{
  "submission_id": "94741",
  "keywords": [
    {
      "keyword_id": "3343",
      "keyword_name": "action",
      "contributed": "f",
      "submissions_count": "4351"
    },
    {
      "keyword_id": "2490",
      "keyword_name": "drama",
      "contributed": "f",
      "submissions_count": "4615"
    },
    {
      "keyword_id": "964",
      "keyword_name": "love",
      "contributed": "f",
      "submissions_count": "24070"
    },
    {
      "keyword_id": "49220",
      "keyword_name": "love story",
      "contributed": "f",
      "submissions_count": "49"
    },
    {
      "keyword_id": "909",
      "keyword_name": "romance",
      "contributed": "f",
      "submissions_count": "9134"
    },
    {
      "keyword_id": "34009",
      "keyword_name": "thriller",
      "contributed": "f",
      "submissions_count": "187"
    }
  ],
  "hidden": "f",
  "scraps": "f",
  "favorite": "f",
  "favorites_count": "13",
  "create_datetime": "2011-04-20 16:39:17.9841+00",
  "create_datetime_usertime": "20 Apr 2011 18:39 CEST",
  "last_file_update_datetime": "2016-11-25 12:16:01.883604+00",
  "last_file_update_datetime_usertime": "25 Nov 2016 13:16 CET",
  "username": "KichigaiKitsune",
  "user_id": "30",
  "user_icon_file_name": "204108_KichigaiKitsune_retrotritrails.png",
  "user_icon_url_large": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/usericons/large/204/204108_KichigaiKitsune_retrotritrails.png",
  "user_icon_url_medium": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/usericons/medium/204/204108_KichigaiKitsune_retrotritrails.png",
  "user_icon_url_small": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/usericons/small/204/204108_KichigaiKitsune_retrotritrails.png",
  "file_name": "1731988_KichigaiKitsune_tais_story_chapter_11_com.doc",
  "file_url_full": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/files/full/1731/1731988_KichigaiKitsune_tais_story_chapter_11_com.doc",
  "file_url_screen": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/files/screen/1731/1731988_KichigaiKitsune_tais_story_chapter_11_com.doc",
  "file_url_preview": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/files/preview/1731/1731988_KichigaiKitsune_tais_story_chapter_11_com.doc",
  "thumbnail_url_huge": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/huge/1731/1731988_KichigaiKitsune_tais_story_chapter_11_com.jpg",
  "thumbnail_url_large": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/large/1731/1731988_KichigaiKitsune_tais_story_chapter_11_com.jpg",
  "thumbnail_url_medium": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/medium/1731/1731988_KichigaiKitsune_tais_story_chapter_11_com.jpg",
  "thumb_huge_x": "300",
  "thumb_huge_y": "151",
  "thumb_large_x": "200",
  "thumb_large_y": "100",
  "thumb_medium_x": "120",
  "thumb_medium_y": "60",
  "files": [
    {
      "file_id": "1731988",
      "file_name": "1731988_KichigaiKitsune_tais_story_chapter_11_com.doc",
      "file_url_full": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/files/full/1731/1731988_KichigaiKitsune_tais_story_chapter_11_com.doc",
      "file_url_screen": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/files/screen/1731/1731988_KichigaiKitsune_tais_story_chapter_11_com.doc",
      "file_url_preview": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/files/preview/1731/1731988_KichigaiKitsune_tais_story_chapter_11_com.doc",
      "mimetype": "application/msword",
      "submission_id": "94741",
      "user_id": "30",
      "submission_file_order": "0",
      "full_size_x": null,
      "full_size_y": null,
      "screen_size_x": null,
      "screen_size_y": null,
      "preview_size_x": null,
      "preview_size_y": null,
      "initial_file_md5": "9749d9e29c9a6ca8b5348703996d3862",
      "full_file_md5": "9749d9e29c9a6ca8b5348703996d3862",
      "large_file_md5": "",
      "small_file_md5": "",
      "thumbnail_md5": "2485f158cdfa8ac9e03901624de7e8e2",
      "deleted": "f",
      "create_datetime": "2016-11-25 12:16:01.883604+00",
      "create_datetime_usertime": "25 Nov 2016 13:16 CET",
      "thumbnail_url_huge": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/huge/1731/1731988_KichigaiKitsune_tais_story_chapter_11_com.jpg",
      "thumbnail_url_large": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/large/1731/1731988_KichigaiKitsune_tais_story_chapter_11_com.jpg",
      "thumbnail_url_medium": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/medium/1731/1731988_KichigaiKitsune_tais_story_chapter_11_com.jpg",
      "thumb_huge_x": "300",
      "thumb_huge_y": "151",
      "thumb_large_x": "200",
      "thumb_large_y": "100",
      "thumb_medium_x": "120",
      "thumb_medium_y": "60"
    }
  ],
  "pools": [
    {
      "pool_id": "5168",
      "name": "Tai's Story",
      "description": "The tale of a young boy who suddenly finds himself in chaotic New York City, with the dark shadows of an untold past looming over him. ",
      "count": "26",
      "submission_left_submission_id": "94739",
      "submission_left_file_name": "1731987_KichigaiKitsune_tais_story_chapter_10_com.doc",
      "submission_left_thumbnail_url_huge": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/huge/1731/1731987_KichigaiKitsune_tais_story_chapter_10_com.jpg",
      "submission_left_thumbnail_url_large": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/large/1731/1731987_KichigaiKitsune_tais_story_chapter_10_com.jpg",
      "submission_left_thumbnail_url_medium": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/medium/1731/1731987_KichigaiKitsune_tais_story_chapter_10_com.jpg",
      "submission_left_thumb_huge_x": "300",
      "submission_left_thumb_huge_y": "151",
      "submission_left_thumb_large_x": "200",
      "submission_left_thumb_large_y": "100",
      "submission_left_thumb_medium_x": "120",
      "submission_left_thumb_medium_y": "60",
      "submission_right_submission_id": "96120",
      "submission_right_file_name": "1731989_KichigaiKitsune_tais_story_chapter_12_com.doc",
      "submission_right_thumbnail_url_huge": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/huge/1731/1731989_KichigaiKitsune_tais_story_chapter_12_com.jpg",
      "submission_right_thumbnail_url_large": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/large/1731/1731989_KichigaiKitsune_tais_story_chapter_12_com.jpg",
      "submission_right_thumbnail_url_medium": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/medium/1731/1731989_KichigaiKitsune_tais_story_chapter_12_com.jpg",
      "submission_right_thumb_huge_x": "300",
      "submission_right_thumb_huge_y": "151",
      "submission_right_thumb_large_x": "200",
      "submission_right_thumb_large_y": "100",
      "submission_right_thumb_medium_x": "120",
      "submission_right_thumb_medium_y": "60"
    }
  ],
  "description": "This couldn't be happening...\n\nScared, hunted and hurt, the boys have no way home but to face the deadly elements, armed adults, and their own deepest fears. \nBut together they can face anything, right? Together, they'll get home safely.\n... Right?\n\nNote: I ask that you download the actual document to see this novel as it was intended. However, for those without patience (i.e., the dumb-asses), I am going to allow the InkBunny preview window to hold the entire story. I repeat: downloading the actual file is VERY much recommended. \nAlso note: I've had to trim back on the \"tags\" to avoid spoilers and giving people the wrong idea.",
  "description_bbcode_parsed": "<span style='word-wrap: break-word;'>This couldn&#039;t be happening...<br /><br />Scared, hunted and hurt, the boys have no way home but to face the deadly elements, armed adults, and their own deepest fears. <br />But together they can face anything, right? Together, they&#039;ll get home safely.<br />... Right?<br /><br />Note: I ask that you download the actual document to see this novel as it was intended. However, for those without patience (i.e., the dumb-asses), I am going to allow the InkBunny preview window to hold the entire story. I repeat: downloading the actual file is VERY much recommended. <br />Also note: I&#039;ve had to trim back on the &quot;tags&quot; to avoid spoilers and giving people the wrong idea.</span>",
  "writing": "Tai’s Story - Chapter 11.\nBy Kichigai Kitsune\nCopyright 2005 onwards.\n\n\nDisclaimer: This story contains coarse language, violence, adult themes and scenes of an adult nature involving two young “cubs” (young anthropomorphic non-humans). If you are under the legal age as prescribed by the laws under which you are subject to reading such material, do not continue beyond this disclaimer. \n\nAlso note that this is an installment in a series – if you are new to this story, you should start from the beginning, which can be located in my gallery on FurAffinity. This installment features no sexual scenes, and it is mostly plot development, so new readers who want their porn fix should really go to the start, or to my other story series, SdY. \n\n\nA little knowledge is a dangerous thing…\n\n\tThe blizzard howled on and on outside. The weak glow of dawn could not pierce the smothering clouds, and so a surreal darkness had fallen over the snowy mountains, despite the earliness of the hour. The brutal snowstorm that had struck up in the middle of the night showed no signs of winding down, and as more and more of the thick snow choked the sky and blanketed the world outside, it seemed likely they would be snowed in yet again this winter. Maybe not tonight, but it was something to look forward to at least.\n\tUnfortunately, the cold easily penetrated their home, its ineffectual wooden walls almost no barrier. So the tawny kit shivered slightly in his pajamas as he made his way down the short corridor, already regretting getting out of bed on this weekend day.\n“Mom?” he asked quietly, his bare, cold paws making little noise on the timber flooring as he peered timidly into the study. Trying to get her attention, but trying not to annoy. It was a fine line to walk. She was on her laptop again. It was the most expensive item in the entire house, Tai knew, yet it was just a clunky, gray box that whirred noisily on the cramped hardwood desk.\n\tEraline quickly closed whatever it was she was working on, revealing a generic background image – where a picture of Tai and both his parents used to be, there was now nothing but an insipid image of sunflowers in spring. It hurt to see that. He wondered when she’d changed it. And why.\n\t“What is it?” his mother demanded curtly. She didn’t turn to him, but Tai noticed she seemed tired. Or upset. “I’m busy, Tai, don’t you have homework?” \n\t“I…” Tai blinked, looking down at the sheet of paper he held loosely in his paws. Incredibly, he felt even more unsure of himself now. “I-I’m stuck. C-can you-?” \n\tEraline sighed impatiently. “No, I can’t. For goodness’ sake. I’m busy.”\n\t“… Okay…” Tai bit his lip, staring at the floor. “Dad would’ve helped…” he mumbled thoughtlessly, turning away. \n\tThere was a brief pause, and in that silence he started to walk to the door.\n\t“What was that, Tai?” Eraline asked coldly, twisting around in her chair. \n\tTai halted at the doorway. “N-nothing!” he blurted. “I’ll try.”\n\tWith only her icy gaze Eraline froze him place, and he stood perfectly still, as if faced with a predator in the bushes. She was going to yell at him. He could feel it. The shy boy tried to prepare himself, which he could never seem to do.\n\tBut instead she sighed. “Tai…” \n\t“I’m sorry! I-I’ll be alright.” \n\t“Tai, I can’t help you because your dad isn’t here anymore. Things aren’t the same as they used to be.”\n\t“Wh-what do you mean?”\n\tEraline shook her head. “Ugh, Tai… I have to do so much more now that your dad’s…” She trailed off into silence. At last she adopted that haughty, angry look Tai was far too familiar with. “Never mind. I have just two hours to do this in, or we could lose the car. After that, I have to get ready for work. I’m going to be working from nine until seven. I’m not going to have any time to myself for the next two days, so please just… go and do your homework as best you can. Watch TV. Entertain yourself. I can’t always be there to help you with homework from a grade you’ve done before.”\n\tTai nodded, eyes downcast. “I’m sorry.” \n\t“It’s alright.” She turned back to the screen, waving him away. “Just let me do this, please. And when you’re done, get yourself dressed and go get some firewood inside. You’re going to need it today.”\n\tThe kit rubbed at his eye before quietly padding back to the den. That had not been as bad as he’d feared. \nHe stopped and glared at the nearly bare kitchen, a tiny inset in the living room that was only three feet squared.\n\tHis mother was going to be busy or away all day. And he was already hungry. Not that he was sure there was all that much in the pantry to begin with. That would be okay, he supposed. Having to skip a meal was pretty normal for him; it wouldn’t be that bad. If he needed to, surely he could find something.\n\tHe pulled out a chair and sat at the old and scratched dining table, laying the paper in his paws down in front of him.\n\tPicking up his pencil, the fox-boy quickly scrawled the answers to the remaining sums, before crossing his arms on the table pensively.\n\tHe hated lying like that, it made him feel terrible, but he had to. She’d never talk to him unless he had, in her mind, a good reason – evidently, help with homework wasn’t a good enough reason for today. But, then, she was busy. She had to work and do all this stuff, or they’d never eat. Tai already needed new clothes. His current ones were just not fitting any more and winter was coming. He regretted the comment about his father – he knew that his mom was too busy. He knew that, so why did he…? What a stupid thing to say! Why could he never just shut up?! \n\tWhy did he keep upsetting others?\n\tThe kit stared at his own spidery handwriting until it became a meaningless blur, listening to the chaotic weather outside. \n\tWhat did it, what pushed him over the edge this time, he wasn’t sure – there was just so much wrong this week. It all crashed over him like a breaking wave. His head collapsed onto his skinny arms, and he started to cry.\n\tYesterday, he had yelled at his friends. Well, if you could call them that. He didn’t even remember why exactly, what they had done. He only knew that he had made a neat little clay-doll in Art class: a little fox that stood by itself. He’d spent most of the hour trying to color it with water paints and markers, but a group of older boys- as the class was held for both second and third graders- pulled it off the shelf as class was winding down. \nIt smashed into a dozen pieces. One of them said that ‘Tai must’ve put it too close to the edge’ of the shelves when Tai knew perfectly well he’d put it towards the back. He said nothing then, even when they all smirked at him the way they did. They were bigger than him, as many of Tai’s classmates were, and Tai knew they’d just get him after class if he said anything. Whatever he did, he’d only make things worse. Besides, the teacher wouldn’t have believed him. \nHe had no idea why they wanted to do that to him. They just always did.\n\tHe felt awful. He wanted so much to apologize to the ones he yelled at, but he couldn’t. He couldn’t speak to them, not for some time. Not after what he called them. He had run away, but they told on him and he’d narrowly avoided detention. By a stroke of luck, his fair-weather friends had gone to the art teacher, who seemed to realize why the tawny-furred boy was so upset.\n\tAnd he’d have to go back to school on Monday. Go back to it all. He hoped they’d forgive him. He didn’t want to be alone on the playground. If he’d even work up the courage to venture to the playground.\n\tAll he wanted was someone to talk to. Someone to cry on, instead of his own forearms, alone. But he was getting hints that his mother was going to switch his school again. Maybe even hold him back another year. Something big was happening, and it confused and worried him so much. \n\tSobbing quietly onto his slender, downy limbs, he wished his dad was still with them. Wished with such intensity it somehow hurt. So his mom would still really love him. So he’d have someone to ask what was happening to him next. Someone to hold him. Someone.\n\tAnyone.\n\nPresently…\n\n\tThere were a lot of them. That’s all he could be sure of. About half a dozen at least. They’d chased him here, and now they searched for him.\n\tThe tawny fox kit huddled up behind a badly parked forklift in the damp corner of the small warehouse, hoping his chattering teeth wouldn’t give him away to the many jacketed adults that were scouring the building looking, all looking for him. \n\tTai was confused. Were all of these furs, clearly adults, friends of Darron? That didn’t make much sense – none of this did. But they were methodically checking every darkened nook and cranny of this damp, cluttered storage building, and Tai got the feeling that if they’d found him, they didn’t intend to help him. \n\tTime was running out, and they were reaching the section of the warehouse where he hid, shivering up against the cold metal chassis of the forklift. But despite that, Tai felt strangely calm.\n\tMike was safe. He had to be. Just knowing that was… He felt like he’d done all he needed to. Finally achieved a goal. He wanted to just curl up and go to sleep now; maybe he’d wake up somewhere warm.\n\tIt was hard to understand. Tai still didn’t understand it – for some reason, he couldn’t bear the thought of losing Mike, but he faced the possibility of his own death with a detached indifference. He didn’t care if he got hurt anymore. After all, he was sort of getting used to it.\n\tThe fox boy just stared vaguely at the dark-gray concrete ground. \n\tIf he died, he could see his mom and dad again. Right? For some incomprehensible reason, that made sense to him now. He was just sick of losing things, and everyone being so awful and cruel to him. If he could just curl up and sleep forever, never to be cursed with wakening again, he’d do it. If he could’ve done that, he would have done it long ago. \n\tWell… at least, until he met a certain bark-furred boy. Maybe that was why he couldn’t bring himself to surrender. Just to stand up right now and get them to shoot him. Let them do whatever they wanted. He wanted to go home with…\n\tA loud scuffing noise snapped him from his maudlin reverie. \n\t“Shit, did he sneak back out?” a grownup snarled. “No sign of him.” \n\t“Where the hell did the other one go?” demanded another voice, disturbingly near Tai’s hiding place. “I couldn’t see him. Reckon they split up?” \n\t“Yeah. Come on. They won’t get out.”\n\t“How the hell did that dipshit kid let them get away anyway? They could fuck everything up.” \n\t“No idea. Come on, let’s finish up here and check the next warehouse over.”\n\tTai blinked. Dipshit kid? Did they mean Darron?\n\tThe kit looked around, taking an inventory of the area. Not far from the forklift’s concealing bulk was a stack of empty pallets. Not perfect cover, but if he could make it, he might be able to get around these two adults at least… he could hear the others, but had only a rough idea of their location. For all he knew, on the other side of the pallets was another of the prowling grownups. \n\tBut he decided to try anyway. He tentatively raised his head, looking over the seat of the vehicle. Both adults were looking to the side. Holding his breath, Tai snuck away, covering the few feet to the pallets as hastily as he dared, his sneakers’ wet soles threatening to give away his position. Luckily, nobody seemed to notice the soft, muted noises they made on the concrete over their own.\n\tNonetheless, as Tai ducked down on the other side of the high stack, his heart was sounding off like a jackhammer in his tiny, bare chest. Something was making him tingle all over, and feel horribly shaky. \n\tBriefly, the idea to take his shoes off flitted into the kit’s brain, but he immediately discarded the idea. He was freezing! The very idea of removing more clothing made him feel faint. He had discovered in years past that ‘the biting cold’ wasn’t a meaningless phrase – the cold could be painful. Very painful. \n\tHe crept around the pile of stacked wooden slats, peering past the edge. He could see an exit– a loading bay, it seemed, which had been left half-open much as the massive main entrance had been. A huge shuttered opening. It was framed on either side by two shipping containers. Massive oblongs of painted, corrugated metal. \n\tHolding his breath, the kit snuck to the exit.\n\tAs he passed the shipping containers he heard a soft thud right by him, and he came to an abrupt halt, looking around for the predatory adult he thought was nearby. \n\tThere was none in sight. Just the dirty, blue width of a metal box. \n\tThe kit blinked in confusion. He had heard something that sounded like movement right beside him, but… \n\tIt came again. Baffled now, Tai stealthily pressed up against the shipping container’s side and listened. \n\tSomeone, or something, was crying. In the container. It was muffled, but it was definitely… a young, female voice, weeping softly and hopelessly; he wasn’t sure, but it sounded like that voice was not alone in its indistinct lamenting. Mystified, Tai had to smother a sudden impulse to ask who was there. There was a loud scraping sound, and Tai looked back the way he had come. A tall jackal stood where just moments before Tai had crouched behind the forklift. Tai’s heart blasted into overdrive before he realized the guy was looking the other way. \n\tIn his paws was a firearm of some kind. A rifle or something. The kit was no expert, but he did know what a gun could do. He’d seen it.\n\tWith a surge of adrenaline that eliminated all thought, Tai dashed out the open loading bay and was around the side of the building in a mere few seconds, his light paws making little enough sound that his ill-considered rush went unnoticed. He took refuge behind a large semi-trailer, crouching by the vehicle’s gigantic front wheel. \n\tHe was safe he told himself, leaning weakly on the rough tire that came up to his forehead. \n\tSafe, but out in the open, in the frigid wind, without a shirt. He shivered as the black waters of the sea crashed rhythmically against the concrete of the docks, showering the area in fine droplets – he distinctly felt that gentle mist settle into his fur and bring a very much unwelcome chill with it.\n\tQuickly, Tai realized he couldn’t stay out in the wind like this. He’d been in far more severe weather than this, of course, but he knew that even this autumnal night could kill him if he stayed out in it wearing so little. Teeth chattering, the kit looked around for a place of actual shelter, both from those hunting him and the bleak weather that promised to get worse.\n\tMost of the huge buildings around him appeared closed and locked – even if they weren’t locked, opening the huge, rusty doors or lifting the impossibly heavy shutters would definitely attract attention. Only two of the warehouses he could see from here seemed to be open. The two he had escaped from recently, oddly enough. He wasn’t going back there obviously, but nor could he stay in the courtyard between them.\n\tThere was nothing for it. He started to sneak around, looking for a place to go. Ducking by the side of a warehouse, he spotted a small contingent of furs as he approached the brightly lit waterfront, talking animatedly and moving with purpose towards a large, gray ship moored at the water’s edge. He decided not to risk heading that way. The danger of being seen was too great.\n\tAt least, as he rounded the warehouse and made his way inland, he saw a small building that looked like a little guardhouse. Whenever Tai accompanied his mother to work at the harbor back in Alaska, they had to go past a building just like it, where guards would always ask them to sign in before letting them through. \nFeeling hopeful, the kit stole his way to the entrance – it was an odd little building, made of dull concrete, and Tai noticed it was adjacent to a gate in a massive chain-link fence that stretched between the warehouses, blocking off access deeper into the docks. It seemed empty.\n\tFirst, he checked the imposing gate. At the top was an impenetrable bush of razor-wire, and beyond the twelve-foot fence he could see lights, more warehouses and a forest of those huge shipping containers. The gate itself was chained and locked shut. He briefly felt the cold grip of frustration and fear – he was trapped and lost in this massive place. Climbing the fence would be impossible and once again he couldn’t see any end to the complex. \n\tThe guardhouse, if indeed that’s what it was, was almost certain to be locked. But Tai tried the door anyway.\n\tIt swung open.\n\tTrembling just slightly, the kit stepped inside. It was a guardhouse, or something like one, as Tai could eventually make out in the weak light provided by the distant floodlights outside. Near the doorway was a desk, with a phone, kettle, microwave and even a small fridge on its surface, up against a wide window that provided a good view of the area Tai had crossed to get here. Quickly Tai shut the door.\n\tAlmost instantly he wanted to collapse with relief. It was much warmer in here, and the wind could no longer reach him. \n\tThere was a door leading deeper into the little building, and Tai walked over it to, his wet shoes squeaking on the linoleum floor. It wasn’t locked. It seemed that the rest of the small structure was given over to a storage room – which also had a few small lockers in it. There was another small desk, with a television and radio on it. Evidently, some of the dock’s security guards retreated in here to relax at break times, as well as stored their belongings here. A few small, high windows let in some light, just enough for Tai to identify the shadowy objects in the room. He briefly paused to watch the dust particles dance in the thin rays of illumination.\n\tAt last he shut the door, crossed to the farthest corner of the dimly-lit room… and promptly fell to his backside.\n\tHe could hide here, he told himself. He could hide here until he was rescued. It was safe; actually safe.\n\tMore importantly, it was warm.\n\n\tRobert thumped on the thick, varnished door with indelicate urgency. “Mitchell!” he cried through the wooden surface. “Sir, I have to speak to you! Right now!”\n\tThe carpeted corridor suddenly flocked with startled furs coming out of offices to glare at the audacious fox, but Robert didn’t really care much for propriety right now – ‘boss’ or not, Robert would kick down the office door if necessary.\n\tEvidently, Mitchell knew this too. “Come in, Robert,” he said, his dusty voice sounding weak through the dense door. “Before you do damage to my poor door.” \n\tThrusting the door open, Robert saw his section chief seated behind his gigantic desk – the one that, ever since Robert had met him the first time all those years ago, was ever covered in loose paper and memos, to the point the fox wondered if some of them were just for decoration. On the other side of the capacious bureau was a female lemur, who looked scandalized at the interruption. \n\t“What’s the matter?” asked Mitchell, clasping his paws in front of him and leaning on his desk. \n\t“Found them!” Robert said. “They’re at the docks. We got a cell-phone trace.” \n\tMitchell frowned in thought, staring blankly at the fox. “I didn’t expect this, I admit,” he said at last.\n\t“We have to save them!” Even as he said those words Robert realized how absurd they sounded.\n\tThe lemur was looking from Robert’s pleading face to the bruin’s impassive features in confusion.\n\tThere was a hiatus while Mitchell seemed to lose himself in thought. “Robert…”\n\t“Please!” \n\t“I’m afraid we can’t spare any resources from this office, and I have to go up before a review committee in half an hour.”\n\t“Wh-what?!”\n\t“Besides that, there’s nothing we can do as long as they are on our own soil. We’ll have to defer to the police or FBI for this.”\n\tFor a startled moment, Robert couldn’t comprehend what he heard. If it weren’t for that, his response would’ve been probably far more vindictive. “What?! Th-this is unbelievable! We’re talking about two small children that could be killed because of this god-damn agency! I can’t believe-”\n\t“You will liaise with the PD, Robert.”\n\tRobert stopped and stared at the bruin. “E-excuse me? I’m not qualified for anything like that.” \n\t“I can spare very few personnel, Robert. You’ll have to do.” Mitchell reached for the phone on the polished bureau’s surface. “Get ready. I know you’ve not been active in some time- on the field or otherwise- but tonight you’ll have to be. Get back here in ten.” \n\tThe fox blinked in amazement at the bear as he hit a speed-dial key. “I-I… Shit… thanks… thank you.” He swallowed.\n\t“Get a move on, Robert. You have a gun, don’t you? Might be an idea to take that. And probably a jacket of some sort. It’s cold out.”\n\tIn just seconds, the fox was sprinting down the corridor.\n\t\n\tTai had no idea how long he’d been asleep. He could hear the ticking of a clock, but he had no clue where it was. \n\tHe had nodded off as he lay curled up on the hard linoleum but something had alerted him, jolting him cruelly awake again.\n\tThe kit sat dumbly in the dark, trying to clear his swimming head. He just wanted to fall asleep – in this relatively warm, dark place, he could easily manage that. Belatedly he wondered what had woken him. The kit had been sleeping lightly, barely able to cling to somnolence, but he felt himself being called back to it already.\n\tIt wasn’t until he heard the guardroom door closing that he wrenched himself into full alertness again, shaking his head sharply.\n\tHe jumped to his paws and darted, with a child’s instinct, under the desk that housed the television and radio in the corner by the lockers. \n\tSquinting into the dim light, he saw that someone had entered his sanctuary, and was busy securing the only exit’s deadbolt. A slender beam of light fell upon the intruder. It was a wolf – just shy of six-foot, lean, and coated in a storm-gray fur. \n\tDarron. Of all the…\n\tTai whimpered, hoping he hadn’t been noticed. As the lights flickered on, suddenly bathing the room in unnatural brightness, Darron made his way to a locker not far from the table under which Tai hid so pathetically. \n\tThe wolf opened a locker, and rummaged around in there for a minute or so, seeming to be taking his time deliberately. At last, he laughed. Confirming what Tai had feared. “You done fuckin’ ‘round under there?” he demanded. “Get the fuck out here. We don’t got all night.” \n\tThe harsh voice made him panic. Tai burst from under the table and ran for the door, scrabbling uselessly at the deadbolt way above his head height. Almost instantly he felt his legs kicked from under him, and he was pulled back by his long head-fur. \n\tHe slammed backwards onto the linoleum, smacking his head off the floor. There was a thud, and he went still immediately. The ceiling above him spun dimly.\n\tAnd then Darron was looming over him. “What’s the rush?” asked the wolf. “We have a lot to talk about, kid.”\n\tTerrified, Tai reached back and felt the base of his aching skull. He tried to scramble backwards, but he immediately collapsed to his back again as the world continued spinning and shaking violently all around him.\n\tDarron knelt beside him. “Or don’t you want to know why I had your bitch of a mom killed?”\n\tTai froze. \n\tThe wolf smirked. “I had to wait a little while,” he said, almost conversationally. “Make sure I wasn’t followed. Thank fuck I got you alone. Saw you slinking along out there—nice moves, you’re a natural born sneak. Not one of those dickheads saw you. I can appreciate that.” \n\tThe kit merely stared up at him, trembling.\n\t“I’ve wanted to talk to you for so long, Tai. Since before I knew your ass was even alive.” The wolf sat down cross-legged. “I didn’t know who you were at first, I gotta admit. Couldn’t fuckin’ believe it at first. You were in my class. What the fuck, huh? Small world.” \n\t“M-my mom?” Tai stammered, looking at the wolf uncomprehendingly.\n\tDarron nodded. “Yeah.” He snickered. “I feel sorry for you, Tai. A little. You don’t know shit. You’re in the middle of a fuckin’ nightmare and you don’t understand it. Just want someone to explain it all, yeah? I know what that’s like.” \n\tTai struggled to raise his head. He posted his paw behind him and sat up uneasily. “Wh-what?” \n\t“I even know what it’s like to be so fuckin’ lost that the best you can do is say stupid shit like ‘what.’” Darron shrugged.\n\t“I d-don’t understand.”\n\tDarron met his eyes at last. Cold, hard amber meeting at last with glistening emerald. “No shit you don’t. I’ll tell you then. I’ll tell you all about the world before you were born. It’s the same as the world now, and the way it’ll be fifty years from now: a shitty hell-hole where nothing makes sense and all you have is what you’ll have to leave behind.” He smiled as if discussing something remotely pleasant. “I’ll tell you why I had your cunt mother shot like the bitch she was. I know you want to know. I want you to know.”\n\tTai stared in horror at grinning wolf.\n\tThis couldn’t be happening.\n\tThis was a dream…\n\n\tThe water was brackish and stunk to high-hell. Mike had to fight back intermittent waves of nausea, but he was determined to swim deeper into the drain. He had no clue where it went, but it had to be safer than the entrance, or out in the open. That was assuming he didn’t drown of course.\n\tIt was very difficult progress, holding the waterlogged phone above his head as he went deeper and deeper, but he was managing it. He wasn’t sure if the phone-call was still connected. The display was totally gone. But it was his one hope so far, so he held onto it. Even more importantly: the keypad was still lighting up, albeit weakly, and he needed that faint light to see anything at all in the thick darkness.\n\tHe was trying desperately not to think about what filth he was swimming in.\n\tOnly after a few minutes of constantly swimming into the long drain did he notice it. The water level was rising. Almost imperceptibly, it got higher and higher, and Mike was noticing his head getting closer to the smooth, concrete ‘roof’ of the drain. He had to move – for all he knew, a high tide could end his life in this disgusting tunnel. \n\tSome water splashed up into his mouth, and he almost puked. “Gah! Crap!” he spluttered, treading water clumsily as he tried to spit the sickening liquid out. “Ugghhh!” \n\tOn and on he swam, choosing at random when the tunnel branched in different directions – he had tried to head back in the direction of the open water, but by now, he’d lost his bearings.\n\tWhen he saw an exit, he struck out for it, swimming for all his worth. It was another grating like the one he’d swum under to get into the system in the first place. When he reached it, the kit placed a paw on the thick metal grate and rested. \n\t“Ohhh,” he groaned, looking down at his matted fur in the pale moonlight. “I-I’m gonna smell like sewer for a year after this.” \n\tLooking beyond the grating, Mike spotted the imposing hull of a massive cargo ship, docked a mere dozen or so feet from the smelly, dubious sanctuary of the drain. It was painted dull, gunmetal gray, and its name was large on the immense bow in faded, yellow font. It was too difficult to read, and he didn’t really care.\n\tTrying to suck in less-fragrant air from the outside, Mike pulled himself closer to the grate. It wasn’t much of an improvement, but it was one. \n\tHe could see the sky now, just barely, if he looked straight up between the ship and his hiding place. The roiling clouds were at least as turbulent as the waves below, and just as dark. A huge, black cloudbank threatened to smother the pale yellow moon.\n\tIt was going to rain. From the looks of it, very heavily. \n\t“Well, that settles that…” Mike whispered to himself. “I’m stayin’ right here.”\n\n\tThis couldn’t be real. He must’ve fallen asleep in the guardroom. No way…\n\tDarron smiled laconically at him, leaning back much as the tawny fox-boy was, arms posted behind him, as if just relaxing in the sun. Savoring the moment. \n\t“I guess we can start at the beginning,” he began at last. “We got the time. \n“I ain’t actually a Yank. Wasn’t born here. I was born in Canada. Way the fuck up north, a few miles from a place called Yellowknife, in a small village – dunno what it was called. You know, we’re talkin’ fuckin’ Yukon Territory shit here. Buncha snowed-in hillbillies.” He paused to scratch at the base of one of his pointed ears. “We were poor as shit, that’s all I really know. Didn’t know my grandparents that well, but they were assholes – I know they didn’t like my dad much, whoever he was. My mom was a kid herself. Fourteen years old when I was born. When I was about five, she tried to get away from her parents; they were fuckin’ assholes, and if they weren’t hitting her, it was me they were getting at instead. Wanted to get as far away as we could… she always wanted to come here. New York.” \n\tTai blinked.\n\t“So she asked around, and one day we met up with these guys. Shady fuckers. They took all our money, everything we owned and even all the shit we stole. Promised my mom and me that they’d take us to the U.S. but that was bullshit.” He stopped and snorted a sour laugh. “She shoulda fuckin’ known. Got her addicted to smack. They’d, you know, hold her down and stick that shit in; I was watching. At first she tried to stop them, but then they started kickin’ my ass around. They wanted me too. I was worth quite a bit, either for shit like they wanted mom for, or a worker or just as a bunch of organs and shit.” An angry cloud passed over his face. “Everyone thinks this shit doesn’t happen no more. Stupid cunts. I’ve seen more fat bitches who lost weight on television than stories about this. Guess reality isn’t marketable.”\n\tThe tawny kit stared at him. “I-I don’t understand…” he said quietly, hoping speaking wouldn’t provoke the wolf. \n\t“I know. It’s hard to believe ain’t it? They kidnapped mom and me and were gonna sell us as slaves.” He smirked and shrugged. “I guess I’m still a slave.”\n\t“A-a slave?” \n\tDarron chuckled harshly. “Well… I’m not sure what they wanted to do… I think they were planning on selling me. Renting me first, if you get my meaning. Nah, you don’t; you will soon. Then when I got older, sell me – in pieces. If I remember right, the current price for all a kid’s organs is about six-hundred-thousand – that’s today.”\n\t“O-organs?” Tai whispered.\n\t“Yeah, bits of your body, for transplants. For about three years, all I knew was bein’ drugged out, bein’ beaten and starved and fucking raped in some god forsaken shit-hole down south. When I was about your age, someone bought us. Properly bought us, you know. Got us the fuck out of there.” Darron lidded his eyes. “He was in this whole business himself—real big shot. Wanted mom and me for himself. It was better than the shit we’d put up with for years, and we were finally in New York. Went through hell, but we got there, you know?