Kendall opened the pantry door. "Let's see here... By the way, what does the dragon eat?"

Jayson made a face. "Don't look at me."

Jay looked at Tynx, who was examining a rolling pin.

"Meat, mainly," Tynx shrugged, "Lots and lots of meat." The three humans looked slightly at a loss.

"Uh, OK. We can work on the dragon later," Kendall said slowly, "How about you three, then? We can always order pizza if no one wants to try my cooking."

"Pizza sounds good," Jay said over Tynx's grinned, "I want to eat his cooking!" Shawn smiled laughingly. "Chayn might like pizza."

"Chayn?"

"The dragon sitting in your garage all alone?" She paused for a moment, then headed back out to the garage.

Shawn smiled as she heard Jay shout at Tynx to get off the countertop just as she closed the door. She hurried to the garage and burst inside. Chayn jolted, almost taking out the roof.

"What is he doing in there?" Chayn nodded toward the house, "I hope he's not causing trouble?"

"Probably not," Shawn smiled. "I figured Jay could keep him under control. I came to see how you were doing?"

"A bit cramped, but otherwise very comfortable," Chayn shifted. "Come get warm. I can't offer fire, even if I had it, but I suppose I can offer some warmth."

"Thanks," Shawn smiled shyly, wringing more water out of her hair before tripping over the dragon's blue tail. She blushed. "Sorry," she paused, "And thanks for letting me ride you earlier...I've never done anything like it. It was beautiful."

"You are very welcome," Chayn watched her. She lifted a blue leathery wing only a couple feet until it touched the ceiling. "Come, it's warmer underneath. You have never ridden a dragon before? You seem rather experienced in it. Do you not have dragons here?"

Shawn shook her still-wet hair and curled up beside the dragon's polished, ripply-blue scales. "No, we don't, and I haven't before. The closest I've come is riding a horse." She giggled a little. "Jayson hates riding, for some reason. Or maybe just horses."

Chayn nodded. She sighed slightly and nudged the walls of the garage. "Do you humans always live in such small spaces? This one seems a lot smaller than the one the others went into." She blinked suddenly, as if startled. "I do believe Tynx is causing trouble. Again."

Inside, Tynx had successfully climbed up onto the fridge. Still in human form, it was rather ridiculous to see a grown man on top of the refrigerator. Jay was yelling at him to get down while Kendall tried to communicate through the phone what pizzas they wanted.

"Get off the refrigerator! Those boxes are-were-the herring!"

"No, no, I know you don't have herring!" Kendall grimaced.

Tynx looked at the mess under him, then cautiously tried to descend the fridge. He slipped and hit the floor, opening the freezer. Jay groaned and pushed the freezer door shut.

"Yes, thank you," Kendall looked relieved to have finished ordering, "No, I'll come pick them up. Thank you, good-bye."

"What's this?" Tynx asked, shifting into a fox again and jumping up onto the stove. Kendall looked at Jay for help, but Jay only shrugged. "Where's Shawn? Is she with Chayn? Is Chayn stuck?" Tynx's face suddenly turned to horror at the thought. And when the lights flickered out, he went berserk.

"Tynx!" Jay tried to grab the fox but missed him in the dim light. "Kendall! Where'd he go?"

"This way!" Kendall yelled, as something crashed to the ground. "Other way, Jayson!"

Inside the garage, Shawn desperately hoped Chayn didn't put her head through the roof. "Um... I'm sure everything is fine. Really. Um..."

Chayn's eyes darted to the door nervously as Kendall's and Jay's shouts continued. "That shifter better not be making a mess." Shawn stroked her wing soothingly, half considering whether or not she should go inside the house to check on the boys.

Tynx, of course, was making a mess. He couldn't see. And the kitchen was slippery. His claws clacked on the floor and as he tried to regain his footing. He crashed into Jay's leg, and suddenly found his sneaker to be easy to cling to. Another peal of thunder sent Tynx clawing up Jay's leg, unfortunately.

Kendall opened the pantry door. "Let's see here... By the way, what does the dragon eat?"

Jayson made a face. "Don't look at me." He looked at Tynx, who was examining a rolling pin.

"Meat, mainly," Tynx shrugged, "Lots and lots of meat." The three humans looked slightly at a loss.

"Uh, OK. We can work on the dragon later," Kendall said slowly, "How about you three, then? We can always order pizza if no one wants to try my cooking."

"Pizza sounds good," Jay said over Tynx's grinned, "I want to eat his cooking!" Shawn smiled laughingly. "Chayn might like pizza."

"Chayn?"

"The dragon sitting in your garage all alone?" She paused for a moment, then headed back out to the garage.

Shawn smiled as she heard Jay shout at Tynx to get off the countertop just as she closed the door. She hurried to the garage and burst inside. Chayn jolted, almost taking out the roof.

"What is he doing in there?" Chayn nodded toward the house, "I hope he's not causing trouble?"

"Probably not," Shawn smiled. "I figured Jay could keep him under control. I came to see how you were doing?"

"A bit cramped, but otherwise very comfortable," Chayn shifted. "Come get warm. I can't offer fire, even if I had it, but I suppose I can offer some warmth."

"Thanks," Shawn smiled shyly, wringing more water out of her hair before tripping over the dragon's blue tail. She blushed. "Sorry," she paused, "And thanks for letting me ride you earlier...I've never done anything like it. It was beautiful."

"You are very welcome," Chayn watched her. She lifted a blue leathery wing only a couple feet until it touched the ceiling. "Come, it's warmer underneath. You have never ridden a dragon before? You seem rather experienced in it. Do you not have dragons here?"

Shawn shook her still-wet hair and curled up beside the dragon's polished, ripply-blue scales. "No, we don't, and I haven't before. The closest I've come is riding a horse." She giggled a little. "Jayson hates riding, for some reason. Or maybe just horses."

Chayn nodded. She sighed slightly and nudged the walls of the garage. "Do you humans always live in such small spaces? This one seems a lot smaller than the one the others went into." She blinked suddenly, as if startled. "I do believe Tynx is causing trouble. Again."

Inside, Tynx had successfully climbed up onto the fridge. Still in human form, it was rather ridiculous to see a grown man on top of the refrigerator. Jay was yelling at him to get down while Kendall tried to communicate through the phone what pizzas they wanted.

"Get off the refrigerator! Those boxes are-were-the herring!"

"No, no, I know you don't have herring!" Kendall grimaced.

Tynx looked at the mess under him, then cautiously tried to descend the fridge. He slipped and hit the floor, opening the freezer. Jay groaned and pushed the freezer door shut.

"Yes, thank you," Kendall looked relieved to have finished ordering, "No, I'll come pick them up. Thank you, good-bye."

"What's this?" Tynx asked, shifting into a fox again and jumping up onto the stove. Kendall looked at Jay for help, but Jay only shrugged. "Where's Shawn? Is she with Chayn? Is Chayn stuck?" Tynx's face suddenly turned to horror at the thought. And when the lights flickered out, he went berserk.

"Tynx!" Jay tried to grab the fox but missed him in the dim light. "Kendall! Where'd he go?"

"This way!" Kendall yelled, as something crashed to the ground. "Other way, Jayson!"

Inside the garage, Shawn desperately hoped Chayn didn't put her head through the roof. "Um... I'm sure everything is fine. Really. Um..."

Chayn's eyes darted to the door nervously as Kendall's and Jay's shouts continued. "That shifter better not be making a mess." Shawn stroked her wing soothingly, half considering whether or not she should go inside the house to check on the boys.

Tynx, of course, was making a mess. He couldn't see. And the kitchen was slippery. His claws clacked on the floor and as he tried to regain his footing. He crashed into Jay's leg, and suddenly found his sneaker to be easy to cling to. Another peal of thunder sent Tynx clawing up Jay's leg, unfortunately.

"OW!" Jayson yelled. "That hurts! It's just thunder!"

Shawn stared at the door in bewilderment, still doing her best to calm Chayn.

Kendall opened the pantry door. "Let's see here... By the way, what does the dragon eat?"

Jayson made a face. "Don't look at me." He looked at Tynx, who was examining a rolling pin.

"Meat, mainly," Tynx shrugged, "Lots and lots of meat." The three humans looked slightly at a loss.

"Uh, OK. We can work on the dragon later," Kendall said slowly, "How about you three, then? We can always order pizza if no one wants to try my cooking."

"Pizza sounds good," Jay said over Tynx's grinned, "I want to eat his cooking!" Shawn smiled laughingly. "Chayn might like pizza."

"Chayn?"

"The dragon sitting in your garage all alone?" She paused for a moment, then headed back out to the garage.

Shawn smiled as she heard Jay shout at Tynx to get off the countertop just as she closed the door. She hurried to the garage and burst inside. Chayn jolted, almost taking out the roof.

"What is he doing in there?" Chayn nodded toward the house, "I hope he's not causing trouble?"

"Probably not," Shawn smiled. "I figured Jay could keep him under control. I came to see how you were doing?"

"A bit cramped, but otherwise very comfortable," Chayn shifted. "Come get warm. I can't offer fire, even if I had it, but I suppose I can offer some warmth."

"Thanks," Shawn smiled shyly, wringing more water out of her hair before tripping over the dragon's blue tail. She blushed. "Sorry," she paused, "And thanks for letting me ride you earlier...I've never done anything like it. It was beautiful."

"You are very welcome," Chayn watched her. She lifted a blue leathery wing only a couple feet until it touched the ceiling. "Come, it's warmer underneath. You have never ridden a dragon before? You seem rather experienced in it. Do you not have dragons here?"

Shawn shook her still-wet hair and curled up beside the dragon's polished, ripply-blue scales. "No, we don't, and I haven't before. The closest I've come is riding a horse." She giggled a little. "Jayson hates riding, for some reason. Or maybe just horses."

Chayn nodded. She sighed slightly and nudged the walls of the garage. "Do you humans always live in such small spaces? This one seems a lot smaller than the one the others went into." She blinked suddenly, as if startled. "I do believe Tynx is causing trouble. Again."

