A True Soul
Eyes, Ears, and Tails

Buzz… Buzz… Buzz… Slam! I groaned as I hit my alarm clock. It was Monday morning, and while I was ready to be back at school, I wasn’t ready to leave my bed.

I sprang upwards as the light blinded me. My eyes squinted at Faux as she trudged through my door. “Good Morning Beautiful!”

I buried my face in a pillow, “What?” I mumbled.

She sat at the edge of my bed, “Well… I just thought I’d have a talk with you before school.”

I lifted my head. “And what would you like to talk about at 6:30, on this oh so lovely morning?” My voice heavy with sarcasm.

“You’re grumpy. Ember was a morning person you know,” Faux said jokingly. I forced myself in sitting position.

One mention of my mother and suddenly I was wide awake. “Really? I had no idea.”

The mood turned solemn without any intention of it. Faux sighed, “I’m sorry. I didn’t come here to talk about your mom, unless you want to. I came here to talk about yesterday.”

After we’d gotten back Dax had shut himself in the guest room and hadn’t come out the rest of the day. “What about it?”

“You should know that if I didn’t trust Dax, he wouldn’t be here right now.”

“Ok, that makes since. We don’t have to talk about it. He’s an ass, but if my father thought he was dangerous, he’d already be gone.”

“I know, I know. The thing is, Dax’s had a lot of hurt and resentment toward himself. He can be a good person,” she sighed. She knew I hadn’t believed her. I looked skeptical. “I’m sure he’d be pissed if he knew I was telling you this, but you should know a little about his past. That way you might see the world through his eyes.”

I crossed my legs underneath me. “Story time? Let’s hear it. This should be good.”

She glared at me a little before she continued. “He lost his parents at a young age, through a horrible incident. He had refused help, however my mother convinced him to stay with us. He did until he was 17, afterwards he took off on his own and no one heard from him for a few years. My point being is he’s had a hard life, and I know you have too. But that night he lost his parents changed him in ways I didn’t know was possible,” Faux explained. She turned away, but I could see the sadness that had swollen in her eyes. “ Dax needs to come to terms with what has happened. But, I don’t believe he knows how. I’m not saying that’s an excuse, he needs to deal with what’s happened in life. He was my best friend, he still is, but I lost a piece of him that I can ever get back.”

“So you two go way back uh?” I asked.

“You could say that,” She smiled. “I’d already thought of him as a brother, but it was official when my parents adopted him. My family had always been different; however we became even odder when a dog joined a family of cats. I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way though.”

“Wait, so he’s like your brother?” My brain did not want to work this early in the morning.

“My parents adopted him when he was twelve. We’ve been close since we were really young.” The smile was still on her face as she continued, “To answer your question, yes he is like my brother, but I also have a biological brother who is eight years older than me named Dominique.”

“Where is he?”

“At the moment, I don’t know, he’s a roaming loner. But for a loner he’s very charismatic and charming. My brother knows how to get what he wants. I’m sure he’ll pop up somewhere, eventually.” Faux didn’t sound worried at all.

“He sounds interesting.” I had no idea what it was like to have a sibling so I didn’t know how to relate to the situation. I switched the conversation back to Dax, “So, this conversation will stay between you and me. And I will take into consideration that Dax has had a hard life, and that’s why he can act like a selfish jerk.” I rubbed my eyes, “Can I take a shower now?”

“Oh! Yeah, you have school…oops.” She patted me on the head and left my room. I grumbled and went to the bathroom.

The place that I’d long to escape to felt like a cold and distant institution. I had been out of school for weeks, and I was supposed to be glad to be returning to me ‘normal’ way of life but, it did not feel normal anymore, at least not to me.

I gazed at the clock in my geometry class. Two hours of school down, five hours of stir craziness to sit through. I hadn’t had a problem sitting through class before but, now I felt trapped.

All of the sudden heat flashed through my body and an severe itching sensation spread across my skin. I started to uncontrollably itch and claw at the skin. I looked up in time to see the teacher drop the expo marker as he gapped at my inappropriate behavior.

“Miss. Silverwood, are you feeling alright?” Mr. Jones asked.

