At the end where Destiny awaits: Book 6 of the Kinstone series
Chapter 34: Past meets Present

My ears hear the click-clack of claws on marble approaching. I pull back from my mother to see a pair of red dragons in their half forms walking towards us. A man and woman, who somewhat resemble each other, each smiling proudly and warmly.

Mom strokes my hair as she looks to them, smiling broadly. “It’s been a long time, you two,” she greets them.

The pair smiles, nodding. “That it has, Rachel,” says the male. “You always seem to keep us dangling on a rope.”

“I know Miriam and the others were quite overjoyed to see all of you,” adds the female. “I personally was so relieved when I saw your faces along with everyone else.”

I tilt my head at them. I know Mom is friends with a lot of people here at the Court, but these two seem more familiar with her than that. Wait…they even know about our call to the entire Coven? I coil my tails around me, assuming a somewhat defensive posture. Yet even as I do, I glance over to Fenris, he too seems unthreatened by the pair. It’s almost as if he also knows them.

The pair then turns to me, smiling even more. “I hope you can forgive us, Aria,” starts the male, “I guess we were so caught up with your mother we didn’t introduce ourselves to you.” The male then kneels down. “I am Tulther, son of Ddraig. As such a fellow member of Colburn.”

His partner smiles, standing next to him. “And I am his sister, Isolde.” She chuckles softly, “You truly are cute like this, Aria. Father still loved his time with you and Marron.”

I nod slowly then pan over to Ddraig who looks back to me, beaming proudly and nodding to me. So it would appear that even Colburn has infiltrated the Court more than I thought. First Ddraig, but his family as well. Yeesh and I thought the Court was sneaky with their sleeper agents.

I sigh and smile, turning back to them. “I hope Marron and I didn’t take up too much time with your father.”

Isolde chuckles warmly, “Oh heavens no. As I said, he adored spending time with you and your sister. I personally can’t believe that he claimed you both as his grandchildren. Guess he wanted to have you have much as Miriam does.”

I giggle softly, looking over to Marron. She smiles, then looks to the brother and sister. I think they’ll want to talk as well at some point.

I look back to them, “So…if Ddraig is my grandfather, what would that make us?”

Tulther rises to his feet and crosses his arms. “A good question, one I believe my sister and I will need time to answer.”

I nod. It makes sense. By being in the same coven as me, that automatically makes them family. Heh, a new brother and sister in a way. But now with them being Ddraig's children…yep that does pose an interesting question.

His sister smiles, “Now, I will tell you that we were at the Summer Gathering. We even watched your match with Carol.”

Tulther chuckles, “I never thought I’d see a kitsune defeat a dragon.”

I grin nervously, feeling as if that was a lifetime ago. “Well…it helps having a dragon for a sister.” I pan back over to Marron as she stands with Kenji. She is then joined by Silvi who smiles proudly to me. I grin, loving my sisters so much.

I look back to the pair, seeing them smiling. “Are you related to Carol, if only in part?”

Isolde shakes her head, “No, her family belongs to another clan. One that still resides in Wales alongside ours.”

I nod slowly. Well, Grandpa did say there were more dragons in the Coven and not only his. I still miss my friends so much, wishing to see them in person. I know soon, but still…and that’s what worries me about the coming battle.

“We wanted to meet you both while you were here the first time,” says Tulther. “However you left before we had the opportunity to do so. Plus there was your little encounter with Lana and Mistral which kept you understandably holed up in your residence.”

I nod, sighing. Yep, my first run-in with the pair wasn’t the best, with them demanding I leave my mother, and then hand over Fenris after they attacked me. Ugh…I really wish they weren’t so stuck up. Now I really wish to be friends with them. Even after beating them twice, I still hope we can somehow come together.

“And when your lineage was revealed,” he continues, “we tried to reach you both. However we were blocked from doing so.”

His sister nods, “A small clan of dragons, which had already allied with Regulus, fought us. I and a small flight managed to break off and flew as fast as we could. We were able to reach the Estate, only to discover that Viktor and Arcturus had arrived and confirmed you were safe.”

I cling to Mom, who in turn holds me close to her. Yep…there’s another days I’ll never forget, the day I nearly died the first time. It’s also the day I met my knights, who have now since become such an integral part of my family. It’s also where I learned of my heritage and so much more.

“Thank you both,” I tell them, smiling softly. It’s still amazing to know that so many were worried for me, people that I never knew existed until now.

“We know the final battle is approaching,” says Tulther. “And we would like to join you. Our coven always fights for each other, and as our father has told you, our clan stands with you.”

