The Boss sighs and sits down on the floor. It was a little uncomfortable, given his age. "I did say that, didn't I?" He chuckles sadly. "I am the person who's always trying to affect things they can't control. Keep promises they can't keep..." He stares at Ambrose's face. "I promised Harvey his siblings would be able to shift one day just like him. I promised him that as he died in my arms." He pats Ambrose's shoulder. "There. Now we've both had to think about sad things."

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Elauna laughs. "You're hopeless." She jumps across the river. "I guess just go straight to the camp and assess from there." She shrugs and waits for Misha to cross. "Don't exert yourself too much. I can't help Fabine and Vera if I also have to deal with you."

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Misha followed, eyeing the waves. She felt strange about the sight of the river, but she couldn't quite place the events that lead her to that feeling. She assumed it had something to do with how she and Destin had ended up as Rabin prisoners, but the exact memories were spotty at best. She cursed the version of herself from several days before for getting her into this mess. She shook her head to brush off her own thoughts and looked up at Elauna, instead. "Don't worry about me."

Hidden from Ambrose's face was a grin of victory as The Boss embraced the young boy. "Being old is hard. I can't do a lot of things... But I can protect you, Ambrose." He ruffles the boy's hair. "You don't have to be afraid. I'll take care of you. I won't let you be sad anymore."

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"Meh. Kind of my new job." Elauna shrugs. "Now come on, this way." She begins walking away. "Hmm... I'm thinking you could take on a smallish Rabin if it comes to it. Nothing like Sacha level." She sneers. "I'm afraid you don't strike me as the strong fearless type. More of the annoying child type."

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Amethyst couldn't help but laugh. "That-" She wiped tears of laughter out of her eye. "That was the cruelest thing anyone has ever said to me. I'm tryin' really hard to be offended but I'm so offended that it's funny." She shook her head. "I'm going to get beat up but I'm gonna to go down screaming and kicking. Glad you have so much faith in my sorry ass."

"You've met the only bad people." The Boss squeezes one of Ambrose's hand, careful to avoid the damaged area. "My family are wonderful people. Young people like you. Musicians, artists, engineers, scientists, businessmen... They live happily here." He feigns a dejected look. "Ah, but you don't belong here among them. You want to go home, don't you?"

The Boss held up his hands calmly. "Ah, not yet Ambrose! Not after what they did to you. You need to rest. There's a spare room next to my own, if you would like. I can even have my chef cook you up a proper meal. You must be starving."

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Elauna chuckles at her laugh. What a nice sound. "Thanks, I pride myself on my cruelty." She grins, then shakes her head. "You're such a sad little girl, y'know that right?" She laughs. "Good attitude to have."

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Misha brushes the air dismissively with her hand. "Be nice. My pride is way more wounded than my body right now." She crossed her arms. "What about you, huh? You think you're so cool 'cuz you're a jerk, but you don't have to deal with the wind blowing you over all the time. Makes it too easy."

The Boss stands up slowly and offers to help Ambrose up. "No tears, my son. This sadness will pass. I won't let the monsters find you anymore." In his head, he was running through what to do next. He'd received news of the sister Ambrose had. Now, how could he use that to twist the boy even more...? He wanted the shifters Ambrose knew to fall into the palm of his hand.

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"Yeah, well, at least you're somewhat likeable. Once you kill someone, people pretty much start hating you." Elauna groans. "Whoops, completely meant to keep that a secret." She sighs heavily. "oh well. I'm sure Jayden's told pretty much everyone by this time."

<Snipped quote by Fionraella>

Misha stared at her. "What did-" She stopped herself with a shake of her head. "I mean.. I've never.. I've never done anything that intense, but I know lots of people have, so.." She shrugged uncomfortably. "It's not okay, but.. I mean, we're living in a bad place."

