They made their way through the streets until they reached the Center of the city. 

There was live music and people were dancing with partners. The crowd around clapped on the beat.

“This looks lively,” Will said.

Before Antok could respond Will pushed Antok into the circle and Will stepped in to grab a lady from the sidelines.

“B-but  I don’t know how to dance!” Antok exclaimed when a girl grabbed his hand and began to pull him deeper into the circle.

“Don’t think! Just do!” Will yelled back.

The girl had dark skin and bright blue eyes and blonde hair. She definitely looked his age and was human.

Taking hold of him by grabbing his hand and placing his other hand on her hip she began to lead him.

“My name is Astael, what’s your name?”

“I-I” his cheeks flushed and his fox ears flattened. He had never been this close to girl before. 

Sure he grew up in a IN where there were multiple women working but they were all older and never interacted with him.

“It’s okay if you don’t want to say your name, I’ll just have to call you foxy!” 

They twirled around almost making Antok trip.

“My name is Antok”

The girl got really close to him, “Aaanntoook” she dragged his name.

“Sounds very strong”

Okay, now Antok was red as a tomato. 

The song began to come to an end and the dancing began to slow down. 

“Well, will you be staying here for a bit? I’d like to get to know you more!”

“I um-“

Antok looked towards Will who was still chatting up a girl.

“Sure, let’s go”

The girl led him away to this large tree. She began to climb it and Antok followed. They went high enough and well above the crowd. 

Astael began to speak. “You are a crow, aren’t you? One of them?”, Astael pointed at Will who they could see from far away. He was a speck but his wings are easy to spot.

“W-what?”

“You don’t have to worry the crows have been coming to this city for hundreds of years we don’t bother them they don’t bother us. I’ve always heard of 3. Tactzo, Phill and Will but you…are new.”

“I’m…not a crow. I’m…. Not part of them” 

Even if he had their blood running through him.

Astael frowns. “So you are a friend?”

“No- I- it’s complicated”

“Well, the reason I wanted to talk to you is because the city is bustling with the news of Maryland. We’ve never had contact with them but stories of their demise reached us….Did they really destroy that place leaving no one alive behind?”

Antok felt a little bit disappointed, he thought she wanted to talk to him because she was interested in him. 

Antok sighed, “They…did” Anger seemed to start to boil in him, “Every child, Every woman, every elderly and innocent man was killed. The streets were filled with red”

Astael eyes widen “Were you there?”

“I’m…from there. They took me”

There was a silence between them. The cold makes their breaths become clouds.

“So they kidnapped you?”

Astael nods, “I think I’m the last living person from Maryland.”

“But you don’t look much of a prisoner, you are wearing their clothes-“

“How do you know that?” Antok asked.

“The symbol stitched on your clothes, a heart and wings. They have it too”

Antok sighs “That’s why I said it’s complicated”

“Just a word of advice, if you plan to escape since Will seems to give you much liberty to roam. Our city won’t hesitate to snitch you out. No one wants to end like Maryland or like the other cities they have destroyed”

Antok swallowed his bile and his ears twitched in nervousness “Great…wasn’t planning on that anyways”

“How do you know their names? Maryland city didn’t even know Phill's name or Wills just Tactzo’s”

“Oh our whole city knows their names, we just act like we don’t. Like the girl he’s talking to definitely knows his name but she’ll act clueless and let him introduce himself to her”

“I hope she doesn’t feel forced to talk to him”

Astael smiled “Our city has a healthy fear of them but we also come to realize that they are reasonable. If the girl refuses him we know he won’t get mad and he’ll just move on. So trust me, if she felt uncomfortable she would have already ended the conversation with him”

Antok frowned “You talk about them like you don’t hate them…they are monsters. How could you even go about your day knowing they come here?”

“In a way….their presence here also helps us. Our city hasn’t been attacked by outside parties….and our King who captures criminals rather than sending them to jail, he sends them to the crows. They are never seen again but the less criminals on the street the better. Besides they may be monsters but at least they aren’t attacking us.” 

Antok shook his head “I still think it’s wrong. Someone has to stop them-“

“And what? End up as Maryland did?,” Astael laughed.

Antok frowned. 

“Listen, you see that street? If you go down it, walk 2 blocks until you see a blue and yellow house with a Sign saying Manrows. That’s my house. If you ever back in town, feel free to come over”

Antok gave her a half smile “Yeah…..thanks I guess”

“Don’t look so sad Antok. At least you aren’t dead!”

“Hey, you two!” 

Both looked down to find Will with the same girl beside him. His arm was wrapped around her shoulders.

“As much as I want to stay with Ms. Lisa and get to know her more, I did tell Dad that I’d take you back before it was dark,” Will said.

