Welcome to Gaia! ::

Rising up into the night,
Into the dawn, a spire of light.
Here I walk. What shall transpire?
Mine, my child, my precious Pire.

Leon strolled slowly down the walkway. The salt wind was bitter in the early mornings and he zipped his jacket higher. He stopped and leaned over the railings, looking out over the ocean. The water was still dark and the cold, dull, greenness shone at him like an every shifting panel of opaque glass.

He continued on his ramble, eventually making his way to the park. It was still too early for most of the birds to be awake. The sun hadn't even risen high enough to clear the city skyline yet, though tinges of yellow and rose were beginning to wash the sky. It reminded him of a watercolor painting that he had seen once.

Leon wasn't sure he wanted to test the swings with his weight, so he moved past them to lean against a tree and just observe the sky for a while. 4 in the morning was one of those few times when the night-owls were going to bed and the day-time people hadn't woken up yet. It was quiet and peaceful. It allowed the in-between people, the twilighters, to sit and think awhile.

It was getting lighter now. Leon was about to head back when a spark of yellow light caught his eye. It had a flickering quality that vaguely reminded him of something. He walked further into the trees to investigate, when to his horror, he saw a flaming bush ((bible reference *laughs to self*))! However, the fire didn't seem to be spreading. In fact, it didn't even feel hot. He wondered if he should take off his shoes like that one guy in that one story, when he heard a loud wail, accompanied by another blossom of flame.

As he ventured closer, Leon could see, lying nest to the bush was a squirming bundle of green blanket and the reddest hair he had ever seen. He picked up the infant, and the flames smouldered out immediately, leaving the surrounding greenery curiously unharmed. The baby gave a tiny growl and sunk his tiny milk-fangs into Leon's shoulder, before giggling and flailing a tiny pawed hand at him. Quietly, Leon smiled.

"What happened to you, huh?"

He tickled the infant's chin, and was bitten again, but it was a careful questioning bite. Under the gums, Leon could feel hard bumps. He wasn't sure of the baby's age, but he had to be at least a year old or so. Who would take the amount of effort to raise a child until teething, then leave him in the park alone.

Looking around, Leon found no signs of recent human visitation. No trash, no forgotten sunglasses, not even crooked snapped twigs hanging off branches (save the ones that were his fault). However, next to the bush, right by his foot was a wooden chest with a strang insignia that looked vaugely like a burning animal..or a leaf. He wasn't sure. Maybe he hadn't been abandoned after all.

He rifled through the contents of the chest. Most of it was either books that he couldn't read (and a good deal of seemingly blank ones) or objects that he didn't recignize. There also seemed to be a few charms and ornaments, all having the theme of either flame or leaves, and lord forbid, an ancient set of well-kept leather armor. The things he did recignize were clothes. They were made of a strange satiny cloth, and were in rich bright colors.

He put it all back, not sure what to make of it. It seemed like both the baby and this load of sentimental junk had been left here by accident. Suddently, the baby reached out and touched the underside of the lid with a paw. Strange engraved symbols began to light up and trace their way through the wood until the entire chest was glowing with ruins. The leaves swirled and danced around them as if pulled by a sudden wind and shimmering shapes appeared in the air before him. Slowly, they twisted and changed until they formed words and a rumbling hissing vulpine voice filled the air as the shimmering words formed a crude subtitles.

"When there is war, the people have need.
When the people have need, the Leaf sprites die.
So is born a savior, a firefox.
He can fight for our people, the Vulpine. I do not want him to fight. I will end the war. This firefox should not know the burden he was to face, nor the ridicule and hatred of his fire magic by our leaf charming race.
I bequeath to you, my only son, Prince Pire. Keep him safe."

Leon looked back at the young prince in his arms. He was yawning and snuggled deeper into the crook of his elbow to sleep.

"Guess you're mine, Pirefox."

Shopping? Leon? *Pointing and Laughing*

With Pire held securely in one hand, Leon managed to wrench open the door of the nearest Walgreens. He stepped indoors and was greeted by a person in a bunny suit.

Pire watched in trepedation for a few seconds, then as the thing with giant plasticy eyes and huge dangling ears extended a misshapen paw towards him, he let out a loud wail. Suddenly, the air temperature skyrockected, despite the air conditioner, and sparks flickered over the furry white costume, which began to smoulder in a few places.