\n\t“The guy promised us a better life, but it was just more bullshit. Mom just wanted to be free, to build a life for us both. One day, some vixen got in contact with her. Said she was CIA; said she’d been tracking all this shit for years before, in Alaska and now down here. Promised her she could help her escape, give us a life, but only if mom gave her all kinds of information. Names, dates, shipping tables. Shit that’s not fuckin’ easy to get a hold of. But mom got it for her, and gave it all to the vixen one night. Everything.”\n\tDarron curled his paws into fists and sat forward. “She’d gone to meet with her. Thought I was in bed. The way it worked was that if one of us went out, the other had to stay behind. So while mom was out, I had to stay – as a fuckin’ hostage, you know. But this night, I knew something was goin’ on… I had to sneak out and see what was up.\n\t“So when she went to meet with this fox-bitch, I snuck out to follow. I saw my mom give this fox the shit she promised, and five seconds later… she… some kind of CIA assassin shit, I don’t know, but this fox… your cunt of a mother… killed her. Threw her to the ground, stuck a knife right in her neck. Didn’t think twice.”\n\tThe wolf’s eyes narrowed with terrible hate, and he glared right at Tai. “Your mommy is a fuckin’ killer. She took a desperate fur and used her, then got rid of her in a fuckin’ second when she was done.”\n\tTai felt lightheaded. “N-no…” he breathed, scampering a few feet away. “No! You can’t- No! Mom wouldn’t do that! That’s not-!” \n\t“I saw it with my own eyes!” growled Darron. “My own fuckin’ eyes! That’s your mom, kid! Dirty spook cockroach, and I got rid of her like the insect bitch she was!”\n\tInstantly, Tai was on his paws, darting once more at the door. Panicking, he jumped high, ripping the deadbolt to the side and grasping the door’s metal handle. Before he could open it more than an inch, Darron grabbed his wrist and pulled him viciously from the doorway.\n\tAnd delivered a savage uppercut so hard to Tai’s solar plexus that the kit’s paws actually left the floor.\n\tWith a sickened wheeze, the fox kit collapsed, all his strength fleeing his body with his breath. \n\tHe managed to look up, and see Darron calmly locking the door again. The big teenager reached down and pulled Tai to his paws again by a skinny wrist, jerking him brutally towards the lockers, away from the door. “Get up. Get the fuck up. I ain’t done talking at you yet.” Negligently, he pushed Tai to the ground again and leaned on the locker. \n\t“Unh!” gasped Tai, his momentum rolling him hard into the locker as well.\n\t“There’s more to the story, shit-head.” He reached into his jacket and pulled out a cigarette and lighter. He lit up. “After your killer-mom did mine in, I had nothing. I went crazy. I ran back to the shitty house I was kept in, and told them what happened. Our ‘owner’ was pretty upset too. Felt sorry for me; adopted me.” Darron smirked around the cigarette. “Put me through school and shit. But it didn’t mean anything to me. Finally, he got that I didn’t give a shit about being normal… not after all this. I mean, how fucked up is that? The asshole thought I’d be a good kid after what I’d gone through. What his kind put me through. He had to keep bailing me out, and I loved it. It was good to see that fuck-bag have to run around cleaning up after me. It was you that changed everything. Chasing your ass through the mall. He had to pull a few strings, and I left school. Who’d a fuckin’ thought?”\n\tTai groaned, trying to curl into a ball. It hurt beyond description. Darron was very powerful; after the dreadful blow, Tai couldn’t breathe. Every attempt to do so caused a fresh wave of literally nauseating pain to wash over his insides.\n\t“Now… I work for the family business, know what I mean?” The wolf hocked and spat derisively on the floor. “Fuck it. I don’t care anymore. If this is how the world works, then whatever. I’m just glad I’m not under everyone’s fuckin’ heel anymore. I’m in charge now. Now I’m the one draggin’ bitches around to sell. Not a slave no more. You can’t change the world, but you can change yourself.” \n\tHe laughed darkly. “If you get the breaks, that is. But you…” He pushed Tai back against the lockers with one booted heel. “You’re going to have to wait for yours. The bitch is dead, but I want more than that. I want to show you what I fuckin’ went through. So you can understand, Tai. So you can understand what it meant when we were betrayed by your mom like that. So that you know why.”\n\tDarron sneered, reaching into his waistband and withdrawing his pistol. He checked it was loaded. “Come on, little bitch. They won’t notice when I stick you in with the others. I’ll call it a ‘buy ten, get a small one free’ special. Lagniappe as they say down south, or some shit. They won’t complain.” The wolf again reached down and easily pulled the kit up with one hand as if he weighed nothing. “If you’ve got a problem with that, go ahead and try to run. I’ll shoot you in the fuckin’ back – it’s the sort of thing your mom would do, right?”\n\n\tRobert pulled his black sports jacket on, adjusting it for several seconds. The locker room was empty, which he was grateful for: nobody to see his paws shaking.\n\t“Doesn’t this beat all…” he mused, pulling his handgun from the leather holster on his suspenders. He double-checked the safety, before pulling the slide back. He paused, before sighing and releasing the magazine, extracting the bullet and pushing it back into the magazine – he didn’t like having a loaded gun by his vital organs for some reason. “I never thought I’d be wearing this nonsense again.”\n\tThere was a firm knock on the door behind him, and Robert frowned at it. “Yes?”\n\t“May I come in?” The voice was female.\n\t“Of course,” Robert replied, placing the firearm back in its holster. “This isn’t a changing room.”\n\tThe door was pushed open, and the haughty visage of the lemur he’d seen in the section-chief’s office stood before him. “Mitchell sent me to find you.”\n\t“What’s up, Tamara?” Robert asked, suddenly itching with a desire to get moving. “I don’t have much ti-”\n\tThe lemur held out a manila folder, her expression cold. “I was told to give you this.” \n\tBemused, Robert reached out and took it. He scowled at it for a moment. “What is… Tamara, this has to be a mistake.”\n\t“Oh?” \n\t“I have nowhere near that level of clearance.” He offered the folder back to her.\n\tTamara made no move to accept it. “I am aware of that, and I certainly don’t approve, but Mitchell is giving you temporary field clearance. Something about you needing to know what you’re dealing with, so he’s giving you case-specific clearance.”\n\t“That’s a pretty ominous way of putting it.” Robert flicked it open, noticing a blue adhesive note had been stuck to one of the pages. It had nothing written on it, apparently just there to draw attention to that specific page. “What the hell is this?” \n\t“I haven’t got a clue, Robert,” sighed Tamara. “I want to say, though. I hope your kids are safe.” \n\t“Only one of them is mine.” \n\t“Oh?”\n\t“So far. That’ll change.” Robert scanned the page for several moments. “Jesus. Holy shit.” \n\t“What is it?” Tamara blinked. “Wait, I can’t know. Never mind.” \n\tRobert slowly closed the folder. “Th-thanks, Tamara…” he breathed, looking slightly distressed. “I’ll, uh, have to review this. I’ll return it directly to Mitchell. After the operation.” \n\t“What?” Tamara asked. \n\tSlipping past the lemur, Robert nodded. “I’m not sure the police will— This is…” \n\tTamara watched the fox as he began to jog down the corridor. After a moment, he upgraded to a full-blown sprint. Sighing, the lemur stepped out after him, allowing the locker-room door to slam shut behind her. \n\t“Huh. Good luck then.”\n\nDarron threw the cub ahead of him, pulling him forward by the wrist. “Stop draggin’ your paws, Tai,” he said wearily. “Or I’ll fuckin’ drag you by them.”\n\tTai stumbled, banging a knee on the cold, wet bitumen. He vainly struggled to push the powerfully built teenager’s paw off his arm – Darron’s grip overlapped, encircling his skinny forearm easily. No such luck, and Darron kept pulling his helpless captive along. \n“No!” Tai pleaded, starting to panic again. “Don’t do it! Please, Darron! I’m sorry about what my mom did! I didn’t-” \n\tBad choice of words. Darron lashed out violently, slamming his fist once again into Tai’s stomach, doubling him over as if he’d run the boy through. “What the fuck are you talkin’ about, huh? You’re sorry?” He grasped the kit by the scruff of his neck and started to pull him along. “I don’t give a shit. This ain’t about you anymore. It’s about me. My show, shit-head. My show.” \n\tWell over a minute passed before Tai could breathe and move again, and by then the side of a massive ship was in view. A stark gunmetal hull loomed before them, and Darron was cruelly dragging Tai towards it by the back of his neck. \n\tAs they were passing a warehouse, Tai’s legs buckled and he let himself sag. His dead weight was dragged along for a few more feet, before Darron sighed. He released the kit.\n\tImmediately, Tai pulled himself to his hands and knees, trying to scramble away. Darron kicked him fiercely in the ribs. \n\tThe boy screamed, hurled sideways by the force of the kick, and curled up on the hard bitumen again to clutch at his side. \n\t“I’ll never get why furs do that,” said Darron conversationally. “Why the fuck would you think dropping to the floor is a good idea?”\n\tTai wasn’t listening. His eyes were pinched tightly closed and he was sobbing in pain. \n\tThis was impossible, he realized as the teenager once again loomed over him. There was no escape. Darron was too strong, and he could hurt him far too much.\n\t“You’re pissing me off, Tai.” Darron grabbed Tai’s head-fur and pulled him up. Screeching in pain, the fox boy scrambled to his paws. “I guess I’ll just have to work it out with you. If you won’t come quietly, I’ll just make you quiet.” \n\tThat was the extent of the warning. He gripped Tai’s nape and drove a fist into his body again. With a yelp, Tai crumpled – but Darron was nowhere near finished yet. He entwined the tawny head-fur with his big paw, pulling the kit’s head upwards again. He slapped the boy once, as hard as he might try to punch a fully-grown adult. The wolf grinned when his victim’s legs buckled again as a result.\nFinally Darron shoved the lightweight kit using both paws, as hard as he could.\n\tTai went soaring backwards. He slammed into the warehouse’s concrete wall with a bone-jacking thud, and slithered lifelessly down. \n\tLaughing, Darron bent to pick the wounded kit off the ground. “It’s a pity you’re going on this cruise, shit-head. We could’ve had so much fun. I could do this all day. I guess I gotta be happy with others doing it for me. You’ll learn your lesson, like I did.” \n\tHe dragged Tai onwards towards the boat, not even caring that the boy couldn’t find his footing any more. The kit was quiescent now, just moaning and sniffling piteously to himself.\n\tThat just steeled Darron’s resolved even more. If the yellow-furred freak thought he was feeling sorry for himself now, he was going to shatter when he felt what Darron had once dealt with. What he had to endure. Fresh anger boiled up within him, the wolf pulled the kit onward. \n\t“D-Darron…” whimpered Tai. But the teenager wasn’t listening. He started struggling weakly again as they approached a raised walkway – a wide metal gangplank that bridged the thirty feet drop to the churning waters. Darron ignored that as he had ignored the words. \n\tAs they started to cross the metal bridge, Darron’s phone started to ring. “Ah. Fucking hell.” He pushed Tai to the metal surface by his head, smirking with grim satisfaction as the fox-boy’s skull made a sharp clunk on impact. The wolf took out his phone. “Shit. Stay quiet a sec, would ya, Tai?” He absently pushed the kit onto his side with one boot, and raised the phone to his ear. “What?”\n\tAs Darron started to talk, Tai lay on the floor, stunned and hurting. Of course, he had been hurt before, but this was… he could feel blood seeping through his head-fur. His sight was foggy and his head hurt beyond belief—he didn’t know if it was all from the shove into the wall, or down to the plank. The time between those two events had totally bled together. He had never felt anything like this before. \n\tHe felt hopeless. His body was just heavy, and hurt all over, and he wanted to give up, go to sleep, right then and there. To surrender and hope for rescue. He didn’t want to think about what Darron was going to do to him. It was just… what was going on? Was this a nightmare? Could it be possible to feel so much pain in a dream?\n\tTai looked out over the edge of the docks. He could hear the waves below; the black, cold sea. Darron’s voice faded, melting into the gentle rushing sound of the water. \n\tHe wanted to just… go to sleep. He wanted…\nWhat did he want? Who cared? Nobody ever did.\nHe felt suddenly disgusted at himself; and angry. Helplessly angry.\nThere was never anything he could do, nothing he could change. He could never stand up for himself, could never look after himself. He cried. He avoided, he fled. It’s what he did best. All he could do and he didn’t even do it that well. Now even that didn’t seem possible. Even if he got away from Darron, he was too sore and tired. He’d just be caught again if he tried to run.\n\tIn all the movies he had seen, all the stories, all the comics he had read, the hero won the day no matter how ridiculous the challenges were; for whatever reason, be it determination born from vengeance, righteousness or love or just his brute strength. But Tai had nothing right now – no determination or anything. He felt like he was already dead. So what was the point of fighting to stay alive? And what good was determination when you weren’t strong enough?! There are just some bridges you can’t cross, no matter how much you want to.\n\tThere was no standing up for himself. He stood up, they knocked him back down. That’s just how it always had been, and eventually he had learned: he wasn’t strong or smart and he definitely wasn’t brave enough to fend for himself. Every time he tried, he just made things worse and worse! All he could do was pray he’d eventually be left alone, when they had had their fun.\n But this was different. Darron wasn’t trying to merely bully him, or hurt him for mere momentary satisfaction. This was beyond anything he’d ever imagined, and he was too stunned to fully accept it was reality.\n\tAll the nonsense, all the pretty-sounding phrases he had heard suddenly came down on him like a rockslide of bitterness. ‘Advice’ from people who had never felt what he’d felt, never been where he had been. \n\tStand up to the ring leader? Even after summoning up the courage, that wasn’t the same as summoning up the strength. \nThe bigger they are, the harder they fall? Yes, and the harder it is to get them to fall. And the harder they hit you.\n\tIgnore them so they go away? It is hard to ignore someone dumping a container of glue on your head. Deliberately trying to break you for hours on end, every weekday. Each time the sun came up, all you could think about was them… what they were going to do next. \n\tIgnore them? No. They dominated Tai’s mind – even miles away, in a warm bed at night, they could freeze his heart with fear. There was no sanctuary. Because he knew that no matter how hard he wished for it to never come, nothing could stop the sun from rising. \n\t… Tell adults? They didn’t care. Nobody helped Tai. Nobody cared about him. Except for Mike and his dad. Maybe.\n\tAnd now Tai was faced with the ultimate monster of all his nightmares. Darron was too powerful to overcome, too driven to dissuade and there was nobody he could run to. He couldn’t escape. He couldn’t…\n\tIt just made no sense. How did things come to this? How did he get here? Why had his life suddenly gone crazy? \nThat day Darron and his friends chased him through the mall had been scary, but this was a different wolf entirely. Something had changed him in those few weeks. Or was this just the truth? The real Darron?\n\tIn a madness born of desperation and stupidity, he had leapt off a roof-top parking lot to escape the first Darron he met. This one was even more terrifying. Colder, more determined… and worst of all, he had finally got his paws on Tai – a tired, cold and hurting Tai. It was all over.\n\tIt took some time for him to realize it. \n\tDarron did not have his paws on him right now. \nAnd he really wanted to see Mike one last time. A little part of him knew he didn’t really want to go to sleep yet. \n\tSomething inside him just screamed at him. Screamed at him to move. Ignoring the pain as best he could, the tawny kit braced himself, propping his arms and feet very slowly… Darron didn’t seem to notice. He was paying more attention to his cell phone than the wounded fox kit. He thought Tai was down and out. That he had surrendered. He was almost right. Almost. \n\t“What would Mike think if I gave up here?” he thought; that soft voice in the back of his aching skull. The voice that suddenly reprimanded him in tones very much like those of a brown-furred fox boy. “Mike would never give up here!” it whispered angrily at him. “He never gives up! Don’t I wanna be like him?” He paused. Something impossible came to mind, something absurd, but it was something he suddenly believed with all his heart: “I bet Mike’d think I could do this!!”\n\tHe knew what he had to do. There was only one way from here, and he only had seconds to act. He had to do the last thing in the world he wanted to do. He had to do it. Had to believe that he’d be okay. Like it had been the last time.\n\tTai closed his eyes tightly. His heart-rate started to climb. It helped. He was scared, but that helped. His body began to tremble, but he knew he couldn’t let that stop him.\n\tHe had to try. One last time. Maybe Mike was right about him. Maybe Tai had something in him the kit hadn’t noticed yet. Even if he didn’t, giving up was just stupid, and Mike, his best friend ever, would’ve told him so. What did he have to lose by trying?! If he gave up, he’d lose all he had now. It wasn’t much. But it was something.\n\tDarron growled, frustration in his voice. “I don’t fuckin’ know where Marco is,” he snapped into the phone. “I told him to leave me alone for a bit, and he fucked off somewhere I don’t… what?!” \n\tWilling everything he had left into his legs, Tai quickly hauled himself to a crouch. \nAnd with a wild cry, dived off the walkway, to the dark waves two dozen feet below.\n\t“What the shit?!” yelled Darron, dropping his phone and making a futile grab for the kit’s ankle. He missed, and the phone bounced off the metal gangway, following the kit down to the grimy water. There was a loud splash as the fox boy hit the water like a forty pound stone. \nA second passed, and Darron stared unseeingly, incredulously, at the water’s surface. It was too dark. The boy had disappeared; sunk into the shadows. “You motherfuckeeeeer!!” he screamed hysterically, pulling out his pistol. The teenage wolf scanned the water, hoping for just one sign of movement, one excuse to shoot into the darkness. “God-fucking-damn-iiiiiit!”\n\tHe hyperventilated, glaring at the darkness, and shaking in maddened fury.  \n\n\tRobert felt nervous, to say the least. \n\tHe had never been in charge of any sort of field operation before. Of any live operation, really. He’d barely had anything to do with them – his experience was as an analyst. That involved office work, too much coffee and boredom as a general rule. \n\tBut he had to rise to the occasion as much as possible. A small group of furs had joined him in an otherwise deserted room, some form of surveillance hub room, and he was now apparently in charge of them – he doubted that any of them could possibly have less experience than him in this. There were about eight furs in total.\n\t“Alright,” he said uncertainly to them as they looked at him expectantly, lounging about idly or tapping the edges of keyboards at their chairs. “I’ll come clean with you all. I have no bloody idea what I’m doing. I’m a pencil-pushing desk-jockey, but Mitchell says he has no experienced, or appropriate, staff to do this – and I have a personal interest in the matter.” He paused. “So please. Help me as much as you can. All I can do is tell you what needs doing, and I’ll need you to help me get it done. Please.” \n\tA few of the furs’ expressions changed to ones of curiosity, and they all nodded. \n\tRobert swallowed, his tongue suddenly parched. “At twenty-one-hundred hours yesterday, my ten-year-old son was kidnapped, along with his best friend. The suspected perpetrators are… a syndicated crime organization; mostly smugglers. Possibly the biggest ring in North America.” \n\t“Let me guess,” murmured one of Robert’s team – a short squirrel in a white shirt and black pants, sporting wire-frame glasses. “The big three. Drugs, guns and folk.”\n\tRobert lidded his eyes. “…Yes.” He stopped and stared at the manila folder still lying on the desk beside him. “I’ve never heard of this group before today. But I’ve been authorized to brief you as much as necessary, and thank Christ too. These people have targeted my family, and the family of another agent, for years – I’m not entirely sure why they kidnapped these children, but the chance that they won’t kill them or… sell them, is pretty much nothing.\n\t“These guys are ruthless and definitely big-timers. They’re bringing in military grade weapons and millions of dollars of narcotics every year, as well as kidnapping dozens every year. They have ties to terrorism in Europe as well as here in the States. Apparently, we don’t even officially acknowledge these guys exist – and our operations regarding them are literally top-secret. So congratulations, you just learned something top-secret today.”\n\tHis team stared at him, and the fox smiled tautly. “My son managed to escape, at least… he did. We don’t know his status now. But he managed to make a cell-phone call, and we know the rough location of where they’re being held. The docks downtown.” \n\t“Hold on,” mumbled the squirrel. “You’re thinking of trying to rescue them?”\n\t“Of course. We don’t have a team on standby, and it’d take hours to organize a large enough one anyway. We’ll need to cooperate with local P.D. and Coast Guard.” Robert fixed the squirrel with a polite smile. “That’s one of the things I’m really hoping you’ll help me with.”  \n\tThe squirrel frowned. “I… uh… well, it’s pretty irregular. Never really done anything like this.” \n\t“But what are we supposed to do?” asked a gruffly voiced coyote. “The P.D. could handle this by itself.” \n\t“We’re to oversee the operation as well as provide support,” Robert continued, standing. “After all, the police can’t go in without information, and the docks are a big place – that’s our job, isn’t it?”\n\t“We’re going to run the op?” asked another of the team. “We’re… I-I don’t think we can do that.”\n\t“Setting this up will take time,” complained yet another. “We don’t have any directive or jurisdiction to be conducting these sorts of operations, let alone taking over what should be a matter for the cops or feds – at least nobody here does. This sort of thing is what the FBI deals with, or we’d deal with the FBI.” \n\tRobert stood. “It’d take far too long for the FBI to bring up their hostage rescue teams; we have to work with the local police. I’m not leaving this in the paws of the feds, it’s going to take long enough to organize this as it is and they don’t have our surveillance resources on hand. So let’s get going, I don’t want these hostages to stay in danger for more than is necessary.” He picked up the manila folder, brandishing it at the team meaningfully. \n\t“Let’s get something clear,” he said softly. “This is the first proper lead we’ve had on these bastards – we’ve never been able to catch them with their trousers down before, but now we’ve got them in the middle of a possible shipping operation and we have possible witnesses. We’re not passing this up, we’re not just handing this over to some other agency, and if you want directives and jurisdiction, I’ve got them. They’re one phone call to Mitchell’s office, or to fucking Langley if necessary. The police and FBI will play ball when I get the director breathing down their neck. This is our catch.” The big fox paused. “Besides, my kids are at stake, so screw the rules.”\n\tHe turned to a large whiteboard position just beside his desk. \n\t“Let’s break this down. I’m going to need all of you to get some things done here before we can even contact the police. I’m afraid we’re going to be up all night. Call your wives, forget your social lives.”\n\t\n\tIt took effort, actual effort, to wake up. It was like swimming, dizzied and confused, through the thickest, blackest tar. \n\tAnd yet nothing but more blackness greeted him. His eyes rolled around dazedly, but he saw nothing. \n\tHis other senses took a little more time to organize themselves. To become coherent to him. Firstly, he noticed an odd sensation that seemed to cover most of his body, but was particularly concentrated in the back of his head and the left side of his ribcage. \n\tIt felt vaguely familiar, but it was different somehow. \n\tThen he heard noises. At first it was a meaningless rush, a muffled hiss, but soon he noticed it was a voice, overlaid with the sounds of what seemed to be lapping water. What was it saying?”\n\t“… Oh come on, come on!” it suddenly wailed. It was close to him. “Please! Taaaiii! Wake up! Please!”\n\tThe voice was very familiar. Despite the smothering darkness he floated in, it made him feel happy just to hear it, but the voice itself didn’t sound very pleased. What did it mean, ‘wake up?’\n\t“Tai, please don’t die! Wake up!” \n\tHe tried to respond, but all he managed was a weak moan. \n\tThe voice gasped. “T-Tai?! A-are you…? Are you alright? Come on!” \n\t“M-Mike?” Tai finally croaked, recognizing the speaker at last. “Wh-what…?”\n\t“Oh my god!” Mike exhaled, right near his ear. “I th-thought-! A-are you alright?”\n\tNow his mind started to focus, and the sensation that had baffled him before made sense to him now.\n\tIt was pain. Sheer unadulterated pain, of an intensity he’d never felt before. At least not to his memory.\n\t“Unh!” he groaned, trying to put a paw to his ribs, but he couldn’t, not yet. He was too weak. Too dizzy still. “Oohhhh…” \n\tMike almost fainted. He had been struggling to keep aloft in the water for the longest time – he had no idea exactly how long. It had been exhausting, supporting the smaller kit’s weight like that. For all that time… he didn’t know if he was cradling a corpse or not. In the darkness he couldn’t hear any breathing. Couldn’t feel any warmth.\n\tBut now he felt drained. Just the intensity of the relief was overwhelming.\n\tHe started to sink, his aching legs finally going still, but when he realized the water was lapping dangerously nearing Tai’s face he snapped back into focus. Barely.\n\t“M-Mike, what happened?” Tai whispered. “How did you…?” \n\t“You… fell into the water. I barely saw you. You almost smashed right into the side of that boat! What the heck happened?!”\n\tTai tried to take a deep breath in spite of the pain in his side. “Y-you mean the ship?”\n\t“Yeah.” Mike clutched the boy in his arms tightly and sobbed. “I thought you were dead!”\n\tTai winced and cried out sharply. “AHH! Mike, don’t squeeze! D-don’t squeeze!” \n\t“What’s wrong?!” Mike’s voice was shrill. “Are you hurt?”\n\tPointlessly, Tai nodded. “Y-yeah, my r-ribs hurt! Don’t squeeze me, please!” \n\t“Okay! I’m sorry!” Mike sniffed. “Shit! Are you alright? Will you be okay? What happened – was it just the fall?!” \n\tTai opened his mouth to reply, but stopped. What had happened again? Why had he fallen–? \n\tThe kit stiffened, flailing suddenly in the water, ignoring a jolt of searing agony as it frazzled through his body. “MIKE!” he cried, splashing madly as he tried to right himself. “We’ve got to go! We can’t stay here!”\n\t“Tai, don’t!” Mike hissed at him, trying to avoid the kit’s thrashing limbs. “You’ll hit your head! What’s wrong?!”\n\tTai clutched a pawful of Mike’s clothing, supporting himself on the bigger boy as he looked around wildly. They were in some kind of tunnel, he saw at last, and they were right near a latticed entrance; beyond it, the weak moonlight illuminated the gunmetal hull of the ship Darron was leading him to before he leapt from the gangplank. Panicking, he tried to swim away from it, dragging Mike with him. \n\t“Stop!” Mike said firmly, bringing him up short with a simple tug on his arm. “What’re you doing?! If we go deeper in there we’ll get lost and we’ll drown! What’s wrong with you?!”\n\tHis eyes had adjusted to the darkness, and when Tai turned to him, he could see the cub’s expression was one of unthinking fright. \n\t“We can’t stay here, Mike!” Tai pleaded, treading the water with the panicky floundering of an inexperienced swimmer. “He’s coming! He knows I landed down here!” \n\t“Who?!” Mike asked in bewilderment, looking back at the lattice. “What’re you talking about?”\n\t“Darron!” Tai once more struck out for the shadowy depths of the drainage system, but Mike refused to let go. “Please Mike! He’s crazy! I know what he wants now! If he finds us, h-he’ll k-kill you and make me a slave! He’s-!”\n\tMike shook his head. “What the heck do you mean? A slave?! There are no slaves any more. Tai, what are you talking about?!”\n\t“I’ll tell you later! We’ve gotta go! Let’s go! Please Mike, he’s gonna kill us! Don’t make me stay here!”\n\t“No! If we get lost in there we’ll die, Tai!”\n\t“Oh please, don’t stay here, Mike, he’ll kill you! I don’t want to—” Tai’s voice was hysterical now, and his eyes betrayed absolute terror. He was gesturing wildly, tugging urgently on Mike’s clothing and fur. “He saw me jump down here, and he’s crazy – he’s gonna kill you!! He doesn’t want you, he’s after me! Please, we have to go! Please!!”\n\t“Y-you jumped?!” Mike asked incredulously. “Tai! What the heck is going on?!”\n\t“I can’t! I can’t! We have to go! Anywhere but here or he’ll find us and I don’t want him to find us! I don’t want to be a slave! PLEASE let’s goooo!” The kit was starting to cry, and his breathing was worryingly rapid now.\n\t“Tai, we’ll drown if we—”\n\t“Please! Mike, I don’t wanna—!”\n\t“No! Look—!“\n\t“Please, Mike, come on, we can’t…” Tai trailed off into a rambling whimper, pulling even more urgently on the older kit.\n\tIt was too much. “SHUT UP!” Mike screamed fiercely. He roughly pulled Tai close. “Just shut up, Tai! You’re not even listening! You’re not making any bloody sense!!” His hazel eyes started to burn, tears pooling in them. “None of this makes any fucking sense! Why won’t you grow up for two minutes and listen?! It’s your fault! We’re here because of you, so shut up and listen!” The sodden kit hung his head, his voice strained and breaking. “I just want out of here… don’t… don’t make this hard, Tai. I don’t want to drown in some drain pipe. Please, just be quiet. Listen to me. Just listen.”\n\tSilence.\n\t“I just want to go home to dad. I don’t want anything to do with this…”\n\tCrying softly, Mike raised his head. \n\tTai had recoiled. His glistening eyes were wide open, and he had turned away slightly as if expecting Mike to strike him. As if Mike had turned into a monster. His long, matted head-fur curtained his face, and he was whimpering piteously. Scared. \n\tAwkwardly they stared at one another for several moments, before Mike yanked Tai even closer, snaring the cringing kit in an embrace, supporting both of them in the water.\n\t“I’m sorry!” he quavered, resting his cheek on Tai’s skinny neck. “I’m sorry! I just need you to listen, okay? Calm down and listen. We won’t get out of here if we’re all panicky. I’m sorry.”\n\tTai sniffled and started to cry again. They said nothing for several minutes, gathering themselves.\n\t“Al-alright,” Tai eventually assented, trying to dry up. He had no choice at this point but to lean on Mike – in every way. Nor did he want the bigger boy to yell at him again. “Wh-what do you think we should do? B-because, Mike… he knows we’re here…” \n\tMike separated them slightly. It was difficult to hold the limp Tai afloat like this, but he was managing somehow. “Tai… the docks are huge. We… won’t get out of here. Not if you’re hurt.”\n\t“Wh-what do you think we should do?” \n\t“Hide.” Mike swallowed. “W-we gotta hide. In the morning we’ll be able to escape – I don’t think these people will be here in the morning. They aren’t real dockworkers.” He paused. “I h-hope. Anyway, dad had to know we’re at the docks. He’ll call the police or something.”\n\t“How does he know?”\n\t“The phone.” Mike sighed, looking at the lattice. He had wedged the damaged device there. “But it’s broken now. When… you pushed me into the water.” \n\tTai closed his eyes guiltily. \n\t“B-but you might be right,” Mike said grudgingly. “If Darron knows you’re down here… give me a second… can you tread water here?”\n\tTai nodded, wincing as he tried to push away. Mike swam over to the lattice, picking up the phone. He pressed a key, and a weak bleep later the keypad lit up. Barely. \n\t“We can use this for light,” Mike explained, dubious. “It’s pitch black. I don’t know if I’ll be able to help you along in there. Do you know if we get high-tide in the morning or night or whenever? I don’t remember.” \n\tTai frowned, slowly splashing his way to the side of the concrete tube, resting on it. He clutched at his side, wincing. “Ah! I-I don’t remember. I think we get it at night, because of the moon’s gravity.” \n\t“Alright… maybe the worst is…” Mike stopped and closed his eyes. “No. It-it’s gonna rain still. Will that make the water go higher?”\n\t“Yeah, I think so…” \n\tMike swore. “Tai. If we go that way, we really could drown.”\n\tThere was a brief pause, and Mike heard Tai’s breathing get audibly rapider again. The kit nodded urgently, before hissing in pain again. The brief surge of adrenaline had helped him forget it, but now the soreness in his side was redoubled, and he felt his torso start to cramp up. Even breathing was bringing sharp jabs of pain.\n\t“You’re scared of water, aren’t you?” Mike asked gently. “That’s what it was earlier.”\n\t“I-I’m afraid of drowning…” admitted Tai, moving even closer to the concrete surface of the drain, trying to brace against it. \n\t“Sure you don’t want to try going out there?”\n\tTai looked beyond him at the black waters past the lattice. He wanted even less to be out there. It was closer to his nightmare image; closer to the bad dreams that haunted his earlier childhood. He remembered the thick, ominous clouds, and the portent of heavy rain that they were, and that made it even worse. But it was safer out there, wasn’t it? Despite how he felt, it had to be safer than the murky labyrinth of these drainage pipes.\n\tJust as he was starting to see the merit in Mike’s words a harsh grating noise suddenly erupted over the rushing and rustling of the waves. It was some distance away, but it was getting closer.\n\t“What is that?” Mike asked, peering out of the rusted grating. \n\tBut Tai recognized it. “Mike! That’s a boat! A powerboat!”\n\t“You think… it might be Darron?” \n\t“It could be!! It doesn’t even have to be him! Anyone that works for him is just as bad!” \n\t“Crap!” Mike whimpered, holding the water-damaged handset above his head and swimming back to Tai. “Okay. I guess it’s too dangerous out there. We… we’ll try the drain-tunnels. I think I remember some of the way I came… maybe we can get somewhere safer.”\n\tTai nodded, shaking all over. \n\t“Tai… if you think you’re getting tired, lemme know, okay? Maybe you can hang on my back or something, I don’t know.” Mike looked one last time out the lattice. A light suddenly swept the water and hull of the massive boat beyond it. “Alright… yeah, they’re checking here. Come on.”\n\tHe kicked out towards the blackness, trying not to think about what they were going to be risking here.\n\tThis was stupid. They could die. \n\t“Come on, Tai!” he hissed, noticing the younger boy seemed to be paralyzed. “We’ve gotta go.”\n\tTai didn’t move. He was trembling, and staring blankly at the surface of the water.\n\t“Tai!” Mike touched his shoulder briefly, and the kit jumped sharply. “I won’t let you drown. You know I’m a good swimmer, right?”\n\tAfter a moment, Tai inclined his head, smiling weakly. “I-I know.” \n\t“Trust me.” Then the barky-furred kit laughed, trying to feign the confidence that he had no chance of dredging up at this point. “You got us out of that room. You were awesome, Tai. Now it’s my turn!”\n\t\n\tThey’d only gone a few minutes into the dark, briny network before Tai caved in. \n\t“Ah!” he yelped. “Mike, stop!”\n\tThe older fox-boy stopped pulling himself through the water and turned. “What’s wrong?” \n\t“I can’t keep up!” Tai sobbed, resting on the side of the tunnel. “My side hurts too much.”\n\tMike grimaced. They couldn’t tarry. The water was rising already, and he was fairly sure it hadn’t even begun raining. But he needed a break too; the tunnel was pitch black, and holding the phone aloft made swimming quite tiring. There was no way he’d be willing to go on without the phone’s light – there were… the water wasn’t clean. Foul unidentifiable things were floating on the murky surface, and the light allowed them to avoid whatever they were. The thought of going on without the light made him baulk. Another reason to not dawdle, as the device was clearly nearing its end.\n\t“We can’t wait too long, Tai.”\n\t“I know. I’m sorry, Mike…” Tai gasped, looking like he was about to be sick. “It hurts really badly.” \n\t“What happened?”\n\t“Darron. H-he kicked me. It hurts when I move my arm.” Tai held his breath, clutching at his ribs. “Unnhh!” \n\tThis was bad. “Are you okay? We can’t wait here!” \n\t“I’ll try… please give me a second… I’m trying… I’ll be alright.” \n\tMike shook his head. “Put your arms around my neck,” he insisted. “I’ll pull you along.”\n\t“B-but-!”\n\t“Come on!” \n\tReluctantly, perhaps embarrassed, Tai encircled Mike’s neck and held on loosely. He was hurt; Mike could feel it. There was no strength in the way the kit tried to hold on, clutching his own wrist. Whatever Darron had done to him had ruined the gentle kit. Mike swore quietly.\n\tIt was slower this way, but that was exactly the problem before – Tai had been trying to keep up with a bigger boy who had more swimming medals than Tai had t-shirts, while badly injured. The pace Mike set before was just not appropriate while Tai was hurt.\n\tThey pressed on. Tai rested his head on Mike’s shoulder, and seemed to be almost asleep in minutes. He was exhausted. \n\tBut when Mike paused to catch his breath, the tunnel before him peeling off into two directions, Tai shifted slightly. \n\t“I’m sorry…” he whispered. \n\t“What? What’s wrong?” Mike touched the smaller boy’s forearm. “You okay?” \n\t“Yeah. I’m sorry… it’s my fault. And now you’re carrying me…” \n\t“Don’t worry about it.” Mike chose a direction at random. It was all he could do.