Mettaliar smiled when he saw Iris notice him and put the cigar in his mouth. He crossed his arms and looked as everyone else crowded aroudn her. Maybe this wasn't the best time to talk to her, so he walked away looking at everyone else cleaning. He took a puff and blew out the smoke, going to help clean up. He picked up a couple of broken pieces of the wall and brought it out to the front. He blew the smoke out of his mouth and smiled.

"This place is finally getting back together."

The little fox girl was reassured by the scratch of the ears and when she was tossed the protein bar. That adorable smile lit up her face again and she munched on the protein bar with great enthusiasm, eager to get something into her aching tummy. Her tail curled around her body as she relished the taste for a little bit, her body beginning to feel a little bit more energy. She grabbed a armful of small rocks from the front porch and put them out next to the curb. Then Ruby thanked Streak before she heard a noise out in the distance a noise that she recognized from most likely miles away.

“Emerald’s coming home!” She exclaimed with absolute joy, forgetting about what she was doing in order to go to greet her elder sister.

Ruby watched Emmy drive up and then waited for Emerald to get off her motorcycle with the large plastic bags she had before she hugged the older girl happily. Little sparks shot off Ruby like a dozen fireworks, making it look like a scene of almost pure bliss for the fox girl.

“I missed you so much big sister! Why were you gone for so long?” The teenager asked, outrage tinging her small voice.

“I….I had some things to take care of first Ruby. But Im here now and I brought some snack foods as well as some fried chicken for my favorite fox kit!” Emerald replied, trying to get the young girl to forget about the fact that she had been gone for most of the days they had been back at the mansion.

Ruby was rather eager to tear into the bags Emerald had brought in order to find the fried chicken and when she found the popcorn chicken she eagerilly popped some in her mouth.

“This conversation isn’t over Emmy.” The fox growled, leading her sister up to the group.

With Emerald gone Ruby was a nervous wreck and now that she was back Ruby was now more determined than ever ot keep her around. Ruby noticed the dark circles under her big sisters eyes and she noticed that her elder sister looked absolutely exhausted. Ruby grabbed onto Emeralds hand, as if worried that Emerald would end up wandering off or fall down asleep at the slightest piece of debris she tripped over. The fox girl could feel heat radiating from it and felt her mind switch into concerned Ruby. She knew when the wolf girl got sick she would be down for a few days and considering how dangerous things were right now, that wouldn’t be a good ting.

“Hey Guys Emmy brought chips and a bunch of granola bars…and a half eaten bag of jerky.” Ruby glanced over at her sister who shrugged sheepishly.

“It was my lunch.” The wolf girl replied with a wolfish grin.

It was good to be back. Even if the memories still haunted him, Zeke found some comfort in the fact that the mansion was being rebuilt. It was the place where he had met the woman of his dreams, and he couldn't ignore that. It was also the place where his dreams had been interrupted, and reality had set in. He would not allow that to happen again. In fact, Beth wouldn't allow that to happen again. He had asked her too. She held his dreams in hand after all...

The blonde at his side made Glare gleam with satisfaction. She had always made him happy, but this was a defining moment in his happiness. At that exact second, Zeke realized what he must do. If he were to marry Evie proper, they would have to be married here, right on the mansion grounds. As soon as the place were cleaned up and the mutant world settled down that is.

Speaking of settling down, Zeke wasn't about to let his future marriage do that to his career. He had always sought the good of others, and he would continue to do so now. A thought had been milling around his mind in the recent days, especially since his change of heart. Ever since he had seen the blog that had given him some sympathetic human feelings, he had wanted to do something about it. What was the solution? Zeke didn't know for sure, but he felt it had something to do with a co-op team of people that could keep some peace. Maybe he had a new goal now that Evie was safe?

Zeke stepped forward onto the property and saw the woman called Neena right away. On the vehicle ride back from the camps, Zeke had discussed the Mansion's new assistant headmistress with some of the other riders. Zeke knew he needed her permission for the wedding, and also her ear on another matter. He approached her, Evie arm in arm.