Inside, Tynx had successfully climbed up onto the fridge. Still in human form, it was rather ridiculous to see a grown man on top of the refrigerator. Jay was yelling at him to get down while Kendall tried to communicate through the phone what pizzas they wanted.

"Get off the refrigerator! Those boxes are-were-the herring!"

"No, no, I know you don't have herring!" Kendall grimaced.

Tynx looked at the mess under him, then cautiously tried to descend the fridge. He slipped and hit the floor, opening the freezer. Jay groaned and pushed the freezer door shut.

"Yes, thank you," Kendall looked relieved to have finished ordering, "No, I'll come pick them up. Thank you, good-bye."

"What's this?" Tynx asked, shifting into a fox again and jumping up onto the stove. Kendall looked at Jay for help, but Jay only shrugged. "Where's Shawn? Is she with Chayn? Is Chayn stuck?" Tynx's face suddenly turned to horror at the thought. And when the lights flickered out, he went berserk.

"Tynx!" Jay tried to grab the fox but missed him in the dim light. "Kendall! Where'd he go?"

"This way!" Kendall yelled, as something crashed to the ground. "Other way, Jayson!"

Inside the garage, Shawn desperately hoped Chayn didn't put her head through the roof. "Um... I'm sure everything is fine. Really. Um..."

Chayn's eyes darted to the door nervously as Kendall's and Jay's shouts continued. "That shifter better not be making a mess." Shawn stroked her wing soothingly, half considering whether or not she should go inside the house to check on the boys.

Tynx, of course, was making a mess. He couldn't see. And the kitchen was slippery. His claws clacked on the floor and as he tried to regain his footing. He crashed into Jay's leg, and suddenly found his sneaker to be easy to cling to. Another peal of thunder sent Tynx clawing up Jay's leg, unfortunately.

"OW!" Jayson yelled. "That hurts! It's just thunder!"

Shawn stared at the door in bewilderment, still doing her best to calm Chayn. She hoped the boys weren't fighting. That was the last thing they needed.

"Tynx may act brave and reckless," Chayn's voice made her jump. Shan looked at her. "But it is his way of hiding his fear. He will hopefully calm down soon."

Kendall opened the pantry door. "Let's see here... By the way, what does the dragon eat?"

Jayson made a face. "Don't look at me." He looked at Tynx, who was examining a rolling pin.

"Meat, mainly," Tynx shrugged, "Lots and lots of meat." The three humans looked slightly at a loss.

"Uh, OK. We can work on the dragon later," Kendall said slowly, "How about you three, then? We can always order pizza if no one wants to try my cooking."

"Pizza sounds good," Jay said over Tynx's grinned, "I want to eat his cooking!" Shawn smiled laughingly. "Chayn might like pizza."

"Chayn?"

"The dragon sitting in your garage all alone?" She paused for a moment, then headed back out to the garage.

Shawn smiled as she heard Jay shout at Tynx to get off the countertop just as she closed the door. She hurried to the garage and burst inside. Chayn jolted, almost taking out the roof.

"What is he doing in there?" Chayn nodded toward the house, "I hope he's not causing trouble?"

"Probably not," Shawn smiled. "I figured Jay could keep him under control. I came to see how you were doing?"

"A bit cramped, but otherwise very comfortable," Chayn shifted. "Come get warm. I can't offer fire, even if I had it, but I suppose I can offer some warmth."

"Thanks," Shawn smiled shyly, wringing more water out of her hair before tripping over the dragon's blue tail. She blushed. "Sorry," she paused, "And thanks for letting me ride you earlier...I've never done anything like it. It was beautiful."

"You are very welcome," Chayn watched her. She lifted a blue leathery wing only a couple feet until it touched the ceiling. "Come, it's warmer underneath. You have never ridden a dragon before? You seem rather experienced in it. Do you not have dragons here?"

Shawn shook her still-wet hair and curled up beside the dragon's polished, ripply-blue scales. "No, we don't, and I haven't before. The closest I've come is riding a horse." She giggled a little. "Jayson hates riding, for some reason. Or maybe just horses."

Chayn nodded. She sighed slightly and nudged the walls of the garage. "Do you humans always live in such small spaces? This one seems a lot smaller than the one the others went into." She blinked suddenly, as if startled. "I do believe Tynx is causing trouble. Again."

Inside, Tynx had successfully climbed up onto the fridge. Still in human form, it was rather ridiculous to see a grown man on top of the refrigerator. Jay was yelling at him to get down while Kendall tried to communicate through the phone what pizzas they wanted.

"Get off the refrigerator! Those boxes are-were-the herring!"

"No, no, I know you don't have herring!" Kendall grimaced.

Tynx looked at the mess under him, then cautiously tried to descend the fridge. He slipped and hit the floor, opening the freezer. Jay groaned and pushed the freezer door shut.

"Yes, thank you," Kendall looked relieved to have finished ordering, "No, I'll come pick them up. Thank you, good-bye."

"What's this?" Tynx asked, shifting into a fox again and jumping up onto the stove. Kendall looked at Jay for help, but Jay only shrugged. "Where's Shawn? Is she with Chayn? Is Chayn stuck?" Tynx's face suddenly turned to horror at the thought. And when the lights flickered out, he went berserk.

"Tynx!" Jay tried to grab the fox but missed him in the dim light. "Kendall! Where'd he go?"

"This way!" Kendall yelled, as something crashed to the ground. "Other way, Jayson!"

Inside the garage, Shawn desperately hoped Chayn didn't put her head through the roof. "Um... I'm sure everything is fine. Really. Um..."

Chayn's eyes darted to the door nervously as Kendall's and Jay's shouts continued. "That shifter better not be making a mess." Shawn stroked her wing soothingly, half considering whether or not she should go inside the house to check on the boys.

Tynx, of course, was making a mess. He couldn't see. And the kitchen was slippery. His claws clacked on the floor and as he tried to regain his footing. He crashed into Jay's leg, and suddenly found his sneaker to be easy to cling to. Another peal of thunder sent Tynx clawing up Jay's leg, unfortunately.

"OW!" Jayson yelled. "That hurts! It's just thunder!"

Shawn stared at the door in bewilderment, still doing her best to calm Chayn. She hoped the boys weren't fighting. That was the last thing they needed.

"Tynx may act brave and reckless," Chayn's voice made her jump. Shawn looked at her. "But it is his way of hiding his fear. He will hopefully calm down soon."

"I, um, really hope so...." Slowly the ridiculousness of the situation began to strike her, and a smile slowly pulled at her mouth.

Kendall opened the pantry door. "Let's see here... By the way, what does the dragon eat?"

Jayson made a face. "Don't look at me." He looked at Tynx, who was examining a rolling pin.

"Meat, mainly," Tynx shrugged, "Lots and lots of meat." The three humans looked slightly at a loss.

"Uh, OK. We can work on the dragon later," Kendall said slowly, "How about you three, then? We can always order pizza if no one wants to try my cooking."

"Pizza sounds good," Jay said over Tynx's grinned, "I want to eat his cooking!" Shawn smiled laughingly. "Chayn might like pizza."

"Chayn?"

"The dragon sitting in your garage all alone?" She paused for a moment, then headed back out to the garage.

Shawn smiled as she heard Jay shout at Tynx to get off the countertop just as she closed the door. She hurried to the garage and burst inside. Chayn jolted, almost taking out the roof.

"What is he doing in there?" Chayn nodded toward the house, "I hope he's not causing trouble?"

"Probably not," Shawn smiled. "I figured Jay could keep him under control. I came to see how you were doing?"

"A bit cramped, but otherwise very comfortable," Chayn shifted. "Come get warm. I can't offer fire, even if I had it, but I suppose I can offer some warmth."

"Thanks," Shawn smiled shyly, wringing more water out of her hair before tripping over the dragon's blue tail. She blushed. "Sorry," she paused, "And thanks for letting me ride you earlier...I've never done anything like it. It was beautiful."

"You are very welcome," Chayn watched her. She lifted a blue leathery wing only a couple feet until it touched the ceiling. "Come, it's warmer underneath. You have never ridden a dragon before? You seem rather experienced in it. Do you not have dragons here?"

Shawn shook her still-wet hair and curled up beside the dragon's polished, ripply-blue scales. "No, we don't, and I haven't before. The closest I've come is riding a horse." She giggled a little. "Jayson hates riding, for some reason. Or maybe just horses."

Chayn nodded. She sighed slightly and nudged the walls of the garage. "Do you humans always live in such small spaces? This one seems a lot smaller than the one the others went into." She blinked suddenly, as if startled. "I do believe Tynx is causing trouble. Again."

Inside, Tynx had successfully climbed up onto the fridge. Still in human form, it was rather ridiculous to see a grown man on top of the refrigerator. Jay was yelling at him to get down while Kendall tried to communicate through the phone what pizzas they wanted.

"Get off the refrigerator! Those boxes are-were-the herring!"

"No, no, I know you don't have herring!" Kendall grimaced.

Tynx looked at the mess under him, then cautiously tried to descend the fridge. He slipped and hit the floor, opening the freezer. Jay groaned and pushed the freezer door shut.

"Yes, thank you," Kendall looked relieved to have finished ordering, "No, I'll come pick them up. Thank you, good-bye."

"What's this?" Tynx asked, shifting into a fox again and jumping up onto the stove. Kendall looked at Jay for help, but Jay only shrugged. "Where's Shawn? Is she with Chayn? Is Chayn stuck?" Tynx's face suddenly turned to horror at the thought. And when the lights flickered out, he went berserk.

"Tynx!" Jay tried to grab the fox but missed him in the dim light. "Kendall! Where'd he go?"

"This way!" Kendall yelled, as something crashed to the ground. "Other way, Jayson!"

Inside the garage, Shawn desperately hoped Chayn didn't put her head through the roof. "Um... I'm sure everything is fine. Really. Um..."

