Virgil's POV *Memory*

I was running through the forest. What was I trying to escape? No, it wasn't a what, it was a who. I was running from someone. A person that should have protected me. A person I should have been able to rely on. I was running from someone I feared. My eight-year-old legs carried me into a clearing. This wasn't safe. I was going to be caught in this wide-open space. "Hello?" My eyes focused on the boy in front of me. No, I had to get away from him. People were dangerous. People weren't safe to be around. Stumbling backward I tried to turn away. He was reaching out towards me and the world went black.

When the light finally reached me again, I felt warm and comfortable, it scared me. This was not normal. This wasn't real. I opened my eyes and I flinched back, surveying my surroundings. Everything in my body was shaking. "Hey, it's okay. You're okay."

I snapped my head to the voice, it was soft and kind but I didn't believe in kindness. Kindness was always a trick to get your guard down. It was the boy, with the dirty blond hair in soft curls. He had freckles all over his face and a dimple in his cheek when he smiled. I didn't like the idea of him being so close to me. I began backing away. He didn't follow.

He did, however, raise a hand. "Hey kiddo, don't move around too much, you just woke up from a little cat nap."

What? Was that supposed to be a joke? I relaxed a little bit. Whoever I was running from never told jokes like this and when I relaxed, the boy's eyes sparkled. "Wasn't that just the purr-fect joke?"

I was fighting the urge to smile, covering my mouth with my hand. I wasn't going to show him weakness. His kindness was a lie. "Why do you have me here? You can't keep me here. I won't let you take me back to him."

"I couldn't let you sit out there alone. You were hurt! And no one is going to take you anywhere you don't want to go. We have spells to protect us. I'm paw-sitive you'll be safe."

I couldn't help but laugh a little bit at that. "This is serious."

"I know, but I finally got you to smile! By the way, my name is Patton! What's yours kiddo?"

Was it okay? He was so kind. No, kindness wasn't real. Still, when I looked at his smiling face, I felt safe. Instinctively my small black tail curled around my body. "My name is Virgil." Could my voice have sounded any weaker?

"Virgil, it's different, but I like that it's different." Patton smiled widely at me. How could someone be smiling so big for my sake?

The rest of my memory was blurred and faded, things I didn't want to remember, or had simply not been important enough to be cemented. There were sleepless nights, nightmares I couldn't recall, but mornings where I was curled up next to a protective Patton. It was there that my memory decided to become clear and settle once again.

"Did you sleep well kiddo?" Patton asked softly, gently rubbing behind my ear.

I nodded, "Thank you, I'm sorry for always bothering you."

"It's okay, I'm always here to help you when you need it! Besides, you are stronger than you realize and you deserve a pat on the back for that!"

I couldn't help but smile again, I felt like a burden to him, but he always tried to remind me I wasn't.

"Hey Virge. I know it's a bit strange, but do you want to be my familiar? It would mean that you were, without a doubt, part of my family. I don't want you to doubt how much I care for you my little storm cloud."

"A... are you sure? You only get one right? I don't want to stop you from having a better familiar."

"Of course I'm sure! I think I was waiting for you to come Virgil. I want to protect you, I want to show you there are so many fun things about this world. Let me adopt you!"

"Wh..what?" I blushed, "I know you always call me kiddo but you are too young to be a Father." My tail fluffed up as he giggled.

"Awe kiddo, don't act like that. I'll take good care of ya!"

"I...I don't want you to be my Father, but I want to be your familiar."

"Okay!" I could tell he was settling but he still seemed happy. Grasping my hands he held them tight and I felt a warmth surround us with a blinding light. When the warmth finally cooled down it left a lingering cold sensation on my neck. Slowly I reached up and touched what was there. A necklace hung loosely around my neck, looking over I saw that Patton had one as well. It had not been there before. A beautiful sun hung around his neck, but it seemed to be missing something to the side of it. My fingers traced the necklace in my hand, a moon, and when we brought them together, they fit.

"Thank you Virgil." Patton hugged me and I couldn't be happier, but happiness was not guaranteed.

"I smell smoke." I could see the haze around the room already beginning to form.

Patton shot up. "Virgil stay close."

He opened the door and I immediately saw it, everything was on fire. How had we not noticed? Patton and I kept each other close as we began to run through the house, trying to get to the exit. It wasn't until the burning building was behind us that I realized this was my fault. The words echoed in my head.

"I finally found you Monster." He spat the words. "Look what you made me do." I was staring at the one person I had desperately trying to forget but his image was burned in my brain.

"Father."

AN: I hope you didn't think I was going to give him back all of his memories? What fun would that be only 5 chapters in? I hope you enjoyed your early chapter!