Eclipse - DNP

[Hail.]

spaceLong ago, many centuries before the incredible battle which broke out between the two, the KeiNairi deity of light, Halonna, and the KaiNairi deity of shadow, Heian, were once lovers. During that time, there was no such thing as night and day. Colors swirled together in gorgeous, hypnotic patterns and the world prospered beneath the mixed light. The two were cherished as a duo, complimenting and strengthening each other, and together they ruled over the land of Clouds and Stars. However, jealousy sunk its venomous fangs into Heian’s heart and hatred began to sow itself through his veins. Years passed, and the feelings grew, until they led to him lashing out at his past mate. Brokenhearted, she tried to convince him he was imagining it all, but as he refused to stand down she knew what she had to do for the good of those both immortal and mortal. She battled him and sealed him away as a shadow on the moon for 1,000 years, then succumbed to her injuries and split her powers into thirteen parts which rested on the world below. Night and day were created, and the world changed to follow these patterns. It was believed that the feud was over, the only trace being the shadow which tainted the moon, but they were wrong. On the soft, grassy plains of KeiNairi, a single egg rested, absorbing light from the sun and moon alike and slowly growing stronger.

xXx
Name: Orion
Meaning: Son of fire, the hunter, a constellation on the equator
Gender: Male
Biological Gender: Male
Username: Howlingtothestars

[Hail.]

If I Believe You - The 1975

It took four hundred and thirty solar eclipses for the special egg to hatch, and in that time young Orion took his first breath. He was a marvel to see on that glimmering night. In the darkness, a vibrant yellow mane cutting shadows in half, followed by a rich blue body which rivaled the milky way galaxy itself. From the first time they laid eyes on him, they knew he was something special, something unique and fascinating, and so the viscets took him into their town and raised him, holding him with great authority.

Things were wonderful for young Orion. He had countless friends and family members, and not a moment of his days were spent lonely or sad. Though he did not know his real family, he was never bothered by it. He accepted his caretakers as family and loved them, and they loved him back just as much.

Or at least, they did.

It was a traveler who identified him that day. The fox had come from distant lands bearing messages from Dakota - the storyteller for Halonna. He informed the town that the boy was the son of Halonna, and Heian, and was thus cursed and wicked. All love for the boy vanished at the name of his father and he became an outcast.

Within an hour, he found himself completely, utterly, and suddenly, very alone.




Orion can best be described as a lost soul, seeking a place to belong. He has tried countless things in the past, all ending in failure. He is a hesitant viscet in nearly all things and lacks the confidence required to become what his father or what his mother want him to be, leaving him hopelessly torn between failure and disappointment. He does not view himself as any more than a burden, and often goes out of his way to stay away from others.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Adira - forgiver

Aidra and Orion grew up together and were friends from day one. To Orion, Adira is his source of confidence and happiness.
She gives him a reason to wake up every morning and to go through his day, be it good or bad. She challenges him to try his best in all things and, even when he fails, her opinion of him never falters. When his lineage was revealed and chaos rained down on his life, she was unsure of where to stand. She did not care for his parents who what his blood may say, but she cared for his actions.
In the end, she retained her trust in him and believed that he would do what is right. She pulled him from the spinning darkness that he had been trapped in and was the first, and only one, to truly forgive him for everything he had done. Adira is Orion's truest friend and ally in life. She is always standing right beside him, through thick or thin, and is always the one to pull him towards the right path should he become lost.

Sunny D Rosha - guidance

Rosha and Orion met at a time of great weakness and confusion for Orion. However, the meeting could not have been more useful to the lost soul. Rosha's past and present and his willingness to talk to the boy despite his heritage and past helped Orion take his first steps towards the right path. If not for Rosha, Orion likely would have remained submitted to Heian's will.

Allaster - Judge

Allaster and Orion had a rocky start to say the least. Though Allaster may have gotten rough with him in their encounters and may have gotten in his face, he has done it with the intent to not allow the boy to become a threat to the world Allaster protects.
Even after Orion's repentance and his steps towards the right, Allaster remained weary of him, but thanks to Adira's convincing words, he was able to lighten up on the lad and give him a chance to see who Orion truly is.

Pele - Distrustful

Pele is one who has never forgiven Orion. She remains harsh and cruel towards him and holds no pity or mercy for any mistakes he makes. His past actions has led her to removing all trust which could have existed towards him and to place him on a threat list within her mind. Orion does his best to not let this get to him, there there are many times where Pele's harsh actions are the rock which sends him plummeting into a pit of self-resentment.

Apep - infected

Thanks to Heian, who acted through Orion to infect Apep, the youngest guardian has been cursed with two sides, much like a coin. One, the primary and original seeks to help the guardians and is friendly towards Orion. The other, newer one seeks to destroy the guardians, bring chaos, and destroy the sun. This side of Apep is harsh towards Orion and treats him as a brother who strayed from their father's desired path. Because of the unpredictability and guilt Orion has towards Apep, the two tend to avoid each other, but try their best to have pleasant interactions when they do meet.

Halonna - regret

After discovering her son and learning that he did, indeed, hatch and had suffered such tribulations, Halonna struggled with forgiveness towards herself for neglecting him. She does her best to have a positive influence in his life and to help him find the right things in life while learning to shut out Heian, but her interactions are awkward at best as she struggles to relate to the son she didn't know was hatched. Orion has forgiven her and is learning to lover her as his mother, wanting to craft the bond that a viscet should have with their mother, but because of Halonna's hesitance the bond is slow to form.

[Hail.]

spaceLight pressed against my eyelids, painting the once black scenery with a strange red. My eyelids twitched and I groaned. My body aches, every muscle hissing and screaming every time I moved, so I laid as still as I could, focusing on breathing and trying to ignore the pain that the motions of my chest brought. In the distance, I heard rustling grass, then a voice call out to others.

space“Hey! There’s a kid here!”

spaceThe footsteps got louder and quickened, and I soon sensed the presence of a nearby body. I felt hands press on my side and back, checking for injuries, then heard their voice again.

space“Hey, kid, can you hear me? Are you okay?” It was male. His voice was gruff like rubbing a rock on an open pine cone, but somehow smooth at the same time.

spaceI opened my mouth ever so slightly and made a groan-like sound in an attempt at speaking. He seemed to understand.

space“It’s all going to be okay, now. I’ve got you.” His voice became slightly louder and quieter, as though he had turned over his shoulder to shout. “Hurry!”

spaceMore steps ran towards me, and that was the last thing I remembered before the red faded back into the quiet darkness.