Chayn's eyes darted to the door nervously as Kendall's and Jay's shouts continued. "That shifter better not be making a mess." Shawn stroked her wing soothingly, half considering whether or not she should go inside the house to check on the boys.

Tynx, of course, was making a mess. He couldn't see. And the kitchen was slippery. His claws clacked on the floor and as he tried to regain his footing. He crashed into Jay's leg, and suddenly found his sneaker to be easy to cling to. Another peal of thunder sent Tynx clawing up Jay's leg, unfortunately.

"OW!" Jayson yelled. "That hurts! It's just thunder!"

Shawn stared at the door in bewilderment, still doing her best to calm Chayn. She hoped the boys weren't fighting. That was the last thing they needed.

"Tynx may act brave and reckless," Chayn's voice made her jump. Shawn looked at her. "But it is his way of hiding his fear. He will hopefully calm down soon."

"I, um, really hope so...." Slowly the ridiculousness of the situation began to strike her, and a smile slowly pulled at her mouth.

Inside, Kendall had located a flashlight and was trying to remove Tynx from Jay's leg. The fox was trembling.

"OK," Kendall gasped as Jay messaged his throbbing leg. "Jay, take Tynx to the garage. I am going to go get the pizza. Tynx," he glared at the fox, but then his expression softened. "Everything's going to be alright." Tynx hesitated, then nodded.

Kendall opened the pantry door. "Let's see here... By the way, what does the dragon eat?"

Jayson made a face. "Don't look at me." He looked at Tynx, who was examining a rolling pin.

"Meat, mainly," Tynx shrugged, "Lots and lots of meat." The three humans looked slightly at a loss.

"Uh, OK. We can work on the dragon later," Kendall said slowly, "How about you three, then? We can always order pizza if no one wants to try my cooking."

"Pizza sounds good," Jay said over Tynx's grinned, "I want to eat his cooking!" Shawn smiled laughingly. "Chayn might like pizza."

"Chayn?"

"The dragon sitting in your garage all alone?" She paused for a moment, then headed back out to the garage.

Shawn smiled as she heard Jay shout at Tynx to get off the countertop just as she closed the door. She hurried to the garage and burst inside. Chayn jolted, almost taking out the roof.

"What is he doing in there?" Chayn nodded toward the house, "I hope he's not causing trouble?"

"Probably not," Shawn smiled. "I figured Jay could keep him under control. I came to see how you were doing?"

"A bit cramped, but otherwise very comfortable," Chayn shifted. "Come get warm. I can't offer fire, even if I had it, but I suppose I can offer some warmth."

"Thanks," Shawn smiled shyly, wringing more water out of her hair before tripping over the dragon's blue tail. She blushed. "Sorry," she paused, "And thanks for letting me ride you earlier...I've never done anything like it. It was beautiful."

"You are very welcome," Chayn watched her. She lifted a blue leathery wing only a couple feet until it touched the ceiling. "Come, it's warmer underneath. You have never ridden a dragon before? You seem rather experienced in it. Do you not have dragons here?"

Shawn shook her still-wet hair and curled up beside the dragon's polished, ripply-blue scales. "No, we don't, and I haven't before. The closest I've come is riding a horse." She giggled a little. "Jayson hates riding, for some reason. Or maybe just horses."

Chayn nodded. She sighed slightly and nudged the walls of the garage. "Do you humans always live in such small spaces? This one seems a lot smaller than the one the others went into." She blinked suddenly, as if startled. "I do believe Tynx is causing trouble. Again."

Inside, Tynx had successfully climbed up onto the fridge. Still in human form, it was rather ridiculous to see a grown man on top of the refrigerator. Jay was yelling at him to get down while Kendall tried to communicate through the phone what pizzas they wanted.

"Get off the refrigerator! Those boxes are-were-the herring!"

"No, no, I know you don't have herring!" Kendall grimaced.

Tynx looked at the mess under him, then cautiously tried to descend the fridge. He slipped and hit the floor, opening the freezer. Jay groaned and pushed the freezer door shut.

"Yes, thank you," Kendall looked relieved to have finished ordering, "No, I'll come pick them up. Thank you, good-bye."

"What's this?" Tynx asked, shifting into a fox again and jumping up onto the stove. Kendall looked at Jay for help, but Jay only shrugged. "Where's Shawn? Is she with Chayn? Is Chayn stuck?" Tynx's face suddenly turned to horror at the thought. And when the lights flickered out, he went berserk.

"Tynx!" Jay tried to grab the fox but missed him in the dim light. "Kendall! Where'd he go?"

"This way!" Kendall yelled, as something crashed to the ground. "Other way, Jayson!"

Inside the garage, Shawn desperately hoped Chayn didn't put her head through the roof. "Um... I'm sure everything is fine. Really. Um..."

Chayn's eyes darted to the door nervously as Kendall's and Jay's shouts continued. "That shifter better not be making a mess." Shawn stroked her wing soothingly, half considering whether or not she should go inside the house to check on the boys.

Tynx, of course, was making a mess. He couldn't see. And the kitchen was slippery. His claws clacked on the floor and as he tried to regain his footing. He crashed into Jay's leg, and suddenly found his sneaker to be easy to cling to. Another peal of thunder sent Tynx clawing up Jay's leg, unfortunately.

"OW!" Jayson yelled. "That hurts! It's just thunder!"

Shawn stared at the door in bewilderment, still doing her best to calm Chayn. She hoped the boys weren't fighting. That was the last thing they needed.

"Tynx may act brave and reckless," Chayn's voice made her jump. Shawn looked at her. "But it is his way of hiding his fear. He will hopefully calm down soon."

"I, um, really hope so...." Slowly the ridiculousness of the situation began to strike her, and a smile slowly pulled at her mouth.

Inside, Kendall had located a flashlight and was trying to remove Tynx from Jay's leg. The fox was trembling.

"OK," Kendall gasped as Jay messaged his throbbing leg. "Jay, take Tynx to the garage. I am going to go get the pizza. Tynx," he glared at the fox, but then his expression softened. "Everything's going to be alright." Tynx hesitated, then nodded.

Wincing, Jay led the fox to the garage door. Opening it, he let Tynx inside before stepping in and neatly tripping over a pile of Chayn's tail, landing smack on his face.

Kendall opened the pantry door. "Let's see here... By the way, what does the dragon eat?"

Jayson made a face. "Don't look at me." He looked at Tynx, who was examining a rolling pin.

"Meat, mainly," Tynx shrugged, "Lots and lots of meat." The three humans looked slightly at a loss.

"Uh, OK. We can work on the dragon later," Kendall said slowly, "How about you three, then? We can always order pizza if no one wants to try my cooking."

"Pizza sounds good," Jay said over Tynx's grinned, "I want to eat his cooking!" Shawn smiled laughingly. "Chayn might like pizza."

"Chayn?"

"The dragon sitting in your garage all alone?" She paused for a moment, then headed back out to the garage.

Shawn smiled as she heard Jay shout at Tynx to get off the countertop just as she closed the door. She hurried to the garage and burst inside. Chayn jolted, almost taking out the roof.

"What is he doing in there?" Chayn nodded toward the house, "I hope he's not causing trouble?"

"Probably not," Shawn smiled. "I figured Jay could keep him under control. I came to see how you were doing?"

"A bit cramped, but otherwise very comfortable," Chayn shifted. "Come get warm. I can't offer fire, even if I had it, but I suppose I can offer some warmth."

"Thanks," Shawn smiled shyly, wringing more water out of her hair before tripping over the dragon's blue tail. She blushed. "Sorry," she paused, "And thanks for letting me ride you earlier...I've never done anything like it. It was beautiful."

"You are very welcome," Chayn watched her. She lifted a blue leathery wing only a couple feet until it touched the ceiling. "Come, it's warmer underneath. You have never ridden a dragon before? You seem rather experienced in it. Do you not have dragons here?"

Shawn shook her still-wet hair and curled up beside the dragon's polished, ripply-blue scales. "No, we don't, and I haven't before. The closest I've come is riding a horse." She giggled a little. "Jayson hates riding, for some reason. Or maybe just horses."

Chayn nodded. She sighed slightly and nudged the walls of the garage. "Do you humans always live in such small spaces? This one seems a lot smaller than the one the others went into." She blinked suddenly, as if startled. "I do believe Tynx is causing trouble. Again."

Inside, Tynx had successfully climbed up onto the fridge. Still in human form, it was rather ridiculous to see a grown man on top of the refrigerator. Jay was yelling at him to get down while Kendall tried to communicate through the phone what pizzas they wanted.

"Get off the refrigerator! Those boxes are-were-the herring!"

"No, no, I know you don't have herring!" Kendall grimaced.

Tynx looked at the mess under him, then cautiously tried to descend the fridge. He slipped and hit the floor, opening the freezer. Jay groaned and pushed the freezer door shut.

"Yes, thank you," Kendall looked relieved to have finished ordering, "No, I'll come pick them up. Thank you, good-bye."

"What's this?" Tynx asked, shifting into a fox again and jumping up onto the stove. Kendall looked at Jay for help, but Jay only shrugged. "Where's Shawn? Is she with Chayn? Is Chayn stuck?" Tynx's face suddenly turned to horror at the thought. And when the lights flickered out, he went berserk.

"Tynx!" Jay tried to grab the fox but missed him in the dim light. "Kendall! Where'd he go?"

"This way!" Kendall yelled, as something crashed to the ground. "Other way, Jayson!"

Inside the garage, Shawn desperately hoped Chayn didn't put her head through the roof. "Um... I'm sure everything is fine. Really. Um..."

Chayn's eyes darted to the door nervously as Kendall's and Jay's shouts continued. "That shifter better not be making a mess." Shawn stroked her wing soothingly, half considering whether or not she should go inside the house to check on the boys.

Tynx, of course, was making a mess. He couldn't see. And the kitchen was slippery. His claws clacked on the floor and as he tried to regain his footing. He crashed into Jay's leg, and suddenly found his sneaker to be easy to cling to. Another peal of thunder sent Tynx clawing up Jay's leg, unfortunately.

