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Entry 5 .:Is there a locksmith in the house?:.

Green eyes held an intense flicker across the room. It's keeper--a brown male Temeo, sat quietly. It was his second day at his new residence, you see. His human called "Kitty" rescued him from a terrible thunder storm the other night.

His sensitive ears could still hear the rushing waves lapping at the river side; thunder crackling in the sky. He remembered being huddled under a tall tree, tails curled tightly around his cold, wet body. He was hardly afraid as this wasn't his first encounter with Mother Nature's wrath but unbeknownst to him, it'll be his worse.

Tucking his paws under his chin, his dirty blond braid fell to his side. The male's gaze focused on a key--a dark brown/black key fastened on a thin string. This was a special air loom to him; a gift from his parents--the parents he lost in the urban area of Duhla when he was small. It also seemed to have a bit of luck with it, as he escaped the claws of danger many times while wearing it. He could compare instances because he received a scar in a fight; a particular fight when he lost his precious key the moment before. Ever since, he holds it very, very dear to him. He winced after musing over his past for a spell. He hated thinking about it..but his past will always be there as he's alone with no-one to share it with.

After a few moments, the heavy rain almost lulled him to sleep as the storm progressed. His lids were half open. Suddenly, another flash of lightning flared in the sky, thunder followed with a loud bang. He jolted up, ears erect. He sniffed a bit and instinctively looked upward. The tree branch was struck!

"Holy cr-" His voice was sharply cut off as the same branch fell--right in front of his paws.

Backing up, awestruck, the male quickly swerved away, dashing blind into the heavy rain; paws beating on the soaked earth. It was hardly visible, but he kept running. His hope of finding new shelter lingered on.

Then, he spotted a light up ahead. It looked like a porch light, dimming faintly in the distance. It was the kind that belonged on human houses--an artificial light. He warned himself never to get close to a human as most Temeos of his kind seem to do--even his parents. However, this storm gave no sign of ceasing and at the moment, and he wasn't going under another tree.

The light got brighter and brighter as he got closer. His spirited lifted, which gave him the courage to run even faster. He was unaware of a deep puddle ahead of him and soon enough, his paws slipped into the mud and promptly slided into a nearby bush right in front of the house.

Hissing with frustration, the male struggled to get free from the bush’s sticky, spiny clutches. After ripping a few branches from his forepaws and twisting to his side, he managed to tug himself back out into the rain.

Cold, frustrated, disoriented.

His mind was whirling around like a blender on 'high'. Panting, his gaze drifted across his surroundings, his eyes widening as he realized where he was: In front of the human house. The porch light shone brightly, almost like a guide. He figured it's be warm too, under there. Reluctantly, he climbed the wooden stairs; muddy paw prints left behind from his nimble steps. Once reaching the top of the stairs, he halted before a mat..or rug of some sort.

It read: Welcome.

He was somewhat relieved that his parents taught him to read a common human language before departing. Even more grateful when the sign wasn't a threat, but more like a greeting.

Taking a few more careful steps, he examined the glass door that protected an inner door. He could faintly make out his own refection in the 'mirror'. Disappointed at his filthy appearance, he turned around and padded to the left corner of the porch, promptly collapsing with exhaustion. He stared sleepily in the distance, paws resting under his chin once more. The rain couldn't touch him under the protection of the roof, he mused silently with gratitude. Green gaze drifting downward to the floor and at his still-muddy paws, he blinked. Something was missing..

T-the key!

He instantly raised to his feet again, frantically racing around the porch, casting an occasional worried glance down at his neck. It must've snapped off!
Standing at the edge of the staircase, he stared in horror. He couldn't see anything beyond the stairs as nightfall and the heavy downpour prevented any visibility.

The male slumped back down, defeated. The item most precious to him was gone. Gone forever. There was no hope, even if he waited until the next morning. The rain would have washed it away into the sea.

A sudden 'click' sound from behind made his ears instinctively perk, but he didn't bother to turn around to see. He lost all he had now, it's over.

"..What do we have here?" a soft, feminine voice called out.

Noticing light coming from behind him, he stood up and turned around, staring up at a girl standing in the doorway--a human girl as he suspected earlier.

Flattening his ears to his head, he stood defensively, hissing when she came closer. He and she both knew he had no where to go. He wasn't about to jump in the rain again either.

