dragon ran the city.

He made his way to the shop, stepping inside and looked to the woman behind the counter. "Good morning! Welcome to Floral Skies!" she opened her eyes then blushed with a light laugh. "Oh it's you Leo. I'm so glad you showed up. I was afraid you'd not come."

"How could I not come and help out such a wonderful florist?" Leo asked with a chuckle walking over to the counter.

"I'm just glad you could make it in. I know you are busy with your little brother. Is he doing better? He was the one that has that breathing problem after the event right?" she asked.

"Yup that's him. He's doing better. So long as he can get his treatments he does good. He's been doing well with home schooling too." Leo explained.

"I'm so glad. Well the shop's been pretty quiet but I still don't like to close it. Any money is welcomed from sales." She said and Leo nodded.

"Of course! So just tell me what I need to know this round and you can get going with your brother and friend. I hope the flowers take to the soil." Leo explained as he came around behind the counter.

She nodded. "Me to, I hope it works. It will be so beautiful if we can get some plants growing out there. It might help the earth repair itself faster." He nodded agreeing and she went through explaining the specials they had and which flowers were best for what at this time.

After being given all the info she started loading up plants from the back into their truck. She got into the drivers seat as the two guys got in the back with the plants. They drove off as Leo waved them off before returning inside to the counter.



The trio drove, turning and making their way outside the city, heading some miles away from its walls. As she drove she looked up at the cloudy sky and sighed. "I really miss seeing the sun...and anything green." She whispered with a sigh.

"Hey what'cha say?" her brother asked.

"What?" she looked back then ahead to the dusty scene in front of her. "It was nothing. How's the plants?"

"Still good in this air so that's good. Just find a spot you think looks good." The friend said and she nodded, driving around as she searched for a good spot. She would slow down after some minutes and stop before turning and heading another way, the tiers crackling and breaking up dirt as she went a different away. She wanted to avoid the military, not wanting them to question or destroy the plants they had been cultivating in hopes of regaining more greenery in the outer part of the cities.

She stopped after about half hour to an hour and looked around nodding. "I think this spot will work." She said. Sure the ground was its dead brown with some gray but there were a few small patches here and there of what appeared to be green grass.

The two guys got out and started to shovel, digging holes for the few flowers they had ready to transplant. The two guys planted two flowering saplings, a short flower like a lilly, and a few others that varied in height. She picked different spots, using a spade to plant leaves, roots, and seeds for them to find out if anything would take root or live.

As she patted the dirt down over the seedling she looked up as the wind blew and out to where she saw lights on the distance of a camp. She figured territory was being expanded and soon the city would either be bigger or posts would be set up for Lord Dragon's army to reside in to keep monitoring tabs over a wider range.

"Hey you done yet?" her brother called out to her which snapped her out of her daze.

"Huh? Oh, right yes." She said finishing and stood, dusting her knees off and went back to the truck, removing her gloves and put away them with the spade.

As she got back in and buckled she heard her friend speak. "Best get moving. We got company coming." He pointed out and she adjusted the rear mirror to see dust and saw something metal fly up then come back down making more dust.

"Just perfect." She muttered and started up the truck then peeled out, turning and zooming off to try and get back and keep the thugs away from the fresh flowers, not wanting them to get destroyed before they had any chance at attempting to survive on their own.

The nearing group sped up and the one in front gave a yell as he road in the lead and signaled, giving chase after the trio's truck. One then another from the group fired guns at the trio, one zooming up on a very modified motorcycle firing at their vehicle.

Her brother and friend pulled out hidden guns and fired, both being great shots and took out one then another and injured the leader.



At the shop Leo waved as a customer left and he began helping another. Another came in and he helped with picking flowers for her mother. After a few minutes he waved as she left after paying and looked out the window glad to have a job. He blinked seeing a few vehicles pass by that was like a military convoy.

"Hm? What's going on?" he asked himself quietly before leaving the counter to look out the window. Inside he hoped it wasn't the military catching his friends. Looking out a window quietly he saw the vehicles pass by but saw nothing to indicate they had captured rebels. He sighed. "Maybe they're still safe." he muttered with lips barely moving.

