"Where are they!?" A silver nine-tailed fox tapped his foot anxiously, eagerly awaiting the arrival of his companion and running his paws through his golden blonde hair. He began pacing around, anxiety turning to anger.

"Kyuubi?" asked a tall dog, stumbling through underbrush to meet the fox, "Sorry to keep you waiting." Kyuubi looked over, his icy blue eyes shining. His anger vanished, replaced by an eager happiness. He smiled at the dog as he crossed the forest clearing.

"Did you find them, Gemini?" the fox asked, caressing Gemini's demon wing, sending chills throughout the dog's body. His opposite angel wing drooped slightly in reaction the the fox's gentle, yet icy touch. He reached into a small bag and fished out a pair of glowing gems.

"Here, brother, he said as he handed the gems to Kyuubi, "just as you asked, the Phoenix Ruby and the Dragon Sapphire. May I ask what they are for?" A look of curiosity washed over his face. He watched Kyuubi intently as the fox poured over a notebook he'd been carrying, carefully hidden previously. The fox continued to pour over his notes, unaware that he'd been addressed. He rolled the stones around in his black forepaws, silently pondering their powers.

"KYUUBI!" yelled Gemini, " I asked a question!"

"Huh?" the yell had broken Kyuubi's intense concentration, "Oh, sorry, Gemini. Father left me these note for when we got our paws on the gems. I'm the only one who can use their powers though, since, they were made to seal a part of my power." He went back to reading the notes and rolling the stones around.
Gemini let loose a heavy sigh and rolled his eyes,"You're doing it again! That infuriating thing you do when you're trying to solve a puzzle." He snatched the stones from Kyuubi and slipped them into his bag.

"You're not getting these back until we find out how to tap into them." He glared at the stunned Kyuubi and sat down on a log on the opposite side of the clearing, "You always do the major thinking. Give it a break for once, okay?"

"Besides, Trie will be here soon with some food. I can't wait to have some of his cooking again." Gemini rubbed his stomach earnestly, licked his chops, and smiled at the thought of great food.

"Everyone here?" A quiet voice startled Gemini and Kyuubi, who jumped at the sound. They looked to see a fiery winged black wolf strolling up from  a cleared path in the forest. He smiled as he approached, carrying a large platter filled with fire roasted vegetables. Kyuubi and Gemini moved to the center of the clearing and set up a spot to eat.

"I kept in mind how you can't stand the taste of meat, Kyuubi, so I prepared some veggies instead," beamed the wolf, "last time you ate meat, you turned into that dragon and razed a village.

"Don't remind us, Trie," scolded Gemini, "we were expected to clean up the mess he left behind. Do we have to eat veggies though?" The wolf glared at the remark, offended that his choice of meal wasn't appreciated.

"And risk Kyuubi going 'dragon' again!? Tell me Gemini, were you successful in you little mission? Kyuubi was to wait here, I was to prepare a safe same meal," Trie growled, prodding Gemini as he made his point, "and you were to retrieve those two gems." He got up and began furiously pacing around the clearing.

"He was successful, little brother," Kyuubi replied, "and I appreciate your concern. Now come have something to eat." He motioned to the upset wolf, smiled gently to calm him back down. Trie sat back down between his brothers and poke a fire roasted mushroom with a toothpick from the platter, and ate it in silence, glancing at Kyuubi, checking for any signs of unease in the fox's eyes.

"Sorry to upset you again, Trie," apologized Gemini, his ears pulled backand voice low, "you worked really hard on this meal."
	
"It's alright," he replied, "Kyuubi, have you figured out Father's notes?"
	
"Not yet..." Kyuubi's voice dropped of into silence that made his brothers uneasy.
	
"What is it Kyuubi?" asked Gemini nervously
	
"Quiet," remanded the fox in a low whisper, "I heard something, and I think we may be surrounded. Let me take care of things this time." He stood and unwaveringly stared into the dark forest. A ball of yellow light formed in each of his paws, making his fur shimmer in their light.
	
"Come out, now and I won't summon the Enforcer of Destiny." he bellowed. A low murmur sounded around them, a mix of fear and disbelief in the voices. A young golden-yellow tigress stepped into the light of Kyuubi's magic, confidence and seduction in her every step. She motioned for her companions to come out and stared at Kyuubi.
	
"So the sons of the dragon king still exist?" she smiled as though she had found a great treasure, "and they wish to wreak havoc on the world." She flicked her tail, amused at her thoughts. She glowered at Kyuubi and thrust a sword at his throat, her amusement and charms instantly vanishing.
	
"Prove to me that you deserve those gems, and we'll help you unravel their secrets," she growled, pushing the sword into Kyuubi's throat. She smirked at her own cruelty, eagerly waiting his response.
	
"Alright," smiled Kyuubi, pulling back from the sword, "I'll fight, alone. You and me, Miss..." He dispelled the magic swirling in his paws and held them up. A flash of flames produced a scarlet and gold sword in his grasp.
	
"Let's get this over with," he growled, getting into a fighting stance.
	
"As you wish," replied the tigress. 

She made the first move, deftly swinging her blade at his throat. Kyuubi blocked the attack with his own sword and let loose a carefully aimed lightning bolt from the tips of one of his tails. The tigress dodged and lunged back at him, aiming this time for his paws. Kyuubi evaded her strike and wrapped an extensile tail around her right ankle and quickly pulled it out from underneath her, making the tigress tumble to the ground. Kyuubi widenned her shadow and turned it into a powerful gravity well to hold her in place.
	
"Now then, about that help with the gems," smirked Kyuubi, "I want to hear everything, starting with your name."
	
"A-alright," she stammered, barely able to move, "I'm Lily. I'll tell you everything you want to know..."