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That night, Zèon couldn't sleep a wink.

With any small movement, he could still feel the sharp pain that the lashings had left not only on his back, but also inside his body. He felt every single muscle stiff and in pain, as if he had been forced to sleep in an impossible position for a long time. Zèon thought that was due to the electric shock of the lashings, although he couldn't be sure. That pain already made it difficult to rest, but it wasn't the only thing that kept him from sleeping. Together with the physical suffering, he still had to deal with his bitter memories and, over all, with the concern that everyone in the Box already knew his secret. How would the fehlar react when they knew that in the past he had been nothing more than a slave of the lowest category?

Zèon hated looking weak. He knew his emotions made him look weak, that his physical appearance made him look weak and that the mark he had been branded for life with made him look weak. Of those three things, he could only control the first and the second. Because of that, since the moment he had entered the Box, he had felt the necessity of hiding that sinister tattoo in an almost obsessive way. He didn't want anyone to look down at him because of who he was, nor being pitied and offered help he had never asked for and he didn't need. He only wanted to seem normal.

And now, however, all his efforts to achieve that had vanished in the air. Everyone knew he wasn't normal and he had never been. Everyone knew that at some time in his life he had just been an object.

Zèon gave Luca a long look. The wolf had stood at the head of his bed, seated, as he held his paw; but hours had passed and he finally had fallen asleep. Now, his head rested against one of the posts of the bunk bed and he snored softly. The arctic fox's eyes tinged with fondness and he smiled a bit, as he watched the face of the only one he had openly trusted with his feelings, the only one that had known about his physical weaknesses; the only one he had dared to tell why he had that mark in his waist. If Koi had been like a little brother to him, Luca had become the big brother he never had. Zèon didn't know what he would have done if anyone had taken them away from him. Sometimes he thought it would be like losing his family again.

Nights in the Box were strange. There wasn't any noise in the corridors, and from the bedrooms of the other fehlar and kane Zèon could only hear heavy sleepy breathings and some snoring. No one was ever awake at that time; he would have bet that not even the guards were at their posts. Night was maybe the only time in which the prisoner's privacy was respected (except for the showers, of course).

In fact, Zèon couldn't remember spending another night awake in the Box. He always felt strangely tired, terribly worn out, as if the very fact of being trapped there sucked his energy. For that reason, he enjoyed the silence that could be even breathed in the air; the fact that he was the only one conscious enough to enjoy it. In spite of Luca's presence by his side, he wanted to feel alone.

He needed to feel alone and that sleepless night allowed him.

That was the first morning in which, when the alarm rang, Zèon had been awake for more than just a few seconds. He hadn't managed to sleep in all night and the change from that absolute and perfect tranquility to the usual bustle caught him off-guard. For a second, he almost regretted that the silence and the quietness of the night had vanished, although it only took him a few seconds to get used to that new environment.

Luca startled a bit when he opened his eyes and found himself in Zèon's bed, but it didn't take him long to remember that the previous night he had fallen asleep there. He stretched, awaking his stiff muscles. Then, almost completely clear-headed, he gave a worried look to the arctic fox, who remained by his side lying down in the bed with a tranquil expression.

-You feel better -the wolf understood, without words.

Zèon nodded. Something he loved about his relation with Luca was that strange capacity they both have to communicate with a simple look.

-What are you going to do today? Are you going to the hall?

-I don't think so -Zèon replied, shaking slowly his head -. It doesn't hurt as much now, but I think it could get worse if I moved. So, for now, I'll try not to do it.

Luca nodded, understanding.

-I hope you don't get in any trouble for not being there in the roll call.

Zèon still hadn't realized that, as any other morning, he was supposed to be in the hall when Sophia read the name of every resident. He shivered; the punishment for not answering were two lashings and, after the beating of the previous day, he wasn't willing to taste again the electric touch of that device anymore. However, after a few seconds, he shook his head.

-I'm not sure, but... do you remember that yesterday, in the roll call, Sophia didn't ask for Sapiens V? -he added, pointing with his head to the human, who at the time had just sat up in his bed.

-I didn't realize, but you're right -the wolf admitted, perplex -. She didn't call his name.

Zèon nodded.

-I think she knows why he is not in the hall. She knows he doesn't want to gather the hatred of the kane and the fehlar. -The arctic fox paused, remembering how the previous day, after meeting the human, they had recommended him to stay in the bedroom for the moment -. I still don't know how, but she knows those things. That's why she didn't tell his name, because she knew no one would answer.