In the back he heard a noise and jumped, turning to look and started back into the back room to look around. He was confused seeing a messy trio that also looked frazzled. "Are you all okay? What happened?" he asked.

"We ran into a gang of bandits." The woman said sighing sounding tired.

"We had to out drive them and out shoot them." Her brother said as the friend nodded.

"We ended up having to lure them close to a military base and we got out of sight before being seen but the military did see the group and managed to arrest them." The friend explained.

Leo nodded as that explained who was brought back in the vehicles. "I see wow. That must of been freaky."

The trio nodded. "You bet it was. We at times do run into outlaws that pass through different places that are either controlled or outside the bounds of The Owls but at times they venture into the bounds of an Owl city." She explained with a small shrug while dusting dust off herself. "They at times get nervy to try and then they end up normally captured."

Leo nodded glad it wasn't his friends. "I'm glad you're safe, all of you. Did the flowers survive?" he asked.

"Yes they should have." She answered pleased. "How's work been?" she asked as it'd been about some hours.

"Yup work's been steady. I recorded what sales have been made and the amounts so you can figure out my pay." Leo answered as she nodded.

"Show me when we get back from cleaning up. Keep up watching the store as we three get washed up." She said and moved up a staircase to go to their shower to wash up. Leo nodded and went back to the front, retaking his place at the counter.

He was just relieved that they were safe and had returned safely.



Silver below ground was reading and held in a sound as his one eye closed some as he looked down at his arm that hurt him as he moved and grabbed a book off one of his shelves. "I'll need to see him about a shot." He muttered quietly as he lifted his sleeve to see the tattoo's were fading indicating the dose he was given was starting to run out.

He began to think over when he would go see Skylar. Thinking about when would be good to go. He figured he could go see Skylar after Leaf would get back so there would be a sane keeper of their group there to keep things in line due to Fire's hot temper.

At closing time being later into the evening Leaf was relieved of work and released with pay. It felt nice to have pay in his pocket. "Just let me know if you need me to come in again." He told her.

"Of course! My customers just adore you waiting on them." She said giggling as some of the female clientele did like how cute and handsome Leo was.

Leo chuckled as he pushed open the door. "Well I'm normally free so just call any time." He said and waved as she did back and he left, taking to the streets as he headed down the sidewalk.

He noticed other vehicles going by and sighed. Leo coughed as one passing puffed out black smoke from its exhaust and he waved it off while his coughing finally finished. "Guess they don't do right maintenance." He muttered quietly before continuing his advancement down the street.

The street lights were coming on as he made his way down an alleyway, looking up and around to see and make sure all was in the clear, even listening closer for any noises to indicate a human or machines presents. He continued on calmly as he listened and glanced around being cautious. Eventually coming to a manhole he hadn't heard or seen anything odd or out of the ordinary.

Sighing Leo moved the cover back and slipped inside, replacing it and vanished down below.

It would be some minutes later before he would return to the base and after entering he removed his jacket and sat down with a sigh. He relaxed and stretched, smiling a little. "This is rare, it's quiet." He commented to himself with a pleased tone.

"Get out of my room!" Fire snapped throwing a book with a steel front and back clattered as it was thrown and slammed into the wall past Leaf's face. Leaf groaned closing his eyes and leaned his head back over the back of the chair.

"Greeeeat that was short lived." He moaned sighing softly.

"I didn't do nothing! I just needed to get your daggers to upgrade them!" Tool said in his defense before yelping as another swing was made but with Fire's fist at his head as he ducked. The teen quickly with both daggers in hand made a mad dash out of her room and around the corner to his own.

Quickly Tool slammed the door shut, locking it and Fire ran over pounding on his door before kicking it. "You could of asked first brat!" she snapped fuming mad at Tool as she kicked his door again.

Silver came out and looked at the scene as he walked over and picked up the fallen book. "I'm glad these were reinforced." He muttered before turning his attention to Leaf who had proceeded to pinch the bridge of his nose. He brought the book over and laid it down gently on the table. "Leo, I have a favor to ask of you if you aren't too tired from working at the floral shop."

Leaf opened his eyes to look at their leader and he sat upright with a moan. "Not tired from that but I am wondering why I came back. I was enjoying the quiet but I should of known it wouldn't last long."

