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There was a playground next to the local dump, and Ice often brought Walter and Oblivion there while she went scrounging for metal to feed Oblivion. Kisa was playing guard--er, babysitter this time, sitting on the nearest bench, reading a book as Walter and Oblivion played on the entirely plastic playsets. They had once been metal, but Oblivion had changed that quickly enough.

Walter sat on the slide, looking a bit bored as he and Oblivion chatted. "No, she would win." Walter said seriously. "She's got that big... metal thing--,"

'The tasty looking one.' Oblivion agreed. 'But she's slow.'

"No she's not. You're just thinkin of the slow moment."

Finn had tried his best to convince Maya that going to the playground would be fun. She was hard enough to get out the door--after throwing a hissy-fit because she didn't want to wear long pants, she had begged him to feed her, with little result. She was having a hard time communicating with her new--father. He didn't seem to do what she wanted him to, and it irritated her to no end. He was new at being a dad, and her old soul could tell, even at such a young age.

"C'mon Maya, it won't be so bad!" he said, hoisting her up further in his arms as he carried the little girl to the playground. "There'll be swings, and a slide probably."

If Maya would have been able to get out coherent words, she would have scowled at her father and proceeded to curse at him in a most foul way. She wasn't sure she wanted to swing and slide. She wasn't good at dealing with the unfamiliar.

Looking around, the little girl noticed they were walking by the dump. She pinched her nose shut with two small fingers and waved in front of her face with the other hand. "Ewwwwww!" she squealed unhappily.

"Hey, this is the only place we've got around here. Sorry if I don't live in the best neighborhood...We still had to bike quite a ways to get here." He sighed. She was always difficult. Always. Even when he wanted to show her something fun!

Mortality, on the other hand, was looking forward to getting outside for awhile. Maya liked the indoors, but he always craved adventure. She snaked up Maya's arm and to the top of her shirt, resting on the collar and looking around with glittering green eyes.

Althalus crept along the fence by the playground edge, looking over his shoulder. He'd managed to give Daniel the slip... hadn't he? He must have.

Sure we have, said Stealth confidently, scrabbling to come and sit on his shoulder, tail latching firmly around the boy's neck. He tugged at the maroon jumper and shivered slightly; it was kinda cold to be out, but that didn't matter. At least it was away from them....

He peered around the fence, and suddenly blinked. Wait, he knew that sense, didn't he? Grinning unconsciously the thief Forgotten fixed dark eyes on the boy and daemon by the slide, and tried to overhear their conversation without being seen. As he pressed himself back against the rickety railing, his gaze darted to the newcomers, and also decided to try and remain unseen by them. A game!

Another like us, though, Stealth said softly, and the boy's attention was diverted a little more thoroughly suddenly. Another one?

"But the best fighter..." Walter said seriously, "has got to be Conan the Barbarian."

'Oh really.' Oblivion drawled. 'Ice told you not to stay up all night watching that movie.'

"You were right there with me! Silva laughed and flew off before it got good, though." Walter complained, completely oblivious to the people heading towards them, or the boy and daemon spying on them. "He had a cool outfit."

'Hulk.' Oblivion said, as if that summed it up.

"Oooh... fergot about him..."

Maya spotted the boy crawling down on the ground by the fence as they rounded the corner and headed for the entrance to the playground. She couldn't imagine why he wanted to roll around in the dirt, and a sour look came to her face. For some reason though, she couldn't keep her eyes off the rough-and-tumble boy that seemed to be lurking around the playground.

Finn, on the other hand, hadn't seen Althalus at all. He was pretty oblivious most of the time, just making sure that one foot was set down in front of the other. He just wanted to make it to the playground before Maya threw another fit.

He pulled the gate to the playground open and slipped inside, one arm holding Maya tightly.

Mortality seemed to see them all, and he felt something strange inside him as they approached the children. Maya, they're like us..., we warned her. Perhaps you can make some friends, eh?

Maya just stuck her tongue out at the worm, and then went back to staring. It wasn't long before her eyes shifted to a boy and some kind of metal creature perched on the slide. There were more people around? The little girl sighed. She'd have to interact. Great.

Maaaaaaaan... she sees us!
Althalus scowled and got to his feet, brushing mud carelessly from his knees and bouncing over to the centre of the playground, voice loud and cheerful. If he couldn't use... well, stealth, then he'd be just himself.

"Waaaalter! It's you, right?" He ran a couple of steps up a ladder and balanced there precariously, darkringed eyes bright and laughing as he smiled across at the other boy, seemingly ignoring the man carrying the little girl for now.

"What are you dooooing?" He tilted his head with an annoying whine in his tone on purpose as he looked at the blonde boy. However, Stealth on his shoulder had her glittering eyes fixed silently on the other Forgotten babe.

Walter blinked at the whine, but grinned anyways. "We're talking fighters while Ma' gets Oblivion's dinner for the week." He said, pointing at the dump. "'Blivion's hopin' for a car this week."

'A van.' Oblivion said. 'More metal in a van.'

"Er, a van." Walter corrected.

Finn jumped out of his skin for a second as he saw the other young boy jump up from the ground and greet the boy on the slide. They looked as if they knew each other, and Finn grinned as he watched them say hello to one another. It had been ahwile since he'd been a boy...Those were the days.

Carrying Maya over to the swings, he sat her down inside the swing made for babies. She kicked her legs back and forth unhappily, not sure whether she still wanted to be agreeable or not. Could this swinging nonsense possibly be fun?

Aqua eyes scanned the playground again, and she watched the boys as well, wondering if they were interesting at all.

Mortality eyed Stealth, who seemed to be half-hiding on her Forgotten's shoulder. Hello, he said to her. We're new around here.

Althalus blinked, looping one arm from the ladder and hanging from the side slightly. 'Fighters? Like in films?" He looked slightly amused, bandana tipped at a rakish angle on his scruffy head. "The best one has to be the guy from Princess Bride. Y'seen it?" His glance darted to the side again as Stealth watched the little girl, but his expression remained easy.

New, is that so? Stealth's tone mirrorred her partners, and she snorted slightly, though a slight mental smile was apparent. I couldn't have guessed. From the Library, like us?

