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Ashral followed Leukos back into Hexxis' room, she'd been quiet the whole time back, as soon as the door was locked she turned and kicked the chair over that had been sitting at the desk, holding back a yell in anger. She trudged over to the bed, taking up the pillow into her hands and ripping at it, tearing into it as fluff fell out here and there onto the ground. Anything to release the anger. She then paused and and dropped what was left of the pillow from her hands as she stared at her hands, her expression pained. What were these feelings, surely this couldn't be her feelings. She didn't know how to feel. Yes, certainly that was the answer. Anger welled back up as she shoved her face into her hands. "..okay, not again.." she whispered to herself. "... it's their fault... i did nothing wrong.." she sighed lightly, slumping down to the floor slowly then crawled under the bed.

Leuoks watched her lash out at inanimate objects in the room with tired eyes. He looked back to the door, hoping no one came in, a guard looking in after her outburst and saw him standing there with Ashral crawling under the bed. He sighed and waved at the guard a bit, trying to show it was okay. The last thing he needed was for them to come in and set off Ashral more. He moved to the bed and slowly laid down on the floor next to it and stared at Ashral as she was curled up under the bed with her face buried into her knees. Was she.. crying? He wasn't sure. "Ashral..."

"No, I didn't do it. It's not my fault." she responded, her voice cracking under the pressure of her emotions. "I don't even know them.."

He hesitated, a concerned look on his face, the Ashral he had talked to over the last three days was apathetic, uncaring, and unwavering. Then why was she hiding under the bed like this, something felt off about her. "Why are you under the bed?" he asked calmly, just trying to understand what she was doing.

She lifted her face slightly to look at him, her eyes at the brink of distraught tears. "It's safer this way. It's familiar." she seemed to ramble off.

"I don't.. understand. Ashral, what are you hiding from?"

She narrowed her eyes in pain and curled up more. "It's okay... I'm okay."

He sighed and just watched her as a flicker of confusion drifted over his face for a moment. "Hey Ash... who's Shogu?.." he asked softly.

She paused, halting all movement as she then began to crawl back out from underneath the bed. She came to a stand, her head lowered as her hair fell over her face. "Hey Leukos... what games do you like to play?"

He pushed himself back and came to a stand as Ashral came back out from the bed. He then blinked, caught off guard by the question. "Uhm.. I guess I like running. Maybe freeze tag... or tag in general." he answered, unsure of what he was supposed to say in that instance. He was more than baffled by her actions and sudden changes in mood that he stood watching her carefully. "...what games do you like to play?.."

"Hide and Seek."

He eyed her carefully, unsure of what to expect now.

"It's both exciting.. and terrifying." she answered suddenly, still keeping her gaze to the floor. "I'm going to lay down now." she spoke blandly then moved to the bed and laid down, her eyes open as she stared at the ceiling. "He's someone very important to me... But that doesn't matter now. He's gone forever."

He moved to sit next to the bed but the Ashral grabbed him, pulling him up onto the bed next to her.

"Sleep. I'm not going anywhere..... I'll even lay perfectly still."

Leukos was hesitant but it only took a matter of minutes for his eyes to begin to fight him to stay away. "Please.. don't hurt anyone."

Her eyes flickered with a sense of deep pain. "I didn't hurt anyone....." her voice wavered as it seemed like she might cry. ".....I didn't hurt anyone...." she repeated softly to herself then blinked with a slight gasp as she snapped out of a bit of a trance, looking to Leukos. "I won't... I promised. And I always keep my word."

"...that's... good..." it wasn't long before he was fast asleep.

All the while, Ashral lay there motionlessly looking up at the ceiling as after a few moments, she began to sing quietly to herself, the words not in any language that could be recognized as she rolled to her side and idly put Leukos' hair while he slept, her song in the same melody that Hexxis hummed often when she was by herself.

Shogu's Song

A few minutes later Tri lifted up out of the shadow of one of the trees and turned to look at them with a harsh gaze. Eyes flickering between the state of their clothes and the stiffness of the dried blood on it to their faces and finally down toward Hexxis's neck with a flicker of alarm.

Ashral had frowned and just let Ree pace, remaining quiet as she messed with blades of grass, pulling one and trying to make noise with it like her brother had shown her once before, but she didn't remember how to do it anymore. As Tri emerged, it caught her off guard as she tensed and moved her legs back to a low kneeling stance, ready to summon her sword and attack if needed. She narrowed her eyes at Tri, her heart beginning to beat fast again. She looked to Ree with a look of concern, swallowed hard and spoke a very soft and calm tone. "...red.." she waited to meet Ree's gaze before nodding like a signal that she would try, just staying where she was and not moving a muscle as she shifted her gaze to fixate on Tri, like a cat ready to capture prey, watching his every movement with a burning intensity like she was seconds from pouncing.

