Welcome to Gaia! ::

Isto grimaced as Mauli pulled him out of hiding, almost immediately scrambling back towards the chair. To no avail. Sighing, he curled up as small as possible, doing his best to hide the metal paw as he peered up at Mauli. "C'n I help you?"

"Yes, you can. Hold still for a second, a'ight?" Mauli began licking the top of his head clean. Blinking, she stopped, staring down at his metal paw. "Whoa... Where'd you get that?!" She rubbed her eyes, looking dazed.

Reluctantly, Isto complied, remaining still as she cleaned off his fur. He jumped visably, however, when Mauli mentioned his paw, tucking it furthr beneath him to hide from sight. "S'nothing.."

"No, seriously, where'd you get it?" She buried her nose under his paw, staring at it in awe. "I want one! They're awesome looking! What, was it Wal-Mart or something? I won't think you're dumb if you got it somewhere cheap, I promise! Just tell me!"

A slight frown crossed his face and he automatically attempted to pulls his paw away..again. But after a moment his expression changed to surprise. "You..like it? It's just my paw.." He lifts the metal paw slightly, than lets it drop back to the floor with a loud -clank- , wincing with the sound. He shrugs, turning his attention back to Mauli. "I've had it long as I c'n remember."

"Well, I think it's awesome. Why're you hiding it?" She flopped down beside him, noticing that he was only a bit smaller than herself.

Isto cheered up considerably once he realized Mauli liked the paw. Someone actually liked it!! Shrugging slightly, he glances from his paw to Mauli, grinning somewhat sheepishly. "Well... Jack said," he pauses, trying to remember the exact words. "He said I'm a disabled little freak, an' everyone's gonna make fun of me because of my paw.."

Mauli snorted. "Jack's a bit huffy. He doesn't like you because he thinks you take up his space. But you've got your own space, and he needs to realize that. So what if he doesn't like it? Don't let that get you down!" She nodded sagely, beaming.

*Giga trots over to Isto, and looks at the paw, blinking.* "You have a cool paw. That could do some serious computer work if it was upgraded... By the way, my name's Giga." *he then pauses, hoping he didn't offend the other skull monkey*

Grinning, Isto nods hesitantly in reply, relaxing somewhat. His head snaps up as Giga speaks, grin quickly fading to a look of worry as he automatically tucks his paw out of sight. After a moment, he tilts his head slightly, a slightly confused smile returning to his face. "Thanks... Nice t'meet you. I'm Isto."

*Giga senses pain in his eyes, and looks away* "I'm sorry... I just get over excited about awsome technology.."

"No, not a computer!" Mauli argued, looking outraged. "He can't be a good pirate with a computer for a body part!"

Isto nudged Mauli, hoping she'd take the hint and be quiet. He didn't want to lose a friend just because of a little misunderstanding. Friends were hard enough to come by. (Jack had managed to turn about half of the household against him.) Still smiling nervously, he glances back up to Giga, shaking his head. "Y'didn't do anything wrong. I'm just not sure if it is technology...It's just my paw." ^_^;

Giga: *nods* "It is a paw, but a very awsome paw at that! I'd give up my own paw for one like that.."

Chu:*Sees everyone huddled around something and goes over to where they are.*"Hi there,im Sarabi,but my friends call me Chu."She looks down at his paw."Cool lil paw ya got there."

Mauli, looking a bit perturbed, leaves the group for a quiet place.

"Oh, no, y'don't wanna do that." Isto shakes his head, staring wide-eyed at Giga. "It's noisy an' heavy, an' kinda uncomfortable to sleep with, an' I got dents all in Moo's floor from it." As Chu arrives he smiles hopefully, tilting his head to the side. Someone else liked his paw?!?! Wow, Jack was gonna get it once he got home... "I'm Isto. Nice t'meetcha. I-" He abruptly falls silent as Mauli stands and leaves, ears laying back against his head. He rises to his feet, watching her go sadly, wondering if he did something wrong..

Giga: "It's ok, I think she just doesn't like crowds... but, do you wanna be friends?" *he smiles, hopefully*

"Of course," Isto replies automatically, still watching Mauli. After a moment he blinks and turns his eyes to Giga, smiling faintly. "I mean, sure!"

Isto: *Peeks out from under the chair*

Giga: *pokes Isto* hehehe

Isto: *Jumps* *Hits his head on the chair* *Sheepish grin...*

Giga: Your it! *runs off, waiting for Isto to follow*

Isto: *Blinks* *Scrambles after Giga* -clank- -clank- -clank-

Giga: *sticks tounge out* YOU CAN'T GET ME!! *runs into a wall, and falls over* @.@ Stop the room, I wanna get off!!

Isto: *Snickers* *Clanks over and pokes Giga* You're it!!! *Runs off* -clank- -clank- -clank-

Tobias: -peers out at the sudden changes of voices, wondering if its safe to leave from under his bear or not-

Isto: *Creeps out from under the chair and trots over to torment..I mean play with Tobias* -clank- -clank- -clank-

Tobias: -hears the noise of metal on the floor, very curious as to what's headed toward him. He rocks back, proping himself up on his tail-

Isto: *Sits infront of Tobias, chuckling softly* So you're not scared anymore? I din't mean to scare you earlier...

Tobias answers with a quiet, "Mrru.." before letting himself down off his tail-stand. He stays close to his teddy bear, though out in front to make it seem like he wasn't afraid.

Isto simply nodded in reply, apparently understanding the pebbles every word. Nutcase... Grinning, he plopped down to talk with the pebble. He wasn't afraid of pebbles. They couldn't talk well enough to make fun of metal paws. "You gonna hatch soon?"

Tobias wobbles, signalling a "yes" nod.

He pauses as Tobias' movement catches his eye, grinning as his gaze turns back to the pebble. "Great! I grew this morning."

Tobias pauses, thinking something over. He slides under his teddy bear to fetch something.

Isto watches Tobias curiously, wondering why the pebble was always with that bear. He never had a bear. Or maybe he did, and Jack just stole it. It was possible... Oh well, he couldn't remember.

