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Arien settled down next to Red. "It's not that he'll hurt me, I think. I'm just afraid that he'll expect me to join with my brothers in working for him. And he's not the type to take 'no' for an answer. That or he'll simply stick me in a time loop to relive the last ten years of my life forever." He scowled, and then shook his head.

Leaning down he kissed Red. "All my worries fade when I'm with you though," he said, and kissed her again.

Already accustomed to Nex's scent, Bella relaxed and took comfort from the tiger's protection.

Red smiled and blushed a little then kissed back gently. "Well i wont leave you alone with him. And i will pull you out of the time loop thing if its the last thing i do. I will even join you if you go with your brothers," she whispered.

Arien looked surprised. "Join me?" He grinned and kissed her back. "No worries there; that life isn't for me. I much prefer traveling, but maybe settling down wouldn't be so bad. Just, maybe, not so close to my father and brothers."

He slipped his arms around her to hold her close. "I still want my time with you."

"Well besides eating, trust me you will get all the time you want," she murmured and grinned.
She kissed Arien deeply and wrapped her arms around his neck.

Arien was more than happy to follow her lead, not knowing how long he might have before another interruption interfered.

Bella awoke suddenly, her ears pricked forward as a new scent crossed her nose. It wasn't Nex's familiar feline musk. And it wasn't Neo's. She growled low in her throat, fur bristling across her back. Someone was coming their way, and she didn't like their smell.

Red heard Bella's growling and thats what made her look up towards the entrance of the tent. However, she did not stray from Arien's side. She kept her arm draped over his stomach and her body against his side. They had spent a whole day together, with the exception of food. Putting her head back on Arien's stomach, she really didnt think anything of Bella's growling. Thinking she might've found an approaching animal or lost dog.

Nex lifted his head, and searched the surrounding woods. He knew Neo was on the other side of the tent with Patch, sleeping. He looked at Bella and his fur bristled.
"What is it?" he asked softly and nuzzled her cheek gently.

Caressing Red's side and enjoying her warmth next to him, Arien didn't hear Bella's growl right away. When he did, he rolled his eyes. "Please let it be a squirrel," he muttered; though he knew Bella never growled at anything less than a threat. At least the tigers were behaving themselves.

Bella looked at Nex and then nudged him, before the scent came again, stronger. She jumped to her feet and sprinted into the treeline, hackles raised and teeth bared.

An older man, in his fifties, stepped out and raised a hand just as Bella jumped for him. She froze in mid-air as he sidestepped the jumping wolf. She landed where he wasn't.

Nex stood bristling and baring his teeth, but he just walked over to Bella. Checking her if she was ok and trying to calm her a little.

Red was too tired to check on the tigers and just hoped they could handle themselves. She knew they could though, if it was Arien's dad they were in trouble. Because Red was pretty sure Arien was just as tired as she was. Looking up at Arien sleepily, she offered a small smile. Then moved up a little and kissed him gently.
"You tired?" she murmured.

As if in response, Arien yawned and the look on his face regretful. "No," he lied. "I'm always filled with energy--"

"Arien! Would you quit carousing around and actually show your face for once?" Arien's father, Daren Chase, demanded. His greying black hair was cropped short, his face worn with a few wrinkles, and a small mustache trimmed beneath his nose. He might look like an older version of Arien, though he had not the amusement on his face Arien often had.

In the tent, Arien flinched and buried his head into Red's shoulder. "Gods help us. He's already here."

Bella bared her teeth at Daren, though she took reassurance in Nex's steadfast form beside her. The man hadn't even once glanced at the tiger; his eyes were on the tent.

Red was actually struck with a sudden nervousness as she heard Arien's father speak. "Arien..i dont really like the sound of his voice.." she murmured, suddenly feeling small and vulnerable.
She had no idea why she suddenly felt this way and she didnt like it. Not at all. Red gripped the covers next to Arien and closed her eyes, trying to calm herself down.

Nex felt Red's feelings and pinned his ears to his head. Bella i dont want you near this man. He even freaks out Red and i have never felt her this way. Nex thought to her. Neo pushed Patch into a bush and ran over to Nex, fur bristling.