//Red ...// he turned sharply to look at Ash, his heart pounding as he tried to figure out what set her of- shoot. Moving toward Tri he stopped and look back at Ash, not wanting to send her away but not going to give her the okay to attack. She looked....to be holding herself for the moment but that wouldn't matter if she still wanted to kill him by just seeing him. "Do you want the collar now?" He said calmly moving to the packs and crouching down slowly looking between them

Tri on the other hand held very still, his gaze traveling between Ree and Hex- no Ashral and back. Slowly his shadow lifted up near his feet in the shape of a cougar, a predator, one that hunted woodland areas like these ...one who didn't have to fear the lone wolf. The shadow laid down in front of him and flicked its tail..a distraction but not a provocation. Tri kept his eyes on Ashral as he listened to Ree look through the packs. He was disappointed...he thought Ree would me smarter than to loosen the only thing helping to keep control of Hexxis and the Malice. He wasn't to sure that this wasn't a trap still, no matter how they looked.mSo far the only thing that prevented him from shadowing at that moment was that Ash didn't attack and Ree sounded worried.

Ashral just stared at Tri intently, tensing a bit as a shadow lifted from the ground. She instinctively summoned her sword, and stayed still. Taking one deep and steady breath, she tried to calm her heart. Her hands were shaking, one hand on the hilt but not drawn as she watched the cougar laid down. Ashral could hear Ree rustle through the bag and ask if she wanted the collar. She wanted to prove herself, but that may prove a more difficult task. Her breath was heavy as she closed her eyes for a moment then forced herself to lay her sword down next to her, opening her eyes to continue staring at him. "If I put on the collar... I won't have as much power to stop him. Do you trust this isn't a trap enough for me to put it back on? Because I can't guarantee anything at this point. If he makes a move.. I won't... I can't hold back with him.... I'm sorry, Ree." she spoke calm, like she was desperately trying to fight back her own urges, doing good when Tri didn't move. She stared at Tri, almost not blinking as she focused on only him, and not the cougar at his feet.

Tri continued to hold still even as the cougar stopped moving when she lowered the sword. There was a faint look of confusion on his face as he listened to their interaction and watched the intense look on Ashral's face but said nothing. Getting the feeling everything was barely held together by a string as Ree pulled the collar out of one of the packs.

Ree pulled the collar out and held it against him as he looked between them, gave Ashral's words some thought. Yet the look he gave Tri was one of pain instead of suspicion as he turned away and moved to Ash, wanting to move between them but not sure that won't set her off either. "At some point trust is just that blind leap of faith where you are not sure if what you are throwing yourself at will hold or will fail. Yet you still believe with all your heart that it will hold, sometimes even against all logic." There was a pause as he swallowed "Tri won't do anything without proof... " he didn't look back at Tri, but looked at Ash. "I believe that, I have seen that " his wings lowered to the ground in emotional pain. "I can at least trust that. " he heads up the collar as if waiting for permission. "Thank you for offering me your blade in protection...."

Ashral had been holding focus until Ree began to talk, as he spoke, she blinked and her face seemed to soften as she then looked to Ree, listening to his words. As he finished she nodded, a smile surfacing for a moment as she came to a stand and the sword dispelled. She turned to him as she closed her eyes. "Then I trust it too..." she took a steady breath and stayed still as she waited for him to put it back on her, she assumed by phasing, as she braced for pain if he wasn't exactly accurate about it, but she trust him completely. "...no.. thank you ... for trusting me..." she whispered with a faint smile.

Ashral missed the look of surprise then sadness as he watched her that faded into a smile as he moved the collar against her neck then phased it angling himself so he could see all the way around. Using the tip of his fingers on the outside edge he adjusted it until he got it as close as he could before solidifying with it, eyes wide.

Tri still didn't move watching the whole thing in confusion, wondering how the world went crazy in the past few days. Ashral.... acting so unlike herself. Ree trusting her...and she him.

Ashral held her breath and stayed perfectly still as he phased the collar back onto her, wincing only slightly as it solidified, but it seemed to have worked. She kept her eyes closed.

After a few moments, she opened her eyes and they were red and blue again, her hand reaching up to touch the collar, a sigh of relief escaping her lips as she then slid her eyes to Tri and they widened very slightly. "...Tri..." she whispered, taking in a stifled breath as she slid her foot forward but hesitated seeing the cougar and then realizing that he was probably still on guard from Ashral being there that she didn't want to startle him. Still, in her mind, she wanted to just run to him, hug him even, just know that he was real and affirm that he was alive and okay. She suddenly noticed the bruises on his face and the burn mark on his cheek as a hint of pain in her blank eyes, already questioning what happened to him in her mind.

Ree relaxed when there was no indication of pain. "Good?" He asked watching her touch the collar then look up at Tri...Hexxis.

Looking up at the shadow arc then back he took a step away and let out a breath.

Tri watched them emotionlessly, both the shadow and he tensed when Hexxis took a step toward them. Grateful when Hexxis stopped he didn't have to deal with the confusion of either pulling away from Hexxis or hugging her.

"You let Ashral go....and she let you collar her again .." There was a flicker of confusion on his face, was almost certain Ashral had some control on Ree when he saw her without the collar. "Hexxis? The whole situation ...can you explain it to me. What has happened..what you are feeling? " he glanced up at Ree who looked confused, his black and blue wings lifting then lowering again. A good sign.