“Can I be excused?” I stood without waiting for a reply. All eyes lingered on me. My classmates whispered to each other, but I heard it as easily as if there were next to me.

“How’d she become even weirder than before?”

“What kind of meds is she on?”

“She’s always been an odd girl…”

Why had I wanted to come back to high school? Because academia was something I was good at? Because it had been my normal way of life before now? Because I could pretend to have friends? In reality I knew I had never fit in, but being honest with myself wasn’t easy.

I gripped onto the sink of the downstairs bathroom. The room spun around me. I dug my nails across my rib cage to try to elevate the insatiable itch burrowed in my skin.

I panicked when I heard a toilet flush, a girl with bronze colored skin and dark hair stepped out of the stall. “Angie, are you ok? You look like you’re gonna throw up…”

“Hi Jordan. I’m okay, really. It’s just a reaction to the pain meds…” I hoped she couldn’t tell that I’d lied. I hadn’t had any pain killers since the day I met Faux.

“If you’re sure.” Jordan gave me a weary look before backing out of the bathroom door.

Once she was out of the room I splashed water on my face. I could not ever explain to my peers at this school what’d happened. They could never relate. But somehow I’d have to accept everything in my life that’d happened. It wasn’t easy.

I lifted my shirt to see what was causing the itching. Besides my nail marks, there wasn’t anything I could visibly see. I gently ran my fingers down my ribcage, I felt small bumps formed underneath my skin.

I gasped when I heard a taping against the small window. A paw pushed open the glass and a black muzzle popped through the crack. “Girly, what’s going on?” It was Dax.

I’m sure my face looked splotchy. I flustered as I tried to hide my confusion. “What the heck?” What are you doing? This is a girls bathroom!”

“Human bathroom customs have nothing to do with why I’m here.” I could see that Dax was laying in front of the bathroom window. “Faux and I are keeping watch over you while you’re at school. I saw your freak out in geometry, girly. But, you seem fine now.”

The itching had subsided. “Wait, you were spying on me?”

“Not spying… I am just doing… You know what, never mind. Just meet up with Faux after school. There’s somewhere I need to be.” Dax turned and left. But he turned to look back at me, almost as if he was making sure I was really alright. Then he disappeared from sight.

The rest of my classes were manageable. I got through them without too much stress. People still commented about the cast on my wrist, and my forehead. All though the scar above my eyebrow was healing nicely, it wouldn’t be noticeable in a few more weeks.

After school faux was preached in cat form on the front steps of the school. She jumped down from the railing when she saw me. “Follow me.” That’s all she said before bolting down the steps.

I stumbled after her, making my way through the crowd of students. It didn’t take long to catch up with her little cat legs. “Can you explain why Dax was at my school?”

“We’re making sure no one tries to harm you there.” I gave her a quizzical look when she said this. She responded, “Stronger things have happened you know… There’s no harm in taking precautions.” She matched my stride with ease. “So, how was your first day back?”

“It was anti-climactic and uninteresting. It feels like a different life time ago that I belonged there.” I sighed. Would I change things if I could? Would I go back to not knowing?

“I thought human high schools were strange too. But, anyways, make a right up here,” Faux instructed.

“Where are we going anyways? Does this have anything to do with who Dax met today?”

“Just keep going north, I’ll tell you when to change directions. And yes, we’re going to see Dax and ‘the eyes and ears of New Haven’.” She rolled her eyes.

“Are they mean, arrogant, or just plain sexist?” I asked now unsure if I really wanted to replace out who the eyes and ears of New Haven were.

“No, one of them is just overly flirtatious and he’s not really my type. It’s not as bad when I’m like this though, because different species don’t normally mix. If you know what I’m saying.” Her ears where held back in a discussed manner. “Sometimes I think he does it just to mess with me. The other guy, Freddie, we’ve known for awhile.”

I paused, “Wait, you’re not leading me into a zoo with rabid elephants or hungry tigers are you?”

“Well, they don’t keep rabid creatures in zoos, but no, not anywhere near that big. Think miniature.” She seemed amused by this and smiled.

