I gulped slowly walking back. My ears flattened against my head. I let out a faint hiss.

That attracted the attention of the creatures in the cages. They all had sad sunken eyes. I saw a few of my own kind in there.

The leaves rustled around me almost in warning. Glancing down I saw my friend and her Mother discussing something.

Suddenly Belladonna's head snapped up, "Where in Erythia did that miscreant disappear to? Did he plummet?" I saw Belladonna's outline walk towards the edge of the platform.

"No, I do not believe so," said Cherry, skipping up beside her, "Perhaps he went down to the sacred pool to get a sip of water?"

"No I sense his presence," snarled Belladonna, glancing over the hollow tree. I couldn't see Cherry's expression, before I could continue listening to a wasp-like creature with glowing red eyes whisper something from a cage.

"Psst, can you get us out kid?" he questioned.

The other eyes glanced towards me.

I wasn't a hero. Nor was I even good… If I had to choose to be a hero or a villain, i'd choose villain in a heartbeat.

Also may I mention I am a child?

And that these locks were all made from a strange void like substance?

I thought back to a discussion I had with the small kitsune I had befriended…. I mean tolerated.

"What's the strongest material out there?" I asked tilting my head towards her.

She paused for a second, "Have you ever been told the tale of the 3 Little Pigs?"

"I dont think so," I responded rolling onto my back gazing up at her. Her eyes were really interesting I had to admit. The best description of her eyes I could think of were tiny alive dancing flames.

Kitsakuras had a certain coat color depending on the time of day they were born. Cherry had been born in the daytime giving her a pink red hue. If she had been born at night she would have been blue. There was also a rarer type thought not uncommon, they were the Dusk and Dawn ones. The Dusk were more tinted purple and the Dawn ones were more tinted blue.

Apparently all day type ones looked like they had miniature flames in their eyes. Her Mom, someone called Belladonna was born during the night. Night ones eyes apparently looked like blue crystals or ice.

What was I thinking about again- Oh… right…

Not noticing how I was completely zoned out Cherry chattered on, "Of course it wasn't really brick! It was void-"

"Void?" I repeated blankly, Cherry sometimes didn't remember that I wasn't raised with her and didn't always know what she was talking about.

Yes, void! Its a soupy mixy concoction, extremely hard to make, even my Mother doesn't know how to make it… well she does but even knowing how doesn't mean your gonna succeed! My Mom tried once… it backfired..."

"What does void look like?" I asked, "Cuz between you and me sister, I personally want Nosy over talkative kitsakuras to go away and not be able to break in!"

Cherry looked at me oddly for a second. "You asked,"

"Yeah so?" I responded.

"That's it, hmph! I won't tell you anymore… only that you will know it when you see it!"

Since she never gave me an official description I didn't know if it was "void". But I felt like it was. It was midnight black, it looked soupy and misty with dotting imperfections that could look like tiny stars or galaxies.

"P-Please…" begged one with wide eyes, they looked even younger than me...

Another one scratched at their container pitifully, "

I couldn't just leave them here. But what could I do?

"Your paws may be small enough to get through the lock," suggested a Tesline-Hawctus. They had a cat's build but they were green with a cactus tail and a large spiky mane around their head. They answered my question almost like they were reading my thoughts. My paws were small… They were like tiny sticks as Cherry liked to put it, "And I am reading your thoughts,"

Freaky.

"Rude," they muttered.

"Ok… Ill do it…" I said quietly, they wouldn't think to look up here right? It was so dark… the only reason I could see was because I could see in the dark...

They could too though. At least the Mom could, she was a night creature so she would probably be able to see in the dark.

Walking towards one I gently dabbed at the strange black material. It felt almost… fuzzy. I felt it slowly engulfing my paw, in fear I pulled it back...

"Well well well, look what we have here," said a sinister voice.