Looking back at Hexxis he watched her as the cougar disappeared into the shadows, but made no move to approach them. It hurt deeply having to second guess their words even their intentions but he couldn't assume that it wasn't a plot or plan from either Ashral or Ree..so he asked the only person he knew who was more or less always truthful.

Hexxis watched Tri's confusion on his face, hearing him question Ashral and Ree, knowing exactly what he was thinking. As he asked here to explain, she nodded. "Ree came to SIU to retrieve supplies and did not plan to break us out but decided last minute that he should do so anyway. I did encourage him, however, so I am partly to blame for his reckless behavior on that front. He had explained that parley did not go as planned in the worst scenarios and you all were separated and that he explained he was being framed for the murder of a city leader. I helped break out the other two kids at first. My argument with Ashral led to being shot. She took over and killed to soldiers and maimed another. She also fought against Kae in a sword battle in front of Lieutenant Colonel Asriel." she kept her emotionless gaze on Tri as she spoke, explaining everything she knew up until this point, "Ashral was able to escape with the help of Kae and Zira, although she chose to leave Leukos and Melody behind. Zira had saved Ree from almost dying and being captured himself. We were taken to a safe house which we discovered was a renegade base and found a map with many more like it that I have memorized. During our stay to rest, Ashral and Ree talked a lot. About their pasts and family and the song that Ashral and I sing at times.. mudane things, really. Ree asked Ashral to be his sister, saying that if you could bring me into the family without asking him, that he could too bring in her into the family." she paused for a moment, thinking about other things that had been said.

'Don't you ******** dare, Hexxis. You were supposed to be asleep! You weren't supposed to hear any of that stuff!!'

Hexxis sighed, moving away from the topic of what they talked about after that. "We rested after that and I had... nightmares. In our panicked state, Ree phased the collar off of me. They decided to keep it off for the time being. Ree was cautious enough to keep a tranquilizer on him. In my opinion, it was too much of a risk, but it worked out in their.. our favor. We were attacked by armored units and Ashral maimed yet another soldier. That's how we arrived here, and now they don't know whether you are here as a trap or out of genuine concern for their well being. Trust is... fragile."

"As for how I feel... I am fatigued, but able to continue moving. Mentally, I am apprehensive about their relationship as I feel it is not on equal ground. The metaphor being that one could easily slip on uneven terrain. Though, I am sure they are both aware of that and still continue on regardless."

Ree twitched wings lifting and flaring slightly then lowering at the mention of the two death and the maiming. "Hexxis! ...." He hissed softly but sharply, staring at the other meta in both disbelief and exasperation. She wasn't supposed to blurt -all- of that out, he assumed he had Ashral to thank when she moved away from the topic before touching on the other thing but...raawwrrr!! Really? Tri did not need to know even half of that ..nope.

Tri looked even more confused as Hexxis went on. Confused and exasperated while watching Ree's body language, especially his wings which he had yet to learn to control from showing his emotion. Satisfied he looked back at Hexxis and starting to shake his head in amazement as it lined up with what bit Mara had been able to scrounge up. An truly utter mess and they were both alive only because of Kae and Zira ... That he had to keep in mind. And ..........oh goodness....no.

"You adopted...a malice?!" He blurted and stared at Ree intently, trying to see any hint of pink in that white hair because he was almost certain they were somehow related in stupid situations like this.

Ree turned to him and frowned, wings lifting a bit defensively. "Yes" narrowing his eyes as if daring him to say anything.

"...." Narrows his eyes back. "Later" he warned blinking in confusion at the sudden relief instead of anger...oh.

"I agree with you, Hexxis. I am apprehensive as well... But they seem to have at least have gain some god-only-knows understanding in each other that is making what shouldn't work...work. " and he saw it, he couldn't deny there was a change in Ashral and a confirmation in her hatred for him. "So for the time being, to avoid even more ...misunderstands and deaths " he looked at them both. "You should come with me... It's not a trap. SIU is after all of us since Parley ..." He looked at Hexxis. "And you for stolen property " a grimace since that was the same on his warrant to. "You managed to find the renegade safe houses...I would like a map of that later...am I good in assuming you were hunting for me with them?"

Ree looked flustered then alarmed and finally worried, wings lowering again as he looked at Hexxis. If he left her there they wouldn't be looking ...but it would only have been a small time before Ashral just considered the contract broken and or they did something to them without Mara there. "Looking for you and Mara. I found lightning strikes and glass near the trailer and ozone. I assumed you were captured" his said curiously, eyes moving to the bruise on his face and the burns, but no other indications of damage from the way he carried himself....and the collar was missing...