~~-~~

spaceI sat in the room, silently staring down at my hands. To my left was a large, reflective mirror, but I knew it was a one-sided window. They’re watching me, waiting to see what I will do. My body still aches, but the pain has ebbed ever so slightly. I can’t help but feel as though they may have given me some sort of medication.

spaceThe door opened slowly and my eyes drifted towards the approacher. He is a tall, muscular viscet with three powerful tails, yet his expression is kind. He gave me a half smile, then sat across from me and tilted his head slightly. “How are you holding up?” He fell quiet, giving me a minute to respond. When I didn’t, he casually carried on. He leaned forward and looked at me with slightly more intensity. I shifted beneath his gaze. “We found you in the middle of the woods, beaten and battered. What happened? Was there an accident?”

spaceLights flared from all sides and I looked around in a panic, my breath rushing in and out of my lungs in a flurry. He was coming. He had found me. The screeching in my ears increased and I lurched forward, hunching over and pressing my palms against the base of my ears, desperately trying to drown out the screaming voices. It didn’t work.

spaceI tensed from the memory. He noticed.

space“Was someone trying to hurt you?”

spaceMy head shot up and I stared at them. They were angry, all of them. I tried to run, but my legs stood where they were, trembling. I couldn’t run from them. Not from family. They approached me and attacked me, beating me down with claw and fang.

spaceHe was behind me now. I stayed focused on my paws, trying to remain calm.

space“You’re covered in wounds. They look fresh.”

spaceI cried out for help, but my voice was drowned out by angry shouts. Ignored by all, except for one. The blue light radiated from within me, then shot out, electrocuting my attackers.

spaceHe was beside me now, looking at my face. I avoided eye contact. “Why are you scared? You’re safe here.” He reached a paw out and rested it on my shoulder. Instantly, things went bezerk again. Lights flickered and light bulbs popped, the door flung open and shut, and the one-sided window beside me fractured. Slowly, his hand was removed from my shoulder.

space“You don’t want to be around me.”

spaceHis eyes returned to my face, puzzled and almost fearful. Slowly, I turned my eyes up to meet his.

spaceThey were cowering now, calling me by his name. My breathing was shaky and my skin aches from open wounds. Slowly, I lifted my head and gazed at them. His voice spoke clearly in my head, giving me instructions. Slowly, I raised my hands and pushed my will into my palms. My will to be free, to survive, to be at peace. All of them swirled in my palms, then exploded outward.

space“I am not a good person, and I am not one to be trusted.”

spaceHis eyebrows drew close together and he examined me with a new light.

space“Ever since I was born, I have been linked to a deity.”

spaceI stared at them, emotionless. Some who were closer to me lay dead or wounded on the ground, the others fled screaming. I lowered my hands and the voice praised me. I felt like vomiting.

space“His name is Heian, and he never leaves me.”

spaceThe male bristled at the name. So, he knew it as well.

spaceI ran from the scene, ignoring my body's cries of pain. Things were going dark and I knew I could collapse soon, I just needed to get away from them.

space“I’ve heard his voice since I was two.” My eyes drifted away from his. I was sick of seeing that look of disgust and horror. “And since then. . .” I trailed off, seeing no need to finish the sentence.

spaceThe male stiffened, then walked out of the room without a word. Slowly, I turned to look at the glass. My vision flickered, then a blue tint rested over the world around me. They didn’t know it, but I could see them. Three of them, the three-tailed male, a female with a burning mane, and a male with wings, stood there arguing, debating if I was telling the truth or not. I stood up slowly, and their heads whipped towards me. I didn’t want to stay here anymore.

spaceI focused my will once more, then released it all like an atom bomb. Bricks shattered to rocks and flew outward, the window shattered and collapsed to the door, and the lights shot upwards through what little remains of the roof. As things collapsed back to the ground, I was gone from their sight.

[Hail.]

Four Days Prior

spaceI stood, hunched over with my head lowered and eyes trained firmly ahead. My heart pounded in my chest, and all other sounds were dulled. I heard shouts and screams, but they felt as though someone held a pillow over the noise making mouths. I moved my fingers and toes, stretching them slightly in anxiousness. The moment was coming soon, all I had to do was wait for the cue.

spaceA gun shot rang out, my signal.

spaceI burst from my crouching position and rose slowly as I sprinted along the trail, my paws flashing through the air. Behind me, I heard other viscets running close behind, but I kept my pace. To my left, a muzzle began to enter my peripherals. I glanced to the side to see Adira, smirking at me and trying to mask her heavy breathing. I chuffed and rolled my eyes, then took longer strides. The short female was no match for me due to the difference in our leg lengths. She was as good as beaten.

spaceOr at least, she would have been.

space“What are you doing?!”

spaceHis voice was sharp in my head, and my legs fumbled. I tripped over my right paw and smacked my head against the ground. Hard. The others rushed past me as I slowly got up, holding my head in my hand. What was he doing here, why now? What did he want from me? My eyes glanced to the sky, and I frowned. The moon wasn’t even out.

spaceA shadow was cast over me and I glanced up to see Adira frowning firmly at me. “Come on, Orion, when are you going to give me an actual race?” She stuck out her hand to me and I grabbed it, allowing her to help me up.

space“Please, I have to build up your confidence so when I beat you it will really strike home.”

spaceShe laughed shortly and raised an eyebrow. “Gees, who knew you could be so evil!”

spaceI laughed lightly at her, though my mind drifted nervously towards him. I could sense him chuckle at that.

space“Well, one day I will beat you for real, and you will stop being a faker.”

spaceIt was my time to give a short laugh. “Faking? Excuse me? That fall was real!”

space“Oh please, you just got nervous because I was catching up!”

space“As if, Adira! Keep dreaming.” I stuck my tongue out at her and she promptly patted my lower jaw firm enough to make my teeth pinch my tongue. I pulled it back in and pressed a hand to my mouth. I should have expected that.

space”Why do you let them push you around?!”[/]

space“Hey, how about some food? I want to see the adult races, I have my money on Gi.”

spaceAdira laughed. “Really? Gi? He hasn’t run since he met Akiko! I am going for Ziyou all the way. The guy travels the world!”

spaceI rolled my eyes. “Yeah, we’ll see what you have to say when Gi kicks his tail.”

space“Loser buys dinner?”

space“Oh, you’re on!”

