Episode One

Everest reluctantly arose from the bed, making his way through piles of blankets. How did he even end up like that? Oh right, the kids decided to bury him. Note to self: Never babysit again. Anyway, what time was it? His eyes glanced over at the clock, which read a very late time indeed. 11:55 at night. Quite sleepily, Everest sat up and looked around at the rest of the room. No... No one was there. At all. Where had they gone? It must have been important. But if it was, why didn't anyone alert him? Was he not important enough to even know? Well, it'd make sense, since he was the new one around. Nevertheless, Everest felt that he had the right to at least be notified. If he couldn't be of any help, he should know so he wouldn't have to worry. Which, obviously, is what he was doing at the moment. What was so critical that everyone had to go at such an instant? Did.... Did something happen to one of them? Oh, he hoped not. Everest hopped out of the bed and hurriedly threw his shirt back on (How the hell did it come off? He'd never know.), rushing out of the hotel room after. Wait, where was he going? Why was he going anywhere in the first place? Most of all... Why did he even care? If they didn't seem to care enough about him, why should he? Everest knew he shouldn't have joined this pathetic little group. Sticking to himself, he was just fine. For the most part. But that's not the point! After thinking for a few moments, Everest soon came to a rather irrational conclusion. He would abandon, and go off on his own again. Obviously, they wouldn't notice. Even if they did, it's not like they'd care!

So, with that very thought in mind, Everest checked himself out and left the hotel entirely. As he tightened the jacket- Keri's jacket, he remembered- around his waist, he surveyed his surroundings once more. It was an unusually quiet night, with occasional cars passing and a cute girl walking past to check him out. Not that he cared. Well, what now? He could always return to the river, but that was because he had nowhere else to go... Now, he did. He had an idea. He would search for his family, finally. It came to his head way too quickly, but it seemed reasonable. So then, with a sort of newfound confidence, Everest set off again on a 'journey'. Alone, again. But of course, that was fine. He was never particularly close to any of them, so why did it matter? For some reason, though, it did. In a deep crevice of his heart, Everest felt a numb aching feeling just wanting to tear him apart. He wouldn't let it. This was a familiar feeling, one he had met with many times before. When his mother lost her mind, when he was forced to leave his siblings, when Yana was cruelly snatched away from him.... No, he shouldn't be thinking of this. He was going to find them, and the feeling would fade off. He would forget about the group, and everything would be fine. Yes, it would be fine. Of course, of course it will...

A couple of hours later, he finally decided that maybe he should rest for the night. Well, it was now morning. According to a fast food restaurant clock, it was 3 am at current. Everest was just now noticing the pain in his legs, and the weariness of his eyes. But where would he sleep? Hmmm.... The park bench looked pretty comfortable. Heh, not really. Homeless people made their lives there a lot, so he could surely pass for one. Sighing, Everest approached it and plopped himself down. It was cold, definitely... But it wasn't anything he hadn't dealt with before. But unlike before, no doubting thoughts crept their way into his mind. It seemed as if he was sure about his decisions, and wasn't going to turn back on them anytime soon. Who knew this and his 'confidence' would lead him back to hell?
Not too long later, as raindrops began to pour down, someone happened to pass by where he slumbered. And no, it wasn't just anyone. This someone was a worker at the laboratory. Yes, the laboratory that had turned him into the abomination he was. What were they doing there in that exact time, at that exact place? Well, let's just say it was by some twisted fate. This person absentmindedly crossed by Everest, before recognizing who exactly he was. The tail peeking out from under his jacket was unmistakable. The woman quickly turned and grasped her phone, then pulled her jacket over her mouth to mask her voice. "Hello? This is Dina speaking-" she began, "We have another here. I am going to need some backup." She proceeded to hang up, as a rather sinister smile found its way upon her features.

Everest was just regaining consciousness after quite a while. Slowly but surely, his eyes adjusted to his surroundings. His mind hadn't the slightest clue where these surroundings were, however. Seriously, where the hell was he? Nothing seemed familiar... No, it did. Everything did. The crates, the wailing, the beeps and buzzes of machines... Well shit. He was back at the lab. How did he end up back in this cesspit? He didn't remember much, since he was asleep. Ah, that was it. Everest must have been dragged here while he was knocked out, when he was vulnerable. Great. He attempted to move around in his crate, to not much success. After some fruitless time, poor Ever gave up and stayed in one uncomfortable position. Well, what now? There's no way the others would risk looking for him, let alone even know he had gone. Of course they wouldn't. If he were to die here, so be it. But he'd damn well put up a fight. As he was thinking this and more, he took notice to something. Or rather, someone. She had her hands clasped together, and her eyes shut tight. Huh. Was she praying? In a place like this? Everest was surprised to see that some still had faith. It was almost relieving, in a way. He didn't want to disrupt her, yet he wanted to talk with her. Anything to get his mind off things.
"Who are you praying to?" He blurted out. Oh, he hoped that wasn't offensive. The girl sighed and lowered her hands, also fluttering open her eyes. When she did, Everest almost fainted. Who could ever forget those crystal irises? And when her hands were gone, the cannula up her nostrils was too visible. It was her. It had to be. "Y-Yana?" Everest muttered, his voice laced with total disbelief.
She stared at him, confused, before replying. "Yes, that is my name... How do you know it?" One thing ran through his mind at this moment: Ohmygod, ohmygod, ohmygod, ohmygod. Wait, does she not remember me?  Well, make that two things. Everest was speechless, though his brain poured over with thought. Here she was, the fish he lost to the sea was again in his net. Almost. The only present problem was the lab situation. And the fact that she couldn't recall who he was. Everest's tail steadily flicked back and forth while thinking of something to say. Something to jog her memory... He never imagined that his tail would be enough.