Tri frown raising his hand up as if to either touch his face or neck but stopped. "They let me go. Mara is back at the base but she is not in charge. She will deal with helping Melody and Leukos escape. Kae is also missing." He took a step toward them now and waited to see their reactions. Their words the exhausted look on their faces combined with the blood on their clothes...He was incline to believe them. Their story was a mess...an utter mess which made him more in line to believe them. Either ways he wanted them with him....he didn't want to have to second guess his family.....he might have even done it even if Ree had purposely killed (Criel) if there was a good enough reason. His family wasn't big but that was what he was most loyal too... Including putting them in the right path if needed.

Hexxis slid her eyes to Ree as he hissed at her, her expression never changing as she blinked, then shifted her gaze back to Tri. He was suggesting they go with him. She didn't even seem phased at the insinuation of her being property, as she was. She nodded as he asked her for a map later of the bases. "I can draw it, or mark it on a map." she commented bluntly. She listened to their exchange, moving her gaze back and forth as she then landed on Ree. "We should go with him, brother. It is advantageous for us to stick together." Without much further explanation, she began to move toward Tri.

Tri watched her and relaxed, holding his hands out slightly if she wanted a hug. It was automatic, because he wanted to hug them, take them both away. Be relieved that they still cared even if that trust had been almost broken moments before.

Ree stared after her, wings shifting uncomfortably agains the ground before he finally moved after her and stuck his young out at her back.

"They let you go and Kae is missing?' He looked up again following Hexxis, "do I have to ask why? " he didn't smirk as he might have any other day, he jus watched him tiredly.

"... I don't know why they did. Zaku is odd...and Mara mentioned Kae's disapperences when she woke up. No one seems to be looking... So we will where we can. She saved you two..the is the least we can do"

Hexxis resisted every urge to start running as he offered a hug, only walking straight into his arms like she wasn't going to stop, wrapping her arms as far as they would go. She closed her eyes, just happy that the physical touch of his jacket seemed to be the only thing that soldified how real he was and that he was okay. She took a few moments before releasing again, her face still expressionless as she turned to look at Ree, her hand reflexively grabbing onto Tri's jacket. "Zaku healed me when I was deceased, and let me go as well. Even suggested he stay with me until SIU arrived to retrieve me. The other members convinced him otherwise.... However, I do feel he is very out of the ordinary." she mentioned to Tri. She nodded as he suggested they still look for Kae or at least keep an eye out for her.

Tri smiled cry faintly and bent over to returned her hug, mantling his wings over her protectively for as long as the hug lasted and pulled them back. Feeling more comfortable as she pulled on his jacket, as it it was right. "Zaku? How do you know that?" He glanced at them both, and the odd look Ree was giving him. He extended his middle wings out to the other meta and waited silently.

Ree took a step forward and brushed wings with him, not jealous of the hug he gave Hexxis. Hugs were just awkward between them. "Ash sent Hexxis the memories she had of that moments. " he said quietly.

Tri frowned faintly "She was dead?..." Something none of them had been able to explain up to then.

Hexxis nodded. "Yes, Ashral was able to pull my soul back with the help of Leukos. Ashral was still able to hear everything that happened during that time. She let me listen to it all in her memories." She explained. "Ree took notes of important key points."

Tri looked down at Hexxis seriously, looking at her duel colored eyes for ..something and not finding it. "... You three go into the metaphysical and lose me there " he shook his head, just glad it worked even if the implications were staggering as well the the shared memory. He wondered if it worked in the opposite way as well....was Ree actually right? Or was Ashral just doing this because of her self bounded contract? She was working along with Hexxis...

Looking at Ree he nodded faintly, brushing wings back "I would also like to see those encase there was anything we missed." before he motioned to the packs and waited. "Ready to port?" He glanced at them both while Ree's packs hovered up to him.

Hexxis gripped his jacket tighter, stepping closer as she looked to Ree then looked to Tri and nodded with a faint smile.

"Yes yes." but there was still a faint smile of relief and worry as he stepped closer. It didn't mean things were finished but at least they had a better ground on which to stand. It was sad to see how fast they could doubt each other....that was something to keep in mind from now on and see what can change it. Moving closer he pulled the packs to them.

Tri smiled faintly and shadow jumps them twice before reaching the hotel room he had rented.

Tri pulled up out of the shadows, headset still on as he reformed and looked around. Blinking in faint surprise as he saw Hex-ash? Resting her head on Ree's lap as Ree would sometimes do with him. "Ree. Hexxis?" He frowned, rethinking this but catching their attention anyways.

Hexxis darted her eyes to Tri who had formed in the room, a small smile on her face as she sat up, "Tri." she came to a stand and move to him, hugging him.

Tri showed a flicker of worry as he leaned down and hugged her. Ree stood up slowly alert as he looked toward the headset. "We're going after her? ...what did they do?" Blue eyes narrowed then soften as Hexxis moved to Tri.

"One of their strongest members hit her somehow....they believed she was dead but wasn't? I want to make sure it stays that way. I don't think they want to kill her ... But Zaku wasn 't in charge of much of what I heard . The others are what I expect of a normal hostage situation. "

Hexxis' smile faded into a deadpan and calculating expression. "Hostage situation. Zaku possible bystander. Rescue mission?" she spoke out to Tri, taking a few steps back and then looking to Ree.

