Weeks would pass. The vampire had since half turned Snowhawk, again in hopes of finding his lost Emerald. And to prevent any unnecessary risk of the living mare escaping, Kione had taken to bringing her with him while he browsed the city of Di'aru for prey, and while looking for food the stubborn mare would eat. Seeing one Delphin leading another was an uncommon, but not unheard of sight in the slaver city. No one suspected the leading Delphin's true nature, and that his leashed companion wasn't really his slave.

While out on one of these trips, as Kione looked over a fruit stand in the marketplace, Snowhawk felt a tug at her dress. When she looked down, she saw a Lupino child, about five years old, staring up at her with a camera clutched tightly in his hands. "Can I-- can I take your picture?" the boy asked.

Kione's ear turned first then his head as he looked back to the pale Delphin. "Yes, child, you may," he stated, then turned back to the vendor before him.

Lupino and Feln children didn't age as fast as Delphin children, but their trade off for a longer childhood was a shorter lifespan. Snowhawk smiled at the little wolf, who was nearly the same fur color as Janus, and then crouched down to his level. A quick flash later, and the boy beamed. "Thank you!" he exclaimed. "I've never seen a Delphin like you before."

"Well," Snowhawk began, "there aren't many colored like me."

"But you glow too!" the child noted, having spotted the shimmer from her fur.

"Its just from the light, dear. Now, you should probably head back to your family. I think we'll be moving on soon."

"Thanks, lady!" the boy smiled, then ran off into the crowd.

Snowhawk's smile faded as she stood. She dropped her head refusing to look at the vampire. "I will escape from you, Kione. And you will not survive."

"Bold words coming from someone who can't even escape her own bonds at night."

"That won't be the case for long. Once I free myself of your command, you won't be able to stop me."

The vampire laughed. "Foolish mare. No one can escape my command. Not even your precious wolves."

"Just watch me, you dick. You'll be on the floor bleeding out when I'm done with you."

"Very bold, mare. But very foolish to think you'll ever break free on your own. Now come!" he commanded, jerking on her leash. With half closed, dull eyes, she followed him.

*********

"Have you seen this Delphin?" Janus asked as he held a picture of Snowhawk up for what felt like the thousandth time that day.

"Actually yes," the female Lupino replied. "My son took a picture of her earlier in the marketplace."

"Who was she with?" Adian then asked.

"A red and white Del. With really long silver hair."

"A unicorn?" Adian continued. The mother nodded. "Shit."

"Is she your slave?"

Janus shook his head. "She was, but she was freed. She's my mate."

"I wish you luck in your search. I can tell you they headed south after leaving the market. I'm sorry I don't know anything more."

"No, you've been a great help," Janus replied. "Thank you."

As the brothers walked south through the city's outskirts, still asking residents if they had seen Snowhawk, Janus turned to his brother. "Why is he taking her out with him?"

"Either he lives in a shady spot of town, or he's trying to prevent her from escaping. If he's turned her, or partially turned her, she would be harder to control while he's away. She could break her bonds and be free then. "

"It just seems like a risk to have her out. She's still a rarity and someone might want to steal her, then we might be screwed."

Adian nodded in agreement. Then he happened to look up to glimpse just the vampire they were looking for. "They're still out," he grinned.

It wasn't long before the vampire spotted them as well. "Well, well, what do we have here?" he began as he walked toward the wolves, leading the still commanded Snowhawk behind him.

"Let her go now, Kione and there won't be any trouble," Adian demanded.

"Now why would I do that? I'm still trying to break through this wall she's put up to hide Emerald from me." Kione turned to Snowhawk and snapped his fingers in front of her face. The mare immediately woke up.

"Now where am I," she moaned. Then she saw Janus and Adian and tried to run to them. However, Kione kept her on a short leash.

"Not this time, mare," he grinned. "You're lucky I even let you see them."

Snowhawk cursed at Kione in the Delphin language. The vampire grinned once more and told her, in Delphin, that she wasn't escaping again. She growled at him, and reminded him of the threat she made before.

Adian walked toward the arguing pair, hoping to get close enough to grab Snowhawk. However, Kione saw him and tugged the female behind him. "You'll never have her back. Either I get Emerald back, or I have a lovely, if angry, trophy. You wolves lose regardless."

"We will never give up on her, Kione."

"You're weak, Adian. You have no hope of getting her back, ever."

As Kione was distracted by Adian, Snowhawk pondered how to break the chain that was her leash. She looked at Janus, and nodded him toward his brother and the vampire. Another distraction would be helpful. As her love joined his brother in distracting the vampire, she saw her escape: the rivet holding the leash end together was loose. A strong enough tug would break it. And she felt she had that strength as a half-vampire, or that the combination of her pulling back and Kione fighting her might do it.

She knew she could never outrun Kione, so she then had to plan out what she would do once she was free. She would have a long chain as a weapon, and while it was no dagger, it could suffice. She couldn't flee, but she could fight. And she had her two wolves now to back her up.

Her plan set in her head, she took a quick step back to tighten the leash. The vampire began to turn around to see why she was moving away but soon found himself brought to the ground by Adian. Snowhawk wasn't expecting this and knelt quickly when she realized Kione wasn't releasing the leash. Once he was on the ground, she yelled "Hold him!" and quickly stood, pulling on the chain with her hands.