Silver chuckled at that and nodded. "Yes, it can be at times not so quiet."

Leaf looked at the book, flipping through it casually. "So what's the favor you need me to do?" the young man asked looking up to Silver.

"I need to head out and see a friend about some matters. Do you think you can watch things while I'm gone?" Silver asked. "I won't blame you if you say no."

Leaf thought it over before shaking his head. "Just give me a few minutes or a couple hours to breath then I'll be fine to watch the place."

Silver nodded in agreement and went to put the book back in Fire's room as Fire was busy glaring and the occasional kicking of Tools door.

It would be later when Leaf would knock and go into Sliver's room where he was napping. "Hey you can go now." Leaf said which roused Silver from his rest. The man sat up with a yawn and rubbed the sleep from his eyes.

"What going on with Fire and Tool?" Silver asked.

"I managed to get them apart to go and relax. I got Fire doing boxing for me for exercise and Tool I have making me an earpiece for each of us that should work on waves that are blocked." Leaf answered proudly.

"Well I'm glad you were able to handle it." Silver said impressed by this. He got himself straightened up and took a breath sighing. "I'll be gone for a few minutes or longer. I should be back in a few hours at the latest."

"Take your time. It's not often you get to go out and meet with friends." Leaf assured him and Silver nodded gently.

"Thank you Leo. Now have fun with the two and I'll see you later when I return." Silver got his jacket on and grabbed a few items before he left his room with Leaf following out after and closing the door. Silver left the hideout and went down one way then another tunnel.

He looked up pondering and mapping the surface quietly in his head, listening to sounds as he measured if the noise was inside or out. He wanted to teleport up once he found out he was near a building. Eventually he would teleport up to stand in a darkened alleyway with a streetlight being blown out. He looked around and carefully made his way to head to where he recalled Skylar's main stay of residency.

He kept out of sight as he eyed each building carefully to try and make sure he'd pick the right building before teleporting inside to move for Skylar's home. He didn't know Skylar was out with another person so didn't keep an eye out for the doctor.

Silver had located the building and after looking both ways took a breath and sighed. He would need to find this right or he might end up in the wrong apartment. "Now...if I remember right...." he began to slowly walk around the building eyeing the windows carefully. "....the apartment should be....right....about...."

Silver closed his eyes and vanished, warping himself inside the building. He landed and looked around and quickly warped again, searched then once more before looking about the living room. When he saw familiar sights he nodded. "Ah here we go. Huh, I must have been on the wrong side."

He sighed and was glad that no one had seen him. He stepped quietly as he could around the room before wincing as a sharp pain hit his one arm. He moved it up and adjusted his sunglasses before sighing releasing a breath and turned on a light to see better.

He brushed a finger against one of the tables and sighed. "He really needs to learn to clean better. I mean...what? has he never heard of a duster still?" Silver commented quietly as he began to search for Skylar, figuring he perhaps was asleep given the lights off and it being quiet.

Or if he was out he didn't mind waiting around for him to return. Taking a breath he coughed after he caught an item with his good arm. He went into the other rooms, looking for his medical provider. No luck. Silver frowned. "Where in the hell is he?" he questioned annoyed. He wanted to visit and get his arm treated.

He went into one of the bedrooms being the spare to find no Skylar and the main bedroom to find still no body. "What in the world? I guess he's out." He decided to wait around. There was no point in leaving and coming back to risk being spotted by one of the Dragons soldiers.

The man sat down on the bed looking around the room and flipped off his lights to save on power. He hoped Skylar wasn't going to be gone really long. He didn't want to be waiting for hours or longer than that for him to return.

It wouldn't be until later when he looked over thinking he heard a sound. Standing up he looked out the doorway but when he didn't catch the noise again started to think it was nothing. "Skylar has too many creepy things." He muttered and began to walk around the room some, waiting on his friend.

Silver jumped when he heard a voice and turned quickly, drawing his gun with his own lenses on but sighed as he put the weapon away. "Skylar, there you are." He sighed and stood upright again more relaxed. "I'm aware what you can do, no need to remind me and do you know it's normal for a patient to not be kept waiting for more than thirty minutes?" Silver teased back.

