Aurora watched Vince with an ex
pression of pure glee on her face. She glanced up for a moment to calculate the time when she noticed the dark clouds gathering. She gasped and called out, trying to warn Vince, but it was too late.

----

Kale cried out in horror as a ghost came out of nowhere. A bright flash followed by an ear-splitting thunderclap heralded the arrival of a lightning bolt. Luckily, he had jumped when the ghost had scared him and his aim was off so the bolt landed right next to it instead of directly on it. The flash allowed him to completely see the ghsot's form, and he was able to recognize it.

"Vince?! what the hell?!"

Vince positively had a heartattack when the lightening bolt almost fried him. His tail dropped and the flame went out instantly.

"Just playin a joke man! You didn't have to try and kill me!"

he layed down, trying to slow his heart rate

Kioko swiftly grew a strong barrier of vines around her, the speed coming from practice. After the attack had been blacked, she waited a few moments, to see if there was an immedeate attack to come.
Where did that come from, anyways? Out of nowhere, he just wants to fight? I have to find out what this is all about.

Kirano relaxed, then nodded.
Okay.
He nudged Shyra.
We need to go fetch Kioko and Tamarand. Could you help me? I don't know your brother's scent that well, though I feel that they aren't too far away from each other.

Kale sighed heavily and said,

"What the hell were you two thinking? I could have killed both of you!"

----

Aurora scoffed at that and said,

"I doubt it. Chill, Kale, it was just a bit of fun." (pun intended)

----

Shyra nodded with a smile and replied,

Guess being psycic does have its disadvantages eh?

-----

Tamarand let loose another sonic bark, disrupting the power controling the plants and making them fall the the ground again. The disrutpion only lasted a split second, but it was more than enough to lower her defenses. He charged, tackling Kioko's side. He clenched his teeth as he did so, frustrated that this was his only idea. But this was going to be the only way she'll ever learn her potential... or so he hoped.

Kioko gritted her teeth, and took the blow from Tamarand, then grew two thick vines, and curved them over Tamarand, pulling him down so that he was flat on the ground. The strength it took to grow first the barrier, then the strength to grow vines of that size, the combined strain was hard, and she was breathing heavily, though the fight had only just started.
"What are you doing?!"
Her voice was weary and she looked at him unbeliveingly.
"Where did that come from, a fight out of nowhere? If I had been tired, or even slightly weakened, I could've pas*sed out, or worse, died!"
She paced away, the vines still strong.
"I haven't fought before with my power. I don't believe in using it violently. That's why I want to get better, to end fights quickly, with as few injuries as possible."
She padded off into the surrounding trees, and once she was a good distance away, released the vines.

((If thats at all GMing, Im sorry.))

((Darnit! Forgot Kirano))

Kirano shrugged.
No, my sense of smell is better than a wolf with hearing, I just don't know your brother well enough.
He sniffed, and caught Kioko's scent,then started to run toward it.
I caught Kioko's scent, Common!

Tamarand did not struggle when the vines held him down, he was satisfied with Kioko's reaction. When the vines were relased, he rose calmly to his feet and said,

"You should not underestimate yourself, you're stronger than you think. Just because your siblings can do amazing things doesn't mean you can't, you proved that just  now. Have trust in your own abilities and you'll see what I mean."

He padded up to stand slightly behind her and added,

"And I'm sorry if it was a bit sudden, but this was the only way I coudl get my point across to you."

---

shyra bolted after him. She caught the scent of both Tamarand and Kioko and said to Kirano,

What the... Why is my brother with her?

Kirano growled mentally.
I don't know, but really, I wouldn't leave it to Kioko to do something wrong. She has a horrible temper, and can get quite...emotional.

Kioko looked at him, shock in her eyes.
"I listen to things like that. We could have gotten seriously injured. Why do you think I never attacked head-on? I blocked the first attack, instead of attacking you to break your concentration, I pinned you down, instead of completely crushing you."
She closed her eyes, shaking her head.
"And did I really make it seem as if my power is what I aim to get better? A little, yes, so I can protect myself, but I want to be better in controling my emotions. If I don't get worked up, I can't start a fight. And if I'm calm, I can stop it quicker. You just saw how I can get upset...."
She sighed, thinking.
"That's why I envy Kirano and Kurano. They can control their emotions, as well as end a battle harmlessly. Maybe a few headaches, but that's it."
She smiled a bit at the last part, thinking of how horrible her brothers' singing were.

Tamarand's eyes softened at her words and he said,

"The first step is to admit it. Then you can start moving forward. Take it from me, I know; Ive been there."

With a sigh, he added,

"It takes time and practice though. I figured this crap out years ago and I'm still not there but that's my own fault."

