For So She Thought....

## Summary

It has been a few days since Moonfoot's death. Wildflower has lied to everyone about it. She thought nobody had ever saw what happened. Little did she know a young lab experiment, who had been seperated from her family, watching from a vent, going by the name of 'Knifefrost' had saw what happened and is questioning why. Eclipse has also been worried about his sister but has gotten better day by day. But secrets have a way of getting out, some that can be deadly, and some that Wildflower,Knifefrost, and Eclipse are beginning to discover. Can they find a way to the truth? Or will darkness consume them?

## Characters

* Wildflower
* Knifefrost
* Eclipse
* Carnation (Ghost)
* Moonfoot (Ghost)
* Cyststorm (Mentioned)
* SNOWEY-X (Mentioned)
* Locked Heart (Mentioned)
* Griff,Alex,Sunset,and co. (Mentioned only,Appearing in a few flashbacks)
* Virtual Error 248
* Fake realm guy (Mentioned only)
* Un-named and Unknown creatures (May be revealed)
* Alex
* Murphy
* Griff
* Jenna
* Calisto
* Wolfren army
* Mason (another very young experiment on Alex’s side and Murphy’s best friend)
* Ursa (Moon’s descent, Moon is one of the original founders of the Illogical Realm and Alex’s ancestor Scarlet’s best friend and Lover)
* Nikki (a freed experiment who lives in the forest)

## Knifefrost's POV

*She crept through the vents memories flooding through her. She saw two cats, one that was white, while the other looked sort of like a fox with scars all over and yellow fur. She had seen and heard it all happen, the howling, wailing, screeching. The wolf had no chance. It layed there, in a pool of blood, with its insides all over the white lab floor. The yellow fox-cat was named Wildflower and The other one Moonfoot. Apparently Moonfoot tried to run away before being struck down, and eventually, disemboweled in cold blooded insanity. Moonfoot's shrieks had filled the room until they got lower and lower until he went still. It was nauseating to watch, but also very satisfying. she then had seen Wildflower kick Moonfoot's body into the study enclosure, then run off to clean off the horrible evidence, why had this happened? Why was Moonfoot killed? Why had Wildflower gone insane and sealed both the wolf and Moonfoot's fate? She might never know and for the record, she didn't really want to....* She woke up with a sudder. She was in a place that looked like a forest. She looked down at her paws. Dark, inky goo had almost consumed them. *Stupid latex infection. That lab did nothing right. All this hoping and nothing paid off.* She looked around and sampled the air. No sign of Moonfoot's ghost or Wildflower. *Snap!* She perked up her ears. *Someone's coming!* She ran into the bushes and hid.

## Wildflower's POV

Its been days prior to the event. I still feel horribly guilty. *I didn't want to kill him!* But it's all said and done. There was nothing she could do. *What if Eclipse found out? He would not be very happy...Neither would anybody else...*Her mind clouded. She could hear the leaves whispering. *Danger. Strange presence must be aware of things out of place.* I bite back a hiss. I feel a cold presence. I turn around. *What is that?* I see splotches of something that looks like ink...*Yikes...* I back away, wincing.

I see a glowing figure emerge from the bushes. It looks to be a young woman with short curly hair, a loose white shirt, and loose pants with bare feet.

"AAAAA!" I shout. "Who *are* you?! An ally of the fake realm guy!?"

"Oh Wildflower, Chérie I'm not going to hurt you. Also I hate the fake realm guy. He nearly almost put my family in danger months ago, but they're safe now."

”How do you know my name?” I ask. My gem glows to light the way for me.

”Through this Astral form, I witnessed what happened between you and several other Realmians,” she replies. “One saw me and I asked him who he was. He said his name was Eclipse.”

”You know my brother?” I ask.

”Yes.” Murphy replies.

“WAIT?! Ohhh I *really* hope he forgives me after he finds out I killed our oldest brother Moonfoot!”

”I’ve seen him.” Murphy says. “He’s kind of a jerk.”

”Yeah.” I reply. “He and dad hated us and sheltered mom and Eclipse and I from the rest of the world, claiming that it would keep us from rebelling against him during the day he would kill us....Murphy....”

”Yes, petit loup?” She asks.

”I...I can’t read. Really. I can’t read or write at all. That is the result of him sheltering us. Mom can’t read either.”

”Little flower...that is terrible.” Murphy says softly.

”Yeah.” I say. “Murphy...what’s with the nicknames? Also they all sound like they’re in another language. I know other languages exist, but I’ve never heard this one before.”

”Wildflower.” She says. “The language I speak is French. Part of my family is from Belgium so that makes me Belgian American. Also I sometimes use nicknames because I’m so used to using them on my own daughter.

Come with me.” She leads me to what looks like her house and we head through the door. I shut it behind me and she guides me to her room.

“Tread silently. It’s so you don’t wake my partners or daughter.”

Murphy’s astral form floats back into her sleeping body. Slowly she wakes back up again.

”Wow...” I say. “That was...*impressive.* Can you teach me how to do that?”

” I will.” She replies. “But it will take time. And training.”

”Also why do you sleep with a gas mask?” I ask, pointing to the mask covering her nose with straps around her head.

”This isn’t a gas mask. It’s a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) mask. I use it when I sleep because of the size of my airway. I can breathe fine when I’m awake, but when I’m asleep, I can’t breathe very well. Normally when someone goes to sleep, the airways relax a little bit, but in my case, they relax a little too much, causing a partial obstruction making it hard for me to breathe. It also causes me to snore like a chainsaw.”

I laugh, then clap my hand over my mouth.

”This blows air through my nose and keeps my airways open. When I use this, I don’t snore at all. The condition I have is called sleep apnea. Both my mom and sister have it, as family history makes it likely that someone may also have it, though many people don’t know they do. However, this doesn’t breathe for the person using it. In order to use this, you still have to be able to somewhat breathe on your own.”

“Interesting.” I reply. “Tell me more about this.”

