7.
"Owwwwwww! I swear, you really like hurting me don't you Alexei? Owwwwww I say!"
Alexei looked up at the hair who was laying on one of the beds as she tightened the bandage on his injured footpaw with a slight grin on her face. 
"You and I both know it' not hurting you that much, so stop complaining, unless you want me to put some of this bandage around your mouth"
The hare shut his mouth tight and shook his head, only letting out a few more winces as Alexei finished. Deyna and Xander were standing at the table nearby, the box Zander had managed to bring back safely still unopened on it.
"Alexei is a pretty good healer, so if you ever need help if your hurt, she's the one to see" Xander whispered.
"Then I'll try my best not to get hurt" Deyna said with a small grin as he watched Silver wince once more.
Alexei stood and walked over to them. "I heard that Deyna. Good job tonight though, I have to admit, you do show a little promise. Not many could have fought their way out of there like that."
Deyna smiled at her. "Hey, thanks, Silver helped a lot though."
Alexei nodded slowly. "Silver has helped us many times, and as much as he annoys me, he's a good ally."
"Is that a compliment I hear?" the hare said as he stood, gingerly placing his bandaged footpaw on the ground as he limped slightly walking towards them.
"No, I was just stating a fact" Alexei replied, making the hare's eares droop.
"Wouldn't hurt for you to be nice for once" Silver muttered.
Xander looked at the box they had brought back. It looked fairly ordinary, a small wooden box, a light brown colour, though now it was in the light, he could see that there were several odd symbols carved into the wood.
"So, is there really a gate relic in this?" he asked aloud.
Alexei picked up the box, holding it out to Deyna. "Only one way to find out. Deyna, open the box."
The otter looked a little puzzled. "Why me?"
Alexei spun the box around in her paws. "Because there is no way to open the box other than breaking it, and the symbols on it I recognize, they stop anyone forcibly opening it. Your dagger however should make it open."
Deyna took the box in his left hand as he unsheathed his dagger. "Ok, here goes nothing."
He tapped the box with the tip of his dagger. Instantly all the symbols lit up with a light blue light and a small clicking noise could be heard as the box opened, the top of it dissapearing. Deyna looked inside. The inside was cushioned with silk, and right in the middle of it was a small amythest, glowing very faintly.
Xander let out a small gasp. "It really is a relic!"
Alexei nodded. "Then our worst fears have been confirmed."
Silver nodded grimly. "It would appear so."
Deyna looked at the three of them. "What? What's going on?"
Xander leant against the desk. "Your holding in your hands one of the seven relics. Those relics were meant to stay in their gates so Vargas could never return. It means that one of the gates has fallen Deyna. However I have no idea how it could have. Your dagger was suppossed to be the only thing that could open them."
Alexei took the box from the otter's hands, placing it on the table. "It also means that the other gates are in danger of being opened."
"So what should we do? I mean, it's up to us to protect the gates right?" Deyna asked.
"It is. Xander, I want you to begin research on anything that may open the gates, anything you find let us know right away."
The mouse nodded as he started walking quickly towards the exit of the hideout. "I have some old files that might say something, haven't had a chance to translate them yet but I'm sure there's something in there that could help, I'll get right on it!" he called out as he left.
"What about me?" Deyna asked.
Alexei stroked her chin slowly as she thought.
"Hmmmm, well there's a gate in the forests of Chiikalt, which is about a three day trip from here. Do you know the place?
Deyna shook his head. "Afraid not, most of my life was spent in my village.
Alexei nodded. "I see. Well, Chiikalt is a region filled with vast forests, there are a few villages scattered about here and there but it's mostly forest. One of the gates is hidden in the forests. I would like you to go to the gate and check on it. I'd also like to send someone with you, but seeing as we are stretched a little thin lately, you'll have to go alone."
Silver cleared his throat audibly. "Ahem, what about myself? I'll go and make sure our ottern here doens't get into any trouble!"
"Out of the question Silver, your injury would just slow him down"
Silver straightened his back, his nose high in the air, then winced as he put weight on to his injured footpaw. "mmmmmmmppphh...not at all, why he'd be the one to slow me down!"
Deyna couldn't help but smile at the hare, he had taken a great liking to him since first meeting him. "Alexei, I'd actually like him to come along. If the forests are as big as you say, I'd like to be able to have someone to help me find my way, and to watch my back incase something happens."
Silver nodded enthusiastically, but Alexei still looked a little unconvinced. "I'm still not sure about it Deyna."
"Well I say, no point in me just laying about here waiting to heal up. But I suppose I could always just stay here and keep you company Alexei."
Alexei shook her head in defeat, slightly smiling to herself. "Fine, I can see you two aren't going to let this go, so ok, Deyna, you and Silver go to Chiikalt, when you get there head to the village of Luit, and talk to the village elder, he'll help you. I'll have a map ready for you in the morning, you'll leave then. Now both of you, go and get some rest, you'll need it for the journey ahead."

Deyna was standing in a field filled with flowers, the sun shining overhead and a light breeze blowing. The dagger in his hand was glowing, a small trail of light leading off into the distance. The otter followed it, feeling a strange feeling inside him, a feeling of great power. The scene began to change, colour fading from the world, the flowers shrivelling and dying, untill he was standing in front of a wall of black fire. Holding his dagger towards it, he could hear soft laughter, like a childs laugh, then he realised he was the one laughing! Dropping to his knees, the laughter stopping, he uttered one word.

"Destiny"

"Deyna? You alright?"
Deyna opened his eyes, blinking a little as the image from his dream faded. He was laying in his bed inside the Wings hideout, staring at the ceiling. Looking to his right he could see his dagger safe on the bedside table where he had left it. Silver was sat up in his bed on the other side of the table, looking at Deyna with a worried look on his face.
"You ok?" the haee asked again "You started laughing in your sleep then said the word destiny. Having a dream?"
Deyna sat up slowly, rubbing his eyes. "Yeah, it was weird but it was only a dream. Nothing to be worried over."
Silver smiled. "Something is on your mind though I can tell."
Deyna nodded, sighing a little. "Yeah. It's just, things are moving really fast. Just two days ago I was travelling, a runaway from home. Now I'm part of a group that protects the world, and I'm gaurdian of the key to it all."
Silver nodded. "Understandable really. But you are taking it all rather well."
"It's just, I'm worried really about what's going to happen. I have no real idea of what to do when we get to the gate."
The hare nodded again, stretching a little. "That makes two of us."
"You mean, you don't know either!?" the otter said looking shocked.
"No I don't know. I'm a theif remember, not some expert on magical artifacts and whatnot. However, I just reckon we go to the gate, see what's what and do what we need to do. No point in over thinking, you'll just worry too much and in the end, that will end up destroying a fur. So, take it as it comes, and react to it."
Deyna layed back down slowly. "Interesting way of thinking Silver. I'll have to remember that. Are you sure your up for this though? How is your footpaw now?
Silver smiled. "Up for it? Ha, I bet I'll be ahead of you the whole time, waiting for you to catch up to me. My footpaw is fine, stinging a lot but fine."
Deyna couldn't help but smile again, the hare seemed to have such an energy about him. "I'm gonna have to race you someday, just to show you how fast we otters are!"
Silver grinned. "You got it! Once my footpaw is healed, we shall race. Winner gets to have the loser as a servant for the whole day hahaha!"
Deyna yawned as he closed his eyes. "haha, ok deal. I'm heading back to sleep, see you in the morning."
Deyna's only answer was the heavy breathing of the hare, he had already fallen asleep!