-So, do you think she knows you are not going to be there today?

-Well, she left me unconscious yesterday -Zèon reminded, with a chill -, so she should know. Although she maybe thinks I have to be there, no matter how convalescent I am. I'm not sure what to think.

Luca gave him a long look, thoughtful.

-Look, I don't want to force you to go, but... -he murmured, worried -I don't want her to hurt you either.

-She won't -Zèon reassured him, trying to calm him down -. Yesterday, she said I had disappointed her and that she thought I was more intelligent. I think... I think she's been watching me for a while and she's interested on me, but I still can't understand why.

Luca remained silent for a few seconds, trying to assimilate that information. Finally, he stood up and shook his head, as if trying to get rid of those thoughts in his mind, maybe because he found them too crazy, or too disturbing.

-I hope you're right -he whispered.

At that moment, Zèon distinguished a pair of violet eyes watching him from the stairs of his bed, full with worry and guilt. He couldn't help but feeling a warm sensation inside him when he understood who owned that beautiful gaze.

-Hello, Koi -he greeted him gently, as he did every single morning.

However, the little husky didn't answer. His eyes were wet and Zèon understood he had been crying at that moment although he hadn't been aware of it. Something inside him shivered before the image of Koi so sad.

-What happened? -he asked, trying to transmit true worry with his words. He really was, but emotions weren't his strong point.

-It was my fault, right? -the husky asked in a thin voice that sounded so sorrowful that Zèon's heart hurt -. What they did to you... it was because I...

-No, Koi -the arctic fox interrupted him, shaking his head -. This is not your fault.

-But it was me who bumped into the bad guy! -the little one exclaimed. He seemed about to cry again -. I should have looked where I was walking. They should have punished me...

In that moment, Luca enclosed the husky with an arm, pulling him against his chest in a comforting gesture. Koi let out a sob and the wolf caressed his head, tenderly. Zèon thanked the wolf for taking care of that: he was better than him in those situations and he truly knew how to make someone feel better. The arctic fox, on the contrary, could only aim to imitate him clumsily, trying to mimic his moves and that often only worked half the time.

-Don't say those things, cub -the wolf consoled him, with a warm gentle voice -. Of course it wasn't your fault. That bully had stolen your precious letter and Zèon only did what he had to do, don't you think?

-Yes, but... -Koi began, although Luca interrupted him by placing a claw in his muzzle.

-Hey, I know what will make you feel better. How about we have a race to the showers? Who wins will have the right to throw all the foam he wants on to the other -he added, smiling mischievously.

Koi's face lit up with happiness.

-You will let me throw all the foam I want on you? -he asked, as if he couldn't believe it -. And... and you won't complain, as you usually do?

-Of course not. But first -the wolf added, winking at him -, you have to win.

That said, the wolf started running towards the door. Koi let out a surprised exclamation, but a few seconds later he was already laughing and chasing him. Zèon saw them leave and could still give Luca a thankful look before both disappeared through the door.

After that, he leaned back on the bed again and closed his eyes, tired.

-I'm surprised they can take things so happily, taking into account that we are still trapped here -he then listened a voice from the other side of the room.

Zèon opened an eye, slightly surprised. He had almost forgotten the human was still there, in Luca's bed.

-I don't blame them. In fact, I envy them -Zèon added, shrugging -. I wish I could be like that. There's not much to do in this situation and to face it in a bad mood isn't going to take us out of here either.

-I guess you're right -the human murmured.

The arctic fox couldn't help but looking at him, with curiosity in his eyes. He hadn't been able to see a human so near and, except for Sophia, none of them had ever addressed him with anything more than a short direct order. Until that moment, he hadn't thought about the possibilities that the conversation with that boy offered him, although he didn't know him much and he was still a bit suspicious of his presence there.

After all, that could still be one of Sophia's tricks. Zèon was starting to distrust everything that was related in any way with her.

The human, on the other hand, seemed surprisingly calm taking into account how much his life had changed in the last few days. He lay in the bedroom with his arms crossed under his head and looked at the ceiling with a thoughtful expression. At first glance, he seemed harmless. The fur in his head was blond, of the color of the wheat, and it was cut at the level of his shoulders. He seemed young, but the arctic fox didn't know how to calculate exactly the age of those strange beings. If he wanted to know, he would have to ask him.