"OW!" Jayson yelled. "That hurts! It's just thunder!"

Shawn stared at the door in bewilderment, still doing her best to calm Chayn. She hoped the boys weren't fighting. That was the last thing they needed.

"Tynx may act brave and reckless," Chayn's voice made her jump. Shawn looked at her. "But it is his way of hiding his fear. He will hopefully calm down soon."

"I, um, really hope so...." Slowly the ridiculousness of the situation began to strike her, and a smile slowly pulled at her mouth.

Inside, Kendall had located a flashlight and was trying to remove Tynx from Jay's leg. The fox was trembling.

"OK," Kendall gasped as Jay messaged his throbbing leg. "Jay, take Tynx to the garage. I am going to go get the pizza. Tynx," he glared at the fox, but then his expression softened. "Everything's going to be alright." Tynx hesitated, then nodded.

Wincing, Jay led the fox to the garage door. Opening it, he let Tynx inside before stepping in and neatly tripping over a pile of Chayn's tail, landing smack on his face.

Chayn started in alarm. Her head shot upward, her horns piercing the cieling and protruding into the attic, where the resident family of raccoons fled in terror. Shawn jumped, too, but she stifled a laugh. Tynx jumped over Jay and nudged his cheek.

"You have the grace of a swan," he said rather decidedly, as if it had been an issue he had struggled to settle with himself, "Do all Humans do that?" Chayn huffed warm air down on the trio as she dislodged her horns.

Kendall opened the pantry door. "Let's see here... By the way, what does the dragon eat?"

Jayson made a face. "Don't look at me." He looked at Tynx, who was examining a rolling pin.

"Meat, mainly," Tynx shrugged, "Lots and lots of meat." The three humans looked slightly at a loss.

"Uh, OK. We can work on the dragon later," Kendall said slowly, "How about you three, then? We can always order pizza if no one wants to try my cooking."

"Pizza sounds good," Jay said over Tynx's grinned, "I want to eat his cooking!" Shawn smiled laughingly. "Chayn might like pizza."

"Chayn?"

"The dragon sitting in your garage all alone?" She paused for a moment, then headed back out to the garage.

Shawn smiled as she heard Jay shout at Tynx to get off the countertop just as she closed the door. She hurried to the garage and burst inside. Chayn jolted, almost taking out the roof.

"What is he doing in there?" Chayn nodded toward the house, "I hope he's not causing trouble?"

"Probably not," Shawn smiled. "I figured Jay could keep him under control. I came to see how you were doing?"

"A bit cramped, but otherwise very comfortable," Chayn shifted. "Come get warm. I can't offer fire, even if I had it, but I suppose I can offer some warmth."

"Thanks," Shawn smiled shyly, wringing more water out of her hair before tripping over the dragon's blue tail. She blushed. "Sorry," she paused, "And thanks for letting me ride you earlier...I've never done anything like it. It was beautiful."

"You are very welcome," Chayn watched her. She lifted a blue leathery wing only a couple feet until it touched the ceiling. "Come, it's warmer underneath. You have never ridden a dragon before? You seem rather experienced in it. Do you not have dragons here?"

Shawn shook her still-wet hair and curled up beside the dragon's polished, ripply-blue scales. "No, we don't, and I haven't before. The closest I've come is riding a horse." She giggled a little. "Jayson hates riding, for some reason. Or maybe just horses."

Chayn nodded. She sighed slightly and nudged the walls of the garage. "Do you humans always live in such small spaces? This one seems a lot smaller than the one the others went into." She blinked suddenly, as if startled. "I do believe Tynx is causing trouble. Again."

Inside, Tynx had successfully climbed up onto the fridge. Still in human form, it was rather ridiculous to see a grown man on top of the refrigerator. Jay was yelling at him to get down while Kendall tried to communicate through the phone what pizzas they wanted.

"Get off the refrigerator! Those boxes are-were-the herring!"

"No, no, I know you don't have herring!" Kendall grimaced.

Tynx looked at the mess under him, then cautiously tried to descend the fridge. He slipped and hit the floor, opening the freezer. Jay groaned and pushed the freezer door shut.

"Yes, thank you," Kendall looked relieved to have finished ordering, "No, I'll come pick them up. Thank you, good-bye."

"What's this?" Tynx asked, shifting into a fox again and jumping up onto the stove. Kendall looked at Jay for help, but Jay only shrugged. "Where's Shawn? Is she with Chayn? Is Chayn stuck?" Tynx's face suddenly turned to horror at the thought. And when the lights flickered out, he went berserk.

"Tynx!" Jay tried to grab the fox but missed him in the dim light. "Kendall! Where'd he go?"

"This way!" Kendall yelled, as something crashed to the ground. "Other way, Jayson!"

Inside the garage, Shawn desperately hoped Chayn didn't put her head through the roof. "Um... I'm sure everything is fine. Really. Um..."

Chayn's eyes darted to the door nervously as Kendall's and Jay's shouts continued. "That shifter better not be making a mess." Shawn stroked her wing soothingly, half considering whether or not she should go inside the house to check on the boys.

Tynx, of course, was making a mess. He couldn't see. And the kitchen was slippery. His claws clacked on the floor and as he tried to regain his footing. He crashed into Jay's leg, and suddenly found his sneaker to be easy to cling to. Another peal of thunder sent Tynx clawing up Jay's leg, unfortunately.

"OW!" Jayson yelled. "That hurts! It's just thunder!"

Shawn stared at the door in bewilderment, still doing her best to calm Chayn. She hoped the boys weren't fighting. That was the last thing they needed.

"Tynx may act brave and reckless," Chayn's voice made her jump. Shawn looked at her. "But it is his way of hiding his fear. He will hopefully calm down soon."

"I, um, really hope so...." Slowly the ridiculousness of the situation began to strike her, and a smile slowly pulled at her mouth.

Inside, Kendall had located a flashlight and was trying to remove Tynx from Jay's leg. The fox was trembling.

"OK," Kendall gasped as Jay messaged his throbbing leg. "Jay, take Tynx to the garage. I am going to go get the pizza. Tynx," he glared at the fox, but then his expression softened. "Everything's going to be alright." Tynx hesitated, then nodded.

Wincing, Jay led the fox to the garage door. Opening it, he let Tynx inside before stepping in and neatly tripping over a pile of Chayn's tail, landing smack on his face.

Chayn started in alarm. Her head shot upward, her horns piercing the cieling and protruding into the attic, where the resident family of raccoons fled in terror. Shawn jumped, too, but she stifled a laugh. Tynx jumped over Jay and nudged his cheek.

"You have the grace of a swan," he said rather decidedly, as if it had been an issue he had struggled to settle with himself, "Do all Humans do that?" Chayn huffed warm air down on the trio as she dislodged her horns.

Shawn giggled. "Most, I think, Tynx." She grinned at Jayson, who glared at the room in general.

The foursome were huddled in the garage, listening to the rain pound in the roof. Chayn was gettin restless, but for the sake of her small friends she tried to remain still.

"So, what happens if we can't find the portal?" Tynx asked.

The foursome were huddled in the garage, listening to the rain pound in the roof. Chayn was getting restless, but for the sake of her small friends she tried to remain still.

"So, what happens if we can't find the portal?" Tynx asked.

"I don't know, Tynx," Shawn whispered, picking the fox up and cuddling him absentmindedly.

The foursome were huddled in the garage, listening to the rain pound in the roof. Chayn was getting restless, but for the sake of her small friends she tried to remain still.

"So, what happens if we can't find the portal?" Tynx asked.

"I don't know, Tynx," Shawn whispered, picking the fox up and cuddling him absentmindedly. Tynx snuggled closer to Shawn, trying not to tremble.

Pretty soon, a honking horn jolted them from the half-awake state the lulling rain had slipped them into. Chayn nearly sent her horns through the ceiling again, and Tynx almost extended his claws in alarm.

"Sounds like pizza," Jay heaved himself up sleepily.

"Pizza is noisy," Tynx yawned.

The foursome were huddled in the garage, listening to the rain pound in the roof. Chayn was getting restless, but for the sake of her small friends she tried to remain still.

"So, what happens if we can't find the portal?" Tynx asked.

"I don't know, Tynx," Shawn whispered, picking the fox up and cuddling him absentmindedly. Tynx snuggled closer to Shawn, trying not to tremble.

Pretty soon, a honking horn jolted them from the half-awake state the lulling rain had slipped them into. Chayn nearly sent her horns through the ceiling again, and Tynx almost extended his claws in alarm.

"Sounds like pizza," Jay heaved himself up sleepily.

"Pizza is noisy," Tynx yawned. Shawn chortled. Tynx blinked, then bounded up and into the kitchen. As soon as the pizza boxes were set down he scrabbled to get one open. "How does this thing even work, anyway?!" he shouted enthusiastically, falling off the table.

The foursome were huddled in the garage, listening to the rain pound in the roof. Chayn was getting restless, but for the sake of her small friends she tried to remain still.

"So, what happens if we can't find the portal?" Tynx asked.

"I don't know, Tynx," Shawn whispered, picking the fox up and cuddling him absentmindedly. Tynx snuggled closer to Shawn, trying not to tremble.

Pretty soon, a honking horn jolted them from the half-awake state the lulling rain had slipped them into. Chayn nearly sent her horns through the ceiling again, and Tynx almost extended his claws in alarm.

"Sounds like pizza," Jay heaved himself up sleepily.

"Pizza is noisy," Tynx yawned. Shawn chortled. Tynx blinked, then bounded up and into the kitchen. As soon as the pizza boxes were set down he scrabbled to get one open. "How does this thing even work, anyway?!" he shouted enthusiastically, falling off the table. Shawn laughed and flipped open the lid. Tynx jumped back up and almost landed in the pizza before Kendall jerked it back just in time.

"Hot!" Jay stated around a mouthful of pizza. "Hot!" Tynx either didn't heed the warning or didn't hear as he bit off nearly half of his slice.

