58 It's Raining Cats and Dogs

Now back around the camp location, Malichai was leaving the infirmary, heading back to his office. On his way, he spots Issac. "Hmm, who are you? I don't recall seeing you around here." Malichai says, his expression becoming displeased.

Issac peers over, from his gaze at the hill. "You must be the guy running this camp. I'm part of the AM group that came to help investigate the island. Issac Lundell."

"Issac Lundell... Wait, you're the LEADER who I should have spoken with, of your tedious group... How unprofessional. Well, I would say, it is an honor to meet you, however, now I hope you, and your 'team' can handle the situations properly. I still can't believe it took this long for us to meet. Very sloppy..." Malichai says, shutting his eyes.

"(Now I see what Barret was talking about... I can already tell that this guy's a real jerk. Joy.)" Issac sighed, looking boredly to Malichai.

"Listen, I get I was a bit late, but I had some things to take care of. Besides, you didn't even tell me your name, talk about calling me 'unprofessional'." Issac stated.

"Malichai." He says, opening his sharp eyes, back to Issac. "Also, a bit late doesn't cut it. Our camp could have been taken, but perhaps you did have more important matters. There is already a unit running about the island, as well as a possible Zodiac. I only ask that you, and your group be more on top of things." He says, letting out a sigh.

"Dude, no offense, but the world doesn't revolve around you. We could have easily been asked to go elsewhere, or not even be directed to this island. Just be glad we're here now, okay? Let me know if there's anything you need help with in the meantime, while Barret's off investigating." Issac tried to stay calm.

"Hmph, the only thing I require of you now, is keeping an eye on your cat friend. She's with the sisters now. So, if you want to help me, go and check on them... I do want to see just how you so called 'heroes' work your magic. I'll step in if I have to, but for now, keep eye on your people. " Malichai says, turning from Issac, his metallic arm showing briefly, as he walks off.

Issac rolled his eyes, looking off. "(Time to find Myde.)" He thought, walking off through the camp.

In the garden of the camp, Myde was entertaining Lilly still. She was sitting in the grass, watching the little girl's attempts at planting flowers. Lilly pressed the ground really hard making some dirt spread over other flowers. "Oh! Look! The flowers are taking a dirt bath!" She says, her eyes becoming wide with amazement.

Myde remained in place, her tail softly swishing. "Oh, I see." She replied, in a calm manner.

Lilly yawns, "I'm getting hungry." she says, as she leans her head on Myde's lap.

Myde peers down to the child. "Should I catch you something to eat then?"

"Cat food please!" Lilly says, purring, "I wanna be a kitty! Cat food will make me grow ears and a tail!"

"Ferline have similar diets to humans and elementar." Myde softly chuckled.

"Oh? So you don't become fat?" Lilly asked, to Myde confused.

Myde's ears drooped, "No, I mean like what food we normally eat, little one."

"Oh!" Lilly says, becoming excited, "Maybe we should go get some mac'n cheese! It has lots of milk! Mmm!"

Myde was sweating, as she tried to laugh, "If that's what you want to eat. It's a good thing that you're not a ferline, that would actually make you sick if you were."

Lilly gasps, "You can't eat mac'n cheese!?" Lilly says, getting teary eyed.

Myde shook her head, "Ferline are mostly carnivorous, dairy just doesn't digest right with us."

Lilly tilts her head, "Carnivorous? Digest? What does that mean?"

"Carnivore, like we eat meat. Digest means, how your body processes food." Myde explained, pretty relaxed about it.

"So...Process, uhh... like going to the bathroom? It becomes brown and icky." Lilly says, looking back to Myde, her expression still curious.

Myde nods, "That about sums it up, yes."

"Eww." Lilly said, sticking out her tongue.

Sheka strolls up, spotting Myde and Lilly sitting on the grass. "Lilly? Ready for lunch? Hi Myde! Thanks for watching my sister."

"YES!!! MAC'N CHEESE, MAC'N CHEESE!" Lilly yelled.