"I would have called but I didn't want to leave a message and wait for you to get back to me." He felt better now as he watched his friend. "How are you? I take it you've been out." He said and stepped near one he also considered a friend. "So mind telling me why you still have yet to learn what a duster is for?"

Silver approached, lifting his sunglasses to look into the darkness and save the battery power as he turned off the special sight for darkness. "And I'm sure you'd not strike me down dead. What would happen to my small group if you did? I doubt you could handle one of them." Silver said chuckling as he doubted Skylar could handle Fire and her temper that was almost as hair trigger as her guns.



In the hideout Leaf was relaxing before yelping as he ducked his head to dodge a bullet that was fired, skimming his hairline. "Nice work Tool. These bullets fire nice and smooth." Fire said chuckling at Leafs terrified expression.

"You two are never going to let me nap are you?" Leaf asked annoyed.

"Why should we let you nap? It's a wonderful gloomy day up above our heads." Fire responded.

"Hey Viola, try this one." Tool said giving Fire a different bullet. She put it into the gun after discharging the spent shell and smiled as when she fired it, again aiming above Leafs head, caused ice to explode out onto the wall.

"That's so cool! Again, awesome job Tool." Fire said grinning as she pushed back some of her two colored hair. Tool grinned pleased for the praise.

Leaf sighed watching them. "You two I swear are plotting to kill me." He said flatly.

"Not that much are we." Tool said smiling. "You are a great sport big brother." He said glad to see his bullet worked. He pulled out and handed Fire another bullet. "Try this."

Fire loaded it and she fired, watching fire explode out to melt the ice that left a scorch mark. Fire grinned widely. "You know that Silver isn't going to like it." Leaf said shocked at the new bullets his brother had made and felt dread seeing him hand Fire two clips, one with a flame mark and one with ice mark. "We're all dead." Leaf groaned hanging his head as he moved to a new spot to sit as he liked to sit out in the main room.

Silver smirked nodding and moved to follow after Skylar. He sighed rolling his eyes. "Oh yes I forgot you tend to be messy. You do know there's cleaner that can get up the blood stains." He remarked and upon hearing about Skylar running into a friend he blinked curiously. "Yes, I remember you tend to have a history with the soldiers. I'm glad you were let go."

He moved following after the doctor. "A friend? Is...he a friend as I am or is he a friend who has never seen the horrors inside the Palace Fortress?" Silver asked carefully as he neared and watched the front door. He moved his injured arm and winced with his teeth tightening and sighed.

He didn't want to do the treatment himself, always preferring Skylar to do it to ensure it went smoothly. "I am in need of another treatment. Was my handling of my arm and hand a give away?" he asked as he rolled up the sleeve of his tattooed arm to show the marks that came because of the injection. He showed the once solid color of black and red were faded some indicating the medicine was wearing off.

"I'd like you to do it. I'll wait until your friend is settled before I follow you down. I've already used my teleporting a few times today and I'd like not to wear myself down." Silver explained with a small chuckle. "I accidentally miscalculated where your place was but none saw me so that was good."

Silver put his sleeve down and move aside away from the direct view of the door. "If your guest is a friend of yours I'm sure they aren't aligned with Lord Dragon." He said calmly feeling sure Skylar wouldn't have friends who would turn any other in that was friends with Skylar. He didn't know Skylar's temper in full but knew he was full well able to bring down a person or persons in the least to defend himself.

He also was curious to who this friend was that Skylar had was. "Do you normally have company? The other times I've come you never had company." Silver said a little confused and wondering about this.



Underground Leaf had retired to his room as Fire was relaxing in the main room reading a book. She looked up as she heard traffic above them moving and sighed quietly. She started to think things over before looking over to Leafs opened room door. "Hey Leaf...can I-"

"No you are staying here until Silver gets back. We are to stay put." Leaf cut her off with a firm tone.

Fire frowned glaring at his door. "You are such a sore sport. You didn't even know what I was gonna say." She pouted.

"I had a good guess and you're staying here." Leaf stated sternly.

"But I'm bored. I want to go walk around town." Fire complained.

"No you are staying here." Leaf stated from his bed where he was trying to nap. Fire sighed with a groan as she leaned back in the seat and went back to reading.