The foursome were huddled in the garage, listening to the rain pound in the roof. Chayn was getting restless, but for the sake of her small friends she tried to remain still.

"So, what happens if we can't find the portal?" Tynx asked.

"I don't know, Tynx," Shawn whispered, picking the fox up and cuddling him absentmindedly. Tynx snuggled closer to Shawn, trying not to tremble.

Pretty soon, a honking horn jolted them from the half-awake state the lulling rain had slipped them into. Chayn nearly sent her horns through the ceiling again, and Tynx almost extended his claws in alarm.

"Sounds like pizza," Jay heaved himself up sleepily.

"Pizza is noisy," Tynx yawned. Shawn chortled. Tynx blinked, then bounded up and into the kitchen. As soon as the pizza boxes were set down he scrabbled to get one open. "How does this thing even work, anyway?!" he shouted enthusiastically, falling off the table. Shawn laughed and flipped open the lid. Tynx jumped back up and almost landed in the pizza before Kendall jerked it back just in time.

"Hot!" Jay stated around a mouthful of pizza. "Hot!" Tynx either didn't heed the warning or didn't hear as he bit off nearly half of his slice.

"Not again," Kendall groaned, as once again he had a panicking shapeshifter frantically running around his house. He gave Jay a pleading look.

"No," Jay mumbled around his pizza. "No. I want to eat. No." He then stood up and tried to catch the blaze of light that was a fox. It was Shawn who proved to be helpful this time, however.

The foursome were huddled in the garage, listening to the rain pound in the roof. Chayn was getting restless, but for the sake of her small friends she tried to remain still.

"So, what happens if we can't find the portal?" Tynx asked.

"I don't know, Tynx," Shawn whispered, picking the fox up and cuddling him absentmindedly. Tynx snuggled closer to Shawn, trying not to tremble.

Pretty soon, a honking horn jolted them from the half-awake state the lulling rain had slipped them into. Chayn nearly sent her horns through the ceiling again, and Tynx almost extended his claws in alarm.

"Sounds like pizza," Jay heaved himself up sleepily.

"Pizza is noisy," Tynx yawned. Shawn chortled. Tynx blinked, then bounded up and into the kitchen. As soon as the pizza boxes were set down he scrabbled to get one open. "How does this thing even work, anyway?!" he shouted enthusiastically, falling off the table. Shawn laughed and flipped open the lid. Tynx jumped back up and almost landed in the pizza before Kendall jerked it back just in time.

"Hot!" Jay stated around a mouthful of pizza. "Hot!" Tynx either didn't heed the warning or didn't hear as he bit off nearly half of his slice.

"Not again," Kendall groaned, as once again he had a panicking shapeshifter frantically running around his house. He gave Jay a pleading look.

"No," Jay mumbled around his pizza. "No. I want to eat. No." He then stood up and tried to catch the blaze of light that was a fox. It was Shawn who proved to be helpful this time, however.

"Over here, Tynx!" Shawn hollered over Jay's protests and Tynx's exclamations of alarm. She plopped a mixing bowl of cold water on the floor. Tynx skidded across floor tiles and dunked his whole head in the bowl, making it overflow. Jay leaned against the table, gasping and reaching for his unfinished pizza.

The foursome were huddled in the garage, listening to the rain pound in the roof. Chayn was getting restless, but for the sake of her small friends she tried to remain still.

"So, what happens if we can't find the portal?" Tynx asked.

"I don't know, Tynx," Shawn whispered, picking the fox up and cuddling him absentmindedly. Tynx snuggled closer to Shawn, trying not to tremble.

Pretty soon, a honking horn jolted them from the half-awake state the lulling rain had slipped them into. Chayn nearly sent her horns through the ceiling again, and Tynx almost extended his claws in alarm.

"Sounds like pizza," Jay heaved himself up sleepily.

"Pizza is noisy," Tynx yawned. Shawn chortled. Tynx blinked, then bounded up and into the kitchen. As soon as the pizza boxes were set down he scrabbled to get one open. "How does this thing even work, anyway?!" he shouted enthusiastically, falling off the table. Shawn laughed and flipped open the lid. Tynx jumped back up and almost landed in the pizza before Kendall jerked it back just in time.

"Hot!" Jay stated around a mouthful of pizza. "Hot!" Tynx either didn't heed the warning or didn't hear as he bit off nearly half of his slice.

"Not again," Kendall groaned, as once again he had a panicking shapeshifter frantically running around his house. He gave Jay a pleading look.

"No," Jay mumbled around his pizza. "No. I want to eat. No." He then stood up and tried to catch the blaze of light that was a fox. It was Shawn who proved to be helpful this time, however.

"Over here, Tynx!" Shawn hollered over Jay's protests and Tynx's exclamations of alarm. She plopped a mixing bowl of cold water on the floor. Tynx skidded across floor tiles and dunked his whole head in the bowl, making it overflow. Jay leaned against the table, gasping and reaching for his unfinished pizza.

Kendall lifted his eyes. "Can that be the last time we have panicking fantasy creatures?"

Shawn ignored him, stroking Tynx. "You poor thing, are you all right?"

The foursome were huddled in the garage, listening to the rain pound in the roof. Chayn was getting restless, but for the sake of her small friends she tried to remain still.

"So, what happens if we can't find the portal?" Tynx asked.

"I don't know, Tynx," Shawn whispered, picking the fox up and cuddling him absentmindedly. Tynx snuggled closer to Shawn, trying not to tremble.

Pretty soon, a honking horn jolted them from the half-awake state the lulling rain had slipped them into. Chayn nearly sent her horns through the ceiling again, and Tynx almost extended his claws in alarm.

"Sounds like pizza," Jay heaved himself up sleepily.

"Pizza is noisy," Tynx yawned. Shawn chortled. Tynx blinked, then bounded up and into the kitchen. As soon as the pizza boxes were set down he scrabbled to get one open. "How does this thing even work, anyway?!" he shouted enthusiastically, falling off the table. Shawn laughed and flipped open the lid. Tynx jumped back up and almost landed in the pizza before Kendall jerked it back just in time.

"Hot!" Jay stated around a mouthful of pizza. "Hot!" Tynx either didn't heed the warning or didn't hear as he bit off nearly half of his slice.

"Not again," Kendall groaned, as once again he had a panicking shapeshifter frantically running around his house. He gave Jay a pleading look.

"No," Jay mumbled around his pizza. "No. I want to eat. No." He then stood up and tried to catch the blaze of light that was a fox. It was Shawn who proved to be helpful this time, however.

"Over here, Tynx!" Shawn hollered over Jay's protests and Tynx's exclamations of alarm. She plopped a mixing bowl of cold water on the floor. Tynx skidded across floor tiles and dunked his whole head in the bowl, making it overflow. Jay leaned against the table, gasping and reaching for his unfinished pizza.

Kendall lifted his eyes. "Can that be the last time we have panicking fantasy creatures?"

Shawn ignored him, stroking Tynx. "You poor thing, are you all right?"

Tynx nodded and emerged from the bowl. From the neck up he looked like a waterlogged puppy.

"Is pizza always this hot?" Tynx asked, sniffing his pizza. He tentatively pulled off the cheese and ate it.

"If we're done with the panic attacks," Kendall repeated, "can someone explain to me what the little dog is?"

The foursome were huddled in the garage, listening to the rain pound in the roof. Chayn was getting restless, but for the sake of her small friends she tried to remain still.

"So, what happens if we can't find the portal?" Tynx asked.

"I don't know, Tynx," Shawn whispered, picking the fox up and cuddling him absentmindedly. Tynx snuggled closer to Shawn, trying not to tremble.

Pretty soon, a honking horn jolted them from the half-awake state the lulling rain had slipped them into. Chayn nearly sent her horns through the ceiling again, and Tynx almost extended his claws in alarm.

"Sounds like pizza," Jay heaved himself up sleepily.

"Pizza is noisy," Tynx yawned. Shawn chortled. Tynx blinked, then bounded up and into the kitchen. As soon as the pizza boxes were set down he scrabbled to get one open. "How does this thing even work, anyway?!" he shouted enthusiastically, falling off the table. Shawn laughed and flipped open the lid. Tynx jumped back up and almost landed in the pizza before Kendall jerked it back just in time.

"Hot!" Jay stated around a mouthful of pizza. "Hot!" Tynx either didn't heed the warning or didn't hear as he bit off nearly half of his slice.

"Not again," Kendall groaned, as once again he had a panicking shapeshifter frantically running around his house. He gave Jay a pleading look.

"No," Jay mumbled around his pizza. "No. I want to eat. No." He then stood up and tried to catch the blaze of light that was a fox. It was Shawn who proved to be helpful this time, however.

"Over here, Tynx!" Shawn hollered over Jay's protests and Tynx's exclamations of alarm. She plopped a mixing bowl of cold water on the floor. Tynx skidded across floor tiles and dunked his whole head in the bowl, making it overflow. Jay leaned against the table, gasping and reaching for his unfinished pizza.

Kendall lifted his eyes. "Can that be the last time we have panicking fantasy creatures?"

Shawn ignored him, stroking Tynx. "You poor thing, are you all right?"

Tynx nodded and emerged from the bowl. From the neck up he looked like a waterlogged puppy.

"Is pizza always this hot?" Tynx asked, sniffing his pizza. He tentatively pulled off the cheese and ate it.

"If we're done with the panic attacks," Kendall repeated, "can someone explain to me what the little dog is?"

"It'll cool," Shawn said. "Don't eat it in such big bites, and that will help. Did it burn your mouth?"

"Tynx is a shapeshifter," Jayson informed Kendall helpfully.

The foursome were huddled in the garage, listening to the rain pound in the roof. Chayn was getting restless, but for the sake of her small friends she tried to remain still.

"So, what happens if we can't find the portal?" Tynx asked.

"I don't know, Tynx," Shawn whispered, picking the fox up and cuddling him absentmindedly. Tynx snuggled closer to Shawn, trying not to tremble.

