A New Day, A New World [Finished! YAY!]

[Kari Muffin]

It didn't matter that Lythero could pop out whenever he wanted. All that mattered was the number on Honker's chest as he pranced through the streets. With some of the money he collected he had managed to get a room, and best of all a bath. He looked clean and white, though he was still a bit hungry... everything was right in the world.

He was a real card. He wasn't an Ace anymore. He wasn't just any old card! He was a Two! It meant that he could have a future, he could have dreams!

Not normal ones... because of Lythero... and he still didn't know if he could face his family. What would they say now that the impossible had happened? Now that he was a person rather than a pet? His ears flattened in thought as he continued down the street. The light was fading fast, and he had spent all that money he had found.... now what?

Lythero had been silent for a while now. The sudden jump in rank surprised him, and he had only made a stray comment or two about how Honker was still a pathetic idiot. Of course, just because he was silent didn't mean that he wasn't plotting something. The pain always kept him thinking of how to escape from the torture and the idiot dog-swan.

[carcinoGeneticist]

Being a Card wasn't all it was cracked up to be. In fact, as each long day passed, Aimili wished more and more that she could run back to her Warren, return to the life that had been decided for her, and no more think on such fancies. Her coat was a mess, ragged and dirty, the Highland white stained almost gray. Her mane was matted, the red barely obvious under the grime and grease it had accumulated from the nights of sleeping under any avaliable shelter. She itched in awkward places, and she was hungry. In her Warren, under her father or even Dorian's eye, none of these things would have happened.

She was stupid, and worst of all, no one seemed to care about her. It had something to do with the marking on her chest, she was sure. The number was too low, the color was too dull, the symbol too common. She'd read it all before, but only now did the full meaning sink in.

She was a nobody here, worse off even than the lowest Leveret.

She curled up in the cardboard box she'd managed to dig up and was beginning to settle in when a flash of white - pure white, not dirty like her own fur - caught her eye and she raised her head. Brown eyes widened ever so slightly when she saw the mark on the chest of the other - a 2! Finally, someone she had more rank over. She only hoped he would take pity on her terrible situation, one she couldn't fully describe to anyone.

"Excuse me! You there![/b]" she called out as she stood, tail beginning to wag out of nerves. A twisting pain of hunger in her belly made her bold and she took a step forward. "Y-you're a Two! I need help![/b]"

[Kari Muffin]

Honker's ears moved before his head swiveled around to view the person who was speaking to him. His tail went into an automatic cheerful wag as he smiled at the new person he had encounter. Yes! He was a two! He knew it was a low number but it was better than being the bottom of the bottom!

She--the voice was definitely that of a girl--looked rather dirty. Not to mention she looked to be in quite a bit of distress. He tilted his head curiously when he spoke. "Yep! I'm a two! You can call me Honker, Miss! What do you need help with?"

Lythero actually remained silent. The swan-dog was pretty suspicious of the entire thing, but he was going to take this long silence for granted as long as he possibly could.

On closer inspection of the woman he figured the "help" she needed was pretty obvious. Then again, he probably shouldn't jump to conclusions.

[carcinoGeneticist]

At the young man's cheerful demeanor, Aimili couldn't help but hesitate slightly. In the time she'd spent here thus far, no one had been so willing to help, and she was instantly suspicious of him. Her floppy ears flicked back and her brows furrowed. He did seem nice enough, but he was also Tulgey, and that was anther sign she should be wary. After all, the White Rabbit was Tulgey, and she would never mess with him. Not under any circumstances. Well, if he even existed, which honestly seemed more and more likely by the minute. After all, a week ago she'd been a creature that everyone around her claimed didn't exist.

But if the young man really was willing to help... She was hungry and desperate enough to ignore her own fears. "I-I don't have any money and I'm so hungry, and I don't even really know where I am or what I'm doing.[/b]" the words came out in a stream. She had been intending to make herself look more regal somehow, but it didn't really work out that way. She was more exhasted than she'd realized. "Can't you... do something? Please, help me.[/b]"

Things would be so much easier if she could just tell someone what had happened to her, but no one believed in Rabbits! They'd just think she was insane, wouldn't they? Maybe they'd toss her a coin out of pity, but what would a single coin do when what she really needed was a place to live, a warm bath, and a tasty meal? What did Cards even eat? Really, she wasn't sure. She just knew that she hated herself and she hated the Well even more.

[Kari Muffin]

Honker grinned before letting out a rather happy honking sound. Someone higher ranked than him needed help, and they weren't treating him like a doormat. It was nice being a Real Person.

"I think I know someone who can help! I was actually thinking of going to my Big Brother by myself, but I'm sure you could come and he wouldn't mind. He's a really really nice sparrow with a pretty bright pink corset. He loves people too! He was always really nice to me when I was just an Ace." The mix didn't realize what he had blurted out until it was far too late.

Crap. Now the lady was going to think he was crazy. Then again he was a Tulgey now... so he could use that as an excuse. Or he could just completely gloss over it. He shuddered as he waited for Lythero to comment about how he was an idiot.

But Lythero remained silent, seething and plotting in his own misery.

"I mean... I mean you can come to meet my brother with me and he'll feed us, I promise."

[carcinoGeneticist]

For a moment, Aimili couldn't believe her small and weirdly crinkled and floppy ears. The bouncy youth was really willing to help her? Just like that, no questions asked? From where it was tucked between her legs, her tail started to quiver, the first hints of a genuine wag. He had family... Just hearing that word again sent mixed feelings running through her body. The idea of being in a family setting again was a lovely thought, but knowing it wasn't her own... For a moment, she felt as if she would cry, but she suppressed the feelings as best she could, putting on a strong face.

