[Kaliko]

Raven was quiet for a long time before replying quietly, "I don't belong here."

[Rinrou]

Bee played with the dirt for awhile. "I think..." she finally replied quietly, "that you fit in here much better than you believe." She paused, "I know you're judging us. But I hope you're not putting yourself on a pedestal."

[Kaliko]

Raven ripped out a weed rather harshly, some of the root getting caught in the ground. "Pedestal?" he asked a little darkly as he started digging for the rest of the root. "Well, I'm sorry I can't quite seem to justify your actions even if you somehow have good intentions."

[Rinrou]

Bee was silent for awhile, watching him dig out the root, "Not everyone is as lucky as you, Raven." she murmured, "Having parents and a home... having the change to love and experience freedom." She leaned back a little, "You're learning for the first time, what true hardship in this world is. Of course you'd be repelled by it."

[Kaliko]

"Don't go assuming I know nothing of hardship," Raven spat toward the root. "I'm not as ignorant as everyone thinks I am. Because I chose long ago not to let it define me. But, even in the worst of the worst of circumstances, I'm not sure if some things are ever justifiable."

[Rinrou]

Bee smiled faintly, "You know what James told me awhile ago? He said that Wolfe has never once acted out of his own self-interest. He protects Frei, James, holds the neonates together, guards Laurel, accepted Nic and Yue and saved you. He holds this entire place together and you know what? He leans on no one. He never has had that luxury." she turned to stare at Raven, "He protects everyone, puts everyone in front of himself, so I don't give a rat's ass if you don't think some of his actions are justifiable. Yes, he stole a child. Did he physically harm her in any way? No. He did what he had to to protect Laurel and all of us. He takes all the blame, all the guilt, and all the pain onto himself so the rest of us can stay safe. What makes you so high and mighty that you can pass judgement on him?" she demanded with a frown, "Do you think his training has made him immune to human emotion? Do you think just because he doesn't express it, that he doesn't feel?"

[Kaliko]

"It doesn't matter," Raven spat back as he kept working on the root. "I don't care who or why or what anyone else thinks. Follow him blindly if you want. But for me, it's not enough. I don't know him. And I don't know you or anyone else here. All I can do is trust my gut and my heart."

[Rinrou]

"I don't follow him blindly," Bee muttered defensively before sighing, "But I understand... you have to follow your heart."

[Kaliko]

Raven didn't say anything else as he took out the last of the root. "So if you don't mind, I'd rather be left alone right now."

[Rinrou]

"If you separate yourself like this, you'll never get to know any of us," Bee replied but she stood and dusted herself off.

[Kaliko]

So Raven stayed in the outskirts of the garden for the rest of the day by himself and the plants.

[Rinrou]

That night the house found out the rest of the group would return in the late night/early morning hours. The girls were excited that Wolfe was coming back since James was still acting weird. He'd started sitting in Yue's room, running his hand up and down the long scar on his arm.

[Kaliko]

After James and Nic collided, Nic roundaboutly made his way not to his room but to the infirmary where he sat for an hour or two next to Yue's bedside. He didn't do or say anything - most of the time he wasn't looking at her. But it was clear his mind was busy with something. When he was done thinking, he returned to his room and didn't come out again.

Nothing else of note happened besides Raven returning to his room for a much needed shower.

[Rinrou]

The group arrived late in the night. Some of the girls went to welcome them home. The majority of the group was tired and headed for their beds. Wolfe and Tulip went to see Kale. He was asleep but both looked at Blaze for a briefing on his status.

Dot had fallen asleep latched onto Dan with one arm and her first two fingers of the other hand stuck into her small mouth.

[Kaliko]

Blaze gave Wolfe a short but detailed verbal report like she usually did. In short, he was recovering at a decent pace but apparently the drugs were messing with his head.

Dan didn't seem too pleased that she had ended up taking care of Dot, but she put up with it for now.

[Rinrou]

Wolfe nodded and reached over, gently running a hand through Kale's mohawk. Tulip bounced on her feet a little, "He looks ugly," she decided with a scrunched up nose, "Uglier than usual."

Snow seemed to materialize out of thin air into the art room and smiled tiredly at the two of them. "I'm glad she found someone she's comfortable with," she told Dan quietly.