You're walking down a path of the forest surrounding Meridell late in the night. A full moon glows luminously above your head, lighting your way with its radiant cast. The trees groan quietly as a wind suddenly picks up for a long moment, dying down as quickly as it had come. As you draw your coat tighter around yourself, you cast your glance about. Where were you? Why did you have to get lost on tonight of all nights? Suddenly, another sound meets your ears and you spin around. The sound is coming nearer. It sounds like footsteps upon the leaves, carelessly stepping. Heavily. Wearily. Before you can process any thought, a young lupe comes into view, though you have to squint slightly to see him, for his fur is as black as the night without the moon to light it. His head is hung low as he walks. Every step he takes seems to cause him trouble. You can see what looks like old scars on his back, and across his paws. The seem to be chunks bitten from the edges of his ears, leaving them to look rather mangled and worn. What had happened to him? His gaze sudeenly turns from the ground lifting to meet your's for the first time, surprise coming to his face as his head lifts to a more upright position. You can now see a vivid scar slashed over his left eye, his eyes a vibrant, yet bloodshot color. You take a step backwards, but he advances, ears folded back and tail tucked. In a peace offering? "Please... Don't be afraid." he says, a look of hurt obvious on his slim, scarred face.

As his mouth moves, you can see fangs, large fangs, lining his mouth. Finally putting two and two together, you gasp and point at him, withdrawing another step. He was a werelupe.

He made to take another step forward but his legs buckled and he dropped to a slumped sitting position. He looked weak, tired� Maybe even afraid? You quickly walk over to where he had fallen, kneeling at his side and asking if he were alright.

He looks up at you with pitifully sad eyes"Im fine."He nods, eyes averting from you. "If you want out of the forest, just follow this path and you'll be out within 15 minutes." He adds quietly, eyes shifting even farther away from you.

This werelupe� He wasn't like one you had heard stories about� He seemed as sane as you. Instead of taking his advice, you take a seat near him, though still keeping a bit of distance between the two of you. "I'm guest"you state, offering your hand out to him.

For a moment, he looks at your hand with his golden eyes, which were beginning to steadily lose the bloodshot look in them. A slight smile coming to his weak featured face, he lifted his paw, placing it on your's. "Im Drake."he returns, nodding.

Curiousity getting the better of you, you ask him what he was doing out here alone.

He chuckles quietly and looks to you. "That is a story that will take a good while to tell."he admitted.

You smile back, saying that you have time you need to kill anyways.

Drake's yellow eyes scan wearily over you for a moment. Before he gave a sigh and smiled. "Well, alright then..."he replied, then appeared to sink into a moment of deep thought.

~I guess the best place to start off in is Meridell...Ah. Meridell... My childhood began as normal as they come. On October 15th, I was first born, out of what would soon be 3 boys. I didnt look like this back then. I was just black with grey eyes. No scars, no holes... My mother always said I looked like my father, even though I didnt see it. A year later, Bex came along. We never saw eye to eye, but what more could be expected, right? We were close enough in age to be competitive, yet I was always far more mature than that little twit... Anyways. And then when I was 6, the third and final of us was born. Sirius. He was the one I bonded with most, as you'll see throughout my story. Now, just about the time Sirius was born, my father left to join the war against Darigan... And he never came back. What happened to him, im not sure. But in the time that I had known him, I had bonded with him considerably as well. To have him go was painful enough, but when he didnt come back... Our lives continued on as normal families would for several years following that, counting out the time where Bex decided to play a cruel prank on Sirius, which resulted in my littlest brother gaining all those glows about his body. But that's an entirely different story in itself. As school started for us, I met two lupes who would eventually become my very best friends. Rebel and Dallas, twins. Between the 3 of us, mischief was never far away. We normally got away with everything... That is until, a certain Halloween Night...~