In Dragon's palace he was relaxing with an exhausted new personal servant next to him dressed in the outfit he preferred his personal help to wear. He was stroking her hair, playing with it delicately as he smirked eyeing her over slowly to take in every curve of her body. He slowly grinned as his eyes trailed back up her resting form.

She had exhausted herself dancing and doing other things to entertain him and keep him pleased. My adorable little sexy beast. I'm never letting go of a treasure gem like you. he thought as he gently lifted her hair and let the few strains he held fall down gently onto her back and side. He grinned wider and slowly shifted in his bed, wearing comfortable pants but no shirt yet did wear his gauntlet.

His silk sheets felt nice as he moved and he gently touched under her chin to softly lift her head up to be tilted up. He locked his lips over hers that were barely parted. She winced as her eyes closed tighter and she released a small sound of disapproval but he didn't let go. He gripped her chin with his fingers wrapping around it to make her not move out of the kiss.

She wanted air, she needed air but he held it longer and as she thought she would pass out he gently broke it. She panted gasping for air and he smirked then chuckled as her tired eyes slowly fluttered opened. "Hello there my dear butterfly." He cooed softly in a quiet tone.

She glared at him and spoke in a flat tone, not liking him in the bit. "Hello, Lord Dragon." She responded.

Carefully he slipped his gauntlet hand under her body and pulled her closer so she was pressed against his warm bare chest. "You seem scared. Any reason?" he purred as he brought his lips close to hers, licking a small spot where he had bitten her to draw blood.

His expression reminded her of a devil and it frightened her. "No reason, Lord Dragon. Why would one as I be scared when in the sanctuary of such grandeur?" she asked in a polite tone while mentally screaming for somehow him to die right there.

Dragon chuckled. "Good girl, you know your place already. I'm glad, I thought I would need to break you in. It seems not." He purred against her lips as he softly licked a small bead of blood that formed on her lower lip before that lick made her cringe as it went over her skin. She wanted so badly to punch him but fought against that. She didn't want her sister or father harmed or anything worse than a good beating.

She inhaled sharply when his hot breath found her ear and she winced as he pulled her closer to him, not letting her to have much space between him or her. "How about you please me some more but in a more interactive method?" he softly whispered into her ear and began to proceed without waiting on an answer as he used his free arm to pull the silk coverings over him and her. She didn't want this at all and held in tears that wanted out as he growled while his kisses and hands trailed where they wished.

A male servant cringed as he heard a scream later on exit through the thick door and shivered shaking it off. He was so glad Dragon wasn't into guys. He swept the floor, getting the dirt into the dustpan and went throwing it away in a trashcan put to the side. He looked to the door and hoped the girl would be fine.

Silver nodded looking at the door as he listened. "I do try to hide it. Last thing I need is my group finding out their leader has a bad arm if the medicine wears off." He chuckled softly. "And friendship over time? Well at least he knows a wise move." Silver commented before moving to follow him to his office.

"Who hasn't seen more than they should have of the Owl's power and tyranny?" Silver asked sadly. "Maybe one day we'll be able to regain the freedom we had once before the explosion." Silver still blamed the Owl's for that event. Mainly because whereas they were calm others were not yet they were and they had never been seen before the event.

He took a seat slowly in Skylar's office. "An acquaintance? Are you at liberty to later tell me of this acquaintance?" he asked curiously as he sat and relaxed to wait. "Alright, I'll be here." He pointed out as he leaned back and started to think, looking down at his arm as he rolled up the sleeve.

Silver was thinking over what he would want this time as he saw the red and black fading. Before he had gone with a circuit like design. Hmm....what will I want this time? he thought pondering this silently.



In the city the father and daughter left their home, both saddened to lose his other daughter but what could he had done? He couldn't dispute what they claimed they 'found' even though he knew very well there hadn't been anything previously in that drawer.

He walked with her at his side, having her hood of her jacket up as it looked dreary as normal in case it would rain. She looked to her father sadly. "She'll come back, right?" the girl asked quietly, being more of the shy type than her sister.

He looked to her coming out of his thoughts and nodded. "I'm sure she will. We just have to be patient and wait." Her father assured her as she looked up to him with her one good eye and nodded, pushing back some of her brown locks.

