[Random Melody]

"Now you're getting it, see?" Shadow Kion smirked, turning to Kion. He hummed, falling silent, and studied him for a moment. "You're confused, however. I think it has something to do with my form. Well, lucky for you, us Shadows can change easily." He stepped back and closed his eyes. The shadows shifted and suddenly he didn't look exactly like a shadow anymore, and he most certainly didn't look like Kion. He looked like... A normal cub. His yellow eyes gleamed when they opened again, and he gave a toothy grin. "There we go. Now, the name is a bit of a stretch, too... How about you just call me Kivuli? Better?"

"Uh," Kion watched in silent fascination, then offered a small smile. "Y- Yeah, perfect." He cleared his throat and looked away. "So you can really help me get Sade back?"

"Why, of course," Kivuli gave a dark smile that made Kion's smile turn a bit more nervous. "Buddy, I can help you with anything."


##


"Evan! Evaaaannn!!"

Evan yowled as he shot out of his little makeshift den, his white fur puffed up and his blue eyes darting around wildly. The expression on his face was one of pure terror and if it wasn't funny it was downright sad how much someone could look so scared. His black-tipped ears were flat to his head. "Wh- What? What- What i-is it? A- Are we in trouble? T- Tigers? F- F- Fire? Fl- Flood? E-Earthquake? D- Did Micah get h- his head stuck in a tree again?!" His mind was coming up with the worst-case scenarios and he couldn't seem to quit stuttering, looking scared beyond belief. Until he saw a few of his friends settled near their dens, giggling.

Well, all except Izzy, who blinked innocently at Evan before turning her head toward the other two beside her. "Jared, that wasn't very nice," Her voice was soft and sweet and filled with concern. "You know Evan has panic attacks."

"Aw, lighten up, Iz," Jared snickered, sitting back on his haunches and shooting Evan a devilish little grin. "He's fine. See?" If there was anything he enjoyed, it was teasing Evan. Well, honestly, lately it was more like bullying.

Evan didn't look very fine. He took in a shaky breath and shook his head. He couldn't even blame Jared for him freaking out. After all, Evan was the one with the problem. "I- Is everyone o- okay?"

"Everyone's fine." Connor spoke up smoothly, glancing down at Jared with the smallest of smirks on his face, barely see-able. The tiger cub stood and stretched, shaking out his fur.

"Mean," Aliyah piped up as she padded up beside Evan, a few fish dangling from her jaws. Of course she startled the poor boy, who went right back into panic mode, and Aliyah rolled her eyes before tossing the fish toward the others. "Jesus Christ, Ev."

"Sorry.."

Jared poked one of the fish with a paw, considering, then leaned forward and took a bite. "Mm."

Izzy grabbed one as well, but instead of eating it, she leaped to her paws and trotted over to a small tree in the clearing. Nestled between a few large roots that had circled into eachother to make a little enclosed area, were a few little cubs. "Wake up, little ones," Izzy whispered, lowering her head and dropping the fish into the nest before licking one of the cubs' heads. "Time to eat, hm?"

One of the cubs stirred, blinking his eyes open and looking up at her innocently. Then a smile lit his precious little face, and he squeaked and reached out for her, tiny paws sinking into the soft fur on Izzy's chest. "Pfffff... Bambagwahanma,"

Izzy bit back a giggle, nuzzling the cub. "That's right sweetie." She watched as the others woke up. They were older than the little one, and rushed for the food instantly. Izzy managed to tear off a small portion with her claws before leaning down and picking the cub up by the scruff, bringing him back over to the others. She sat him down and wrapped her tail around him and dropped the piece of the fish, and he sniffed it curiously before beginning to eat. "There you go, Noah," Izzy murmured, then turned back to the others, smiling. "So, when are we heading out again?"

"Once the others are ready, I guess," Aliyah mused, licking a paw and running it over her ears.

"Do we even know where we're going?" Connor asked skeptically, wrinkling his nose and tilting his head ever to slightly to the side.

"No, Connor, no we do not, but that is exactly what makes the adventure so thrilling!" Jared's head shot up, accidentally tossing the fish up as he did, and well, it hit Connor right in the face, much to the tiger's disgust.

"Grrr.." Connor glared down at him, and Jared chuckled nervously, shrinking down slightly.

"My bad."

Evan sighed, taking a deep breath and shaking his head. "Maybe we should head for the green place?" He suggested timidly, ears flattening faintly.

"Not a bad idea." Aliyah considered, whiskers twitching. "Maybe we should head off tomorrow morning, though. It's almost nighttime and I doubt anybody is up for traveling in the dark."

"Fine with me," Connor was still giving Jared a very, very cold death glare. Jared smiled nervously and inched away from him. Izzy sighed at the boys, her eyes fixed on Noah, who was still eating.