He breathed deeply and opened his muzzle, willing to start a conversation, but the human interrupted him:

-I know this is not the best moment... after all that happened to you and that stuff, but... -the human started, doubtful -. I wanted you to know that I have decided the name I want to... to use here.

The boy's voice sounded a bit hurt and Zèon perfectly understood.

-Okay -he said, however -. What is it going to be?

-Vent -the human answered almost immediately, as if it burned his tongue or he really wanted to share it with someone.

The arctic fox tilted his head. He had to recognize it didn't sound bad.

-Any reason in particular you chose it? -he asked, trying to fake some interest.

-No -the young human admitted, a bit sad -. It's just... it looked like a good name.

-Any name you choose will be a good name -Zèon reassured him, gently -, as long as you choose it for yourself.

-Well. Bareskin didn't sound very good, did it? -the human joked, with a half-smile.

Zèon had to admit he was right.

-How old are you, Vent? -he asked, using that name for the first time. He tried to make his voice so it didn't sound just like if he was gathering data.

-Fifteen -the human replied -. I haven't forgotten that. I don't understand why my name isn't there, but everything else is... -he added, in a thin voice. After a few seconds, he shook his head -. What about you?

-Nineteen -he answered and then quickly added -. Koi is eight and Luca, twenty-three. Just in case...

The words died in his lips. <<Just in case you wanted to know>> he was going to say, but he had just realized that those details only were of importance to him.

At that moment, someone knocked on the bedroom's door. There were only a few gentle knocks, but Zèon startled. No one generally visited them, let alone when most of the residents were in the showers.

A sudden thought took over him and he held his breath, as his mind brought him memories of the day Vent had arrived to the Box, memories of the fight that had been about to take place. Kainn's voice asking for blood resounded in his mind like a far echo. What if the hyena had decided to take justice into his own paws... and go to the human's bedroom so he could finish him?

The fox gave a quick glance to the boy, feeling nervous. He seemed to be unaware of the danger that a visit could hold for him and simply looked at the door, with curiosity.

-Shall I open it? -he asked, after a few seconds, a bit confused.

-Zèon? -they could hear a voice then from outside; a voice that, fortunately, the fox could recognize easily -. Zèon, can I come in?

The arctic fox sighed, relieved.

-Yes, Ike -he answered, leaning back in his bed again -. Come in.

The door opened and the lion's head appeared in the bedroom. It didn't take him long to enter and cautiously close the door at his back. Zèon gave him a long look, analyzing any of those calculated movements: it was clear that Ike felt a bit awkward about something and was trying to dissimulate it in the best way possible, although he didn't get to do it. The fox also realized his fur was still wet and he didn't dry nor brushed his mane at all, so it fell wildly around his face and neck.

That was strange. He had never seen Ike acting like that.

-I... er... -the lion started, once he closed the door and turned to him. He seemed to fight with his own words for a few seconds, as if he didn't know how to express what he wanted to say -. I was worried about you -he finally said -. How do you feel?

-Better, thanks -Zèon answered, cautiously. He still couldn't understand that faltering in the one that was supposed to be the leader of all the fehlar.

-I'm glad to hear that -Ike sighed, and he really looked relieved. Then, his gaze turned to the human, who watched the scene from his bed, a bit intimidated -. Oh! You are... -but he stopped as soon as he realized he didn't know the name of the human -... the newcomer -he finally said -. I'm afraid I haven't introduced myself. My name is Ike.

-I'm Vent -the young human introduced himself, trying to smile in spite of the hair-rising memory he kept of that beast, who had been the first in approaching him when he had arrived to the Box -. Well, my name is not really Vent, but I don't remember my true name, either, so...

-It's okay -Ike interrupted him, smiling. He had dealt with that problem in many cases with another fehlar and he knew how difficult it was to admit that one couldn't remember his own name.

-Ike, what are you doing here? -Zèon asked then, unable to control himself. Right before he had said those words he realized how rude it had sounded -. Don't misunderstand me, I don't dislike your company but... why have you come?

The lion turned to him and again it seemed like if he had trouble finding the words. The arctic fox waited, patiently, asking himself what could be the reason of that sudden insecurity when he addressed him. The prince of the fehlar had never been specially eloquent, but Zèon had never seen him faltering in such an obvious way.

-Er... I... -he muttered, scratching the back of his head. He seemed uncomfortable -. The fehlar.

-The fehlar? -Zèon repeated, without understanding.