---

spaceAdira smirked at me as she ate her hotdog and I avoided her gaze. Turns out, Gi wasn’t such a great choice.

space“So, how’s it feel?”

space“Huh?”

space“Losing to me, again. This is just a taste, you know. Of how bad it’ll hurt when I beat you in that race.”

spaceI waved a paw at her dismissively. “Yeah, yeah. Keep dreaming.”

spaceShe began rambling on about how she was going to beat me in the race. I listened for the beginning, but then [i]he began to enter my mind again.

space”Do you really plan to continue losing to her? If you win, then maybe she’ll be quiet for once.” I bristled. ”I’m being honest. We both want the same thing here, don’t we? Peace, quiet, and acceptance.” His voice had turned soft, but I found that I could not relax.

space“Hey, you okay?”

space“Yeah, I just keep thinking about that hot dog.”

space“What?” She eyed it, then eyed me suspiciously.

space“Do you even know what’s inside of it?”

spaceShe looked me dead in the eyes, then took a large bite of it to be defiant, but ruined it by accidentally biting her finger. She yelped and dropped the mystery meat wrapped in bread on the ground and shook her hand quickly, as if to flick away the pain. She stared down at the fallen meat with disappointment and I laughed.

space“Trust me, it is better there than in your stomach.”

spaceShe stuck her tongue out at me and held it there. I laughed, and eventually she broke down and began to laugh with me.


spaceWe hung out for the rest of the evening, watching the other racers and betting on who would win. At the end of the evening, I walked her partly home - her parent’s always made me nervous - and said farewells before watching from a distance to ensure she made it home safely. I never did tell her the truth about my home, I knew that she would get upset about it.

spaceMy parents were nowhere to be found when I hatched, but luckily for me the townsfolk were kind enough to take me in. I hoped from house to house, living in a new place each night, and when I was old enough I convinced them that I had a place of my own. In a way, it was not a lie. Though he sometimes scared me, he did look after me. That night, he helped me to construct my home. It was scrappy, to say the least, but it kept the rain out. As I approached it, my eyes drifted up to its shabby roof. Fourteen wooden planks on each side with two planks beneath each group to keep them together and in an upside down “v” formation so the rain would trickle off. They were breaking down now after years of harsh weather, but they still provided some shelter. The roof was held up by two trees which squatted semi-close together - one natural, the other with a darker, purple-ish tint to it, the one he grew. Beneath the roof was a wooden platform for me to sleep on so I wouldn’t be on the ground. On this platform was my few possessions; a blanket and pillow, a baby picture, a pendant, and an old, worn down leather journal. Though old and poorly built, it was my home, and I was proud of it. It was one of the things that reminded me that his voice wasn’t all bad.

spaceI stepped onto the wooden platform and adjusted the blankets before laying down on them. Night was slowly stretching over the sky and I knew I would hear him more clearly. Heian, the voice in my head, is the shadow deity. After a war with Halonna, the light deity, he was sealed away as a shadow on the moon and since then has been recognized as a symbol of fear and evil by the world below, but I found that he was not nearly as cruel as the world pitched him to be. Sure, he had his sour moments, but I couldn’t help but think that everyone does at some point in their lives as well. However, because of his legends and titles, I was fearful to tell anyone about him. What would they think or do if I said that I hear his voice on a daily basis?

space”They’d likely try to hang you.”

spaceI frowned and laid my head down. Yeah, you’re probably right. How are you tonight?

space”You always ask this.” I shrugged. ”I am fine, aside from being sealed on the moon.”

spaceI nodded slowly. See anything interesting from up there?

space”Liars, thieves, and corruption.”

spaceI meant something good.

spaceHe paused for a moment. ”The waterfalls are nice.”

spaceI chuckled, then sighed. Can you tell me why I can hear you, now?

space”You’re still not ready.”

spaceI scowled. Not ready for what? News that I am going to destroy the world or something? That’s a pathetic excuse to not tell me.

space”When are you going to start traveling?”

spaceI sighed. I don’t plan on leaving this place. It is home and the others here are family.

space”That will change.”

spaceI released a puff of sharp air and closed my eyes. I didn’t want to hear him anymore, and he seemed to get the hint. After a few minutes of lying still in the silence, I eventually drifted off into the realm of sleep.

---

spaceA rock hit my head and jolted me from my vacant dreams. I opened an eye and rubbed the mark which the rock hit, then glanced up at the assaulter. Above me, Edrea stood, Raven beside and slightly behind her. My ears shot up and I jumped to my feet, then bowed my head to the alpha of Adira’s pack. “Good morning, Edrea.” His voice scoffed at me.

space“You can rise up.” I lifted my head and studied her face, confused as to why she was here. “I wanted to talk to you about something. There are rumors spreading about a child born of a deity.”

spaceI frowned and tilted my head. In my mind, I felt his presence grow a little stronger as he figuratively leaned in to pay attention. “Really? Who are they?

spaceShe smile broadly and I frowned. “There’s no need to hide it, Orion. It’s wonderful!”

spaceMy ears flicked down ever so slightly and I raised an eyebrow. “. . .What?”

space“Of course! A child of Halonna, living so close to my pack!” Her smile broadened and my eyes widened slightly. What in the?! Where did she get something like that from?! I expected to hear him laugh in my head, but he was silent. “Please, Orion! Let me tell the others the great news, and please consider living with us!”

spaceI hesitated. She was wrong, she had to be. I would have sooner believed Heian to be my father rather than Halonna. There was no way. The only thing about me related to light on me was my mane, and even then! Whatever she heard about me was a lie, or maybe there really was a child of Halonna. . . Maybe she just saw my mane and assumed the best of me.

space“I’m sorry, but you have it wrong. My mother isn’t Halonna. I’ve never seen or heard from her, and I don’t have any powers linked to her. It must be someone else.”

spaceShe slowly frowned, then looked back at Raven. “Leave us.”

spaceHe hesitated, but slowly backed away and went back down the trail away from us. Once she determined he was far enough, she turned back to me, the excitement back in her eyes again. “Do not deny your mother, Orion. I know you truly are her son, but I also understand why you’d want it hidden. Surely those who align themselves with her foe, Heian, must be lurking on this world. If they heard of your heritage, they’d likely come for your head.”

spaceHe laughed loudly in my head. I flinched.

spaceNow’s not the time, Heian! How do I tell her she’s wrong? He didn’t respond.

space“I’m sorry, Edrea. . . I’m not the one you think I am, I am not related to Halonna.”

spaceShe frowned deeply and peered at me. “Orion, why do you keep lying? He showed me a drawing of you. It is you.” She hesitated and I stared at her, dumbfounded. “I’ll leave you be, but I do hope you take up my offer.” She turned away and jogged after Raven, leaving me standing with wide eyes and a partially slack jaw.

spaceWhat was that? A picture of me? Heian, help me here. What am I supposed to make of this?!

spaceThere was a momentary pause, and I panicked slightly for fear that he had left me. ”I think it is time to tell you why you hear my voice.”

spaceHeian! Now is not the time!

space”Calm down! Just, alright. Just take a few deep breaths and sit down.” I did as he asked and lowered myself to the ground, eyeing the slowly lightening sky. ”Alright. . . so, do you want anything to drink first?”

spaceHeian.

space”Right, alright. Orion, you can hear me because you are related to me. Directly. You’re my son.”

spaceI glared at the sky.

space”So, uh, sport. . . Any thoughts?”

spaceI don’t believe you. You’ve lied to me several times over. You’re just messing with me now because I am freaking out.

spaceHe laughed. ”I wish that was true. Well, to answer your first question, you actually are related to Halonna as well. You see, waaay back when, we used to be a thing. She was head over heels for me, actually. You were laid, but then everything. . .” His voice darkened and I tensed. I felt something I could only describe as dark rage fester in my mind and down my spine, and it made my muscles clench. ”I won’t get into that.”[i/]

spaceThe feeling slowly faded, but I didn’t relax. [i]You’re. . . being serious.

space”Yes.”

spaceI slowly looked down and stared at the ground. So if what you said is true. . . And that guy figured out about Halonna. . .

space”It’s time to move.”