~*~

Chapter 2
-My Greatest Mistake-

~That halloween started out as any other would have. Going through the day of school, half-paying attention. Day dreaming of the big haul you would bring in. Then, when school lets out, you race home to add any finishing touches to your costume. Except me and my friends. We, being at the stupid-age of our lives, decided to stray off into the woods that surrounded Meridell. We knew quite well that werelupes were rumored to live somewhere in the forest, but we paid no heed to warnings. Not until it was too late. As we walked deep into the forest, we only stopped when we realized we had carelessly stumbled right into the middle of a werelupe pack site. Though, we considered ourselves lucky. Every one of the werelupes was asleep, offering a slight chance that we would get out alive. So, carefully, we all turned to leave, tiptoeing through the tangle of paws and teeth and tails. I took up the rear, seeing as I had made it furthest into the camp. We had just about made it out when I placed my foot down upon something furry. That was the end of the eerie silence. A roar of protest rang out. My friends bolted, following the every-lupe-for-themself tactic. But I was rooted to the spot as I stared up at the bear-like monster looming above me. 14 years old and I was going to die. As a howl lifted to teh sky, I seemed to break from my trance and I began to run, only as the enraged werelupe locked it's jaws around my right arm. Pain shot through my arm as I tried desperately to get away. With a lucky swing of my fist, I nailed the besat right between the eyes, causing him to release his grip on me. After that, my mad dash back home was a blur. My arm was bleeding, my mind was racing. My eyes were blurring. I dont know how long I ran until I broke through the trees. Leaning over and surrporting myself by placing my hands on my knees, I stood there panting, as my friends were. They were laughing at the close call, but me... No.. My head was killing me and my breaths were short. I had to get back home. With a brief good bye to Rebel, Dallas, and Moony, I started back home.
As I arrived, I was greeted first by my mother's call of 'Back so soon?' As she entered the main hallway, she took one look at me and her jaw dropped. 'Drakenore Stepoen Murphy. What the hell have you done to yourself this time??' I explained to her what had happened as she bandaged up my arm. She sent me to bed soon afterwards. I only wish I would have known it wouldnt be a very restful night for any of us.~

Chapter 3
-Overcome-

~My mother left that night to seek out medicines in Meridell, or even Brightvale. She said she wouldnt be back for a while. That night, as I said, was very restless. As I slept, my body was doing something completely different. I awoke sometime during the night to a surge of pain coursing through my viens. My limbs felt as if they were on fire. My head felt as if it would explode. The pain had started in my right arm and spread. I was growing. Bones snapped and reshaped. My fur grew more dense. Fingernails and toenails changed to razor sharp claws. My senses were sharper, as well. As I caught a look of myself in my mirror, I could see that my normal eye color of dull grey had changed to a vibrant golden yellow color that piereced the night. My clothes ripped along the seams as my body swelled. And then, my mind was plunged into darkness, making me only vaguely aware of what was happening. I could see through my eyes, but it was as if some foreign demon had possessed my body. I could only watch in horror as I turned upon hearing a sound. Vibrant glows cast about my dark room. No. Glow, run. I wanted to shout those words but I couldnt. I knew now what had happened. That bite from the werelupe... Had turned me to one of them. Sirius stared up at me in horror in the same way I had when I had encountered the musty old beast in the forest. Without my consent, my club like paws lifted into the air and came down swiftly, grazing through Sirius' right arm. THe little lupe's eyes filled with pained tears as his other arm grabbed at his shoulder, his body dropping down to his knees. NO! A strange feeling entered my head. Things began becoming clearer. I was taking control back from the beast within me. I could feel teh transformation shifting again. Only this time, I was returning. Falling forward to my hands and knees, I panted as I began changing back. As te last bit of me became normal once more, I collapsed at Sirius' side, my mind going blank as I blacked out.~

~*~

Chapter 4
-Wounded-

~The next time I awoke, I found myself sitting in a different room. As I rubbed the sleep from my eyes, I relized just where we were. A hospital? I quickly looked down to myself. One of my old sleep shirts had replaced my tattered one, along with some old sleep pants. So. If I wasnt the one here for some sort of treatment... Then who was?... Vague flashes of last night's festivites began to slowly return to my head. My eyes suddenly widened and I looked around the room more carefully as I heard the familiar sounds of beeping machines. There, in the center of the room, I saw Sirius, sleeping in a hospital bed, yet with quite an uncomfortable look on his face. Tube and wires from the machines were connected to him. What had I done? Getting to my feet, I had to stand for a moment to regain balance. Soon following, I crossed the room to where my youngest brother lay and stared down at him in horror. Where the little lupe's right arm used to be, there was now nothing. Nothing but a bandaged shoulder and chest. Tears filled my eyes as I rested a hand on his left one. 'Sirius.. Im so sorry. I was stupid to go out there...'I trailed off as I sensed someone entering the room. Wiping at my eyes, I realized my arm had been rebandaged as well. As I looked to the newcomer, all I saw was my other brother, knawing on an apple and flopping down into a chair. 'Dude. You are in soo much trouble when Mom gets here.'he said, chuckling as he bit a chunk from the fruit in his hand.
-How did we get here?-I demanded, my hand still placed upon Glow's.
Bex smirked slightly. 'We flew, how else?' he mused. Catching the deadly glare I sent his way, he sighed. -Calm yourself, Drakey. I called an ambulence when I found you two.-he responded with a shrug.
-And... Mom...?-
-On her way here.-
As I was about to reply, I felt slight movement in my hand and I turned my gaze quickly upon the glowing lupe before me to see him stirring slightly. Several moments later, I saw the neon green eyes slowly slide open. The uncomfortable, pained look on his face still remained as he smiled weakly up at me. I hated seeing him like that. I had caused him this pain.
-Sirius. Im...-
My brother gave my hand a small squeeze as his soft smile remained. 'It's okay, Drake... It wasnt you... I know what happened... It wasnt your fault.'he assured. What ate at me even more was how weak and forced his voice was. I could tell that he was trying to hide how badly the pain was in his shoulder. I gently brushed the hair that had drifted in front of his face and sighed, biting back the threat of more tears. I couldnt see how I would forgive myself for this... I was taken from my thoughts as I sensed another presence rushing toward the room we three were in. I only hd enough time to turn my head before the door swung open and there, framed in the doorway, my mother stood. Barging forward, she pushed me aside to get a look at her youngest son. Rage filled in her eyes as she turned on me.~