"Hello Sheka, it's quiet alright. She was actually just asking about food a moment ago." Myde turned to the other sister.

Sheka giggles, "I see, leave it to Lilly to start bugging about food questions. She didn't ask about the poop situation, did she?"

Myde quirked an ear, shifting her tail slightly to the other side. "She did actually."

"Oh my..." Sheka says, sweat dropping. "Lilly! You can't go asking people things like that!"

Lilly grabs to Myde, hugging her tightly, "But she's my mommy!"

Sheka sighs, "Lilly..." She says, holding a hand to her head.

Issac approaches them. "There you are, Myde."

Myde turns her attention back to Issac. "Oh, I see you finally decided to join us, Issac. Have you spoke with Barret yet?"

Issac put his arms behind his head, "Yeah, he went off to investigate, and told us to keep watch here for now."

"Ironically, you're supposed to be the leader, yet you allow him to take charge." Myde teased.

"Eh, I don't really care." Issac shrugged. "(Seems the little one of them likes Myde... Kinda weird, with how scary she gets... Must be a girl thing.)"

Lilly points to Issac, "BOYFRIEND? DADDY?"

Sheka sweat drops, "Lilly, I told you not to do that."

Issac quirked a brow. "Uh, no. I have someone else. (What's this talk about 'daddy'?)"

Myde's ears go back. "We just work together."

Sheka sighs, "It's okay, Lilly can be a little jumpy. I don't know where that came from." She says, grabbing to Lilly.

"Mama!" Lilly says, squirming. She spots something behind them, "Hm? LOOK! What are those guys chasing over there? Are they playing a game?"

Issac and Myde turn their attention behind them, noticing Vash and Todd rushing after a silhouette of some kind. They were heading into the woods. Issac shifted his posture, keeping his eyes focused. "Myde. Stay here and watch the girls. I'm going to check this out, just in case." He said, running in the direction of the two.

Myde stood up, looking to Lilly and Sheka. "Stay close to me, alright?"

Sheka nods, taking Lilly by the hand tightly, "A-Alright..."

Vash and Todd were now in pursuit of an unknown figure. "Stop running! It'll save yourself time!" Vash shouted.

Todd aimed his bow at the assailant, and lets off a couple shots. "Man, he's quick."

Vehrik dodges the arrows, landing on a tree branch. He looks to Vash and Todd, forming a smile, "You guys are waaay too into this. You nearly hit me."

Vash shoots off some dark and light electricity, breaking the branch Vehrik stood on. Vehrik falls to the ground, landing on his feet. "You think that's gonna stop me? Nah, come on you guys." He says, rushing off from them.

Todd groans, "He's running again."

Vash sighs, "Quit whining already. Come on, before we loose him." He says, rushing ahead of Todd.

Todd nods, and hurries after Vash. They reach a clearing in the woods, where a couple of rock formations were, meant to mark their path. Vash noticed this, and turns back to Todd.

"We're nearing the maze, keep a close eye out. If we get separated in here, I don't know how you'll fair." Vash says, keeping his focus.

"I-I'll keep that in mind. (Oh, Vash you do care!)" He says, to himself.

"They took the bait, this really is like taking catnip from a kitten." Spoke the sly voice of Cynder, who was perched in one of the trees.

Vehrik laughs a little, he was in a tree ahead of Cynder, "Yeah, I wish picking boogers were this easy."

Dylan leaned to the base of the tree, peering up. "Light-bulb!!! Is it time for phase two? Please Cyndy? PLEASE!?" He was jumping in place, excitedly.

A sharp grin poised a cross her lips. "Wait for it...." She watched Vash and Todd progressing closer to the center of the clearing. "Wait for it..."

"Come on-come on-come on." Dylan was growing impatient.

"Now." Cynder commanded.

