User:Hunter1034/Through the Eyes of a Nobody

Through the Eyes of a Nobody is a fanfic that centers around Dalton the Cat in High-School.

Characters
These are the characters that have appeared/are slated to appear in this story.


 * Dalton the Cat
 * Wolfgang the Cat
 * Castiel the Hedgehog
 * Violet the Fox
 * Darcy the Cat
 * Cheryn
 * Symeriss
 * Kyle the Bat
 * Konnan the Wolf
 * Aquella the Cat
 * Aisha the Arctic Hare
 * Alyssa the Wolf
 * Geo the Hare
 * Cleo the Dog
 * Gregory the Chameleon
 * Flare the Wolf

(If you want you're character to appear in this story, please and tell me on the talk page.)

Story
Warning: Contains some swearing

Ch1
I wake up before my alarm. Again. Sitting up, I look at the clock. 5:40, twenty minutes before the thing goes into an annoying frenzy of beeping. I spend my 20 minutes of calm trying to figure out my dreams. I only remember a couple, one in which that Cheetah that's almost always in my dreams for some reason fed on my blood, and one that had me getting alone in a dark room, doing nothing but drawing. Drawing the same Cheetah that was draining me. I'm not sure what one I favored... Getting my blood drained felt... enjoyable for some reason, and drawing's my only real enjoyment in life. Well, drawing and playing video games...

The alarm begins it's only reason for existence with the precision of a machine, and I climb off my bunk to shut the damn thing up. I slip out of the room and start my morning routine: Shower, eat, occupy myself for around 20 minutes, then gather my things and leave. Same thing every day. Dad usually comes home around the time I'm eating, and we talk about pointless things before he goes to bed. I get to the bus stop and wait for the hunk of yellow metal that makes fat people think of Twinkies, then climb aboard. I sit by myself. Nobody talks to the red and purple freak that sits alone on the Twinkie. A couple of kids throw paper balls at me. One is sopping wet, while the other crackles with static. Kinetics. I use a HB pencil to scrape the wet one of the seat in front of me, and bat the crackling one off my ear.

I get off the Twinkie at the High-school, last stop before it returns to it's box and waits for the elementary school run. I go to my 5B class and wait for it to begin. It takes 15 minutes before everyone's in the classroom; My Twinkie shows up early. I'm chewing on my arm out of boredom when the teacher starts the lesson. She goes on about the country's government for three-fourths of the class, so I keep on biting until I get an idea for a drawing. It's that Cheetah that haunts my dreams in the exact same pose that I dreamed I was drawing last night. Dejavu. It doesn't really bother me, I seem to experience it a lot. By the time the lecture stops and we actually get some work to do, I've got a good base pose looking up with a faceless ball staring up at me from the page.

I breeze though the worksheets she gives us, and I turn it in third in the class. The other two practically had it done 2 minutes after she passed it out. This fact alone sets two names off in my head: Wolfgang and Castiel. Those two are always done quickly. Technically they should have graduated by now, but they stay because of their friends. Wolfgang's an albino cat(which is f*cking awesome in my opinion), a genius, and a killer guitarist/vocalist/drummer/any-other-instrument-ist and an Electokinetic. He's the musical prodigy of the school. Castiel is a silver hedgehog with angel wings, tons of tech, and a IQ that might make even Wolfgang jealous. The two had been friends since grade school, and would do any thing for their friends. Something I wasn't.

I work on my drawing till the bell rings.

Next up in my schedule is SRT. I sit alone and draw. I finish the face and body of the drawing. All that's left for me to do is draw in the markings. Problem is, the Cheetah in my dreams marks seem to flit around her body like birds though a tree, or like starts twinkling though the night. I can't draw that. I resolve to look up pictures of Cheetahs and use those as a basis for the marks on my drawing, then I pop my ear-buds in and try to forget the world till the bell rings. I sit there for almost an hour before it does.