He looked at her. "I think you'll do much better than me, Kioko. At least your siblings know what kind of wolf you really are. I'm just an actor hiding behind a mask of shame."

----

Shyra nodded and replied,

Kale gets liek that too sometimes but it's Tamarand I'm worried about. He thinks I don't know but he's not the blundering fool he makes himself out to be.

Vince laughed,

"Somehow, i seriously doubt that. If you haven't found out already, I'm a little tougher than I appear."

~~~

Kylane heard a crash from out side after a bright flash in a short distance. Thinking of the others, she jumped up. That had come from where Kale went.

"What was that?!!"

Kirano stopped, he recognized the woods in this area. They were near where Kioko trained.
Wait. I have a feeling that Kioko was showing off...

Kioko tilted her head, confused.
"What do you mean?"
She swished her tail slightly, seeming a bright blur.

Kale glared at Vince and replied,

"What to find out? I'll turn you into an electrical outlet."

-----

Aurora returned Kale's glare tenfold and hissed,

"Before you two start trading insults again let me tell you that I have had enough of both of you to freeze you to the spot!"

-----

shyra paused and replied,

Showing off? Why?

----

Tamarand clenched his teeth as he noticed that he had said too much. Nervously, he turned around and said,

"Nothing. Let's head back."

-----

Kurano narrowed his eyes and said,

"I'm not sure.... didn't Aurora and Vince go that way?"

Kioko stepped in front of him, her eyes soft, yet demanding.
"No really, what did you mean? I can't ever be comfortable around an upset friend."

Kirano shrugged.
She only comes to this clearing to practice or show off. I myself think she just wanted someone new to see what she was capable of, in the beauty point of view, that is.

Tamarand grew hot and angry and he spat out,

"just forget about it, okay?! I'm not your friend anyways! My siblings were ready to kill yours! Why would you care about my past?"

He was ranting and he knew that but old, painful memories had surfaced, blowing his iron self-control out the window.

----

Shyra let loose a, 'hmmmm' that Kirano coudln't hear but the thoughtful silence in her mind had the same effect. She asked him,

Do you think it's a good idea to go interrupt her now? Sure, there's danger but it's still several miles off, we can afford a few more minutes.

Kioko glared at him.
"Well I, for one, don't think that matters. You aren't your siblings. I consider you a friend."
Hurt, she turned and walked back to the clearing, just wanting to be alone.

Kirano nodded.
Probably. We need to fetch her and Tamarand anyways.

Tamarand did not look at her as she walked away. under his breath, he muttered,

"Just leave me alone, everybody else does too...."

He padded out of the clearing, taking care not to trample any of the gray flowers blooming.

----

shyra nodded and ran ahead, catching Kioko's scent and spotting her orange fur even in the gloom. she called out,

"Kioko! Where's Tamarand? I thought he was with you?"

Kioko nodded.
"Was is the right word."
She moved among her flowers and plants, giving life where nedded to make them continue to bloom. Her orange pelt seemed to mix perfectly with the bright flowers.
"He's over there."
She pointed to where he and her had been talking.

Kirano followed Shyra, and heard the whole exchange through the after-thoughts. He sensed sorrow from Kioko, but also something else he couldn't recognize.
Shyra, you might want to go find Tamarand. Kioko's upset be something. I know she won't tell me.

Shyra glanced Kirano's way, nodded and dashed off to find her brother. She foudn him walking slowly away, in the opposite direction from the 'den'. she called out to him,

"Where do you think you're going?"

Still simmering, he responded icily,

"None of your buisness."

"Oh, angry for some reason now are we?"

He bared his teeth as he and growled out the words,

"Leave me alone!"

She snorted and replied,

"Oh sure, just like I did when mom died?"

"Don't you dare bring that up again...."

"Why not? You always avoid it and-"

"For a good reason." he interrupted. she glared at him and said,

"You know as well as I do that it wasn't your fault. None of us could have done anthing to save mom."

"Stop it...."

"It was dad, you know that. We didn't even know our powers existed we were so young. I-"

"I SAID SHUT UP!!!"

Shyra stopped talking abruptly. Tamarand had reached his limit just as he had with kioko and now said,

"You were there when it happened, Shyra. Both you AND Kale! Both of you know but you continuously deny it! It WAS my fault! I was because of me that mom coudln't heal herself! I tried to play the hero and disrupt dad's powers but I interrupted mom's too, and he didn't need powers to kill her now did he?! Why don't you just admit that it was my fault?! I don't need to be protected! I don' deserve it after what I did!"

"Tamarand...."

"No, Shyra!.. Just.. leave me alone..."

Stunned, Shyra could say nothing to stop Tamarand as he padded off to clear his head.

(oooh boy I had fun writing this one ^^ poor Tamarand i haveto go now too DX)