[Hail.]

spaceI packed quickly, only grabbing the essentials, then made haste to get as far from my home and that pack as possible. I would have made it, too, if it weren’t for one small thought.

spaceAdira.

spaceI needed to tell her I was leaving, I couldn’t let her think I died. Maybe she would even come with me, providing more company than just a voice in my head. I turned around and rushed back the way I had traveled, ignoring the screaming voice in my head and heading to Adira’s home. Halfway there, I ran into Edrea and Raven. They were accompanied by several other viscets, and the look they gave me was not one of welcome.

space “So. That is why you played stupid.” Edrea’s eyes slowly drifted towards me from a small, calico marked fox. “Son of Heian.”

spaceMy ears flicked back. “Hey, I just found out too, okay? And I don’t align to him, I don’t support anything he has done.”

spaceRaven released a chuff of air and glared, his eyes dark with bloodlust. “So he says when he is cornered.” His tail whipped and the other viscets around them bared their fangs at me. I knew what I needed to do, even before Heian screamed it at me.

space”Run!”

spaceI turned tail and sprinted, my legs flying over the ground and my heart pounding in my neck. I could hear them running after me. I ran faster, pushing my body to its limits and thanking my past self for partaking in those races.

spaceLeft, right, left, right, left, right. My steps pounded the ground, stamping pawprints into the loose dirt and mud. I had gotten farther away now, but they still persisted.

space”Watch out! I came to a screeching stop at the sound of his voice.

spaceLights flared from all sides and I looked around in a panic, my breath rushing in and out of my lungs in a flurry. He was coming. He had found me. The screeching in my ears increased and I lurched forward, hunching over and pressing my palms against the base of my ears, desperately trying to drown out the screaming voices. It didn’t work.

spaceRaven stepped out from the lights and they died down. He was growling, but the sound was muffled. I was terrified, I couldn’t stop shaking and I didn’t know why.

space”You are going to need fight back, Orion. You have our powers, so you need to use them.”

space“No! I won’t hurt anyone!”

spaceMy head shot up and I stared at them. They were angry, all of them. I tried to run, but my legs stood where they were, trembling. I couldn’t run from them. Not from family. They approached me and attacked me, beating me down with claw and fang.

spaceI cowered and whimpered from the blows, trembling in terror and pain.

space”You won’t hurt them! You need to protect yourself! Now, Orion!”

spaceI cried out for help, but my voice was drowned out by angry shouts. Ignored by all, except for one. The blue light radiated from within me, then shot out, electrocuting my attackers.

space”Good, good. . .” His voice was amazed, and it terrified me. Slowly, I opened my eyes and looked at the viscets who were attacking me moments before.


spaceThey were cowering now, calling me by his name. My breathing was shaky and my skin aches from open wounds. Slowly, I lifted my head and gazed at them.

space”If you let them go, they will kill you. Raise your arms and force your will to survive outward.”[i/]

spaceHis voice spoke clearly in my head, giving me instructions. Slowly, I raised my hands and pushed my will into my palms. My will to be free, to survive, to be at peace. All of them swirled in my palms, then exploded outward.

spaceElectricity shot out in a wave from my palms and it struck them with the force of a typhoon. Trees bent and cracked and voices screamed in pain. Raven dove and protected Edrea, taking most of the impact on his back. Some tried to flee, some dropped in terror, most stood and stared as the wave rushed over their heads.

spaceI stared at them, emotionless. Some who were closer to me lay dead or wounded on the ground, the others fled screaming. I lowered my hands and the voice praised me. I felt like vomiting.

space[i]”You did what you needed to, they would have killed you if you didn’t do it.”

spaceI turned slowly and lurched forward, my stomach churning. My throat was too tight to speak, so my mind did it for me. Shut up.[i/]

spaceI ran from the scene, ignoring my body's cries of pain. Things were going dark and I knew I could collapse soon, I just needed to get away from them.

-----

space“And that is how I got here.”

space“Wow! That’s a lot to take in! So, that electricity stuff just kind of happened?” Agni tilted his head, his eyes wide and his ears held high with interest.

spaceI sighed slowly and nodded at equal speed. “Yeah. Heian said he helped me, but the part with the guardians was all me. I haven’t been able to use any of Halonna’s power yet.”

space“Huh. Do you think it’s because she rejects you as a son?”

spaceI stood abruptly and started walking. “I don’t know.”

spaceHe followed after me, tail waving with interest. “So, where are you going to go now? Follow your old man, seek your mom, or go after your lover?”

spaceMy steps faltered and I gave him a crooked glare. “First, Adira is a friend, don’t get the wrong image in your head. Second, I don’t know, okay?” Agni grinned in response and I turned away. My head ached now.

space“Well, can I tag along?”

space“I’d rather you not.”

space“That’s not a no!” His steps turned into skips and my head lowered. I was too tired to fight with him now, so I just gave up and let him tag along, figuring he would just get bored eventually and roam off again.

spaceWe traveled for some time in an aimless direction, Agni rambling on about his life and hobbies and me partially listening, but mostly talking to Heian. Since the incidents, I had felt him more strongly, almost like a physical presence standing beside me. I still was weak from the first time I used the lightning, but he assured me it was just from using my powers and that my strength would return to me in time. I trusted him, after all who else could I trust? The only reason Agni didn’t try to kill me or run when I admitted my heritage was because he was too mentally unscrewed to understand fear.

spaceAgni was a nice viscet, and I am sure at another time we could have become friends, but either the fresh wounds from those who I thought to be kind or the lack of strength after the events to follow their attack made my mind easily agitated and frustrated, and he was becoming more like a knife scraping on a stone now.

space“Hey, Agni.”

space“Yeah?” He stopped talking immediately and looked as though he had instantly forgotten what he was discussing.

space“I’m a little hungry, and exhausted. Could you hunt?”

spaceAgni paused, his mouth agape and his eyes wide like an innocent child as he processed my request, then, in an instant, his lips peeled back into a twisted smile and his eyes glittered with excitement. A chill rushed down my spine and remained even after he had sprinted off erratically to capture - no, kill - the first thing he would come across.

spaceWith some quiet, I turned to Heian. [i]What should I do now? I have no home, no money, and no support. It doesn’t help that the guardians are likely on my tail now, which means that I must be known in several packs now. Besides, it won’t be long until word of what happened with Adira’s pack spreads out to others and they find out about us.