\n\tTen, twenty minutes. Longer. They couldn’t be sure. Mike dragged them both around the stinking tunnels, randomly turning or continuing on ahead, hoping they’d reach some form of exit. But they were lost. He tried to push it from his mind, to just press on, but… they were lost now. He’d only taken a little while to get from the entrance, where Tai had shoved him into the water, to where he had once again fortuitously reunited with him. He’d been swimming aimlessly around now for longer than that.\n\tOnce again the tunnel branched before him, and he stopped to rest on the side of the tunnel. He looked up. His paw, holding up their only light source, was less than the span of his forearm from the top of the drain. His head was about a foot from it now, and with every ebb and flow, every time the water lapped gently against his neck and shoulders, he seemed to get higher. Their time was likely running out.\n\tMike peered into the darkness. It might have been illusion, or a reflection of the phone’s light, but he thought that he saw some light down one of the tunnels. A weak glow that barely illuminated the concrete as it twisted off further into the labyrinth.\n\t“Mike?” groaned Tai. “Are we okay?”\n\tStriking out, Mike grunted. “I dunno. But we have to hurry.” \n\tAs they approached the bend, Mike’s heart leapt. It was no optical illusion, but rather there was definitely a light. As they swam on, it got brighter, and the dark tunnel started to become illuminated, the walls glittering faintly as the light reflected. \n\t“Alright!” Mike exulted quietly, pressing on. The tunnel was starting to slope gently upwards now. “I think we’re almost out, Tai!” \n\tTai just exhaled weakly in response.\n\tMike gasped. “There’s the exit!”\n\tThe tunnel continued to slope up, and Mike’s shod paws touched the floor of it at last. He pulled himself and Tai forward. The tunnel opened out, and the water level dropped, until at last the drainage pipe evened out.\n\tStumbling, Mike dragged them out into the open space the tunneled ended at. It was some sort of concrete vault – an area of fifteen, twenty feet at most, with dull gray concrete walls, adorned by wet algae and blackened moss. The floor was even less appealing, where the concrete had been colored a nauseating green by the oozing waters that streamed from barred ducts along the far wall, and indefinable substances clumped in the corners of the room. Mike baulked. They had just been swimming in the run-off from this room.\n\tThe light he had seen was from a handful of orange strips on the walls, protected by thick, waterproof plastic. Along one of the walls was written ‘Drainage Access – Point A.’ Only a foot from there was an iron ladder, thin, rusted rungs that lead up to a small alcove, barely twelve feet up. The exit.\n\tGently, Mike set Tai on his feet. “Tai, are you alright?” \n\tThe kit opened his eyes, blinking several times. “No,” he answered honestly, stumbling. Mike held him upright. “Ah! Ow!”\n\t“Sorry! Can you walk?” \n\tTai took a few uncertain steps. “I-I think I’m okay.”\n\t“Okay. We can’t stay here either. They’ll be sure to check here.” Mike turned and scanned the grimy room. “I don’t wanna stay here anyway.” He strode over to and clambered up the ladder. “Unh. Let’s see what we got here.” \n\tEasily he hauled himself up to the alcove. A heavy metal door barred the way. Frowning, Mike reached out and took the handle.\n\tIt barely budged. Mike repositioned, placing both paws on the handle. “Nyah!” he grunted, shoving downwards. \n\tThere was a dull thunk, and the door started to creak open. \n\tGrinning, Mike turned and looked down into the access room. “Tai, come on! This is the way!”\n\t“A-alright. I’m coming.”\n\tThe shirtless Tai climbed the ladder with some difficulty. Halfway up, his wet soles slipped and he almost fell from it. He yelped aloud and barely managed to cling to a rung. \nMike darted to the edge. “Are you alright?”\n\tWhimpering, Tai merely nodded and continued to climb. Mike briefly considered asking to help him up, but he didn’t think he could, not with one of Tai’s arms in pain. \n\t“I wonder where we are?” he murmured instead, trying to take the kit’s mind off the pain. “Like, in the docks. I don’t think we’re out yet.”\n\t“We’re not out yet?” groaned Tai, collapsing over the edge onto the alcove. “Ow!”\n\tMike knelt and took the smaller kit’s paw in his own. “C’mon, Tai. We’re doing great.” He paused. “Do you have any idea how crazy it is? That we’re getting away like this?” \n\tTai looked at him, bemused. “Wh-what do you mean?”\n\t“We’re escaping, Tai!” Mike giggled. “We got kidnapped by gangsters, and we’re getting away from them by ourselves!” \n\tTai slowly started to smile. He still looked exhausted, though Mike was glad to see a sign of positivity from him. “I guess.”\n\tMike smiled. “Don’t give up, okay?” Helping Tai to his feet again, he turned and peered through the doorway. \n\tIt was a dark, barely lit corridor, scarcely five foot wide and not even twice that in length. At the end, a handful of stairs led up to a wooden, interior door. Maintenance corridors, Mike guessed. He had never been in one, anywhere, before. Even at the pool or the apartment building where he lived there were locked corridors, narrow passages and ducts tucked away into unused corners and crannies that seemed to be never traversed. When he asked his dad about them, he explained that they usually led to things like air-ducting, vents, or places where they could do work on the electrical system. They had always piqued his natural, youthful curiosity, truth be told.\n\tTogether, the kits headed to the door. Luckily, it was also unlocked, and they snuck on into the corridors.\n\t“Mike, where are we?” asked Tai, his voice shaky. He looked up at the roof. Thick piping snaked its way along the ceiling, and hanging in large, metal cages occasionally jutting from the wall there were whirring, vented fans. It was dark. Barely any light whatsoever – evidently, these hallways were not often walked.\n\t“No idea…”\n\tThey turned a corner and descended some stairs into yet another darkened room. This one was filled with yet more steadily humming fans. Frowning, Mike approached the far wall. \n\t“What’s that?” Tai enquired, following him.\n\tThe brown furred boy squinted at the grimy fixtures. A black square on the wall, as wide and long as he was tall, with small white boxes, colored switches and levers. “These are fuses…” mumbled Mike. “What’s it say over here? Something about… breaking? Breaker?”\n\tStanding on his tip-toes, Tai tried to scan the board. “I can’t read what it says up there.”\n\t“’Push To Close’? Huh?” Mike stepped back. “I can’t read it either. Something about emergencies. Come on. Whatever this is, it’s not getting us out of here.” \n\tMike pressed on, pushing aside a heavy fire-door and continued into the next room. He stopped dead.\n\t“The heck is that?” he gasped to the younger cub. \n\tNow they found themselves in a large, cluttered room, ringed by a walkway not ten feet above them. The center of the room was occupied by a gigantic green machine, longer than it was wide, bigger even than a school bus. It was bulbous and rounded at the sides, but it narrowed towards the center. Railing surrounded it, and a sign read ‘WARNING: Dangerous Machinery’ by a control panel. Dials and lights littered the panel, but they lay unmoving and dulled. \n\t“It’s a generator!” Tai exclaimed. “It makes electricity!” \n\t“It’s huge, that’s what it is.” Mike approached the control panel. “Wait a sec! Tai, if there’s a generator here, d’you think there might be phones or anything like that? There’s gotta be, right?”\n\tTai looked at him, rubbing himself down. His torso was matted and filthy, and he clearly didn’t like it. Mike knew how he felt. “Uh… I-I don’t know, Mike. Maybe?”\n\t“There’s gotta be!” Mike clapped his paws. “They’d need phones if there was a problem or anything. Let’s look around. Maybe we can get help.”\n\t“Okay.” Tai shivered. “Unh. I’m cold.”\n\tThey had to do something about that, Mike realized. Even he was starting to feel the chill on his wet body, and he was fully clothed. Perhaps there was something here.\n\tThere was another dirty stairway heading up to the walkway. Mike gestured for Tai to follow, and they mounted it. \n\t“Geez, I wonder what it’s like when it’s turned on…” Mike mused, looking out over the railing at the massive iron machine. “I’ve never seen a generator before. Is there like electricity and lightning and stuff? Is it even safe to be in the room?” \n\t“That’s a big one,” whispered Tai. “Some of them are real small. Ours wasn’t dangerous unless you touched the inside, but mom never let me near it.” \n\tA monitoring room overlooked the generator. The door was ajar, and Mike slipped into it. “Quick, let’s find a phone or something.”\n\t The room was clean, but it didn’t seem to have been used much. Papers were laid in neat stacks by another control panel, and slotted into pigeonholes on the wall. A locked, metal filing cabinet occupied the corner. \n\tBut there was no phone visible in the room.\n\t“Damn,” grunted Mike. “You see anything?” \n\tTai moved the stack of paper to the side. “No…” \n\t“I guess we’ll just hide here then.” Mike shrugged. “No big deal, right? We’ll be fine in the morning.” He eyed Tai critically. “We need to get you somewhere warm.”\n\tTai nodded immediately. \n\t“Let’s keep looking around though… might be able to find a warmer room. I dunno. Some place where we can turn on the lights, or something. Lights make heat.” \n\tTaking Tai in hand, Mike led them around the walkway. He started to feel a little uneasy; Tai was stumbling along behind him, still holding his side, and his grip was loose.   \n\tThe walkway led to another series of corridors. Mike pressed on, looking for a door that wasn’t locked or chained shut. They’d traded one labyrinth for a drier one. An improvement, Mike supposed. At least it was brighter in these corridors, though not by much. The occasional naked bulb or weak, yellow strip was an improvement over pitch darkness, and the water-damaged phone was…\n\tSighing, Mike withdrew it from his pants and checked it. The device was dead now. Their tracking device was gone, basically, as was their emergency light. \n\tBut that was alright, he felt. Once they found a warm, hidden place to take refuge, they could sleep. Rest until morning came, or until rescue, in a dark corner of the docks. The place was massive – there’d be a hiding place for them. In fact, they could probably just hide here… if he held Tai close, maybe they’d be warm.\n\tHe stopped as they passed a cleaning closet. “Wait…” He reached out and tested the door-knob. It rattled. Locked. “Dammit.”\n\t“What?” whispered Tai, approaching the door. \n\t“We should just hide! If we keep running around like dorks we’ll get caught for sure!” Mike stepped back and raised a leg. The kit kicked hard at the door, but all it did was make a racket. “Ow! Crap. It always looks so easy.” He checked the handle again, twisting it both directions as violently as he could. “Guess we’re not getting in here.” \n\t“Mike!”\n\t“What?”\n\tTai was frowning slightly, his ears perked. “I-I think I heard something.” He pointed up the corridor. “From over there! Someone’s coming.”\n\tFreezing on the spot, Mike strained to hear. “I… are you sure?!” \n\tNaturally, he was. The voices were more faint echoes, but they were approaching. Getting louder and clearer. Footsteps, soles scraping on the concrete. It sounded like several furs were heading their way.\n\t“Damn it!” Mike groaned, turning around. “C’mon, Tai let’s go!”\n\t“But-!” Tai did a double take back down the corridor. “There’s nothing back that way!”\n\t“We passed a few doors. There’s gotta be a place to hide somewhere.” Mike started to jog, but Tai stumbled when he tried to follow, again grabbing at his side. “Bloody hell! Come on, you can do it!”\n\tMike dashed on ahead, testing each door as they went by. Every single one was locked. \n\tIt wasn’t until they were almost back at the walkway in the generator room that Mike found an unlocked door, and in no fairness could what it opened into be called a room. It was barely even a closet, barely fitting a large, cardboard box, filthy with grime and dust, and three thick pipes that ran down the side wall. It was the best available… outside of heading back to the drainage. \n\tHe waved Tai in, and the kit staggered to the doorway. “They’re coming!” he wheezed. “They’re running now! They heard us!”\n\t“Get in here!” Mike roughly pulled the smaller boy into the closet. He pointed at the space behind the piping, half a foot of room at best. “Get behind the pipes!”\n\tTai took a step back. “Are you crazy? Wh-what about spiders and stuff?!” \n\t“Spiders don’t have handguns!!” \n\tHesitant, Tai knelt by the piping. There was a small valve at his head-height, and he immediately spotted the thick webbing stretched between the rungs of the wheel. “N-no, but they got venom!” he complained. “Can’t we find somewhere bett-?” \n\tThe footsteps were loud now, and they heard a fur literally skid around the corner. “I fuckin’ heard them again!” a voice grated. “They’re here. They must’ve crawled through the god-damn drainage! They heard us coming.” \n\tMike cursed nastily, letting the door shut and pushing Tai towards the pipes. In the dark, Tai flinched and smacked his head on the valve’s edge. With a pained gasp, his paws slipped from under him, and he fell onto the concrete wall. The scraping noise filled the entire cell, but Mike just ushered the dazed Tai and then himself behind the dirty metal tubes. In the darkness, he prayed the pipes were thick enough to obscure them from view. \n\t“They’re running!” Another voice. At least two. Mike closed his eyes and clutched the softly whining Tai to him tightly. “They were anyway. They could’ve tried to hide. Someone wait here, we’ll go deeper in and check for them.” \n\t“I guess that’s torn it…” Mike whispered at the flattened ears beside him. “We’ll have to keep moving… if we can get past the guy out there.” \n\tTai just moaned. “Oww…” \n\t“What’s wrong?!” \n\t“You made me hit my head!” Tai complained quietly. \n\tMike blinked. “What?” \n\t“Yeah! On the pipes!” Tai’s voice cracked. “I’m hurt enough already!”\n\t“I’m sorry! I panicked, alright?” Mike let out an explosive breath. “Look, there’s a guy out there with a gun, and we have to get around him in about five minutes, or else his buddies come back. Okay?”\n\tTai shivered. “Okay.” \n\t“When we get out of here, you gotta tell me what’s going on!” Mike shifted, getting to a crouch. “I wanna know why Darron is after you.”\n\tNo reply. Mike just let it slide.\n\tInching from behind the pipes, he approached the door. He pressed a pointed ear to it. \n\tIt was quiet, but that didn’t mean there wasn’t someone standing right against the door. From the dialogue he heard before, it seemed the gangsters had gone further, leaving one of their number here in case the kits tried to double back. Trapping them.\n\tMike closed his eyes and rested against the door. \n\tHe remembered playing games like this. Pretending to hide from his dad and the other adults for well over an hour whenever he was playing with Ciaran – sometimes the others joined in whenever they gathered after the swimming meets. Exciting. Fun. This was nothing like that. It was deadly serious.\n\tBut that was okay. Mike knew he could be serious too.\n\tFor how long he could keep this up though, he wasn’t sure.  He’d never been so scared. He knew he could focus, he knew he could set goals and achieve them, but he had no idea what to do here – would anyone? Part of him wanted to curl up and just wish for help to come before it was too late, but he had to take care of Tai. That responsibility gave him something to focus on, as there wasn’t a clear, simple goal. It was Tai’s confidence in him that let him keep up this charade.\n\tBecause that was all it ever was, really…\n\t“Mike, you okay?” Tai asked from behind the pipes. \n\t“Listening…” Mike whispered back, jolted back into alertness. \n\tHe had a goal, and he knew what to do. More or less. He was just scared, and it was making him doubt himself. That had happened before, almost every time he went to a competition. But he still usually managed to get his brown-furred butt on the podium. You don’t win if you’re not confident, his dad told him, but that didn’t mean you shouldn’t be afraid – fear of losing should help you do your best. Hopefully fear of more serious things counted too.\n\tCarefully he turned the door’s handle, opening it just a sliver, nerves strung tight. \n\tThe one adult left behind was crouching slightly, slowly and quietly moving along the walkway. He had a pistol in his paws. In the shadows, Mike couldn’t tell what the adult was – average height and build, but he moved like he knew what he was doing. \n\tBut more importantly, his back was to their hiding spot, and he was inching further away. \n\t“Tai, come on!” hissed Mike, waving the smaller boy to his side. “We can make a break for it, but be quiet!” \n\tTai crept closer, trying to sneak a peek out the door himself. “What if he hears us?”\n\t“Then run. He has a gun.” Mike pulled the heavy wooden door open some more. “Go! The way we were heading before!” \n\tNodding, Tai slipped out into the corridors. Scared and injured, nonetheless Tai’s foot-falls were quiet and he moved fast. Mike followed him after making sure the door closed quietly. \n\tTai waited for him a few feet down the corridor. “Stay quiet!” whispered Mike as he got closer. “There’s an echo.”\n\t“Alright.” \n\tMoving as quickly as they dared, they soon passed the cleaner’s storage room Mike had futilely tried to open before.\n\tA few more corners and they were faced with a large, painted door. Mike’s heart leapt. \n\tWith a sharp grunt, he shoved it open. A gust of fresh, chilly air immediately swept right over him, carrying with it the scent of the ocean, and he sighed. Thankfully, they were outside again, on a narrow metal landing a few feet from solid ground. A rush of relief made him giddy once again.\n\tThey’d escaped once more!\n\t“Brr!” Tai exclaimed, wrapping his arms around his skinny, exposed torso. “It’s cold!” \n\t“Come on!” replied Mike, reaching for his friend’s paw. “Let’s find a safer place.” \n\tStairs led down from the doorway. Metal, noisy stairs, of course; every clanging step made the boys cringe. \n\tNow they were in some sort of courtyard, between several large buildings. The massive brick structure they’d just exited had a sign nailed to the wall by the door – ‘Emergency Generator’. That made sense, Mike supposed.\n\tA ventilation unit thrummed away in the middle of the courtyard, and by it was a small building. Mike didn’t even bother with trying the door into it: it was padlocked. Wooden and cardboard boxes were stacked in the corner by it, and also in the corner by the exit they emerged from. Crammed against the wall, between it and the boxes, was a blue tarpaulin. \n\tAll around them were high walls, but for one direction, which was sealed off by an imposing ten-foot fence, adorned with bristles of razor-wire. Beyond it was a small driveway access alongside yet another warehouse. It was from this direction that the wind blew. \n\t“Well, we’re not climbing that…” mumbled Mike, eyeing the vicious, bristling clumps of wire. “We’ll leave half our butts behind. C’mon.” He stepped towards a door into one of the other buildings. \n\tTai frowned. “B-but Mike, if we go into that building, wouldn’t that be where those guys came from?” \n\t“Probably. So?”\n\t“What if there’s more of them?” asked Tai. “Should we really go that way?”\n\tMike paused, looking hard at the shivering, sodden boy. “Do you know what you’re saying?” he asked slowly. “You want us to climb that?” Tai nodded. “You do see the razor-wire right?”\n\t“Yeah.”\n\t“Have you ever climbed a fence with that stuff on it?” \n\t“Once.” \n\tMike folded his arms. “And how did that go?” \n\t“Um, I-I had to give up. I cut my hand.” \n\t“Exactly…” Mike frowned. “I get what you mean but that stuff really cuts you up. It isn’t just barbed wire.”\n\tTai bit his lip and looked around. “Wh-what about that?” he asked, pointing at the tarpaulin bundled up into the corner of the courtyard. “We could put that over the wire.” \n\tMike blinked. “That’s a good idea!” he exclaimed, jogging over to the pile of boxes. “Let’s see…” \n\tHe grabbed a hold of the synthetic material and pulled. It slipped right out – it wasn’t pinned under any of the boxes, just carelessly stuffed into the corner. With the rustling tarpaulin in paw, Mike looked around. He settled his gaze upon the other stack of boxes by the fence. Perfect! “Bingo!” \n\tWith a running start, he leapt onto a wooden box only a few feet tall. Clambering up the next box and then the next, he was right by the fence, and nearly seven feet up it. “Heh!” he grinned at Tai, who smiled right back. \n\tDragging the long bundle of material up, Mike gave it a toss, draping it over the top of the fence, covering the thick bush of spines and barbs in one section. “Alright!” he said, dropping down to the ground. “I’ll help you up, short-stuff!” \n\tTai nodded, pulling himself up onto the first box. Mike was relieved – the kit seemed to be getting some of his strength back. \n\tWith Mike’s help, Tai got onto the next two boxes. \n“Okay, now…” Mike looked at the fence. “Try to climb up along the side here,” he said, indicating the uncovered section of the wire, “and go over it at the covered part.”\nTai reached out, but winced and pulled his arm back to his side. After a moment, he tried again, keeping the arm on the injured side closer to his chest this time.\nThe kit started to scale the fence, while Mike stood by his side in case he should slip. As he neared the top, Tai reached over to the covered section and tried to pull himself over to it. Mike stepped closer, putting his paws on the kit’s backside to give him a bit of a boost. \n“I’ll give you a push, ready? Get a good hold of it!” Mike paused for a second, then jumped slightly, shoving Tai’s butt up and to the side. \n“Whoa!” Tai yelped. But the momentum did the trick – he tumbled over the fence, managing to catch a hold of the tarpaulin on the other side. He held on to the material for a moment, before his grip failed and he fell the remaining few feet to the concrete. He landed on his paws, but his legs buckled and collapsed unceremoniously to his backside. \n“Sorry, I thought it’d be easier to keep a hold of!” blurted Mike. “Oh, geez. You know I’m not trying to hurt you, right?” \nTai nodded, pulling himself upright again. “It’s okay.” He looked at his paws and hissed. “I think I skinned my paws.” \n“I’ll be there in a second!” Mike leapt at the fence, scampering up the links easily. It was difficult, but he managed to get himself to lean over to the covered section. With nobody to boost him, he had to push in on the tarpaulin, trying to find a foot-hold on the other side, digging in to get a grip on the wire beneath it.\n\tEventually he got to the top. Tentatively, he touched the tarpaulin covering the razor-wire. Even through the thick, tough material he felt the metal thorns and barbs under it, but it seemed safely covered. So he swung a leg over it. \n\tBut his weight was greater than Tai’s and now the material wasn’t anchored. Immediately he felt the tarpaulin start to shift beneath him. “Uh-oh!” he gasped, trying to pull himself over the top quickly. \n\tThe tarpaulin slipped as he was on top of the ten foot fence, and with a loud tearing noise the razor-wire gouged right through the synthetic sheet. And Mike’s pants. \n\t“Shit!” he squealed. Searing pain licked along his inner thigh, and his suddenly shredded pants snagged on the wire, arresting his momentum and jolting him off balance. “Oh shit!” \n\tHe toppled over the edge, grasping futilely at the chain-links and the tarpaulin. But the tarpaulin was no longer stable, it simply got pulled down along with him. He tried to cling to the fence, but his momentum swung him around, twisting his fingers painfully – he let go immediately, and fell to the concrete. \n\tTai moved with unthinking swiftness, leaping underneath the bigger boy. \n\tWith a thump, Mike landed on him. Tai was too small to have any hope of catching him, but he broke his fall, and they both fell to the concrete. \n\t“Agh!” Mike whimpered, sitting up instantly to clutch at his inner thigh. It felt like a whip had cracked down across his inner thigh, leaving a streak of hot pain from the inside all the way around and down to a few inches above the back of his knee. “T-Tai!? You okay?” \n\tHaving fallen onto his side, Tai sat up and rubbed his pink nose. “Yeah, I th-think so!” he said nasally, eyes watering. “You hit my nose. Ah!” He clutched at his side again.\n\tMike looked gingerly at his paw. Blood. Quite a lot of it. \n\tTai crawled over to him, concern on his features. “Are you okay?!” \n\t“I-I guess…” Mike swallowed, trying to get himself to his paws. “Ah! Ow, shit! That stings!” The moment he straightened he almost fell back to the ground, yelping loudly. \n\t“Mike?!” \n\tThe brown-furred fox stumbled into the fence and wailed – the pain in his leg had exploded, as if some sort of delayed reaction. He struggled valiantly against the urge to break down and cry, clutching at the fence. It hurt worse than any cut he’d ever endured; it almost burned with agony, and he couldn’t bring himself to touch the bleeding wound again.\n\tHis instinct, his habit, to burst into tears and call helplessly for his dad tried to overwhelm him. But he couldn’t give in to it. Nobody was here for them to depend on. They had to look after themselves, so he couldn’t give in to it!\n\tBut nonetheless he found himself crying into his forearms up against the fence.\n\t“Mike, are you okay?” Tai gasped, stumbling over to him.\n\tMike bit his lip, fighting to calm himself down. He had to be grown up here. He knew he could do it. After a moment, he nodded and wiped at his nose. “I-I’ll be fine. Let’s go… they’ll see that thing and know we went over the fence.” \n\tA smaller paw lightly touched his, and he looked over. The tawny kit just met his gaze somberly. \nSomehow, Mike dredged up a smile. “Th-thanks…” he whispered, sniffing loudly.\n\tAs hurriedly as they could, they made their way along the driveway. Only to find themselves at the waterfront again, in front of the warehouse. The promenade along the water’s edge was wide, littered with boxes, shipping containers and even vehicles. Trucks and massive motorized fork-lifts. The wind was faster now, whistling up from the surface of the water, still spraying the waterfront with a veil of fine mist.\n\tTai stared out at the sea nervously. It looked even worse now: the boats in the distance were hazy, enclosed by a thick fog. There was a rustling noise, barely audible over the lapping waves as they smashed repeatedly against the concrete embankments. “Now what?” he asked. \n\t“Same as before!” Mike replied, trying to sound chipper. “Find a place to wait until we’re rescued.” \n\tTai opened his mouth to reply, but he paused. He recognized that distant haze – it wasn’t a mist at all. It was moving. Shimmering. It seemed… like everything in the distance was grainy somehow. Squinting at it, he saw it moving closer. \n\tAnd a drop of freezing water fell right onto his muzzle.\n\t“Oh, crap!” Mike exclaimed. “Is it raining?” \n\tTai pointed out to sea. “Uh-huh. It’s heavy.” \n\tAs the wall of indistinct haziness got closer, Tai saw it for what it was. Torrential rain, thick sheets of sky-born water cascading from the clouds. The rustling sound was the rain cutting into the ocean. The sky flashed once, and a distant, sonorous boom followed a second later. \n\t“Oh shit!” Mike groaned, peering around the container’s side. “Can’t it wait?!”\n\tIn moments, Tai felt further drops hitting his fur. “We’re gonna have to get out of this!” he warned, surprised to find that he had to speak up to be heard over the rain that was still hundreds of feet out to sea. \n\t“Look out!” Mike turned and staggered back, grabbing Tai’s paw and yanking him amongst a cluster of large wooden crates. \n\t“What?!” asked Tai. Mike pulled him to a crouch. \n\t“Some guys are coming this way!” \n\tRaindrops started to fall nosily all around them, bouncing off the wooden boxes and ground alike, and the wind started to grow louder. The storm was going to be picking up fast.\n\tA trio of male adults jogged past the shipping container, one of them with his hood up, another holding a heavy jacket over his head. \n\tEven despite the rain and distance, the kits found they could hear their loud voices. “Shit!” one of them yelled over a suddenly gale. “This one came up fast!”\n\t“No problem if we get the next container onto the ship!” another shouted. “We’re almost fuckin’ done, we’re not letting some rain get in the way!” \n\t“It’s not just some rain!” protested the first adult. Tai peered around the corner of a box – they were heading towards a truck, one hitched to yet another shipping container. “It’s a fuckin’ hurricane or something a few miles off the coast. There’s a storm warning. We don’t want to be out in this when it gets started.”\n\tThe storm hit them full-force scarcely a few seconds after that. Tai squinted as the downpour struck the promenade. The bright flood-lights along the waterfront seemed to dwindle, smothered by the torrent. \n\tHe started to shake all over. The rain was freezing. \n\tMike joined him at the crate’s edge and they watched the adults warily for a few minutes, squinting through the rain to watch the dark shapes. After seemingly checking their container over, two of them got into the cabin, while the third remained on foot.\n\tWith a loud growl the truck started up, starting to rumble its way along the waterfront, as the third adult walked alongside it. Mike pulled Tai away from the edge of the box. \n\t“Stay down!” Mike instructed his friend. “They’re coming this way.” \nTai nodded. “I-I’m cold!” he complained, huddling closer to his older friend. \nImmediately Mike pulled the kit to him, shielding his slighter body with his own. He squeezed gently, but Tai gasped, trying to push Mike’s arms off. “Sorry,” Mike murmured, shifting his grip. “I forgot…” \nThe truck trundled along slowly, its headlights lancing through the darkness, illuminating the rain in a visible cone in front of it. The penetrating beam of bright light fell upon the clustered containers the boys hid behind, and Mike ducked as quickly as he could without causing the pain in his leg to spike again. \nThat was close. A whimper escaped the kit’s muzzle, and what remained of his pride was glad it was swept away by the winds. The waterfront still wasn’t safe. They’d have to stay down for awhile, and then try to move on. As if staying in this downpour would be smart anyway. \nHe hissed and tried to will away the pain in his leg. It didn’t work. In fact, thinking about it did the opposite.\n“Mike…” Tai forced past his chattering teeth, clutching at the older boy’s arm. “W-we can’t stay out in this…” \n“I know.” \n“S-s-so cold!” Tai gasped.  \nMike rubbed the kit’s shoulders. “I know…” \nThere was nothing they could do until the truck was safely out of sight, and even then they’d have to traverse the open waterfront until they found a safe place – if there even was a safe place nearby. \nBeneath his soaked fur, Tai’s skin was clammy and cold. If only they’d managed to get a shirt on him before they were abducted…\nTime passed slowly, seemingly in spite of their urgent need for shelter. The rain got heavier and heavier, and distant rumbles spoke of worse weather to come.\nTai winced, closing his eyes tight. It hurt. The rain itself actually hurt. \nDrops of freezing water peppered him relentlessly. The droplets were hard and heavy, reminding him of a thousand stinging pellets from those toy guns that his schoolmates had once been enamored with. Even though Mike held him close, he couldn’t protect him from the merciless weather.\nBy the time the truck had pulled away, and its rumbling engine was at last drowned out by the hissing rain, it wasn’t just pain anymore. Tai shook violently, his teeth chattering like maracas; now the rain felt like dull thuds, heavy impacts on his numb body. It was a different kind of pain as his muscles started to lock, to tighten, in protest. An all-consuming sting that recalled a certain icy lake once again.\nFear suddenly gripped him. If they didn’t get to shelter quickly…!\n“M-M-Mike!” he gasped, struggling to move himself. \n“Huh?” The bigger kit responded, actually raising his voice to speak to the boy in his arms. The rain had become a deafening white noise, as if a powerful waterfall was roaring loudly all around them. “Did you say something?”\nTai twisted around slightly. “H-have t-to get out of the r-r-rain,” he managed to force out. “S’cold!”\n\tThe barky-furred kit nodded. The howling wind slashed at their exposed hiding spot, whipping up and driving flurries of rain rhythmically against the waterfront with each surging blast, lashing at the docks with solid sheets of water. Tai’s fur alone was no protection against that. \n\tMotioning for his companion to stay low, Mike crouched a little higher, trying to scan the area for any activity. After peering in vain through the obscuring rain, he helped the shivering Tai to his paws.\n\t“Come on!” he said, leading the way. “We’ll find a warehouse or something and try to warm up there.” \n\tHe walked on, raising a paw to protect his face from the rain. Tai stumbled along behind him. His legs were numb, and he was having trouble on getting them to go where he wanted to put them. He knew he should call out to Mike, to ask for help, but they had to be quiet.\n\tTai had grown up in Alaska, out away from large cities, close to a mountain range that defined dangerous weather. Snow flurries and ice were some of the most common sights that he remembered; beautiful things that danced elegantly in the sky, seemingly innocuous. But ever since he was young enough to wander out of parents’ sight, they’d taught him to fear the silent killer that was the cold. He knew all about it. It had taken his father from him.\n\tThat aside, he recognized the chill in the air. Could taste it with every breath. The cold rain would soon become sleet. Maybe not today, but snow would be not long behind.\n\tDistractedly, the kit wondered how the imposing city would look, smothered in a thick white blanket of snow. It might be an improvement, at least to him.\n\tMike led them along the waterfront, before he decided to turn, heading inland between two warehouses. Tai followed without question. \n\tIt was a service alley, and Mike headed directly for the spiraling, metal staircase that led up to the fire escape walkway of one of the warehouses. He reached the bottom of the slippery metal stairs and paused, allowing Tai to catch up.\n\t“You first…” urged Mike, stepping to the side. \n\tTai nodded and reached out, gripping the handrail as tightly as possible in his numb fingers. Grunting with effort, the kit pulled himself onwards. \n\tUnder his breath, Mike cursed. He had hung back in order to observe his friend – and help him climb up if need be. It was clear now that Tai wasn’t just hurt. He could barely move. \nYet… he still did.\n\tSuddenly Mike felt a powerful surge of affection and respect for his younger companion. \nThe little fox boy was strong. Strong in a way Mike didn’t comprehend until now; didn’t understand the value of compared to the conventional meaning of ‘strength’. In such a state, Mike wasn’t sure he’d be able to keep going– but Tai did. Tai had endured so much, and he’d endured it by himself. Even if sometimes he felt it was hopeless, that he couldn’t do anything, Tai was resilient, resourceful and intelligent. He was not brave. He was not confident. But nonetheless he was tough. \nAnd that wasn’t all. Today especially, Mike had seen that the skinny little kit was way more athletic than he appeared. Startlingly fast for his size, a fully-grown adult would have great difficulty catching him on a straight, let alone if the agile boy could whip his small frame around corners. \n\tBut not anymore though. Tai was hurting. He trembled violently, his pointed teeth chattering over the ferocious hissing of the rain. His gait was such an awkward limp, doubled up, as if his entire body was cramping. One paw absently clutched his injured ribs, and his formerly excellent balance and coordination seemed gone. Exhausted, he could barely pull himself up the spiraling stairs while his matted, long head-fur hung in front of his face like a shredded veil.\n\tIt was a disturbing sight. So wrong. Like a sick joke.\n\tBut it reminded Mike of something he had to consider: he knew they wouldn’t even be able to put up half a fight if they were cornered. If his short lifetime of experiences, from wrestling with his father to confrontations with bigger boys, hadn’t taught him the ego-deflating truth, the ease with which they’d been originally captured had: they were simply too small, and facing an adult directly had zero chance of success. They were just too small, too weak by comparison. That was just a given. Kids didn’t try to fight grownups except in silly movies.\n\tBut even running from them was out of the question now. An awful stiffness was settling into his right leg while the back of his thigh throbbed with pain. Running was one of the last things he wanted to do right now. \n\tAs they climbed the stairs, Mike watched the smaller kit warily, offering him help whenever he stumbled. \n\tWhen at last they reached the upper landing – some minutes later - Tai collapsed against the handrail. \n\t“You okay?!” Mike grabbed the smaller boy’s shoulders. \n\t“N-no…” Tai shook his head, unsteadily pushing himself off the wet metal bar. “I-I-I g-g-ot— gotta… rest…” \n\t“We can do that inside,” insisted Mike. Quickly, he raised Tai’s arm and slipped underneath. Supporting the younger boy. “Let’s go.” \n\tAs they stumbled towards a fire exit much like the one they made their earlier escape from, Mike closed his eyes tight.\n\tThey had to hide. Or else they were dead.\n\n\tRobert could barely move. The van he was in was cramped beyond belief. \n\tIt was a big vehicle, but computers, equipment and burly, blue-uniformed furs took up most of the space. Even worse, the constant rattling sound of the rain on its metal roof was grating his already strung nerves.\n\tThings had gone well so far, he supposed. The NYPD had agreed to help, and he had been allowed to oversee the operation – though Robert was not placed, strictly speaking, in command. Though he had initially wanted that, he was somewhat glad to know that matters would lie in the paws of those far more experienced in these matters. Provided, that is, they knew that this was no normal hostage situation. \n\tBut then again that was what he was there for.\n\tSo he found himself cramped into the van alongside a hard-bitten sergeant, a grim-faced collie that was far bulkier than his race would suggest. He looked over a large map of the docks, and constantly checked a whiteboard on the wall, scrawled with nigh unreadable scribbles and diagrams. Robert wasn’t even sure what he was checking, but he had long since decided to leave the details to the professionals.