I feel my heart leaping into my throat. I know House Titalos will be coming, but I never said anything to them about fighting. However, I wonder if they already know that a fight is coming and they’ll come regardless.

I smile, looking up to my mother, who smiles to me. She then turn back to them and nods. “We would be honored to have you with us.”

The pair smiles proudly. I smile softly, happy to know we have a slowly growing army to fight alongside. I glance over to the elf and dragon from before. Curiously, they begin to make their way over to us. I’ve been watching them whisper to each other quite a bit. I’m guessing now’s the time for them to actually make themselves known.

My ears then flick back as I hear the frantic footsteps of someone running into the chambers. “Please forgive me my Lords and Ladies, but there is movement coming from the forest.”

I pan up to Mom, “There’s no way Regulus could’ve gotten here that fast. I even told him to go to Dewloura.”

She nods, “I agree sweetheart. It would take a minimum of three or four days to recall all his forces.”

So if not Regulus, then who’s coming?

Athena then raise her nose into the air, taking a few sniffs. Her eyes slowly grow larger. “It cannot be.”

Fenris does the same, then turns his body towards the door. “Is it possible?”

I tilt my head as I look to them. I then feel something tugging on my finger. Then I feel something else as I peer into the hall, a pull, a strong one from within my heart.

Without hesitation, I bolt for the door with Fenris and Athena following after me. When I see him dark fur, I instantly hop onto his back as we race outwards towards the entrance

“Aria!!” I hear my mother calling out to me. However her voice is quickly drowned out the further we move away from the chambers.

The three of us race through the hallways and corridors, passing by scared and alarmed servants and maids as they attend to their duties. I grip onto Fenris as we burst into the main entry hall and towards the front doors, which open the closer we come.

I smile and nod to the attendants as they seem like a blur as we pass them.

We arrive in the courtyard to when I feel the tug on my finger growing stronger, the tug on my heart burning hotter. Something is coming, something I know.

We race towards the main gate, which still has the doors and portcullis shut. I slide off of the Fenris and firmly walk to the guard manning it. “Open the gates,” I order them.

They look at me confused and dumbfounded. Can’t say I blame them. A girl just runs up to them and issues an order, no wonder they’re confused.

I roll my eyes, getting a little testy however. “Just do it!!”

The pair hop to attention and nod, racing back into the guardhouse. My wolves and I walk over to the gates as they slowly open, revealing the bridge that leads into the forest.

As we stand beyond the walls, I feel the cold wind blow against me. I really don’t even care that I’m not exactly wearing the best outfit for a winter in France. I brace myself against the cold, whipping a stream of hot air around me to keep me warm.

The three of us stand there and watch, ears flicking to each and every sound that could possibly be there. But then we hear the unmistakable sound of heavy pads running through the forest. Dozens and dozens of feet pounding hard against the cold earth as bushes and branches are scraped away by something.

My eyes then catch the brush rustling some hundred yards away as dozens of massive silvery-furred bodies emerge from the forest. My eyes grow wide as I quickly recognize the tell-tale twin tails of Uldulvan wolves as they race towards us.

I haven’t seen this many since I was in Dewloura.

The pack continues to race towards us, with two leading them. Each seem to be quite eager. Fenris and Athena both stand in front of me. While they are Uldulvan wolves, their kin, we still don’t know who they are or their intentions.

The pack then slow to a trot as they approach us, then coming to a gentle stop only a yard or so away from us. I look them over, seeing a few panting as their leaders look to me. Behind them I watch their tails wag incessantly. Their eyes flitter with sheer joy as they look at me.

“Aria!” I hear my mother crying out to me. Behind her I hear dozens more as they run onto the bridge.

“So…so many wolves,” she says as she stands next to me. “Never in so long have I seen so many.”

This sentiment is echoed by others, each repeating the same. I glance back, seeing Orga and Kateryna in utter awe, which then quickly replaced as my knights give the wolves a short bow.

I turn towards the pack and step towards them.

“Be careful Aria,” I hear my mother warn. I nod, however I get the feeling that I know these wolves somehow. The tugging on my heart is now even stronger than before.

The wolf in front of me smiles, lower his head slightly to match my eyes. “We have been waiting a long time to see you again.” His voice is deep, with signs of age, yet not real, advanced old age. Perhaps in terms of humans, it sounds as though he’s in his late fifties.

I look over the wolf, seeing his silver fur, tinged with a several pronounced white streaks under his chest.

