Outside The Bar

[Kursed]

'I'll be fine Ris if you just don't worry.' Krystal thought to him  coughing up blood again.

[Ris Grestar]

"It's hard not to worry when your friend's spurting from the mouth..."  Ris mumbled, now keeping his eyes ahead, hoping to take his mind off of the vixen.

[Kursed]

The group arrived in the Infirmary and Fay started getitng to work "you two might want to leave this isn't going to be pretty."Fay muttered as she put a pair  of  rubber gloves on.

[Ris Grestar]

"Yeah, okay.  Best of luck, you two."  Ris said, giving a glance over his shoulder before leaving the room.  Walking towards the center of the next room, the fox ran a hand through his hair, glancing back once again.  "And she was telling me -I- needed armour..."

[Kursed]

"Well Now you see what happens comon i'll beat you at foosball."Ruby muttered walking back to the lounge.

Fay    filled  Krystal's wound with Biofoam after cleaning it  it sealed the small hole in the side of Krystal's windpipe. 

Krystal could breath easy now she sighed now able to without coughing up blood."So Fay what's the damage?"She asked

"Nothing Big  ,but big enough to keep you out for a Day.

Krystal sighed "Great....She muttered. "Tell Ruby  to tell Aisu that she's going to have to be in charge for awhile."

[Ris Grestar]

"Actually, Ruby,"  Ris began, watching her as she walked on, eventually following her.  "I had...wanted to spend time with my Mom and Dad, if that's okay."

[Kursed]

Ruby's communicator beeped "Actually Grab them both and meet me in the Infirmary."Ruby muttered turning around.

[Ris Grestar]

"Teh--Lounge!  Where is it?"

[Kursed]

" All the way down the hall to the left."Ruby replied.

[Ris Grestar]

Following her instructions, the fox quickly traveled down the hall, counting the doors as he passed them.  Upon the last one, he turned, stepping inside to find his entire village chatting. 

The room was full of sound, the occupants' voices filled with fear, surprise, and happiness.  It was apparent that there were joyful reunions going on, a smile marking his muzzle as he gazed around, searching for two in particular.  He found them in a loving embrace, their eyes closed as they slowly rocked from side to side.  Not wanting to interrupt, Ris quietly waited beside them, trying not to watch.

After a few more seconds, the male noticed him.  A grin forming on his muzzle, he pulled Ris into the hug, which he gladly accepted.  "Thanks for saving everyone, Ris."

"N-no, really, I didn't do much...But if you guys can, we're wanted in the infirmary."

Aisu looked a little worried at the news.  "The infirmary?  Why?  We have no medical training of any sort."

"Aside from the military basics, but that wasn't much."  The Arctic Fox added, now standing alone.

"I don't know why either, but we've been asked for...Come on, I'll lead the way."  Doing as he said he would, Ris turned and began again down the hallway, Aisu and her husband following along.

[Kursed]

Ruby, Fay and Krystal waited in the infirmary for the three. Krystal laid in her bed Relaxing covering the spot where she was shot with her hand her jumpsuit hung in a closet, she wore a gown now her feet bare.

[Ris Grestar]

As the two older foxes entered the infirmary behind Ris, they looked over Krystal with concern, particularly in Aisu's case.

"Krystal, what has happened?  Did the pirates do this?  Will you be all right?"  The vixen asked, stepping closer to the bed.

[Kursed]

"I was just shot by the pirates I'll be fine."Krystal assured Aisu her voice was a bit hoarse. "I need you to keep the villagers calm Aisu your going to have to be in charge of that For me since i"m gonna need to rest for a day."Krystal explained. "Your son is a strong man a bit stubborn and Cocky ,but kind hearted and strong."Krystal went on "You've rasied a good Son Aisu..."

[Ris Grestar]

"Thank you, Krystal."  Aisu replied, all three Arctic Foxes smiling at the praise.  "We're quite proud of Ris.  He's slowly grown in his father's footsteps, hasn't he, Zeke?"

The male nodded, placing his hand on Ris' shoulder.  "Indeed he has, whether he joins the military or not.  Oh, and I'm sorry, we weren't properly introduced."  Nodding, he said, "I'm Ezekiel Coons, but call me Zeke.  All my friends do.  This is my wife, Aisu, and my stepson, Ris...But you know them already."  Ris simply nodded in confirmation as he spoke, his tail silently swishing.

"But aside from that, Krystal,"  The white vixen began again, "I am in no position to lead anyone.  I have grown to understand my place in the world, following our leader and teaching my children.  It would be most uncomfortable to be given so great a responsibility."

