Three weeks later, Snowhawk stood on the bank of the forest lake and gazed across. She gave a heavy sigh and brushed her mane over shoulders. “I will go back to town tomorrow,” she whispered, “and I will tell them my decision.”

Janus stepped out of the brush a few moments later. “ What’s on your mind Snowhawk?”

She turned toward him, smiling faintly as he closed the gap between them. “I’m going back to town tomorrow. I’ve made them wait too long for my decision.”

“Should I go with you?” he quietly asked, wrapping his arms around her.

“No. I’d be afraid of what Legacy might do if he saw you.”

Janus gave a small nod. “I’m still worried about you going alone, though. Could I at least send someone with you?”

“Like who?” she questioned, canting her head to the side.

“Anyone that could protect you. Even-- Adian.”

She smirked at his suggestion. “Would you trust him that far?”

“Not in the least,” he admitted. “Would you?”

“I think I could,” she replied.

“Please be careful tomorrow, Snowhawk,” Janus pleaded. “Your Guardian might not be able to control his emotions.”

“I know,” she nodded. “But I did get myself into this mess. I’ll have to accept any consequences that are dealt.”

“I wish it could be easier for you,” he said, pulling her closer to him.

“At times, I do too, but I know that without my trials, I wouldn’t be who I am today.”

*********

Later that night, Snowhawk crept out of their bedroom and into the forest. She tried to remain near the cabin, but wandered aimlessly around it, lost in thought. The feeling of someone grabbing her arm quickly snapped her back to reality. “Who--?!”

“Good to see you again, love,” Legacy replied.

“Let me he hell go!” she demanded. “What are you doing here?”

“You’re coming back, Snow. You’re too important for us to lose.”

She had heard all this before. “Too important to who? You or the Empire you’re trying to build?”

Legacy replied with a smirk. “Both. Now, we’re going.”

“Like hell!”

“Don’t fight me, Snowhawk,” he warned.

She snorted at him and continued to try and pull away. “I will do whatever I damn well please.”

“Apparently so. And I’d guess there’s a ‘whoever’ included in that as well?” He reached into his pocket, once again intent on putting her to sleep.

Snowhawk was well aware of what her Guardian kept hidden in his vest pocket and she was also well aware of what he was planning to do. She tried to cry out for help, but Legacy’s hand on her throat put a quick end to that. “He can’t save you. Now, come along quietly and I won’t be forced to harm you.”

“Right,” she gasped as he led her away, still holding on to her throat.

Back in the cabin, Janus snapped awake the instant he thought he heard Snowhawk’s cry. His mind was still half-asleep, but he was certain that Snowhawk was not in bed with him. “Guess it never hurts to check,” he said to himself as he crawled out of bed. He pulled on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, then half ran outside.

Delphin hoof prints were not easy to miss, but human ones could be. He did find a fresh set of Snowhawk’s footprints, but was disturbed by finding a second, equine set, one too large to be Snowhawk’s. He wondered for a moment just who would have come out this far to kidnap her, then realized it was a stupid question. “If that was Legacy, there’s no telling what he may be planning.” He sprinted back to the cabin to find his car keys.

*********

On the way back, Snowhawk glared at Legacy as he drove. She had to think of some way to get away. A split second decision later, she threw a punch at him as he drove. He jerked the wheel, almost plowing into another vehicle. She again tried to connect her fist to his jaw, missing once more, and he this time pulled his truck over. Her escape attempt was short lived as he grabbed hold of her before she could get the door open. “Are you trying to kill us both?!” he yelled. She answered him with another glare. He reached into his pocket and removed the syringe he’d gone for earlier, and quickly jabbed it into her arm and injected the contents. Moments later, she was out and he leaned back into the driver’s seat with an irritated sigh. “Damn crazy female,” he grumbled as he continued to his apartment.

*********

Adian leaned toward one of the monitors in his surveillance room and watched as Legacy pulled a female form from the cab of his truck. “What are you doing, Legacy?” he asked, smirking as he keyed in a command and zoomed the camera toward the Guardian. “Oh, I see. You’re trying to piss my brother off.” He stood from his chair and stretched, then grabbed his jacket as he walked out the door. “No one is going to do that but me, dammit.” As he walked, he pulled out his cell phone and dialed his brother's number.

*********

Legacy carried Snowhawk’s unconscious form up the stairs to his apartment, unaware of the Lupino following just behind him. “I can’t allow you to be gone, Snowhawk. There’s too much at risk,” he whispered to her as he entered the dwelling and placed her on the couch. He crouched next to her, waiting for the drug’s effect to wear off and gently stroking her hair.

Not ten minutes after he’d arrived, the door was kicked open. “You are making a huge mistake messing with my brother,” Adian warned as he stalked in. “When he’s pissed, it falls on me.”

Legacy looked up, more annoyed than anything. “Tell me, Adian, do I look like I really care?”

“You will when I pass it on to you,” the wolf smirked.

“Neither you or your brother can have her,” Legacy snorted. “She’s far too important.”

