FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Even though the Fire Blast attack is powerful: Blake doesn't nope out of the way like any sane person would have. Instead Blake brings his arms up to catch the move. Despite the fact that the burning sensation must have stung like a bitch even if the Nidoking was a duel Poison-Ground type: Blake was smiling quite manically as the two energies clashed. It was immediately apparent that they were evenly matched in power.

So far everything was going all according to the Houndoom's plan. This fact was evident in the smirk sprawled across the Houndoom's face as he suddenly materializes to put his full body into the tackle that slammed into the Nidoking's left side. Something that didn't make sense to half of the spectators since they'd seen the Houndoom approaching the Nidoking's right light. The other half were wiser since they'd seen a Feint attack move performed before. The Nidoking was knocked off balance as a result of this sneak attack. As a consequence to this action: both Pokemon were consumed by the wall of fiery death.

Rose and Taz are the only ones not sent flying backwards several yards from the resulting explosion. Rpse was however still temporarily deafened by the shockwave as well as blinded by the heat and smoke aftermath. When the spectator's senses finally return: they are treated to an off-putting sight:

Paul was undamaged, residual flames were being absorbed into his skin thanks to his current species Flash Fire ability. Seems Blake's armor was covered head to foot with burn marks and soot as a result of this attack. The eeriness of the picture wasn't in the fact that both escaped the powerful attack with little to no damage. It lay in the fact that Paul/Chase and Blake were laughing their asses off as if they'd heard the world's greatest joke.

"Uhh...should we come between them or something?" This statement coming from Steve; him and Amber looking mighty freaked and worried at the same time.

"No. There isn't any killing intent in the air. Right now it's just a friendly brawl."

Everyone turns their attention to Taz. The Pancham was smirking as he continues to stare at the two combatants.

"Well you bounce back quickly." This statement being said by everyone.

Taz waved them off while he uses the other hand to put a finger to his lips "Shh they're starting again."

All eyes turn back towards the brawl.

Seems the Houndoom has the Nidoking by the throat. The meaning of the previous statement is quite literal. The pair was engaged in an endurance contest of sorts; pummeling each other with Fire Fangs and Power-up Punches. Thing was with each attack: The Houndoom's efforts were growing weaker while the Nidoking's were only getting stronger.

Finally the Houndoom's hold falters enough that it's child's play for the Nidoking to seize him by the scruff and pry him off. The Nidoking ignores the Houndoom's squirming and biting; only made his crushing grip tighter. After a second worth of pause dedicated to calculation: the Nidoking lets the Houndoom fall from his grip while swinging that massive deadly tail like a bat. This powerful swing transforms the Houndoom into a missile that flew with enough momentum to kill off several poor defenseless trees; about four or so.

Before the wreckage could even begin settling there was deafening, booming shout as a white and blue blur explodes from underneath it. It was of course was Paul back in Beartic form.The bear had turned himself into a rocket, this impossibility made possible with the use of the Aqua Jet move. "I'M NOT FINISHED YET!"

When the rocket crosses the three-fourths mark of it's return trip back to the Nidoking: the water dissipates. The Beartic then starts legging it in an all out charge. The Nidoking had already been sprinting to meet him when he'd earlier detected the telltale signs of a movement from the wreckage. Both were grinning broadly.

Beartic used Ice Punch!

Nidoking used Power-up Punch!

---

Blake,Taz, and Cecelia all three groan as they gradually fall back into the state of awareness; all with earsplitting headaches. Dragonite sitting in the floor. Blake and Taz lying together on the bed of the small poorly maintained and surely roach infested hotel room.

The Raticate glances to the left.

The Gabite glances to the right.