The pinned vampire growled. " What the fuck do you think you're doing?"

"Getting her away from you."

"Sit down, mare!" Kione growled.

Snowhawk wavered a moment, then fought against the vampire's command. "Not this time," she growled back.

Kione was shocked. No one had ever resisted his command before, especially not one he was connected with. Undeterred, however, he again commanded, "I said down!"

This time there was no hesitation. The pale mare sank to her knees, then dropped her head to the ground.

"Dammit!" Adian howled. "Release her!" he demanded as his brother ran to her side.

"I think not," Kione grinned.

Adian had had enough. He bit down on the back of the vampire's neck. His top canine teeth grew into fangs and sank deep into Kione's neck. The elder vampire cried out in pain, knowing Adian could easily bite his vertebrae into pieces. It wouldn't kill him outright, but he would be left as the mare had warned, bleeding out into the dust of the street. Not exactly her prophecy, but there was a high chance of death if the wolf didn't release him.

Kione growled lowly, then told Snowhawk to awaken. As the mare lifted her head, Kione dropped the leash he held.
"Will you let me go now?" he asked Adian.

The younger wolf thought for a moment, then growled at the vampire beneath him. He clamped his jaws further around the Delphin's neck.

"I'll leave you fools be!" Kione promised.

Adian still wasn't convinced. He growled again. A half moment later, as Snowhawk finally shook her head clear of the last bit of Kione's command, and she looked at the two, a sickening crunch was heard as Adian bit through the vampire's spine.

Snowhawk suddenly shifted to Emerald. Her pale lavender fur turned grey, her mane and tail blackened and grew to an insane length, all while she shrank several inches. "No!" the grey mare called out. She scrambled to Kione's side as a shocked Adian, blood dripping from his mouth, stood and backed away.

Kione was barely aware of Emerald's presence, but he still managed a small smile for her. Tears were already pouring down her cheeks as she placed her small hands over as much of his wound as she could. "You can't heal this," he whispered.

"I must!" she cried. Her cold blue eyes closed as her spiraled green horn began to glow. The two Lupino moved away slightly, shocked at what they just saw and what they were seeing. The gaping wound beneath Emerald's hands glowed like her horn, then began to shrink in size. Rendered bone, tendon, muscle, and flesh began to grow back.

The Delphin that could heal such a wound was rare indeed.

It took only a couple of minutes, though it seemed longer, for the wound to close. As Emerald removed her hands from Kione's newly healed wound, she began to slowly change again. She sat back as she returned to Snowhawk, then collapsed from exhaustion once she was fully herself again.

Kione stood, slowly and wobbly, and looked at the two wolves. He had the perfect chance to grab her again and run, but he knew he couldn't go far. He was too weak. "You win this round, wolves, but I will return. Especially now that I know she's still there." He gave another grin, then vanished into the shadows.

Janus rushed back to Snowhawk's side. "Love, wake up..." he softly cried. She replied with a quiet moan, but found herself unable to wake.

"She'll probably be out for days," Adian commented. "Let's just... Get her home for now."

Janus nodded and gently picked Snowhawk up, then the two lupine brothers made their way out of the city, and back to their vehicle.

*********

Snowhawk was out of consciousness for two full days, plus several hours of the third. She gasped softly, awaking from a dream, her magenta eyes fluttering open. She slowly sat up, studying the room around her. It was familiar, comforting, and hers. As she swung her legs over the side of the bed, she thought of the events that had transpired. She stood and walked to a wardrobe near the bed. A favorite robe, fleecy and soft, if not at all fashionable, was found. She pulled it on, fumbled with the zipper, and finally zipped it closed. She grabbed the robe's hood and pulled it up, then returned to the bed.

She sat back down on the edge, then shifted to her feline form. Her legs dangled below her, and she crossed them at the ankles, one paw's toes grabbing the others. Her tail also wrapped around her legs, and she crossed her arms before her.

"What did I do..." she whispered to herself.

Even the comfort around her couldn't console her. She sighed raggedly and gently rocked herself back and forth.

A moment later, Janus quietly entered the room, a steaming mug of coffee in his hand. He smiled as he saw her up. "Good to see you're awake, love."

She glanced over at him as he walked closer to her. "I really fucked it up this time, didn't I?"

"No, dear, not at all. You couldn't stop the transformation, or Emerald's actions."

"Still," she began, looking back down, "I'm a liability. I can't even take down the stupid vampire that's made my life hell."

Janus placed his coffee cup on the end table, then sat next to her, wrapping an arm around her. "You're never a liability. We just need a better game plan."

She gave a small, almost unbelieving nod.

"Should I call Rais here again?" he asked, trying to take her mind of the subject.

She thought for a moment, then shook her head. "No. I'll go to Juv this time."

"But if the Delphin there find out you're half-vampire..."

"No one needs to know why I'm there."

Janus sighed. "Very well." He thought for a moment. "Take Hunter with you. Should be easier then."

She knew he was not looking forward to her leaving. "It can wait a few days. I'm still exhausted."

Janus looked relieved. "What ever you want, dear. But Adian and I will make the arrangements in the mean time."

Snowhawk nodded and leaned against him. She was quiet for a few minutes, then looked up at Janus. "How long was I out?"

"Nearly three days."

"Well, I hope Emerald won't try that again anytime soon."