I walk though the halls alone to my next class, band. This is Wolfgang's turf, so I'm even more quiet than normal. That is, until we start playing. Then I lose myself in the fun of it. We play several "Christmas" songs to get ready for the upcoming Fine-Arts Wing play, A Christmas Carol. Original, eh? Mr. Andrew Perkins, aka "Uncle P", makes it fun with his usual craziness. After we put the tools of music away, I stand around alone, unsure of what to do next. Wolfgang approaches me with Violet and Darcy, one of his best friends and his sister. This surprises me, and why wouldn't it? I'm the nobody of my High-School. At least that's what I thought. Apparently not, as these people look like they want to talk... But can't figure out what to say. I can see the uncertainty in their eyes. Looks like I'm a nobody after all.

"If you're here to try and mess with me, go ahead, I take that kind of stuff daily." I say dryly.

This catches them off guard. I smirk at their expressions, then walk away. I go to the stacks of chairs that grace one of the corners of the room and climb up it. I like to be high, away from the people who shun me. Strangely calming...

I'm interrupted from my calm as Violet lands on the stack next to mine.

"Heya." She says with a tone that promises conversation.

"Hello, bat-winged one." I say with no real interest.

"Why're you up here? My friends want to talk."

"Because I dislike people, as they tend to be complete asses to me."

This causes her to stop and ponder for a second.

"Why would they do that?"

"If I knew, I would tell you." I say, shrugging.

"You would?"

"You and your friends seem different."

"Different how?"

"The looks in your eyes when you first approached me. You seemed unsure of what to say, yet had no hint of malice in them. I guess you and your friends heard the rumors about me, almost everyone has."

"Yeah... Wait, why'd you say-" She began

"Some people are good at hiding their intention." I reply quickly, cutting her off.

Silence. It's amazing how comforting silence can be one minute, then how awkward it can be the next.

"Soooo, anywhooooo..." She began.

I look at her with mild interest.

"We were wondering if you'd come to our performance tonight."

"Performance?" I'd never heard of them performing.

"We play after our Fight Club matches."

"Oooooooh..." I say with fake remembrance in my voice.

"You've never stayed that long, have you?"

"No..."

"Have you even been to Fight Club?"

"No..."

"Why not?"

I chuckle darkly.

"Why would I ever go there? I lack any combat skill, and even worse, I have no f*cking powers!"

"No powers!?"

(I should explain. This is practically unheard of in the world I live in. Only a few people are born without powers, and there are many different ways to obtain them. Violet, Wolfgang and Darcy are examples of this. They got their abilities when experimental nanobots were integrated into their systems.)

"None."

A couple of kids overhear this, and spread it to the rest of the class quickly. Soon it'll be all around the school. Rumor confirmed. The room fell silent as all stopped to listen to our exchange.

"Have your parents tried everything?"

"Everything. It all failed. Blood transfusions made me feel weak, Element charging just knocked me out, and Divine rituals had no effect other than bringing me harm. We've given up on it..."

Silence was again the only voice heard in the room. After a bit I looked down at my watch.

"12:22. Bell rings for lunch in less than a minute." I say, jumping down from my perch and heading for the door. The crowd parts to let me though, everyone backing away from me like I was a leper.

Fools, I think, ''It's not a disease. It can't be caught.'' I open the door and leave, the bell ringing a split-second after.

I eat alone with the stares of others drilling countless holes into my back. I try and focus on the food in front of me, but the prospect is impossible with them staring. So, as soon as I manage to get the last of the pizza to slide down my throat and chug my juice, I leave for the library. The stares follow till I leave the room, then I hear the normal dull roar return behind me.

The walk though the halls is quiet, as normal, as well as the library. I log onto one of the computers and look up cheetah pictures, then add the finishing touches on my drawing. There's something about her that... seems familiar... I think about her for the last of the lunch-break, then head to my Chemistry class.

