Chapter 1: Anguish
Chapter 2: Uncertainty
Chapter 3: Questions
Chapter 4: Lament
Chapter 5: Grind (You are here)

"One, two! Up, Down!"

The shinx's body rose and descended with the Avali's orders. He lay parallel to the metallic floor below him, pushing himself up with each second by his paws.

This was part of his exercise routine ever since he requested that the crew help him get stronger. Eilumi had taken it upon himself to become his personal trainer, while Nine did it whenever he was not available. For the last few days, Shia would get up, do 30 'push ups', 'crunches', 'jumping jacks', the whole set. 

"29. Aaaand, 30! Good job, Shia."

Shia panted as he lowered himself to the metallic floor one last time. He didn't take much time to rest however, as he rose to his feet. He wiped his brow as Eilumi headed out of the room.

Shia followed him into the big black room. A disorienting room, and if it were not for the lights on the ceiling, he would not be able to find his way around. Feline night vision or no.

"You know the drill." Eilumi instructed.

Shia nodded. He looked to his left, and saw a special suit hanging against the black walls. A white suit with weird doodads and embedded wires on it. One that was made just for him.

He slid one leg through the top, and then the other. Then, his arm into one of the sleeves, and then his other through the other. There was also a helmet that went with it. One that, again, had been made specifically for him. They had '3D Printed' the thing once he asked. It had taken them two days to fully make the suit, and before that, he'd been restricted to simply doing the aforementioned exercises constantly. But a couple of days ago he'd been presented with the suit, and brought to the room he was now in.

The 'Holodeck'.

"You don't have a neural jack like the rest of us" Eilumi had explained then. "... Yet." He added quickly.  "So you'll need to put on this suit as a work-around."

He didn't at the time understand what a 'neural jack' was. But when he'd asked later, he learned that it was apparently a device used to interact with avali technology. Like the Holodeck. Or the teleporter. Or the ship's controls. Or... other stuff.

"Alright. Time to run the obstacle course." Eilumi said to him, as his mind snapped back to the present.

Shia held out his paw, and lifted his 'thumb' into the air, showing his trainer that he was ready. At that moment, the entire room began to shift and fade. Before he knew it, he was no longer in a big black room with a metal floor, but standing atop the coarse sands, surrounded by the all too familiar rocks of his homeworld.

Or... that's how it appeared anyway. In reality though, he was still in the black room. This was just what Eilumi and the crew referred to as a 'simulation'.

Shia remembered the first time he'd put on the suit and gone into the holodeck.

---

"W... What just happened? Where are we? Why are we back in the maze? W-What if we run into Rai again?" Shia asked in a panic as the very world around him shifted into the maze.

He looked down, and realized... He wasn't even wearing the suit anymore!

"Where did the suit go?!" Shia questioned frantically.

"Woah woah woah calm down there little buddy!" Eilumi said, waving his hands in front of him. "I'll explain, just one question at a time!"

Eilumi waited for Shia to calm down just a little before he began his explanation. "Deep breaths, deep breaths. Calm down." He instructed.

Shia too deep, long breaths, calming down. Once he'd reached a calmer state, Eilumi spoke again.

"First three questions I can answer all at once. What you are seeing right now is what we call a 'simulation'. Basically, a created virtual reality. Don't ask how exactly it works, that's more Khaun's department, and it would take a very long time to explain it to you - especially since you lack technical training. Suffice it to say that what you are seeing right now is not real."

"So it's like a dream?" Shia asks.

"Something like that." Eilumi responded. "Except you can actually control the 'simulation', or rather, I can control it. You don't have admin mode on. But anyway,  you can actually feel in the simulation... to a degree. And it's useful for creating training situations without having to actually physically construct them. In this case:"

The avali motioned to Shia's left.

"I've created an obstacle course for you to run."

Shia looked to his left, and saw the maze. But it was... different. There were rocks jutting out from the walls and into the opposing walls beside them. Said walls were more narrow than before. And at the end, he could see a large wall with large handles on it blocking the way.

Shia guessed that he was meant to climb over that one.

"So this being a... 'sim-yoo-late-shun' you created... explains why the rocks are all weird." Shia said as he looked on.

"Yup." Eilumi said. "I take it the maze doesn't have rocks jutting out like this?"

"Nope. Never." Shia responded.

"Though speaking of the maze, allow me to answer that question for you. Well, I thought I'd create something familiar to you. Something resembling the maze you grew up in, Instead of... say... some yard with wooden obstacles, or just some basic untextured polygon shapes for obstacles. Figured that would be a bit too weird for you."

Shia nodded. He didn't know what a 'polygon' was though. He decided he'd ask later.

"And as for Rai showing up, as I've said, this isn't real. So there's no way he'll be showing up..."

Shia sighed a sigh of relief.

"... Unless I want him to, as a funny joke." He said with a smirk.

At that moment, Rai appeared. And shia stepped back, fearfully. But as he looked at him, he did something that Shia didn't expect. He didn't speak to Shia. He didn't attempt to attack Shia. Instead... Rai reached behind him, and from somewhere, he pulled out a cane in one hand, and a black, tall, cylindrical hat. A massive grin appeared on his face. The large imposing raichu kicked his feet in the air, and, for no reason, began to sing. 

"HELLO MY BABY, HELLO MY HONEY, HELLO MY RAGTIME GAL!!" He yelled into the air as he kicked one foot into the air after the other, bouncing along as he sang. "SEND ME A KISS BY WIRE, BABY MY HEART'S ON FIRE! IF YOU REFUSE ME, HONEY YOU'LL LOSE ME, THEN YOU'LL BE LEFT ALONE, OH BABY, TELEPHONE, AND THEN TELL ME I'M YOUR OOOOOWN!"

As he'd sang that last bit, Rai walked, or rather bounced, right into the deep, dark hole that Shia had neglected to notice up until that moment, falling feet-first into the bottomless abyss. It was a hole that was about three time's rai's width wide, and an unknown amount deep. Behind where Rai had fallen was a sign. An arrow sign pointing into the hole, with the words "PIT OF INFINITE DOOM!!" painted on it messily with red paint.

Shia just stared at this completely random display, and it's sudden end, with a confused smile on his face. He wasn't sure whether to be afraid or to laugh at the ridiculousness of this moment.

"Okay that's enough of that." Eilumi laughed.

"What.... " Shia said with a confused chuckle, "Was that?!"

"A joke." Eilumi replied. "Figured it'd put a smile on your face to see Rai do something really dumb."

Shia laughed a little bit. He did have to admit, seeing his tormentor suddenly break out in such a ridiculous song and act like a complete idiot was... somehow satisfying. Not as satisfying as some other things he wished he could do to him, but still satisfying. And, he had to admit it, rather funny.

As he thought about what he just saw, a certain other thought began to creep into his mind. Apparently they were able to create anything at will here. 

'I wonder if...' Shia thought.

"Now I know what you're probably thinking." Eilumi said with a smirk. One that Shia was all too familiar with now. It was the kind of smirk that Eilumi had whenever he was going to do or say something... naughty. "'Can I use this to create a hot date between me and Loona? And fuck her at the end?'"

Shia blushed heavily at just how blunt he was with that question. 

"I... I... I..."

As much as he tried to form the words to deny it, he couldn't. After all... that's exactly what he'd been thinking.

'Am I really that obvious?' Shia thought to himself.

"It's not hard to guess that was what you were thinking. I mean, I can already read your reaction." Eilumi said with that smirk of his. "Am I right, or am I right?"

Shia just nodded, a bit angrily.

"To answer your question though..." Eilumi sighed. "Well... Yes, but actually no."

"What do you mean?" Shia asked.

"Well, you won't encounter this in this simulation, as it's not a combat simulation. But once we start doing combat-related things, you'll see, or rather, feel what I mean." Eilumi began. "There are certain protocols in place that heavily reduce the amount of pain you'd receive. Reduce, but not completely prevent. Like, say, if I were to stab you in the arm or shoot you with a gun."

Shia winced at the thought of either of them.

"As I've said, it's mostly for combat sims. But it's a feature built into the holodeck itself, so it applies to all sims too. Trouble is, those same protocols also prevent you from feeling anything during sex with a simulation. And we can't turn these protocols off... I'm sorry."

"It's... fine." Shia said. Truth be told, the more he thought about it, even if this 'protocol' thing wasn't the case, it would just feel... wrong, anyway. "Still... I suppose it'd be nice to see them again."

"Don't worry, We'll keep trying to find your friends." Eilumi said as he put a hand on his shoulder.

"And if we don't?" Shia asked sadly.

"Then... Then that offer of me taking you to Lustia and helping you get rid of that pesky virginity of yours still stands."

This caused shia to blush like mad.

