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The worst part of this was not that Kaegan was hitting him, it was that Bornes couldn't see it coming, meaning every hit hurt that much more. He had managed to keep his cries to himself for the slaps. That was easy enough. But when the kick to the gut came, he let out the classic yelp of a dog. That high-pitched, curt squeal characteristic of animal abuse.

Bornes was forced onto his back from the kick, but he knew he shouldn't stay that way. Kaegan was obviously angrier than Bornes had expected. He doubled over on his side, breathing through his mouth already as he tried to bring himself up. Bornes had formulated something to say.

But Isiah had to open up his big mouth and Kaegan kicked him again. This time he didn't make a sound, the wind simply went from his lungs. He didn't try to get back up.

"I filled the bag with a variety," he hoarsed. He knew he had to finish his statement before Kaegan took it the wrong way, so he had to hurry the next part. "If I brought all the meat at once you would've wasted it all in celebration, would you not?" He was of course assuming that was what Kaegan was referring to.

It was mostly the meat Bornes had left out of the bag, afterall. Especially the venison. He was wondering if eating that was worth this. But at least Kaegan didn't know he ate some. Unless the alpha had spotted the empty jar. But he doubted... Hoped... His body tensed up ine xpection of the next strike, anyway.

Bornes winced at the insult of his rank. Stupid rank. He gasped when he was kicked in the ribs. His breath was gone again, and as Kaegan shouted out the things Bornes couldn't do in front of everyone, he tried to not be so loud with his wheezes.

Not soon enough had they all left, and no later did Isiah pick him up, though Bornes flinched when he was touched. "Leave me alone," he hoarsed, still wheezing.

He didn't want to be left alone, really. He was thankful Isiah was there. But he wasn't too keen on being carried out like an invalid. Isiah of course did not listen to the hybrid, and Bornes was laid down on the cot.

He didn't want to sit up, so he turned on his side and gripped his still incredibly sore gut.

Well, at least the venison was still in his stomach. He would've laughed at the irony if he still wasn't hacking and wheezing every now and then from his public humiliation.

He didn't think Kaegan would've gotten that mad. Not enough to beat him, anyway. Bornes was waiting for the moment when Isiah would ask him what he had done, and then beat him up for being too stupid.

Clearly Bornes didn't know how to deal with these clan people well enough.
It seemed like he was cursed to figure it out soon enough anyway....

Bornes began to shiver. "I know, I'm fine," he forced, his breath finally coming back to him.

He crumpled more, willing his shakes to go away.
"I'm guessing it was because I found this old storm cellar, with tons of food in it, and I didn't tell him about it," he whispered. "But I didn't hide food from him. I did as I was told." Selectively, he finished in his head. But he'd leave that part out.

He let out a groan. "Don't you look bad protecting me?"

Isiah was so close to Bornes, he could feel the other's breaths on his face.
"I didn't peg him as someone to get that pissed either," he stated. "I was wrong again. Like I was wrong with you." he groaned, frowning. "Why do I even bother anymore," he asked himself.

Bornes slowly uncurled himself from the ball, straightening his legs. He hissed slightly, his arms still over his stomach. If he hadn't eaten so much the other night, this probably wouldn't hurt as much.

"He knows I won't be able to fight," He couldn't even believe he was admitting that. "What am I supposed to do?"

Bornes began to shiver again.

"...You heard what he said," he breathed. "They'd catch us if we tried to run. Kaegan knows I can only go out at night. He'd keep watch then." He sighed, loosening the grip on his stomach and giving it a gentle rub, loosening up the rest of his body with a small sigh of relief and defeat.

"Plus we don't have much food left, either. We should raid that cellar, and he would expect that."

Bornes grumbled to himself when Isiah laid on his shoulder.

"It's my fault. I knew what I was doing was dishonest." He wanted to push Isiah off himself, to say something about how he wasn't into this anymore. But he needed Isiah to protect him, and although he felt bad for using Isiah like this, it couldn't be helped.

He wondered where that neediness form just a few days a go went. Maybe he'd gone temporarily insane from almost being raped. Had just wanted to love somebody desperately. Some sort of psychosis when he couldn't understand himself.

