FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Camus checked for the thousandth time his reflection in one of the screens that were off, trying to smooth his clothes and brushing his hair with his fingers and saliva. Behind him, Sophia snorted with disdain.

-And I'm the one who gives too much importance to the anthros, Camus? -she asked, infusing into his voice a great dose of irony.

The man turned to her, with his eyes half-closed.

-Even though you seem unable to understand it, I'm the Order Commissioner, Sophia. My appearance must transmit order and discipline.

Sophia raised an eyebrow and saved herself the effort of informing him that his hunchbacked, deformed figure transmitted little order. She also had to contain herself from telling him that he was the one who had given himself the title of "Comissioner" and that, in fact, the only reason he was there was because one of the giants of the Corporation was a relative of his.

Although nothing would have pleased her more than telling him all of that, she knew it would be useless. Besides, if everything turned out as she had planned, she would never have to worry about Camus again.

-How could I punish your favorite, Sophia? -the man asked then, drawing his hand to the electric whip hanging from his waist -. He has committed many infractions lately. I'm not going to forgive him for the time he locked me in the basement for two days... nor you for taking so long to free me.

-Oh, my apologies. I thought you were aware that the basement wasn't monitored -Sophia smiled, sarcastically.

The man froze and looked at her out of the corner of his sane eye. Due to the slight trembling of his lip, the woman guessed he was containing him from showing his fury.

-Believe me, Sophia. I'm going to make sure that damn animal dies today, having learned once and for all what his place his.

That said, he spit on the floor and left the room, taking the corridor that lead to the prisoner's hall. Sophia saw him go, with a faint smile in her lips and then she sat in a chair, crossing her legs. She drew a hand to her temple and started tapping the arm of her glasses with her little finger.

<<How ironic>> she thought, unable to stop smiling <<Only a person is going to learn his place today. So be careful what you say and take your own advice, Camus>>.

Zèon only raised his head when the rest suddenly fell silent and the sound of the glass doors opening could be heard. He knew what that meant and still he couldn't help but shiver under the look full of hatred that Camus gave him, once he entered the room. There were too many mysteries in the Box, many of them which not even he could solve. In any case, the reason why Camus hated the kane and the fehlar and him specially was not one of them.

Down on his knees and feeling in the back of his neck the tense gaze of all those who had come to the hall in order to witness his punishment, Zèon couldn't help but remember his stay in the Box. Even though he had never been happy, he had finally got used to the routine and the lacks of that prison. He would have never believed that the escape he had planned with Ike and Luca could turn out so wrong; on the other hand, nothing that had happened remotely resembled what he had imagined. From the day Vent had arrived to the Box, defying with his mere presence all the logic that seemed to rule that place, things had started going bad. He had been forced to take some decisions he detested and do things he wasn't proud about. He had lost many things on the way, but he had always believed that it would be worthwhile.

It hadn't. He told himself that, after all, he had been lucky enough to escape from captivity the first time. He would have been too lucky if he had managed to do it twice.

-Hello, scum -Camus greeted him, once he was right in front him.

He still had that patch in the right eye, so the arctic fox deduced that his wounds hadn't healed, and would probably never disappear. He couldn't help but feel a bit proud that he had at least left that mark in his face. Silently, he decided to wait for the ton of insults that doubtlessly were about to come.

-This time, your friends were the ones who called me to punish you. I see that even those of your kind see you as the dung heap you are. -Camus then cracked his already characteristic crooked smile, showing his teeth -. At least we agree upon something.

The man's long fingers drummed gently on the handle of the electric whip. Zèon followed them with his eyes and, after a few seconds, noticed how calm he actually felt. Maybe it was because he was totally aware that, if he wasn't killed by Camus, he would by the furtive attack of some fehlar, offended by his attempt to murder the heir to the throne. Or maybe because, after all, no matter how painful that punishment was, he had nothing to lose.

He had lost his true name, he had lost Luca, he had lost Ike's love, the control of his own body and even any remaining hope of escaping. What else could they take from him?

-I've been told that this time you are here because you attacked one of your fellow animals. Weren't you punished the last time for defending one? -The man shook his head and clicked his tongue, in a forced attempt to seem disapproving -. And Sophia does believe you are intelligent. -He pronounced that word with a weird disdain -. That you can take _rational_decisions. Well, do you want to know something? Do all of you want to know something? -he added, turning to everyone in the room, with the whip in his hand -. None of you can! You are just simple, fool animals!