Accosting her in the middle of the rebuilding, it probably seemed a little strange to meet someone this way. But hey, better now than anytime else. Let's begin. "Hi there," he held out his hand to Neena, "I'm Ezekiel White, this is my fiancee Evie. I used to teach here. It's nice to meet you."

Nika looked at Iris with confused eyes. She caught the motion of Streak but he didn't say anything so Nika remained focused on Iris.

"But...what do you mean? If you weren't in the camps...then where were you?"

Nika's ears drooped and her tail sagged down. It was as if all the happiness was flushed out of her, but her blue eyes stayed locked on Iris' eyes.

"No...no I'm not ok Iris. Things might've been a little better if I had you to keep me company in the camp. Though, I'm kinda glad you didn't get caught. But if you weren't caught then where were you? You didn't come when the others showed up to free us. You weren't anywhere to be seen. I didn't catch your scent anywhere either. You didn't come."

Nika broke down and started crying. She felt like her heart was broken. Like it had been smashed by a truck. She continued to stare at Iris. This was her friend even though they had fought when Iris wasn't herself. Nika had made a bond with the other girl. She wanted to be Iris' best friend and she hoped that Iris would at least like to be Nika's friend.

Feeling desimated Nika's legs just gave out from under her causing the cat girl to drop to the ground. The whole time Nika didn't let her gaze falter. Only blinking occassionally to push the tears out of her eyes.

"But...what do you mean? If you weren't in the camps...then where were you?"

Iris opened her mouth, but nothing more came out.

"No...no I'm not ok Iris. Things might've been a little better if I had you to keep me company in the camp. Though, I'm kinda glad you didn't get caught. But if you weren't caught then where were you?"

What could she say? What good could she have done in the camps? What good had she done out of the camps?

"You didn't come when the others showed up to free us. You weren't anywhere to be seen. I didn't catch your scent anywhere either. You didn't come."

Every word Nika spoke cut like a knife, and Iris felt she deserved every slash. No, she hadn't gone to the breakout. In fact, she nearly hadn't gone to help with the aftermath in the Lab Infirmary. Why? Because she was mad at Hunter? Because she didn't want to fight any longer? Or because she was being chased by a teenage vampire?

Then Nika began to cry. Iris practically folded in on herself. She could come up with any number of excuses why she hadn't helped in the Rescue. But the reasons were irrelevant. Nika had been her friend, been there for her, put herself in danger to help her when she lost control, and even wanted her stay around afterward. She never once judged Iris or her mutation. She'd treated her like a normal person, a friend. Nika had been a true friend. But when the tables were turned, and Iris finally had a chance to repay her..... she'd ran. She was a coward. Nika didn't deserve that kind of friend.

Iris knelt by Nika, and reached out to hug her tight, not sure if the girl would even let her touch her.

"I'm sorry Nika. Please forgive me. I just.... I didn't.... I...." Her voice barely managed a choked whisper. "I'm sorry."

Mettaliar turned his head back once he started to hear the sounds of someone breaking down. His left hazel eye had caught the glimpse of a girl, who he had overheard being named Nika, being collapsed on the ground in front of Iris. He listened to the whole conversation and felt his face become stone. He couldn't feel bad for what happened. Although it was unfortunate that everything transpired as it did, he felt sorry for both Nika AND Iris. They both went through something insane, so neither of them were at fault. He felt like going over and putting his two cents in.

Yet, he couldn't. This was something that would have to be closed between them. He could talk to either of them individually about it, but that was it. He could not go over and interrupt on them. He picked up more debris and carryed it towards the pile. With cigar in mouth, he puffed on it lightly and eyed the two. He put the wreckage on the pile and blew out the smoke, heading back for more. This would take a while.

(OOC: Continued from Taking a Walkabout. Sorry Glare, Severity's account is gone, so I don't know what she looks like.)

By the time Neena finished her tour of the grounds, the front yard had been turned into a garbage dump. Students and older residents hauled trash out of the Mansion at a brisk pace. At the rate they were going, the Rebuild proper would be able to begin with the first supply order arrival.