While the Easter Bunny was trying to put out his costume, Leon took the oppurtunity to rush further into the store and avoid being questioned. He ended up somewhere in the Textiles area, surrounded by bolts of brightly colored cloth. He attempted to quiet the infant by rocking him and speaking softly to him, and making funny faces, but Pire only cried louder and started struggling, increasing his temperature until Leon was literally sweating.

An old lady wearing a blue walmart employee vest wandered up to him. She opened her mouth to ask if he needed help finding anything, but the sight of a man carrying a crying child in one arm and a shopping list in the other with that expression on his face told it all. She patted his elbow soothingly, while wondering vaguely when the air conditioning was going to be fixed, and took Pire from him.

Pire quieted down and began giggling happily, as the air temperature subsided back to normalcy.

"Don't worry dear. You aren't the first."

She laughed lightly at the befuddled Leon.

"He won't settle down until you do and he doesn't know that you're upset because of him. It was the Easter Bunny, I expect. Now, hand me that list, will you."

She glanced through it, and pulled out a pen, marking down the many other things that he would need.

"Now dear, just follow me. The Childcare section is on the other side of the store. In the meantime you can tell me why you broke up."

Leon took Pire back from her and followed like a lost puppy. It took him a few seconds to process what she was saying.

"We..er..waitaminute? What?"

They were walking past the school supplies section now.

"What happened between you and his mother, dear? You were obviously fine for a while, your son is almost two years old. Of course you dont' have to say, but do indulge an old lady with some gossip, will you? My own left the nest decades ago. I've never heard from them since."

"He told his mother he's broken up with- Oh! Wait! I thought you meant.. No, he's not mine. I found him with a note this morning."

"How cute! Does your boyfriend know yet? You'll have to let me stop by and babysit sometime!"

Leon stared at her with disbeleif.

"No, he doesn't. Wait! How..?"

"I may be old, dear, but I was a mother once upon a time. Ah, here we are. Now, go fetch a cart from over there. Now the first thing you need is..oh and do you have a crib yet? And.."

Several hours later, Leon made it home with his arms full of supplies and Pire sleeping soundly in a brand new carrier with stroller-wheel add ons.

Leon was leaning over his writing desk, staring thoughtfully out the darkened window. He scribbled out a few words and re-wrote them, mouthing the sentances to himself to test his grammar.

Nearby, Pire was happily mashing the keys of the old electric keyboard with his paws. He barked happily, adding a series of vulpine konkon sounds to the dischord. Pire climbed his way up to Leon's lap and looked curiously at the pages, his ears pricking with interest. He ran a paw over the freshly written words and giggled when the ink smeared.

Pire pointed at a random word and looked at Leon, brimming with questioness.

Leon smiled and said the word slowly.

"Fire. That's the word "fire"."
"kon! i-i-irkon!"
"That's it! Say "Pire". You can do it Pirefox."
"Fire! kon"
He barked out the word, like a parrot without training might attempt to mimic a sound for the first time, and added a happy little yip onto the end, but it was unmistakably Pire's first word.

Leon was quiet for once. He wasn't sure what to say. When you're this happy, what can you say? Teary-eyed, he hugged Pire, ruffled his bright red hair and crossed out a line on the paper, to replace it with something else.

((A/N: Apparently, if you have a young bird and don't actively try to teach it to talk, but keep talking to it, the first word it learns is usually its own name. This has happened with 4 of them now.))

Playdate with Heavan

Click Here

"Kon!"

Pire barked and chewed the leg of Leon's pants, wanting to be picked up. He clawed more insistantly, and managed to squeak out another word that he was using more and more often.

"Up."

Finally giving in, Leon scooped the foxboy into his arms and nuzzled him. They were waiting for someone to arrive. Pire was going to meet another Royal today. Breifly, Leon wondered if she too would be vulpine.

Kitty was walking holding a map in front of her face in one hand and Heaven's hand was in her other.
Kitty looked and looked at the map in front of her face, it was so close that she couldn't see anything in front of her.
Mommy! Haven't You found its yet?
Heaven asked, starting to speak a bit better.
Kitty brought on a sweatmark and looked at Heaven.
Uh sort of, heh heh.
Kitty said as she walked right by Leon and Pire not even noticing by accedent.

