Zuri, Abby, Strips ~ Private

[zash]

Zuri was far to relaxed to really do anything now. He was enjoying the rest. Sure he has only rested for the past few days but still, he had to use far too much energy so far to heal. He was pretty tired. Ready to take a nap while he could. He continued humming as he began to drift off into sleep. The calmness of everything helped relax him. His muscles became goo and his mind was finally relaxed. He yawned and then continued to hum. He really liked this song.

[petdr89]

Abby drummed her fingers on her stomach, emitting a soft sigh. Laying here was nice, but also a little boring. She was the kind of person who had to have a conversation going, otherwise she would eventually become bored out of her skull. Zuri sounded like he was about ready to fall asleep, though. She didn't want to disturb him, and she couldn't really think of anything to talk about, so she just continued to lay there; stiff as a board.

Strips was still walking, enjoying the solitude, but not really caring for the sounds of little critters around the path. He walked with his head down, fingers laced together behind his back, and ears laid back against his skull. As he continued walking, he heard a song playing in the background. He realized the music was getting louder as he walked along, and eventually he could make out the song that was playing; it sounded like Figure.09 by Linkin' Park. "Aaawweeesome" he muttered as he tried to find the source of the music.

[zash]

Zuri on the other hand was also kinda bored. He wanted to talk but couldn’t think of anything. But eventually he passed out for a nap. His humming slowed and became choppy and eventually he fell asleep. The cool breeze and warm sun put him right to sleep. He had lain down on his back in the grass and was all stretched out and looking quite comfortable. He tail was to the side and his wings were stretched out a little bit to his sides. He became quiet as he drifted out into sleep. He was probably gonna be out for about an hour now.

[petdr89]

Abby sighed, realizing Zuri had finally conked out. Now what was she supposed to do? Fall asleep too? Pft, like that was going to happen. She had slept way to much lately; she had fallen asleep just about every time the guys had, and frankly it was getting on her nerves. Stupid mortals; they were causing her to get far too much sleep. She was starting to think that hanging out with them was bad for her health.

Strips continued to walk toward the sound of the music until he eventually found it; it was being played by a couple of teenagers hanging out around the lake. Strips listened; he bopped his head along to the words being played:

Nothing ever stops all these thoughts and the pain attached to them; sometimes I wonder why this is happening. It's like nothing I can do would distract me when I think of how I shot myself in the back again. 'Cause from the infinite words I could say; I put all pain you gave to me on display, but didn't realize instead of setting it free I took what I hated and made it a part of me.

The song played through the chorus, and Strips drifted into another state of mind. It was almost like he had entered a trance; thoughts in his mind finally placed themselves in a logical sequence, and his nerves calmed even more. He sat on a near-by bench so he could continue to listen.

Hearing your name, the memories come back again. I remember when it started happening. I see you in every thought I had, and then the thoughts slowly found words attached to them. And I knew as they escaped away; I was committing myself to them and everyday. I regret saying those things ‘cause now I see that I took what I hated and made it a part of me…

Eventually the song changed to the next one on the CD; Breaking the Habit. Sometime during the first song, Strips’s eyes had melted into a pure red color, and he just stared blankly out into space; still listened closely to the next song, and even muttered the words as it played.

“Memories consume, like opening the wound. I'm picking me apart again. You all assume I'm safe here in my room; unless I try to start again. I don't want to be the one the battles always choose, 'cause inside I realize that I'm the one confused. I don't know what's worth fighting for, or why I have to scream. I don't know why I instigate, and say what I don't mean. I don't know how I got this way; I know it's not alright. So I'm breaking the habit tonight. Clutching my cure; I tightly lock the door; I try to catch my breath again. I hurt much more than anytime before. I had no options left again. I don't want to be the one the battles always choose, 'cause inside I realize that I'm the one confused. I don't know what's worth fighting for, or why I have to scream. I don't know why I instigate, and say what I don't mean. I don't know how I got this way; I'll never be alright. So I'm breaking the habit tonight. I'll paint it on the walls, 'cause I'm the one at fault. I'll never fight again, and this is how it ends…”

Before the song was completely over, he snapped out of his trance; jerked his head from side to side. He wasn’t entirely sure what had just happened; how he was able to reach a meditative state with everything that was going on. Maybe something was trying to tell him something? He shrugged, stood, and started walking back to the place where he had left Abby and Zuri.

[zash]

Zuri really didn't do much after that. He enjoyed his sleep but he probably knew it wasn't going to last long. It'd probably be whenever Strips came back and decided to wake him. So Zuri just got as much sleep as he could and regained as much energy as possible. What else was there to do. He was exhausted and needed to relax a bit, that way he could get moving again.