Oblivion's eyes followed Stealth's, gleaming slightly red for a second as she recognized a newcomer. 'I try not to remember the library, myself.' She commented darkly. She had never been too fond of Patrick. Then she sniffed. 'You smell metallic.'

"No eating other daemons." Oblivion told her seriously before turning back to Althalus. "The one with the mask on? Or the big, big guy?" He asked, holding his arms out and slightly rounded.

Before Maya could scream, Finn pushed her high into the air, letting her swing back and forth rapidly as he giggled to himself. He was certain she wouldn't enjoy this too long...She seemed to be fickle that way. But it was almost amusing to watch her squirm. What a great father he was turning out to be, he thought to himself, laughing.

It was the first drop that did it. Maya's stomach seemed to leap into her throat as she came down rapidly from the top of her swing. She was breathless as she swung backward, and for a second, there was a crack in the pained expression on her face. Was it a grin??

Mortality didn't feel the swinging much, but was more distracted by the other Daemons. Yes, we're new. You two seem to smell familiar at least. As if we came from the same place. I guess it was a library. He paused to consider the place from where they had come. I would have to agree with you there, he replied to Oblivion. It was not a pleasant place to be...and yes, I am metallic, as are you it seems. The name's Mortality.

"The guy in black of course! He beat the big guy. And anyone who's that big couldn't move fast anyways," and there was a slight hint of scornfullness in his tone as he dangled himself a little more sideways on the ladder, though he did turn his head slightly towards where Stealth's gaze was directed. He grinned over at Walter.
"Hey, maybe we should go and say hello or something," he suggested.

I'm Stealth, and this scruffbag is my Althalus. I'm -not- metallic, and the lizard-daemon closed her eyes with a slight huff.

"Yeah!" Walter said, hopping to his feet and heading for the swinging little girl. "I'm Walter." He said, stabbing his thumb at his chest. "This is Oblivion. She eats metal." Which was his usual greeting to strangers.

'That makes you special, right?' Oblivion asked Stealth with a hint of amusement.

As the swinging slowed, the smile slipped back off of her face, and she looked questioningly over at the boys and their Daemons. Was Mort talking to them? She sighed and looked down to the worm, whose eyes were fixed on the group of older Forgotten.

Mort! Nooo! Why you...need know...others? She managed to get it out in small bits. She was still unhappy not being able to communicate well with anyone, even her own Daemon. Forming words was harder than she thought it would be.

Nice to meet you Stealth, Althalus. And you as well Walter and Oblivion-though I hope to stay away from you--I would hate to get eaten in my first months here! The worm gave a chuckle and a gracious nod of the head to the boys before looking back to Maya, who seemed displeased. Finn continued to push the swing lightly so that she could still interact with the other Forgotten if she wanted to. This is Maya, and she's displeased. I hate to go into why, but she's kind of rotten sometimes, Mort said with perfect honesty.

Maya just scowled at the Daemon, unhappy that he was spilling all of her secrets without her permission.

Althalus pattered over to the swing, and dipped his face to look solemnly at the little girl, blanking the adult completely.

"Maya? Okay. Wanna see a trick?" He looked sideways over at Walter too, and winked cheerily. "Make you less displeased." Stealth sniggered slightlym, opening her mouth in a silent hiss of amusement as the skinny boy produced a silver coin from his bulging pockets with a flourish.

"Oblivion, no touching this metal, see? This is verrrrry important metal. Called money," he grinned.

'Money tastes good too.' Oblivion commented, her tail twitching as her eyes focused on the coin. Walter snorted, but didn't say anything, watching the trick with a little grin pulling at his lips. This would be interesting, he figured. He hadn't seen a coin trick since Otium had given him the gold coin he still kept in his hat.

Then again he couldn't remember if it had been a trick or he just hadn't been paying attention...

Maya hadn't been expecting anyone to address her--for any reason really. But she was curious about this stealthy boy, and her eyes flickered to the coin as Althalus pulled it out of his pocket. A trick? What kind of trick would he know? What kind of talents would he have?

She nodded, managing to put a half-smile on her face, hoping that would be enough positive reaction for him to continue with his 'trick'. If he wanted to try to make her happy, why not oblige? She rather liked it when people payed attention and did things for her.

Money tastes good? Mort asked, curious what kind of taste metal had. Money is very dirty. You really shouldn't put it in your mouth...lots of germs. The worm chuckled and couldn't help but add: Though I suppose it doesn't matter to us mechanical creatures...

Finn, who was absentmindedly pushing Maya, turned his attention to Althalus when he addressed his daughter. He was curious about the coin trick too. "Do you know much magic?" he asked the scrawny boy. Finn was always skeptical of magic and tricks. He knew there was little actual magic behind it.

Stealth huffed slightly. Regardless of dirtiness, money is not for eating! You can buy things with it, idiots.

Althalus shrugged, and winked again, tone reasonable. "Could be magic, couldn' it? See what Miss Maya thinks...." He flourished the coin again between his hands, the movements seeming effortless. After all, he'd practised this same one how many times? With an astonished expression, he dusted his empty hands, and then reached over to Maya's head. "Look, the coin disappeared! But maybe.. it's here?"

The silver flashed between his fingers, and the coin reappeared again in front of Maya's half-grin. "Would y'look at that?"



Walter clapped, easily impressed. He didn't know about the little one, but it had looked cool to him!

'Can you buy more metal with it?' Oblivion asked, looking thoughtful.

A little slight of hand went a long way. Finn looked amused, and gave the boy light applause, examining his actions, trying to see how he managed the trick.

Maya was more than a little pleased as the coin flashed in front of her face. When Althalus reached over her head, she looked up at his hand, wondering what he was pulling from up there. But when she looked back down, there was the coin, taunting her from his fingers.

Cracking a smile and letting out an "Eeep!", Maya reached out for the coin, wanting to examine it further.

Yes, yes, I know you can buy things with it. Like metal, for example, Mortality said, nodding his head I was just saying...it is dirty.

It wouldn't take much working out to see how the trick worked, but Althalus was proud nevertheless, and he bowed with a flourish. An audience always made it so much better. He hesitated however before handing over the coin to the chubby baby fingers; it wasn't like he wouldn't be able to get it back from her. He turned slightly to Walter, and grinned a little more happily for the applause. "Good, eh?"