Leon tried not to stare, but those wings were just too obvious. Fortunately, he also noticed that the lady was busy looking at a map, and not watching where she was going.

He put a hand on her shoulder to stop her before she walked into a parking meter and asked as politely as he could.

"S'cuse me. You lost?"

Pire barked again and started struggling. He hadn't yet learned how to say "down", but Leon got the message and set him on the ground, where he wobbled up to Heaven and stared.

When Kitty looked up she blushed a teeny bit but than got out of it. She could hear Heaven giggling.
Heh heh, yes I suppose to meet somebody and their royal somewhere in town today, but I forgot their names and now I can't even find the spot! I don't come around this area of town.
Heh heh silly mommy!
Heaven than looked down and smiled and than waved.
Hallo! Kitty!

Leon looked down at the sidewalk, running a hand over the back of his neck nervously.

"Funny you should mention that. I was waiting for someone too. Her name was Katie, or Kitty, or something..I think. Her daughter had a playdate with Pire today."

Pire's tailed fluffed out like bottle-brush and his ears pricked as he tilted his head to one side, puzzled.

"Kon. Biirdt?"

Kitty blinked and than smiled and pointed at herself.
Hey my names Kitty! And I do have a royal girl named Heaven! Than you must be who I'm suppose to meat right? Your baby's name is something that starts with a P? Right?
Kitty asked.
Heaven looked down at the baby and than started to giggle a bit.
You sow cute!
Said Heaven doing a quick pet on his ears and than quickly moving her hands back afraid of being bitten.

"Er..yes, his name is Pire."

Leon glanced at Pire to make sure he wasn't wandering off and chuckled as the foxboy followed Heaven's hand up over the top of his head, and ended up cross-eyed.

"Kon? Birrdt!"

Pire reached up and tried to bat at one of Heaven's wings, waving his tail to steady himself. However, he fell over and scampered back to hide behind Leon, pawing his leg and whimpering.

Leon scoop him up and Pire giggled, messing with a lock of Leon's hair and getting it tangled around his short claws.

"So, I take it you don't come downtown much. Anywhere in particular you and Heaven'd like to see?"

Heaven giggled a bit at the site.
You can pat pat laters
Said Heaven in a bit of a giggle.
Kitty stared at Leon as she thought and looked at a little guide book that she was given.
Well I heard that there was some type of place, just for yound kids for like Heaven and Pire, is that true?

"Ah, that. The new playground isn's finished yet. They've just been putting in the sand boxes yesterday. Of course, it's all a big secret so naturally, everyone knows about it." he finished airily and winked at Kitty. "Or we could let them have a romp in the park. Nothing more dangerous than a powerdrill there, despite all appearances."

Pire had been peering down at Heaven and chewing on Leon's sleeve, but his ears pricked at the mention of "park".

Kitty blinked in confusion, not sure what to say.
Uh yea, heh heh sure
She said still confused.
Heaven was looking at the baby fox but she thought it was a kitty, not seeing the tail, she pointed at him again.
Kitty go munch munch?
Kitty giggled a bit.
No silly Heaven! That's a fox, not a Kitty
Heaven blinked than smiled.
Foxy go munch munch!

Leon knelt down so he could be at Heaven's level.

"Yup, he's a fox...I think. Say hi to Heaven, Pire."

Pire stopped chewing and tilted his head curiously, extending a cautious paw towards Heaven. Leon took hold of his other paw and waved it for him, saying in a small voice "Hi Heaven!"

Pire mimiced him with a garbled "Ai Evn. Kon!" and waved the paw on his own, before retreating shyly into the crook of Leon's arm and nipping his shoulder.

"Ow! Pi~ be nice?"

When Heaven saw Pire bite Leon she let out a little scream and ran over to Kitty, hiding behind her.
Kitty put her hand on Heaven's head.
Ohh! Silly Heaven! It's just a little baby, he's just playing..... rrright?
Kitty said moving her eyes toward Leon.
Heaven remained saking in back of Kitty.

Leon shrugged non-chalantly. "I suppose if I had fur, it wouldn't hurt, but Pi doesn't know any better."