Ike shook his head, as if he was trying to put his thoughts in a logic order.

-There are some rumors among the fehlar -he said, slowly -. Some believe that you... well, that you have taken Vent so you can...

-...so we can worm information out of him and escape from him before anyone else? -Zèon asked, raising an eyebrow.

Ike looked at the same time deeply relieved and truly surprised with that interruption.

-Yes. But how did you...?

-It's logical, I guess -he added, shrugging -. I would have thought the same if Vent was in a bedroom with a couple of fehlar that don't usually hang out with others.

He avoided the thought that, in fact, Luca did hang out with others. It was he who resisted creating bounds with the people around him.

-I don't know any way out of here -the human told them, hastily.

-I had already guessed that -Ike reassured him, turning to him with an apologetic smile -. But... you know how rumors are. Someone lets out a word about anything and a few minutes later it's become so big that everyone talks about it.

Zèon nodded, slowly.

-Maybe the best option for the coexistence of our races would be that Vent slept in his own bedroom -he said, after a while.

-I've been thinking about it and I'm not so sure -Ike murmured -. What if someone decided to... attack him? -he looked apologetically at Vent as he said those words -. You know that there are still a lot of people that resent the fact that now there is a human resident in the Box. Someone could go into his room and...

-... then we would fight to know who is to blame -Zèon completed, comprehending -. I admit I hadn't thought about that possibility. But then, what should we do?

Ike got visibly nervous again and Zèon gave him a suspicious look.

-I had thought... -the lion began -... I had thought that, since Vent and you are going to stay in your bedroom for a while, I could spend some time here. That way, the fehlar couldn't accuse you of conspiring -he quickly added -, since I would be with you.

The arctic fox tilted his head. There was still something in Ike's behavior that he couldn't understand, although his idea wasn't bad at all. After a few seconds, he decided to trust him and give him a chance. After all, when Vent had arrived in the Box, the lion had followed his advice and had intervened to save the human's life.

-Alright -he said, nodding -. I don't have any problem with you being here. And you, Vent?

The human shook his head, quickly. It seemed he was still a bit intimidated by the lion's presence, since he was stockier than any other fehlar or kane he had had the chance to relate with.

-Great! -the lion smiled, although he immediately tried to adopt a more restrained expression, as if he tried to hide his happiness -. I promise I won't give you much trouble. And if you prefer that, I can tell Shiba to come for me.

Zèon didn't reply. He didn't know enough about the tigress that seemed to follow Ike wherever he went in order to judge her. He wouldn't have been able to know if she was on his side or against them. Ever since the first time he had seen her, he had thought she acted almost like the lion's shadow, always right beside him. He had even heard some fehlar joking about that, insinuating that the tigress even followed Ike when he had to go to the bathroom. But those were only rumors, after all, and he didn't give them much importance.

However, the lion's behavior did worry him. After all, until that moment his relation with Ike had been just the necessary and the fact that the safe distance they had kept until then was about to be dramatically shortened didn't give him much confidence. He had tried not to throw what his father had done in the lion's face, aware that it would have been unfair, and that it would have delayed any collaboration between them.

And of course, there was that weird faltering. Zèon fixed his cold blue eyes in the lion, who at that moment was talking a bit with Vent, probably trying to convince him that he wasn't going to hurt him.

The prince of the fehlar hid more than it seemed at first glance.

In the end, Zèon was glad that Ike had decided to spend the day with them. Without him, the day would have seemed extremely long and, locked as he was in his bedroom, he couldn't aim for anything more interesting than Ike's conversation. And, on the other hand, he found that really interesting.

After rashly leaving Zèon's bedroom in order to appear in the hall before Sophia called his name in the roll call (after all, he didn't have any reason to be away), Ike had come back with them and, at Zèon's request, had helped him to sit on the bed with his back resting on the wall. Then, the lion had seen again the horrible wounds in the arctic fox's back and had shivered, although he hadn't said anything. He had simply sat by his side, bowing his head a bit so it didn't hit the upper berth. Then, they had spent the whole day talking: sometimes, just both of them, sometimes with Vent's participation.

That way, Zèon had come to know some really interesting facts about the lion's life; things that he would had never guessed. For instance, the fact that he had a sister just two years younger than him, or that the relationship with his father wasn't really close. Details like that reminded Zèon that, although the lion belonged to the royalty, he had also had a family life, a routine that had got lost as soon as his father started getting more and more interesting in the fehlar invasion.