-Well, this fool animal managed to lock you in the basement -Zèon muttered, unable to contain himself.

A surprised murmur rose in the hall and Camus froze in his place, as his disdainful smile transformed little by little into a grimace full of hatred.

-What did you just say? -he mumbled, with a tone of voice as threatening as a cobra about to bite its prey.

Zèon looked around. He saw, looking at him from the crowd, Ike's impassible face; however, there was a faint hint of sadness in his eyes. <<I'm sorry>> he wanted to tell him with his eyes, although he knew the lion wouldn't understand. He also spotted Koi and Vent, who were together and watching him with worry. His heart hurt when he thought about leaving Koi alone, about the husky seeing him like that, looking down before leaving...

It was then when he made his choice.

He was tired. He was terribly tired of withstanding everything.

So he raised his head again, determined, and fixed his eyes in that little deformed man, facing his hatred with as much dignity as he could. After all, he repeated to himself again, there was nothing to lose.

-I said I locked you in the basement -he repeated as he stood up, louder now and vocalizing as clearly and slowly as he could -. Have you understood now or do you need me to repeat it again?

Camus stepped back, drawing a hand to his whip again. It seemed that the arctic fox's reaction had taken him by surprise.

-How do you dare... -he hissed, furious.

-You say we are the stupid beings but, in fact, you've proven to be far more stupid than us -Zèon blurted out, half-closing his eyes -. You're only a man guided by hatred and insecurity. You feel so pathetic due to the fact that Sophia bosses around you that you try to vent your rage on us.

Camus didn't answer. He remained still, keeping his lips tightly closed. His only uncovered eye flashed in anger. Zèon sensed that he didn't have much time before the man exploded.

-You feel so frustrated and impotent that you try to make us feel the same. You say you are an example of rationality and order, the "Commissioner" of the Box. But I bet there's no one in the room as mean as you. In fact, we all know that the only inferior being here... is you -he claimed, and then added -. And that's as visible as your physical deformity.

He hadn't even finished that sentence when the man yelled and activated the electric whip, which flashed in the room lighting everyone's face. Zèon knew he had crossed the line, but sincerely that was what he had wished from the beginning.

He wasn't going to let the man humiliate him anymore, nor any other kane or fehlar. Camus had mistakenly believed that he would flinch in his final hours... but in fact, he felt freer than ever.

He didn't even move when the man strode towards him, the whip flashing and cracking as it drew little arcs in the air. He decided to endure the pain and assume his final, as elegantly as he could, so he could at least set a decent example for Koi.

The little husky was, after all, the only thing he was leaving behind.

However, someone suddenly stood in Camus way. It happened so fast that Zèon could only see an orange shadow and then the man drawing a hand to his jaw as he cursed loudly and stepped back, still with the electric whip in one of his hands.

For some reason, the arctic fox believed for a few seconds that it was Ike who had saved him from the Commissioner and a warm feeling filled his heart. But when he looked twice, he was surprised to find Shiba, the tigress, there.

-What is this? -the man asked, writhing in pain -. Do you also want punishment, idiot?

-We all want punishment -Shiba muttered, half-closing her eyes -. Yours.

Camus gave her an incredulous look, as if he hadn't listened well. However, he then sensed a movement from the corner of his eye and turned, looking around still with the whip in his hand. All the circle of fehlar and kane that had been watching that scene was now narrowing around the hunchbacked man, walking slowly towards him.

Camus laughed disdainfully, constantly turning around. He whipped the ground, probably trying to frighten all those presents, but it didn't work. Some startled due to the loud crack but it just took them a few seconds to keep walking towards the man, who was still laughing.

-What do you think you're doing? -Zèon heard him say. There was a hint of nervousness in his voice -. Get back! I'm the Order... Commissioner!

The whip cracked against the floor several times again, but the rows of kane and fehlar didn't stop their progressive advance and the man's face turned pale, showing a great despair.

-You're only stupid animals! Damn... animals...

-Now! -a scream rose in the middle of the crowd.