The Raticate tips his ears forward, nose and whiskers wrinkling side to side once before his gaze is slowly pulled downcast to the seven-inch erect and dripping dragonic meat between the Gabite's leg. After blantly staring for several moments: the Raticate finally comprehends what he is looking at and doing. Eyes become as big as saucers as the Raticate's face becomes tomato red in the next instant as his little T-rex arms try but fail to cover his groin. The rodent's whip-like tail is more successful, but he trips over it during his mad dash to escape the embarrassing and potentially lethal situation. But before the Raticate's face can impact the floor; the Gabite lunges and catches him by the scruff of his neck with those formidable jaws like a hound would a puppy before pulling the rodent back onto the bed again. Then the Gabite uses his limbs to make sure that his prey could do nothing but squirm and snap emptily at nothing but air.

"Nil." The word was spoken low but with a sharp edge of authority.

Immediately the Raticate ceases struggling to free himself. The normal black and white eyes turning a solid dark crimson color as the demon seized full control of his host. Took another moment however for the minor demon to throatily purr pleasantly with his otherworldly voice tinged with a modicum of a hiss "Yeess?"

Blake's expression remained impassive as if he didn't feel the boy's body cooling several degrees, his question was equally as toneless "Do you have an inkling of what's going on."

Nil nods and begins the long winded monologue with breaks for breath thrown in between "We simply weren't where we were supposed to be and were doing things we weren't supposed to be doing. While the Godslayers were at it they took care of a few necessary things."

This explanation seemed to satisfy Blake since he was nodding at the rat approving. However judging from the tic in Cecelia's jaw and other transparent irritation body signals: this vague answer didn't satisfy her. Taz didn't appear to give a crap... at least for the moment; the boy had more pressing issues on his mind. Like why Gabite's grip was still unshakably firm and why was Blake beginning to casually grind his erection along the squirming Raticate's back. The Dragonite's disapproval was inevitably vocalized "Care to elaborate?"

Nil exhaled slight sigh; it was a coin toss whether it was a huff to display pleasure or annoyance. Given the irritation in the Raticate's husky response: it was the latter "Only things of importance to us directly is that the Godslayers removed the whole sixth sense and portal thing because those useful tools were no longer needed beyond causing unnecessary trouble. Both factions are also now aware that Steve and Trevor are the Neutral god's red herrings."

Blake and Cecelia nod once. The Dragonite talks for them "So in other words our job as yours and Taz's guardian starts now."

Nil nods once before a flicker of nervousness crosses his face "There's more..." Both dragons raise an inquiring nonexistent eyebrow at the Raticate's brief moment of hesitation "The previous Taz still has enough in him to make a clear-cut bold faced statement. It's a physical change that not even the Godslayers can fix."

Before the dragons can ask the obvious: Nil wiggles free of Blake's slackened grip,turns around to face them, and detaches himself from Taz's body. Takes a full minute for jaws to be picked up from the floor. When they inevitably recover both dragons roar with laugher in their typical maniacal way.

---

Twenty minutes later Blake found himself without the coat that had always been a constant companion during anytime of the year. As usual the man was standing alone even though the location was a rarity to see him at. Was probably why Blake chose to stand in front of the entrance to the nearby JCPenney instead of going inside; leaning against the building, arms folded, doing nothing besides staring into the black fire licking the insides of the trashcan a stone's throw away from where he stood. Oh sure once the man snapped out of distracting thoughts long enough to think straight, his gaze would be pulled towards the crowds of people walking or driving past. That was the smartest thing to do after all. But for some unfathomable reason the man's gaze would always be pulled back that damned can

"So how did you manage the black fire?"

Blake turns to face the direction that Steve's voice was coming from and of course there the man was; grinning dumbly as usual. At the man's back was the blank faced Darkrai who was easily holding back a thrashing nearly frothing at the mouth white-furred Poochyena. Elliot was toting his doll as per usual even though he seemed to have it in a death grip; too many emotions flickering across his face made it unreadable.Runt was scanning the crowds like a wary sentry; long, slender arrowhead tipped tail wrapped protectively around Elliot's waist.

Blake appeared to dismiss them for short period of time before he responded dully "Apparently flame turns black if you burn Taz's rags."