The students stare at me as I walk in, confusing the teacher, Mr. Kasak. I just sit down and try to ignore the eyes. Kasak looks at me questioningly, then starts the lesson. I enjoy Chem. class, It's simple(to me) and I discuss things frequently with the him. A great distraction from the stares.

School ends with the normal ringing of the bell, and I wait outside for the Twinkies to show up and take me home. Nothing interesting happens in the rest of my day, just the usual blah...

Ch2
The twinkie stops at the high-school and I climb off, dim-faced. I've got a bad feeling about today... and with good reason. The instant I walk into the school I can feel them watching, even if their eyes aren't on me. The instant I'm out of earshot I know what they'll do. They'll start talking about me behind my back, talking about the leper that walks though the halls. Figured It'd happen once word got out, but I was still surprised. No expectations or mental preparations would've helped, the impact of being the hated subject of gossip is too great. I guess there's a few people who feel bad for me out there, but I doubt they'll make their voice heard.

The instant I walk into music tech it gets silent. Even the outgoing Mr. Wright clams up, I'm that much of an outcast now. After a good couple minutes of awkward silence he starts class, and he teaches about sound-systems and signal flow and stuff like that. The lesson passes quickly and my class is left to talk amongst themselves and with the teacher. I sit and doodle, as I can't think of something intentional to draw. I overhear a bit of a conversation dealing with me, but try and ignore it. Hard too though, as it contained a bunch of colorful language. Not the good kind of colorful either...

Class ends and I move on to Pre-calculus. Boring, yet it's interesting. I know, doesn't make sense, but let me explain. Most people would call it a boring subject, yet the teacher seems to make it interesting. Strange, yes, but it helps me get good grades. I finish the assignment early, and spend the rest of class listening to my ipod.

Lunch rolls around, and I try to eat alone. Needless to say, I failed. I sat down at my usual spot with one of my favorite lunches, and had just started to eat when something felt... different. I knew some people were staring at me, but that wasn't it... I found out a couple seconds later, when I was suddenly surrounded by Wolfgang and his friends. This was unsettling, so I tried to slip out of there with my lunch. Violet stopped me with a wall of shadow.

"We want to talk." Said the voice I recognized as Wolfgang's normal.

I reluctantly sat down, being unable to leave. I stayed silent, hoping that they would just leave me be.

"Look... We think we have a solution to your problem." Castiel started...

"Oh?" I say dryly, "Like I haven't heard that one before. Every one of the 'experts' that tried to 'cure' my 'condition' have said that, and it all failed."

This time it was Aquella who spoke.

"We know, Dalton, but you haven't tried everything quite yet. You see what we're planning involves-"

"The nanobots you lot injected with yourselves with rewriting my DNA. I know, but it won't work, I know it wont." I finish for her.

This caught her by surprise. While she stuttered, Aisha spoke.

"And you 'know' this how?"

I just notice that the entire lunchroom was quiet. Great, I think, Yet another secret the whole school will know...

"Well?"

"My DNA should have been altered by any of the things I've tried, yet its the same. Technically speaking, there's nothing in my genetic makeup that says my fur should have these stripes either."

The room was filled with the sounds of sharp intakes of breath and gasps. If it wasn't DNA that caused the marks, then that left only one option...

... And silence became the only voice in the room. I'm getting tired of hearing silence.

"Now, if you've got something else up your sleeves, tell me now, or else I'm going to go and finish my lunch in piece."

When nobody said anything, I got up, went to another table, and ate my lunch. As soon as I had downed the last of the meal, Konnan came over.

"Look, if you're serious about the marks not being natural, then I know of something that might help you..."

I just give him a blank look.

"... I mean, if they aren't caused by genetics..."

"They aren't, now cut to the chase. I might not 'know you' but I know that you're not acting your normal self. You're on edge, almost afraid."

This got him going, which I was hoping for.

"AFRAID?!!!! ARE YOU SERIOUS?!!!"