Instantly, Dylan dashed into the clearing on all fours, flipping over Vash and Todd. He skidded behind them, pulling to the cowboy hat, that he had just swiped. He placed it on his head, grabbing the bill of it. He had his tongue exposed to the corner of his mouth. "Over here.~" He sing-songed.

Vash sighs, "There's a reason I always tried leaving that back in the ship..." He says, turning his attention to Dylan.

Todd gasps, "Another one!? (HE'S SO DREAMY WHEN HIS FACE IS EXPOSED!)"

Vehrik's eyes sharpen, "Huh? Hey,hey Cynder, that's that peace maker guy, isn't it? You sure you want your boyfriend out there?"

"Dally will be fine. You should be more wary to what phase three will be." She laughed, grinning devilishly to the other ferline.

Vash and Todd take off after Dylan, however the Ferline rushes at them. He jumps, clear over their heads, making his way deeper into the vast portions of the woods.

"Catch me if you can!~" Dylan called, letting out a loud fart, as he rushed onward.

Vash grins, "Should light that, and make a trail. Come on Todd." He says, rushing after Dylan.

Todd became nervous, "But then the forest would catch fire!"

Vash sighs, "It was a joke, never mind come on."

Cynder watched them rush after Dylan. "Oh don't worry, it'll be set ablaze soon enough. Vehrik, let's move." Cynder leap from tree to tree, in pursuit.

Vehrik nods, eating his booger, "Gotcha, man these are crunchy today."

The chase commenced, but the further in they went, the more Dylan began to wheeze from his asthma. He then tripped over an uprooted part of a tree, stumbling to the ground, panting heavily. "D-Dammit..."

Vash runs up, stepping on Dylan's back, and reaches down, getting his hat back. "Got it..."

Todd gasped, "VASH!!! LOOK OUT!!!"

As Vash turns, his gaze caught movement. However before he could maneuver from the path, his face is met with a flaming round house kick.

He was knocked off Dylan, as Cynder landed, eyeing the two men.

"Cyndy..." Dylan wheezed, as she got in front of him.

Vehrik falls to his feet, out of a tree landing beside Cynder and Dylan. "I told you it was gonna get ugly...Though bad on you, trying to kick a man when he's down." He says, turning his attention to Vash.

Vash gets to his feet quickly, dusting himself off, he looks back to the trio. "So, you guys work in union. Not a problem, though I would sit that one out. No use fighting if you can't breathe."

Todd was flabbergasted, "A-Are you sure we can handle this!? There are three of them!"

Vash shakes his head, "Todd, are you a man or a pussy? We got three pussies here, and I'm sure you're not one of them."

"(I-I'll be a pussy for you...) NO-No-No-No! I'm not a pussy!" Todd yelled.

"Okay, well then, focus." Vash says, looking back to the three ferline.

Vehrik smiles, "I eat pussy for breakfast."

"You mean.... If you... had... a girlfriend.. Heh..." Dylan wheezed, jesting briefly.

"Heeeeey...." Vehrik said, his tone annoyed.

"Hey you two, keep your sex talk for the bedroom." Vash says, forming his sword.

Cynder stepped forward, powering up her power gauntlet. She was keeping her eyes focused on Vash and Todd. "You monkeys are so easy to fool, but it's too late now." She grinned, "You really should have kept your paws off my boyfriend though." Her eyes turn to Vash.

"Vash, she looks dangerous man!" Todd says, trembling. "She's more scary than the boys!"

Vash sighs, "You're just like that, because you have an issue with woman." He turns to Cynder. "As for your boyfriend, you didn't care much to have him running from us like that. Kid should be inside, where he can stay warm. Not out here with your cold ass."

"Take that back!" Dylan sat up, growling.

"Dally, stay put. This one's mine." Cynder kept her eyes on Vash, licking her teeth.

Vehrik digs in his ear, "I'm glad I have a good supply of boogers and ear wax. This is getting good."

Vash grips his blade tightly, blasting mixed electric and dark energy through it, "Dally huh? I'm telling you man, get another girl, she's licking her lips at me."

