Hunter was growing discouraged. It had been a week since he had returned to Juv. No one seemed to have an answer for him, other than how to prevent vampirism from spreading further in an individual. There was one medical school left to ask at, though Hunter held little hope of an answer there. The school was small, lesser known, and didn't attract all the top minds the others did. Still, he had to try.

He met with the Director, one of the city's few Lupino, and was pleased to hear they had made some strides in finding a cure. “In fact,” the Director said, “I've got a trial ready to go, but we have no vampires in the city. That's why no one else has bothered to look further into a cure.”

“Do you know what might happen if it's wrong?”

“Not exactly. We've only occasionally been able to work with vampires, but their-,” he paused to think of the word, “-habits had them run out of the city. And I'm sure you know how hard it is to get in here in the first place.”

“It's worse than it used to be.”

“Yeah. Dia'ru's slavers have been breathing down our necks. We have little to protect us, honestly, other than the walls.”

“Would they even let her in the city? Or would you have to travel to Ametition?”

“I would have to travel there. 'Savior of Delphin' or not, knowing she's been infected would be devastating to morale around here.”

“Yeah, don't ever tell her that. One of our workers did and that did not go over well.”

“Still, she helped more than Delphin. She helped my mate and myself. We were both slaves.”

“And you became a director in that time?”

“Just because your race lives long, doesn't mean the rest of us can slack off, we don't have the luxury of time. Besides, if we can break the mystery of vampirism, we may be able to help the other races live longer, so we could have the luxury of time.”

“Lofty goal.”

“Well,” the Director shrugged, “so is curing vampirism. Why not go a step further and try to understand it?”

*********

During the days Hunter was gone, Snowhawk often found herself wandering the grounds of her cousin's home, usually with her son on one side, and her vampiric protector to the other. Nytehawk had little time to spend with her during the day and into the early evening. She spent most of it meeting person after person, in meeting after meeting. Snowhawk didn't envy her, but did feel guilty her cousin was so busy only because she refused to be a figurehead.

One afternoon, on the fifth day Hunter was away, the trio was joined by Jerome as they walked. “Gentlemen,” he said to Adian and Valerian, “Might I steal Snowhawk from you for a moment?”

“Just bring her back,” Adian chuckled.

“Of course,” the Golden Guardian grinned.

Once Jerome had led Snowhawk a short distance away, Valerian turned to Adian and asked, “So, what's the deal with you and my mom?”

Snowhawk flinched as she overheard her son's question, and glanced up to Jerome. “So what is really going on with you two?” he asked.

“I told you. He's my protector.”

“Then why are one of you asleep in the other's room each night?”

Snowhawk flinched again. “You know I can't stand being alone.”

Jerome sighed and stopped, turning her towards him. “I'm only asking you this right now because I have word from Onyx.” Snowhawk opened her mouth to say something, but Jerome quickly continued. “It's nothing solid, but there are signs he could actually be in the forest, the more northern reaches.”

“But, why? He never wanted to be there unless he was with me.”

“We don't know, but there are signs he's there.”

“I have to go!” she said, spinning about and stepping to run off.

Jerome quickly grabbed her. “No, not yet! There's more. If he did change, like you told us Anya said, then it could be bad. Sometimes Avizon and Lupino don't mix. She could have basically caused something like one of our phase shifts- in a damned wolf!”

Snowhawk bit at her lower lip, fidgeting about. “But I have to go! Changed or not, I can't lose him now!”

“Snowhawk, please. Give it a couple days. We'll get a group together and find him, if it is him.”

Snowhawk nodded slowly, then lightly stamped one steel shod hoof, the sound catching the attention of her son and her protector. She again turned to walk away as the two trotted up to Jerome. “What happened?” Valerian asked.

“Adian, I think we may have found your brother. But there's a chance he's not the same as he was. He may have, because of Anya, experienced something like a Delphin phase shift.”

“And she's ready to go find him right this minute?”

“Yes. Please keep an eye on her. I want to wait a couple days and gather some supplies before heading north.”

“Of course. Would you watch Valerian so I can catch her before she does something stupid?”

“Certainly,” Jerome nodded as Adian ran after Snowhawk.

“What's a phase shift?” Valerian asked.

“Well,” the Guardian began, kneeling to the child's level, “It's something on Delphin normally go through. At certain points in our lives, we change rapidly. Usually, it's just our coloration, but some of us gain horns or wings. Or even both, like your aunt. I gained my wings during my first shift, so did your mother.”

“Will I get my wings then?”

“Possibly. Just don't be disappointed if you don't. You've got a year or two to go until your first one anyway.”

“Why is it bad though?”

“It's usually not, but sudden ones, like what your father and mother went through can mess up the brain. And if it happens to other species... It's kind of the same thing.”

“Oh,” the young Delphin said, not really understanding.

“Don't worry, you will be fine. Just stay away from broken horns and vampires,” Jerome smiled.

*********

“Snow! Wait up!” Adian called to the pale Delphin.

