Inside Shade was being pulled around until they got to what was going to be his room.

“This is one of the guest rooms, but you can use it as long as you want,” Andrea explained.  There wasn’t much in it; a desk and dresser on the far wall under the window, a bed and nightstand near the door and an empty closet.

“Thank you, but I don’t think I’ll stay long,” Shade said walking into the room.  “Where is the Panther Claw?”

“The what,” Andrea asked confused.  “Oh the sword,” she said when she put it together, “You named your sword?”

Shade shook his head.  “It had its name long before I got it.  It would be wrong to change it now.”

“It’s hidden in my room, I’ll get it to you tomorrow when Roland isn’t watching you,” Andrea said.  Shade sighed.

“Are you hungry?” Andrea asked.  Shade nodded.

Andrea lead Shade to the kitchen, she opened the fridge, only making Shade frown.  “Bruce is our cook, but he’s usually he not home to cook.  On the days that he is home is when we shop.”

Inside the fridge was leftover fast food and take-out containers.  Shade turned to the counter and picked up an apple from a nearly empty basket. 

“This will do, thank you,” Shade said.

Andrea blushed.  “I half to get ready as well,” Andrea said as they walked into the living room. 

Roland was sitting on the sofa, watching the news.  It caught Shade’s attention, he took a seat on a side chair.

“So you have amnesia,” Roland said.

“Yes, for two years,” Shade replied continuing to watch the screen.

“And what have you been doing for the last two years?” Roland inquired trying to read the panther.

“Surviving,” Shade bit into his apple, “Traveling around for answers.”

“Are you going to give me a real answer?” Roland asked growing angry at Shade’s vague answers.

Shade turned to Roland and gave a kind smile.  “You care about the people that live here don’t you?  Sakura especially, but you don’t half to worry.  I will leave soon.”  Shade turned back to the T.V.

Shade did not see the brief look of surprise on Roland’s face when Sakura was mentioned.  “People, you mean furs?” was what Roland asked.  Shade nodded.  “What does ‘people’ mean?” Roland asked next.

“Roland lets go, we don’t want to be late,” Sakura interrupted coming in to the room.  “Shade, please stay here okay.  I’ve called T.J. so he knows that you’ll be here.  The number of the club is on the fridge if there is any problem.”

Roland got up and moved to the door but kept an eye on Shade.

“Andrea lets go,” Sakura shouted, then stood in front of Shade.  “Promise you’ll be here when I get back,” she said looking strait into Shade’s eyes.

Shade only nodded and Sakura started to move away, but Shade’s voice stopped her.  “You have a good soul,” Shade said. 

Sakura smiled and walked to the door.  “We’ll be home late so don’t wait up.”

“Bye Shade,” Andrea quickly ran passed and out the door.  Roland was last to leave, closing the door and watch Shade all the way.

Shade was alone now; he finished watching the news, and then turned off the T.V.  He stood up and removed his shirt and gave his arms a stretch.  Inhaling deeply the panther walked into the kitchen.  Grabbing the old newspapers, Shade started going though them skimming the pages.  After the third day back was finished he gave a soft growl.

The panther looked up from the fourth day back paper and disappeared into the next room.  Seconds later the patio door opened and two furs walked in.

“We should wait,” one, a bear, said.  “What if they forgot something and come back.”

“Then it’s all the more reason to do this quickly,” the other, a squirrel, growled.  “If we were on time then we would know if there was anyone home.”

“This job seems too good to be true,” the bear continued.  “Find some files for a rival corporation.  Why would someone bring there work home with them?”

Turning around the squirrel looked as if was going to hit the bear.  “Shut up, we just need to get to the third floor find the files and leave, okay?”

The bear nodded saying nothing and followed his partner out of the kitchen when he turned around.  “What was that?”

This time the squirrel turned the bear around and looked him in the eye.  “There is no one here.”

“Actual,” Shade said stepping in front of the patio door. 

“Uh, we’re friends and we are just playing a prank,” the bear blurted out.

“Nice try, but I heard you talking,” Shade shook his head.  “Next time argue before you brake in.  Now if you would sit down; and wait for the proper authorities.”

The squirrel pulled out a hand gun and pointed it at the interrupting panther.  Shade put his paws up and took a step back. 

“Last chance,” Shade smiled.  Pushing off the ground he jumped strait up, out of sight.

“What the hell,” the squirrel said running out the door following Shade.

The second the thief was outside he felt something wrap around his wrist.  It was Shade’s tail, reaching in front of the panther.  It was stronger then it looked as it was holding the weapon down.  With a quick jab for Shade the squirrel fell and the tail pulled the gun free.

The bear watched the whole thing and decided better to run out the front.  What he didn’t see was Shade jumping out of sight again.  Running to the door the fleeing thief had trouble unlocking the bolt.  Finally he got the door unlock and started to open, only to have it slam shut.

“Leaving?” Shade asked hanging sideways on the stair banister one foot on the door the other at the top of the wall.

The would be thief pushed off to the side watching Shade land on the landing.  A sudden dark energy was coming off the top of his body.

Taking a step back for every step Shade took while not taking his eyes off the panther; the bear never saw the table.  Tipping it over caused the thief to lose is balance.  Before he could hit the ground a black furred paw grabbed the bear’s shirt.  The energy had disappeared.

“I’d rather not clean tonight,” Shade said before his fist made contact.

Outside and a few houses away two figures watched the event unfold and now watched as Shade gather the squirrel over his shoulder and jump a two foot fence into the next yard.

“So that’s him.  Not very impressive, I couldn’t see in the house, but still,” a grey wolf in his late thirties commented.

“That was just a hired test for Shade,” his companion replied continuing to watch Shade through binoculars.  The panther was braking into a house.

“Can he sense us from here?” the wolf asked, watching Shade pull in the bodies.

“No, at least he shouldn’t,” he replied as Shade left the house and jump back.  “What did he do?”

“Called nine-one-one,” the wolf replied.  “We should take him now.”

“No,” the other figure said quickly, putting down his binoculars.  “We need him to see and experience this world.  And after that we’ll get what we need from him, willingly.  Anything else and we could lose it.  Until then we must keep the others under control; or they’ll ruin everything.”