Are you kidding? The gold coins could buy tons and tons of cheaper metal, Stealth replied airily, clearly exaggerating. And dirtiness doesn't affect the price. She scrabbled up from her perch on the scruffy boy's shoulder, him barely noticing as she clawed at his ear lightly in her way up to perch high on the bandana, raising her tiny stature slightly to look down at the others. Money is a very precious thing, she went on solemnly. Never forget that.

'A gold coin, eh?' Oblivion asked, her eyes flickering to Walter's hat. But he turned, looking at her.

"Ma's getting you metal right now." He told the daemon. "That's mine."

Oblivion snorted, looking irritated but didn't say anything.

"I don't know any tricks." Walter said, turning back to the other forgotten. "'Cept how to break out of places."

Snatching the shiny coin from his fingers, Maya turned it over in her own hands, looking for any irregularities. Though she was still small, she knew something strange was going on, and she wanted to know where he'd pulled it from. She wanted to pull things from out of the air too!

She squealed a bit and wriggled in her swing, the coin clenched in her fist as she waved it toward Althalus. Now that she'd examined it, she could give it back to him.

Tons and tons of cheap metal... Mortality mused. No, I know it doesn't affect the price. I was just looking out for everyone's health and well-being, the Daemon said. But you must remember Stealh, money is not everything...Though it may be important, it isn't everything. His eyes twinkled as he squirmed down Maya's arm and to her wrist where he could see the others better.

It was then that Maya's attention turned to Walter. Breaking out of places? This could lead to an interesting conversation. She stopped squealing, just in time to listen. She wanted to hear more about the other boy's talents.

You don't need to lecture me, replied Stealth slightly snippily, fading her skin instantly to become nighon invisible.

Althalus retrieved the coin with a swipe of a hand, the gleam of silver disappearing swiftly into a pocket and a curious grin on his face. "Yeah? I like doing that too. Got any hints and tips?" He shoved his hands in his pockets and stood casually, dark-ringed eyes bright.

"If you eat the lock first people don't notice you going." Walter said seriously. "But eating the gate always gets too much attention. Door knobs are good to eat, too, right 'Blivion?"

'It's much easier now that I'm bigger.' Oblivion agreed.

It's no lecture, just advice, Mortality finished, turing his head up from Stealth, who had disappeared, seemingly unhappy with Mort's thoughts on material things.

Eating locks and gates? Maya's aqua eyes twinkled as she turned to Walter and Oblivion. Sure, that was a way to break and enter, but it was highly unusual. It wasn't something Mort would want to do, she was sure of it. Then again, he didn't have such an easy time digesting metal.

"You guys are regular thieves and misfits, aren't you?" Finn said with a chuckle, thinking that if he were a boy again, he'd love to join them on their adventures. "Do you two hang out much? Seems like you'd make quite a pair."

Althalus blinked at Walter, and then at the adult, and suddenly burst out into loud infectious laughter.
"Eat the lock! That's a good one. Wish I could. I gotta settle for unlocking it!" Still giggling, he reached over to flick the brim of Walter's hat with one finger, to push it down over his face slightly. "Any other words of wisdom, Mr Walter?"

Sobering up suddenly he blinked again, before looking up at Finn. "Not much, I guess, but we're from the Library too, you know, just like your Maya and Mortality there. So it's easier to talk." The smile broke back out again, and he looked sideways at Walter.

Walter grinned. "And another way to get out of things is to open your eyes real wide and say 'I didn't mean tooooo.' He said in a baby sweet voice before grinning wickedly, proud of himself for that one. "We're like family, in a way." He added to Finn. "And she's one of us, right?"

'We've never worried about what's on what we eat.' Oblivion told the metallic snake. 'We're just happy to eat at all.'

"Well, you could probably learn how to pick locks pretty easily," Finn suggested to Althalus. "It could be a good skill to learn. But don't tell your mom. I don't think she'd like that very much." He gave the boys a finger waggle and smiled.

"You guys are from that crazy Library too!?" Finn's eyes went wide as he looked at the boys with new eyes. "I went on quite an adventure before I actually got to the Library itself...and then, there were a bunch of kids and animals that just seemed to appear on top of this table! Did you guys arrive that way too?"

He'd never seen any other Forgotten outside of that first time in the Library. He'd not met with any of the other new guardians since then. This meeting could prove to be interesting. Turning around to check on Maya, he could see she was paying fierce attention, trying to understand what they were discussing.

Finn laughed aloud as Walter gave him the baby face. "Hey, that's really effective!"

I'm sure you are, Mortality said with a chuckle. Can you eat real food, or does it hurt you? He couldn't help but ask.

Althalus' face flickered to a slightly guarded expression for a moment before being replaced swiftly with the easy smile again. "'A bunch of kids and animals' is what you call Forgotten Documents, I guess. And that's us, a child and a daemon and an excerpt from our book." He reached up to stroke one finger lightly across the top of the slowly reapearing Stealth, who still seemed to be sulking. "And my first memory is of that Library.... you, Walter?"

He'd noticed Oblivion's comment about 'happy to eat at all', and carefully filed it away for future reference. He was very curious about this other boy, and what tales he might have to tell.
And like he'd tell this stranger he was already halfway to mastering how to pick those darned locks...

"I remember..." Walter said, his face paling slightly for a second before he smiled cheerfully and lied through his teeth. "The same thing!"

'I've never ate real food.' Oblivion said, turning guarded. She didn't feel like talking of their past suddeny, despite the fact that it wasn't anything she felt bad about. She hadn't liked it, sure, but that didn't mean much. 'It doesn't look tasty.'

"Forgotten Documents..." Finn said in a hushed voice as if whispering a secret. "So Mortality is a Daemon? mmmm...I guess Maya did have a piece of paper clipped to her when I found her. It had a really eerie passage typed on it..." He thought back to when he found Maya. He had to struggle a bit with her to grab the thin sheet of paper that had been pinned to the back of her leg.

I guess real food just isn't your thing. But that's no big deal...it's probably healthier for you to eat metal...

Hah. If Walter was telling the truth, then he, Althalus, was a toasted lemming. He'd slapped on enough fake smiles to notice that at least. But no way was he going to ask more. Some other time, perhaps....