"That's what your body language and voice tone said," I say with a knowing smile.

"I'M NOT AFRAID OF ANYTHING, GOT THAT?!!!"

"Riiiiiiiiiiiight..." I'm playing him now, having fun with his little outburst.

"ARE YOU DOUBTING ME?!!"

"Yep. You're afraid of me, its for some reason I can't grasp, but you're afraid. That little outburst of yours proved me right." I stand up and make for the door at a casual pace. "When you and your friends are ready to tell me whatever it is you want to tell me, you know where I'll be." With that, I leave the lunchroom for the library once again, leaving Konnan to burn off his rage.

After the lunch period ends I go to my Literature class. We study grammar most the hour... I hate grammar... that is unless I'm teasing my little brother with it, then I like it.

After Lit. is Video productions. I love this class, because its the one place I can be my crazy true self with other people that tend to act the same way as me. An excellent way to end the day... If the people I normally didn't talk to didn't talk behind my back, that is...

I ride the Twinkie home.

Ch3
I get off the twinkies and into school around normal time. I go to my Government class and draw random figures that somehow made it into my mind while I wait for it to start. Nobody talks to me in the halls, but can still feel the stares or the passerby.

Looks like I'm not a nobody anymore.

I sit though my Government lesson, drawing those random figures that somehow made their way into my head while half paying attention. After the lesson ends and we're aloud to get to work, the teacher calls me over with a worried look. I immediately think that the rumors have finally been brought to the teacher's attentions as I walk over. I was right.

"Look... I... I don't know how to say this..."

"Then let me save you the trouble. No, I have no powers, and no, I have no bullying problems." I say dryly.

It was a short exchange, extremely short, but it seemed to have an impact on the students in the classroom. Most of them had heard the rumors, but now they had undeniable proof. They started to whisper amongst themselves, but it wasn't the hard whispers I was used to hearing... Wolfgang and friends approached me after I sat back down.

"That probably wasn't the smartest move, stripes." Castiel whispered once he sat down. "Now that people know you don't have a problem, they're more than likely going to start trying to give you one."

I couldn't deny the logic in those words, but they weren't quite on the money with my situation... "Technically, I do have a problem."

They looked at me surprised-like. All of them except Wolfgang. "You're talking about the exclusion, right?"

Now it was my turn to look surprised. "Y-you-"

"Yep, I've done some looking into your... er... I guess you'd call it your 'social standing' in the school. You barely speak to anyone unless they start speaking to you, and even then you try and give short answers."

I stare at him, dumbfounded.

"You hate PE, thus haven't gone past the required one year of credit," he continued, "You love drawing and are great at cartooning, yet haven't taken an art course since 7th grade. You enjoy music and playing your trumpet, and have just started taking Music Tech this year. You also have gotten into Video Productions, and are most social in that Class."

"H-how-"

"And then lets not forget that whole 'not having any powers' thing hanging over your shoulders. That brings us to a solution we think we found, and that we've been trying to tell you for the past couple of days: Fight Club."

"What the hell is Fight Club?" I ask, finally having found my voice.

"Basically its a place where people can gather and fight," Castiel explains, "It doesn't matter why they're fighting, just so long as they don't kill their opponent. It helps relieve stress, anger, frustration, and helps make friends. The fights are set up to be fair, and if any rule of that fight in particular is broken, then a veteran steps in. There's always several skilled healers on hand to prevent lasting damage and to remove any injuries that might cause concern to parents."

I think this over. "No."

"What?"

"I won't go."

"Why?"

"Because its pointless. I have no powers, thus will get the snot beat out of me. Also, my parents would never allow me to go to something like this."

The three look at me, surprised I brought up parents. After a while, Violet says what the others looked like they wanted to say. "Then lie to them."

"No." I growl, which is uncommon for me.

"Why?" Castiel asks, a look of genuine curiosity on his face.

"Because they deserve better!" I snap. The bell rings, and I leave quickly.

