Project Divinity

"So, you get the rules?" Soraya asked me.

"Yeah, I think so... But..." I trailed off, starting to feel shy again. Their way of tag is a little unfair for me. I don't have wings and the speed they have.

"Is something wrong?" Cleo asked me. I didn't know how to tell them, but... If I don't say anything then it won't be fun for me.

"Well, a little... I find it a bit unfair for you guys to use your wings and stuff..." I spoke up.

Soraya blinked, opening her mouth to reply only to be interrupted by a snort of amusement.

"You're serious? We've always played this way, you expect us to change it just because you're human?" Zero huffed, glaring at me.

I tensed up at that, a frown of disapproval on my face. That wasn't very nice...

"I don't mind playing without my wings." Fang spoke up, receiving a glare from Zero as well.

"No one cares what you think, Fang." Zero grumbled.

"How about we just split into two groups, one group can play our normal way, the other group can play the simple rules." Caleb suggested.

"Good idea!" Cleo cheered.

Zero narrowed his eyes. "Well, who's group will you be in in then, huh?" He asked Cleo.

"O-Oh... I, um..." Cleo bit back a frown suddenly realizing the situation.

"It's okay, if you want to play with Zero. I don't mind." I reassured her, seeing that she was being put on the spot.

Cleo was quiet at that. "Alright, then it's settle, Cleo, Caleb, and Soraya and I will be playing on the on the eastern field." Zero declared, making Soraya blink.

"But I didn't get to-..."

"Fine! Whatever, we don't need to you guys anyways!" Fang growled, crossing his arms.

Soraya was about to speak up again, only for Fang to shoot Zero a glare and grab me by the wrist dragging me away from the group towards the western field. The next thing I knew the entire group was out of sight.

"Stupid fire bird..." Fang grumbled to himself once he finally let go of my wrist. I couldn't help but notice the tears brimming up in his eyes.

"... Um. Is he normally like that?" I asked awkwardly, not sure how to comfort someone I just met.

"All the time! He acts like he's the leader of our group. It's stupid..." Fang growled quietly to himself, wiping his face quickly, trying to hide the tears.

"Oh..." I muttered. "I didn't mean to start a fight, I'm really sorry." I frowned, making the blue eyed boy look back and blink.

"No, you're fine. I understand. He's just mean..." Fang sighed, seeming to regain his composer. "Anyways, do you want to play tag now?" He asked me, trying to change the topic.

"Yeah! But remember, no wings!" I grinned, relieved he cheered up.

"Yeah,  no problem. But I'm still going to win!" Fang laughed, his laughter echoing and seeming to fade. 

Everything seemed to blur, as the sound of an alarm clock filled my senses. Reality seemed to slowly sink back in as I opened my eyes to stare at the blinking red clock, my hand quickly slipped out of the bed sheets and slammed on the device in an attempt to shut it up.

I struggled a bit before finally the sound stopped, my arm going limp as soon as it did. I groaned to myself, burying my face into the pillow. 

It only took a minute or two until I heard footsteps walk into the small closest sized bedroom I called my own. "Morning, sweetheart! You better get up if you want to sneak in some pancakes before you head to work!" The familiar voice of my mother sang in a cheerful tone. 

I huffed. "I was having a good dream..." I muttered, feeling way too lazy to pull myself out of bed.

"Well, you can tell me about it at the table, come on, you don't want to anger your father." My mom spoke, her tone more stern now.

I sighed, forcing my eyes open. "Alright, okay, give me a minute." I grumbled, forcing myself to sit up in bed.

"Alright then." I mother smiled at me, before waltzing back to the tiny room that we call a kitchen. 

I sighed once she was out of sight, slowly reaching up to my head, feeling the furry pair of ears resting there. "... So much for staying human." I grumbled to myself, jumping out of bed.

I quickly did my best to get dressed into one of my many skirts and tank tops. I made sure to brush my rather long, brown hair as quickly as possible before reaching over to the coat hanger and grabbing the white lab coat hanging there, pulling it on as I walked out of the room.