Vehrik eats a booger, "This guy's an asshole."

"I can see that." Dylan's ears went back, as he was grinding his teeth.

Vash grins, "Thanks, I get that a lot..."

Todd looks to Vash, "H-Hey, maybe we should hurry this along?"

Vash sighs, "Okay." He begins to rush at the trio, he swings his sword, spreading electricity at them all quickly.

Vehrik gets hit, falling back into a couple of trees. Cynder used her gauntlet to deflect the lighting that struck near Dylan. Her eyes sharply slit, as the ferline rushed at Vash. Her claw came slashing his way, as it engulfed in flames. Vash gets cut on his face, from the attack, and quickly kicks her away from him. He slams his sword into the ground, which creates dark electricity. It travels under, creating stalagmites, which kick Cynder into the air.

Todd aims his bow, and begins to shoot at Dylan and Vehrik. Vehrik avoids some of the arrows, and rushes quickly at Todd. He flips into the air, and rolls into Todd, kicking him into a tree. Todd grips himself off the ground a bit, but before he was able to get up, Vehrik catches him in a choke hold. "Urgh! L-Let go!" Todd gasped.

Vash looks over to Todd, "You've gotta be kidding me..."

Vehrik's face was inching closer to Todd's, with his tongue out. However, a green laser arrow shot right between both of their faces, barely missing. Both stumbled back from panic, in response. Standing in the entry way of the clearing, was Issac, his power glove formed to his cross bow.

"Can't believe I'm saving you jerks like this." Issac stated.

Vash smiles, " Nice shot, though I think you're talking more these cats. Well and MAYBE Todd."

"You never ever leave me out of your sayings, do you Vash?" Todd says, forming a sweat drop, and blushing.

Vash looks to Todd, "Dude, can this wait? Clear your head dammit."

Cynder took the opportunity, to cheap shot Vash. She decked him in the face, hard with her fist. Vash fell backward, and then rushes back smashing into Cynder, sending her through a couple trees. "..."

Dylan scrambled up, "Cynder!!" He rushed over to her, grabbing to the female ferline, as she tried to lean herself off the ground. "I-I.... I can't believe he hit you like that..." Dylan was already shaken up.

Issac stepped beside Vash, forming his laser sword, and held it to the man. "Bare in mind, I still don't trust you." He said, turning his eyes to the cats, as his blade shifted to his side.

Vash sighs, "Yeah, right now, we were trying to figure out why these cats are causing problems."

"Never a dull moment it seems. I wouldn't know, unless it's Zodiac related." Issac's eyes observed the foes regaining their footing.

Vehrik begins to laugh, "Ha ha ha! You guys have no idea that this is a diversion! While you've been chasing us, Life is getting two new daughters, and a camp!"

"Wait, what?!" Issac grew on edge.

Vash turns to Issac quickly, "Listen, get back to the camp now! We'll deal with these ferline."

Issac glances back to the man, "I'll make an exception, this once. Next time we meet, we won't be allies." He turns off, rushing back to the camp, in a hurry.

"..." Vash looks back to the ferline. "Well, guess it's time to clean up here. Todd? Are you good to go?"

Todd nods, "Sh-should be..."

Vash acknowledges him, before the two rush at the ferline.

Meanwhile, as Issac was rushing to return to camp. Barret was following Imogen and SJ up the mountain trail. He looks off over the mountain, there were clear blue skies for miles. "(I wish Katinka could see how pretty this is. I should plan a trip back here sometime...)"Barret thinks to himself. He then looks back ahead, to Imogen and SJ. "Excuse me? Do you mind me asking, are we close to the destination point?"

Imogen lazily looked back to Barret. "Not like I asked you to tag along in the first place. If you have a problem, go back."

"Easy now Spooky. What if you need our help out here?" SJ peered over.

"Spooky?..." Imogen looked off. "Uh, I guess you have a point." His eyes peered forward. "We should be there soon. Just, stop asking."