SRT rolls along. Nothing happens. Boredom takes over my brain. I chew on my arm until I get an idea for a drawing: a flame in the style of my marks. Unfortunately, I get done with the drawing quickly, leaving me bored yet again...

Band class was the usual music and theory that we normally cover. I play my bent up piece of brass happily, as I always do. Trumpeting is the only thing that makes me happier than drawing. Mr. Perkins disbands the practice early and calls me over. I know where this is headed...

After my talk with Perkins I wander over to a corner. Bad idea. Almost instantly I'm surrounded by Wolfgang and friends. I look around. No escape routes.

Wolfgang speaks up first. "We didn't get to finish our talk earlier, so lets finish it now."

"I've got nothing more to say, Wolfgang."

"Oh? Well we've got some questions."

Not seeing another option, I almost say "Fire away," But then I notice someone in the group. A bat. A familiar bat. The bat I talk to in Video Productions. The bat known as Kyle. He waves at me after he notices my surprise. "Heya Dalton."

"What are you doing here?!"

He looks down at himself, then back up at me. "Standin' here, talking to you."

"No, what are you doing in this class?! You aren't in band!"

"I'm skipping Lit and Comp, and hanging around with you guys."

I shake may head at him, but say nothing.

"What?" He laughs, "It's not like I'm gonna fail the class. I show up to take the tests and to pick up work, then hand it in next class."

I still say nothing, but smile.

Violet smiles at my smile, then turns to Konnan. "Start chewin'."

"What?" Konnan said, surprised.

"You said if my idea worked, you would eat your drums."

"W-wha - I was joking!!"

While those two bickered out their problems, Kyle started talking to me again.

"So, I hear you're refusing Fight Club."

"Eh?" I say, caught off guard.

"Fight Club. I hear you're refusing it."

"So?"

"I think you should try it."

"Why? You know I'm probably the wimpiest kid in school."

"Fight Club'll change that. Besides, you tell me your parents won't stop harpin' on you to go be a part of something."

He had hit the nail on the head with that statement, and I was left with no excuse to say no...

"Great!" Kyle smiled as my ears drooped in defeat, "Now for the cover-story..." He reached into his pocket, and pulled out a cell-phone. My cell-phone.

"W-wha- H-how di-" I started in disbelief, but Kyle cut me off.

"There's shadows in your pocket, right?" He said with a smile. I glared at him as he handed the phone to Wolfgang.

"See, It did work! Now eat those drums before I shove them down your throat!" Violet commanded with triumph in her voice.

"I'M NOT GONNA EAT THEM, VI!" Konnan roared, the temperature around him increasing.

"YES YOU WILL!" She roared back, pulling a drum out of a nearby shadow and shoving it into his face.

Before Konnan could react to the the drum blocking his vision, Wolfgang cut into the argument. "Konnan, Vi, knock it off! I need to make a call," He said holding up my phone. Instantly the two stopped, though they glared at each other.

"Lets see now... contacts..."

I flattened my ears in thought. ''He's gonna call one of my parents, mimic my voice, and tell them I'm gonna stay after school... or something along those lines...''

"... Speed-dial..."

''... I cant let him do that. But how to stop him..?''

Another voice in my head answers. Do the unexpected.

I'm used to other "voices" answering my thought questions, so I just reply to it, ''What? Attack him?''

''Not quite. Attacking him would be a bad idea... Or one of his friends, for that matter,'' It replies.

...... Attack the phone? I ask.

Bingo.

I glance sideways at the others, and find that their attention is on Wolfgang... And Violet seems to have vanished...

The phone it is, then... I decide.

"Ah, there it is: M-"

He's cut off as I spin around and kick my phone from his hand with the heel of my foot, knocking it out of his hand and against the band-room lockers. The impact knocks the battery out of it, and before anyone can react I scoop it off the floor, leaving behind the phone itself. Apparently nobody was expecting me to act, and I manage to slip between a gap in them. By the time Wolfgang finally turns to look at me, I'm on the other side of the room on top of the chair-stacks.