~*~

Chapter 5
-Exile-

~-You...-she growled.
Before I could react, she had lifted her hand and made a swipe at my face with her fingernails. Weak, myself, from last night's transformation, I stumbled backwards, hand over my left eye, into a chair, which tipped over, taking me with it with a crash of wood on tile. With a slight groan, I slowly removed my hand from my eye to see blood. Tracing my finger over my eye, I could feel a deep gash slashed there.
-How could you do this to your own brother, you beast?-she snarled, pointing an accusing finger straight at me.
-Mother, it wasnt his fault...-
-Silence, Sirius...-She turned her gaze back on me. -Get out.-
I stared up at her from my position on the ground. I... Wha-
-I said, out, Drakenore. You are no longer welcome in our home. Go. Go be where you really belong: with a pack.-she snarled, brandishing her nails again.
I continued to stare at her, blood clouding my left eye.
-Has that bite messed with your mind, boy?! I said GO!-she screeched, swinging her foot into my thiegh.
With a gasp of pain, I scrambled to my feet and bolted. I didnt know where I was going. I was just getting away. far away. I finally slowed as I closed in on my home. Night was slowly falling upon the rural setting. I would just make a quick in and out...I entered my home for what I knew would be the last time. To start with, I entered the bathroom, running a rag under warm water. With a sigh, I brought it up to my eye and froze. My eyes were still that cold, yellow color. Would my eyes stay that way? Averting my gaze, I pressed the cloth to my left eye and started down the hall. I made my way into my room and lifted my backpack off of the doorknob. Spilling all the papers and binders and books onto the floor, I sighed and gathered a handful of clothes and my wallet. Then, walking to the kitchen, I grabbed whatever snacks I could fit in the space left in my backpack. Gazing sadly about my house, I grabbed up one final item, a picture of the 4 of us looking happy together. Fighting back tears once more, I placed it in the bag and finally zipped it up. Tugging it up onto my shoulder, I walked out the door and began down the street, looking back only once. Closing my eyes and turning away, I started off down the road. But, not the way that lead to the open road, no. I was heading back for that hospital.~

