Concise

I don't think Fox is supposed to be talking to me...

He looked really hurt...

Uhm...he was tapping on the window by the computer desk and waving kind of urgently.

I rushed outside.

"How are you?" He says quickly.

"Fine I gu-"

"Good. I shouldn't have brought you there. Or here. Here. I shouldn't have brought you here. Again."

"Are...you okay?"

"How is he?"

"Incredibly pissed off?"

"No! Nononono...how IS he?"

"Healthwise?"

"YES!"

"He won't sleep. He has those weird circle things on his back..."

"The crows..."

"What about the crows?"

"Nothing. He wanted you to ask me something."

"Yeah...his siblings?"

"Tell him to worry about himself."

"Are you okay?"

"Just dandy."

Then he starts singing a line of Nearly Witches.

Ever since we met, I only shoot up with your perfume...

"You have a nice voice..." I say.

"Good music," he says quickly.

Then I'm back in the real world again and, as expected, Fox is gone.

He doesn't behave like Crow or Rat at all...

One of these things is not like the others...

You cannot be serious.

Pros

- Skye was here today. Like nothing was wrong. We didn't question it. We just accepted it and proceeded to blast Panic! At The Disco during all of class because I love them.

- Concert tickets. I'm going to get them. And find a way to go. Fuck It. (Ahahahahaha...)

- I'm so...I WAS so hyper from excitement that I couldn't focus on more than two things at once. It was fun.

- There's a really amazing contest going on in IM. It's sci-fi themed. And involves cosplay.

Cons

- Fox is nowhere to be found when I REALLY have to talk to him.

- Ygg's finally lost it. I refuse to call him Ygg or Yggy now. Fuck you, Hellfire. Fuck you. Know what's a better name? Asshat.

- Thanks to Asshat, we now have tension between Aiden and Brennon.

God you guys...do NOT make me come up and there and beat you BOTH with tables.

I feel like a raging freakin' werewolf right now. Like...I could pick up a car and just toss it right a-

...oh...hello Fox.

Storm Siren

More like lack thereof. 'Cause I don't remember hearin' ANY before we got bombarded with that storm.

I guess it's more metaphorical. Like there should be one going off because I think something big is going to happen.

Regardless...the sunset outside is beautiful. It's like...this smooth blend of soft yellow and orange under this sheet of passing storm clouds..

I'm resisting my designer's instinct to call it something else.
EDIT: You mean a graaaadieeeeeent? :P

EDIT: DAMN IT SETH.

Back on topic. Right.

So I went outside and met Fox in the little side yard between my house and the neighbor's.

"So I guess you know what I want?" I shouted over the wind.

"A little quieter. I can hear you just fine," he said calmly.

I didn't really realize that everything had gone quiet. He'd transported us to a little pocket of their realm (or whatever it is.)

"You can't be in here long. Let's do this quickly."

"Oh. Right. Aiden-"

"Should be watched closely, lest he be infested more. You might want to coax him out of that disgusting new habit, by the way."

"Glad I'm not the only one that thinks that's gross...and unsanitary. Wait, why are you helpi-"

"Don't question my motives."

"Oh...uhm...okay. So wh-"

"And no. I have nothing to do with lights of any color, before you ask that preposterous question."

"That wasn't the question I was asking."

"You did theorize once."

"You're markedly more moody."

"Rodents are such pests."

"Aiden's a rodent."

"You know what I mean."

"Again. What's going on between you and Rat?"

"We've never gotten along."

"You lied before?"

"I don't see why you're surprised. And not entirely. We did organize this way partly for geographical purposes."

"And the other part?"

"Rat is a narcissistic bastard."

And here is where I laugh. Then I realize my lungs hurt. Really bad.

"You need to get out," Fox says urgently.

"One last question."

He sighs. "What?"

"Everyone that's acting weird and disappearing...are they following..."

"What do you think?"

And that's the last thing he tells me.

Then the wind is whipping in my face again. Fox is gone. Ace is running circles around me and crying, wondering where I'd gone.

So. Fox and Rat don't get on too well. Something is going on with Crow's crows (wow that IS stupid sounding). And Fox makes it sound like I'm right.

That it is directly connected to the Owl. And to our friends.

The sun's shining through the curtains now. Real bright. It's nice! It's like a song we played in concert band last year..."Sunburst". I played bells on it. The dingy things in the background.

I think I'll find that for you...Sunburst

(Go to where it says Streaming Audio and click the little play button.)

I'm going back outside now. This is too pretty to miss.

Keep it Short

Because Fox is hiding by a tree in the front yard expectantly. I think he KNOWS I want to talk to him.

Something feels very wrong about Aiden.

And I don't know what the hell happened to Yggy...

Please don't be on their side...

I've gotta run outside and talk now. Casey's turn!
EDIT: I can't believe you're going out there right now, by the way. No...wait. Yes I can. Please excuse me while I hide in the basement and cry about the tornado watch. 'Kay?

