Months passed and the weather now became cooler.  The autumn air was sweet and silent.  Of course, Shino wouldn’t have known.  He had stayed indoors throughout the months that had passed.  The humans had used him as a messenger boy.  He was living in the depths of the earth, hidden below the city of NeoAnnos.  The wardran there either helped mine for diamonds or fought in the rings above ground against dragons.  Shino would run throughout the mines and speak to the humans.  After receiving the orders, he would run back to relay them.

 Shino had come to know every face by now, even the human that was in charge of him.  The man’s name was Sinton.  He was a rather muscular man, by human standards, and had raven black hair.  He could be kind, but then ruled with an iron fist when it came to those who refused to work.  He admired young Shino, watching him grow over the months to what would be the equivalent of a ten year old human boy in just three months.  He knew Shino would grow up to be a strong warrior, and that was the perfect opportunity to gain money off of him.  He already had a steady 'bet worthy' wardran, Mana, but it would be great to have two.

 Aboveground, in the ring, Mana sat on the cold ground of a small rock arena surrounded by a cheering crowd. His chains and muzzle had been taken off, but his wings remained chained up to prevent flight.  The roar of the crowd filled his ears, sounding like a constant buzz as he concentrated on the breath of the great dragon that was being set before him.  The dragon was small by his standards. It stood fifteen feet tall, but it’s body seemed cramped into the arena, not leaving much room to move.  It’s head held a brilliant pair of sea green eyes and dual set of horns.

 Mana stood up, his powerful tail swaying behind him as he looked the dragon over.  The dragon reared to it’s hind legs, spewing golden flames into the air, but Mana seemed unimpressed.  He had fought far more dangerous creatures in his long life, and no fire breathing dragon was going to scare him now.  Mana merely crossed his arms and looked away from the dragon to show that it’s ability to breath fire didn’t scare him.  The dragon hissed, lowering itself to the ground as the crowed cheered it on.  They wanted to see Mana die.  Of course, Mana wasn’t going to put up with this.  He rose his hand into the air, seeming to call upon the spirits around him.  With his very movement, the dragon slammed it’s head into Mana’s body, knocking the air out of him.  The crowd stood and roared with glee as Mana struggled to push the dragon off of him.  By now, the dragon was lifting his body off the ground, sliding him up the wall.  Mana let out a short roar, his hands setting around the dragon’s head.  In response, the dragon pushed him into the wall further, the stone behind him cracking with the pressure.  Blood rushed into Mana’s mouth, forcing him to cough it out.  The crowd’s roar grew even louder at the sight of blood, this being the first time Mana had ever bled.

 Sinton by this time, was up at the surface, watching as Mana was being smashed.  A smirk was set on his face as he heard the men behind him, who had bet on the dragon to win speak.  “We told you, he was getting too old.  This Lore-dragon is far beyond what we had expected.  We have a new champion on our hands.”

 Sinton chuckled, turning to the men behind him.  “Are you familiar with Mana’s clan?  I mean the roots and not the clan we set him with.”

 The men looked to each other, keeping silent.  Sinton merely turned back around, “I didn’t think so.”

 He set his hands behind his back, smirking as he watched Mana struggle below.  “Mana originates from a clan deep in the north once called Psidus Mind.  They were a brilliant clan, and the only who mastered the ability to use psychic powers.  The only thing is, they’d have to be under a lot of pressure to activate them, and I think Mana should snap at any moment.”

 As soon as those words escaped Sinton, did Mana snap.  A burst of blue aura shred through the arena, wreaking havoc instantly.  The dragon hissed, snapping it’s head back as the blast burst it’s eyes.  Standing on it’s two legs, the dragon shifted it’s hands over it’s head, roaring out in pain and agony.

 Sinton smirked, watching the sight as he knew it was over.  “And now, Mana will make it pay.”  Sinton moved his hand into the breast pocket of his coat, pulling out a cigar.  He lighted it with a silver lighter, turning back to the men.  “It is rather pointless to cheer your ‘champion’ on, so I’ll have my money as Mana has won again.”

 Mana slammed his tail into the ground, the dust lifting and stopping as the blue aura held it.  The crowd was now silent, watching in anticipation to see what Mana would do.  Mana rose his hand up, holding it out, palms up.  He slowly began to close his hand into a fist, a cold smirk falling over his face.  The dragon roared, flaring it’s wings, the blue aura around him pushing his body apart from the inside.  Mana kept still, his eyes locked on the dragon as he watched it’s mass grow.  It seemed to bloat like a rotting carcass would on a hot summer’s day in the open air, but the dragon was very much still alive.  The expanding muscle constricted it’s wind pipe, keeping it from roaring, or breathing for that matter.  Mana all this time, had started to chuckle.  He hated dragons with a passion.  To him, they were just one of the pathetic creations of Ariketon, the god who hated his god.  His lips moved, forming the words, ‘For you Myris‘, but no sound escaped him.  With one final movement, Mana jerked his arm to his side, the blue aura turning black with that instant.  The dragon’s body suddenly began to twist and misshape, it’s frame collapsing on itself.  The bloat lowered as a thick black liquid poured from it’s mouth, stopping at Mana’s feet, not touching his white boots.  When Mana turned away, walking out of the arena, all that was left was a shrunken dragon’s body, covered with black liquid.  As soon as Mana’s aura faded, the black liquid rushed in on itself, sucking the body into it’s void, till there was no more.  The audience remained quiet, shocked till a sudden roar commenced from them, Mana receiving the standing ovation.

 Sinton collected his money and moved out.  “It was a pleasure doing business with you Gentlemen.”  The men mumbled amongst themselves, knowing that if Mana didn’t have his powers, they would have won the money.

 Mana stepped into his cell, the humans that watched over him following swiftly.  He took his spot on the wall, allowing them to chain him down.  He closed his eyes, sighing as they set the muzzle back on him.  He hated the muzzle, but now if he had done anything wrong, Shino would pay the price.  He cared for Shino as if he were his own son.  Sinton knew that, and exploited it at every chance he got.

 Shino now, rushed through the mines, stopping as he approached Randall, one of the older mine workers.  “Randall, Sinton wants you to switch your group out with another one.”

 Randall looked to him, laughing, “He’s being nice, well I guess he won with Mana today again.”

 Shino nodded, “Yea, he let me see the fight.”

 Randall rose his eyebrow, “Really?  Was it good?”

 Shino’s eyes went wide as he nodded, “Uh huh,  Mana imploded the dragon.”

 Randall laughed, “Well, that’s pretty amazing for an old guy like him.  Well ok, let me get the guys rounded.”  Shino nodded, running back to the entrance of the mines.

 Later that night, Shino and Mana sat in their cell, the moonlight pouring in to greet them for the night.  The other wardran, Kino and Sharon, whom Shino had first met, had died a few days before in the arena.  Now they were alone, two companions built upon a father and son kind of relationship.  It was amazing what kind of bond could be built in three months time, but Shino was too young to be with out someone to guide him.

 Mana looked down to him from his spot on the wall, his eyes falling on Shino who seemed to be content on staring off into the empty void of the darkness.  “What are you looking at?”

 Shino looked back to him smiling, “The sky, I’m looking for the constellation of Myris.”

 Mana merely chuckled, “Well, for one, you’re looking in the wrong spot.  It would be directly above you.”

