Kitsuno let's out a small yawn before rubbing her eyes. As her vision focuses, she sees her elder twin smiling happily at her. "Rise and shine sis!" She then leaps from the bed and lands on the floor at the doorway, "You spent all night reading that book father got you, didn't you?"

The younger twin smiles as she sits herself up from bed, "Hehe, it was a really good part. It would have bothered me if I left myself hanging on such a cliffhanger." Shade leans back to stretch, "Yeah I hear ya, but you slept in. That's my thing."

Getting herself out of bed, Kitsuno brushes her night clothes and fishes around her bed and found a book flipped under her pillow. Shade looks at the book as the younger twin puts it on her nightstand, "Kit that can't be good for your neck."

Their ears twitch, "Shade! Is your sister awake yet? Her breakfast is going to get cold." Shade pokes out the door, "We're coming mother." She then returns to looking at her sister, "Well come on sleepyhead, if it starts going cold I may as well eat it."

This puts a running start in Kitsuno as she leaps at her sister into a big hug before spinning each other around and she ends up in the hall and let go. "As if! You've been eating a lot lately. Save some for me."

The two twins then make their way downstairs and to the kitchen as a small display of food rested on top of a polished marble table. Standing near the table was a six foot tall ruggish looking wolf with auburn fur and shaggy black hair style, dressed in a soft silky outfit. He looks at the twins before opening his arms as Kitsuno leaps up into him, "Haha, there's my other girl. Enjoy the book I got you yesterday?"

The younger twin nods and he gives her a big squeeze, "Thought you would. The Journey in the North is a good series." Kitsuno let's go of her father and reaches for a muffin on the table, "I got so into the book when the prince was riding on the direwolf during his escape!"

The wolf smiles and rubs her head, "And you know what's more interesting sweetie?" He then moves his hand down to her nose and gently boops it, "That book is based on a true story." Her tail starts wagging in sheer glee as she smiles and bites into the muffin.

He then pats her on the back, "Don't fill up on that there, your mother made fresh ham with eggs crisp on the sides." Her ears shoot up as she nearly forgot. The younger twin makes her way to another side of the kitchen to enter the dining room. Sitting at the table was another kitsune, tall and slender with pristine grey fur and her long blue hair drapped over her shoulders wearing a more elegant outfit. She was sipping some tea before noticing her daughter enter, "There you are. Sweetie, we've been over this. Reading is fun and all, but bedtime is important."

Placing the muffin on her plate, Kitsuno sits in a chair and takes a fork to start digging into her breakfast. Her mother watches her for a moment before finishing her tea and getting up. Moving over to Kitsuno, she kneels down and plants a kiss on her cheek. "Love you sweetie, mommy has to head to the spire now."

Shade walks into the dining room and wraps herself around her mother in a big hug, "Hehe, have a great day mother." She returns the hug with tenderness. "And you be a good girl too. Stay out of trouble, got it." The elder twin flashes her mother a smile, but hidden in it was mischief as the twins already had plans today outside.

Hymatte Prairie

Once Kitsuno had finished her breakfast, the twins got dressed in their own silk clothes. While their mother and father were at the spire, the duo decided to go out on an adventure like their father does every now and then. Shade held onto a small shortsword and shield she was gifted and was playfully swinging the blade around. "I still can't believe father got me a sword! This is so cool."

The younger twin smiled as she kept her distance a few feet away as her sister swung around at the grass. "Just be careful where you swing that sis. It looks sharp." The duo pass by a few trees and Shade jumps up and let out a small battle cry before slicing downwards against a tree branch.

Her sword sticks into the branch halfway and she swings her body forward to dislodge it and the branch snaps. Kitsuno looks at her sister as she lifts up the branch, "Hey Kit, want me to make you a sword?" Smiling, the younger twin nods and the elder twin used her blade to trim off any smaller twigs sticking in the branch. Pretty soon she made a slender makeshift blade out of the fresh tree branch and handed it to her sister. "One wooden blade, fresh from the tree."

Kitsuno grabs ahold of the branch with both hands and gave it a few practice swings. "A fine work of art Lady Nightwing." Shade nods as she leaned against the tree, "Only the finest for you Lady Nightwing."

The two stare at each other for a moment before bursting out laughing. The elder twin drops her sword and shield on the ground as she clutches on her sides, "Bwah! Wow, that was too corny right there. Holy cow that was just bad." Kitsuno catches her breath slightly, "I know, but that just sounded exactly how the blacksmith does with mother."