\n\tIt was somewhat unnerving to the fox that the sergeant had barely said ten words to him directly since they’d got in the van, nor had anyone else spoken to him more than was needful. Perhaps the police didn’t want to traffic with what they probably thought were spooks – Robert could try for a hundred years and he doubted the canine would ever accept he wasn’t some black-ops ‘spook.’ \n\tHe was a father trying to save his son, with twenty poorly-written essays on Etymology to slough through when everything was back to normal.\n\tAnd no, he didn’t dare consider any other outcome. He couldn’t. \n\tHe would not lose his little boy too. He would not lose either of them.\n\t“You said the satellite imaging would be coming through soon?” growled the sergeant, squinting closer at the map. \n\t“Yes.” Robert sighed, fondling his phone pointlessly. “I should be getting it soon.” \n\tThe sergeant muttered something to a cercal who sat with an intense look on his features, a headset pressed firmly to his ear. Robert had no idea what the cercal was doing either. Though he knew he could probably ask one of the other agents he had with him, it just didn’t seem important. At least he hoped it wasn’t.\n\t“We’ve barely got any idea how many there are.” The sergeant shook his head slowly. “SWAT doesn’t move in until we have accurate numbers and positions. That’s when lives are lost. You realize this?” \n\tRobert nodded. “I do, but you have to realize that we’re not dealing with normal criminals here.” The fox bit his lip. “It could be anything from a small band to dozens. I doubt we’ll have more than twenty, thirty tangos at worst. Assuming they’re shipping contraband in or out tonight, that is.” \n\tThe sergeant scowled. “And you think they’ll be armed with automatic weapons?” he asked, concern on his features at last. It was one of the only expressions Robert had seen him make outside of stodgy disapproval.\n\t“It’s possible.” \n\t“This could turn the docks into a war-zone.” The sergeant glanced at another piece of paper. “I’ve got the whole SWAT team here, and I can equip other officers to help, but I got no more than thirty officers here, and all thirty of them have to be going back to their wives and kids tonight. I’m not risking any lives for—”\n\t“I’ve told you this is a rescue op,” interjected Robert, meeting the scowl with one of his own. “It’s not just a drug-bust, or some obscure CIA objective. This collaboration is about saving innocent lives! You don’t think a pair of innocent children are worth risking lives for?”\n\tThe sergeant hesitated. “That depends,” he said softly, “and I didn’t mean that. I understand one of them is your own son. If it is at all possible, I want nobody to die tonight. Our job is to get in there and put bad guys in jail. Not to get into wars. There’s no such thing as acceptable collateral when you’re talking about fathers and sons.” \n\tSwallowing, Robert nodded. “Sorry. I know what you mean. It’s just… Christ! I want to do anything possible to save my son. His friend too. They’ve been kidnapped by… I-if you have kids, I’m sure you can imagine what this must feel like.” \n\t“I can.” The sergeant eyed him wisely, adjusting his crisply ironed uniform. “You sure you want to be involved in the operation then?” \n\t“Absolutely.” Robert gave him a hollow smile. “Absolutely. You couldn’t drag me away.”\n\tThe silver phone in his paws started to buzz.\n\t\n\tThe warehouse was vast, as they saw from the fire escape’s inner landing. The lights were off and it was thankfully deserted. \n\tMike eased the violently shivering Tai down to the ground by the door. The kit leaned against the wall, his body practically cramping into a trembling ball. \n\tThey said nothing, and Mike simply scanned the massive room. It was unremarkable, he supposed, as far as warehouses go. Stacked pallets, boxes, and metal shelves, quite like the first one they had found themselves in. The warehouse was dark, but some light from floodlights outside managed to enter through the glass panels on the roof, supplying just enough light to see.\n\tOutside, the rain pelted down mercilessly.\n\tSatisfied they were safe, Mike turned and checked the heavy door. As with before, it had taken much effort to open. Even more to close quietly with Tai hanging on his shoulder. He gingerly touched the metal surface. Resting on it. \n\t“Sh-should we s-s-sit so close to the d-door?” stammered Tai, unable to speak clearly. He shivered still and his voice was mumbled and weak. It took a few seconds for Mike to decipher it. \n\t“No,” he said, rubbing his own shaking torso briefly. “Let’s find somewhere.”\n\tCarefully, he daubed with his fingertips at his inner thigh, seeking the wound there that he couldn’t see. With a stifled yelp he whipped his paw away. It was covered in a runny, red liquid. It was no scratch – it was a deep gash. The razor-wire had slashed a good few inches down his leg. His eyes watered. \n\t“Owww…” he moaned, sniffing and swiping at his eyes with his already sodden wrist. He resisted the urge to stamp his paw, to shake away the pain – that’d just make it so much worse. “Shit! It really hurts now! Why did I touch it?!”\n\tTai looked up at him expressionlessly, not commenting. Before him, Mike verged on tears, leaning on the wall. The pain from the cut must’ve caught up with him now. Tai couldn’t see the wound itself properly, but he could see the blood. Their clothes were both soaked through, but the upper-leg section of Mike’s pants was stained a dull-brownish red.\n\tAt last, Mike bit his lower lip, somehow overcoming the pain once again, bending down to help Tai up again. Tai took his friend’s paw, but Mike still had to tug the small cub upright by main strength. \n\t“Th-there’s an office over there…” he pointed across the warehouse, at a closed, windowed door on the ground floor. A few feet from it was another door, one without a window. Tai guessed the former was the office. “There might be some stuff there. Like first aid.” \n\tMike grimaced even as he said that. He wasn’t looking forward to the bitter sting of anti-septic on his leg, but they were going to be stuck here for some time, most likely. They needed to do everything to make sure they were safe as possible – including treating their wounds.\n\tBoth his father and coach impressed on him the importance of dealing with injuries when they came up instead of dallying. Last thing he wanted was for his thigh to get permanently damaged somehow.\n\tTogether they limped along the landing and down the stairs. It took them minutes to cross the deserted warehouse; Tai relied entirely on his older friend, and Mike refused to let his right leg bend. It hurt less that way. \n\tMike tried the office door. It rattled noisily but didn’t budge. The brown-furred kit hissed in disappointment. \n\tTai reached out and leaned on the wall. “Wh-what now?” he whispered. \n\tThe older boy cursed. “Enough with the locked doors!” \n\tHe let Tai rest against the wall, and he pulled his sopping t-shirt off. He wrapped it around his paw.\n Summoning every ounce of strength left in his body, Mike threw his fist at the little glass window in the center of the door. With a loud bang, his fist bounced right off, easily repelled by the glass. “Ah, crap!!” he gasped, cradling his wrist. \n\tTai slid down the wall and watched. \n\tUnwilling to be foiled again by another locked door, Mike glanced around, hopeful. Almost anything would do…\n\tAs luck would have it, there was a heavy box, bound with iron strips not ten feet from the office door. Its lid, formerly nailed down, lay diagonally atop it, and on top of that there rested a red and white painted crowbar. Mike grinned, dropping his shirt on the floor. \n\tHe retrieved the crowbar, and brandished it at Tai, along with a beatific grin. “Let’s try that again, shall we?” \n\tTai smiled slightly. “Yeah.”\n\tThis time, the glass exploded. Mike struck it with the sharp curve at the tip of the tool, and the glass pane shattered loudly on the first blow. “Get some!” chuckled Mike, oddly exhilarated. He didn’t expect the glass to break so readily when his own little fist almost sprained itself on it. That something went right just felt so incredible.\n\tHe reached through and felt around. It was a deadbolt. Fortunately. He undid it and the office door swung open easily. Dropping the crowbar and retrieving his shirt, Mike turned his gaze to Tai. “Alright! Let’s look for stuff.” He wrung out his shirt. “You wanna wear this? It’s not much but it’ll be warmer than nothing.”\n\tPainfully, Tai clambered to his paws. “Y-yes please…” He took a single step, and then froze solid. His eyes widened. \n\tMike reacted, looking around wildly. “What?!” \n\t“Shhh!” squeaked Tai. “Listen!” \n\tAn echoing voice. An odd, panicked whimpering. Hurried footsteps. \n\tMike spun around, looking directly at the unmarked door but a few feet from the office’s. “Get in the room!” \n\tSomething banged loudly into the door from the other side. Though muffled, he could hear a frantic, terrified whimpering; met with calm, mocking laughter. The door burst open, and a young lemur- a female, judging from the disheveled and torn clothing that hung from her slender limbs- collapsed to the concrete. Her fall was barely broken by her small paws, which were bound together in front of her with what looked like zip-ties.\n\tShe was pleading, crying out in some language the boys didn’t understand, to someone they couldn’t see. When she looked around, her eyes were wild and horrified. Unsurprisingly, she was soaked through.\n\t“Oh so now we’re going this way?” chuckled the other voice. A deep, sonorous one that both boys immediately recognized. A soft-spoken, but gravelly and growl-like voice with a Bronx accent. “The tour’s been fun. But there’s nowhere to run. Never will be for you, not anymore.” \n\tAfter only a second, the powerfully built Marco strode leisurely into the warehouse. The tiger loomed above them all at his full six-and-a-half feet, and he grinned calmly. “Enough fun though,” he chortled, clearly enjoying himself. When the lemur struggled to her feet, his paw shot out like a striking viper, snaring her upper arm in a vice grip. “You sure are asking for it, bitch.” \n\tHe spun her around, before backhanding her with such ferocity she sailed headlong into the very box Mike found the crowbar upon. \n\t“Hope you like it rough, bitch,” growled Marco, advancing slowly. “I do.”\n\tThe lemur tried to scrabble away, disoriented by the blow and not even registering the two stunned kits. But Marco suddenly froze. \n\tHe turned to slowly stare them, his eyes wide with disbelief. “What-?” he gasped while his mouth hung stupidly open. \n\tMike exhaled the air he had been holding in for the last ten seconds. This couldn’t be! Not now…\n\tFinally, the tiger started to laugh raucously. A deep belly laugh that seemed to vibrate Mike’s bare chest, even from so far away. “Would you look at this?” he exclaimed, gesturing pointlessly at the kits. “Everything’s going tits up because of you running off, and here you are, just waiting for me.” \n\tSwallowing, Mike tried to make a break for the stairs to the fire-exit, but Marco took only a few steps with his long legs and caught his prey by the wrist. \n\t“Let go!” shrieked the boy, but Marco just grinned. \n\t“Sure.” He pulled the kit around, and shoved him into the wall. \n\tWith a pained yelp, Mike bounced off and landed face first on the concrete.\n\t“Mike!!” Tai cried, pulling himself to his unstable, cramping legs. But Marco didn’t even let him stumble to his friend’s aid. He reached out and grasped the long, yellow-blonde hair, bringing the kit up short. With no visible effort, he lazily flung him through the office’s open door. \n\tMike looked up in time just to see the tawny boy crash into a metal filing cabinet and slither lifelessly to the ground. “NO!” \n\tThis couldn’t be happening!! They’d gotten away, they were safe! How did this monster-?! \n\tHe struggled to his knees again, but when he glanced around, Marco wasn’t even looking him. \n\tThe lemur was running for the fire-exit, screaming incoherently as she did so. The hulking tiger simply sighed, and took a few lackadaisical steps after her. From his belt, he indifferently drew a pistol. “Stupid bitch,” he mumbled, aiming carefully. \n\t“NO, DON’T!!” Mike screamed. But his body seemed frozen. \n\tThere was just a short, sharp pop. Astoundingly loud, loud enough that Mike winced in pain, but far from the dramatic, resonant explosions of the movies. Nonetheless, the lemur stumbled forwards—\n\tAnd collapsed headlong to the concrete. Unmoving. \n\tA sickening chill, a revulsion beyond anything Mike had ever felt before swept through him, and he watched wide eyed and horrified as someone was casually murdered right before his eyes. \n\t“Stupid foreign bitches,” scoffed the tiger, turning his attention to the stunned pup. “But it’s alright. Couldn’t have her run around anyhow – don’t need her making a scene. Hundreds where she came from anyway. I got something a little more important to do here.” \n\tHe took a step towards Mike, slipping his firearm away in his belt again. \n\t“You’re both worth much more. In every way. But I want my turn first – the dickhead wolf can wait.” \n\tThe look in his eyes left no doubt as to what he meant to do. \n\tMove! Mike screamed at himself. This time, he shot off to the side and around a stack of pallets. The grownup gave chase, laughing delightedly, but, even wounded, Mike was determined: he had to lure him away from Tai at the very least. If he could just get out the building… Marco would chase him, he’d have to.\n\tLeading the adult in a wide circle, Mike turned and dashed for the stairwell up the emergency landing. \n\tThe leering tiger cut him off, and he changed direction, sprinting down the aisles of metal shelving. His thigh flared with fresh pain, but he pressed on, striking out for the emergency landing again.\n\tBehind, he heard Marco swear in genuine concern as he started up the metal stairs. \n\tHis sneaker caught on one of the stairs, and he tripped. He smacked his chin on the rough metal walkway, banging his knee on the sharp edge of a step.\n\tPanicking, Mike glanced back as he crawled up the stairs to the landing. He cursed shrilly: Marco was leaping stairs three at a time, gaining with incredible speed for his size. \n\tDesperate and hurting, the kit reached the landing and tried to accelerate to the exit. \n\tBut just as his paws touched it he was suddenly bowled over. Thrown to the metal landing with such force he bounced. \n\tEvery ounce of air in his lungs was ejected, and the best outcry he could make was a strangled wheeze. He tried to recover, tried to look around and see what had knocked him down, but his sight was blurry and he was struck by a dizziness that rendered even considering trying to stand up beyond him.\n\t“Ooh, nice try,” he heard the tiger’s deep voice as some huge paws grasped his arms and hauled him upright. “You’re pretty fast. But come on, kid. I do this shit for a living.” \n\tMike was suddenly launched forwards, slammed into the handrail until it dug painfully into his gut. He gasped, breathing almost impossible. Marco’s powerful paw pushed him down until he dangled limply across the metal strip, hanging over it like clothing draped on a line. The adult held him there easily.\n\t“I know, I know, you’ve got to try at least once. But you’ll get it soon, kid. No escape and all that shit. You’re screwed.” Mike felt a paw grasp the waistband of his pants and tug them down. He sobbed aloud – he knew what was coming. “Soon you’ll just lie there and take it. Just like the last, I dunno, twenty or so.”\n\tThe tiger’s muzzle came closer to his limp ears. He could feel the hot breath tickling the fur on nape, sending unpleasant shivers down his spine. \n\t“If you get lucky, you might learn to like it…” The breathing picked up, and there was a revolting chuckle. “Oh wait. You do like it, don’t you? That ferret fuck. Heard about that. Yeah… you’ve got experience. Told everyone you didn’t mind it, didn’t you? You’re a regular little pervert. Not the first I’ve met.” \n\tThe tiger grinded up against Mike’s exposed backside, and the kit couldn’t stop himself. He burst into tears. \n\tA fondling paw, thrice the size of his own, started to stroke slowly down his wet, trembling side, down his injured thigh, mindless of the wound there… and slipping around to his exposed privates. \n\tNo! This couldn’t—! \n\t“No!” choked Mike. In reply, Marco just crushed him even harder against the railing. “Please don’t!” He wailed, weakly kicking his legs.\n\t“Oh, that’s just hot, kid,” snickered Marco, his paw still engaging in its foul exploration – it in itself a mockery of his victim. “Ooh, please doooon’t! That’s just gold, keep doing that. You’ll make a good boy-whore. Well, unless Darron decides to sell you as lunch meat. Give me a second here. Go on, struggle a bit. I like it.” \n\tWith a sob, Mike sagged in hopeless defeat. The bruiser behind him started to do something – undoing his own pants, Mike guessed. Taking his time. The cub closed his eyes, trying to wish himself away from this. Trying to pretend it wasn’t about to happen.\n\tBut it was.\n\tSo close to safety too… it was over. He’d screwed up. He’d failed. Failed himself and Tai… they were gonna die. No… worse. This was worse.\n\tCaptured again, they would have to endure this for the rest of their lives… because of him.\n\tHe was so busy feeling sorry for himself that he didn’t register the blood-curdling howl at first. \n\tA second later however, he slid backwards to the metal flooring. Confused and hurting, he took a desperately needed breath before trying to turn himself over. \n\t“What…?!” he croaked, looking around.\n\tMarco had released him and staggered backwards. \n\tHe was doubled over, grasping at his crotch, his pants down at his knees. Behind him a familiar little shape was clutching something, holding it up high. He couldn’t focus enough in the darkness of the warehouse to see what it was. The shape behind moved again, once more striking its target’s most vulnerable spot with its weapon.\n\tWhatever that weapon was, it suddenly clanged to the floor as Marco spun around. Knocked away. The massive grownup gave a furious roar, drawing himself up to his fullest height. \n\tDwarfed by the adult, Tai glared straight at him regardless. The kit’s face was grim. Determined. Even though he had been disarmed, he didn’t back down. Mike blinked in amazement. Trembling and injured, Tai stared bravely, defiantly, into those narrow agate eyes. \nAt last, despite being in what had to be incredible pain, Marco lashed out. It wasn’t a punch, or any kind of strike. He thrust out one huge paw with surprising speed, and the tiny kit couldn’t avoid it. With his monstrous strength, Marco simply shoved the boy away like he was throwing aside a pillow. \n\tMike watched in horror as his best friend was hurled backwards like a feather swept up in a gale. The slender kit bounced right off the metal landing. \n\tAnd went crashing down the stairs. \n\t“Ooogh!” moaned the tiger, clutching in agony at his groin. He staggered a few steps along the walkway, knees almost failing him. \n\tAs he moved, the shadow that fell across it did also, and Mike recognized what Tai had wielded: a red strip of metal, slightly curved at either end. Of course! The crowbar!\n\tCalling on what was left of his reserves, the bark-furred kit moved. He desperately kicked off his pants to free his legs, then reached out and grasped the painted metal bar, hauling himself to his paws. \n\tGrowling to himself, Marco turned around to face his victim, still bent over from the pain. At last, Mike beheld the monster’s twisted countenance – despite it all, Tai had struck true. The tiger flinched slightly in surprise, seeing another teary-eyed and determined child standing right before him.\n\tAs fast as his drained body could move, Mike acted. He leapt forward, swinging his weapon wildly with his entire exhausted body behind the blow. \n\tThe crowbar smashed into the tiger’s temple with a sickening crack. Even the force generated by a mere ten-year-old was enough to send the behemoth whirling around. So hard did Mike strike him that the crowbar went spinning from his paws.\n\tLoosing another agonized howl, Marco collapsed against the handrail and toppled over it. At the last second, his massive paw clutched the landing, halting his deadly descent to the concrete twenty feet below.\n\tDangling from the landing, the tiger eyed Mike with a blend of fear and total disbelief. \n\tAt first, the nearly naked kit stared back, equally incredulous, just as afraid. But then a hot, indignant, wrath boiled up within him, and Mike snarled at the adult. “Do this for a living!” he yelled, kicking as hard as he could at the grownup’s face.\n\tHis sneaker connected, and he heard a satisfying snap that seemed to come from the tiger’s nose. That massive paw slipped…\n\tBut the tiger’s other paw made a wild swipe; a last, belated attempt to protect his head. \n\tIt caught Mike’s ankle. With a shocked scream, Mike was pulled between the handrail and the landing, over two hundred and fifty pounds of weight dragging him to his death.\n\tAt the last second he caught the ledge with a single paw as Marco had, and the tiger’s grasp slipped, courtesy of the cub’s sodden, slick fur.\nThere was a scream and, a mere moment later, Mike heard a muffled thump, but they scarcely registered over his own pounding heartbeat, thumping so loudly in his ears. And his own terrified, mindless cursing. \n\t“Oh shit, oh fuuuck!” he wheezed breathlessly, holding on with whatever he still had left in him. Mostly sheer will. The violent jolt when Marco had lost his grip had nearly made him lose his own, and he clung to the landing’s edge by his aching fingertips alone.\n\tYet somehow, he managed to grab on properly with his other paw and pull himself back up. He rolled away from the edge. \n\tGasping for breath that seared his throat, he lunged at his pants and underwear, struggling to put them back on. To cover himself, to protect his body again. It took him a second or two before he remembered… \n“TAI!” he cried, limping to the stairs. “Tai! Are you alright?!”\n\tHe flew down the stairs, jumping the last five and rolling his left ankle slightly on landing. Though he fell to the ground with a short scream, he forced the pain out of mind immediately and crawled over to his stricken friend. He knelt by the tawny boy. “Oh!” he sobbed. Gingerly, he lifted the kit’s head closer to his own. Was his neck broken? No… it didn’t feel like it. “No. No! Please, Tai! Please wake up! Don’t go…”\n\tHe collapsed on the shirtless pup’s chest, desperately pressing his cheek to Tai’s.\n\tThis couldn’t be. Tai had saved him. He could NOT have died saving him! Not after all this. The little fox boy was tough, he could take anything! Falling down the stairs had to be nothing to him! He was just knocked out, he had to be!\n\tSo there was no way Mike wasn’t going to wake him. He wasn’t going to move until that happened. Nothing else mattered.\n\t“No!” he sniffled, shaking the kit in his paws. “Please, Tai! You’re gonna be my brother! We’re gonna go home! Gonna go home together! Wake up! Come on, wake up!”\n\tIncredibly, the smaller kit twitched and groaned at his words. “Ugh…?”\n\tMike started. “Tai?!” \n\tThe tawny kit’s eyelids fluttered open, like dozy butterflies on the first spring morning. Behind them, the leafy-green eyes focused at last on Mike’s face…\n\tThere was a stunned, disbelieving moment of stillness. Then Mike burst out laughing, clutching the boy to his chest tightly.\n\tPainfully, Tai swallowed, smiling up at Mike when the older kit finally gave him some space. Finally, he croaked out a few quiet words. \n“I… think I just fell down the s-stairs.” \nWith a disgusting snort, Mike returned the smile.\n“Y-you klutz.”\n\n\t“Are you alright?” Mike asked. His entire body felt rubbery as he peered under the bureau. Already he shivered, now that he was without a shirt.\n\tTai nodded, wrapping his arms around his own body, now clad in Mike’s t-shirt. It was the best they could do to warm him. After tumbling down the stairs, Tai couldn’t even walk. Mike had to carry him to the office. He hurt all over now, but so far he didn’t think he’d broken anything – aside from maybe his ribs. They still ached, but he’d never broken a rib before—he had no idea how it’d feel. Though there was a tight pain in the middle of his chest that he tried not to think about. Myriad cuts and abrasions were all over him, many from the fall down the metal stairway, and he was sure he’d be spotted with bruises by tomorrow were it not for his fur. \n\tFur which had done little to keep his muscles from cramping in the savage chill outside. It was only his supreme weariness that kept him from bursting into tears from all his discomfort. Exhausted, he closed his eyes, once more trusting to Mike to keep them safe. He was useless to them both now.\n\tBut before sleep could take him, he remembered something. He picked up the first aid kit they’d located atop a filing cabinet. “Mike?” he called to the bigger boy, catching his attention as he went to switch off the office’s light. “Don’t we have to do something to your leg, you said?” \n\tWarily, Mike eyed the red and white bag. He really didn’t want to, but the cut was too deep to leave alone. “I g-guess so.” \n\t“What do we have to do?” \n\tThe brown-furred kit hesitated. He didn’t look forward to the bitter sting of anti-septic. “Do it later,” he finally said. “When… yeah.” \n\tStumbling onto the tabletop, he swiped the cordless phone from atop the bureau, pressing a button on it. It lit up. Thankfully. It was all he could do to limp over to the wall and turn off the light before he felt his legs start to wobble. The room was once again plunged into darkness. It wasn’t good enough – Mike knew that if someone investigated the warehouse, they’d see bodies, smashed windows, and they’d check under the desk almost immediately.\n But neither he nor his friend could endure any more. At least not yet. They needed rest.\n\tThe weary kit fell to his knees and crawled under the desk, joining his friend. Together they squirmed about until they got comfortable. Mike wrapped himself around the wounded, exhausted Tai, sharing warmth and comfort. \nWearily, he picked up the phone again and started to dial a number.\n\t“Who’re you calling?” \n\t“Dad… and the police.” Mike sighed. He paused for a moment. \n\tTai threaded his fingers with Mike’s, and held the older boy’s paw. “What’s wrong?”\n\t“Nothing.” \n\tA moment later, Mike put the phone down, silently resting his head on top of Tai’s. \n\t“Mike?”\n\t“The tiger guy.” The older boy’s voice was dull. “He’s dead. I think I killed him.” \n\tTai hesitated. “He deserved it…” he said eventually. “He was bad. Very bad.” Another pause. “I wish I got him instead of you.” \n\t“Why?” \n\t“Because he hurt you.” \n\tAfter those simple words there was utter silence, but Tai felt something was wrong. When he twisted around to ask what the matter was, he recoiled. \n\tMike’s face was twisted in a grimace, as if he was in the most horrible pain. His eyes were shut tightly. Unable to suppress it, the fox boy let out a sharp sob. Once more, he started to cry. Hard.\n\t“Mike?! What’s the matter?” Tai tried to turn slightly, but Mike held him fast. “Is it your leg? Is your leg hurting still?”\n\tThe older kit didn’t reply. \n\tIt went on for almost a minute. Mike didn’t even seem capable of speech. Crying too hard to even close his muzzle, he couldn’t get even a word past. \n\tUnable to do anything else, a bemused Tai just held his friend’s paw and let himself be hugged. \n\t“I’m so stupid!” Mike slurred at last, barely coherent. “Always tryin’ to—t-trying to be brave! I’m not! I’m not…” \n\t“Yes you are,” replied Tai immediately, squeezing that paw. “You’re very brave.” \n\t“No…! I don’t mean like that…” Mike returned the squeeze. “D-didn’t want dad to worry. I knew I had to be tough. He w-w-ants me to be tough, and s-smart. But I was scared!”\n\tTai blinked in confusion. “What’re you talking about, Mike?” \n\t“Years ago!” exclaimed the older boy, nuzzling almost desperately into Tai’s clammy neck. “I didn’t say anything coz I didn’t want anyone to be worried an’ I wanted dad to be—” He sniffed. “But I was so scared. Even after it I was scared. I had nightmares when I wasn’t even asleep. I thought he was gonna k-kill me. I didn’t want dad to know. I wasn’t gonna worry him! He was so busy, with mom gone. He shouldn’t have to worry about me, I need to take care of myself. I need to be good at stuff so…” \n\tSilently, Tai took the phone from his friend’s paw and placed it on the floor. Mike may not have believed him, if Tai could ever tell him, but… he understood. Perfectly. Tai knew what it meant to pretend things were alright, to hide his own problems even from himself, for the same foolish reason. He knew that it never worked. “It’s okay,” he whispered. “Don’t be upset, Mike. It’s okay to be scared about this stuff.” \n\tMike squeezed him again. “I dun care! I don’t ever wanna feel like that again.” A huge, disgusting snort. “I didn’t let dad know. I pretended like I didn’t care. I jus’ wanted to forget. Didn’t want anyone to know. Was so scared…”\n\tTai just listened, thinking. Mike had already confessed to him that he had been frightened when that odious ferret broke into his house. But this was the full truth. Mike’s wounds were deeper than he wanted to admit, especially not to his father. It wasn’t just scary. He wasn’t alright with it, no matter how gentle his assailant had been.\n\tHis father’s good opinion meant so much to him. But this wasn’t right; it was stupid of Mike to think like this. Tai was certain Robert would’ve lost none of the respect and love he had for his son if Mike hadn’t hidden his scars like that. It mattered not that Mike was more mature, more reliable than most of the adults Tai met – he knew what it meant to need someone. To bottle your nightmares and worries and live with them every day.\n\tYou couldn’t just outgrow that. Nobody could, not without hurting themselves even more. It would be like cutting your own heart out.\n\t“It was gonna happen again. I let it happen again and I couldn’t stop it this time either.” Mike inhaled shakily. “This whole… everything has been just so scary, and I screwed up. I’m an idiot! I’m not as little as I was last time! I’m not as dumb!! But I still let it happen!” He almost crushed Tai then, forgetting his injuries. Tai gasped and shifted slightly to spare his damaged ribs. “You saved me, Tai. He was g-gonna… and probably kill me and you… thank you. Thank you so much.”\n\t“D-don’t mention it,” Tai assured him, wincing. What else could he say?\n\tIn truth, he could barely move. But with the behemoth distracted, Tai had managed to grasp the crowbar and crawl as fast as he could up the stairs to the emergency exit. When he swung, it had little power – but the kit had deliberately tried to sink the sharpened point of the crowbar right into the jerk’s groin. Even still, Tai didn’t think he managed to cause serious damage. \n\tBut whatever he did it was enough. He’d done enough for Mike to finish off the monster – together, they’d defeated the much larger adult.\n\tWhen he heard Mike’s terrified voice… it wasn’t an emotion Tai was used to. He had been angry and desperate before, but not like this. It was sheer mindless fury and a desire to stop the adult at all costs that got him up those stairs; and nearly got him killed.\n\tMike spoke again. “You heard her. The lady. The one he shot. That’s what it’s like. And you know too – when that guy broke into your house.” \n\t“…I know.”\nThe barky-furred kit fell quiet. Then, with a broken sob, he demanded, “Why did he shoot her?! What did she do to him?!”\n\tTai shook his head, and sniffed once. “I don’t know!” \nTogether they cried. Again. Mourning a fur they never knew, never even spoke to. It was an empathy, a deep love for life itself that was too rare in the perverted, heartless world of death and deceit they suddenly found themselves in. \nThe real world.\n\tHowever, after a moment Mike took a deep breath. He held it for several seconds, once more trying to summon the courage and focus to do what had to be done. “O-okay…” he said at last. “Gimme the phone… We gotta get outta here. I wanna go home.” \n\tTai handed it to him. “Me too.” \n\tMike started to dial, blinking away the tears that blurred his vision so he could read the display. \n\tHis paws still shook, so he made several mistakes. As his trembling finger smacked three buttons simultaneously, he cursed softly under his breath. “I hate phones,” he murmured.\n\tTai leaned back into his friend and closed his eyes. “I don’t. Not anymore.”\n\n\nChapter Eleven – Fin. \n\n-- By Krazy Kitsune/Kichigai Kitsune\nCopyright 2005 onwards.\n\n",
  "writing_bbcode_parsed": "<span style='word-wrap: break-word;'>Tai&rsquo;s Story - Chapter 11.<br />By Kichigai Kitsune<br />Copyright 2005 onwards.<br /><br /><br />Disclaimer: This story contains coarse language, violence, adult themes and scenes of an adult nature involving two young &ldquo;cubs&rdquo; (young anthropomorphic non-humans). If you are under the legal age as prescribed by the laws under which you are subject to reading such material, do not continue beyond this disclaimer. <br /><br />Also note that this is an installment in a series &ndash; if you are new to this story, you should start from the beginning, which can be located in my gallery on FurAffinity. This installment features no sexual scenes, and it is mostly plot development, so new readers who want their porn fix should really go to the start, or to my other story series, SdY. <br /><br /><br />A little knowledge is a dangerous thing&hellip;<br /><br />\tThe blizzard howled on and on outside. The weak glow of dawn could not pierce the smothering clouds, and so a surreal darkness had fallen over the snowy mountains, despite the earliness of the hour. The brutal snowstorm that had struck up in the middle of the night showed no signs of winding down, and as more and more of the thick snow choked the sky and blanketed the world outside, it seemed likely they would be snowed in yet again this winter. Maybe not tonight, but it was something to look forward to at least.<br />\tUnfortunately, the cold easily penetrated their home, its ineffectual wooden walls almost no barrier. So the tawny kit shivered slightly in his pajamas as he made his way down the short corridor, already regretting getting out of bed on this weekend day.<br />&ldquo;Mom?&rdquo; he asked quietly, his bare, cold paws making little noise on the timber flooring as he peered timidly into the study. Trying to get her attention, but trying not to annoy. It was a fine line to walk. She was on her laptop again. It was the most expensive item in the entire house, Tai knew, yet it was just a clunky, gray box that whirred noisily on the cramped hardwood desk.<br />\tEraline quickly closed whatever it was she was working on, revealing a generic background image &ndash; where a picture of Tai and both his parents used to be, there was now nothing but an insipid image of sunflowers in spring. It hurt to see that. He wondered when she&rsquo;d changed it. And why.<br />\t&ldquo;What is it?&rdquo; his mother demanded curtly. She didn&rsquo;t turn to him, but Tai noticed she seemed tired. Or upset. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m busy, Tai, don&rsquo;t you have homework?&rdquo; <br />\t&ldquo;I&hellip;&rdquo; Tai blinked, looking down at the sheet of paper he held loosely in his paws. Incredibly, he felt even more unsure of himself now. &ldquo;I-I&rsquo;m stuck. C-can you-?&rdquo; <br />\tEraline sighed impatiently. &ldquo;No, I can&rsquo;t. For goodness&rsquo; sake. I&rsquo;m busy.&rdquo;<br />\t&ldquo;&hellip; Okay&hellip;&rdquo; Tai bit his lip, staring at the floor. &ldquo;Dad would&rsquo;ve helped&hellip;&rdquo; he mumbled thoughtlessly, turning away. <br />\tThere was a brief pause, and in that silence he started to walk to the door.<br />\t&ldquo;What was that, Tai?&rdquo; Eraline asked coldly, twisting around in her chair. <br />\tTai halted at the doorway. &ldquo;N-nothing!&rdquo; he blurted. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ll try.&rdquo;<br />\tWith only her icy gaze Eraline froze him place, and he stood perfectly still, as if faced with a predator in the bushes. She was going to yell at him. He could feel it. The shy boy tried to prepare himself, which he could never seem to do.<br />\tBut instead she sighed. &ldquo;Tai&hellip;&rdquo; <br />\t&ldquo;I&rsquo;m sorry! I-I&rsquo;ll be alright.&rdquo; <br />\t&ldquo;Tai, I can&rsquo;t help you because your dad isn&rsquo;t here anymore. Things aren&rsquo;t the same as they used to be.&rdquo;<br />\t&ldquo;Wh-what do you mean?&rdquo;<br />\tEraline shook her head. &ldquo;Ugh, Tai&hellip; I have to do so much more now that your dad&rsquo;s&hellip;&rdquo; She trailed off into silence. At last she adopted that haughty, angry look Tai was far too familiar with. &ldquo;Never mind. I have just two hours to do this in, or we could lose the car. After that, I have to get ready for work. I&rsquo;m going to be working from nine until seven. I&rsquo;m not going to have any time to myself for the next two days, so please just&hellip; go and do your homework as best you can. Watch TV. Entertain yourself. I can&rsquo;t always be there to help you with homework from a grade you&rsquo;ve done before.&rdquo;<br />\tTai nodded, eyes downcast. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m sorry.&rdquo; <br />\t&ldquo;It&rsquo;s alright.&rdquo; She turned back to the screen, waving him away. &ldquo;Just let me do this, please. And when you&rsquo;re done, get yourself dressed and go get some firewood inside. You&rsquo;re going to need it today.&rdquo;<br />\tThe kit rubbed at his eye before quietly padding back to the den. That had not been as bad as he&rsquo;d feared. <br />He stopped and glared at the nearly bare kitchen, a tiny inset in the living room that was only three feet squared.<br />\tHis mother was going to be busy or away all day. And he was already hungry. Not that he was sure there was all that much in the pantry to begin with. That would be okay, he supposed. Having to skip a meal was pretty normal for him; it wouldn&rsquo;t be that bad. If he needed to, surely he could find something.<br />\tHe pulled out a chair and sat at the old and scratched dining table, laying the paper in his paws down in front of him.<br />\tPicking up his pencil, the fox-boy quickly scrawled the answers to the remaining sums, before crossing his arms on the table pensively.<br />\tHe hated lying like that, it made him feel terrible, but he had to. She&rsquo;d never talk to him unless he had, in her mind, a good reason &ndash; evidently, help with homework wasn&rsquo;t a good enough reason for today. But, then, she was busy. She had to work and do all this stuff, or they&rsquo;d never eat. Tai already needed new clothes. His current ones were just not fitting any more and winter was coming. He regretted the comment about his father &ndash; he knew that his mom was too busy. He knew that, so why did he&hellip;? What a stupid thing to say! Why could he never just shut up?! <br />\tWhy did he keep upsetting others?