A friend's trouble, and solution (Chapter 5 of Part 2 of my YuGiOh Series)
#5 of YuGiOh Series pt 2
Jane walked around on her day off from training, looking for Starfire, wondering what happened that had her placed here. She also thought about Flamewarrior last night, sleeping against the headstone of his late wife, Therena. She saw the six winged tigers running around, having a good time at their young age. The young hybrid smiled and waved to the six kids, flying around and having fun, then moved on to find her friend.
She found Starfire in the restroom, her face showing signs that she's been crying hard recently. Jane gently looked at her friend, and watched as the wolf/pantheress began to cling to her as if she was the anchor to reality, or some other realm that was safe and secure. Jane did her best to calm her down and get the story out.
"What happened that your dad sent you here Starfire?" she asked soothingly, almost motherly.
"Somebody called CPS and said that a bunch of bullshit that didn't happen happened. They pulled me out and did the same to my brother and sister."
Jane gasped, knowing that that strong panther couldn't have hurt Starfire, nor could her friend's mother. Whoever that someone was, they would pay dearly, she vowed herself, and led her friend to rest in their dorm, then she hurried to find Flame, hoping to get a deep investigation started.
She walked around aimlessly, pushed on by rightous fury for her friend's sake, bumping anyone who was in her path over until she found the leader. As she rounded the corner to his office, she noticed two members, clad in the traditional black robe with their hoods up, but wearing pendants signifying that they were Elites, and they were loyal and would not move or let anyone in. They looked at her questioningly, hoping for an explanation for what she was there for.
"OUT OF MY WAY! I NEED TO SPEAK TO FLAMEWARRIOR NOW!!!" she roared with a voice that very few males, and even fewer females, could summon from their lungs. They stood shocked, but steadfast, one of them having a dual disc on. She growled angrily, her eyes flaring with a female's rage that would normally turn any weak person away. They did not move, though they lowered their gazes, sizing her up, as well as how emotionally distraught she was.
The doors behind them swung open, Flame standing there with his hood down, looking well rested and confused as to why Jane was seething anger in front of his office doors. The tiger made a small gesture to the two guards and they moved aside for the young hybrid, then he motioned her to come in. She nodded and walked in hurriedly, the doors shutting behind her as the leader slowly walked behind his desk, motioning to a seat, which she quickly accepted.
After Flamewarrior put his reading glasses on and began to look at some papers, he asked softly, "What troubles you Jane?"
"Did you know how Jane was seperated from her family?!"
The tiger raised his paw, "Don't get so hostile with someone who accepted you into his office to talk about what troubles you. To answer your question, yes, I did. I've been investigating this matter with the help of the Elites. Her brother and sister are currently being returned back to Spencer and Beatrice. I planned on seeing Starfire here, since she's the only one outside of the Elites who knows about our investigation. Imagine my surprise when it was you."
Jane blinked as if stunned. Her anger broken with such an explanation, it being replaced with sorrow and regret, she hung her head in shame. She felt a large paw gently caress her just behind her ears, getting her to purr at the touch. When the teen looked up, the tiger began to slowly kneel, seeking answers within her eyes. She dared not speak, and he kept searching within her eyes.
Starfire lay weeping in her bed when she felt a small paw on her shoulder. She looked up through her tears to see a male brown fox, no older than she. The wolf/panther wiped her tears as she rose to a sitting position. The male tilted his head and gently held out a letter addressed to her.
"I believe this is for you," was all the soft-spoken boy said as he turned to leave.
"Wait... who are you?" she asked.
"My name is Ancient, an orphan as of last month."
"I'm Starfire. I'm not an orphan... just..." she trailed off, unable to speak about what happened as fresh tears spattered onto the envelope.
"I won't make conclusions based on so little knowledge, but you have to admit, Master Flamewarrior has a kind heart for us kids."
She nodded, slowly opening the envelope and began to read the short message. She stood up and nodded to Ancient, swiftly heading to Flamewarrior's Office. When she arrived, the two guards there, their pendants showing that they were Elites, nodded, expecting her apparently, and stepped aside, letting her gain access to the office.
When she walked in, she saw her friend, Jane, sitting there, gazing into the leader's eyes, or was it the other way around? It appeared that they had been that way for sometime, Jane looking frightened and Flamewarrior looking calm, but holding back a darker side. She quickly cleared her throat, drawing both of their gazes to her.
"Ah, Starfire. I have great news for you," the tiger said as he stood and walked to a cabinet.