Steve didn't seem to sense the heat from the flames at his back or else he might've turned around while responding "Wouldn't that...I don't know. Make Taz powerless and uh...stark naked?"

Blake shook his head before simply saying "The clothes don't make the man. Just covers up his dangly bits. He's wearing my coat while CC picks out his clothes for him because he kept darting straight for the cheapest thing. We wouldn't allow that."

The sound of the store's door opening and closing with the accompanied sound of a sharp intake of breath from Elliot, Runt, and Steve pulled Blake's gaze to the Dragonite leading a teenager Elliot's age and size by the arm. Had to be led like that since the teen refused to pull his gaze away from the ground. Would likely stand at a spot he was left at until his knees gave out. Was obviously in shock like anyone in his situation would be. Would answer if asked questions or received other similar stimuli so he wasn't catatonic thankfully.

Oh and that's the only thing that hadn't changed: Taz's voice.

Taz's beefy physique was still present, not a ounce had vanished. However there was a definite decrease in body fat and increase of muscle mass and definition. Add in the new rugged masculine features of Blake -who could pass as a stereotypical lumber jack in the right clothing- but in softer boy form. In fact Taz could literally pass as Blake's son. The only features separating them from being body doubles was Blake's clean cut ashen brown hair to Taz wild, shaggy purple hair that couldn't quite hide the teen's almost luminescent yellow eyes.

Seems the boy settled for some really nice but simple cargo pants, black muscle shirt, and combat boots. Blake knew he would in the end. There really wasn't any other attire that fit them in personality and comfort..

Elliot was the first one to sputter out "W-what in the hell happened to you dude!"

The inflection in Taz's voice made him sound like he was distant and far away from where he stood "What do you always say verbally and or nonverbally when someone pisses you off?"

"Fuck you." Darkrai responds duly. There was a moment of silence while Darkrai's words hit home "Oh...so your past self is using you as his middle finger?" Darkrai chuckles briefly as he glances to Elliot "Yeah that sounds like something you would do."

Elliot glares at him and gave him his own middle finger. As a consequence to that action the Poochyena and the boy both yelped when Darkrai used the mutt to thunk the boy in the head. Both didn't know what hit them because the spectre had used so much force.

That did make Steve whip and around to glare daggers "Can you not use my husband as a weapon please?"

Darkrai shrugs as he says dully "Both of them deserved it." Darkrai's gaze flicks to Taz, expression shockingly sympathetic "You okay there bud?"

You would think Taz's voice came out of a statue he was so still "Yeah...I just want my Mama right now...Papa and Auntie are being ridiculously cool about all this but I don't want to be their ball and chain."

"Uhhh..." came the inevitable chorus that was directed at Blake who'd only rolled his eyes. It was Cecelia that spoke for them "Those are the titles we insist that he call us by for the same reason Rose insists that he calls her Mama."

Elliot glowered at the Dragonite "and why is that?"

The answer came from the statue "Because acceptance is the only way I'll be able to cope with my old identity as Taz...no matter how much the truth hurts me or anyone around me."

Elliot's aura explodes into view "Not even going to fight a destiny that stupid!?"

The statue's stillness is unwavering "I've been doing nothing but fighting this truth and appearance for weeks now. Taz has been too persistent since Day 1. I'm done fighting a pointless battle."

Everyone's eyes widened in shock as Cecelia sputters "This has happened before?"

Taz throws back his head and begins to laugh; there is a touch of insanity in it as he explains without lowering his head "This is the entire reason Mom was ejected from my life...it's because she couldn't handle it when we saw me without my clothes for the first time. Only Dad, Kate, Rai, and Mama accept me as I am in a instant. It's the whole reason behind the family feud...I'm still stuck in the middle...at least I was anyway...so I guess this makes us cousins in a way Elliot...for some strange reason I'm glad for that."