Lenta: *passes out* *glomps Isto and Mauli*
Mauli: *spaz* OMGIMBIGGERANDIHAVEAHAT o.o
Moo: *Squeals and tackles Isto*
Isto: GET OFF WOMAN!
Moo: *Sobbawlsqueal* *Cling*
Mauli: *wriggles out of Lenta's grip* *trots over to Isto, beaming* Your paw isn't much of a paw anymore. It's a claw now.
Lenta: *sobs happily while clinging to the floor*
Isto: *Squirms free and drops to the floor, yawning* *Rolls eyes* Which makes it so much better, hmm?
Moo: *Clings to Lenta, sobbing*
Mauli: T'least it's not just a chunk of metal anymore, Isto. *exasperated* Why are you so moody, anyways? We're adults now!
Lenta: *sobs into Moo's shoulder* OUR BABIIIIIIIIES ARE ALL GROOOOOOOOWN!
Isto: *Shrugs* *taps paw experimentally* *Walks off*
Moo: *Suddenly bursts into giggles* Jack's going to be FURIOUS!
Mauli: *shrugs, watching him* *flops down on the floor*
Lenta: xD I bet! Isto's an adult now, though... He c'n take 'em. *gets a snapshot of Mauli before running*
Isto: *Hops onto his chair*...*Misjudges and hops over his chair* *Grumbles*
Moo: True...but still *Sighs* Mind if I stay at your house tonight? It's safer xd
Lenta: *grin* Sure, y'can stay with us.
Moo: *Sigh of relief* Thanks...
Isto: *Leaps onto his chair...and makes it this time* *Curls up on it and takes off his glasses, dumping them off the side*
Moo: *Grimace* *Edges over and picks up the glasses, then tucks 'em in her pocket* *Scoots back to Lenta*
Lenta: *winces* Make 'im go talk to Mauli and Toby in the den... He needs to cheer up. *motions towards the glasses*
Moo: Good idea... *Walks over to Isto and sits on the chair arm, dropping the glasses on his head* You dropped these.
Isto: Purposely.
Moo: Mm. You were very rude to Mauli, you know.
Isto: ....Do we have to talk here?
Moo: Yup ^_^
Isto: *Yawns and sits up, stretching* If I apologize, will you lay off?
Moo: N-
Isto: Good ^_^ *Trots towards the den*
Moo:........

Tawn:: Isto!! You look awesome! Your paw looks so cool...

Isto: *Blinks* *Glances to Tawn, smiling faintly* Thanks... You, too ^_^

Tawn beams. "Thanks! ...Although I sort of want to go hide outside. Mom keep grabbing me and hugging me and crying... O_o Moms can be a little embarassing, y'know?"

Isto laughs, possibly for the first time in days. "Moo did the same thing. S'alright, though. I'm leaving as soon as possible, and won't have to put up with her anymore.

Moo: *blinks* What??

Tawn:: xd Sounds like your Mom didn't know about your plan... blaugh

Isto: *Shrugs* *Glances over at Moo* xp

Moo:...*Hurt look*

"Where would you go, if you moved out? Mom said I may LOOK like an adult... but I'm still basically a teenager, and that she'll let me move out when I reach adult." sweatdrop ... "And then, I have to choose, one day, if I want to go into the 5th stage, or not. ...I have no idea how to start to make THAT decision.."

"I have a few places in mind..." Isto shrugs, sitting and scowling faintly. "I don't care what she thinks. I could have left at any time, I was just smart enough to wait until i was an adult. I don't get to be a fifth stage, so there's nothing holding me here."

Tawn sits as well, and is silent for a while, not even nodding as Isto speaks. He's surprised- he never knew Isto was that unhappy. He'd always been a little quiet around the headquarters- in fact, sometimes it had seemed that he'd vocalized only when saying how awkward he felt about his leg, and how he never felt like he entirely fit in. Tawn didn't know what to say- he'd always liked Isto, from the first time they'd met, he'd admired something in this stoic soul, but...he just didn't have the words to say it. So he just smiled a smile that held back everything he WANTED to say... and, instead, he just stood up and said, "Well, if you do go, I hope you'll come back...sometimes."

Isto could only blink. That was..not at all the reaction he expected. He found he was smiling faintly without really meaning to. He'd never planned on coming back... Once he left, he wouldn't go back to the farmhouse. Wouldn't come back to HQ. He would leave, and that was that... But now he was having second thoughts. "Yeah...yeah, I'll probably come visit every once in a while..."

Tawn beamed, then toned it down to a faux-casual smile, not wanting Isto to be embarassed. "Great. I wouldn't want to never see you again. I can't even imagine, really."

For the second time that day, Isto laughed, though this time it was much softer, thoughtful. "Would be rather odd, I suppose... I'd probably get bored staying away, though I guess it depends where I go."

"Where to go... gods, you're right- there's so many places you could go... Gaia's such a big place..." Tawn'd never really thought about travelling before- and he'd lived all his life on the same house, tucked into a room, in house, on a street... that he was completely familiar with. The idea of going somewhere new excited him, and scared him, too- more than he was willing to admit. "You know, once, when I was with my mother, in Gambino- I saw a boat, docked in the harbor... I wonder where it goes?"

"A boat?" Isto blinks, thinking back to his visit to Gambino. Yes, he could remember a boat too, but... "No, wherever the boat goes, I couldn't go with it. It might not come back, and it'd be too much trouble to come visit, you know? It'd have to be somewhere kinda close..." He actually had a very good idea of where he'd like to go, but...it might not sound so good to others, so he kept it to himself.

Tawn, listening to Isto, is secretly relieved- he was afraid, when he saw the slight lift of Isto's eyes when he mentioned the boat, that Isto would take it to heart, and leave the continent... but hearing that Isto was thinking of a much less...permanent distance, calmed him. "Well, any kind of travelling is still exciting. I've only been a few cities away- maybe, three hours tops, with my mother, to her shopkeepers conventions and bazaars. But one day, I think I'll have my own apartment. And then I can travel."