“Miniature? That could be interesting.” My eyebrows raised as I looked around. We passed a large park that was surrounded in evergreens, hedges, bare trees, and fallen leaves. “Where are we going again?”

“Turn right at the stop light. Taco Tico is where Dax and his two amigos decided to meet.”

“You sound so thrilled. But I can’t take you inside there, no pets allowed,” I teased, but I seriously didn’t know how I was supposed to get her in if she wasn’t going to change back into a human.

“They’ll come outside. I mean, don’t get me wrong, they may not dress the part but those are two of smartest people I know.”

The cross walk sign lit-up and I could see Taco Tico right next to a McDonald’s and several other fast food place. This block consisted of down-town New Haven. “Almost there, this should be fun.”

I could see Dax and a tall dark skinned man sitting opposite of him in a booth. “I thought there was more than one?” I asked Faux. She turned her head to try to get a better view inside.

“Funny I don’t see Vic…” she was interrupted by a beefy dark brown Chihuahua with a white chest running towards us out of the bushes.

“There’s my kitten. Hey chica how’s about coming home with me tonight, we could create our own little fiesta!” I could see the drool coming out of his mouth. I raised an eyebrow and laughed. This had to be a joke.

“Not even in your dreams Victor,” She turned her face away and glared, her ears flat against her head.

“I know I’m old, but just give me a chance, come on,” He had tried to beg with huge Chihuahua eyes.

“You know there’s a leash law. I can call the shelter and have him taken away,” I said to Faux, who had a vixen like grin displayed on her face.

“No that won’t be necessary, but thanks for the offer.”

“Anytime,” I smirked.

“Hey now, don’t do anything drastic. Do you know what it’s like in those places for dogs?”

“Watch it; my dad owns a humane society.”

“He’s only joking, right Vic?” The tall man said which made me jump. Even with my hearing improving I hadn’t noticed him behind me. “Sorry little miss, I’m Freddie and that’s Victor as you probably already know.”

“Victor you’re late. Go make yourself decent,” Dax said annoyed.

“I know, had to take care of things. I’ll be right back,” Victor disappeared back into what was left of the bushes.

“Hi, I’m Angie,” I said turning to Freddie, as the Chihuahua left.

“Nice to meet you in person.” He smiled and shook my hand. “Whatever you’ve heard about me is probably true, have to keep my reputation.” He smiled and pulled on his jacket collar. “But in all honesty, Victor and I wouldn’t be here if you couldn’t trust us.”

“They’ll be able to help make sure you don’t get killed,” Dax said as Victor stumbled out into the open. He was wearing baggy black jeans and a gray shirt that covered his large stomach, which stuck out past his belt. “Freddie was a doctor, now he’s a private investigator with the help of Victor who is also an electronic specialist.”

I nodded, “Was a doctor?”

“I specialized in Natural Born s and I have studied some documents over True Souls. My retirement was sooner than expected but that’s another story.” Freddie flashed a brief and fleeting smile.

“I can replace out whatever you need to know, about whoever you want to know it about,” Victor said without any humor in his voice.

“After my retirement, I parented up with Vic so I’d have something interesting to do to pass the time.” This time Freddie’s smile lingered a little longer.

“Their talents are useful at times, and they haven’t failed me getting the information I needed. So here we are,” Dax said, there the no animosity in his voice. It seemed to almost genuine; something that I assumed was rare.

“I know Victor is a Chihuahua, what are you?” I asked, “Or can I ask that? I don’t really know the rules and niceties yet.”

Freddie laughed, “Of course, ask anything you want. I am a miniature poodle and I take pride in that. I have the most prefect black curls, they’re a big hit with the ladies,” he said a-matter-of-factly.

Dax coughed to hide his laughter, Faux didn’t even try to stifle her, Freddie just glared at them. I gawked at Dax for a second, I’d never heard him laugh. He turned away fom my eyes.

“Let’s sit over there.” Faux leaped out of my hands, walked over and jumped on the top of a table.

I sat on one of the green seats that were connected to the round Taco Tico table. Dax sat opposite of me with Twiddle Dee and Twiddle Dum in between. Faux had made herself comfortable in the sun on top of the table.