After Taz's monologue, his head lowers until it becomes downcast again.

"Mom would really..." Elliot falls silent mid statement; nothing else needed to be said. Suddenly the air becomes replaced with thick unbreathable molasses and the tension can be cut with a knife.

Taz's chuckle sounds hollow even to him "If it makes you feel better: she's repented. Hopes that if she spends enough time with me she'll learn to accept what I've become both mentally and physically. She's using a Kangaskhan body and Zil to do it."

"It doesn't help" Elliot growls with fists clenched, wisp of flame and shadow dance around them.

Meanwhile Darkrai appears about ready to commit murder. That is what an observer would've gathered right before the spectre dives willingly for once inside the doll.

Taz laughs hollowly as he says "My thoughts exactly."

Suddenly two standard stiletto knives made entirely out of the same green light as Dragon Claws appear in Taz's hands. Meanwhile Elliot turns to Runt and offers him his arm; expressing daring the Houndoom to disobey his silent order.

Blake and Steve knock them both out before the dangerously unstable coils can spring. Not to be left out in the fun Cecelia knocks Trevor out cold before he even realizes that there wasn't anything stopping him from leaping for Blake's throat; the Dragonite tosses the pooch to Steve who catches him then proceeds to hold both Elliot and his doll underneath his right arm while holding Trevor under his left.

Steve huff's exasperatedly "Welp that's a new problem added to the long list"

Cecelia shrugs "We can cross off one. Taz no longer wants to rip out Marci's throat and eat it. Thanks to this new recent development and only a few choice words from our part: Taz sees her as just another victim."

Steve manages the tiniest of grins "Finally some good news"

Cecelia beams at him the same moment Blake says "Where's Paul and Rose?"

Steve rolls his eyes and snorts dryly "That's our two biggest problems. Rose has been captured. A small army is after Paul who is tearing the city apart on his quest to find Rai and Kate; who are obviously missing. We were deciding what to do when we bumped into you guys."

Blake and Cecelia are nonplussed, both are even grinning while Blake says"Well well, looks like my son's knife wielding lessons will have to be put on hold." Blake begins to frown as he says "Since have two objectives and one of our allies wants to rip my throat out: I suggest we split up for now. You take care of Paul and his issue and I'll see what I can do about Rose."

Steve nods in agreement and flashes a brilliant smile"My thoughts exactly. C'mon Leon let's go." With those parting words Steve morphs into a Arcanine once the red light leaves his body. Blake and Cecilia were already informed through Nil of Leon's presence on the flight here. Meaning there wasn't any glimmer of surprise showing on their faces over their fuck buddy's new weird power as they helped situate Elliot in such a way that he or his doll won't fall off their new mount.

The Arcanine and Runt take off in one direction down the street. Meanwhile Blake, Cecelia, and Taz take to the air.

Seems things in this humdrum city were about to get very interesting.

---

"So this is a glimpse of what Taz feels like on a daily basis..." This statement had came from Giz as a muffled sob as he looks from Rose to Ella to Hamleck and to the many faces on the other side of the cage that they were all stuffed in. Rose and Hamleck were sleeping. Not by choice mind you. So much tranquilizer was coursing through their systems that it was a wonder why their hearts didn't stop. Probably wouldn't at all faze Mew or Cresselia on the other side of the cage since they were currently discussing the possible demise of two; as if Rose and Hamleck were just fattened up pigs in line for the slaughter. All that was left to work out was the method

Both Giz and Ella had long ago stopped trying to reason with them

Ella had stopped trying to bargain with them.

Giz had stopped threatening bodily harm onto himself.

Both had stopped screaming at them.

Both hadn't yet stopped sobbing or holding onto each other yet.

There only hope was...

The teen, man, and dragon that chose this exact moment to fall from the heavens.

"No freaking way..." Mew wasn't looking at Taz though, she was looking inside the cage; particularly at the Pangoro that was supposed to be comatose for at least a couple days. Instead Rose's eyes were as wide as saucers and staring at the naked teen waving casually at her as if this wide open prairie they were set up in wasn't a death trap.