"I mean, I could make copies of them to cheer for you while-"

"No, no." Shia waves his hands. "I'd rather not." Shia sighed sadly. "Let's just get on with this."

"Okay then. Enough of that topic. " Eilumi agreed, backing away as he took out a circular object from his cloak.

"The object of this exercise is to reach the end of the course. Don't worry, despite it looking like The Maze, it's just a straight corridor, so you won't have to struggle to find your way around."

Shia nodded as he turned back to the obstacles ahead. 

"Remember, you'll be timed on the course, so try to get through it as quickly as possible. Ready?"

"Ready." Shia said. He took to one knee, putting his other leg behind him, and his arms on the ground, as he prepared to sprint.

"On my mark..." Eilumi shouted. "Five. Four. Three. Two. One...."

Shia licked his lips with his tongue. His eyes narrowed.

"GO!"

And with that, Shia broke off into as fast a sprint as he could muster.

"Down and under! Go go!" Eilmi yelled as he approached the first obstacle. It was a rock blocking his way with a gap under it. He leapt at the ground and crawled under it. As soon as he was past it, he ran towards the next one. It was another rock, this one with no gap to crawl under.

"Up and over! Move! Move!" Eilumi barked at him from atop the 'maze' wall. 

Shia didn't bother to wonder how he got up there so fast. He leapt up over the rock, crawling over it as fast as he could, and jumping over it as fast as he could go. 

"Crawl through it Shia!" 

The next one was two rocks jutting out of the walls. They formed a narrow space in between them. Shia had to pull himself up into it, and crawl through the narrow gap. 

"Good good. Now jump your way over these rocks. Quickly!"

The next obstacle was a series of the second one, but lower, and in rapid succession. He leapt over these one by one, and ran towards the next obstacle.

A long series rocks jutting up a little over his head. They were over a large, slanted pit. The wall at the end of the pit was too smooth for him to climb, and too tall for him to jump over.

"Jump up and grab the rocks and swing your way over!" Eilumi ordered. Shia looked at the rocks, and seeing no alternative, did as he was told. He grabbed one of the narrow rocks with his paws, hoping it wouldn't break. It didn't. In quick succession, he grabbed the one and pulled himself over to it, followed by the next, and the next, and the next.

Suddenly, his grip slipped on one of the rocks. He tried to tighten his grip on the other one, but it was too late. 

"SHIT!!" He yelled as he felt himself fall down into the pit. It had to be at least several feet down. 

"Ummph!" The shinx grunted as he hit the sands with an indignant plop, right onto his face. The landing hurt, but not as much as he thought it would. Not as much as it should have.

'These must be the 'protocols' Eilumi was talking about.' Shia thought while he rubbed his butt.

"Get up, Shia! Get up and try again!" Eilumi yelled from his cliff face. 

Shia looked back. Luckily, the pit had a gentle slanted ramp from where it started, so it was easy to climb out of it. The bad part was that he would have to start from the beginning of the obstacle. 
He huffed as he climbed out of the pit, and back to where he'd started, once again he jumped up and grabbed the narrow rock, and swung himself to the next one and the one after that. This time, he was a bit more careful, making sure not to fall into the pit again. With one last determined swing, he flew off the last jutting rock, and onto the wall that overlooked the pit he'd fallen into during his last attempt.

"Good good, keep going!" Eilumi barked. By now, Shia was getting tired out, but he pressed on, to the next obstacle. 

'Great, another pit.' he whined to himself. This time, instead of having to swing overhead, he'd have to leap onto and across flat-topped rocks jutting out of the ground in order to cross the pit.

He leapt onto one rock, and then onto another, and then the next, and then the next. It was tiring, and he was fatigued. But he was just about-

"W-woaaah!" 

Shia felt himself going about to fall over. He arched himself back instinctively, trying to keep his balance. 

'Steady, steady!!' He thought frantically as he came to a halt.

'Good, no pit this time.'

He backed up, and then leapt onto the next rock, and then one more before he leapt onto the wall of the pit, and onto the next obstacle. The one he could see even from the very beginning. 

"You're almost there! Up and over!" Eilumi barked from where he was, as Shia looked up.

The wall. He'd have to climb.

With a jump, he leapt up as high as he could, grabbing onto the handholds. With one foot lifting up, and one hand over the other, he pulled himself up. Higher and higher. His body ached, but he pressed on. If Eilumi was right, this was almost the end. He couldn't fail now.

He pushed himself onwards, despite the soreness, despite the burn, despite the sweat that matted his fur.

"Nnnngh!!" He grunted as he pulled himself up higher and higher. His muscles cried for a break. But he wouldn't allow it. Not now.

"Aaaghh!" With one more determined pull, he reached towards the top. And pulled himself up. Once he was on the top he saw...

A drop to the bottom. And nothing beyond that.

"Good good!" Eilumi cheered. "You're almost there. Just to the bottom now, and you're done."

Shia gave a sigh as he climbed over, and pushed himself off the wall. He dropped to the ground with a thud, and his knees cried out from the soreness as he dropped to all fours. He panted heavily, his body felt hotter than a charmander's flame. 

He heard a click. Followed by the soft pat of feet landing in the sand beside him. Shia turned his head, and saw Eilumi standing next to him, showing him the small circular objects with some numbers on it.

"Seven Minutes, Thirty-Four Seconds." Eilumi stated. What he said seemed to correlate with the numbers shown on the 'stop-watch'.

"Was... was that good or bad?" Shia asked, still panting from exhaustion.

"It was decent..." Eilumi responded. "... For a first-timer."

"Thanks." Shia replied flatly. 

He felt Eilumi put his claw on his shoulder.

"I told you that this wasn't going to be easy." Eilumi said.

"Yeah..." Shia said in response, still catching his breath. 

"I didn't lie when I first said this, and I won't lie now. This first week or so will be especially rough. But it'll get better the more accustomed you get to it." Eliumi replied encouragingly. "Hell, you're doing pretty good as it is. Most people fall down both pits at least twice."

Shia smiled weakly at him as he slowly and shakily rose to his knees.

"Need a break?" Eilumi asked. Shia nodded in reply.

He knew it would be hard, but he was determined. Even so, he needed a break. Even if it was a small one.

"Alright. Take a half hour break." Eilumi said as the maze began to shift and vanish, being replaced with the large black room. "And then it's lifting weights."

Shia gave a groan as he took off the suit.

----

That was several days ago however. And now... 

He still was not really 'used to this'. But he did feel like he was doing better. He could feel himself getting stronger, and faster. At the current time, he was over the top of the climbing wall, and he was just about to jump down.

He landed on his hands and feet. His knees, while still somewhat sore, didn't hurt as much this time. Barely at all. He was panting, but not as much as the first time.

A familiar click, and a pat later, Eilumi was once again beside him. 

"Six minutes, twenty-one seconds." Eilumi said with a smile. "You're getting better and better."

Shia smiled at his friend and trainer as the maze once again vanished, fading back into the black holodeck walls.

"Time for your thirty minute break, little buddy." Eilumi said to Shia as the latter took off his helmet.

"And then weights?" He responded as he took off the suit.

"Yup." Eilumi said. 

Shia put on his light black trenchcoat. It was similar to the ones his new friends were constantly wearing, and they'd made it specifically for him. He hung the suit up, and headed out.

---

Shia decided to pay Khaun a visit during his break. He didn't see him that often these days, as the both of them had been busy as of late, with very different things.

The shinx opened the door to the medical lab. Sure enough, Khaun was there, tending to the brain scanner - or more specifically, to the person strapped to it currently. A mon, a zoura by the looks of it. The brain scanner was already strapped to ... His? Her? Shia looked at the mon's crotch, then back to the mon's body again. His face. Khaun was monitoring the scan from the side. On a table next to the light-blue avali lay a shiny object: a gold ingot.

Shia sighed internally. He didn't find this as strange as he used to. They'd been doing this while he was training with Eilumi: Snatching up mons, and then brain scanning them. They did this both in an effort to find any hint of the fate of Shia's friends, and because of the mission they'd been sent here to accomplish in the first place. They had a quota of brain-scans to accomplish. The purpose of which had been explained to the shinx when he'd first asked about it.

None of the mons that underwent the procedure were like Shia, though. None stayed aboard. They'd be brought on board, brain scanned, then be released, one gold bar richer.

Gold. It was something EXTREMELY valuable back on his planet, but as Khaun explained to him, it was something annoyingly common out in space. Especially on the huge floating space rocks known as 'asteroids'. So it was next to nothing for them to just give these away as a gift. 

'After all, if they're going to snatch up 'mons and read their life stories, the least they can do is send them back a little richer.' Shia thought to himself.

Or at least, that's how it usually went. Not every mon was so lucky.