Wolfgang smiles up at me from the other side of the room and slowly walks over. "Looks like you've got some instincts after-all. I was getting worried that we'd have to wait till we got you into the ring before we saw some fight!"

I look down at him, ears still flattened and eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"

"He means he's glad you've actually fought back," Violet's voice answers from behind, causing my eyes to widen. Before I can react, I'm bound in my own shadow and falling onto the floor. I somehow manage to avoid falling on my face, but now I'm at the mercy of Wolfgang and his cohorts.

"However, we can't allow you get away with the ever important battery to your phone," Wolfgang says, smirking down at me. "Violet?"

I feel the winged vixen land behind me, and see her hand pass along the battery.

Well, got any more bright ideas? I ask the voice that prompted me to retaliate, but it stays silent.

Ch4
The rest of the school day blurs past, much to my dismay. Soon Chemistry class ends, leaving me at the mercy of Wolfgang's plan. Using his voice mimicking abilities he had convinced my parents that he was me, and that I was going to hang out with some friends after school. Till 7pm. To Mom's credit, she questioned him thoroughly: making sure she knew who her son would be with, how long, if I'd get fed, and the general location I would be "hanging out" at. Unfortunately for me, he had all the right answers. I could still try and get on the bus, but the chance that I'd actually get home were slim to none: Violet or Kyle could easily kidnap me through my shadow, and I'd still be stuck going.

The bell rings to end class. I linger behind and talk to Kasak for a bit, but soon end up in the half-emptied hallway. I stand there, thinking over my options, when that familiar voice pops back in my head again.

There's nothing to think about, just go.

"Go where? There's two places I could go," I respond aloud.

''To where they want you to go."

"And get the snot beat out of me?!"

''If you try and get away, they'll drag you there. At least go with a little dignity.''

"I guess you have a point there..." I concede.

Besides, what do you have to lose?

"My life, for one."

Honestly, you don't live much of a life, boy.

"Oh, so now your insulting me? Thanks."

You're welcome.

Sighing, I head of towards the designated meeting place: The only place in the school that four hallways meet. Reason it was the meeting place: Crowds of students gather there, so its not an out of the ordinary meeting spot.

I look through the crowd, trying to spot one of my escorts. Before I can spot them, however, somebody claps me on the shoulder, startling me.

"Yeesh, jumpy much?" A familiar voice asks.

I turn around and glare at Kyle, "When I'm about to be forced into something, yes, I am."

Kyle smiles at my response, "Don't blame you there."

"Lets just get this over with: I've got government homework tonight and I don't want to not finish."

"We will, as soon as red-eyes white-cat shows," Kyle laughs.

"Kyle, I'm right behind you," Wolfgang's voice says, causing Kyle to whip around and look directly at a cinder block wall.

"Oh, hey Sparky," He tilts his head to the side, "How long have you been a brick wall?"

Wolfgang suddenly fades into view. "Long enough," He turns his attention to me, "I'm surprised you actually showed up."

I shrug, "It's not like I'd get home if I tried to."

"Good point," he responds, then turns back to Kyle. "Take him to the entrance, I'll join you shortly."

"Wait, you're not coming with us?" Kyle asks, "Stripes here'll be lost without someone to show him around."

"I've got to go get Inferna, she's been bugging me to let her back for weeks. Just wait around the entrance for us."

"Alright, see you there."

With that, Wolfgang left for the bus loop. As soon as he was outside there was a red flash and a thunderclap, and then he was gone.

"So," Kyle began, turning back to me, "you ever shadow traveled before?"

I shake my head, "No."

"Never?"

I give him a blank look, "Never."

"Alrighty then, not much to really explain. Just don't try and fight the current and you'll be fine."

