"So where is home exactly? I've never been to Raydowne." Jay adopts a look of pure exasperation after listening to Sarah's words.

"It's in the middle of Raydowne," He spits out. A dark cloud looms over his head.

"Welcome to Raydowne, everyone!" Vladimir sings as we pass the first few houses.

"Thank goodness. We've been driving for forever," I say. The buildings all look the same, but something's changed in the way it feels. Something's missing.

When we drive by the open-air market, people run up to the Slash, crowding around it and forcing us to a stop. "Is Hawk here?" One asks.

"Have you rescued him?" Another juts in.

"Have you defeated Guthrie Harper?" Someone presses closer to the truck. I roll down the window, and lean out.

"Yeah, I'm right here. How did you know I was missing?" I look to Jay for an explanation.

"How long have you been a part of The Loyal Order of Thorny Devils?" My breath catches in my throat.

"W-what?" How do they know that?

"They found out when a Wasteland guard asked them how long they'd known we were located there. I forgot to mention it." Jay smiles slightly. I turn back to the crowd. Wow. I never would've guessed in a million years that they would've known we existed. What have I missed? Before, no one, not even a single soul, knew T-LOOT-D existed. Now they recognize the Slash, and run up to it.

"What was it like at Guthrie Harper's prison?" Memories wash over me. I shove them down and away. Far, far away.

"As much as we'd like to stay and talk for a while, we need to get going. Hawk here needs some much-needed rest." Vladimir revs the engine of the Slash, and the crowd pulls apart into two sections as we creep forwards then accelerate until we're rolling along at a comfortable pace. There aren't any more crowds, but we get several waves. Someone asks for an autograph, which I awkwardly give after Vladimir and Jay sign the sheet of paper without batting an eye. Rex shifts at my feet.

We pull into the driveway of the pale yellow house a few minutes later. "Why the hell are we going here? This is where the Wasteland guards swarmed us and captured me and killed other T-LOOT-Dians! You guys must be out of your minds if you think we're safe here!" I jump up to crouch on my seat. My hands cling to Vladimir's seat in a death grip. Vladimir pilots the Slash into the garage

"Calm down, Hawk," Jay replies, peeling my fingers one by one from the fabric, "Adrien decided it would be best to remain where we were. We wouldn't be able to stay hidden after a few people found out that T-LOOT-D existed. The news spread like wildfire, and everyone knew by the end of the following day."

"What if the Wasteland guards attack again? They know exactly where we are!"

"We'll be in danger wherever we are."

"Still a stupid idea, though." I cross my arms across my chest after I slam the door shut behind me.

I trail a foot or so behind Vladimir and Rex as we walk single-file inside. Jay watches Sarah closely as she follows me. Watches her like a hawk. I smirk. The house is quiet when I walk in at first. It looks similar to before the Wasteland guard attack, but there are portions of paint that are different colors and the scars of gashes still carve their way through doors and walls despite being patched up. A few paintings hang crooked. I fix them. We make our way to the main entrance. "Guys! He's home! Hawk's back!" The call is echoed throughout the building. People rush down the stairs. Adrien is in the lead with Sparkles on his shoulder. He wraps me in a tight hug, and soon I'm engulfed by everyone.

"How are you doing?" Adrien asks when he pulls back.

"I wanna sleep for a week."

"Maybe a shower to?" Jay walks up beside me.

"Be nice." I lightly punch him in the arm.

"Hey! It's true." He rubs his arm.

"Who's that?" Adrien growls, his voice low as he fixes Sarah with a glare. She's standing awkwardly at the back of the crowd, talking with a few members of T-LOOT-D.

"That's Sarah. She helped me escape."

"Why... Why is she part bird?" Adrien rubs the back of his neck.

"Guthrie Harper tried to split her Blended form apart from her, and it didn't work. It worked on me, though, and that's why there's Rex. Wherever he is. Right behind me." Rex comes to sit by my side.

"How did he do that?"

"I'm not sure if I'm being completely honest. I was unconscious for almost all of it. It was painful though." I shudder at the memory of the pain.

"I'm gonna kill them," Jay snarls.

"When the time comes, go for it. But for now, Jay, we'll stay here. Hawk, why don't you get something to eat and then visit Karla. I'd like to talk to you in the morning. Jay, have Sasha stay with Sarah." He eyes Sarah. After a quick goodbye, Adrien walks off.

"Oh, Sasha!" Jay sings as we make our way through the crowd. Sarah's still talking in the corner. It appears that they're almost interrogating her. "Whaddaya need, Jay? Oh, hey, Hawk. Nice to see you." Sasha's hair is an even brighter red than it was before.

"Adrien wants you to stay with Sarah and keep an eye on her."

"Sarah? I've never heard of her."