Pretty soon, a honking horn jolted them from the half-awake state the lulling rain had slipped them into. Chayn nearly sent her horns through the ceiling again, and Tynx almost extended his claws in alarm.

"Sounds like pizza," Jay heaved himself up sleepily.

"Pizza is noisy," Tynx yawned. Shawn chortled. Tynx blinked, then bounded up and into the kitchen. As soon as the pizza boxes were set down he scrabbled to get one open. "How does this thing even work, anyway?!" he shouted enthusiastically, falling off the table. Shawn laughed and flipped open the lid. Tynx jumped back up and almost landed in the pizza before Kendall jerked it back just in time.

"Hot!" Jay stated around a mouthful of pizza. "Hot!" Tynx either didn't heed the warning or didn't hear as he bit off nearly half of his slice.

"Not again," Kendall groaned, as once again he had a panicking shapeshifter frantically running around his house. He gave Jay a pleading look.

"No," Jay mumbled around his pizza. "No. I want to eat. No." He then stood up and tried to catch the blaze of light that was a fox. It was Shawn who proved to be helpful this time, however.

"Over here, Tynx!" Shawn hollered over Jay's protests and Tynx's exclamations of alarm. She plopped a mixing bowl of cold water on the floor. Tynx skidded across floor tiles and dunked his whole head in the bowl, making it overflow. Jay leaned against the table, gasping and reaching for his unfinished pizza.

Kendall lifted his eyes. "Can that be the last time we have panicking fantasy creatures?"

Shawn ignored him, stroking Tynx. "You poor thing, are you all right?"

Tynx nodded and emerged from the bowl. From the neck up he looked like a waterlogged puppy.

"Is pizza always this hot?" Tynx asked, sniffing his pizza. He tentatively pulled off the cheese and ate it.

"If we're done with the panic attacks," Kendall repeated, "can someone explain to me what the little dog is?"

"It'll cool," Shawn said. "Don't eat it in such big bites, and that will help. Did it burn your mouth?"

"Tynx is a shapeshifter," Jayson informed Kendall helpfully.

"Okay..." Kendall watched Tynx and Shawn thoughtfully. "Shawn, why don't you and Tynx take some pizza to Chayn? If she doesn't like it I'll run to the store and raid the meat counter." After making sure Tynx hadn't burned himself too badly, Shawn grabbed a few pizza slices and dashed to the garage, Tynx hot on her heels.

The foursome were huddled in the garage, listening to the rain pound in the roof. Chayn was getting restless, but for the sake of her small friends she tried to remain still.

"So, what happens if we can't find the portal?" Tynx asked.

"I don't know, Tynx," Shawn whispered, picking the fox up and cuddling him absentmindedly. Tynx snuggled closer to Shawn, trying not to tremble.

Pretty soon, a honking horn jolted them from the half-awake state the lulling rain had slipped them into. Chayn nearly sent her horns through the ceiling again, and Tynx almost extended his claws in alarm.

"Sounds like pizza," Jay heaved himself up sleepily.

"Pizza is noisy," Tynx yawned. Shawn chortled. Tynx blinked, then bounded up and into the kitchen. As soon as the pizza boxes were set down he scrabbled to get one open. "How does this thing even work, anyway?!" he shouted enthusiastically, falling off the table. Shawn laughed and flipped open the lid. Tynx jumped back up and almost landed in the pizza before Kendall jerked it back just in time.

"Hot!" Jay stated around a mouthful of pizza. "Hot!" Tynx either didn't heed the warning or didn't hear as he bit off nearly half of his slice.

"Not again," Kendall groaned, as once again he had a panicking shapeshifter frantically running around his house. He gave Jay a pleading look.

"No," Jay mumbled around his pizza. "No. I want to eat. No." He then stood up and tried to catch the blaze of light that was a fox. It was Shawn who proved to be helpful this time, however.

"Over here, Tynx!" Shawn hollered over Jay's protests and Tynx's exclamations of alarm. She plopped a mixing bowl of cold water on the floor. Tynx skidded across floor tiles and dunked his whole head in the bowl, making it overflow. Jay leaned against the table, gasping and reaching for his unfinished pizza.

Kendall lifted his eyes. "Can that be the last time we have panicking fantasy creatures?"

Shawn ignored him, stroking Tynx. "You poor thing, are you all right?"

Tynx nodded and emerged from the bowl. From the neck up he looked like a waterlogged puppy.

"Is pizza always this hot?" Tynx asked, sniffing his pizza. He tentatively pulled off the cheese and ate it.

"If we're done with the panic attacks," Kendall repeated, "can someone explain to me what the little dog is?"

"It'll cool," Shawn said. "Don't eat it in such big bites, and that will help. Did it burn your mouth?"

"Tynx is a shapeshifter," Jayson informed Kendall helpfully.

"Okay..." Kendall watched Tynx and Shawn thoughtfully. "Shawn, why don't you and Tynx take some pizza to Chayn? If she doesn't like it I'll run to the store and raid the meat counter." After making sure Tynx hadn't burned himself too badly, Shawn grabbed a few pizza slices and dashed to the garage, Tynx hot on her heels.

"I'm in for it," Jayson groaned. "Just go ahead and lecture me now?"

The foursome were huddled in the garage, listening to the rain pound in the roof. Chayn was getting restless, but for the sake of her small friends she tried to remain still.

"So, what happens if we can't find the portal?" Tynx asked.

"I don't know, Tynx," Shawn whispered, picking the fox up and cuddling him absentmindedly. Tynx snuggled closer to Shawn, trying not to tremble.

Pretty soon, a honking horn jolted them from the half-awake state the lulling rain had slipped them into. Chayn nearly sent her horns through the ceiling again, and Tynx almost extended his claws in alarm.

"Sounds like pizza," Jay heaved himself up sleepily.

"Pizza is noisy," Tynx yawned. Shawn chortled. Tynx blinked, then bounded up and into the kitchen. As soon as the pizza boxes were set down he scrabbled to get one open. "How does this thing even work, anyway?!" he shouted enthusiastically, falling off the table. Shawn laughed and flipped open the lid. Tynx jumped back up and almost landed in the pizza before Kendall jerked it back just in time.

"Hot!" Jay stated around a mouthful of pizza. "Hot!" Tynx either didn't heed the warning or didn't hear as he bit off nearly half of his slice.

"Not again," Kendall groaned, as once again he had a panicking shapeshifter frantically running around his house. He gave Jay a pleading look.

"No," Jay mumbled around his pizza. "No. I want to eat. No." He then stood up and tried to catch the blaze of light that was a fox. It was Shawn who proved to be helpful this time, however.

"Over here, Tynx!" Shawn hollered over Jay's protests and Tynx's exclamations of alarm. She plopped a mixing bowl of cold water on the floor. Tynx skidded across floor tiles and dunked his whole head in the bowl, making it overflow. Jay leaned against the table, gasping and reaching for his unfinished pizza.

Kendall lifted his eyes. "Can that be the last time we have panicking fantasy creatures?"

Shawn ignored him, stroking Tynx. "You poor thing, are you all right?"

Tynx nodded and emerged from the bowl. From the neck up he looked like a waterlogged puppy.

"Is pizza always this hot?" Tynx asked, sniffing his pizza. He tentatively pulled off the cheese and ate it.

"If we're done with the panic attacks," Kendall repeated, "can someone explain to me what the little dog is?"

"It'll cool," Shawn said. "Don't eat it in such big bites, and that will help. Did it burn your mouth?"

"Tynx is a shapeshifter," Jayson informed Kendall helpfully.

"Okay..." Kendall watched Tynx and Shawn thoughtfully. "Shawn, why don't you and Tynx take some pizza to Chayn? If she doesn't like it I'll run to the store and raid the meat counter." After making sure Tynx hadn't burned himself too badly, Shawn grabbed a few pizza slices and dashed to the garage, Tynx hot on her heels.

"I'm in for it," Jayson groaned. "Just go ahead and lecture me now?"

"Not quite," Kendall replied carefully. "Jayson, I'm questioning the wisdom of bringing those... things, here. I'm not sure it's a good idea to even trust them. We don't know who they are, or what they're doing here, or why."

The foursome were huddled in the garage, listening to the rain pound in the roof. Chayn was getting restless, but for the sake of her small friends she tried to remain still.

"So, what happens if we can't find the portal?" Tynx asked.

"I don't know, Tynx," Shawn whispered, picking the fox up and cuddling him absentmindedly. Tynx snuggled closer to Shawn, trying not to tremble.

Pretty soon, a honking horn jolted them from the half-awake state the lulling rain had slipped them into. Chayn nearly sent her horns through the ceiling again, and Tynx almost extended his claws in alarm.

"Sounds like pizza," Jay heaved himself up sleepily.

"Pizza is noisy," Tynx yawned. Shawn chortled. Tynx blinked, then bounded up and into the kitchen. As soon as the pizza boxes were set down he scrabbled to get one open. "How does this thing even work, anyway?!" he shouted enthusiastically, falling off the table. Shawn laughed and flipped open the lid. Tynx jumped back up and almost landed in the pizza before Kendall jerked it back just in time.

"Hot!" Jay stated around a mouthful of pizza. "Hot!" Tynx either didn't heed the warning or didn't hear as he bit off nearly half of his slice.

"Not again," Kendall groaned, as once again he had a panicking shapeshifter frantically running around his house. He gave Jay a pleading look.

"No," Jay mumbled around his pizza. "No. I want to eat. No." He then stood up and tried to catch the blaze of light that was a fox. It was Shawn who proved to be helpful this time, however.

"Over here, Tynx!" Shawn hollered over Jay's protests and Tynx's exclamations of alarm. She plopped a mixing bowl of cold water on the floor. Tynx skidded across floor tiles and dunked his whole head in the bowl, making it overflow. Jay leaned against the table, gasping and reaching for his unfinished pizza.

Kendall lifted his eyes. "Can that be the last time we have panicking fantasy creatures?"

Shawn ignored him, stroking Tynx. "You poor thing, are you all right?"

