A few weeks later, Palette's POV

I slowly wake up and shake my head. My head hurts so badly for some reason. Eh, probably just the corgi ears. Still, what happened? I see my hat and Goth's scarf resting on the table. Then it starts coming back to me. Goth came over to my house to hangout. We had planned a proper sleepover but I didn't think I'd fall asleep on the couch.

I hear a soft snore and realize that I'm not the only sleepy one on the couch.

Goth fell asleep leaning on me.

So peaceful....He looks so happy....Precious....Adorable....Wait no! Palette no! Don't think like this! You're just friends!

I slide my arm around him and glance away. My face burns as I much as I didn't want it to. My soul beat faster feeling him snuggle closer. I shake my head.

I can't even understand or trust these feelings. We're just friends. He's my friend. It would be wrong to look for more after all he has done...

I sigh. I'm being stupid. My soul is stupid.

"Hmmm? Palette?"Goth says sleepily as he sits up.

"Morning, Goth."I say

He glances at me and jolts.

"Are you okay?"He asks, seeming worried already

"Yeah....Why?"I reply

"You turned more into a corgi. Fur is growing on you."He says

I feel my head to find fur growing down to my cheeks.

"That's strange."We both say

"Do you feel alright?"He asks

I nod, getting up to prepare some food. We eat together, casually talking about dreams that we had. Everything was okay until I glance at the clock to see that were running late. We quickly get ready for school, grabbing our bags as I say goodbye to Pakeekee. I put my hat on and he wraps his scarf back on us we run towards school. Kids see me and their eyes widen in alarm.

"It's Palette! Run!"They shout, scattering

I glance at Goth as everyone separated from us as if we had a plague. His Reaperlings walk out of the shadows to us.

"Well that's unusual."The panthers comment

"They're just being dumb."The crows and ravens say

"How are you both? How was the sleepover?"The hedgehogs squeak

"Good."We both say

"Palette!"A voice shouts

"Oh great, my brother."Goth says with a shake of his head.

Raven cuts between us and glares at me.

"Where were you yesterday and why do they fear you more than me?"He snaps

"I was having a sleepover with Goth. He introduced me to ice cream. I'm just as lost as you to the reason."I tell him

"Well whatever it is, keep it away from us."He growls

"Raven! Stop being rude to him!"Goth says

"I don't trust him with you, Goth! And I don't think I ever will!"He snaps

"Ugh, you're being ridiculous! Palette, I'm sorry! I-!"Goth begins

I wave it away.

"It's fine. I'll leave you both be. I know when it's my cue to leave."I say, heading inside

I sit in class and quickly get to work before the rest of the class entered. Goth sits beside me and I could feel his gaze on me.

"Palette, I'm sorry about Raven. I-"He tries to apologize again

"He's just being a good brother. There's nothing wrong with that."I say

"But he shouldn't treat you like this! It's been weeks into our friendship and he hasn't even given you a chance!"He says

"Can't force something that he doesn't want. That wouldn't be fair. I learned that from my parents. And not everyone has to like you to be happy."I say, continuing to work on math

The bell rings eventually for lunch. The adults took us outside for lunch so I sit on the grass to eat my lunch. A dark shadow looms over me. Expanding as two black wings spread from either side of it. I glance up, seeing Raven pout as he stands behind me.

"My brother is mad at me and sent me over to apologize to you."He huffs

I shrug, unzipping my lunch.

"Don't say it unless you mean it. I don't want lies. You don't have to apologize if you don't feel like it. I can see where you're coming from anyway."I say

"Huh?"He says, seeming surprised

"It's hard to trust people once you've been hurt. I know. You trusted these kids with your brother and for them to be nice. They broke that trust. Now I come along and you have trouble opening up that trust again. You're just looking out for him and he's lucky to have a good brother like you."I say, munching on my sandwich

"How have you been hurt to know that?"He asks

"Hmmm, well I have a living abomination for an uncle that always wants to kill me to get back at my parents who forget I exist. I still can't fully trust myself or adults. And I never had siblings around to look out for me like you do for him. Pick a reason for me to be understanding."I say

"What's wrong with you?"He asks

"Hmm, I'll make a list and get back to you on that."I chuckle, then feel myself change again

More fur grows on me and I feel a snout grow from my head.