“So, what have you found out?” Dax leaned back in his seat, his eyes moving from Victor to Freddie. “I spent the day monitoring the high school, but nothing concerning occurred.”

“First off I can confirm it was Cain and his lackeys that caused the car accident.” Victor was being serious now, all the humor was gone. My heart pounded in my chest and I had felt my palms start to sweat. “However, the person in the drivers’ seat was not one of his men. He was dead right before his car hit yours, Angela.”

“Why would he use someone outside of his circle to do his dirty work? That’s not like him. He disposes of his people all the time, to lose one more wouldn’t matter to him,” Faux twisted into a sitting position. She looked as if she was glaring, or just in really deep thought.

“His goal was to make it look as if he didn’t have a part of it. The man who was driving was shot in the side of the head right before the collision. The gun was found, but no traces of finger prints or any other human DNA was found.” Freddie jumped in with his information.

“What was found at the crime scene?” Dax uncrossed his arms and leaned on the table.

Victor had a smug look on his face. “I was able to swipe what little evidence was there and tested it myself. The test results said it belonged to the rodent family.”

“More specifically, Procyon Lotor,” Freddie said with the same expression consuming his face.

“A raccoon?” The tone in Faux’s voice was filled with venom.

“Wait, a raccoon broke into my house a couple days after I got home and killed Greta, my cat.” I made a face and looked in the opposite direction. “He was the first animal that I could understand.”

“The change for you has obviously been accelerated. Did you not think that this information was important to tell us?” Victor said, now clearly annoyed with Dax.

“That was not any of your business,” he grunted back.

“Does she have the mark yet?” Freddie asked as he turned from Dax, to Faux, and finally to me.

“Wait, what mark?” If my heart had stopped pounding before, it was now beating again with a vengeance. I wiped my hands on my jeans to get the sweat off.

“We haven’t even mentioned that.” Faux sighed.

“Well isn’t it about time? What have you been doing, playing dress up?” Victor spat at them.

“What mark?” I asked again, this time with more inflection.

“Have you notice anything red or maybe a little swollen patch on your body anywhere? Have you been itching lately?” Freddie turned to me.

The incident at school replayed in my head. “Um, my side is a little red and itchy, but I thought it was just dry skin,” I mumbled now feeling ashamed. I hadn’t told anyone how much I’d been itching. Dax lifted an eyebrow at me, but said nothing.

Freddie nodded. “We all have a mark that looks similar, but not the same, from Natural Born to Natural Born . Normally it looks something like this,” He said as he turned over the palm of his hand for me to see. It was a feather with a paw print laid on top. A crescent moon was curved alongside the markings. “The mark can appear anywhere on your body.”

“Wait, how come I didn’t see a mark on Dax the other day?”

“Because it’s on the back of my head,” Dax turned and lift his some of his hair. I could barely see it, but there were black lines that were noticeable.

“Victor’s is on his shoulder and Faux’s goes across her stomach.” Freddie turned towards me as he stood. “Could I take a look your side a moment, please?”

I hesitated, but lifted my shirt a little bit. My side was splintered with small dark lines that hadn’t been there this morning. It made me shutter.

“The closer your mark is to being finished the closer you are to your first change,” Freddie said examining my side. “You’re a True Soul; your mark will look completely different from ours.” He sat back and looked me in the eyes. “You have three to four days before your change, at a minimum.”

“She needs to be able to defend herself,” Victor said. “If she wants to survive you have to train her to fight like us.”

“We don’t have a lot of time, we need better trainers,” Faux said, her tail twitching back and forth.

“Cain will make his next move soon. He has his spies, they are everywhere watching her. She has to be prepared for anything.” Freddie looked directly at me, “He doesn’t care about your life. He just wants you dead.”

“I’ll call the wolf twins. As much as I hate to admit it, they’ll know what to do.” Dax sighed as though he was displeased by the very thought of calling these people.

“The wolf twins? Who are they?” I felt incredibly stupid. I wish I knew what was going on.

“They’re Sadie and Spencer Pierce. And they trained alongside me in the jungles, but they have long surpassed my skills. They’ll teach you everything you need to know,” Faux clarified.