## Murphy’s POV

”I used to hate wearing it when I was young.” I say. “A long time ago I stopped wearing it, because I thought what could be so bad, right? Well I was dead wrong. I kept waking up constantly every few nights because I couldn’t breathe, and whenever someone told me about it, I just brushed it off as something not that bad. Then I did my research and it said if I didn’t wear the mask, sleep apnea would heighten my chances of early death. Then I realized that if I simply kept wearing it at night, I wouldn’t snore like a chainsaw and I wouldn’t wake up so much. Now because I hadn’t worn it in a long time, I had to get it re-fitted and I had to readjust to the way the mask felt on my face because I’m autistic with sensory issues although it’s not really noticeable at all.”

“Autism....I think I remember Alex explaining it to me...different neural wiring? Yes?” Wildflower asks.

”Bingo.” I reply. I hear strange sounds coming from part of the house. I remove my mask and turn off the machine it’s connected to. “Uh oh...”

”I hope no one broke in...” Wildflower says. “Hold on. I sense someone’s energies. I know who it is.”

”Who is it?” I ask.

”KnifeFrost, or Frost as we call her. Another genetic experiment who lost her family to the fake realm guy.” Wildflower says.

”I’m going with you.” I say. “I care about you so much. I’m not going to let you die now.”

”Also don’t forget to teach me how to read...” she says. “And give me French lessons.”

"Sure." I reply. "Now let's go help KnifeFrost."

## Knifefrost’s POV

I’m in a strange house, and hear footsteps from down the hall. I hope I don’t get caught, because I’m in desperate need of help to escape, and I really don’t need anymore people out to kill me right now.

Suddenly, I spot someone familiar. Wildflower....and a mysterious woman?

Deep down I hope we found an ally. But then a memory flashes through my head. A grey figure had attacked me out of nowhere. *A claw struck through my side luckily he couldn't do much damage as my slug-cat genes had made my eternal and internally slimy and gooey, as well as keeping me from succumbing to dark latex. "WHAT KIND OF STRANGE LIFE FORMS IS THIS, YOU LITTLE WORM?! WHY CAN'T I KILL YOU?!" He shouted. I was able to squirm away and run across the stepping stones, "You won't get away from Virtual Error that easily!" He roars. He runs with a furious speed and knocks me into a rock causing me to go unconscious. I would've drowned if it wasn't for a current to wash me ashore. But Virtual Error....He's their father?* I shudder. *NO! Don't let it get to you. schizsophrenia had taken the lives of many innocent creatures I came across. Seeing in colors wasn't even possible anymore. Stupid lab workers took me away from my family, their fate was sealed the moment they did that. I'm not ready for certain death anytime soon...Hold on, Knifefrost...*

”Knifefrost!” A voice calls out. It’s the woman behind me....and Wildflower.

”What do you *want* with me?!” I say, my voice cracking.

“Knifefrost, this is Murphy. She wants to help you.” Wildflower says.

”I promise.” Murphy says. “I care about Eclipse and Wildflower, and I wouldn’t be helping you if I didn’t care about you. You lost your family. I want to help you get them back, chérie.”

”And I will give those lab workers a *piece of my mind!”* Wildflower growls.

”We will always be here for you.” Both of them say in unison.

## Eclipse's POV

I had always wondered why Wildflower acted so sad and regretful when she told us that Moonfoot died. I was kinda worried and shocked at the same time. Moonfoot was never really good at heart nor in personality. he was even fighting when he was first born. He even tried to kill me multiple times, Twice in his stupid hatred and jealously because of my empathy. And a few other times when he abused me. He even nearly gave me brain damage. My head still hurts from the memory of it. His bitterness and cruelty didn't get any better when father influenced him. Because of father, Moonfoot became power hungry and deceitful. Wildflower had suffered breakdowns and pushed down abilities because of him. And even though he's dead, he isn't truly gone, but now he won't be toxic and aggressive anymore. But when we saw what had happened, I wanted to vomit. He had been disemboweled, a look of fear and horror in his empty eyes. Along with the wolf that had killed him. Or so we thought. I wasn't able to read Wildflower's mind because it was too cloudy and vague. *Odd.* But now things were different. We have friends and better outlooks now. But of course, Wildflower could never really recover properly after everything that had happened. And I have said before she loves everyone in her own paranoid way. But hopefully I can find a way to make Wildflower happy again.

Now about that mysterious woman...Murphy...I hope she helps us heal the wounds our father and brother gave us. I know there is a way. There is always *another way.*

## Wildflower's POV

”I see someone’s energies.” Murphy says. “One of the advantages of being a werewolf. It’s Eclipse. I just hope I don’t frighten him.”

”I heard him mention you.” I say. “I think he knows you’re here to help him. I know he does. My sweet little brother knows an ally from an enemy. You’re most definitely an ally, Murphy.”

”Thank you, my sweet.” She replies softly.

## *Knifefrost's POV: Memories*

*Grabbing the cobweb gently and trying to not think about family was hard. All I could think about besides that were all those innocent creatures. They died awful deaths. But maybe this is different now. The feelings and color seeing aren't. But the outlooks are. But I will always regret what I did. I will always feel guilty about it about it because it was me that caused their deaths. So many of them, including one of their leaders. They weren't intentional, but when I get triggered it feels as If everything is out to get me. But now there might be a chance to break free, from the latex, lies, and mental disorders. I was training to be a healer and nearly completed it. I have a knowledge of herbs and other healing things, as nothing will ever make me think these creatures needed to die.*

## Back to reality Eclipse's POV

I carefully check my surroundings. I see black liquid on the ground. *What happened here?* Something White-and-black zooms past me. *Who was that. One way to find out.* I run after it. "Hey! Hey! Who are you? Stop running! I just want to-" I run smack into a tree. *F\*ck*. I slowly get up and speed walk so that won't happen again. The figure stops cautiously. From what I see its a female with a white slimy-fur looking creature with splotches of black 'ink' on its paws, face, the tips of its ears and a black-handled knife for a tail. *What a odd creature...*

I spot two figures in the bushes. Wildflower...and Murphy.