Once the laughing fit was over, Shade picks up her sword and shield to put them up on the strap she had around her right shoulder. "That guy is so weird. Funny, but weird. And he compliments mother a lot whenever she visits." The two continue walking through the open plains, "Part of me wonders if he has a crush on her."

The younger twin laughs a little more before resting her stick against her shoulder, "I doubt that. He's seen her with father before. Though, probably wouldn't stop him from being all cutesy with her at all."

Bantering a while as they travel, the twins make their way across a bridge. Following over the bridge led a pathway into a small forest. As the duo made their way into the trees, the air started to feel strange. "Hey Shade, do you smell static?"

Her sister stops and looks back, "I was honestly about to ask you the same thing. A little weird don't you think?" Both of their ears twitch as they heard sparks echo in the distance. Turning towards the trees, curiosity got the better of them and they went off the pathway and wandered through the folliage.

They froze in their tracks when lightning came down and struck further into the trees, causing both of them to yelp and duck down closer to the ground. "Shade what was that!? It's not even raining right now." Somewhere further in some voices echo outward.

"Hey, I think someone is nearby!"

"How about you all focus before these summons get out of hand? The lightning elemental is already going crazy!"

"Yeah no shit! Now can you two help me before I get crisped like a kebab!?"

Moving slowly in the tall grass and tree sapplings, Shade and Kitsuno poke around some more out of curiosity. The twins are met with a sight of an open clearing with three black robed wearing figures, and a handful of monsters. Some of them looked like they were made of fire, two were standing tall and frost covered altogether. Among the rest of the smaller looking ones was an electric looking beast that was snarling at one of the robed individuals.

The duo watched as the robed ones walked around carefully of the electrified beast before one had to jump as it charged at them with its own claws extended in an attempt to slice them in half. The other two raised their arms up and both of them became surrounded by a barrier of light.

Shade and Kitsuno watched this unfold as they warily keep tabs on one of the monsters. The elder kitsune had gleefulness in her eyes, "Whoa... those things are pretty cool looking. Is this what magic does?" Her sister observed the monsters closer as her eyes dart over each one. "I remember looking at an old picture book father had. Something about stuff he had encountered in his own travels in his homeland."

Shade looks at Kitsuno, "Oh yeah, that book he had sitting out and writing in. What was it he called it again? An adventure log?" The younger twin nods, "Something like that, yeah. We should ask him more about it when we get home. The fire one looks pretty cool." She then points to an elemental that stood firm among the other monster. It had a female like torso with feathers adorned over its body.

The elder kitsune points over to the electrified looking beast as it stood on its hind legs and growled at the robed figures as the one it was targeting had a ball of dark matter in their hands. "I like the looks on that one." The beast roars before the dark matter is thrown at it. It makes contact and bursts, sending the beast down on its knees as black sparks arc through it. "There. That should stabilize it."

One of the large ice elementals stared down at the electric elemental as it tried to stand back up. This is where it turned itself and stopped mid turn as in its icy glazed eyes, spotted the twins poking out from the grass. Kitsuno noticed this, "Uh Shade, I think they see us."

One of the small lizards makes a loud hissing noise as it turns towards their direction. A robed figure turns around and points at the twins, "The hell are those kids doing here for?"

"They must have heard us with that last summon. What do we do about them?" The one who brought down the electric elemental moved closer to the other robed one and slapped them on the back of their head. "You idiot. Capture them!"

Two lizards out of the group started charging towards the trees. Both girls turned heel and ran back towards the path. Shade drew out her sword and slashed away at some of the branches and small trees to clear a way for her and her sister.

Once the two were out on the path, they ran towards the bridge. Close behind them were the two lizards as they weaved through the grass and shredded branches with ease. Kitsuno quickly moves her tail as one gets close enough to snap its jaws forward. "Shade! They are literally right behind us!"

The other lizard leaps forward and tackles Shade, sending them rolling across the bridge before stopping. The elder kitsune quickly kicks it in the stomach before getting back up. Looking at her sister, she rushes over to her younger twin and swings her sword at the lizard chasing her and the blade makes contact with its tail.

It screeches as Shade sliced it halfway off, making it stop chasing Kitsuno and flail a bit before turning around to spit a yellowish red liquid from its mouth. The elder kitsune quickly turns around and the liquid splashes on her shield. Followed by a scraping noise as it swings a clawed hand at her back. She staggers forward on her own feet from the force of the attack, but places both hands on the hilt of her sword and with all her might, swings herself around and slams her blade into the lizard.