"She was in Guthrie Harper's prison with Hawk, and helped him escape."

"So make sure she doesn't get up to anything suspicious. What do I do if she does?"

"I told her that if she stepped out of line we'd terminate her, but if she does then kill her."

"Don't you want to make sure that's alright with Adrien first?" I ask.

"No." Jay glares at Sarah from across the room.

"Let's go meet my new roommate." Sasha starts towards her with a bounce in her step.

"So you're Sarah?" Sasha asks.

"Yeah..." Sarah's voice is uneasy as it trails off.

"We're gonna be roomies. I'm Sasha." She holders her hand out with her voice all business, and Sarah cautiously shakes it.

"Cool." Sarah shifts on her feet looking about as uncomfortable as one can get.

"Follow me. I've going to show you our room."

"Ok."

"One thing," Sasha adds as they walk away, "Don't even think about stepping out of line. I've got strict orders to kill you if you step out of line. But don't worry about that."

"She won't be doing anything anytime soon," I murmur as they disappear down a hallway. Sarah timidly follows a foot or two behind Sasha.

"Cafeteria?" Jay asks.

"Sure. Rex, come on!" I wave my Blended form back to me. He comes immediately.

"What was it like," Jay murmurs as we make our way down the stairs to the cafeteria.

"I didn't eat much. If it weren't for my strength, I'd be doing an awful lot worse. Apparently Guthrie Harper has a symbol."

"What does it look like? I had no idea he had one."

"There are six curved triangles all in a sort of star-esc shape that fade from green to black. The black's in the middle."

"Adrien'll want to see that."

"They've also figured out a way to split Blenders apart from their Blended forms. That was what happened with me and Rex." I scratch him behind his ears.

"How did it work?" Jay hands me a plate.

"I don't know. I was either unconscious or in so much pain that I was barely conscious." I start loading food onto it, making sure to get meat for Rex.

"How could they!" Jay's knuckles go white as his fingers threaten to break his plate.

"Yeah, I hate Guthrie Harper and his Wasteland guards too, but you're about to crack the plate. Anyways, why is the cafeteria so quiet?" It used to be loud and lively with the chatter and chaos of T-LOOT-D, but now it's muted and far more tamed.

"Adrien wanted it quiet when we returned with you since you were going to be exhausted and a little out of it," Jay says as he heaps spaghetti onto his plate. His eyebrows furrow as he wrestles to strategically place the pasta so he retains the borders between each pile of food.

"What?" I ask after a moment.

"Adrien wanted it quie-."

"I heard you the first time. But why would he request that? I liked it when it was loud. It made things more fun, and kept it lively. You never knew what was going to happen the next day, and what games and things we would create when we fooled around!"

"You're tired, Hawk. You need to sleep, and things will be more mellow. Maybe Adrien'll let things go back to normal tomorrow..." His voice trails off at the end and he looks away, and I'm almost certain he's lying. Jay's always been a horrible liar.

We sit down, and Rex jumps up beside me. He's panting. "Bon appétit," Jay says with a smile. He begins shoveling forkfuls of food into his mouth. I nod, giving Rex a steak before taking some for myself. But it tastes like cardboard, and after a few bites, I can't eat anymore. Rex hasn't eaten more than a bite or two as well. He looks slightly sick as he rests his head on my lap. I take slow, deep breaths. Jay looks up, as if sensing something changed. "What's wrong, Hawk?"

"I can't eat any more."

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah. I just didn't eat much."

"Should I get Karla?" Jay rises to his feet.

"No. I'll be fine. How's Lily?"

"She's doing better. If you aren't going to eat any more, then why don't you take a shower, change your clothes, and go to sleep. You need it."

"Ok. I'll see you in the morning."

"Do you want me to walk up with you?"

"I'll be alright."

"Are you sure, Hawk? I don't mind."

"I'm fine." I start towards my room with Rex padding a few steps behind me.

"Let me know if you need anything."

"It's still the same room, right?" I look back over my shoulder towards my brother.

"Yeah it is, Hawk." Jay smiles.

xxxx

After a long shower, I lay on my back. I didn't bother to deal with my dirty clothes, and instead opted to just throw them away. Mud and dirt had been so thoroughly caked into the fabric that there was no hope of them ever getting clean again.

The mattress and pillow feel almost foreign beneath me, as do the blankets. I'd gotten used to the hard stone and the freezing nights in Guthrie Harper's prison. It's strange. Rex circles my room, looking and sniffing everything there is at least three or four times before settling down by the door. He curls up with his head tucked close by his side, but he doesn't fall asleep. And nor do I. Sleep stays just out of reach, so tauntingly close. I doze in a place between being asleep and being awake, aware of my surroundings, but with my mind clouded over by the loose grasp of Dreamland. Why can't I fall asleep? I'm so tired. So, so tired. Is it that the bed feels too soft, or that the pillow is too comforting, or that the blankets are too warm? Shouldn't that be what I want, though? I roll around, trying to find a comfortable position. After a few minutes of tossing and turning, I stop, laying on my stomach with my arms dangling off the side of the bed as I sulk at the wall.