Another wolf, this one to his left, steps closer. “We have missed you greatly,” this one sounding a bit more feminine. I tilt my head to her, seeing her slightly faded, purplish-silver fur glisten in the light.

The male takes another step forward, obviously aware of my wolf parents watching him. His face is gentle and warm as smiles more, showing a deep love and joy. “Sister,” he says.

The female smiles brightly, swishing her tails behind her. ”Aya.”

My eyes grow wide as I feel my heart leaping wildly in my chest. I stare at the pair, finally peeling away the mystery of who they are. Tears start to well up in my eyes as I hold my hands over my mouth out of shock.

“Leto? Nelly?”

They grin, nodding to me. Their tails wag even more than before.

I push past Fenris and Athena and quickly pull Leto’s face down and hug him tightly. I bury my face into his, and then look over to Nelly, motioning her over. She grins, pressing her face into mine. Hot tears drip into their fur as they nuzzle me. I’m happy beyond anything at the moment to have them with me again.

“I’ve miss you both so much,” I cry.

They groan softly, batting my chest with their faces. “We have missed you as well Sister,” says Leto.

“We never stopped thinking of you,” adds Nelly.

I cling to them, happy to be reunited with family from the past. I hear them groan again, playfully pushing me back, something they loved to do.

I giggle, “Careful you two, you’re a bit bigger then you used to be.” I look up at them, smiling happily as tears stream down my face. “I can’t believe you all survived and are here. I’ve been so worried about you.”

They chuckle happily, and then each proceeds to lick my face, causing me to giggle again.

Athena stares on still in disbelief, coming a little closer to us. Leto and Nelly then look up to both her and Fenris and bow their heads to them. “Elders,” they both greet.

Fenris smiles warmly. “I believe that it I who should be calling you ‘elders’.” Well that is true. By this point, both Leto and Nelly should be over 400 years old, easily triple the age Fenris is.

Leto smiles as he nuzzles my face again. “You and Athena shall always be our elders.”

Fenris nods slowly, still smiling to him. I then watch as Athena walks over and presses her head into Nelly’s. They each groan happily to each other as they nuzzle.

“You…you know who these wolves are Aria?” asks Mom.

I grin stroking their fur as Fenris steps over, pressing his head into Leto’s, gently groaning. “Mom, this is Leto and Penelope or Nelly for short. They were the last two pups to be born in Dewloura.” I giggle softly, leaning into them. “They also became my little brother and sister while there.”

I look up them, “Always getting into mischief.” They grin, nuzzling my face.

Mom merely shakes her head in astonishment. I peer over, against watching everyone look in in amazement, some simply speechless.

“I…I never thought that I would ever see so many Uldulvan wolves ever again,” says Josephine. I smile, remembering how fascinated she was with Fenris the first time she was close to him.

I turn back to Leto. “How did you know I’d be here?”

He licks my face, looking into my eyes. “Your ‘leash’ drew us here.” He then chuckles softly, “You did say that it always lead us back to you.”

I look up, seeing two thin, red threads floating through the air. I giggle as I follow the lines back to my fingers. “I never thought that spell would last over the centuries, even after I was flung back to the present.”

They smile, nudging my face. I placed that spell onto them the day I took the pair with me to school. Granted they never did stray all that far from me, but it was still a good idea and insurance in case they did. In truth it’s a really simple spell, that apparently lasts until you end it.

“For the past couple centuries,” starts Nelly, “we have been living some distance away. However we had to remain on the move, never wishing to reveal our home.”

“The forest shielded us,” adds Leto, “even when you first arrived here at the castle. When we saw you and Fenris, we wanted to see you. However, the forest held us back, and would never allow us to, no matter how much we pleaded with it. Saying it wasn’t time.”

I gaze out onto the forest, recalling that it said something to me. “I apologize little one. I cannot allow you to see that which you are not ready for.”

I wonder if the forest knew who I was and prevented the wolves from replaceing me. It must have done the same when Fenris ran through it, preventing the wolves from coming into contact with each other. Hell, it even referred to as the “Little Princess of foxes and wolves”. A little eerie the more I think about it.

I pan back to the pair. “What happened, how did you get here?”

“When you and Celestine left for your mission,” says Nelly, “dragons came and took us away, placing us into safety. While there, we were to wait until it was the right time to reemerge and replace you.”

I tilt my head, vaguely recalling that Mom told me that the wolf population was destroyed during the Fall. It makes me wonder if someone made up that lie in order to protect them.