But they didn't talk about the war. Ike changed the subject whenever it caressed the surface of their conversation and Zèon didn't reproach him for doing so. The war wasn't something he was willing to talk, let alone with the son of the one who had started it.

So Ike told him about other things. He revealed him that he had turned twenty-three just a few days ago and that he had known because he had kept the count of the days from the moment he had awaken in the Box. When Zèon heard that, he looked at the lion with a new found respect: he hadn't dared to do the same mostly because he knew that it would have hurt him more than help him. However, Ike seemed to concede to time an exact importance; he didn't ignore it but didn't get obsessed with it either. The arctic fox found that a marvelous virtue and to remain in that balance was really admirable.

But the lion didn't understand why it was so great that he was able to place himself in that middle point. Instead, he spent almost half an hour trying to explain to Zèon why he would never be a good monarch, using as an example the little control he had showed when he had tried to stop those who wanted to attack Vent. He had never been good in politics and he would never be. Zèon was about to contradict him several times, but he finally decided to let the lion vent instead of showing him how wrong he was. They quickly changed of subject, anyway.

Ike also talked a bit about Shiba. He explained Zèon that she was his Sentinel; or that she had been when he still lived in his castle, in the Flameswamps. Sentinels belonged to a fehlar order closely related with the life in the court, whose more important task was to protect the great rulers or politic dignitaries from any intrigue in their palace. They were well considered among the influential classes and, although their function was a bit out of date, they still fulfilled their mission diligently and took it with a seriousness that any other warrior would have envied.

Among the kane, the most usual method of overthrowing kings that had been used in the old days had been by simple military strength or even coup d'état, but fehlar seemed to be more sophisticated. In that sense, poisoning or hiring mercenaries had become a more popular tendency for those who wanted to get to the throne. In that environment of absolute distrust, Sentinels had become the perfect defenders of the monarchy. They were an independent organization which didn't belong to the Crown. Their members simply swore loyalty to a member of aristocracy; loyalty that they would carry with honor for the rest of their lives. No Sentinel would have ever betrayed the person they were in charge of. Doing so would have meant not only a quick expulsion from their order, but also a terrible punishment about which Ike knew nothing... and he didn't want to know either. The chiefs of the Sentinels weren't known for their sympathy.

Zèon listened to all of this carefully. He had never had access to the fehlar's culture and he was surprised to discover so many facts about their history, about the organization of their aristocracy and about the dangers of the life in court. Besides, although when Ike looked at him the lion's voice seemed to stammer and struggle to complete a whole sentence for a while, when he talked about their memories he seemed much more confident, and also bigger and nobler.

They just stopped talking when Ike's stomach suddenly growled noisily and the lion checked, a bit embarrassed, that it was time to eat. He tried to convince Zèon to join him arguing that the fox had gone two whole days without eating anything, but it was in vain. Zèon refused, telling him that he wouldn't have been able to eat a thing even if he had it in front of him. Ike finally gave up a bit sadly, although he came back from the hall as fast as he could so they could keep talking. Besides, he brought a plate of food for Vent, since the human couldn't leave the room.

-So, what about you? -he asked the fox then, right after he had explained him why it was impolite to give wool as a gift in the Softpaws' court, one of the most wealthy cat families in the south of the fehlar territory -. What can you tell me about your land?

Zèon faltered, for the first time since their conversation had begun.

-Er... I lived in Northundra -he explained, after a few seconds -. We also had a palace, but there weren't as many people in it as in your castle. I guess that was because the northern region of our lands is specially cold and not any kane could bear the weather.

Ike looked at him with a new interest.

-I knew you were of noble birth -he smiled -. I don't know why, but I felt it since the first time I saw you. There's something about the way you move that makes it obvious.

-I don't know what that could be -Zèon answered, bitterly -. I abandoned the court when I was eleven and I've never been back since then. And I couldn't even if I wanted -he added, with a thin voice.

Then, Ike understood what lay behind those words and a shadow of sadness and guilt went through his reddish eyes.

-I... I am so sorry, Zèon -he murmured, after a few seconds -. I know I don't have the right to say this, but if it had depended on me, things wouldn't have happened that way. The invasion nor... what happened to you.

-You're right -the arctic fox replied with an icy voice. He had raised his head and a sparkle of hatred shined in the back of his eyes -. You don't have the right to say that.