Tynx nodded and emerged from the bowl. From the neck up he looked like a waterlogged puppy.

"Is pizza always this hot?" Tynx asked, sniffing his pizza. He tentatively pulled off the cheese and ate it.

"If we're done with the panic attacks," Kendall repeated, "can someone explain to me what the little dog is?"

"It'll cool," Shawn said. "Don't eat it in such big bites, and that will help. Did it burn your mouth?"

"Tynx is a shapeshifter," Jayson informed Kendall helpfully.

"Okay..." Kendall watched Tynx and Shawn thoughtfully. "Shawn, why don't you and Tynx take some pizza to Chayn? If she doesn't like it I'll run to the store and raid the meat counter." After making sure Tynx hadn't burned himself too badly, Shawn grabbed a few pizza slices and dashed to the garage, Tynx hot on her heels.

"I'm in for it," Jayson groaned. "Just go ahead and lecture me now?"

"Not quite," Kendall replied carefully. "Jayson, I'm questioning the wisdom of bringing those... things, here. I'm not sure it's a good idea to even trust them. We don't know who they are, or what they're doing here, or why."

Jayson looked in the direction of the garage before answering. "So what were we supposed to do? Just..leave them to get shot at, at best?"

The foursome were huddled in the garage, listening to the rain pound in the roof. Chayn was getting restless, but for the sake of her small friends she tried to remain still.

"So, what happens if we can't find the portal?" Tynx asked.

"I don't know, Tynx," Shawn whispered, picking the fox up and cuddling him absentmindedly. Tynx snuggled closer to Shawn, trying not to tremble.

Pretty soon, a honking horn jolted them from the half-awake state the lulling rain had slipped them into. Chayn nearly sent her horns through the ceiling again, and Tynx almost extended his claws in alarm.

"Sounds like pizza," Jay heaved himself up sleepily.

"Pizza is noisy," Tynx yawned. Shawn chortled. Tynx blinked, then bounded up and into the kitchen. As soon as the pizza boxes were set down he scrabbled to get one open. "How does this thing even work, anyway?!" he shouted enthusiastically, falling off the table. Shawn laughed and flipped open the lid. Tynx jumped back up and almost landed in the pizza before Kendall jerked it back just in time.

"Hot!" Jay stated around a mouthful of pizza. "Hot!" Tynx either didn't heed the warning or didn't hear as he bit off nearly half of his slice.

"Not again," Kendall groaned, as once again he had a panicking shapeshifter frantically running around his house. He gave Jay a pleading look.

"No," Jay mumbled around his pizza. "No. I want to eat. No." He then stood up and tried to catch the blaze of light that was a fox. It was Shawn who proved to be helpful this time, however.

"Over here, Tynx!" Shawn hollered over Jay's protests and Tynx's exclamations of alarm. She plopped a mixing bowl of cold water on the floor. Tynx skidded across floor tiles and dunked his whole head in the bowl, making it overflow. Jay leaned against the table, gasping and reaching for his unfinished pizza.

Kendall lifted his eyes. "Can that be the last time we have panicking fantasy creatures?"

Shawn ignored him, stroking Tynx. "You poor thing, are you all right?"

Tynx nodded and emerged from the bowl. From the neck up he looked like a waterlogged puppy.

"Is pizza always this hot?" Tynx asked, sniffing his pizza. He tentatively pulled off the cheese and ate it.

"If we're done with the panic attacks," Kendall repeated, "can someone explain to me what the little dog is?"

"It'll cool," Shawn said. "Don't eat it in such big bites, and that will help. Did it burn your mouth?"

"Tynx is a shapeshifter," Jayson informed Kendall helpfully.

"Okay..." Kendall watched Tynx and Shawn thoughtfully. "Shawn, why don't you and Tynx take some pizza to Chayn? If she doesn't like it I'll run to the store and raid the meat counter." After making sure Tynx hadn't burned himself too badly, Shawn grabbed a few pizza slices and dashed to the garage, Tynx hot on her heels.

"I'm in for it," Jayson groaned. "Just go ahead and lecture me now?"

"Not quite," Kendall replied carefully. "Jayson, I'm questioning the wisdom of bringing those... things, here. I'm not sure it's a good idea to even trust them. We don't know who they are, or what they're doing here, or why."

Jayson looked in the direction of the garage before answering. "So what were we supposed to do? Just..leave them to get shot at, at best?"

"I didn't say that," Kendall replied. "But what if they hadn't been friendly? They could have easily killed you, and the bigger one would have eaten you. Maybe they're running from the authorities. We just can't throw our trust to every alien that comes along."

The foursome were huddled in the garage, listening to the rain pound in the roof. Chayn was getting restless, but for the sake of her small friends she tried to remain still.

"So, what happens if we can't find the portal?" Tynx asked.

"I don't know, Tynx," Shawn whispered, picking the fox up and cuddling him absentmindedly. Tynx snuggled closer to Shawn, trying not to tremble.

Pretty soon, a honking horn jolted them from the half-awake state the lulling rain had slipped them into. Chayn nearly sent her horns through the ceiling again, and Tynx almost extended his claws in alarm.

"Sounds like pizza," Jay heaved himself up sleepily.

"Pizza is noisy," Tynx yawned. Shawn chortled. Tynx blinked, then bounded up and into the kitchen. As soon as the pizza boxes were set down he scrabbled to get one open. "How does this thing even work, anyway?!" he shouted enthusiastically, falling off the table. Shawn laughed and flipped open the lid. Tynx jumped back up and almost landed in the pizza before Kendall jerked it back just in time.

"Hot!" Jay stated around a mouthful of pizza. "Hot!" Tynx either didn't heed the warning or didn't hear as he bit off nearly half of his slice.

"Not again," Kendall groaned, as once again he had a panicking shapeshifter frantically running around his house. He gave Jay a pleading look.

"No," Jay mumbled around his pizza. "No. I want to eat. No." He then stood up and tried to catch the blaze of light that was a fox. It was Shawn who proved to be helpful this time, however.

"Over here, Tynx!" Shawn hollered over Jay's protests and Tynx's exclamations of alarm. She plopped a mixing bowl of cold water on the floor. Tynx skidded across floor tiles and dunked his whole head in the bowl, making it overflow. Jay leaned against the table, gasping and reaching for his unfinished pizza.

Kendall lifted his eyes. "Can that be the last time we have panicking fantasy creatures?"

Shawn ignored him, stroking Tynx. "You poor thing, are you all right?"

Tynx nodded and emerged from the bowl. From the neck up he looked like a waterlogged puppy.

"Is pizza always this hot?" Tynx asked, sniffing his pizza. He tentatively pulled off the cheese and ate it.

"If we're done with the panic attacks," Kendall repeated, "can someone explain to me what the little dog is?"

"It'll cool," Shawn said. "Don't eat it in such big bites, and that will help. Did it burn your mouth?"

"Tynx is a shapeshifter," Jayson informed Kendall helpfully.

"Okay..." Kendall watched Tynx and Shawn thoughtfully. "Shawn, why don't you and Tynx take some pizza to Chayn? If she doesn't like it I'll run to the store and raid the meat counter." After making sure Tynx hadn't burned himself too badly, Shawn grabbed a few pizza slices and dashed to the garage, Tynx hot on her heels.

"I'm in for it," Jayson groaned. "Just go ahead and lecture me now?"

"Not quite," Kendall replied carefully. "Jayson, I'm questioning the wisdom of bringing those... things, here. I'm not sure it's a good idea to even trust them. We don't know who they are, or what they're doing here, or why."

Jayson looked in the direction of the garage before answering. "So what were we supposed to do? Just..leave them to get shot at, at best?"

"I didn't say that," Kendall replied. "But what if they hadn't been friendly? They could have easily killed you, and the bigger one would have eaten you. Maybe they're running from the authorities. We just can't throw our trust to every alien that comes along."

"But they didn't kill us! Look, Kendall," Jayson sucked in a breath, "Can we please focus on the right now? Like getting them home and not getting shot in the process?"

"Shot?"

"Yeah. I bet the police are crawling all over..."

The foursome were huddled in the garage, listening to the rain pound in the roof. Chayn was getting restless, but for the sake of her small friends she tried to remain still.

"So, what happens if we can't find the portal?" Tynx asked.

"I don't know, Tynx," Shawn whispered, picking the fox up and cuddling him absentmindedly. Tynx snuggled closer to Shawn, trying not to tremble.

Pretty soon, a honking horn jolted them from the half-awake state the lulling rain had slipped them into. Chayn nearly sent her horns through the ceiling again, and Tynx almost extended his claws in alarm.

"Sounds like pizza," Jay heaved himself up sleepily.

"Pizza is noisy," Tynx yawned. Shawn chortled. Tynx blinked, then bounded up and into the kitchen. As soon as the pizza boxes were set down he scrabbled to get one open. "How does this thing even work, anyway?!" he shouted enthusiastically, falling off the table. Shawn laughed and flipped open the lid. Tynx jumped back up and almost landed in the pizza before Kendall jerked it back just in time.

"Hot!" Jay stated around a mouthful of pizza. "Hot!" Tynx either didn't heed the warning or didn't hear as he bit off nearly half of his slice.

"Not again," Kendall groaned, as once again he had a panicking shapeshifter frantically running around his house. He gave Jay a pleading look.

"No," Jay mumbled around his pizza. "No. I want to eat. No." He then stood up and tried to catch the blaze of light that was a fox. It was Shawn who proved to be helpful this time, however.

"Over here, Tynx!" Shawn hollered over Jay's protests and Tynx's exclamations of alarm. She plopped a mixing bowl of cold water on the floor. Tynx skidded across floor tiles and dunked his whole head in the bowl, making it overflow. Jay leaned against the table, gasping and reaching for his unfinished pizza.

Kendall lifted his eyes. "Can that be the last time we have panicking fantasy creatures?"

Shawn ignored him, stroking Tynx. "You poor thing, are you all right?"