Most mons they did this to were normal folks with normal lives, either fellow savages in Dynamo Sands or other dungeons, or citizens that had been given an offer that had a chance encounter and an offer they couldn't refuse. There were, however, a few others. Mons that preyed upon others. Killed them in meat for their Noble overlords. Enslaved them. Raped them. Abused them. Mons that were no better than Rai. Some... even worse.

These were 'mons that Eilumi would colloquially refer to as 'shitbags'. And 'shitbags'... left the ship in a completely different manner. They'd still get their gold bar. That much was promised to them, and they'd get it. After all, the lure of free gold is usually how they ended up here in the first place.

'Not that it does them much good.' Shia half-chuckled in mind.

In the normal, not-shitbag cases, once their brainscan ended, Khaun or Nine, whoever was conducting the brainscan at the moment, would lead them back to the teleporter. They'd vanish, and then they'd never see them again. With 'shitbags' hoever, they were taken to a very different place:

That door that Nine told him never to go through so long ago, before he could even understand what he was saying.

'Has it really been that long?' Shia thought to himself as his mind went off on a tangent, then returned to the current topic.

Khaun, Nine, or even Eilumi would take them to the door, butter them up somewhat, and lead them through the door. Once they went through it, the door would close, and another one in front would open. Right into the cold, airless, weightless abyss of space. Where they'd be sucked out into, to live out the rest of their lives. 

All 5-15 seconds of it.

Shia shuttered as he thought about that. It was not something he liked to see happen, but after seeing the memory of that one heliolisk that had been given the 'shitbag' treatment, he clearly understood why. That guy had hunted down meat for the nobles, killing innocent mons like himself for no reason other than quick coin, and to keep the 'wheel turning', whatever that meant. He'd watched as said heliolisk meticulously stabbed an old ampharos, while his pikachu... son? Servant? ... Slave? He could tell, nor did it matter... Looked on, then took said pikachu captive as 'live meat' back to his masters.

Something about that pikachu felt a bit... familiar to Shia. In a bad way. But he quickly dismissed that thought, and went back to thinking about the heliolisk instead. 

He'd watched that shitbag rape a flaffy's whole family, one at a time, promising not to kill them if they serviced him, and then go back on his promise by selling him as 'live meat'. And worse, no one stopped him. In fact, this guy had somehow become guild leader in a guild located in a place called 'Sandstone'. And he hadn't gotten any better when he was there. If anything, he'd grown worse, if not lazier. No longer doing the dirty work himself, he relegated himself to using and abusing his subordinates for sex by coercion. 

He hadn't even batted an eye when his second in command, a 'mon almost as bad as him, had gotten murdered by an unknown assailant.

'Thank The Nexus that Loona never wound up in such a place.' He thought to himself, barely registering the irony of using his avali friend's saying instead of The Maze that he once worshiped. 'I shudder to think of what would happen if she ever tried to join that guild.'

Shia knew no way any of them could allow a monster like that to go back to the planet alive. And he was right. That heliolisk's corpse was still floating around in space somewhere. 

There were a few, but thankfully not many others, that had been brain scanned and had turned out to be 'shitbags'. As Shia looked back upon the ‘mon currently undergoing the scan, he saw something upon the zoura's body: a sash. But it wasn't the sash itself that caught the shinx's attention, but rather what was pinned to it: a badge. A 'citizen' badge if he wasn't mistaken. It was apparent this mon wasn't a guild member.

'Come to think of it, most of the 'shitbags' had guild badges.' Shia thought to himself. 'Just like Rai...'

He put a paw to his chin.

'Is there some sort of connection?' Shia pondered to himself.

Shia shook his head, deciding not to think about it further, as he did what he came here to do.

"Hey Khaun." Shia greeted with a smile.

Khaun looked up from his pad, and smiled back at him.

"Hello Shia." He greeted back. "Back from training?"

"Yeah, I'm on my 30 minute break." Shia responded. "I decided to check up on you, since, well, we don't see each other that often these days."

"Ah, that's good." Khaun said back. "Er, I mean, the coming to see me part, not the not seeing each other often part." The blue avali quickly corrected himself.

Shia had already known though what he meant.

"So, about this subject..." Shia began to ask. Khaun just shrugged and went back to his floating monitor.

"He's not really remarkable in any way, I'm sorry to say." Khaun told the curious shinx. "Grew up in 'Red Sands', got a job as a merchant's apprentice. Nothing much to say after that."

"I see..." Shia replied flatly. "Has there been any sign of my friends?"

"None, sadly." Khaun answered back sadly. "Sorry, buddy."

Shia just nodded solemnly. 

"Excuse me, this scan's just about finished." Khuan said, the floating holographic monitor disappearing with a wave of his claw. Shia didn't reply. He knew enough to stay quiet during this phase.

The shinx watched as Khaun grabbed the gold bar, and then approached the zoura subject. He carefully removed the device from the subject's face.

"Wow, that was a trip." The zoura said as the brain scanner retreated back into the ceiling.

"Yeah, it usually is." Khaun replied as he undid the straps on the subject. "Sorry about these, it's a safety precaution."

"Yeah yeah. At least they weren't too tight." The zoura grumbled, rubbing his wrist. "Now, I do believe-"

"Of course." Khaun said. "Our little participation gift." He handed the dark type fox the gold bar he was promised.

"Thanks a lot!" The zoura said appreciatively as he took it from Khaun. "This is going to help me out a lot!"

"Of course." Khaun replied. "And, for what it's worth, good luck with that girl."

Shia couldn't help but wonder what Khaun meant by 'that girl'.  'Then again, do I really want to know?', he thought dismissively. He sighed as that line of thought reminded him of Loona again - and more specifically, his feelings towards her. Feelings he never got the chance to tell her of.

'I knew I should have confessed my feelings to her far sooner.' He cursed himself. 'But then again... it's not like that would have changed anything.'

Rai and his two buddies would have still found them. He and his friends would have still been raped. Shia would still have been taken away. And his friends... well... he didn't want to think about what might have happened to them, or worse, what could be happening to them at this very moment, any further.

"Who's he?" The zoura asked, now looking and pointing at him. Shia's sigh must have caught his attention.

"Oh, he's an... Assistant." Khaun quickly said, sparing Shia the arduous task of having to explain his situation. Especially to someone that would be gone in a couple of moments. "Here, come with me, and I'll show you out."

"Alrighty." The zoura responded, as he followed Khaun out of the room. A few seconds later, the sound of a familiar metallic whir filled the air. 

"Nope, not a shitbag." Shia said to himself. That sound meant they'd gone to the teleporter room, not the airlock.

In a few moments, Khaun returned.

"Well, that's done." Khaun said as he returned. "And, well... it's time for lunch anyway."

Shia nodded and followed him to the kitchen, where everyone was already sitting. Nine was doing the cooking, as per usual, while Eilumi and Khaun sat down.

Shia slumped into his beanbag chair, and awaited his meal, which arrived shortly.

"Hey, buddy, what's wrong?" Eilumi asked suddenly.

"Er... um... nothing." Shia lied, hoping to deflect the conversation away from his thoughts.

By now however, he should have known better.

"Shia, we know you better than that." Khaun said as he swallowed his noodles. "So out with it. What's wrong?"

"Shia... it's not good to bottle up your thoughts." Nine added in from the stove. "Take it from me. I'd know."

"Is it really that obvious?" He sighed sadly. 

"Clear as crystal." Eilumi responded. 

"You know how it goes, Shia." Khaun added in. "All activities-"

"Are pack activities." Shia finished, taking a bite and a quick swallow of food.

"That's right." Khaun said. "And if one of us is feeling down, it's the duty of us all to help with it."

Shia smiled weakly at that, before growing again.

"Fine... It's... my friends again." The shinx admitted.

"You think of them a lot." Khaun commented. Shia nodded.

"All the time." He responded.

"We've been trying to find them, but so far there's no hint of them." Khaun informed him.

"You're not helping, Khaun." Eilumi chided. He was right, it really wasn't helping his mood.

"Well, it's true." Khaun argued back. "I mean it's not like I can say they’re in a box over there or something."

"Packies." Nine said, getting their attention as he came over to them and sat down in a very large bean bag chair, made especially for him. "If I recall correctly, one of the recent 'subjects' came from a place called 'Sandstone'. A town relatively close to this 'Dynamo Sands' maze where we found young Shia here.'

"That's correct." Eilumi confirmed.

"Then I propose we go to ground in this place and search for clues as to what became of our friend's friends. Or possibly even their current whereabouts."

"That sounds like a good plan." Eilumi replied.

"Agreed." Khaun said in response as well.

Shia simply smiled and nodded, his mood now cheered up now that there was something of a hope.

Although, he didn't say it, but something about that name... 'Sandstone'. Something about it seemed familiar, something about it gave him a sinking feeling.