She smiled happily. Now this kind of work inspired satisfaction, much more than washing someone else's underwear for months on end, even with the vinegar, dye and pepper powder.

“Hey Guys Emmy brought chips and a bunch of granola bars…and a half eaten bag of jerky.”

Neena glanced up at Ruby's exclamation, and saw her sister had arrived. The teacher started to head in that direction, wanting to talk to Emerald for a moment, but someone else intercepted her.

"Hi there." Neena paused as a young man addressed her. She shook the proffered hand easily and replied with her own, "Hi."

"I'm Ezekiel White, this is my fiancee Evie." Neena smiled at the young lady in turn.

"Congratulations, both of you!"

"I used to teach here. It's nice to meet you."

"Ooooh, I thought you looked familiar. Nice to have you back Ezekiel. How's it going? So when's the big day? If you don't me being nosey," she chuckled.

It was about this time when Raina re-appeared with Naveed in tow carrying a bbq. She held in her arms grocery bags of meat and veggies while Naveed had the bbq over one arm and a cooler with drinks in another.

"Hey everyone!" she cried out "This should get us through today and tomorrow, but we serously need to have the kitchen on the top priority list." She set the food down and gave Neena a wave.

"Hey Neena what's the dorm situation like?" she called out "should we starting grouping people up for sleeping arrangements 'til everything's back in order?"

She looked behind her to see if Ted was coming back too.

ooc: Yeah, through Navi in for a second I'll make a post for him later on his account

Ted carried a multitude of bags, and was barely able to see over the top. Natalie buzzed in front of him, giving him directions. She'd gotten a few uncomfortable looks from people in the street, as most of them seemed unused to mutants being out of the 'cage' that had contained them for so long. "Left, Ted, left! There's a road on that side!" "I'm fine! Honest!" Ted just about reached the mansion gates without falling over, and managed to put the stuff down, having only dropped a few bags. He quickly righted them, and kept them in the shade of a broken wall where the sun wouldn't spoil the meat. "Well, I'm hungry, who's cooking?"

Since Ruby seemed to be busy with the food and other such stuff, Iesland set the toolbox down next to her and wandered off, still stunned by the flurry of activity going on. He had not expected all of the greetings and discussions that were going on around him even as he tried to process what he had already seen and heard.

As he walked around the grounds, he noticed a girl with cat ears crying. He strode closer, and saw another girl trying ineffectually to comfort her. He came up to the girl without cat ears and put his notepad in front of her, on which he had wrote "Hey, whats going on? My names Iesland, and I'm new here. Do you think there is anything I could do to help her??"

(OOC: Nika and Iris, sorry if I'm intruding on something intimate and private, If you'd like Ill modify my post and stay out of it. I'm just lookin for a place to join in. Thanks)

Now, there was one thing that no one should ever and this author means EVER put infront of a werewolf and that would be barbeque. To Emerald the food that was carried between Raina and Naveed looked like a gift from god and she would do anything to get it. She maneuvered over to the two of them, morphing into wolf form as she looked up at the two pleadingly. The wolf girl sniffed the bags eagerly, tail thumping on the ground with a steady metronome.

Ruby noticed her elder sister and let out a soft sigh, grabbing the wolf by the scruff and attempting to drag her back.

“Emmy, No begging for food!” The Fox girl scolded, trying to drag the 75 pound wolf back with her.

Of course the fox girl was failing miserably and she could only let out a sigh as her sister let out a small puppy dog whine. Normally, Emerald wouldn’t act like this for anyone, but the fact they had her favorite type of food made her extremely easy to please. Ruby knew this and merely came up next to her older sister, looking at her scolding.

“Sorry about this Miss Raina, Emmy likes Barbeque a lot!” The fox girl apologized her ears flat.