space”I know, don’t worry, though. I am keeping a good eye on them, word hasn’t spread yet. Some packs know the guardians are looking for you, but they were wise enough not to spread any word that you hear my voice. Keep your guard up, though, and avoid large bodies of water and open fields.”[i/]

spaceI nodded slowly and turned my eyes to the sky. [i]So, this is my life, now?

space”It doesn’t have to be. My suggestion still stands.”

spaceMy fingers clenched and I looked down at them. Meet Libra and learn of his plans. I felt Heian nod, and frowned. Libra was a well known monster around, particularly after the destruction he had caused. It seemed like a clear omen of bad things to come if I went to him, but then again. . . He was a follower of Heian, and would likely treat me with respect when he discovered my link to him. I turned my head to the west where the black clouds of sand swirled, marking Libra’s home. It was such a dangerous place that even the guardians steered clear. They say nothing but evil is grown in those lands, but if I am a child of evil and if I am already a killer, then perhaps I would fit in.

spaceAgni arrived just in time, his mouth and chest soaked with blood and a creature so mutilated I could not recognize its species hanging limp in his jaws. He dropped it to the ground and grinned at me, then licked blood from his lips. “I got one!”

spaceI laughed nervously and nodded, not taking my eyes off of Agni. “Yeah, good job. . .” Slowly, I reached down and picked up the carcass, my eyes still trained on him.

space“So, any new plans?”

space“Well, I was thinking of visiting Libra.”

spaceAgni’s eyes lit up. “Ooh~ I love that guy! He’s pretty mellowed out for a murderer, ya know. It’d be nice to meet up with him again.”

spaceI slowly nodded, uncertain. “Well, I plan on leaving in the morning. I need to get some rest first.”

spaceAgni nodded rapidly. “I will stand guard while you sleep!”

space“How about you sleep as well? It will be a long journey.” I wanted nearly everything except those vicious eyes “protecting” me as I slept.

space“Nope! Can’t sleep, won’t sleep!” He grinned at me and I realized I was fighting a losing battle.

space“Alright, just. . . make sure I am safe, okay? There are a lot of viscets out there who would want me dead.”

spaceAgni saluted and grinned at me. After a moment, I ate the creature he had hunted and curled up tightly. Heian?

spaceHeian chuckled in my head. ”Don’t worry, the kid won’t hurt you. I’ll keep an eye out, too, if that soothes your mind.”

spaceI nodded slightly and slowly, cautiously, allowed myself to fall asleep.

-----

spaceThe night was dreamless, yet when I awoke I somehow felt worse and more exhausted than I had the night before. Slowly, I peeled myself from the ground and cracked my eyes open just in time to see Agni’s head whip around to stare at me with eyes screaming murder. I froze up and stared back at him, terrified. After a moment, his eyes calmed into that same blissful cheer he usually had and he welcomed me to the land of the awakened.

space“Thanks. . .” I slowly sat up and glanced around. There were bodies of what seemed to be squirrels and birds, and several squashed remains of insects scattered all around us. I turned back to him, looking for an explanation.

space“Many things tried to draw too close to you in your sleep. I protected you.” He grinned at me and I nodded slowly.

space”You have got to give it to him, the kid is one heck of a guard dog.”

spaceI slowly got up and stretched, popping my joints out of their stiff states. Hey, since you’re awake, why am I still so tired?

space”It’s just a side effect. It’s lasting longer than expected, but it should be fine. Just give it another night.”

spaceI nodded slowly and started making my way west, towards Libra’s home, Agni tagging along close behind.

----

space“So, how exactly did Halonna have a kid with Heian?”

spaceI stared at Agni, startled and unsure what to answer with. “Like, they’re sworn enemies, right? Day and night, light and dark, good and evil, sun and moo- Wait, doesn’t that make you an eclipse?!”

spaceMy stare was maintained until I slowly forced it to fade. “Well, they weren’t always enemies. How Heian explained it to me was that in the past they were equals, but Halonna won the hearts of the public and drew them to her, forcing them to turn their back on him. He got angry and confronted her, and she denied ever having done that. Since then, they’ve been having worse and worse battles. Well, I was laid before that first argument began.”

spaceAgni was staring at me with wide, startled eyes now and I eyed him uncomfortably. “How old are you?!”

spaceI stiffened at his tone. “Well, I didn’t hatch for a few centuries, so only twenty-four.”

spaceAgni blinked, then grinned calmly. “Cool! So you’re like the boring immortal! The one where people ask what it was like to be there during great events in the past, but you can’t say because you missed it!”

spaceI blinked slowly and nodded, just accepting his comparison without question, more for my sake. “So, how far do-”

space“Sh.” The sudden serious tone in his voice stopped me dead in my tracks and sent my feathers on edge. I stared back at him uneasily as he stared off into the trees, his eyes trained on something mine couldn’t see. Heian?

space”Don’t ask me, kid. I don’t know what he sees.”

spaceI gulped and watched Agni, not daring to take a step or speak a word. He leaned forward slightly, then darted off in a flash, bolting into the woods with a vicious snarl. I shuddered and slowly turned my head away, but I smacked my muzzle against a firm jaw.

spaceI jumped back and stared at the viscet who had seemed to appear from thin air. He had wings and antlers resting on his head, and his body was coated in tawny feathers with serpentine-like markings. He was one of the guardians, the newest. My ears fell back and my eyes narrowed. Act tough. He’s a newbee, he will back down if he’s intimidated.

space”That won’t work. Relax, let me handle this one.”

spaceNo. I can do this.

spaceHeian growled, but I ignored him. “What do you want?”

space“I have a few questions for you, Orion. Would you mind answering them?”

space“You’re on a time limit. Agni doesn’t like it when others are near me.”

space“Agni is preoccupied at the moment.”

spaceI frowned and tensed, not taking my eyes off of him. “Alright, if that’s what you like to believe. What do you want to know?”

space“You said you heard Heian, yes? Do you know why?”

spaceI frowned. “He refused to tell me for a while.”

space“But he has, now. Can you tell me?”

space“I’m not sure if you want to know.” I did my best to dance around his questions, but his answers were so immediate that I was beginning to worry he could read my mind.

space“I do, trust me.”

space“No, you really don’t. He’ll curse you if you do.”

spaceThe male frowned, unamused. “Orion, stop dodging my questions. I would rather just get this done between us without having to call over the others.”

spaceI frowned back, working hard to mimic his expression. “Well, why don’t you? You saw how well that worked out last time.”

spaceHe sighed clenched the left side of his jaw. Lightning rippled along his antlers and my eyes widened a little. “I’m positive I could handle you.”

spaceA sound yanked my attention away from him and I turned my head sharply to stare at Agni as he shot from the trees, a dark female with a mane of fire hot on his tail. He whipped around and made a move to claw her face, but she ducked and smacked her skull against his stomach, throwing him down.