”Who was that?” I ask.

”It was a genetic experiment named Knifefrost.” Murphy replies. “We’re going to help her take down the laboratory that separated her family, then find her family. That lab needs to be reported for endangering the lives of Realmians.”

”Not good.” I reply. “Murphy, I will help....Also don’t forget to teach us to read.” I chuckle softly. “I’m hungry...for knowledge. I really want to know why this lab has the nerve to harm innocent lives.”

”Then you’re going to end up doing great things and proving that artificially created creatures are still living creatures.” Murphy says. “You will save many.”

Deep down, I know this will be worth it. I take Wildflower’s hand and we walk off to search for Knifefrost.

## Wildflower's POV

"Knifefrost? Knifefrost?" I call out while walking with Eclipse and Murphy. Who knew she was able to trek this much ground in day? *Now how else will we be able to...*We see a trail of black ink. That's when I remember how Knifefrost had splotches of black on her. *How is this linked to her?* I shudder at the thought of canisters I saw in a lab once, filled with white, green,red, orange, and *ink colored* liquid, which was called latex....I choke back a gasp. *Could Knifefrost be infected??* I'm surprised how she hasn't succumbed to it yet. "You think Knifefrost has a *latex* problem?'' Eclipse asks. I look down. "Yes...It's the only explanation. Why would their be a trail of it across the ground every time she's near?" I murmur. "Even if she is infected, she is still a living creature, and scientists have no right for using such cruel methods for studying something, artificial or not'' Eclipse and Murphy points out. I sigh. They're both right. We continue on. Even if this is confirmed, where could she be hiding?

## Knifefrost's POV

I walk further on away from the house I was once in. *I deserve this. I don't want to be around others if it means they get hurt.* I feel a cold presence. I stop in my tracks. I look around the place. It smells of aggression and death. I shudder. Two red eyes stare from a dark boundary. Two claws are also standing there. I can't tell who it was, but all I know was that it was very aggressive. *"Don't. Move. Or you'll be **sHrEds.**"* it snarls. Its red eyes gleam with rage. *"You don't seem that....problematic."* It takes a step outward. I shudder. I want to take a step back but it feels as if I'm frozen. Before I know it, a large, white red-eyed cat, with a stomach wound still bleeding is looming over me, eyes redder with rage. "So your an ally huh? Pathetic" He growls. I feel hopeless looking at him. He looks familiar. *Moonfoot!* " You guessed correctly. And since your my siblings friend, YOU WILL DIE!!!" Moonfoot snarls aggressively. I squeak and run away. He chases me, he was horrifyingly faster than Virtual Error. He catches up, and puts a paw on top of me, squashing me. "Let me go!" I say desperately. Trying to get away. "It's no use now...Give. In." He snarls. *This is it....My fate is sealed.* But then I see a flash of yellow with a grey tail-tip. It crashes into Moonfoot with a yowl. Moonfoot flashes a look of surprise before being in the claws of another cat. "Back off, son. This creature did nothing to you. Your anger and bitterness will punish you direly one day, one day, son." She growls sternly. "Fine" He growls, then slinks away. "Th-thank you." I stammer. "No problem,snail." she purrs. Then goes a bit serious. "What are you even doing here? Your lucky I wandered in when I did. Otherwise my son would've squashed you." Shock appears on my face. "He's your *son?*" I ask. "Sadly yes. He's a ball of hostility,that one. But what matters now is you need to get out of here, there's a lot of nasty ghosts here that will gladly want to devour you. My name is Carnation by the way." She replies. "Well again, thanks for the help, Carnation." I say again more stronger. She nods nobly before bounding away. Then I do the same.

## Eclipse's POV

"I saw someone. The being looked like you." Murphy says. "Who is she?"

"Our mother, Carnation." I reply.

"Oh Wildflower..." Murphy says softly, stroking her face. "You look just like your maman."

"Murphy..." I say. "You care more about us than any of those heartless lab workers."

Suddenly, mom walks towards us. "You're the one my dear Eclipse has been talking about all this time. You look like someone on our side."

"Indeed I am." Murphy replies. "Je suis Murphy. Translation: I'm Murphy. It's nice to meet someone new."

"Je...suis Carnation. I'm Carnation. Also was that another language?" mom says.

"Mom, it's French." Wildflower says. "Murphy wants to teach us to read. And give us French lessons! Finally an opportunity to actually learn something!" I hear excitement in her voice.

"I'm glad you want to help us." Mom says. "Now we've found someone we trust. Someone who cares about us. Someone who can save all those innocent lives. Teach us to protect and defend."

"That's what mothers do." Murphy says.

## Wildflower's POV

I hear voices in my head. *These aren't thoughts....These are ghosts...I think I hear Knifefrost as well....Did she wander in too far? "**Do I have to do this?! That's stupid!''*** a voice calls out. I wince slightly. ***"I should've killed you MOONS ago...''*** another voice snarls. It sounded horribly familiar. *Moonfoot.. **"You know what, Moonface, you can fade away and turn to crowfood for all I care!''*** The other voice snarls back. *I can't essssscaaapeee! **''Fine you can go and slowly fade away, Slink. Your being forgotten quicker than anyone here. You could instead join me for power.''*** Moonfoot snarls. I can feel his terrifying grin in my head. **''I might be confined to this dark place, but I would never join you! Unlike you I know why I was confined here and that I should redeem myself!''** Slink snarls defensively. *He's fighting back....nobody ever did that before. Especially towards someone as cruel as Moonfoot.* "Hey! Hey! Wildflower it's me! Wake up!" Something calls. *It feels slimy...yuck.* "Wildflower!" the voice calls meekly. I jolt awake. *I can't believe it...Moonfoot's a ghost now...and he's still power-hungry and aggressive...Hopefully 'Slink' will be okay?* I jolt awake. Knifefrost is on my chest, looking at me with a dazed look. "Frost?" I ask. "Yeah...You were asleep for a while....I think I heard shouting. And a Monster. Did it bite?" She asks innocently. I don't answer. I gently push Knifefrost off and try to get up. But my head feels as heavy as a *rock.* *Ugh.* I slowly sit up and try to see where we are. "Where were you? We were worried sick." I cry. Knifefrost looks at me as if her expression was emotionless, but I can tell she's saying ''*You were worried sick about ME? Of all creatures?''* from the look on her face. ''WELL YES!'' I shout, making her flinch. "WE CARE AND WANT TO HELP YOU!" Knifefrost drops her gaze to the ground. *Well this had been confusing. I'll have to tell everyone the truth one day. I'll just have to survive until I do...*