“To who? You or your Empire?” Adian questioned, folding his arms across his chest and leaning back.

Legacy had heard all this before, and not too long ago in fact. Honestly, he knew he couldn’t say for certain. “Returning the Empire to what it once was is a noble job. One that she should be proud to do.”

“You haven’t answered my question,” Adian continued. “Is she more important to you or to your Empire?” Legacy returned only silence. “That’s what I thought. You’re more concerned with your project than you are with her.”

“You are walking on very thin ice, wolf,” Legacy said warningly.

Adian could not help but smile. “Then I’m right. You wouldn’t be so touchy if I wasn’t.”

Legacy was never known for his ability to control his temper. He slowly stood and drew his sword from the sheath on his side. “Leave. Now.”

The attempt to be threatening only drew a laugh from Adian. “I hope you realize she’s far more intimidating than you could ever be.”

“And you’re apparently far more stupid than your brother,” Legacy returned.

“That’s where you’re wrong, Delphin,” the Lupino smirked. “You’re greatly underestimating us.”

“You can’t win unarmed, wolf.”

Adian cracked his knuckles and stretched. “We’ll see.”

Legacy yelled a battle cry and charged the Lupino. Adian side stepped this attack, but not without receiving a long gash across his chest from the Guardian’s sword. As the Guardian moved away from him, Adian quickly changed directions and pounced on Legacy’s back. The wolf grabbed the Guardian’s shoulders, claws digging into flesh. The sheer force of Adian’s attack sent both of them tumbling to the floor and Legacy’s sword left his hand. Adian landed under the Guardian, then kicked the Delphin off, sending him across the room.

As the two fought, Janus rushed in, finally, just before Snowhawk awoke. The female gasped in mild shock when she realized just who was fighting, then again in fear when a hand rested on her shoulder. Luckily, the hand belonged to Janus, and he gave her a reassuring smile when she looked at him. He picked her up, then managed to give his brother a quick nod of thanks, and left with his love before Adian could be further distracted.

Legacy was, to say the least, not at all pleased with the fact Janus had just taken off with his girl. He was determined to end this fight quickly so he could intercept the thief. The Delphin kicked the wolf away from him, then lowered his head and charged once more. His plan would have been lethal had Adian not sidestepped the attack.

Adian also wanted this fight over quickly as he was getting bored. As the Delphin passed by him, he grabbed the end of Legacy’s horn and pulled him around. The Guardian kicked at the Lupino, trying to break away, but managed only to graze Adian’s leg. “Stupid move,” Adian growled as he sharply pushed down on the tip of Legacy’s horn.

Delphin horns are not indestructible, though they can move slightly in their socket, and they have a slight give. The horns are not really any type of gem or metal, though they may take that appearance. They are more like bone and as such, they are well supplied with blood. The room filled with the sound of a large crack, then Legacy’s scream.

The Guardian fell backwards, the blood from his freshly broken horn already rushing down his face and pooling on the floor. He tried to back away from the wolf, but Adian just grinned at him, then tossed his horn tip into the air and caught it a half second later. Adian circled the Delphin, chuckling, then stopped to pick up the sword that had fallen away early in the fight. Legacy began to slip into a state of shock and fell to the side as Adian walked back to him. The wolf knelt next to the Guardian, still chuckling, then rolled him onto his stomach, and held him down with his knee. “Poor Guardian won’t get to see his son grow up,” Adian taunted. “Sucks to be you, huh? Completely screwed up everything.”

“Not over...” the Guardian whispered.

“Yes, Legacy, it is,” Adian informed him. “You won’t just jump up from this and beat my ass like some character in a game. You aren’t going to get the girl, and your little family will never be perfect. Die knowing that you had a chance once, but now you will never touch her again.” Adian stood, holding the Guardian’s own sword over him. The Delphin turned slightly, trying to escape, but went no further when the blade sunk into his back. Adian paused for a moment, to be sure the Guardian was dead, before he removed the blade. He chuckled again, then left the apartment and headed back to his brother’s estate.

*********

Some souls cannot rest knowing they still have a job to finish. Sophie considered her job to be making sure Nytehawk and Snowhawk’s happiness was secure and making sure what life they chose would be of their own will. She had planned to visit Legacy to check on him and make sure he was not doing something stupid, but instead saw Adian running out of the apartment complex with a sword that looked to be covered in blood. She was immediately concerned for Legacy and ran inside to see if her suspicions were true. Upon confirming her suspicions, she ran back out of the building, and towards Janus’ estate, then to Adian’s house on the grounds. She slipped in through a window in the back of his home, and greeted him in his living room. “I thought you had been warned about getting involved in matters that don’t concern you, Adian.”

The Lupino jumped when he realized someone had snuck into his home. “What the fuck are you doing here?” he growled.

“Something that should have been done years ago. You’ve really screwed things up this time.” She withdrew the pair of daggers she kept on her and lunged at him.

Adian was taken by complete surprise at this attack, and, being injured from his fight with Legacy, could not move quick enough to avoid it. She left a pair of long gashes across his chest. “What the hell are you talking about!?” he yelled.

