The Phoenix Colony

"Hey Kat, what did you do after your dad got arrested? If you don't mind me asking." says Fox as she stares into the fire. She likes the fire, it reminds her of Britney.

 

...Another question like that?... "I lived my life half confused, half aloof. If that makes any sense. I lived with my mother for a while longer, but..."

THe feeling of her mother tuggin her hair came back to her with such force that she cupped her head in her hands, rolling herself into a ball.

In a barely audible tone, she said, "The shower of bullets came one morning. And the sound of CPS came that night."

 

"So your dad pissed off the wrong person apperantly. I know how that is. Apperantly my dad was selling secrets to a terrorist group, while he worked for the government. That's why they sent Allen and that swat team to my house. I guess I'm kind of lucky that I didn't end up in an orphanage or dead. Lonan came and saved me." says Fox.

 

"No, my dad was spineless. He only developed a backbone once he got to prison." Chrys sneered.

"If it wasn't for that bas-jesk, I would be with my mom right now instead of doing this weeird animorph crap."

She jerked up, and looked behind her, "Oh, this is bull's balls man!"

...Great I'm growing a tail...Oh Diety of power, if you're listening. That little wish I made when I was like six, the one to be a cat? Why didn't you ignoreit, you know, file it under 'dumb things little kids wish for.' Right behind 'unicorns' and before 'houses made of candy?'

 

Fox looks at Kat in shock. "Um...are you growing a tail. Wow, you really are growing a tail. Don't panic, it'll only make things worse. We can't do anything about our bodies changing, so please just relax and let it happen. I know thats easier said than done, but please try to stay relaxed." says Fox.

"I wonder if I'll start showing some physical changes soon?" thinks Fox.

 

..."Don't panic" she says!...I am growing a tail, and she's tellling me not to panic....

"Okay then, I'll try not to, but I'm not going to be able to take much more of this." Chrys manages to stammer. She startes to rub her ear, trying to comfort herself, but one of her claws slips out, nicking her ear.

She puts the claw in her mouh. And draws blood.

...My canines are changing too?!

 

Fox sighs and says "You're not going to like this, but it will help you relax a little." Fox begins to scratch Kat behind her ear and on the back of her head. "I know you don't like to be treated like a cat, but if this is helping you to relax, then don't fight it." says Fox.

 

...Is she trying to infuriate me?...purr...warm and fuzzy... "purr.." Chrys let out, slowly rolling onto the ground, and falling asleep, Sooo, this is why cat's are always beging for a scratch... She thought as she lost concousness for sleep.

 

Allen woke up in the cave. He didn't know how he got there. The last thing he remembered was hunting a...Yeti? Wait, that didn't sound right.

This planet must really getting to me. That's really bad when a whole day dissapears like that. Mabey it's the concussion.

He got up and started eating. It was time he went back to the ship and check the radio. Hopefuly there would be a reply.

 

Chrys woke up, the darkness of night still peering in through the mouth of the cave. ...What I miss?... Chrys thought about going back to sleep but her hunger pangs overrode the urge.

Out I go, what I'll find...Food, I hope so.... As she stood up, three realities hit her.

Crap, my leg!... She bent down to rub the sore spot, just as her tail whipped her in the face. ...Mother of a lump!.... She swacked at her tail, scratching it with her claws. "Mrow!"She let out, hopping around,...I gotta get out of here before I start growing fur...She thought, rolling her eyes and hopping towards the mouth of the cave.

 

Fox looks at Kat being weird again. "Calm down, did you already forget that you grew a tail. Hey, I'm going to go talk to Reva, try to keep calm while I'm gone." Fox smiles "If you're good, I'll scratch you behind the ear again when I get back."

She stands up and walks over to Reva near the entrance. "Can the two of us please talk in private?" asks Fox.

 

Chrys stops, Forget about my tail?! I forgot about you!...She sits back down, her stomach protesting. ...FOOD, dangit...food, grub, substinence... I want a mouse..Badly.

