So Nic set up the test drive and didn't put on a helmet either as he got on the motorcycle.

--

Raven went looking for Frei around the time they usually hung out.

So Laurel pulled up to Nic, "Should we race to somewhere specific?"

--

Frei was having a stare down with Mr. Whiskers in the kitchen.

Nic shrugged.

--

Raven slowly walked over, trying to figure out what was going on.

Laurel rolled her eyes a little, "Fine, let's race to that lighthouse we saw on the way in."

--

Frei was trying to feed Mr. Whiskers red meat but the jaguar kitten was having none of it.

Nic nodded, starting up the engine.

--

Raven rolled his eyes a little. "Hey Frei," Raven told her as he went to sit next to her.

Laurel gunned her engine before shooting off with a laugh.

--

Frei was not losing the staring contest with the kitten. It looked pretty intense.

So Nic rode after Laurel, looking for an opportunity to pass her.

--

So Raven waited.

Laurel was taking the least crowded way to the lighthouse, thus providing Nic ample opportunity to pass her. She did a decent job of cutting him off though.

--

Finally the kitten hissed, ending the stalemate.

Nic wasn't an expert racer, but he knew his way around motorcycles. He didn't give up, continuing to put the pressure on Laurel.

--

"... I guess it's not ready," Raven noted.

Laurel's leg went up to kick Nic as he managed to get around her. She was grinning but it wasn't her usual kind smile.

--

"It's old enough," Frei stated in a matter of fact tone. The kitten hissed again.

Nic managed to dodge Laurel's kick as he took the lead. He didn't seem to notice the smile as he focused on the task at hand.

--

"Just because it's old enough doesn't always mean its ready," Raven explained.

So they continued to fight back and forth for the lead for a while. Then, when Laurel zoomed past Nic for the lead, she glanced over her shoulder still grinned and then frozen. A fraction of a second later she was pulling her bike into a tight U-turn, tires squealing with effort as she shot back down the street. People were scrambling to get out of the way as she took off down a somewhat crowded side-street.

--

Frei stared blankly at Raven. That didn't make any sense to her.

Nic glanced over at Laurel, slowing down a little before doing a U-turn and following after her.

--

Raven thought about it a little while before trying another example, "Some things take more time. You've were big enough to go down the waterside by yourself for long before I came. But even after I came it still took some time before you were ready to try it on your own. I know eating meat isn't like going down a water slide, and she'll eventually have to eat meat. But don't force it on her. One day she'll want to eat it, and you won't have to fight her."

Like back in the caves, Laruel was very hard to follow. But eventually Nic turned a corner and Laurel was sitting on her bike, hunched over with her head in her hands.

--

Frei blinked, thinking about that for awhile. "But Mr. Whiskers doesn't have trauma associated with meat," she stated.

Nic slowed down and stopped his bike next to hers quietly.

--

"... Just because there isn't a trauma, doesn't mean she won't be hesitant," Raven replied.

It seemed to take a moment for Laurel to notice Nic. "I think... I'm going insane," she admitted quietly.

--

Frei tilted her head a little before looking back at the cat. The cat tilted it's head back.

Nic was silent for a long time before asking quietly, "How so?"

--

Raven chuckled a little at the two of them. "I have something to talk to you about before we go have fun," he told Frei when he was finished.

"I keep seeing him," Laurel whispered, still clutching her head.

--

Frei blinked, turning to look at Raven. The cat did the same.

"Who?" Nic asked, voice blank as always.

--

Raven managed not to laugh. Then he grabbed Frei and put her on his lap like he sometimes did. "I wanna know what you think about me," he explained.

Laurel was silent for a long moment, "... Hayden..." she finally hissed.

--

Frei blinked at him again. She didn't seem to understand.

Nic nodded a little. After another moment he asked, "Do you want to go back?"

--

Raven looked like he had expected that reaction. "Do you like having me around?" he tried to clarify. "Do you think it's fun to spend time with me? Would you rather do something else instead?"

Laurel paused and then shook her head a little, not moving from her hunched position.

--

Frei seemed more confused, "You're the frog," she stated as if that was the most obvious thing in the world.

Nic didn't say anything else, waiting for Laurel.

--

"... Do you like the 'Frog?'" Raven tried.

Laurel wasn't moving.

--

Frei nodded.

Nic eventually got off the motorcycle and propped it up before leaning on it.

--

"Cool," Raven replied. "And what do you think about..." He paused. "... The 'Frog' and the 'Dragon?'"

"... He... wasn't really here, right?" Laurel finally whispered.

--

Frei shrugged, "They're in the same phylum."

"He wasn't here," Nic answered.

--

Raven paused. "What do you think about Wolfe and I?" he tried.

"You're sure?" Laurel whispered.

--

Frei shrugged, "Ryuji is better now," she stated.

Nic nodded.

--

Raven blinked, not expecting that response. "Better?" he asked.

Laurel finally snuck a peek at Nic and shuttered. "Sorry..." she murmured, embarrassed.

--

Frei nodded.

Nic didn't say anything.

--

Raven sighed a little. He needed to work on her elaboration skill. "Well, what about you?" he asked. "What do you think about Wolfe and I?"

Laurel stared at Nic for a long moment, "Can I... have a hug?" she asked quietly.

--

"Dragons teach frogs to breath fire... frogs teach dragons to catch flies," she stated, "You..." she scrunched up her face again like she always did when her brain started fighting her. She forced the word out, "help..." another pause, pain registering on her face, "each other."

Nic slowly got up and walked over to Laurel, putting his arms around her gently.

--

Raven ran a hand through Frei's hair. "... What about you?" he asked gently. "Do... we help you?"

Laurel slowly loosened up and hugged him back tightly, shaking a little.

--

Frei didn't respond as she leaned her head against Raven's chest. He already knew the answer to that.

Nic held Laurel as long as it took.

--

Raven sighed a little. He ran his hand through Frei's hair quietly for awhile before telling her, "I want you to know I plan on staying... with you and Wolfe. I'll keep helping you both as much as I can. And I want you to know that I love you both, and I hope you both love me back."

Finally Laurel untangled herself and took a deep breath, "Let's... go to the light house anyway. It's pretty."

--

Frei was quiet for a moment before leaning up and kissing Raven's cheek lightly.

So Nic got back on his motorcycle and started it up.

--

Raven smiled a little before kissing Frei's forehead. "... So what do you want to do today?" he asked.

Laurel did the same but the energy seemed to be gone now. She looked around, "I don't know where we are," she admitted.

--

"Play with Kitten," she stated. She never actually called her jaguar kitten, 'kitten'.

Nic seemed to have some idea as he started driving off at a reasonable speed.

--

Raven glanced at the jaguar kitten.

Laurel followed slightly behind him.

--

Frei didn't look at the kitten as she moved to get out of Raven's arms.