 Shino looked up to the dark ceiling, looking up at it as if were the darkness that housed Iudicium.  He sighed, looking down.  It had been a long time since he had been outside during the night.  He had missed the rhythmic sounds of the crickets and the call of the birds.  Slowly, he crawled up next to Mana’s feet, looking up at the wardran he had come to accept as an adoptive father.  He hated seeing him in chains, almost never seeing him in his full majestic splendor.  Mana smiled down to Shino, allowing a deep, soothing growl to rumble in his throat, bringing Shino to peace as the sound of the ocean waves would bring a person to their peace of the night.

 Shino stepped into the stone arena, his coal black eyes waiting like ravenous wolves to spot his first opponent.  He had grown marvelously over the past years, his people were always a race to age quickly.  He was twenty now, his body changing swiftly over the years as he was near adulthood.  His raven hair grew out to his waist while his bangs lay around his face in a part.  He now stood a mere six foot even, not being anywhere near the age of his adoptive father, Mana, but his power was something to fear.  Now it was his chance to show what Mana had taught him, and to prove that he was more than a mere messenger.

 Stepping into the arena, a black lion entered, his regal mane moving with grace as if dancing to an unknown tune as the setting sun adding an eerie glow.  The lion hissed, his ears folding back against his mane as he neared Shino.  Shino on the other hand, kept still, merely following the lion with his eyes.  That’s all he needed really, was to keep his eyes out and not get slashed or bitten.  But that was more easier said than done.

 The lion swiped it’s massive claw to Shino’s leg, missing by a hair as Shino leaped over him.  Flipping forwards, Shino landed softly, his hands quickly gripping the lion’s tail.  The lion snarled, curling it’s body around.  Surprised, Shino could only feel the stinging kiss of the claws on his arm, but still he didn’t let go.  He merely growled in response, pulling on the tail viciously.  The lion slid back, his claws digging deeply into the ground below, their sharp points breaking instantly with the force.  Shino smirked, tugging on the tail once more, this time a sickening snap echoing through the arena as the crowed roared like a mass of hovering demons cheering for a kill.  The lion fell to it’s back, his hind legs slashing out at Shino.  Scowling, Shino leaped into the air, his powerful body slamming into the lion’s ribs.  The lion roared in anger, his ribs snapping on the instant of Shino’s landing.

 Instead of stopping, Shino merely rose his hand to the struggling lion’s chest, ripping it to the area of his heart.  The blood was hot against Shino’s hand as he held the beating heart with in it, it’s mass seeming to be alive, struggling to get loose.  Still, Shino didn’t let go, his hand applying pressure to it as a massive paw ripped at his face.  Blood smeared down his cheek before he could finally pull the heart fully out, allowing the lion’s body to fall limp.  The crowd stood and clapped, witnessing yet another gruesome death.

 Mana watched Shino come from the arena, eyeing his fresh wound upon his cheek instantly.  “Did it go through?”

 Shino shook his head, “No, it isn’t that deep either.”

 Mana nodded, “Then just keep it clean till it heals fully.”

 Shino only nodded, walking off with Mana close behind.  They stepped through the old mines, passing the many wardranian miners along the way.  Mana sighed, looking down on Shino below as he spoke, “And here we go back to the eternal crap of the night.”

 Mana shook his head, watching the two guards walk up to him as they neared their cell.  “Come on you wardran scum.”  Shino merely chuckled, walking into the cell with Mana and the two guards right behind.  Mana stood against the wall, waiting patiently as the men tied him up.  As they left, Shino rolled his eyes to them, wanting so badly to rip them apart like a vulture at a carcass.  “Stupid men.  Why do you let them tie you up?!”

 Mana looked down to the younger wardran, “It brings them satisfaction.”

 Shino growled, clenching his fists, “Satisfaction?  Satisfaction in seeing you break your great wings and to see the most powerful wardran here tied up!?”

 Mana kept quiet for a few moments, thinking of what to say.  “Humans fear what is more powerful than they, and they crave it to be suppressed.  It is either be this way.. Or not live at all.”

 Shino was about to speak again when the sounds of constant cursing came from the halls.  Both wardran turned their heads to the cell’s entrance, watching the flames dance along the walls as whatever it was neared.  The voice came closer and it was apparent it was feminine, but there were four shadows now forming on the wall.  Shino tilted his head to the side.  Who could be so troublesome as there have to be three guards with them?  The shadows melted away, turning into the figures of two guards and two women with their hands bound at the wrists.  Shino kept still, watching the two guards shove them both in, slamming the cell abruptly, “Hope those two don’t kill you during the night.”

 One woman kept on her feet, her cat like ears and tail perking as she turned around instantly.  “I hope you get struck by lightning!”

 The other woman fell to her knees, her long, violet hair falling over her face.  The cat girl turned to her, kneeling down next to her as the guards laughed and walked off.  “Hey, Nessil are you okay?”

 Nessil nodded, sitting down indian style as she replied, “I’m alright Miranda.”

 “Ok good, or I would have had to kick some tail if you had gotten hurt!”

 “We should have detoured around the city.”

  “Nonsense, I’ll have us both out of here in a few hours.”

 Both Shino and Mana kept quiet, wondering how a cat girl and a human got thrown in the dungeon.  Miranda looked to the both of them, lowering her large ears, “Back off you beasts!”

 Shino merely blinked, “Are we doing anything?”

 The cat girl hissed, “Well you’re looking at me that’s what!”

 Shino looked away, “Well you aren’t much to look at.”

 Miranda gasped, “Why you jerk!!”

 All the while, Nessil kept quiet, looking at Mana from her spot on the ground.  She studied his magnificent composure, taking note of his size, hair color and the number of wings.  She tugged on Miranda’s short skirt, keeping her eyes on Mana.  Miranda looked down from her cold staredown with Shino instantly, “What’s wrong Lady Nessil?”

 Nessil stood up, walking to Mana despite the darkness, surprising both Shino and Mana that she, a human, could see perfectly in the dark like they and the cat girl could.  She looked into his hazel eyes, “You’re of Psidus Mind.”

 Miranda stepped behind Nessil, looking over Mana slowly.  “Yes I am.” replied Mana.

 Nessil nodded, “I am Nessil of the Northern Derratus Shrines.”

 Mana studied her over for a moment.  “Derratus Shrine?  I thought humans weren’t allowed near them.”

 Miranda suddenly shouted to Mana, “How DARE YOU!  Nessil isn’t a filthy human!!  She is an elf!”

 Mana kept quiet, looking closely to Nessil’s ears as she looked down, suddenly seeing their elongated points.  “So I see, forgive me Lady Nessil.”

 Nessil nodded to him, “It’s alright, I covered my ears since not all life forms like having elves around.”

 Mana chuckled, “Well I understand, but what brings you all the way down south?”

 “News from the New World… King Serenos has waged war.”

 Mana gasped, “What?  I thought he had died in the war he waged against my clan.”

 “He didn’t.  Ariketon created a land for him and his people… and they have created a world of death and disaster.  Their technology is grand, but their air is dirty and can make an outsider sick.  I wanted to come down and warn the other shrines, but my fellow priestesses told me it wasn’t safe on my own, so Miranda came with me.”

 Shino thought for a moment, “Did you visit the west?”

 Nessil nodded, “I went to the Highland Warriors, Golden Wing, Silver Arrow and Black Wing clans.”