space“Hey!” I let down my guard toward the male and took a step towards the female. Almost immediately, I regretted it. Not because of the male, or the female, or even Agni, but because of Heian. He had been waiting anxiously for something to distract me to take control for a split second. Black lightning shot from my chest and struck the male directly in the left eye. The lighting rippled through his body and he cried out in pain and clutched his eye, catching the attention of Agni and the female.

space“Apep!” The female sprang from Agni and ran to the male, Apep. Then turned her head to the left. “Allaster!” She shouted out another name, then her sharp eyes rested on me. Her mane flared as anger surged through her body. I immediately recognized who she was: Pele, the fiery tempered guardian of the seas. “You! What did you do?!”

space“I didn’t, I-”

spaceAgni sprang up and caught her muzzle in his jaws. He threw her down and released a blood curdling snarl. He tensed to pounce on her and likely kill her, but a hound made of fire shot from the forest and collided with his chest. He fell backward, screeching in pain and fear, then scrambled up to his paws and fled as quickly as he could. From where the hound had come, the large male who had interrogated me, Allaster, jogged out and stared at the scene before him. Apep was no longer screaming in pain, but he still clutched his eye and stood hunched, breathing heavily, his feathers shaking ever so slightly. Pele was standing, her muzzle bleeding from the bite inflicted by Agni. Her mane was raging.

spaceAllasters eyes rested on me, and mine narrowed. “Hey, I swear I didn’t do any of this.” He made his way towards me and I held up my paws in surrender. He shoved past Pele, pushing her to Apep as he did, then came nose-to-nose with me.

space“You’re his son, aren’t you?” His voice was hushed so the others couldn’t hear, but it only made him more intimidating. “It explains your power, attitude, and some of your coloration. So, tell me, are you his heir? Do you plan to live to his legacy?”

space“I don’t know.”

spaceHis eyes narrowed and something else seemed to click in his mind. His thoughts were going too quickly for me to keep up and I found myself fumbling to answer, unable to find time to make up lies or excuses. “So it wasn’t you who attacked Apep right now, but him. Am I right?” I nodded, then shook my head, then nodded again. “So is he able to control you?”

space“He never did it until just now.”

space“You look tired. Have you lost sleep?”

space“No. I am just tired from the fir-”

space“Are you sure he is on your side?”

space”Orion. . . push him back. . .”

space“Yes, why wouldn’t he be? He is my father.” I bristled slightly, unsure of where this is going.

space“He is Heian, father or not. Having a child does not always change one for the better.”

spaceMy ears flattened. “Well, maybe if you didn’t always give out stereotypes then maybe he could change.”

space“I understand you are upset for possible actions taken towards you for your father’s name. From your wounds, I can say safely that the night we met must have been after an attack related to it. However, release your pride and listen to me. He is not helping you, but using you. You have your mother and father’s power, do you not?”

spaceI narrowed my eyes. “And who is my mother?”

space“Halonna, that part is obvious.” I blinked, unsure of what he meant. “Have you been able to use any element affiliated with her?” I slowly shook my head. His eyes glanced up at the sky. “And have you noticed the moon?”

spaceMy eyes drifted to the sky. There, attempting to hide behind clouds, the moon rested in broad daylight, a golden tinge to it.

space“He is using you. Sapping the powers you were given and using them to reach her.”

spaceHeian, what is he talking about?

space”He’s trying to get into your head. Don’t let him. Force him back or let me do it.”

space“Think about it. Wouldn’t it make sense for you to use both powers?”

space“Halonna never spoke to me, though.”

space“And are you sure he isn’t blocking her out? Or perhaps he is hiding you from her sight. I’ve noticed you’ve been hiding in the shadows quite a bit.”

space“He told me to do so to avoid Apep.”

space“Are you sure that is it?”

spaceMy head hurt. I wanted things to stop being so confusing, but there seemed to be no clear answer. Everything he said made sense, and no matter how hard I tried or willed I could not find a way to deny any of it.

space”Don’t tell me you’re falling for this.”

space“Just. . . let me think.”

space“Don’t let him lie to you, Orion. Figure it out for yourself. Put the pieces together.”

space”Orion! Are you really listening to this fool?!” His voice was getting sharper.

space“Yes- No- I. . . I don’t know!”

space”Orion!”

space“Keep him back, Orion. You can do it.”

spaceI slowly curled inward, my paws tensing and my eyes scrunching closed.

spaceHeian stopped talking, but Allaster persisted, trying to tell me to put pieces together and figure it out. My mind screamed at me, battling itself with logic and reason and my innards tore at each other like Agni with those creatures.

spaceAll at once, it was shattered with a new chaos. Pele screamed and Allaster and I turned to stare as Apep threw her to the ground, his eyes dark with the blackish purple lightning flowing through his body. He bared his fangs at Allaster and rushed towards him. Allaster sucked in a sharp breath and jumped back. Apep’s fangs grazed Allaster’s neck, taking a few feathers off of his chest. Allaster whistled and the fire hound leapt upon Apep’s back and barked, trying to stop him without injury. Apep threw the hound and rushed Allaster again. In the chaos, I saw my chance. I turned around and fled the scene, rushing as far from them as I could. I heard Heian begin to talk to me, but shut him out forcefully. I needed to think for myself, I needed to figure this out. My legs moved as quickly as my mind and I ran to nowhere and everywhere while my mind ran back in time, to my life before and the signs that were presented to me. I could not deny anything Allaster had said.

spaceI did not count the steps or minutes I had run before fatigue seized me. The exhaustion - or draining of my powers - drove my knees to the ground and I struck the earth with force. I was at the edge of the forest, my head just barely peeking out into the light. I laid there, panting heavily with vacant, teary eyes. I didn’t know what to believe or do anymore. In only a few days, everything I had known to be true had been thrown from the window and dropped into an endless pit of deceit. Slowly, I closed my eyes. It felt nice to rest them, and the soft red light that shined through them was almost comforting. It reminded me of the past, of the days with Adira when we were kids, energetic with no clue as to what the future would bring for us. Slowly, a tear broke free and fell down my cheek feathers. Adira. I had no doubt she heard what I had done. I feared to know what she thought of me now. A murderer who attacked those who had helped to raise me and who had hurt a guardian who showed no signs of wanting to harm me. My lips curled upward. I was disgusting.

spaceSuddenly, the red on my eyelids grew into a searing white and I crinched away, scrunching my eyes tighter. Slowly, the intensity faded and I opened my eyes, unsure of what had happened. Before me, I saw soft paws resting on the ground. They took a step towards me, then bent as the body lowered to my head. I looked up at the gentle, sad face of a white and gold female with a shimmering halo resting above her head. Slowly, she knelt before me and rested a paw on my cheek. I don’t know why, but I leaned my head against her touch. It was comforting, a happy feeling. I felt some strength return to me, but was still unable to stand.

space“What is your name?” Her voice was gentle, but sadness and guilt clung to it.

space“Orion.” I slowly closed my eyes, not having the energy to keep them open any longer. I wanted to sleep now. A warm, wet tear fell on my snout and the skin twitched there, but I didn’t move and more than that. I fell asleep to the sound of her quiet sob above my head.