Chrys stares at the fire, wanting to hunt, but still afraid of the thing she knows is lurking outsde. ...What to do, tally voo..what to do...What the heck?!

On her once evenly toned, caramal skin exist stripes, barely noticable in the fire's glow.

 

"This is pretty private," Reva answered, looking at the rest of those in the cave who were bunking far away from the door as it was drafty, "go ahead."

 

"Look, I know I probably shouldn't have been such a smarta**, and I'm sorry. However, you need to stop jumping to conclusions. I was just warning them, not giving them an order. I don't appreciate being talked to like a little kid, for just letting them know that its dangerous outside at night. Honestly, do you really think I'm some evil person who is scheming to take your role as leader away from you?" says Fox.

 

Reva wondered for just a moment whether Fox had a learning disability. She shook it off and replied.

"Fox, you say you have been a group leader, correct? I mean before we were here and the tribes and such. How many people have you lead at any one time?"

 

"Yeah, I've been leader of groups during missions. Lets see. I would usually be leading about nine people during a mission." says Fox.

 

"Okay," Reva said, acknowledging that, palm out as though pressing the number into the air, "nine people who you were leading in dangerous situations. Tell me, Fox, how did you deal with those who wouldn't accept what you asked of them or could not adjust to your style of leadership?"

 

Fox says "Well I would just send them back to base, and go on with the rest. However, if one of them saw something that could be a danger to us, I would want them to let the entire team know."

 

"You would, Fox? You would want them to come back, not tell you, not give you a chance to decide how to use that information or what to tell them to do but just stride right up and make an announcement and give orders to your people?

The thing is, Fox, I do want them to know...I have no problem at all with that. What I have a problem with is you not telling me first. For all you know I wanted to warn everyone but maybe send a few out for some reason.

You've got this way of staring down at people and telling them what to do. Well, that is not your job at this point. Come talk to me and I'll probably ask for your input.

I seriously hope you can understand what I'm saying. If you can't I may have to," Reva's eyes glowed green, "'send you back to base'."

 

As they neared the cave they did nothing to try and hide their presence. The sound of feet crunching snow was loud and clear in the night as the ten men made their way up to the cave. Hell, Frank even openly waved at the guard their, smiling and yelling, "Well howdy neighbor!" Lets see if this doesn't get there attention. "We just decided to pop on in and have us a little pre-game powow, how the **** does that sound pal?"

 

"You already told the tribe about the monster. All I did was let them know that it hunts at night. Sorry about not getting your aproval before telling them something that could have saved their life. Next time I'll ask your permission before telling them any information." says Fox, as she turns and walks back to Kat.

Fox sits beside Kat and begins scratching behind Kat's ear.

 

...WHat is that smelll? Chrys was destracted from her skin and the ear scratching by the smell of new people, a scent that made her wary.

Xhe heard them hail Derek, the last part sticking out to her, "We just decided to pop on in and have us a little pre-game powow, how the **** does that sound pal?" What is that s'posed to mean?

 

Reva watched Fox go. The woman's attitude stank. She knew this would not be the last confrontation.

"Well howdy neighbor!" Lets see if this doesn't get there attention. "We just decided to pop on in and have us a little pre-game powow, how the **** does that sound pal?"

Reva didn't need extra hearing capabilities for this. She stood, hand on the gate, waiting for Derek to reply.

 

Realizing that whatever was happeing, Reva seemed to have it under control, Chrys calmed down a little.

...Okay, it's hard to concentrate when someody's fiddling with your ear...What was I thinking about before?...Oh, yeah these things,Chrys waved her hands in her lap, Come out, come out, where ever you are... Her claws showed themselves, without the blod this time. ..Good, now go away... They disappeared once more.

..Now, you, the thing hanging behind me, swish.. Her tail began to wag a bit, and then swack her in the face repeatedly, "Mrow, neow neow neow." She seized her tail, which had now sprouted fur. ...Uh-uh...

 

Derek stood up instantly, hefting the javelin in his good hand. "I think you should head back to where you came from." He gave a serious look, not in the mood for fooling around. It had been a long day and he was ready for it to end.