"I like to travel," Isto admitted quietly. "But I can't go far on my own, you know? It takes too long. And I doubt people would appreciate a lone skull monkey wandering from city to city. I think....well, nevermind." he pauses, then shrugs. "I'll find somewhere. I'm not leaving just yet."

Moo: But I don't have Isto's pebble stage
Lenta: He can be... a mammal. o.o
Moo: o.o
Isto: Great, now I'm even more of a freak!! *Stalks out*
Mauli: *rolls eyes* He's way overreacting, y'know?
Lenta: He's just moody.
Mauli: Pah... He has no reason to be... I mean, look at 'im!
Moo:...*Sighs* I never meant for him to get all...like this.
Mauli: Can't you change it? Or help him?
Moo: I've tried...*Shrugs* I can hardly even get near him. He avoids me... He avoids most of us. Corr's the only one he'll talk to, or occasionally Alao.
Mauli: He won't talk to me... *sounds bitter* I was hoping he would be happy, growing and such...
Moo: He hasn't changed, you know...*Shrugs* He's the same as he was when he was little. Overly self concious. It's all an act. He thinks no one wants to be his friend, so he acts like he doesn't want any friends.
Mauli: Ah. Doesn't he know i'm his friend? What about Toby, Giga and Chu? Are we just little statues?
Moo: Dunno. I just assume that 'cause that's how he acts at home. I don't think he really considers any of you friends. When you think about it, it's not like you know each other well... Giga was prolly his best chance at a friend, and I haven't seen Giga in...quite some time.
Mauli: Oh... *blinks, then looks down at the ground* I... I suppose you're right... *curls up, fiddling with the end of her hat*
Moo: I don't mean to offend you or anything...But it's true, you know...
Mauli: I know... you're right... It's just hard to realize it. I mean, we never spent much time together... Just passing by and saying hello, really. But... *hangs her head* I always thought of him as a friend...
Moo: *Smiles faintly* *Shrugs* I think that was the problem...a lot of people think of him as a friend, but all they've really ever done is say hello, or maybe hold a short conversation. Usually something ends up happening to distract them and...they don't come back *Shrugs* Really, you can't blame Isto for how he acts..
Mauli: I know... I just want him to be happier...
Moo: Don't we all...*Sighs*
Mauli: We should get him a girlfriend. *bursts into laughter*
Moo: *Faint smile* *Laughs hesitantly*
Mauli: *coughs* *scratches one ear*
Moo: He...umm...heh...He used to really..like you, you know.
Mauli: Like? Like... like like? Or... just like?
Lenta: *confused now* o.o
Moo: Like..like like. Meh, he's going to kill me for telling, but... *Shrugs* 'Tis true. 'Twas before he knew about Shiro, I think. Got pretty upset when he found out... *Hesitant laugh*
Mauli: Oh... *trails off, staring at her paws* Shiro hasn't been too happy lately... And he hasn't been home much.
Moo: I'm not implying anything *Shrugs* Just telling the truth. When he realized how close you and Shiro were, he kinda..gave up on that. *Shrugs slightly* Dunno... There's a lot more to Isto than most people know. I think he'd prolly kill Corr if he knew how much the little guy tells me. *laughs softly*
Mauli: I just wish I knew. I really wanted to be more of a friend to him....
Moo: *Smiles* *Shrugs* S'alright. It's not like he hates you or anything. *Sighs* he scowls every time I go near him..
Mauli: Well, he wasn't too keen on me earlier today either...
Moo: He went to apologize...Tawn held him up, though.
Mauli: S'alright. He can take his time... I'm not going anywhere... And maybe Tawn'll talk some sense into him.
Moo: Hopefully... *Sighs*
Mauli: He'd make a lovely father. *muses softly, turning on some music* *plays Solitare on Lenta's computer*
Moo: *Blinks* *Glances to Mauli* *Raises eyebrow*
Mauli: Well? He would. *nods confidently*
Lenta: *snicker*
Mauli: I say that as a FRIEND. Geezus.
Lenta: *snortlaugh*
Moo: *Snickers* The only reason I'll believe that is 'cause of Shiro.
Mauli: *grin* S'good to have a lazy depressive weak boyfriend to get you out of awkward situations.
Lenta: *rolls*
Moo: *Snortlaugh*

Chuckling softly, Isto refrains from commet at Endy's outburst, instead glancing around the room. His mind wanders back to what he'd been doing before Tawn had called him.. Ahh, yes. Now where was Mauli... "See you in a bit," he mumbled to Tawn, than stood and walked towards the den, peeking inside. "Mauli?"

Mauli lifted her head, looking up at Isto. "Hey... What's up?" She asked, pushing herself into a sitting position.

"Hey, umm..." Isto trails off, then sighs and walks into the den, sitting once he nears Mauli. "Sorry about earlier... I didn't mean to be so rude, it just..happened. I haven't been myself lately."

Mauli grins. "No need to apologize. S'alright... People get cranky from time to time. Now that it's over though..." She looks around the room, then nods, sliding him the plate of cookies. "Have one. They'ms good."

"No, I did need to apologize," he mumbles, sighing. "You one of the few..beings that noticed me and actually tried to talk with me an' stuff, and I was a complete and total a*****e." Pausing, he glances back over his shoulder to be sure Moo hadn't heard him curse. Turning back to Mauli, he picks up a cookie, taking a big bite and swallowing before continuing. "I will, however, eat all your cookies."

Gasp! "Anything but that!" Mauli acted out a mock faint, spreading herself out on the floor with one paw on her forehead. "Oh, how shall I ever survive without the miracle of... cookies?! Alas and alack, dearest Isto, you've destroyed every remaining fiber of my being!"

"Terrible pity," he comments emotionlessly, taking another bite out of the cookie. "You were such a pretty thing, too. Ah, well, nothing's worth more than cookies." And, nodding defiantly, he finished to cookie in another two bites.

