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"Hmmm," Elana murmured to herself, setting aside the short sleeve knit top. "That isn't quite right. But this wth that, and change the sleeves....,"she trailed off and then nodded. "Let's see if we can find something to add to Tempest's outfit in this sort of red." She fingered the deep ruby of the one with slashed sleeves. "Maybe a sash?" She eyed the shirt again. "Could you make a sash from the front and back panels of this after we removed the sleeves?"

Tor meanwhile was getting highly restless. He got up and padded over to Elana and bumped her lightly, leaning against her. "I want to go," he spoke soft and low, but with an urgent tone. "Let's go, please?" He raised pleading eyes to first Elana, then to Eftemie.

Elana exchanged looks with Eftemie and turned for the counter. The teenager stood up straighter and clearly tried to look more composed than he felt as they approached him. While he swiftly tallied it up on the machine, she unslung the backpack from one shoulder and twisted it around to unzip the front pocket and pull out her wallet. She let the pack hang from one shoulder and offered the teen the allotted money. He stuffed the clothing in a plastic grocery bag and plopped it on the counter before ringing up the payment and handing her the change.

Hands full of wallet, change, and the bag, she thrust the bag at her friend. "i'm not a packmule, you know!" she quipped, slipping the change into her wallet and then zipping it into the front pocket of the backpack before slinging it back onto both shoulders. "Alright boys, we're ready." she called and threaded her way through the few tables and racks in the store, leaving Eftie to follow behind her.

The teen apparently had been waiting for this, for he practically pounced on a radio behind the counter and clicked it on. She glanced back to see him hunched over it, nearly wringing his hands. She paused to listen to see what was so nerve-wracking. A business-like voice spoke clearly from the tiny speaker.

"It has become apparent that the drought has caused all large farms in the state to shut down. I, your mayor, have made an effort to make up for this loss of incoming produce by increasing the amount grown by our in-city hydroponics gardens. Due to the increased need for water for these crops, I have been forced to divert a portion of the ciy's water supply to these facilities. In this time of need, I call upon the citizens of our good city to learn to conserve their water. To assist in this endeavor, I have enacted a rationing system, with a daily household allowance of water. I want to thank the citizens for their cooperation in this measure to keep our city thriving. Thank you."

The teen looked up at them then with a wide-eyed mien of shock. Elana, who had stood with her hand on the door and Tor leaning mightily on the backs of her legs, shrugged at Eftie and pushed on out the door.

With slitted eyes trell watched as people began to come out and act almost as if he himself had pushed them to it. Men began to fight and shove in ire. And here came those two goody-goodies. Yes, he would teach them alright!

Timing himself just right, he waited for a twitchy looking woman to pass him, then he leaped out with a terrifying gibber, flashing his razor-edged teeth at her and rolling his eyes maniacally. She reacted perfectly.

With a terrified and urgent scream the woman turned and fled, her steps pattering down the middle of the street as she angled away for him... straight towards the corner market.

He then turned his vile gaze to the two men who were fighting and nudged them. They paused in their struggle and watched the woman who was now fleeing into the store.

"Look! She's going for water! Out of my way! My family is bigger than yours." And with that, the one man shoved the other to the ground and hustled past him, and past the girls, on to the corner market. The ther people on the street gave each other uneasy looks and began to edge and hurry the same direction. The man on the ground shouted in fury and clambered to his feet. "HEY YOU! My wife's pregant! She should come first!" And with that, he dove forward, shoving anyone aside who was in his way.

With a menacing cackle, trell watched as the two girls and thier kitty-cats cautiously begain to walk around the growing crowd heading for the store. He knew their home was beyond that store. He knew they'd have to brave the crowd. And he waited until they were in the middle of the street, withink the growing stream of people, before he acted again.

With a bizarre happy skip, he leapt out into the stream of people. He got squeals and frightened squawks as he shoved between legs and feet. At one point he stopped and looked up into a circle of fearful faces and smiled wickedly and announced in his scratchy voice, "That store has no more water, you know. But I know someone who has some." And with that he scurried through the crowd, making a beeline for the girls, who as yet were still edging through alright.

He didn't go all the way to them... he was no fool. Those aiko weren't entirely mushy poof-balls of love. He darted away again, out of sight. But the tide of panicked people who had taken him at his word were surging towards the girls still. Stupid, bleating sheep! Who would believe the word of an imp at times like these?

He scrambled up on the steps to an abandoned buidling nearby and watched as the scene he had set continued in perpetual motion. It wasn't long before some woman shrieked, "SHE has water!" and someone dove for the single bottle of water stuffed in the backpack. He loved it when stupid humans panicked and stopped using their brains. It made them SO much easier to manipulate!

Cackling, trell danced and spun in glee as the two girls were nearly blocked from view by the surge of terrified humanity.

Uneasily she watched the crowd of people. All she wanted to do was get out of there. How had something so fun turned into...this? She didn't know and she didn't care at that instant. She just wanted to get all of them home and out of the way of this.