Pire was sqirming again and Leon set him down before standing up. He tottered curiously up to Heaven again, while nibbling on his thumbclaw. Pire put his other paw on Kitty to help his balance and looked around her to see why Heaven was hiding.

Kitty gulped and patted the little fox boy on the head, patting his ears at the same time, she smiled and looked at Heaven.
Pwease no bites me!
Said Heaven afraid of the little baby taking a n** at her.
Kitty patted Heaven's head.
Dear! Just liek Leon said, it's just a little baby, he won't know any better and I think he just bites Leon, see he isn't biting me.

"Kon?"

Pire tottered closer to Heaven, but tripped and fell again. Leon picked up him up before he could get any closer to Heaven, who was obviously scared of him.

"'guess we're goin' to the park then! Righty-ho, it's about two blocks this way."

As they were walking, he leaned over and muttered in Kitty's ear, "Actually he bites just about anything. Not very hard, but he's got sharp little teeth. Y'might want to watch Heaven's fingers."

Alright than! Heh heh sure....
Said Kitty after hearing this, with her ears staight up in surprise.
Heaven looked up at Kitty.
Mommy? What's wong?
Kitty looked down and smiled.
Oh nothing dear! Just when your playing with Pire make sure he try to stay away from is little mouth okay dear?
Said Kitty with a smile.
Heaven's eyes widened and she quickly nodded.

((The laws of physics are now bending to accomadate the fact that Pire has grown. Time will just have to skip around a little bit.))

Upon reaching the park, Pire took off like a shot towards the picnic table, and thus the grill full of old charcoal. He tried to go quietly, hopint the Leon wouldn't notice his abscence, but a familiar shout stopped him.

"Pi~..and what does breathing charcoal dust to to your lungs?"

Sullenly, he returned to the ring of gravel and began clamoring up the metal slide despite the fact that the surface had been baking in the afternoon sun and was now well above the temperature of the average frying pan that had been sitting on a hot stove for aproximately three minutes. When he reached the top, he stuck his tongue out at Leon and the rusted paint melted slightly under his paw.

As the air around him stopped shimmering with unnatural heat waves, he grinned widely and waved down at Heaven.

"Come up 'ere, Heav'n! Kon!"

Kitty put her hand over her mouth and let out a teeny gasp.
Won't his poor little hands get burnt Leon?
Said Kitty looking at him worried.
Heaven looked down at the ground and sighed.
Than she squeezed her hands looked up and than looked back down and started to shake her head widely.
No! Me no want to go! Scared! Last time got hurt and that hot!
Said Heaven afraid hoping that the little boy wouldn't come down to get her.

"Y'know, I always wondered about that." said Leon thoughtfully. "I don't think he's ever been burned. Even when he grabbed a cookie out of the oven, when I wasn't looking. I swear, there's always 24 to a package. I should take his temperature someday, just to see."

Shaking his head, he walked up to the slide and called to Pire.

"Hey Pire, how about you and Heaven go play on the swings for a while?"

Pire's ears perked and he slid down excitedly, bouncing up to Heaven.

"Yeah! Kon! Do ya' wanna' play on the swings?"

Kitty looked at him again surprised and than nodded.
I see
She said pretty surprised now.
Heaven looked at Pire for a few seconds and than looked at Kitty.
Kitty smiled and nodded.
Heaven nodded back and shook her head up and down to Pire happily.
Okay!
She said excited.

"Kon! C'mon! Race ya!" he yipped excitedly and dashed towards the swingset with his tail wagging happily.

Leon watched them for a moment, smiling to himself. Kids..

"They're so cute when they're young, aren't they? Too bad he's a little fireball. Gonna cause problems later. Hey, I've been meaning to ask, have any weird things been happening around Heaven? Other than the wings I mean. Er..d'ya know what she is?"

He he Hey!
Said Heaven with a giggle as she chased after Pire happily laughing.
Kitty closed her eyes and smiled with a nod happily.
Yea, they sure are. And Heaven? Hmmmm
Said Kitty putting her hand on her chin rubbing it.
I don't thinkl soo wait! No! Actually yes, well what I'm sure of I'm pretty sure that sometimes when she gets overly excited she will tend to quickly move something... I think.
Said Kitty looking up at Leon.