"Don't lose that passage, okay?" The skinny child said firmly to Finn before turning away slightly, focussing on the other conversation that was going on in the back of his head.
"Stealth eats what I do sometimes. Or insects," He volunteered with a grin, trying to steer the subject back to food. "If you eat at all, sweetheart," and he plucked her from his bandana, Stealth putting up token resistance in her sulk and flailing slightly, though her tail wrapped instinctively aroud his wrist.

"Does he eat metal?" Walter asked, pointing at Mortality and looking at Oblivion. She would understand the answer, he figured.

'I have no idea. If he does, he's not getting mine. He'll have to send their guardian in to get his own.' She replied grouchily at the idea of her food being taken.

Before the boy could turn away, Finn tried to get an important question in. "What happens if I lose the passage? What does it mean anyway?"

Maya's eyes shot over to Finn and an embarrassed look came over her face. He should know, shouldn't he? She scowled at him yet again and then turned back to the boys and Mortality.

No, I don't eat metal...I don't eat much of anything really...I require very little nourishment. Just a little energy from Maya here and there...

Althalus grinned again, turning his hand the right way up so Stealth could rest neatly in his palm. "I remember meeting this one girl called Nisha, her daemon was thiiiis big!" He gestured widely with both arms. "Bet he ate a lot. Maybe we're lucky, Maya," and he turned back slightly, still smiling, though his tone took on a slightly edge of hardness.

"And as for the paper, just... don't lose it, mister. Not even we know what it is yet, but... it means a lot. Maya'll thank you one day I bet."

Suddenly both scruffy-haired boy and tiny daemon stiffened, heads turning to the side, dark eyes fixed on the park entrance.

"Aw maaaan....."

Walter looked up, following Althalus's eyes, but Oblivion looked in the opposite direction, watching as Ice came out of the dump with a wagon full of car parts. She was groaning a bit, since the pile was much taller than she was, but she didn't look to be having that much trouble. Oblivion was almost positive she was trying to make her feel guilty for eating so much. But Oblivion didn't at all.

"I had to dismantle an old junker." Ice said as Kisa walked over to help her. "And I only realized that Oblivion had eaten my half inch socket wrench when I needed it the most." She looked up as she realized Walter had made friends, grinning sheepishly. "Hi." She said, waving a hand.

Maya nodded to Althalus, her grin returning for a second or two. She was glad Mort didn't eat a lot. She'd have to feed him all the time if so!

"Alright, well, I'll do my best to keep that piece of paper safe. Perhaps one day all the Forgotten will know what it is for..." he said, turning to see who was coming into the park.

He saw a pair of women with a wagon of metal car parts and couldn't help but laugh. He was sure they were for Oblivion. "Hello," he greeted Ice with a wave. She must be Walter's guardian.

Althalus's frame was tense, but nevertheless he still smiled brightly.

"Well, it was nice seeing you guys," he said swiftly, bowing again at Maya and nodding to Walter. "But I really should be going now! Say hi to your ma from me, Walter," and he started backing away from where he had been looking earlier, a sunny expression on his face.

Idiot! He's going to catch us again, we stayed here to long!
But I like talking to people. So do you.
Well, his mother turned up. Excuse.
Let's go!

Still trying to avoid Daniel, Althalus waved, and then turned and set off at the run, giggling under his breath and disappearing quickly. At the other park entrance, a man passed by, blinked... and then walked on.

Walter waved, but didn't call out as Althalus left, knowing the run-away schtick better than most. "Oblivion's hungry." He said, turning to Ice and Kisa.

"Right, right... um..." She looked at Finn, then dug a card out of her pocket. "That's a forgotten, isn't she? I try to make sure Walter keeps in touch with as many of them as we can find, so here's my card." She said, handing it to him even as Oblivion headed for the pile of steel. "Call us sometime! The two can play together!"

Walter grinned at Maya, waving to her. "And she should meet Annie. They're the same age!" He added cheerfully. Just then a loud CHOMP came from the wagon.

"We should get going now, or else I'll have to come back tomorrow." Ice said, tugging the wagon again before Oblivion could get another bite.

Maya waved at Althalus before he ran off. He had been nice enough, she thought. And he knew how to pull things out of thin air, which was also a bonus in her book.

Nice to meet you Stealth, Oblivion. Perhaps we shall meet again some day, Mort said, curling around Maya's wrist more tightly, ready for action.

"Bye Althalus," Finn said, waving at him before he disappeared to the other end of the playground.

Maya waved at Walter too, giving him a grin. The boys had made her day a bit better, so that gave them an A+ in her book.

He then turned to Ice, who was pulling a card out of her pocket. "Thanks, we'll call. It's good to know that there's a lot of kids like Maya. I had no idea. Have a good evening," he said, watching as they walked off with the wagon in tow.

"Ready to go home Miss Maya?" he asked her, watching as she shook her head rapidly. She was tired of sitting in the uncomfortable swing.

Finn picked her up and cradled her against his chest. He saw her yawn, and smiled. "Alright, let's go." With that, he turned and walked back out the way he came, back to the small apartment that they called home.

The winter chill had finally settled in. As much as the child Legend doesn't want to admit it, his attire isn't exactly adjusted to the season, especially not for the long nights on the street.

Shivering visibly, Ink rubs his arms vigorously, letting his feet lead him wherever they choose to, so long as it's far away from that alley dumpster. He scowls miserably at his feet, paying no mind and offering no apology as he bumps other pedestrians on the sidewalk. <******** hate winter," he complains under his breath. He tugs his coat tighter around his body, though it's already buttoned up and really can't wrap around his frame a second time, no matter how little he has become accustomed to eating.

His ears, though bright red and numb as they are, alert him to a commotion up ahead. He squints his currently azure eyes, trying to fixate them on the action and noise as a twinge of hope within himself is eager to witness another hobo fight. However, this is not the case, for just ahead of him is a sign that tells all: "Annual Ice Carving Competition".

If even possible, his scowl darkens. Pansies. There are better uses for sharp objects.. He stands there, quickly losing body heat, and surveys the scene. Maybe someone'll miss the ice and stab themselves instead.. or a fight'll break out..