The shock was over this outlandish sight was still in effect when Rose casually walked through the bars as if they weren't even there. Walked over anyone or anything unfortunate enough to block her path. Punched both Mew -a determined Skarmory out for blood- and Cresselia at least fifty yards away when they got frisky; all the while still proceeding to casually walk towards the suddenly very terrified teen.

Meanwhile Blake and Cecelia: The most feared two psychopathic butchers from here to tenbucktwo. The two beast who could paint at least one-fourth of the world in blood if all of the blood from their combined kills had been drained from their victims and stored away. Were now frozen stiff and clutching each other like frightened kids placed in front of an approaching train.

"MAMA BE GENTLE!" screams Taz as he crouches in the fetal position and a pair of paws bring him to the beast's gigantic and hungry maw. Everyone's bottom jaw -but Blake's and Cecelia's of course- fall agape as Taz's identity is revealed to the world at large. A tongue stretches out to taste the delicious morsel before soaking him head to foot with saliva.Taz can't even cover himself because his arms were pinned to his sides so there was nothing stopping the spongy attacker from laying siege on every last crevice of skin and hair follicle.

Ella was the fastest to recover from shock, so while hugging Giz very tightly she Aqua Jetted them out of the cage and made it successfully to Blake's and Cecelia's side who didn't even glance in her direction until she spoke cautiously "Uhh...I know I'm questioning the obvious but is that boy really-?"

The two butchers leapt away from each other as if somebody jabbed them with a cattle prod. Weapons glinting for a moment but froze when they recognized the Floatzel and the naked human eight year old boy she was holding chest to chest leap away from them.

Cecelia was the first to say anything as she eyes the foolish prey with naked hunger as they cautiously close in on the tiny group. "We'll explain later...for now the four of you skaddale while the me and Blake distracts them."

"But what about-?" Giz points toward the cage but is still eying at the wall of fur, muffled protest and screams for help can't even be made out over the simultaneous coeing and sobbing from the Pangoro as she rocks them both back and forth while curled up in the fetal position. "-should we Idunno try to snap her out of the trance before something attacks them.?"

Blake says with a smug grin "We got coon. " Blake expression becomes apprehensive when he glances briefly at the lovebirds"Rose will maul anything that gets within reaching range. Trust me on that."

Ella's eyes widen "Y-you're afraid of Rose?" Blake and Cecelia nods emphatically "But she's-" Ella is interrupted by the sound of a very foolish Ambipom being literally torn to pieces by a suddenly enraged Mama bear. After seeing this demonstration of animalistic brutality: Taz faints. Thankfully Mama bear was quick to scoop him up and continue her previous lavishing of Taz's flesh with licks and nuzzles. "-harmless" Ella finished after the fact.

Blake and Cecelia shivers.

Ella and Giz share a glance and a shrug before Ella starts sprinting towards the treeline at their backs. Rose gets up and follows after them; apparently not worried at all about the dire situation or that the fleeing duo might get too far ahead because the Pangoro's pace was that of a grandmother taking her sweet time as she took in the scenery.

In order to make her load a little less of a burden; Ella had Giz turn into the only Pokemon he had left after the Godslayers striped away all the barriers away from his true nature. The Pokemon was a hybrid of a purple salamander and a hippopotamus; or simply dubbed: Slowpoke.

Meanwhile Blake and Cecelia stay behind to take out the idiots that try to follow.

---

Eventually Ella and Giz meet the Protege party plus Marci and Latios as they left the city limits. There was a brief moment of hesitation before the sounds of pursuit coming from the way the Protege's group came forced to merge, do a 180, and begin legging it again.

Marci was the first to break the ice, inflection panic stricken "Where's my Ken, Taz, and Blake in that order?" the question of course being directed at Ella.