<br />\tThe kit stared at his own spidery handwriting until it became a meaningless blur, listening to the chaotic weather outside. <br />\tWhat did it, what pushed him over the edge this time, he wasn&rsquo;t sure &ndash; there was just so much wrong this week. It all crashed over him like a breaking wave. His head collapsed onto his skinny arms, and he started to cry.<br />\tYesterday, he had yelled at his friends. Well, if you could call them that. He didn&rsquo;t even remember why exactly, what they had done. He only knew that he had made a neat little clay-doll in Art class: a little fox that stood by itself. He&rsquo;d spent most of the hour trying to color it with water paints and markers, but a group of older boys- as the class was held for both second and third graders- pulled it off the shelf as class was winding down. <br />It smashed into a dozen pieces. One of them said that &lsquo;Tai must&rsquo;ve put it too close to the edge&rsquo; of the shelves when Tai knew perfectly well he&rsquo;d put it towards the back. He said nothing then, even when they all smirked at him the way they did. They were bigger than him, as many of Tai&rsquo;s classmates were, and Tai knew they&rsquo;d just get him after class if he said anything. Whatever he did, he&rsquo;d only make things worse. Besides, the teacher wouldn&rsquo;t have believed him. <br />He had no idea why they wanted to do that to him. They just always did.<br />\tHe felt awful. He wanted so much to apologize to the ones he yelled at, but he couldn&rsquo;t. He couldn&rsquo;t speak to them, not for some time. Not after what he called them. He had run away, but they told on him and he&rsquo;d narrowly avoided detention. By a stroke of luck, his fair-weather friends had gone to the art teacher, who seemed to realize why the tawny-furred boy was so upset.<br />\tAnd he&rsquo;d have to go back to school on Monday. Go back to it all. He hoped they&rsquo;d forgive him. He didn&rsquo;t want to be alone on the playground. If he&rsquo;d even work up the courage to venture to the playground.<br />\tAll he wanted was someone to talk to. Someone to cry on, instead of his own forearms, alone. But he was getting hints that his mother was going to switch his school again. Maybe even hold him back another year. Something big was happening, and it confused and worried him so much. <br />\tSobbing quietly onto his slender, downy limbs, he wished his dad was still with them. Wished with such intensity it somehow hurt. So his mom would still really love him. So he&rsquo;d have someone to ask what was happening to him next. Someone to hold him. Someone.<br />\tAnyone.<br /><br />Presently&hellip;<br /><br />\tThere were a lot of them. That&rsquo;s all he could be sure of. About half a dozen at least. They&rsquo;d chased him here, and now they searched for him.<br />\tThe tawny fox kit huddled up behind a badly parked forklift in the damp corner of the small warehouse, hoping his chattering teeth wouldn&rsquo;t give him away to the many jacketed adults that were scouring the building looking, all looking for him. <br />\tTai was confused. Were all of these furs, clearly adults, friends of Darron? That didn&rsquo;t make much sense &ndash; none of this did. But they were methodically checking every darkened nook and cranny of this damp, cluttered storage building, and Tai got the feeling that if they&rsquo;d found him, they didn&rsquo;t intend to help him. <br />\tTime was running out, and they were reaching the section of the warehouse where he hid, shivering up against the cold metal chassis of the forklift. But despite that, Tai felt strangely calm.<br />\tMike was safe. He had to be. Just knowing that was&hellip; He felt like he&rsquo;d done all he needed to. Finally achieved a goal. He wanted to just curl up and go to sleep now; maybe he&rsquo;d wake up somewhere warm.<br />\tIt was hard to understand. Tai still didn&rsquo;t understand it &ndash; for some reason, he couldn&rsquo;t bear the thought of losing Mike, but he faced the possibility of his own death with a detached indifference. He didn&rsquo;t care if he got hurt anymore. After all, he was sort of getting used to it.<br />\tThe fox boy just stared vaguely at the dark-gray concrete ground. <br />\tIf he died, he could see his mom and dad again. Right? For some incomprehensible reason, that made sense to him now. He was just sick of losing things, and everyone being so awful and cruel to him. If he could just curl up and sleep forever, never to be cursed with wakening again, he&rsquo;d do it. If he could&rsquo;ve done that, he would have done it long ago. <br />\tWell&hellip; at least, until he met a certain bark-furred boy. Maybe that was why he couldn&rsquo;t bring himself to surrender. Just to stand up right now and get them to shoot him. Let them do whatever they wanted. He wanted to go home with&hellip;<br />\tA loud scuffing noise snapped him from his maudlin reverie. <br />\t&ldquo;Shit, did he sneak back out?&rdquo; a grownup snarled. &ldquo;No sign of him.&rdquo; <br />\t&ldquo;Where the hell did the other one go?&rdquo; demanded another voice, disturbingly near Tai&rsquo;s hiding place. &ldquo;I couldn&rsquo;t see him. Reckon they split up?&rdquo; <br />\t&ldquo;Yeah. Come on. They won&rsquo;t get out.&rdquo;<br />\t&ldquo;How the hell did that dipshit kid let them get away anyway? They could fuck everything up.&rdquo; <br />\t&ldquo;No idea. Come on, let&rsquo;s finish up here and check the next warehouse over.&rdquo;<br />\tTai blinked. Dipshit kid? Did they mean Darron?<br />\tThe kit looked around, taking an inventory of the area. Not far from the forklift&rsquo;s concealing bulk was a stack of empty pallets. Not perfect cover, but if he could make it, he might be able to get around these two adults at least&hellip; he could hear the others, but had only a rough idea of their location. For all he knew, on the other side of the pallets was another of the prowling grownups. <br />\tBut he decided to try anyway. He tentatively raised his head, looking over the seat of the vehicle. Both adults were looking to the side. Holding his breath, Tai snuck away, covering the few feet to the pallets as hastily as he dared, his sneakers&rsquo; wet soles threatening to give away his position. Luckily, nobody seemed to notice the soft, muted noises they made on the concrete over their own.<br />\tNonetheless, as Tai ducked down on the other side of the high stack, his heart was sounding off like a jackhammer in his tiny, bare chest. Something was making him tingle all over, and feel horribly shaky. <br />\tBriefly, the idea to take his shoes off flitted into the kit&rsquo;s brain, but he immediately discarded the idea. He was freezing! The very idea of removing more clothing made him feel faint. He had discovered in years past that &lsquo;the biting cold&rsquo; wasn&rsquo;t a meaningless phrase &ndash; the cold could be painful. Very painful. <br />\tHe crept around the pile of stacked wooden slats, peering past the edge. He could see an exit&ndash; a loading bay, it seemed, which had been left half-open much as the massive main entrance had been. A huge shuttered opening. It was framed on either side by two shipping containers. Massive oblongs of painted, corrugated metal. <br />\tHolding his breath, the kit snuck to the exit.<br />\tAs he passed the shipping containers he heard a soft thud right by him, and he came to an abrupt halt, looking around for the predatory adult he thought was nearby. <br />\tThere was none in sight. Just the dirty, blue width of a metal box. <br />\tThe kit blinked in confusion. He had heard something that sounded like movement right beside him, but&hellip; <br />\tIt came again. Baffled now, Tai stealthily pressed up against the shipping container&rsquo;s side and listened. <br />\tSomeone, or something, was crying. In the container. It was muffled, but it was definitely&hellip; a young, female voice, weeping softly and hopelessly; he wasn&rsquo;t sure, but it sounded like that voice was not alone in its indistinct lamenting. Mystified, Tai had to smother a sudden impulse to ask who was there. There was a loud scraping sound, and Tai looked back the way he had come. A tall jackal stood where just moments before Tai had crouched behind the forklift. Tai&rsquo;s heart blasted into overdrive before he realized the guy was looking the other way. <br />\tIn his paws was a firearm of some kind. A rifle or something. The kit was no expert, but he did know what a gun could do. He&rsquo;d seen it.<br />\tWith a surge of adrenaline that eliminated all thought, Tai dashed out the open loading bay and was around the side of the building in a mere few seconds, his light paws making little enough sound that his ill-considered rush went unnoticed. He took refuge behind a large semi-trailer, crouching by the vehicle&rsquo;s gigantic front wheel. <br />\tHe was safe he told himself, leaning weakly on the rough tire that came up to his forehead. <br />\tSafe, but out in the open, in the frigid wind, without a shirt. He shivered as the black waters of the sea crashed rhythmically against the concrete of the docks, showering the area in fine droplets &ndash; he distinctly felt that gentle mist settle into his fur and bring a very much unwelcome chill with it.<br />\tQuickly, Tai realized he couldn&rsquo;t stay out in the wind like this. He&rsquo;d been in far more severe weather than this, of course, but he knew that even this autumnal night could kill him if he stayed out in it wearing so little. Teeth chattering, the kit looked around for a place of actual shelter, both from those hunting him and the bleak weather that promised to get worse.<br />\tMost of the huge buildings around him appeared closed and locked &ndash; even if they weren&rsquo;t locked, opening the huge, rusty doors or lifting the impossibly heavy shutters would definitely attract attention. Only two of the warehouses he could see from here seemed to be open. The two he had escaped from recently, oddly enough. He wasn&rsquo;t going back there obviously, but nor could he stay in the courtyard between them.<br />\tThere was nothing for it. He started to sneak around, looking for a place to go. Ducking by the side of a warehouse, he spotted a small contingent of furs as he approached the brightly lit waterfront, talking animatedly and moving with purpose towards a large, gray ship moored at the water&rsquo;s edge. He decided not to risk heading that way. The danger of being seen was too great.<br />\tAt least, as he rounded the warehouse and made his way inland, he saw a small building that looked like a little guardhouse. Whenever Tai accompanied his mother to work at the harbor back in Alaska, they had to go past a building just like it, where guards would always ask them to sign in before letting them through. <br />Feeling hopeful, the kit stole his way to the entrance &ndash; it was an odd little building, made of dull concrete, and Tai noticed it was adjacent to a gate in a massive chain-link fence that stretched between the warehouses, blocking off access deeper into the docks. It seemed empty.<br />\tFirst, he checked the imposing gate. At the top was an impenetrable bush of razor-wire, and beyond the twelve-foot fence he could see lights, more warehouses and a forest of those huge shipping containers. The gate itself was chained and locked shut. He briefly felt the cold grip of frustration and fear &ndash; he was trapped and lost in this massive place. Climbing the fence would be impossible and once again he couldn&rsquo;t see any end to the complex. <br />\tThe guardhouse, if indeed that&rsquo;s what it was, was almost certain to be locked. But Tai tried the door anyway.<br />\tIt swung open.<br />\tTrembling just slightly, the kit stepped inside. It was a guardhouse, or something like one, as Tai could eventually make out in the weak light provided by the distant floodlights outside. Near the doorway was a desk, with a phone, kettle, microwave and even a small fridge on its surface, up against a wide window that provided a good view of the area Tai had crossed to get here. Quickly Tai shut the door.<br />\tAlmost instantly he wanted to collapse with relief. It was much warmer in here, and the wind could no longer reach him. <br />\tThere was a door leading deeper into the little building, and Tai walked over it to, his wet shoes squeaking on the linoleum floor. It wasn&rsquo;t locked. It seemed that the rest of the small structure was given over to a storage room &ndash; which also had a few small lockers in it. There was another small desk, with a television and radio on it. Evidently, some of the dock&rsquo;s security guards retreated in here to relax at break times, as well as stored their belongings here. A few small, high windows let in some light, just enough for Tai to identify the shadowy objects in the room. He briefly paused to watch the dust particles dance in the thin rays of illumination.<br />\tAt last he shut the door, crossed to the farthest corner of the dimly-lit room&hellip; and promptly fell to his backside.<br />\tHe could hide here, he told himself. He could hide here until he was rescued. It was safe; actually safe.<br />\tMore importantly, it was warm.<br /><br />\tRobert thumped on the thick, varnished door with indelicate urgency. &ldquo;Mitchell!&rdquo; he cried through the wooden surface. &ldquo;Sir, I have to speak to you! Right now!&rdquo;<br />\tThe carpeted corridor suddenly flocked with startled furs coming out of offices to glare at the audacious fox, but Robert didn&rsquo;t really care much for propriety right now &ndash; &lsquo;boss&rsquo; or not, Robert would kick down the office door if necessary.<br />\tEvidently, Mitchell knew this too. &ldquo;Come in, Robert,&rdquo; he said, his dusty voice sounding weak through the dense door. &ldquo;Before you do damage to my poor door.&rdquo; <br />\tThrusting the door open, Robert saw his section chief seated behind his gigantic desk &ndash; the one that, ever since Robert had met him the first time all those years ago, was ever covered in loose paper and memos, to the point the fox wondered if some of them were just for decoration. On the other side of the capacious bureau was a female lemur, who looked scandalized at the interruption. <br />\t&ldquo;What&rsquo;s the matter?&rdquo; asked Mitchell, clasping his paws in front of him and leaning on his desk. <br />\t&ldquo;Found them!&rdquo; Robert said. &ldquo;They&rsquo;re at the docks. We got a cell-phone trace.&rdquo; <br />\tMitchell frowned in thought, staring blankly at the fox. &ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t expect this, I admit,&rdquo; he said at last.<br />\t&ldquo;We have to save them!&rdquo; Even as he said those words Robert realized how absurd they sounded.<br />\tThe lemur was looking from Robert&rsquo;s pleading face to the bruin&rsquo;s impassive features in confusion.<br />\tThere was a hiatus while Mitchell seemed to lose himself in thought. &ldquo;Robert&hellip;&rdquo;<br />\t&ldquo;Please!&rdquo; <br />\t&ldquo;I&rsquo;m afraid we can&rsquo;t spare any resources from this office, and I have to go up before a review committee in half an hour.&rdquo;<br />\t&ldquo;Wh-what?!&rdquo;<br />\t&ldquo;Besides that, there&rsquo;s nothing we can do as long as they are on our own soil. We&rsquo;ll have to defer to the police or FBI for this.&rdquo;<br />\tFor a startled moment, Robert couldn&rsquo;t comprehend what he heard. If it weren&rsquo;t for that, his response would&rsquo;ve been probably far more vindictive. &ldquo;What?! Th-this is unbelievable! We&rsquo;re talking about two small children that could be killed because of this god-damn agency! I can&rsquo;t believe-&rdquo;<br />\t&ldquo;You will liaise with the PD, Robert.&rdquo;<br />\tRobert stopped and stared at the bruin. &ldquo;E-excuse me? I&rsquo;m not qualified for anything like that.&rdquo; <br />\t&ldquo;I can spare very few personnel, Robert. You&rsquo;ll have to do.&rdquo; Mitchell reached for the phone on the polished bureau&rsquo;s surface. &ldquo;Get ready. I know you&rsquo;ve not been active in some time- on the field or otherwise- but tonight you&rsquo;ll have to be. Get back here in ten.&rdquo; <br />\tThe fox blinked in amazement at the bear as he hit a speed-dial key. &ldquo;I-I&hellip; Shit&hellip; thanks&hellip; thank you.&rdquo; He swallowed.<br />\t&ldquo;Get a move on, Robert. You have a gun, don&rsquo;t you? Might be an idea to take that. And probably a jacket of some sort. It&rsquo;s cold out.&rdquo;<br />\tIn just seconds, the fox was sprinting down the corridor.<br />\t<br />\tTai had no idea how long he&rsquo;d been asleep. He could hear the ticking of a clock, but he had no clue where it was. <br />\tHe had nodded off as he lay curled up on the hard linoleum but something had alerted him, jolting him cruelly awake again.<br />\tThe kit sat dumbly in the dark, trying to clear his swimming head. He just wanted to fall asleep &ndash; in this relatively warm, dark place, he could easily manage that. Belatedly he wondered what had woken him. The kit had been sleeping lightly, barely able to cling to somnolence, but he felt himself being called back to it already.<br />\tIt wasn&rsquo;t until he heard the guardroom door closing that he wrenched himself into full alertness again, shaking his head sharply.<br />\tHe jumped to his paws and darted, with a child&rsquo;s instinct, under the desk that housed the television and radio in the corner by the lockers. <br />\tSquinting into the dim light, he saw that someone had entered his sanctuary, and was busy securing the only exit&rsquo;s deadbolt. A slender beam of light fell upon the intruder. It was a wolf &ndash; just shy of six-foot, lean, and coated in a storm-gray fur. <br />\tDarron. Of all the&hellip;<br />\tTai whimpered, hoping he hadn&rsquo;t been noticed. As the lights flickered on, suddenly bathing the room in unnatural brightness, Darron made his way to a locker not far from the table under which Tai hid so pathetically. <br />\tThe wolf opened a locker, and rummaged around in there for a minute or so, seeming to be taking his time deliberately. At last, he laughed. Confirming what Tai had feared. &ldquo;You done fuckin&rsquo; &lsquo;round under there?&rdquo; he demanded. &ldquo;Get the fuck out here. We don&rsquo;t got all night.&rdquo; <br />\tThe harsh voice made him panic. Tai burst from under the table and ran for the door, scrabbling uselessly at the deadbolt way above his head height. Almost instantly he felt his legs kicked from under him, and he was pulled back by his long head-fur. <br />\tHe slammed backwards onto the linoleum, smacking his head off the floor. There was a thud, and he went still immediately. The ceiling above him spun dimly.<br />\tAnd then Darron was looming over him. &ldquo;What&rsquo;s the rush?&rdquo; asked the wolf. &ldquo;We have a lot to talk about, kid.&rdquo;<br />\tTerrified, Tai reached back and felt the base of his aching skull. He tried to scramble backwards, but he immediately collapsed to his back again as the world continued spinning and shaking violently all around him.<br />\tDarron knelt beside him. &ldquo;Or don&rsquo;t you want to know why I had your bitch of a mom killed?&rdquo;<br />\tTai froze. <br />\tThe wolf smirked. &ldquo;I had to wait a little while,&rdquo; he said, almost conversationally. &ldquo;Make sure I wasn&rsquo;t followed. Thank fuck I got you alone. Saw you slinking along out there&mdash;nice moves, you&rsquo;re a natural born sneak. Not one of those dickheads saw you. I can appreciate that.&rdquo; <br />\tThe kit merely stared up at him, trembling.<br />\t&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve wanted to talk to you for so long, Tai. Since before I knew your ass was even alive.&rdquo; The wolf sat down cross-legged. &ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t know who you were at first, I gotta admit. Couldn&rsquo;t fuckin&rsquo; believe it at first. You were in my class. What the fuck, huh? Small world.&rdquo; <br />\t&ldquo;M-my mom?&rdquo; Tai stammered, looking at the wolf uncomprehendingly.<br />\tDarron nodded. &ldquo;Yeah.&rdquo; He snickered. &ldquo;I feel sorry for you, Tai. A little. You don&rsquo;t know shit. You&rsquo;re in the middle of a fuckin&rsquo; nightmare and you don&rsquo;t understand it. Just want someone to explain it all, yeah? I know what that&rsquo;s like.&rdquo; <br />\tTai struggled to raise his head. He posted his paw behind him and sat up uneasily. &ldquo;Wh-what?&rdquo; <br />\t&ldquo;I even know what it&rsquo;s like to be so fuckin&rsquo; lost that the best you can do is say stupid shit like &lsquo;what.&rsquo;&rdquo; Darron shrugged.<br />\t&ldquo;I d-don&rsquo;t understand.&rdquo;<br />\tDarron met his eyes at last. Cold, hard amber meeting at last with glistening emerald. &ldquo;No shit you don&rsquo;t. I&rsquo;ll tell you then. I&rsquo;ll tell you all about the world before you were born. It&rsquo;s the same as the world now, and the way it&rsquo;ll be fifty years from now: a shitty hell-hole where nothing makes sense and all you have is what you&rsquo;ll have to leave behind.&rdquo; He smiled as if discussing something remotely pleasant. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ll tell you why I had your cunt mother shot like the bitch she was. I know you want to know. I want you to know.&rdquo;<br />\tTai stared in horror at grinning wolf.<br />\tThis couldn&rsquo;t be happening.<br />\tThis was a dream&hellip;<br /><br />\tThe water was brackish and stunk to high-hell. Mike had to fight back intermittent waves of nausea, but he was determined to swim deeper into the drain. He had no clue where it went, but it had to be safer than the entrance, or out in the open. That was assuming he didn&rsquo;t drown of course.<br />\tIt was very difficult progress, holding the waterlogged phone above his head as he went deeper and deeper, but he was managing it. He wasn&rsquo;t sure if the phone-call was still connected. The display was totally gone. But it was his one hope so far, so he held onto it. Even more importantly: the keypad was still lighting up, albeit weakly, and he needed that faint light to see anything at all in the thick darkness.<br />\tHe was trying desperately not to think about what filth he was swimming in.<br />\tOnly after a few minutes of constantly swimming into the long drain did he notice it. The water level was rising. Almost imperceptibly, it got higher and higher, and Mike was noticing his head getting closer to the smooth, concrete &lsquo;roof&rsquo; of the drain. He had to move &ndash; for all he knew, a high tide could end his life in this disgusting tunnel. <br />\tSome water splashed up into his mouth, and he almost puked. &ldquo;Gah! Crap!&rdquo; he spluttered, treading water clumsily as he tried to spit the sickening liquid out. &ldquo;Ugghhh!&rdquo; <br />\tOn and on he swam, choosing at random when the tunnel branched in different directions &ndash; he had tried to head back in the direction of the open water, but by now, he&rsquo;d lost his bearings.<br />\tWhen he saw an exit, he struck out for it, swimming for all his worth. It was another grating like the one he&rsquo;d swum under to get into the system in the first place. When he reached it, the kit placed a paw on the thick metal grate and rested. <br />\t&ldquo;Ohhh,&rdquo; he groaned, looking down at his matted fur in the pale moonlight. &ldquo;I-I&rsquo;m gonna smell like sewer for a year after this.&rdquo; <br />\tLooking beyond the grating, Mike spotted the imposing hull of a massive cargo ship, docked a mere dozen or so feet from the smelly, dubious sanctuary of the drain. It was painted dull, gunmetal gray, and its name was large on the immense bow in faded, yellow font. It was too difficult to read, and he didn&rsquo;t really care.<br />\tTrying to suck in less-fragrant air from the outside, Mike pulled himself closer to the grate. It wasn&rsquo;t much of an improvement, but it was one. <br />\tHe could see the sky now, just barely, if he looked straight up between the ship and his hiding place. The roiling clouds were at least as turbulent as the waves below, and just as dark. A huge, black cloudbank threatened to smother the pale yellow moon.<br />\tIt was going to rain. From the looks of it, very heavily. <br />\t&ldquo;Well, that settles that&hellip;&rdquo; Mike whispered to himself. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m stayin&rsquo; right here.&rdquo;<br /><br />\tThis couldn&rsquo;t be real. He must&rsquo;ve fallen asleep in the guardroom. No way&hellip;<br />\tDarron smiled laconically at him, leaning back much as the tawny fox-boy was, arms posted behind him, as if just relaxing in the sun. Savoring the moment. <br />\t&ldquo;I guess we can start at the beginning,&rdquo; he began at last. &ldquo;We got the time. <br />&ldquo;I ain&rsquo;t actually a Yank. Wasn&rsquo;t born here. I was born in Canada. Way the fuck up north, a few miles from a place called Yellowknife, in a small village &ndash; dunno what it was called. You know, we&rsquo;re talkin&rsquo; fuckin&rsquo; Yukon Territory shit here. Buncha snowed-in hillbillies.&rdquo; He paused to scratch at the base of one of his pointed ears. &ldquo;We were poor as shit, that&rsquo;s all I really know. Didn&rsquo;t know my grandparents that well, but they were assholes &ndash; I know they didn&rsquo;t like my dad much, whoever he was. My mom was a kid herself. Fourteen years old when I was born. When I was about five, she tried to get away from her parents; they were fuckin&rsquo; assholes, and if they weren&rsquo;t hitting her, it was me they were getting at instead. Wanted to get as far away as we could&hellip; she always wanted to come here. New York.&rdquo; <br />\tTai blinked.<br />\t&ldquo;So she asked around, and one day we met up with these guys. Shady fuckers. They took all our money, everything we owned and even all the shit we stole. Promised my mom and me that they&rsquo;d take us to the U.S. but that was bullshit.&rdquo; He stopped and snorted a sour laugh. &ldquo;She shoulda fuckin&rsquo; known. Got her addicted to smack. They&rsquo;d, you know, hold her down and stick that shit in; I was watching. At first she tried to stop them, but then they started kickin&rsquo; my ass around. They wanted me too. I was worth quite a bit, either for shit like they wanted mom for, or a worker or just as a bunch of organs and shit.&rdquo; An angry cloud passed over his face. &ldquo;Everyone thinks this shit doesn&rsquo;t happen no more. Stupid cunts. I&rsquo;ve seen more fat bitches who lost weight on television than stories about this. Guess reality isn&rsquo;t marketable.&rdquo;<br />\tThe tawny kit stared at him. &ldquo;I-I don&rsquo;t understand&hellip;&rdquo; he said quietly, hoping speaking wouldn&rsquo;t provoke the wolf. <br />\t&ldquo;I know. It&rsquo;s hard to believe ain&rsquo;t it? They kidnapped mom and me and were gonna sell us as slaves.&rdquo; He smirked and shrugged. &ldquo;I guess I&rsquo;m still a slave.&rdquo;<br />\t&ldquo;A-a slave?&rdquo; <br />\tDarron chuckled harshly. &ldquo;Well&hellip; I&rsquo;m not sure what they wanted to do&hellip; I think they were planning on selling me. Renting me first, if you get my meaning. Nah, you don&rsquo;t; you will soon. Then when I got older, sell me &ndash; in pieces. If I remember right, the current price for all a kid&rsquo;s organs is about six-hundred-thousand &ndash; that&rsquo;s today.&rdquo;<br />\t&ldquo;O-organs?&rdquo; Tai whispered.<br />\t&ldquo;Yeah, bits of your body, for transplants. For about three years, all I knew was bein&rsquo; drugged out, bein&rsquo; beaten and starved and fucking raped in some god forsaken shit-hole down south. When I was about your age, someone bought us. Properly bought us, you know. Got us the fuck out of there.&rdquo; Darron lidded his eyes. &ldquo;He was in this whole business himself&mdash;real big shot. Wanted mom and me for himself. It was better than the shit we&rsquo;d put up with for years, and we were finally in New York. Went through hell, but we got there, you know?<br />\t&ldquo;The guy promised us a better life, but it was just more bullshit. Mom just wanted to be free, to build a life for us both. One day, some vixen got in contact with her. Said she was CIA; said she&rsquo;d been tracking all this shit for years before, in Alaska and now down here. Promised her she could help her escape, give us a life, but only if mom gave her all kinds of information. Names, dates, shipping tables. Shit that&rsquo;s not fuckin&rsquo; easy to get a hold of. But mom got it for her, and gave it all to the vixen one night. Everything.&rdquo;<br />\tDarron curled his paws into fists and sat forward. &ldquo;She&rsquo;d gone to meet with her. Thought I was in bed. The way it worked was that if one of us went out, the other had to stay behind. So while mom was out, I had to stay &ndash; as a fuckin&rsquo; hostage, you know. But this night, I knew something was goin&rsquo; on&hellip; I had to sneak out and see what was up.<br />\t&ldquo;So when she went to meet with this fox-bitch, I snuck out to follow. I saw my mom give this fox the shit she promised, and five seconds later&hellip; she&hellip; some kind of CIA assassin shit, I don&rsquo;t know, but this fox&hellip; your cunt of a mother&hellip; killed her. Threw her to the ground, stuck a knife right in her neck. Didn&rsquo;t think twice.&rdquo;<br />\tThe wolf&rsquo;s eyes narrowed with terrible hate, and he glared right at Tai. &ldquo;Your mommy is a fuckin&rsquo; killer. She took a desperate fur and used her, then got rid of her in a fuckin&rsquo; second when she was done.&rdquo;<br />\tTai felt lightheaded. &ldquo;N-no&hellip;&rdquo; he breathed, scampering a few feet away. &ldquo;No! You can&rsquo;t- No! Mom wouldn&rsquo;t do that! That&rsquo;s not-!&rdquo; <br />\t&ldquo;I saw it with my own eyes!&rdquo; growled Darron. &ldquo;My own fuckin&rsquo; eyes! That&rsquo;s your mom, kid! Dirty spook cockroach, and I got rid of her like the insect bitch she was!&rdquo;<br />\tInstantly, Tai was on his paws, darting once more at the door. Panicking, he jumped high, ripping the deadbolt to the side and grasping the door&rsquo;s metal handle. Before he could open it more than an inch, Darron grabbed his wrist and pulled him viciously from the doorway.<br />\tAnd delivered a savage uppercut so hard to Tai&rsquo;s solar plexus that the kit&rsquo;s paws actually left the floor.<br />\tWith a sickened wheeze, the fox kit collapsed, all his strength fleeing his body with his breath. <br />\tHe managed to look up, and see Darron calmly locking the door again. The big teenager reached down and pulled Tai to his paws again by a skinny wrist, jerking him brutally towards the lockers, away from the door. &ldquo;Get up. Get the fuck up. I ain&rsquo;t done talking at you yet.&rdquo; Negligently, he pushed Tai to the ground again and leaned on the locker. <br />\t&ldquo;Unh!&rdquo; gasped Tai, his momentum rolling him hard into the locker as well.<br />\t&ldquo;There&rsquo;s more to the story, shit-head.&rdquo; He reached into his jacket and pulled out a cigarette and lighter. He lit up. &ldquo;After your killer-mom did mine in, I had nothing. I went crazy. I ran back to the shitty house I was kept in, and told them what happened. Our &lsquo;owner&rsquo; was pretty upset too. Felt sorry for me; adopted me.&rdquo; Darron smirked around the cigarette. &ldquo;Put me through school and shit. But it didn&rsquo;t mean anything to me. Finally, he got that I didn&rsquo;t give a shit about being normal&hellip; not after all this. I mean, how fucked up is that? The asshole thought I&rsquo;d be a good kid after what I&rsquo;d gone through. What his kind put me through. He had to keep bailing me out, and I loved it. It was good to see that fuck-bag have to run around cleaning up after me. It was you that changed everything. Chasing your ass through the mall. He had to pull a few strings, and I left school. Who&rsquo;d a fuckin&rsquo; thought?&rdquo;<br />\tTai groaned, trying to curl into a ball. It hurt beyond description. Darron was very powerful; after the dreadful blow, Tai couldn&rsquo;t breathe. Every attempt to do so caused a fresh wave of literally nauseating pain to wash over his insides.<br />\t&ldquo;Now&hellip; I work for the family business, know what I mean?&rdquo; The wolf hocked and spat derisively on the floor. &ldquo;Fuck it. I don&rsquo;t care anymore. If this is how the world works, then whatever. I&rsquo;m just glad I&rsquo;m not under everyone&rsquo;s fuckin&rsquo; heel anymore. I&rsquo;m in charge now. Now I&rsquo;m the one draggin&rsquo; bitches around to sell. Not a slave no more. You can&rsquo;t change the world, but you can change yourself.&rdquo; <br />\tHe laughed darkly. &ldquo;If you get the breaks, that is. But you&hellip;&rdquo; He pushed Tai back against the lockers with one booted heel. &ldquo;You&rsquo;re going to have to wait for yours. The bitch is dead, but I want more than that. I want to show you what I fuckin&rsquo; went through. So you can understand, Tai. So you can understand what it meant when we were betrayed by your mom like that. So that you know why.&rdquo;<br />\tDarron sneered, reaching into his waistband and withdrawing his pistol. He checked it was loaded. &ldquo;Come on, little bitch. They won&rsquo;t notice when I stick you in with the others. I&rsquo;ll call it a &lsquo;buy ten, get a small one free&rsquo; special. Lagniappe as they say down south, or some shit. They won&rsquo;t complain.&rdquo; The wolf again reached down and easily pulled the kit up with one hand as if he weighed nothing. &ldquo;If you&rsquo;ve got a problem with that, go ahead and try to run. I&rsquo;ll shoot you in the fuckin&rsquo; back &ndash; it&rsquo;s the sort of thing your mom would do, right?&rdquo;<br /><br />\tRobert pulled his black sports jacket on, adjusting it for several seconds. The locker room was empty, which he was grateful for: nobody to see his paws shaking.<br />\t&ldquo;Doesn&rsquo;t this beat all&hellip;&rdquo; he mused, pulling his handgun from the leather holster on his suspenders. He double-checked the safety, before pulling the slide back. He paused, before sighing and releasing the magazine, extracting the bullet and pushing it back into the magazine &ndash; he didn&rsquo;t like having a loaded gun by his vital organs for some reason. &ldquo;I never thought I&rsquo;d be wearing this nonsense again.&rdquo;<br />\tThere was a firm knock on the door behind him, and Robert frowned at it. &ldquo;Yes?&rdquo;<br />\t&ldquo;May I come in?&rdquo; The voice was female.<br />\t&ldquo;Of course,&rdquo; Robert replied, placing the firearm back in its holster. &ldquo;This isn&rsquo;t a changing room.&rdquo;<br />\tThe door was pushed open, and the haughty visage of the lemur he&rsquo;d seen in the section-chief&rsquo;s office stood before him. &ldquo;Mitchell sent me to find you.&rdquo;<br />\t&ldquo;What&rsquo;s up, Tamara?&rdquo; Robert asked, suddenly itching with a desire to get moving. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t have much ti-&rdquo;<br />\tThe lemur held out a manila folder, her expression cold. &ldquo;I was told to give you this.&rdquo; <br />\tBemused, Robert reached out and took it. He scowled at it for a moment. &ldquo;What is&hellip; Tamara, this has to be a mistake.&rdquo;<br />\t&ldquo;Oh?&rdquo; <br />\t&ldquo;I have nowhere near that level of clearance.&rdquo; He offered the folder back to her.<br />\tTamara made no move to accept it. &ldquo;I am aware of that, and I certainly don&rsquo;t approve, but Mitchell is giving you temporary field clearance. Something about you needing to know what you&rsquo;re dealing with, so he&rsquo;s giving you case-specific clearance.&rdquo;<br />\t&ldquo;That&rsquo;s a pretty ominous way of putting it.&rdquo; Robert flicked it open, noticing a blue adhesive note had been stuck to one of the pages. It had nothing written on it, apparently just there to draw attention to that specific page. &ldquo;What the hell is this?&rdquo; <br />\t&ldquo;I haven&rsquo;t got a clue, Robert,&rdquo; sighed Tamara. &ldquo;I want to say, though. I hope your kids are safe.&rdquo; <br />\t&ldquo;Only one of them is mine.&rdquo; <br />\t&ldquo;Oh?&rdquo;<br />\t&ldquo;So far. That&rsquo;ll change.&rdquo; Robert scanned the page for several moments. &ldquo;Jesus. Holy shit.&rdquo; <br />\t&ldquo;What is it?&rdquo; Tamara blinked. &ldquo;Wait, I can&rsquo;t know. Never mind.&rdquo; <br />\tRobert slowly closed the folder. &ldquo;Th-thanks, Tamara&hellip;&rdquo; he breathed, looking slightly distressed. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ll, uh, have to review this. I&rsquo;ll return it directly to Mitchell. After the operation.&rdquo; <br />\t&ldquo;What?&rdquo; Tamara asked. <br />\tSlipping past the lemur, Robert nodded. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m not sure the police will&mdash; This is&hellip;&rdquo; <br />\tTamara watched the fox as he began to jog down the corridor. After a moment, he upgraded to a full-blown sprint. Sighing, the lemur stepped out after him, allowing the locker-room door to slam shut behind her. <br />\t&ldquo;Huh. Good luck then.&rdquo;<br /><br />Darron threw the cub ahead of him, pulling him forward by the wrist. &ldquo;Stop draggin&rsquo; your paws, Tai,&rdquo; he said wearily. &ldquo;Or I&rsquo;ll fuckin&rsquo; drag you by them.&rdquo;<br />\tTai stumbled, banging a knee on the cold, wet bitumen. He vainly struggled to push the powerfully built teenager&rsquo;s paw off his arm &ndash; Darron&rsquo;s grip overlapped, encircling his skinny forearm easily. No such luck, and Darron kept pulling his helpless captive along. <br />&ldquo;No!&rdquo; Tai pleaded, starting to panic again. &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t do it! Please, Darron! I&rsquo;m sorry about what my mom did! I didn&rsquo;t-&rdquo; <br />\tBad choice of words. Darron lashed out violently, slamming his fist once again into Tai&rsquo;s stomach, doubling him over as if he&rsquo;d run the boy through. &ldquo;What the fuck are you talkin&rsquo; about, huh? You&rsquo;re sorry?&rdquo; He grasped the kit by the scruff of his neck and started to pull him along. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t give a shit. This ain&rsquo;t about you anymore. It&rsquo;s about me. My show, shit-head. My show.&rdquo; <br />\tWell over a minute passed before Tai could breathe and move again, and by then the side of a massive ship was in view. A stark gunmetal hull loomed before them, and Darron was cruelly dragging Tai towards it by the back of his neck. <br />\tAs they were passing a warehouse, Tai&rsquo;s legs buckled and he let himself sag. His dead weight was dragged along for a few more feet, before Darron sighed. He released the kit.<br />\tImmediately, Tai pulled himself to his hands and knees, trying to scramble away. Darron kicked him fiercely in the ribs. <br />\tThe boy screamed, hurled sideways by the force of the kick, and curled up on the hard bitumen again to clutch at his side. <br />\t&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll never get why furs do that,&rdquo; said Darron conversationally. &ldquo;Why the fuck would you think dropping to the floor is a good idea?