"We're not four, Adriel. Surely you can form a better answer than that!" Zee shouted at her, looking down at the ground and kicking at the dirt. He wanted to trust Skah. Oh he wanted to trust Skah so badly it made his toes hurt. But what was best for the pack? For them all? He wondered if Adriel could see the want in his eyes, if she knew him that well. He hoped not. He was trying oh so hard to hide that from her. So hard that at moments he would have to glance away so she wouldn't see the obvious desire battling with instinct. He sighed and knew that she would continue getting angry at him. But he couldn't think. His mind was frozen. If he would have been over sixteen and a little wiser Odakota would have noticed that maybe fighting Skah would be the answer to everything. It would figure out how valuable SK was warrior wise, see how much he trusted his friend and how much the others did, and most of all let out the pint up rage. But Zee usually didn't think fighting was the answer.

ooc: sorry! double post. Please ignore this one

Zee listened, trying to tell himself that telling Adriel to calm down again would not be a good idea and it would be hypocritical. He was shouting his head off, after all. The next words sliced through his heart, as sharp as a dagger or a vampire's canines. He looked away, the world slowing down as painful memories penetrated in his mind. His dad's smiling face, their first transformation together,bring you kid to work day, his death... The last thing Odakota had said to his parents... The reason why he believed it was his fault for his parent's death. He turned around to calm himself down, blinking back tears. Odakota never cried. Never. He was glad Adriel couldn't see him now as he turned his back and brushed away a tear angrily before looking at her, his face now dry but his gaze at the ground. No words would come out. Only pathetic little sounds. What would his father do right now? Why had he left him? Why did he have to go off and be killed? He stared hard at Adriel, angry at her for bringing his father up in the conversation. His dreams were haunted enough already. He slid down to sit, resting his head against half of the rock (the other half lay in ruins) and didn't change that position untill atleast a full minute later. "My father will think I'm one big disapointment. The pack his falling apart at my fingertips," he whispered, looking away so she wouldn't see the tear that fell from his eyes to his strong jaw bone. In a second, it was gone and there was no proof of his tears. He put his head in his hands nad then asked monotonously, "What would my father have done now? And don't be biased, Adriel."

"Alright, let's head back then." Riley said, starting to walk back towards the castle before turning around again.
"I won't teel anyone about this if you wish. No need to make a big deal or anything." he said, pulling a leaf out of his white hair and letting it fall to the ground. He noticed Oreo fly by, but didn't react.

ooc: what class next?

ooc: well, today is free-day. Most of the teachers are gone away with the seventh years for a field trip to a muggle town.

Odakota didn't move. He could feel her hand lightly on his back. "You weren't out of line," he told her solemnly. Zee sighed but tried to be brave for her. But sometimes carrying the weight of the world all by yourself was hard. He knew it's what pack leaders must do but he had never believed it would be so hard. Not that he was an official leader or anything... But he enjoyed every moment he spent with his friends. Her next words gave him slight hope and he looked at her, wondering if she was being truthful. His face's expression returned to a more normal one, filled with caring and seriousness. Then, her last sentence rung in his mind. You're more like your dad than anyone else. If there was a compliment higher than that, he didn't know what it was. Zee looked at Adriel. "Thanks, Adriel," he told her quietly. "I'll think of what you've said... maybe..." his tone was filled with hesitation as if what he was about to do was as dangerous as walking into a field filled with thirteen dragons whilst holding all of their eggs and blindfolded. "Tomorrow... at hogmseade... We could all go to Weasley's joke shop... just like old times..." But different he thought. Different and awkward.

Roux felt Jay play with her hair. She wasn't sure, she used to love it when she did that! It was just another way of being close to him. But now, it almost felt too intimate. Still, she wanted to make him happy. Especially at this low state, so she did not comment.

She laughed, "Yes!" she said emphatically, "I never hated you! Anger, annoyance, sadness..." she trailed off, "Even hurt...but never hate. Oh Jay!" she said half laughing, "You were my first ever crush." she pushed him gently in the arm, "Though I guess I know now it was more lust than love..." she winked to show she was joking. Though it was fairly close to the truth.

"As for Adriel, " she continued, "Have you tried talking to her?"

Jay grinned and pushed her back. "You were my first crush too. Actually no. The lovely CLAUDIA!" He grinned and bared his teeth as though to represent a vampire.

His head drooped as she mentioned Adrial again. "Talking to her? Are you MAD?!?! I can't even LOOK at her!"

Victoria fell into step with Riley and nodded. "Oh, yes. Please don`t," she said, looking around. "But before I go back to school, I ought to hunt," she added. "I`ll see you later." With that, Victoria turned on the spot and began searching the trees for any signs of potential prey.

Roux smiled as he said she was his first crush. But the smile completely disappeared at the mention of Claudia. Though she couldn't help but laugh at Jay's own version of a vamp.

She patted his arm gently. "Hey, don't worry about it!" she grinned, "I'll do some recon and I'll let you know." she nudged him, "You know, with Adriel all you have to do is be random! She loves that stuff..." she smiled and glanced toward the lake, wondering how Odakota and Adriel were going. She wanted to think a message to Zee, but didn't want to interrupt so she left it. She turned to Jay and smiled brightly, tossing her red, red hair. "Plus, you're a stud!" she joked, poking his arm, "Just smile that fabulous smile and she'll be yours!"

"Alright, good luck then." said Riley, not knowing what a good response would have been.
Once he was half way up to the school, Riley turned back to the forest. He found himself wondering if Victoria had cornered another animal.
Wonder why I'm not afraid of her. She is a vampire and all, he thought, forcing himself back up to the castle. Riley assumed he was still a bit in shock, but it felt more like a heavy heart.
Oreo had tried to land on Riley's shoulder, but had decided to continue circling the sky, taken aback by Riley's strange mood.

Adriel smiled and said, "Well arn't we anxious." She knew that he wanted to see Roux again. It was pretty obvious, as they couldn't seem to spend so much as 20 minuets away from eachother these days. She looked out in the direction she thought they had gone and said, "I think they went that way. Come on." Starting to walk toward that area she turned around with a huge grin to face Zee. "Wanna race?" she said as if they were little kids again. "I mean, I understand if you don't want to... I am like the turtle with the rabit. You know... That story where the turtle won the race and the rabit couldn't figure out why? I'm the turtle."

ooc: Agh! I totally forgot about Arri! Would it be alright if I had her join in with Desdemona and Liz JK Rowling?