Raina let out a musical laugh. "Well hey Emmy." Raina hadn't really seen Emmy in her wolf form before but thanks to their little chat she was no longer afraid. She reached right over and gave the wolf a scratch behind the ears. "I suppose this can't hurt you raw." she fumbled through one of the bags she was balancing and pulled out a raw chicken leg. "Careful with the bones" she tossed it to Em

ooc:I think you're in wolf form haha if i missed it lemme know

Iris’ voice was reassuring to Nika even as she sobbed. Hearing her friend talk to her and try to comfort her was comforting in itself. Seeing Iris kneel down close and open her arms to the cat girl was also comforting. Nika moved to within Iris’ reach and rested her head on Iris’ shoulder. Her own arms wrapping around the other girl and holding her tight.

“I do forgive you Iris. You are my friend.”

Nika heard someone else approach but with her embrace with Iris she couldn’t see who it was. The only odd thing was she didn’t hear the person speak. Were they just standing there staring at the girls?

(OOC: Okay, talking Glare's absense into account, and time jumping a bit. We'll end this thread at the end of the IC day, so feel free to wrap up if you'd like. Also feel free to post in the interim of the time jump. Another thread will be made later for a few IC weeks or a month later.

Raina and Ted arrived with groceries and a grill. As if they were magnets, people began appearing from various directions. Such is the effect of the promise of food, especially for those who had gotten used to going without. Neena turned to Ezekiel.

"Hold that thought. We'll talk later, 'kay?" She smiled, and turned to help with the food.

"Hey Neena what's the dorm situation like?" Raina called out. "Should we starting grouping people up for sleeping arrangements 'til everything's back in order?"

"Yeah, probably should. We'll probably be camping out for a week. Kind of. It'll be like a giant sleepover."

She chuckled a bit at Em's begging routine. "You sure that will last us?" she teased Raina.

"Well, I'm hungry, who's cooking?"

Neena moved to help them carry things. "I'd say whoever can light that things without blowing it up. I'd offer, but technology and I don't get along very well. Now if it was a campfire, that would be different."

-----------------------------------------------------

By the end of the day, quite a bit had been accomplished. Much of the wrecking that needed to be done before fixing was done. It would take supplies about a week to be delivered, so they would use recycled stuff in the meantime. There were some rather large piles of trash still to root through, but at the rate they were going, Neena guessed the Mansion would be back to normal in a month or so.

She smiled, surveying the area. Humanity may be a stubborn race, but so was mutantkind. Whether humans liked it or not, mutants were here to stay. Fighting for equality was not going to be easy; people were still racist among their own kind, after centuries of coexistance. The real trick was going to be convincing humans that not all mutants were uncontrolled and untrustworthy.

Unfortunately, that also meant mutants going up against their own, those that felt superior to mankind. Looking at it from that standpoint, the Camps had been easy. At least they all had a visible enemy. But how do you fight, when you really can't see your enemy?

She pushed her glasses up to watch the sunset, a pensive expression on her dark face.

Streak was walking out of the mansion and saw that Raina and Ted had returned with the food. "Great I'm starving." He said to himself. He added the last pile that he was carrying to the trash section and began walking over to where everyone seemed to be gathering. As Streak walked over towards the food he looked at the sky, while he was recovering at the labs he had taken to looking at the sky. It always made him feel better because everything seemed nicer since they were out of the camps.

As Streak looked at the sky he noticed that it was growing dark. Had we really been working that long? Streak thought. He slowly walked towards the group. He was never a big fan of groups, and the camps made that very evident. They had made lots of head way with just one day that was good news for the rest of the clean up and rebuilding.

Streak joined the growing crowd and heard Neena say, "I'd say whoever can light that things without blowing it up. I'd offer, but technology and I don't get along very well. Now if it was a campfire, that would be different." He smiled at that statement and said, "Ya, I'm in the same boat as you Neena. I'm a lot better with campfires than with actual bbq pits."

Streak then said in a jokingly-sarcastic way, "Ooh, a giant sleepover, sounds like fun. And we can stay up late swapping stories and gossip." Streak smiled and continued, "That's alright. Camping out wont be to bad. At least there wont be any guards or anything keeping us prisoner like on or last little camping adventure." Streak turned to Neena and said much softer so that not everyone could hear, "After the camps I'm assuming, or at least hoping, that y'all are looking for more X-Men. I was hoping y coming back I could join and hopefully prevent something like that raid from happening again."