"Me either," Arien muttered. But he grabbed his shirt and wrestled on his pants. "I gotta at least answer him, or he's gonna come barging in here and no one wants that."

He paused at the tent flap and then sighed. He really didn't want to do this. But he stepped out with a long-suffering look at Red. "Just, stay here and keep the tigers calm." He stepped out. "What do you want, Mr Chase?"

Daren watched the tigers for a moment, completely unafraid, and then turned to survey his disinherited son and smiled. "Long time no see, Arien. You're a hard kid to track." Arien rolled his eyes, noting that Bella still bristled but kept her distance.

"Maybe because I want it that way." But he bit his tongue even as he said it; because he knew they'd need his father's help and he was the only one could provide it. "Actually..." Arien flushed and looked down, scuffing his foot against the ground. "We need, er, your help."

Red wasnt about to sit in the tent and actually show she was scared and nervous. Putting on a serious face, she dressed in her shirt and shorts then put up her hair.
Nex, Neo stay. Dont move. Red ordered.
Putting a dagger in the waistband of her pants, she stepped out. She stood next to Arien and quickly sized up his father, before averting her eyes.

Nex kept his fur brushing Bella's to calm her and his tail on Neo's back to keep him steady.

Daren looked at Red and frowned. "You're the one who's going to lead Arien to his demise. Arien, you would do better to leave her and this area. Only death will await you. Both of you."

But Arien looked up sharply. "Da-Daren. I'm not leaving Red. She's important to me. If you were really worried about me, or for me, you would help us."

Bella tensed, but she glanced at Nex and wagged her tail enough to hit his side briefly.

Before Red could stop herself, she snapped her head up an glared at Arien's father. "Your one to talk!" she snapped.

Nex purred softly and licked Bella's ear.

Daren shrugged. "I have no idea what you mean. I'm only looking after the well-being of my son."

"You disowned me when I was twelve," Arien replied. "You lost that privilege when mom and I left home. It was a mistake to send my brothers after me. What did you hope to gain?"

Daren smiled but his voice was acidic. "Well, it seems I gained the knowledge you have an ability. And perhaps a useful one put to better use than pranks under my guidance. Furthermore, since you need my help, you might try to act a little more-"

Arien lost his cool and launched himself at his father. He almost landed a punch at his father's jaw, but found himself frozen in space while his father moved out of the way. And then he landed in the dirt.

Bella lost it then, charging at Daren.

Nex bounded forward and grabbed her scruff gently, but hard enough to keep her from moving anywhere.

Red walked over to Arien and crouched down. "Are you ok?" she asked, concern in her tone.
Helping Arien up, she felt the power in her disturbing her emotions. Barely, Red managed to hold it off but with great difficulty. It showed clearly that she was holding something back and really she was too tired to try but she didnt want to stir anything up with Arien's father.

Bella struggled and whined, trying to get free of Nex, before finally giving up and sitting down. She kept her ears flattened to her head however, showing her unhappiness.

Arien groaned as he picked himself up. "I'm fine; should have seen that one coming."

Daren looked at Red. "He's still got a lot to learn." He rubbed his chin as he studied them. "You two are that in love that you would risk both your lives to take on her--" he nodded at Red, "enemy? Do you realize how powerful she is? Or how stupid you are to try to confront her?"

Red said nothing and growled softly, looking away towards the wooded area.

Nex put a paw over her back and purred softly, trying to calm her down.

Daren sighed. "Alright, I see how it is. But I'm not one for doing things for free. Arien, girl, what will you give me if I help you?"

Arien scowled and glared at his father. "I'll quit running away from you, if you help us. But only if you quit insisting on trying to make me work with you and my brothers."

Bella relaxed a little, leaning against Nex. Her ears came forward a little, realizing too that Daren wasn't hurting either Red or Arien.

Red wasn't really paying attention to what was going on. Her attention was on old memories and what lies ahead.

Nex looked at Bella and settled down, laying down on his belly. Neo, not wanting to, sat next to his brother.