Barret smiles, "(Having SJ here, really helps to get Imogen talking.)" He says to himself.

They soon reach the summit of the mountain, around the location were ancient ruins. A huge sleeping wolf guardian was laying beside the entrance to the cavern. Barret jumps at the sight of it. "T-That's a huge dog!"

Imogen smacked Barret upside the head, with his bow. "Shut up. It's a wolf for one, and two it's the guardian of the ruins. Stay here, and leave the rest to me. Got it? No funny business!" Imogen sneered to Barret.

Barret nods, rubbing the back of his head. "Yeah."

Imogen proceeded to the wolf, making his way for the entrance behind it. It didn't seem to budge as he passed.

Barret turns to SJ, "He's pretty brave, though I never knew something this big existed up here. Or at least around Hope Isle, of all places."

"Plenty of creatures such as this exists. We should keep our guard up however. If that beast wakes up, who knows what it'll do." SJ replied.

Barret nods, "You're right about that..."

Foot steps are heard, approaching them from behind, "Aaand that would be bad why?" A high pitched girl's voice, rang through their ears. Barret and SJ turn their attention to the icy unit from before. Glacetra stood there, with a creepy grin on her face. "Sorry, but the dog is coming with me."

SJ shifts his power glove from his cloak, forming a scythe. "Seems it was wise for use to accompany him after all."

"Yeah." Barret says, turning on his power glove. "Also, are you saying you want to take this Wolf?"

Glacetra cackles, "THAT'S EXACTLY What I'm saying! He might be a bit hungry though. So stick around. SNOWY! Time to wake up!" She says, forming her icy blade.

"STOP! If you wake that thing up! It might not take liking to you either!" Barret pleaded.

"What's the matter blondie? Scared?" Glace smiles, as she says jumping over them. She lands cracking up the ground a little, with her sharp boots. "Now watch and learn. I'll show you how to tame a big doggy." Barret rushes to grab her, and gets jabbed backward. "Ah,ah ah...YOU STAY RIGHT THERE! Snowy will need his treats when he wakes up..." She says.

"We have to stop her...urgh.." Barret says, holding his side.

Glacetra nears the wolf, and pokes it with her ice sword. A red eye peaks from under it's white fur. It gets up, and let's out a loud howl. The area shakes from the vibration of the sound, as snow begins to fall around them.

"It's snowing?" Barret spoke softly.

"This wolf, isn't some mere creature. It's an ice titan." SJ cautioned to Barret.

Glacetra pats the wolf, and runs her hand through it's fur. "You're a good boy, aren't you?" She looks to Barret and SJ. "See? Snowy knows who his master is. Isn't that right, Snowy?" She says, cackling softly.

The wolf rubs his head against Glacetra.

"I don't understand this, is it due to her elemental nature or something? How's a titan take well to something made of Kaos?" Barret asked dumbfounded.

"You about summarized it, right there. It's drawn to her ice dama." SJ took a defensive stance.

"Oh great..." Barret says, also getting into a defensive posture.

Imogen was stepping through the cave entrance, spotting the wolf awake. "(Dammit, what did they do!?)" He rushed back out, but halted, spotting Glacetra there. He began to shake, fearfully. "......"

Glacetra turned her sight to Imogen. "Huh? Orange? You're still alive? I guess I can finally make you into that doll, I had ideas for. What do you think, Snowy?"

The wolf grunts, and licks her.

"Snowy! Not in public, I'm trying to look serious!" Glacetra whined. "But you'll learn, you are my new doggy."

"Imogen! Get away from there! HURRY!" Barret yelled.

Glacetra giggles, "I don't think that's happening, look at him, he's frozen in utter terror! He shattered.... just like a broken porcelain doll... " She points in Imogen's direction. "But like a doll, his body is going to be ripped to shreds. AND THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT!" She says, as she begins to laugh chaotically. Snowy then leaps at Imogen, jaws widened with his fangs exposed.