He dismissed his paranoia as he quickly finished his meal, as did everyone else.

"Alright, everyone. Get ready to go planetside in half an hour." Eilumi ordered as everyone got up. "We meet in the teleporter room."

"Direct teleportation?" Khaun asked. "Are you sure that's a good idea, Eilumi? Given what happened in the maze."

"The interference seems to be localized to these 'mazes.'" Nine replied. "Unlike last time, there is minimal risk of separation."

"Alright." Khaun said back. "If you'll excuse me just a moment, I do have to make a few preparations based on the data we've obtained." He said as he left.

'Don't worry you guys.' Shia thought with a renewed sense of hope and determination. 'We're gonna find you yet...'

----

"Well that was a complete waste of time!" Khaun complained loudly as they beamed back to the ship from their little trip to the surface. 

"I'm sorry, Shia." Eilumi said as he patted Shia on the shoulder. "We did our best."

"I sorely apologise." Nine added in, patting him on the back. "I was so certain that there would be something down there for us to find. I didn't know it would end this badly."

"Yeah, I thought so too." Eilumi added in.

Despite their best efforts to apologise, it wasn't helping. Shia was even more depressed than before. And now, rather angry. Not at the three that stood behind him. No, at himself. At the world below him. At everything else.

Shia could not help but sulk as he recalled the whole trip in his mind.

----

They had beamed down into this place called 'Sandstone' during the day. Shia had to wonder how no one saw them come or leave. It seemed they'd beamed down in a particular place, an abandoned shell of a building.

Each of them, including Shia, was wearing their black, lightweight trench coats - and on them was buttoned a guild badge.

Fake, of course. But hopefully, no one would know the difference.

Khaun had observed from the brain scans that this society operated on a 'badge hierarchy', with no-badges, or 'savages' being the lowest, and 'nobles' being the highest. He had 3d printed some of these 'guild badges' as that rank seemed to be the 2nd highest rank in this society, and he'd hoped that wearing those would yield the best results. 

Something about wearing a guild badge and about this whole place still felt... off to Shia. But he accepted it anyway, especially since he didn't have any better ideas.

"Remember, if anyone asks, we're from the 'Avalonian' guild."  Eilumi instructed. Everyone nodded.

They'd decided to split off to cover the most ground. Eilumi went one way, Khaun went another. Shia however, decided to stick with Nine. 

"Excuse me, sir, but have you seen a female Linoone going by the name of Loona, or a female Eeevee by the name of Veera around here?" Nine asked whoever they came across. The responses were... mixed.

"Nope, never heard anyone like that," a pikachu told them.

"N-No! Don't hurt me, please!," a scared rattata said as she bolted away.

"I ain't seen nothin, ain't heard nothin'," a drunk zoura slurred at nine.

"This way, Nine," Shia said as the two made their way towards a shop and opened the door. 

'If anyone might know anything, it'd be a shopkeeper,' Shia hoped.

As they entered the shop, they spotted a flygon. Bigger than shia by far, but not as big as Nine. He was cleaning up a shop.

"Oh sure, now someone comes in." The flygon owner grumbled. "Right when I'm about to close my shop permanently."

It was at that moment that both of them became aware of the fact that all of the shelves were empty.

"My sincere condolences." Nine said with a slight bow. "I hope you are more successful in the future." 

Shia was content to just let Nine do the talking as he looked on.

"Well, I certainly appreciate the sentiment." The flygon shopkeeper sighed. "I don't think it'll amount to much, but thank you anyway, whoever or... whatever you are." He said with a bit of fear in his voice as he looked up at Nine. "Something tells me though you're not in here to get the latest clearance sale deals."

"That is correct.." Nine confirmed.

"I see." The flygon replied depressively, his expression changing to a slight grimace as he saw their guild badges. "If you're here to collect taxes from me again, I already paid them yesterday. And the day before..." He said with a scowl. "In fact, it's kind of why I'm closing up shop."

"I assure you we are not here to collect taxes." Nine replied, waving both of his arms in front of him for a brief moment.

'Sounds like there's some corruption going on in this place.' Shia thought to himself. That uneasy feeling about this town was back.

"Oh... well... my apologies in that case." The flygon sighed. "I'm sorry, but as you might imagine, I'm not really in the mood for conversation right now, so if you could get to the point, it would be appreciated. Especially since I have nothing on hand for you to buy."

"Very well." Nine said. "My friend and I are looking for two 'mons that have gone missing."

"Have you tried the-" The flygon stopped as remembered they had badges. "Oh, right. Forgot a moment that you are Guildies yourselves. My bad." 

"It's quite alright." Nine replied back, showing an embarrassed expression and a sweatdrop on his visor.

"This must be some sort of guild-investigation, I presume?"

"You... could say that." Nine replied back. It was a lie of course, they weren't part of any guild. At least, not any real one.

... At least, none on this planet. 

Shia had to wonder if the 'Reborn Illuminate' counted as a Guild? He dismissed the thought as he listened to the conversation

"We are looking for two missing female mons: a linoone that goes by the name of 'Loona.'" Nine continued.

"Nope, don't know anything about that one." The flygon replied. "Haven't seen a linoone around here since I retired from the guild."

'He quit the guild?' Shia thought to himself. 'Why would he do that?' Part of him wanted to ask, but he remained silent. He'd agreed to let Nine do the talking, and besides, while that last bit of information was interesting, it wasn't really relevant information to the task at hand.

"I see. The next one we're looking for... is a female eevee by the name of 'Veera.' Have you seen or heard of any mon matching that description?"

"I... Uh...." The flygon replied, his voice gaining a sudden tone of nervousness to it. "No. I've never encountered an eevee with that name. Ever." He quickly finished.

"We'll take our leave now." Nine concluded calmly. "Good luck with your future endeavors."

Shia nodded, and followed Nine out of the store. The former found it a bit odd that he hesitated when Veera was mentioned. But... it was far from conclusive.

They asked a few more mons on their way back to the rendezvous point where they'd beamed down to. The abandoned building. Eilumi was already there, and Khaun joined them soon after.

"Find anything, Nine?" Eilumi asked. Shia guessed from the question that Eilumi hadn't.

"I'm afraid our search yielded little results," Nine replied. 

"Same here." Eilumi replied. 

"Here too." Khaun said. 

Shia sighed sadly as he explained what happened.

"Hmph, seems everyone in this town either doesn't know anything or is just really unhelpful." Eilumi groaned. "Like in my case..."

---

After trying to talk to various mons he couldn't identify, all of which either told him that they didn't know anything, or worse, told him to 'buzz off', as one 'buizel' told him to, he'd come across a huge building. He didn't bother to read the sign, so he'd just walked right in.

'Note to self: Next time read the damn signs.' Eilumi groaned to himself as he looked around, and saw...

Mons fucking. Lots of mons fucking. Out in the open, without a care or concern to the fact that they were doing so out in the open. Penises sliding into vaginas. Asses being filled with cock. Moans, both fake and real, but mostly fake, filled the air, as did the overwhelming smell of sex. 

'Great, I just walked right straight into a bordello without even knowing it,' Eilumi grumbled. 'Khaun will never let me hear the end of this.'

Secretly however, he cursed himself for not bringing along a gold bar or two. After all, it'd been too long since he'd had his meat in some pussy. Not since that last R&R trip to Lustia.

'And the girls here are quite the lookers too.' He thought to himself irritably as he watched an 'umbreon' ride... some sort of dark blue lizard creature he couldn't identify. 

"Warm days, hun."

Eilumi's attention was drawn to... some sort of small gray dog like mon he couldn't identify sitting behind the counter. She was smiling warmly at him.

"Uhhh, Yeah, hi." Eilumi responded back awkwardly.

"New to these parts, hun?" She questioned with a hint of lust in her voice. "You're supposed to say 'warmer still'. It's a Drought greeting."

"Yeah, I knew that... I was just... distracted," Eilumi flatly lied.

"You really aren't from around here, are you?" She asked. 

"No, not really." Eilumi asked with irritation in his void. "I'm from the Avalonian Guild. That's from the far north, you see."

"Ah, quite far from home, then?" The gray wolf girl replied flirtily. "Must be quite hard getting used to the sands."

"Yeah, you're telling me." He replied flatly.

"So what brings you here, stranger?" The woman asked curiously. "A quick meal? A quick fuck? Both?"

"Strictly business, I'm afraid." Eilumi replied. "Oh, and before you say anything, no, I'm not collecting taxes. Why does everyone here think that?"

"You can collect my taxes any day, handsome." The weird looking female wolf replied.

"Maybe some other time." Eilumi responded flatly. 

'Why did we forget to take gold bars with us?' He whined internally. Truthfully, he wanted to jump behind the counter and mount this cutie. 'I could have gotten Shia laid too while I was at it! DAMMIT!'