“Well you know where to find me Antok if you come back” Astael leaned forward and gave him a kiss on the cheek. 

The action made Antok blush.

“W-what was that about?”

“I think you are cute. Don’t die, yeah?” Before Antok could say anything Astael looked down at Will.

“Mr. Crow sir, Will you be back any time soon? I’d like to see Antok again!” 

Will laughed “That’s up to Antok. If he behaves I’ll bring him.”

The subtle threat made Antok frown.

Both began to climb down the tree. They said goodbye one last time before Antok and Will began to walk back to the city’s outskirts.

It was a silent walk.

Once they were in the clearing Will grabbed Antok once again and took flight.

“I’m a prisoner”

Will chuckled “You just realized that?- just joking. You aren’t our prisoner per se, just see this as a long vacation. I’m sure Dad doesn’t want to keep you with us forever. He just wants you to spend time with your biological dad….which is ✨ me ✨ “ 

Antok still not happy said, “so now you are my dad?”

“Don’t push it. Recognizing that I am your bio dad and actually being a dad is completely different” 

Silence fell upon them again.

“I know dad took you involuntarily and he never does that kinda thing so you must have done something to want him to take you”

“I helped him escape Jail back in Maryland”

“And why did you do that?” Will asked.

“Because he promised I could meet my real dad since I thought he was”

Will nods “aaaah well that will do it…. Then technically he didn’t really kidnap you, did he? He just made sure to keep his end of the deal”

“Did he take me when I said No? Yes. Am I free to leave your home, Will?”

“No? Dad hasn’t said you can leave just yet. He only said to make sure to bring you back”, Will cringed 

“Then I was Kidnapped and I am your prisoner”

Will shrugged “Well, you will be the most pampered prisoner that I have ever seen then. Look we can talk with Dad about when he will let you leave”

Antok nodded.

When they got closer to the house- Antok shook his head. It was too big to be just called a house so He decided to call it a castle- 

when they got closer to the castle, Antok saw thousands upon thousands of Wolves at the front of the house. 

Many of them had dried blood on their furs. Some had it around their mouths and paws.

Seeing them gave Antok flashes of yesterday. The screams, the terrified eyes and he curled himself inward.

“Don’t worry they won’t bite you, Tactzo has trained them well” Will said placing Antok down and dropping next to him.

Tactzo came around the corner with two polar bears. He had them on leashes……..

‘That man. Had. Polar bears. On. LEASHES! Like they are dogs?!*’ Antok’s mind yelled.

“Those are his pet polar bears, he likes to wrestle  with them”

“Of course he does” Antok breathes out.

“Hey brother” Antok’s large frame engulfed Will when he bent down to hug. Their size difference is drastic it’s crazy and even if Will is taller than Phill that beast will tower over anyone. 

Antok flinched when his eyes landed on him.

“You…..you are the one that set me free. I had ordered my wolves to not hunt any male fox hybrids, glad to hear that they listened but….why are you here?”

“P-phill brought me here” is all Antok could muster.

Tactzo raised an eyebrow and looked at Will.

“Let’s just say you are an uncle now,” Will said.

Tactzo brought his head back and a booming laughter ripped out. 

“No way will! You are 20! Why are you going around being that irresponsible!” 

Will shrugged “There is nothing we can do” 

“Oh sure there is, you got to stop sleeping around so much or use protection- like don’t we have the best medical books? I’m sure Dad can brew a prevention potion for you. Have you asked one from him?”

“Noooo” Will said shy.

“The idea didn’t even come to you, didn’t it?” Tactzo sighs as Will gives him a sheepish smile. “For being the smartest out of all of us you sure can be stupid sometimes”

Will shrugged and walked passed him, “It happens just like you being the dumbest out of all of us you can sometimes be smart” 

The statement made Antok’s jaw drop. Will is definitely going to die…

Tactzo charged at Will and rather than seeing another murder take place before his eyes, Antok watched as Tactzo tackled Will to the ground. They rolled around in the snow while Will just laughed.

It was obvious that Tactzo wasn’t putting any force behind the tussle.

Tactzo loosely wraps his arm around Will’s neck and grabs snow with his other hand.

“Say I’m stupid again” 

Antok had his hand over his mouth. He didn’t think Will would do it but-

“You a stupid ass-“

Tactzo shoved snow into Will’s shirt making him laugh and shriek.

Tactzo got off him.

“Dumbass” Tactzo offered his hand to help him up.

Will took it and now they were both covered in snow.

“Well, Nephew, enjoy your stay but if you even think of hurting my family I’ll make sure you live a long time under torture” Tactzo gave him a toothy grin.

Antok nodded quickly “Yes sir” 

Tactzo grabbed the leashes of his polar bears and began to walk away.

“Come  on we got to go find Dad”