Vance's pov

"Shit," I whispered as the small boy was pulled out of the car.

Calling him a boy may be an understatement.

He had the exact figure as Lycus, but his stomach was sunken in, his rib cage was clear as day, and he had terrible posture and could barely walk straight or even at all. He was covered head to toe in dirt and white powered and muck, as well as blood.

Patches of his fur were stuck together from something, and in other spots, he was missing fur completely. His cheekbones and facial structure were sticking out.

Around his neck, the fur was missing, like something had been wrapped around it. I couldn't tell what had been his blood or someone else's. My heart just ached for him.

She took him out of the car, and he fell to his knees; he didn't dare look up at me. His ears had been cut in multiple places, covered in dry blood and dust.

His tail had fur missing in many spots and looked as if the tip of it had been smashed.

"Please try your best with him. I trust you can take good care of him..." she whispered.

She reached down to pet his head. He stayed completely still.

His body shivered ever so slightly after her hand had gone.

I sighed. Do I carry him in? Make him walk?

"Hey, bud..." I whispered. I held his papers in my hand, yet they didn't tell me much, not even a name.

"Let's get you inside." He didn't spare me a glance; he observed the ground.

I started walking in, and he immediately followed after me.

He sat at the door once we got inside. Not daring to move.

"I'm gonna show you to your room, okay?"

He furrowed his eyebrows, yet his glance was still to the ground. He slowly turned around to look at the door. Kalon stood in the door frame of the living room, overseeing us.

"What's wrong?" I whispered.

"Permission to speak, master?" His voice sounded hoarse, like it pained him to speak, yet he surprised me.

"You don't need permission to speak here..." I spoke softly, trying not to frighten him.

"Rule 5, don't speak unless asked an appropriate question..." his voice held confusion. I sighed, walking over to him. I cupped his dirty face; his eyes met mine for only a split second. To capture his beautiful blue eyes, they had to be the purest part of his body.

Yet he glanced away. "Rule 8 Never look master in the eyes." He mumbled.

"I deserve to be...outside." He whispered as if he was copying something.

"No, hun, here you deserve to be inside."

"No...only masters deserve that." I sighed.

"Follow me."

He immediately stood up, ready to follow me. His figure had to be close to five-foot, maybe less. He was inappropriately tiny and malnourished.

I brought him to one of my many guest bedrooms. His mouth fell open as he glanced around the room.

"T-there's soft!" He pointed to the rug. "Where's my room?"

"It's right here..." I furrowed my eyebrows.

"Masters room..."

"No...my room is down the hall. This is for you." I spoke slowly.

"But there are no black bars, and it's big...where's my cage?" My heart fell through my stomach. What am I supposed to say to that?

"No, hun...this is your room..." I heard footsteps behind me. I knew the boys were watching at this point.

"You can look around. This is all your space, okay? Then we're going to run you a bath..." his eyes went wide, and his body tensed.

But he didn't dare speak about it. He only sat in the doorway.

"I'm going to give you a couple of minutes. Then I'll be back."

I left and took the watching boys with me, including Kalon and the twins.

"What is that..." River spoke lowly as we headed downstairs.

"I think he's a fox Neko hybrid, but I have no idea...did you hear what he was saying..." they all nodded.

"Everyone needs to be careful and kind to him, please..."

"Yea, of course." Lycus smiled, "there's another neko!"

"If that's what he is." Kalon rolled his eyes.

"Be nice..." I warned. He scoffed before leaving his room.

"Alright, I'm gonna try and bathe him and clean his wounds." They nodded. I knocked on his open door. He stood in the middle, glancing around. He perked up when I knocked before moving to a kneeling position with his eyes locked on the ground.

"Relax...you're okay."

I walked over and sat on the ground with him.

"We're gonna give you a bath and try and clean some of your cuts, okay..." he nodded as he followed me into the bathroom. I ran the water, and he stayed in the doorway waiting.

His body was tense as the water ran.

"Do baths scare you?"

"Permission to" he stopped himself before mumbling something under his breath.

"T-they hurt..."

"I will try my best not to let this hurt, but these cuts may sting. Here come feel the water and tell me if it's too hot."

He slowly and hesitantly walked over and reached out to touch the water.

He nodded. "Okay, I'm gonna remove these...okay?"

His eyes went wide. "Of course, master, do as you please." He spoke as if he was repeating a sentence he knew a little too well.

He sat in his kneeling position and put his hands behind his back.

I sighed. "Relax..." I whispered as I slowly slipped what was left of his shirt and pants off.

His face was slightly red with blush as if he was embarrassed. But his body didn't move.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

He shook his head and glanced away, hiding his adorable, blushed face.

"Ah ah ah, speak..." I said slowly. His eyes glanced at me, and he took it as an order.

"Yes, master. Erm, you're good looking, most masters...uhm are older..." he said nervously. I chuckled before slipping my arms under him,

"Let's get you in." He held onto my wrist tightly as I placed him in the water.

His body started to tremble in the water.

"Why are you so afraid, hun?" I asked.

"Water hurts...I was trying to be good...please don't hurt me..."