 "Well then, Mr. Serious," the gray girl replied, "might I inquire about what kind of 'business' you're here for?"

"I'm trying to find someone. Someone gone missing." Eilumi replied, getting straight to the point. "I'm looking for two 'mons. One, a linoone with light blue eyes named 'Loona', and an Eevee with green eyes that goes by 'Veera'. Have you seen either of them?"

A frown appeared on the wolf lady's lips.

"That sounds like something you should ask the madam." The wolf-person replied.  

"Where is she, then?" Eilumi asked. "Can I talk to her?"

"I'm afraid not." The canine replied. "She's in the middle of a meeting with a... very important client."

"Could you go and quickly ask her for me?" Eilumi asked irritably. He really did not want to be blue balled in this place any longer than he absolutely needed to be.

"Ummm... sure. One moment." The gray dog woman walked out from behind the counter, and disappeared around a corner. His sensitive Avali ears picked up the distinct noise of a door being opened, some voices being exchanged, said door being closed, and footsteps coming back.

"I'm sorry." The gray dog person said as she resumed her position behind the bar. "She says she doesn't know anyone by either of those names or descriptions."

"Ugh... figures." Eilumi said. He turned around and began to walk out. "Thanks anyway."

"Come again!" He heard the dog shout at him. "Maybe next time for realsez!"

'Seriously, why did I bother to check a brothel, of all places?!' He thought to himself as he headed back to the rendezvous point.

----

"Really, Eilumi?" Khaun replied with utter surprise at Eilumi's story.

"I know, right?" Eilumi said. "Total waste of time."

"No, what I meant is, it's not like you to go into a brothel and come out with a dry dick." Khaun said with a slight chuckle. 

Neither Shia nor Eilumi found it funny, but for two entirely different reasons.

"Well, it's like I said, I didn't have any 'poke' on me, so even if I wanted to, I couldn't pay up." Eilumi complained. "Although I'll admit, some of the 'mons in that place were quite cute." He quickly added under his breath.

"So what happened with you, Khaun?" Nine asked, obviously determined to change the subject.

"Well, I didn't run into any brothels if that's what you're asking," Khaun replied. "Instead...."

----

Khaun sighed as he walked along the sand 'road'. He'd tried asking whatever citizens he came across, but none of them gave him any good responses. 

The blue avali's eyes came upon a large building just a bit off his path. 

"Well, worth a try there." He said to himself as he changed his path. Upon arriving, he saw a black creature with long claws and what appeared to be a pair of 'feathers' on either side of the top of its head.

"A sneasel, if you're describing what I think you're describing." Shia corrected him back in the present time. "It's an ice type."

"I have to wonder what an 'Ice type' is doing here in the desert." Khaun replied back to Shia. This earned him an annoyed look from Eilumi.

"Anyway, as I was saying..."

"H..H.Hello sir." The 'sneasel' greeted him shakily. "A...Are you the replacement for the head of the guild?"

"Er... what?" Khaun questioned. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"In that case... I suppose you're not." The sneasel replied with a frightened sigh. Khaun had to guess that he was quite shy or something. It made him wonder why he was acting as a greeter, though.

"I'll just get straight to the point." Khaun said, deciding to spare this poor guy the trouble of a lengthy conversation. "I'm here to look for someone."

"Missing person case, then?" The sneasel asked. 

"You could say that." Khaun replied.

"You must mean our guildmaster, then. He disappeared a few days ago, and hasn't been seen since. I'm afraid I don't have any more information-"

"Guildmaster? I..." He shook his head. "Look, I'm not looking for your guildmaster either. I'm looking for two people. A green eyed eevee called 'Veera', and a blue-eyed linoone by the name of 'Loona'. Have you seen them?"

The sneasel, already shy, began to shake. 

"N...No! Never heard of them! Never! I... I don't know anything, I swear!" He replied shakily.

"Are you sure?" Khaun replied, raising his eyebrow. "You seem awfully scared."

"I... I... I..." The sneasel stammered. "... Look, things have... been bad around here. Our second in command was murdered, and ... no one knows who did it. And then, our guildmaster went missing just a few days after that. OF COURSE I'M SCARED! I could be murdered in plain sight, and no one could care!"

He gives a sigh.

"Not that I'm going to miss either of them." The sneasel muttered angrily under his breath as quietly as he could, clearly thinking Khaun couldn't hear him. "Fucking bastards, both of them."

"T-Thing is, if someone doesn't take over the guild soon, or if our guildmaster doesn't come back, the guild's doors may close. A..A...And then I don't know what I'll do. I... I don't want to go back to living in the mystery dungeon... but... but.. But.." He sniffled.

"There there... it's alright." Khaun replied, patting the distraught sneasel on his forehead. "You'll figure something out, I'm sure."

"I... I don't think you're right... but... thanks." He sniffled back in response. "I guess I could try my hand at going freelance. Can't be any worse than this place has been."

"It's not a problem." Khaun said. He turned, and left the sneasel to his business, not wanting to cause the poor creature any more distress than it was already in.

He certainly didn't have the heart to tell him that his guildmaster was never going to come back - due to him floating about in space at that very moment.

---

"Poor guy." Shia commented. Nine simply nodded.

"Well, it seems like there's no further point in staying here." Eilumi said. Before anyone could say anything, they were surrounded in a familiar light. 

"Well that was a complete waste of time!" Khaun complained loudly as they reappeared in the ship.

"I'm sorry, Shia." Eilumi said as he patted Shia on the shoulder. "We did our best."

"I sorely apologise." Nine added in, patting him on the back. "I was so certain that there would be something down there for us to find. I didn't know it would end this badly."

"Yeah, I thought so too." Eilumi added in.

"It's not your fault guys. You did your best." Shia said as he sulked. "I just shouldn't have gotten my hopes up."

"It's not over yet." Eilumi said, trying to lift his friend's spirits. "We still have a week. Who knows? Maybe something will turn up yet."

Despite their best efforts to apologise and cheer him up, it wasn't helping. Shia was even more depressed than before. And now, rather angry. Not at the three that stood behind him. No, at himself. At the world below him. At everything else.At Rai and his misbegotten friends, for ruining his life, and taking said friends away from him. At those other three that interfered for enslaving or killing them.

"Eilumi... Can you conjure up something to hit in the holodeck?" Shia asked darkly.  "I... I really need to attack something. Badly."

"Of course, buddy. I understand completely." Eilumi replied with a nod. "Just meet me up there and let me set it up for you." 

"Thanks, I appreciate it." Shia said as he followed Eilumi to the holodeck, quickly putting on the suit.

The room once again shifted, but not to the maze like he was used to - but rather a large, wooden room with paper windows. It was empty, save for a series of large, cylindrical bags hanging from the ceiling, hanging far enough down that they almost reached the floor. Almost.

It didn't take a psychic type to figure out the purpose of these objects, so Shia wasted no time in asking. 

"YYYAAAAHHHH!!!" 

With a yell, he attacked the bag in front of him, kicking and punching the thing as hard as he could. Despite its weight, it rocked softly back and forth with each attack. The shinx didn't care at the moment about form or style, he just needed to hurt this inanimate object. Badly. 

Without even realizing it, his fists began to spark with electricity, as did his feet. Blow after blow rocked the bag back further and further, and his blows began to get just a little big faster.

Just as he realized he was charging his electricity, he felt it build up inside of him. He felt his cheeks flare and crackle with electricity. 

"AAAAAGGGHHHHHH!!!"

WIth a yell, a surge of electricity flowed from his cheeks, and at the helpless bag in front of him. 

A thunderbolt attack. In his rage, he'd pulled one off. This wasn't strange to him though, he'd done this lots of times in the maze. 

"Woooah ho ho buddy!" Shia heard Eilumi comment from the side. The shinx stopped as he looked to the avali standing some distance away. "I forgot you could do that. Heh heh."

"Yeah..." Shia responded with a bit of embarrassment. "It just kinda got a hold of me there."

The bag, while still intact, was quite singed where the thunderbolt had struck it. 

"Hmm, I wonder..." Eilumi suddenly said as he held out his hand. Before Shia could ask, a black, pointed object suddenly appeared in it. "Here," he said as he tossed the object Shia's way.

Shia caught the object mid-air, by the handle. As he looked at it, it became clear what this was: It was a knife. Or a dagger. Whatever one might want to call it. All black, with one edge, a sharp point, and a serrated backside. 

"Uhhhhh..." Shia said as he looked at it.

"Well, what are you waiting for?" Eilumi asked impatiently. "Let's see what you can do with that..."

"Er, what do you mean?" Shia asked.

"I mean, let's see you take that knife and stab and slash the dummy." Eilumi instructed.