And then an avalanche of paws, fangs and claws fell over Camus so suddenly that he didn't even have the time to let out an exclamation of horror before being buried under that wave of furious "animals". His yells got lost in an uproar full of satisfied growls and wild triumphant howls, which echoed in every corner of the hall, jumbling into a crazy symphony of rebellion and death.

Zèon watched everything like he was hypnotized, from his privileged place just a few meters away of the crowd of kane and fehlar who had pounced on Camus. Just after a few seconds after the brawl started, the turned-off electric whip flew from the circle and hit one of the fox's foot paws. He crouched down in order to pick it up, but someone did it before. When he looked up, Zèon found two blood red eyes which somehow seemed familiar, although he couldn't immediately recognize them.

-This is mine, if you don't mind -Kainn said to him, standing up again -. I've always wondered if this device could be given... unconventional uses. I can't wait to smell that guy's burnt flesh -the hyena added, with a wide sinister grin.

Zèon nodded slowly and he saw him push the button of the whip, which scattered a long line of sparks over the ground.

-By the way, I've been told that you tried killing the lion. I just wanted you to know that I find that... quite interesting -the hyena said, still grinning from ear to ear. Then, he winked at him invitingly and turned back, dragging the whip behind him.

The arctic fox saw him go and, after a few seconds, he shivered when he heard the most terrifying shrieks of pain he had ever listened. He turned back, looking for Koi and hoping he wasn't there. Instead of the little husky, he met face to face with Shiba, who watched him, frowning.

-Thanks for... -he began saying to her; but before he could even finish that sentence, the tigress quickly punched him in the face.

Zèon, surprised, stepped back and gave her a confused look, waiting for her to give some explanation. He knew that the hit he had just received had been only an advertence: Shiba could have hit him harder if she had wanted.

-This is for trying to kill Ike -the tigress said curtly, after a few seconds.

Then, she approached him slowly and grabbed both of his wrists, placing them behind his back and pushing them towards one of the hall's corners. Zèon, too bewildered in order to react properly, just let her do it but finally couldn't help but ask himself what was happening.

-Wait! Where are you taking me?

-With Ike -the tigress answered, as if that was an obvious answer.

Zèon understood. She still didn't trust him; that was why she had decided to take him with his paws behind his back. The arctic shook his head. Although It was a bit humiliating, it wasn't a bad choice. The last time, he had attacked Ike against his own will, under Sophia's will. He internally thanked Shiba for holding him now.

He nodded and just tried to find the reason why everyone had suddenly decided to rise up against Camus. It would have been presumptuous to believe that his little speech had sparked it, so he thought that probably Shiba and Ike were the ones who had somehow organized everything.

Shiba took him to one of the corners in the hall, where Ike was waiting for them, with a faint smile in his muzzle.

-Here you are -Shiba muttered, once they got to his side. She seemed to dislike touching the arctic fox.

-Ike -Zèon began, unable to contain himself -, what's happening? Why are all these people fighting against Camus?

-Not only against Camus -the tigress murmured, softly.

Several guards had appeared from the glass door, trying to stop that sudden rebellion. Some of them had managed to knock down a kane or a fehlar, but were downed afterwards by others. Some held electric weapons, like Camus' whip, but many prisoners had found a way of taking them from the fallen guards and were now fighting on equal terms. During the brawl, many tables had been overturned and now were used as parapets and shelters were the youngest ones could hide or watch that fight from a safe distance.

Zèon shook his head, surprised. The kane and the fehlar were fighting together. They had joined against a common enemy. That was something that he would have never been able to imagine, not even in his wildest dreams.

-We thought it was the only way to win -Ike explained, gently -. We had to become allies. And when I saw what they had done to you, I knew the time to act had come. When I left you in your bedroom, I met with some kane. It was hard to convince them that my plan wasn't a trap... but as soon as I gave Kainn the right to do whatever he wanted with the humans, negotiations got easier -he added, shivering.

-So you decided to hand me over to Camus and then attack -Zèon understood -. You used me as bait. But... -he murmured, still without understanding some points -, weren't you angry with me? After all, this morning...

But Ike shook his head, interrupting him in the middle of the sentence.

-I know you didn't want to do it -he reassured the fox and Shiba snorted -. I know it, Shiba! You couldn't see his face when he was trying to kill me. He was even more terrified than me. You were, weren't you?