This sends this one flying to the edge of the bridge and it stops near from falling off. Kitsuno had caught her breath from almost having her tail bit off and uses the tree branch her sister cut for her to smack the lizard off into the dry ravine. "Kitsuno, look out!" The younger twin yelps as the remaining lizard had gotten up and spits the same liquid out toward her. It misses, but barely as it splashed on the wooden boards by her feet.

The elder kitsune let out a growl herself as she leapt up, "Eat this!" Holding onto her blade, she falls towards the lizard and strikes down heavily. Blood splatters on the bridge as Shade smashes the lizard into the wooden board and impales her sword through its head. Kitsuno stares in shock as her sister had just killed the lizard.

Her initial shock however is wavered by the sound of a fireball whizzing past her head and exploding on the ground behind her. Shade stands back up and withdraws her sword from the corpse as she looks at the other side of the bridge. A fire and ice elemental had made their way through the forest and were making their way on the bridge. "I don't think I can beat those things!"

The twins scatter as the fire elemental formed another ball of fire in its hands and flung it forward. The large ice elemental charged forward across the bridge and left icy patches in its wake. Given the size difference between the ice elemental and the two kitsunes, it caught up quick and slammed a fist into the ground. The shockwave from the strike staggered both girls and they tripped on their own feet in their escape.

Shade staggered forward further and grabbed onto her sister to shove her ahead more. "Keep going sis!" Kitsuno lands a few feet further from her sister and manages to get back on her feet, only to see the ice elemental grab Shade by the waist with one hand. "Gah! Let go of me you overgrown ice cube!"

Seeing her sister being held captive now, Kitsuno had to act fast. But how though? She was just a little girl against a giant. The is when she saw the fire elemental catching up. Holding the branch in her hand, she quickly got an idea and ran forward towards the ice elemental. It looks at the younger twin as she raises her makeshift weapon and throws it.

Her branch beams the fire elemental in the head. Effectively making it mad and looking at the younger twin. The ice elemental ends up grabbing her and held onto both kitsunes. Shade was using the hilt of her sword to smack into its hands but to no avail did it budge.

The ice elemental however looked over towards its companion as it held a large fireball in its hands and targets Kitsuno. Quickly, the ice elemental turns around and begins to sizzle as the fireball was launched and made heavy impact on its back. Dropping the two kitsunes, it waits as its body dripped down slightly.

In a pause, it looks at the twins before furrowing its icy face and standing back up to look at the fire elemental. Who had an apologetic face for the accidental friendly fire. The ice elemental was not having it as it cracks its icy fists.

Shade laughs a bit, "Ha! You're in trouble." Kitsuno grabs ahold of her wrists and pulls her sister along, "And so are we if we stay longer!" The two resume running as the two clashing elements begin to fight.

Along the way they came from, the two spot a large moving beast crossing the plains. Kitsuno squints her eyes a bit as they run near it, "Is that... a direwolf?" Shade slows down a bit in her own steps as she was needing to catch her breath. She looks over towards the beast and nods, "Yeah, that's a direwolf. Think it'll give us a lift?"

Kitsuno looks back towards the pathway to the bridge, "If it is a friendly one that is. There are some pretty mean ones out here." The two take their chance and approach the large wolf, only to be greeted with the sight of relief. A warm smile washes over Shade's face as she recognized the direwolf. "Amadeus!"

Turning its head towards the twins, the direwolf changes its direction and trotted over to them. Once close by it lowers its head and nuzzles it against Shade, "Long time no see boy, how's it been?" She rubs a hand over his large muzzle and he gives her a playful lick. Kitsuno looks back as she sees something else coming from the direction of the bridge, "Not to cut into the reunion, but we need to get out of here fast!"

Amadeus looks up pass the twins and his eyes sharpen as he sees some of the monsters. Leaning his head forward, he bites down on Kitsuno's silk clothing and lifts her up into the air. She yelps a bit before landing on his back. Her sister climbs up onto his neck and he hops to it and runs in a different direction away from the monsters.

Shade held on tight with one hand and raised her sword up in the air, "Onwards! To the spire!" Amadeus let out a bark and increases his speed. Kitsuno held on strong on his back, "You think they will be okay with us bringing him there?"