## Knifefrost's POV

"Well about that, I kind of....saw what happened?" I say to Wildflower as she tells me what she did. "WHAT?!" She shrieks. "You have to stop with the dramatic shouts" I observe. "Yes I saw....I was very young and crawling through the vents looking for an escape route I didn't know why it happened but now I found the answer. N-no I would never tell if it makes you uneasy. I feel that way almost all the time'' I yelp to keep her from acting out dramatically again. Wildflower sighs with relief. *Hopefully nobody else heard this though....*Wildflower gazes off and looks at a near by tree. *Is she talking to the tree?* I look around. Wildflower sort of reminded me of Soldier. He just needed rules. He wanted everything to fit into squares. Wildflower probably did to, lying to her friends then to have to tell the truth must feel like rubbing nettles on her palms. *But still Soldier was victim to mind control and he murdered our adopted father in front of everybody...Until he was murdered in turn with nobody there to witness it.* I grit my teeth to ignore the pain in my chest. Wildflower looked uneasy. "Wildflower are you o-" Wildflower shushed me and looked up. I blink in confusion. I hear something land. Something purple and stick-figured like zoomed past. It tackled into Wildflower. She yowls and claws at him. The figure shrieks. I ran into fight and went into the center of it. Claws tossed me into the air. Wildflower tried to fight him off, but he managed to subdue her and she falls to the ground. Seeing some cobweb and leaves, I used my healing skills too make a 'cape' I try to put it on her wounds to stop the bleeding,"here put this over your- " The purple figure tackles me. I recoil and bite his ear. He slams me into a tree,knocking me out with grin, then dragging me into a strange river. *Oh no!*

## Wildflower's POV

I wake up, scratches covering me, not to deep, but very painful. *I can't believe that crazy thing attacked me.* To my horror Knifefrost is gone. *It kidnapped her too! but where did it take her?* "Sis!" I hear a voice call. Eclipse is hopping toward me in a wave of concern. "We finally caught up to you! Where's Knifefrost?" He pants. "*She was just with me....Until we were attacked and that **thing** kidnapped her.."* I say dryly. Eclipse stares at me as if I'm crazy. I fidget with my claws uneasily. "Anyways I heard you and Frost talking, something about vents, seeing, something happen, Moonfoot dead, and a lab. Full story, now." He says sternly. I sigh. *I guess I'm gonna have to tell him.* I look for the right words...before I hear the trees murmuring. *"Down the river, danger's near, why why you must be aware....Danger danger. Danger is near...."* I grit my teeth. *The plants are acting strange and vague....Was that a ghost that kidnapped Knifefrost...maybe their the ghost that was fighting with Moonfoot ....I can't stall forever...*"Before I tell what happened...I'm going to find Frost and her kidnapper..whatever it takes'' I say boldy. ''We're coming with you'' Eclipse says stepping up. ''No Eclipse. It's too dangerous and I'll never forgive myself if you get killed." I say pitifully. ''Either you don't go, or you take us with you." Eclipse says sternly.

## Eclipse's POV

"He's right." Murphy says. "Going with him will keep you safe. I warned Alex. She knows what the lab workers have done."

"If we take them all down, it could boost our chances of saving lives...and reuniting families." I say.

"If you really think this is gonna be worth it.." Wildflower says. "Then fine, I'll go."

"Let's go find Knifefrost." I say. "Murphy, what do you have with you?"

"Armor, shurikens, a gun already loaded, and some potions." she replies. "Also I already sent messages to my family about my absence. But I will come back after we save everyone...and find a home for you guys. I know someone you can live with...and I already told them about you. You're going to be okay. I promise. And Wildflower?--"

"Yes?" she turns towards her.

"You need therapy. You clearly have some wounds that need healing. Both physical and emotional. What your father and older brother did to both of you and your mother was unspeakable." A small tear rolls down her cheek. She wipes it away and her face assumes a stoic expression.

"If we sneak into the lab, you'll have to disguise yourself so those lab workers don't find anything weird going on." I say.

"Safety glasses, gas mask, lab coat, vials...." Murphy says rifling through her backpack. She snaps her fingers and her clothes change from pajamas to a hoodie, wristbands, leggings, all with tech vibes. She taps one of the wristbands and armor appears on her jacket. She puts on the disguise as we reach the laboratory.

"Alright guys." I say. "It's go time."

Wildflower camouflages herself, turning invisible and I sneak into one of the empty rooms until I spot a strange creature. She's part fox part something else, weird alien creature, maybe, but has weird tendrils protruding from her head. Probably one of those poor genetic experiments.

"You!...Who *are* you?" I whisper. "A-are you okay?"

"I--My name is...Mason." The experiment replies. "I was just trying to find my parents. Somehow they're gone...and I...I don't have m-much time." She winces in pain and collapses on her knees. Once I get a closer look, I see that her belly is swollen. Mason is pregnant. If the lab workers kill her, they kill her unborn child.

"We need to get you medical attention." I say, carrying her with both arms. "I don't want you having a child in the worst location possible, where you'd be dead meat if the lab workers heard you..."

"...making pain noises, yeah I know..." Mason finishes. She speaks with a British accent.

"Murphy..." I whisper. "This is Mason. One of the experiments I found. She lost her parents, and she's gonna have a child so--" Murphy cuts me short.

"Come with me." She says, taking Mason's hand. "I know where I can take you..." She walks off.

"While Murphy's helping Mason, we'll keep watch for more experiments." I say to Wildflower. "If you see anymore lab workers, blow 'em all away."