Leon chuckled and shook his head, still keeping a careful eye on Pire and Heaven, while he replied.

"Wow, and I thought I was going to have problems explaining things to teachers once they start school."

Pire reached the swings first. He leapt onto the rubber seat and shouted "I win!", or tried to. Instead, it came out as a strangled "Kon!" as he overbalanced and tumbled onto the ground. Rounding on the offending object, he made a second attempt, acompainied by a temperature spike that brought back the mysterious heat shimmers, but he tripped on the edge and fell all over again, partially melting the swing in the process. He growled at it and clamored back on more sedately, holding onto the chains to steady himself this time.

Pire's antics had given Heaven more than enough time to reach the swings. After his breif triumph, he hopped down again and chirped, "C'mon. I'll push you. Kon!"

Kitty sighed.
heh heh yea, hopefully the nurse won't one day go calling me he he.
Kitty giggled, but than noticed Pire's little fall.
Uh-oh! Looks like Pire had a woopsie!
Said Kitty.
Heaven finally got to the wings catching her breath when she looked at Pire and smiled.
Owaky! Huh Hmmm Nooo!
Said Heqaven as she tried to jump on the swings but they were to high.
Me no get up!
Said Heaven, her eyes starting to get a bit wet with a little tear rolling down her cheek.

Pire hopped up onto the crossbar that connected the A-frame of the swing. With one paw on the side to help his balance and his small feet firmly planted on the metal rod, he reached down to Heaven.

"Kon! I'll pull you!"

Heaven looked up and blinked.
Than she nodded and with a smiled grabbed his hand.
Okway!
Said Heaven excitly as Pire started to pull her up to get on to the swing

Pire pulled hard. He even let go of the frame and grabbed Heaven's other hand. Somehow, he managed to get Heaven onto the swing, but when he let go of her hand, he toppled over backwards again with a loud bark.

Pire righted himself and fluffed his tail indignatly, but the flash of both temper and temperature was gone as quickly as it came. He took a post behind the swing and got ready to push.

"Kon! Ready?"

Heaven looked down at him with a smile and than nodded at him.
Yep Pire! I'm ready to gwo!
She said excited as she squeezed her hands on the ropes that held the swing in the air.

Pire gave her back a hard shove and sent Heaven (and the swing) flying into the air. He seemed to have forgotten for a moment, the essential rule that what goes up will usually come down with equal force and he yipped loudly in fright and dodged to the side when Heaven came swinging back down at him. On the next pass, he managed to screw up his courage and get back into position to push her again.

Heaven closed her eyes happily and let the wind take her hair.
She was having a lot of fun and was loving every last bit of it.
This so much fun Pire!
Said Heaven happily as she swung on the swing.
Kitty was sitting next to Leon smiling happily.
Aww those two look just so adorible together.... Don't they?
Said Kitty looking up at him.

Leon nodded solomnly (sp?), without taking his eyes off the toddlers on the swings, but his expression softened all the same.

"Yeah..they sure do."

Pire was still pushing Heaven when a bird shreiked loudly and flew out of a nearby tree. He watched the bird curiously, and thus forgot about Heaven for a few seconds, during which the swing came back at him and knocked him flat.


Heaven looked up at the bird but two seconds later she felt a solid smack hard into her back. The next thing she knew her feet hit the object while the swing was still in motion and she fell. It was all in slow motion to her, as she fell foward about to hit the ground.
But when she closed her eyes she felt no pain, she opened them to see Kitty out of breath holding the toddler with Pire in her other arm.
Are you two okay?
Asked Kitty worried to find out what the two kids would say, especially Pire.

Pire struggled to get out of her grip. One moment, Heaven had been slamming into him and the next, he felt himself lifted into the air. Instead of replying he barked loudly, and his temperature spiked upwards.

Once he managed to wriggle free, he ran and hid behind Leon, who was still two strides away.

"Geez, I've never seen anyone move that fast before!"

He picked up Pire, who climbed up onto his shoulders, still avoiding Kitty.

"Pire, Kitty saved you. What do you say to her?
He didn't burn you, did he?"
As he spoke, he examined her arm and a muffled "'tank you, Kitty." could be heard.