&rdquo;<br />\tTai wasn&rsquo;t listening. His eyes were pinched tightly closed and he was sobbing in pain. <br />\tThis was impossible, he realized as the teenager once again loomed over him. There was no escape. Darron was too strong, and he could hurt him far too much.<br />\t&ldquo;You&rsquo;re pissing me off, Tai.&rdquo; Darron grabbed Tai&rsquo;s head-fur and pulled him up. Screeching in pain, the fox boy scrambled to his paws. &ldquo;I guess I&rsquo;ll just have to work it out with you. If you won&rsquo;t come quietly, I&rsquo;ll just make you quiet.&rdquo; <br />\tThat was the extent of the warning. He gripped Tai&rsquo;s nape and drove a fist into his body again. With a yelp, Tai crumpled &ndash; but Darron was nowhere near finished yet. He entwined the tawny head-fur with his big paw, pulling the kit&rsquo;s head upwards again. He slapped the boy once, as hard as he might try to punch a fully-grown adult. The wolf grinned when his victim&rsquo;s legs buckled again as a result.<br />Finally Darron shoved the lightweight kit using both paws, as hard as he could.<br />\tTai went soaring backwards. He slammed into the warehouse&rsquo;s concrete wall with a bone-jacking thud, and slithered lifelessly down. <br />\tLaughing, Darron bent to pick the wounded kit off the ground. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s a pity you&rsquo;re going on this cruise, shit-head. We could&rsquo;ve had so much fun. I could do this all day. I guess I gotta be happy with others doing it for me. You&rsquo;ll learn your lesson, like I did.&rdquo; <br />\tHe dragged Tai onwards towards the boat, not even caring that the boy couldn&rsquo;t find his footing any more. The kit was quiescent now, just moaning and sniffling piteously to himself.<br />\tThat just steeled Darron&rsquo;s resolved even more. If the yellow-furred freak thought he was feeling sorry for himself now, he was going to shatter when he felt what Darron had once dealt with. What he had to endure. Fresh anger boiled up within him, the wolf pulled the kit onward. <br />\t&ldquo;D-Darron&hellip;&rdquo; whimpered Tai. But the teenager wasn&rsquo;t listening. He started struggling weakly again as they approached a raised walkway &ndash; a wide metal gangplank that bridged the thirty feet drop to the churning waters. Darron ignored that as he had ignored the words. <br />\tAs they started to cross the metal bridge, Darron&rsquo;s phone started to ring. &ldquo;Ah. Fucking hell.&rdquo; He pushed Tai to the metal surface by his head, smirking with grim satisfaction as the fox-boy&rsquo;s skull made a sharp clunk on impact. The wolf took out his phone. &ldquo;Shit. Stay quiet a sec, would ya, Tai?&rdquo; He absently pushed the kit onto his side with one boot, and raised the phone to his ear. &ldquo;What?&rdquo;<br />\tAs Darron started to talk, Tai lay on the floor, stunned and hurting. Of course, he had been hurt before, but this was&hellip; he could feel blood seeping through his head-fur. His sight was foggy and his head hurt beyond belief&mdash;he didn&rsquo;t know if it was all from the shove into the wall, or down to the plank. The time between those two events had totally bled together. He had never felt anything like this before. <br />\tHe felt hopeless. His body was just heavy, and hurt all over, and he wanted to give up, go to sleep, right then and there. To surrender and hope for rescue. He didn&rsquo;t want to think about what Darron was going to do to him. It was just&hellip; what was going on? Was this a nightmare? Could it be possible to feel so much pain in a dream?<br />\tTai looked out over the edge of the docks. He could hear the waves below; the black, cold sea. Darron&rsquo;s voice faded, melting into the gentle rushing sound of the water. <br />\tHe wanted to just&hellip; go to sleep. He wanted&hellip;<br />What did he want? Who cared? Nobody ever did.<br />He felt suddenly disgusted at himself; and angry. Helplessly angry.<br />There was never anything he could do, nothing he could change. He could never stand up for himself, could never look after himself. He cried. He avoided, he fled. It&rsquo;s what he did best. All he could do and he didn&rsquo;t even do it that well. Now even that didn&rsquo;t seem possible. Even if he got away from Darron, he was too sore and tired. He&rsquo;d just be caught again if he tried to run.<br />\tIn all the movies he had seen, all the stories, all the comics he had read, the hero won the day no matter how ridiculous the challenges were; for whatever reason, be it determination born from vengeance, righteousness or love or just his brute strength. But Tai had nothing right now &ndash; no determination or anything. He felt like he was already dead. So what was the point of fighting to stay alive? And what good was determination when you weren&rsquo;t strong enough?! There are just some bridges you can&rsquo;t cross, no matter how much you want to.<br />\tThere was no standing up for himself. He stood up, they knocked him back down. That&rsquo;s just how it always had been, and eventually he had learned: he wasn&rsquo;t strong or smart and he definitely wasn&rsquo;t brave enough to fend for himself. Every time he tried, he just made things worse and worse! All he could do was pray he&rsquo;d eventually be left alone, when they had had their fun.<br />&nbsp;But this was different. Darron wasn&rsquo;t trying to merely bully him, or hurt him for mere momentary satisfaction. This was beyond anything he&rsquo;d ever imagined, and he was too stunned to fully accept it was reality.<br />\tAll the nonsense, all the pretty-sounding phrases he had heard suddenly came down on him like a rockslide of bitterness. &lsquo;Advice&rsquo; from people who had never felt what he&rsquo;d felt, never been where he had been. <br />\tStand up to the ring leader? Even after summoning up the courage, that wasn&rsquo;t the same as summoning up the strength. <br />The bigger they are, the harder they fall? Yes, and the harder it is to get them to fall. And the harder they hit you.<br />\tIgnore them so they go away? It is hard to ignore someone dumping a container of glue on your head. Deliberately trying to break you for hours on end, every weekday. Each time the sun came up, all you could think about was them&hellip; what they were going to do next. <br />\tIgnore them? No. They dominated Tai&rsquo;s mind &ndash; even miles away, in a warm bed at night, they could freeze his heart with fear. There was no sanctuary. Because he knew that no matter how hard he wished for it to never come, nothing could stop the sun from rising. <br />\t&hellip; Tell adults? They didn&rsquo;t care. Nobody helped Tai. Nobody cared about him. Except for Mike and his dad. Maybe.<br />\tAnd now Tai was faced with the ultimate monster of all his nightmares. Darron was too powerful to overcome, too driven to dissuade and there was nobody he could run to. He couldn&rsquo;t escape. He couldn&rsquo;t&hellip;<br />\tIt just made no sense. How did things come to this? How did he get here? Why had his life suddenly gone crazy? <br />That day Darron and his friends chased him through the mall had been scary, but this was a different wolf entirely. Something had changed him in those few weeks. Or was this just the truth? The real Darron?<br />\tIn a madness born of desperation and stupidity, he had leapt off a roof-top parking lot to escape the first Darron he met. This one was even more terrifying. Colder, more determined&hellip; and worst of all, he had finally got his paws on Tai &ndash; a tired, cold and hurting Tai. It was all over.<br />\tIt took some time for him to realize it. <br />\tDarron did not have his paws on him right now. <br />And he really wanted to see Mike one last time. A little part of him knew he didn&rsquo;t really want to go to sleep yet. <br />\tSomething inside him just screamed at him. Screamed at him to move. Ignoring the pain as best he could, the tawny kit braced himself, propping his arms and feet very slowly&hellip; Darron didn&rsquo;t seem to notice. He was paying more attention to his cell phone than the wounded fox kit. He thought Tai was down and out. That he had surrendered. He was almost right. Almost. <br />\t&ldquo;What would Mike think if I gave up here?&rdquo; he thought; that soft voice in the back of his aching skull. The voice that suddenly reprimanded him in tones very much like those of a brown-furred fox boy. &ldquo;Mike would never give up here!&rdquo; it whispered angrily at him. &ldquo;He never gives up! Don&rsquo;t I wanna be like him?&rdquo; He paused. Something impossible came to mind, something absurd, but it was something he suddenly believed with all his heart: &ldquo;I bet Mike&rsquo;d think I could do this!!&rdquo;<br />\tHe knew what he had to do. There was only one way from here, and he only had seconds to act. He had to do the last thing in the world he wanted to do. He had to do it. Had to believe that he&rsquo;d be okay. Like it had been the last time.<br />\tTai closed his eyes tightly. His heart-rate started to climb. It helped. He was scared, but that helped. His body began to tremble, but he knew he couldn&rsquo;t let that stop him.<br />\tHe had to try. One last time. Maybe Mike was right about him. Maybe Tai had something in him the kit hadn&rsquo;t noticed yet. Even if he didn&rsquo;t, giving up was just stupid, and Mike, his best friend ever, would&rsquo;ve told him so. What did he have to lose by trying?! If he gave up, he&rsquo;d lose all he had now. It wasn&rsquo;t much. But it was something.<br />\tDarron growled, frustration in his voice. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t fuckin&rsquo; know where Marco is,&rdquo; he snapped into the phone. &ldquo;I told him to leave me alone for a bit, and he fucked off somewhere I don&rsquo;t&hellip; what?!&rdquo; <br />\tWilling everything he had left into his legs, Tai quickly hauled himself to a crouch. <br />And with a wild cry, dived off the walkway, to the dark waves two dozen feet below.<br />\t&ldquo;What the shit?!&rdquo; yelled Darron, dropping his phone and making a futile grab for the kit&rsquo;s ankle. He missed, and the phone bounced off the metal gangway, following the kit down to the grimy water. There was a loud splash as the fox boy hit the water like a forty pound stone. <br />A second passed, and Darron stared unseeingly, incredulously, at the water&rsquo;s surface. It was too dark. The boy had disappeared; sunk into the shadows. &ldquo;You motherfuckeeeeer!!&rdquo; he screamed hysterically, pulling out his pistol. The teenage wolf scanned the water, hoping for just one sign of movement, one excuse to shoot into the darkness. &ldquo;God-fucking-damn-iiiiiit!&rdquo;<br />\tHe hyperventilated, glaring at the darkness, and shaking in maddened fury.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br /><br />\tRobert felt nervous, to say the least. <br />\tHe had never been in charge of any sort of field operation before. Of any live operation, really. He&rsquo;d barely had anything to do with them &ndash; his experience was as an analyst. That involved office work, too much coffee and boredom as a general rule. <br />\tBut he had to rise to the occasion as much as possible. A small group of furs had joined him in an otherwise deserted room, some form of surveillance hub room, and he was now apparently in charge of them &ndash; he doubted that any of them could possibly have less experience than him in this. There were about eight furs in total.<br />\t&ldquo;Alright,&rdquo; he said uncertainly to them as they looked at him expectantly, lounging about idly or tapping the edges of keyboards at their chairs. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ll come clean with you all. I have no bloody idea what I&rsquo;m doing. I&rsquo;m a pencil-pushing desk-jockey, but Mitchell says he has no experienced, or appropriate, staff to do this &ndash; and I have a personal interest in the matter.&rdquo; He paused. &ldquo;So please. Help me as much as you can. All I can do is tell you what needs doing, and I&rsquo;ll need you to help me get it done. Please.&rdquo; <br />\tA few of the furs&rsquo; expressions changed to ones of curiosity, and they all nodded. <br />\tRobert swallowed, his tongue suddenly parched. &ldquo;At twenty-one-hundred hours yesterday, my ten-year-old son was kidnapped, along with his best friend. The suspected perpetrators are&hellip; a syndicated crime organization; mostly smugglers. Possibly the biggest ring in North America.&rdquo; <br />\t&ldquo;Let me guess,&rdquo; murmured one of Robert&rsquo;s team &ndash; a short squirrel in a white shirt and black pants, sporting wire-frame glasses. &ldquo;The big three. Drugs, guns and folk.&rdquo;<br />\tRobert lidded his eyes. &ldquo;&hellip;Yes.&rdquo; He stopped and stared at the manila folder still lying on the desk beside him. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve never heard of this group before today. But I&rsquo;ve been authorized to brief you as much as necessary, and thank Christ too. These people have targeted my family, and the family of another agent, for years &ndash; I&rsquo;m not entirely sure why they kidnapped these children, but the chance that they won&rsquo;t kill them or&hellip; sell them, is pretty much nothing.<br />\t&ldquo;These guys are ruthless and definitely big-timers. They&rsquo;re bringing in military grade weapons and millions of dollars of narcotics every year, as well as kidnapping dozens every year. They have ties to terrorism in Europe as well as here in the States. Apparently, we don&rsquo;t even officially acknowledge these guys exist &ndash; and our operations regarding them are literally top-secret. So congratulations, you just learned something top-secret today.&rdquo;<br />\tHis team stared at him, and the fox smiled tautly. &ldquo;My son managed to escape, at least&hellip; he did. We don&rsquo;t know his status now. But he managed to make a cell-phone call, and we know the rough location of where they&rsquo;re being held. The docks downtown.&rdquo; <br />\t&ldquo;Hold on,&rdquo; mumbled the squirrel. &ldquo;You&rsquo;re thinking of trying to rescue them?&rdquo;<br />\t&ldquo;Of course. We don&rsquo;t have a team on standby, and it&rsquo;d take hours to organize a large enough one anyway. We&rsquo;ll need to cooperate with local P.D. and Coast Guard.&rdquo; Robert fixed the squirrel with a polite smile. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s one of the things I&rsquo;m really hoping you&rsquo;ll help me with.&rdquo;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br />\tThe squirrel frowned. &ldquo;I&hellip; uh&hellip; well, it&rsquo;s pretty irregular. Never really done anything like this.&rdquo; <br />\t&ldquo;But what are we supposed to do?&rdquo; asked a gruffly voiced coyote. &ldquo;The P.D. could handle this by itself.&rdquo; <br />\t&ldquo;We&rsquo;re to oversee the operation as well as provide support,&rdquo; Robert continued, standing. &ldquo;After all, the police can&rsquo;t go in without information, and the docks are a big place &ndash; that&rsquo;s our job, isn&rsquo;t it?&rdquo;<br />\t&ldquo;We&rsquo;re going to run the op?&rdquo; asked another of the team. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re&hellip; I-I don&rsquo;t think we can do that.&rdquo;<br />\t&ldquo;Setting this up will take time,&rdquo; complained yet another. &ldquo;We don&rsquo;t have any directive or jurisdiction to be conducting these sorts of operations, let alone taking over what should be a matter for the cops or feds &ndash; at least nobody here does. This sort of thing is what the FBI deals with, or we&rsquo;d deal with the FBI.&rdquo; <br />\tRobert stood. &ldquo;It&rsquo;d take far too long for the FBI to bring up their hostage rescue teams; we have to work with the local police. I&rsquo;m not leaving this in the paws of the feds, it&rsquo;s going to take long enough to organize this as it is and they don&rsquo;t have our surveillance resources on hand. So let&rsquo;s get going, I don&rsquo;t want these hostages to stay in danger for more than is necessary.&rdquo; He picked up the manila folder, brandishing it at the team meaningfully. <br />\t&ldquo;Let&rsquo;s get something clear,&rdquo; he said softly. &ldquo;This is the first proper lead we&rsquo;ve had on these bastards &ndash; we&rsquo;ve never been able to catch them with their trousers down before, but now we&rsquo;ve got them in the middle of a possible shipping operation and we have possible witnesses. We&rsquo;re not passing this up, we&rsquo;re not just handing this over to some other agency, and if you want directives and jurisdiction, I&rsquo;ve got them. They&rsquo;re one phone call to Mitchell&rsquo;s office, or to fucking Langley if necessary. The police and FBI will play ball when I get the director breathing down their neck. This is our catch.&rdquo; The big fox paused. &ldquo;Besides, my kids are at stake, so screw the rules.&rdquo;<br />\tHe turned to a large whiteboard position just beside his desk. <br />\t&ldquo;Let&rsquo;s break this down. I&rsquo;m going to need all of you to get some things done here before we can even contact the police. I&rsquo;m afraid we&rsquo;re going to be up all night. Call your wives, forget your social lives.&rdquo;<br />\t<br />\tIt took effort, actual effort, to wake up. It was like swimming, dizzied and confused, through the thickest, blackest tar. <br />\tAnd yet nothing but more blackness greeted him. His eyes rolled around dazedly, but he saw nothing. <br />\tHis other senses took a little more time to organize themselves. To become coherent to him. Firstly, he noticed an odd sensation that seemed to cover most of his body, but was particularly concentrated in the back of his head and the left side of his ribcage. <br />\tIt felt vaguely familiar, but it was different somehow. <br />\tThen he heard noises. At first it was a meaningless rush, a muffled hiss, but soon he noticed it was a voice, overlaid with the sounds of what seemed to be lapping water. What was it saying?&rdquo;<br />\t&ldquo;&hellip; Oh come on, come on!&rdquo; it suddenly wailed. It was close to him. &ldquo;Please! Taaaiii! Wake up! Please!&rdquo;<br />\tThe voice was very familiar. Despite the smothering darkness he floated in, it made him feel happy just to hear it, but the voice itself didn&rsquo;t sound very pleased. What did it mean, &lsquo;wake up?&rsquo;<br />\t&ldquo;Tai, please don&rsquo;t die! Wake up!&rdquo; <br />\tHe tried to respond, but all he managed was a weak moan. <br />\tThe voice gasped. &ldquo;T-Tai?! A-are you&hellip;? Are you alright? Come on!&rdquo; <br />\t&ldquo;M-Mike?&rdquo; Tai finally croaked, recognizing the speaker at last. &ldquo;Wh-what&hellip;?&rdquo;<br />\t&ldquo;Oh my god!&rdquo; Mike exhaled, right near his ear. &ldquo;I th-thought-! A-are you alright?&rdquo;<br />\tNow his mind started to focus, and the sensation that had baffled him before made sense to him now.<br />\tIt was pain. Sheer unadulterated pain, of an intensity he&rsquo;d never felt before. At least not to his memory.<br />\t&ldquo;Unh!&rdquo; he groaned, trying to put a paw to his ribs, but he couldn&rsquo;t, not yet. He was too weak. Too dizzy still. &ldquo;Oohhhh&hellip;&rdquo; <br />\tMike almost fainted. He had been struggling to keep aloft in the water for the longest time &ndash; he had no idea exactly how long. It had been exhausting, supporting the smaller kit&rsquo;s weight like that. For all that time&hellip; he didn&rsquo;t know if he was cradling a corpse or not. In the darkness he couldn&rsquo;t hear any breathing. Couldn&rsquo;t feel any warmth.<br />\tBut now he felt drained. Just the intensity of the relief was overwhelming.<br />\tHe started to sink, his aching legs finally going still, but when he realized the water was lapping dangerously nearing Tai&rsquo;s face he snapped back into focus. Barely.<br />\t&ldquo;M-Mike, what happened?&rdquo; Tai whispered. &ldquo;How did you&hellip;?&rdquo; <br />\t&ldquo;You&hellip; fell into the water. I barely saw you. You almost smashed right into the side of that boat! What the heck happened?!&rdquo;<br />\tTai tried to take a deep breath in spite of the pain in his side. &ldquo;Y-you mean the ship?&rdquo;<br />\t&ldquo;Yeah.&rdquo; Mike clutched the boy in his arms tightly and sobbed. &ldquo;I thought you were dead!&rdquo;<br />\tTai winced and cried out sharply. &ldquo;AHH! Mike, don&rsquo;t squeeze! D-don&rsquo;t squeeze!&rdquo; <br />\t&ldquo;What&rsquo;s wrong?!&rdquo; Mike&rsquo;s voice was shrill. &ldquo;Are you hurt?&rdquo;<br />\tPointlessly, Tai nodded. &ldquo;Y-yeah, my r-ribs hurt! Don&rsquo;t squeeze me, please!&rdquo; <br />\t&ldquo;Okay! I&rsquo;m sorry!&rdquo; Mike sniffed. &ldquo;Shit! Are you alright? Will you be okay? What happened &ndash; was it just the fall?!&rdquo; <br />\tTai opened his mouth to reply, but stopped. What had happened again? Why had he fallen&ndash;? <br />\tThe kit stiffened, flailing suddenly in the water, ignoring a jolt of searing agony as it frazzled through his body. &ldquo;MIKE!&rdquo; he cried, splashing madly as he tried to right himself. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve got to go! We can&rsquo;t stay here!&rdquo;<br />\t&ldquo;Tai, don&rsquo;t!&rdquo; Mike hissed at him, trying to avoid the kit&rsquo;s thrashing limbs. &ldquo;You&rsquo;ll hit your head! What&rsquo;s wrong?!&rdquo;<br />\tTai clutched a pawful of Mike&rsquo;s clothing, supporting himself on the bigger boy as he looked around wildly. They were in some kind of tunnel, he saw at last, and they were right near a latticed entrance; beyond it, the weak moonlight illuminated the gunmetal hull of the ship Darron was leading him to before he leapt from the gangplank. Panicking, he tried to swim away from it, dragging Mike with him. <br />\t&ldquo;Stop!&rdquo; Mike said firmly, bringing him up short with a simple tug on his arm. &ldquo;What&rsquo;re you doing?! If we go deeper in there we&rsquo;ll get lost and we&rsquo;ll drown! What&rsquo;s wrong with you?!&rdquo;<br />\tHis eyes had adjusted to the darkness, and when Tai turned to him, he could see the cub&rsquo;s expression was one of unthinking fright. <br />\t&ldquo;We can&rsquo;t stay here, Mike!&rdquo; Tai pleaded, treading the water with the panicky floundering of an inexperienced swimmer. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s coming! He knows I landed down here!&rdquo; <br />\t&ldquo;Who?!&rdquo; Mike asked in bewilderment, looking back at the lattice. &ldquo;What&rsquo;re you talking about?&rdquo;<br />\t&ldquo;Darron!&rdquo; Tai once more struck out for the shadowy depths of the drainage system, but Mike refused to let go. &ldquo;Please Mike! He&rsquo;s crazy! I know what he wants now! If he finds us, h-he&rsquo;ll k-kill you and make me a slave! He&rsquo;s-!&rdquo;<br />\tMike shook his head. &ldquo;What the heck do you mean? A slave?! There are no slaves any more. Tai, what are you talking about?!&rdquo;<br />\t&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll tell you later! We&rsquo;ve gotta go! Let&rsquo;s go! Please Mike, he&rsquo;s gonna kill us! Don&rsquo;t make me stay here!&rdquo;<br />\t&ldquo;No! If we get lost in there we&rsquo;ll die, Tai!&rdquo;<br />\t&ldquo;Oh please, don&rsquo;t stay here, Mike, he&rsquo;ll kill you! I don&rsquo;t want to&mdash;&rdquo; Tai&rsquo;s voice was hysterical now, and his eyes betrayed absolute terror. He was gesturing wildly, tugging urgently on Mike&rsquo;s clothing and fur. &ldquo;He saw me jump down here, and he&rsquo;s crazy &ndash; he&rsquo;s gonna kill you!! He doesn&rsquo;t want you, he&rsquo;s after me! Please, we have to go! Please!!&rdquo;<br />\t&ldquo;Y-you jumped?!&rdquo; Mike asked incredulously. &ldquo;Tai! What the heck is going on?!&rdquo;<br />\t&ldquo;I can&rsquo;t! I can&rsquo;t! We have to go! Anywhere but here or he&rsquo;ll find us and I don&rsquo;t want him to find us! I don&rsquo;t want to be a slave! PLEASE let&rsquo;s goooo!&rdquo; The kit was starting to cry, and his breathing was worryingly rapid now.<br />\t&ldquo;Tai, we&rsquo;ll drown if we&mdash;&rdquo;<br />\t&ldquo;Please! Mike, I don&rsquo;t wanna&mdash;!&rdquo;<br />\t&ldquo;No! Look&mdash;!&ldquo;<br />\t&ldquo;Please, Mike, come on, we can&rsquo;t&hellip;&rdquo; Tai trailed off into a rambling whimper, pulling even more urgently on the older kit.<br />\tIt was too much. &ldquo;SHUT UP!&rdquo; Mike screamed fiercely. He roughly pulled Tai close. &ldquo;Just shut up, Tai! You&rsquo;re not even listening! You&rsquo;re not making any bloody sense!!&rdquo; His hazel eyes started to burn, tears pooling in them. &ldquo;None of this makes any fucking sense! Why won&rsquo;t you grow up for two minutes and listen?! It&rsquo;s your fault! We&rsquo;re here because of you, so shut up and listen!&rdquo; The sodden kit hung his head, his voice strained and breaking. &ldquo;I just want out of here&hellip; don&rsquo;t&hellip; don&rsquo;t make this hard, Tai. I don&rsquo;t want to drown in some drain pipe. Please, just be quiet. Listen to me. Just listen.&rdquo;<br />\tSilence.<br />\t&ldquo;I just want to go home to dad. I don&rsquo;t want anything to do with this&hellip;&rdquo;<br />\tCrying softly, Mike raised his head. <br />\tTai had recoiled. His glistening eyes were wide open, and he had turned away slightly as if expecting Mike to strike him. As if Mike had turned into a monster. His long, matted head-fur curtained his face, and he was whimpering piteously. Scared. <br />\tAwkwardly they stared at one another for several moments, before Mike yanked Tai even closer, snaring the cringing kit in an embrace, supporting both of them in the water.<br />\t&ldquo;I&rsquo;m sorry!&rdquo; he quavered, resting his cheek on Tai&rsquo;s skinny neck. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m sorry! I just need you to listen, okay? Calm down and listen. We won&rsquo;t get out of here if we&rsquo;re all panicky. I&rsquo;m sorry.&rdquo;<br />\tTai sniffled and started to cry again. They said nothing for several minutes, gathering themselves.<br />\t&ldquo;Al-alright,&rdquo; Tai eventually assented, trying to dry up. He had no choice at this point but to lean on Mike &ndash; in every way. Nor did he want the bigger boy to yell at him again. &ldquo;Wh-what do you think we should do? B-because, Mike&hellip; he knows we&rsquo;re here&hellip;&rdquo; <br />\tMike separated them slightly. It was difficult to hold the limp Tai afloat like this, but he was managing somehow. &ldquo;Tai&hellip; the docks are huge. We&hellip; won&rsquo;t get out of here. Not if you&rsquo;re hurt.&rdquo;<br />\t&ldquo;Wh-what do you think we should do?&rdquo; <br />\t&ldquo;Hide.&rdquo; Mike swallowed. &ldquo;W-we gotta hide. In the morning we&rsquo;ll be able to escape &ndash; I don&rsquo;t think these people will be here in the morning. They aren&rsquo;t real dockworkers.&rdquo; He paused. &ldquo;I h-hope. Anyway, dad had to know we&rsquo;re at the docks. He&rsquo;ll call the police or something.&rdquo;<br />\t&ldquo;How does he know?&rdquo;<br />\t&ldquo;The phone.&rdquo; Mike sighed, looking at the lattice. He had wedged the damaged device there. &ldquo;But it&rsquo;s broken now. When&hellip; you pushed me into the water.&rdquo; <br />\tTai closed his eyes guiltily. <br />\t&ldquo;B-but you might be right,&rdquo; Mike said grudgingly. &ldquo;If Darron knows you&rsquo;re down here&hellip; give me a second&hellip; can you tread water here?&rdquo;<br />\tTai nodded, wincing as he tried to push away. Mike swam over to the lattice, picking up the phone. He pressed a key, and a weak bleep later the keypad lit up. Barely. <br />\t&ldquo;We can use this for light,&rdquo; Mike explained, dubious. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s pitch black. I don&rsquo;t know if I&rsquo;ll be able to help you along in there. Do you know if we get high-tide in the morning or night or whenever? I don&rsquo;t remember.&rdquo; <br />\tTai frowned, slowly splashing his way to the side of the concrete tube, resting on it. He clutched at his side, wincing. &ldquo;Ah! I-I don&rsquo;t remember. I think we get it at night, because of the moon&rsquo;s gravity.&rdquo; <br />\t&ldquo;Alright&hellip; maybe the worst is&hellip;&rdquo; Mike stopped and closed his eyes. &ldquo;No. It-it&rsquo;s gonna rain still. Will that make the water go higher?&rdquo;<br />\t&ldquo;Yeah, I think so&hellip;&rdquo; <br />\tMike swore. &ldquo;Tai. If we go that way, we really could drown.&rdquo;<br />\tThere was a brief pause, and Mike heard Tai&rsquo;s breathing get audibly rapider again. The kit nodded urgently, before hissing in pain again. The brief surge of adrenaline had helped him forget it, but now the soreness in his side was redoubled, and he felt his torso start to cramp up. Even breathing was bringing sharp jabs of pain.<br />\t&ldquo;You&rsquo;re scared of water, aren&rsquo;t you?&rdquo; Mike asked gently. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s what it was earlier.&rdquo;<br />\t&ldquo;I-I&rsquo;m afraid of drowning&hellip;&rdquo; admitted Tai, moving even closer to the concrete surface of the drain, trying to brace against it. <br />\t&ldquo;Sure you don&rsquo;t want to try going out there?&rdquo;<br />\tTai looked beyond him at the black waters past the lattice. He wanted even less to be out there. It was closer to his nightmare image; closer to the bad dreams that haunted his earlier childhood. He remembered the thick, ominous clouds, and the portent of heavy rain that they were, and that made it even worse. But it was safer out there, wasn&rsquo;t it? Despite how he felt, it had to be safer than the murky labyrinth of these drainage pipes.<br />\tJust as he was starting to see the merit in Mike&rsquo;s words a harsh grating noise suddenly erupted over the rushing and rustling of the waves. It was some distance away, but it was getting closer.<br />\t&ldquo;What is that?&rdquo; Mike asked, peering out of the rusted grating. <br />\tBut Tai recognized it. &ldquo;Mike! That&rsquo;s a boat! A powerboat!&rdquo;<br />\t&ldquo;You think&hellip; it might be Darron?&rdquo; <br />\t&ldquo;It could be!! It doesn&rsquo;t even have to be him! Anyone that works for him is just as bad!&rdquo; <br />\t&ldquo;Crap!&rdquo; Mike whimpered, holding the water-damaged handset above his head and swimming back to Tai. &ldquo;Okay. I guess it&rsquo;s too dangerous out there. We&hellip; we&rsquo;ll try the drain-tunnels. I think I remember some of the way I came&hellip; maybe we can get somewhere safer.&rdquo;<br />\tTai nodded, shaking all over. <br />\t&ldquo;Tai&hellip; if you think you&rsquo;re getting tired, lemme know, okay? Maybe you can hang on my back or something, I don&rsquo;t know.&rdquo; Mike looked one last time out the lattice. A light suddenly swept the water and hull of the massive boat beyond it. &ldquo;Alright&hellip; yeah, they&rsquo;re checking here. Come on.&rdquo;<br />\tHe kicked out towards the blackness, trying not to think about what they were going to be risking here.<br />\tThis was stupid. They could die. <br />\t&ldquo;Come on, Tai!&rdquo; he hissed, noticing the younger boy seemed to be paralyzed. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve gotta go.&rdquo;<br />\tTai didn&rsquo;t move. He was trembling, and staring blankly at the surface of the water.<br />\t&ldquo;Tai!&rdquo; Mike touched his shoulder briefly, and the kit jumped sharply. &ldquo;I won&rsquo;t let you drown. You know I&rsquo;m a good swimmer, right?&rdquo;<br />\tAfter a moment, Tai inclined his head, smiling weakly. &ldquo;I-I know.&rdquo; <br />\t&ldquo;Trust me.&rdquo; Then the barky-furred kit laughed, trying to feign the confidence that he had no chance of dredging up at this point. &ldquo;You got us out of that room. You were awesome, Tai. Now it&rsquo;s my turn!&rdquo;<br />\t<br />\tThey&rsquo;d only gone a few minutes into the dark, briny network before Tai caved in. <br />\t&ldquo;Ah!&rdquo; he yelped. &ldquo;Mike, stop!&rdquo;<br />\tThe older fox-boy stopped pulling himself through the water and turned. &ldquo;What&rsquo;s wrong?&rdquo; <br />\t&ldquo;I can&rsquo;t keep up!&rdquo; Tai sobbed, resting on the side of the tunnel. &ldquo;My side hurts too much.&rdquo;<br />\tMike grimaced. They couldn&rsquo;t tarry. The water was rising already, and he was fairly sure it hadn&rsquo;t even begun raining. But he needed a break too; the tunnel was pitch black, and holding the phone aloft made swimming quite tiring. There was no way he&rsquo;d be willing to go on without the phone&rsquo;s light &ndash; there were&hellip; the water wasn&rsquo;t clean. Foul unidentifiable things were floating on the murky surface, and the light allowed them to avoid whatever they were. The thought of going on without the light made him baulk. Another reason to not dawdle, as the device was clearly nearing its end.<br />\t&ldquo;We can&rsquo;t wait too long, Tai.&rdquo;<br />\t&ldquo;I know. I&rsquo;m sorry, Mike&hellip;&rdquo; Tai gasped, looking like he was about to be sick. &ldquo;It hurts really badly.&rdquo; <br />\t&ldquo;What happened?&rdquo;<br />\t&ldquo;Darron. H-he kicked me. It hurts when I move my arm.&rdquo; Tai held his breath, clutching at his ribs. &ldquo;Unnhh!&rdquo; <br />\tThis was bad. &ldquo;Are you okay? We can&rsquo;t wait here!&rdquo; <br />\t&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll try&hellip; please give me a second&hellip; I&rsquo;m trying&hellip; I&rsquo;ll be alright.&rdquo; <br />\tMike shook his head. &ldquo;Put your arms around my neck,&rdquo; he insisted. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ll pull you along.&rdquo;<br />\t&ldquo;B-but-!&rdquo;<br />\t&ldquo;Come on!&rdquo; <br />\tReluctantly, perhaps embarrassed, Tai encircled Mike&rsquo;s neck and held on loosely. He was hurt; Mike could feel it. There was no strength in the way the kit tried to hold on, clutching his own wrist. Whatever Darron had done to him had ruined the gentle kit. Mike swore quietly.<br />\tIt was slower this way, but that was exactly the problem before &ndash; Tai had been trying to keep up with a bigger boy who had more swimming medals than Tai had t-shirts, while badly injured. The pace Mike set before was just not appropriate while Tai was hurt.<br />\tThey pressed on. Tai rested his head on Mike&rsquo;s shoulder, and seemed to be almost asleep in minutes. He was exhausted. <br />\tBut when Mike paused to catch his breath, the tunnel before him peeling off into two directions, Tai shifted slightly. <br />\t&ldquo;I&rsquo;m sorry&hellip;&rdquo; he whispered. <br />\t&ldquo;What? What&rsquo;s wrong?&rdquo; Mike touched the smaller boy&rsquo;s forearm. &ldquo;You okay?&rdquo; <br />\t&ldquo;Yeah. I&rsquo;m sorry&hellip; it&rsquo;s my fault. And now you&rsquo;re carrying me&hellip;&rdquo; <br />\t&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t worry about it.&rdquo; Mike chose a direction at random. It was all he could do.<br />\tTen, twenty minutes. Longer. They couldn&rsquo;t be sure. Mike dragged them both around the stinking tunnels, randomly turning or continuing on ahead, hoping they&rsquo;d reach some form of exit. But they were lost. He tried to push it from his mind, to just press on, but&hellip; they were lost now. He&rsquo;d only taken a little while to get from the entrance, where Tai had shoved him into the water, to where he had once again fortuitously reunited with him. He&rsquo;d been swimming aimlessly around now for longer than that.<br />\tOnce again the tunnel branched before him, and he stopped to rest on the side of the tunnel. He looked up. His paw, holding up their only light source, was less than the span of his forearm from the top of the drain. His head was about a foot from it now, and with every ebb and flow, every time the water lapped gently against his neck and shoulders, he seemed to get higher. Their time was likely running out.<br />\tMike peered into the darkness. It might have been illusion, or a reflection of the phone&rsquo;s light, but he thought that he saw some light down one of the tunnels. A weak glow that barely illuminated the concrete as it twisted off further into the labyrinth.<br />\t&ldquo;Mike?&rdquo; groaned Tai. &ldquo;Are we okay?&rdquo;<br />\tStriking out, Mike grunted. &ldquo;I dunno. But we have to hurry.&rdquo; <br />\tAs they approached the bend, Mike&rsquo;s heart leapt. It was no optical illusion, but rather there was definitely a light. As they swam on, it got brighter, and the dark tunnel started to become illuminated, the walls glittering faintly as the light reflected. <br />\t&ldquo;Alright!&rdquo; Mike exulted quietly, pressing on. The tunnel was starting to slope gently upwards now. &ldquo;I think we&rsquo;re almost out, Tai!&rdquo; <br />\tTai just exhaled weakly in response.<br />\tMike gasped. &ldquo;There&rsquo;s the exit!&rdquo;<br />\tThe tunnel continued to slope up, and Mike&rsquo;s shod paws touched the floor of it at last. He pulled himself and Tai forward. The tunnel opened out, and the water level dropped, until at last the drainage pipe evened out.<br />\tStumbling, Mike dragged them out into the open space the tunneled ended at. It was some sort of concrete vault &ndash; an area of fifteen, twenty feet at most, with dull gray concrete walls, adorned by wet algae and blackened moss. The floor was even less appealing, where the concrete had been colored a nauseating green by the oozing waters that streamed from barred ducts along the far wall, and indefinable substances clumped in the corners of the room. Mike baulked. They had just been swimming in the run-off from this room.<br />\tThe light he had seen was from a handful of orange strips on the walls, protected by thick, waterproof plastic. Along one of the walls was written &lsquo;Drainage Access &ndash; Point A.&rsquo; Only a foot from there was an iron ladder, thin, rusted rungs that lead up to a small alcove, barely twelve feet up. The exit.<br />\tGently, Mike set Tai on his feet. &ldquo;Tai, are you alright?&rdquo; <br />\tThe kit opened his eyes, blinking several times. &ldquo;No,&rdquo; he answered honestly, stumbling. Mike held him upright. &ldquo;Ah! Ow!&rdquo;<br />\t&ldquo;Sorry! Can you walk?&rdquo; <br />\tTai took a few uncertain steps. &ldquo;I-I think I&rsquo;m okay.&rdquo;<br />\t&ldquo;Okay. We can&rsquo;t stay here either. They&rsquo;ll be sure to check here.&rdquo; Mike turned and scanned the grimy room. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t wanna stay here anyway.&rdquo; He strode over to and clambered up the ladder. &ldquo;Unh. Let&rsquo;s see what we got here.&rdquo; <br />\tEasily he hauled himself up to the alcove. A heavy metal door barred the way. Frowning, Mike reached out and took the handle.<br />\tIt barely budged. Mike repositioned, placing both paws on the handle. &ldquo;Nyah!&rdquo; he grunted, shoving downwards. <br />\tThere was a dull thunk, and the door started to creak open. <br />\tGrinning, Mike turned and looked down into the access room. &ldquo;Tai, come on! This is the way!&rdquo;<br />\t&ldquo;A-alright. I&rsquo;m coming.&rdquo;<br />\tThe shirtless Tai climbed the ladder with some difficulty. Halfway up, his wet soles slipped and he almost fell from it. He yelped aloud and barely managed to cling to a rung. <br />Mike darted to the edge. &ldquo;Are you alright?