[petdr89]

Strips finally made it back to Abby and Zuri; rolled his eyes when he saw they were laying next to each other. Abby had her eyes closed so he couldn't tell if she was awake or not. He tapped her arm gently with his foot to see if she would wake up.

Abby opened her eyes; looked up at Strips with a smile, and slowly stood.

Rubbing the back of his neck, Strips looked down at the ground. He felt like he needed to say something, but he couldn't think of the words; wasn't even sure if there were any words.

"Aww! I love you too!" Abby said in a high-pitched voice as she wrapped her arms around Strips's chest and pulled him into hers.

A blank face remained on Strips's face, even as Abby was hugging him. It took him a few minutes before he returned the hug; wrapped one arm around her back and held the other on the back of her head, holding her head close to his chest, and gave half of a smile. It was kind of sick in a way, how all she had to do was hug him and he would forgive her.

[zash]

Zuri woke up about the time Abby squeled. Instead of jumping up he just looked with one eye open. He was actually happy to see this. So he just waited for them. It was nice to see this though. Now everything was calmed back down and nice. He just waited for them to stop hugging before he did anything. It was better not to interupt.

[petdr89]

Abby's tail wagged rapidly behind her as she gave Strips one last squeeze before letting go. They both took a step back from each other; Abby had a big, bright smile on her face, and Strips had a small crooked smile as his eyes shifted between Abby's eyes and the ground. Little did he know that he still had people following him; they watched silently from a distance, their bright red eyes gleaming in anticipation.

[zash]

When Strips and Abby stopped hugging Zuri opened his eyes and said, "Hmmm, oh hey guys. Whats up?" He then stood up and looked at them. He kinda faked a tired look and yawned. He rubbed his eyes and acted as if he just woke up. He had a dazed look and looked around. He didn't notice the people following. He still didn't quite get everything yet, he was still a bit dazed. He then stretched and looked at the two.

[petdr89]

"Uuuhhmmm, the sky" Strips sarcastically responded to Zuri's question. He wasn't wrong, after all; the sky was 'up'.

Abby looked to Zuri, still smiling. "Oh, nothing much; just waiting for you to wake up. Strips just got here, so I guess we're all ready to go. Unless there's something you boys would like to do before we continue on our quest?"

[zash]

Zuri looked at Abby in deep thought. Anything else to do? "Hmmmm, well we could get something to eat, I mean who knows where we go from here and how much longer it'd be till we ate. But honestly, other than that not really. I have no clue what else to do." Zuri wasn't actually all that hungry, but if they went into a cave like thing or somewhere where there would be no food, then they'd really need to grab something before they left. But that was all Zuri could think of. He then turned to Strips and said, "You got anything?"

[petdr89]

Strips stuffed his hands deep into his pockets, grabbed the cloth, and turned them inside out; showing Abby and Zuri that he didn't have anything but pocket lint in his pockets. "I ain't got no money" he started to reply, "But I have no problem with stealing food". He ended with a mischievous smile on his face. "Oh, and I still gotta take a leak, but other than that, I don't have to do anything." And why hadn't he done that while he was walking like he said he was going to?

[zash]

Zuri just looked at him. "You didn't go? Thats the whole reason why you left. Whatever." Zuri then looked at his pockets and his compartments and such. "Yeah, I don't got any money either. I do believe we spent it all back in the woods. And Kiko doesn't have a bank so I guess we're out of luck then on that." Zuri just looked around. "Ah great, now I have to pee. You got me thinking about it and I do too. Great." Ah well, better now then on the trip. But thats all Zuri had to comment on so he just looked at Strips and Abby. He really didn't have any idea on what to do.

[petdr89]

"Haha!" Strips laughed. "I made you have to pee, that's hilarious."

Abby rolled her eyes; men were gross. "Well, I don't know what to tell you boys. I don't have any money either; we did spend it all in the Haunted Woods. But you guys should be glad, because if we hadn't you guys wouldn't be wearing anything right now." A small smile crept across her face and she got a funny look as she began picturing both of them without any clothes; it was a good picture; she forgot what she had been talking about in the first place.

[zash]

"Ah yeah. I guess thats true." Zuri said to Abby as he gave an annoyed look at Strips. He then turned back to Abby. "Yeah, wearing this is nice. I'd rather do that then to be running around in my underwear. That would not be fun. Not to mention it wasn't even my underwear. Ewwwww." Zuri said as he shuddered. "I would say I could grab some money but there isn't a bank here so thats not a choice. Ah well. So what to now?"