~*~

Chapter 6
-Secret Farewell-

~After a long and careful walk back to the hospital, I stopped as the large building now loomed before me. Night had long since dropped by that time, making it easier for me, considering my fur color. I casually made my way into the main hallway before following my memory to the room where I had left Sirius. With a careful peek inside the door, I saw that I was in luck. No sight of Bex nor my mother. With a quick glance over my shoulder, I crept in soundlessly, stopping beside my brother's bedside and looking down on him once more. There was something different about him... Curiousity striking me, I carefully reached my hand out to touch Sirius' hand but flinched as the little lupe stirred, those green eyes sliding open once again. As his sight focused on the dark surrounding, he caught sight of me in his glow's shine. At first, he gasped, but I quickly placed my finger to my mouth as my hand proceeded to rest upon his. 'Shhh'I whispered, trying to calm him. As my brother realized that it was me, he sighed, panting slightly. 'Drake. What're you doing here?'he asked, ears folding back against his head. I removed my hand from my lips and brought it forward to swipe the hair from his eyes.'I just wanted to make sure you were okay before I left. I didnt get a chance to really talk to you earlier.'I replied. He looked to my face and his eyes widened slightly. 'Di-did Mom do that to you..?'he asked, voice shaking as he reached forward with his good arm to touch the scratch over my eye. My hand rested over his. 'Im fine.'I told him, gently removing his hand from my face. It was then that a shiny glint caught my eye and I looked to where his severed shoulder was. So that's what had changed. Where nothing used to be, there was now a mechanic-looking metal arm attatched to his torso. He must've seen me looking at it because he lifted the arm up with what seemed like the ease of a regular arm. 'The doctor called it automail'he said quietly, holding his metal hand out to me. I gazed down at it, running a finger over the smooth surface as I sat down on the edge of the bed. 'Glow.. Im sorry...'I said, regret obvious on my face. Sirius struggled to a sitting position.'Drake... Like I said before. It wasnt your fault. When I looked into your eyes last night, I saw fear behind the beastly build. I know you didnt mean to do it.'His green eyes then dropped to his new arm. 'Besides. I'll get used to it.'he added, his eyes lifting to meet my gaze. I stared back at him in silence. I couldnt believe I was being forced to leave when Sirius needed me most. My ears folded back against my head as I looked away, shame held in my eyes. I had done plenty of bone-headed things before, but nothing to this extent. I was just glad that I hadnt ended up killing him...'Drake...'My brother's voice entered my thoughts and I turned to meet his eyes once again. 'D-..Do you really have to go?'he asked. WIth a sad sigh, I nodded wordlessly. 'Until when?"Sadness had crept onto Glow's face now as well. Biting at my inner lip, my gaze averted to the window and beyond. 'I dunno, Sirius... I may never be able to come back...'I replied. My brother shook his head, eyes closing. 'It's not fair... the way mom treated you'he whimpered. I ran my hand through his hair with a sigh. "Glow, shh...' I said, not wanting to draw any unwanted attention to the room. 'I know it wasnt fair... But she'll get over her rage eventually. I'll try to come back as soon as I think this has blown over.'I told him, offering out my hand to him. It surprised me slightly to feel the cold metal slip into my hand and I flinched slightly, forgeting for an instant that his his hand... no, his entire arm, was metallic now. Relaxing, I gave the hand a slight squeeze. 'I'll hold it to you'My brother said quietly. With a nod, I silently rose from the hospital bed, releasing Sirius' hand as I went. 'Go back to sleep, Glow... I'll see you around sometime soon, hopefully.' I told him as I began towards the door. I readjusted the backpack on my shoulders as I came to the door, looking back upon the little lupe in the center of the room. With a final sad sigh, I left the hospital and I was on my way, travelling down that neverending country road.~

~*~

Chapter 7
-Lonely Road-

~After a good half hour of walking, I came to the city boundaries. Only then did I stop walking. I looked back over my shoulder for probably the 500th time, to make sure I wasnt being followed or watched. I really didnt want to encounter my friends. They would try to stop me or try to concoct some plan to get me back to my mother. I couldnt have that. Just the thought of her brought a sting to my eye and a pain in my chest. With a growled sigh, I turned and continued down the dirt path. Suddenly, I felt something wet on my nose. Then my head. Then, it was everywhere. My ears drooped as an annoyed -disallowed_word-color:white)">

~*~ Autism ~*~

Wow... What to say first?... I havent known her all that long, and, yeah, she can be a bit more than a tad wierd and confusing, but that's just the way girls are, right? Heh. I met her on the side of the road... Well... She found me... Anyways, She seemed to like me from the very beginning, and yet I couldnt love her back at that time because of wounds stil fresh on my heart. But she somehow pulled me from my despair. If it wasnt for her, I'd have never faced my fears. And, what can I say? I'd do anything to protect her. I love her.

~*~

As I said somewhere earlier, I play the role of Body Guard in the band windely known as Drainage Pipe. We're all part of the 2nd generation of the band, after it's little fallout breakup a few years ago. Everyone, excluding FH, is rather new, though I myself had been lurking around as a VIP for about a year... Anyways. Im sure you're tired of hearing about me so how bout we meet some of the other members.

Freezing Hot- Ah. Freezing Hot, better known as FH is our Lead Singer and a great one at that. Im afraid to say that, even though I've been around her for nearly 2 years, I really dont know all that much about her. I guess I've never really had a chance to sit down and talk to her. But really, she is a great part of our band.

Me- Haha. Hey, look. It's me... Pheh, all you need to know is that im body guard. You know everything else about me.

Pain- Pain is probably my best friend in the band. We've got a bit in common and well... We just get along really well. He's our guitarist an one of the best I know.

Jinz- Again, like FH, I havent really gotten to know Jinz very well. He's pretty quiet and tends to keep to himself. All's I know is, he's a rockin' bass player, and im glad we have him aboard.

Aut- Ah. Our little drummer. Autism only recently joined the band after her sister... I think War's her sister... Anyways. She joined after War resigned and has since become a welcome part of the band family. WHich is great, becasue I get to see her more, now that she's joined us. *grins*

~*~