A slight shiver ran through her as the people near her began running and pushing and shoving. She was clinging to Elana as much as the other girl was to her. Upon hearing the word 'Water', she blinked in surprise. Was that the cause of all this? Just because water was going to be rationed?

Pushing and shoving in the store caused her to glance back for an instant as a fight broke out. The sound of windows being smashed made her flinch again. But then suddenly Elana was ripped from her and she was shoved to the side.

Moon snarled causing two men to back up as they grabbed at Eftemie. One's eyes narrowed as he approached again.

"Let go!" she shouted as the man grabbed her arm at the wrist. Twisting, she aimed a kick at him just as Moonshadow sank his teeth into the fellow's arm.

Yuri didn't just snarl, he launched himself directly at him, claws ripping and slashing as his wings beat them back from Eftemie. He didn't hesitate.

*Tor!* he snapped. "Do whatever you need to get to Elana! They won't stop! Moon, protect Effie! I need to help Tor! Don't move though! We have to do this together!*

His claws and fangs extended, he lashed out, ripping and shredding whomever was in his way to make a path to the girl and Aiko. His eyes were furious, nearly glowing in rage, and he wasn't holding back.

To get them out safely, he would do whatever it took.

Yuri didn't hesitate when he heard Tor's call for help. He slashed outward, ripping and shredding with all four feet. At the moment he didn't care if any of these people were injured. It was their own selfishness that was causing this. Neighbors and friends didn't act like this.

One man flinched as the claws ripped the length of his arm. He backed up, stumbling over two other people who had been knocked to the ground. His eyes widened as he watched the aiko lash out at another person. It was at that moment, he stared at what was really happening. And he'd been involved in it. Wrapping his shirttail around his arm, he headed for his home. This would do noone any good.

Moonshadow clawed and bit two others as they moved towards he and Eftemie. Finally they moved away, bleeding and injured enough to make them understand they'd not reach her.

Two more people went down with injuries as Yuri cleared a path to Elana and Tor. A snarl of fury with wings beating the air and his eyes fully enraged caused others to move away quickly as they continued to look around for water. And back away from him.

*Tor? Elana?* he called looking for them. How much had they been injured? Could they answer him at all?

Elana toppled over backwards and was immediately swallowed by a mass of people. Most tried to charge right over her to get to her pack. Some tried to tug at her, as if she still had the precious water. Terrified, she curled into a ball, both shoulders stinging wildly from Tor's slashes. Someone got ahold of her braid and began to pull insistently.

Tor watched his sweet mistress fall backwards and the crowd rush over her. Frightened for her and enraged by their actions, he roared and leapt forward. Startled, peopl scattered from his slashing claws. In a moment he was straddling Elna. The one holding her braid and pulling still had the look of madness in her eyes, clearly blinding her to the danger she was facing. She was chanting, "Give it to me, give it to me," over and over maniacally. When a show of fangs didn't disuade her, Tor was forced to sink those fangs into the woman's arm. The woman let go with a shriek and flailed about. Ignoring her, Tor quickly snatched the back of her shirt in his jaws and began to haul her along between his legs, like a jaguar with it's kill. He could see Yuri just ahead, and he strained mightily to get Elana to him.

Elana's hands had been wrapped around her hair to prevent as much pain from it as she could, while occasionally kicking others who grasped at her. She just barely missed kicking Tor in the face as he lunged over her, shielding her. She quieted under him, letting him protect her. And almost immediately, the painful tugging on her braid stopped. Before she could take more than a couple painful breaths, her aiko friend was pulling her along like a cub. She let him drag her a short way before turned over and scrambling to her hands and knees. When he released her shirt, she shot up and ran past Yuri and threw herself at Efte, who was in a circle of calm amongst the chaos of the mob. Heedless of her still seeping shoulder wounds, she wrapped herself around her friend, trying to hold back her weeping. With only time for a few quick breaths, she turned to the aiko for the way out of the seething crowd. They weren't far from the edge that led to home.

Tor bounded past Yuri and then kept himself on Elana's other side, lending pyusical support to the young woman sa well as emotional. His poor crumpled wings were aching, but he disregarded his own discomfort, well aware of the injuries he had caused his own girl. He was inwardly struggling with slf-loathing over that. Surely he could have done it without hurting himself. Why couldn't he have been more careful? He was a lousy friend and protector. Miserably, he stayed close to Elana' free side, assssting them back home.

Elana struggled on beside Eftemie, on the last dregs of her ability to cope. Terror, the bludgeoning she took from the crowd, and the blood loss were swiftly catching up with her. SHe sagged against her friend and braced a hand on Tor's back. Unaware of how he felt about what he'd done, she inwardly considered him her hero. Grateful for both of them, she leaned her head tiredly against Eftie's shoulder and fought the urge to close her eyes and sink into blissful unconciousness.