"Rex, do you want to come here? It's probably more comfortable on the bed." I pat the spot next to me. He lifts his head, perking his ears. I pat the bed again, and he trots over to me and jumps up next to me. Rex curls up once again. I roll onto my back as I wrap my fingers around his fur. Sleep continues to evade me for another half hour or so, but Rex falls asleep after only a few minutes, his flank rising and falling in time with each breath. His forepaws twitch as he dreams.

I have just started to drift off to sleep when Rex cries out. He lashes out with a whimper, and he thrashes, claws digging into the sheets. I leap up to my knees. "Rex. Rex, it's ok. I'm here." I stroke his fur from his neck down to his tail. Rex whimpers again, trembling as he cries. "Rex, wake up. It's just a nightmare. You're alright. You're safe." He howls mournfully as his body jerks away from my touch. His side rises and falls with shaky breaths.

"Rex!" I repeat, louder this time, "Rex! You're ok!" I reach out, but he flinches with a whine.

"Hawk! Everything fine?" Jay slams open the door. His eyes flash around the room.

"I'm alright, but Rex is having a nightmare."

"Have you woken him up?"

"I'm trying."

"Rex, come on. Wake up! You're safe here." Jay makes his way towards us, and places his hand on Rex's shoulder. My Blended form jerks, drawing in a sharp breath as he lurches upright. His flanks heave as he pants. Jay reaches a hand towards him, but swiftly pulls it back, no doubt using a bit of his speed, as Rex whirls around, teeth flashing as he snaps his jaws at my brother's hand. Several moments pass by before any of us move. "Rex, it's just me and Jay. You were having a nightmare," I say softly. What was he dreaming about? Doesn't matter. Rex looks guiltily at Jay. His shoulders slump. "Don't worry about it, Rex." Jay holds out his hand cautiously, and Rex nudges it with his nose. My brother scratches Rex behind the ears.

A few minutes tick by before Rex has calmed down. I lay down, staring at the ceiling. "How are you doing, Hawk?" Jay asks.

"I'm doing fine. You already asked that earlier though."

"I did?"

"Yeah. Nothing's changed."

"I just want to make sure."

"Thank you. I'm still doing alright."

"You'd better not leave me again." Jay frowns.

"I'm not planning on it. Did you think I wanted to get captured?" I bark a short laugh. Does he really think that? If he does, that's a bit insulting. I'm sure he doesn't, Hawk.

"Of course not! I know you wouldn't do that. It was obvious you put up a fight! Just don't leave me again." That's the only reason he knew I didn't purposely go? Hawk, don't be stupid. You know Jay often leaves things out, and words things differently than he intended. I know, I know. That was rude of me to jump to that conclusion. Yeah, Hawk, don't be so mean. You should know better. Shut it. "I won't. You'd better not be leaving me though too."

"I won't! How could you think that?" Jay mocks being offended.

"I don't know. You tell me why you think I'm going to be leaving." I smile as I sit up.

"I just don't want to lose you again." Sadness takes over his blue eyes.

"I won't, Jay. I promise. Pinky promise?" I hold out my pinky.

"Don't be stupid. I'm not five." Jay gives me the 'really?' look.

"You know you can't break them." I wave my hand around with a smug grin. He's going to cave in about three, two, one...

"Fine. Pinky promise, and you'd better not break it." He fixes me with a determined look as we shake on the pinky promise.

"I won't! What are you so worried about?"

"You like getting into trouble, and you're too arrogant sometimes."

"I believe it's called confidence."

"Here we go again." Jay rolls his eyes.

"I'm not going to get taken again. Guthrie Harper's prisons had bad service."

"Hawk..."

"Ok, ok. Get some rest. I'm going to sleep."

"Goodnight, Hawk. Sleep well."

"You too, Jay."

I fall back onto my bed, pulling the blankets over me. Rex crawls up to rest on the extra pillow, and is out a few minutes later. Half an hour goes by before Dreamland pulls me into a dreamless sleep, and I willingly follow, my mind clouding over as I drift off.

Thank you so much for reading! Blend the Light is wrapping up, with only a few chapters left. I will be starting another one next, which will be called The King's Remorse, so be sure to check it out!

Hawk's home, so what's going to happen next?

How is Lily doing?

Are Guthrie Harper and his Wasteland guards going to retaliate?

Are there any guesses as to how the rest of the story is going to go down?

-Werewolf14-