"Yes. A rescue mission. I know where she is held but I didn't fare well the last time I went against the meta that is with her. Michael nor their shadow user Cordellia " he glanced up at Ree. " Added that there is the mercenary ...plus all the other Renegades. Hit and run distractions would suit us best . Enough for me to shadow in grab her and move out "

Hexxis nodded. "Draw them out, play a game of cat and mouse to cause a distraction."

Tri looked back down at Hexxis."I think you should stay here...Ree and I can teleport and we only need a few seconds. If they know your commands you will also be a liability "

Ree frowned faintly "Unless I take off her collar and you stay out of sight. Without it Ash won't be hindered "

Tri glared at him. "...that is a lot more dangerous "

Hexxis remained silent, staring at Tri then Ree. No emotions on her face as she just stared silently, then stared at the floor.

'Let me help.'

Hexxis seemed to narrow her eyes and took a deep breath. Focusing her eyes on Tri, "Let me go. If not to help, but to stay together. If you think it's too dangerous, I can keep my distance and aid if things get too bad." she insisted a determined glimmer in her eye.

Tri looked thoughtful then nodded "That can work, if you stay where I was hiding you can give backup to Ree if he needs it " he looked at Ree carefully and sigh mentally, they still needed more rest but Kae suddenly appearing and being attacked was not something any of them expected. He would have waited until nightfall...maybe even talked to Zaku but he feared that it might be to later. "With the collar on "

Ree shook his head and looked at Hexxis "If she does back me up. It is a big liability and I can't teleport her with me "

Hexxis looked back and forth between them, it seemed Ree was intent on letting Ashral be uncollared, while Tri felt that was too big of a risk, an opinion she shared with him. She tried to think of some compromise but there was hardly one. "I can still run." she retorted. "I am also capable of jumping high. I'm small and dexterous. If I can escape SIU on my own, then I can do this."

Ree turned to her and shook his head. "I am not questioning your abilities...just the commands. Kae had a reason for not shouting out your commands back at the base..but if she had you would have gone to sleep in the middle of a battle..."

"If it was just the Renegades...there would be no problem " he sigh, yea...-just- the Renegades hah.

Hexxis tensed just slightly but relaxed, her cold dead stare at Ree. "Ashral is no different. They have commands for her too." She turned her gaze to Tri, she opened her mouth to speak then hesitated. Shifting her eyes slightly, she then looked at Tri once again. "Do you want me to stay here?"

'What are you doing?!'

Hexxis hummed very lightly, trying to drown on Ashral's voice in her mind, waiting for Tri to answer.

Ree returned it with a hot one of his own "The one for you has been spilled around all over the place " he hissed softly, narrowing his gaze when she looked away.

Tri looked at the interaction between them, his wings and gaze steady. "... I would like you to help him. But to keep the collar on "

Hexxis turned to look at Ree, narrowing her eyes, glints of anger in them.

Tri shook his head "It is a risk but if the mercenary joins in back away with or without Kae. "

"If we are still there when they attack, it has already been to long. Just in and out. Poke the hive and back off Ree. Hexxis..you back him up encase someone jumps out fast and he can't get away. But move them back away from the house. "

Hexxis shifted her gaze to Tri and nodded. "Understood." She glanced over to Ree, a twinge still in her eyes before they softened slightly and she faintly frowned then looked away.

The anger didn't leave Ree's eyes as he looked away and to Tri. "Backing away isn't exactly the easiest thing to do with the cream of the renegades after you pissed off or what ever. Teleporting saved me multiple times at Parley, Hexxis can only run and hide ..and if Blaise I don't know decides to burn half an acre of forest in a flash? Do we go oops then? "

"Yes...Teleporting is also why you are now hunted by every city on Teraterra. Stay or come. Decide. She saved both your lives so I will repay that for you whether you help me or not. What you are suggesting is a massacre by allowing Ash out uncollared. Maybe not of you or them but at least of those she can get close to " he stared at Ree wings lifting slightly in anger.

Hexxis narrowed her eyes while staring at the ground, instead of anger, there was pain. Visible and unguarded. She sighed and walked off to the bathroom and shut the door, locking it and she slid down against it, sitting down as she pulled her legs up to her chest and rested her head on her knees as she wrapped her arms around her legs.

Ree blinked and his wings lowered slightly before lifting again. "I also ....." he turned to watch her head into the bathroom and close it as the lock snapped into place. "....."

Tri narrowed his eyes at Ree angrily. "Seems she decided for you. " he shook his head. "Let's go "

Tri reached for the comms that were charging and tossed one at Ree who caught it silently.

Hexxis just stayed quiet in the bathroom, just trying to think, waiting for them to just leave. She just wanted it to be quiet again.

After a minute or two there was silence.

Night 1:
Made arrangements for a place to stay. You'd be surprised how unlucky someone can be. People drop their wallets all the time, it's not so uncommon. Ashral has been telling about how stupid I am being. I am protecting them from me... From her. I just don't want them to fight over me anymore. Maybe if we separated... No, I have to keep her here so I can protect them. She can't be allowed to leave.

