Chapter 1: Bitter Beginnings
	Mike awoke with a loud gasp, sitting up quickly. After taking a few deep breaths and calming down, he looked around to see he was back at home, in his bedroom at the castle. “Just a dream...” he said to himself. “But...why did it feel so real...?” He didn’t have much time to ponder this question as the sound of knocking pulled him out of his thoughts. “Mikey?” came a familiar voice. It was his father Chris. “You still sleeping in there bud?” At least they’re all right, Mike thought, looking at the door. “I’ll be out in a minute!” he called from his bed, hearing footsteps getting quieter right after. He took a deep breath, trying to shake his uneasiness as he pulled his bedsheets off of himself, showing his signature bed clothes: a simple white shirt paired up with his white briefs. Mike stood up and went to the mirror to check his hair.
	In the mirror stood the same thing he looked at every morning: a chunky, now 18 year old boy (as of a month ago). He was a mix of fused DNA coming from both his dragon wolf father Inferno and his fox father Chris. His eyes were mismatched; his right green eye from Chris, the left red eye coming from Inferno. As a result of his birth, the boy also had a pair of dragon wings he could easily hide and pull out at will. He was indeed a dragon fox. But he didn’t have the same colors from either Chris or Inferno; Chris was a brown fox, Inferno a red dragon wolf, but Mike’s color of fur came from the woman who birthed him, a golden yellow complimented by a creamy white tip on his tail. All these years though, and he still hadn’t found out who the woman that gave birth to him was. He was different, being the first child that wasn’t hatched from an egg and a mix of three different bloods. He turned slightly to see his plump bottom, definitely something he had inherited from both his fathers. He slowly adjusted his tuft on top of his head, still feeling the effects of that nightmare he had just dreamed, then opened the door connecting his room to the rest of the castle.
	Mike soon made his way into the kitchen/dining area, going to his usual seat and plopping down in front of a plate of eggs and bacon. “Still in your undies, I see,” Chris said teasingly, ruffling his son’s tuft. Mike shook his head and started readjusting it. “Dad, I just fixed that!” he complained. “Aw, but you’re my baby!” Chris giggled, kissing him on the cheek. Mike just blushed and started eating. “Babe, let Mike eat,” came Inferno’s voice. Chris pouted a little but did as his mate asked and sat at his own place. Inferno walked into the room and sat at the chair next to Chris. “Is there something wrong, kiddo?” he asked Mike. “This is the third time this week you missed breakfast.” Mike was in mid-eating, about to chomp down on a fairly large mouthful of eggs when he stopped and put the fork down. “I-It’s nothing,” he lied. Chris raised a brow and watched Mike. “Mike...” Inferno said in a semi-stern tone, crossing his arms. “You know we can tell when you’re lying.” Crap, how do you tell your parents you keep having this dream about them in pain and you coming close to death? Mike thought, starting to sweat a little. “Um...do we really have to talk about this so early in the day?” he asked, trying to change the subject. “Mmm, these eggs are really good!” He then picked up the fork again and went to take a bite when Inferno got up and lowered Mike’s paw from his mouth. “Is it something bad?” he asked Mike. Chris sighed as he watched this going down. “Mikey, please tell us,” he said to Mike. “Look, I just don’t wanna talk about it, okay?” Mike replied with a sigh. “I...just had a really bad night is all.” Inferno just nodded and went back to Chris. But he still had his suspicions. “We’re just worried about you is all, Mike,” Inferno said. He then leaned in and whispered to Chris, then they both got up and went to give Mike some space.
	After breakfast, Mike headed into the grand hallway, realizing that his trip to the dining area was rather...uneventful, considering the number of people in the castle. To his surprise, it seemed pretty empty. However, that didn’t really bother him. Today just felt like a good day to relax in only his underwear (which he was known for doing quite a lot) and be carefree. That was, until his uncle passed by. “Mike, what are you doing still in your underwear? Have you even taken your bath yet?” he asked. Mike took a look and standing in front of him was the coyote. His name was Miguel Antonio Adams-Pearson. He had his own share of adventures in his life, much like his brothers Chris and Inferno. He dressed rather weird for his age of 34, still wearing thin hoodies and a pair of rather short shorts that Mike honestly wished he wouldn’t. “Good morning to you too, uncle,” Mike replied unenthusiastically. “It’s almost noon, actually,” Miguel answered. “Vamonos, chico. We were supposed to go training in the woods today.” “Normally, I would love to, Miguel,” Mike said. “But I really wanna relax today.” That kinda crushed Miguel a bit, so it seemed. “Oy, and I was really looking forward to bonding with you, nephew,” he sighed. Mike groaned a little inside and sighed as well. “Just give me a few moments to get ready,” he said, turning to trudge along to the shower, much to Miguel’s approval.
	As Mike bathed, the dream kept returning to his head. He continued to just shake the thoughts out of his head and finished getting ready, dressing himself in his usual black and blue long sleeve shirt and a pair of blue shorts. Even though he kinda dressed himself in the same manner as Miguel, at least his shorts didn’t look like a minor improvement to his underwear. “Maybe this won’t be so bad,” he said to himself as he made his way to his room, grabbing his 18th birthday present Blade Edge and going to the great hall. “Maybe it’ll help take my mind off of this stupid nightmare.” Soon he rejoined his uncle and the two headed out for training in the woods nearby.