"Er, what dummy?" Shia asked.

"The one right next to you." Eilumi said, pointing to what Shia had just been punching.

"That's not a dummy, though." Shia argued, not taking his sight off of Eilumi. He pointed his paw towards it. "That's a-"

He stopped short as he turned his head to look at the bag. Except...

It was a dummy, not a bag. Supported by a cross-beamed pole sticking out of the ground, not hanging by the ceiling on a chain. Complete with a head, torso, legs, and outstretched arms. Just waiting for Shia to attack and slash at it.

"Virtuality can be so spooky sometimes." Shia commented. 

'Welp, no more point in arguing'. He thought as he gripped his knife, and looked at the dummy with determination and malice in his eye. 'Let's do this."

With a yell, he went in with a stab to the chest. He quickly withdrew the knife, and then slashed at the throat, and then sliced at one of the arms.

He heard Eilumi clap from the side. 

"Not bad." The avali cheered. "Not bad for your first time... Or at least I assume it's your first time?"

"Yeah, first time." Shia confirmed. Suddenly, he had a curious idea.

"Hey Eilumi, why don't you show me what you can do with one?" He asked.

Eilumi gave him a smile, and wandered up to the bag beside Shia's dummy.

"Want to see a master in action, eh?" The avali asked as he turned to it and snapped his fingers. The bag transformed into another dummy.

"Need your knife back?" Shia asked, offering the blade back. Eilumi looked at him and shook his head.

"Na. You forget..." He flicked his wrist, and soon, a knife of his own appeared in his hand. "I've got my own."

Eilumi turned to the dummy, wrapping his claw around the handle, the blade pointed up and out. He closed his eyes, and took a breath.

As soon as Eilumi opened his eyes, he was upon the dummy in a flash. The avali slashed at the dummy several times in a few seconds, and repeatedly stabbed it in the chest and legs so quickly Shia's eyes barely had time to register it. Each slice and slash split the dummy's hide open, each stab left a fuzz-filled wound in the dummy.  Eilumi changed his grip repeatedly and quickly between slashes, holding it upside down when he needed to, and upside up when he needed it. The avali finished his attack with a backward grip, blade in slice to the left leg, and a push. If the dummy was not being held up on a pole, it would have fallen over.

"And done." Eilumi said with a smile, tossing the knife into the air where it promptly disappeared.

"W...W...Woah!" Shia stammered, amazed at his friend's speed. "I barely even saw you move! How... How are you able to do that?!"

Eilumi chuckled. "I've had a century's worth of your years to train and experience. You're just starting." 
He put a hand on Shia's shoulder.

"But one day, you'll be as capable as this." He said encouragingly. "One day, Shia... You'll make that 'Rai' guy look like a cheap joke."

While he enjoyed the sentiment, Shia had to point out the obvious.

"But... you got captured by him too, remember?"

"Yeah yeah..." Eilumi grumbled. "That's only because he caught me by surprise, and then managed to overpower me without my weapons."

Shia nodded. "Uhh huh."

"The other reason was that I was suffering from a bit of isolation madness at the time, so our pack cohesion was severely diminished..." Eilumi explained. "...due to my packmates being beamed to different parts of the maze thanks to the electrical interference."

"Pack cohesion?" Shia asked. He'd heard that term before, but didn't really understand what it meant. Let alone how it had anything to do with the topic.

"Alright, time to explain how exactly we Avali work." Eilumi sighed. "I assume it's different for someone like you. You're born and raised by your parents right?"

"Yeah..." Shia replied bitterly. "Or at least, that's how it's supposed to go." He still recalled his memory of being abandoned by his parents at a young age. He never understood the reason.

"Well, it's not so for us Avali. At least, most of us." Eilumi explained. "For us, we're communially raised. Which means as soon as soon as our eggs are laid, our eggs are sent to a creche."

"What's a creche?" Shia asked.

"Well..." Eilumi went off on that tangent to explain it. "It's where avali young are raised. It's like a nursery, school, shelter, etc. All rolled into one."

Shia nodded, as Eilumi went back on topic.

"The point is, we aren't raised by our parents. We're raised in these 'creches'. It's there that our packs of 3-6 avali are formed at a very early age. In my case, Khaun, myself, Eityu, and Renali." He explained with a nostalgic sigh. "We grow up together and form a bond tighter than any friendship or even love. It's... hard to explain to a non-avali."

Shia simply nodded. He was right, it was hard to understand for a non-avali like himself. 

"How to explain? Hmm... I know." Eilumi suddenly got an idea. "Remember when Nine explained our attack on the facility he was in?"

"Yes, I remember." Shia answered. "He said you were like 'four parts of one creature'."

"Yeah, well, it's not an exaggeration. That's exactly how a pack operates." Eilumi continued. "It's not a hive mind or anything like that, but it's somewhat close. As long as we have contact with our pack members in some way, we maintain pack cohesion."

Eilumi then sighed sadly.

"But if we lose a pack member, or are isolated from them for too long, it's more than losing a dear friend or a family member. It's like losing a part of your greater whole."

"And you've already lost two of your packmates." Shia added. Eilumi nodded sadly. "And you were separated from the others that day..."

"Yeah. Exactly." Eilumi replied sadly. "I mean, Nine has made a very good replacement pack member. And... well..."

He looked at Shia with a serious look. 

"That's kind of what I'm hoping for when it comes to you." Eilumi finished.

"Me? You want... Me as a pack member?" Shia asked. "Does that mean... you want me to stick around forever?"

"It... It does." Eilumi confirmed.

"I... I..." Shia was taken aback at this. Truth be told, he didn't know what to think of this. On one hand, he still held onto the hope that he'd find his friends. But, that hope, he hated to admit, was fading. Especially after today's failed attempt to locate them in Sandstone. 

On the other hand, during this stay here with them, this crew had grown on him. To him, Khaun and especially Eilumi had become the brothers he never had. Nine had become the father he wished he had. He knew, deep down, that he could never go back to his world anymore. Never go back to the way he was. Not that he ever had much of a connection to said world anyway. That connection had always been solely with his friends.

And without them, what was there for him to even go back to? Course sand? Corrupt guild members like Rai and the heliolisk? A lifetime of loneliness?

And if they did find his two friends?

'Well, he did just say that packs consist of 3-6 individuals. And with all of us together, that would make 6.... Besides, I doubt Loona would want to miss out on this.'

"You need not make that decision now." Eilumi said reassuringly. "And even if you'd said 'no', I promise that I'll still train you for as long as we're still here."

"T... Thanks Eilumi." Shia said with a smile. At that moment, he felt Eilumi wrap his winged arms around his feline body, holding him close to him.

"It's nothing, buddy." Eilumi said as he held his buddy tight, and patted him on the back. Shia wrapped his own paws around the avali's back, holding him tight to him as well.

They stayed like that for several moments, in that embrace. Then, they slowly let go of one another.

"Starting next week," Eilumi informed, "I intend to start pack-based combat sims with you, myself, and Khaun."

"Khaun?" Shia asked. "But isn't he doing brain scans?"

"Nine can handle them." Eilumi answered. "And besides, we're coming up on the quota anyway."

"There's still five days left this week." Shia said.

"Correct." Eilumi confirmed. "During that time, I'll do basic weapons training with you. Normally, it would take at least a whole month on basic weapons training alone, but..."

He paused, and smiled warmly.

"Shia, you're an unusually fast learner." Shia smiled widely at hearing this from Eilumi.

With a bit more confidence, Shia turned back towards the dummy, which had been repaired while his concentration had been elsewhere. He gripped his knife in his paw. With a breath, he took a stance. His expression turned serious, as he prepared to strike it yet again.

"YAAAAGGHHH!!!" 

WIth a yell, he again slashed, stabbed, sliced, and stabbed at the helpless dummy. Cut after cut, stab after stab appeared upon it. He remembered watching Eilumi do it, and sought to match. He was able to achieve many more cuts, slashes, and stabs than the last time. He tried to switch grips like Eilumi had, but found himself fumbling with it, costing him time. Nonetheless, he carried on, as the clock ticked on. His paws began to crackle with electricity as he slashed and stabbed, his speed and ferocity increased as the charge became stronger.

"Aaaaand stop!" Eilumi ordered. 

Shia stopped where he was. With a flick of his wrists, the electricity dissipated. He stepped back, and saw his handiwork.

"See? What did I say?" Eilumi said encouragingly. "Much better."

The dummy was full of cuts and stab holes. Not as many as Eilumi's, but still much better than his first attempt.

"I uh... still don't quite know how to do the grip-switching thing." Shia said with embarrassment as he absentmindedly stroked the back of his head with his paw. "At least, not with one hand, like you."

"Still, you did quite good that time." Eilumi said. "Don't worry, you'll get used to the grip changing thing eventually. By the Nexus... it took me years to learn that."