Day 2: I woke up to a phone call from the front desk asking if I was okay. I was screaming in my sleep. I think Ashral is making me have more nightmares to get stronger. Its possible. She won't be silent today. I took the day to rest.

Day 3: I woke up in the middle of nowhere just outside the city. It seems Ashral can take control while I am in sleep mode. I will just have to elliminate that process. I returned to the city and found a library. I've begun research on emotions, as well as spirits, combat, weapons, relationships, and cooking. I think I will continue to come here and learn all I can during the day. Tonight, I will look for someone.

Day 4:
I woke up again in the middle of nowhere, further away this time. I suppose I will have to cease sleeping all together. I can't let her get back to them. As expected, that person was not at the designated location. No matter, they will contact that person. Just need to wait. In the meantime, I have found a coffee shop that sells hot chocolate. I ordered some but couldn't bring myself to drink it. My eyes watered at the smell of it. It hurts my chest to think about it. Though, I have the desire to order it again tomorrow, even if I don't drink it.

Day 5:
I have asked around town about the person I'm looking for as it seems they are very interested in [the words are scratched out]. I do not understand, so I will research that today in the library. I also found a job posting board for very similar jobs that the mercenary has listed on his website. I have decided to take on a few of them. It will be a better source of income than stealing finding wallets.

Day 6: I will be going back to the designated location tonight. I assume that person will be there by now. In the meantime, I have sewn myself some new clothes since I have outgrown my old ones by now. Ashral is still angry that I am keeping us away from Ree. She called me jealous. I agreed with her and it only seemed to make her more angry. She will not speak to me directly now. That is fine. She is not my friend.

Day 7:
I found him. Ashral is very unhappy with me. She is talking to me again, and will not stop. No matter, her voice only bothers me when I read. I rode a motorcycle today. So many new experiences and I don't want them to stop.
Note to self: Apply for mercenary card.

Day 15:
Sometimes I wonder what Tri and Ree are up to. I tend to stray away from those thoughts as it makes my chest hurt and my eyes tear up. Just as well, Ashral gets angry about it. She pushes as hard as she can to surface. She keeps threatening to separate from me, but I will not let her.

Day 16:
I have sewn a nice dress for a mission tonight. I feel it's construction is fairly sturdy and it is comfortable to move in. I want to show him the dress. I'm proud of it.

Day 17:
-left blank-

Day 18:
I messed up. Ashral is gone. It almost cost me my life. I've been told I should team up, maybe that will be safer than taking on solo missions. I had to tell him about Ashral. He was not okay after that.

A Voice of Reason
[[Some time after "Shakey Recovery"]]

Hexxis stared up at the ceiling quietly, not moving, just staring, resisting the urge to start humming a familiar tune that had always seemed to pop into her head when it was quiet for too long. She had her eye-patch off and both her eyes open, though her left bruised eye still hurt a bit as it was still healing from her failed mission. She reached up a hand to her right eye covering it and tried to see from her blind eye to know avail. Wait, was that light... no, just more darkness. She sighed and closed both her eyes and pulls her hand back down as she laid there silently.

Zephyr was dozing, face first, on the bed, still shirtless as he didn't feel like putting a shirt back on after the entire ordeal. Why bother if something was going to happen to a perfectly good shirt, anyways? Opening one eye, he watched Hexxis, wondering how he was faring, but at the same time not wanting to pry. 'I don't know how we'll ever be the same after what just happened...when you grow up with someone inside of your head, you just sort of get used to it..' he thought to himself, soon closing his eye before slowly rolling onto his back and yawning softly. They had a strange, yet mutual, agreement to rest and heal up after everything, considering it was one hell of an escapade.

It had been so quiet since Ashral left, a vacant feeling that was more than a little unsettling, a feeling she'd never thought she'd never feel about her Malice, but here she was. She sighed as she just remained still, until she heard Zephyr's voice, assuming he was just talking to her, she opened her eyes and focused on the ceiling again with slender eyes. "It will be difficult, but we must grow accustomed to it. As I told you before, I understand the feeling... in that we have some common ground." She turned her head to look at Zephyr. "As the saying goes... at least lightning does not strike the same place twice. That is a lie, but it is to mean that the same thing will not happen twice."

Freezing, Zephyr opened his eyes and turned to look at her again, a little shocked that she had responded to something that he just thought about. "Wait - how...did you know what I was thinking?" He asked hesitantly, now a little worried, and even a bit scared about what just happened. Sure, here were the usual 'oh I was just thinking about it too' things, but that...was a little too scary.

Hexxis stared at him, blinking slowly through an expressionless face. "I heard you speaking to me so I responded to you... I don't understand your alarm." she seemed confused. Was he not talking out loud? Maybe it was a foresight that he did not realize he had been speaking out loud. She wouldn't know, her eyes had been closed.

Slowly moving to sit up, he just stared at her, soon squinting, as he decided to try something, just to test a theory that was gnawing at the pit of his stomach. 'You should maybe look at me more, your face is beautiful.' as he thought the words, he put a hand over his mouth, deciding to see if the theory was right or wrong.