Before I can ask what he meant by "current", the shadow beneath my feet gives way, and I fall into the blackness. Before I can get my bearings, I feel something push me from behind and whisk me through the darkness. After a few seconds, I realize that this must be the current Kyle was talking about. However, before I can compare the feeling of shadow travel to anything, the current suddenly slopes upwards and spews me out of the blackness and into daylight.

Needless to say, I land on my face. A few seconds later and I hear Kyle land beside me. I pull my head out of the snow to look at him, and find him looking down at me.

"Enjoying the snow?" He asks sarcastically.

"Enjoying it more than I would pavement," I respond.

This gets a laugh from him. Kyle laughs over just about anything. Rather annoying at times, but it's who he is. I pick myself up and look around. We're on one of those grass patches they put in the middle of parking lots for no apparent reason.

"It's in a parking lot? Really?" I ask.

Kyle smiles at the question. "Not in," he answers, "but under."

"Under?"

He nods. "Under. It's safer that way."

"Oh... But how do we get inside?"

"Through that building there," he responds, pointing to a building that I recognize as the abandoned car-dealership building. "This place has been out of business for a few years now, so Wolfgang and his sister bought the lot."

As if on cue, there was a red thunder-clap, and Wolfgang was standing next to us. He wasn't alone, though, as there was a red Demi-Kitsune with blue eyes standing beside him.

(For those of you who don't know what a Demi-Kitsune is, imagine a four-legged fox who's fur generally is only one color. Now, give it nine tails. That is a Demi-Kitsune. If you happen to find the same sort of being, but anthropomorphic, then you've happened appon a Kitsune. Both Kitune and their four-legged counterparts are rare, but incredibly powerful. Never try to make one angry.)

I give Wolfgang an inquisitive look, and he set forth with introductions.

"Dalton, this is Inferna," he said, gesturing down at her, "Inferna, Dalton."

As soon as he finishes speaking, the Demi-Kitsune jumps at me, knocking me onto my back so she can stare into my eyes, which I imagine grew large. After I realize what she was doing, I stare back, careful not to waver. Something clicks in place in my head in that instant, and time seems to slow down. Wolfgang arms, which are en-route to grab Inferna, now move at a snail's pace. Kyle, who jumped backwards in surprise, has yet to touch the ground. The whole scene reminds me of those time-bending sections of The Matix.

Then, just when I think things can't get any weirder, I hear Inferna's voice in my head. I'm not sure how I identify it as hers, Demi-Kitsune don't talk, but there was never any doubt in my mind it was hers.

Hello there.

Being unable to make my lips move fast enough to make words while in this strange time-warp, I respond with thought.

''Er... Hi?''

I suppose you're wondering what I did to make time slow, yes?

''Uh.. Kinda..''

''I initiated telepathic communications with you. Because you've never done this before, your perception of time slowed down in order to make sure you could understand everything said in this exchange. In real time, less than a second has gone by.''

Wow...

Indeed, Her eyes took on a pleasant look, Its amazing what the brain can do...

Unsure of what to say, I just lay there, waiting for time to go back to normal. After what feels like a few minutes, she speaks again.

So, you've never been to the club, have you?

Nope.

Good, that means I can be the one to show you around!

What?!

You heard me.

But I thought Wolfgang was going to do that!

So does he, She responds, her eyes taking on a mischievous quality.

I don't like that look in your eye...

You'll learn to like it.

The instant after she responds, time snaps back to normal. I see her bolt off my chest and then the next thing I know, I'm being drug across the parking lot on my back. It takes me a minute before I realize Inferna had grabbed my wrists in her tails and was using them to pull me away from the others. Now that I've established this in my head, I wonder why my arms don't hurt from the strain. I wait a few more seconds, but instead of a burning sensation entering my arms, the feeling of acceleration leaves my body, replaced by it's opposite. She soon stops, and I manage to get my feet underneath me before another wave of time-slow hits.

Ta-Da!

"Ta-Da"?