I then look around, hoping to replace Rhea, or perhaps even replace out where she is.

“Where’s Rhea?”

Leto lowers his head, sighing remorsefully. “Our beloved grandmother died 200 years ago while fending off a group of dragons.” He then looks to me, “She always stated she wanted to see you again. Her little granddaughter. She longed to have you at her side again.”

Tears stream down my face as I bury my face into his fur and crying. No…no, I can’t have lost another one, another link to my family from the past. Even if centuries have past, I still continue to lose family.

Fenris and Athena both turn to Nelly, who nods. “It is true,” she says.

I cry more into Leto’s fur, clinging to it. a spark then lights in my heart as I look up to them. “Are…are your parents still alive?” Please…please still be.

They smile warmly and nod to me. “Yes,” says Nelly. “They wished to have come with us. However they were unable to make journey, having grown old.”

I smile warmly, oh so happy to know that more of the pack is still alive. I still cling to Leto and reach out to Nelly, wrapping my tails around them. “When this is all over, you’re coming home with me,” I say chokingly.

They smile, happily wagging their tails and licking my face.

“We desire that as well, Aya,” says Nelly.

I grin, holding onto them tightly. I then look back to my mother, “Will that be ok?”

She smiles, stepping over and stroking my hair. “Of course sweetheart. Although…we may have to purchase more of the surrounding lands. Granted…I believe it's high time we expanded our home anyway. Seeing how our family is set to grow soon.”

I grin.

Leto and Nelly then take and proceed to introduce me to the rest of the pack gathered here. I stroll among the wolves, seeing slight variations in all of them, some different than those of either Serasfall’s pack or Tyrion’s. The wolves lean in and sniff me, same as the old pack did upon meeting them.

I have no doubt that Mom is a little worried as she watches me. I am also, but not to the same degree. A few press their noses into my cheeks while others outright lick me. I giggle, reaching up an stroking their faces, causing them to groan happily.

“We met up with some from the wild packs,” says Leto. “They helped to swell our numbers.”

I smile, nodding as I feel at peace among the wolves, as I always have.

“Sister,” says one wolf.

“One of us,” says another.

Several more wolves echo this, all coming in close and groan, wagging their tails. I grin, stroking their fur. “Talnesh fulgin e’shanori. Uldulva sil Shyair mi’irnao culuvanu. Murvne’isch rogonai tinial hegamor.” (You are my family. We are one, Uldulva and Shyair. As it was from the first, it shall be until the end.)

The wolves let out a mighty howl, which is joined by Fenris and Athena. All announcing to the world we have returned to it. I grin as they settle down. They look to Fenris and Athena, leaning in and groaning softly, a groan of acceptance and family.

Several of the wolves then turn to Fenris, bowing their heads to him. “Leader,” many more join in saying this. “We are yours to command. Where you walk, we follow.”

He smiles to them. “You have been led well by those here. I accept your loyalty but I am not your leader.”

Leto leans into Fenris, who I discover is still shorter than my wolf father. “You are, and always have been. No matter the generation, they all know their alpha. Their king.”

Fenris nods slowly. He then looks the rest to the wolves, seeing more and more bow to him. He’s a bit like me, quiet yet will assert authority when the need arises. So…I say let him.

I grin, patting the wolves, motioning them over to everyone. I know I need more time in order to get to know this new pack, but that will come naturally. I watch as my family is greeted by them, a few take notice of my mother, even glancing at me. I grin as they do.

A couple start sniffing Kenji, much to his surprise. I smile as they circle him, tails swishing in the air. A few more actually surround Marron. I watch as they are incredibly gentle with her, even being as they are with me. They lick and nuzzle her, staying close to my sister.

I even watch a few stare down Silvi. My dragonic sister merely grins, as if readying for a challenge.

“Aria!”

I perk up from amongst the wolves to see who else is calling for me. I look over, watching as the elf and dragon from before are walking over to us, smiling broadly. I tilt my head as they maneuver their way through the wolves and to me.

The elf grins, her platinum hair shimmers as her eyes are trained onto me. She’s on the brink of tears as she comes within a few steps of me.

“It really is you,” she says. “Oh you can’t begin to wonder how much I’ve been worried over you.”

Wait…do I know you? I continue to watch her, trying to recall if I’ve met her before.

The dragon smiles, sighing happily as he shakes his head. “You look the same as you did before. Still the same girl.”

I step closer, trying to get a better look at them. I stare more intently at the pair, still holding back.