"I hope so. I had a horrible nightmare last night about her." The brown haired girl said. Her father nodded as they drove, not stopping until later at the doctors office where they got out and went inside.

The girl was called back with her father and she was checked out. The doctor removed the eye patch sighing as she slowly opened her eye. "You know it will never adjust and work proper if you keep hiding it." The doctor explained.

"But I don't like how it looks different." She said softly as she looked down then to him. Inside the iris if one looked closely it could be seen tiny illuminated light flowing showing it was constantly active unless she went to sleep in which it would deactivate then reactivate upon her waking.

"I've told you no one is going to notice." The doctor said and moved a pen back and fort having her track with both eyes as she followed it, the mechanical one following just as the normal eye was. The doctor wrote this down then looked to the father. "Why do you keep letting her wear the eye patch over it?"

"She insists and we just lost her sister. She always had her sister agree with her and I don't want to upset them." The father said sighing softly. "I wish I could do more but she is so afraid of someone judging her on her one eye that I just let her wear it."

"Well it's messing up the mechanics in it. If you were just going to keep your eye covered then we could had just done something else that was less needed." The doctor said with a huff and moved her hair to gently attach a device, starting to calibrate the eye to get it fully back on track, adjusting the color so that both matched perfectly again. "You need to make her not wear the eye patch. It is good for if she's sleeping because it'll allow the eye to rest more easily but when she's active then have it uncovered."

The father nodded. "Alright, I'll try to make her leave it showing." He said and the doctor nodded, handing the eye patch to the father as his daughter whimpered, wanting that back to hide her eye and help hide the scaring that was left behind from the blast that had taken out her eye in the first place.

He looked to her and shook his head. "You'll be fine sweetie. If anyone says anything then ask the teacher for a phone and call me then I'll come and we'll talk." He said to the teen.

She looked at him sadly then looked down nodding and whispering a meek "okay" as the doctor put her hair back and hid the metal on the back of her neck that controlled the eye and gave updates on its functioning.

"Well that's all. She looks healthy and seems to be doing much better." The doctor complimented and after being told the total they owed they stepped out, the father paid and they left with her having to go without the eye patch now. She got into the car keeping her head down, glad her long hair could hide the metal control metal plate that wasn't too big but she knew it was there and someone couldn't miss its silver color on her flesh.

Starting he went to drop her off at school before he'd go to work, feeling worse but wanted her to gain some confidence. "It'll be fine." He assured her again as she gently nodded, not thinking so. After leaving her at school on time he went to work and she went inside, using her hair to hide her eye and show just half her face now.



Silver had been sketching out rough ideas as he thought over what he wanted. Hearing Skylar return and his question Silver looked to him then at the paper he'd found and drew some ideas on. "I think something tribal and with a sparrow or two." He told him. He had a soft spot for birds that were small, just like he had a soft spot for cats and gnu that wasn't really seen anymore as something in the wild.

He moved and showed Skylar his rough sketch of a bird with other markings one could call tribal or hieroglyphics around it. "Think you're up to this or something more simple?" Silver asked curiously as the door latched closed. Silver removed his jacket to show a short sleeve shirt as he put his outer wear on a hook behind him.

Silver would wait until after Skylar started before speaking again. "So tell me about this acquaintance you mentioned earlier that your friend had. I'm curious since they are a friend or acquaintance of yours. Just kind of curious if there's anything special." He said holding his arm still and only moved it when Skylar would move it, indicate for him to, or tell him to move it this or that way.

Silver winced, listening to Creed talk and he nodded, agreeing about client confidentiality. He was glad Creed at least was decent enough to keep patients he helped identification's secret. As Silver did his best to ignore the sting of the needle thrusting in and out of his skin, he listened closely nodding. Cyrus? Why does that name sound familiar? Silver thought but pushed it aside to think and ponder over it later at a better time.

Then Skylar asked him about his own comrades Silver was quiet at first, pondering this over and eyeing his friend over. "My comrades are strong though they do become restless and irritable. I keep them from going too far and try to make sure they don't get into things too deeply." He chuckled softly. "There's two boys, brothers they are, and one young woman. She happens to be the one with the hottest temper."