“I made a promise to protect them and make sure they got to make their own choices. Now you’ve ruined that,” she explained, then lunged at him again.

Adian caught her this time and pinned her arms to her sides. “I still fail to see how this involves me.”

“Legacy had another chance!”

“No, Sophie, he didn’t. Kidnapping doesn’t make for a good chance.”

She screamed in frustration and kicked him away. “Then explain why she stays with Janus!”

“Because,” the Lupino growled, fully standing, “Janus never kidnapped her. He asked that she stay out of concern for her health.”

“That’s a little hard to believe, wolf,” she snorted, then lunged at him once more. Adian blocked her attack with the Guardian’s sword, but she quickly slashed at his wrists in an attempt to get him to drop the weapon. Adian yelped and pulled his hand away, but did not drop the sword.

Adian blinked and stared at the panting female for a moment. “Shit,” he grumbled, then turned and sprinted back outside, figuring he could out run her in the woods.

Sophie, ill as she was, was determined to accomplish this last mission. She managed to catch up to the injured predator-turned-prey and pounce at him again. One of her blades sunk into his back, the other swept across his legs, just above his hocks. Adian fell forward and Sophie landed on his back, driving the blade still deeper into him. “Get up, Adian,” she commanded, lifting herself off him. “We aren’t finished yet.” She pulled the blade from his back, but the wolf made no noise or movement. “Get up, dammit!” she screamed, kicking him, then flipping him over to see the Guardian sword buried in his chest. When Adian remained still, she realized the fight was indeed over, then sunk back against a tree. “Finally,” she panted, “something done right.”

She stood fully again, and slowly made her way out of the forest. She managed to reach the road before she collapsed. A small group of Feln found her and immediately rushed her to the hospital. They were met by the same doctor that had treated Snowhawk several times past. She was taken to a room right away and treated as best she could be. Her health was falling quickly now, due to her overexertion.

Sophie knew this night could very well be her last, so she requested that two letters be sent: one to Snowhawk, one to Nytehawk, and that the Guardian Jerome be summoned to her. The Guardian arrived as soon as he could for her. He pulled a chair next to her bed, took her hand into his, and remained with her throughout her final night.

*********

Six months later, Nytehawk and Hunter, accompanied by a human guard, brought Valerian to visit his father’s grave. “I wish you could have known him, Valerian,” Nytehawk began, looking from the tombstone to the boy. “He really wasn’t bad, just confused.”

The child knelt by the grave site and placed a small bouquet of lavender flowers on the ground. Hunter gently patted the young Delphin on his should as he stood. “What happened to him?” Valerian asked, looking to Hunter.

“It’s a long, sad story that will have to wait until your older to be told,” Hunter replied.

The guard accompanying them lightly touched Nytehawk on the shoulder and quietly said, “We need to leave soon or we will be late for our appointment.”

She gave a small nod. “Okay... we need to find Jerome then.”

“He should be with Sophie,” Hunter replied.

“I know where!” Valerian exclaimed, the trotted off to see the Golden Guardian.

*********

Jerome knelt next to the grave of his former lover, his head bowed and his eyes closed. “I wish I could have saved you,” he whispered. He remained in silence for several moments more until Nytehawk, Hunter, Valerian, and the guard arrived.

“Jerome,” Nytehawk quietly began, “we should be going now.”

The Gold Guardian nodded his head to them, then stood from the grave site. “There’s so much you think of saying after the fact...”

“More than we could have guessed before they were gone, right?” Nytehawk responded.

“Indeed,” Jerome replied.

“Madam Nytehawk,” the guard began again, “we really must be going.”

“Very well,” she nodded. “You heard the man guys. Let’s go.” She turned and walked off, following the guard.

Jerome remained near Sophie for another moment, then blew her a kiss and trotted away.

*********

Late that night, a lone lavender Delphin crept to Legacy’s grave site. She knelt next to it, and placed a small bouquet of white flowers next to the lavender ones left earlier in the day. “I’m sorry it had to come to this, Legacy. I only hope you know this was never my intention.” She bowed her head and whispered a Delphin prayer, then looked up once she was done. She saw the form of her Lupino guard emerge from the shadows. “Something happening, Nyx?” she asked the chocolate furred female.

“We aren’t alone,” the wolf replied.

Snowhawk gave a small nod, then stood and quickly brushed herself off. “Shall we go then?”

Nyx nodded in reply. “Yes, we should get you someplace a little safer than this.”

“Very well,” the Delphin replied. She leaned down and whispered one last thing to the grave, then straightened and trotted away, the Lupino female following.

“Your last visit?” Nyx questioned as they walked.

“Yes,” Snowhawk nodded. “There’s only so much one can say to a plot of dirt, especially when the spirit they’re trying to reach won’t respond.”

“Oh?” Nyx said, canting her head.

“Yeah. It’s almost as if he’s not really there.”

“Does that concern you?”

Snowhawk nodded again. “Greatly.”