Yes, Ta-Da!

Ok, what's with the "Ta-Da"?

I just pulled you all the way across the lot and into the entrance building!

Time starts to speed up a bit once she tells me this, giving me the opportunity to survey my surroundings. Sure enough, we're inside the old dealership. I try taking a step, but my leg still moves slowly, about half it's normal pace.

Looks like my head's getting more confident with this telepathy stuff...

Despite the time slow, Inferna somehow manages to get in front of me without me noticing. ''Good! At this rate I'll be able to coach your first fight!''

My ears droop when I remember I'm here to get the snot pounded out of me.

''Don't worry about it. Just listen to your gut and you'll be fine.'' Inferna reassures me.

Yeah, right... I respond half-heartedly.

The exitment in her eyes is replaced with concern. Why do you doubt yourself so much?

Becore I can respond, time snaps back to normal once again, and I hear the door open behind me.

Ch5
"Yeesh Inferna, you sure can move when you want to," Kyle says from behind.

"Of course she can, did you forget what she is?" Wolfgang asks as I turn around.

"Oh yeah..." Kyle responds with mock remembrance in his voice. Wolfgang just smiles and shakes his head at his friend, then turns to me.

"I'm sorry about Inferna, she normally doesn't kidnap strangers," He apologizes, directing his last comment towards the kidnapper.

"Eh, I wouldn't really call it kidnap..." I respond, not all that sure if I would or wouldn't.

Believe me, Wolfgang, if I actually kidnapped him you would be hard pressed to find him again. Inferna's voice responds in my head.

Apparently she had been broadcasting the remark to everybody, because Kyle smiled again while Wolfgang closed his eyes and shook his head slowly. I glance down at Inferna, and realize that she's got that look in her eye again. Her tails suddenly glow, and a wall of fire springs up between us and the others. Before I can jump backwards in surprise, her tails grab my legs and I'm suddenly on my front being towed by the Demi-kitsune once again. The trip isn't long, and soon we're in a small metal room with the doors automatically closing behind us. It's about this time I hear what could only be laughter in my head, and it's not mine. I manage to roll myself over and sit up to look at Inferna. She's got a pleasant look in her eye now, and it almost looks like she's smiling.

I love doing that.

"I'll bet," I say, finally able to respond with my mouth and not my thoughts.

''Hey, you can speak now! That's great!''

"Is it..?"

''Yes, of course it is! That means your brain is up to speed.''

"Oh..." I respond, less than enthusiastic.

Still doubting yourself?

"How could I not..?"

Inferna closes her eyes in thought for a minute, which worries me. So far all of her ideas involved dragging me around and eluding Wolfgang, and I've a sinking feeling that the next one will entail the same basic concept...

I've got it! She finally says, her eyes snapping open. Sure enough, they've got that mischievous look. My ears droop as her tails tighten around my legs.

"Please tell me that you're not thinking what I'm thinking you're thinking..."

No, you thought right.

"Damn..."

''What? You think I won't be a good trainer?''

"No, I'm just dreading what you might put me through..."

I hear her laughter in my head again as the doors to the room open again. The outside room isn't the same as before, and I realize that this metal room must be an elevator. Before I can say this, however, Inferna shoots out of the room like a rocket, nearly ripping my legs off. My vision blurs from the speed, my back heats up quickly from the friction, and I'm unable to hear anything other than the roar of the air passing by. By the time she stops I'm gasping for air, and I think I lost some back fur on the trip.

Too fast? She asks, letting go of my legs and walking out of view.

I'm having trouble breathing at the moment... So yes. I respond via mind link, slowly proping myself up.

After I start to breathe at a more normal rate, I start to feel around my back. Sure enough, I'm missing a clump of fur here and there, and my shirt is torn. I start to curse at the discovery, but stop when I feel a second pair of paws touching the patches of exposed skin.

"Ouch," Inferna's voice comments in the air," Didn't think that would happen..."