The elf smiles, “Still as cautious as ever. Watching and waiting to see if what is before you is true or merely a fake.” She nods softly, “You probably don’t recognize us. Which I don’t fault you for.”

The dragon nods, “Time does that to us all. I hope you missed our time together. Just relaxing in the courtyard, with you actually singing to the wolves. Now that is a memory I will never forget.”

My eyes grow wide as I stare at them. There are only a few people who knew I did that. Those same people I knew from school. My friends.

“Tanith?” I ask, then looking to the elf. “Le’nia?”

They both beam brightly, nodding.

Tears once more well up in my eyes as I leap into their arms, hugging them tightly. They hold onto me, pressing me to their bodies. I cling to them, burying my face into them.

“Oh sweet Aria,’ says Le’nia. “You have no idea how much we’ve missed you.”

“So many days and nights not knowing what became of you,” adds Tanith.

I look up at my old classmates, now seeing them as they once were. Le’nia, the young and happy elf, who really had a talent for music. Then Tanith, the scrappy dragon who really was shy at times, yet once you got into a conversation, you’d be hard-pressed to get him to stop.

“I can’t believe you’re both here,” I tell him.

Tanith grins, “What I can’t believe is that you’re actually from this era. You acted so much like a Dewlouran that it never occurred to me you weren’t even from the city itself.”

He then rocks his head a little, “Well…there were signs you weren’t from the past, signs you hid well from others.”

I grin, as I then feel Le’nia stroking my hair. I turn to her, seeing smiling brightly. “Oh how I’ve missed my dear friend. I can still perfectly see you sitting in the café with a book, while also playing with the pups.”

I giggle, “To be fair, we only knew each other for a couple months.”

She shakes her head. “True, however a friendship then is as strong as it is now. You truly became my friend Aria, someone I will forever hold dear in my heart.”

I nod, then look to Leto and Nelly, my little wolf brother and sister. For once, I have my past reaching my present and I love it.

“What happened to you?” asks Tanith. “After the wolf attack in the market, and as the city began to crumble, no one could replace you.”

I nod, “Celes and I were sent on a mission to seal away the city before Nethune’s corruption could destroy it. After we succeeded, she flung me back to the present.”

I peer over to Fenris and Athena, the pair smile to me as they see my old classmates. Even Leto and Nelly look to them, taking a moment to recognize my old friends.

Tanith sighs as he nods. He then smirks looking to me, “My father once told me he saw something on that day, something that reminded him of when the fox spirit appeared in the throne room. He spoke seeing a girl with nine pink tails, riding atop a black wolf.”

I giggle, nodding. “Yep…that was me and Fenris.”

Le’nia continues to stroke my hair, almost in a maternal manner. “I have to admit, when you and your mother first walked into the parliamentary chambers, the both of us thought we recognized you. We weren’t sure at the time, seeing how you appeared younger and your aura felt slightly different.”

“To be honest,” adds Tanith, “I suggested you could have been a descendant of the girl we knew. I am happy to know that it wasn’t the case.”

I grin, “Everyone seems to be working backwards with me.” The truth was my aura and appearance had changed dramatically since I first came here. Another thing I attribute to Regulus’ machinations. At least in part.

They smile, pressing me closer to them.

“Now that we know about you,” starts Le’nia, “my family fled west with the aid of Tanith and his clan. Some remained here in the Court while the majority traveled to the colonies where they reside to this day.”

He nods, “Although my father, for some strange reason, took a contingent of our clan and traveled to the Shyair estate. We didn’t see them for a few days but were safe and sound when they returned.”

I pan over to the wolves and smiling, knowing Serasfall must have had something to do with it. she really thought ahead and made plans for everything, including me. Although…I still have to wonder, was my travel to the past truly meant to be?

I mean, her letter spoke of my great-great grandfather foretelling of a disaster befalling Dewloura and my arrival would save it. So if I had remained in Japan, would that have created a temporal paradox? Would that have altered history or did I merely complete a historical loop, simply to insure history run its proper course?

Ugh…as a great man once said, “I hate temporal mechanics!” Just trying to rationalize it is giving me a headache.

“We are still are missing a person,” says Tanith. “The fourth member of our group.”

I nod, sighing into them. “I know what happened to Nerina. When Celes and I were on our way to the palace, we discovered a hidden lab on the second tier.” I cling to them, “There we found her floating in a vat, dead and slowly being transformed into an undead soldier for Nethune.”

Both are rocked by this as they hold onto me tighter. Tanith wraps us within his wings, shielding us from the cold.