At least he seemed to be in normal sorts for now. Except wracked with guilt.
He took his hands from his gut and spread himself out further, so he could relax to the fullest. Ge gave another sigh of relief. His gut still hurt and he had become queasy, but most of the pain was gone, at least.

Bornes grumbled nonsense in reply and tried to fall back asleep. He hoped people would leave him alone. He was just punished, he should be able to have a few hours to himself.

And almost a few hours later, Tsurai jogged over to Jiden's domicile. He let himself in, looking at all of Jiden's junk, which Jiden called 'spare parts'. Tsurai thought it was still just junk.
"Hey, want to go see the werewolf? He saw him, right?"

Jiden looked up from his current project. It was something small, something that needed a lot of concentration. He wasn't quite sure what it was going to be yet. His goggles were over his eyes and he took a moment before he looked up with them, the steady glow of the large lenses apparent.

"The werewolf? Why? Wasn't he just punished for something?"
The engineer lifted the goggles from his eyes and pushed them up his head, using it as a sort of headband.

"Well, yes," Tsurai stammered. "But he's half dog. And he's funny. I like being around him."

Jiden hmphed. "He's a traitor. He betrayed Kaegan. That doesn't bother you?"

Tsurai's brown brows creased. "Well, yeah I guess. But you weren't there. He wasn't making much sense. Bornes didn't hide anything from us. He brought back food just like Kaegan told him to. Besides, Now we should be able to hang around him more often, without him being allowed to be... stand-offish."
Tsurai finally stepped into the cot, careful not to step on any of the plethora of 'spare parts' on the ground. "Didn't you want to study him anyway?"

Jiden gave a slight grimace and put down his project, standing up. "Yeah, I guess I'll go with you, kid," he finally relented, dusting himself off a bit and walking outside.
"You know where he is? You lead the way."

Tsurai led Jiden toward the hut where Bornes and Isiah lived. He let himself in, Jiden hesitating, but following.
"You didn't tell me Isiah lived with him!" he whispered to Tsurai.

Tsurai ignored that, instead asking a question. "It's the middle of the day. Why are they sleeping?"

Jiden smacked the back of Tsurai's head, as the boy had not whispered.
"Shhh, you idiot!"

Bornes had awakened, but he just gave a slight growl to himself and didn't move, hoping if he didn't humor them, they'd go away.

Jiden and Tsurai looked down at Isiah in unison. Jiden has a sort of anxious look, while Tsurai had his constant sort of dumbfounded excitement look.
"No," Tsurai said. "Yes," Jiden grunted at exactly the same time as his compatriot.

Tsurai turned to Jiden, appalled at the answer. "What do you mean 'yes'?!" he gave a playful shove to Jiden's shoulders. The older of them slapped Tsurai's hands away.
"You didn't tell me he would be here," Jiden stressed.

Tsurai balked. "What, you're afraid of big tall guys? He wouldn't hurt us. "

Bornes gave a warning growl and slapped his tail on the mattress in front of them. He wanted this annoyance to stop already.

Jiden hmphed and pushed Tsurai outside. "We were just leaving," Jiden plastered a fake smile on his face and turned to leave, but Tsurai ran right back inside and pushed Jiden back. "You said you'd stay with me!"

Jiden knew he couldn't take Tsurai in a fight, but he also knew that Tsurai was a huge idiot. He had to think of something to get them out of here before Isiah popped his lid.
"Listen, it's clear they don't want us here, Tsurai..."

The boy gave up on Jiden with a huff and walked right by Isiah toward Bornes' cot.
"Are you okay? I saw what happened out there. I don't think Kaegan was being fair."

Bornes grunted and smacked his tail against the mattress again. "Are you ranked?" he grumbled.

"What? Ummm.. Yeah, I guess so. Why?" Tsurai answered, a bit dumbfounded by the question.

Bornes figured this kid couldn't be such a threat. He had to fight to be accepted into the cult, right? He turned around with a snarl and jumped onto Tsurai, pinning him to the ground.

Jiden yelled out. "Bornes! No!" His worry lied with the werewolf. Jiden knew Tsurai was a loose cannon. Maybe not that strong physically, but definitely enough stamina to rival a horse or two. Bornes didn't have a chance if Jiden had sized him up correctly, and even though Jiden distrusted the werewolf, it'd be a shame to have him be beaten to a pulp so early in the game.