Sniffling, Mauli gacks and chokes, then colapses in a heap on the floor. Then, after a few moments, she opens one eye. "Make sure to have snack foods at my funeral. But no cookies... the thought of that would be too painful for the onlookers..."

Isto fixes a rather bored expression on his face as he reaches for another cookie, speaking through another bite. "Will do! Goldfish okay? Or maybe giant pretzels? Love giant pretzels..." Trailing off, he takes another bite from his cookie, snickering softly.

"Yeah, pretzels and Goldfish. Especially the pizza ones." With that, she makes a gurgling noise, flopping her head back onto the floor.

"It shall be done," he states, finishing off the cookie. Coughing importantly, he walks over to the den door and sits right in the middle of it, yelling out, "MAULI'S DEAD!" His chore done, he walks back over to Mauli and sits beside her, picking up a cookie and nibbling idly on it. "I'll help Lenta plan the funeral."

"Lenta will make it fru-fru..." She complained, staring pitifully up at Isto.

"I'll get Jack to help, then." Finishing off the cookie, he licks his paw clean, eyes the few remaining on the plate. "We'll make it pirate-ish."

"No, fru-fru." Mauli rolled her eyes towards the sound of Endy's voice, flopping over onto her back. "Fruity is... er... nevermind. Fru-fru. Pink lace, pretty dresses... fru-fru. Pirates!" At this, Mauli jumped up, seemingly 'revived'. "Mum told me she had this pirate hat, she got it from QS... She says, when the time's right, i'll be a real pirate!" Mauli beamed, looking proud.

Isto snickers softly when Mauli gives up on defining 'Fruity', grinning when she 'revives'. His grin falters somewhat at the mention of the pirate hat, and he looks away. "Oh...yeah, it...makes you a fifth stage, right? A lot of SM's have things that do that..."

"Hmph...." Endymion offered smugly. She quickly travelled to the shadow that was made by Mauli herself. "Why are you planning a funeral anyway?"

"Yeah, well... Mum says she won't use it until she's tired of having me be a SM. Which, she says, will be never. Too bad she couldn't sell it.." She shrugged, prodding her shadow. "Yo, when did you come into this? Bloody shadow... Always talking to me..." Her eyes shifted around the room, and she cleared her throat. "......nevermind."

The 'shadow' stuck out it tongue at Mauli. "You talk to your shadow? HA!" Endymion laughed. Normally, a floating Hannah would give it away that this was Endymion but, where was Hannah? She had, apparently, dissappeared.

"Only when I want to" was the curt reply. ", and that's only when Dinero won't play with me." Then, grinning, she flicked her tail along the lengths of the shadow, as if she were trying to tickle it.

"Please remove your filthy tail from my face please!" Endymion said. Endy's code, self made by herself, said that if you're going to insult someone, do it politely. Though it wasn't exactly an insult, she still had to add the please.

"Mauli's secretly dead," Isto explained to the...shadow. Pausing, he blinks and frowns slightly, staring at it for a moment before shrugging and glancing back to Mauli. Heh, so shadows could talk... who knew? "Yeah, but...I dunno, like I said, you're not the only one with something like that. I can't remember exactly who has them, but... Well, what're you going to do when Shiro turns anthro?" Pure. Innocence.

(Continued 6.19.04)
"An-anthro?" Mauli stuttered, looking around the room nervously. "I... I suppose I.... well.... I don't know... I'll have to figure that out when the time comes, I guess." Reluctantly, she pulled her tail away from her shadow, aka Endy.

Yawning softly, Isto nods in reply searching for the plate of cookies incase Tawn had left any. "Ahh, alright...Just curious."

Breathing a silent sigh of relief, Mauli yawned also, stretching. "Hey, didjoo hear about that flatsale today? Y'think Mum would let me enter if there's a nice looking pebble there?" She quizzed Isto, staring down at the ground.

At the mention of the flatsale, Isto tenses, smile fading as quickly as it had come. "Maybe," he mumbles, shrugging slightly. "She knows how much you want a sibling..." He momentarily falls silent, scowling faintly, voice taking on a bitter tone when he replies. "Moo wants to try for one..."

"Well, us SMs ARE too cute... Maybe we're like those chips." She shrugs, then answers again. "They can't raise just one."

Isto laughed, though it was rather false and hollow sounding. "Moo could do without, I'm sure. Our family's too big as it is... You know she decided to keep another of the Jivvin eggs? It's just not going to hatch for a while."

"Aye, I think Mum told me... the white one, right?" Mauli nodded, scratching one ear, her footpaw hitting the side of her hat from time to time. "Then ask her not to. I'm sure she'd listen to you."

"Nah..." Isto shrugs slightly, a faint, somewhat forced smile returning to his face. His gaze turns to his right paw--the metal one--staring down at the slightly distorted reflection of himself. "If I asked, she wouldn't get one, I'm sure. But as much as I dislike Moo half the time...she's alright, you know? And I know she really wants another SM. Besides, I'll be leaving soon and won't have to worry about it." He said the last bit with a bright smile, though his voice waved a bit...

"Leaving...?" Mauli blinked, looking up at Isto. "But.... why......?" Suddenly, it hit her. He didn't want to stay. He hated it here. Something inside of her choked, and she swallowed, trying to ease the jumping feeling her heart had made as it wriggled up her throat. She whispered, resting her head on her paws. "....oh..."

Isto shrugged slightly, voice barely about a whisper when he finally spoke. "Well, there's nothing for me here, is there?" It was more of a statement than a question. "I don't really have any..close friends, and it's not as if my family will notice I'm gone. Especially if Moo gets another SM..." Pausing, he again shrugs, laughing faintly. "If I had left without telling anyone, I bet they wouldn't even have noticed."

"I would have." She whispered, staring at the floor between her paws. "I thought... we were friends... I would have noticed. And I would have missed you." A sigh, and she stopped talking, afraid she would show tears of weakness if she continued. It was true.. she had always thought of Isto as a close friend. But now, as he spoke to her, she realized that wasn't true. They had never been close... it was only imagined in Mauli's mind, a small hope in her lonely life. Finally, the tears dried, Mauli stretches and trots past Isto. "Tell me before you leave." She commanded, smiling sadly at him. Then, climbing through the cat flap, she exited out the front door.