Lowering her sword to put it up, Shade shrugs her shoulders. "Beats me. They allow father's mount Aversa inside the spire. Don't see what's wrong with Amadeus. He's a good boy after all." Kitsuno couldn't help but smile and rubbed a hand on the side of the direwolf they rode. "That he is."

Hagakurr Spire

Within an hour, Amadeus has made quick distance from the plains to the sacred spire that people come to for tribute to the gods. Coming to a stop near the tori gateway, the large wolf lowers itself down on the stone pathway and allows the twins to disembark. Kitsuno sighs before rubbing his head, "Well then, that was definitely something. Wasn't expecting to see some magic today." Shade smiles before equally rubbing Amadeus, "Neither did I, but did you see me back there with those lizards?"

Wearing a warm smile, Kitsuno nods and continues rubbing Amadeus, "You were pretty cool back there sis. If I had known better, you would have been copying the warrior in Journey in the North." She then lowers her hands as Amadeus shakes his head and his ears fold down as Shade scratches behind them. "Only differences between you and her is she was using a lance that fell from the heavens and was taking on a whole army."

The elder twin sticks her tongue out, "Bet you anything she fought lizards as a child too. Who knows? Maybe we can be heroes ourselves." The two share a giggle at the thought of that. Then they felt a slight chill up their spines, "Shade and Kitsuno Nightwing. What are you doing with a direwolf?"

The two turn around to see their mother and father walking down the stone pathway. Their mother glances at the direwolf before looking at her daughters, "Well, we are waiting an explanation." This is where their father took notice on their clothing in it being covered in strange liquid and Shade had some blood on hers. "What have you two been doing? Is that blood Shade?"

Shade wore a proud smile on her face, "Sure is! Kit and I were out adventuring. I got to use my sword on this weird lizard thing that tried to eat us." The auburn furred wolf blinks at her immediate and happy response. "Kitsuno, is this true?" She nods and places a hand on Amadeus, "Yes father. Shade really let that thing know what's what. And this is Amadeus. We found him a year ago and have been friends ever since we fed him.

Amadeus grins before sticking his tongue out to lick Kitsuno, producing a happy giggle from her. The motherly kitsuno narrows her eyes at them, "You fed... a wild direwolf?" Her brain racks up her own memories before looking at Shade, "So this is where that sturgeon went to?"

Shade's ears flatten down a bit, "Sorry mother..." Amadeus raises his head up off the ground a bit before looking towards their mother. She turns to meet his gaze and the two stared at one another for a few minutes. Amadeus then wears a stupid happy grin on his face as he sticks his tongue out.

Their mother smiles in defeat at the goofy direwolf, "Well, at least he is docile." She then turns to her husband, "I'm sure Aversa would love him for company, wouldn't she?" The wolf studies Amadeus as he held a hand up to his chin. "Unsure about that Cassandra. Might take some time as she's a little testy with ones that aren't serious." He then watches Amadeus roll over as Shade and Kitsuno begin to give him belly rubs. "But... I am willing to see how I can egg her on to liking him."

A smile grew on his face, "I have to say, I am impressed you two tamed a direwolf around this age. Most tamers are usually in the late teens or early adult years." Cassandra leans into him and he wraps an arm around her waist, "They must have learned from the best Jaspar." She then moves a hand up to boop him on the nose, "That being you my lovable woof."

The two share a laugh together as their daughters continue to play with Amadeus. The area begins to fade slowly as the voices start to echo and distort.

..........
..........
..........

Kitsuno's eyes slowly open, her vision comes forth blurry for a while as her head felt heavy. The steady sound of beeping echoed in the room. Attempting to move her left arm proved stagnant as it was strapped down and have an IV needle in her along with a pulse connector on her left index finger.

Sunlight shined from the window over her and her vision clears up enough for Kitsuno to realize she was in a hospital room. Sitting upright, she gagged slightly from the food tube that was in her throat currently. Forcing her to lay back down.

Her ears twitch as she hears some groaning. Turning her head slightly, the younger twin sees her elder twin moving in her own bed in a similar state as her, "Fawkin hell... ware am I?" Shade had her right hand rubbing her head as she tries to move in her bed, but was under heavier restraints as her waist was belted down on the bed. "Aw cawm on..."

