Janus hugged Snowhawk tightly. "Both of them?"

"Yes," Snowhawk quietly replied. "Both of them." She sighed raggedly, then looked up at Alcom. "What did you do?"

"I simply released her. Her hold was tenuous at best."

Adian stood. "Why couldn't that have been done earlier tonight?"

"She needed to come to the surface. With the extra strength of will Snowhawk has now, and with the dead one being so weak, there was no other way to remove her."

"Thank you," Snowhawk quietly said, then leaned against Janus.

Alcom turned and looked at Kione once more. "Pity he turned out this way. There was so much potential in him, but he was blinded by his past." The eldest knelt next to the corpse, and touched it, his horn beginning to glow. With one flash, Kione's body turned to dust. "And you don't have to worry, Snowhawk. The dust won't come after you."

She gave a small smile, then dropped her head. "Its finally over."

"Yes, love, finally," Janus said, giving her another squeeze.

Alcom stood and turned to Adian. "You, youngling, will need to be careful that you don't walk his same path. Your jealousy must be kept in check."

Adian looked away and sighed. "I know."

Alcom gave a small nod. "If you need anything while in the city, you know where to find me. Otherwise, I shall not disturb you again. Be well." The eldest then turned and left.

After he had gone, Snowhawk stood slowly, aided by her two wolves. "Onyx, Hunter, I thank you for your help tonight. But I think you two should be the ones to inform Nytehawk, so I would ask for your help once more."

Onyx bowed to Snowhawk. "Of course." He then turned to Hunter. "Shall we?"

"Certainly,"Hunter nodded. The two then walked the rest of the way to the medical district.

After they had gone, Snowhawk looked to Janus, then to Adian, and said, "And I appreciate both of you helping me as well."

Adian canted his head to the side, "What's wrong, Snow?"

Janus copied his brother's movement. "Love?"

"I'm just-- a bit overwhelmed," she said after several moments of silence.

"Its been a rough night," Janus replied, again placing an arm around her. "And I imagine being alone in your head again after so long is not easy."

"Truly alone. And no, it's not. Its strange to say, but I'd grown used to having Emerald there. Even if she was buried far back, I still knew she was there. And Kione..." she trailed off.

"Let's go back to the hotel. We can check on the others in the morning," Adian said, trying to change the subject.

"Of course," Snowhawk nodded, then began to walk back. A quick gust of wind blew by them, and her attention was drawn back to the pile of dust where Kione had been. The breeze had blown enough away to reveal something shining in the darkness. "What's that?" she asked, then quickly knelt and dug into the dust. She pulled out a necklace made of dark silver, with a locket hanging from it. When she opened the locket, she found the picture of Janus she'd kept in there, along with a new image tucked behind it. One of her. "I'm-- not sure what to make of this."

Adian carefully took the necklace from her and removed the picture of her from it, placing it in his pocket. He then closed the locket, and once again fastened the necklace onto her.

She felt the familiar wall of security go up in her mind, though there was no longer anything to guard her from. "Thank you, Adian."

He simply nodded, then turned and continued walking to the hotel.

*********

The next morning, Adian, Janus, and Snowhawk left the hotel and traveled to the medical district. They were greeted by a confused Nytehawk.

"What happened last night? Kione was there, then he wasn't. And I've not sensed him since. Did he get too far away or something?"

Snowhawk shook her head, grateful that her cousin missed out on the fighting. "Kione's gone. Dead. For good this time."

Nytehawk seemed shocked. "How do you know?"

"We saw him turn to dust,"Adian replied, sparing the cousin the gory details.

"We still need to get you back to mortal. Then you can return home," Snowhawk stated.

"What about you?"

"We'll remain in Juv a bit longer, to see if the treatment still works for me. After that, we will also return to Ametiton."

"What if the treatment doesn't work anymore?"

Snowhawk paused, looking down. "Then I'll go on as this," she finally said, looking back up.

"I think," Rais began, entering the room, "that you should be fine this last time."

Snowhawk nodded. "I hope so."