-Yes -Zèon admitted, nodding slowly -. But you shouldn't forgive me only for that reason. If you do that, you won't last as a monarch -he added, a bit lower.

-I told him exactly the same -Shiba sighed.

-No, you don't understand me -Ike replied, exasperated, sitting in a bench next to the table and breathing in deeply. His gaze drifted for a few seconds in the fight that was taking place in front of him, before he said casually -. I know where you and Luca went the other night. I know you went exploring.

It took Zèon a few seconds to react, taken by surprise.

-What!? -he asked, finally -. Then, you understood what I wanted to tell you that day? You knew that the food made us sleep?

-Yes and no -Ike answered, squirming a bit in his seat -. I didn't understand it until late at night. I had been thinking about it the whole day and I finally thought I could remember what you had told me... so I had to do something. I stood up, willing to find you, but when I arrived at the hall...

-...the glass doors had already closed, with us inside -Zèon understood, surprised -. So you woke up right after us. You must be the one who did that noise we heard in the corridor -he suddenly remembered.

The lion nodded.

-When I finally assumed I couldn't do anything... I just walked back to bed. But I couldn't sleep that night -he added, thoughtful -. The next day, you appeared unconscious... and I thought that they had done something to you, as they did to Adam. That's why when you tried to kill me -he pronounced those words with a shiver -I imagined that Sophia was behind it.

-I can't believe it -Zèon murmured, amazed -. So you followed us that night and even planned all of this.

Ike misunderstood his expression.

-I'm sorry we used you as bait! It was the only thing I could think of, really -the lion apologized, truly worried -. I still don't know where that idea came from...

-No, no -Zèon reassured him, giving him an admiring look -. I think it was a brilliant idea. But now, what?

-Now? -Ike asked, smiling for the first time since their conversation had begun. He pointed with his head to the glass doors, which were wide opened since the guards had entered the room -. Now we have to visit Sophia and convince her to get us all out of here.

Zèon looked around, watching the chaos that had been triggered in the hall. He couldn't help but have the weird sensation that everything had been too easy and that there was something wrong... but at the end of the day, nothing had made sense for a long time. He shook his head, getting rid of those thoughts and looked directly at Ike.

-I like that plan -he simply said.

Zèon guided a big group of kane and fehlar through the endless corridors beyond the glass doors. After all, except for Adam and Luca he was the only one who had been there and knew the way to Sophia's control center. However, he still walked with his paws behind his back and Shiba holding him. The tigress resisted to let him go in case he got mad again now they were so close to get what they wanted.

-You can trust Zèon, Shiba -Ike had insisted, a bit annoyed by how the tigress treated the arctic fox.

-If I had trusted him the first time, you'd be dead by now -she had replied.

And they hadn't talked about it anymore.

In fact, Zèon preferred it that way. He didn't exactly know what Sophia was doing at the moment. Maybe she didn't know of the rebellion in the Box yet, but that wasn't likely. <<Or maybe she was asleep>> Zèon told himself, but he soon discarded that possibility. The woman wouldn't let the center unattended for so long. If she slept, she had to do it at the same time they did.

They soon arrived at the room in which Zèon had met Sophia for the first time. The doors opened as soon as they approached them and showed an empty room, what made the arctic fox suspect they were walking right towards a trap. He exchanged a glance with Shiba and found out she was thinking exactly the same, but none of them said anything.

For a while, everyone had been immersed in a deathly silence only broken by their footsteps and the sound of their breathing. They went through the room of the "achievements" without saying a word. The image of Adam's cube was still there, weightlessly floating, as silent as the group of kane and fehlar that walked past it without even looking.

They finally reached the last room in which Zèon had been with Sophia: the one whose walls and rooms, totally black, were strangely warm and seemed to throb to the touch. The arctic fox now knew that they must be made of a very special material, capable of catching every thought from the residents in the Box and redirecting them to that room. He shivered, for no reason.

Everyone came in discretely, without making any noise. There wasn't any light on and the silence was so heavy that, for a few seconds, Zèon believed that room was also empty. However, a slight movement in the corner of the room caught his attention, and also the attention of the rest of the members of the group, who took a step forward.