The sounds of chainsaws ripping through the ice made her skittish, Kitsumai admitted to herself as she looked around. And somehow during the noise and confusion, Ice, Walter, and Oblivion had disappeared. She tugged her knit purple scarf a little closer around her face and looked around for some sight, or sound of her family.

The problem was, considering Oblivion's eating habits, they were most likely closer to those dangerous sounding objects than she wanted to get. She stomped her hooves, prancing slightly to get feeling back into her body and shoved her hands into her pockets, looking around for familiar faces. They were supposed to be meeting up with Cressida and Walter's friend, Quixana soon. Maybe she could find them!

With that she started making her way through the crowds, and AWAY from the chainsaws.

Chainsaws.

Ink has never seen anything quite like these, but all together they are thrilling. They sound to him to be a song of delicious destruction, one he'd gladly pay to hear over and over.

Tossing white-blonde hair from his eyes, Ink pivots, changing his course to aim deeper into the crowds as opposed to his original plan of getting far, far away from them. Many people in a small space make the Legend uncomfortable; anyone could attack from any angle and he would not be prepared to counter it.

"Outta my way," he growls, shoving between the curvacious waists of two fifty-something women.

Kitsu jerked to a halt as someone ran into her when she headed for the space between the two women, looking up blankly at the blonde boy now blocking her path.

Unconsciously she took a step back, looking for an alternative route.

Ink sidesteps Kitsu, but, due to his inability to notice details when his mind has hit one track, he bumps straight into her equine half.

"Ow! The ********..?"

He backs off, looking the other Legend over without any effort to cover up that he's doing so. Oh God. A purple unicorn.. THING. And he touched it!

Kitsu's eyes widened in horror at his language. How could a child have such a dirty mouth? But she gritted her teeth, telling herself that it was just surprise that had gotten that reaction, and raised her hand, tentatively waving at him as she moved her equine half out of his way so he could pass.

Ink rubs his hands on his pants rabidly. "Diseased!" he cries out, giving a visible shudder. "Now I'll haveta get m' rabies shot or something! Bleugh!"

He looks her over again, having no sense of propriety, though rather looking her over as one inspecting an animal would. He folds his arms against his chest and huffs a sigh. "What's yer story, beastie? Drank some o' yer mum's special medicine an' yer body went all screwy?"

Her eyes widened even more, a look of shock crossing her face at the question before she slowly shook her head. She wasn't a 'beastie!' She was a little girl, and just because she was a little different from him didn't mean anything!

And she DID NOT have rabies! She shook her head again, her back legs prancing a bit in hopes that he would just leave so she could-- she jumped, horror entering her eyes as a chainsaw started up too close behind her.

Ink barks a laugh. "Watch yer pretty li'le head, beastie, or there'll be nothin' left offit to speak of!"

He grins wildly, forgetting completely about the cold, even though it's what flushes out his cheeks and stings his ears and fingertips. No, there's fun to be had here..

"Can y' speak, beastie? Or did they haveta cut outcher tongue 'causea your diseeeease?" Ink closes in on Kitsumai, looking positively devillish as he looks down at her with now-violet eyes.

She shakes her head AGAIN, covering her ears with her hands and fighting the urge to back up more. Behind her was a growling, snapping monster machine, in front of her was a mean, crude, bully! But she wouldn't cry, she told herself firmly, looking left, then right. She might run away, but she wouldn't cry!

With that she tried to make a break for it to the right.

She's giving chase! Oh, what fun!

Ink bolts in front of Kitsu, but just barely manages to make it. He'd underestimated her ability to run, mainly because he didn't take into account the speed her equine half could provide. Only slightly winded, he holds out his hands in front of Kitsu and bends his knees, readying himself for either impact or the spook factor.

Either one would do! He blinks furiously as he is now facing the direction of the wind and it stings at his eyes; their colour melds from violet to a deep red.

She reared back, her front hooves leaving the ground and waving in the air for a second before she lands again, prancing nervously as tears threaten to come. He was so mean!! She tugged her scarf a little closer around her face, wishing he would just leave her alone!

His breath coming out in visible puffs, Ink pauses only briefly to rest. He grins wildly, his hair skewing but not hiding his eyes, and he looks like an absolute monster of a child.

His mind works quickly; he spots an unused tool set and eyes the security guards that chat idly fifty feet away. With a sly, calculating look at Kistumai, he slips his freezing hands underneath her scarf to induce the shock factor.

"Look, beastie, we're gonna play a little game.." he explains in a low, dark tone, bringing his lips to her left ear. "It's called Cops and Robbers."

Her eyes widened and the cold sent a shiver down her spine, shocking her system, especially added to the fact that he was willingly TOUCHING her. Hadn't he just called her rabid? She jerked away abruptly, only to bump into an adult with her equne half.

She didn't want to play a game with him! She just wanted her mom! And she really wanted him to stop calling her beastie! Her hands fisted at her sides and a visual shudder raced through her body as her eyes went left to right, looking for a way to escape. She wasn't about to agree to do what he wanted!

That was exactly the reaction he'd been banking on, and Ink capitalizes on it. He quickly swipes the toolbox and hides it cooly behind his back. Next, grabbing her by the arm, he gives her an unkind tug and points in the direction of the security guards.

"Those are th' cops," he explains with malice just dripping off of his voice. He forces the tool set onto her, with the chainsaw very prominently on top, and with unbelievably calculating hands, swipes the purses of two nearby women.

He unceremoniously drops the long handles of the purses over Kitsumai's head, hardly making it past her horn before one of the women cries out about her purse being missing.

"And you're th' robber."

Her look of horror was probably what he was looking for as well. But she quickly dropped all of the thing, bending her head to drop the purses and backed up, looking even more horrified as people started pointing. She hadn't done it!

She reached for Ink's sleeve, as if pleading for him to admit what he had done.

Ink backs up with his hands held out, as if proving his innocence. "I saw'r take'm from th' ladies!" he claims loudly, quickly backpedelling in attempt to blend in with the crowd.

He catches a glance of the security guards, who start to make their way over to investigate the commotion. A grin stretches across his face in what seems to be his triumph.

The squeaking sound was a lot weaker than it used to be, but it still came as Oblivion made her way through the crowd, going straight for the pile of tools Kitsu had just dropped. Her eyes gleamed red, wickedly triumphant as she pulled the chainsaw off the pile and took a gigantic bite out of it.