As Leon examined her arm Kitty looked around him to see Pire and she smiled at the little boy.
No problem Pire!
Said Kitty happily.
But when Leon moved up her arm she then let out a squeak and she winced up her face a bit.
Than she took a deep breath and let out a little moun.
owwwww
she said in pain under her breath.

The skin was red and raw, and it was beginning to spot. Although she didn't say anything outright, Leon could tell that Kitty was probably in pain. He pulled out a tube of burn cream and dug a package of gauze pads out of his back pocket.

"Shouldn't be any worse than a really bad sunburn. It won't scar or anything. Listen, I'm really sorry about this."

As he spoke, he smeared on the burn cream and began securing a gauze pad with the nearly depleted roll of medical tape retreived from his shirt pocket.

"I mean, I probably should have warned you, and Heaven could have been hurt, and Pire really isn't doing it on purpose. I mean, I don't think he even realizes that he's doing it and you scared him and I know he's burned me a few times, but.."

He finished taping the gauze into place and looked away sheepishly. Through his entire monologue, Pire had been uncharictoristically silent. When a lock of red hair and a limp orange paw fell into his line of vision, Leon realized that the foxboy had fallen asleep.

Kitty blinked at Leon and looked at him for a few seconds thinking about what she could say, she had understood it completely and she never had the heart to ever be mad at a little kid, especially when they do something wrong by accident.
Kitty looked down for a few seconds and than brought her face back up, but when she brought it up it had a happy smile on it.
Heh no worries Leon, it's okay, I understand I mean he is just a little kid and like you said he sometimes doesn't know it. And Heaven, I really don't think that she will ever get him that mad or scared to that type of attempt, so there really isn't THAT MUCH to worry about..... right?
Asked Kitty.
Heaven walked over to Kitty and looked at Pire who had fallen asleep. As soon as Heaven noticed this her face went into a poute.
Awwww! Why he sleep?!
Asked Heaven at an annoyed tone of voice with her bottom lip sticking out and her arms crossed.

Leon leaned down and patted Heaven on the head.

"You're such a good girl. Maybe you and Pire can play again sometime, ok?"

He straightened up and extended the arm that wasn't holding Pire, towards Kitty.

"Well, it was nice meeting you and Heaven. I'll be getting Pire home now. D'ya think you can find your own way back, or should I walk you to your car? Er.. assuming you drove, since you said you don't live around here."

Heaven looked up at Leon and smiled.
I am? Oh goody!
Said Heaven clapping her hands happily.
Kitty looked up at Leon and took his hand and pulled herself up and sighed.
Heh that's very sweet of you but ya see I don't drive, Heaven and I took a bus to get here..... uhh I'm pretty sure that I still remember where the bus stop is.... I think
Said Kitty rubbing her chin having no idea with a bit of a sweat.

"It's probably not the same one you got off on, but there's a bus stop right up the street. Well, since you're going uptown, the one you want will be on the other side of the street. Look for one of those wooden benches with the advertisement on the back burned off on the right. Think you can find it?"

He pointed down the sidewalk, to indicate where the crosswalk was, and at a bench that had once displayed a sign reading We Buy Problem Homes and a phone number. with visible scorch marks on one end.

Kitty looked and smiled, noticing the bus stop. Than she turned back around to Leon.
Thanks Leon! And thankyou so much for having a fun playdate with my daughter Heaven! She always has a lot of fun when she meets new people. Now say byebye to Leon Heaven.
Said Kitty looking down to Heaven.
Heaven looked up and smiled.
Bye! Bye! Leon!
Said Heaven with a wave.
Kitty than took Leon's hand and shook it happily as a thanks.
She than turned around and walked off to the bus stop.

It's been so hectic around here lately. Pire is such a little fireball. He's grown a lot over these past few years. It's happened so gradually, I never even noticed until I looked back at the photo albums. He was so small back then..well, he still is, but still, he's grown a lot.

Pire can pretty much talk (although he cha can't do it withoug barking at least once in a p sentance. It's so cute. He's gotten stranger too. The ai He can make the air spike o hot an enough to melt plastic. I 've been trying to keep i him away from theings things like my binger binder (which is made of plastic), the kitchen (which contains the stove, cooking oil, and all manner of other flammable things).