-Come out, Sophia -Ike said, besides Zèon -. We know you're here.

A clap echoed in the middle of that tense silence and the walls turned on with the loud crack that Zèon remembered. When he saw the numbers flowing from side to side over their surface, lighting the room, he let out a disgusted wheeze and then looked up.

Sophia was in the corner of the room, with her usual half smile. Zèon was surprised that, in spite of being completely cornered, the woman had enough composure in order to act as if it was her who surrounded them.

-Hello everybody -she greeted them, tilting his head -. You've certainly unleashed chaos down there. Poor Camus. Your revolution will annoy him quite a lot.

-Camus is dead -Shiba informed her, surly.

Sophia held his gaze for a few seconds, still smiling.

-Oh. What a pity -she said, after a while that seemed eternal. She didn't seem to pity him in the least.

-Sophia, you lost -Ike told her, taking a step forward -. Let us come back to Lykans, to our world. Let us go back home.

The woman didn't answer. She instead began walking to the other side of the room, apparently submerged in deep thoughts. Zèon followed her with his eyes, tense, sensing that the woman still had an ace under her sleeve.

-To win, to lose... -she murmured, to herself -. Leo I, you talk as if all this had been a game. Does it look like a game to you? -she asked -. I don't think so. I'm sure that you don't even remotely know the significance of what you are doing here today.

Ike was about to answer, but Zèon did it first.

-You don't seem very worried though.

Sophia's smile widened and she turned to the arctic fox.

-Lagopus Z... you're very observant. Too observant -she muttered, pronouncing very slowly each syllable -. Those like you can end up in two different ways, but I won't tell you which they are. It will be better that you find out yourself at the right moment.

Zèon held his gaze for a few seconds. The woman's eyes, small and penetrating, pierced him like a spear, but the arctic fox was no longer afraid. After all, he was aware that she knew everything about him. He had nothing more to fear.

However, it bothered him that she looked so calm, even happy with that revolution taking place in her center. The arctic fox felt again that weird sensation that he was missing something.

-Enough talk -one of the kane in the group groaned.

-Right -Ike said -. Sophia, we won't repeat it again. Let us go back to our world or...

Then, the woman clapped her hands twice and a strange metallic sound echoed somewhere not too far from there. Shiba let Zèon go, alarmed, and got ready to fight Sophia in case that was some kind of trap. However, when the weird noise ceased, none of them perceived any change in the room they were in.

-The door to your world has been opened in the bottom floor -the woman calmly explained to them -. And the door to where Sapiens V lives. And, of course, the guards have been given orders to stop the battle and retreat, due to the danger that your escape entails. In short, you're free -she added, in case it wasn't clear enough -. You can leave these place.

Those words echoed deeply in Zèon's mind. Free...

-No -Ike objected, then.

All the eyes in the room turned to him, incredulous.

-No? -Sophia asked, gently.

-No? -the kane who had talked before repeated, without understanding.

Ike frowned, determined.

-We won't leave this place without you, Sophia. You deserve to answer in a Council due to what you've done to the kane and the fehlar -he made a pause -. You will be coming with us to Lykans and there, you will be judged for your crimes.

Zèon gave Ike a long look. The lion had talked with more strength and determination than ever. It was clear that he wanted to make her pay for what she had done to both the fehlar and the kane... but silently, the arctic fox couldn't help but wonder if he didn't really hold a grudge against her for doing Zèon, the only one Ike was in love with, tried to kill him.

All looks turned to the woman then, who remained in one of the sides of the room, calm and quiet. Zèon hated and feared her, but in the end he thought he admired the fact that she still managed to act as if everything was controlled. Unless, of course... she really had everything under control.

-So I'm the prisoner now -the woman replied, tilting his head -. I've held you prisoners here for months, locked, and now you want to pay me back in the same coin and take me to your world. An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. Should I feel lucky you don't make me face Camus' destiny? However, Leo I, there's a tiny detail you've missed. And it's that...

Zèon understood everything then. He put the pieces of the puzzle together in his mind with a loud creak, like the sides of the cube he had already solved so many times. He understood why Sophia was so calm and the reason why that rebellion simply didn't matter to her. He comprehended why she had behaved that way like if a thunder had suddenly struck his mind.