The sound screeched through the air, metal against metal. It grated on the nerves, but Kitsu had never been so happy to see someone in her life.

"Kitsu! You got the metal sucker for 'Blivion!!" Walter exclaimed as he ran to his sister, hugging her around the waist. "She's wanted one of those for EVER!"

Kitsu groaned inwardly, looking from the boy to the daemon, to the blond boy helplessly.

Ink looks from Oblivion to Kitsumai, his eyes narrowing. Whatever that thing is, he wants nothing to do with it, and clearly if it associates with her, they're all crazies.

Instead, he continues to slip backwards, mostly ignored by the gossiping crowd - who, it seems, are less concerned about the robbery and more so regarding Oblivion and her eating habits - Ink mouths to Kitsumai: "Bye bye Beastie!"

The security guards breech the crowd at about the same moment, both urging people to spread out and go about business while they figure out what's wrong. The women reclaim their purses and explain to the uniformed men that they saw Kitsu and a blonde boy attempt to steal their and the competition's property.

Kitsu's hand reached out, reaching for Ink, but he was gone before she could grab him. And reluctantly she turned to the guards, not surprised as Ice came to explain the problem, and pay for a new chainsaw before returning the other things to their owners.

"Really, I'm sure there's an explanation for this." Ice said honestly. "Kitsu's a good girl. She doesn't steal." She sounded so sure of that fact that a tiny tear trickled down Kitsu's cheek.

That blonde boy with the bad attitude... she never wanted to meet him again!

Her sister was going to flip (maybe). Trinity walked up the sidewalk that lead to do Ice’s house, carrying her new charge with her. Ice was the first one she wanted to go to for advise with a baby, but after failed attempts with calling her, she went to the store on her own. There she made some new friends, and got what she thought she’d need.

This child and her daemon also required some fire proofing. That was now another thing she was working on.

Madison was happy, to say the least. She was going someplace new again! And it was pretty out here! Melo bobbed around his child, looking at the trees almost hungrily. They—

“Melo, no buring down the trees or anything. We’ll give you something to ‘eat’ soon enough,” Trin told him, already knowing that look. She had lost a few paintings, among other things, thanks to that look and Bavaria, her little feien, was not a happy camper. There was someone new in the house and she didn’t like it one bit! The new thing –cried- most annoyingly! And this was her house, or so Bav felt. Thus she was refusing to have anything to do with the little girl.

Trin stopped at the steps and rang the door bell to her sister’s house and waited.

The sound of small feet pounding through the hallway greeted her, mixed with squeaking of a single bicycle wheel. The door slammed open and a widely grinning Walter with chocolate stains on his face greeted her. "Lo! Got to go!" he said before he and his daemon raced off again, back into the house.

"WALTER YOU CHOCOLATE STEALING--," Ice almost tripped on the last part, slamming into the wall that seperated the entry hall from the main room. She peeked around it, looking blankly at her sister and... friends. "Huh?"

Trin stood there, looking lost, but a grin was forming on her face. “Hi!” she said, grinning at her sister.

The child in her arms started to clap and giggle in joy. This was already fun! Shocking at first, but fun!

“Um, I’m a mom,” Trin then told her, nodding seriously.

"I can see that," Ice said before walking over and holding out her arms to Maddy. "She's adorable! Is that her daemon?"

Walter almost tripped over Kitsu as he tried to escape, grinning up at her shamelessly and getting chocolate on her clean white hide before he skipped off to finish up his stolen goods. Kitsu looked down at her equine half with a silent sigh, knowing she would have to take ANOTHER bath. Wait, was that talking?

“Yep! That’s Melodious, and this little girl is Madison,” Trin introduced, handing the child off to her sister. “They are little pyros already.”

Maddy looked up at the white skinned one holding her. She was different looking, more so than her mama. Then she grinned, reached up and took a handful of white hair.

"She is, or the daemon is?" Ice said, skillfully dodging the little hand as he took the girl from her sister. "Come on in, you want anything to drink? Oh! Kitsumai! Hi, baby!" she said as she caught sight of her taur girl watching them from the front room. "TB, have you met Kitsu yet? Kitsu this is your aunt Trinityblue."

“Melo burns it, and she laughs about it,” Trin said even as Maddy pouted about the dodge Ice made. That wasn’t fair! Then she was distracted with the intorduction of a new person. The taur girl made Maddy’s eyes widen.

“Hey Kitsu! It’s nice to meet you,” Trin said, giving the girl a grin, and not being surprised at all. Ice took in so many children.

Kitsu smiled shyly, waving a bit, her eyes focused on the little girl. She loved babies! They were so cute!

"Sit down, sit down! We would have brownies, but Walter stole the chocolate," Ice said, motioning to the chairs.

"I kinda figured with the hyper door-opening he did," Trin snickered, taking a seat.

Maddy reached out a hand to the interesting looking taur girl, opening and closing her hand like she wanted something. Added to this was gurgled baby talk. Kitsu had pretty hair! And a horn! She wanted to touch it!

Kitsu moved in, heeding the summons easily and offering her hand to the little girl. She didn't realize that the horn was what she wanted.

"He'll come back once he comes down from the sugar rush," Ice said, not bothering to warn Kitsu of the treacherous baby hands as she sat down. "So these two are forgotten documents like Walter and Oblivion? Both blonde, and one of Walter's eyes is blue..."

"And she doesn't like dresses," Trin said, grinning, "But yes, they're forgottens, as well. I went into that weird house with three other people. Weird, weird house.... But I think they at least look like they'd be cousins, huh?"

Maddy cooed happily, taking the hand offered anyway, and grinned as the other hand went for the horn. Kitsu was so pretty, too! Her eyes were two different colors!

Kitsu pulled back, keeping the horn from being touched simply because she didn't want to risk the little girl being hurt on it. She shook her head with a smile, telling the child silently that she couldn't touch.

"Which makes complete sense to me. It also makes Kitsu and Maddy cousins, too, right?" Ice said, earning a look from Kitsu and a startled smile. "How's your feien taking to the newcomers?"