She stopped, turning to face him. “You too?! Of all people!” Her eyes were filled with tears, and several had already streaked their way down her face.

“You can't go alone! You don't know what could have happened to him. He may kill you.”

Snowhawk snorted, her emotions racing between feeling betrayed, being hopeful, and as lost as ever. “I don't care right now! Adian, I have to go. He would for me.”

“I can't let you, Snowhawk. I'm sorry. We can go once Jerome has more information and has gathered some sup--”

“Fuck his supplies and his information! I don't need it!”

“Snowhawk!” Adian yelled as he grabbed the turning again to flee Delphin. “I want to find him too. Mostly so I can smack the shit out of him for staying away, but I want to find him.” He pulled her into his arms to hug her as she broke down and cried. “We won't lose him again, if he is out there.”

That night, as everyone slept, Snowhawk took a page from her son and climbed out of the window, using a trellis to safely lower herself to the ground. She had a very strong suspicion where he'd be, if it was indeed Janus. A tiny old cabin in the northern forest was his family's summer home. The cooler temperatures there suited them better than the city, and it was on the way there one year that they died.

She'd only been there once, but she remembered the area well. That had been her duty as a slave: to go some place once and remember. She was the best at her job of any Delphin.

“I'm sorry,” she whispered as she ran from the estate. “You would understand if you were me.”

Her pale fur vanished into the night, heading north, and out of the city into the forests. The night was cloudy, shielding her from the light of the full moon. Her fur glowed in the dimmest of light, something that was both a gift and a curse. It would give her position away, but she also looked like a ghost, potentially scaring off all opposition to her flight.

She'd inherited the gift of speed from Kione, and the longer she was away from Adian's bite, the more of that gift that would appear. She'd kept the dark silver locket on, in case Emerald came back, but she would have to get him back fast, before she became a full vampire. Still, she was only partially a vampire now, and the longer she traveled at speed, she grew ever more tired. She ran for over a day, farther and farther into the northern forests and into the mountains. She eventually reached a point where, her legs, feeling as if they were on fire, the soles of her hooves bruised and sore, she collapsed to her knees near a mountain stream. She was exhausted, and figured she'd done more damage to herself than she might have had she simply walked here. But she had to outrun Adian.

Still, she was so tired. She knew she was in the right area though, and she figured she could rest for a few moments by the stream. She slowly, sorely crawled to the edge of the stream, and lowered herself into the cold water, trying to cool her legs off and at least numb the soles of her hooves. She lay back on the gravel bank behind her, closing her eyes. She soon drifted into an unwanted sleep.

~~~~~~~~~

She never saw the black furred Lupino step from the brush. He walked to the pale equine figure laying half in the stream, slightly tinted blue from her time in the icy water. She didn't respond when he nudged her with his paw, but seemed to be shallowly breathing. He picked her up, tossing her over his shoulder and carrying her back to his small cottage in the nearby woods.

He gently pulled her soaked clothing from her, then placed her in the one small bed he owned, covering her with some deer furs.

~~~~~~~~~

Snowhawk awoke some time later to an empty cottage, surrounded by the smell of old, tanned hides. She tried to recall what had happened, but couldn't remember how she wound up naked in a strange bed. “H– Hello?” she called out, her voice not wanting to work at first. A moment later, the door swung open as the same black-furred wolf that had pulled her from the stream walked into the cottage.

Icy blue eyes seemed to pierce through her as he nearly glared at her, and she subconsciously pulled the furs around her, up to her throat. “So you are alive,” he said in a gruff voice, one that seemed faked, but familiar. “Though I'm sure had I come along much later you wouldn't be.”

“Th– thank you.”

“Oh, don't thank me. You owe me now,” he grinned. “I know what's behind that fur.”

“I can't pay you back that way. Please,” she whined, shrinking back, but finding only a rough log wall behind her, “just let me go and you'll never hear from me again.”

The wolf advanced on her, licking his lips and kneeling on the bed, blocking her in. “I've heard your kind made excellent slaves. And I think you really owe me for saving your life.”

She whimpered as he advanced on her, one knee to each side of her, one arm blocking her escape to each side. Then she caught a scent past the hides and leather. “Janus?!”

The wolf stopped his advance, backing up and looking somewhat confused. “Who?”

“Janus, is that you? What did she do to you?!” Snowhawk parted the fur on the wolf's arm, finding the roots to be silver. “It is you!”

The wolf's other hand caught her throat. “You're crazy. My name is Kirrian.”

“No, it can't be! The scent, the voice, the fur--”

“You're mistaken,” he growled, cutting her off with a squeeze to her neck.

“Janus, please, it's me! It's Snowhawk!”

“Oh, well this is interesting,” he grinned. “I'm sure someone would pay a fine ransom for your return.”

“Janus...”

The wolf pushed her back into the wall. “Stop calling me that!”

Once he released her, and backed away, Snowhawk began to cry. “It's happening again,” she whispered, drawing her knees to her chest.