 Shino’s heart skipped a beat.  He longed to know news of his clan and father.  “When you went there, did you see Arishawn, the
clan leader?”

 Nessil nodded, “He’s a very kind man and quite a strong leader to have such a large clan to protect.  He looked sick though, but not physically, just emotionally.”

 Shino sighed, “Is it because he lost his son?”

 Nessil thought back, remembering the way the great Arishawn held himself.  He seemed so full of regret, grief and sorrow for some
past sin he had committed that had caused him to lose his son.  “Did his son die?”

 Shino shook his head, replying briefly “Ran away.”

 “Why would he ever do that?  It’s so gorgeous out there and with such a strong clan to keep him protected.  I don’t understand why he would leave.”

 “He had no choice.  He had to clear his name, but instead he accidentally got captured.”

 Miranda blinked, looking confused, “So where is he?”

 Shino kept quiet, not wanting to answer, but he knew Nessil understood.  Nessil nodded, smiling to Shino, “There is another wardran there, I fear him though.  His heart seems angry.”

 Shino thought through the many clan members, not knowing any that describe that.  “Did you get his name?”

 Nessil replied quickly, unable to forget it, “Alabaster.”

 Shino felt a deep growl form in his throat at the thought of Alabaster, but Nessil’s soft words caught his attention and Mana’s as well.  “The clans I have visited left to go and destroy the New World while they had the chance.  Alabaster and three other clan members stayed at the clan’s home to keep it safe.  I think the other three’s names were Caster, Reiton and Terran.”

 Shino grit his teeth as he thought about his clan going off to war.  He yearned to fight alongside his father, to help protect him and not have him die as his grandfather did.  Mana and Nessil kept their eyes on him, knowing that he held so much anger from his past.  Mana began to growl softly, attempting to calm Shino down.

 Hearing the soothing grow, Shino sighed, closing his eyes.  “I think we should rest.” said Mana, his growl fading as his voice arose.
 Shino nodded, resting back against the wall, closing his eyes.  Miranda rolled her eyes, pulling Nessil lightly to the other side of the cell, away from the two wardran.

 When morning came, the guards burst into the cell, taking Shino and Mana out quickly to the arena above.  Both Nessil and Miranda listened to the constant roar of the crowds above, Miranda itching to see the carnage that the wardran could create.  Nessil on the other hand, wanted to continue her voyage to warn her shrines of the oncoming war.

 Shino smirked as he had made another kill, staring down at the mangled flesh of a dragon before him.  He walked back into the hall way, waiting to see the next fight.  He kept his coal eyes on the arena, wondering why none of the other wardran were set out.  He looked behind him, noticing the anticipation of the other fighters.  They wanted to fight as well, but none of the guards seemed to be telling them when they were to fight.  Shino turned to Mana, who had now stepped up behind him.  “The word is, there’s going to be a new fighter… and they’re getting them now.”

 Shino nodded, “Cool, I can’t wait to see who the new guy is.”  A few moments later, four guards came in, two holding Miranda and two holding Nessil.  The mass of fighters watched in confusion as the two guards holding Nessil dragged her to the arena, tossing her in.

 Nessil hit the ground, getting up slowly to look around as the guards now blocked the path out to the arena.

 Shino watched Nessil, sensing her fear as a large Neco-Dragon entered the arena.  He stepped close to the entrance of the arena, stopping as the guards’ swords blocked his way.  Shino watched the dragon near Nessil, his fists clenching as he growled.  He could hear Mana’s voice in his mind and his father's, telling him to go and save her, and that he did.

 Shino moved his hands out to the two swords, his fingers sliding against the blade, pushing back as the guards tried to stop him.  He could feel the blade slide across his hand, but not cutting the flesh as the two guards slammed into the wall, falling over.  He flipped the swords in his hands, gripping the handles now as he rushed out to Nessil.  He could hear the yells of the guards rushing to the entrance behind him, stopping as they didn’t want to face the dragon.

 Shino felt as if time itself had slowed just for this very event.  His hearing blocked out the cheers from the crowd, only listening to the rhythmic heart beat of both Nessil and the dragon.  He kept on rushing, his eyesight turning into tunnel vision as it locked on the soft head of the dragon.  He leapt into the air, raising the swords high as the dragon snapped it’s head to him.  Before the dragon could attack, Shino felt the swords slide into the soft spot, like a wet knife through a slab of clay.  The dragon made an odd gurgling sound and fell to the ground instantly, it’s body going limp.

 Shino leapt off the dragon, kneeling by Nessil’s side as his vision and hearing corrected.  “Are you alright?”  Nessil sobbed, nodding slowly.  Shino set his hand on her shoulder, “Its going to be ok.”  He helped her stand, holding her hand in his own, glaring at the mass of guards coming to take him.  They ripped the two apart, the guards shoving Shino to the ground, who gave no further protest.  He kept still, allowing them to drag him to his feet.  His eyes met with Nessil’s momentarily as she too was being restrained.

 Nessil stood next to Shino in the hall way just before the council of NeoAnnos.  They were bound at the wrists with their legs chained at the ankles.  The guards stood close, their swords drawn and ready to kiss flesh if there was to be a disturbance.  Nessil kept her eyes downcast, mumbling to Shino,  “Thank you so much, I owe you my life.”

 Shino looked down to her nodding before he felt a sharp object poke his side.  He growled, looking to the guard behind him.  “No talking!”  the guard demanded.

 Shino rolled his eyes, spotting Sinton walk out from the council’s room.  He walked up to the guard with the keys, his eyes full of anger.  “Give me the keys.  The council wants to discuss Shino, but they’ve ordered the elf back to the cell for execution tomorrow.”  The guard nodded, handing the keys to Sinton.  The man snatched the keys from the guard, walking to the chains that had Shino and Nessil bound together.  The guards gripped Nessil’s shoulder’s causing her to give a slight whimper.  Shino tensed, but it soon faded as Sinton walked him into the council’s room.

 They tossed Shino into the cell violently, but he managed to keep on his two feet.  He glared back at them, a growl emerging from his throat.  “You filthy animal, tomorrow by sunset, you’re going to be killed for your disrespectful murder of a creation of Ariketon.” shouted a guard.

 Standing upright, he turned to watch the guard leave.  A deep sigh slipped from him as he turned to see Mana, Nessil and Miranda looking to him.  He felt tired and fatigue told him this with the aching of every muscle in his body.  He let out an exasperated sigh before he finally noticed something; Mana wasn’t in his chains.  He sighed, guessing Mana was set to face the same fate he did if he wasn’t chained up.  He could only mumble to Mana, feeling oddly guilty, “I’m sorry.”

 Mana shook his head, “Nonsense.. We’re not going to die, we’re leaving before that.”

 Shino gasped, “What do you mean?”

 Mana walked to him, his long hair falling over his shoulders, “Carpe Diem, seize the day.  Life will not always be this way, look around, hear the sounds, cherish your life while you’re still around.”  Shino blinked at him, tilting his head to the side.

 The next day rolled around all too quickly.  Shino paced in his cell as he could hear the many people above.  The cheered when they heard the announcement of the execution to be at hand.  The roar of the crowd no longer made Shino fill with energy, now it merely called upon his doom.  Only two days ago, he and Mana were the grand champions of the arena, and now they were mere death row beasts.