Finally, Isto stands, giving one last glnce out across the water. Just as he turned back towards HQ, a bolt of lightning struck near the center of the lake, an odd little surge flowing through the water. For the first time, Isto was afraid. His paw was made of metal. Metal attracted... Hardly had he thought this before he was enveloped in a blinding flash of light. Searing, burning pain; he felt as if he were being split in two. He knew he must be screaming, though he couldn't hear himself over the thunder, momentarily deafened by the crash. The lightening vanished, leaving a strange hazy glow in it's place. As the glow faded, Isto slid down into the mud, metal paw still alive with electricity. He blacked out.

With the huge crack of thunder near by Jen jumped at least five feet in the air....

Jen: what..... what was t....t... that? Hey... *pokes Diro* What was that?

"R-Really? Do you think I could try one some time?" Suddenly the flash of lighning and the boom of thunder crash against his poor eyes and ears. Jumping with Jen up into the air, Di lands on his rump.

"I... I don't know. It was so bright... Where do you think it hit?" Diro was quite positive that it hit the ground. After all, if something made a boom like that it usually had to hit the ground first to make it...

Jen: I dunno... it was outside wasn't it? Lets go and see..... c'mon! *jen runs for the door..*

"Lord, it's quite a storm out there... we should turn on the radio to check the weather... I don't want to drive home if it's not safe." Emelyn adjusts Tam higher up on her hip, and goes off to look for Tawn... she wanted him near in the storm, even if he was indoors.

"A-Are you sure? It's raining pretty badly... What if it's dangerous to go outside?" But despite his protests, Diro jumps of the window sill and hurries after Jen.

I'll go find the radio, Em! ^_^ *hurries to find it, and sees Di chase after Jen* Aww.. They're playing tag!

"Alright... you find the radio. ...Don't worry, I'll keep an eye out on Diro."

Diro bumps into Jen from behind. Rubbing his nose, which got squished on Jen's back, he blinked slowly at Calli. He'd let Jen do the talking.

"Thanks Em! I owe you one!" H.E. scurries out of the room and into the den, trying to find a proper radio. She flinched at the giant crack of thunder. "I feel sorry for anyone that's stuck outside..."

Jen yells... C'mon Diro... I can see it... It's shiny... C'mon!!! I gotta know what it is...

Diro perks his ears up. Shiny?

"What's shiny? Is it outside?" Di could feel his curiosity build up. He was practically twitching to go outside and see what rain felt like. It looked so raw... And for some reason he liked that. Almost too much for him to stand.

Finally finding the radio, H.E. hurries up the stairs.

"Found it!" She quickly handed it to Em and grinned.

Jen: *sprinting through the rain on his little paws towards the lake.. with little DIro beside him* C'mon... there it is! *looks at the lump of green on the lake shore* What is it, Diro?

Keppit: *in the HQ* Has anyone seen Jen?

..."I was watching Diro..." O_o ... "Where IS Diro??"

“Hafling! Diro ran out!! The power went out for a while, and when it came back on, Diro and Jen were gone!"

Wait... no... RAN OUT WHERE!!!!??!??!???!?? *starts seaching the room frantically* JEN!!! DIRO!!!!

"Calm down, it's okay- we'll go look for them.. you check the den, and I'll look in the playroom.. maybe they waddled into the nurse..."

A crack of thunder cuts Emelyn off, and everyone's eyes widen.

"Oh my god, they're outside!"

"WHAT?! Why would Diro go outside?! It's too dangerous!" Hurrying over to the front door, she lanked it open and looked frantically for her SM. But she only saw rain...

"Oh crap. We gotta find 'em!"

Diro hurried over to the green thing. It looked... Broken. Very broken. Well, it wasn't moving, and to Diro that meant it was broken.

"I don't know what it is, Jen.." He nudged it with his nose. Maybe it was asleep! "Help me see if it's broken or not."

Jen: *walks slowly up to the lump* what is it? *pokes at the green bit closest to him... and a paw flops over* It's... a Big Skull Monkey... Like Tawn... but he's ..... HE'S DEAD!!!!!!!!!!! *JEn runs back towards the headquarters screaming with no thought for anything else... not even poor Diro..who he tripped over in his haste to get away.*

Keppit: *runs frantically outside, tripping on the rug on her way out... her hands hit the floor and she scrambles up... out the door... *

"Keppit! There's Jen!"

Emelyn threw her arm out to point to the screaming infant, barreling up the hill, and Keppit dove out the door to scoop him up in her arms...but as the lightning flashed and the sky was illuminated in white, the little skullmonkey fought and screamed in his mother's grip.

"He's dead! He's dead!"

Emelyn motioned to Halfling. "Jen's out here! Come on- Diro must be down at the lake!"

Hafling and Emelyn ran down the hill, noticing, between the cracks of the storm, a small green thing... huddled at the lake, and also, they saw the waves pealing, egged on by the furiously falling rain.

Diro fell over face first in the mud from Jen. Pulling himself out, he looked grimly at the Skull Monkey.

"Jen, he might not be broken! He might just be hurt or something!" Having to raise his voice so Jen could hear him, he ran back to the SM and started to climb on top of him. "We gotta see if we can wake him up! THEN we go tell people!"

Hurrying after Keppit, H.E. yanks on her jacket and plunges into the rain. Running in a random direction, she looks around for anything Bright green. You wouldn't be able to see Jen because of his coat, but Diros...

"Diro! Jen! Where are you?!"

Halfling heard Emelyn call out to her, and together they ran down the hill- Halfling slipped on some mud which had gathered on the slope and was careening down with the rain... Emelyn yanked her up and they both ran, covering their eyes from the slanting rain.

"Diro!! Diro!!"

And then, one little wailing cry, and there was Diro.. huddled by something... and before his mother coud call out to him, a wave smacked the shore, covering the two.