"You got it, brother!" She says.

I know we'll save the world.

I enter the lab again, and hear crashing noises, a man's voice filled with curses. and screaming. I run down the hallways, hiding in the nooks and crannies. *Oh God, Please don't die. DO not let anyone see you. This is your last chance before anyone finds you. GO!* My mind urges me.

I need to find an opportunity. Maybe one of the workers is too busy in this slip-up to notice me coming.

I hear soft sobbing coming from a corner. Maybe I found another one. I go towards the source of the sound. which turns out to be another experiment.

I wonder what happened.

## Knifefrost's POV

I hear shouting and fighting and growling and sympathy. I'm being dragged under icy cold water. *He's drowning me!* I think in horror. Before I know it, I'm back in the dark ghost residence where Moonfoot almost killed me. ''Why am I here who are you?! YOU BETTER NOT KILL ME FREAK!!!'' I say in burning pulse of fear and fury. My kidnapper just bitterly laughed. ''I'm pretty sure you heard me shouting at Moonface a few nights ago.....I'm Slink-" *Slink..He's Slink.* "His name was Moonfoot, not Moonface. Now how do I get out of here?" Slink doesn't answer. *He's acting as if something is in the darkness....oh wait-* I see two blue-green glowing eyes before they fade away. I hear a wail coming out from above the river. *Wildflower?! Oh no! I have to get back.* "Slink I don't care if your evil or not, but I have to get back!" Slink drew out his claws, ''Sounds like a fight, I could lend a claw. I'm pretty sure they'd need a claw on their side this time!'' I get suspicious, "Why do you want to help? Aren't you evil? I mean your roaming on dark territory...'' Slink snorts, "No. I'm not evil. But I wasn't the nicest creature around. When I died, I realized, I came into this territory. I deserved being here probably, but now that this chaotic fight going on between evil, and now I found a chance to never be alone anymore and my last moments I make before fading away could be good ones.'' *No time to lose....I'm coming Wildflower....*

## Wildflower's POV

I'm sneaking through the lab. This cruel place that smelled of blood,fear,and latex...*No lab workers yet...*"No...No...NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!'' I hear. *What was that?* ''This is for you, Mother!'' I hear a determined cry. Two lab workers on the ground bleeding, but dead. *What in the...* Claws were slashing through flesh and metal, vats of poison fall on the ground. ''Slink watch it! You nearly killed those experiments!'' A voice hisses. *Knifefrost?! She's okay! Slink? I wonder who that could be....Two lab workers are coming I need to do something...quick.* I see a puddle of liquid poison. I dip my claws into it and wait for them to charge. When they charged up, I leapt up to attack. *Go for they eyes,chest,or neck!* I sink them into the lab workers chest, they fall down crouching in pain. *Yes...you deserve it.* I see Knifefrost take a black stick-like spear, she swings it around an artificial wolf is about to lunge at her. Memories flooded back as I ran towards her. *Don't worry I won't lose you!* To my surprise, she twirls the spear and stabs the evil wolf on the back before throwing more sticks at it, weighing it down. She then Stabs it in the chest with her tail. I look in shock. But I'm too late when a lab worker runs toward her with an electrified noose. Knifefrost leaps up and begins clawing his face. *THIS IS WHAT YOU GET FOR RIPPING ME AWAY FROM THE ONES I CARE ABOUT* her mind roared. The lab worker drops noose and struggles. Another artificial wolf attacks them both, the lab worker dead and Knifefrost injured. *No!* I run towards her, but I'm not gonna make it in time. ''Leave her alone! She's my friend!'' I hear a voice a purple stick-figure cat-like creature leaps at the wolf claws in tact,holding the wolf down. They stumble and fight. I see Moonfoot he glares at the purple figure and the wolf, ''Sink, You TRAITOR!'' he roars. To my horror he possesses the wolf. Its brown eyes turn red and its fur turns white. Knifefrost leaps bravely, trying to hold off Moonfoot. I make it there I stand in the middle, *Like old times, brother.* I brace myself, but he knocks me away. Injuries appear deeper and stronger. Knifefrost claws Moonfoot's face, but he claws her off too, not doing as much damage. He's about to finish us off but Slink jumps in the the way to take the blow. ''Slink NOOOO!'' Knifefrost cries, rushing to his side. ''I th-think I redeemed myself...My only friends here....I-I tried....'' He stammers before his eyes close and he begins to fade. ''NO! I can..I can help you...SLINK! NOOOOOOOO!'' Knifefrost sobs as she tries to heal him, but it's too late...He fades away, a stain of blood in place. ''He's dead...I never thought his death would end that way. But he fought with all the power of Badgerfang...and that is how I will remember him.'' Knifefrost says sadly. Knifefrost was right. Moonfoot never should've ended his life, especially as brutal as this...Moonfoot's rage has ruined the lives of many and it will end with us or start with us. But I know we will save the world from this cruel lab, and ourselves from my older brother.

## Knifefrost's POV

I never felt as sad as this when my friend was killed. I had only knew him for a few moments, and now he's dead. Is this my fault? Should I have never taken him with me into this fight? All I know is that I will avenge him. One day. Moonfoot will regret what he did. But I'm not strong enough....and if I could, how would I beat a ghost? *I'm sure we'll find a way....*But for now all I could do was win this battle. *I will find my family....and I will face this lab on the battlefield and I will avenge the deaths of many and redeem myself and make amends for what I did, just like my friend had done. Even if I die a painful death, my efforts won't go down in vain.....*

## Eclipse's POV

I run towards the source of the sound I heard. I feel the pain of claws,teeth, and acid along the way, I try my hardest to block it out. *Gotta hold on. Save the experiments....* I finally reach the corner I see three little creatures that kinda look like Frost... One was pink with a chain around her neck, one was white and kinda looked like a wolf cub. The last one was yellow with stripes of black on her back and ear tips. ''What happened here?'' I ask gently. The sobbing creature answers, ''W-we lost her...'' She stammers, ''Who?'' I ask, She looks at me with a quell of emotion in her eyes, 'Kn-knifefrost...'' she mumbles. Realization pulses through me. *This must be Frost's family.* ''I can take you to her if you want.'' I purr. ''Y-you can do that? Y-yes please. Take us to her.'' She says with hope dripping into her voice. I lead her and the other two creatures to Knifefrost.