 Sinton stood atop of the stage set on the left side of the arena, looking over the crowd.  Plumes of black smoke rose from behind him, hints of the many ways the humans have found to survive in a world set against them.  He let a cold gaze flow over the crowd, their roar turning silent now as he rose his hand upward into the air.  He spoke into the microphone with a rich, clear voice, “Ladies and gentlemen…  For the past twenty years a young warrior has rose to the top of the gladiator fights.  As you know, he killed two guards yesterday and saved a sacrifice to Ariketon.  Today, you all have the pleasure of watching him and his father die in a ceremonial torture kill in the name of Ariketon.”  The crowd roared once more in a wave of glee.  They seemed like vultures, watching and waiting for something to come along and die and take pleasure in it’s suffering and death.  Now, today, they had the pleasure of watching two of the most powerful die.

 Randall’s second ears perked to their full height as he heard the words of Sinton.  He gasped, rushing down the mines, calling out to his fellow wardran.  “They’re going to kill Shino and Mana!”  The other wardran didn’t know till now of the fate that was set on their ‘brother’ and ‘father’ till now.  They all respected them for their power and ability to adapt to almost anything.  Randall himself had always taken pride in knowing that not all of the Psidus Minds had died out.

 The other wardran turned to hear Randall, following him quickly.  Randall came to a stop in the area known as the feeding area, where daily slop was fed to the mining wardran.  He came to a skidding halt as the others behind him did.  He looked upon the faces of around fifty wardran.  They were all from different fallen clans and regions.  He spoke loudly, allowing all to hear, “As we all know, Shino saved the elf priestess from death and now the humans are going to kill him and Mana for it!  We can’t just stand here and allow our greatest warriors to die!  We have to help them!”

 The other wardran kept silent, looking up at Randall as if he spoke a different language.  The silence was thick and seemed to weigh down everyone till someone finally spoke, “What can we do?”

 Randall snapped his head to the wardran who asked that question, a new flare igniting in his soul.  “How can we stand like this!  We are wardran!  It doesn’t matter what they make us do or how long they oppress us!  We are no different from our fellow wardran in those distant clans, we are still wardran.  As the code tells us, we will never let our fellow brothers die.  We will stop the execution by releasing the dragons!”

 The other wardran remained silent, not knowing whether or not to follow out with Randall’s plan.  Randall had always been known as an okay fighter, but not worthy of leader material.  His fellow wardran always looked up to the older warriors like Mana and a few others.  Randall’s great flame slowly began to fade as he understood why the others didn’t follow in his plan.  Just as he was about to walk off in his own defeat, one of the wardran stepped forward.  He was an older warrior, not one of the oldest, but still he was respected.  “Let us go then, Randall.”  Randall allowed a wide smile to cross his face and he nodded.  He quickly ran off to the dragons’ holding area, the other wardran quickly following.

 The setting sun beat down on Shino and Mana mercilessly as they stood in chains.  They held their heads downcast, looking over to each other every once and awhile.  Mana gave a great sigh, moving his arms ever so slowly in the chains to see how tight they held exactly.  He growled, some, feeling them bound against his skin.  Mana sighed, looking to Shino, “Shino… I can get out of these.  Can you see if Nessil and Miranda are anywhere in sight?”

 Shino tilted his head to the stage, spotting the two between two guards, “They’re on stage.”

 Mana nodded, “Just as I thought.  Shino, we will break the chains when the sun prepares it’s flare… then I’ll save the two girls.. You take Sinton.”

  Shino nodded, glaring up at the two girls again.

 The rusted gates opened with a groan, allowing their reptilian occupant to move it’s massive claws to the earth.  The wardran rushed back, allowing the dragon to pass as it followed it’s many brothers and sisters to the arena above.

 Shino leaped forward, his fist moving for the gut of Sinton.  Sinton’s eyes were wide when the fist dug into his stomach, forcing the air out of his lungs and causing him to double in pain.  Shino smirked, hearing the sound of metal being struck against metal.  He looked over to Mana, seeing he had managed to kill one of the guards and now was fighting another with a sword.

 Mana growled in anger, pushing the guard back as the crowd suddenly began to flee from the arena.

 Shino looked to the right and the left of him, wondering why the crowd suddenly left.  His eyes caught an odd glint in the distance.  Turning his head to see what it is, he beheld the massive dragon moving to the arena.  It’s scales were silver and the light seemed to undulate on them as if moving on their own will.  The dragon’s blue eyes gazed around, locking on the mass of running people.

 Cocking it’s head back, the dragon took in a great breath, filling it’s lungs with air.

 Shino quickly rushed off the stage followed by Mana with Nessil and Miranda.  Golden flames ravaged the seats behind the stage, cooking the running onlookers instantly.  Their ashes blew into the wind like a pile of sand would in a light breeze.

 Shino stood into the center of the arena, not knowing where to go as angry dragons surrounded the area, their flames turning the city of NeoAnnos into a lake of fire.  Shino turned his eyes to Mana, looking over him for a moment before he spoke.  “What do we do now?”

 Mana looked about, his hazel eyes following the dragons’ movements as his white hair moved before his eyes.  “Underground.” was his only reply and Shino followed it without question, rushing to the entrance to the mines.

 Tremors could be felt throughout the mines, that being the only sign of the massacre that rampaged above.  Grains of rock and sand fell to the ground, landing with distinctive ‘clack’ sounds.  Amongst this clamor, Shino, Mana, Nessil and Miranda rushed through the tunnels, heading to the opposite end of the mines, the area that lay just by the entrance to the Plains Region of their continent.

 As Shino rushed through the tunnels, he looked up to notice something odd in the ceiling.  He gasped, pushing his body to run faster as he yelled back to Mana, “The ceiling is going to collapse!”

 Mana looked up and nodded, taking both the women’s’ hands in his own, giving a quick burst of speed forward.  Boulders fell from the ceiling rhythmically, narrowly slamming on either Miranda or Nessil as Mana rushed forward.

 Shino’s eyes went wide as he saw the light ahead, feeling freedom upon him as he continued on.

 Mana arched his back further, allowing his body to become more aerodynamic as he ran.

 As they all came closer to the exit, Miranda’s hand suddenly slipped from Mana’s sending her to the ground.  Before Mana could move to a skidding halt to save her, a boulder slammed to her body, forcing her to cry out sharply with the agonizing pain.

 Mana came to a quick stop, pulling Nessil behind him as a rush of dust and rock flew towards them.  His wings folded over his body, protecting him from the debris.  When the dust cleared, Shino stepped next to Mana, looking to the pile of boulders before them.

 Within the pile lay a single hand sticking out distinctively from the many rocks.  Nessil screamed when she saw the hand, rushing to the boulder to push it off of her friend.  “Help me!”  she cried as she looked to the two wardran, her eyes pleading to them.

 Mana looked to Shino, slowly stepping to the boulders.

 Shino knew what the look meant, moving to Nessil promptly.  He set his hands on her shoulders, pulling to him, “Let us go outside.”

 Nessil looked up to him, tears streaming down her face, “But I have to help Miranda!”

 Shino shook his head, confirming her beliefs that she had pushed away in her mind as soon as she saw the hand.  Her sobs echoed slightly throughout the remainder of the tunnel as she buried her face on Shino’s broad chest, her tears streaming down his dusty flesh.   Shino wrapped his arms around her, bringing her with him as he left Mana behind.