"Ah, there's my beautiful daughter." I mother spoke, sipping at a cup of her usual morning coffee.

"Good morning, mom." I playfully rolled my eyes at her happy-go-lucky attitude, taking a seat at the bar table next to her. I smiled softly, seeing she had already place two pancakes at the table in front of me.

"So what was the dream about?" My mom asked as I stuck a fork into one of the pancakes.

"It was weird..." I muttered, as I took a bite of the freshly cooked food.

"Kara, hon, most of your dreams are weird. At least this one wasn't a nightmare." Mom reassured me.

I nodded in agreement. "Well, it was like I was reliving a memory, you know, like how most of my dreams are... But it was when I met Fang and the others." I explained bluntly.

My mother blinked at this. "Well, at least it was a good one about Fang, this time." She sighed, making me bite back a frown as I ate. She was right though, I can't shake that memory of him... Before he disappeared. It's been six years since then... Heck, it's been eight since I met everyone.

"Anyways, you've got less than five minutes before your brother comes by to get you." My mother warned.

I blinked, snapping out of my thoughts and quickly starting to eat my pancakes. I let out a sigh, after finishing off my meal with a glass of milk.

"There you go, hopefully you'll be able to keep up a good work habit today." My mother praised me.

I smiled at her. "Thanks for the food, mom."

"You're lucky I was able to get my hands on some pancake batter, don't tell your father though... He doesn't know."

"Wait, then who...?" I trailed off, a knocking sound coming from the door.

"You can thank your brother for it later." My mother spoke quietly as she took my plate.

I quickly got up and made my way to the door, turning the handle and opening it to see the tall, familiar figure of my brother, Justin.

"Good, you're ready." He spoke, his canine ear flicking atop his head.

"Good morning to you too, 'Mr. Get Straight to Work'." I huffed.

Justin huffed back, looking into the room to check on our mother, she was humming quietly to herself as she washed the dish I left behind. "Apologies, but father hasn't exactly been as... Easy-going as he normally is." Justin whispered to me.

"... Right." I sighed, quickly putting on a smile as I turned to look at my mother. "Bye mom!" I purred, waving her a goodbye before I followed my brother out into the hall.

"She seems cheerful today..." Justin muttered once we got a halls length away from the room.

"I think it's because I told her I had a good dream for once." I admitted, my tail flicking.

"Ah,  dreaming of fish?" Justin teased.

"Hey, just because I'm a tiger, doesn't mean I dream of fish!" I huffed defensively back at him.

Justin smiled in amusement at that. "I know for a fact you do."

"Have you been watching me sleep or something, that's creepy to say." I scowled playfully at him.

"No, of course not, but judging from the other tiger anthros we have in the lab, the research I've done on them tells me otherwise." Justin replied bluntly.

"So you've watched them sleep." I pointed out, making Justin scowl.

"Well, yes, but only because I was instructed to do so." He grumbled stubbornly.

I sighed, going quiet for a moment. "... Don't you ever get, well, tired of being ordered around everyday?" I asked, my voice hushed.

Justin gave me a warning look, as two scientist walked past us. He waited until they were out of sight before responding. "... You say that like I have a choice." He spoke up, his voice still hushed.

"I know, I know, don't make father upset. I get you." I sighed, my voice hushed now as well.

Justin gave me a warning glare. "There are ears everywhere in the place, watch what you say."

"... Sorry, I'm just... So bored with sorting files everyday. I don't even get to sort any of the interesting files. Just the basic ones." I pouted, my tail drooping ever so slightly.

"I understand, I've done everything I can for you. If I attempt to bring you up to father again, I swear he'll skin me alive." Justin explained, leading me toward the file sorting room. 

The both of us stopped in front of the door. "Alright, well, I guess you have a point..."

"Obviously." Justin scoffed.

I rolled my eyes playfully. "Thanks for the pancakes today, I whispered as I opened to door.

Justin managed to shush me before I entered the room, making me smile in amusement as I walked inside. The sound of the door closing behind me.