"Bav -hates- it. She was not happy about me bringing home a baby, then demaneded to know who the daddy was. She swored if it was Jack, she was going to kill him," Trin laughed, "I had to tell her where I found Maddy and that she looked nothing like Jack."

Maddy pouted at Kitsu when she moved away, then sniffled. She wanted the horn! Melo looked from the girl, to the taur and back, flaring just abit. Maddy was turning on the waterworks.

He hated water...

Kitsu started to panic, shaking her head no as she pranced uneasily and started to think. There had to be something to distract the girl with! She looked around, then abruptly disappeared into the back.

"Silva and the others actually moved out for a while, there," Ice admitted, shaking her head. "Walter has some... unusual powers, I'm afraid. It makes for some rough nights."

Trin tiled her head at that. "He cries uncontrollably?" she asked, not knowing what it would be.

Kitsu's sudden retreat confused both the baby, and her daemon. Then exchanged glances, wondering what they did wrong.

The taur girl came back a little while later with a stuffed toy in her hands. It had a puppy dog's face and dark brown stripes down its back. She offered it to the little girl with a warm smile.

"He... well..." Ice said, looking pained for a second. "Silva thinks he gives nightmares. And I'm not sure that he's not right."

"Huh... I never heard of anyone purposely being able to give people nightmares. And even if he does, there's nothing you can do about it, right?" she asked.

Maddy's face brightened at the sight of the taur returning. And she had a toy!! The horn was now forgotten in light of the dog-bear. Both of her hands opened and closed, wanting it.

Kitsu happily handed it over, glad she had found something to make the baby happy.

"That's why Silva and the others moved out," Ice said with a sigh. "Nightmares are worse when you've got a lot of memories that can contribute to them. The three might be young, especially compared to us, but they've been through a lot."

She took a deep breath, shaking it off. "Enough of that, tell me what happened in the house! I never got to go. Walter was gotten out of the library by Patrick."

Trin easily moved into the new topic, for her sister's sake. "Well, you know those ghost stories and horror stories about houses that kinda have a life of their own and swollow you us? This house is like that," she started, and launched into the story of what happened to them, the old lady, the sand, and bar, and finally the library.

Maddy wasn't paying attention to them, rather she was cuddling her new toy happily. It was soft! And cuddily! And she liked it alot!

Melo watch it, and gave a light glare. Why was she so eager about that thing? He could move on his own! He was much better than that thing was!

Kitsu watched happily as the little girl played with her new toy. She wanted to draw the picture, it was so cute! With that thought she went back to her room to get her sketchbook and pencil.

Walter peeked around the corner from the kitchen, curious as to what was happening now that he had finished his chocolate. It looked as if there was a new forgotten girl! With that he headed for the front room, dropping down on the couch between his mother and TB as if he hadn't just stolen a pound of chocolate.

Melo was the first to spot him or the two, and he blinked at the boy, then at his daemon. That got Maddy's attention and she looked over, away from her toy and to the boy on the couch. Another smile broke out onto her face and she gurgled into happy greetings to him.

"Hi Walter," Trin told him, lightly ruffling his hat on his head. "I want you to meet your new cousin, Madison and Melo. Maddy, this is Walter and Oblivion." Even as she spoke, she dug into one pocket, pulling out several bolts and other scrap things for Oblivion to munch on.

Oblivion took the bolts, eyeing the floating flame with a hint of distrust. She didn't much care for other daemons, honestly. At least none that she had met. Even Courage was politely ignored.

Walter grinned, turning to the little girl. "I'm Walter!" he said cheerfully. "That's 'blivion. She eats metal."

Maddy pointed at her own daemon, telling the boy that Melo eat everything... except for metal. Weither or not he understood the baby talk, was another thing. But that didn't stop the girl from telling him.

Melo kept bobbing in the air, looking at the other daemon. He wasn't sure what to make of her yet, but she seemed mean. And she was metal. Metal was boring to him, it wasn't eatable after all.

Walter nodded seriously, not understanding a word of it. But she sure liked to talk! He grinned at that, looking up at the flame daemon curiously. Another strange one. "He's pretty," he complimented.

"So it wasn't very fun," Ice summed up TB's story for her, grinning slightly. "Maybe I'm glad I didn't get to go now."

"It was embaressing! Not fun, yet funny at the same time," Trin told her, grinning as well.

At the compliment, Melo fluffed up his flames proudly. He was good looking wasn't he?

Maddy giggled at that reaction. She returned the complimenting by pointing at Oblivion, she was pretty too! Not Melo pretty, but she had a good face! Maddy liked the face.

Walter grinned. "Yeah, 'blivion's pretty too," he agreed, catching that part. "She's a lot bigger, though."

"I would think so. I'd have liked to see the ballerina lady," Ice agreed, trying to picture it in her mind. She wasn't surprised at all to see Kitsu come out with her drawing pad and pencil to start drawing pictures. All the use of living models was actually really helping the little girl with her art.

"Oh? Kitsu draws as well, huh?" Trin asked, looking to her sister and went about ignoring the girl drawing. She knew from experence, if you were drawing someone, let them move abit, but not too much.

Maddy looked around, putting her new toy in a safe spot, then reached up, taking Melo into her hands. He didn't burn her, nor her clothes and he was small enough to be used for cuddles by her, too. It caused her bed to catch on fire before. She then offered a closer look of Melo to Walter.

Walter reached out, just enough for his hand to feel hot. Then he pulled his hand back again, blowing on his palm. "That's cool!" he said chidishly. She could hug fire! Oblivion gave him a dirty look and nosed TB again, looking for more snacks.

"She's good," Ice said with a smile. "Ask her to show you her corkboard sometime. She's got some great pictures pinned there."

"Alright! I'll do so once she's done," Trin agreed. "So, how's everything else?" she asked, pulling out more snacks from Oblivion. She made sure to bring things for the metal eating daemon.

Maddy looked at him a bit confused as to why he didn't want Melo, then shrugged it off, letting her daemon go. Melo dropped in the air, only to go up again and fly around slightly. He was getting hungry....

Ice thought for a moment, looking serious for a moment. "I got the most strange letter from Shade," she admitted, watching the flame in the air curiously. "Does he eat a lot?"