The swan-dog's comment about being an Ace once went completely over Aimili's head. She knew that being an Ace was a bad thing, but that was as far as her knowledge went on the matter. After all, 2 came after Ace, and he was a 2... So he must have raised his rank. Good for him, maybe he could tell her how to do the same to her own black marking?

She stood slowly, shaking her mane out of her face as she did. Would the pretty little swan-dog's family let her have a bath? She hated the idea of walking in as grungy as she was... she felt like a common street-rat.

Which, she supposed, she was. It was a feeling like a dagger to the heart.

"I'd... I'd like that, please, if it isn't too much trouble.[/b]" The charade of superiority that she'd been trying to put on collapsed. She couldn't hold it up, even if the number on her chest gave her every right to do so. He looked so clean and well-fed in comparison to her. "Really. It means... It means everything. It's so confusing here.[/b]"

Aimili hoped he'd understand without her having to delve into any more detail than that.

[Kari Muffin]

Honker's ears rose and fell as he waited for the woman's judgment. When it didn't come he looked at her with surprised wide eyes. What...? This woman couldn't be normal. Or maybe she just didn't hear him? No that... he was loud and obnoxious of course she heard him!

Maybe he would bring it up again... when he was in a safe place. She seemed far too worried to play the question game, and Honker couldn't play around with Lythero. He would speak up soon. It was just a matter of time before he tried to ruin everything.

"Let's go then! And we better make it quick! Don't want people to get suspicious or anything." The mix said as he spun around to bounce down the path that lead to Ez's apartment. Of the siblings the sparrow was the most forgiving, and he would be willing to help a stranger. He hoped anyway.

The walk wasn't a long one, thankfully, but he hesitated at the foot of the stairs. He looked to the Highlander mix, a frown on his beak. "Uh... I didn't catch it before, but what's your name?"

[carcinoGeneticist]

In a way, it would be a good thing if he brought up the weirdness of what he'd just said. Even if Aimili wouldn't feel comfortable with sharing her own secret, simply knowing that someone else had gone through a bizzare change would comfort her deeply, provide her with some sort of anchor. Everything had changed so suddenly...

She was only too happy to follow the Swan-dog, however, and she gave him a quick nod. "Right,[/b]" she agreed. She wasn't entirely sure why people would be suspicious... but she was afraid of it all the same. She hardly knew how to behave around one person who was a lower rank than her, let alone a whole crowd of people who were different shapes and sizes and classes in society! That was one of the most bizzare changes. A week ago she'd been surrounded by Rabbits and Rabbits only. Now, there were only Cards, but they came in all different types - like the one in front of her! He had a beak!

When they reached the house, Aimili felt the first swellings of panic. She wasn't sure what she was doing, and the house looked... Fancy. Extremely fancy. At least, by Card standards. If it was a Warren, she'd be rather.. disappointed, but as it is, she just hoped she could act appropriately. When the boy hesitated on the steps, she did as well, her head inclined ever so slightly to the side, droopy ears perking somewhat. Then she blinked.

Right. Names. She'd completely forgotten to introduce herself, a fact that made her blush slightly. "Oh, I'm Aimili. You can just call me 'mili, though.[/b]" she'd always been Aimili in the Warrens, and... really, she didn't want to think about them. The homesickness she felt was overwhelming and sometimes threatened to make her sit down and cry. "What's your name?[/b]"

[Kari Muffin]

He gave her a small smile. "My name is Peter, but everyone calls me Honker. My brother's name is Ez. Just to warn you he's probably going to be surprised to see me. I haven't seen him in a long time...."

Turning away he hopped up the steps, and headed towards the proper door. He waited for Mili before knocking on the door. Hopefully he would be home.

They didn't have to wait very long for the door to open. The sparrow was dressed rather nicely, clearly he had been planning on going out. He hesitated as he looked down at the young boy and his companion. His eyes halted on the number that was on Honker's chest. That... that was....

"Honker! What? How?" Ez would have been yelling if it wasn't for his neighbor.

Honker looked up at him with a smile, "Can you just let me and my friend come inside?"

Ez stared blankly for a moment before stepping to the side to allow them in. The sparrow really hoped that he was just dreaming.

[carcinoGeneticist]

The only reply Aimili could manage was a short nod, her eyes searching the swan-dog's for some indication of what she should possibly expect from his... Brother. She walked a few steps behind him, her mouth feeling almost painfully dry no matter how many times she swallowed. No matter how she went about it, the hound felt scared. This world was new, and it was far bigger than she'd ever anticipated, and... She just didn't know what to expect, from anyone or anything. As her companion knocked at the door, she stared fixedly at her paws.

Then the door opened.

Aimili was torn between staring rather openly at the man's sparkling purple eyes and at the vividly red marking on his chest. Red. Red suits were generally more up-tight then black, weren't they? And he was a Face Card, oh god... The girl feared her heart would stop right then and there, it was beating so hard in her chest. She felt herself begin to shake. There was so much tension in the air, between Honker and this Ez, and she... She knew she was in the middle of it.

As they spoke, Aimili crept back a step, her ears flattening against her head. She watched the man step aside to let them in, watched the swan-dog trot happily into the house. She willed her feet to move, but she couldn't.

"S-s-sorry to d-disturb you,[/b]" she managed to stutter out, her shaking getting even worse now that there was no one between her and this glorious, purple-eyed god of a man. "I was just h-helping him get h-h-home. I'll b-be g-going now![/b]" Those last words came out in the form of a high-pitched yelp as she backed up even further, then smiled nervously. She just wanted to go.