Shia nodded. And turned back towards the dummy.

"Ready for another round?" Eilumi asked.

"You bet." Shia responded.

"Alright. But later, we're going back to unarmed." Eilumi said sternly. "Can't have you neglecting that part of combat now, can we?"

---------

Shia opened his eyes, slowly. And saw the all too familiar sight of wooden walls surrounding him.

He was back in the shack. Or... so he thought.

'Wait a minute... Something seems... off.' He thought as he looked. The shack, although it had the same wooden walls, seemed... different somehow. It seemed nicer, somehow. Better decorated. Less ramshackle. There were candles and a bottle of wine on a nearby table. The bed felt nicer too. He looked down, and ran a hand over the sheet. Instead of the green, rough sheet, it was a soft, red colored one. 

Perhaps most striking however wasn't what was there, or what had changed - but rather what wasn't there.

Rai.

Normally when he'd find himself back in the shack, Rai was there to torment him. Or try to. One of his friends would come to save him at some point. Something that had been happening sooner and sooner every time.

But now, he wasn't even there at all. 

At that moment, he became aware of another presence sitting on the bed with him. He looked up and was taken aback at what he saw. Sitting little more than at arms length away was someone else - an avali, sitting calmly on the bed, cross-legged. Not Khaun, or Eilumi. A strange one, yet one that felt somehow familiar to him.

It had purple and blue feathers and a dark blue lining. It sported what appeared to be a large, three-pronged ponytail. 

He distinctly remembered this stranger being a 'her'.  A fact that was made all too apparent as his eyes wandered down her body, and saw her crotch. A blush formed on his face as he laid eyes on that particular part of her body.

'Wait... I ... I remember who this is.' Shia thought to himself. 'But... No. It can't be!'

"Renali?" he stammered. "But... But you're dead. Nine, Eilumi, and Khaun told me so!"

"Indeed," She replied as she warmly smiled back at him. "I am, in fact, quite dead."

Her voice sounded familiar too. He'd heard it before. Lots of times.

"What you see in front of you is simply a version of Renali that your mind has conjured up, based on what you've seen and heard of her. After all... " Renali explained. "Why do you think I sound almost exactly like Veera?"

Shia didn't have an answer for that. He'd never heard Renali talk, being that she passed away before he'd even been born. Plus, he had compared her to Veera in the past, so it'd make sense on that front, at least.

However, all of this could only mean one thing.

"This is another dream... isn't it?" Shia asked flatly.

"It most certainly is." Renali confirmed cheerfully.

"Well, if that's the case..." Shia replied. "At what part of this does Rai show up?"

"You will never leave!"

Shia's eyes were drawn to the source of the all too familiar, yet very squeaky shout.

Rai... 

...Who was standing at the end of his nose, and was shrunken down to the size of a very small stone. He was standing there, looking up at his 'victim', with the same malicious grin as he always had on his face. Obviously oblivious to the massive size difference.

"You will never be anything more than a victim!" He shouted, his squeaks barely audible, even with Shia's massive ears picking it up. "I am inside with you! You can never escape me! I will-"

Shia had barely noticed the three-fingered talon of Renali reach forward, until said fingers were right over top of the now very tiny Rai. The female avali reached down, and grabbed him by the back. 

"Hey hey hey lady let me go! I'll fuck you! I'll fuck you hard if you don't let me go! I'll turn you into my sex slave!" He shouted threateningly to the avali who held the annoying rat in front of her, an annoyed look clearly written on her face. Rai struggled to get away, but it was useless, as her grip on him was too tight.

Renali rolled her eyes at the tiny raichu's threats, and promptly tossed him over her shoulder like a rotten fruit stem. Shia heard the little rai scream as he was thrown, and winced as he smashed through the wall, leaving only a tiny hole as the only remnant of his short-lived existence.

The purple avali looked at Shia, with a somewhat irritated look on her face. "Does that answer your question?"

"It does." Shia returned with an annoyed tone. There was an awkward silence after Shia had just watched Renali- no, this recreation of Renali - literally eat his tormentor right in front of him.

"Soo... uhhh..." Shia began to ask, to break the uncomfortable silence. "If this is a dream, and you're a part of myself... why did it... I... or whatever, choose Renali of all things? Why not, say, Veera, or Loona?"

"I'm afraid the only answer I have to that is..." 

'Renali' shrugged as she lifted her hands into the air.

"...I dunno." She finished. "Dreams are just weird sometimes."

"You're telling me." Shia replied. "I just watched an alien bird that died a long time before I was born eat a raichu that raped me a few weeks ago." 

Shia's eyes began to drift to a certain part of her as he spoke. A certain part he'd identified her gender with. Unfortunately for him, Renali also saw what he was looking at.

"Ooooh." Renali cooed seductively, her eyes narrowed and a sly grin quickly spread across her face. She straightened her legs, and began to spread them, slowly, giving the curious shinx a full view of her goods.

"Maybe that's the reason." She said to Shia lustfully

"Er, wait, no! That's... that's not what I want!!" Shia replied quickly and fearfully. He tried to peel his eyes away, but he couldn't. 

"... Why not?" Renali asked curiously, tilting her head to the side as she spoke. "It's quite obvious that you find me attractive, and you know I, or the real me, would most likely have done this as well. Besides."

"I... I..." Shia tried to come up with an excuse, anything, as to shut her down. Yet, as much as he tried, he couldn't deny her words. Even his body was telling him to go ahead with this, if his hardening cock was of any indication. Finally, he settled on simply a sigh.

"Alright. Alright. I do...." He confessed. "I do find you attractive. Beautiful even. And... And I do... want that... with you." 

"Even if I wasn't a part of your mind, that much is quite obvious." Renali replied with a slight laugh, her own eyes glued to his hardening penis.

"It's... it's just that..." Shia tried to find the words.

"You're scared." Renali finished. 

"Yes." Shia admitted. "I'm scared of hurting you. Of hurting anyone I'd try this with. I'm scared of-"

"-Of becoming Rai?" Renali asked. She seemed even closer than she was before.

"Yeah." Shia confirmed sadly. He realized something at that moment. "That must also be why you didn't take the form of one of my friends. Especially not Loona. Because I'm afraid of hurting them."

At that moment, he felt a pair of feathered arms wrap around him. His body was pulled against hers, his chest fur mashing against her feathery down, and his cock pressed against both of their hips. This caused no small amount of awkwardness and stimulation.

"Silly Shia." She cooed comfortingly. "You should realize by now that you'll never be Rai. Ever."

"But... I... He." Shia tried to protest, but 'Renali' shut him down with a shush, and wiggle of her hips, giving the slightest of pleasurable sensations to his trapped erection.

"Everything he told us is a lie. Well, just about everything. That part at least." The purple avali whispered into the shinx's large left ear. "You know this. And I know this. After all, I am a figment of your imagination. I know everything you know."

Shia began to feel her claws move up and down his back, slowly, comfortingly, rubbing his back like how Veera used to whenever he felt down, when they were together.

"You've had so much terror in your dreams." Renali told the shinx sympathetically. 

"Well, it's getting better." Shia protested. 

"Even so, he still torments you. Even if it isn't long enough for him to actually stick it in anymore." Renali replied with annoyance. "Either way, as a part of your own thought process, I think it's high time you were treated to something good for once."

"I... Well..." Shia sighed. "... Fine. I do want this. And with you." He reluctantly agreed. 

"Though you're still scared?" Renali asked. 

"Yeah." Shia replied back sadly. "I mean, I've never done this. What if I mess up? What if-"

"Then perhaps..." She cut his worrying off before he could get carried away again. "You should let me, and whatever significant other you do eventually end up losing your virginity to in the real world, take control for the first while, at least until you're more comfortable with the situation? That way you don't need to worry about yourself hurting me, or them, or messing anything up."

"That... sounds like a good idea." Shia agreed.

"Of course it is." Renali laughed. "After all, you're the one who came up with it."

Shia then felt himself, or rather, his upper half, being gently pressed back. Getting the hint, he laid back, allowing the avali in front, and soon to be above him, to take dominance. Said Avali did not waste much time. In a moment she was over him, straddling him between her legs, and hovering over his hard malehood, which stood fully erect, eager and ready to penetrate her depths. Her fluffy muff was clearly visible to the shinx, it's spread glory mere inches away from his throbbing hardness.

He gave a slight, eager pant as he felt and saw her claw wrap around his eager cock, and hold it in place as she slowly, and tantalizingly lowered herself onto him. He heard her gasp as she impaled herself onto him, and he in turn gasped as he felt it slide into her waiting depths, feeling her walls squeeze his cock. It felt like... it felt... like...

"...Like you're jerking off?" Renali finished her partner's thoughts.