And, like a foresight, he saw what was about to happen.

The woman, smiling triumphantly, had extended one arm to a wall: her hand was covered with a long black glove and it sank skillfully in the screen as if it was just water.

-No! -he exclaimed, terrified, running towards her -. Don't do it!

-...there's still a prisoner of mine in here! -the woman announced, closing her fingers strongly around a small group of numbers.

Zèon knew he was too late a few milliseconds before that number vanished from the screen as if it had never existed, dissolving in a cloud of incoherent data.

That was the last thing he saw before everything turned black and his body stopped responding.

He fell to the ground, motionless, and his conscience extinguished like a candle flame under the breeze of winter.

Ike watched in horror the inert body of the arctic fox who had fallen to the ground. It took him a few seconds to even process what he had just witnessed, that didn't make any rational sense for him. A second before, Zèon was beside him, about to escape from the Box.

Now, he was there, on the ground. Motionless. Dead.

The next events accelerated. He saw himself walking towards Sophia, who looked at him with that feverish sparkle of triumph in her eyes, from the other side of the room. The blood in his veins was boiling for the injustice done and it cried for vengeance. The first impulse he felt was to pierce that woman with his claws, and he would have happily followed that impulse if someone hadn't prevented him from doing it, grabbing his paw.

He tried to get rid of the grip, too furious to listen to reason, but someone held him back with amazing strength. He turned back, angry, and found Shiba's severe look. He felt an impulse to hit her too and then made that damn woman pay, but he contained himself at the last moment.

-Let me go! -he shouted -. I have to... I have to...!

-Kill me? -Sophia asked, remaining totally calm even then -. Go ahead, Leo I. I'm all yours.

The lion roared in anger and was about to release from Shiba's grip, but she used her other paw to restrain him and forced him to turn back to her. Once she had done this, the tigress looked directly into his eyes, seriously.

-Ike. Don't let her play with you. That's what she wants, don't you understand?

No; Ike didn't understand it. He couldn't understand why they had gone through so much, why they had risked so much... and now, Zèon was dead. That woman didn't have the right to take everything he loved from him, and now that she had done so, she deserved to pay. He would make her pay.

-She prefers to be killed rather than be made prisoner and taken to Lykans -the tigress informed him, gently -. Don't do what she wants you to do. Come on, Ike.

The lion tried to put all his attention in those words and tried to calm his wild heartbeats, which echoed in his temples like cannon shots. It took him several minutes, but rage finally vanished little by little giving way to a deep dejection.

-Why? -he asked, turning to the woman -. Why did you kill him?

-He isn't dead -Sophia informed him, shrugging -. He is just... disconnected.

After making sure that the lion wouldn't pounce on the woman, Shiba released his paw and kneeled next to the arctic fox on the ground. He placed one of her ears on his muzzle and then took one of his wrists. It took her a few seconds to turn back to Ike again, with a neutral expression.

-She is right -she said simply -. His pulse and breathing are weak, but he isn't dead.

Ike felt a great wave of relief washing over him and nodded energetically. However, he couldn't help but feel really worried about Zèon. If he wasn't dead, what had happened to him? What did the woman mean when she said that he had been "disconnected"? There was no way he could know it, let alone understand the reasons that guided that hateful human. Unable to contain himself, he turned to her, briskly. An inextinguishable fire shone deep in his eyes; a fire full of rage and desire for revenge.

-I don't know what you did to him -he started -nor what you wanted to achieved with it. I neither know why you made us prisoners nor what you have against us. But there's something I'm totally sure about. -He made a pause -. You're coming with us to Lykans, no matter what you say. And once there... I'll make sure that you're judged as you deserve. And if it's decided that you shall burn at a stake in order to purge your crimes... I'll be the one to light the fire.

No one said anything after those words. Not even Sophia, who remained still in her corner. His face didn't show any emotion, but at last he had stopped smiling.

-Come on, Ike -the tigress whispered then, placing a paw in his shoulder -. Is time to go back home.

Ike nodded.

The "doors" Sophia had talked about weren't such. Two big holes, almost perfectly circle-shaped, had opened in the in the bottom floor of the Box, that which lead to the old tunnel that seemed about to collapse. They were illuminated with a strange light: anyone who tried to look inside them would find that, in fact, those holes didn't have a proper bottom. Its electric dizzying colors lost in infinity, leading to the unknown. In the center of that limitless space there was an image that floated weightlessly: it almost seemed like a little world inside a bubble.