Halfling let out a bloodcurdling scream.. "DIIIROOOO!!!" but when the wave subsided, there was Diro... wet and shaking, but unharmed, holding on to.....

a metal paw. There was Isto!!!

Keppit: *trying to pin down a screaming Jen to see if he's hurt* Jen! STOP!

Jen: *stops stuggling and looks at Keppit* He's dead.

Keppit: Who's dead? are you all right? who's dead?

Jen: the green Tawn... with the metal...

Keppit: Isto... *she grabbs Jen up in her arms and runs back to the HQ yelling for Moo at the top of her lungs...* MOO! MOO!

Moo was...sleeping. The arrival of her glider had caused everyone in her household to suffer from lack of sleep, so why not get it at HQ where Acia couldn't bother her? She was quite content, curled up on one of the couches with a large pillow over her head. Ahh, blissful sleep...

"DIIIROOOO!!!"

Diro heard the scream under the water. It was that loud. He spun under the water for a bit, before hitting something... Metal. He grabbed it and started pulling with all his might. The wave finally subsided, and he was on the beach again, holding onto a paw. The metal thing. He started to try to pul it up onto the bank, to help the thing that it was attached to, but it only budged a bit...

Rushing over to Diro, H.E. picked him up. Almost starting to rock him in relief, and start crying, she noticed that he was heavier. Lokking down, she saw he was gripping a paw in his tiny arms as best as he could, looking up at her with watery eyes.

"My god... Isto..."

Keppit barrels into the house, dripping water, and carying a limp Jen...
Keppit: MOO! *remembers that Moo was on the sofa sleeping* MOO! *She sees Moo and treis to stop but crashes into the sofa...* Moo.. Isto is.. outside... ow...

Jen: He's dead *Keppit claps a paw over Jen's mouth*

Keppit: NO!... ut you've gotta come outside and help Em and H.E. we gotta get him inside...

Moo jumps awake as Keppit...falls on top of her, glancing feverishly around the room as if expecting a Jivvin and a Gargoyle to come barging in seconds later. Then she remembered where she was, and distinctly heard 'Moo...Isto is...outside..ow..."

"He's dead."

Her heart jumped to her throat, eyes darting to the young SM who had just spoken. In a matter of seconds she was on her feet and practically flying out the door, completely ignoring the rain. "Isto?!?! ISTO?!?" Her eyes focused on the group by the lake and she immediately bolted towards it, staggering slightly as she slipped in a mud puddle, but quickly regaining her footing. "ISTO?"

*Tawn walks out of the kitchen holding a plate of cookies and a glass of milk...
*

Keppit: TAWN! Here.. please no time to explain... watch the infants...? *she thrusts Jen into a confused Tawn's arms and takes off at full speed right behind Moo... *

Hafling buried her face in Diro's fur, murmuring to him and crying words that Emelyn couldn't hear. There was another crack of lightning, and Emelyn saw... that the paw Diro still had, clutched between his soggy paws, had, at the end of it, a very disjointed looking green shoulder, and Isto attached to it all.

"Oh my god, Isto!" Emelyn reached out and loosened Diro's grip, and picked up Isto with two heaves- the rain was making him heavier, and his well-used muscles tensed against the effort. Good... he was still alive.

Emelyn knew by the odd angle of the shoulder and his arm that it was broken... maybe worse, and that she shouldn't move him- but they couldn't stand there, with the waves getting higher.

Up on the top of the hill, Moo was screaming her child's name....

Diro looked at Isto with worried eyes. He was so big... How would they get him out of here?

H.E. quickly but gently put Diro in her pocket.

"Diro, don't move from there. I need to help Em." Making sure that her SM nodded, she helped Em lug Isto up off the ground, making sure to coddle his whacked out arm. He wasn't a very pretty sight to see right then...

And the two of them, Halfling with her arms wrapped around his lower haunches, and Emelyn with his front laid out across her outstretched arms (she couldn't hook under his arms, for fear she'd move his right one even more....) the two shuffled up the hill, Diro whimpering in his mother's care, as the rain fell down....

Keppit: *running up behind Moo* We're getting there... I'm right behind you *In the distance she could see Em and H.E carrying a limp green Isto... she knew Moo could see the saem thing and doubted she had heard anything keppit said... *

About a minute after Em picked Isto up, Moo arrived at the lake. The all too familiar gleam of light on metal caught her eye almost immediately, a strangled sob escaping her throat, eyes unusually bright. Standing in front of Em, she slowly reached out a hand (which was shaking) and carefully moved Isto's arm into a more normal position, eyes lingering on his injured shoulder.

"He's not dead...right?" Her voice had a pleading tone to it when she finally managed to speak. She wasn't crying; indeed, she seemed to be in a state of shock. Finally tearing her eyes away, she glances from Em, to Halfling and back, then stepped between them and carefully lifted the green skullmonkey from their grasp, straining slightly with the weight, but saying nothing. With a whispered 'Thank you', she turned back towards HQ, trudging slowly back towards the building, careful not to jostle the unconscious SM in her arms.

Emelyn followed behind Moo, and Halfling darted ahead, to lead them up the hill- none of them could slide on the mud this time, and it was gathering, steadily, because the rain refused to give in.

They made it up half the hill with Isto in his mother's arms, and then she stumbled, and cried out, and Em and Half took up on either side of her, supporting Isto's head and his haunches, and they rushed him up to the Hq.....

He wasn't dead... but he was badly hurt, and unconscious. And, with the ragged way he was breathing, he might have water in his lungs..

*Keppit ran around ahead.. she wanted to help carry but she didn't want to cause Isto any pain... so she opened the doors wide and prepared the nearest sofa with pillows...* Put him over here...

Jen: *from the corner* He's still dead..

Keppit: JEN! STOP SAYING THAT!! *then she stopped herself.. she was yelling at a scared innocent infant... who had just witnessed somehting he was likely never to forget...* I'm sorry... I really am... *she takes Jen up into a cuddle* He's not dead... He's really hurt... sick.... but he's not dead... so stop worrying... ok?