Bleary looking around, Shade ends up moving her free hand around and ends up hitting a red buzzer. This sends an alarm notification to a check in desk section of the hospital. The nurse manning the desk at the moment glances over it, "We need some assistance in G-2." She resumes working on some data entry she was compiling of some patients before it slowly clicked in her head. "Wait G-2!?"

Blinking her eyes more, Shade's vision starts to return to her and she is left with utter confusion in everything. ("Okay. Where the heck am I? Why am I tied down?") Her mouth moved around the food tube and begins to graze her teeth against the hardened plastic. ("And what is in my mouth? This thing doesn't feel comfortable at all.")

Both kitsunes attention was drawn to the door as the handle fumbled around a bit before a male feline nurse opens the door. His eyes meet up with both girls, "Sweet Cassandra they are alive!" Before Kitsuno could ask anything, he rushes off in the hall, "Someone call Doctor Cedric! The kitsune twins are awake!"

Half an hour passes after some of the nurses saw the twins in shock, before a canine like doctor checked in on their room. The nurses were then tasked in removing the feed tubes from both girls, which turned out to be a more difficult task as both of them gagged hard from the tube being siphoned out of their esophagus. Once able to speak without a plastic tube down their throats, both kitsunes started asking what was going on.

Doctor Cedric fixated his glasses firmly on his face, "Kitsuno, do you recall the last thing that you did?" Racking her mind a bit, she thinks on what she did. "I think... I was holding onto my sister." The doctor nods before looking over at Shade, "You seem a little uncertain, but that did indeed happen. Doctor Borris was about to take your sister off of the life support we had her hooked up to that day. You barged into the hospital doors without much warning and plowed through a few doors to get into the room. After that you grabbed Doctor Borris and threw him aside into a wall."

He adjusts his glasses again before looking at Kitsuno, "Shortly after that you started casting a spell on your sister, along with hurling a ball of light at Doctor Borris. No one is sure what type of magic you used, but it defies all medical science as the parasite your sister was infested with was fully removed and void of life." Moving closer to Kitsuno, he reaches over and grabs her right hand to inspect it. "The mages here in Jinto Bay had to do some research on you as well Kitsuno. You appear to be heavily limited on your magic as forcing it further causes issues. While not my expertise, I am aware of some effects magic can do. Your friend Liam had grabbed onto your hand during your painful endurance. You both had damages to your hands."

Kitsuno looked at the doctor with slight regret hanging in her heart, not knowing she had hurt someone close to her. "Is... Liam okay?" Cedric nods before turning her hand over. "After some medical treatment, Liam made a recovery on his left hand after a month. I've made it due that he stops by for checkups every once in a while should the scarring break out." His own fingers part her palm open and he runs a thumb over it, "You on the other hand, seemed to have recovered without much of am issue. Aside from this, most of your ailments were magic related."

"Liam had to wait a month... how long was I out?" The younger twin squeezes her hand close a bit as Cedric let go of her. "By now? Three months. You and Shade have been in a coma since that day as you passed out immediately after curing your sister."

Three months they have been unconscious. Neither of them could believe it, but here they are. Cedric then turns back to Shade, "Now, Shade. I have many questions I need you to answer. The first one is, do YOU remember the last thing you did? And please, by all means. Take your time as you are more than likely confused and lost on what has transpired."

Shade had to think long and hard as to what she was doing before. The doctor waited for almost five minutes before Shade looked at him, "Last I thing I remember doing was an escort mission. Delivering something from Sarydia to here." The doctor nods, "Good, good. Anything else after that?"

She waits a moment to think a bit before answering, "After that I went on a nature walk. The day was still there and the forest I walked around in was soothing." Her head started feeling foggy as she leaned back heavily into her pillow, "I think... I remember laying back against a tree... after that it's just. Gone?"

A nurse entered the room and handed Doctor Cedric a folder with a bunch of papers inside it along with photos. He digs through the folder, "I see. Gone just like that?" She nods weakly as attempting to think further made her head spin. Pulling a picture out, "You wouldn't happen to have noticed anything out of the ordinary on said tree, do you?" Shade shook her head and he moves a picture of the parasitic flower towards her, "Nothing in resemblance of this flower, or its vines?"

The elder kitsune looked at the picture, but nothing was coming up in her head. "That's a weird looking plant." He pulls the picture away and tucks it in the folder, "That, "plant" Shade, was a parasitic floral derengea. Something that is unfortunately new around these parts acording to the mages. It must have been crossbred with something to have caused such a creation as evil as it is. The scientific name of its subspecies is the crepalea derangulamortis."

