stopped hugging the children she stood up and looked at Baloo. “I just picked up a book today, some reading for Baloo.” with that Baloo rolled his eyes.

“ah come on Becky we aren’t even married yet and your already trying to change me?”

“I’ve been trying to change you for a year Baloo, and I still haven’t had any luck with that.” with that Rebecca handed Baloo a book marked with a book mark. “Trust me Baloo, you might want to know a little more about the island.” with that Baloo looked at the title of the book ‘the lost tribe of the Cundarian island.’

“Alright Becky I’ll read it.” with that Baloo opened the book only to have it closed by Rebecca who gave him a look that told him that he shouldn’t read it right then. Later that night the two adults sat in the office of Higher for hire, Rebecca leaned up against her desk as she looked at Baloo reading the book she had given him, as he reached the end of the chapter that was marked he closed the book with a solemn look on his face, as he stood up and looked at Rebecca he rubbed the back of his head, and neck, then set the book on the desk. As he turned to leave Rebecca started to follow only to be stopped when Baloo raised his hand slightly indicating to her that he needed to be alone for a little, as the information that he had read needed to sink in and the magnitude of what Shade had done truly hit him. A few hours later Baloo found him self walking down a street letting his feet just carry him anywhere, as a group of thugs ran past him screaming of a Ghost he started to speed up and saw Kit in just enough time helping a homeless lion off the ground.

“You know this section of town isn’t safe Leo, why don’t you go back and sleep at the shelter.”

“But they want to take my marbles.” it was clear the homeless man wasn’t all right in the head, but as Shade started to walk him away Baloo followed.

“Now listen Leo, you know as well as I do that these are good people that just want to give you a nice place to sleep right now, so you stay here for the night and let them help you.” with that the homeless lion nodded and walked into the shelter. As Shade turned to leave he found him self looking at Baloo who was starring at him with a lose for words. As Shade walked up and past Baloo the big bear cleared his throat slightly. “If your about to lecture me about taking my own advice, I have other things that prevent me from it.” Shade said, as he kept walking.

“I know about the test, I know what you did.” This time Shade stopped, as he looked over his shoulder at Baloo. “You knew what the test was, you knew what would happen to you, what they would do to you.” Baloo stated as he slowly turned and looked at Shade still standing with his back to him.

“Why? just… just tell me why you went through it.”

“Because Kit needed the cure.”

“You risk your neck for Molly, and you sacrificed your hide for Kit. Just reading what was in the book Becky gave me made me want to scream.” Shade’s ears lowered slightly as he turned his head away from Baloo.

“So she knows as well.”

“Yeah she’s the one who found the book. Kid your to young to do such things, you put your self thought something that I don‘t know to many adults could handle.” As Baloo spoke Shade ignored his words, knowing this speech all to well from those he had known in his past.

“What about Kit?”

“No… well not yet I’m debating if I should tell him or not.” Shade’s ears perked up slightly as he looked over his shoulder at Baloo.

“I’ll save you the debate… Don’t.”

“But.”

“Don’t tell him Baloo. Let this conversation end here, and now.” with that Shade started to walk away.

“Why didn‘t you tell us?” Baloo asked, as Shade got further and further away. “KID WHY DIDN’T YOU TELL US!?” still no response from Shade as he vanished into the darkness. As Baloo found him self standing alone in the dark he started to walk away, haunted by what information he knew now about Shade, and the look that Shade had given him back on the island. “My dad always said that only soldiers that had seen a lot would get a look like that… what has that kid done in his life.”

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What was the test that Shade endured, why does it concern Baloo and Becky so much, find out in later chapters.

Tune in next time as a plan to get Shade to take a break from crime fighting get’s him to remember the Night Witches, a squadron of all female fighter pilots who took him in after he escaped Panda-La.