Moo smiles faintly in thanks to both Em and Halfling as they help her up the hill and the rest of the way to HQ. As soon as they stepped within the door, she followed Keppit's direction to the very couch she'd previously been sleeping on, carefully lowering the unconcious SM onto it. He looked much worse in the like, she noticed, knees shaking weakly. His shoulder was the only obvious damage, but his fur semed to be...burnt. Not badly, but in many places the normally bright green was darkened and charred. His breathing was slow and ragged, but it was there. He was still alive, which meant they could save him....right? "He'll be okay, I think... I-i....I really don't know what to do for him...."

"Keppit- could you watch over Tam?? Tawn has her- but he doesn't know what's going on. I'm going to call for an ambulance."

Halfling went running for the first aid kit, as Emelyn dialed... Keppit stood in the corner, trying to soothe the infants... and Moo crouched over her broken boy, not making a sound...

He'll be ok... *cuddles Jen, then puts him down* We need to cool him off.. . I'll go to the freezer and get some Ice... someone get the towels from the bathroom... Moo.. stay here with him... I'll be right back...

Gently puting Isto on the sofa where Keppit indicated, she let out a tiny sigh of relief. Isto was insde now. That was one point up. But now..

"Come on Di, lets find the medicine and the first aid kit." Rushing downstairs with Di now on her shoulder, she rushed to find the first aid kit. Finally finding and grabbing it, H.E. ran as fast as she could upstairs again, Diro meeping all the way.

*Jen walks over and puts his paw up on the sofa...* he's really green... and that means he's feeling sick... he looks sick...

Moo just nodded dumbly, kneeling beside the couch. She had no intention of moving a step away until Isto woke up. Only when the ambulance arrived...the ambulance...

Jen: I saw a rabbit puppet that looked like him... had these spots *points to the markings on Isto's tail without touching him* It was pretty.


Keppit: *Runs back in with Ice and a few handtowels... she hands one to Moo.*.. here... *then she takes the other and holds it gently to Isto's shoulder*... Hold this... it'll help it go numb and he might wake...

Emelyn walks up behind Moo, and bends down to her level.

"I called the ambulance, Moo. They're on their way. He'll be okay, Moo.. he'll be okay. He's breathing. But they said, if he wakes up to KEEP him awake until they get here. And when I told them he might have water in his lungs... they said to perform CPR if he stops breathing." Emelyn whispers the last, not wanting to bring up the idea of Isto's breath... stopping, and not wanting to see Moo's reaction to the news.

Falling to the floor next to Moo, H.E. numbly opened the fist aid kit. She glanced at Moo. She looked so... Not there. Another glance told Diro was looking at Isto with shock. She grimly took out a long piece of wood and bandages.

"Does anyone know how to stilt a arm?"

It's not necesary ... his shoulder looks out... it's best just to leave himto the ambulance... *Keppit looks to Moo... *

*Jen is now more currious... and tries to get a better look... he can't see...so he climbs up into Moo's lap and puts his paw on her hand to try and see Isto better....*

For a moment, Moo did not reply, simply staring at the green skullmonkey. But then she cleared her throat, nodding ever so slightly and reaching out a hand to lightly stroke Isto's normal paw. "He'll be alright...he's not leaving us tonight..." She blinks back her surprise as a little SM she doesn't know climbs onto her lap, recognizing him as the one who told her Isto was... For a moment she seemed about ready to shove him off, but then she relaxed and returned her eyes to Isto, something of a sad smile seeming to linger on her face.

"I do... but I think, with that shoulder, a stilt won't help... but still give me the first aid kit. His fur is burnt pretty badly on his back haunches- get out the aloe and the bandages... we have to keep them wet, and the bandages revolving..."

*Keppit watched anxiously as Jen climbed onto moo's lap... she was ready to grab him and move him away... but she didn't want to shock anyone... and Moo didn't shove him off... keppit just hoped that Jen could keep his mouth shut for once...*

"Alright then.. Is there anything else we can do for him?" H.E. held her tears back. Tears showed you were scared. She didn't think Moo needed that right now.

Diro jumped off of Halfling's shoulder and landed on the floor. It was amazing to think that only a while ago he was sitting on a windowsill, watching the things outside. Looking up at all of the hurt and scared expressions, he gulped. What was he supposed to do?

Emelyn reaches out and lifts up the ice Keppit placed on his shoulder, to make sure the area wasn't turning... she glanced at Moo, as if afraid to think it... black, or discolored... but it was actually bringing color back to him, so she replaced the ice and started to handle the supplies Halfling was handing her from the supply kit.

Jen: He's still green aunt emelyn...

"Sh... Jen, sweetie," Emelyn leans down, "we don't want to say anything that will make Ms. Moo cry again. ....But you know what? I think Tam needs you- she's probably scared in all this lightning, and you're older than she is. Do you think you could go take care of her?"

Emelyn puts her hand on Moo's shoulder. The ambulance should be here any minute.

Moo finally seemed to come out of her daze, eyes clearing slightly, sitting up a bit straighter. "What can I do to help?" Her eyes turn hopefully from one person to another. She couldn't just sit here while Isto.... Well, she couldn't just sit here. "Please, I need to help."

here... hold the ice on his shoulder... it'll make him feel better... see? *she lifts the ice* it's bringing back his colour...

Jen: His green...

Keppit: ZIp it you... here... take it.

"Isto is supposed to be green, Jen." H.E. whispered softly. She had no doubt that both of the infants were terrified out of their minds. And Di... diro was just staring with a faded away look, as if he was trying to figure something very difficult out.

C'mon Jen... Diro? Let's go over to Tawn and Tam.... I'll get out the puppets... Jen, Where's Mop kitty?

Jen: In the window...

Emelyn swallowed. She didn't know if it was a good idea for Moofuls to see all of his wounds... but she shook her head to herself. She was his mother.

"You should keep his bandages, on his haunches, revolving. Take them off and replace them every few minutes- his burns... " Emelyn pauses "his burns are pretty bad. If you leave them there, even with the aloe... they'll stick to his skin."