"What is it sir? The message said 'URGENT' on it."
When Flamewarrior turned around, he was wearing a smile, his emerald eyes were tearing up, and he held her backpack, "I just proved that your parents were framed and everything is being returned to it's proper order."
Starfire gasped, tears of joy and sorrow filling up her eyes as her legs began to lose their strength. She felt her friend's paws comfort her, knowing that they'd be seperated again for close to four years. She was glad when she saw Jane, but she felt torn apart. Should she go back and be with her loving family, or should she stay and be with her friend?
"Your family is waiting Starfire, I'm sure Spencer would enjoy holding you close. As for your pending membership, you may decline it now, so that you can spend every moment with your family. I will not judge you if you make that decision. No one should be seperated from their family based on false pretenses," the leader spoke calmly as he held out her backpack.
Starfire looked up, smiling happily and slowly accepted her backpack. She was then slowly blindfolded and led away by one of the Elites to one of the vehicles. She closed her eyes and kept smiling, happy to be back with her mom and dad, as well as her brother and sister. When the blindfold was removed, she knew she was in town, on her way home.
After Starfire was blindfolded and led away to be sent home, Jane looked at Flamewarrior, wondering if he had any other business to attend to. He slowly walked toward her and knelt down, looking into her eyes before softly speaking.
"You have a great power within you, the question that now nags my mind is this. Will you use it wisely?"
She blinked a bit, unable to determine what he meant. He was so close that she could hear her heartbeat begin to beat faster and harder. She wanted to turn around and kiss him deeply, passionately, telling him of her love for him. She kept that at bay, knowing that now was not the right time for such.
"Jane, I can sense you are attracted to me. However, I already have six cubs to care for. Perhaps when things aren't so hectic, and you prove yourself, will it have a chance of happening. For now, go ahead and get some food. Lunch should be served just about now," he said and slowly pointed to the obvious exit.
She nodded and left for the mess hall, sighing heavily at her missed opportunity. The hybrid didn't even know when she got to the mess hall, where they were serving meat lover's pizza, lasagna, chef salad, and several different sodas. All she grabbed was a slice of pizza and a Dr. Pepper and sat at a random spot, barely touching her food.
She felt a nudge at her shoulder and turned to see a male brown fox, who had some lasagna at the corner of his muzzle from where he devoured his lunch. His eyes showed concern for her and she lowered her gaze back to the cooling slice of heaven.
"My name is Ancient, how are you?" the fox said, introducing himself and trying to strike up a conversation.
"Jane, not too good."
"What's wrong?"
"My friend finally got to go home to her family."
"Who's your friend?"
She sighed and looked at the boy, "What does it concern you? I won't be able to see her for four years."
The male shrugged and slowly sipped his Sprite, the hybrid female slowly picking bites off of her pizza, her can of Dr. Pepper untouched. The rest of the day was uneventful for her, so she decided to look through the last reminders of her parents and uncle, their cards and the family portrait.
The tiger sighed in relief as he looked down at the rest of the trainees, seeing that one certain female wasn't there. He asked one of the members where Jane was, and they answered that she was just laying in her bed, not speaking or moving. He thanked the member and made his way to her dorm.
When he got there, he saw that she didn't even show any emotion whatsoever and gently knelt at her side. Flamewarrior gently poked her shoulder, causing the young female to look over and her eyes lit up like a Christmas tree. He was immediately tackled to the floor, his eyes widening more when he felt her lips pressing against his, her tongue wrapping around his feline tongue.
After managing to pry her off of him and let his mind calm down, he looked at her, "What are you thinking?"
Tears welled up within the female's eyes, knowing he had shouted something that cut deep into her. He hung his head and sighed heavily. He held her close, trying to be a father for her, trying to comfort her. The tiger didn't know how to handle a pre-teen female who wanted him.
"Jane, I'm sorry about my outburst. You caught me offguard, and I don't wish to start something right now. I have kids to take care of and this guild to manage. So when things calm down, I'll see what I can do, alright?"
The hybrid nodded, her stomach growling in protest of her hunger. The tiger chuckled as Jane blushed in embarrassment and rushed to the mess hall for her dinner. Flame stood up and headed to his sleeping quarters, knowing his kids would be there already and in bed, being good from what he taught them, but never having to raise his voice or his paw to them. He laid down on his bed and hugged a pillow to himself, closing his eyes as he drifted to sleep for the night.