"And I have some good news for you. The Avizon venom Adian provided for us has offered a breakthrough in increasing the lifespan of the Lupino and Feln."

"That's wonderful, Rais!" Snowhawk exclaimed, then she turned and wrapped her arms around Janus.

"Love--" he began, then glanced at his brother. Adian looked off, not making eye contact.

"Only if you're willing, of course."

"Of course," Janus nodded. "I would have to think about it, but I assume the offer would stand, Rais?"

"Yes. When you're ready, just let me know. And," he began, looking at Adian, "we're willing to treat you as well, should you wish to no longer be a vampire."

Adian was silent for a few minutes, then finally replied. "I shall have to think on it."

"Of course. No one will pressure you into a decision."

With a nod, Adian left the room.

"He seems-- moody," Janus commented.

"Yeah. He's been a bit off since last night."

"Your brother is a complex one," Rais commented.

"Ever since he was turned, yeah," Janus replied.

"Well, slightly before then," Snowhawk mentioned, then reminded Janus of how Adian had acted after he got his tail kicked by Onyx.

"So we can't blame the vampirism then," Rais smiled, trying to lighten the mood.

"No, not really," Snowhawk replied, politely returning the smile.

"I miss the days when he was just a horny bastard," Janus frowned. "He was easier to read then."

Nytehawk smirked. "That he was. But at least he learned his lesson back then."

Janus sighed. "I wonder what he'll do now."

"He's been a vampire for a long time. I think he finally got used to it, and now we're basically asking him to go back to what he was. I can imagine its a hard decision to make."

Rais looked at Nytehawk and slightly bowed to her. "Are you ready to continue your treatments?"

"Yes," she replied. "How much longer do you think I'll be here."

"You're no where near as far down the line as Snowhawk was when we forst saw her, and we've advanced the science since then. Probably another week or two, and you should be good to go."

Nytehawk nodded. "Wonderful." She turned to Snowhawk. "You've saved me once again, cousin."

"Thank the doctors here. I just played the guinea pig."

Nytehawk shook her head and laughed a bit. "Take some credit for once." She then waved to her cousin and the light wolf and left the room, the Director following her.

Once they were alone, Snowhawk sighed heavily. She sank into a nearby chair, and then dropped her head into her hands. "I can breathe. I can relax. I can just be. But..."

"What, love?" Janus asked, sitting on the arm of her chair.

"I don't think I know how to anymore."

Her wolf smiled at her. "I'm sure you'll remember."

"Also, if I'm honest, I'm a bit scared to give up these gifts. I think I can know exactly what your brother is going through."

Janus sighed, then wrapped an arm around her. "I think you two should talk about that. Who else to better understand him than another vampire?"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. I think Adian could use some understanding, especially now."

Snowhawk hugged Janus, then left to find Adian.

*********

Snowhawk did not have to travel far to find the chocolate wolf. He was just outside the medical school, leaning against the building. His arms were crossed across his chest, and he had one foot propped up on the wall. She slowly approached him, smiling.

"Oh," he began, "I figured you'd still be talking with Rais."

She shook her head lightly. "No, he went with Nytehawk to work on her more." She paused for a moment, then, brushing back a lock of hair, looked up at him. "Would you walk with me?"

Adian nodded at her. "Certainly."

The pair walked in silence for several minutes, growing farther and farther away from the school. "What's on your mind, Snow?"

"Well, I think I understand your hesitation to go back to being mortal. At least, I can understand better than I did a couple weeks ago."

Adian quirked an eyebrow at this. "So you do enjoy it some?"

"Some, yes," she sighed. Another pause followed, then she began, "I'm not sure if I can go back now. To not being this, that is. And you've been as you are for much longer. The thought is, well, scary."

Adian nodded. "Yeah. To give up what has been both a blessing and a curse, but more importantly, familiarity, is a very scary prospect." Snowhawk walked to a nearby, but out of the way, bench and sat down. Adian soon joined her. He sat closer than he normally might. "Your soul remembers it, and Emerald was a vampire a very long time."