Hey kids.

So Crow came around last night when he was done digging stuff up in Whelan's yard.

He has more birds. TOO MANY BIRDS.

He was also alone. Weeelllll...not entirely. There's It. But I'm supposed to be ignoring that It's there.

Except for this time...It was doing something to Crow's crows (wow that sounds stupid). Injecting them with something?

If we start to have Slendercrows...I am going to throw a chair.

Bran's not at the BL half the day, so I watch people there for her. We're getting odd behavior now.

Connie's gone quiet.

Connie doesn't stop talking. Almost never. She's bubbly. That's part of what makes her Connie. (Oh Italians...)

I don't know what's going on with Wes. Or Sara.

I don't know if I should intervene. I'll keep watching.

EDIT: Logan disappeared when I was walking to the buses to go home today...and I have no idea where she went. And I remembered those names, guys!  David, Tanner, Leanna, Heather, Ty, PJ, Malory...

Oh jeez. What did I do...

Feud?

Heeey...long time no see.

I haven't had a lot to say. But I noticed this today and thought this would be the best place to put it rather than have another Round Table.

Rat has his new mask. He's the only one that still has a full mask, I think. It's a grinning rat, as Bran already stated in that story.

If you look closely, there's a little tag hanging from one of the ears. A white circle with a black Operator symbol.

And today...

He had a little fox plushie. He was playing with it while I was in math, looking out the window.

Then he pulls out a rope.

And he ties a noose around the fox.

Then he made a giggling motion and made himself disappear before my teacher could see him outside.

I think we need to look more into who these guys are. And ask Fox more about why they're spread out the way that they are. Because I don't think they "simply organized" themselves that way.

And Fox is the only sensible one...as scary as it is to say that.

Proxies do, in fact, enjoy Pringles.

Let's ignore the massive, unnecessary shitstorm that happened elsewhere in Slanderland, shall we?

Rather pleasant day today, I'd say. Aside from the very worrying absence of Skye. We think she's gone for real this time. We have no idea what to do about this...

The weather! It's wonderful! 72 out today. Partly sunny. Nice an' cozy.

We chilled today. Sort of. (SPOILER ALERT: Fox has a rather neat voice.)

I came home from school, needed a snack. But I also wanted outside. So I let Ace out, grabbed the can of Pringles, and then followed out behind him.

I stood on the edge of the porch, and Fox was leaning against one of our trees watching Crow chase some bugs around.

I walked over with the can, just to see what they'd do. Ace was right up against me, lips slightly curled.

Fox gave him a pat, declined the Pringles with a hand wave, and turned back to watch Crow.

So I got the brilliant idea to crush some up in my hand and throw them at Crow like he was a pigeon.

He totally went for them. Fox laughed like a maniac.

When he's done, he takes a breath and says, "Nice story. It could never be that way, but well written, nonetheless."

I was blown away by the fact that he SAID something, and just responded with, "Well. Thanks."

We stood in silence for a few moments, watching Crow pick the crumbs out of the grass.

"Quite nice of you not to attack me," I said, "or bring You Know Who."

"Wee bit stupid of you to get this close," he responded, "but you're welcome. I guess this makes our job of watching that much easier."

"Hn..." I grunted. "Think you'd pick something a little less clumsy than a crow as a sentry..."

"I didn't get to pick."

"Oh...HAH."

"What's so funny?"

"Crow."

"About?"

"His entire existence."

"This is true..."

The conversation stalled again. He was fiddling with a twig, readjusting the half-mask. I was thinking of ways to get him to say more things, because the drummer part of my brain was busy being amused by his accent while the intellectual part was trying to shout important things over the "DURR PURTY VOICE SAY MORE WORDS" nonsense the drummer part was thinking.

Still can't place that accent...

Anyways, Crow got bored of looking for (and eating EWWWWW) crumbs and called his pet crow over.

"I suppose you'd like to know what happened to your friend," Fox said wistfully.

"Aiden," I said firmly

"Yes, that one."

"It'd be nice to know. Brennon has legitimate fears."

"I can't tell you."

"But of course. It would be that way, wouldn't it?"

"Not directly."

"More riddles?"

"You've done fine so far, m'dear."

"Fine. I'll take what I can get."

It's at this point that Ace finally realizes there's a bird in the yard and he actually has a shot at catching it. I have to lunge forward and pin him to the ground.

"NO. THAT'S NOT YOURS." I said in my alpha dog voice. Ace grunted and curled by my feet, shooting me glances of disdain. Whatever. He'd forget about it as soon as we walked in the house.

"BAD D(X)GGY!" Crow shouts, cradling his bird. Fox lifts a finger to his lips to tell him to quiet down some. I totally pinned Crow's voice, by the way. Definitely like that lizard lookin' guy from Inuyasha that always follows Sesshomaru around. Can't place the name...