Pire needs w somewhere to channel his energy into. Al at least until I can find someone to teach him how to control his pwer power prob properly. I'm so considering mab maybe sending him to preschool, or m buying him a flute soon. It's never too early to start learning right?

..and a screech like the wail of a tortured beast issued forth...

Pire opened the door as quietly as he could. It was early morning and like all small children, Pire didn't like to miss the morning. However, Leon was usually sleeping in the early morning, and didn't like to be woken up before 8:30 on any given day.

Unbeknownst to Pire, Leon was actually quite the morning person and would get up as early the sunrise if he could. However, he worked a 6pm to 2 am shift and needed the sleep.

Normally, Pire would just stay in his room and play checkers with himself or stage a minature battle between the duct-tape and the scotch tape with the masking tape as a judge, or wrestle with Chaita, who also wasn't much of a morning person. The strange little fox seemed to share a connection with Pire and they had been inseparable since she had hatched. In fact, it was due to her prescence that Leon dared to leave Pire alone to go to work, even though Dominique was away working in a laboratory over the summer.

Today was different though. It was somehow special, though she wasn't sure why and she followed Pire out of the room, being careful not to let the door bang shut, and trying to keep him from tripping over the various articles strewn about the floor.

Pire spied a brown wrapped package hanging over the edge of the "put it away later" shelf. He wasn't tall enough to reach it, but it held his intrest somehow. It was a plain package, without any fancy decorations, and fastened with tape instead of string, as Pire had always imagined mysterious brown paper packages. After checking to make sure that Leon was still asleep, he grasped the handle of the cabinet firmly and tried to claw his way up onto the counter.

Chaita dragged him back down at once, then fluttered up onto the counter and dropped the package on his head to reprimand him for scratching up the wooden cabinet.

Unfazed, Pire tore open the package. Inside was a yellow oblong thing made of plastic. It was fairly thin and had holes in it, and seemed to be hollow. Experimentally, Pire chewed on it, then blew hard into one end.

Leon was awake like he'd been shocked with electricity. That was the most hideous sound he'd ever heard and the sheer volume of it was enough to wake the dead. He glanced around the room and his eyes fell on Pire, who was holding the plastic recorder that Leon had bought for him the previous night, and staring at it with equal horror.

He wasn't quite sure how it happened. One moment, he was immensy happy, cuddling Paint, the new Akuti, and the next moment he was being bitten, and then he was crying over the pain in his hand, and then everything was crackling and sparking and he was so scared and Leon was shouting and Seven flung a bucket of water in his face and he was wet and scared and there was so much steam in the room and there was a great hissing and when it was over, there was nothing but a pile of ash in his hands.

Leon didn't see what happened, but he could well enough guess. He came rushing into the room at Pire's squeal of pain, and the toddler was glowing with heat, the air around him sparking. The furry little thing he was holding was shreiking as loudly as it could, which wasn't very loudly, and one of it's wings had caught fire. It was obviously in pain, and Pire was trying to back away from it while still holding it, not realizing that he was the source of the entire inferno.

His eyes were tearing from the dryness and the heat, and he was almost blinded by the glow, but Leon fought his way to Pire and held the foxboy in his arms, speaking calmly into his ear and trying to comfort him. If Pire was upset, it would only make the fire worse. This was the only way to stop it.

Seven, the practical one, had run into the kitchen and filled a pot with water as soon as he saw the sparks. He flung the water haphazardly over the entire scene, the liquid forming a smooth clear sheet as it flew threw the air, some of it vaporizing the moment it neared Pire. Enough of the water got through to wet him and shock him out of his crying. As the mist in the room slowly cleared, they could see that there was nothing left of Paint, but a pile of grey dust.

Pire was too much in shock to start crying again, as reality began to hit him, Leon could feel the toddler's body temperature decline rapidly. No! What happened to Paint?! That couldn't be the case! He couldn't have harmed Paint! A look at the singed ends of Leon's hair and the burns on his clothes and hands confirmed it. Paint was gone. Leon was hurt. and it was all his fault.

Pire wanted to curl up into a ball and cry again, but if he started crying, everything would start burning. If he got mad or happy, everything would burn away, just like Paint.