&rdquo;<br />\tWhimpering, Tai merely nodded and continued to climb. Mike briefly considered asking to help him up, but he didn&rsquo;t think he could, not with one of Tai&rsquo;s arms in pain. <br />\t&ldquo;I wonder where we are?&rdquo; he murmured instead, trying to take the kit&rsquo;s mind off the pain. &ldquo;Like, in the docks. I don&rsquo;t think we&rsquo;re out yet.&rdquo;<br />\t&ldquo;We&rsquo;re not out yet?&rdquo; groaned Tai, collapsing over the edge onto the alcove. &ldquo;Ow!&rdquo;<br />\tMike knelt and took the smaller kit&rsquo;s paw in his own. &ldquo;C&rsquo;mon, Tai. We&rsquo;re doing great.&rdquo; He paused. &ldquo;Do you have any idea how crazy it is? That we&rsquo;re getting away like this?&rdquo; <br />\tTai looked at him, bemused. &ldquo;Wh-what do you mean?&rdquo;<br />\t&ldquo;We&rsquo;re escaping, Tai!&rdquo; Mike giggled. &ldquo;We got kidnapped by gangsters, and we&rsquo;re getting away from them by ourselves!&rdquo; <br />\tTai slowly started to smile. He still looked exhausted, though Mike was glad to see a sign of positivity from him. &ldquo;I guess.&rdquo;<br />\tMike smiled. &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t give up, okay?&rdquo; Helping Tai to his feet again, he turned and peered through the doorway. <br />\tIt was a dark, barely lit corridor, scarcely five foot wide and not even twice that in length. At the end, a handful of stairs led up to a wooden, interior door. Maintenance corridors, Mike guessed. He had never been in one, anywhere, before. Even at the pool or the apartment building where he lived there were locked corridors, narrow passages and ducts tucked away into unused corners and crannies that seemed to be never traversed. When he asked his dad about them, he explained that they usually led to things like air-ducting, vents, or places where they could do work on the electrical system. They had always piqued his natural, youthful curiosity, truth be told.<br />\tTogether, the kits headed to the door. Luckily, it was also unlocked, and they snuck on into the corridors.<br />\t&ldquo;Mike, where are we?&rdquo; asked Tai, his voice shaky. He looked up at the roof. Thick piping snaked its way along the ceiling, and hanging in large, metal cages occasionally jutting from the wall there were whirring, vented fans. It was dark. Barely any light whatsoever &ndash; evidently, these hallways were not often walked.<br />\t&ldquo;No idea&hellip;&rdquo;<br />\tThey turned a corner and descended some stairs into yet another darkened room. This one was filled with yet more steadily humming fans. Frowning, Mike approached the far wall. <br />\t&ldquo;What&rsquo;s that?&rdquo; Tai enquired, following him.<br />\tThe brown furred boy squinted at the grimy fixtures. A black square on the wall, as wide and long as he was tall, with small white boxes, colored switches and levers. &ldquo;These are fuses&hellip;&rdquo; mumbled Mike. &ldquo;What&rsquo;s it say over here? Something about&hellip; breaking? Breaker?&rdquo;<br />\tStanding on his tip-toes, Tai tried to scan the board. &ldquo;I can&rsquo;t read what it says up there.&rdquo;<br />\t&ldquo;&rsquo;Push To Close&rsquo;? Huh?&rdquo; Mike stepped back. &ldquo;I can&rsquo;t read it either. Something about emergencies. Come on. Whatever this is, it&rsquo;s not getting us out of here.&rdquo; <br />\tMike pressed on, pushing aside a heavy fire-door and continued into the next room. He stopped dead.<br />\t&ldquo;The heck is that?&rdquo; he gasped to the younger cub. <br />\tNow they found themselves in a large, cluttered room, ringed by a walkway not ten feet above them. The center of the room was occupied by a gigantic green machine, longer than it was wide, bigger even than a school bus. It was bulbous and rounded at the sides, but it narrowed towards the center. Railing surrounded it, and a sign read &lsquo;WARNING: Dangerous Machinery&rsquo; by a control panel. Dials and lights littered the panel, but they lay unmoving and dulled. <br />\t&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a generator!&rdquo; Tai exclaimed. &ldquo;It makes electricity!&rdquo; <br />\t&ldquo;It&rsquo;s huge, that&rsquo;s what it is.&rdquo; Mike approached the control panel. &ldquo;Wait a sec! Tai, if there&rsquo;s a generator here, d&rsquo;you think there might be phones or anything like that? There&rsquo;s gotta be, right?&rdquo;<br />\tTai looked at him, rubbing himself down. His torso was matted and filthy, and he clearly didn&rsquo;t like it. Mike knew how he felt. &ldquo;Uh&hellip; I-I don&rsquo;t know, Mike. Maybe?&rdquo;<br />\t&ldquo;There&rsquo;s gotta be!&rdquo; Mike clapped his paws. &ldquo;They&rsquo;d need phones if there was a problem or anything. Let&rsquo;s look around. Maybe we can get help.&rdquo;<br />\t&ldquo;Okay.&rdquo; Tai shivered. &ldquo;Unh. I&rsquo;m cold.&rdquo;<br />\tThey had to do something about that, Mike realized. Even he was starting to feel the chill on his wet body, and he was fully clothed. Perhaps there was something here.<br />\tThere was another dirty stairway heading up to the walkway. Mike gestured for Tai to follow, and they mounted it. <br />\t&ldquo;Geez, I wonder what it&rsquo;s like when it&rsquo;s turned on&hellip;&rdquo; Mike mused, looking out over the railing at the massive iron machine. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve never seen a generator before. Is there like electricity and lightning and stuff? Is it even safe to be in the room?&rdquo; <br />\t&ldquo;That&rsquo;s a big one,&rdquo; whispered Tai. &ldquo;Some of them are real small. Ours wasn&rsquo;t dangerous unless you touched the inside, but mom never let me near it.&rdquo; <br />\tA monitoring room overlooked the generator. The door was ajar, and Mike slipped into it. &ldquo;Quick, let&rsquo;s find a phone or something.&rdquo;<br />\t The room was clean, but it didn&rsquo;t seem to have been used much. Papers were laid in neat stacks by another control panel, and slotted into pigeonholes on the wall. A locked, metal filing cabinet occupied the corner. <br />\tBut there was no phone visible in the room.<br />\t&ldquo;Damn,&rdquo; grunted Mike. &ldquo;You see anything?&rdquo; <br />\tTai moved the stack of paper to the side. &ldquo;No&hellip;&rdquo; <br />\t&ldquo;I guess we&rsquo;ll just hide here then.&rdquo; Mike shrugged. &ldquo;No big deal, right? We&rsquo;ll be fine in the morning.&rdquo; He eyed Tai critically. &ldquo;We need to get you somewhere warm.&rdquo;<br />\tTai nodded immediately. <br />\t&ldquo;Let&rsquo;s keep looking around though&hellip; might be able to find a warmer room. I dunno. Some place where we can turn on the lights, or something. Lights make heat.&rdquo; <br />\tTaking Tai in hand, Mike led them around the walkway. He started to feel a little uneasy; Tai was stumbling along behind him, still holding his side, and his grip was loose.&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />\tThe walkway led to another series of corridors. Mike pressed on, looking for a door that wasn&rsquo;t locked or chained shut. They&rsquo;d traded one labyrinth for a drier one. An improvement, Mike supposed. At least it was brighter in these corridors, though not by much. The occasional naked bulb or weak, yellow strip was an improvement over pitch darkness, and the water-damaged phone was&hellip;<br />\tSighing, Mike withdrew it from his pants and checked it. The device was dead now. Their tracking device was gone, basically, as was their emergency light. <br />\tBut that was alright, he felt. Once they found a warm, hidden place to take refuge, they could sleep. Rest until morning came, or until rescue, in a dark corner of the docks. The place was massive &ndash; there&rsquo;d be a hiding place for them. In fact, they could probably just hide here&hellip; if he held Tai close, maybe they&rsquo;d be warm.<br />\tHe stopped as they passed a cleaning closet. &ldquo;Wait&hellip;&rdquo; He reached out and tested the door-knob. It rattled. Locked. &ldquo;Dammit.&rdquo;<br />\t&ldquo;What?&rdquo; whispered Tai, approaching the door. <br />\t&ldquo;We should just hide! If we keep running around like dorks we&rsquo;ll get caught for sure!&rdquo; Mike stepped back and raised a leg. The kit kicked hard at the door, but all it did was make a racket. &ldquo;Ow! Crap. It always looks so easy.&rdquo; He checked the handle again, twisting it both directions as violently as he could. &ldquo;Guess we&rsquo;re not getting in here.&rdquo; <br />\t&ldquo;Mike!&rdquo;<br />\t&ldquo;What?&rdquo;<br />\tTai was frowning slightly, his ears perked. &ldquo;I-I think I heard something.&rdquo; He pointed up the corridor. &ldquo;From over there! Someone&rsquo;s coming.&rdquo;<br />\tFreezing on the spot, Mike strained to hear. &ldquo;I&hellip; are you sure?!&rdquo; <br />\tNaturally, he was. The voices were more faint echoes, but they were approaching. Getting louder and clearer. Footsteps, soles scraping on the concrete. It sounded like several furs were heading their way.<br />\t&ldquo;Damn it!&rdquo; Mike groaned, turning around. &ldquo;C&rsquo;mon, Tai let&rsquo;s go!&rdquo;<br />\t&ldquo;But-!&rdquo; Tai did a double take back down the corridor. &ldquo;There&rsquo;s nothing back that way!&rdquo;<br />\t&ldquo;We passed a few doors. There&rsquo;s gotta be a place to hide somewhere.&rdquo; Mike started to jog, but Tai stumbled when he tried to follow, again grabbing at his side. &ldquo;Bloody hell! Come on, you can do it!&rdquo;<br />\tMike dashed on ahead, testing each door as they went by. Every single one was locked. <br />\tIt wasn&rsquo;t until they were almost back at the walkway in the generator room that Mike found an unlocked door, and in no fairness could what it opened into be called a room. It was barely even a closet, barely fitting a large, cardboard box, filthy with grime and dust, and three thick pipes that ran down the side wall. It was the best available&hellip; outside of heading back to the drainage. <br />\tHe waved Tai in, and the kit staggered to the doorway. &ldquo;They&rsquo;re coming!&rdquo; he wheezed. &ldquo;They&rsquo;re running now! They heard us!&rdquo;<br />\t&ldquo;Get in here!&rdquo; Mike roughly pulled the smaller boy into the closet. He pointed at the space behind the piping, half a foot of room at best. &ldquo;Get behind the pipes!&rdquo;<br />\tTai took a step back. &ldquo;Are you crazy? Wh-what about spiders and stuff?!&rdquo; <br />\t&ldquo;Spiders don&rsquo;t have handguns!!&rdquo; <br />\tHesitant, Tai knelt by the piping. There was a small valve at his head-height, and he immediately spotted the thick webbing stretched between the rungs of the wheel. &ldquo;N-no, but they got venom!&rdquo; he complained. &ldquo;Can&rsquo;t we find somewhere bett-?&rdquo; <br />\tThe footsteps were loud now, and they heard a fur literally skid around the corner. &ldquo;I fuckin&rsquo; heard them again!&rdquo; a voice grated. &ldquo;They&rsquo;re here. They must&rsquo;ve crawled through the god-damn drainage! They heard us coming.&rdquo; <br />\tMike cursed nastily, letting the door shut and pushing Tai towards the pipes. In the dark, Tai flinched and smacked his head on the valve&rsquo;s edge. With a pained gasp, his paws slipped from under him, and he fell onto the concrete wall. The scraping noise filled the entire cell, but Mike just ushered the dazed Tai and then himself behind the dirty metal tubes. In the darkness, he prayed the pipes were thick enough to obscure them from view. <br />\t&ldquo;They&rsquo;re running!&rdquo; Another voice. At least two. Mike closed his eyes and clutched the softly whining Tai to him tightly. &ldquo;They were anyway. They could&rsquo;ve tried to hide. Someone wait here, we&rsquo;ll go deeper in and check for them.&rdquo; <br />\t&ldquo;I guess that&rsquo;s torn it&hellip;&rdquo; Mike whispered at the flattened ears beside him. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ll have to keep moving&hellip; if we can get past the guy out there.&rdquo; <br />\tTai just moaned. &ldquo;Oww&hellip;&rdquo; <br />\t&ldquo;What&rsquo;s wrong?!&rdquo; <br />\t&ldquo;You made me hit my head!&rdquo; Tai complained quietly. <br />\tMike blinked. &ldquo;What?&rdquo; <br />\t&ldquo;Yeah! On the pipes!&rdquo; Tai&rsquo;s voice cracked. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m hurt enough already!&rdquo;<br />\t&ldquo;I&rsquo;m sorry! I panicked, alright?&rdquo; Mike let out an explosive breath. &ldquo;Look, there&rsquo;s a guy out there with a gun, and we have to get around him in about five minutes, or else his buddies come back. Okay?&rdquo;<br />\tTai shivered. &ldquo;Okay.&rdquo; <br />\t&ldquo;When we get out of here, you gotta tell me what&rsquo;s going on!&rdquo; Mike shifted, getting to a crouch. &ldquo;I wanna know why Darron is after you.&rdquo;<br />\tNo reply. Mike just let it slide.<br />\tInching from behind the pipes, he approached the door. He pressed a pointed ear to it. <br />\tIt was quiet, but that didn&rsquo;t mean there wasn&rsquo;t someone standing right against the door. From the dialogue he heard before, it seemed the gangsters had gone further, leaving one of their number here in case the kits tried to double back. Trapping them.<br />\tMike closed his eyes and rested against the door. <br />\tHe remembered playing games like this. Pretending to hide from his dad and the other adults for well over an hour whenever he was playing with Ciaran &ndash; sometimes the others joined in whenever they gathered after the swimming meets. Exciting. Fun. This was nothing like that. It was deadly serious.<br />\tBut that was okay. Mike knew he could be serious too.<br />\tFor how long he could keep this up though, he wasn&rsquo;t sure.&nbsp;&nbsp;He&rsquo;d never been so scared. He knew he could focus, he knew he could set goals and achieve them, but he had no idea what to do here &ndash; would anyone? Part of him wanted to curl up and just wish for help to come before it was too late, but he had to take care of Tai. That responsibility gave him something to focus on, as there wasn&rsquo;t a clear, simple goal. It was Tai&rsquo;s confidence in him that let him keep up this charade.<br />\tBecause that was all it ever was, really&hellip;<br />\t&ldquo;Mike, you okay?&rdquo; Tai asked from behind the pipes. <br />\t&ldquo;Listening&hellip;&rdquo; Mike whispered back, jolted back into alertness. <br />\tHe had a goal, and he knew what to do. More or less. He was just scared, and it was making him doubt himself. That had happened before, almost every time he went to a competition. But he still usually managed to get his brown-furred butt on the podium. You don&rsquo;t win if you&rsquo;re not confident, his dad told him, but that didn&rsquo;t mean you shouldn&rsquo;t be afraid &ndash; fear of losing should help you do your best. Hopefully fear of more serious things counted too.<br />\tCarefully he turned the door&rsquo;s handle, opening it just a sliver, nerves strung tight. <br />\tThe one adult left behind was crouching slightly, slowly and quietly moving along the walkway. He had a pistol in his paws. In the shadows, Mike couldn&rsquo;t tell what the adult was &ndash; average height and build, but he moved like he knew what he was doing. <br />\tBut more importantly, his back was to their hiding spot, and he was inching further away. <br />\t&ldquo;Tai, come on!&rdquo; hissed Mike, waving the smaller boy to his side. &ldquo;We can make a break for it, but be quiet!&rdquo; <br />\tTai crept closer, trying to sneak a peek out the door himself. &ldquo;What if he hears us?&rdquo;<br />\t&ldquo;Then run. He has a gun.&rdquo; Mike pulled the heavy wooden door open some more. &ldquo;Go! The way we were heading before!&rdquo; <br />\tNodding, Tai slipped out into the corridors. Scared and injured, nonetheless Tai&rsquo;s foot-falls were quiet and he moved fast. Mike followed him after making sure the door closed quietly. <br />\tTai waited for him a few feet down the corridor. &ldquo;Stay quiet!&rdquo; whispered Mike as he got closer. &ldquo;There&rsquo;s an echo.&rdquo;<br />\t&ldquo;Alright.&rdquo; <br />\tMoving as quickly as they dared, they soon passed the cleaner&rsquo;s storage room Mike had futilely tried to open before.<br />\tA few more corners and they were faced with a large, painted door. Mike&rsquo;s heart leapt. <br />\tWith a sharp grunt, he shoved it open. A gust of fresh, chilly air immediately swept right over him, carrying with it the scent of the ocean, and he sighed. Thankfully, they were outside again, on a narrow metal landing a few feet from solid ground. A rush of relief made him giddy once again.<br />\tThey&rsquo;d escaped once more!<br />\t&ldquo;Brr!&rdquo; Tai exclaimed, wrapping his arms around his skinny, exposed torso. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s cold!&rdquo; <br />\t&ldquo;Come on!&rdquo; replied Mike, reaching for his friend&rsquo;s paw. &ldquo;Let&rsquo;s find a safer place.&rdquo; <br />\tStairs led down from the doorway. Metal, noisy stairs, of course; every clanging step made the boys cringe. <br />\tNow they were in some sort of courtyard, between several large buildings. The massive brick structure they&rsquo;d just exited had a sign nailed to the wall by the door &ndash; &lsquo;Emergency Generator&rsquo;. That made sense, Mike supposed.<br />\tA ventilation unit thrummed away in the middle of the courtyard, and by it was a small building. Mike didn&rsquo;t even bother with trying the door into it: it was padlocked. Wooden and cardboard boxes were stacked in the corner by it, and also in the corner by the exit they emerged from. Crammed against the wall, between it and the boxes, was a blue tarpaulin. <br />\tAll around them were high walls, but for one direction, which was sealed off by an imposing ten-foot fence, adorned with bristles of razor-wire. Beyond it was a small driveway access alongside yet another warehouse. It was from this direction that the wind blew. <br />\t&ldquo;Well, we&rsquo;re not climbing that&hellip;&rdquo; mumbled Mike, eyeing the vicious, bristling clumps of wire. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ll leave half our butts behind. C&rsquo;mon.&rdquo; He stepped towards a door into one of the other buildings. <br />\tTai frowned. &ldquo;B-but Mike, if we go into that building, wouldn&rsquo;t that be where those guys came from?&rdquo; <br />\t&ldquo;Probably. So?&rdquo;<br />\t&ldquo;What if there&rsquo;s more of them?&rdquo; asked Tai. &ldquo;Should we really go that way?&rdquo;<br />\tMike paused, looking hard at the shivering, sodden boy. &ldquo;Do you know what you&rsquo;re saying?&rdquo; he asked slowly. &ldquo;You want us to climb that?&rdquo; Tai nodded. &ldquo;You do see the razor-wire right?&rdquo;<br />\t&ldquo;Yeah.&rdquo;<br />\t&ldquo;Have you ever climbed a fence with that stuff on it?&rdquo; <br />\t&ldquo;Once.&rdquo; <br />\tMike folded his arms. &ldquo;And how did that go?&rdquo; <br />\t&ldquo;Um, I-I had to give up. I cut my hand.&rdquo; <br />\t&ldquo;Exactly&hellip;&rdquo; Mike frowned. &ldquo;I get what you mean but that stuff really cuts you up. It isn&rsquo;t just barbed wire.&rdquo;<br />\tTai bit his lip and looked around. &ldquo;Wh-what about that?&rdquo; he asked, pointing at the tarpaulin bundled up into the corner of the courtyard. &ldquo;We could put that over the wire.&rdquo; <br />\tMike blinked. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s a good idea!&rdquo; he exclaimed, jogging over to the pile of boxes. &ldquo;Let&rsquo;s see&hellip;&rdquo; <br />\tHe grabbed a hold of the synthetic material and pulled. It slipped right out &ndash; it wasn&rsquo;t pinned under any of the boxes, just carelessly stuffed into the corner. With the rustling tarpaulin in paw, Mike looked around. He settled his gaze upon the other stack of boxes by the fence. Perfect! &ldquo;Bingo!&rdquo; <br />\tWith a running start, he leapt onto a wooden box only a few feet tall. Clambering up the next box and then the next, he was right by the fence, and nearly seven feet up it. &ldquo;Heh!&rdquo; he grinned at Tai, who smiled right back. <br />\tDragging the long bundle of material up, Mike gave it a toss, draping it over the top of the fence, covering the thick bush of spines and barbs in one section. &ldquo;Alright!&rdquo; he said, dropping down to the ground. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ll help you up, short-stuff!&rdquo; <br />\tTai nodded, pulling himself up onto the first box. Mike was relieved &ndash; the kit seemed to be getting some of his strength back. <br />\tWith Mike&rsquo;s help, Tai got onto the next two boxes. <br />&ldquo;Okay, now&hellip;&rdquo; Mike looked at the fence. &ldquo;Try to climb up along the side here,&rdquo; he said, indicating the uncovered section of the wire, &ldquo;and go over it at the covered part.&rdquo;<br />Tai reached out, but winced and pulled his arm back to his side. After a moment, he tried again, keeping the arm on the injured side closer to his chest this time.<br />The kit started to scale the fence, while Mike stood by his side in case he should slip. As he neared the top, Tai reached over to the covered section and tried to pull himself over to it. Mike stepped closer, putting his paws on the kit&rsquo;s backside to give him a bit of a boost. <br />&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll give you a push, ready? Get a good hold of it!&rdquo; Mike paused for a second, then jumped slightly, shoving Tai&rsquo;s butt up and to the side. <br />&ldquo;Whoa!&rdquo; Tai yelped. But the momentum did the trick &ndash; he tumbled over the fence, managing to catch a hold of the tarpaulin on the other side. He held on to the material for a moment, before his grip failed and he fell the remaining few feet to the concrete. He landed on his paws, but his legs buckled and collapsed unceremoniously to his backside. <br />&ldquo;Sorry, I thought it&rsquo;d be easier to keep a hold of!&rdquo; blurted Mike. &ldquo;Oh, geez. You know I&rsquo;m not trying to hurt you, right?&rdquo; <br />Tai nodded, pulling himself upright again. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s okay.&rdquo; He looked at his paws and hissed. &ldquo;I think I skinned my paws.&rdquo; <br />&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll be there in a second!&rdquo; Mike leapt at the fence, scampering up the links easily. It was difficult, but he managed to get himself to lean over to the covered section. With nobody to boost him, he had to push in on the tarpaulin, trying to find a foot-hold on the other side, digging in to get a grip on the wire beneath it.<br />\tEventually he got to the top. Tentatively, he touched the tarpaulin covering the razor-wire. Even through the thick, tough material he felt the metal thorns and barbs under it, but it seemed safely covered. So he swung a leg over it. <br />\tBut his weight was greater than Tai&rsquo;s and now the material wasn&rsquo;t anchored. Immediately he felt the tarpaulin start to shift beneath him. &ldquo;Uh-oh!&rdquo; he gasped, trying to pull himself over the top quickly. <br />\tThe tarpaulin slipped as he was on top of the ten foot fence, and with a loud tearing noise the razor-wire gouged right through the synthetic sheet. And Mike&rsquo;s pants. <br />\t&ldquo;Shit!&rdquo; he squealed. Searing pain licked along his inner thigh, and his suddenly shredded pants snagged on the wire, arresting his momentum and jolting him off balance. &ldquo;Oh shit!&rdquo; <br />\tHe toppled over the edge, grasping futilely at the chain-links and the tarpaulin. But the tarpaulin was no longer stable, it simply got pulled down along with him. He tried to cling to the fence, but his momentum swung him around, twisting his fingers painfully &ndash; he let go immediately, and fell to the concrete. <br />\tTai moved with unthinking swiftness, leaping underneath the bigger boy. <br />\tWith a thump, Mike landed on him. Tai was too small to have any hope of catching him, but he broke his fall, and they both fell to the concrete. <br />\t&ldquo;Agh!&rdquo; Mike whimpered, sitting up instantly to clutch at his inner thigh. It felt like a whip had cracked down across his inner thigh, leaving a streak of hot pain from the inside all the way around and down to a few inches above the back of his knee. &ldquo;T-Tai!? You okay?&rdquo; <br />\tHaving fallen onto his side, Tai sat up and rubbed his pink nose. &ldquo;Yeah, I th-think so!&rdquo; he said nasally, eyes watering. &ldquo;You hit my nose. Ah!&rdquo; He clutched at his side again.<br />\tMike looked gingerly at his paw. Blood. Quite a lot of it. <br />\tTai crawled over to him, concern on his features. &ldquo;Are you okay?!&rdquo; <br />\t&ldquo;I-I guess&hellip;&rdquo; Mike swallowed, trying to get himself to his paws. &ldquo;Ah! Ow, shit! That stings!&rdquo; The moment he straightened he almost fell back to the ground, yelping loudly. <br />\t&ldquo;Mike?!&rdquo; <br />\tThe brown-furred fox stumbled into the fence and wailed &ndash; the pain in his leg had exploded, as if some sort of delayed reaction. He struggled valiantly against the urge to break down and cry, clutching at the fence. It hurt worse than any cut he&rsquo;d ever endured; it almost burned with agony, and he couldn&rsquo;t bring himself to touch the bleeding wound again.<br />\tHis instinct, his habit, to burst into tears and call helplessly for his dad tried to overwhelm him. But he couldn&rsquo;t give in to it. Nobody was here for them to depend on. They had to look after themselves, so he couldn&rsquo;t give in to it!<br />\tBut nonetheless he found himself crying into his forearms up against the fence.<br />\t&ldquo;Mike, are you okay?&rdquo; Tai gasped, stumbling over to him.<br />\tMike bit his lip, fighting to calm himself down. He had to be grown up here. He knew he could do it. After a moment, he nodded and wiped at his nose. &ldquo;I-I&rsquo;ll be fine. Let&rsquo;s go&hellip; they&rsquo;ll see that thing and know we went over the fence.&rdquo; <br />\tA smaller paw lightly touched his, and he looked over. The tawny kit just met his gaze somberly. <br />Somehow, Mike dredged up a smile. &ldquo;Th-thanks&hellip;&rdquo; he whispered, sniffing loudly.<br />\tAs hurriedly as they could, they made their way along the driveway. Only to find themselves at the waterfront again, in front of the warehouse. The promenade along the water&rsquo;s edge was wide, littered with boxes, shipping containers and even vehicles. Trucks and massive motorized fork-lifts. The wind was faster now, whistling up from the surface of the water, still spraying the waterfront with a veil of fine mist.<br />\tTai stared out at the sea nervously. It looked even worse now: the boats in the distance were hazy, enclosed by a thick fog. There was a rustling noise, barely audible over the lapping waves as they smashed repeatedly against the concrete embankments. &ldquo;Now what?&rdquo; he asked. <br />\t&ldquo;Same as before!&rdquo; Mike replied, trying to sound chipper. &ldquo;Find a place to wait until we&rsquo;re rescued.&rdquo; <br />\tTai opened his mouth to reply, but he paused. He recognized that distant haze &ndash; it wasn&rsquo;t a mist at all. It was moving. Shimmering. It seemed&hellip; like everything in the distance was grainy somehow. Squinting at it, he saw it moving closer. <br />\tAnd a drop of freezing water fell right onto his muzzle.<br />\t&ldquo;Oh, crap!&rdquo; Mike exclaimed. &ldquo;Is it raining?&rdquo; <br />\tTai pointed out to sea. &ldquo;Uh-huh. It&rsquo;s heavy.&rdquo; <br />\tAs the wall of indistinct haziness got closer, Tai saw it for what it was. Torrential rain, thick sheets of sky-born water cascading from the clouds. The rustling sound was the rain cutting into the ocean. The sky flashed once, and a distant, sonorous boom followed a second later. <br />\t&ldquo;Oh shit!&rdquo; Mike groaned, peering around the container&rsquo;s side. &ldquo;Can&rsquo;t it wait?!&rdquo;<br />\tIn moments, Tai felt further drops hitting his fur. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re gonna have to get out of this!&rdquo; he warned, surprised to find that he had to speak up to be heard over the rain that was still hundreds of feet out to sea. <br />\t&ldquo;Look out!&rdquo; Mike turned and staggered back, grabbing Tai&rsquo;s paw and yanking him amongst a cluster of large wooden crates. <br />\t&ldquo;What?!&rdquo; asked Tai. Mike pulled him to a crouch. <br />\t&ldquo;Some guys are coming this way!&rdquo; <br />\tRaindrops started to fall nosily all around them, bouncing off the wooden boxes and ground alike, and the wind started to grow louder. The storm was going to be picking up fast.<br />\tA trio of male adults jogged past the shipping container, one of them with his hood up, another holding a heavy jacket over his head. <br />\tEven despite the rain and distance, the kits found they could hear their loud voices. &ldquo;Shit!&rdquo; one of them yelled over a suddenly gale. &ldquo;This one came up fast!&rdquo;<br />\t&ldquo;No problem if we get the next container onto the ship!&rdquo; another shouted. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re almost fuckin&rsquo; done, we&rsquo;re not letting some rain get in the way!&rdquo; <br />\t&ldquo;It&rsquo;s not just some rain!&rdquo; protested the first adult. Tai peered around the corner of a box &ndash; they were heading towards a truck, one hitched to yet another shipping container. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s a fuckin&rsquo; hurricane or something a few miles off the coast. There&rsquo;s a storm warning. We don&rsquo;t want to be out in this when it gets started.&rdquo;<br />\tThe storm hit them full-force scarcely a few seconds after that. Tai squinted as the downpour struck the promenade. The bright flood-lights along the waterfront seemed to dwindle, smothered by the torrent. <br />\tHe started to shake all over. The rain was freezing. <br />\tMike joined him at the crate&rsquo;s edge and they watched the adults warily for a few minutes, squinting through the rain to watch the dark shapes. After seemingly checking their container over, two of them got into the cabin, while the third remained on foot.<br />\tWith a loud growl the truck started up, starting to rumble its way along the waterfront, as the third adult walked alongside it. Mike pulled Tai away from the edge of the box. <br />\t&ldquo;Stay down!&rdquo; Mike instructed his friend. &ldquo;They&rsquo;re coming this way.&rdquo; <br />Tai nodded. &ldquo;I-I&rsquo;m cold!&rdquo; he complained, huddling closer to his older friend. <br />Immediately Mike pulled the kit to him, shielding his slighter body with his own. He squeezed gently, but Tai gasped, trying to push Mike&rsquo;s arms off. &ldquo;Sorry,&rdquo; Mike murmured, shifting his grip. &ldquo;I forgot&hellip;&rdquo; <br />The truck trundled along slowly, its headlights lancing through the darkness, illuminating the rain in a visible cone in front of it. The penetrating beam of bright light fell upon the clustered containers the boys hid behind, and Mike ducked as quickly as he could without causing the pain in his leg to spike again. <br />That was close. A whimper escaped the kit&rsquo;s muzzle, and what remained of his pride was glad it was swept away by the winds. The waterfront still wasn&rsquo;t safe. They&rsquo;d have to stay down for awhile, and then try to move on. As if staying in this downpour would be smart anyway. <br />He hissed and tried to will away the pain in his leg. It didn&rsquo;t work. In fact, thinking about it did the opposite.<br />&ldquo;Mike&hellip;&rdquo; Tai forced past his chattering teeth, clutching at the older boy&rsquo;s arm. &ldquo;W-we can&rsquo;t stay out in this&hellip;&rdquo; <br />&ldquo;I know.&rdquo; <br />&ldquo;S-s-so cold!&rdquo; Tai gasped.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br />Mike rubbed the kit&rsquo;s shoulders. &ldquo;I know&hellip;&rdquo; <br />There was nothing they could do until the truck was safely out of sight, and even then they&rsquo;d have to traverse the open waterfront until they found a safe place &ndash; if there even was a safe place nearby. <br />Beneath his soaked fur, Tai&rsquo;s skin was clammy and cold. If only they&rsquo;d managed to get a shirt on him before they were abducted&hellip;<br />Time passed slowly, seemingly in spite of their urgent need for shelter. The rain got heavier and heavier, and distant rumbles spoke of worse weather to come.<br />Tai winced, closing his eyes tight. It hurt. The rain itself actually hurt. <br />Drops of freezing water peppered him relentlessly. The droplets were hard and heavy, reminding him of a thousand stinging pellets from those toy guns that his schoolmates had once been enamored with. Even though Mike held him close, he couldn&rsquo;t protect him from the merciless weather.<br />By the time the truck had pulled away, and its rumbling engine was at last drowned out by the hissing rain, it wasn&rsquo;t just pain anymore. Tai shook violently, his teeth chattering like maracas; now the rain felt like dull thuds, heavy impacts on his numb body. It was a different kind of pain as his muscles started to lock, to tighten, in protest. An all-consuming sting that recalled a certain icy lake once again.<br />Fear suddenly gripped him. If they didn&rsquo;t get to shelter quickly&hellip;!<br />&ldquo;M-M-Mike!&rdquo; he gasped, struggling to move himself. <br />&ldquo;Huh?&rdquo; The bigger kit responded, actually raising his voice to speak to the boy in his arms. The rain had become a deafening white noise, as if a powerful waterfall was roaring loudly all around them. &ldquo;Did you say something?&rdquo;<br />Tai twisted around slightly. &ldquo;H-have t-to get out of the r-r-rain,&rdquo; he managed to force out. &ldquo;S&rsquo;cold!&rdquo;<br />\tThe barky-furred kit nodded. The howling wind slashed at their exposed hiding spot, whipping up and driving flurries of rain rhythmically against the waterfront with each surging blast, lashing at the docks with solid sheets of water. Tai&rsquo;s fur alone was no protection against that. <br />\tMotioning for his companion to stay low, Mike crouched a little higher, trying to scan the area for any activity. After peering in vain through the obscuring rain, he helped the shivering Tai to his paws.<br />\t&ldquo;Come on!&rdquo; he said, leading the way. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ll find a warehouse or something and try to warm up there.&rdquo; <br />\tHe walked on, raising a paw to protect his face from the rain. Tai stumbled along behind him. His legs were numb, and he was having trouble on getting them to go where he wanted to put them. He knew he should call out to Mike, to ask for help, but they had to be quiet.<br />\tTai had grown up in Alaska, out away from large cities, close to a mountain range that defined dangerous weather. Snow flurries and ice were some of the most common sights that he remembered; beautiful things that danced elegantly in the sky, seemingly innocuous. But ever since he was young enough to wander out of parents&rsquo; sight, they&rsquo;d taught him to fear the silent killer that was the cold. He knew all about it. It had taken his father from him.<br />\tThat aside, he recognized the chill in the air. Could taste it with every breath. The cold rain would soon become sleet. Maybe not today, but snow would be not long behind.<br />\tDistractedly, the kit wondered how the imposing city would look, smothered in a thick white blanket of snow. It might be an improvement, at least to him.<br />\tMike led them along the waterfront, before he decided to turn, heading inland between two warehouses. Tai followed without question. <br />\tIt was a service alley, and Mike headed directly for the spiraling, metal staircase that led up to the fire escape walkway of one of the warehouses. He reached the bottom of the slippery metal stairs and paused, allowing Tai to catch up.<br />\t&ldquo;You first&hellip;&rdquo; urged Mike, stepping to the side. <br />\tTai nodded and reached out, gripping the handrail as tightly as possible in his numb fingers. Grunting with effort, the kit pulled himself onwards. <br />\tUnder his breath, Mike cursed. He had hung back in order to observe his friend &ndash; and help him climb up if need be. It was clear now that Tai wasn&rsquo;t just hurt. He could barely move. <br />Yet&hellip; he still did.<br />\tSuddenly Mike felt a powerful surge of affection and respect for his younger companion. <br />The little fox boy was strong. Strong in a way Mike didn&rsquo;t comprehend until now; didn&rsquo;t understand the value of compared to the conventional meaning of &lsquo;strength&rsquo;. In such a state, Mike wasn&rsquo;t sure he&rsquo;d be able to keep going&ndash; but Tai did. Tai had endured so much, and he&rsquo;d endured it by himself. Even if sometimes he felt it was hopeless, that he couldn&rsquo;t do anything, Tai was resilient, resourceful and intelligent. He was not brave. He was not confident. But nonetheless he was tough. <br />And that wasn&rsquo;t all. Today especially, Mike had seen that the skinny little kit was way more athletic than he appeared. Startlingly fast for his size, a fully-grown adult would have great difficulty catching him on a straight, let alone if the agile boy could whip his small frame around corners. <br />\tBut not anymore though. Tai was hurting. He trembled violently, his pointed teeth chattering over the ferocious hissing of the rain. His gait was such an awkward limp, doubled up, as if his entire body was cramping. One paw absently clutched his injured ribs, and his formerly excellent balance and coordination seemed gone. Exhausted, he could barely pull himself up the spiraling stairs while his matted, long head-fur hung in front of his face like a shredded veil.<br />\tIt was a disturbing sight. So wrong. Like a sick joke.<br />\tBut it reminded Mike of something he had to consider: he knew they wouldn&rsquo;t even be able to put up half a fight if they were cornered. If his short lifetime of experiences, from wrestling with his father to confrontations with bigger boys, hadn&rsquo;t taught him the ego-deflating truth, the ease with which they&rsquo;d been originally captured had: they were simply too small, and facing an adult directly had zero chance of success. They were just too small, too weak by comparison. That was just a given. Kids didn&rsquo;t try to fight grownups except in silly movies.<br />\tBut even running from them was out of the question now. An awful stiffness was settling into his right leg while the back of his thigh throbbed with pain. Running was one of the last things he wanted to do right now. <br />\tAs they climbed the stairs, Mike watched the smaller kit warily, offering him help whenever he stumbled. <br />\tWhen at last they reached the upper landing &ndash; some minutes later - Tai collapsed against the handrail. <br />\t&ldquo;You okay?!&rdquo; Mike grabbed the smaller boy&rsquo;s shoulders. <br />\t&ldquo;N-no&hellip;&rdquo; Tai shook his head, unsteadily pushing himself off the wet metal bar. &ldquo;I-I-I g-g-ot&mdash; gotta&hellip; rest&hellip;&rdquo; <br />\t&ldquo;We can do that inside,&rdquo; insisted Mike. Quickly, he raised Tai&rsquo;s arm and slipped underneath. Supporting the younger boy. &ldquo;Let&rsquo;s go.&rdquo; <br />\tAs they stumbled towards a fire exit much like the one they made their earlier escape from, Mike closed his eyes tight.