Ike was about to say something else, but he thought about it twice and shut up, looking down in embarrassment. He could understand the arctic fox's feelings and knew that his reaction was normal.

-I'm so sorry -he managed to say, without daring to look at Zèon again.

They didn't talk much after that.

Zèon wasn't willing to start a new conversation after the lion had mentioned the only subject he wouldn't talk about. On the other hand, Ike was too ashamed to risk making a new mistake and felt too guilty. After a while, he said goodbye with a thin voice and left the room. He still gave a last apologetic look to Zèon, but he didn't move.

-I think you've been a bit harsh with him -Vent opined, at the other side of the room. He hadn't intervened much in the conversation between them, but had been paying attention in order to understand more about the creatures he had been locked up with.

Still, Zèon ignored his words and lay down on the bed again, suppressing a gesture of pain and burying his face in the pillow. <<A bit harsh?>> he thought, infusing a great irony to that thought.

If Vent knew what he had had to go through because of the fehlar attack, he would have never dared to say that. If he only knew...

Zèon had stayed with Khun for almost a month. The big tiger enjoyed his company every single night they had spent together; most times alone, but sometimes also with another generals of the fehlar army, that joined him in outrageous bacchanals full of wine, herbs and other substance of dubious precedence.

The arctic fox had tried resisting in a few occasions, but he had soon realized that it was in vain. Khun was never aggressive with him, he never hit him nor insulted him, but could easily force him to do whatever he wanted, since his strength completely exceeded that of the kit. With time, Zèon became resigned to doing what the tiger asked him. Still, there wasn't any time that it didn't hurt him, nor made him feel more like an object than like a thinking being. He almost felt that desperation, helplessness and exhaustion had mixed together in his mind, nullifying him. He could hear the helpless screams of his conscious, which drowned under the sexual appetite of the huge tiger. He was afraid that someday he would simply... stop thinking.

The night before definitely leaving him, Khun talked tenderly. He told him, one by one, the reasons why a general like him had to get rid of such a good boy before going back home. He mentioned a wife and some children, but the arctic fox couldn't barely listen to him anymore. The possibility that Khun would release him had lit a little light of hope in his mind... that was quickly extinguished the next morning when he discovered that the tiger had just been the first of a long list.

Zèon had lots of owners during those years. Some of them were as falsely compassionate and loving as Khun had been; others, on the opposite, were cruel and vicious. Several enjoyed making him suffer. Others, however, liked the idea of exhibiting him before their friends as a weird trophy, which strengthen Zèon's feeling that with each new day he was more like an object, a piece of furniture; someday, he would be left in a corner and gather dust peacefully, thoughtless, until his owner decided to request his services. To utilize him. To use him.

During those long years, he also knew many more like him. Other kane that, sometimes, weren't as lucky as him and stopped satisfying their owners too soon. From day to day, those who weren't "satisfactory enough" disappeared without a trace, and Zèon envied them silently. He would have given anything simply to stop existing. After all, it was wrong that objects had a conscience, or believed they had. It had been long ago since the last time he had heard the desperate screams of his consciousness trying to cling to his identity.

However, he still remembered the day he had woken up. A maid was preparing him for the one who would be his last owner, spreading different oils on his body and perfuming him with different herbs. That was horrible: not only his owner could touch him as if he was nothing more than an object, but most of them wanted him to go through a rigorous process of preparation before even looking at him.

Someone called the maid and this one, swearing, went out of the room, leaving the door open. Something had cracked in Zèon's mind, as if a rusty mechanism had suddenly found its place and it didn't take him long to understand what that meant. He had went out of the room, at first shyly but then more determined. He could hear voices in the corridors, but there was no one in sight and fortunately he had always had a very keen ear. He would be able to know if someone was approaching him.

Finally, he found an empty room that lead to a huge balcony. Zèon went outside, squinting and hugging himself in order to warm him up a bit. He was still wet because of the oils the maid had placed in his fur and the fast wind that blew in the lands of the fehlar made him shiver.

He looked down.

It was about seven meters to the ground. He knew that an unfortunate fall would very likely end badly, although that possibility didn't seem so bad to him after all. He had been spending so much time praying for his conscience to turn off that dying seemed an end as good as escaping.

So he breathed deeply and climbed up to the balcony's balustrade, without looking down. He knew that any hesitant movement could cause a bad fall and although that could mean escaping his condition as an object, the possibility of being free tempted him more. He heard some voices behind him and knew he hadn't much time.