"Am I right?" I asked, sitting on the ground with Ace now.

"About what?" Fox asked back. I could see his eyebrows raise by following the movement of his hairline. He's strawberry blonde, by the way.

"The Owl."

"You'll see."

"I don't want to find out too late..."

"It already is though."

More silence. This time sad and grim. My stomach turns.

"Nothing I can do?"

"No."

"And all of Seth's friends? And mine and Casey's? Because we think..."

"Too far to predict right now," he interrupted. "Keep your eyes open. But you already know that."

"Alright then..." I muttered, fiddling with a piece of grass. "Thanks for the info, friend."

He whipped his head around at that. "This conversation changes nothing," he asserted.

"Of course it doesn't," I said with a smirk as I got up to leave.

...the rest of the night has been relatively calm and quiet. Brennon and I have been exchanging emails about Aiden's condition.

Occasionally Crow will pop up in the window with some object he's found, giggle, and run away. Are we friends now? God, these two make my head hurt sometimes...

Cut the String

Floodlights washed over the clearing. The gray cutouts of the grass and trees were painted with a yellow tint. The bearers of these lanterns moved silently together in the twilight. Five silhouettes against their light of hope.

At the forefront, a Wolf, leading her pack on. Loyal to her friends.

Slightly behind the Wolf and to the right, a Lioness, the passionate rebel. The fire to fuel her friends.

To the left of the Wolf, a Raven, standing tall against her adversaries. Her call to Odin a call of victory.

At the back, a Buck, antlers brandished with courage. Fighting his fear against the enemy with the support of the herd.

And accompanying the Buck, a Panda, the mother bear protecting her new family. Destroying all notion of being prey.

They stopped together and waited. The agonizing silence drew on. Their lights grew dim.

Then out from the forest came the first. A sinister grin painted across his mask. A cackle echoed. The Rat.

Near him came the second. A lanky, awkward moving individual. Cowardly and stupid. A half mask partially covered his crooked grin. The Crow.

And last, the third. A tricky, but nervous fellow. He had been brave enough to reveal some of his face before, but kept it covered this night. The Fox.

The three approached the five. The lights barely shown.

The Buck shuddered. The air was cold.

The Panda drew closer to the Buck.

The Fox neared the Wolf and drew a cane. The Wolf drew hers, a new walking stick brandished with a silver bulb. She had not intended to fight. She and her pack had other plans.

The Lioness tilted her head and nodded for the Raven to look.

Thick black cords crossed the clearing from the forest where the three had exited.

"You are puppets," the Wolf calmly asserted. The Fox shook his head, still prepared to fight. The aura around him was tinged with fear.

The Crow kawed ten times.

KAWKAWKAWKAWKAWKAWKAWKAWKAWKAW

The Rat moved quickly, dodging between the Wolf and the Lioness to get to the Panda.

But the Buck met him first, antlers tangling in the string of the Rat's mask.

The Panda pinned the Rat from the back.

"You fear you've all lost your way," the Rat hissed.

"I only fear the unknown," the Buck answered, untangling his mask from the Rat's.

"And you fear they will die," The Rat whipped his head around to meet the Panda, who only answered with, "I only fear I love too much," before brandishing a pocket knife.

The Crow taunted the Raven from afar.

"Y(X)U FEAR Y(X)U ARE N(X)T G(X)(X)D EN(X)UGH," the Crow shouted, his voice scratchy.

The Raven ran to him, kicked his legs out from under him, and pulled out a pair of scissors. "I only fear what I've been told."

The Fox had begun a fight with the Wolf. The cracking sound of the canes meeting echoed throughout the clearing. Suddenly, the Fox brought his weapon down on the Wolf. She collapsed to the ground. The light wavered.

"You fear failure," he said.

The Wolf chuckled and pushed herself into a sitting position, a smile blazing behind her mask. "I only fear not realizing my dreams."

The Lioness came from behind the Fox, wrapping her arms around him and pinning his arms to his sides.

"Anything else?" she asked, holding onto him as he struggled.

"You fear your nature," he coughed.

"I only fear that I don't care enough," she answered, squeezing tighter.

The Wolf rose, removing the silver ball from her walking stick and revealing a sharp tool.

"You are puppets," she asserted again.

"We fear our strings," the Fox replied, his head hanging low.

"Then cut them," said the Wolf, bringing her knife to the dark cords tied around the Fox's neck, hands, and feet.

The sounds of snapping string replaced the echoes of kaws and cackling laughter and cracking weapons.

The light grew brighter, almost blinding. Color returned to the grass and the trees. The three stood in awe at the center of the brightness. The five encircled them.

"For the moment you are free,"

"Help as you please,"

"Keep your mind in mind,"

"Sanction may you find,"

"And remember - good luck and good times."