Ptelea swings the makeshift swing gently. It was pretty much a board tied to a tree. Her right eye was swollen and bruised. she looks up at the sky and gasps. It was getting late.
She runs inside as quietly, but as quickly as she could. She had to get going if she hoped to be home before dark. She tiptoes past the kitchen where 4 kids were arguing and throwing things. Dinner would be late again.
She goes into her room where she shared with 3 other kids. One was asleep on their bed, snoring loudly. Ptelea mostly slept outside or behind the couch. It was quieter and easier than sleeping with loud kids. She goes over to her cubby and pulls out a piece of drawing paper and a marker. She'd have to make the card as she went. She also grabs her bike helmet and backpack.
Shoving the marker and paper into the pack, she runs downstairs, smack into an older boy. He smirks and grabs the front of her shirt. "Hey pterodactyl, I noticed you havent cleaned my room yet." He sneers and pulls her off the ground. "I told you to clean my fucking room or I'd hit you again. I guess now you're going to get a matching left eye, huh?"
Ptelea squeaks. "P...please! I just have to go somewhere real quick! I'll be back soon I promise!" She pleads with the older boy.
"Uh huh, that's what you said last time." He raises a hand to punch her.
Ptelea squeals and swings her helmet which hits his cheek. In shock, he drops her and growls. "Bitch!"
She runs around him, heading away from the house, throwing down her helmet. There was no way to get to the bike now.
"I'll get you for this !" He shouts at her.
She runs through the grassy field at the edge of the property, heading for the road. She sighs, glancing back. The boy had gone inside, as expected. He never chased her. But he would be there when she got back...
She sighs softly. She would also be late now. She would have made it home on time if she could use her bike. But having to walk meant she'd be an hour late. Which meant no dinner.
Again.
Her stomach growls as though realizing that. With tears in her eyes, she walks down the road, heading towards the main town.
The hospital wasn't too far away, only about 2 miles. But the road wasn't safe to walk on, so she had to cut through a part of the forest to get there.

An hour later, Ptelea stands outside the hospital. She looks up at it and gulps. She hoped the nice nurse would be there again. She snuck her in to see Dem every Friday night. It was a fun little ritual.
She quickly heads inside, making sure to keep her head up. At the check in desk, the nice nurse was in fact there. Seeing ptelea, she waves the girl over. "Darling! You got hurt again." She says gently.
Ptelea nods. "Yeah. I hate that place." She never bothered to lie to the nurse. The nurse got it.
"I'll send you home with some ice after your visit." The nurse promises.
Ptelea smiles softly and nods. "How is he doing today?"
"Not too good...The doctors informed him yesterday that his arm is not fixable. He can't make a fist, can barely write, and the elbow's bone is completely out of sorts. They have to break it sometime next week and reset it completely."
Ptelea's jaw drops. How could it have been that bad!?
The nurse squeezes her arm. "C'mon, I'll show you to him." She leads Ptelea down the halland into a room.
inside a boy lay on a bed, watching cartoons.
"Dem!" Ptelea runs over and throws her arms around him, sobbing instantly.
Dem blinks and pats her back. "You're late." He says simply.
"Yeah. I couldn't get to my bike...again." Ptelea sighs, setting a head on his chest.
Dem rubs her back slightly. "Yeah, well. Your life sucks, and mine does too. Gotta deal with it."
Ptelea shrugs and looks at the TV. "What'cha watching."
"My little pony. Only shit that's any good right now."
"That's a kid's show!" Ptelea giggles.
"I am allowed to be a kid if I want to." Dem syas carefully.
Ptelea, getting that he was in a bad mood, shut up. She crawls into the bed and lays next to him, hugging his arm.
Dem doesn't say anything until the show ends. "Wish I could teach that boy some manners for hitting you."
"Yeah well. Life sucks." Ptelea grins at him.
Dem chuckles and ruffles her hair. "You cut your hair again?"
Ptelea looks down. "They put gum in it. Again. I hate that place."
Dem huffs. "You need to get a knife and stab anyone who messes with you."
"I'm missing dinner again. I don;t want to get into more trouble."
Dem rolls his eyes. "Idiot girl. Stop visiting me."
Ptelea shakes her head firmly. "I'm never going to stop." She smiles.
Dem scoffs and pushes his plate to her. Half a sandwich remained and a couple spoonfuls of rice. "Here, finish my dinner for me. I lost my appetite."
Ptelea nods and digs in, eating the food hungrily. She finishes it and smiles. "Thanks Dem."
Dem chuckles. "No problem kid."
Ptelea pulls out the piece of paper and sets it on the tray by the plate. She begins drawing on it with the marker.
Dem turns his attention back to the TV as the next episode comes on. He hums the theme song, glancing at the girl from time to time.
Even with all the shit in her life, she was the sweetest person he knew.
"Done!" Ptelea smiles and hands him the drawing. "Its me, you, Ambrose, and Fabine!"
Dem's smile fades. "You're a brat." He says sharply, taking the drawing. "Didn't even draw Fabine well enough. He's taller than me."
"Well I like you better." Ptelea argues and goes to put the picture on the wall. "I miss Ambrose and you miss Fabine. You don't get to be mad." She says firmly, taping the corners of the picture, where he could see it.
Dem shrugs. "You should head out kiddo. Hours are almost over."
Ptelea sighs and hugs him. "Love you Dem. I'll see you next week, k?"
Dem nods and kisses the top of her head. "Stay safe girly. Don't be pushing buttons."
The two say goodbuye and Ptelea leaves, heading back to the foster home that she had lived in for 4 years.