## Wildflower's POV

I feel numb. Very numb. I want to move, but I can't. It feels like I'm paralyzed. Knifefrost gets up and her scratches heal instantly. ''Wildflower are you alright?'' She asks me. Everything hurt, my head hurt., my throat hurt, *my teeth* hurt. ''I-I think I'll be fine.'' I say in a creaky voice. ''That sounds pretty bad. Perhaps I can maybe find some herbs to heal your wounds?'' She replies with concern. ''NO!'' I wail, voice slowly wearing out. ''Shh! Don't talk! Let your vocal cords heal.'' Knfiefrost says, jumping towards me. Moonfoot, who apparently was still looming over snorts, ''Psh! I'd like to see a vocal cord heal on *you!*'' I hear a growling hiss and wail and Moonfoot yelps with a surprising jolt of panic and runs off. ''Serves him right'' Knifefrost mutters. ''Sis! Frost! Look who I found!'' He says, running towards us with three creatures. I turn weakly to see them and I see Knifefrost brighten up.

## Knifefrost's POV

It felt like the whole lab had fallen on me. ''Mother!'' I cry. I run toward her and my siblings, we collide in a bundle of fur and slime. ''Where have you been you had us worried!'' My brother cries, My sister cries with joy, and so does Mother. *It's nice to see her happy. She's been having a hard time coping ever since her brother passed away. But looks like we have to save the reunion for later..* ''Look. There isn't much time for this right now. So save the questions,reunions, and whatever until we can finish this somewhat evacuation.'' A voice snarks. It had a note of authority in it, Eclipse was too bewildered to speak. Wildflower got all panicky. But whoever said that was right. ''We need to find all the experiments. We can't let them die here.'' Eclipse begins to open his mouth and say something until the voice again says, ''EVERY INNOCENT EXPERIMENT ROTTING AWAY HERE! WE NEED TO BE FAST, EFFICIENT, AND ON DEFENSES IF WE WANT TO GET OUT OF HERE MAKE SURE YOU RUN OUT OF EVERY EXIT POSSIBLE!! FIGHT IF YOU NEED TO!!'' Eclipse covers and ears and grits his teeth, ''My ears hurt already...'' He mutters. *But this is a sign that we are winning and we have to keep moving forward in order to achieve victory....*

## Eclipse's POV

I see the creature who is shouting,she is pinkish orange with fluffs of white on her chest and legs with stripes of black she also has yellow eyes and a white ponytail-ish looking hair on her head, her ear were back and her face wore a angry expression. I shudder. *She looks like someone even Moonfoot would steer clear from....*I scowl. I feel a tail slap me, I turn towards it with a hiss, the creature hardly flinched, ''Maybe you should probably move out the way so you you don't get trampled.'' She says to me in a icy way. I choke back a growl. ''How was I supposed to know you were there?!'' I say wryly. She is clearly hiding a smile, ''You were to look both ways then you would've saw me coming.'' she says, amusement lacing her voice. It sounded like ice getting colder and colder as the arctic progressed. ''What's your name? Do you even have a name?'' I ask. ''Stalactite'', she replies without turning her head. *Stalactite. That suits her well, as it feels like everything freezes the moment it steps near her, There's something about her personality that I hate, but she clearly isn't evil...'*'Are you just gonna stare at me the whole time?'' Stalactite hisses. I wince and walk off towards Frost and Wildflower. ''What was that all about?'' Knifefrost murmurs,placing spider web on Wildflower's bleeding wounds. ''What happened here?'' I ask. I feel cold. *Moonfoot must've been here....but ran away because Stalactite's intimidating....* ''Yes....I know...Moonfoot was here...I actually have to tell you something, brother...'' Wildflower says in a creaky-whiny voice. ''What?'' I ask. ''The truth...about what really happened to Moonfoot....''

## Wildflower's POV

I feel awful, but I have to, Eclipse looks at me and I finally say it, ''The wolf wasn't the one who killed Moonfoot....It was me....I lied to everyone about it in order to keep the ones I cared about close....'' Eclipse looks at me, with a sad-angry face. ''No...You couldn't have, it...it was that wolf it killed them both-'' He hiccups, ''No, it wasn't Moonfoot pushed me into the study cage, I went insane, I killed the wolf, then in cold-blooded insanity, Moonfoot...'' I say a little stronger. Eclipse is sobbing now, tears streaming down his face. ''HOW COULD YOU LIE TO ME?!?! TO US?!?!'' he sobs, he runs out of lab, tear drops on the floor. *I'm sorry..... ''You did the right thing, Wildflower. It may have hurt, but still sometimes the truth is all we need to know...'' Knifefrost says a lot wiser than I had met her. ''I don't deserve to be healed. Especially not by someone as kind and resilient as you'' as I say. Knifefrost looks at me sternly. ''Stop that. As a healer you must heal everyone. We are a team. We help everyone.'' she says firmly. ''You really think me of all creatures deserves help?'' I squeak. Frost nods, then continues to do everything she can to help me.* Knifefrost arrives with poppy seeds, ''Eat some of these...They'll make you sleep, and you can wake up refeshed-'' I look at them doubtfully, ''Why should I eat those seeds?'' Knifefrost lets out a sad exhale, ''These wounds are very grave and I don't think herbs will be enough it will put you to sleep for a little while so maybe we can take you to the hospital without it being so painful.'' I don't argue anymore I eat the poppy seeds and go into a deep, groggy sleep.