[Hail.]

I awoke with a strange feeling. I was not exhausted, but I was also not full of energy. The ground beneath me was significantly softer now, and my back was warm. I shifted my head, tempted to wake up but enjoying the comfort of laying too much. After a few minutes, I felt the ground shift and gave in to curiosity. My eyes opened slowly and blinked several times, adjusting to the new influx of light around me. The ground was white and soft, like clouds or snow, and the sky was a soft baby blue that was freckled with stars which shinned despite the presence of the sun. All around me, creatures with wings of different types and shapes moved about, their eyes drifting to me every now and then. Movement to my left caught my eye and I looked at the source. I saw the females neck beside me and spoke to her. “Where am I?”

“You call it the land of Clouds and Stars.”

I closed my eyes again and smiled a little. “Good. I know I’m not dead, then.”

“What do you mean?” She seemed startled.

“Well, I don’t know if you know about my parents or anything but I’m not exactly worthy of this place.”

“I know of your heritage well, trust me.” Her voice was softer now. “And why would you think your parents would determine you worthy or not?”

I didn’t answer. Memories of those I hurt came back, but my mouth was too scared to say the words which would make what I did completely and utterly true.

“Orion?”

“Hm?”

“Do you. . . know who I am?”

I opened my eyes again and took another look at her. She was mostly white with gold and tawny marks along her body. On her shoulders and hips, wings lay folded and golden halos hovered on her body, one over her head and two around her tail. Her legs were soft and feathered and her greyish blue eyes watched me sadly. I frowned a little. “I’m not sure.”

She hesitated and looked down. “You must have heard my name, though.”

“I know many names that I don’t know the faces for.”

She nodded slowly then stood up. “Let’s go for a walk.”

I grunted and slowly lifted myself from the comfort of the clouds. Once on my feet, I yawned and shook the sleepy from my head, then looked at her. She met my eyes for only a moment then walked on. I followed her and together we walked along the clouds. Others around us would call out greetings to her and she would return them half-heartedly. Everyone seemed fairly cheerful to be here, which is what I expected of this place. Some sat on small clouds which hovered over the ground, their eyes trained on the world below. “What are they doing?”

“Those are the guardians. They are watching over the one they were assigned to.”

“Oh. Do I have one?” Slowly, she shook her head and avoided my gaze. I frowned. “It’s okay, you know. I am not upset that I don’t. Why are you so sad?”

“Because I have not been in your life as much as I should have been.”

My walk slowed and I eyed her. She slowed and turned to face me, studying my face. She belonged in this land, of that there was no doubt, but why was she saying these things to someone like me? I would have thought her to have been the one who was supposed to be my guardian, but it seemed like something more than that. My mind reached back to that time of exhaustion where I first encountered her. Her reaction to hearing my name. . . My eyes widened slightly.

“Halonna?”

She looked away from me for a moment then forced her eyes back and nodded slowly. “I’m sorry. . . I should have been there for you, I should have helped to guide you or even taken you up here with me to raise you, but I-”

“Don’t apologize. He kept me hidden from you, I know that now. You couldn’t have helped me because you didn’t know I had ever hatched.”

She closed her eyes and fought back tears. “I watched your egg every day, waiting for you to hatch, but you hatched during a solar eclipse, and he hid you away from me. . .”

I frowned. “It’s okay, though. Everything is fine now, isn't it?”

She frowned and met my eyes. “You. . . don’t know?”

“Don’t know what?”

Her features suddenly changed. Her back straightened and she walked to the edge of the large cloud we stood on and gestured down. “Take a look.”

I followed her wearily and looked down. All at once, the distant world seemed to zoom in at the speed of light and came to a rest on Libra. He stood in a room facing a hovering shadow, speaking with it. My back bristled.

“Heian has been taking your powers and he plans to give them to Libra.”

I stared at her. “That would. . .”

She nodded. “With the extra boost, Libra would be able to destroy the three guardians and take control of KeiNairi.”

My gaze slowly turned back down and I glowered at the shadow. My paws clenched and my tail whipped. He had betrayed me, led me to believe that he was here for my help but hurt me the whole time. He was just like everyone else, but this time it was worse. He knew he would betray me from the start, all because of my heritage.

I didn’t realize I was snarling until Halonna rested a paw gently on my shoulder. “There’s nothing we can do.”

My eyes drifted to her paw, then back to her face. “No. There is something that can be done. Something I can do.”

---

Adira stood at the small shelter where Orion used to live. She frowned and gave it a firm tap with her hind paw. “If you were living in such a cheap place why didn’t you tell me, you jerk?” Slowly, her arms folded and tightened around her as the words of the village came to her head. “Did you really. . . kill them? That isn’t you, I know that. You’re too much of a wimp to do anything like that.” She closed her eyes tightly and focused on her breaths. “And why didn’t you tell me about your parents? I wouldn’t have cared if they were a rock and a flower, you’re still my friend and you being a kid of rivaling deities means nothing to me if you don’t want it to.”

Slowly, she lowered herself to the ground and sat before his makeshift flooring. She lightly touched it and ran her fingers along the warped wood. “Please, just come back home. . . It’s too boring here without you, and everyone's too superstitious now. We don’t even have to live here if you don’t want to, we could go out on adventures together and explore the world like we dreamed of doing as children. Meet the guardians, fight against monsters, save those in distress. Maybe then you will race me for real without faking a trip.” She laughed, but it died quickly with a soft sob. “Just. . . Orion, I miss you. I don’t know where you are or what you are doing, but please. . . come back home. . .”

“So you knew him?”

She whipped around and sprang to her feet to face the viscet who had approached her silently. She stared at Allaster as he watched her calmly and she felt her heart beat pick up. “Yes, I did. I do.”

“Maybe you can help me, then. I lost track of him and need to find him again. Would you know where he would go?”

“If I did then I would be there already.”

He frowned and nodded and his eyes drifted towards Orion’s old bed. “He seems like he was a good kid.”

Adira followed his gaze and nodded softly. “He had his flaws, but don’t we all?”

Allaster chuckled softly and nodded. Slowly, the humor faded from him. “Adira, right?” She nodded and he continued. “Do you know what he has done?”

Her eyes slowly closed. “They say he killed some of our pack members.”

Allaster nodded slowly. “It’s more than that.”

Slowly, she looked to him, unsure if she wanted to hear what he was going to say.

“His father, Heian, has used him. The powers Orion was gifted from his father’s side are being transferred to Libra now, but we can’t stop it. Orion has somehow kidnapped Halonna and is holding her captive. We don’t know why, but we fear the worst.”