"Are you ok?"He asks, looking at me with concern in his voice.

"Yep, I'm doing fine."I say with a smile at him

More fur puffs out on my neck.

Then I hear people screaming. I glance over to see a giant portal opening. A figure comes through, covered in dark green with emerald green eyes like a cat's. They have a wispy form as black as Raven's wings.

"I'm here for what I'm owed."The stranger says, their voice booming

I follow their gaze to see that they were focusing on Goth. I get up, leaving my lunch and Raven behind to run over to him as he sits on the bleachers eating his lunch. His back was to the chaos as kids ran away from the figure, headphones on his head.

"Goth!"I shout to him, seeing the stranger reach their gigantic hand down to him

He looks at me and takes off his headphones.

"Oh! Palette! Did my bro-?"He begins

"Look out!"I snap, shoving him out of the way

Upon the stranger's touch, I was transported somewhere else. I land roughly on a cobblestone floor in darkness.

"Ugh....That hurt."I say, then glance around

Where am I?

Goth's POV

I land underneath the bleachers and the Reaperlings quickly climb on top of me to hide me. The giant stranger glances around at at their own empty hand.

"Huh, not the child I was going for but I guess it'll do. Might be fun to toy with like that Geno gem."The stranger says

They took Papa before? They were after me? Why? Where the heck did Palette go?

The stranger disappears and the Reaperlings allow me to get up. I see all the kids, including my friends, hiding wherever they could. Raven runs over me worriedly.

"Goth, are you okay?"He asks

"No! Palette got kidnapped again! This time in my place! And you say that you won't trust the friend that saved my life!"I snap

"What do you mean again?"He asks

"His uncle's disgusting, okay? Things happened! You saw him get abducted!"I say

"Eh, it wasn't you so I guess I forgot. I was more focused on Gaster."He says

I pick up Palette's hat, walking over to grab his abandoned lunchbox. He hardly started his lunch. I summon my scythe to my hand.

"Don't tell me that you're actually-!"He begins

"Won't be the first time I've used this. I want to, no, have to get Palette back."I say

"Kids! Are you alright? I came as soon as I heard with your father!"Dad says

I see Father land, his wings still flapping with Papa in his arms. They both run over, hugging us quickly.

"Papa, why did a big stranger take you and you didn't tell us?"Raven asks

"Oh no....Did they hurt either of you?"He asks

"That freak tried to take Goth!"Raven says

I frown. Father looks around once seeing me holding Palette's hat. Papa hugs me with a smile, sighing with relief.

"Thank goodness you're safe."He says

"Yea! That idiot couldn't even touch Goth!"Raven lies

They could've and would've if it weren't for Palette.

"Well what prevented them? And where is Palette?"Father asks

"He ran off as soon as the freak came!"Raven lies again

"Oh shut up, Raven! You can't even be nice to him when he isn't around!"I snap at him

Father glances at Raven.

"What did you do to him now?"He asks

"He's lying about Palette! Palette knocked me out of the way and got taken instead! I want to get him back!"I say

The Reaperlings confirm my claim, pointing out Raven's lies and rude behavior today. Papa looks around.

"Out of all these kids, he protected you?"He asks

"Told you that he is a good kid, Gen. Now hopefully the two of you can accept that."Father says, shooting a glance at Raven to make it clear that it includes him

I spin my scythe in hand and the list appears, this time longer.

"Goth? Since when did you have a list with the scythe?"Papa asks

"My boy grows up so fast!"Father says

"I was able to summon it when Palette got kidnapped by Nightmare. The list appeared with his name on it last time."I say, curiously checking the list

I see a few more names in different colors. Maybe it's to indicate areas or something? Shino and Radier were both in blue. Gradient, Lux, Liz, Blueprint, Bluescreen, all these different names yet I still can't find Palette's. It seems like the more I read the more it grows.

"Oh dear...I know that feeling."Father says, seeing my growing frustration

I finally found Palette's name as the only one in yellow. But before I could do anything, I feel a hand lift me from the ground.

"If he gets that, I'll collect him."A voice says

Then my sight of my family or anything disappeared. I could only feel the list in my hand.

TBC