Hexxis watched him carefully, unsure of what game this was being played until she heard his voice but not seeing his lips utter the words she heard. Her eyes widening slightly as she too sat up, before realizing what he even said as she shift her eyes away for a moment and turning a slight shade of red. She then stared at him, her face softening a bit. She opened her mouth to speak but paused and closed her mouth. 'Your face is beautiful as well..' she thought, see if he too could hear her. This phenomenon intrigued her but also gave her an odd feeling in her stomach like something moving within as her breath quickened just slightly. Was this... anxiousness? or excitement?.... fear?... or possibly a combination of the three. She watched his face carefully for a reaction, almost waiting on the edge of her seat in anticipation.

Zephyr couldn't help but grin as she turned to look at him, though her response got him to chuckle a little - though it instantly dropped when he realized what was going on. They could sense eachothers thoughts, something that he himself was resistant to, "How...is this even working?" he said aloud, now very concerned about it all. Was it because of their sudden lack of malices, or something else? It was definately something that the needed to figure out.

Hexxis shook her head, a smile growing on her lips. "I do not understand how this has come to be, but I don't dislike it. I'd rather hear your voice in my head than hers.." she commented aloud as she moved a hand to rest on his. "What changed between us besides both of us losing our Malices in relatively close proximity of time?..." she pondered as she analyzed the data but couldn't come up with much past her initial statement for a reason why it was happening.

"There's always a chance that during the entire ordeal I might have, on accident without knowing, used a power that I shared with him, causing this to happen? I know that if i really focus on a soulgem, I can sort of talk to the person inside of it." As he spoke, he gently squeezed her hand, happy that he wasn't alone in his head for the time being. It was empty and, honestly, scary.

She nodded slowly, grasping a vague understanding of the power he spoke of. "I see, so it is possible that may have created some form of telekinetic link between our minds..." she analyzed verbally, trying to commit the information to memory. She nodded once more then smiled at Zephyr. "At the least, it is with you. I would not have chosen any other person to share my mind with willingly." she leaned forward and kissed his cheek lightly then withdrew to stare at his face. "Maybe it is what they call a 'happy accident' ." she looked like she might have laughed about it but merely continued to smile as she exhaled and thought for a moment. 'This might work to our advantage, to be frank. If we must focus on being in sync for a team test, then this occurrence has come at a very opportune time.'

Hexxis walked down the street and paused for a moment, putting her book away and making way to a payphone. She looked around to make sure she wasn't being followed as she pulled some change from her pocket and slipped the coins into the machine, pulling forth the receiver and dial a number from her memory. She decided to call Tri first, Mara would likely yell and she wasn't exactly used to talking with Mara in a way that was effective. Maybe Tri could talk to her or at least tell her how she should go about discussing the text message she sent earlier in better way to her. She sighed as it rang, keeping a sharp look out just in case as she waited.

The phone was answered but there was silence on the other side other than the very faint sound of someone walking and stopping then nothing more.

Hexxis waited a moment, listening for a voice but heard none. "I was able to leave without being followed. I am unsure now whether I was his target or not. Though, I have reason to believe he has changed targets to my partner for the time being." she relay quietly, her voice calm and emotionless. She waited again, waiting for any confirmation from the other person on the phone.

"Was Andy anywhere in sight" Tri responded quietly back and the slight shift of feathers over feathers could be heard as he pulled them away from his head, phone against his ear as he watched Ree give him a questioning look.

Hexxis exhaled in a bit of relief as she heard his voice. Taking another quick look around, "Negative. He appears to be alone. He brought me the item I was to retrieve in the mission I failed, which has led the notion I was his original target. My partner and I split up to further test his intent, yet it seems he stayed behind to talk to my partner instead of pursuing me." she kept her voice low, as she focused on speaking directly into the receiver. It was odd, and she simply didn't understand Kage's motives, but what she could not find out, Zephyr definitely could.

"......He's stalking you or is he looking for Zero? Last we heard of him he disappeared with Andy and the renegades." There was a pause. "They might be looking to hire you"

Hexxis nodded despite knowing that he could not see it. "It is very possible. As much as I had tried to remain low key , it seems people have taken notice of my ranking and it is very likely news has traveled about it. If Kage was looking to hire someone, it would be very favorable to obtain a top ranking mercenary to do the job." she thought for a moment and was silent, almost hoping there were more thoughts to follow her own but it was silent in her mind as she sighed slightly. "He did not ask me about doing any jobs, though he did recognize me, called me by my name. I did not confirm it with him, but I doubt that would be enough to dispel his assumptions of who I really am. He asked to speak with us both: my partner and I. Also mentioned having lost something recently... I almost certain he was referring to her early departure from my being. It seems that he is able to see spirits. A very dangerous power paired with other abilities that he has displayed." she paused, as she tried not to get too carried away about the issue. Sometimes, she felt she spoke a bit too much but then again, this information was important. Surely, Tri would have wanted to know all this.