Shade just looked at him as if he spoke a different language. "Uh... what?" He sighs a bit and continues, "In more proper terms, some have called it The Creeper. This new varient of it is much more dangerous as it is sentient and uses its vines as sensory inputs to where it can snare into its victim and attach itself in hopes of using said victim as its host."

He pulls out some papers involving the parasite, "Upon investigation of the forest your sister and her friends found you in, there were more lying in wait against some trees. How they never trigged any of them is a miracle." He then looks over the paper, "Though, to say that you are to be on record as the first known survivor of this parasite is to go down in history. Were it not for your sister and her actions, I'm afraid you were marked as dead as the roots of The Creeper had dug around your skull and not only attached itself to your brain, but your nervous system as well."

Both kitsunes wince at that thought. Kitsuno more as she was remembering her own breakdown after hearing the news. "You possibly do not remember a thing, but to enlighten you Shade, after the parasite got the jump on you and attatched itself, you quickly became its new host and it tapped into some dark desires." He closes the folder and places it down on a counter, "A good handful of residents here in Jinto Bay wanted you arrested and to pay for your crimes. Little did any of us knew that at that point you were practically a puppet for something evil. The Creeper forced you to attack others both physically and sexually outside of Jinto Bay."

Shade felt a pang to her head now knowing that information, "Once we figured out you were, quote on quote, infected. All the victims you assaulted were immediately brought back in for full observation should the parasite be transfered that way from blood or sexual fluids." He then clasps his hand, "Thankfully all of them came up clean. Even the ones who... erm... carry your children."

Sighing as something she had done forcibly, was not sitting well in her empty stomach. "So I'm in a lot of trouble?" He shakes his head and reiterates, "At first you were, but once you were classed as a medical anomaly due to the parasite, most of the citizens here became worried as they came to realize it was not you doing said actions. A few out there still abhore you for it, but what is done is done. You are not under arrest or have any charges pressed against you." He then moves closer to her bed and places a hand on her free arm, "Now, I am willing to ask you both. Do you think you are able to stand after having been bedridden for three months?"

.......

Finished with his unloading, Vern takes off his hat and wipe an arm across his head. "Phew. That's the last of that." He turns to look at a shite and blue feathered avian with a clipboard, who was jotting down checkmarks on the cargo that was just unloaded. "Hey Roy, we have any other ships due?"

Flipping through the clipboard, Roy shakes his head, "That be the last one Vern. Go ahead and head on out. Hugh, Jenkins, and Meridian got it from here." Lowering the clipboard and approaching the wolf with an extended a feathered hand, "We really do appreciate ya lad. Been a real helping hand with the ships lately."

Vern grabs his hand and shakes it, "Not a problem sir. Honestly, never thought I would be on a ship myself. Definitely a whole new experience." Roy flashes him a smile before patting him on the back, "Fancy getting your sea legs going are ya lad?"

Rubbing the back of his head as he looks over to the open bay, "Well, after a week of seasickness, it's not so bad out there. Open sea, fresh possibilities, hell I'm seeing some stuff I never even heard of here in Druisalle." Vern then turns his head back towards the city, "But I do have things here to look after. That comes first."

Roy nods before patting his back and walked him over to the dock entrance, "Well don't be dawdling around now then. Off you go to your lady friends over in the hospital. Say hello to Cedric for me will ya?" The wolf nods and heads on out from the docks.

As he made his way to the hospital, he noticed there were some people crowding the front door of the hospital. Upon further inspection there were some of the Jinto Bay officers standing at the front door blocking it off from a few reporters who were deeply interested in getting inside. Some of the reporters were asking if they could go inside yet, having the officers deny them further. "Those of you who are actually here to visit and not bug some patiences, please step to the right and come forward. If you are a reporter, step away from the pathway. This is an emergency service building."

One of the cat officers takes notice of Vern and points at him, "You. You're allowed in." He then points back at the door and the wolf wastes no time in maneuvering through the crowd and passes through the door. "Why is that guy allowed in!?"

Once inside, Vern heads to the front desk and the nurse looks up from her computer, "Hi Vern. I take it you heard the news?" Confusion hits the wolf as he was unaware of what was going on. "No? I saw the reporters outside and such, but I haven't heard anything so far." The feline behind the desk smiles, "Word got by quickly to some others outside. No idea how, but they rushed over to see about your friends."