He kept to himself that the term 'hottest' was also literally given the skill she had inherited somehow from one of her parents. "The brothers listen fairly well but she likes to push her luck...and her boundaries." Silver sighed and 'tch' as the process continued. He was quiet then continued to speak. "The two males are good at keeping low profiles. The female on the other hand is another story." He sighed. "I wish she would learn to keep her profile lower key." Silver muttered.

"But they have a good spirit among them and keep themselves busy. One has a job part time and luckily is not on the military records. One stays mainly around base as the third, well I am considering finding a new job for." Silver said, trying to pick his words carefully as he kept a close eye on Skylar, judging by his eyes and the way he phrased words at the end that he wanted info on his little group.

He tightened his jaw then decided it was time for him to try and get some answers. "But I won't bore you with more yamerings about my little trio, how about more on this him is? Who's the one you examined exactly?" he inquired. "And could we pause?" Silver asked as his arm was having stains of blood flowing out with the ink and his hand at times had twitched with his muscles in his arms from all the stinging it was taking.

"And could you describe this man next door? Is that your friend you refer to or the other guy you meant I would never meet?" Silver tried to ask carefully to try and see if he could gauge some answers from Creed now instead, not wanting to reveal too much about his group. "....hope she's resting up..." he whispered under his breath as he cast his eyes down for a moment before flicking his sight back up to Creed.



At the school the twin went to her first, second, and third classes, keeping her head down and mouth quiet. She was able to see things more fully with her fake eye exposed but that didn't mean she was happy about it. The day had been quiet so far, making her glad but she had noticed some looks due to the fact she had her air done differently. Normally her hair was pushed back but today she made sure to keep some over her shoulder and in front of her face, hiding the fake eye.

She took a deep breath and sighed, taking down notes in the fourth class that was near ending. Through her strains of hair she looked up towards the clock. She felt anxious as it neared closer for the class to end. She wanted out so badly to go hide but couldn't.

"Annabell?" she kept looking down, ignoring her name with thoughts over her sister. "Annabell?" she paused in her note taking, "Annabell!" she jumped with a small noise and looked at the teacher, strains of hair moved so she saw through to watch for once with both eyes. "Finally you respond. Did you even hear anything I said?" he asked sternly.

"Umm....." she shook her head, sinking down in her seat.

The teacher sighed, closing his eyes and shook his head. "Please pay attention. I never had this trouble with your sister. By the way, where is she? She hasn't shown up today."

"S-s-she's um...she's....s-s-sick." Annabell stammered quietly, her body tensing up as she felt other students looking at her.

"That's too bad. Make sure you collect her work and take it to her." The teacher stated and she meekly nodded, wanting everyone to stop staring at her. The lesson continued until it was over and the class was dismissed. She gathered her books and collected work for her sister from the teacher. She didn't want to admit her sibling had been arrested on charges they felt and knew had to be false.

Taking a breath she stood at the locker, swapping books around and put away the assignments for her sibling. Her eyes closed some as she couldn't shake her mind off that night. I hope she's doing alright. She thought quietly, standing up with books for her class that was going to be after lunch.

Getting her meal she went and sat back in a corner table, setting her books at her side and started to eat while reading. "....this...does make reading easier and...less straining..." she muttered softly as she adjusted her hair to see more through the long strains. She was finding her normal eye wasn't feeling as strained as normal when she kept her false eye covered. "...maybe...he was right..."

"He was right about what?" a girl asked making Annabell tense and release a small startled noise.

"N-n-nothing...." she replied softly trying to pay attention to her book and rehide her eye.

"Come on and tell me." The girl whined moving and pushed aside Annabell's books as she sat beside the shy girl.

Annabell shook her head. "It's...it's really n-n-nothing." She tried to insist but her voice was softer as she wished the girl would go away. She leaned her head down more and the girl at her side leaned over, looking Annabell over curiously, blinking.

The girl gasped her eyes widening. "You aren't wearing that eye patch!" she exclaimed in shock. Annabell just moved her hair more to hide her eye wishing the girl would stop as she tried to take a bite of her lunch, scooting away from her peer. "When did you stop wearing it?" she asked quickly.

"T-t-tod-d-day." Annabell stammered quietly.