[Kursed]

"I have no one else i can trust with that Role Aisu, Ruby isn't much of a leader and Fay is just a medic."Krystal explained "I don't need my telepathy to tell me that you'd be fit for the job...Oh and Ris...Good job in getting everyone around your going to be a great addition to whatever you decide to do  I wouldn't just be glad I'd be Honored if you stay with us after all this is over."Krystal continued she turned to Zeke "I'm Krystal it's nice to meet you Zeke I never knew my real parents."She sighed at the thought.

[Ris Grestar]

"If it makes you feel better, Ris didn't know his--"  Zeke began, being cut off by a sharp glare from Ris, his eyes and voice trailing away.  "Father...Sorry."

His tail flicking in dismissal of the subject, Ris said, "It's fine.  And don't worry, Mom, Dad and I can help.  Right?"  The younger fox looked back to the white-furred vulpine, who nodded in response, each of the two walking to stand by either side of Aisu.  "We might not be chieftains either, but it's not such a bad task, 'specially with us working together."

Aisu looked to Ris and Zeke in turn, appreciation in her blue eyes.  "Thank you, both of you."  Turning her gaze to Krystal, she asked, "Is there anything special required of us?"

[Kursed]

"Just keep the Villagers calm  and try not to mention the fact that their homes might not be there when they get back."Krystal explained " I promise you though If their homes are lost I'll work on something to fix their housing Issue."

[Ris Grestar]

The vixen looked disheartened.  "Our village may be destroyed?"

Zeke quietly reached over, wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her in closer.  "Everything will be okay, dear..."  He whispered, turning to look at Ris as if to ask if he agreed.

The blue fox didn't know.  It looked like it could easily go either way from here.  "We'll keep everyone calm, don't worry."

[Kursed]

"The thing that matters is that your all still alive and together, that's all I needed, thank you."Krystal replied setting her head back and relaxing.

[Ris Grestar]

With flicks of their tails, the foxes left the room, Zeke leading Aisu and Ris following behind.  "We can get through this, Aisu.  Like she said, we're all together again and that's all that matters.  We even have Ris with us."

The white vixen smiled and nodded lightly, looking back to Ris as he walked to their side.  "That is true.  Culture and love lies within the hearts of the people, not necessarily where they reside.  I know of this."

Zeke leaned in and gave her a small kiss on the cheek.  "I know you do.  You're a strong woman, Aisu.  Even though you may miss your old home, you came to the village and started a wonderful family.  Your ties to the planet remain even today.  No matter where your home is on Fichina, I know you'll be happy.  You know I'll follow you, too."

Aisu smiled lovingly at the vulpine, gently pulling him into a kiss.

The younger Arctic Fox let them be, continuing into the lounge.  The noise was still buzzing through the air, the two teenage girls happily playing their game, though it was obvious that they were very inexperienced.  A sly grin crossed Ris' muzzle as he quietly crept up behind the two, his hands extended towards the young vixen.  Once he was behind her, he lightly shoved his fingers into her sides, saying, "OHMYGOSHBEHINDYOU!"

The girl jumped into the air with a loud yelp, dropping the controller, which the ermine surprisingly caught.  Turning around, her hands still raised to ear-height, she said,  "Ris you scared me...Ris!"  Hopping forward, the vixen wrapped her arms around Ris' neck, the blue vulpine catching her before her feet hit the ground.  "Oh, Ris, where'd you go?  I was waiting all that summer to see you again, but then when school came, you were gone..."

"Yeah, sorry about that."  Ris replied, lightly twisting back and forth as he held her in the embrace, smiling that she still remembered, "Things just happen, you know?"

[Kursed]

"Oh so you just happen to appear at my mom's doorstep?"Ruby asked with a laugh she was in the crowd  calming people down.

[Ris Grestar]

Setting the vixen down, Ris turned his head back to Ruby.  "Actually, I was referring to th--"

"Three years ago."  She nodded matter-of-factly, staring oddly at the she-wolf--almost suspiciously.

"Yeah...three years ago."  The blue vulpine nodded his thanks to her, although a little surprised that she remembered so clearly.  "By the way, Ruby, this is Audri.  Audri, meet Ruby."  He introduced the two, stepping back just a bit to give them both room.

[Kursed]

"HI.."Ruby replied simply besides disliking men she was a bit of a loner and usually very shy.

[Ris Grestar]

"Hi."  Her voice seemed a little less cheerful, her gaze switching between Ruby and Ris.  After a moment, she crossed her arms under her chest.  "So I'm guessing you two are a couple?" 

Ris' initial response was mental facepalm.

[Kursed]

"No and I assume by your tone that you two were?"Ruby asked Also  crossing her arms under her chest her eyes looking over Audri for any sign of well anything.