"I never talked to him and Mara never mentioned him being the least bit interested in you or Ashral. If he is able to see spirits" he frowned, that was a useful power to know if there was a mane or malice in someone....with Kage's power, locking or unlocking. "I don't understand why he would be interested at all in either of you now that you split. She is now a true race and you are a malice-free meta. Unless he was looking for your partner in terms of information and notice the sudden lack of a malice in passing..."

"I am... unsure. Though, I will be meeting back up with my partner shortly and I will see what further information was able to have been obtained about him. It is peculiar and out of the ordinary. He did not ask about Ashral directly. Only mentioned that he noticed I was missing something of that nature. Possible means of starting a conversation or some form of flexing of his abilities to either show off or taunt me." She took another look around briefly, before returning her attention back to the phone. "I worry that he may be in search of Mara, it is possible that he may have found out about SIU's transfer. Possible revenge? Or maybe he is after Ree. It is very uncertain, and I merely warn so that you may keep yourself aware of it." she hesitated. "Should I contact Mara as well about this?" she debated just going to find Mara in person but maybe that was not such a good idea at this moment.

Tri shook his head at Ree and looked toward Anadii quietly. "No, I can warn her he has been spotted near by. As for SIU, Mara or Ree.. You were the one who ended up with the worst amount of damage that day, their view of SIU, Ree and Mara would be unfavorable but they do not exactly have much reason for revenge. Unless it was Andy, even then it was Kage who made her as she is now ...and could likely unmake her. If she remembers, then she might have a reason to be after us. One specific reason but sending Kage to do her information gathering does not seem like her style, going from her habits "

"I do not know much about Andy, so I could not say myself on the matter." she took a deep breath and closed her eyes for a moment. "Whatever his motives are, we will need to keep a close eye out until his intentions are revealed." she opened her eyes to narrow them slightly, a glint of pain in them. "Are you still okay?" she asked suddenly, her voice a bit more hush, softer, less robotic.

"Or hope that information was the only thing he wanted but doubtful " there was a soft sigh as he looked away from Anadii and closed his eyes instead of meeting Ree's intent stare. "I am fine " he said quietly, it was close to the truth? He was fine as in her was alive. "And you?"

"I am func-.." she paused and shook her head. "I am fine." she responded as well. She frowned, as she didn't like her answer the moment it left her lips, as she sighed. "I redact that statement as I have come to realize that is somewhat of an unintentional falsification and I don't intend to mislead you... I am alive and surviving. Minimal injuries. Any other status cannot be reported at this time." she answered bluntly, her voice falling back towards a more monotone one. She continued to frown, she didn't particular like that answer either, but is was more favorable as it was the truth. She did not want to get into the habit of being dishonest with him. "I am greatly anticipating seeing you later this evening. It is something I have not been able to quell from my thoughts since speaking to you last." she remained quiet for a bit. That was unnecessary information, and didn't understand why she felt compelled to say it anyway. It was a mystery to her at the moment.

Tri frowned with a pain look on his face instead of the normal faint twitches of emotion. "It's been a while since we talked last outside of ..everything " he agreed trying not to bring up the situation that made her leave in the first place. Faint,y confused at the sudden switch between robotic like speaking and normal every day speak. She was learning, that was obvious. Was it because of her partner? Or had she picked up more than he thought when she left. "We've missed you as well" there was a pause as his chest hurt, having to do nothing with the injuries he received. "Hopefully we can talk finally later this evening, we received your directions and I'll be there" he said quietly, already planning on being there earlier to check it out for a trap, but then they can talk and he can see this partner of hers. See if he or she was taking advantage of her...if not, see what he could offer in help to prevent Hexxis from gaining injuries like the ones Mara described.

As Tri mentioned missing her, she reflexively slid a hand to her chest, clutching the fabric that sit just above her heart. It hurt, but not like it did when her heart rate increased too much. This pain felt deeper, more aching than the sharp pain of the injuries. She took a shakily breath and tried to compose herself. She swallowed hard before speaking again. "I look forward to it." she commented simply, her voice hushed as she closed her eyes and exhaled.

Tri nodded faintly and opened his eyes "Then I'll see you then" he said quietly, not sure what else to say that they couldn't say face to face. "Thank you for the warning as well, I will pass it on to Mara just encase"

"..Mm.." she made a noise of agreement. She hesitated, not wanting to hang up the phone as she opened her mouth to say something then narrowed her eyes in pain and frowned. Closing her eyes she sighed. "You're welcome. See you then." she stated bluntly then reluctantly hung up the phone. She slumped slight to one side as she leaned against the phone, taking a moment to collect her thoughts before pushing herself from it and moving back into the sidewalk to make her way to the place they would be meeting up at to start preparations for their arrival later.

Tri hanged up the phone and put it back on the desk with a tired sigh.....thinking before looking up at Ree quietly. "Meeting place is still good. She also said Kage was looking for them ..we don't know why but sending that over to Mara" he said reaching out for the phone and sending her a smilingly innocent text.