 Mana looked down to the boulders and the hand.  He knelt down, setting his hands upon the smooth side, searching for something to hold onto.  His fingers ran upon the rough edges, pulling the boulder out to his muscular body.  He took a few steps back, placing the boulder next to him.  He sighed when he looked upon the bloody remains of Miranda.  Her body was crushed completely, leaving her broken bones and smashed muscles to seep out from her torn skin.

 Mana turned away, walking off to the exit, not wanting to stay with the body.  He followed the light slowly, his white hair flowing behind him as he moved.  Taking foot outside of the tunnels, he beheld the sight of every wardran ever captured within the city before him.  Their eyes set upon him, giving him a silent greeting.  He nodded to them all, turning to watch the massing flames engulf the city.  Their crimson arms raised to the sky, touching the heavens above as they even destroyed the dragons that created them.

 Mana smirked, finally able to feel true freedom after so many years.  He turned back to the rest of the wardran, speaking loudly, “My brothers, we are now free!”

 The other wardran cheered, their voices leading high into the air.  Mana smiled, looking to Shino and blinking confusedly at him.

 Shino’s second ears were set back as his eyes seemed to show the outmost hatred.  Mana turned to see where he was looking, his eyes instantly narrowing as he watched Sinton rush down to them, a sword held high in the air.

 “You all will die!” yelled Sinton as he came up to Randall, who happened to be standing right in his path.

 Randall leaped into the air, slamming his tail on Sinton’s back.  Sinton whipped forward, falling to the ground as the sword dug it’s blade into the earth.  Randall growled, setting his foot upon Sinton’s head.  “You held our people in bondage for years.  Now is our time for freedom and you will not stop us.  Pathetic human, you will die like the lot of them.”

 Sinton yelled in anger as he felt Randall’s tail lift him up, holding him to the great wardran’s face.  Sinton instinctively spit in Randall’s face, his saliva moving down his cheek in a large glob before Randall wiped it away.  He made is left hand into a tight fist, digging it into Sinton’s gut, forcing vomit up into his throat.  Randall dropped him to the ground, kicking him to the other wardran like a discarded rag doll.  The others gathered around him, rushing massive kicks to his body, leaving his bones broken and his body bruised.

 The sky turned to darkness and the crickets played their melodies of the night.  Shino rested in the calm grass, surrounded by his fellow wardran as the flames from the city reached high into the black sky.  The stars raced through the void of darkness just as the last flame flickered violently for life, before dying into a gray speck of smoke.

 Shino’s eyes were closed, allowing his distant mind to create the images of his home, his clan.  He could see his father the day he saw him in the cool morning before Alacaster and his friends joined their clan.  He watched his father walk to him, his majestic posture seeming to flood him with so many emotions; pride, joy, sadness and anger.  His pride came from the thought that the leader of one of the largest clans was his own father.  Joy is what he felt when he saw him.  Sadness is for the loss he knows his father felt when his father, Deccanter died.  Anger, for when his father left him in the woods to find his own way home and for not believing.

 As his father set his foot to the ground in his walk, plants sprouted around it before falling to their brown death when his foot was lifted.  His eyes drifted to his father’s, light seeming to reflect off of them to give them a ruby glow.  A smile was set on his thin lips as he walked to his son.  Shino looked down to himself on his dream, seeing that he was a boy once again.  Looking back up to where his father was, his eyes grew wide to see his father had been replaced by Alabaster.  He had his adult body, but his face was still of a child.  He came up to him, kneeling down with his pale hand moving to his throat.  Shino found himself struggling to breathe, his mouth opening wide to gasp in the life giving air.  It was to no avail, it was as if Alabaster had his hands over his mouth instead of around his neck.  Just as he found himself fading.

 Shino awoke with a start, sitting up to see the rest of the wardran around him asleep silently.  His eyes drifted around further, finding Nessil nowhere in sight.  He stood up slowly, looking around him to find her.  He jumped over his fellow wardran, careful not to step on anyone.  He took one last leap over Mana, who was asleep with his massive, white wings wrapped around his body.

 He walked in the opposite direction of the city, to the great beyond to the west; his home.  As he stepped farther, he noticed the land inclined, raising upwards to a cliff overlooking the forest below that led to the mountain that held his home valley.  He stopped when her silhouette fell into his eyes.  She stood perfectly still, the air lifting her hair slowly off her back.  Shino walked behind her, keeping silent as he beheld her gorgeous figure.  The robe she wore flowed in the wind, pressing against her right side, showing her slender figure perfectly.

 He stopped a foot behind her, looking down upon her as he spoke softly, “What are you doing up this late?”

 She jumped hearing his voice, turning abruptly to find him as close as he was.  “I was just.. Thinking about Miranda.”

 Shino frowned at her reply, setting his hand on her shoulder.  “She’s with lord Iudicium now.”

 Nessil nodded, a tear flowing down her cheek, “She was my best friend.”

 Shino set a hand on her shoulder, his eyes locked onto her with the outmost understanding.  “Do you remember what Mana said?  About seizing the day?”

 Nessil looked into his eyes, nodding slowly.

 “Now, it’s time for us to truly seize the day, we can’t linger in the past.  Miranda’s spirit protects us and she isn’t bound by mortal
weakness now… she is at her full strength.”

 Nessil didn’t know what else to do but agree.  She knew deep down it was true, Miranda was at the peak of her power, no longer bonded by the body of flesh and blood, but now the body of the spirit.  She backed away from Shino, walking to the edge of the cliff.  “Are you going to go back to your home?” she asked, changing the subject.

 Shino thought for a moment, missing his clan dearly, but he knew they were all gone.  “I guess.. I’ll go back to say hi to Terran before I do anything else.  Maybe find out where exactly my father went to… I miss him.”

 Nessil looked into his eyes, seeing a look of sorrowful anger as he mentioned his father.  She turned to watch the dark land below the cliff, smiling as the fireflies shown over the back blanket.

 Shino stepped up next to her, smiling down at the sight too.  It had been so long since he had spent a night outside.  He had almost forgotten the feel of the cool air against his arms and twisting his hair.  This time, the wind seemed to move over his back, flowing over two small stubs, the forming of his adult wings.  He could feel the pain of them setting in, a gentle throb every once and awhile.  He looked out to the void again, sighing once as he set his arm around Nessil’s shoulders.

 Mana woke slowly with the sun beating down on his pale face.  He sat up, looking about to see the others waking up too, but no Shino or Nessil.  He rose slowly, swaying his large tail around as a few made their way to the cliff too.  Mana followed them, rubbing his tired eyes as he walked.  He watched some wardran open their powerful wings, flapping them violently to take into the air.  He watched them fly off, going in every direction.  His lips curved into a smile, knowing that his friends were finally free and going home.

 He continued to look around, wondering where Shino and Nessil had gone off too.  For once in thirty seven years, Mana opened his large white wings, flapping them slowly to feel the air flow around them.  The gusts blew the grass to the side, lifting his body into the air slowly, his muscles straining with every movement as he continued to flap.  Taking to a good height, he allowed his larger wings to be replaced with his smaller ones, pushing himself forward, back to the city.

 He gave his large wings a flap every so often, keeping his body into the air as he searched the ground.  He sighed, passing over the many ashes, bones and other things burned in the city.  He circled around the ruins of the arena, the bones of the silver dragon resting over the stage as the stench of cooked meat still lingered in the air.