His eyes widen, "Wait, something happened to the girls!?" She nods and rises up from her seat to head towards the door. Opening it, she gestures a hand to the wolf, "Come see for yourself."

Listening to the nurse, Vern follows her throughout the hospital. They end up passing a few other nurses that had been busy with other patients, but then passing by some that were gossiping. His ears twitch as he listens in on a passing nurse, "I can't believe they woke up. They barely moved or twitched since they checked in."

Many emotions started running through his head and heart as he continued to follow the nurse. Once they reached room G-2, he is greeted with the sight of Shade and Kitsuno both standing up from their beds in hospital gowns. The elder kitsune stood close to her sister and rubbed her arm as the doctor and nurse had removed them both from the IV needles. "Well, I guess the first thing to do is find either Vern or Liam and..."

Her words stop as Vern walks into the room and wrapped his arms around them both. Shade waits a moment before running a hand up to his head and petting between his ears. "Well, that was easy."

Once he let go of them, Vern exhales in a sign of relief. "You two have no idea how worried Liam and I were. We came by every day to see you two to make sure you were still alive." Kitsuno looks up and down on Vern's outfit. "Did you become a sailor when we were out cold?"

The wolf lets out a hearty laugh, "Ha, something along those lines. Once it was established that you two were going to be staying here until further notice, Liam and I had to go back to Sarydia to explain to everyone what had happened. I had to pull some strings with Jennette in order for me to stay over here in Jinto Bay. Master Wilhelm gave Liam full permission to continue his studies here as well."

Shade slowly walks up to him and wraps an arm over his shoulder, "I bet he's going to be tickled pink when he sees us. Though, I have to say. Never thought of you as a sea dog." Vern cranes his neck a bit to look at Shade, "Trust me, I had some doubts on it as well when I looked for work here. Quartermaster Roy over at the docks gave me a shot with cargo loading and unloading. I took on to it all pretty fast, even spent a month out at sea."

The elder kitsune gives him a sniff before gently nibbling on his cheek. "Shade, stop that." She giggles before letting go, "Sorry sweetie, but you smell like fish." He let out a chuckle before rubbing her side with one hand, "I bet. You two must be hungry aside from what the hospital has been feeding you through tubes."

Kitsuno looks down slightly as she watches the two share an embrace. Vern however, notices this. "Hey, Kitsuno." The younger twin hesitantly looks back up. "Look, I understand why you were so upset a few months ago. I--"

"It's okay Vern. After what had just happened, I shouldn't have acted the way I did." Kitsuno looks at her sister, "Shade, I'm sorry too for how I started treating you. I just... I didn't want to accept that you were ready to go on." She held onto her own arms and looked down at her own feet. "I still don't feel ready to accept it either, but what kind of sister am I to not help support you and your family?"

Shade blinks a bit before realizing what she was getting at, "Kit, let me stop you there to tell you what I tried to tell you when you kept blowing me off." She let go of Vern and moves back to her sister to cup her hands on her face to lift it up, "Sis, I'm not pregnant. I never was."

Her eyes stared back with confusion, "But... you were in heat when he--" Vern interjects, "It's true Kitsuno. While I did end up tying the knot with Shade, she did not end up getting pregnant. And I might know why too. See, back when we were drinking at the tavern and about to head out to my place to have her stay there, Jakob came out with one more glass of mead. I remember Shade commenting how she felt like she drank a leaf. If my assumption is correct, Jakob must have knew this was going to happen and slipped her some contraceptives."

Doctor Cedric adds in by digging two x-rays out. "And to confirm it, here are Shade's x-ray scans from before and after with The Creeper. If you look at her abdomen, there is no signs of a fetus whatsoever. I am giving the after x-ray just to ease the thought of mind if you were to have accidentally purged the fetus out alongside with the parasite."

Kitsuno felt stupid for her actions now and hugged her sister as she looked at the x-rays. "So I was just being a bitch..." Shade smiles before planting a kiss on her forehead, "It happens sis, don't worry about it." She then turns her head to the doctor, "So, where do we pay for this?"

Cedric nods before replacing the x-rays into the folder. "We can discuss matters of payment in the lobby on your way out. We are willing to give you both a month in order to gather the funds you have. Now, let's go ahead and get you two ready to depart."

Meanwhile

Liam gently closes the book he was studying and stood up from the seat he was using in the library section of the guild. Pushing the chair back into the table, he makes his way through the guild. One of the other mages notice him leaving, "Calling it a day already Liam?" The ferret nods as he tucks his book away in his satchel, "Yeah, just feeling a bit off today. Might be the weather or something."