"Yes..." Trin groaned. "I've had to blanket my house in a fire proofing spell and i'm not done yet. He's already consumed one baby bed, a dresser, closet of clothes, stuffed animals-- But what was this letter about?"

"Should we get him a candle?" Ice asked, not really wanting to talk about the letter, but knowing she would sooner or later. "I've got some big ones in the kitchen, I'll go get one now."

"Oh? One of those big one's with 3 wicks? I think that would be good for him! I could put a plate of something under it, to catch the wax," Trin said, looking at her sister. She was avoiding the letter. "He's not going back, is he?"

Maddy reached out for Walter, wanting him to hold her, even if he wasn't that much bigger than herself. She liked talking to him!

Walter reached out to take her, and Ice let him, figuring it would be fine with him sitting down. "I've got one with six, I think," Ice admitted as she headed for the kitchen. She came back with the candle on a plate, offering it to the little flameball. "And no, he's not going back... he's becoming a dad."

Trin choked, then started to laugh about that. "He's doing what?! Did he find a forgotten as well or--" or did he shack up some other girl? If he did, she was gong to hurt him! Even if he once tried to kill her, she was going to hurt him!

Melo looked at the candle on the plate, then looked at Trin. When she didnt' shake her head (not that it mattered to much to him), he perched on it happly.

Ice put it on the nearest table to his forgotten before sitting down. "He got a head of cabbage," she said, rolling her eyes slightly. "He says it'll turn into a kid, and he's going to take care of it. I think he's trying to impress me again."

That made Trin feel better, and she grinned. "I think he is too. It's cute! And on Gaia, I wouldn't doubt a thing."

Melo sat happy on his new candle bed, watching as Maddy was talking away to Walter, telling him about the trip to the store and the other boy she had met. She was in love with that boy, too.

The fact that she was talking about his best friend was completely lost on Walter, but he smiled and nodded anyway. Babies were cute, he figured. They were more interesting when they could talk real talk, but they were still cute.

He was almost worried about how talkative this one would be when she could talk, though.

"It's not cute, it's insane," Ice replied. "He's still got no job, and he's living with Jack! That poor baby is going to turn out wild, I give you odds."

"Oh, you have a point. Jack's already messed up with having a little girl in a house full of guys." Trin shook her head. This could get really bad. "He really needs to find a job now, rather than just buming at Jack's."

"But I think he is trying to impress you," she added.

Maddy gave a bit of a yawn, and looked up at the boy, it was his turn to talk to her! She had just told him a story! Sure it was about the store, but it was still a story!

"Mmmm," Walter said thoughtfully. "You need to meet Xana and Annie!" he said finally. "Then there's this really nice guy named Althie, who can steal anything!"

"You think it'll be a girl?" Ice asked, worried. "I mean, he's doing okay with his feien, and she's a female. But a little girl is different, don't you think? I mean--," she sighed, running a hand over her face. "He's a pain."

"He's a perv. You have alot of pervy guys in your life, sis. If it is a boy, he'll probably turn out to be a perv, too," Trin said, trying not to laugh.

Maddy looked up at him, interested in these other people already. She wanted to meet them!

Wait, Xana? She knew Xana!

"We should throw a party!" Walter decided then and there.

"Did I ever ask him to show how good, or bad a father he would be?" Ice asked with a groan. "He's going to drive me insane one day, and I blame you. I don't know how it's your fault, but I still blame you."

"Oh sure! Blame it on the sweet, innocent one!" Trin laughed, leaning back on the couch. "I didn't do anything. You didn't tell me about him for yyyeeeears."

Maddy's eyes brightened. A party? It sounded like fun! Even if she didn't quite know what a party was. She grinned at him.

"With lots of cookies!" he added, going to the real reason for a party in his mind.

"But we'd all have been better off if you had never found out," Ice replied with a sigh. "Well I guess it's too late to try and talk him out of it now. We'll just have to make sure the kid doesn't come out completely... well... crazy."

"Actually, that's a lie. If it wasn't him, or you'd never met him anyway, then I'd dead," Trin told her seriously. "I guess perventing the kid from being a perv is beyond us, huh?"

Maddy clapped her hands at the mention of cookies. She had one of those before! They were good!

"I want a cookie now!" Walter decided. "Moooom! We need cookies!"

"Oh? After all that chocolate you ate?" Ice asked. "I don't think you need any more sugar." She shook her head, looking over at TB again. "Can Maddy have a cookie?"

"That would be torture to Walter, now wouldn't it?" Trin answered, shaking her head.

Maddy promply pouted. She wanted a cookie!

"He should have thought about that before he snatched the chocolate," Ice said seriously.

"I'm going to starve," Walter said dramatically.

Again, Trin laughed. "You are not going to starve. But when you steal, and eeat something you shouldn't have, you shouldn't be rewarded," she told him seriously.

Maddy pouted more, making a whimper because now Walter wasn't happy! She looked to her mom, then to her apparent Aunt, giving them both the big eyed look. She was going to win the war with cuteness!

"Ooooh, she's good," Ice said, shaking her head. "But no cookies until after your next meal."

This wasn't how it was to work! They were supposed to agree! Maddy looked at Walter now, to see if he knew what to do. She wanted a cookie!

Trin was trying not to laugh again at this reaction. Poor, poor little girl.

"Mommy? I'm hungry!" Walter promptly said. Ice laughed out loud.

So did Trin. "He wants his meal so he can have a cookie!" she said, stating the obvious.

"No, really, I'm hungry!" Walter said.

"Mmmhmm," Ice said. "Let's have a barbecue, shall we? That way we'll have good food and time for you to really get hungry."

"I'm up for that!" Trin said. "Do we need to get anything for it, of do you already have enough?" Then she looked at Maddy. "You wanna have a little party, Maddy?"

The girl look up at her. Parties equalled cookies, in her mind and she smiled happily now. She wanted a party! With cookies!

"I've got hotdogs and hamburgers," Ice said as she headed for the fridge. "Along with buns. And chips!"

"Ooh, that sounds good! Too bad Bav didn't want to come with us, but that's her loss!" Trin said, getting up to help her sister, then she paused, looking to the drawing girl. "Kitsu, sweety, would you mind watching then while we make food? I want to see your other pictures too."

Kitsu looked up, breaking into a smile as she nodded in agreement. She could do that!