 Continuing on, he headed north east.  He was only following a hunch of where Shino might be, but he wasn’t sure.  After passing the ruins of the once great city, he passed over a small field.  He smiled as he noticed two small figures standing on the field, overlooking a freshly dug patch of earth.

 Mana made a large circle, lowering his altitude swiftly.  His wings flapped slowly before they came to a complete stop, his boots sinking into the soft grass, a crunching sound moving into the air.  His hazel eyes fell on Shino, eight, foot long growths slipping through his back.  Black fuzz covered their entirety, looking much like a two week old vulture.  He came up beside Shino, noticing the tear lined face of Nessil.  She had been crying for a while now, the redness in her eyes shown this.  Mana didn’t ask how Shino had managed to get Miranda’s smashed body from the tunnel out of respect for the fact that Nessil was so close.  He merely kept silent, allowing only Nessil’s quiet sobs to keep the silence at bay.

 The sun had made it’s venture half way through the sky when Shino stood at the cliff overlooking the trails to his home.  He could feel Mana and Nessil close, their presence aware to him like a silent whisper of encouragement.  He knew what he had to do.  He had to face what had happened those many years ago.  The death of his grandfather wasn’t his fault.  Even if his father himself wasn’t going to be there, he could at least face the wardran that had lied about him; Alabaster.  Even after all these years, he didn’t hold a shred of hatred to him until now.  It was his objective to return home and to question why he had been lied about.

 He turned to look back to Mana, catching his eyes set on him.  He nodded, knowing that Mana knew what he intended to do.  Now, all that was left was to make sure Nessil was coming.  Shino walked up to her, setting his hands on her shoulders lightly as he faced her.  “Nessil, I will return to my home.. Will you come with Mana and I?”

 Nessil regarded this for a moment, knowing that the southern shrines most likely knew about the attacks that the New Continent were planning.  She nodded in agreement, allowing Shino to lead them down the cliff.

 The path was steep, but both Shino and Mana had no trouble maneuvering, even when they had to help guide Nessil so she wouldn’t fall.  The birds sang all around them, their melodies lifting into the air, greeting the three travelers as the moved along.  By the time the sun slipped before them, they had reached the tip of the forest where Shino had been caught by the humans.  The memories were still clear in his mind, the licks of the whip throbbing on his skin as if he had just received them.

 He stopped, sitting on a fallen tree, allowing Nessil to sit beside him.  Mana rested upon the ground indian style, a calm expression on his face.  He set his eyes on Shino, speaking softly, “Shino, I think we should get back to your training.”

 Shino nodded, always looking forward to his psychic training.  It was hard, but Mana was patient enough to continue on with the training.  He got up slowly, sitting in front of Mana.

 Taking in a deep breath, Shino closed his eyes, his mind losing all thoughts, going completely blank.  He could barely hear Mana’s voice, telling him to lift the small objects around them.  He could feel his mind racing to picture the small leaves, rocks and twigs around him.  He could feel an unknown force wisp around his body, moving outward to the items around him.  The energy shown in a blue aura around his body.

 Nessil watched with interest, her eyes following the flicker of the aura, feeling it’s growing strength with every moment.

 Soon, the aura lashed out, lifting the small objects into the air a few feet, Shino’s face showing frustration at his newly accomplished feat.  As if someone had opened the dam in his mind, thoughts and memories came flooding in, shutting the aura’s life down instantly.  Shino sighed, looking to Mana, who seemed content.  “You did better than last time.”

 Shino took in a deep breath, nodding.

 Nessil came up behind him, setting her hand on his head.  “Yea, that was good.. And you are strong with your psychic force for not even being a Psidus Mind.”

 Shino smiled to Nessil, “Thank you.”

 That night, a cold breeze washed the land, sending shivers through Nessil’s body.  She pulled the sleeves of her dress over her arms, trying to fight the cold away.

 Shino smiled as he watched the fireflies dance before him.  He reached his hand forward, curling his fingers around a single firefly.  The tiny creature buzzed in his hand, stopping for a moment as it’s glow settled into a null glimmer.  He lifted his thumb slowly, peeking in to the tiny insect, watching it spread it’s wings, buzzing off into it’s new found freedom.  He watched it float off, the brilliant shine returning to it’s abdomen.  Giving a heavy sigh, Shino looked over to Mana, who had built a small fire.  He watched him tend to it’s golden flare, adding leaves and small pieces of wood.

 Shino continued to watch, smiling as Nessil took her place by the fire, setting her hands over it to absorb it’s warmth.  Turning back around, Shino looked into the forest, imagining his entire clan staring out from the foliage, smiling at him, welcoming him back to their unity.  He could feel the eyes on him, sighing and wishing it were true; that they were there.  He looked down to the ground below him, digging the end of his boot into the soft earth.  As he did so a slight snort came from the forest.  It was faint, barely audible, but Shino heard it.  His head lifted fully along with his ears.  He narrowed his eyes, listening further to the faint snorts in the forest further.  He took a step back as he stood, his tail pushing over a few stones and rocks as it slid against the ground.  He grit his teeth, clenching his fists.  He could feel a growl form deeply in his throat, lifting out of his mouth.

 He looked back to Mana and Nessil, taking in a short breath before he made a leap into the air.  He made a complete back flip, landing next to Mana.  “Mana, there are boars in the forest.”

 Mana’s eyes shifted to Shino then to the forest.  He sighed, nodding, “I can sense them now… I didn’t earlier..”

 Mana kept calm, hoping that the boars didn’t plan on coming closer and that the smell of the smoke would drive them off.  There was no such luck.  From the forest lumbered a large, brown boar.  It snorted as he moved about drunkenly to the three, it’s odor invading their nostrils, almost sending them into gags.  The creature came up to Nessil, followed by dozens others.

 Nessil froze instantly, allowing the creature to sniff her elfin ears.

 Mana and Shino kept still, knowing any sudden movement would startle the boars, giving them a reason to attack Nessil.  Nessil could feel her fear rising in her.  She was trapped and no way out.  She flinched as the boar opened it’s mouth, it’s breath striking her as rotten meat mixed with skunk fumes.

 The boar sensed her fear, it’s anger rising suddenly through it’s body.  It rose it’s head with a massive roar like squeal.  The other boars responded, rushing towards Nessil.

 Shino gasped, leaping forward over the boars.  He landed swiftly, everything going grayscale and moving in slow motion.

 Before the first boar could get any closer, time seemed to give way, showing both Shino and Nessil were gone.

 Before Shino made his daring rescue, Mana had already taken action.  He leaped into the air, unseen by any eye, his wings keeping him in the graces of the sky.  A cold expression was on his face as his eyes narrowed to the boars.  He didn’t like them, not one bit.  This was the first time he faced a boar in his life, but he could sense the evil within them.  Yes, they were a creation of Ariketon as well.  He snapped his wings forward, as if to shield his body from some unknown invader.  Growling, he felt a tremendous heat surge through his body, pulsing angrily through every nerve and muscle like a tremendous inferno caught in the low wind upon a grassy hill.  He held his hands out before him, pressing against his white wings.

 Shino couldn’t wait for Mana to power up, he had to do something in the meantime.  He leapt from the tree he had placed Nessil
on for safety, landing in front of the boar that had first approached them.  Pure adrenaline rushed through his veins as he smashed his fist
over the boar’s head.  A sickening crackling sound emitted from the boar’s head before it fell to the ground with a muffled squeal.