"I'm here sis." Giz says with a sheepish smile; Marci blinks at the Slowpoke. A quick jet of water confirms Giz's identity. A powerful telekinetic pull wrenches Giz from Ella's grip and the boy only has time to gasp before immediately being consumed in his sister's embrace. Judging from the blue glow spontaneously combusting from Marci's gaze: the source of the telekinetic pull was the girl.

Ella's temper flares in the supernatural way that was quickly becoming a norm but before she can say one word of protest: the sight of both siblings simultaneously breakdown into a fit of hysterics stops her dead and fills her with a heart-wrenching emotion she'd never experienced before: shame.

During the same instant that Ella begins clutching her chest with a muffled gasp is the same moment a familiar gravelly, sad, and tired voice says "Is it really is you in that meat suit sister?"

Ella didn't know how she got into Darkrai's arms. Didn't know why she was mirroring the two kids on Latios's back. All that Ella could comprehend for the moment was how cold...yet soft and fragile Darkrai's body was as she babbled nonsense words while blubbering like a baby and at the same time trying hard not to wipe too much snot and tears into the cloth that was Darkrai's chest.

Darkrai hesitates only briefly before returning his sister's embrace.

"Saw that coming." This statement coming from the Mightyena with the strange white and grey coloration that was running alongside the Arcanine at his left.

The Arcanine chortles but has to stop when he feels his untethered passengers shift slightly. "Shut up Trevor, before you ruin the moment."

Trevor snorts but mutters an apology; eyes drawn downcast.

There is a period of silence; excluding of course the sounds of the hum of Latios's flight, heavy breathing and panting, paws navigating the various obstacles on the forest floor, other forestry noises, and the sound of three beaten up souls getting a leash on their emotions again. Finally the latter happens and the party pauses for a moment so that Ella can regain her footing; her cheeks were obviously flushed with embarrassment and her eyes were downcast but nobody dared to tease her.

Giz eventually answers the rest of Marci's question "Taz and Rose are right behind us just taking their sweet time. If we stop for a few minutes they will catch up. Blake, and his Dragonite are back the way we came from. Hopefully finished with trying to pull Daddy's ass out of the fire. Last we saw of them they were rapidly running out of people and Pokemon to chew through like Skittles. So by now they are most likely retreating"

Ella snorts and chuckles dryly "Yeah I couldn't praise it any better myself. Honestly I wouldn't be surprised if Rose single-handedly kills Mew and the other me. Especially if someone is unfortunate enough to so much as ruffles Taz's new hair."

Marci's expression becomes puzzled "What he do dye it?"

Ella raises an eyebrow at Darkrai "She doesn't know yet?"

Darkrai shrugs and blandly says "We really haven't had a free moment to tell her or the rest of Taz's family of the recent development between dodging both factions wraith while at the same time trying to locate Kate and Rai. Then we had to rough up Paul so he would calm back down to lucidity." a pause "Honestly my head's still spinning after that whirlwind of events"

Ella and Kenny both blink at the spectre before Ella replies "Okaaaay...so there was an obvious delay on our wake-up timers then." Ella turns to Marci "We're not quite sure ourselves why Taz's appearance has changed so drastically. We were hoping one of you guys could fill us in."

Steve does just that.

Those not in the know gape at the Arcanine...all except the figure slowly coming to a stand on the Arcanine's back. The air around them ripening, distorting, and thickening with the sudden influx of power of an aura similar to Darkrai's but there was a heat coming off of it so intense that plant life would've started burning if it'd been reasonably close enough.

The weredoom was obviously pissed off.

Ella and Kenny gape at the impossible creature like fish while Darkrai's inflection becomes the standard matter-of-fact tone of a businessman "Paul if you confront them now you'll only distract them and likely get all of you killed. Especially injured.

'Paul' glares at Darkrai but slowly nods his head before hopping down and running the the rest of the group; the bone-chilling aura never wavering however.