<br />\tThey had to hide. Or else they were dead.<br /><br />\tRobert could barely move. The van he was in was cramped beyond belief. <br />\tIt was a big vehicle, but computers, equipment and burly, blue-uniformed furs took up most of the space. Even worse, the constant rattling sound of the rain on its metal roof was grating his already strung nerves.<br />\tThings had gone well so far, he supposed. The NYPD had agreed to help, and he had been allowed to oversee the operation &ndash; though Robert was not placed, strictly speaking, in command. Though he had initially wanted that, he was somewhat glad to know that matters would lie in the paws of those far more experienced in these matters. Provided, that is, they knew that this was no normal hostage situation. <br />\tBut then again that was what he was there for.<br />\tSo he found himself cramped into the van alongside a hard-bitten sergeant, a grim-faced collie that was far bulkier than his race would suggest. He looked over a large map of the docks, and constantly checked a whiteboard on the wall, scrawled with nigh unreadable scribbles and diagrams. Robert wasn&rsquo;t even sure what he was checking, but he had long since decided to leave the details to the professionals.<br />\tIt was somewhat unnerving to the fox that the sergeant had barely said ten words to him directly since they&rsquo;d got in the van, nor had anyone else spoken to him more than was needful. Perhaps the police didn&rsquo;t want to traffic with what they probably thought were spooks &ndash; Robert could try for a hundred years and he doubted the canine would ever accept he wasn&rsquo;t some black-ops &lsquo;spook.&rsquo; <br />\tHe was a father trying to save his son, with twenty poorly-written essays on Etymology to slough through when everything was back to normal.<br />\tAnd no, he didn&rsquo;t dare consider any other outcome. He couldn&rsquo;t. <br />\tHe would not lose his little boy too. He would not lose either of them.<br />\t&ldquo;You said the satellite imaging would be coming through soon?&rdquo; growled the sergeant, squinting closer at the map. <br />\t&ldquo;Yes.&rdquo; Robert sighed, fondling his phone pointlessly. &ldquo;I should be getting it soon.&rdquo; <br />\tThe sergeant muttered something to a cercal who sat with an intense look on his features, a headset pressed firmly to his ear. Robert had no idea what the cercal was doing either. Though he knew he could probably ask one of the other agents he had with him, it just didn&rsquo;t seem important. At least he hoped it wasn&rsquo;t.<br />\t&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve barely got any idea how many there are.&rdquo; The sergeant shook his head slowly. &ldquo;SWAT doesn&rsquo;t move in until we have accurate numbers and positions. That&rsquo;s when lives are lost. You realize this?&rdquo; <br />\tRobert nodded. &ldquo;I do, but you have to realize that we&rsquo;re not dealing with normal criminals here.&rdquo; The fox bit his lip. &ldquo;It could be anything from a small band to dozens. I doubt we&rsquo;ll have more than twenty, thirty tangos at worst. Assuming they&rsquo;re shipping contraband in or out tonight, that is.&rdquo; <br />\tThe sergeant scowled. &ldquo;And you think they&rsquo;ll be armed with automatic weapons?&rdquo; he asked, concern on his features at last. It was one of the only expressions Robert had seen him make outside of stodgy disapproval.<br />\t&ldquo;It&rsquo;s possible.&rdquo; <br />\t&ldquo;This could turn the docks into a war-zone.&rdquo; The sergeant glanced at another piece of paper. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve got the whole SWAT team here, and I can equip other officers to help, but I got no more than thirty officers here, and all thirty of them have to be going back to their wives and kids tonight. I&rsquo;m not risking any lives for&mdash;&rdquo;<br />\t&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve told you this is a rescue op,&rdquo; interjected Robert, meeting the scowl with one of his own. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s not just a drug-bust, or some obscure CIA objective. This collaboration is about saving innocent lives! You don&rsquo;t think a pair of innocent children are worth risking lives for?&rdquo;<br />\tThe sergeant hesitated. &ldquo;That depends,&rdquo; he said softly, &ldquo;and I didn&rsquo;t mean that. I understand one of them is your own son. If it is at all possible, I want nobody to die tonight. Our job is to get in there and put bad guys in jail. Not to get into wars. There&rsquo;s no such thing as acceptable collateral when you&rsquo;re talking about fathers and sons.&rdquo; <br />\tSwallowing, Robert nodded. &ldquo;Sorry. I know what you mean. It&rsquo;s just&hellip; Christ! I want to do anything possible to save my son. His friend too. They&rsquo;ve been kidnapped by&hellip; I-if you have kids, I&rsquo;m sure you can imagine what this must feel like.&rdquo; <br />\t&ldquo;I can.&rdquo; The sergeant eyed him wisely, adjusting his crisply ironed uniform. &ldquo;You sure you want to be involved in the operation then?&rdquo; <br />\t&ldquo;Absolutely.&rdquo; Robert gave him a hollow smile. &ldquo;Absolutely. You couldn&rsquo;t drag me away.&rdquo;<br />\tThe silver phone in his paws started to buzz.<br />\t<br />\tThe warehouse was vast, as they saw from the fire escape&rsquo;s inner landing. The lights were off and it was thankfully deserted. <br />\tMike eased the violently shivering Tai down to the ground by the door. The kit leaned against the wall, his body practically cramping into a trembling ball. <br />\tThey said nothing, and Mike simply scanned the massive room. It was unremarkable, he supposed, as far as warehouses go. Stacked pallets, boxes, and metal shelves, quite like the first one they had found themselves in. The warehouse was dark, but some light from floodlights outside managed to enter through the glass panels on the roof, supplying just enough light to see.<br />\tOutside, the rain pelted down mercilessly.<br />\tSatisfied they were safe, Mike turned and checked the heavy door. As with before, it had taken much effort to open. Even more to close quietly with Tai hanging on his shoulder. He gingerly touched the metal surface. Resting on it. <br />\t&ldquo;Sh-should we s-s-sit so close to the d-door?&rdquo; stammered Tai, unable to speak clearly. He shivered still and his voice was mumbled and weak. It took a few seconds for Mike to decipher it. <br />\t&ldquo;No,&rdquo; he said, rubbing his own shaking torso briefly. &ldquo;Let&rsquo;s find somewhere.&rdquo;<br />\tCarefully, he daubed with his fingertips at his inner thigh, seeking the wound there that he couldn&rsquo;t see. With a stifled yelp he whipped his paw away. It was covered in a runny, red liquid. It was no scratch &ndash; it was a deep gash. The razor-wire had slashed a good few inches down his leg. His eyes watered. <br />\t&ldquo;Owww&hellip;&rdquo; he moaned, sniffing and swiping at his eyes with his already sodden wrist. He resisted the urge to stamp his paw, to shake away the pain &ndash; that&rsquo;d just make it so much worse. &ldquo;Shit! It really hurts now! Why did I touch it?!&rdquo;<br />\tTai looked up at him expressionlessly, not commenting. Before him, Mike verged on tears, leaning on the wall. The pain from the cut must&rsquo;ve caught up with him now. Tai couldn&rsquo;t see the wound itself properly, but he could see the blood. Their clothes were both soaked through, but the upper-leg section of Mike&rsquo;s pants was stained a dull-brownish red.<br />\tAt last, Mike bit his lower lip, somehow overcoming the pain once again, bending down to help Tai up again. Tai took his friend&rsquo;s paw, but Mike still had to tug the small cub upright by main strength. <br />\t&ldquo;Th-there&rsquo;s an office over there&hellip;&rdquo; he pointed across the warehouse, at a closed, windowed door on the ground floor. A few feet from it was another door, one without a window. Tai guessed the former was the office. &ldquo;There might be some stuff there. Like first aid.&rdquo; <br />\tMike grimaced even as he said that. He wasn&rsquo;t looking forward to the bitter sting of anti-septic on his leg, but they were going to be stuck here for some time, most likely. They needed to do everything to make sure they were safe as possible &ndash; including treating their wounds.<br />\tBoth his father and coach impressed on him the importance of dealing with injuries when they came up instead of dallying. Last thing he wanted was for his thigh to get permanently damaged somehow.<br />\tTogether they limped along the landing and down the stairs. It took them minutes to cross the deserted warehouse; Tai relied entirely on his older friend, and Mike refused to let his right leg bend. It hurt less that way. <br />\tMike tried the office door. It rattled noisily but didn&rsquo;t budge. The brown-furred kit hissed in disappointment. <br />\tTai reached out and leaned on the wall. &ldquo;Wh-what now?&rdquo; he whispered. <br />\tThe older boy cursed. &ldquo;Enough with the locked doors!&rdquo; <br />\tHe let Tai rest against the wall, and he pulled his sopping t-shirt off. He wrapped it around his paw.<br />&nbsp;Summoning every ounce of strength left in his body, Mike threw his fist at the little glass window in the center of the door. With a loud bang, his fist bounced right off, easily repelled by the glass. &ldquo;Ah, crap!!&rdquo; he gasped, cradling his wrist. <br />\tTai slid down the wall and watched. <br />\tUnwilling to be foiled again by another locked door, Mike glanced around, hopeful. Almost anything would do&hellip;<br />\tAs luck would have it, there was a heavy box, bound with iron strips not ten feet from the office door. Its lid, formerly nailed down, lay diagonally atop it, and on top of that there rested a red and white painted crowbar. Mike grinned, dropping his shirt on the floor. <br />\tHe retrieved the crowbar, and brandished it at Tai, along with a beatific grin. &ldquo;Let&rsquo;s try that again, shall we?&rdquo; <br />\tTai smiled slightly. &ldquo;Yeah.&rdquo;<br />\tThis time, the glass exploded. Mike struck it with the sharp curve at the tip of the tool, and the glass pane shattered loudly on the first blow. &ldquo;Get some!&rdquo; chuckled Mike, oddly exhilarated. He didn&rsquo;t expect the glass to break so readily when his own little fist almost sprained itself on it. That something went right just felt so incredible.<br />\tHe reached through and felt around. It was a deadbolt. Fortunately. He undid it and the office door swung open easily. Dropping the crowbar and retrieving his shirt, Mike turned his gaze to Tai. &ldquo;Alright! Let&rsquo;s look for stuff.&rdquo; He wrung out his shirt. &ldquo;You wanna wear this? It&rsquo;s not much but it&rsquo;ll be warmer than nothing.&rdquo;<br />\tPainfully, Tai clambered to his paws. &ldquo;Y-yes please&hellip;&rdquo; He took a single step, and then froze solid. His eyes widened. <br />\tMike reacted, looking around wildly. &ldquo;What?!&rdquo; <br />\t&ldquo;Shhh!&rdquo; squeaked Tai. &ldquo;Listen!&rdquo; <br />\tAn echoing voice. An odd, panicked whimpering. Hurried footsteps. <br />\tMike spun around, looking directly at the unmarked door but a few feet from the office&rsquo;s. &ldquo;Get in the room!&rdquo; <br />\tSomething banged loudly into the door from the other side. Though muffled, he could hear a frantic, terrified whimpering; met with calm, mocking laughter. The door burst open, and a young lemur- a female, judging from the disheveled and torn clothing that hung from her slender limbs- collapsed to the concrete. Her fall was barely broken by her small paws, which were bound together in front of her with what looked like zip-ties.<br />\tShe was pleading, crying out in some language the boys didn&rsquo;t understand, to someone they couldn&rsquo;t see. When she looked around, her eyes were wild and horrified. Unsurprisingly, she was soaked through.<br />\t&ldquo;Oh so now we&rsquo;re going this way?&rdquo; chuckled the other voice. A deep, sonorous one that both boys immediately recognized. A soft-spoken, but gravelly and growl-like voice with a Bronx accent. &ldquo;The tour&rsquo;s been fun. But there&rsquo;s nowhere to run. Never will be for you, not anymore.&rdquo; <br />\tAfter only a second, the powerfully built Marco strode leisurely into the warehouse. The tiger loomed above them all at his full six-and-a-half feet, and he grinned calmly. &ldquo;Enough fun though,&rdquo; he chortled, clearly enjoying himself. When the lemur struggled to her feet, his paw shot out like a striking viper, snaring her upper arm in a vice grip. &ldquo;You sure are asking for it, bitch.&rdquo; <br />\tHe spun her around, before backhanding her with such ferocity she sailed headlong into the very box Mike found the crowbar upon. <br />\t&ldquo;Hope you like it rough, bitch,&rdquo; growled Marco, advancing slowly. &ldquo;I do.&rdquo;<br />\tThe lemur tried to scrabble away, disoriented by the blow and not even registering the two stunned kits. But Marco suddenly froze. <br />\tHe turned to slowly stare them, his eyes wide with disbelief. &ldquo;What-?&rdquo; he gasped while his mouth hung stupidly open. <br />\tMike exhaled the air he had been holding in for the last ten seconds. This couldn&rsquo;t be! Not now&hellip;<br />\tFinally, the tiger started to laugh raucously. A deep belly laugh that seemed to vibrate Mike&rsquo;s bare chest, even from so far away. &ldquo;Would you look at this?&rdquo; he exclaimed, gesturing pointlessly at the kits. &ldquo;Everything&rsquo;s going tits up because of you running off, and here you are, just waiting for me.&rdquo; <br />\tSwallowing, Mike tried to make a break for the stairs to the fire-exit, but Marco took only a few steps with his long legs and caught his prey by the wrist. <br />\t&ldquo;Let go!&rdquo; shrieked the boy, but Marco just grinned. <br />\t&ldquo;Sure.&rdquo; He pulled the kit around, and shoved him into the wall. <br />\tWith a pained yelp, Mike bounced off and landed face first on the concrete.<br />\t&ldquo;Mike!!&rdquo; Tai cried, pulling himself to his unstable, cramping legs. But Marco didn&rsquo;t even let him stumble to his friend&rsquo;s aid. He reached out and grasped the long, yellow-blonde hair, bringing the kit up short. With no visible effort, he lazily flung him through the office&rsquo;s open door. <br />\tMike looked up in time just to see the tawny boy crash into a metal filing cabinet and slither lifelessly to the ground. &ldquo;NO!&rdquo; <br />\tThis couldn&rsquo;t be happening!! They&rsquo;d gotten away, they were safe! How did this monster-?! <br />\tHe struggled to his knees again, but when he glanced around, Marco wasn&rsquo;t even looking him. <br />\tThe lemur was running for the fire-exit, screaming incoherently as she did so. The hulking tiger simply sighed, and took a few lackadaisical steps after her. From his belt, he indifferently drew a pistol. &ldquo;Stupid bitch,&rdquo; he mumbled, aiming carefully. <br />\t&ldquo;NO, DON&rsquo;T!!&rdquo; Mike screamed. But his body seemed frozen. <br />\tThere was just a short, sharp pop. Astoundingly loud, loud enough that Mike winced in pain, but far from the dramatic, resonant explosions of the movies. Nonetheless, the lemur stumbled forwards&mdash;<br />\tAnd collapsed headlong to the concrete. Unmoving. <br />\tA sickening chill, a revulsion beyond anything Mike had ever felt before swept through him, and he watched wide eyed and horrified as someone was casually murdered right before his eyes. <br />\t&ldquo;Stupid foreign bitches,&rdquo; scoffed the tiger, turning his attention to the stunned pup. &ldquo;But it&rsquo;s alright. Couldn&rsquo;t have her run around anyhow &ndash; don&rsquo;t need her making a scene. Hundreds where she came from anyway. I got something a little more important to do here.&rdquo; <br />\tHe took a step towards Mike, slipping his firearm away in his belt again. <br />\t&ldquo;You&rsquo;re both worth much more. In every way. But I want my turn first &ndash; the dickhead wolf can wait.&rdquo; <br />\tThe look in his eyes left no doubt as to what he meant to do. <br />\tMove! Mike screamed at himself. This time, he shot off to the side and around a stack of pallets. The grownup gave chase, laughing delightedly, but, even wounded, Mike was determined: he had to lure him away from Tai at the very least. If he could just get out the building&hellip; Marco would chase him, he&rsquo;d have to.<br />\tLeading the adult in a wide circle, Mike turned and dashed for the stairwell up the emergency landing. <br />\tThe leering tiger cut him off, and he changed direction, sprinting down the aisles of metal shelving. His thigh flared with fresh pain, but he pressed on, striking out for the emergency landing again.<br />\tBehind, he heard Marco swear in genuine concern as he started up the metal stairs. <br />\tHis sneaker caught on one of the stairs, and he tripped. He smacked his chin on the rough metal walkway, banging his knee on the sharp edge of a step.<br />\tPanicking, Mike glanced back as he crawled up the stairs to the landing. He cursed shrilly: Marco was leaping stairs three at a time, gaining with incredible speed for his size. <br />\tDesperate and hurting, the kit reached the landing and tried to accelerate to the exit. <br />\tBut just as his paws touched it he was suddenly bowled over. Thrown to the metal landing with such force he bounced. <br />\tEvery ounce of air in his lungs was ejected, and the best outcry he could make was a strangled wheeze. He tried to recover, tried to look around and see what had knocked him down, but his sight was blurry and he was struck by a dizziness that rendered even considering trying to stand up beyond him.<br />\t&ldquo;Ooh, nice try,&rdquo; he heard the tiger&rsquo;s deep voice as some huge paws grasped his arms and hauled him upright. &ldquo;You&rsquo;re pretty fast. But come on, kid. I do this shit for a living.&rdquo; <br />\tMike was suddenly launched forwards, slammed into the handrail until it dug painfully into his gut. He gasped, breathing almost impossible. Marco&rsquo;s powerful paw pushed him down until he dangled limply across the metal strip, hanging over it like clothing draped on a line. The adult held him there easily.<br />\t&ldquo;I know, I know, you&rsquo;ve got to try at least once. But you&rsquo;ll get it soon, kid. No escape and all that shit. You&rsquo;re screwed.&rdquo; Mike felt a paw grasp the waistband of his pants and tug them down. He sobbed aloud &ndash; he knew what was coming. &ldquo;Soon you&rsquo;ll just lie there and take it. Just like the last, I dunno, twenty or so.&rdquo;<br />\tThe tiger&rsquo;s muzzle came closer to his limp ears. He could feel the hot breath tickling the fur on nape, sending unpleasant shivers down his spine. <br />\t&ldquo;If you get lucky, you might learn to like it&hellip;&rdquo; The breathing picked up, and there was a revolting chuckle. &ldquo;Oh wait. You do like it, don&rsquo;t you? That ferret fuck. Heard about that. Yeah&hellip; you&rsquo;ve got experience. Told everyone you didn&rsquo;t mind it, didn&rsquo;t you? You&rsquo;re a regular little pervert. Not the first I&rsquo;ve met.&rdquo; <br />\tThe tiger grinded up against Mike&rsquo;s exposed backside, and the kit couldn&rsquo;t stop himself. He burst into tears. <br />\tA fondling paw, thrice the size of his own, started to stroke slowly down his wet, trembling side, down his injured thigh, mindless of the wound there&hellip; and slipping around to his exposed privates. <br />\tNo! This couldn&rsquo;t&mdash;! <br />\t&ldquo;No!&rdquo; choked Mike. In reply, Marco just crushed him even harder against the railing. &ldquo;Please don&rsquo;t!&rdquo; He wailed, weakly kicking his legs.<br />\t&ldquo;Oh, that&rsquo;s just hot, kid,&rdquo; snickered Marco, his paw still engaging in its foul exploration &ndash; it in itself a mockery of his victim. &ldquo;Ooh, please doooon&rsquo;t! That&rsquo;s just gold, keep doing that. You&rsquo;ll make a good boy-whore. Well, unless Darron decides to sell you as lunch meat. Give me a second here. Go on, struggle a bit. I like it.&rdquo; <br />\tWith a sob, Mike sagged in hopeless defeat. The bruiser behind him started to do something &ndash; undoing his own pants, Mike guessed. Taking his time. The cub closed his eyes, trying to wish himself away from this. Trying to pretend it wasn&rsquo;t about to happen.<br />\tBut it was.<br />\tSo close to safety too&hellip; it was over. He&rsquo;d screwed up. He&rsquo;d failed. Failed himself and Tai&hellip; they were gonna die. No&hellip; worse. This was worse.<br />\tCaptured again, they would have to endure this for the rest of their lives&hellip; because of him.<br />\tHe was so busy feeling sorry for himself that he didn&rsquo;t register the blood-curdling howl at first. <br />\tA second later however, he slid backwards to the metal flooring. Confused and hurting, he took a desperately needed breath before trying to turn himself over. <br />\t&ldquo;What&hellip;?!&rdquo; he croaked, looking around.<br />\tMarco had released him and staggered backwards. <br />\tHe was doubled over, grasping at his crotch, his pants down at his knees. Behind him a familiar little shape was clutching something, holding it up high. He couldn&rsquo;t focus enough in the darkness of the warehouse to see what it was. The shape behind moved again, once more striking its target&rsquo;s most vulnerable spot with its weapon.<br />\tWhatever that weapon was, it suddenly clanged to the floor as Marco spun around. Knocked away. The massive grownup gave a furious roar, drawing himself up to his fullest height. <br />\tDwarfed by the adult, Tai glared straight at him regardless. The kit&rsquo;s face was grim. Determined. Even though he had been disarmed, he didn&rsquo;t back down. Mike blinked in amazement. Trembling and injured, Tai stared bravely, defiantly, into those narrow agate eyes. <br />At last, despite being in what had to be incredible pain, Marco lashed out. It wasn&rsquo;t a punch, or any kind of strike. He thrust out one huge paw with surprising speed, and the tiny kit couldn&rsquo;t avoid it. With his monstrous strength, Marco simply shoved the boy away like he was throwing aside a pillow. <br />\tMike watched in horror as his best friend was hurled backwards like a feather swept up in a gale. The slender kit bounced right off the metal landing. <br />\tAnd went crashing down the stairs. <br />\t&ldquo;Ooogh!&rdquo; moaned the tiger, clutching in agony at his groin. He staggered a few steps along the walkway, knees almost failing him. <br />\tAs he moved, the shadow that fell across it did also, and Mike recognized what Tai had wielded: a red strip of metal, slightly curved at either end. Of course! The crowbar!<br />\tCalling on what was left of his reserves, the bark-furred kit moved. He desperately kicked off his pants to free his legs, then reached out and grasped the painted metal bar, hauling himself to his paws. <br />\tGrowling to himself, Marco turned around to face his victim, still bent over from the pain. At last, Mike beheld the monster&rsquo;s twisted countenance &ndash; despite it all, Tai had struck true. The tiger flinched slightly in surprise, seeing another teary-eyed and determined child standing right before him.<br />\tAs fast as his drained body could move, Mike acted. He leapt forward, swinging his weapon wildly with his entire exhausted body behind the blow. <br />\tThe crowbar smashed into the tiger&rsquo;s temple with a sickening crack. Even the force generated by a mere ten-year-old was enough to send the behemoth whirling around. So hard did Mike strike him that the crowbar went spinning from his paws.<br />\tLoosing another agonized howl, Marco collapsed against the handrail and toppled over it. At the last second, his massive paw clutched the landing, halting his deadly descent to the concrete twenty feet below.<br />\tDangling from the landing, the tiger eyed Mike with a blend of fear and total disbelief. <br />\tAt first, the nearly naked kit stared back, equally incredulous, just as afraid. But then a hot, indignant, wrath boiled up within him, and Mike snarled at the adult. &ldquo;Do this for a living!&rdquo; he yelled, kicking as hard as he could at the grownup&rsquo;s face.<br />\tHis sneaker connected, and he heard a satisfying snap that seemed to come from the tiger&rsquo;s nose. That massive paw slipped&hellip;<br />\tBut the tiger&rsquo;s other paw made a wild swipe; a last, belated attempt to protect his head. <br />\tIt caught Mike&rsquo;s ankle. With a shocked scream, Mike was pulled between the handrail and the landing, over two hundred and fifty pounds of weight dragging him to his death.<br />\tAt the last second he caught the ledge with a single paw as Marco had, and the tiger&rsquo;s grasp slipped, courtesy of the cub&rsquo;s sodden, slick fur.<br />There was a scream and, a mere moment later, Mike heard a muffled thump, but they scarcely registered over his own pounding heartbeat, thumping so loudly in his ears. And his own terrified, mindless cursing. <br />\t&ldquo;Oh shit, oh fuuuck!&rdquo; he wheezed breathlessly, holding on with whatever he still had left in him. Mostly sheer will. The violent jolt when Marco had lost his grip had nearly made him lose his own, and he clung to the landing&rsquo;s edge by his aching fingertips alone.<br />\tYet somehow, he managed to grab on properly with his other paw and pull himself back up. He rolled away from the edge. <br />\tGasping for breath that seared his throat, he lunged at his pants and underwear, struggling to put them back on. To cover himself, to protect his body again. It took him a second or two before he remembered&hellip; <br />&ldquo;TAI!&rdquo; he cried, limping to the stairs. &ldquo;Tai! Are you alright?!&rdquo;<br />\tHe flew down the stairs, jumping the last five and rolling his left ankle slightly on landing. Though he fell to the ground with a short scream, he forced the pain out of mind immediately and crawled over to his stricken friend. He knelt by the tawny boy. &ldquo;Oh!&rdquo; he sobbed. Gingerly, he lifted the kit&rsquo;s head closer to his own. Was his neck broken? No&hellip; it didn&rsquo;t feel like it. &ldquo;No. No! Please, Tai! Please wake up! Don&rsquo;t go&hellip;&rdquo;<br />\tHe collapsed on the shirtless pup&rsquo;s chest, desperately pressing his cheek to Tai&rsquo;s.<br />\tThis couldn&rsquo;t be. Tai had saved him. He could NOT have died saving him! Not after all this. The little fox boy was tough, he could take anything! Falling down the stairs had to be nothing to him! He was just knocked out, he had to be!<br />\tSo there was no way Mike wasn&rsquo;t going to wake him. He wasn&rsquo;t going to move until that happened. Nothing else mattered.<br />\t&ldquo;No!&rdquo; he sniffled, shaking the kit in his paws. &ldquo;Please, Tai! You&rsquo;re gonna be my brother! We&rsquo;re gonna go home! Gonna go home together! Wake up! Come on, wake up!&rdquo;<br />\tIncredibly, the smaller kit twitched and groaned at his words. &ldquo;Ugh&hellip;?&rdquo;<br />\tMike started. &ldquo;Tai?!&rdquo; <br />\tThe tawny kit&rsquo;s eyelids fluttered open, like dozy butterflies on the first spring morning. Behind them, the leafy-green eyes focused at last on Mike&rsquo;s face&hellip;<br />\tThere was a stunned, disbelieving moment of stillness. Then Mike burst out laughing, clutching the boy to his chest tightly.<br />\tPainfully, Tai swallowed, smiling up at Mike when the older kit finally gave him some space. Finally, he croaked out a few quiet words. <br />&ldquo;I&hellip; think I just fell down the s-stairs.&rdquo; <br />With a disgusting snort, Mike returned the smile.<br />&ldquo;Y-you klutz.&rdquo;<br /><br />\t&ldquo;Are you alright?&rdquo; Mike asked. His entire body felt rubbery as he peered under the bureau. Already he shivered, now that he was without a shirt.<br />\tTai nodded, wrapping his arms around his own body, now clad in Mike&rsquo;s t-shirt. It was the best they could do to warm him. After tumbling down the stairs, Tai couldn&rsquo;t even walk. Mike had to carry him to the office. He hurt all over now, but so far he didn&rsquo;t think he&rsquo;d broken anything &ndash; aside from maybe his ribs. They still ached, but he&rsquo;d never broken a rib before&mdash;he had no idea how it&rsquo;d feel. Though there was a tight pain in the middle of his chest that he tried not to think about. Myriad cuts and abrasions were all over him, many from the fall down the metal stairway, and he was sure he&rsquo;d be spotted with bruises by tomorrow were it not for his fur. <br />\tFur which had done little to keep his muscles from cramping in the savage chill outside. It was only his supreme weariness that kept him from bursting into tears from all his discomfort. Exhausted, he closed his eyes, once more trusting to Mike to keep them safe. He was useless to them both now.<br />\tBut before sleep could take him, he remembered something. He picked up the first aid kit they&rsquo;d located atop a filing cabinet. &ldquo;Mike?&rdquo; he called to the bigger boy, catching his attention as he went to switch off the office&rsquo;s light. &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t we have to do something to your leg, you said?&rdquo; <br />\tWarily, Mike eyed the red and white bag. He really didn&rsquo;t want to, but the cut was too deep to leave alone. &ldquo;I g-guess so.&rdquo; <br />\t&ldquo;What do we have to do?&rdquo; <br />\tThe brown-furred kit hesitated. He didn&rsquo;t look forward to the bitter sting of anti-septic. &ldquo;Do it later,&rdquo; he finally said. &ldquo;When&hellip; yeah.&rdquo; <br />\tStumbling onto the tabletop, he swiped the cordless phone from atop the bureau, pressing a button on it. It lit up. Thankfully. It was all he could do to limp over to the wall and turn off the light before he felt his legs start to wobble. The room was once again plunged into darkness. It wasn&rsquo;t good enough &ndash; Mike knew that if someone investigated the warehouse, they&rsquo;d see bodies, smashed windows, and they&rsquo;d check under the desk almost immediately.<br />&nbsp;But neither he nor his friend could endure any more. At least not yet. They needed rest.<br />\tThe weary kit fell to his knees and crawled under the desk, joining his friend. Together they squirmed about until they got comfortable. Mike wrapped himself around the wounded, exhausted Tai, sharing warmth and comfort. <br />Wearily, he picked up the phone again and started to dial a number.<br />\t&ldquo;Who&rsquo;re you calling?&rdquo; <br />\t&ldquo;Dad&hellip; and the police.&rdquo; Mike sighed. He paused for a moment. <br />\tTai threaded his fingers with Mike&rsquo;s, and held the older boy&rsquo;s paw. &ldquo;What&rsquo;s wrong?&rdquo;<br />\t&ldquo;Nothing.&rdquo; <br />\tA moment later, Mike put the phone down, silently resting his head on top of Tai&rsquo;s. <br />\t&ldquo;Mike?&rdquo;<br />\t&ldquo;The tiger guy.&rdquo; The older boy&rsquo;s voice was dull. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s dead. I think I killed him.&rdquo; <br />\tTai hesitated. &ldquo;He deserved it&hellip;&rdquo; he said eventually. &ldquo;He was bad. Very bad.&rdquo; Another pause. &ldquo;I wish I got him instead of you.&rdquo; <br />\t&ldquo;Why?&rdquo; <br />\t&ldquo;Because he hurt you.&rdquo; <br />\tAfter those simple words there was utter silence, but Tai felt something was wrong. When he twisted around to ask what the matter was, he recoiled. <br />\tMike&rsquo;s face was twisted in a grimace, as if he was in the most horrible pain. His eyes were shut tightly. Unable to suppress it, the fox boy let out a sharp sob. Once more, he started to cry. Hard.<br />\t&ldquo;Mike?! What&rsquo;s the matter?&rdquo; Tai tried to turn slightly, but Mike held him fast. &ldquo;Is it your leg? Is your leg hurting still?&rdquo;<br />\tThe older kit didn&rsquo;t reply. <br />\tIt went on for almost a minute. Mike didn&rsquo;t even seem capable of speech. Crying too hard to even close his muzzle, he couldn&rsquo;t get even a word past. <br />\tUnable to do anything else, a bemused Tai just held his friend&rsquo;s paw and let himself be hugged. <br />\t&ldquo;I&rsquo;m so stupid!&rdquo; Mike slurred at last, barely coherent. &ldquo;Always tryin&rsquo; to&mdash;t-trying to be brave! I&rsquo;m not! I&rsquo;m not&hellip;&rdquo; <br />\t&ldquo;Yes you are,&rdquo; replied Tai immediately, squeezing that paw. &ldquo;You&rsquo;re very brave.&rdquo; <br />\t&ldquo;No&hellip;! I don&rsquo;t mean like that&hellip;&rdquo; Mike returned the squeeze. &ldquo;D-didn&rsquo;t want dad to worry. I knew I had to be tough. He w-w-ants me to be tough, and s-smart. But I was scared!&rdquo;<br />\tTai blinked in confusion. &ldquo;What&rsquo;re you talking about, Mike?&rdquo; <br />\t&ldquo;Years ago!&rdquo; exclaimed the older boy, nuzzling almost desperately into Tai&rsquo;s clammy neck. &ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t say anything coz I didn&rsquo;t want anyone to be worried an&rsquo; I wanted dad to be&mdash;&rdquo; He sniffed. &ldquo;But I was so scared. Even after it I was scared. I had nightmares when I wasn&rsquo;t even asleep. I thought he was gonna k-kill me. I didn&rsquo;t want dad to know. I wasn&rsquo;t gonna worry him! He was so busy, with mom gone. He shouldn&rsquo;t have to worry about me, I need to take care of myself. I need to be good at stuff so&hellip;&rdquo; <br />\tSilently, Tai took the phone from his friend&rsquo;s paw and placed it on the floor. Mike may not have believed him, if Tai could ever tell him, but&hellip; he understood. Perfectly. Tai knew what it meant to pretend things were alright, to hide his own problems even from himself, for the same foolish reason. He knew that it never worked. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s okay,&rdquo; he whispered. &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t be upset, Mike. It&rsquo;s okay to be scared about this stuff.&rdquo; <br />\tMike squeezed him again. &ldquo;I dun care! I don&rsquo;t ever wanna feel like that again.&rdquo; A huge, disgusting snort. &ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t let dad know. I pretended like I didn&rsquo;t care. I jus&rsquo; wanted to forget. Didn&rsquo;t want anyone to know. Was so scared&hellip;&rdquo;<br />\tTai just listened, thinking. Mike had already confessed to him that he had been frightened when that odious ferret broke into his house. But this was the full truth. Mike&rsquo;s wounds were deeper than he wanted to admit, especially not to his father. It wasn&rsquo;t just scary. He wasn&rsquo;t alright with it, no matter how gentle his assailant had been.<br />\tHis father&rsquo;s good opinion meant so much to him. But this wasn&rsquo;t right; it was stupid of Mike to think like this. Tai was certain Robert would&rsquo;ve lost none of the respect and love he had for his son if Mike hadn&rsquo;t hidden his scars like that. It mattered not that Mike was more mature, more reliable than most of the adults Tai met &ndash; he knew what it meant to need someone. To bottle your nightmares and worries and live with them every day.<br />\tYou couldn&rsquo;t just outgrow that. Nobody could, not without hurting themselves even more. It would be like cutting your own heart out.<br />\t&ldquo;It was gonna happen again. I let it happen again and I couldn&rsquo;t stop it this time either.&rdquo; Mike inhaled shakily. &ldquo;This whole&hellip; everything has been just so scary, and I screwed up. I&rsquo;m an idiot! I&rsquo;m not as little as I was last time! I&rsquo;m not as dumb!! But I still let it happen!&rdquo; He almost crushed Tai then, forgetting his injuries. Tai gasped and shifted slightly to spare his damaged ribs. &ldquo;You saved me, Tai. He was g-gonna&hellip; and probably kill me and you&hellip; thank you. Thank you so much.&rdquo;<br />\t&ldquo;D-don&rsquo;t mention it,&rdquo; Tai assured him, wincing. What else could he say?<br />\tIn truth, he could barely move. But with the behemoth distracted, Tai had managed to grasp the crowbar and crawl as fast as he could up the stairs to the emergency exit. When he swung, it had little power &ndash; but the kit had deliberately tried to sink the sharpened point of the crowbar right into the jerk&rsquo;s groin. Even still, Tai didn&rsquo;t think he managed to cause serious damage. <br />\tBut whatever he did it was enough. He&rsquo;d done enough for Mike to finish off the monster &ndash; together, they&rsquo;d defeated the much larger adult.<br />\tWhen he heard Mike&rsquo;s terrified voice&hellip; it wasn&rsquo;t an emotion Tai was used to. He had been angry and desperate before, but not like this. It was sheer mindless fury and a desire to stop the adult at all costs that got him up those stairs; and nearly got him killed.<br />\tMike spoke again. &ldquo;You heard her. The lady. The one he shot. That&rsquo;s what it&rsquo;s like. And you know too &ndash; when that guy broke into your house.&rdquo; <br />\t&ldquo;&hellip;I know.&rdquo;<br />The barky-furred kit fell quiet. Then, with a broken sob, he demanded, &ldquo;Why did he shoot her?! What did she do to him?!&rdquo;<br />\tTai shook his head, and sniffed once. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know!&rdquo; <br />Together they cried. Again. Mourning a fur they never knew, never even spoke to. It was an empathy, a deep love for life itself that was too rare in the perverted, heartless world of death and deceit they suddenly found themselves in. <br />The real world.<br />\tHowever, after a moment Mike took a deep breath. He held it for several seconds, once more trying to summon the courage and focus to do what had to be done. &ldquo;O-okay&hellip;&rdquo; he said at last. &ldquo;Gimme the phone&hellip; We gotta get outta here. I wanna go home.&rdquo; <br />\tTai handed it to him. &ldquo;Me too.&rdquo; <br />\tMike started to dial, blinking away the tears that blurred his vision so he could read the display. <br />\tHis paws still shook, so he made several mistakes. As his trembling finger smacked three buttons simultaneously, he cursed softly under his breath. &ldquo;I hate phones,&rdquo; he murmured.<br />\tTai leaned back into his friend and closed his eyes. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t. Not anymore.&rdquo;<br /><br /><br />Chapter Eleven &ndash; Fin. <br /><br />-- By Krazy Kitsune/Kichigai Kitsune<br />Copyright 2005 onwards.<br /><br /></span>",
  "pools_count": 1,
  "title": "Tai's Story - Chapter Eleven",
  "deleted": "f",
  "public": "t",
  "mimetype": "application/msword",
  "pagecount": "1",
  "rating_id": "2",
  "rating_name": "Adult",
  "ratings": [
    {
      "content_tag_id": "2",
      "name": "Nudity",
      "description": "Nonsexual nudity exposing breasts or genitals (must not show arousal)",
      "rating_id": "1"
    },
    {
      "content_tag_id": "5",
      "name": "Strong Violence",
      "description": "Strong violence, blood, serious injury or death",
      "rating_id": "2"
    }
  ],
  "submission_type_id": "12",
  "type_name": "Writing - Document",
  "guest_block": "t",
  "friends_only": "f",
  "comments_count": "2",
  "views": "359"
}