Kumorifox1982 suggested on my previous journal that perhaps I should just post the scene I was concerned about, assuming it had no spoilers, and see what people thought. Basically, I was concerned it came off as awkward or too preachy. It's certainly well within the characters' motivations, though, so that much I'm confident on. Anywho, below is scene as it currently stands. Is it okay? Is it strange? Is it confusing? Does it suck? Don't hold back!

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Kael stared at his computer screen as he clicked through article after article. The world's largest particle accelerator; a politician caught being indiscreet with a mistress; mass hallucinations and their potential causes. The kangaroo wasn't really digging that deep into the material, however. He was too busy arguing with himself.

'Matt's been gone for a while, and I still haven't tried to talk to Dias. But the last time I talked to the dude, I ended up with my mind hidden away while he ran around in my body. But Matt said if I was careful, I could keep that from happening again.'

A knock at the door broke his train of thought. "Come in, dude!"

The door opened inward and revealed Axel in his jeans and t-shirt. After walking in and shutting the door, the german shepherd leaned against the wall with his arms crossed. Kael thought the fur was rather intimidating, despite his constantly friendly demeanor.

"I came to check up on Matt, but I guess he's not here, eh? So how's the kangaroo friend doing?"

Kael rolled his eyes at the mention of the nickname. "I'm fine, thanks, man. But hey, while you're here I have a question."
"Shoot."

"Well," Kael spun in his seat so he was facing the standing shepherd squarely, "I noticed you wear a cross. I saw you playing with the necklace yesterday at the park."

Axel tugged on the silver chain to reveal a small cross. Flipping it about in a tawny paw, Axel shrugged. "Yeah? And?"

"How do you deal with being religious and practicing magic? Witchcraft?"

"Oh, that's it?" Axel stepped forward and sat on Matt's bed. He flicked his ears at the kangaroo as he continued, "To me it's about faith, rather than the rules. Religions have so many rules than no fur could follow them all, no matter how hard he tried."

Kael stared at his long feet, wiggling the toes against the short-pile carpet before answering. "Plenty of terrible things have been done in the name of religion, like the Crusades, or hating on the gays."

"And plenty good. Helpin' the poor, or the directionless. Medieval science had a huge boost by churches, too. But all of that, the good 'n bad, was done by furs, not my God or yours."

The kangaroo snorted and shook his head. "Funny, Dias said almost the exact same thing."

"I knew you had to be thinkin' about that Dias guy." Axel leaned back on his elbows and grinned at the 'roo. "You think he's a god?"

"Is there a difference? The dude might as well be one. At least, Laura figures so. I don't know."

"Sure there's a difference. Maybe he's as fallible as the rest of us, with his own motives."

"I'm a physicist, or at least studying to become one. I never figured I'd suddenly be talking philosophy and faith."

Axel sat up again and reached across the tiny room to put a paw on Kael's shoulder. "I feel like learnin' magic for the greater good to help furs is the right thing to do. There's nothin' for me to deal with as long as I'm doing the right thing, 'cause then I'm being true to my faith."

"Yeah, but then how do I know that I'm doing the right thing?" Kael pushed off the german shepherd's paw and began to pace the short room.

"That's a hard question to answer. For me, my parents and church taught me that as long as I'm helpin' others without hurtin' them, then it must be the right thing to do. Pretty simple, but it's worked so far." Axel's brown eyes were staring straight at the worried 'roo. "Do you think you did the right thing with Dias?"

"It saved Laura, Matt, and Chris, so probably. But it still doesn't feel right." Kael ran his claws through his black hair, pulling at it as he agonized. "Feels strange knowing this dude has so much power over what I do and who I am."

"So do your family and friends, or even the government. Why is addin' God to that list so different?"

"Yeah, but I can disown my parents, or tell my friends to screw off. Or I can break the law or tell the government to shove off. Might be consequences, but I've got that choice."

Axel shrugged. "And that's no different from my faith. I could ignore my faith, but I need to be prepared for the consequences of that. We've all got that choice."

The kangaroo looked at the cop for a few moments. The german shepherd was resolute in his faith, and Kael thought he was a good fur. A smile still gracing his brown muzzle, the shepherd cocked his head at Kael as the silence dragged on.

"I've never thought of it that way. At least, it was never taught to me that way. I mean, I wasn't ready to trust Dias when he told me all the same stuff you're telling me now, but it makes sense. I still control my own destiny, and my own choices. That having faith, or following a faith doesn't mean I have to lose who I am, or be doomed to be a sheep."

Axel nodded. "Yup."

"Dude, you've helped me a lot. Thanks for the chat, man. Perhaps I've been approaching this thing all wrong." Kael plopped onto his own bed, across from the shepherd.

"Hey, happy to help!" Axel pointed behind the younger fur at one of his posters. A buff golden retriever in bulky metallic combat armor smiled back at the pair from the wall. "So, Furs of War 3 any good?"

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Okay, have at it!