"That...is eerie." was Ella's comment on the matter; Giz nods his head in confirmation.

Paul offers a impolite claw.

Steve hesitates to run through what he wanted to say a few times before saying gently "It's not a consensual change Paul. Just Taz's inner demon poking it's head out a little."

Paul's gaze turns molten as his voice becomes low and lethal "Just leave me alone."

"I have a feeling we all know what that's like. The only real difference is that Taz is just being more of a brat about it."

All eyes turn to Elliot who'd looked as if he'd risen out of the grave...in a metaphorical sense of course.

Giz smirks as he says snidely "Ah so the sleepyhead finally awakens. Good you can probably clear something up for me." Giz scratches his head while he asks inquiringly "I can't follow the logic in replacing your parents with adoptive parents if you don't hate them and they were given back to you."

Elliot rolls his eyes "I don't know if you've noti-" Elliot freezes mid sentence when his gaze falls on Giz; the human boy blinking rapidly as if trying to clear his vision.

Giz raises an inquisitive eyebrow "What?"

A blush turns Elliot's normally pale face beat red, gaze dancing across everyone's face in obvious bafflement. "Am I the only one that finds it weird that a third grade version of Ken is hugging his sister while completely stark naked?"

...

"Now that you mention it..." responds Trevor

Giz raises an inquisitive eyebrow "Dude we've both ran around naked with each other while our Moms washed our cl-" Kenny pauses as revelation dawns "Oh riiiight that was Taz. Forgot about the dimension gape for a moment there.

Marci sniggers with amusement as she ruffles Kenny's hair "Honestly thanks to Rai: I'm quite used to being held onto by little naked boys."

Every runner and flyer -excluding Latios, the Arcanine, and Paul- stopped dead in their tracks to say "Say what!?" The three previously stated beings in locomotion also stop and simultaneously share a laugh while Paul snorts and says bemusedly "Oh sure while we're in public Rai keeps all of his garments on. However the moment it was just our group in a place he nearly tears them off while screaming: FREEEEDOM!"

All eyes turn to Rai. The boy was decked out in full costume and was running along the Arcanines unoccupied side with a frowning Manectric right on his heels. The boy's head was downcast; body language suggesting that he was in the same sorry state Taz was in at the clothing store.

Paul and the Manectric share a sad, weary sigh; the Manectric with Kate's voice says "He's been like that since we found him. Refuses to say a word or even to show his face."

Paul maneuvers so that he is running alongside Rai and bends over; obviously planning on picking him up. Rai maintains the arm's length distance as if Paul and him are magnets of polar opposite charges. No matter how hard Paul works to close the distance: it is maintained. Each failure seems to irritate Paul more and more. Finally the weredoom seems to have had enough of this silly game. A fireball is shot at Rai like a loogie. There are several agast screams that blend well with the profanic words of protest and name calling as the ball of flame connects and it consumes Rai's entire body in it's light and heat.

Yet the boy doesn't make a peep. Just stops mid step and turns to face Paul fully.

All noise ceases as a familiar figure is birthed from the flames; only difference being this one seems entirely human. Tears stream down from the familiar figure's hidden face as a equally familiar voice comes out of the boy's throat; hurt and wince-inducing sadness are hand in hand in the tiny version of Darkrai's inflection as he says in a low mutter "What have you done?"

Without the slightest bit of hesitation: the weredoom swoops the boy up in his arms and pecks him on the cheek with an added lick and nuzzle. Despite the show of affection: Paul's voice comes out as an angry growl "Don't ever be ashamed of who you are or what you look like"

The boy's legs are slung around the weredoom's neck in the next heartbeat and held there by a hybrid version of hands and paws. The weredoom takes off in a sprint again. Rai is too stunned to think to grab onto the horned themed handlebars; as a result his upper body falls backward; his shirt rides up and reveals the bare prepubescent chest underneath.

All gape at the backs of the pair before everyone quickly chases after them.