Emelyn turns around, to Keppit.

"Thank you- for taking care of the kids. ...I'm sorry Jen had to see it all.. poor thing. With all his questions- so much must be going through his mind right now." And she turned back to Moo, handing her new bandages from the roll, and placing the ones she returned to her in a pile on the floor next to the couch.

Nodding silently, Moo took hold of the icebag, keeping it in place as Keppit went to distract the infants. Slowly the released the bag, and when it stayed steady turned to the burns covering his haunches, nodding silently and following Em's lead to keep the bandages fresh. She sighed loudly in relief at the sound of a low siren from outside, head turning towards the door as the sound grows louder. "That'll be the ambulance... Thank you all, very much... You've no idea how much this means to me..."

Keppit looked over from the corner... hand stuffed in a puppet that was currently bitting Tawn in the haunch... and Tawn reacting as one does when one is bitten.... by a puppet... The infants were currently distracted...and so was she... but not the same way the infants were... they were thinking of the puppet... she was thinking of poor Isto... and Moo... and the questions that would follow this incident... agck! the questions... *let Isto be ok* she whispered...

Emelyn didn't respond to Moo, saying all she needed to in the look she gave her before she ran out to meet the ambulance.

A man leapt from the drivers seat, and a woman came out of the back, where she pushed a low-slung gurney out onto the parking lot- the man quickly joined her, and together they pushed it to the door.

"Where is he?" The woman asked, pausing at the door where Emelyn stood, holding the door open to the rain that was only starting to subside..

"He's through here- follow me.." And she led them through the hall, past the darkened doors of the nursery, and into the room where everyone huddled over Isto-

and with a crack of lightning, the lights went out.

"Oh my god..." ..Emelyn didn't know who'd said it, but her first thought was that it could have come out of her own mouth.

"Leena," The man said, at Emelyn's right, "Go back to the truck. Get the flashlights. Then he reached out "Where is he?" And, navigating through knowledge of the room, and the bursts of lightning that illuminate the room and its terrified occupants (Emelyn sees the children, huddled around Keppit, eyes wide and frightened, in such a burst...), she moves him to the couch.

Diro slowly got up from his place on the floor and followed Keppit out. He hoped that Isto would be okay.. He didn't think he diserved it. After all, the light had only wanted to play and Isto got caught in it. If anything, it was the light's fault. Next time the light comes out to play, Diro thought, I'll have to tell it that it can't play so roughly with other people!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!! *all the infants went into a panic around Keppit and she instinctively lashed out ans grabbed two infants... one by the arm and another by the tail...* Tawn?
I've got two how many have you got?

Tawn: I've got two too...

Keppit: That's to many... *she pulls on the infants that she has..

Jen: OOOOOOWWWWWWWW!!! A MOnsterS TEARING MY LEG OFF!!!!!

Keppit:Let go of that one Tawn... I got him... EVERYONE OK? ACCOUNTED FOR?

"Over here," Moo murmured quietly, then a bit louder. "Over here! Follow my voice, he's on the couch." She could hear shuffling, as if the man was working his way over while trying to avoid stepping on anyone. Soon, the woman, Leena, returned with two flashlights, which made things a bit easier. After a cursory glance over the wounded skullmonkey, the man carefully lifted him on to the gurney, gently strapping him down for the ride ahead.

As the man was wheeling Isto out the door, Leena spoke, eyes never leaving Moo. ""He'll likely have to spend the next few days at the hospital, but he should be fine. Will you be riding with us?"

Moo nodded slightly and glanced quickly around the room before striding out the door after the man and her SM, dissappearing from sight.

As if by sign, as soon as Moofuls and Isto got into the ambulance and barrelled off down the road, sirens careening, the lights returned, and the infants all screamed... and Emelyn and Halfling, who were looking through the front window, suddenly felt all the tension break and they just couldn't help but laugh at the children who would be stock-still as the lights died.. but scream as they came back on. Emelyn went to clean up the mess of bandages on the couch, and Half went to comfort her infant.

*Keppit watched the flashlights go out the door... it was hard not to see Isto because both flashlights were pointed at him.... and it was impossible to distract the infants now because all they could see was Isto on the sofa... and then isto on the gurney... and then Isto going out the front door... *

HEY! lets get some lights... Where are the candles around here...

*The lights came up again and Keppit found herself holding Jen and Tam... she looked over to see Tawn clutching Diro... He looked as shocked as she felt... he looked scared... * Heya Tawn... you ok?

H.E. watched Moo follow the ambulance workers out the door. "Good luck Moo..." She whispered, then felt her way over to where Diro was. "Are you alright, honey?"

Diro nodded slightly. Everything was so confusing... The light, Isto, the way his fur looked.. It felt like his brain was going to explode. And all of that added up together meant one thing: he was dead on his feet. Yawning slightly, he wrapped himself up in a tight ball. Maybe that would banish the almost absolute nightmares that would haunt him that night...

"I'm fine, Aunt Keppit.." Tawn looked around at his mother, with an armful of bandages, the wet infant in his arms, and Aunt Keppit, an 'on' flashlight in her hand, when the room was already illuminated, and the milk and cookies he'd had, coming out of the kitchen, minutes before, spread out on the floor...

"But I'm very, very confused..."

"Goodnight, Half!" Emelyn motioned to Tawn, who came forward with the sopping infant and, with a nod to the equally wet Half, gave him to her.


"See you tomorrow, hopefully. I'll call if there's any news, w/ Isto."

i'm taking Jen home... Qwirk will be wondering where we are... I said we'd be home by now... Um... long night... I'll see everyone tomorrow...

Goodnight.

"Thanks." H.E. managed a grin, and headed downstairs to the den. "I'll be sleeping here toight, since I'm not risking my neck riding a bike home through this weather. See you tomorrow!" Grabbing a towel on the way down, she dried off Diro and herself. Finally reaching a couch, she flopped down on it and immediantly fell asleep.