 Shino leaped upward into the air, allowing an enraged boar to dash past the spot he was standing.  Gravity had forgotten him, giving way to a glowing orb of manifestation.  Vicious heat seared through the mass of boars, ripping their flesh from their milk colored bones.

 The force pushed Shino further upward, burning against him.  He set his arms to shield his face as he felt two hands grip his own.  A sudden tug brought him higher into the air, the coolness meeting his skin.  He looked up to see Mana with Nessil holding onto him from behind.  Shino looked down to the blaze, watching it’s golden radiance spiral upwards.

 When the flames surrounded them a vicious wind ensued, spreading it’s wrath upon the already ravaged carcasses of the wild boar.  The bodies soared high above the trio, flying into the sky with the brimming flames.  As the flames faded, the bodies rained upon the land, falling with tremendous thuds.

 Mana lowered himself, setting Shino down first, then landing upon the ground softly.  He knelt down, allowing Nessil to let go, stepping onto the ground as well.

 They watched the bodies rain down, some nearly missing them.

 Nessil was nervous altogether, but she didn’t panic, having faith in Mana’s judgment on where to stand.

 Just as the last body sent a burst of brown earth into the air, the trio was making their way up the mountain path.  Nessil was tired, there was no doubt, but the rage of adrenaline pushed both Mana and Shino onward, forcing their living mass of muscle and bone to venture forward.  Their breaths were easy, and their strides great and perfectly balanced.

 Shino held the first formation of wings tightly closed, allowing the still developing ones to keep open.

 Their tails swayed to keep balance as their formation kept in between Nessil to make sure she didn’t fall.  The moon showed their goal clearly in the dark night, it serving as a beacon to the place Shino had called home.  Every step brought them one step closer, every breath took in the air of the paradise.  Everything called to them, pushing them onward to continue, telling them not to give up.

 When the sunrise peeked out behind them, the birds sang their melodies of life, greeting the new morning.  Life here seemed to pass as if every day was their last day.  Everything was alive and well, nothing seemed to be sorrowful or in pain.  Deer leaped through the forest, their hooves making almost no sound against the dying foliage of the wintered trees.

 Shino looked through the forest, able to see through it’s once thick vegetation to the tree that his clan resided in.   So many emotions surged him.  Fear mainly.  He didn’t know how his clan would react to his presence.  He feared they would reject him, dishonoring his birth rights to the clan’s lead position.  Putting his fears aside, he walked forward, crunching the leaves below his boots.

 Mana looked to him, leaning against a single tree as Nessil sat by him.  “Are you going in so soon?”

 Shino turned back, “Yes, I have to go see them.” he replied, turning back around.

 Mana nodded, “Well, we’ll wait here then for you.”

 Shino continued on, giving no reply, heading to the tree.  His slow transition to the tree forced him to be impatient.  He stopped, lowering to all fours.  It had been many years since he had done what he was about to do, but he had to do it.  He rushed forward, the wind whipping back his hair as he dodged trees and low limbs.  He laughed at the joy of doing this, his voice echoing through the forest.  He forgot how he had ran away those many years ago, only knowing now, he was home.  When he entered the clearing, he came to a brisk stop, looking around.

 Realization hit him quickly like a spear to his heart.  His father wouldn’t be here anyways.  The clan had moved out to war, only four members were here now.  He lowered his head, not hearing the faint movements inside the naked trees.  “Who are you?  Be gone, our leader isn’t here.”

 Shino looked up to the voice, his eyes landing on a now older Terran, accompanied by Caster and Reiton.  He looked further around, not seeing Alabaster around.  He picked up his ears, afraid to speak, but courage found him.  “Twenty years ago, the heir to the clan mysteriously vanished.”

 Terran narrowed his eyes, leaping down from the tree as the other two followed him.  “Do you bring news of Shino?”

 Shino grew a wide smile on his face, “Why yes I do.. I am Shino.”

 Terran’s eyes went wide in surprise as he studied the young adult before him.  He stepped closer to him, looking deeply into his brown eyes.  Terran laughed loudly, embracing Shino suddenly, “SHINO!  You have returned to us!”

 Shino returned the embrace, “I know.. I’m sorry I left.”

 Terran released him, his eyes bright and full of joy.  “But Shino, why did you run off?”

 Shino looked away, the pain in his heart growing again.  He muttered slightly, feeling the shame flood his heart.  “Deccanter.”

 Terran’s eyes went downcast when he understood.

 “I wanted to find the boars… to prove.. But… they ran me off to the south where I had been held in NeoAnnos.”

 Terran looked back up to him, surprise invading their glory.  “NeoAnnos?  How did you escape?”

 “I met with Mana the first day I was there.  He raised me like a father.  Just a few days ago the dragons in the city got loose and they
destroyed it all while all of our brothers escaped.”

 Caster, who had been listening, suddenly spoke up from the mention of Mana.  “Mana?  As in Manifestation Iuvenesco of the Psidus Minds?”

 Shino nodded, “Yea, he’s been teaching me how to access psychic power too over the last few months.”

 Caster’s eyes went completely wide in shock.  “Is he with you?”

 Shino looked back to the direction of Mana and Nessil’s location.  “Yes, they’re back at the entrance to the valley.”

 Caster looked to Terran, his eyes seeming to plead.

 Terran took the look and understood, his eyes meeting with Shino’s.  “Bring him, and whoever else you are traveling with here… any friend of yours is our clan’s.”

 Shino nodded, turning around to go and call them to the clearing.

 As he walked off, Terran chuckled slightly, “Roar to them young Shino.”

 Shino turned back to Terran.  He hadn’t roared in almost all of his life, so would he sound any good now?  Regardless, he opened his jaws slowly, feeling a low growl form in his throat, traveling up into the air.  His roar was shaky at first, but soon it echoed through the
forest, sending birds flying.

 In a matter of minutes, Mana, followed by Nessil, came into the clearing.  Mana had an odd contemptuous smile on his face.  He seemed to have expected that Shino would call him, knowing other clans always try to meet the legendary Psidus Mind clan member.

 Caster stepped to Mana slowly, followed by Reiton as Terran watched the two stupefied.  Both Caster and Reiton got to their knees, their heads bowed low.  “Lord Manifestation Iuvenesco, I grovel at your feet as a sign of respect to your greatness.”

 Mana chuckled lightly in response to the two youths, not having this kind of treatment in years.  “Ugh, there’s no need for this, just stand.  And you can call me Mana for short.  There’s no sense in sending you breathless while you attempt to say my full name.”

 The two stood up slowly, looking to each other and then back to Mana.

 Shino on the other hand, looked completely confused, nudging Mana’s side lightly.  “Uh, what’s with the popularity Mana?”

 Mana looked to Shino from the corner of his eye.  “The survivors of my clan are well known in the northern areas.”  replied Mana as his eyes turned back to Caster and Reiton.

 “Oh… okay.” was Shino’s only statement when he suddenly picked up the scent of something all too familiar.  He looked off to the direction of the river that ran through his home.  “Terran, where is Alabaster?”

 Terran lifted his hand, pointing off into the direction of the scent, to the river.

 Shino nodded, leaping up into a branch overhanging in the clearing.