## Knifefrost's POV

*I need someone to help me out...but who...Eclipse is too bewildered to help, and Murphy is helping out Mason....*''Snowey, go get Stalactite for me, Please this is urgent.'' I say, my voice wobbling, ''Why *her? She's so scary.''* My brother whines. ''Just go get her!'' I snap. ''I'll go with him'' My sister, Locked Heart blurts out. They skid away. ''This looks pretty bad, dearie. You sure she'll survive?'' Cyststorm asks in her sweet cotton candy voice. ''So I heard someone needed me.'' I hear a icy voice *Stalactite!* ''Y-yes I did.'' I say unease dripping through, ''You'll help us out, right?'' Stalactite looks at me as if I were crazy, then she made a face, a 'trying-not-to-make-a-face' face, ''Of course I'll help, I'm not cold in heart.'' She says with a unusually kind voice, so she isn't fiercely awful. Stalactite grabs Wildflower's scruff and places her on the stretcher she then shouts a command to a grey-and-white mushroom-wolf, ''Slate-Spore! Take her to the medical stall outside the lab to get her some help she's gonna need it.'' Slate-Spore nods and places Wildflower onto the stretcher. ''She'll be okay, don't worry'' She says in a smooth you-can-count- on me tone before going into a still position. *I hope Mason is okay. I hope Eclipse isn't too mad at Wildflower, they suffered so much...* A paw gently rests on my shoulders. ''You need to rest your mind, young one. Stress can do a lot of damage.'' Stalactite mumbles. ''*But I'm a healer. I have someone's life in my paws it's all up to me in order to save but then everything loses control and then-''* Stalactite yellow eyes blaze with empathy and rage at the same times, ''FOR STARS SAKE STOP AND BREATHE AND THINK FOR YOURSELF ONCE AND QUIT STRESSING YOURSELF OUT!'' she roars. I blink, I resettle my facial expression, trying to erase the paranoia I'm feeling. Stalactite sighs. ''Let's go and check on your friends, maybe that'll be a distraction.'' she purrs. We head outside the lab.

## Eclipse's POV

I can't believe it. My sister just....lied to me. Lied to all of us. We believed it. This answered all of the questions I had, this was why Wildflower was so regretful and sad, why she had clouded her mind, *so nobody would find out earlier.* And apparently Knifefrost knew she did as well. *Why didn't she tell me?! Doesn't anyone trust me with anything?!* Tears were streaming down my face, I hadn't wiped them away yet and I don't think I could either. *But now I know the truth and I will tell them...*Black pollen filled the air. I begin to cough and wheeze, *What is this...Is it TOXIC?!* I faint. I feel something carry me. I blink awake I see a grey-and-white wolf with stone-grey eyes and a bitter expression with three mushrooms on her, one on her back, on her top left arm and one on her bottom right arm, they was swirling black pollen-like powder aura around her, *apparently it's poisonous....* ''Let me go you-'' I begin to cough violently. ''Slate-Spore get back.'' A icily familiar voice says. *Stalactite, If she did this I'm gonna rip her apart. '*''I'd like to see you try.'' Stalactite snarks. ''Is that a challenge?'' I wheeze. ''How dare you question me!'' she says crashing into me viciously. I shriek and try to fight her off, but she is surprisingly strong. Wounds cover my body and I spit up blood. *She's going to kill me!* I fall over and she grabs my scruff like a I'm a kit. she jumps into the pool, dragging me under. I try to nip at her hind leg just missing before she pushes down my head in one paw and my body on the other. I begin to panic silently, *she's drowning me! I can't breathe!* She heaves up out of the water and watches me ruthlessly. My friends and sister came and watch in horror. The life is slowly dragging out of me, my head feels like a rock. ''Stop!'' I hear a familiar voice. I can't turn up and listen for it but I feel like maybe I can just hear for one last time...

## Wildflower’s POV

”Wildflower.” I hear a voice whisper. I turn around.

”It’s me, chérie. I’m back.”

I sob softly. “Murphy... I told them. I killed Moonfoot. It was the only solution after all he did to us. First he was gonna kill me and now I did that.”

”Wildflower.” Murphy whispers. “If you hadn’t done that, you wouldn’t be here.”

”Is Mason okay?” I ask.

“Yes.” Murphy replies. “She gave birth a while ago. Both her and the child are going to be fine.”

”Where are they?” I ask.

”In Dark Hollows forest.”

”Murphy.” I say, my voice breaking. “They’re going to kill Eclipse. It’s an experiment named Stalactite,”

”Then we’re going to stop her.” Murphy says. “I’m not letting your brother die. But you need to come with me. Sometimes a team is better than just two.”

”I really hope this is gonna work.” I say.

Suddenly, Murphy teleports away, then reappears again in astral form.

”If I go like this, it’s safer. My body is far away back at home. Now are you ready, Wildflower?”

”Yes.” I reply. “Now let’s go save my brother.”

I see someone move in the bushes.

*Nikki. The freed experiment originally from Serbia.*

Maybe she can help us.

## Knifefrost's POV

''Stalactite stop!'' I say, my voice cracking. She doesn't turn away, like she's frozen into holding Eclipse underwater. ''Stalactite hates being questioned she must've gotten upset by how he said it..'' Slate-Spore said with a bit of worry in her voice. ''WHAT?! No! Eclipse doesn't deserve to have his fate sealed like that!'' A splotchy-pattern fox walks in her fur is confusing mix of black-orange-yellow-pink-and-white, ''I'm surprised how he's still holding on'' she says dryly. ''Don't be mean, Splotchy Tail!'' Slate-Spore scolds. I stare into space. I don't want to look at the awful sight of Eclipse slowly fighting for his life at the claws of Stalactite. *She must have been through a lot in order to attempt something like this....It seems even Moonfoot cowers away from her, but I know she firecely isn't awful.*

I lunge at Stalactite and wrench Eclipse away from her. He coughs loudly, water streaming out of his mouth.

”Thanks.” He says weakly.

“No problem.” I say.

I hope I can redeem Stalactite. Maybe I can try to know more of her story. Maybe she isn’t as evil as I thought.