Those who knew some geography recognized immediately the shape of the only continent that formed Lykans in one of the portals. In the other there was a very different image, very blue, with a few little earth pieces floating on it. No one asked about it, since it wasn't necessary.

Some volunteered to check that those "doors" were really a way out the prison, and above all, the way to the world they had all come from. Those who went through the gate in the first place returned after a few minutes, euphoric, claiming that they had actually gone through the empty space until they had arrived at Lykans. The woman hadn't lied when she had told them everything had finished; they were really free at last.

-I guess... this is a goodbye -Vent murmured, near the portal that lead to his own world.

Only Koi and Ike, who was carrying Zèon in his arms, were beside him. Shiba was also near, but she was focused on the evacuation of the prison, among other kane and fehlar who had offered themselves to guide the whole group. Luckily for them, most prisoners had gone through the portal yet and, at that time, the last stragglers were crossing towards their world. There were many others, however, who couldn't help but feel a bit afraid of that weird mode of transport.

-Can we ever visit you? -Koi asked -. I want to know how the place where you live is.

-I don't know if you would like it -the human answered -. But, speaking for myself, you will always be welcome. I don't really know what I'm going to do when I am there, though. I know it's the place I must be, but... -he made a pause -. I'm really going to miss you. All of you -he added, sorrowful.

Ike managed to give him a faint smile and placed a paw in the human's shoulder.

-Cheer up, Vent -he told him, trying to inspire him a little courage -. I'm sure everything will be fine from now.

-I hope so too -the human whispered, with a tired smile.

Koi approached the young human and hugged his waist, affectionately. Vent smiled and caressed his head. Then, he waited patiently until the little husky moved away from his legs and started walking to the portal that lead back to his world.

-You know, Vent? -Ike started, before the human disappeared under the strange electric light in the portal -. Everything started to be better when you appeared here. Before you came, we had got used to our situation as prisoners, and although we were trying to escape, there wasn't any change. But I want to believe that your arrival marked the beginning of our flight from the Box -he told him, gently.

Vent smiled again.

-Thanks, Ike. I hope we see again, sometime.

And after saying that, he walked another step towards the world that only he, of all the prisoners of the Box, belonged to. The strange light blurred the lines of his image slowly until there wasn't any sign of the previous presence of the human in that corridor.

Almost at the same time, Shiba made a signal from the other portal. Every kane and fehlar that remained in the building had already gone back home. Even Sophia had gone through that portal, surrounded by some fehlar who had volunteered to watch her and prevent her from escaping, whatever the circumstances were. Only the tigress, Koi and Ike were left to walk through the gates towards the world they had come from.

The lion sighed and still holding Zèon against his body with an arm, gave the other paw to Koi.

-Come on, cub. It's time to go back home.

-Will Zèon wake up when we're home? -he asked, grabbing Ike's hand without even thinking about it.

The lion felt a stabbing pain inside him.

-I don't know -he answered, sincerely.

-I'm sure he will -the little husky smiled -. He woke up once and he will wake up again. Besides, he is a Frostpaw, did you know? Before he left, Luca told me that Frostpaws are incredible.

The lion gave a long look to the arctic fox he carried in his arms. His face, immersed in a calm unconsciousness, seemed more fragile than ever and, still, Ike knew perfectly all the strength that hid behind it.

-Yes, they are -he murmured to himself -. At least, he is.

He still looked back a last time, gazing the empty metallic walls of the Box, feeling the strange silence that seemed to have taken over everything and that would probably remain there after they had gone. The lion still couldn't believe that, after more than a year, they had finally found a way out of those walls that had become their routine for so much time.

At last, they could run away from the Box, from the prison in which a group of humans had locked them, for some reason none of them were ready to understand yet. And still, Ike had the strange feeling that a part of them would always stay there, that they would never be able to get back what that place had stolen from them. He shook his head, getting rid of those thoughts.

-Let's go -he whispered, gently pulling Koi towards the portal.

They were coming home.

_-The story of "Frostpaw" will soon be continued in "Embertooth".- _