The girl crouched down from afar but close enough for him. Her expression was a curious one mixed with anticipation and hopefulness. Is that what she saw in him?

You can't trust humans, Kove.

"You look lost. Are you alright?.. It's a nasty storm we're having I see." The girl spoke, her brown eyes staring straight at him.

Should he reply? He's on her turf now. Does he have a choice? His fearful gaze drifted from her eyes to the door behind her. A Temeo about his height was staring at him. Her golden eyes were wide with curiosity. An anthro Temeo stood behind her; His blue eyes focused on him intently. A scarf adorned his neck and his dark blue fur and vivid tribal markings-- almost like the ones on Kove's own forepaws-- were interesting to look at.

Green orbs returned to the girl, tails curling as his mind wandered.

"I am..not lost." He murmured in reply, avoiding her gaze now. That was his first lie. He never came this far down the river and had no idea where he was.

"Well.. would you like to come in and get cleaned up? And maybe get a bite to eat-"

"No! I can't go inside." he interrupted, looking down at the floor boards of the porch. Before she could reply, he added, "I-I..lost something important to me..."

This seem to have struck her. She then stood up and beckoned the anthro male outside. He did so, shutting the door quickly behind him so the female Temeo couldn't get out. She, in turn, made faces at him when his back was turned. Kove was slightly amused.

"What did you lose..um..?" The girl asked. She wanted his name, obviously. Why should he tell her?.. The key, right.

"They call me Kove and I've lost my key." He observed the anthro's ears perking with interest at the Temeo's 'odd' description of his precious item.

"It's brown, close to black in color. I must have it as it's very precious to me.." The distressed and very tired Temeo added.

"I see, Kove. I'm Kitty and this is Raine. Behind that door is Lily. I'm sure Raine could find your key for you. Do you have an idea where you lost it?"

Raine gave a reluctant glance at the human.

Kove tried to backtrack himself. He remembered running at breakneck speeds towards the light..and the bush.. Bush! Yes, it's probably in there if it didn't fall in the mud puddle and was washed away..

"There's a sticky bush I tripped into down there. It could be in there." Kove muttered. He was slightly embarrassed of the incident.

The girl turned the Raine.

"Get an umbrella from inside and go find that key." She then cast a glance to Kove after setting the demands. Raine gave a long sigh and headed into the house.

"Meanwhile..you're coming inside with me. Dinner's already been cooked and you can have a nice rest."

Although he was delighted to hear the word "rest", going into a strange human house without his key was going way out of his comfort zone.

He sensed the human could feel his hesitation as she headed towards the doorway. She turned to him, her expression showed sympathy.

"I promise he'll find it Kove. Don't worry." She reassured, beckoning him to follow her into her comfortable home.

Something about her tone did in fact reassure him. That and he was too tired to oblige anymore. Dragging his paws, he halfheartedly followed her into her house. The female Temeo was nowhere in sight and he spotted Raine passing him and the human to go back outside. An umbrella was grasped in his hand.

The sudden rush of warmth made Kove even sleepier, but not sleepy enough to ignore his surroundings. The place was a cozy one with the sound of the fireplace crackling; it vaguely reminded him of the human house he and his parents used to live in. Before he stepped any further, Kitty halted him.

"Now, ya can't go walking over my clean carpet with those paws!"

Kove sighed, staring at his muddy paws. This is going to be a looong night.

Not even two hours after Kove arrived, Raine had found his precious key and he had a chance to meet the Temeo's that lived there.

Lily was the careless one, but her bright personality warmed him. She was currently staring at him with her big, golden gaze as he rested on the couch. Raine was the obvious leader although Kove could sense he had some self esteem issues. Rush; the one who was currently playing Guitar Hero in the living room was hyper and confident. However, he seemed to be a bit..slow at times. This amused Kove. Matt was the calm type but too curious for his own good. He deserved that swat earlier. No-one touches his key. Raine was only lucky.

The next day, Kitty offered Kove a place in her family. He pondered this, hesitated a little, but it didn't take him long for a final answer.

Yes, he answered. Even though he lost his parents, he could regain another family. This human and her pack of Temeos seem to give him what he's been lacking all this time: Security.

And besides, he might even find his parents one day.

Anything is possible in Duhla.