## Stalactite's POV

I feel a rope loop around my neck and I get tossed into a cage. I don't mind though, not the first time I attempted fate like this. I restrain from growling. Knifefrost is glaring now. She throws a spear it hits my shoulder. I growl. ''Why would you do that?'' Thousands of voices ask. I don't answer, my friends look worried. *The rope doesn't feel that long. Here I am again, tossed in a cage like a object...This world hardened my heart and I will never make these kind mistakes again.* I look around me, everyone glaring, I glare right back. *Maybe you can redeem yourself as I did. I had help but you are independent and can do everything in your own way..*Then I see it. *A way to escape, their hoping for me to do so, but I have to take risks. No more running away.* I look for the inner liquid in my mind and see Eclipse soaking wet. *Win-win. He's dry and I'm free.* I flick my paws and bend the water to my will. I cloak myself in it and slip through the bars and out the windows. Splotchy and Slate-Spore run are right behind me. ''Grab onto me.'' I say without looking back. They grab on and I keep running, I hear a lot of ''Stop her!'' and ''Don't let her escape!'' *Well too bad I am going to escape and redeem myself no turning back.* I run through a patch of mushrooms to cover our scent. *But they can still track us by energy...*''Hang on, guys'' I rasp. I run at full speed toward the starry pool. *''Hold your breath I'm going in!''* I say. They hold their breath. a tranquilizer dart flies past my ear. But then I plunge into the starry water, bringing us to a unknown place, ''We're safe....For now but we're not ready for the truth yet...'' I still have the rope hung around my neck. *About the fourth neck scar I've gotten so far. Why did I drag my companions into this?* From a young cub, I was often tossed around and rejected, all I tried to do was love, treated merely like an object I pushed everyone I cared about away, as I didn't want them taken away from me. I have to pretend like I don't care so maybe if they don't get a reaction from me, they'll lose interest and let them go. Everyone fears me, but I don't fear them even if I do die, I want it to be in where I defend the ones I love.

## Nikki’s POV

I sneak through the bushes and spot an experiment being hung on a noose.

I remember her clearly. It’s kinda sad how she yelled my ears off every time I tried to give her some cHeZ. Sad how she doesn’t like cheese, but I can’t believe Stalactite of all people I feared is meeting fate. I really hope someone rescues her and finds a soft spot in her, because even I don’t want her dead.

I spot someone rustling in the bushes. Alex, Wildflower and Eclipse.

Maybe they can tell me the messy situation here. I hope they do.

I need to help them.

## Eclipse's POV

I feel something crawling, my fur begins to turn blue, and my stomach hurts, I moan. ''I don't feel very well'' Wildflower begins to act out dramatically. ''Did she bite you? I don't see any bite marks...'' In fact I couldn't either, it was like blue dye slicked right over them, *what a monster.* I fall onto my knees, too weak to stand, I see Knifefrost run towards us, panic in her eyes, ''What is it, Frost?'' Wildflower asks. ''Stalactite ESCAPED!'' Knifefrost squeals. ''What?!?!'' Wildflower asks, Knifefrost continues, ''Yeah she escaped we have no idea where she went. But, maybe once everything gets together back over there, maybe we can ask for her help?'' Wildflower is angry by now, ''Ask HER for HELP?! No way! She nearly murdered Eclipse, and now he's sick as a result!'' She hisses. ''But..I asked her for help.'' Knifefrost mumbles, ''If it wasn't for her, you would have went into a coma and died from infected wounds...'' I'm on my knees now. I lost dead weight. I'm on the ground now. I moan. ''Uuugh everything huuurts...'' I moan. ''Should we get Stalactite NOW?'' Knifefrost demands. Wildflower doesn't answer. Frost goes off to find Stalactite, I black out.

## Knifefrost's POV

I feel, uneasy. Very uneasy. I knew Stalactite helped me out, but what she did to Eclipse was unacceptable. *Now she escape and ran off somewhere, where could she be?* I hear some growling, some hissing, and some yelling coming from somewhere. I wander on,still looking for Stalactite *no sign of her yet...*Something rushes past me*. I'm on the ground claws a my throat.* ''What are you doing here?'' the figure asks, its a shadow wolf with a blindfold on and blue stripes on each side of her face. ''I'm looking for a creature going by the name of Stalactite'' I growl. I can't see her eyes, but it was clear they were narrowed in suspicion. ''Why?'' she asks. ''That's something I'll explain to Stalactite not her random friend!'' I shout. She bares her teeth at me, ''I'm not asking for explanations. If you want, I'll escort you to her.'' She says through clenched teeth. ''What am I gonna do,get some scary creatures to sleep on your roof?'' I say mockingly. ''Very funny, I'll just do it the easy way'' I feel a knock on my head and it goes black.

## Wildflower's POV

I fidget with impatience and fear, *why isn't she back yet, could it really take that long why do we keep losing her?* ''SO WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO NOW,SIS? SAY 'OH HEY STRANGER WE HAVE YOUR MISSING FRIEND?!' AND A TRAIL OF COW PARTS TO?!?!'' I hear,my ears hurt already, birds fly out of fear. *Who is this shouty?* ''No sis! Stop yelling before the whole WORLD is out to get us!'' Snarks another. ''NO NEED TO EXAGGERATE!'' they yell back. I bristle, I'm ready to fight, could I take on two creatures? I think I could. I lunge at one but my paws burn. I shriek. The attacker is orange-and-red with tips of black, and very messy with fluff and fire, *Ow.* ''Serves you right.'' they snort, no telling on their gender, their voice and appearance gave nothing away, ''Who are you?'' I snap, trying not to whine in pain. ''None or your business'' they snap. ''Okay, but I think-'' I begin but they cut me off, ''OH ARE YOU THE RANDOM CREATURE OF THE SKY?! WHO IS THERE TO TALK JUST BECAUSE OF WHAT YOUR BIG BRAIN THINKS?!'' They shout. ''N-no.'' I say, trying not to cry. ''L-Leave h-her alone.'' Eclipse says weakly, ''You think your threatening from over there?'' they snort, but they stop yelling, ''Welp, I better go better than being eaten'' they say, running off while their laughing fills the air.