"This is amazing! So you can see? Have you told the teachers so they can stop the whole pittying you?" the girl asked reaching to move Annabell's hair out of the way. Annabell moved so the girl couldn't touch her hair which annoyed her. "Oh come on! You know the only reason they let you be closer to the board was because you had one eye to see with so show me your eye brat." The girl insisted and looked at the scars around her eye that Annabell had closed.

"P-p-please s-s-stop..." Annabell tried to order but the words barely exited.

The girl blinked watching her nervous face and sighed dropping her hair. "So what they do?" the girl huffed."Seal your eye shut or something?" she asked rudely and Annabell shook her head. "Then why don't you open it? Or do those hideous scares make it not able to be opened?"

Annabell tried to answer but just wanted to be left alone. The girl eventually huffed with a heavy sigh standing up and pushed the books more to scatter them on the table. "Whatever, this is boring. Just make sure if you can see out of two eyes you tell the teachers." She sneered. "I'm sick of you getting towards the front when your grades aren't near as up as mine or your sister. I don't know how you both are even twins."

Her cruel tone and glare didn't help Annabell to look up from the table as she walked off, kicking behind her to hit the table and spill some of Annabell's drink. The twin quickly moved the book and took a napkin, cleaning up the liquid before restacking her few books. She took a deep breath and released it in a shaky state.

She held in tears in thinking about her twin, hoping more that she was alright and would be returning home soon.



At the palace fortress, the twin that was kept as Dragons personal slave or servant as he hadn't outfitted her with a collar necklace. She was kept in his chambers so was only seen by workers who were allowed to enter to gather sheets and linens for laundry or to make sure everything was fresh.

The staff when allowed in would ask whoever went in about her but wouldn't get much only that they heard her in with Dragon in another of his rooms. They would hear noises that were odd and that with the evening cleaners hearing screams, made them worry about her health and well being. They knew how rough Lord Dragon could get based on how the last personal servant looked.

This time it was earlier and Dragon was resting after more time with her before leaving to attend to things, he had returned exhausted and after more fun, gone to sleep. One of the female maids knocked before entering. Rosalie moved out from under Dragon's arm after he stirred slightly at the knock but hadn't woken.

She slipped out of the bed and out from under the silk sheets, putting her bare feet on the hard floor. She looked to the maid with hopeful eyes, wanting out now. She doesn't trust the military one bit to leave her family alone. The maid looked up from the fresh linens she has to see Dragon's personal servant coming near and looking worn out, hungry, and worried.

"My Lord Dragon's servant, what be the matter?" the maid asked softly so not to wake Dragon in the dimly lit room with the curtains pulled to keep out the outside lights from the city and the lights around the grounds for security.

"Shhhh please," Rosalie whispered softly, "help me get out and some food." she whispered quickly.

"But...that...." the maid trailed off, noticing small marks around her body from her Lordships grip and slowly she nodded. She moved back to the door starting to open it, instructing her out first. "We first will get you food then a doctor to check out your marks. I promise to try until I last breath to get you freedom."

Dragon began to stir again as Rosalie slipped out with the maid right behind. She closed the door softly and quickly hurried the girl down the hall and kept moving to get downstairs and had her enter a side door. It lead to a simple section of which, being lead through another door, she saw she was inside the maid's room.

"It be but simple yet is good enough for me." she said as she set down the linens and began going through a trunk of clothing, searching before pulling out a simple yellow dress. She turned to look at Rosalie before tossing her the garment. "Change, this will give more decency to you."

Rosalie gladly accepted the dress. "Thank you so much!" she looked around and the maid turned her back to the female. Rosalie found the door leading to the bathroom and went inside, changed from the revealing clothing to one of more modesty. As she changed, the maid found a pair of slip-on shoes and hoped they'd be the right size or close enough.

Rosalie came out and looked to the maid who walked over and placed the shoes in front of her. "If we cannot get you food before the time to run arrives, flee and don't look back. Ignore anything you hear." Rosalie was quiet, slipping into the shoes that were about a half inch to an inch bigger but would do.

"Thank you again." Rosalie said gratefully and hugged the maid.

The maid broke the hug. "Now is not the time. When Lord Dragon wakes he'll be in a fury so come." She said and quietly looked out, leading the way to get to the kitchen to get Rosalie some food or to get her out if it all worked right that was.