I still miss her, the first friend I made while in Dewloura and at school. I can still hear her voice as we sat in the café after school. I just wish I had taken a picture of her.

I look up to Tanith, “Is your father still alive?”

If there’s another person I worried over it would be Lord Ashlan. Not only a friend to my ancestors, but also my teacher while at school. I remembered him to be firm but also kind and patient with his students. And he loved to teach, replaceing an immense passion in it.

He smiles, “Yes, he is still very much alive. Like with Le’nia and her family, my clan split between travelling here and one of the colonies. We too gained positions and titles along the way. Even I succeeded my father here no less than fifty years ago. However, my brothers often spoke of attempting to reclaim Dewloura, only to bide our time.”

I never was able to meet his family aside from his father. Tanith used to love bragging about them, granted he was the youngest.

“I’d love to see him.”

Tanith grins, “I’ll be sure to tell him and my clan. He’ll be overjoyed to see you again, if not a little surprised.”

I giggle softly.

Both of them keep mentioning the colonies. My cousins used to talk about the Dewlouran colonies, and how they were spread throughout Europe.

“So the colonies are still there?” I ask.

Le’nia nods, smiling. “Oh yes, some are even thriving. If I had to describe them as anything, I’d say they are miniature Dewlouras. Well not quite, but very close to our homeland in terms of society and even innovation. Oh what marvels they’ve accomplished in the past 400 years. Granted without access to the rich resources of Dewloura itself.”

She grins to me, “You would love them, as I know many were shocked to hear of you being of Shyair.”

I nod slowly while my heart leaps with joy. If that’s the case, then I wonder why none came to my aid at any point in time. “I think I met some of them,” I say softly, “fighting alongside Nethune.” Selene did say many had heard Nethune’s call back in July.

Tanith sighs, nodding. “Many were either hesitant or wary of you. You’re also correct that some outright declared fealty to Nethune upon Selene making her presence known.”

I nod slowly, but smile. “We’re going back to Dewloura. It’s time to go home.”

Both look to me stunned, then pan to each other. Bright and excited smiles grow on their faces as they turn back to me.

“We wish to join you,” says Le’nia.

“If you will have us,” adds Tanith.

I grin, swishing my tails. “You know I couldn't leave you two out. Besides, we have to go back to school anyways.”

They laugh, hugging me close to them.

“You’re right,” says Tanith. I grin, nodding.

“Well hello Tanith and Le’nia,” says Mom as she walks over to us. “It’s good to see you my old friends.” She then looks to me as they hold me, “Now how exactly do you know these two Aria? I certainly never introduced them to you.”

I grin, looking to her. “I went to school with them while in the past.”

She looks to me amazed and pans up to them. Both Tanith and Le’nia each smile and nod. Mom chuckles softly, shaking her head. “You truly do have a natural ability for making friends.”

I giggle, nodding. Well to be fair, they did come to me.

Le’nia then looks to me, “When do you plan on leaving?”

The smell of blood fills my nose. I pan over to seeing Yukari and Asha strolling towards us, with Andriy behind them. He looks to me, only to hide a bloodstained hand behind him. I nod slowly, knowing what the trio had just done. However it will never change my opinion of them. I still love them dearly and happy they’re here.

“Soon,” I declare. “I want to get there with plenty of time to spare.”

They nod, each giving me another tight squeeze before letting go.

“I need to contact my family,” says Le’nia. “I’m not sure how they’ll react to this. However I’m sure they will come and meet us there.”

I nod, looking to Tanith. He smiles. “I need to travel to my clan. I know it’ll be easier just to call them, but this is something that has to be done in person.”

I grin, excited to see his father again.

They smile. “You do know we all will fight at your side, right Aria?” asks Le’nia.

I nod, albeit solemnly. So many people are pledging to fight with me, a choice they are the ones making. However, I still have terrible at the prospect of losing people again. I know this is war and death is an inevitable truth.

They smile, leaning in one last time to each give me a hug before leaving. I watch as Tanith rises into the sky and flies off while Le’nia heads inside the castle.

I feel Mom wrapping her arms around me as she watches them too. we stand there for a moment, feeling the cold wind blowing against us.

“Now,” she begins, “if we are to travel once more, I suggest we change into something a more appropriate. Not to mention getting out of this cold.”

I smile, nodding as I hold onto her. “We should head up to the residence then.”

She smiles, holding me close to her, squeezing me tightly. I turn to see everyone walking over to us. I smile to them. “Let’s get changed.”

They nod and we all head back towards the castle.