"Yeah." Shia said disappointedly. For some reason, he'd hoped it would feel... different than this. He'd never had sex, barring of course his rape at the hands of Rai. For all intents and purposes, ass aside, He was still a virgin. 

"Exactly." Renali finished his thoughts again as she slid all the way down, and her hips met his. "You've never had any experiences outside of your own paws, so that's the only comparison it can draw."

"Not to worry, though." She quickly added, giving her hips a quick back and forth shift. "This will hopefully change." She began to lift herself up. He could see, and feel his dick leaving her depths. Despite this feeling like he was jerking off with his hand, it still felt wet. Once only the tip remained inside of her, he saw and felt her plop back down upon him, eliciting a moan from the both of them as his cock was pushed back inside of her eager mound.

"... Especially if Eilumi stays true to his word." Renali said teasingly as she once again lifted herself up, only to slide down upon Shia once more. She began to establish a smooth rhythm of rises and falls, her walls squeezing and working his cock in a grip that felt similar to his own paws. Pants and moans left both of their mouths.
 
Her words caused the shinx to blush heavily. Or maybe it was just the sex in general? He couldn't tell at this point.

"He cares about you, you know." She said in between moans. "Despite his pervy nature."

Shia didn't reply to that at the moment, as he was preoccupied with watching her Avali body rise and fall upon his shaft. Shia reached up and slid his paws around her hips, feeling the soft feathers against his pads as he gripped her.

Unlike with her pussy, he did feel an Avali's feathers. Eilumi's, to be precise, so his mind knew exactly how to process it.

He pulled her down with each fall, and hips began to buck up to meet her falls each time she did.

"They all do. Mmmph!" She added on with another bounce. "We really lucked out, ahhh, getting friends like these. You know this."

"I... ahhh... of course I know." Shia replied, watching her body, specifically her lower body. He watched her gracefully and beautifully meet his hips, felt her grip his cock. Fall after fall, keeping the same pace as she had when she started.

Shia needed more. He needed her. Badly.

Suddenly, The shinx sat up, shifting his grip from her hips to her back as he hugged her tight. His avali lover squeaked out in surprise as he pulled her down, her body and bounces coming to a standstill as she lay on top of him. Shia gave a few determined thrusts of his hips in this position, determined not to let that tight feeling go to waste, before he quickly rolled the two of them over.

Now, she was on her back, and he was the one hovering over her, his shinx rod was still balls deep inside her purple cooch.

"Mmmm, finally ready to take control now, I see?" Renali asked lustfully. 

"I feel confident enough to do so now without going off the deep end." Shia replied. His hips began to move, pushing inside of her gripping confines, and back.

"I- nnngh- I know." Renali replied happily.

"You're right, though." Shia continued the conversation as he eagerly thrust himself into her. "If it wasn't for them, I'd still be - Nnngh - well, I don't want to think about it. But - ahhh - still..." 

"You're worried about your -aah- friends, right?" Renali asked as her body rocked back and forth from their combined motion.

"Yeah." Shia confirmed, stealing a small glance downward to watch himself  drive into her eager pussy, before returning his gaze to her eyes. "I worry about what became of -haaa- them."

"If they're -aaahhh-live," Renali replied with a moan, "Your new friends will find them-"

"But what if they aren't?" Shia replied, giving a particularly hard thrust into her, causing her to give a loud moan as his hips slammed into hers, before he resumed his previous pace. "We've, nnngh, been here almost a month now. Ne-aaahh-xt week is the last week before their resaaaaahhhrch is complete, and soon they'll head out. What then, Renali? We've tried searching 'Sandstone', but found nothing!"

"Then..." She replied, giving a soft moan as she gently put a claw to the side of his face, looking at him with equal parts lust and sympathy. "Then you must move on."

That was not what Shia wanted to hear. His expression morphed into a scowl as his anger rose. He grabbed her hips, and began to push himself into her, even harder, the tight wet confines of the avali gripping his cock all the tighter.

"Move on?!" He said angrily, almost to the point of shouting. "You expect me to just FORGET about my old friends?!"

"Of course not!" She shouted back, moaning and panting from the sudden increase of Shia's pace. "Forgetting aaaahhhnd moving on are two different things!" Her body rocked roughly against the sheets from Shia's rapid thrusting, the air filling with louder and louder wet slaps as raised her voice to speak over them. "No one expects you to forget about-" Renali stopped to moan loudly "Loona and Veera. Just as Eilumi and his pack haven't forgotten about me! They've moved on, but not forgotten! I wouldn't be here if that was the case!"

It was at that moment that Shia realized what his anger had made him do. He stopped, looking at his gentle avali dream lover with a look of apology-

"No, don't stop." Renali in turn ordered. 

"Are you sure?" Shia protested "I lost control there-" 

"I'm sure. Continue."

With a nod, Shia resumed his pace. Not as rough or anger-induced as before, but still rapidly pushing his rod into her shopping confines. 

"If - mmmm - it comes to that, mourn, Shia." Renali said calmly with a lustful sigh. She wrapped her arms around his back, and held his upper half close to her body as his lower half continued to pound away in between her legs, the two of them rocked against each other, and the sheets. "Mourn, then move on. It's-" The avali let out a loud gasp, before she continued. "It's what they would have wanted. Veera especially would not have wanted you to wallow in pity. Just like- Mmmmgh! Just like Renali... the real Renali, would not want her packmates to."

As he roughly fucked her, Shia began to feel a heat growing inside him, a buildup of pleasure. He'd jerked off enough times to know what was coming. What this was leading up to.

"Renali!" He shouted as he drove his dick into her faster. "I'm gonna cum!"

"Do it Shia!" Renali shouted. "Cum inside!"

"I... I... AHHH!!!" 

"RENALLLIII!!!"

The two of them yelled as Shia gave one more thrust as hard as he could muster, driving himself as far as he could into her deep, soaked confines as he felt himself explode with pleasure. He felt himself filling her, spilling his hot, shinx spunk deep into her, filling her depths with as much seed as his body could muster as her own pussy gripped his cock, stroking it hard as he would stroke himself off in those final moments.

Shia fell upon Renali, and she held him against her, their down and fur rubbed up against each other. The two of them then simply lay there, panting, enjoying each other's company in the afterglow.

"That was... I..." Shia began, only to be stopped by Renali.

"Mmm... I bet it'll be even better when you do it for real." Renali said encouragingly. "Whether it's with Loona, or that lustia person that Eilumi keeps going on about."

"Yeah..." Shia sighed. With a tug, he pulled himself out of her, watching as his soaked dick left the purple avali's well used confines, feeling just a little bit of pride as he sat in front of her and watched some of his own seed spill out onto the bed.

"You should consider yourself lucky." Renali said as she sat up, sitting next to Shia. "Most people who have dreams like this don't make it this far."

A little bit of embarrassed worry then started to creep over Shia. "Wait, if I came in my dream... Does that also mean that I also..."

"Let's just say your friends are probably going to have some questions when you wake up." Renali replied with a slight giggle. "Which will probably be quite soon."

"Well, what should I tell them?" Shia questioned, an embarrassed blush quickly forming across his face.

"Be honest with them, and don't spare the details." She said flirtily. 

Shia was about to respond, but found himself unable to.

At that moment, his eyes flew open, he looked around. His Avali friends were gathered around him. Khaun in particular looked uncomfortable. He was frowning as he groomed his feathers. He looked like he was trying to remove something from them. Nine looked concerned, and Eilumi had the widest smirk on his face.

It didn't take Shia very long to figure out what it was that had gotten into the former's feathers. This realization caused him to become flush with embarrassment. 

"Looks like someone dreamt something good last night." Eilumi chuckled. Khaun just looked at him with irritation.

"I... Ummm...." Remember what Renali had told him just before he woke up, he gave a sigh. "Yeah, you could say that."

"Well, care to spill the beans?" Eilumi asked with mirth

"Eilumi, stop!" Nine barked. "This is embarrassing enough for him as it is. If he doesn't want to tell us, that's-"

"No, no, I'll tell, I'll tell." Shia said shakily. "I... Ummm... Dreamt I had sex with Renali last night."

Shia explained his dream to them, just as his version of Renali had told him to do. Once he was done, there was silence for a moment.

"Well I'll be damned!" Eilumi laughed. "Decades dead and yet she STILL managed to find a way to get you balls deep inside her!"

"I don't find it very funny." Khaun grumbled. 

"Oh shush, Khaun." Eilumi laughed. "You act like you've never had someone cum on you before."

Khaun didn't bother to dignify that with a response. Neither did Nine.

Chapter 1: Anguish
Chapter 2: Uncertainty
Chapter 3: Questions
Chapter 4: Lament
Chapter 5: Grind (You are here)