Tynx nodded and emerged from the bowl. From the neck up he looked like a waterlogged puppy.

"Is pizza always this hot?" Tynx asked, sniffing his pizza. He tentatively pulled off the cheese and ate it.

"If we're done with the panic attacks," Kendall repeated, "can someone explain to me what the little dog is?"

"It'll cool," Shawn said. "Don't eat it in such big bites, and that will help. Did it burn your mouth?"

"Tynx is a shapeshifter," Jayson informed Kendall helpfully.

"Okay..." Kendall watched Tynx and Shawn thoughtfully. "Shawn, why don't you and Tynx take some pizza to Chayn? If she doesn't like it I'll run to the store and raid the meat counter." After making sure Tynx hadn't burned himself too badly, Shawn grabbed a few pizza slices and dashed to the garage, Tynx hot on her heels.

"I'm in for it," Jayson groaned. "Just go ahead and lecture me now?"

"Not quite," Kendall replied carefully. "Jayson, I'm questioning the wisdom of bringing those... things, here. I'm not sure it's a good idea to even trust them. We don't know who they are, or what they're doing here, or why."

Jayson looked in the direction of the garage before answering. "So what were we supposed to do? Just..leave them to get shot at, at best?"

"I didn't say that," Kendall replied. "But what if they hadn't been friendly? They could have easily killed you, and the bigger one would have eaten you. Maybe they're running from the authorities. We just can't throw our trust to every alien that comes along."

"But they didn't kill us! Look, Kendall," Jayson sucked in a breath, "Can we please focus on the right now? Like getting them home and not getting shot in the process?"

"Shot?"

"Yeah. I bet the police are crawling all over..."

"For the love of... What did you all do?" Kendall looked at Jayson, his gaze hard. "This is what I'm talking about! These two aliens show up and you and Shawn nearly get killed! What if they're running from the police? We have no idea who these two are!"

Hello! Hopefully it is alright to interrupt your story to say- I love it! Keep it up!

~Lady Eliana

The foursome were huddled in the garage, listening to the rain pound in the roof. Chayn was getting restless, but for the sake of her small friends she tried to remain still.

"So, what happens if we can't find the portal?" Tynx asked.

"I don't know, Tynx," Shawn whispered, picking the fox up and cuddling him absentmindedly. Tynx snuggled closer to Shawn, trying not to tremble.

Pretty soon, a honking horn jolted them from the half-awake state the lulling rain had slipped them into. Chayn nearly sent her horns through the ceiling again, and Tynx almost extended his claws in alarm.

"Sounds like pizza," Jay heaved himself up sleepily.

"Pizza is noisy," Tynx yawned. Shawn chortled. Tynx blinked, then bounded up and into the kitchen. As soon as the pizza boxes were set down he scrabbled to get one open. "How does this thing even work, anyway?!" he shouted enthusiastically, falling off the table. Shawn laughed and flipped open the lid. Tynx jumped back up and almost landed in the pizza before Kendall jerked it back just in time.

"Hot!" Jay stated around a mouthful of pizza. "Hot!" Tynx either didn't heed the warning or didn't hear as he bit off nearly half of his slice.

"Not again," Kendall groaned, as once again he had a panicking shapeshifter frantically running around his house. He gave Jay a pleading look.

"No," Jay mumbled around his pizza. "No. I want to eat. No." He then stood up and tried to catch the blaze of light that was a fox. It was Shawn who proved to be helpful this time, however.

"Over here, Tynx!" Shawn hollered over Jay's protests and Tynx's exclamations of alarm. She plopped a mixing bowl of cold water on the floor. Tynx skidded across floor tiles and dunked his whole head in the bowl, making it overflow. Jay leaned against the table, gasping and reaching for his unfinished pizza.

Kendall lifted his eyes. "Can that be the last time we have panicking fantasy creatures?"

Shawn ignored him, stroking Tynx. "You poor thing, are you all right?"

Tynx nodded and emerged from the bowl. From the neck up he looked like a waterlogged puppy.

"Is pizza always this hot?" Tynx asked, sniffing his pizza. He tentatively pulled off the cheese and ate it.

"If we're done with the panic attacks," Kendall repeated, "can someone explain to me what the little dog is?"

"It'll cool," Shawn said. "Don't eat it in such big bites, and that will help. Did it burn your mouth?"

"Tynx is a shapeshifter," Jayson informed Kendall helpfully.

"Okay..." Kendall watched Tynx and Shawn thoughtfully. "Shawn, why don't you and Tynx take some pizza to Chayn? If she doesn't like it I'll run to the store and raid the meat counter." After making sure Tynx hadn't burned himself too badly, Shawn grabbed a few pizza slices and dashed to the garage, Tynx hot on her heels.

"I'm in for it," Jayson groaned. "Just go ahead and lecture me now?"

"Not quite," Kendall replied carefully. "Jayson, I'm questioning the wisdom of bringing those... things, here. I'm not sure it's a good idea to even trust them. We don't know who they are, or what they're doing here, or why."

Jayson looked in the direction of the garage before answering. "So what were we supposed to do? Just..leave them to get shot at, at best?"

"I didn't say that," Kendall replied. "But what if they hadn't been friendly? They could have easily killed you, and the bigger one would have eaten you. Maybe they're running from the authorities. We just can't throw our trust to every alien that comes along."

"But they didn't kill us! Look, Kendall," Jayson sucked in a breath, "Can we please focus on the right now? Like getting them home and not getting shot in the process?"

"Shot?"

"Yeah. I bet the police are crawling all over..."

"For the love of... What did you all do?" Kendall looked at Jayson, his gaze hard. "This is what I'm talking about! These two aliens show up and you and Shawn nearly get killed! What if they're running from the police? We have no idea who these two are!"

"We can't just leave them!" Jayson snapped. "Josh wouldn't have just left anyone -- anything -- on their own."

"Look how that ended up," Kendall whispered to himself. He regretted it in an instant.

The foursome were huddled in the garage, listening to the rain pound in the roof. Chayn was getting restless, but for the sake of her small friends she tried to remain still.

"So, what happens if we can't find the portal?" Tynx asked.

"I don't know, Tynx," Shawn whispered, picking the fox up and cuddling him absentmindedly. Tynx snuggled closer to Shawn, trying not to tremble.

Pretty soon, a honking horn jolted them from the half-awake state the lulling rain had slipped them into. Chayn nearly sent her horns through the ceiling again, and Tynx almost extended his claws in alarm.

"Sounds like pizza," Jay heaved himself up sleepily.

"Pizza is noisy," Tynx yawned. Shawn chortled. Tynx blinked, then bounded up and into the kitchen. As soon as the pizza boxes were set down he scrabbled to get one open. "How does this thing even work, anyway?!" he shouted enthusiastically, falling off the table. Shawn laughed and flipped open the lid. Tynx jumped back up and almost landed in the pizza before Kendall jerked it back just in time.

"Hot!" Jay stated around a mouthful of pizza. "Hot!" Tynx either didn't heed the warning or didn't hear as he bit off nearly half of his slice.

"Not again," Kendall groaned, as once again he had a panicking shapeshifter frantically running around his house. He gave Jay a pleading look.

"No," Jay mumbled around his pizza. "No. I want to eat. No." He then stood up and tried to catch the blaze of light that was a fox. It was Shawn who proved to be helpful this time, however.

"Over here, Tynx!" Shawn hollered over Jay's protests and Tynx's exclamations of alarm. She plopped a mixing bowl of cold water on the floor. Tynx skidded across floor tiles and dunked his whole head in the bowl, making it overflow. Jay leaned against the table, gasping and reaching for his unfinished pizza.

Kendall lifted his eyes. "Can that be the last time we have panicking fantasy creatures?"

Shawn ignored him, stroking Tynx. "You poor thing, are you all right?"

Tynx nodded and emerged from the bowl. From the neck up he looked like a waterlogged puppy.

"Is pizza always this hot?" Tynx asked, sniffing his pizza. He tentatively pulled off the cheese and ate it.

"If we're done with the panic attacks," Kendall repeated, "can someone explain to me what the little dog is?"

"It'll cool," Shawn said. "Don't eat it in such big bites, and that will help. Did it burn your mouth?"

"Tynx is a shapeshifter," Jayson informed Kendall helpfully.

"Okay..." Kendall watched Tynx and Shawn thoughtfully. "Shawn, why don't you and Tynx take some pizza to Chayn? If she doesn't like it I'll run to the store and raid the meat counter." After making sure Tynx hadn't burned himself too badly, Shawn grabbed a few pizza slices and dashed to the garage, Tynx hot on her heels.

"I'm in for it," Jayson groaned. "Just go ahead and lecture me now?"

"Not quite," Kendall replied carefully. "Jayson, I'm questioning the wisdom of bringing those... things, here. I'm not sure it's a good idea to even trust them. We don't know who they are, or what they're doing here, or why."

Jayson looked in the direction of the garage before answering. "So what were we supposed to do? Just..leave them to get shot at, at best?"

"I didn't say that," Kendall replied. "But what if they hadn't been friendly? They could have easily killed you, and the bigger one would have eaten you. Maybe they're running from the authorities. We just can't throw our trust to every alien that comes along."

"But they didn't kill us! Look, Kendall," Jayson sucked in a breath, "Can we please focus on the right now? Like getting them home and not getting shot in the process?"

"Shot?"

"Yeah. I bet the police are crawling all over..."

"For the love of... What did you all do?" Kendall looked at Jayson, his gaze hard. "This is what I'm talking about! These two aliens show up and you and Shawn nearly get killed! What if they're running from the police? We have no idea who these two are!"

"We can't just leave them!" Jayson snapped. "Josh wouldn't have just left anyone -- anything -- on their own."

"Look how that ended up," Kendall whispered to himself. He regretted it in an instant.

"What did you say?" Jayson snapped icily.

"Nothing," Kendall said quickly. He looked at Jayson, who was glaring back at him.

"Just hear them out," Jayson said quietly. "They're in big trouble, Kendall."