"A storm is brewing across the sea from what I heard. Just be careful okay? We understand you have a lot going on after all." Liam smiles before waving goodbye, "I know, and thank you for that. You all have my gratitude for your hospitality."

As he leaves the guild, Liam looked at his left hand. The burnt marks on his palm were still visible yet faint. Closing his hand slightly, all he could think about was Kitsuno. His heart felt nothing but pain since she fell into her coma and he prayed to Cassandra herself that both Shade and Kitsuno would pull through.

Taking a deep breath, he lifts his head up and begins walking his way towards the motel. "First drop off my stuff and change into something more comfortable. Vern probably wants to head to the tavern again to have a few drinks. Might join him on it this time." He then looks off to the distance of the hospital, "After visiting the girls first though. Gotta make sure they are still breathing."

Along the way, he notices one of the former victims that Shade had assaulted under the influence of The Creeper. Her belly was starting to show signs of size as her pregnancy was progressing. ("It is at least a relief that The Creeper could not be transfered that way. Though I do wonder how many children Shade has sired?")

A slight grim thought washes over him, ("Yeesh... it will be one heck of a surprise for her to wake up and be greeted by thirteen random women for what she did. Not sure I would want to wake up at that point.") Shaking his head, he continues to make his way to the motel.

Upon reaching the motel, he makes his way towards the room he and Vern were staying in and reached into his satchel to grab the keycard for the door. The ferrets ears perk up within his hat as he heard the sound of running water. "Back already Vern? Must have been a quick shift at the docks today." Sliding the card in the key slot, the door beeps and the locks undo, allowing him to turn the handle and open the door.

After closing the door and hanging his satchel on a hook, Liam takes his hat off and is met with the backside of Shade as she was standing in front of the bookshelf browsing what there was to read. "S-S-Shade!?" Her ears perk up and turn around to see the shocked expression on Liam's face. Uncaring to the fact that she was naked, "Hey hey Liam! Been a while hasn't it?"

Dropping his hat, he rushed over to the kitsune and wrapped his arms around her waist. "This has to be a dream, right? No... you feel damp. You are real. You're awake and alive." Shade pats his back before pushing him off slowly, "Calm down Liam. Breathe."

He does as instructed and breathes in deeply before exhaling. Vern walks out of the other room with a casual blue shirt on and his pants were his old worn jeans from his bandit days. "Hey there Liam, guess this is good as any for a surprise, isn't it?"

Liam looks at Vern, then at Shade. "When did they wake up? Both of them woke up right?" The wolf smiles before approaching Liam, "Just today my friend. Found out myself when paying the hospital a visit when I saw a bunch of press-goers crowding the entrance. Had to sneak the girls out a different way to avoid them."

Gears click in his head a bit before looking into the other room as he still heard water running. The water stops and soon the door opened after a few minutes. The ferret's heart skipped a beat as he walked into the other room and watched the bathroom door open. Kitsuno walked out with a towel over her body as she ran her fingers through her hair.

She pauses as she saw him standing the there in the middle of the room. "Liam..." without even thinking, he closes the gap and hugs her tightly. "I am so happy that you are awake. You have no idea how worried I was." The younger twin returned the hug and closed her eyes. Only to open them again slightly as she felt Liam press his lips onto her and gave her a heartwarming kiss.

Vern and Shade walked out of the room to give them some privacy as Vern closed the door behind them. "We should let them have their moment." The elder twin nods and goes to sit down on a chair. "What's funny, is I knew she had a slight crush on him. Just never knew how to really get those two this close to each other."

The wolf joins her in a chair of his own and rubbed her left arm, "I started getting the idea myself with how Liam looked at Kitsuno. Started to wonder if he was going to be sick with how bad he felt seeing his friend like that. Now though, can fully understand why."

Kitsuno and Liam continued to kiss in the empty bedroom. Liam felt light as a feather as he continued the embrace. Kitsuno, not only felt light herself, but tears running down her face as a mixture of guilt and joy spread through her.

Once breaking the kiss, she rested her head over his shoulder. Slight sobs emitted from her lips. The mage knew what she was sad about and rubbed his left hand over her back, "It's okay Kitsuno. I know you didn't mean to hurt me. Besides, I chose to grab you."

"I did it because I love you."