 Shino leapt tree to tree with the natural instinct of his clan.  His tail slipped around a branch momentarily as Shino’s hands rested upon the protective bark.  His legs gave a swift push off a branch, allowing his hands to grip onto another up ahead.  He swung into the air, his body hurling through the air to allow his feet to land on yet another branch ahead of him.  The cold wind stung his skin like numerous needles digging into his flesh.

 When he came to a stop in a branch, he stood with his legs apart, peering down at the wardran, Alabaster, who stood looking down into the river that made it’s journey through the mountains.  He leaped down behind Alabaster,  his fists clenched tightly as his hatred churned in his heart.  “Why did you do it?”  asked Shino firmly, his eyes locked on Alabaster’s back.

 Alabaster made no movement, nor sound in response, he only continued to stare into the water.

 “Answer me!  Why did you do it?  My grandfather is DEAD because of you!”

 Alabaster turned promptly around, his fist ripping through the air to Shino’s head.

 Although surprised, Shino gripped the fist in his hand in an instant.  Shino grit his teeth, his eyebrows knotted together in sudden frustration as Alabaster leaned his weight to him.  He stared into Alabaster’s cold eyes, feeling his heart fill with an uncertain rage.  Shino rushed his hand out to the other fist, gripping it tightly as Alabaster pulled back for release.  Shino didn’t let go of Alabaster’s fists, and every attempt Alabaster made to pull away only made Shino hold harder.

 Alabaster winced at the pain being surged into his hand, his kneels buckling from under him, forcing him to a kneel.  Alabaster gave a quick grunt before warm tears found their way down his pale flesh.  His body convulsed, his arms going limp in Shino’s grasp.  “It was an accident, Shino.. I didn’t mean for it to happen.”

 Shino blinked a bit, his hands letting go of the reddened fists they were entrapping.

 Alabaster’s hands fell to the ground, supporting his body as his tears flowed freely.  “I was in the forbidden area of the grasslands.  I knew I was going to get in trouble if the clan found out I was there, especially Dad.”  His voiced chocked a second before he could go on, his mind surfacing the images of the day that changed the clan.  “While I was exploring there, I saw the boar.  It was my first time seeing one, so I got close to this smaller boar.  It looked at me for the longest time as I just stared at it in awe.  Then, a grasshopper leaped in front of me in my  trance like state.  I got startled and fell back, thus scaring the boar that was looking at me.  Then, the other boars thought I tried to hurt it.. Thus.. The stampede started.”

 Shino gave him a skeptical look, wondering if Alabaster’s short story was even worth his time.  Still, the look in Alabaster’s eyes were enough to tell Shino what he heard was no lie.  “Why did you lie to the clan then?” asked Shino.

 “Because, I knew I was going to get in trouble for what happened… I’m sorry, Shino.”  replied Alabaster.

 Shino sighed, extending his hand out to Alabaster.

 Alabaster took the hand, using it to stand upright again.  He seemed weary of Shino’s presence, but then again, he seemed to have released some horrible burden upon himself, thus freeing him.

 Shino set a hand on his shoulder, his eyes turning soft, “There are no hard feelings, brother.”

 Alabaster bowed his head to Shino, “Thank you for your forgiveness, Sir Shino.”

 Nessil looked off into the darkness of the night.  It was now the third day they were in the valley.  Her long hair flowed behind her in the cold wind as snow threatened to fall from the sky.  Her eyes ventured to the thick blanket of ash colored clouds.  They covered the moon that would have been in it’s majestic fullness at this night.  She thought of the war just brewing in the north, unable to imagine the death and destruction it could cause to all forms of life.  Her hand gripped the wardranian sword tight by her side.

 She was prepared to make the journey to the North alone now.  She didn’t want Shino to get hurt.  Over the few days that she had been with him, she had found herself wanting to be closer to him.  This was dangerous in many ways, ways that she didn’t want to discuss with her own mind.

 Her elfin ears perked slightly, turning her head to see a dark figure walking up behind her.  She allowed her lips to curve into a frown as she recognized the figure as Shino.  “What are you doing up so late Nessil?” Shino asked, his voice sounding innocent and gentle.

 “…Shino… I need you to please come here, I have to tell you something.”

 Shino nodded, walking next to Nessil promptly.  “What’s wrong?”  Nessil looked away from Shino, back out to the North.  “I will be leaving… alone.”

 Shino’s eyes went partially wide, “But Nessil, it’s dangerous out there for you.”

 Nessil sighed, “I’m going Shino.. I’m going to the North.  I don’t want Mana or you to follow me.  I have to do this alone.”  With one quick instant, she kissed Shino’s lips, shoving a piece of parchment into his hand.

 His look of surprise faded as she walked away, the sword by her side.  As she walked, she turned for one last look, catching Shino’s eyes.  Her ears lowered slightly, listening to Shino’s words, “I love you… Goodbye.”  Nessil merely turned back around, walking off as she heard Shino’s chocked voiced behind her whisper, “Please don’t go.”

 “It’s the most awful thing you’ll ever hear.”  said Terran in a distinct voice through the forest.

 “If you’re lying to me..”

 “I’m not lying!” demanded Terran, a laugh in his voice.  He barely began to tell his story on how the gods Derratus and Tetrakaton became enemies and Derratus joined forces with Myris against Ariketon and Tetrakaton, Ariketon, when Shino came back.

 He walked slowly, his head low, not wanting to say why he was suddenly so down.  The others didn’t seem to notice, but Mana did.  He did rather quickly in fact, but decided to stay silent.

 Shino continued to walk on, passing trees slowly, disregarding the blanket of snow upon the ground.  He stopped when he came to the barren area that was once the lush fields of the valley.  He stepped into the pure whiteness, his foot sinking into the thickness as there were no trees above it to gather and collect it.  He listened to the foot steps behind him, knowing already who it was.  “Mana… I would like to be alone.”

 Mana shook his head.  “Oh, you dearly love her.”

 Shino clenched his fists, not letting him speak another word.  “Don’t say it.”

 Mana ignored him, continuing on,  “So.. She’ll.. Just have to leave… all our lives.”

 Shino growled, forcing the tears he felt building up to leave him be.  He turned to Mana, staring into his hazel eyes, nearly yelling to him.  “So you just want me to follow her?!  Even when she doesn’t want to be followed?!”

 Mana chuckled lightly,  “Seize the day!  Gather ye rosebuds while ye may.“

 Shino blinked to him, feeling his fury build up in him.  “What is that suppose to mean!?” he shouted, his tail slamming into the snow, patting it down.

 “It means, go now.  You never know.  You might not be able to be by her side.. And when you do catch up with each other, you might find someone telling you, ‘she was killed’.”

 Shino kept on staring into Mana’s eyes, nodding as he now knew what he had to do.

Notes:
Parts I - III were written at once.
There are some parts in the story where actual quotes from the song, “A Change of Seasons” is used.  The quotes go as followed.
'Seize the Day'
I heard him say
Life will not always be this way
Look around
Hear the sounds
Cherish your life while you're still around

"It's the most awful thing you'll ever hear."
"If you're lying to me..."
"Oh, you dearly love her."
"...just have to leave... all our lives."
"Seize the day!"
"Something happened."
"Gather ye rosebuds while ye may."

Questions, Comments?  Email me at, [email protected]
To view the full song and learn about Dream Theater go to:  www.dreamtheater.net
Started:  March 02, 2002
Completed:  April 5, 2002