Adira’s ears laid back. “No, he wouldn’t do something like that.”

“Adira. . . I know this is hard to accept-”

“I am being serious, Allaster!” She took several steps forward, all nervousness towards the guardian thrown to the dust and replaced with determination. “Discovering that your father is a wicked man does not change who you are and it sure as ever doesn’t lead one to seek to kill their mother!”

Allaster blinked a few times, processing her sudden attitude. “Alright, so what do you think is going on here?”

“I don’t know, but I do know that he will need my help. Where is he?”

He frowned and his tails swayed behind him. “It’s too dangerous.”

“Oh don’t give me that horse dung! Tell me where he is, right now.”

Allaster’s frown deepened, then slowly softened. “Alright, alright. I will trust you, but one one condition: I go with you.”

“So long as it is just you, I am fine with that.”

---

I paced, anxiety pounding in my chest louder than my heart. I stopped and looked out the window. “Any moment now. . .”

“Orion.”

“Don’t. Just. . . just don’t, Halonna. It’s time that I stand up and do something. I can’t let him get away with this.”

“Please, just leave it to the guardians.” Halonna pleaded from behind me. It made me hesitate, but I shoved the thought from my mind.

“No. You and I both know they would fail. I have the powers needed to do this.”

“You’ve had access to my powers for less than four hours. You aren’t ready.”

I smacked my palms against the wall and closed my eyes tightly. “I know! I know. . . If I don’t try, though, then more blood will stain my hands. I can’t handle that, not any more.”

Halonna fell quiet and I slowly relaxed and looked out again. The raging storm around Libra’s territory was still present, no extra lightning flashing within it. Good. Heian hasn’t done the transfer yet.

“Orion!”

My ears flicked. The voice was female, but not Halonna. I turned back and my eyes widened as Adira stood in the distance, her ears held high and her face holding the same stern expression she used when I was being an idiot. She marched towards me as though she were ready to smack me.

“Adira, stop.” My ears flattened back in warning. I was happy to see her, but not now. She shouldn’t be here. She stopped in her tracks and gave me a look of confusion. “What are you doing here? Go away!”

“That’s not going to happen, Orion.” Behind her, Allaster approached, his eyes trained on Halonna. “What are you doing, kid?” He turned his focus back to me and I bristled, not wanting another one of his intense conversations. “Why are you holding her captive?”

I sighed and looked at Halonna. I could tell them the truth, that Halonna never really was a prisoner and is always able to come and go as she pleases, or I could lie. Either method didn’t seem to get them out of here quick enough, so I decided to cause myself less trouble. “Listen, she never really was a prisoner. I am trying to get Heian out, okay? So you two need to leave, now.”

Adira stepped forward and her ears raised. “I won’t leave you. You have a lot of explaining to do, and I don’t plan to walk away for another second!”

I frowned. “Adira, give up. Just go away and let me go. I am not the viscet who raced with you, I am not the viscet who grew up with you. I am different, and I can’t go back.”

Adira’s eyes narrowed. “Who said you had to go back? Orion, you know this for a fact. I would follow you anywhere. I know you’re not evil, and I know you’re not a killer. Just, calm down and let us help you.”

I looked away from her, unable to met her eyes. Not a murderer, huh? Flashes of the bodies which laid on the ground that night they all found out hit my mind and my frown deepened. No, I was not a good person or the one she wanted me to be. She had it all wrong. “Adira, please, just go. You don’t know me or what I have become.”

Adira’s fangs showed slightly. “Can you stop acting like that!”

I blinked. “What?”

“Quit acting like the world hates you and woe is your name! Orion, you and I know who you are, and we both know this isn’t you! You’re the kind hearted viscet who is terrified of being alone or left behind, the viscet who fakes tripping in races to make his friend feel better! You’re the viscet who would stop to help anyone at any moment, even if it inconvenienced you! Who your father and mother are changes none of that!”

“Adira. . .”

“Orion!” My head whipped to Halonna who was pointing to the opening in the room. There, a shadow was rushing in, lightning surging within it.

“You need to leave, now!”

“No chance!” Adira squared up to the shadow and stared at it. Allaster braced himself as well and the fire hound appeared at his side.

I growled, but turned away from them. There was no time to argue about it.

The shadow stopped abruptly in the room and grew larger. It took a moment, as if assessing each of us, then spoke. “So, you brought a show with you?”

“Heian, how are you here?” Halonna bristled.

“Same as you, darlin. I can touch this world in this form, even when you put up that oh-so-fancy seal on me.” He paused, then spoke again. “Orion, my boy. Did you finally snap out of your delusion?”

I nodded. “Yes, I did.”

“Good job, kid. I knew you could do it. Now, help me out here. You mother won’t be an easy fight.”

I focused my energy into my palms again, just as he had taught me, and felt the energy radiating from them. It was warm. I released it towards him and watched as the shadow flickered and jerked from the sudden surge of light.

“You little!”

Before he could get out another word, Halonna struck him with a halo and the shadow exploded into small plumes of smoke that drifted upward. Slowly, Allaster and Adira relaxed and looked at each other.

“Well, that was easy. . .”

Halonna caught her halo as it returned and placed it back above her head. “I have fought with him for centuries, do you really think that weak state was ever a question to me?”

Allaster laughed awkwardly then approached her. “Are you hurt at all?”

Halonna frowned. “No, of course not. Orion had no plans to harm me, and Heian could never touch me unless the seal is broken.”

Adira approached me while the other two discussed. I frowned and looked away from her.

“Well you sure are dramatic.”

“Adira, why are you acting like this to me? I killed viscets, innocent vicsets.”

Adira sighed and pulled me into a hug. I stood stiffly, unsure of how to respond. “Orion, it was self defense and I am sure that you didn’t mean it. You are not a killer, you never have been and you never will be.”

I frowned as she pulled away from me and stared at my face. I was still unable to meet her eyes.

---

[Hail.]

Mr. Big Bad still ain't goin down, even with lightnin boi

Makes his Big Bad way to Kalila's home town

Adira tries to convince her to run, Kalila is like "NO. DIS MY DESTINY."

[Hail.]

Kalila climbs wet, muddy hill - asthma be ragin

Makes it to top, struggles to stand

FIRIN MAH LAYZER

Big Bad and smol sweet both go down

[Hail.]

Meet Halonna and discuss with her why she did stuff she did

Halonna is fond of her, but tries to hid it

Sunny D comes and is like 'yo, nah fam. She ain't done yet'

soft smol given second chance!!

[Hail.]

Soft smol gives all credit to guardians and lives quiet lives

Greatness is found within, and does not need to be paraded about

Guardian's don't know she saved em

Return to her town to introduce Apep, she sits on her hill and watches them with a little less excitment. When questioned, says "Yeah, they just like me. Normal 'cets with a sense to follow purpose"