As she watched it sway, certain memories were unlocked within Yana. Memories about a fox... What kind? Oh right, gray fox. It was a boy, not a girl.. Though, what was his name? He had reddish hair.. But what on God's green earth was his name? E... Ev..  Eevee? No, not that. Eve.. Est...

Everest.

All of a sudden, Yana crawled to the crate door and grabbed onto the wire bars. "Everest?!" She cried, finally having her own eureka moment. Her face was pressed up against the door, as if she were trying to get as close to him as possible. She was.
At hearing his name, Everest bolted upward and had his head collide with the crate ceiling. Smart move. "Agh, fuck!" He groaned while rubbing his head gently. Must be karma.
Yana gasped and raised her hands to her mouth, obviously upset that any pain was inflicted upon him. "Oooh, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to startle you..." She said, trailing off at the end.
Everest would have been upset, but this was Yana. Her sympathetic tone was too cute, anyway. "No no, I'm fine. Don't worry about me." H reassured her, mustering a smile in her direction.

Once Yana found that he was indeed alright, she began to scold him. "You dumbass, what are you doing back here?! You escaped, didn't you?!?" The volume of her now rather furious voice rivaled the screams of other subjects.
Everest didn't catch a certain bit at first. "Well yeah, but I-" That's when he caught it. "I'm the dumbass?! Speak for yourself, you've been stuck here for how long?" 

"That's not my fault! You had the plan!"

"Well, I didn't plan on you leaving me!"

Everest knew then that he'd struck a nerve. Neither of them had 'planned' for that. How could he blame her? Again, what a smart move. Someone should write this down. Oh wait-

Silence ensued for a little while, a guilt-ridden silence. Everest looked up, and saw her frowning. Biting her lip. Holding back tears. Yet even then, she was still beautiful. Frail, gentle body. Iridescent scales that would shine in the sun, if she were to ever see it. Wrinkled fingertips and throbbing gills caressing her throat. Her lifeline practically dangling from the orifices of her nose. Lashes batting like butterfly wings, acting as the gate to keep away the inevitable flood. It was all beauty to him. A beauty on verge of weeping, all because of his words. He couldn't let that happen. So, as quickly as he could, he conjured up a sly comment. Such is a fox.
"You know, I haven't gazed at you in a while. I can't look away." 
Yana's eyes rose, and he was quite right. Lover boy was softly staring straight at her, his lips stretched into a thoughtless grin. Her cheeks spread a wildfire, and she couldn't help but break into a series of giggles. Everest soon joined in, which caused a delightful ruckus. But like everything else, the fit died into the quiet. Unlike the previous one, however, this one was nice. Like nothing had to be said for things to be enjoyable. They listened to each other's breaths like it were their last, and the stares they shared were pleasure enough.

Everest was close to shattering aforementioned silence with a short sentence of three words, when a door cracked open. An unfamiliar female scientist stepped through, and scanned the area. Everyone went dead quiet, save for Everest. His dark glare screamed a thousand times over, it sure did. He didn't know her, yet he came to loathe her. She set fear into Yana, which was enough for him. It wasn't long before the scientist's sight fell upon her next victim,, a new one at that. Much to his dismay, she came oh-so close to his cage. Oh no.
Everest would have kicked and bit as he was tugged away, but... He couldn't. Everything was happening too fast for him to react, to think. All he knew was that he'd be strapped down again, forced into hours of agony. He sure wasn't looking forward to it, but what he could do? So much for fighting. While others sighed in absolute relief, Yana screeched in absolute horror. No, they couldn't be separated again! Not when they had just found each other.. She pounded on the crate door over and over, while hot tears flooded their way down. She knew they wouldn't cease for the rest of the night. Soon enough, others joined in her sorrowful cries, creating a sort of lamentation. They empathized with her, and with what had just happened. Over a short amount of time, it evolved into an entire symphony of horrible, painstaking voices singing as one. The scientists hated it, but Everest loved it..

It was the last thing he heard before everything faded to black.