"Yes, she was." They then sat in silence for several minutes. Snowhawk looked down and shuffled her hooves about. "She may be gone, but the memory is still there."

Adian reached over and took hold of her hand. She didn't pull away, but slightly lowered her ears. "Snowhawk," he began, then bit at his lip and looked away.

She looked at their hands together. "Adi..."

He released her hand a moment later and stood, first looking off at the cloudy sky, then turning to her. "I think, all things considered, it might be best if I leave once I've trained new guards."

Her ears flattened back, and her eyes were filled with confusion. "But why?"

He took a deep breath, then said, "Because I'm afraid if I don't that I'll try to take you away from my brother, by force if need be. And I can't let myself start down that path."

"Adi--"

"He's weaker than me now. It would be so easy." The Lupino knelt in front of her. "You are something I have wished for for a long time. But as of now, unless I kill him or you change your mind, I can't have you." He again took her hands in his. "I think I know what I feel, and I think you understand that, but until..."

"Until your brother is gone, right?"

"Yes. Until he's gone. Until then, I can't have you. And it's tearing me up inside, because I've grown so attached to you."

Snowhawk dropped her head, her muzzle resting on their hands, and sighed raggedly.

"I can't make you unhappy like that. So I think, once I'm sure you're safe, it would be best for me to just step away."

She turned her head to the side, now nuzzling his hands with the side ofher face. "How long have you been planning this? Where will you go?" Her voice strained against the tears that began to fall.

"Its been some time, but I only decided this morning. Please don't cry," he said turning one of his hands over to cradle her face. "I have a few places in mind. Far enough away that I won't tun into a threat, but close enough if I'm needed."

"Not in the city then."

"No. I would be far outside Ametiton. But always watching."

"Why can't it be easier?" she softly cried.

He placed his other hand on the other side of her face, and turned her head to look at him. "I think because its life. I think that the trials are what form us."

"I know, but," she trailed off, then closed her eyes. "I'll miss you."

He leaned in and kissed her on top of her muzzle. "I'll miss you too."

"What will you tell Janus? He relies on you too."

"The same. The truth. That for his protection, I'll be moving away. I know I can't give this up, and Onyx is right. If I'm not careful, I'll wind up just like Kione. Even though you're not my mate, and you certainly aren't dead."

Snowhawk closed her eyes as he held her face.

Adian leaned toward her, and wrapped his arms around her. "I will still be your protector. I don't know if I'll ever be more, but I can promise you that much."

She in turn wrapped her arms around him, then buried her face in his shoulder and cried.

*********

Three weeks passed. Adian had left the city of Juv two weeks prior. Nytehawk was declared free of vampirism, and she returned home to Ametiton with Hunter and Onyx. Snowhawk remained, with Janus at her side, as she weighed the options before her: remain a vampire, or become mortal again. She and the light wolf met with Rais early one morning.

"I don't think I can go back to mortal," she plainly stated to the two Lupino in the room with her.

Rais nodded. "I understand. Adian said the same thing." He then turned to Janus. "And what about you? Any thoughts on trying to lengthen your lifespan?"

"Still undecided. But I may take you up on that offer in the future."

Rais nodded. "I understand there as well. Both my mate and I took this long to decide to undergo the treatment. Neither would do it without the other."

Janus looked to Snowhawk, who was staring out the window.

"Shall I arrange a car for you, since I believe your brother stranded you here?"

"He said he would come back if we wanted him to..." Snowhawk softly replied.

"Yes, love, but it would be faster if we just go on our own."

"I know," she sighed.

"A car would be wonderful. Thank you, again, Rais."

The other wolf smiled and nodded, then left the room to make the arrangements.

"You're not going to mope forever, are you, love?"

"No," she responded, still looking out the window, "I'm just not sure how else to deal with this. But I'm sure I'll be past it soon."

Janus nodded, then wrapped his arms around her. "It will be good to get home."

"Yes, and have some peace."

"At least until your boys visit," Janus smiled.

She smiled at this. "Yes. Its been too long since I've seen them."

Within the hour, they climbed into a car and departed Juv for Ametiton.