He jumped.

The freefall feeling caused a curious tingling sensation in his stomach, and it was quickly replaced by a sharp pain in his ankle once he fell to the ground. Zèon was about to scream in pain, but he controlled himself as he heard a shriek of horror in one of the upper floors.

Someone had just noticed his absence.

With a huge effort, he stood up and started to walk towards a little forest not very far from there. He was sure he had twisted his ankle in the fall, and he slowly walked with difficultly, limping painfully. Still, he knew that he couldn't give up at that moment.

A new strength had risen in his conscience, remembering him who he was and, over all, what he was. He was a living and thinking being, who deserved to have the same freedom that any other.

And now he was escaping desperately towards the unknown... just to regain that freedom.

Zèon passed the back of his paw over his eyes, drying the tears from his face and trying to suppress his sobs. It was dark and everyone was asleep in the bedroom, although he again hadn't been able to get to sleep.

Of all the experiences of his life, that had been the one that had marked him the most: the horror of feeling he was only an object, of losing his own identity. He knew, sadly, that he could have forgiven those who had murdered his family and friends, but not those who had used him that way. Because of that he had hidden so insistently the mark that identified him as an object that any fehlar could use. It painfully reminded him of those days when he had lost any trace of his own conscience.

Knowing that getting lost in his memories wouldn't take him anywhere, he tried to dry his tears again and breathed deeply trying to calm himself down. That had already happened, he said to himself. There was no point in remembering it again, let alone crying for it. If only he could forget everything and sleep safe and sound, like the others...

Suddenly, a terrible doubt jumped into his mind and the memories of his past disappeared. After all... why did the others sleep so deeply? Or, to put it another way... did they really do it voluntarily?

Zèon sat up in his bed, with wide open eyes. The blue gleam of his eyes shined in the middle of the night when, uneasy, he tried to get up from his bed. He finally got to do it after some frustrated attempts, but finally managed to stand up, resting weakly in the upper bed ladder.

The silence in the night was so huge that Zèon almost felt as if he had profaned something sacred when he shyly whispered:

-...Koi?

The little husky, who slept in the upper berth, didn't seem to hear his voice. Zèon's nervousness increased, although he didn't call Koi again: if his fears weren't real and the husky woke up, he would surely have some questions that would be difficult to answer. So he breathed deeply and tried to walked towards the bed at the other side of the room, suppressing a gesture of pain.

Each step was a torture and he was about to fall to the ground several times, but he finally reached the other bed and stood against it, breathing heavily. The dense half-light of the night seemed to envelop everything.

-Luca? -Zèon asked then, in a louder voice. There was no answer -. Luca? Can you hear me?

The wolf didn't answer. He didn't even move in his sleep and Zèon started to worry. However, the wolf's chest rose and sank to the rhythm of his paused calm breathing, so it looked like he was asleep. Zèon shook him a bit by his arm, insistently, but he didn't get any reaction. And the arctic fox knew from previous experiences that Luca would have woken up at the littlest movement.

His worst fears were confirmed and he sat in the ground, astonished. It had been all that time right in front of him and he hadn't realized, in spite of how obvious it was.

They were being drugged.

Each night, the fehlar and the kane of the building fell in a provoked sleep, probably, due to something that was included in their meals. That's why the night in the Box was so silent: the guards were also sleeping, simply because they didn't need to watch the prisoners. The drug they gave them would probably be enough to maintain them under control. The memory of that dense and insipid paste they were served every day came back to his memory and was about to make him vomit.

How long had he been falling asleep without even wanting to? How long had they been under that silent control?

<<I have to tell Luca about this>> Zèon thought, nervously >>I have to tell everyone...>>

But then he remembered that Sophia was aware of every single move he made and that if he tried to tell anyone, she would know. He still didn't know how, but he was sure that she kept him under so much surveillance that she could hear even the lowest of their whispers. He couldn't say anything. He couldn't tell anything to anyone.

The arctic fox held his head with his paws, desperate. What was he supposed to do then?

<<I can make Luca understand it without telling him directly>> he though, although he wasn't very sure about that <<Yes, I'm sure he will understand what is happening>>.

He knew that wouldn't be enough to make anyone know one of the more sinister mysteries that prison involved, but he didn't care about that.

In the middle of the night, he clung into that hope and silently wished that the morning arrived soon, dissipating that oppressive half-light full of silence and lies.